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By Blair Doucette
RNM Blog Uncategorized
Detergents and Your Endocrine System

What is the Endocrine System?:

The endocrine system is a network of glands, organs, and pathways that produce hormones and send them along to carry messages to certain cells and organs. This process influences many of your daily bodily functions and regulates big systems like your metabolism, reproductive systems, stress responses, and many others! Organs involved in the endocrine system include the pituitary gland, the thyroid, the adrenal glands, the parathyroid, and the pancreas. 

What is an Endocrine Disruptor?:

Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) can naturally occur in our environment or be human-made. These chemicals mimic, interfere with, and block the body’s naturally occurring hormones. Even small levels of these chemicals can have a big impact, as hormones act in very small amounts.

Not to be an alarmist, but many of our everyday items contain EDCs. Many cosmetics, toys, food packaging, and detergents contain varying amounts of EDCs. We come into contact with them in our air, food, and water. Though they can’t be eliminated entirely from our lives, we can make small choices to decrease our interactions with them. 

If you want to learn more about endocrine disruptors, check out this article by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences: Endocrine Disruptors.

Everyday Items That Contain EDCs:

  • Laundry Detergents: Many detergents in the US contain chemicals known as Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs). The EU and Canada have since banned NPEs. Unfortunately, the US still uses them in a wide array of products. Studies are showing that they have the potential to impact hormone function, which can lead to infertility and even affect fetal development. 
  • Cosmetics: Among many other things, cosmetics typically contain 1,4-dioxane, a chemical compound that is known to be “likely carcinogenic to humans” and a possible hormone disruptor. 1,4-dioxane is rarely listed on ingredient labels, but it’s found in soaps, detergents, and shampoos. 
  • Fragrance products: Many of our household products contain synthetic fragrances: detergents, cosmetics, feminine hygiene products, baby products, shampoos, powders, dish soaps, etc. Common fragrance ingredients to look out for include: 
    • Beta-myrcene, a carcinogen and fragrance ingredient found in 3 out of 7 cleaning products and 19 out of 25 personal care products
    • Diethyl phthalate (DEP), a common EDC found in cleaning and personal care products
    • DEHP (Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate), even though this phthalate was banned in the EU over 20 years ago, we still have it in many of our personal care items, notably Summer’s Eve Feminine Products
    • Propylene glycol, this EDC is known to impact reproductive health and is found in cosmetics, fragrances, topical medications, soaps and cleansers, hair care products, deodorants, as well as E-cigarettes and vapes

How to Avoid EDCs in Laundry Detergents:

Opt for an eco-friendly, Environmental Working Group-approved product:

  • AspenClean Laundry Pods
  • Blueland
  • Seventh Generation

Make your own!:

At-Home Powder Laundry Detergent (stays good indefinitely)

Ingredients:

  • 1 bar of castile soap, chopped or grated (on the smallest grater setting you have)
  • 1 cup of coarse salt
  • 1 cup of washing soda
  • 1 cup of baking soda

Instructions:

  • Chop or grate your castile soap into small pieces
  • Then, add all of your ingredients to a food processor and blend until your powder is incorporated. 
  • I will typically triple this recipe, which lasts me a few months. 

If you prefer a liquid detergent, check out this blog post by Live Simply

If you’re looking for recommendations on choosing safe Cookware, Tupperware, or Toys, check out our blog: Holiday Toy and Gift Safety – A Naturopathic Perspective!

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Pouring herbal tea into a teacup
By Blair Doucette
RNM Blog Uncategorized
May’s Herb of the Month: Cleavers

We see it time and time again. Mother Nature grows just what we need, just when we need it. Springtime is filled with blood-building and liver-detoxing bright green herbs/weeds. Many spring greens help us shake the winter off and give us the energy to head into the hot and heavy summer. Cleavers is one of those herbs that look like weeds but work like magic. Lining many gardens, this little, unassuming plant is an excellent water purifier for your body. It helps cleanse the lymphatic system and the kidneys, and is especially helpful at relieving pain during urinary tract infections.  

Common name: Cleavers

Latin name: Galium aparine

Part Used: Aerial parts, during flowering, before going to seed

Benefits: Mineral-rich, lymphatic support, blood cleanser

Taste: Salty, Moist, Mild, “Green”, Sweet 

Energetics: Cooling, Relaxing, Moistening in the short-term, and Astringent in the long-term

History:

Cleavers has a long history as a plant medicine in North America as well as parts of Europe. It’s also a favorite among deer! In the spring, when does are giving birth to fawns, they look for beds of cleavers. This is for their plushy texture and sweet, straw-like scent that masks their own to help avoid predators. Because of this, Indigenous American groups considered cleavers to be “Deer Medicine,” and considered it a remedy that relates specifically to the nerves, artists, and beauty. In Greece, a 1st-century Greek physician, Dioscorides, prescribed it for weariness. Greek shepherds and Swedish dairy farmers used dried cleavers to fashion sieves through which they would strain their herds’ milk. 

 

Cleavers has many nicknames, one of them being Lady’s Bedstraw. During medieval times, it was used both to stuff mattresses and to throw about the floor to cover unpleasant odors. 

Benefits:

Mineral-Rich: Cleavers, like many mineral-rich plants (stinging nettle), taste a little bit salty.

