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Journal
Welcome to our integrative health journal, where our team of holistic practitioners shares their expertise to help you achieve optimal well-being. Each month, we delve into a new theme, providing you with insightful articles, practical tips, and the latest in holistic health trends. Whether you're interested in nutrition, natural remedies, mental health, or physical fitness, our diverse team of experts offers a wealth of knowledge to support your wellness journey. Join us as we explore the multifaceted world of holistic health and empower you to live your healthiest life.
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10 Signs Your Nervous System Is Stuck in Survival Mode (And What Your Body Is Trying to Tell You)
Many people think stress only affects their mood, but chronic stress can impact nearly every system in the body. When your nervous system becomes stuck in "survival mode," it can influence your hormones, digestion, immune system, metabolism, sleep, skin, and overall well-being. Over time, your body may begin responding as though it's facing a constant threat—even when no immediate danger exists. At IVY Integrative, we often remind patients that your body isn't working against
Dr. Megan Ding, ND
Sep 2310 min read
ADHD, Autism & Perimenopause: Why Symptoms Can Surface in Midlife
The Pattern Clinicians Are Finally Naming If you’re a woman in your late 30s to 50s who suddenly can’t hold a thought, loses words mid-sentence, forgets why you walked into a room, or feels like your executive function has quietly dissolved, you are not imagining it—and you are not alone. A growing body of research and clinical observation suggests that ADHD symptoms in women can become more noticeable during perimenopause, including in women who functioned well or masked eff
Dr. Marissa Boyd, ND
Sep 116 min read
The Cortisol-Insulin Connection
How Chronic Stress Affects Blood Sugar, Weight & Hormone Health Have you ever felt like you're eating healthy, exercising consistently, and still struggling with stubborn weight gain, sugar cravings, or low energy? If so, the missing piece may not be your diet—it may be your stress. When we think about improving blood sugar or losing weight, we often focus on calories, carbohydrates, or exercise. While those factors certainly matter, one of the most overlooked influences on m
Dr. Katrina Robinson, NDM, PMNHP-MFT, CHN
Sep 54 min read
Nervous System Dysregulation: Is Your Body Stuck in Survival Mode?
A Natural Back-to-Routine Health Reset for Better Sleep, Less Stress & More Energy As summer winds down and routines begin to shift, many people notice increased stress, fatigue, poor sleep, digestive issues, and anxiety. If you've been feeling overwhelmed or exhausted, your body may be experiencing nervous system dysregulation, often called being "stuck in survival mode." The transition from summer to fall is the perfect opportunity for a health reset. By supporting your ner
Dr. Katrina Robinson, NDM, PMNHP-MFT, CHN
Aug 265 min read
How to Reset Healthy Habits Without Starting Over
There are seasons when healthy habits seem to fall into place effortlessly. You're preparing nourishing meals, moving your body regularly, sleeping well, and staying on top of your responsibilities. Your routines feel natural, and taking care of yourself doesn't require nearly as much thought or effort. Then life happens. A child gets sick. Work becomes busier than expected. Vacation throws off your schedule. Dinner plans change because the groceries you bought didn't last as
Dr. Katherine Lewis, OTD, OTR/L
Aug 179 min read
The Whole Body Approach to Fertility
How to Optimize Fertility Naturally: A Whole-Body Approach to Hormone Balance When most people think about fertility, they imagine a narrow window for conception or focus on hitting specific hormone levels—like needing progesterone to reach a certain number to get pregnant. In reality, fertility is much more complex. It’s a reflection of your body’s overall health and its ability to adapt. From a naturopathic perspective, conception isn’t just about ovulation or perfectly ti
Dr. Stephanie Hendershot, ND
Apr 214 min read
Why So Many Women Feel Burnt Out: The Missing Link in Women’s Health
Feeling constantly exhausted, anxious, or overwhelmed? Discover how chronic stress and nervous system dysregulation contribute to burnout in women—and what you can do to restore balance naturally. Why Women Are Experiencing Burnout More Than Ever There’s a common thread many women are sharing today: “I feel exhausted, overwhelmed, anxious… and I don’t know why.” Or even more frustrating: “I feel like I’m doing everything right, but nothing is working.” If this resonates, here
Elena DiPerri, CNS, LN
Apr 134 min read
Why Your Routine Isn’t Sticking (And It’s Probably Not Because You Lack Discipline)
Many people assume that if a routine isn’t working, the problem must be motivation, discipline, or willpower . But in reality, routines often fail for a completely different reason. As a lifestyle-based occupational therapist, much of my work focuses on helping people build sustainable routines and improve executive functioning so they can make meaningful lifestyle changes. Many of my clients come in feeling frustrated with themselves. They’ve tried: Planners Habit trackers
