Blog Archive

Nourishing and Cleansing Winter Green Soup by Leona West Fox | Jan 19, 2021 | Recipes A lot of people look to January to do intensive juice cleanses and health detox programs or extended fasts. As a nutrition, health and wellness expert and practitioner I recommend most people wait to...

One of the most important and overlooked ways to loose weight and burn fat more effectively, while also dramatically lowering our risk of colon cancer, breast cancer, heart disease and diabetes is simply consuming more fiber. Fiber has long been associated with grains, whole grain sources of fiber have value,...

  You’ve been hearing the terms more often than you’re used to - telemedicine, telehealth, etc but do you fully understand what it means? Below we describe what telemedicine looks like with our various practitioners who are ALL available to you at this critical time.  How can I benefit from...

Three Foods that Marketing Has You Convinced Are Good for You… But Are They?   Orange Juice Marketing has given the impression that juice is a healthy way to start your day or is a healthy drink to give to children. It is not. While there is variance among brands,...

Lymphatic drainage massage, or manual lymph drainage, has recently been gaining popularity outside of its role as the main treatment for lymphedema, a serious condition that can result from damage to the lymph system following things such as radiation or surgery.  While some insurances cover this therapy for reasons such...

With the Holiday Season upon us, of course it is centered around getting together with friends and family, but another big part of the Holidays is centered around food... and sometimes not the healthiest of meals either. Especially with the change of weather to a colder climate around this time...

Stretching is about testing our boundaries. Compassionate Stretching is about being loving and conscious with oneself. It is a chance to see how much we can expand beyond our existing limits and sense of self. It is about learning how to let go. It is about remembering how to really...

I don't know if you're like me but I find it hard to meditate and to do it consistently.  It can seem impossible to still the mind for more than a few seconds.  But while I can ponder why that is, I cannot deny that I wouldn't mind having the...

The summer season is upon us. With the hustle and bustle of work, family, and your own personal goals it is easy to lose sight of oneself and get caught in warpped thought. Often it is the trivial things we focus on throughout our day that cause so much stress and...

Don't let June Gloom keep your guard down on sunscreen use and sun protection. Summer is here and what better way to enjoy the season than by learning more about how you can stay safe and protected when outside. Whether you're going to the beach, the mountains, walking the dog,...

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall, All the king's horses and  all the king's men couldn't put Humpty Dumpty back  together again. Had Humpty Dumpty tried to acheive balance rather than total relation this traumatic episode might never have happened. A certain amount of...

Maintaining a healthy immune system can be as straightforward as diet. Eating for immunity can be as simple as eating local and seasonally available foods. When we eat according to the season, we eat fruits and vegetables that are naturally abundant during specific times of the year. For example, in...

Our body is composed of mostly water.  Water is a unique molecule that flows and can embrace other molecules and help bring them to their destination.  Water is also needed in many biochemical reactions in the body.  Structurally our cells and support system, what I call the fluid system, rely...

It is easy to reflexively reach for that Ibuprofen or Tylenol bottle when any type of physical pain strikes, but unfortunately all of these medications have short and long term risks and side effects. Here are 6 ways to try to decrease your risks associated with pharmaceutical pain killers while also...

Many people fall in love and often do not realize that they are experiencing their own body, mind and spirit vibrating in such a way that they can feel a glimpse of the capacity of love that is inside of them at all times. (The capacity to love by the...

What does this mean exactly?  Read below for more info about how we can support you on your journey.   

The ABORM Board certifies acupuncturists who specialize in the treatment of male and female infertility via a rigorous certification examination that measures their knowledge base in Western REI (reproductive endocrinology...

For centuries and in many ancient cultures (such as the Greeks and the Japanese) mushrooms have been used both for their nutritional components as well as for their medicinal properties. However it is only in more recent times that modern Western medicine has started to embrace the medicinal facts surrounding...

Observing Nature to Understand Healing Everything in nature is designed to heal or decay.  This is obvious when we look at the lifecycle of a forest.  Some plants thrive, build and soar to the stars while others decay and are broken down as part of the natural lifecycle of the...

Thyroid Inflammation is More Common Than You Might Think   One of the first things I look at when a patient walks into my office is his or her thyroid gland. About 10% of the time, the gland will appear inflamed!  This is a new phenomenon in medical practice as...

The word doula comes from the ancient Greek and means "a woman who serves".  This is no doubt what a birth doula does for the expecting and laboring mama.  Birth doulas provide continuous, non-medical care which can include: physical support emotional support information breathing techniques relaxation techniques laboring positions comfort...

Medicinal herbs for fertility offer therapeutic support in beautiful ways. In my toolbox as a naturopathic doctor and fertility specialist, I use herbs in most of my treatment plans. Over time, I have developed a fondness for particular herbs along the way. One such herb is Shatavari.   Asparagus racemosus,...

Lyme disease, or rather Tick Borne disease or Lyme disease complex, de- notes an illness of an infectious nature that can manifest as a simple rash (bulls eye), flu symptoms and joint pain, to a myriad of symptoms ranging from fatigue, joint and muscle pain, cardiac, neurologic and ocular problems,...

1) The Power of the Word Recognizing how powerful our thoughs are, and using the spoken word as a vehicle of manifestation and energetic intention.  Being mindful of what we think and say.   "I am responsible for the creation that my word brings into being."   2) The Body...

Improve your environment, improve your life; it’s one of my favorite mantras, and it’s even more true when it comes to my chronic pain. I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at an early age. Though it was comforting to finally put a diagnosis to my pain, it was frustrating to...

The Christmas lights are shining, beautiful trees everywhere. Hanukkah candles are being lit. Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, Easter, Thanksgiving and all holidays are difficult for many. People are shopping, together, smiling and laughing. All the beautiful scarves, jewelry, watches, toys and gifts people are buying. And you are hurting, maybe even...