 

Alterative:

When an herb is considered an alterative, it’s considered to open the body’s natural detoxification pathways and promote metabolic waste elimination. It does this through diuretic mechanisms and supports the kidneys, urinary tract, and lymphatic systems to “clean house!”

 

Lymphatic Support/Mover: 

Cleavers is known as a lymphagogue, which means it stimulates the lymphatic system to produce and move more lymph. In this way, it acts as a soothing or cooling relaxant diuretic. It is therefore very beneficial for inflamed UTIs with symptoms of burning upon urination and swollen lymph nodes around the groin region. 

 

Nervous-system support: 

While not considered a calmative agent for the nervous system, cleavers may still support it by combating inflammatory nerve conditions. Cleavers are often used alongside other nervine herbs, such as oat straw or lemon balm, for those presenting with nervousness or excess sympathetic nervous system activity. 

Emotional Aspects of Cleavers:

Cleavers is associated with emotional attachments, boundaries, and letting go. They clear negative or heavy energies and stagnant emotions and behaviors to balance emotional well-being. Cleavers is aptly named, in that as a plant, it cleaves or clings to passersby. As an emotional plant medicine, they do the opposite in that they help untangle and let go of emotional baggage. 

How To Use Fresh Herbs: 

  1. Add to any cooked or stewed meal just as you would with any other herb.
  1. Make cleavers tea
  2. Incorporate fresh cleavers into apple cider vinegar for salad dressings. Just take one part fresh cleavers and submerge them in two parts apple cider vinegar. Then, use the vinegar in place of lemon juice when making your dressing. 
  3. Blend with a small amount of water to make a juice to drink or to soothe sunburnt skin.
  4. Add to a green smoothie. Cleavers have a mild flavor, so they’re an excellent green to add. Green Smoothie with Cleavers by Jennifer Prentice at My Healthy Homemade LifeIngredients
    • 2 cups water
    • 1 cup chopped fresh cleavers
    • 1/2 cup fresh chopped pineapple
    • 1/2 cup chopped fresh mango
    • 1/2- 1 frozen banana (frozen in chunks)
    • 1 tbsp chia seeds

    Instructions

    •  Add all the ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. Serve immediately

 

Want to learn more about herbs? Check out some of our other Herbs of the Month:

 

April Herb of the Month: Lemon Balm, The Herb That “Makes The Heart Merry”

March’s Herb of the Month: Violet

February Herb of the Month: Hawthorn, the Herb of the Heart

January Herb of the Month: Fennel, A Natural Way To Avoid Gas and Bloating

 

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By Kristen Alexander
RNM Blog Uncategorized
Every Mom Deserves a Moment: Guilt-Free Self-Care Tips for Mother’s Day and Beyond

Self-care for Mother’s Day: Every mother’s story is beautifully unique, woven with love, strength, and incredible multitasking. From sunrise to bedtime (and often beyond), moms pour themselves into caring for others. They make sure everyone has what they need, and often put their own needs last. But here’s the truth: to keep giving your best, you’ve got to give a little back to yourself, too.

This Mother’s Day, we’re shining a light on the caregivers—the moms, grandmothers, aunts, stepmoms, foster moms, and anyone else who wears the “mom hat” in someone’s life. No matter your role, you deserve moments of rest, joy, and restoration…without the dreaded mom guilt tagging along.

So we’ve pulled together some simple, soul-nourishing self-care ideas that are as practical as they are refreshing. Because taking care of yourself isn’t selfish, it’s essential.

Below are a few easy, guilt-free ways to fill your own cup so you can continue pouring into others with love and energy.

  • Scheduled Self-Care: While it may seem impossible to schedule time for yourself each day because you are constantly caring for everyone else, try setting aside 10-20 minutes to focus on yourself each day. Use this time to take a bath, cleanse and exfoliate your face, moisturize your skin, apply a castor oil pack, or work on improving your lymphatic and nervous systems! 
    • Nervous System Support: Vagus nerve exercises can help support your nervous system and get you out of the ‘fight or flight’ state, allowing you to be calmer, responsive, and present. A few simple vagus nerve exercises include gargling, humming, splashing cold water on your face, meditating, and taking deep, slow breaths. Another way to support your nervous system and reduce stress is by practicing EFT Tapping (Emotional Freedom Technique). 
    • Lymphatic System Support: Gua Sha and Dry Skin Brushing are two excellent ways to gently support your lymphatic system and reduce inflammation and stagnation within the body. There are excellent tutorials on YouTube that are available to help walk you through these processes! The best part about both of these lymphatic supports is that they only take a few minutes of your time!
  • Nature Time: Spending time in nature is such an important part of life that is often skipped over due to our busy schedules. Aim to spend 10 minutes outside each day listening to the birds, sitting in the grass, or taking a brisk walk. Challenge yourself to learn about one new flower, tree, or animal daily; curiosity and learning help keep the mind sharp. This is a great activity to do as a family! 
  • Human Interaction: Take a few minutes each day to talk to another person outside of your immediate family. This helps to stay engaged and connected with your community, as research has shown that social connection is crucial for optimal mental and physical health. Making time for connection, even 5-10 minutes, is invaluable if you are home alone all day, raising tiny humans! 
  • Diet and Nutrition: It can be easy to forget to feed yourself after you have fed everyone else. Or, maybe you just don’t have time in your schedule to prepare meals with a newborn at home. If you cannot eat consistent meals, try incorporating nutrient-dense snacks throughout the day. Focus on protein, fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats. It is also important to stay hydrated during the day. Ensure that you have access to quality filtered water (with electrolytes) to help fuel your day and keep you hydrated! If you have difficulty winding down at night, you can create a sleepy mocktail to support hydration, relaxation, and sleep. Try mixing sparkling water, tart cherry juice, and magnesium powder! 

