Dr. Farzam N. Afshar

Dr. Farzam N. Afshar Hello! I’m Dr. Farzam N. Afshar, CEO and Chief Physician at Sakura Natural Health.

I’m excited to share my knowledge on how diet, exercise, lifestyle, nutrition, and natural medicine work together to promote optimal mind and body health. Sakura Natural Health, established in 2007, is an online health and wellness company dedicated to promoting natural living. We specialize in offering our own brand of exceptional-quality vitamins, herbal supplements, plant-derived minerals, eco-friendly air purifiers, and health-centric lifestyle products. Our mission is to support your journey towards holistic well-being through a comprehensive selection of premium natural health solutions.

✨ “What we call laziness is often the body moving through a fog the world cannot see. Anxiety stirs like wind in tall gr...
11/15/2025

✨ “What we call laziness is often the body moving through a fog the world cannot see. Anxiety stirs like wind in tall grass, and depression settles like dusk over a quiet field. These pauses are not failures. They are the soul catching its breath, gathering its light, and waiting for the courage to rise again.”
— Dr. Farzam N. Afshar

🌿 Understanding the Difference Between Laziness and Anxiety or Depression 🌿People often call themselves lazy when they c...
11/15/2025

🌿 Understanding the Difference Between Laziness and Anxiety or Depression 🌿

People often call themselves lazy when they cannot get things done, but in many cases the real reason is emotional exhaustion, anxiety, or depression. These conditions can quietly drain your energy, disrupt your focus, and make simple tasks feel overwhelming. What looks like a lack of motivation on the surface is often a deeper struggle the mind and body are trying to manage.

✨ When it is anxiety:
Anxiety can make your mind race and your body tense. You may want to act, but feel frozen. You might have difficulty starting tasks because your mind jumps ahead to what could go wrong. This is not laziness. It is a nervous system stuck in fear and overload.

✨ When it is depression:
Depression can make everything feel heavy. Even small tasks require more energy than you have. Your mind may feel foggy, your emotions flat, and your motivation low. This is not a character flaw. It is your body signaling that it is worn down and needs care.

✨ When it is truly laziness:
Laziness is simply choosing not to act when you do have the energy and ability. It is rare to see true laziness in people who are already worrying about being lazy. The fact that you care is already a sign that something deeper is going on.

🌱 How to support yourself:
• Start with one small step rather than the entire task
• Make your environment gentle and calming
• Break responsibilities into tiny pieces
• Practice mindful breathing before beginning a task
• Rest without guilt when your body is asking for it
• Spend time in sunlight or nature to lift your energy
• Reach out for support if your low mood or anxiety persists

Be kind to yourself. Struggling does not make you lazy. It makes you human. With understanding and small consistent care, your energy and clarity can return.

🪷 This post is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical care.

🌿 How Anxiety Can Lead to Depression and What You Can Do to Support Yourself 🌿Anxiety and depression often feel like two...
11/14/2025

🌿 How Anxiety Can Lead to Depression and What You Can Do to Support Yourself 🌿

Anxiety and depression often feel like two different experiences, but they are closely connected. When anxiety goes on for a long time, the mind and body can become exhausted. Constant worry, restlessness, and tension slowly drain emotional energy. Over time, this can shift into feelings of sadness, low motivation, and emotional heaviness. This is how anxiety can quietly turn into depression.

When the mind is anxious for too long, you may begin to feel:
• Tired even after rest
• Difficulty enjoying things you used to love
• Less interest in connecting with others
• Trouble concentrating
• A sense of emotional emptiness
• Increased irritability or frustration

These changes do not mean you are weak. They are signs that your nervous system has been overwhelmed for longer than it can manage. The good news is that small, caring steps can help bring balance back.

🌱 Supportive Tips for Emotional Well Being

✨ Mindful breathing
Slow gentle breathing can calm the stress response and steady the mind. A few minutes each day makes a difference.

✨ Daily sunlight
Even ten minutes of natural light can support mood regulation and improve energy.

✨ Nourishing foods
Omega rich foods, greens, nuts, berries, and warm herbal teas support the body during emotional stress.

✨ Movement
A short walk, light stretching, or gentle yoga can lift mood and help release tension.

