Blog to explore reflections on health, physical, mental, emotional, holistic, including meaning, purpose, identity, and ultimate source of healing

Columbus Naturopathic Blog

Reflections on health and our ultimate source of healing

Morning mist over Blue Mountain Lake, NY

Seasonal health tip about light and life to explain the body is highly sensitive to light that dictates circadian rhythms, endocrine system, and energy so get sunshine when you can

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)

Schedule

Blog Posts

Leah Gusching 3/14/25 Leah Gusching 3/14/25

On Truth

Recently I have been aware of the role of truth telling in patient care. The truth heals, but it is uncomfortable, which is why we go to great lengths to avoid it. Truth often...

Leah Gusching 2/28/25 Leah Gusching 2/28/25

On Knowing

The training of doctors is centered on learning how to meet patient needs. This looks different in each case. For some, emergency care is needed. For others, it is pain management or disease control...

Leah Gusching 2/14/25 Leah Gusching 2/14/25

On Trust

In times of distress, this concept is good medicine. For daily strife, I medicate with poetry. I enjoy the ornamental prose of doting adoration. Old language may be considered primitive, but it’s the best...

Leah Gusching 1/31/25 Leah Gusching 1/31/25

On Eternity

According to Jewish tradition, King Solomon wrote the book of Ecclesiastes. Together with Job, Psalms, Proverbs, and Song of Songs, it comprises the books of wisdom, a collection of poetry that explores the human...

Leah Gusching 1/17/25 Leah Gusching 1/17/25

On Pain

As physicians who primarily treat pain, our curriculum is, in a way, dedicated to eliminating this undesirable state for our patients. We rarely, however, take time to consider the roots of pain itself. The...

Leah Gusching 12/6/24 Leah Gusching 12/6/24

On Surrender

As students, we often lament that school is hard, implying an unspoken expectation that life should not be hard. This assumption is dangerous because beauty results from difficultly. The times in life when we...

Colorful fall tree with red leaves in a suburban neighborhood.

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.