 

If you’re trying to conceive, here are a few practices to start now for additional support:

  • Incorporate high-quality prenatal vitamins and fish oil for optimal nutritional support and to help correct potential nutrient deficiencies
  • Ask your healthcare providers to run labs to ensure optimal wellness, allowing you to work on improving deficiencies. Basic labs to asses: Vitamin D, Vitamin B 12, Folate, Iron Panel and Ferritin, Thyroid Panel, CBC, CMP, HbA1c
  • Focus on nutrient-dense meals that prioritize protein, healthy fats, and antioxidants (berries, leafy greens, nuts, beans, etc) 
  • Stress management is essential in all walks of life, but especially during conception and pregnancy. Learning how to manage stress appropriately is important, and ensuring that you have tools that you can utilize is imperative! Consider establishing a relationship with a counselor or therapist. This will help you learn about different stress management techniques and see which ones may work best for you! 
  • If you are not already tracking your menstrual cycle, start a journal to help familiarize yourself with your cycles. This will help you discover if there are any imbalances or irregularities. 

 

If you’re feeling out of balance, overwhelmed, or looking for pre-conception support, make an appointment with a naturopathic doctor to see what additional support may be available to you! 

 

Experiencing Care-taker burnout? Read THIS BLOG for more helpful tips!

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Man getting frustrated looking his medical symptoms up online
By Kristen Alexander
RNM Blog Uncategorized
The Dangers of Googling or Using ChatGPT For Your Medical Symptoms
Googling Symptoms

How many times have you Googled your symptoms and been provided with frightening information about potential health ailments? The internet is a powerful tool that has made our lives easier in a lot of ways. However, it can easily complicate matters by providing broad information that doesn’t pertain to each individual. 

For the sake of this article, I asked Google ‘Why do I have a headache?”. I was provided with multiple answers, including dehydration, allergies, hormone imbalances, and underlying medical conditions like a stroke or meningitis. 

 

Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Basket 

The internet can be a helpful tool in assisting you in learning more about different health conditions. But it should only be considered one of the tools you rely on, not the only one you rely on. Solely relying on information from one article or from ChatGPT (or any other AI software) can be dangerous, as there is a significant amount of misinformation floating around online. The rise in artificial intelligence is making it much more difficult to differentiate good information from bad information. 

If you find information online that you are interested in incorporating into your daily life to support your overall health, consider having a conversation with your healthcare provider (or naturopathic doctor) to learn more about the information that you found, and to see if the recommendations from Google or ChatGPT truly are good ideas for you to incorporate. It is important to remember that these artificial interfaces do not have all the answers and can make errors, just like humans. Although these artificial interfaces may be intelligent, they did not spend years in school studying the human body, and they lack the ability to make personal recommendations based on your individual being. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket by blindly trusting the internet. Seek additional guidance for well-rounded support. 

 

Naturopathic Medicine and Artificial Intelligence 

As a naturopathic doctor, it is my job to take all of the information available (labs, medical history, personal preferences, individual symptoms, etc) into consideration when providing support to each individual. A computer-generated model cannot make these same individualized recommendations, because it does not know you as an individual- it only knows you by the data input into its system. ChatGPT cannot pick up on your emotions, and it cannot gauge appropriately how much stress you are under or how sleep-deprived you are.

Important Considerations

Google cannot replace a medical education or a degree in any healthcare field. ChatGPT cannot replace years of hands-on training, clinical experience, and anecdotal evidence that is seen on a daily basis. While there is no doubt that AI will infiltrate the healthcare community and there will inevitably be ways that artificial intelligence improves the medical community, we must use caution with our health and wellness when it comes to artificial intelligence. 

 

Getting overwhelmed by all of the “medical advice” swirling around social media? You’re not alone. Read more here!

References:
  1. Tan S, Xin X, Wu D. ChatGPT in medicine: prospects and challenges: a review article. Int J Surg. 2024;110(6):3701-3706. Published 2024 Jun 1. doi:10.1097/JS9.0000000000001312
  2. Homolak J. Opportunities and risks of ChatGPT in medicine, science, and academic publishing: a modern Promethean dilemma. Croat Med J. 2023;64(1):1-3. doi:10.3325/cmj.2023.64.1
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By Blair Doucette
RNM Blog Uncategorized
Earth Day Every Day

Every year, on April 22nd, we celebrate Earth Day. It’s an important day as we show love and support for our first home, our planet Earth. Earth Day is a day of celebration to raise awareness around some of our most pressing environmental issues – issues like climate change, pollution, habitat loss, and natural resource loss. 