✨ Nature time
Sitting under a tree, placing your feet on the ground, or walking through a quiet outdoor space helps calm both anxiety and low mood.

✨ Small consistent steps
Using the kaizen approach, small daily actions can slowly rebuild motivation and emotional strength.

If you feel anxiety shifting into something heavier, reach out for support early. You deserve care, comfort, and a path back to balance.

🪷 This post is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical care.

✨ “Anxiety softens when we stop chasing big changes and begin honoring small steps. Kaizen teaches us that even the smal...
11/14/2025

✨ “Anxiety softens when we stop chasing big changes and begin honoring small steps. Kaizen teaches us that even the smallest act of calm can reshape the entire day.”
— Dr. Farzam N. Afshar

🌿 Kaizen and the Path to a Calmer Mind 🌿Kaizen is a Japanese philosophy that focuses on gentle, continuous improvement t...
11/14/2025

🌿 Kaizen and the Path to a Calmer Mind 🌿

Kaizen is a Japanese philosophy that focuses on gentle, continuous improvement through small daily steps. When it comes to anxiety, this approach can be incredibly supportive because it removes the pressure to make big changes all at once. Instead, kaizen reminds us that even tiny actions can help the mind settle and the body feel safer.

Anxiety often feels overwhelming because the mind jumps ahead, worrying about everything that needs to be done or everything that could go wrong. Kaizen brings us back to the present. It encourages simple actions that are easy to complete, which helps the nervous system relax and makes anxiety feel more manageable.

Small steps can look like:
✨ One mindful breath
✨ A brief walk outside
✨ Tidying up one small corner
✨ Writing down your thoughts
✨ Taking a moment to stretch
✨ Drinking a glass of water slowly

These little actions may seem minor, but they create momentum. They help you feel grounded, capable, and more in control of your day. Over time, the brain begins to associate these small steps with safety and calm.

Kaizen reminds us that healing does not need to be dramatic. It can be gentle. It can be slow. It can be one tiny choice at a time. And those choices add up to a stronger, steadier, more peaceful rhythm in your daily life.

🪷 This post is for educational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical care.

🌿 How Movement Helps Ease Anxiety 🌿Anxiety often builds when the mind feels overwhelmed and the body holds on to tension...
11/14/2025

🌿 How Movement Helps Ease Anxiety 🌿

Anxiety often builds when the mind feels overwhelmed and the body holds on to tension. Exercise can be one of the most effective natural ways to release that pressure. You do not need intense workouts or long sessions. Even gentle movement can shift how your body handles stress.

When you move, your body increases circulation, balances stress hormones, and supports the release of natural chemicals that lift your mood. Your breathing deepens, your muscles soften, and your thoughts begin to settle. Over time, regular movement teaches your nervous system how to return to a calmer state more easily.

Here are a few forms of exercise that many people find supportive:

✨ Walking
A simple walk outdoors can reset your mind. The steady rhythm of your steps helps your body regulate itself.

✨ Yoga or stretching
Slow movement and intentional breathing work together to ease physical and mental tension.

✨ Strength training
Gentle strength work can build confidence and release built up stress in the muscles.

✨ Dancing or free movement
Allowing your body to move with music can elevate your mood and help release emotional energy.

✨ Cycling or swimming
These steady, rhythmic activities are especially supportive for calming the mind.

Movement is not about perfection. It is about connection. Every step, stretch, or breath is a reminder that your body can shift out of overwhelm and back into balance.

🪷 This post is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical care.

🌿 Finding Stillness in the Middle of Anxiety 🌿Anxiety can come on quietly or all at once. It can sit in your chest, race...
11/13/2025

🌿 Finding Stillness in the Middle of Anxiety 🌿

Anxiety can come on quietly or all at once. It can sit in your chest, race through your thoughts, or make your body feel tense for reasons you cannot explain. What many people do not realize is that anxiety is not just emotional. It is physical, mental, and even spiritual. It affects how we breathe, how we move, and how connected we feel to ourselves.

Different cultures describe anxiety in different ways, but the experience is shared by all of us. Some feel it as heaviness. Some feel it as pressure. Some feel it as restlessness or fatigue. No matter how anxiety shows up, it is the body calling for a moment of peace.

