What is Naturopathic Medicine?

I like to say that Naturopathic medicine is the original medicine. The OG. Think about the old-time primary care physician who made house calls and knew your entire family history.  Naturopaths seek to return to those roots with personalized medicine, patient-centered care and using the gentlest therapies possible. Over the next three weeks, I will be diving deeper into the philosophy that naturopathy is built upon but I will start with the basic foundation today.

Naturopathic doctors look at the whole person and create a unique action plan to prevent and treat disease as well as supporting your body’s overall health. We start with gentle, natural therapies whenever possible – utilizing dietary and lifestyle counseling, herbal medicine, muscle work/manual therapy and supplements to activate your body’s innate ability to heal. We work with nature in the belief that our natural state is one of good health. When we experience disease, usually something has gotten in the way of our inborn healing response. 

Naturopathic medicine is integrative in that we work with other healthcare providers and recognize that different situations call for different interventions. Medication and surgery have their place in medicine just as natural therapies do. Our patient-centered approach allows us time to get to know your whole case and treat you as an individual rather than a collection of symptoms or problems.

Does this sound like the type of partnership you want with your primary care provider? If you are ready to start or revitalize your health journey, you are in the right spot! Check out my bio to get in touch. I offer 15-minute complimentary consultation calls to answer your initial questions. Convenient telehealth appointments are available from the comfort of your own home.

#naturalmedicine #naturopathicmedicine #naturopathicdoctor #healing #drjesskeating #willowcnm #herbalmedicine #willowclinic #functionalmedicine #telehealth #holisticmedicine #healthjourney #foodismedicine #healthylife #health #chiropractic

What is the deal with CBD?

A few of my favorite products for personal use.

There is a LOT of hype about CBD (cannabidiol). I would just like to address some CBD basics as this is a product that I utilize in my practice and for my own health.

CBD is a phytonutrient (a compound derived from a plant). It comes from the hemp plant. Hemp and marijuana are different but closely related plants. This distinction is made because hemp has very little THC while marijuana contains far more. THC is the psychoactive compound or the ingredient that produces a “high.”

The recent increase in CBD use is mostly due to products made from hemp and therefore containing very little or no THC. These products are legal in all 50 states and can be purchased directly by consumers. Licensing, medicinal use and/or decriminalization of marijuana does not affect the availability of CBD or hemp products.  

There are several great companies out there making high-quality CBD products and, of course, also companies using cheaper products or cheaper manufacturing techniques. I do not seek to endorse a single company but rather to educate consumers about the differences in quality. The two things I look for when choosing hemp or CBD products are 1: where did it come from? 2: how was it processed? 

I often look for products that contain “certified European hemp” because Europe has a longer regulatory history with the plant. This means they have greater regulatory processes in place to prevent contamination from pesticides and other chemicals. There are good hemp products from plants grown in the US but our regulations are not as well-defined so it is harder to know exactly what you are getting. You can look for “certified organic” hemp or a company that utilizes organic farming practices.

How the CBD is extracted from the plant is incredibly important as well. In order to get the active ingredients out of plants, there are several common methods. The cheaper method uses chemical solvents like hexanes which may leave residual amounts of those harsh chemicals in the final product. I always look for “Co2 extraction” as this is the cleanest possible method.

CBD can be used for many common conditions. Difficulty sleeping, anxiety, muscle or joint pain and menstrual pain are the most frequently cited uses for CBD or hemp oil.

CBD/hemp oil can be dosed in a liquid/oil format, gummies or topically as a cream or salve.  Pictured above are three products that I keep around for my personal use – Calm gummies, Recovery gummies and a topical salve for muscle/joint stiffness and pain. There are sleep gummies that are also great for occasional difficulty sleeping. If you are experiencing a health challenge or have more questions about CBD, it is best to work with an experienced and qualified healthcare provider.

If you are ready to start or revitalize your health journey, you are in the right spot! Check out my website or bio to get in touch. I offer 15-minute complimentary consultation calls to answer your initial questions. Convenient telehealth appointments are available from the comfort of your own home.

#naturalmedicine #naturopathicmedicine #naturopathicdoctor #healing #drjesskeating #willowcnm #herbalmedicine #willowclinic #functionalmedicine #telehealth #holisticmedicine #healthjourney #foodismedicine #CBD #hempoil #botanicalmedicine

What is health?

Being healthy is not a destination or a moment. It is a journey.

Being healthy is not a sprint. It is a marathon.

It is not being “perfect” but rather continuing to make progress.

Being healthy means making a commitment to yourself yet still recognizing that you are human.

Give yourself grace and forgiveness when you have an off day. We can’t be 100% all the time.