 

History: 

Post WWII, the American economy was booming, with little regard for the toll it was taking on the environment. By the 1960s, we were at an environmental crossroads. For decades, factories with little to no environmental regulations had been churning out pollution so consistently that rivers literally caught on fire. Though this had been happening for a while, it wasn’t until the publication of Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring that the general public took note and began to demand some token of environmental justice. 

 

From there, the movement made its way through the American university system. After a Wisconsin Senator saw the vast damage of an oil spill in California in 1969, he called for a nationwide teach-in to discuss the implications of forgetting to take care of our natural environment and to urge politicians to take action. With the help of activists, this teach-in became the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970. Since its establishment, Earth Day has always had a deep connection to college campuses and in fact, always falls on April 22nd due to this date being between spring break and the end of the academic year. Over 20 million students, teachers, and community members participated in the first Earth Day. It was the largest grassroots movement in US history at the time. 

 

Earth Day’s Legacy: In response to the growing unrest over environmental degradation, Earth Day prompted the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency and initiated change in legislation, which resulted in the creation of the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Endangered Species Act. Today, Earth Day is celebrated in 190 countries. 

 

Earth Day, Every Day! 

You can celebrate Earth Day every day by:

Celebrating Nature! Appreciate the beauty of nature all around you. Learn about new places across the globe. Take time to look at the small things like the little bugs in a creek. Take time to look at the big things like all the stars in the night sky. 

Perpetuating environmental awareness! Take note of and share about environmental issues that are dear to you. Consider issues like deforestation, climate change, plastic pollution, species loss, etc. 

Taking Action! Participate in a community environmental activity that’s important to you. Join in on cleanups, host a clothing swap to keep clothing items out of landfills, or learn about native plants and their roles in keeping our environment healthy. 

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By Blair Doucette
RNM Blog Uncategorized
April Herb of the Month: Lemon Balm, The Herb That “Makes The Heart Merry”

Melissa officinalis, commonly known as lemon balm, is an aromatic member of the Lamiaceae family and, therefore, is thought to have high antioxidant potential.1 It’s a fast-growing perennial, native to southern Eurasia, and later naturalized in North and South America and beyond over the generations.2 This global spread lets us know just how widely used and depended upon lemon balm really is! 

 

Common name: Lemon Balm

Latin name: Melissa officinalis

Part Used: leaves

Benefits: Nervine (supports and calms the nervous system), Cognitive Support, Antispasmodic (relieves muscle spasms), Antiviral, Carminative (dispels gas),  Antioxidant

Taste:  sour, sweet, bitter

Energetics: cooling and slightly drying

History:

Traditionally, its lemon-scented leaves were used for problems with indigestion specifically associated with anxiety, as well as for its carminative (meaning it helps dispel gas), sedative, and antispasmodic (relaxes muscles) properties.3 Folk medicine practitioners have also used it topically to treat genital and oral herpes.4,5

 

Historically, descriptions of lemon balm can be found in ancient Turkish texts from thousands of years ago, where lemon balm was planted near bee hives to encourage the swift return of honey bees after collecting pollen. Its name is even derived from the Greek word melissa, which means a honeybee, and the Temple of Artemis beekeepers used it to keep their honeybees happy and healthy.6 

 

Additionally, throughout the Renaissance, lemon balm was prolifically used as an aromatic tonic called Carmelite Water. The recipe for Carmelite Water was so prized that Louis XIV, XV, and XVI of France granted patents for it under the name ‘Eau de Melisse des Carmes.’  The Carmelite friars who were known to make this tonic kept the recipe and its patent untouched and secret.  All that’s known about the patent recipe now is that it was made of lemon balm, coriander seeds, angelica root, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves pounded together and steeped in wine. Historically, bathing was such a rare occurrence at the time, so lemon balm was used to mask the constant odor, which made this tonic sell like hotcakes (or whatever the Renaissance equivalent of hotcakes is). It also covered up the almost constant stench from illness and death (so many plagues, so little time!). 

Benefits:

Effects on the Nervous System:

Lemon balm is highly concentrated in compounds called volatile oils (such as citral, citronellal, and geraniol). All of these volatile oils have demonstrated a calming influence on the nervous and digestive systems while also producing anti-inflammatory effects. Lemon balm has also demonstrated through studies to be effective at producing sedative and sleep-inducing reactions, with higher doses being helpful in the treatment of headaches and dysmenorrhea (painful periods).7 Further, foods containing lemon balm often produce mild improvements in mood and cognitive performance.8 

 

Anti-Inflammatory Properties:

Lemon balm contains many beneficial compounds, such as rosmarinic acid.9 Studies show that Rosmarinic acid specifically produces strong anti-inflammatory results, and therefore, it’s used in supplemental treatments of cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment, and depression.10 Additionally, the volatile oil citral, mentioned above, is anti-inflammatory and can counterbalance the effects of free radical damage.11

 

Digestive Tract Issues:

As mentioned above, lemon balm is a carminative, so it’s especially helpful at dispersing excess gas after a meal. It also contains specific components that aid in bile production, which helps break down fats. Basically, a cup of lemon balm tea is the perfect addition to any after-meal treat!

