FROM THE EARTH: The magical role Mother Nature plays in supporting our Whole Body Health

Suzie Herrmann Blog

It's summertime in the Pacific Northwest, and we've endured months of inclement weather for this long-awaited season of warmth, sunshine and natural beauty!
That's why this summer at Root, we are celebrating the beauty, power and wisdom of all things Natural from the Earth that supports whole body health. Get outside and soak it in!
Time Outdoors & Earthing
Simply spending time outside allows for optimal synthesis of vitamin D, improves physical fitness, reduces stress, enhances cognitive function, and strengthens our immune system. But did you know you can elevate the benefits of time outdoors with the simple practice of Earthing?
Earthing, also known as grounding, is a practice that involves connecting with the Earth's surface, typically by walking barefoot outdoors with contact to the natural earth, such as sand, dirt or grass. This evidence based practice suggests that earthing offers several health benefits for our whole body health.

EXAMPLES OF EARTHING:

• Walking barefoot on grass, dirt or sand

• Gardening barefoot
• Swimming in a natural body of water
• Laying on grass, sand or dirt
• And yes, hugging trees!

WHOLE BODY HEALTH BENEFITS OF EARTHING:

• Reduces inflammation
• Improves redness and swelling of wounds
• Improves sleep quality (fall asleep faster, wake up fewer times during the night)
• Boosts mood, reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression
• Decreases levels of the stress hormone cortisol
• Increases the activity of natural killer cells, a type of immune cell that has granules that can kill tumor cells or cells infected with a virus.
Herbs, Roots & All That Grows
Growing all around us, in forests and in our backyards are herbs and roots. These natural plant-based substances are rich in phytochemicals, which are compounds that provide medicinal properties. Herbs and roots offer whole body health support due to their diverse array of bioactive compounds. They can support various systems in the body, such as the immune system, cardiovascular system, digestive system, and more.
It's important to consult with a healthcare professional before supplementing with herbs, such as one of our Naturopathic Doctors, especially if you have any underlying health conditions or are taking medications, to ensure their safe and appropriate use.
We suggest taking a look through our 12 Formulas of Herbal Teas from Root Tonic and Tea to see which blend would support your whole body health the most.
If you're looking for whole food, plant-based food that uses medicinal yet delicious ingredients, we invite you to dine with us at Blossoming Lotus Cafe, located inside Root Whole Body.
Beneficial herbs don't always need to be ingested to do their job. Add a CBD Spa Enhancement to your next massage or hydrotherapy bath, and feel aches, tension and pain melt away.

EXAMPLES OF MEDICINAL HERBS, ROOTS & OTHER MEDICINAL PLANTS:

• Garlic
• Turmeric
• Ginger
• Echinacea
• Valerian Root
• Rosehips
• Mullein
• Dandeloin
• Cinnamon

JUST A FEW WHOLE BODY HEALTH BENEFITS OF HERBS, ROOTS & OTHER MEDICINAL PLANTS:

• Reduces inflammation (ie. Turmeric & Ginger)
• Improves sleep (ie. Valerian Root & Chamomile)
• Supports cardiovascular health (ie. Green Roobios & Red Clover)
• Boosts mood, reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression
• Promotes healthy digestion (ie. Ginger & Lemongrass)
• Supports healthy liver, kidney and bladder function for optimal detoxication (ie. Milk Thistle & Nettle)
Herbs, Roots & All That Grows
The Clean 15 and Dirty Dozen are lists made to inform consumers about pesticide residue levels in conventionally grown fruits and vegetables (non organic). These lists help individuals make informed choices about which produce items are more or less likely to contain pesticide residues, allowing them to prioritize purchasing organic options for certain fruits and vegetables. We recommend shopping organic whenever possible, but understand that there are times when this is not possible.

2023 CLEAN 15:

These are produce items that have been found to have lower levels of pesticide residues. These are generally considered safer options when it comes to purchasing conventionally grown fruits and vegetables.
Avacoados

Sweet Corn

Pineapple

Onions

Papaya

Sweet Peas (frozen)

Asparagus

Honey Dew Melon

Kiwi

Cabbage

Mushrooms

Mangos

Sweet Potatoes

Watermelon

Carrots

2023 DIRTY DOZEN:

This list includes twelve produce items that have been found to have higher pesticide residues when conventionally grown. The specific items on the list can vary from year to year based on testing data and pesticide use.
Try to shop organic for the following produce items.

Strawberries

Spinach

Kale, collard, & mustard greens

Peaches

Pears

Nectarines

Apples

Grapes

Bell & Hot Peppers

Cherries

Blueberries

Green Beans

BIOIDENTICAL HORMONE  OPTIMIZATION WITH YAMS
This year, Root Whole Body became a certified provider of the BioTe method of pellet therapy for hormone optimization. This method is a bio-identical therapy, derived from yams, that works to correct symptoms of hormonal imbalance caused by aging. When hormones are out of balance, it can cause a broad range of symptoms such as weight gain, low libido & brain fog. The pellets are tiny and custom-compounded and are inserted in a simple in-office procedure. They gradually absorb, dispersing bioidentical hormones, resulting in improved mood, sleep & mental clarity, increased energy, muscle mass & weight loss and restored libido. To start, see if you are a candidate for Biote by getting a hormone evaluation with one of our Naturopathic Doctors.

SYMPTOMS OF HORMONAL IMBALANCE:

• Fatigue

• Mood Swings

• Weight Gain

• Low Libido

• Hot Flashes (women)

• Hair Loss

• Sleeping Difficulty

• Loss of Muscle Strength

• Erectile Dysfunction (men)

• Sleep Difficulty

WHOLE BODY HEALTH BENEFITS FROM NATURAL HORMONE OPTIMIZATION:

• Improved mood, sleep, and mental clarity
• Increased energy, weight loss, and muscle mass
• Restored libido and better sex
BIOIDENTICAL HORMONE  OPTIMIZATION WITH YAMS
Our Organic Skincare philosophy is that non-toxic products made from organic ingredients naturally derived from the Earth, combined with nutrition, sauna, hydration and stress management, to name a few, all result in whole body health for our largest organ, our skin!
Featured this year for our Seasonal Glow Facial is the Juicy Glow Tropical Facial, fortified with the power of tropical superfoods such as anti-aging Passionfruit, silky Yuzu citrus and antioxidant rich Mangosteen fruit. This delicious and organic blend of tropical superfoods delivers nourishment to your skin that your body can't produce on it's own, such as Vitamin C, which promotes collagen production, protects against sun damage, resurfaces, brightens, hydrates and evens pigmentation.
One of our favorite organic skin care treatments that uses ingredients from the Earth is our Seaweed Body Detox Treatment. This total body treatment naturally unclogs pores with seaweed and deeply nourishes and hydrates the skin, combining the relaxation of massage with the cleansing effects of an organic facial.

SIGNS YOUR SKIN MAY NEED ORGANIC SKINCARE:

• Acne + breakouts

• Rosacea + dermatitis or redness

• Fine lines + deep wrinkles

• Sun damage

• Hyperpigmentation

• Melasma

• Dullness + loss of clarity

• Loss of elasticity + firmness

WHOLE BODY HEALTH BENEFITS FROM ORGANIC SKINCARE:

• Organic skincare products are grown without harmful herbicides and pesticides
• Gentler on the skin
• Organic skincare products work better with up to 95% of the contents of organic skincare products being active ingredients
• Cruelty free

If you believe in the beauty, power and wisdom of Nature, you won't want to miss this

Learn what's from the Earth that supports whole body health