Being healthy means searching for balance in your life. Balancing nutrition, exercise, sleep, alone time, time with others, parenting, work, creative endeavors, etc is no easy feat. It’s like juggling 12 balls at once. It would be surprising if you didn’t drop a ball or two from time to time.

Health is NOT a fad, a crash diet, a one-time decision or a limited-time offer.

Health is getting up day after day and committing to making the best possible decisions you can.

Health is not being “better” than the person next to you but rather measuring your progress compared to who you were yesterday.

If you are ready to start or revitalize your health journey, you are in the right place! Check out my website or bio to get in touch. I offer 15-minute complimentary consultation calls to answer your initial questions. Convenient telehealth appointments are available from the comfort of your home.

#naturalmedicine #naturopathicmedicine #healing #drjesskeating #willowcnm #willowclinic #telehealth #holisticmedicine #healthjourney #foodismedicine #balance #progressnotperfection #naturopathicdoctor #chiropractor

Answers to All Your Acupuncture Questions!

What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a part of TCM (traditional Chinese medicine), which is a holistic system of treating disease and promoting health. Holistic means it assesses the whole patient and does not just focus on isolated symptoms.

TCM has a 2000-year written history but has likely been practiced for over 6000 years. It looks at the energy or qi (pronounced chee) in the body and the various organ systems. Acupuncture points are “energy hubs” located along meridians—lines of energy that connect the different organs.

Acupuncture has sometimes been interpreted by western minds as treating local disorders only. For example, if a patient has knee pain, we may put needles around the knee. While this approach does work, it does not capture the whole potential of TCM. With local points, we create a sort of micro-trauma that causes small amounts of inflammation and encourages the body to have a healing response in that particular area. But rest assured, even if we don’t put needles directly into your area of concern, everything in the body is connected. Acupuncture will frequently treat areas with points far away from the body part in question because of the energetic connection of the meridians.

What can acupuncture help treat?
Acupuncture can help manage a myriad of different concerns including—constipation, diarrhea, menstrual difficulties, infertility, joint pain, difficulty sleeping, anxiety, headaches, mood swings, tight muscles, sinus pressure, Bell’s palsy, nasal congestion, cravings, smoking cessation, fatigue, high blood pressure, etc. There is even promising research looking at using acupuncture to help treat more serious conditions like Parkinson’s, MS and post-stroke rehabilitation. When doing an acupuncture intake, your whole case will be considered because different points can be needled to address different concerns in the same visit.

How many treatments will I need?
This is highly dependent on the nature of your condition, how long you’ve had it, your general health status and frequency of treatment. Some health concerns can be eliminated while others may need ongoing management. Most of my patients notice that the effects of acupuncture tend to accumulate over time. For example, they may feel their anxiety lift after treatment, but the effect only lasts a few days after the first treatment. Then, after each subsequent treatment, the effect lasts longer and longer. It often works this way because we are building up and regulating your qi. TCM practitioners typically recommend 2-3 treatments per week at the beginning of treatment. However, many patients can’t fit that many visits into their busy schedules. But even with only 1 treatment per week, the effects will eventually build up so that treatments can be spread farther apart.

Who is a good patient for acupuncture? 
Anyone with an open mind who is also willing to be a partner in their health journey. I almost never recommend acupuncture as the sole treatment approach. Most people will also benefit from diet/lifestyle interventions as well. Taking an active role in your health is one of the greatest predictors for resolution of health concerns and continued well-being. I take a holistic approach using all the various tools at my disposal – naturopathic medicine, acupuncture and chiropractic medicine. You get the benefit of someone applying a combination of western and eastern wisdom.

If you are ready to start or revitalize your health journey, you are in the right spot! Check out my website or bio to get in touch. I offer 15-minute complimentary consultation calls to answer your initial questions. Telehealth appointments are available at your convenience from the comfort of your own home.

#naturalmedicine #naturopathicmedicine #naturopathicdoctor #healing #botanicalmedicine #drjesskeating #willowcnm #herbalmedicine #willowclinic #functionalmedicine #telehealth #holisticmedicine #healthjourney #wilowcnm #foodismedicine #acupuncture #acu #tcm

Dry skin brushing

What is dry skin brushing? Check out my Facebook page or Instagram for a short video!

Dry skin brushing is a gentle, natural way to support your body’s innate routes of elimination. The body detoxifies by several main mechanisms: the liver sends waste to the intestines, the kidneys send waste to the urine, we breathe out carbon dioxide and the skin also plays a role as an organ of elimination.  

Dry skin brushing supports skin health, lymphatic flow and healthy detox. You simply take a natural, stiff-bristled brush and brush your entire body toward the heart. Press firmly but not hard enough to scratch yourself. Your skin may be slightly pink afterwards. Don’t forget the soles of your feet! 