Emotional Aspects of Lemon Balm:

Lemon balm is calming yet uplifting, especially to the emotional heart. Therefore, it’s a perfect pairing for hyper-sensitive emotional states. It’s also said to remove blocks and provide comfort to those who have experienced shock or panic. Additionally, it symbolizes feminine energy, intuition, and emotional healing.

Recipes

Carmelite Water Recipe with Lemon Balm by Mountain Rose Herbs -Makes about 3 cups.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup fresh lemon balm leaves or 1/4 cup dried organic lemon balm
  • 1/4 cup dried organic angelica root
  • 1 Tbsp. dried organic coriander seed
  • 1 Tbsp. fresh lemon zest (about 1 small organic lemon)
  • 1 tsp. fair trade, organic (cassia) cinnamon chips
  • 2 fair trade, organic whole cloves
  • 1/8 tsp. freshly grated fair trade, organic nutmeg
  • 1 bottle of organic dry white wine

Instructions

  • Combine all the herbs and spices in a glass quart jar.
  • Pour the wine into the jar.
  • Stir well.
  • Cover with a lid.
  • Steep for 4 to 6 hours.
  • Strain through several layers of cheesecloth or a coffee filter and compost the herbs.
  • Place the infused wine in an airtight container and chill for several hours.
  • Enjoy within 3 to 5 days.

 

Bees Knees Mocktail Recipe by Mountain Rose Herbs – Makes 2 drinks.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup water + 1/4 cup, divided
  • 10 organic juniper berries
  • 1/4 cup organic lemon balm
  • 1 tbsp. raw, local honey
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/2 tsp. lemon juice
  • 3 tsp. organic apple cider vinegar

 

Instructions

  • Add 1 cup water and juniper berries to a small pot.
  • Put on medium-high heat and bring to a simmer.
  • Then, lower heat and infuse for 10 minutes.
  • Add lemon balm and infuse for another 10 minutes.
  • Strain out herbs and stir honey into infusion.
  • Add to cocktail shaker.
  • Pour in the remaining 1/4 cup water, lemon juice, and apple cider vinegar.
  • Add ice and shake until nice and chilled.
  • Pour into cocktail glass.
  • Garnish with lemon and enjoy!

 

Loving learning about herbs? Check out some of our past herbs of the month!

 

March, Violet: Cleansing and Cooling

February, Hawthorne: Great for Heart Health

January, Fennel: Combat Gas and Bloating

 

References

  1. Hohmann J, Zupkó I, Ré dei D, et al. Protective Effects of the Aerial Parts of Salvia ofJicinalis, Melissa ofJicinalis and Lavandula angustifolia and their Constituents against Enzyme-Dependent and Enzyme-Independent Lipid Peroxidation. Planta Med. 1999;65(6):576-578. doi:10.1055/s-2006-960830.
  2. Rosemary Gladstar. Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide. Storey Publishing; 2012.
  3. Ulbricht C, Brendler T, Gruenwald J, et al. Lemon balm (Melissa Officinalis L.): an evidence-based systematic review by the Natural Standard Research Collaboration. J Herb Pharmacother. 2005;5(4):71-114.
  4. Astani A, Navid MH, Schnitzler P. Attachment and penetration of acyclovir-resistant herpes simplex virus are inhibited by Melissa Officinalis extract. Phytother Res PTR. 2014;28(10):1547-1552. doi:10.1002/ptr.5166.
  5. Rudolf Fritz Weiss, MD. Herbal Medicine. 6th ed. Beaconsfield, England: Beaconsfield Publishers Ltd.; 1991.
  6. LEMON BALM. https://academics.hamilton.edu/foodforthought/our_research_files/lemon_balm.pdf

7.Soulimani R, Fleurentin J, Mortier F, Misslin R, Derrieu G, Pelt JM. Neurotropic action of the hydroalcoholic extract of Melissa Officinalis in the mouse. Planta Med. 1991;57(2):105-109. doi:10.1055/s-2006-960042.

  1. Scholey A, Gibbs A, Neale C, et al. Anti-Stress Effects of Lemon Balm-Containing Foods. Nutrients. 2014;6(11):4805-4821. doi:10.3390/nu6114805.
  2. Carnat AP, Carnat A, Fraisse D, Lamaison JL. The aromatic and polyphenolic composition of lemon balm (Melissa Officinalis L. subsp. officinalis) tea. Pharm Acta Helv. 1998;72(5):301-305. doi:10.1016/S0031-6865(97)00026-5.
  3. Bulgakov VP, Inyushkina YV, Fedoreyev SA. Rosmarinic acid and its derivatives: biotechnology and applications. Crit Rev Biotechnol. 2012;32(3):203-217. doi:10.3109/07388551.2011.596804.
  4. Apoptosis-Inducing Effects of Melissa Officinalis L. Essential Oil in Glioblastoma Multiforme Cells (PDF Download Available). ResearchGate. https:// www.researchgate.net/publication/261762686_Apoptosis- Inducing_Effects_of_Melissa_ofJicinalis_L_Essential_Oil_in_Glioblastoma_Multiforme _Cells. Accessed August 17, 2017.

 

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By Kristen Alexander
RNM Blog Uncategorized
April is Rosacea Awareness Month

What is rosacea?

