Pillars of My Practice
The work I do one-on-one with patients is deeply individualized. I believe each of us has a unique way of expressing imbalance in the body. Whether you’re working with a clinical “diagnosis” or simply a collection of symptoms that don’t feel right, your body is speaking its own language. Care should always be tailored to that expression, not forced into a one-size-fits-all mold.
When clients come in to work with me, there are some foundational areas I address with everyone. These are the roots of our wellness — the daily rhythms and practices that nourish us at the deepest level. I’ve found that when these pillars are optimized, health outcomes improve dramatically. They are the ground upon which any advanced protocol or therapeutic strategy must stand.
NOURISHMENT & DIGESTION - let’s break this down . . . pun intended!
You cannot build optimal health without the proper nutrients to fuel your brain, mitochondria (your tiny energy generators), and the needs of your organs and tissues. This means whole, organic, nutrient-dense foods: vibrant vegetables, animal proteins and fats, thoughtfully prepared grains and legumes, and the living vitality of fermented foods for your microbiome.
When we work together, we’ll get very specific about what and how you are eating. I’ll help you tune into not only what lands well for your body, but also how you prepare it, when you eat it, and what context you’re in while eating.
Because here’s the truth: you can eat all the “clean” and organic food in the world, but if you’re not breaking it down properly, you won’t be absorbing or assimilating it. This is where we explore the “how’s” of digestion — from enzyme output, to nervous system regulation, to the role of the five tastes in Chinese Medicine. We’ll also cover practical strategies like meal timing, food combining, and fasting rhythms that can either nurture or challenge your gut.
And nourishment isn’t just about what’s stamped “organic” on the label at Trader Joe’s. It’s about the story of your food: where it comes from, who grew it, and how it harmonizes with the season and your local ecology. Eating from your foodshed supports not just digestion, but your mitochondria, metabolism, and resilience. I’ll help you develop strategies to source food that is sustainable for you and your family.
HYDRATION & MINERAL BALANCE - you’re not sick, you’re thirsty.
Most of us live in a state of chronic dehydration — and not just the kind you notice when you feel parched. In fact, one sign of long-term dehydration is not feeling thirsty. Over time, the body learns to stop signaling for water.
Yet hydration is not as simple as “drink more water.” Much of our modern water supply is stripped, filtered, and lifeless. What your body truly craves is structured, mineral-rich water that it can actually use. Did you know that the water you drink becomes your blood within five minutes? That’s how essential it is.
Hydration also goes far beyond your glass: it is influenced by sunlight and circadian rhythms, movement, EMFs, the food you eat, even the quality of your thoughts. Minerals — sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and dozens of trace elements — are what conduct the electrical symphony of your body. They power your heartbeat, your adrenal function, your energy metabolism, and your nervous system.
Spring water naturally carries this mineral orchestra, but tap and filtered water rarely do. This is why we often need to add concentrated mineral blends back into our water. Together, we’ll uncover the hydration and mineral strategies that make sense for your unique body and environment.
CONNECTION TO OUR ECOLOGY - You cannot live without the earth!
You are not separate from nature. Every cell of your body is in dialogue with the natural world — light, soil, water, plants, animals, the cosmos itself. The more disconnected we become from the earth, the more fragmented we feel in our own bodies.
Think of a moment when you felt most alive and grounded. Was it walking barefoot on a beach? Resting under a tree you loved as a child? Swimming in a cold river? That sense of vitality isn’t just “in your head” — it’s your body recharging from the free flow of electrons, the elemental forces of life.
Modern life has cut us off from these cues: we spend our days indoors, under artificial light, separated from soil, sun, and fresh air. This isn’t just poetic — it’s biological. Your circadian rhythms, hydration status, and immune regulation all depend on these natural signals.
When we work together, I’ll guide you in reclaiming simple, free practices — sun therapy, grounding, natural movement, ecological nourishment — that restore you to the rhythms you were designed for. These aren’t “extras.” They’re the foundation upon which all else is built.
DRAINAGE & HEALTHY DETOXIFICATION - learning to love your liver!
It’s common for patients to come in with gut issues, hormone imbalances, or fatigue, and they’re already taking probiotics, hormone herbs, or restrictive diets. Yet often, no one has addressed the central role of the liver and gallbladder in these imbalances.
Your body has four main exit routes: you pee, you poop, you breathe, and you sweat. These pathways — supported by the liver, gallbladder, kidneys, lymphatics, lungs, colon, and skin — are called emunctories. If even one of these pathways is sluggish, symptoms can build downstream: headaches, hormonal swings, skin rashes, fatigue, gut bloating, brain fog.
The key isn’t to throw more supplements at the problem, but to open and support these drainage pathways. When they’re flowing, your body is wise enough to resolve many symptoms on its own. Together, we piece the puzzle back together, supporting your natural detoxification systems so you can reclaim vitality at the root.
So many of the practices I’ve shared here — real food, clean water, light, movement, connection with the earth — are free. They are available to all of us. These are the pillars we strengthen first, before we ever reach for herbs or supplements. They are the daily rituals that bring resilience, vitality, and balance back into your body.
This is the work I love: helping you remember that your health is not something you outsource, but something you grow into. Rooted, resilient, and alive.
With love & care for each of you on your journey back to better health,
Lauren