Even the smallest pause can make a difference. A single breath. A quiet thought. A step outside. When we slow down for even a moment, our nervous system begins to settle. That is the heart behind the quote:
“When our hearts race with worry, finding even a moment of stillness can help us catch our breath and begin anew.” — Dr. Farzam N. Afshar

Stillness does not require silence or solitude. It can happen in nature, in your home, or during a walk. What matters is giving yourself permission to pause. Anxiety does not define you. It is simply a signal, and your body is reminding you that you deserve gentleness.

🪷 This post is for educational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical care.

🌿 Anxiety Around the World and the Calm of Shinrin Yoku 🌿Anxiety is a universal human experience, yet different cultures...
11/13/2025

🌿 Anxiety Around the World and the Calm of Shinrin Yoku 🌿

Anxiety is a universal human experience, yet different cultures understand and express it in their own way. In many Western settings, anxiety is often described through thoughts and emotions like worry, overwhelm, or tension. In parts of East Asia, people may feel anxiety more in the body, such as stomach discomfort or fatigue. In some Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cultures, anxiety may be expressed through changes in breathing, chest heaviness, or restlessness.

These differences show that anxiety is not simply a mental event. It is shaped by the rhythms, beliefs, and environments around us. No matter the culture, the body speaks when it feels unsafe, pressured, or disconnected.

One beautiful practice that has gained global attention is shinrin yoku, sometimes called forest bathing. It began in Japan as a simple way to reconnect with nature. The practice invites you to walk slowly through a natural environment, breathe deeply, notice the colors and sounds, and let your senses soften.

Naturopathic and environmental research suggests that spending time among trees may support the nervous system by lowering stress signals, easing tension, and promoting a sense of grounding. The gentle scent of trees, the quiet surroundings, and the slower pace all help the mind settle and the body release the pressure it carries.

Shinrin yoku is less about exercise and more about presence. It is a reminder that nature can hold us when our minds feel scattered. Even a short walk among trees, a few minutes with sunlight on your skin, or sitting near plants in your backyard can create moments of calm.

Wherever you come from and however you experience anxiety, reconnecting with nature invites harmony back into the body. We all deserve space where we can breathe again. 🌱

🪷 This post is for educational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical care.

🌿 A Simple Shake to Support a Calmer Mind 🌿Anxiety can drain your energy and make your body feel tense and overwhelmed. ...
11/12/2025

🌿 A Simple Shake to Support a Calmer Mind 🌿

Anxiety can drain your energy and make your body feel tense and overwhelmed. One gentle way to support your system is through nourishment. The right blend of whole foods can help steady your mood, balance your energy, and give your nervous system the nutrients it needs to function at its best.

This anxiety supportive shake brings together foods that naturopathic research often connects with relaxation, focus, and emotional balance. Ingredients like blueberries, almonds, spinach, and creamy nut butter provide antioxidants, minerals, and healthy fats that nurture the mind and body.

Here is the recipe if you would like to try it at home:

🥤 Anxiety Supportive Shake
• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1 small handful of fresh spinach
• 1 tablespoon almond butter or cashew butter
• 1 half frozen banana
• 1 half cup blueberries
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds or flax seeds
• Optional: a pinch of cinnamon for warmth

Blend until smooth and enjoy slowly.

You can sip this in the morning for a grounded start or in the afternoon when stress begins to rise. Pair it with mindful breathing, a quiet moment outside, or soft music to create a full calming ritual.

Small daily choices can nurture peace from within. Your body responds to consistency, care, and nourishment. 💚

🪷 This post is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical care.

🌿 Foods That Naturally Support a Calmer Mind 🌿What we eat has a powerful effect on how we feel. Anxiety isn’t just a men...
11/12/2025

🌿 Foods That Naturally Support a Calmer Mind 🌿

What we eat has a powerful effect on how we feel. Anxiety isn’t just a mental experience — it’s deeply connected to our body’s chemistry, energy balance, and nutrition. Nourishing your body with certain whole foods can gently support your nervous system and promote calm from within.

Here are a few simple, research-backed foods that may help:

🐟 Salmon – Rich in omega-3 fatty acids that support brain and mood balance.
🫐 Blueberries – Packed with antioxidants that help reduce the physical impact of stress.
🥬 Leafy Greens – High in magnesium and B vitamins to promote relaxation and steady energy.
🌰 Walnuts – A great source of plant-based omega-3s and natural mood support.

