You are probably already aware that the hottest topic in medicine these days is the gut microbiome. Seriously - it seems like there's a new article about the importance of gut health coming out every 17 seconds these days!

However, if you've somehow missed this news and aren't sure what I'm referring to, your "microbiome" refers to the collection of trillions of microbes living within your intestinal tract. Influencing the microbiome in a positive way appears to be a key factor in promoting heath - and not just physical health, but mental as well.  

A healthy microbiome is part best friend, part power converter, part engine, and part pharmacy.

If you want to optimize your health, heal chronic disease, or know which foods are right for you… understanding your microbiome is absolutely your first step!

Of course, we all know we should be eating lots of healthy foods such as spinach, beets, broccoli and other colorful vegetables, fruits, nuts, and berries. But unless you have the right microbes present that can fully metabolize these foods, you won’t get the full benefits…

And, in some cases, these foods could actually harm you!

Obviously, knowing what works for your gut is key to optimizing your gut health. Read more below to find out why your gut health is so important, and what you can do about it!

I think often about the conundrum that is modern life...

We have more knowledge and more technology available to us than ever before in human history, yet we seem to continue to make the stupidest decisions - especially when it comes to our health! We live in a society of stress, confusion, and disease - all of which seem like they should be things of the past with all the resources we have access to in today's world...

Doesn’t it sometimes seem strange how we can be so technologically advanced yet so stressed out and unhealthy?

I often wonder how we can find our way back to a healthy balance. Or if it’s even possible?

And then this weekend, I got a sneak preview of something that finally put it all together for me...

Not just what’s wrong, but why, and what we can do in our daily lives as caring, conscious individuals to make real positive change - and I'm not just talking about diet and exercise...

I'm talking about ancient wisdom that shows us how we can all sustainably thrive in a toxic modern world.

If you're interested in becoming more self-sufficient and learning how to take control of your health and become more in touch with your body's health needs, I believe there is nothing more valuable that you can do then to learn to make your own natural medicines.

While the mainstream medical industry would have you believe they know everything there is to know about health, in fact, they have only been around for the past century or so, while humans have been making natural remedies and medicinal preparations at home for thousands of years! There certainly have been some valuable advances in medical technology over the past century, but that doesn't mean that our previous thousands of years of experience are no longer valid.

With a combined approach, you can learn to treat minor issues at home where appropriate, and rely on the more advanced technologies of our medical institutions when medically necessary for more serious illnesses and injuries. By taking this approach, not only will you save money, but you will also learn to be more self-sufficient, and develop a deeper connection with your own body and a better understanding of its needs - two things which are practically priceless.

Unfortunately, much of the knowledge of ancient medicinal remedies which used to be passed down to from generation to generation has been lost from memory over the past century, and few people in today's modern world know how to make home medicines or medicinal preparations. The good news is, for the information that has survived, the internet makes it easier than ever for people to re-learn these lost skills.

If you are interested in learning the art and science of making your own medicines using natural and effective ingredients, I would like to invite you to attend this inspiring 4-part video series that is coming up in the next few days, which will teach you how to confidently heal the 12 most common ailments using natural, homemade medicines.

Register Here for the FREE Video Series, or learn more below...

As you may know by now, I'm a big fan of fermented foods, and I regularly experiment with interesting new fermentation methods. One fermented food that I have yet to try making myself is kombucha.

Kombucha is a fizzy, fermented tea drink that has gone mainstream in recent years, and you can now find it in the refrigerated section of not just health food stores, but even big supermarket chains. However, the kombucha you buy in stores is, of course, a far cry from what you can make at home. Some storebought kombucha contains artificial ingredients such as colorings or flavorings, and of course, most contains lots of sugar.

However, homemade kombucha can be a delicious and nutritious drink, and it's a great way to get more fermented foods into your diet for their healthy benefits.

From what I have read, kombucha is also really easy to make, so I'm looking forward to trying it! The recipe below demonstrates how easy it is to make your own homemade kombucha.

What is health anyway? Is health merely the absence of disease? Are you healthy just because you don't have symptoms? Or does real health go a little deeper than that?

According to our modern allopathic medical system, each symptom of disease exists in isolation - and each bodily system is treated as separate from the others. This is what doctors learn in medical school - to diagnose "disease" via symptoms, and prescribe medications to treat these specific symptoms.

If you have a skin rash, you are sent to a doctor (dermatologist) who deals specifically with skin rashes. If you have digestive or stomach problems, you see a gastroenterologist. If you have heart problems, you are sent to see a cardiologist.

But what if all these symptoms were actually related?

With the conventional approach, rather than finding the root problem and addressing it, you would instead think you suffered from three different maladies and would likely end up on (at least) three different drugs!