Dry skin brushing increases circulation to the skin, removes dead skin cells and opens the pores. It is best done before a shower. 

How often should you dry skin brush? You can do it once a week, once a month or as part of a periodic detox. I like to encourage patients to do a cleanse at least once a year. Dry skin brushing is a quick and simple way to improve your skincare routine and also help support the body’s natural detoxification processes.  

If you are ready to start or revitalize your health journey, you are in the right spot! Check out my website or bio to get in touch. I offer 15-minute complimentary consultation calls to answer your initial questions. Telehealth appointments are available at your convenience from the comfort of your own home. 

#naturalmedicine #naturopathicmedicine #naturopathicdoctor #healing #botanicalmedicine #drjesskeating #willowcnm #herbalmedicine #willowclinic #functionalmedicine #telehealth #holisticmedicine #healthjourney #wilowcnm #foodismedicine #dryskinbrushing #detox #cleanse #skincare 

What is high intensity interval training?

There are many ways to support healthy metabolism. Two major ones that have gotten a lot of attention recently are Intermittent Fasting (IF) and High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). The best news is that both of these are relatively simple to do, can be free or cheap to implement and can be used together! Check out my post from Monday about IF.

High-Intensity Interval Training – (HIIT) involves a short workout alternating periods of “work” and “rest” or high and low intensity. This may be done with just about any activity – weights, kettle bells, jump squats, jumping jacks, any type of cardio (running, biking, swimming), etc.  Most HIIT workouts last between 4 and 20 minutes. Many cardio cycles involve 30 seconds of high effort and 30 seconds of rest (or light effort) – commonly done by alternating sprinting and jogging or cycling hard and then lightly. HIIT can also involve doing an exercise like jumping jacks for 45 seconds followed by 15 seconds of rest. One style of HIIT called Tabata involves 20 seconds of work and 10 seconds of rest for a duration of only 4 minutes.

HIIT has garnered a lot of scientific study recently and has many proven benefits. HIIT is great for busy individuals because you can get the same benefit of a moderate-intensity 60-minute cardio session with a HIIT cardio session of only 20 minutes. Short sessions are much easier to fit into our busy schedules. HIIT may even be better at targeting fat cells than doing a traditional or “steady state” cardio session. HIIT can be done in the gym or at home and requires little to no special equipment. HIIT principles can be applied to any type of exercise to prevent boredom with your routine.

HIIT and IF are a great combination to boost metabolism and fuel healthy weight loss. Eating a healthy diet is also crucial to maintaining a healthy weight. If you are ready to start or revitalize your health journey, you are in the right spot! Check out my website in my “about” section to get in touch. I offer 15-minute complimentary consultation calls to answer your initial questions. Telehealth appointments are available at your convenience from the comfort of your own home.

#naturalmedicine #naturopathicmedicine #naturopathicdoctor #healing #botanicalmedicine #drjesskeating #willowcnm #herbalmedicine #willowclinic #functionalmedicine #telehealth #holisticmedicine #healthjourney #willowcnm #intermittentfasting #healthyeating #nutrition #foodismedicine #HIIT #highintensityintervaltraining #exercise

Happy Veterans Day

To the brave men and women of the United States armed forces – we thank you, we salute you and we recognize what you have given to this great country. A hope a wave of love and gratitude spreads across this nation today in honor of all you have fought for, sacrificed for and believed in. Thanks to you not only do all 350 million American citizens enjoy freedom but also countless millions of foreign citizens across the world.

If you are ready to start or revitalize your health journey, you are in the right spot! Check out my website or bio to get in touch. I offer 15-minute complimentary consultation calls to answer your initial questions. Telehealth appointments are available at your convenience from the comfort of your own home.

#naturalmedicine #naturopathicmedicine #naturopathicdoctor #healing #botanicalmedicine #drjesskeating #willowcnm #herbalmedicine #willowclinic #functionalmedicine #telehealth #holisticmedicine #healthjourney #willowcnm #veteransday #armedforces #thankyou #freedom

What is chiropractic?

You may be wondering – what does a chiropractor do? Chiropractic doctors are trained to look at the whole person to come up with a comprehensive treatment plan. We aim to prevent and treat disease using natural approaches like spinal adjusting, myofascial release (muscle work), dietary counseling, botanical medicine and high quality supplements. Chiropractors help you re-establish your healthy foundations by partnering with you on your health journey. We do not use drugs or surgery so we are a great choice for anyone who wants an alternative approach to their health concerns.

There is a wide variety of treatment options available to chiropractors depending on what sort of approach they focus on and any additional certifications they hold. Some chiropractors can practice acupuncture (like me!), some treatment pregnant women and children, some utilize a lot of rehab techniques for healing after an injury, some prefer to focus on spinal manipulation while others give more dietary and supplement recommendations. Don’t be surprised if you see a new chiropractic doctor and they have a different approach from what you are used to. It is important to communicate with your doctors what you expect and what you have experienced in the past.

