One Woman's Journey to Naturopathic Medicine

With the spring semester fast approaching, so does graduation. Even though I still have time to hunker down and figure out exactly what I want to do, it feels like I have no time. I’ve come to realize that this blog has turned more into my journey to graduation rather than my journey to naturopathic medicine. It amazes me how fast things can change in ones life. A few months ago I was set on going to school to become a naturopathic doctor, and now that idea is slowly fading away. The reasons why I am looking at different paths leave me puzzled. I currently now hold the dream of working for a vegan/ethically sustainable fashion company. This could not be further from naturopathic medicine. Because of this I cannot guarantee where my mind will be within the next few posts. Stay tuned to see if my mind changes….

This weekend I received my reiki I and II certification, and it was by far was one of the best weekends I have ever had. I have always had a large interest in the world of reiki and I have been meaning to receive my certification for some time now. After many months of putting it off, I finally accomplished my goal! The class was held Saturday and Sunday from 9:30-4 in a town outside of Boston. I was unsure what to expect before the start of the first class.   Fast-forward 20 minutes into the class, and it was the most welcome I have ever felt in a new surrounding. Everyone was open, honest, and eager to learn about Reiki. Our instructor was Libby Barnett. She was one of the first people in the United States to receive her master reiki certification back in 1971. Today, she has taught reiki to over 10,000 individuals in the United States. To say that she is qualified is an understatement. After having spent two full days with my classmates, I left t...

Last week I went to an awesome holistic open house with my mom. My naturopathic doctor, Amanda was there as well. The naturopathic/holistic community is fairly small in the state of NH, so open houses can range from crystal healing, all the way to naturopathic medicine. One booth that really caught my attention was the one providing information about reiki. Essentially, reiki is a form of energy healing. This can be extremely helpful for naturopath’s patients because it also provides spiritual care. After having talked to the woman at the booth for a while, I signed up to receive my reiki I, and II certification this coming weekend! The reiki class runs two full days on Saturday and Sunday in Newton, MA. After receiving the certification for II, and I I will be able to perform reiki on myself and on the surrounding environment. Stay tuned about how the reiki class goes! Wish me luck. 

With graduation coming this May, I couldn’t be more unprepared. I absolutely love naturopathic medicine, but I haven’t even begun to get my ducks in a row. Although this blog is about my journey to naturopathic medicine, I couldn’t be further away.   My naturopathic doctor did not start school until she was in her mid-30s. Before that, she worked for a paper company down in Connecticut for almost 10 years. She decided to become a naturopathic doctor on a whim and never looked back. After finishing her degree in 8 years and racking up a ton of student loan debt, she still couldn’t be happier even with all of the struggles. As for me, I am stuck. I love everything surrounding naturopathic medicine, but the time commitment and money hold me back. I graduate with a business degree in May, and still have no idea what I am going to do in the months to follow. Whatever the case may be, I know that what is meant to be will happen. Stay tuned for updates, beca...

Hormones are at the center of an individual’s health. When there is a hormone imbalance in one’s body, you can be sure that the individual is encountering health problems. This is very true for women. Starting at the time of puberty, girls are subject to hormonal changes on a daily basis that leads all the way to menopause. On top of the normal hormonal changes occurring in a women’s body, hormonal changes occur when a women gets pregnant. This leads me into the topic of birth control. Although I am an advocate of Planned Parenthood and the right for every woman to have birth control if they so choose, the effects of “the pill” on a woman’s body in the long term can have negative consequences. My naturopathic doctor is not a fan of conventional birth control pills. She claims that long term effects of being on the pill can sometimes lead to infertility. It sets a women’s body on a fake cycle while completely suppressing natural hormones. This is why it can be hard f...