Archive for May, 2009
It Takes A Village
The city of Baltimore often feels like a small town, and in some pockets it can feel even more like a village. When I first moved here, I was struck by how quickly I felt part of the wellness community, and then by how valuable this became as I began to build a practice. The future of healthcare may have just as much to do with the relationships that patients share with their practitioners as it does with the relationships that practitioners experience between one another. And while modalities such as naturopathic medicine, acupuncture and other “alternative therapies” all take into account the whole person, they each do so through a different lens and from historically unique traditions. There is great value in seeing the whole from these varied perspectives which is why I am so grateful to work with such a talented team of healers – both at Great Soul and Seeds where I share office space and in the greater Baltimore area.
Ultimately it is the patient who benefits from this team approach – from the network of connection that may occur behind the scenes when colleagues reach out to each other for guidance and support. We all have a role in this village with the patients guiding the learning for the practitioners and the practitioners in turn passing along knowledge to the patients. In this cycle we all grow, we are all transformed and somehow, we are all connected.
(pictured left to right: Seeds practitioners Gina Corso, acupuncturist; Andrea Wenger, nutritionist & Reiki practitioner; Sarah O’Leary, acupuncturist; Emily Telfair, naturopath)
Adventures in Detoxing
I was first introduced to the practice of detoxification while in school for naturopathic medicine. As students we were encouraged to experience an “elimination diet” so we could better understand the challenges that would face our future patients. I remember scouring the internet for gluten-free, dairy-free recipes, the all-natural cookies I made that fell apart due to lack of a binder, and somehow developing a taste for foods that most normal humans would classify as “unpalatable.” Those days are all revisiting me now as I practice solidarity with the class of 8 willing participants who volunteered to take my Spring Detox Class. We have reached Day 11 of our 21 day detox program which consists of a progressive elimination diet and the incorporation of other naturopathic modalities such as exercise, hydrotherapy and mindful self-reflection.
When it comes down to it, detoxification is about coming back to what is simple and natural about living in this world. Unfortunately, it can take a lot of effort and planning to arrange for simplicity – waking early enough on a Saturday to make it to the farmers’ market, baking granola from scratch because all store-bought granola contains sugar, stopping to read labels at the grocery store and putting back on the shelf what you cannot pronounce. I am grateful for this time to remember the wonder of the human body and how it can rise to the challenge of the complex world we have created. It remains to be seen if my gluten-free baking skills have evolved as brilliantly as the liver’s detoxification system!
Eating Well at the Waverly Market
Treat yourself to the “taste of wellness” at the Waverly Farmers’ Market by paying a visit to Don and Renee Gorman. As former restaurant owners they are skilled in offering warm and hospitable service as well as serving up delicious whole foods cuisine. A rare find in Baltimore – Don and Renee have many WHEAT & GLUTEN FREE and DAIRY FREE items available. From quinoa muffins and vegan brownies to spelt-crusted pizzas and veggie burritos with rice tortillas, you are sure to find fresh food made with love and healing intention. This dynamic duo enjoys sharing their passion for healthy nutrition as part of a holistic lifestyle rooted in wellness.
The Waverly Farmers’ market is open year-round on Saturdays from 7am-12pm at the 400 block of 32nd Street. Visit www.32ndstreetmarket.org to learn more.
Naturopathic Doctors Lobby for Healthcare Reform
On Monday May 4th a group of approximately 100 naturopathic physicians, medical students and supporters of natural healthcare ventured to Capitol Hill to advocate on behalf of all those touched by dis-ease in this country longing for a new approach to healthcare. We met with staff members from the offices of Senators and Congressmen/women throughout the day bringing the message to include an emphasis on prevention and wellness in any upcoming proposals for healthcare reform. The event which takes place annually was organized by the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, an organization that works very hard to ensure that licensed naturopathic physicians and our patients have a voice in federal legislation.
I participated in meetings at the offices of Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulski and Representative John Sarbanes (Maryland’s 3rd District). In both meetings our messages were well received. It was a great pleasure to join forces with my Maryland colleagues to represent both our current and future patients with the hopes that our efforts will increase awareness about naturopathic medicine on a state and national level.