Rosacea is a skin condition commonly associated with redness, inflammation, or rash, typically located on the nose and the cheeks. Rosacea can appear differently in different people. Some may experience a quick flushing sensation in their face, some may experience constant redness, irritation, and discomfort of their face, and others may experience acne-like breakouts on their face. 

 

What causes rosacea?

The root causes of rosacea are largely unknown, but there are many different working theories. 

One of the most common theories is that underlying inflammation is likely contributing to the development of rosacea. This inflammation could be coming from a disrupted gastrointestinal microbiome (possible infections or imbalanced bacteria) or a disrupted skin microbiome, as it is common for patients with rosacea to have higher numbers of Demodex mites on the skin. 

Several different triggers for rosacea can vary from person to person, including stress, sunlight, spicy foods, exercise, temperature changes, caffeine, and alcohol. Therefore, it is essential to take notes of your symptoms so that you can better understand what may be triggering your rosacea. 

 

Naturopathic Support for Rosacea

One of the main principles of naturopathic medicine is ‘tolle totum’ which means ‘to treat the whole person.’ When you book your initial appointment with one of our naturopathic doctors, we will dive deep into your medical history. We will discuss things like diet, sleep, stress, exercise, etc. This is to learn more about you as a whole person (and not just your rosacea). This will allow us to make possible connections between your rosacea and other factors in your life that could be contributing (stress, intense exercise, inflammation, diet, microbiome imbalances, etc). Making these connections and getting to the root causes can help us work towards improving symptoms along with the underlying causes, helping you move towards an improved state of health. 

If you want to be proactive before your visit, you can create a symptom and lifestyle journal to help us better understand what could be triggering your symptoms. In your journal, you can include things like: what symptoms you experience, what time of day you experience them, what activities you were doing before/while you noticed the symptoms, what foods you ate before/during symptoms, etc. 

 

If you are tired of dealing with rosacea, take charge of your health this Rosacea Awareness Month and let Richmond Natural Medicine help guide you towards clear skin! 

 

For more information on our practice or to schedule an appointment, give us a call at (804) 977-2634!

Looking for Seasonal skin care tips for Spring? Click here!

Dealing with psoriasis? We have a blog for that too! Click here!

 

References:
  1. Farshchian M, Daveluy S. Rosacea. [Updated 2023 Aug 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557574/ 
  2. Sánchez-Pellicer P, Eguren-Michelena C, García-Gavín J, et al. Rosacea, microbiome and probiotics: the gut-skin axis. Front Microbiol. 2024;14:1323644. Published 2024 Jan 8. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2023.1323644 
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castor oil spilling
By Kristen Alexander
RNM Blog Uncategorized
Castor Oil and How To Use It
What is Castor Oil?

Castor oil is extracted from the Ricinus communus plant. Historically, it has been used orally to support many different ailments, with its most well-known benefit being a stimulating laxative. Today, we use castor oil for a variety of conditions, from head to toe, but we tend to use it externally, as this is the safest and most gentle use of the oil. 

 

Potential Benefits of Castor Oil
  • One of the most common uses of topical castor oil is the application of a castor oil pack applied over the liver. Castor oil is anti-inflammatory and may help stimulate bile flow, which helps our bodies bind and eliminate toxins more effectively.
  • When applied to the abdomen, castor oil can help decrease abdominal bloating and discomfort and may also be helpful for constipation. You can apply and rub a quarter-sized amount of castor oil over the abdomen in a clockwise motion to help promote peristalsis when combined with the physical movement of the abdominal massage
  • Castor oil can be very helpful in reducing joint pain and inflammation. You can rub a dime-sized amount of castor oil over a painful joint (as long as there is no broken skin) and leave it to absorb slowly.
  • Castor oil is applied to the scalp to help promote hair growth and is often used topically to help moisturize skin. One of the main constituents, ricinoleic acid, is a fatty acid component that provides moisturizing properties to the skin
  • Castor oil can indirectly help promote relaxation. By adding a castor oil pack to your nightly routine before bed, you can help ensure that you are taking time for self-care, nourishment, and relaxation at the end of each day! 

 

Naturopathic Considerations for Castor Oil

As naturopathic doctors, we are trained to utilize many different modalities, therapies, and herbs when creating plans for our patients. Topical castor oil is a supportive therapy that you’ll likely see on your care plan here at Richmond Natural Medicine. If you have been reading about castor oil online lately and are wondering if it may be beneficial for you and your specific health goals, give us a call today to schedule an appointment with one of our naturopathic doctors! 

 

Want to know how to make your own castor oil pack at home? Check out this video from the Edgar Cayce Institute: How to Make a Castor Oil Pack.

 

Needing more Spring Detox Support? Read our blog on Gentle Detox Foods + Herbs for Spring!

 

References:
  1. Mysore V, Arghya A. Hair Oils: Indigenous Knowledge Revisited. Int J Trichology. 2022 May-Jun;14(3):84-90. doi: 10.4103/ijt.ijt_189_20. Epub 2022 May 24. PMID: 35755964; PMCID: PMC9231528.
  2. Fong P, Tong HH, Ng KH, Lao CK, Chong CI, Chao CM. In silico prediction of prostaglandin D2 synthase inhibitors from herbal constituents for the treatment of hair loss. J Ethnopharmacol. 2015;175:470-480. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2015.10.005 

 

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By Blair Doucette
RNM Blog Uncategorized
Celebrate the Spring Equinox With Us!