Dr. Katherine Lewis, OTD, OTR/L
Mar 304 min read
How Nutrition Supports the Nervous System: Gut–Brain Health, Stress & Emotional Balance
In my clinical practice, one truth stands out: balance begins by nourishing the nervous system. Unlike diets focused solely on weight or macros, nutrition grounded in nervous system health considers how food directly influences our biology, emotions, stress resilience, and overall sense of safety—especially during times like the holidays, when food is tied to comfort, memory, and connection. Why the Nervous System Matters The nervous system is not just the seat of thought; it
Elena DiPerri, CNS, LN
Jan 264 min read
Nervous System Healing & Stress Recovery: Why Rest, Somatic Work, and Parasympathetic Balance Matter
Our nervous system has two main modes that often act like opposing pedals on a car: the accelerator and the brake. These are driven by the two branches of the autonomic nervous system: The Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) — our “fight, flight, or freeze” system The Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS) — our “rest, digest, repair, and restore” system What’s the Difference? When the SNS is activated: Heart rate increases, breathing speeds up, and muscles tense. Digestion and
Dr. Sarah Kingsley, PT, DPT, RYT
Jan 195 min read
How to Reset Your Nervous System: Lower Cortisol, Calm Stress, and Improve Vagal Tone
Recently, I’ve been running more cortisol tests on patients, and levels are consistently coming back elevated. Many patients’ nervous systems are persistently activated in a chronic “fight-or-flight” state. While short bursts of stress are a normal and adaptive evolutionary response, prolonged sympathetic dominance can contribute to anxiety, sleep disruption, digestive dysfunction, and an overall diminished quality of life. To understand why this happens, it helps to review t
Dr. Stephanie Hendershot, ND
Jan 123 min read
The Root Cause of Anxiety: A Naturopathic Guide to Healing the Mind and Body Naturally
Anxiety isn’t just mental—it’s often a physiological reaction to an internal imbalance. In my clinical experience, addressing these imbalances is where true healing begins.
Dr. Marissa Boyd, ND
Oct 28, 20254 min read
Natural Anxiety Treatments That Work | Evidence-Based Herbal & Mindfulness Support
Anxiety affects over 30% of adults at some point in their lives, making it one of the most common mental health challenges worldwide. It affects both the mind and body, and symptoms can vary widely from person to person. Understanding the signs can help you recognize when anxiety is becoming more than everyday stress and may benefit from natural or professional support.
Dr. Chelsea Birch, ND, RH (AHG), CBHT
Oct 20, 20255 min read
How Anxiety Shows Up in the Body: 5 Signs You Might Be Missing
October brings falling leaves, crisp air, and celebrations. But sometimes, even with all the fun and festivities, something still feels... off. If you find yourself dodging party invites, jumping at more than just spooky yard décor, or feeling tense for no clear reason, anxiety might be the ghost whispering worries you can’t shake. Unlike Halloween specters, anxiety isn’t imaginary. It’s real—rooted in your nervous system—and your body often feels it before your mind catches
Cheyenne Nichols, LMBT
Oct 13, 20254 min read
Functional Medicine Approaches to Anxiety: Root Causes, Gut Health, and Nutritional Deficiencies
This is a quick read blog explaining objective tests that can uncover the roots of your anxiety.
Dr. Caitlan Readhead, ND
Oct 6, 20252 min read
Tending Your Inner Fire: Chinese Medicine Tips for Summer Joy, Balance, and Connection
Chinese Medicine reminds us that human beings are part of the natural world. The energetic shifts that occur in nature—such as the...
Ashley Paraiso, LAc, DiplOM
Jul 9, 20254 min read
Why Gut Health Is the Key to Whole-Body Wellness: A Naturopathic Doctor Explains
If you’ve been a patient of mine, you’ve likely heard me talk about gut health. Although you might be coming to see me for acne or even...
Dr. Stephanie Hendershot, ND
Jun 30, 20253 min read
How Stress Wrecks Your Gut—and How Naturopathic Medicine Can Heal It
Introduction Gut health is more than just digestion. It’s a critical part of your mental, immune, and hormonal well-being. In a world...
Dr. Marissa Boyd, ND
Jun 16, 20254 min read
Gut Health Is Whole-Body Health: How Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture Support Your Microbiome
Chinese Medicine and acupuncture have long been used to treat the root causes of indigestion, constipation, bloating, and other digestive...
Ashley Paraiso, LAc, DiplOM
Jun 2, 20254 min read
Chronic Stress, Cortisol, and Migraines: How HPA Axis Dysregulation Triggers Headaches
Chronic stress can affect the body in many different ways. One adverse effect of chronic stress is the frequent development of headaches...
Dr. Kellyann Tomko, ND
May 5, 20253 min read
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