What Does a Sexual Wellness Coach Do? A Sexual Wellness Coach supports you toward health and wellness with your sexuality, sex life, and sex organs.  Knowing that our sexual organs, sexuality and the act of having sex are totally normal to our human experience, and that sex can be quite...

I was inspired to write about incontinence one day as there was a cool chill in the air that had me sneezing away!  In that moment, I recalled a bit of uncontrollable leakage of urine in previous days every time I sneezed and coughed post babies (I am a mother...

The interesting thing about this recipe is that I first tried it nearly 9 years ago when I attended Bauman College getting certified in Nutrition Education. My colleagues and I each had to each do a couple of food presentations during the course period, and one of my classmates presented...

Being healthy is an active process.  Especially in this day and age, one has to actively work to preserve and protect their health.  One must, in so over-stimulating and dangerous an environment, recognize there is, even more, a reason to learn how best to survive and take care of oneself....

  Mainstream first world culture today has us so far removed from our bodies, from our connection to the Earth.  From our material makeup, the foods we ingest, and the medicines we take to heal our bodies, there is little regard to holding our connection to Earth intact.  This can...

  Tired of debilitating headaches beating you up and ruining your day? There are many reasons why you might suffer from headaches or migraines. Whiplash seems to be a well known reason, but there are many different traumas that can set in motions the years of debilitating headaches like a...

A woman who came in for a Breast Thermography told me her story. She walked into the room to have a mammogram. On the door was a large sign that said, “1 in 8 women will get breast cancer”. Reassuring, isn’t it? That sets her up for fear before she...

It helps your body release toxins Your body is designed to flush harmful chemicals, viruses and other toxins via the kidneys, liver, lungs, intestines, skin and lymphatic system. We can help it with this task by drinking lots of water, eating healthy foods, doing exercise, and, yes, getting a massage!...

What is Polarity Therapy?  Energy fields and currents exist everywhere in nature. Polarity Therapy asserts that the flow and balance of energy in the human body is the foundation of good health. When energy is unbalanced, blocked or fixed due to stress or other factors, pain and disease arise. Blockages...

Commit to yourself. This new year commit to a new you. The whole world is waiting for the new you to emerge. Meanwhile, there is a team of people waiting to support you in whatever way they can. At Lotus Integrative Medicine Santa Monica, we are here to support your...

Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture has been practiced in China for many centuries. Today it is used as a non-invasive and natural alternative for facial skin care and health. I have been using my own approach to facial rejuvenation on my skin for over 20 years using acupressure, acupuncture and therapeutic facial...

If you find yourself upset, depressed, irritable, or outright snappy this article is perfect for you. Nutritional supplements can do wonders for your mood while you are busy addressing the underlying causes. When our brain functions optimally, our mood and energy balances itself. However, when things are out of balance,  we reach...

Clinical research shows that traumatic experiences are stored on a cellular level and have profound effects on one’s emotions and the physical state of the body. The Emotional Release Technique uses essential oil formulas created for their unique ability to: • Balance energies in the body and open the subconscious...

As mentioned in the first and second article of this series, according to the Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA), anxiety disorders are the most prominent mental health issue in our country. Some people may choose to see a medical doctor to obtain medication and many people find relief from...

CranioSacral Therapy has been used successfully to relieve a variety of sensory and/or motor neurological dysfunctions. In addition to headaches, neck and back pain, it’s been used effectively on jaw dysfunction, chronic fatigue, muscle coordination difficulties, depression, eye problems, hyperactivity, central nervous system disorders and many other conditions. With migraines,...

  Last year we began to monitor the progress of a young man who was involved in a serious automobile accident. Initially, the vascular system was very compromised. The standard tests could not measure the healing process. It was wait and see. When we followed his progress with thermal imaging,...

Your active thyroid hormone FREE T3 must be able to get into the thyroid hormone receptor sites that live on the outside of the cellular membrane. But there are toxins known as “halogens” which include chlorine, fluoride, and bromine that can cause challenges and block its entry. In addition, although...

Have you been diagnosed with hypothyroid (under-functioning thyroid)? Are you currently taking medications that are not completely eradicating your symptoms? Do you still suffer from exhaustion, constipation, continued hair loss, depression, or infertility with no relief in sight? I am NOT advocating discontinuing your thyroid medications. That is for you...

So many new patients come into my office very discouraged because they have raging under-active thyroid symptoms (hypothyroid). Hypothyroid symptoms can include exhaustion; inability to lose weight, hair loss, constipation, infertility, depression, dry skin, cold intolerance and the list goes on. So why do their blood tests come back looking...

One in four U.S. adults has complained of suffering a day-long bout of pain in the past month, and one in ten declared the pain had lasted over a year, according to the U.S. government’s annual, comprehensive report on Americans’ health: Health, United States, 2006, released by the National Center...

  Besides being delicious and an easy “grab-and-go”, these crunchy and satisfying nuts are nutritional powerhouses! One handful of raw almonds a day provide you with the following: HEALTHY FATS Almonds are comprised of 54-60% monounsaturated fat. Monounsaturated fats are considered “healthy fats” and contribute to cell membrane health, contribute to...

  Its almost officially summer, so what better time to discuss sunscreen! What is the difference between Chemical and Physical (“Mineral) Sunscreen? How do these things work?  Which of the two is the least toxic?  Which is most effective? Hopefully the following information will shed some light on the differences between two common...

To diet or not to diet.  There is so much information out now about various and contradictory approaches.  High carbs, low fat.  High protein, low carbs.  Three meals a day or five smaller meals a day. What do you believe?  Who do  you trust? What can you do to best...