A few months ago, I had the pleasure of speaking with Nirmal Yogi and learning about Nariveda’s Ayurvedic Supplements. Nirmal and his son, Adrian, teamed up together to create their carefully researched and formulated supplements that help people with immunity, stress, cardiovascular health, brain function, aging, bones, joints, and more. After 40+ years of experience as an organic chemist and by being a devout practitioner of Ayurveda, Nirmal developed and formulated Nariveda’s powerful Elixirs. With a healthy amount of divine guidance dovetailed with the innate richness of his Ayurvedic upbringing and reverence for spiritual connection, Nirmal leads the research...

It seems that the microbiome is a term that has been on many health professional’s lips in the past few years. This is not without good reason. The microbiome is composed of bacteria, fungi, and viruses that live within our digestive tract. The gut hosts over 100 trillion microbes in the microbiota. That’s about 10 times as many cells as there are in our entire bodies! We are basically under the control of what lives within us, though we do have the power to make choices about how we feed our microbiome and this, in turn, alters the composition...

The human body is a beautifully complex thing. It constantly directs every system in your body to maintain optimal health. Whether in response to stress, inflammation, or foreign invaders a series of checks and balances keeps your body operating smoothly. One significant piece of health maintenance is your immune system. When it is working correctly you can fight off infections, recover from illness more quickly, and have limited or no allergic responses to your food and environment. However, when your immune system is not working properly, the potential for autoimmune diseases is a real threat. A Healthy Immune System...

The CBD market has exploded in recent years. CBD is being marketed as a cure for everything under the sun. Local gas stations, salons, veterinary offices, and natural food markets now carry CBD products. What are the true benefits of CBD? Cannabis sativa is the botanical classification of all plants commonly known as hemp or marijuana. Although the same species legally, hemp and marijuana fall into separate categories based on their cannabinoid content. The two main cannabinoids found in C. sativa are THC (Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol). Any cannabis plant containing 0.3% or less of THC (dry weight) falls...

Everyone has a unique Ayurveda body type, also called doshas, which is a natural disposition for how the body reacts to and synchronizes with behavioral and environmental conditions. For instance, some people may not gain weight after eating more than what is required, yet some people will gain or retain extra weight even when eating small quantities of food. With Ayurveda, we understand that each of us is unique, and by being informed about our unique disposition, or Ayurvedic body type, we will be more likely to benefit from the practices and wellness choices we make. If you are...

It’s a beautiful, sunny warm day and you’ve made it a point to take the day off for some well-deserved rest and relaxation. You’re about to leave for the beach, sunscreen in hand when the phone rings. You look down at your cell phone and it’s one of your closest friends. You reluctantly answer. They ask you in desperation to please help them move because they don’t want to move tomorrow in the rain. Now what? You say, “Sure, why not”, however, you’re mad as can be since you wanted to go do something for yourself for once. But...

Mugwort and Wormwood; their names conjure up images of twisted trees, damp forest floors, and perhaps a boarding school for wizard-kids. It is not uncommon for a patient to make the obvious reference to a certain book when I refer to the herb used in moxibustion. Perhaps it is no wonder that our imaginations take us to unknown and mysterious places when we first hear these names. Afterall, it is the medicinal properties of these two herbs that have contributed to its history and mythology. The Mugwort plant was traditionally used to protect homes from “evil spirits” or, in...

Do you see everything that’s in front of you or are there things that others see that you don’t? If we can’t see something, we don’t think it’s there – right? That same fact applies to our emotions becoming invisible to us as we push them down into our bodies. Stuffing our emotions down is our only natural human coping skill, unlike wild animals. They have inherent chemistry that allows them to literally shake off the stress from a life- threatening situation. After their predator has retreated, they stand up and shake every muscle in their body releasing a...

When talking to people about tick-borne disease, I find myself using analogies, making comparisons to things that make it easier to understand. Like when I get asked why some people get better after treatment and others do not, I often use the analogy of a house fire. Stay with me as I walk you through the comparison. When your house is on fire, you call the fire department and the fire fighters come and put out the fire. Now most people can’t just go back into the house and live like they did before the fire. The house will...

It’s inevitable that there will come a time in our lives when we will stand face to face with grief, whether it be from the loss of a loved one or from the residual effects of past traumas making their way back to the surface. Whatever the cause, the most challenging task is learning how to work through it while trying to maintain some form of normalcy in day-to-day life. For anyone asking themselves, “Can I move through this?”, Paul Matteson’s answer is a resounding, Yes! After training to become a workshop facilitator at the renowned Elisabeth Kubler­Ross Center...

Nurses, doctors, teachers, hairdressers, bank tellers, assembly line workers, even lobsterman – there are many occupations where people are on their feet for hours on end. These jobs often take a physical toll, especially on the legs and feet. One reason for discomfort in the lower extremities is poor circulation, but what exactly does that mean? The major parts of the circulatory system (also known as the cardiovascular system) are the heart, arteries, and veins. The heart pumps blood to the arteries, which take the oxygenated blood to all parts of the body. Healthy veins carry deoxygenated blood back...

Years ago, while conducting an applicant interview, I asked the common question, “Where do you see yourself in five years?” To my surprise, the interviewee sternly gave me an answer that was anything but generic: “I want your job.” Quite frankly, I was a bit startled. A striking study in business culture and connections, “Leading Up” is a committed, meaningful approach to companies’ investing in their leaders. As I’ve continued to study creating effective work relationships, I often remember the bold, “I want your job” statement from that interview years prior. However, properly investing in Leading Up is not...

Most likely in your journey of staying healthy and fit you count, or have counted, calories. Whether in the pursuit of some number on the scale or an improvement in health markers, counting calories seems like a smart way to stay on target with your goals. You may even use a fancy gadget to tell you how many steps you’ve taken, how many calories you’ve burned and how you’ve slept. These gadgets can be very useful to motivate you to move more or go to bed earlier, but they won’t necessarily help you reach your health goals by counting...

The use of cannabis has exploded across the country and in Maine with recent laws permitting medical and/or recreational use. The term cannabis refers to two main categories of the plant; marijuana and hemp. The THC content determines if a cannabis is categorized as marijuana or hemp. Hemp is legally defined as a cannabis containing up to 0.3% of THC while marijuana contains more than 0.3% THC. All cannabis is now considered Cannabis sativa. Marijuana continues to be listed as “sativa” or “indica” but the distinction is based on biological effects rather than botanical differences. The 2018 Farm bill...