One of the things I love most about naturopathic medicine is the intertwining of ancient practices with modern treatments. One such ancient modality, is hydrotherapy, the use of water in the treatment of pathology. More eloquently put, hydrotherapy, by definition, is: the use of water for the maintenance of health or the treatment of disease by stimulating the body’s own self-healing mechanisms.

Within the category of hydrotherapy lies constitutional hydrotherapy, which originated in Europe, and was made popular in the United States by Dr. O.G. Carroll, in the 1940’s. In constitutional hydrotherapy, the use of alternating hot and cold towels to the skin, along with a gentle electrical sine wave (so gentle it feels like a tingling to the skin), increases circulation of blood and lymphatic flow. The beauty of this process is that the treatment used by Dr. Carroll remains precisely intact, and is as effective today as it was in the past.

By: Alyssa Kelly, ND

Seattle is in the midst of a smoke wave. A severe one, at that. Climate Central describes a smoke wave as two consecutive days with an EPA Air Quality Index of 67. Seattle’s AQI today is 185.

At AQI level 67, the particles in the air, called PM2.5, reach a concentration that can start causing adverse health effects. Some of these effects include “slowing blood flow and oxygen to the heart, developing plaque on the inner walls of arteries, and interfering with liver functions” (Climate Central). These are relatively invisible yet serious effects. One symptom of these effects can be feeling more fatigued than usual or lowered exercise tolerance. People are certainly experiencing other ill effects from the particles as well, such as cough, wheezing, difficulty breathing, headaches, and more. People who already have lung or heart diseases such as asthma, emphysema, COPD, angina, and ischemic heart disease are at risk of worsening of their disease due to the particles and their effects on blood and oxygen flow.

By: Jennifer November, ND

January 1. Time to exercise more, eat healthier, drink more water, drink less alcohol, read more, less television… I’m already over it.  What’s the deal behind new year’s resolutions? Ultimately, these are the things that if we change them about ourselves, we believe will make us stellar human beings. Business Insider says that “80% of new years resolutions fail by February”. Is this because they are goals designed to make us appear better on the outside?  Is it because they tend to be activities we don’t really enjoy?  Is it because we already cram too much into our day that adding one more activity will make the bubble burst?

Yes. To all of the above, yes.