On the other hand, holistic approaches to health - such as Functional Medicine - actually address the patient as a whole. ALL of your symptoms are considered together, and treatment is tailored to each individual's unique needs - rather than standardized "treatments" being used to treat specific symptoms separately. Functional Medicine doctors are trained to "treat people, not diseases," according to author and Functional Medicine doctor, Mark Hyman.

Addressing the entire spectrum of health is understandably more involved and time-consuming than simply focusing on one particular symptom or disease, but if you want to achieve truly balanced health and wellness, there are 7 key areas that you will need to address - both on your own as an individual, and with your doctor.

Holistic health isn't really holistic unless it considers every aspect of your being - not just your physical health. In today's post, I will discuss the importance of finding a healthy and balanced mindset - an often neglected area, but perhaps the most important element of enjoying holistic health in all areas of your life.

Ask yourself - are you happy and content with your life? Are you mentally and emotionally happy as well as physically? And if the answer is no, what is holding you back?

Until you can answer in the affirmative, you have not achieved true holistic health.

Step 3 on our journey to achieving holistic health is, of course, exercise! Movement is key to good health - in fact, it is one of the most essential factors for a healthy life.

For the most part, how you move isn't as important as how much you move, but there is some evidence that certain types of exercise are more conducive to good health and longevity. Hours of long-form exercise that stresses the joints and organs (think marathon running) may in fact shorten the lives of those who make that their main form of exercise. But in general, as long as you're moving, you're improving your health.

Unfortunately, for most of us in today's modern world, exercise seems to be thought of as more of an optional hobby than an essential need like food and sleep - even though it is equally as important for long-term health! You will not die of lack of exercise within a few days or weeks like you would without food, water, and sleep, but you WILL die of it eventually - far sooner than you would if you treated it as the essential need that it is.

As I explain below, in order to stay lively and healthy throughout your natural lifespan, you need to get moving!

Happy Easter!

I wish it felt a bit more like spring, but I will take the sunshine at least!

For this month's "freebie," I'm sharing an awesome opportunity to take a free class from a leading herbalist and natural medicine expert. I thought this would be a great follow up to last week's post on holistic and herbal healing modalities - as well as a shout out to all my lovely soul sisters out there! :-) This class definitely takes a feminine perspective on healing, but of course men are also welcome to participate and regardless of what gender you consider yourself, you are sure to learn a lot.

During this free virtual class, Discovering the Feminine Way of Plant Medicine: Healing Through the Wisdom of Natural Remedies, Rhythms & Relationships, herbalist, gardener, and author Deb Soule will share some of the medicinal plants and tonic herbs most valued for healing qualities specific to women’s health – including remedies to help women heal and thrive during all of the different cycles of our lives.

The online class will be held next Saturday, April 7th, at 10:00am PT/1:00pm ET so be sure to head on over and register now, while you're thinking of it. Or read more below to find out more about what will be covered in the free class...

It's week 2 in our series on achieving holistic health, and this week, we're talking about holistic healing with the use of natural remedies.

Does anyone else find it strange that that we supposedly need drugs that were created in a lab to keep us "healthy"?  How is this possible? Most of these substances are completely foreign to our bodies, so how are they essential for good health?

They aren't. In fact, some estimates say that adverse prescription drug reactions may be the 4th leading cause of death in the U.S. - and that's just for drugs that were prescribed and used according to directions! (When you add in overdose and opioid abuse, the number is much, much higher.)

For centuries, humans relied on plants to keep us healthy - and we didn't always make such a great distinction between "food" and "medicine." Certainly there were doctors and healers who used tinctures and other preparations of herbal plant medicines, but there was also tribal knowledge about certain plants to eat when we were afflicted by certain illnesses or other health issues. We evolved with a symbiotic relationship to plants, and this factor is sadly lacking in today's modern world.

Remember that health is not a simple yes or no question. All health exists on a spectrum. Feeding your body natural, healthy foods is the first step to true health, as we discussed last week. Many forms of illness and disease stem from poor nutrition - feeding the body things that do not support it, and denying it the foods that do support it.

However, holistic healing is about more than just herbal remedies or eating certain plants; it is also about taking a look at the whole being in a holistic way, rather than just trying to "cure" a certain symptom. Below we will take a look at what holistic healing means, and how it can help you to live a healthier life on all levels.

We're back! Up and running at last... As you may have noticed, our site was not working properly last week, and I was unable to get a blog post out to you as usual. (I took advantage of the break by going to see a movie - something I haven't done in months! I admit it was a nice little treat.) However, everything should be fixed now (if you notice any problems please let me know), and I'm back in action.

In fact, this week I'm starting a series on holistic health, so stay tuned over the coming weeks when I will be discussing 5 important aspects of true health from a holistic perspective.

Today's topic is where every discussion of good health should start - with what you eat...