Columbus Naturopathic Blog
Reflections on health and our ultimate source of healing
Morning mist over Blue Mountain Lake, NY
Autumn brush at Thatcher Woods in River Forest, IL
Seasonal Health: Light & Life
Did You Know? The light patterns shift more quickly around the spring and autumn equinoxes. The pineal gland is highly sensitive to light, which controls our circadian rhythms, endocrine system, and energy levels.
Health Tip: Get sunshine when you can! Take a cue from cultures that endure long winters. In Nordic countries, people prioritize spending time outdoors at midday — 15 minutes of sunlight on the face can do wonders to reset your internal clock and lift your mood.
Scripture: Our ultimate source of light and life comes from above. (John 8:12)
Blog Posts
On Delight
This simple metaphor captures a complex concept. In a handful of words, Hafez illustrates a helpful psychological principle that also comprises the theological core of the world’s largest religion – that of relationship based...
To Gain the World and Lose Your Soul
I once had a season of life in which I wrestled to reconcile the trade-off between gaining the world and losing my soul. In a great act of mercy, I lost. Looking back...
A Center of Gravity
In the ND curriculum, we are taught to prioritize treatment according to a person’s center of gravity, meaning the most pressing threat to their health at that time. In cases of emergency, stabilization is...
On Seeing Potential
One of my professors recently proposed an interesting question. He began by saying AI can now diagnose better than doctors. Algorithms generate not only the correct diagnosis, but outline the exact labs to order...
For Everything There is a Season
As future naturopathic doctors, depression is one of the most common issues we will encounter. It is rare to find someone who has not experienced at least one season of overwhelming grief in their...
Esse Quam Videri
This Latin aphorism is inscribed above the doorway of the weight room. When I first noticed it, I asked my friend what it meant. I revisit their response often: character over reputation. What a...
Autumn tree in Glen Ellyn, IL
On Writing
I have enjoyed the practice of writing since I first learned as a child. These posts were written for the NUHS Blog, and I intend to resume the habit soon.
I came to enjoy Monday mornings — withdrawing to the library or clinic sauna to cocoon into a world of my own and contemplate health and healing.
A lot of help comes from my husband, Matthew. He walks with me daily to challenge and clarify the topics I wrestle with — things like meaning, truth, identity, mortality, marriage, friendship, work, beauty, forgiveness, and suffering — all within the context of our Christian faith.
Most of these walks occurred at Panfish Park in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. This is a picture of the entrance to the path off Pershing Avenue. It served as an echo of Eden for me — a walled garden where I could commune and replenish at a time I needed it most.
Thank you for reading! If you would like to write a post, please reach out. I would be delighted to share the work of a fellow writer.
—Leah G.