The spring (or “vernal”) equinox marks one of two times a year when the Earth’s axis is tilted in a direction so that our daylight hours equal our night hours. In fact, the word “equinox” is Latin, meaning “equal night.” This means that after today, our nights will be getting shorter, and our days will be getting longer. This equinox marks the transition from winter to spring, even if it’s seemed a little springy out since the beginning of March. Before modern technology, our survival was integrally related to the sun and its warmth. We wouldn’t be able to grow food to eat, complete our work, or even survive if our hemisphere didn’t rotate its way back toward the sun. Because of this, many pre-modern cultures marked and celebrated the return of the sun. 

 

Spring Equinox of Past:

  • The Celts marked the spring equinox with rituals and celebrations involving bonfires, meant to symbolize warmth, vitality, and purity. As an agrarian culture, the return of the sun was very important to them. 
  • Holi is a Hindu festival of colors that has been celebrating the arrival of spring since about the 4th century CE. To celebrate, people throw brightly colored powders, called gulal, up into the air and at each other while dancing and feasting. 
  • Ango-Saxons marked the spring equinox by celebrating the goddess Ēostre. She was associated with spring, dawn, fertility, and rebirth and is most likely where we get the word Easter. 
  • Since about 2700 BCE, Egyptians have celebrated the spring equinox with a festival called Sham el-Nessim. It was a time where they would offer salted fish and other foods to their gods, hoping to ensure a good crop season. Sham el-Nessim is still celebrated to this day and is one of the few holidays that is celebrated by the whole country, as it predates both Christianity and Islam.

 

Spring Equinox in Natural Medicine:

Energetically, this time of year aligns more with New Year’s resolutions than January. So don’t worry if some resolutions have slipped through the cracks. The sun is now on your side! Naturopathic medicine draws much of its wisdom from observing the natural world, so we believe this time of year is important for experiencing renewal. With more sunlight to go around, our bodies may even feel a little more invigorated and lively. Like new baby plants that have to push their way through the cold earth, spring’s energy is powerful. New growth on spring trees is both extremely strong and extremely flexible. This is how we should leave winter and enter spring. And after a long winter of heavy foods, we need to help support our bodies’ detox pathways to help them work more efficiently this spring. This means supporting our livers with bright and fresh spring greens and lots of fresh herbs. 

 

Spring Nutrition: Bitter Nourishing Foods 

As soon as our tongue tastes food that is even mildly bitter, this sends a direct message to our stomach and pancreas to begin making digestive enzymes. Digestive enzymes such as amylase, lactase, and lipase, help us break down macromolecules (proteins, fats, and carbs) into small, more digestible pieces before they move into our lower digestive tract. Digestive enzymes are essential for good digestion.

Bitter Foods To Enjoy for Spring:
  • Dandelion greens
  • Burdock root
  • Chicory
  • Kale
  • Green tea
  • Chamomile tea
  • Radishes 
  • Watercress

 

Combat Allergies Naturally:

Seasonal allergies are one of the more common frustrations we hear about from our patients this time of year. Luckily, there are many things we can do to support our body’s histamine clearance. One simple thing to add to our daily routine is to drink nettle tea. Nettles work in part by blocking histamine receptors as well as lowering inflammation in general.  Try this overnight Nettle Infusion out for yourself! Note: using nettles is just a small portion of many techniques for allergy support. They typically need to be used for over a month before benefits are noticed. 

Recipe: Overnight Nettle Infusion

Take a 1-pint mason jar and add 4 tablespoons of dried nettle leaves. Cover with room temperature filtered water and fill to the brim of the jar. Seal with a tight-fitting lid and give it a good shake. Let sit overnight to infuse. In the morning, strain out the nettle and sip throughout the day for allergy support. Add a squeeze of lemon or a bit of honey to taste.

 

Spring Morning Routine

After daylight savings time, try to awaken and get out of bed at the same time each day. This consistency will help to align your body to the time change. It will also support your circadian rhythm throughout the day and night, supporting your sleep quality. Ideally, wake just before sunrise and enjoy the morning sunlight on your face and skin. 

 

Want more tips for Spring? Check out some of our other recent blogs:

 

 

Works Cited

“Sham El-Nessim: A Guide to the Egyptian Spring Festival.” Middle East Eye, www.middleeasteye.net/discover/what-sham-el-nessim-egypt-spring-festival-explained.

‌Equinox, Spring. “An Darach Forest Therapy.” An Darach Forest Therapy, 20 Mar. 2024, silvotherapy.co.uk/articles/spring-equinox-celts-picts.

“Holi : A Joyful and Colorful Festival, HoliFestival.org.” Holifestival.org, 2019, www.holifestival.org/.

‌“Celebrate the Spring Equinox and Ostara.” Www.cantonpl.org, www.cantonpl.org/blogs/post/celebrate-the-spring-equinox-and-ostara/.

