While many women’s health complaints may be “common” they are not necessarily normal. Women have unique health needs that go beyond the preventative care of a PAP or mammogram screening. Period health, fertility, mood and energy support, a healthy metabolism, and more are all informed by balanced hormones, adequate nutrition, therapeutic movement and daily health practices.

Naturopathic care supports a woman’s body and nudges it toward optimal health and functioning. While bodywork of all kinds is beneficial for many women, Mayan Abdominal Massage especially supports women’s health by helping align the pelvic and abdominal organs, establishing good nerve and blood flow to the pelvic area, and improving the function of the reproductive and digestive systems.

Common women’s health complaints we can support include:

• Irregular cycles
• Painful periods
• Heavy periods
• Symptoms of perimenopause and menopause
• Struggles with fertility
• Symptoms of PMS
• Low libido
• Management of common complaints in pregnancy
• Thyroid health

Our neuroendocrine system is like an orchestra, with glands and organs each playing their part in the delicate symphony of the whole organism. Within this system we produce adrenal hormones, melatonin, neurotransmitters, thyroid hormones, sex hormones, and hormones that regulate calcium levels, blood sugar levels, immune function, blood pressure, and more.

When these glands and organs are not functioning optimally, our hormones can become imbalanced, and symptoms often follow.

Common complaints stemming from hormone imbalance can include:

• Fatigue and low energy
• Feeling “wired but tired”
• Insomnia and other sleep disruptions
• Depression or anxiety
• Mood swings
• Brain fog
• Weight gain or weight loss
• Low libido
• Temperature dysregulation
• Metabolic issues, such as dysregulated blood sugar or insulin

Naturopathic care excels at addressing the interplay of multiple organ systems. As neuroendocrine health affects so much in the body, addressing and supporting it can subsequently improve several body systems.

You are what you eat – but also what you can absorb. Nutritional deficiencies, inflammation, and imbalances in the microbiome (the helpful microorganisms that populate the mouth, gut, skin, and genitourinary tract) all contribute to GI dysfunction.

GI issues I commonly work with include:

• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Indigestion, bloating, or gas
• Heartburn and reflux
• Gluten sensitivity and other food intolerances
• Detox and cleansing

Poor digestion can contribute to a variety of other conditions whose symptoms manifest outside of the digestive tract. These can include:

• Acne
• Eczema
• Rosacea
• Yeast infections
• Migraines
• Joint pain
• Anemia
• Fatigue
• Weight loss or weight gain
• Poor immune health

Naturopathic care supports the microbiome, builds up the health of the GI tract, and addresses health through nutrition. Additionally, the specific bodywork of Mayan Abdominal Massage is a helpful adjunctive care for GI complaints of all kinds. Dr. Ries is trained at the professional level in Mayan Abdominal Massage for both general and pregnancy populations.

Injury, overuse or disuse, inflammation, and chronic disease can all contribute to muscle pain and joint aches. Naturopathic care addresses the cause and contributing factors, while massage therapy promotes pain relief, reduces soreness and stiffness, improves flexibility and daily functioning, and enhances recovery.

Musculoskeletal complaints I commonly work with include:

• Low back pain
• Neck pain
• Arthritis
• Hip pain
• Sciatica
• Fibromyalgia
• Knee pain
• Shoulder pain
• Muscle strain
• Post-op recovery

It’s not unusual to feel your energy tank temporarily after an acute illness, high stress, or other setback. However, if you haven’t bounced back and have been steeped in fatigue or pain for months, it’s time to take a closer look. Long-lasting fatigue is a signal from your body that its systems are out of balance, and this deserves your attention. Left unchecked, chronic disease is allowed to take further root and progress.

Diseases related to chronic fatigue can include:

• Lyme disease
• Mold exposures
• Chronic viral load
• Fibromyalgia and other autoimmune conditions
• Depression
• Endocrine disorders.

Naturopathic care can address underlying processes contributing to chronic fatigue symptoms, while massage can mitigate the severity of symptoms.

Autoimmune disease is an abnormal immune response in which the body mistakenly attacks its own tissues. Many different tissues, organs and body systems can be affected. If left unaddressed, the resulting inflammation and tissue damage creates chronic symptoms of pain, disability, fatigue, poor functioning, skin issues, and impacts on mental health. Common autoimmune conditions include rheumatoid arthritis (RA), lupus (SLE), multiple sclerosis (MS), irritable bowel disease (IBD) such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, Celiac disease, psoriasis, and Hashimoto’s and Grave’s disease.

Conventional treatment for autoimmune disease involves the suppression of general immune function for symptom control. While this can indeed be helpful in lessening the severity and speed of progression for the disease, it fails to address any underlying reasons as to why the immune system went haywire in the first place.

The naturopathic approach explores and addresses the health determinants which are at the core of autoimmune processes. Factors such as chronic stress, poor nutrition, environmental toxins, infections, and hormonal imbalances can all contribute to immune dysfunction. By removing obstacles to health and addressing nutrition, gut health, detoxification, sleep, and stress management, we can restore balance in the body.

Massage can be helpful adjunctive care for those with autoimmune conditions, offering benefits such as stress relief, pain management, and preserving or improving mobility and functional capacity.

Health is more than the absence of a disease. It’s about feeling and functioning at your best. Maybe you feel generally well but notice yourself dragging in energy throughout the day. Maybe your sleep cycle is off. You feel fine but keep getting skin rashes. Perhaps you’re pestered with minor, unexplained symptoms you’ve been told to live with because “there’s nothing wrong with you.” If you fall into the chasm of not-well but not sick, the functional medicine approach can help give you the boost you need.

Some general wellness goals include:

• Sound, restful sleep
• Steady, abundant energy levels
• Improved physical fitness or athletic performance
• Faster recovery from exercise or illness
• Radiant skin and hair
• Responsive and balanced immune system
• Lowering chronic disease risk

Naturopathic medicine focuses highly on both health optimization and the prevention of disease, and can be an excellent support in achieving and maintaining general wellness. Our goal is for you to thrive with the highest vitality and performance you can achieve.