Elemental Healing Solutions

01/02/2026

BFRBs are not simply “bad habits,” and they are not a failure of discipline.

Hair pulling, skin picking, and related behaviors are driven by neurophysiologic processes involving sensory processing, emotional regulation, and habit circuitry in the brain. Research shows significant overlap with OCD and substance use disorders, including pre-urge tension, temporary relief, and difficulty inhibiting the behavior despite negative consequences.

That is why telling a child to “just stop” is ineffective and often harmful. We would never tell someone with OCD to stop compulsions or someone with addiction to stop using without addressing the underlying process.

When parents respond with fear, urgency, or frustration, the child’s nervous system often interprets this as threat or shame, which can intensify urges and increase secrecy. When parents respond with curiosity, awareness, and collaboration, the nervous system can begin to regulate. Behavior changes when the nervous system feels supported, not pressured.

This carousel walks through common parenting responses, what children actually hear internally, and evidence-based alternatives rooted in awareness training and nervous system regulation.

If this resonates, consider saving or sharing with another parent who may need this perspective. Awareness changes the conversation, and connection changes outcomes.

11/27/2025

The Three Sisters tradition comes from Indigenous agricultural practices that have been used for generations across many parts of what is now the United States. Corn, beans, and squash were planted together because they naturally support each other as they grow. They replenish the soil, protect one another, and create nourishment that is stronger when they work as a team.

From my Elemental perspective, there is something powerful in that kind of partnership. It reminds me that healing and balance usually come from connection rather than isolation. It reminds me that living systems thrive when every part is allowed to contribute and receive support. And it reminds me that gratitude is not only a feeling but a relationship with the people and resources that help us grow.

Corn stands tall.
Beans offer nutrients back to the soil.
Squash spreads across the ground and protects the roots.

I am not speaking on behalf of any Indigenous community, only sharing what I notice and appreciate in this agricultural wisdom. It reflects a kind of reciprocity and resourcefulness that feels deeply relevant in the work I do with the body and the mind.

Nutritionally, these ingredients work together in a similar way:
• Corn provides grounding carbohydrates and energy
• Beans support the microbiome and help stabilize blood sugar
• Squash brings minerals, carotenoids, and slow, steady nourishment for the gut and nervous system

Together they create a balanced and supportive meal that encourages metabolic steadiness, digestive health, calmer energy, and overall nourishment.

Whenever I make this soup, I am reminded that wholeness often comes from letting things work together rather than trying to carry everything alone. It invites me to ask where I can allow more support in my life, where I can offer it, and where I can create more integration instead of pushing through independently. This dish honors an agricultural practice with deep roots, and at the same time it reflects something important about how we heal. Wishing you and your loved ones a connected day of gratitude.

11/25/2025

There’s something about this quote from Winona LaDuke, Anishinaabe leader, environmental activist, and protector of the land, that feels especially alive this week.
Maybe because Thanksgiving asks us to reflect on gratitude…
while the land quietly asks us to remember the truth.

And the truth is this:
We were handed a softened story.
One that didn’t name the Indigenous peoples who lived, breathed, tended, and suffered on this land long before the holiday existed.
One that left out the reverence, reciprocity, and sacred relationship Indigenous cultures have always held with the earth.

This isn’t about blame.
It’s about alignment.
About noticing the subtle tension that forms when a story feels incomplete, and allowing ourselves to gently turn toward what’s real.

Because our mental wellness depends on honesty 👉 the quiet kind that softens the body and brings the nervous system back into coherence.
The kind that whispers:
“You don’t have to pretend.
You can hold gratitude and truth at the same time.”

Indigenous values remind us that gratitude is not an escape from reality.
It’s a relationship.
A practice of reciprocity.
A way of honoring the full story, not just the comfortable parts.

So this week, my gratitude includes:
✨ the land beneath my feet
✨ the Indigenous peoples whose histories deserve to be spoken aloud
✨ the power of resilience that lives indigenous cultures
✨ the clarity that comes from living in truth
✨ and the possibility of becoming ancestors our descendants will thank

Not because we were perfect,
but because we chose presence,
integrity,
and a deeper kind of gratitude :
the kind that roots us back into the earth and into alignment with ourselves.

11/08/2025

✨ Worry doesn’t just live in your mind — it shows up in your body.

When we worry, the brain activates the stress response (the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis). This releases cortisol and adrenaline, preparing the body for action even though there’s no real threat.

Heart rate and blood pressure rise, muscles tighten, and digestion slows. The body shifts into survival mode, prioritizing protection over repair. Over time, this can disturb sleep, hormone balance, gut health, and even immune function.