 

‌

 

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By Blair Doucette
RNM Blog Uncategorized
March’s Herb of the Month: Violet

This month’s Herb of the Month: Violets

Looking around our local landscapes, starting in March, we begin to notice the at-first small and then undeniably robust signs of spring emerging. Signs of life seem to crack open from the cold of winter. And all of a sudden, the vibrancy of green crawls over our natural spaces. Looking at your lawn or any patch of grass that isn’t sprayed with lawn care chemicals, you might notice the beginnings of the violet season. When given the chance, these little beauties will spread their celebration of spring and can easily maintain a steady presence year after year. I like to take a mental note of the first violets I see every year. Like many plants deemed “weeds,” violets have a deep history and medicinal benefits.

Common name: Violet
Latin name: Viola sororia
Parts Used: flowers, leaves, stems
Benefits: Soothing, Anti-inflammatory, Expectorant, Lymphagogue (stimulates the production and flow of lymph), Vulnerary (promotes wound healing), Diuretic, and Mild laxative,
Taste: aromatic, slightly sweet, and slightly salty
Energetics: cooling and moistening

History:

There are about 500 species of violets around the world, so of course, just about every corner of the world has a historical account, myth, or legend about violets. Folklorically, there is a myth from an ancient people group from what is present-day Turkey that seems to be inspired by the Greek and Roman myths of Venus and Adonis. In this story, the great mother earth goddess Cybele loved Attis. Wild boar killed Attis while he was hunting, and violets sprang up wherever his blood touched the ground. Violets were also used in ancient medicine for gout, headaches, and dry hacking coughs. They were also used to flavor wines and sweeten dishes.

Benefits:

Violets can be used medicinally as teas, tinctures, salves, syrups, and food. They’re very high in minerals and can be used internally as a blood cleanser, respiratory remedy, and lymphatic stimulant. They have a cooling and moistening impact, so they’re helpful in respiratory remedies. Violet tea is an excellent companion for a sore throat. They also have a slightly mucilaginous property and are able to soothe hoarse or raspy bronchial tissues. In European Herbalism, violets, along with marshmallow and licorice roots, were used for ailments such as bronchitis and whooping cough. In addition to its mucilage, violets also contain soluble fiber, so they may positively affect cholesterol levels and microbiota integrity (since soluble fibers feed our gut bugs).

Violets can be used topically as a salve for chafed skin, eczema, hemorrhoids, and abrasions. Their cooling and moistening properties can soothe inflamed skin.

Emotional Aspects of Violets:

Violets have an affinity for the heart. In fact, violets are also referred to as “Heartsease.” From an emotional/energetic standpoint, violets protect the heart and support its opening up, moving beyond grief and heartache and calming the emotional nerves.  Folk herbalists used them to support the physical and emotional heart since the days of Hildegard von Bingen, the 11th-century German Benedictine abbess and herbalist.

Recipes

Precautions: There are many types of violets out there. Make sure you’re looking for the Common Blue Violet. Violets also have many look-alikes, some of which are inedible or poisonous, so only harvest them when you are 100% sure that it’s a violet. Additionally, the roots of most violet species can cause nausea and vomiting.

Enjoy violet leaves and flowers in salads, pestos, sandwiches, and wraps. The leaves and flowers can be harvested with scissors throughout the spring until the leaves become too fibrous. You can also sautée, steam, or stir the leaves into soups as a nutrient-dense thickener. The flowers also make a beautiful garnish – ex: sprinkled on salads and used to decorate cakes.

Violet Syrup – by Learning Herbs
Ingredients
  • 1 1/2 cups fresh violet flowers
  • 2 cups just-boiled water
  • 1/4 cup honey (or sweetener of choice)
  • Lemon juice (small amounts, optional)

Instructions

  • Place the violet flowers in a pint-sized glass jar.
  • Fill the jar with just-boiled water. Stir well. Cover.
  • Let sit for at least 30 minutes to 24 hours.
  • Strain off the flowers.
  • At this stage, you can choose to add lemon juice. When I make violet tea, the water turns blue. I like to add just a few drops of lemon juice to make it purple. The more you add, the more the color will change. More lemon juice can result in a magenta or pink color. Go slowly to get the color you want.
  • Add honey (or sweetener of choice). Stir well.
  • Store in the fridge and use within a few days. For a longer shelf life, measure the liquid, add an equal volume of honey or sugar, and use within a month. Discard if it develops mold.
    Yield: Approximately 2 cups

*Make your violet syrup into violet lemonade! Just combine violet syrup and fresh lemon juice. Add sparkling water or club soda to taste, and enjoy!

Violet Green Juice – by The Herbal Academy

Ingredients

  • 1 large handful of spring or new violet leaves
  • 1 cup water

Instructions

  • Wash violet leaves
  • Combine with water in a blender
  • Blend thoroughly until leaves are completely macerated into a smooth green juice.
  • Drink and feel energized by the green goodness!
References

1.Blankespoor J. Violet’s edible and medicinal uses. Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine. Published April 13, 2016. https://chestnutherbs.com/violets-edible-and-medicinal-uses/
2.Violet Herb. HerbalRemediesAdvice.org. Published 2022. Accessed March 7, 2025. https://www.herbalremediesadvice.org/violet-herb.html
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You may also be interested in:

Herbal Bitters: The Best Digestive Aide

Herbal Steam for Bronchial Wellness

Check out previous Herb of the Month posts!

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