If you are ready to start or revitalize your health journey, you are in the right spot! Check out my website to get in touch. I offer 15-minute complimentary consultation calls to answer your initial questions. Telehealth appointments are available at your convenience from the comfort of your own home.

#naturalmedicine #naturopathicmedicine #naturopathicdoctor #healing #botanicalmedicine #drjesskeating #willowcnm #herbalmedicine #willowclinic #functionalmedicine #telehealth #holisticmedicine #healthjourney #chiropractor #chiropractic #chiropracticmedicine #chiro #foodismedicine

What is intermittent fasting?

Today let’s talk about Intermittent Fasting. I have used this with many of my patients and also on my own health journey. My dedication to this approach comes and goes and I think it is time to get back into a regular rhythm. I typically eat between 9-5 or 10-6 but you can choose whatever 8-hour window works best for your schedule. I find that the first few days I feel some hunger during my fasting window but my body soon gets used to the new food schedule.

 There are many ways to support healthy metabolism. Two major ones that have gotten a lot of attention recently are Intermittent Fasting (IF) and High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). The best news is that both of these are relatively simple to do, can be free or cheap to implement and can be used together! Later this week I’ll add a post about HIIT.

Intermittent fasting, or IF, is also referred to as “time-restricted eating.” In it, you choose an 8-hour window each day to eat and then consume no calories the rest of the day. This gives your body an extended fasting period where it has to mobilize resources (burn fat). Over the course of thousands of years, humans never had constant access to food the way we do now. Even just 50 years ago, most people ate three square meals but did not snack throughout the day. Now we commonly eat three meals AND snack through the day. We’ve increased our caloric intake in a time when most of us are more sedentary than ever.

Human beings evolved amazing mechanisms to weather good times and bad times. Our metabolism is such that we store excess calories as fat during times of abundance and can burn those stores to survive periods of famine.  During feast times, insulin stores extra sugar in the blood as fat. Many of our modern meals are carb-rich – essentially flooding the body with quick energy. When the body is overwhelmed with resources it cannot immediately use, it is smart and saves much of those calories for a rainy day. Insulin also impairs cognitive function, which is why many people report feeling more mentally alert while intermittent fasting. During the 16-hour period of fasting, the body has to burn those stored calories as fuel. It releases glucagon – insulin’s hormonal opposite – which mobilizes fat in the body.  

Intermittent fasting can be effective even if only utilized 5 days out of the week. Many patients still have great results and can ease their time restriction on the weekend. It’s still a good goal to eat during a 12-hour window on your “off” days. It is helpful to ease into intermittent fasting. Start with a 12-hour fasting window and every day or two add an hour to work up to a 16-hour window over the course of 1-2 weeks. If you are a brittle diabetic, pregnant, under 16, over 70, have chronic kidney disease, gout, chronic heart disease or a history of eating disorders, this is likely not a good eating strategy for you. These patients must consult a healthcare provider before starting IF.

HIIT and IF are a great combination to boost metabolism and fuel healthy weight loss. Eating a healthy diet is also crucial to supporting healthy metabolism. If you are ready to start or revitalize your health journey, you are in the right spot! Check out my website to get in touch. I offer 15-minute complimentary consultation calls to answer your initial questions. Telehealth appointments are available at your convenience from the comfort of your own home.

#naturalmedicine #naturopathicmedicine #naturopathicdoctor #healing #botanicalmedicine #drjesskeating #willowcnm #herbalmedicine #willowclinic #functionalmedicine #telehealth #holisticmedicine #healthjourney #willowcnm #intermittentfasting #healthyeating #nutrition #foodismedicine #HIIT

Air Fryer run-down!

Check out my instagram or Willow Clinic Facebook Page for a short video that outlines some of the health benefits of using an air fryer. These include 50 to 70% fewer calories, significantly reduced fat content and even reduction of cancer-causing chemicals.

You can cook veggies, pizza, meat, chicken, fries, onion rings, be creative!

You may want to skip the fish however. Research suggests that this cooking method can destroy some of the healthy omega-3 fatty acids found in fish.

I can’t wait to try out this new, convenient and healthy cooking option for me and my family!

If you are looking for a fresh start on your health journey and want to partner with me - check out the “Contact” tab on my website. I offer free 15 minute consultation calls to answer your questions. Telehealth visits are available from the comfort of your own home!

#drjesskeating #health #healthylifestyle #naturopathicmedicine #naturopathicdoctor #naturalmedicine #holisticmedicine #healthjourney #willowclinic #willowcnm #airfryer #healthylife #healthychoices