Pairing nutrient-rich foods with mindful habits — like deep breathing, regular movement, and spending time outdoors — can make a real difference in your day-to-day sense of peace. Small, consistent steps toward balance add up. 💚

🪷 This post is for educational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical care.

✨ “Anxiety is not a flaw to fix—it’s your body’s whisper asking for gentleness. When we listen with compassion, we invit...
11/11/2025

✨ “Anxiety is not a flaw to fix—it’s your body’s whisper asking for gentleness. When we listen with compassion, we invite balance, healing, and peace to return.”
— Dr. Farzam N. Afshar 🌿

🌿 Recognizing Anxiety and Finding Calm Naturally 🌿Anxiety can show up in many ways — sometimes obvious, sometimes subtle...
11/11/2025

🌿 Recognizing Anxiety and Finding Calm Naturally 🌿

Anxiety can show up in many ways — sometimes obvious, sometimes subtle. You might notice:
✨ A racing heart or tight chest
✨ Restless thoughts that won’t quiet down
✨ Muscle tension or jaw clenching
✨ Trouble falling or staying asleep
✨ Digestive changes or loss of appetite
✨ Feeling on edge, even without a clear reason

These experiences are your body’s way of saying it’s overwhelmed. From a naturopathic view, anxiety isn’t something to “fight” — it’s a signal that your mind and body need restoration.

Here are a few gentle, natural ways to begin:

🌸 Mindful Breathing
Find a quiet space and inhale slowly through your nose for 4 seconds, hold for 4, exhale through your mouth for 6. Repeat for one minute. This helps shift your body from a stress response into calm.

🍃 Grounding Practice
Place your feet on the floor, notice what you see, hear, and feel around you. This reconnects you to the present moment and tells your nervous system that you are safe right now.

🌺 Daily Mindfulness
You don’t need a meditation cushion. Try washing dishes slowly, walking outdoors, or drinking tea with full awareness. Mindfulness is about being where you are — not racing ahead to what’s next.

🌙 Support from Nature
Many people find benefit from calming nutrients and botanicals like L-Theanine, magnesium, or chamomile — all of which support relaxation and focus. Our Sakura Natural Health Theanine Chews are designed to complement these mindful moments and encourage balance from within.

🪷 For educational purposes only. This post does not replace professional care or medical advice.

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A Story of Healing

As a young child, I was ill more often than not. I had eczema from a very young age. The eczema was severe to the extent that my fingers would crack and bleed. I was a regular at the physician’s office. By the time I was about 10, I had been allergy tested numerous times. I had also received so many cortisone (steroids) shots that my teeth were cracking. Each night, I would slather myself in cortisone cream and then wrap my body with saran wrap. I usually slept in a “saran wrap cocoon” just to soothe my skin enough so that I could sleep.

Along with the eczema, I would get horrible migraine headaches. The headaches were severe and frequent. By the time I was in 2nd grade, I was given pain medication to manage them. I remember lying on the couch, crying because the light was unbearable. In 8th grade, I started developing, what I thought was, episodes of hyperventilation. My heart would begin to pound. My chest would feel like it was vibrating and I would have a hard time catching my breath. Turns out it was atrial fib. I had to be taken out of my classes by paramedics and was put on beta blockers to regulate my heart.

In the next few years, I added to my list of diagnosis: IBS, PSVT, Bell’s palsy, depression, IC (interstitial cystitis), chronic sinusitis, seasonal allergies, food allergies, and I had developed spontaneous nose bleeds. In addition, I felt so lousy from the beta blockers that I rarely could make a whole day of school. The days I did managed to make it, I slept through most of my classes. When I graduated, my coach said, “congrats to my favorite student who never came to school”. By the time I was 22, I had taken many drugs including: allergy shots, steroids, anti-histamines, beta blockers, antibiotics, anti-depressants, antispasmodics, and occasionally muscle relaxers and pain medication.

Needless to say, I was frustrated and started to look at alternative solutions for healthcare. I started learning more about nutrition. What was “healthy” and what was not. I started cutting out carbs and cooking whole foods. I started drinking more water, and I started exercising and studying more about nutrition, herbs, and massage. I started feeling better.