Chronic worry keeps the nervous system on alert, and the brain starts to wire that way. The amygdala becomes more reactive while the prefrontal cortex—the part that helps us think clearly—loses some of its calm control.

The antidote? Activating the body’s rest and repair mode - your parasympathetic nervous system - through breathwork, mindfulness, movement, and grounding practices that signal safety back to the brain.

Awareness is the first step to balance. When we learn to calm the body, the mind follows. 🌿

If you’re read to turn insight into action, my coaching sessions offer practical tools to regulate the stress response and restore balance from the inside out.

10/29/2025

Your skin is more than protection — it’s perception.

The pigment in your skin doesn’t just color you; it communicates.
Melanin listens to light, metabolism, hormones, and even stress — adapting, signaling, responding.

This is the secret language of your skin: a living translation of how you are experiencing the world internally as well as externally. 🌞🌑

✨ New on the blog: “The Power of Pigment — The Physiology of Your Skin’s Secret Language of Perception.”

[link in bio]

09/09/2025

🌿 Why did I write about chlorophyll?
Because so many of my patients come to me with one very real — and often overlooked — concern: body odor. Clinically, this is called bromhidrosis.

Most providers don’t know what to say beyond “try a stronger deodorant or antiperspirant.” But odor doesn’t always come just from the armpits — and topical fixes don’t always solve the root issue.

That’s where chlorophyll caught my attention. 💚 In practice, it’s been a surprisingly helpful inside-out solution for patients who feel frustrated or embarrassed. And I love it because I can use it safely with my pediatric patients and with older patients already taking multiple medications and worried about interactions.

✨ Everyone benefits in more ways than one — from reducing body odor to supporting gut health, skin clarity, and overall wellness.

I wrote The Green Clean: How Chlorophyll Can Help Tackle Body Odor to share the science, the clinical insight, and a more holistic approach for this common (but rarely talked about) concern.

👉 Tap the link in bio to read the full post.

07/20/2025

Hi friends,
I wanted to share something really dear to my heart. Back in February, I had the privilege of being “Mystery Reader” for my son’s class. I was told that the theme had to be Kite related, and I didn’t really like any of the existing stories I found about kites at the time. I wanted to present a story that had a meaning and purpose and I wanted to have some heartfelt points of reflection for A and his classmates.
Part of being a Mystery Reader is you get to bring in a snack for everyone or do a craft / activity.
You know I’m a health nut, so the kids probably wouldn’t like my “snacks”, so we went with “activity”.
I wrote this short and sweet story for the attention span of a 5-9 year old, about the value of family, friends, and community in guiding and grounding our kiddos as they soar to great heights - in a way that a child could clearly understand meaning. It comes complete with an activity and reflections at the end (dont worry - no “healthy recipes” included).
I hope you’ll share this with your loved ones and nieces, nephews, friends, etc. This message means alot to me and your support is reflective of this message of how we all lift each other up.

https://amzn.to/4lwehlA

04/17/2025

TCA peels are minimal downtime, minimal discomfort procedures which address acne, acne scarring, hyperpigmentation, skin texture, skin hydration, and fine lines. Check out this quick-read blog post to learn more and find out what you can expect and how to take care of your skin post procedurally.

04/14/2025

What if the secret to glowing skin and fuller hair isn’t in a serum—but in a beam of light?
As a dermatology provider, I’m breaking down the science (and the hype) behind red light therapy, phototherapy, and what really works.
Let there be light—and let there be truth to educate consumers.
✨🔗Click the link in bio to read the full blog!✨

What if the secret to glowing skin and fuller hair isn’t in a serum—but in a beam of light?As a dermatology provider, I’m breaking down the science (and the ...

04/14/2025

Light has been used as a healing tool in both alternative and western medicine for ages. Phototherapy and red light therapy are both evidence-based complementary treatments for many skin and hair conditions. They reduce inflammation, regulating mitochondria and promoting healing. As this knowledge becomes more mainstream, everyone is jumping on the red light wagon. Before you purchase a home-device, a word of caution: not all devices are made the same.
Click the ✨🔗Link in my Bio ✨ to learn how to be an educated consumer when it comes to these at-home treatments. Let there be knowledge and let there be light.

03/02/2025

Homocysteine status is an often overlooked risk factor for numerous medical conditions, many of which the associations are not well recognized by the mainstream medical community. An elevated serum homocysteine is attributed to a number of risk factors. Learn more about which vitamin deficiencies, lifestyle factors, medications, and medical conditions can cause hyperhomocysteinemia and what you can do about it.
👉 Link to Health & Wellness Blog in Bio 👈