Please note that I will be out of the office from February 10-25. My office manager Kellie will be in the office on February 11th from 9AM to 5PM to assist you in scheduling appointments or purchasing supplements.  From February 12th to the 25th the office will be closed but she will be able to respond to your emails to answer questions and schedule appointments.  Please plan ahead if you will be needing to refill supplements during that time.

Do gluten or dairy products cause digestive problems?  Do you dread eating out at a restaurant knowing that a stomach ache will follow?  I have discovered a product called Similase GFCF which has proven indispensable for eating out and travel.  Composed of plant enzymes that specifically digest gluten and dairy in addition to protein, fat and carbohydrate, two capsules taken with a meal significantly reduces abdominal pain, gas and bloating.  This product is now available in my office and we are also happy to mail it to you.

The Montrose Memorial Hospital Health Fair is being held this Saturday February 1st in Ridgway at the 4H Center from 7-11 AM.  Screening laboratory tests will be available at very reasonable prices in addition to free blood pressure checks, eye and skin exams and more.  I will be there all morning and hope to see you there!  Don’t forget to fast with water only for at least 10 hours before the blood draw.
If you cannot make it to one of the local health fairs this winter, I am offering the same lab tests for the same prices at my office until March 14th.  Call my office to schedule a blood draw!

Thanks to your efforts, Naturopathic Doctors in Colorado will be able to apply for a license in April 2014. I will continue to put out updates about what this means regarding prescriptions and other services as I learn more.

Rates for office visits have increased a small amount as of January 2014 to cover new required expenses such as malpractice insurance.
30 minute visit: $70
60 minute visit: $115-$125
Comprehensive Women’s Annual Exam (60 minutes): $125

My office will be open Thursday 1/2 from 9 AM to 5 PM and Friday 1/3 from 9 AM to 12 PM this week and then will resume normal hours: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 9 AM to 4 PM and Friday 9 AM to 12 PM.

I look forward to seeing you soon!

Medicinal peat is a substance obtained from bogs on low or highland moors that has been used extensively as a medicinal preparation in baths and packs in Europe for centuries.  I now carry this amazing product for use in a bath as treatment for skin disorders, arthritis pain, fibromyalgia, muscle tension, viral infections, detoxification and much more. Contact me for more information!

One 3 lb. chicken

3 1/2 qts. water

4 carrots–2 coarsely chopped, 2 sliced 1/4 inch thick

4 celery ribs–2 coarsely chopped, 2 sliced 1/4 inch thick

1 unpeeled onion, quartered

1 large unpeeled garlic clove, smashed

1 tsp. whole black peppercorns

1 large bay leaf

6 parsley sprigs

2 thyme sprigs

Sea salt

1.  In a stockpot, combine the chicken, water, chopped carrots and celery, onion, garlic, peppercorns and herbs; bring to a boil.  Cover partially and simmer over low heat for 30 minutes.  Transfer chicken to a plate.  Discard the skin.  Pull the meat off the bones, cut into 1/2 inch pieces and refrigerate.

2. Return the bones to the pot.  Simmer for 1-2  hours.  Strain the broth into a bowl and rinse out the pot.  Return broth to the pot and simmer until reduced to 8 cups.  Season with salt.

3.  Add the sliced carrots and celery to the broth, cover and simmer until just tender, 12 minutes.  Add chicken pieces and cooked noodles or rice if desired.  Garnish with chopped parsley and enjoy!

I wanted to share with all of you the three dietary supplements that I feel make the biggest impact when it comes to fighting off infection each winter.  This is in addition to a good night’s sleep, whole food dietary choices and regular exercise.

1.  Juice Plus:  This is a whole food based nutritional product made by juicing a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, then concentrating the juices into powders.  It is available in capsules or chewables.  My 4 year old son and I have taken this product for about one year and I have been very impressed with the reduction in colds, flu, sinus infections, etc.  that are typical with a young child.  In fact, we have not been sick at all during the time we have taken Juice Plus.  I also like the fact that numerous clinical studies have been done on Juice Plus which have been published in major medical journals showing that the product also:

1.  Delivers key antioxidants and other phytonutrients that are absorbed by the body

2.  Reduces oxidative stress

3.  Helps protect DNA

4.  Supports cardiovascular wellness

5.  Supports healthy skin and gums

Appointments are now available Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM and Friday from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM.  My office manager Kellie is available to take your calls on Tuesdays, otherwise please leave a message and I will return your call as soon as possible.

Phone – (970) 626-3188

I am excited to be offering some new and very useful laboratory tests in my practice.

Ever wonder if you are really absorbing the nutrients from your food or vitamins?  Or suspect that your medical condition is related to nutritional deficiency but can’t figure it out?  Spectracell measures vitamin, mineral and antioxidant levels in the white blood cells using a unique process that can reveal a person’s functional nutritional status over a much longer period of time than conventional serum testing.  This test has allowed me to really pinpoint the nutrients you need to prevent and treat illness in a much more objective way.  www.spectracell.com

The other lab that I am using frequently in my practice right now is Neuroscience.  This company measures neurotransmitter levels through a urine test.  At last we are able to specifically determine which neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine, etc. are excess or deficient so that your treatment for anxiety, depression, insomnia, etc. can be as targeted as possible.  If you would like to treat one of these conditions naturally or have not had much luck with pharmaceutical anti-depressants or sleep medications, this test may be useful.  www.neuroscienceinc.com

In addition, I am now working with a company that uses the nationwide lab Quest for standard lab tests but offers the tests at a much lower cost.  This includes all standard lab tests including thyroid, female and male hormones, chemistry panels, cardiovascular health markers and much more.  Please call the office to inquire about any of these tests and specific costs.

Concussion and traumatic brain injury are very common occurrences in our area due to the active nature of our population.  Skiing, rock and ice climbing, mountain biking, motorcycling and ATVing and many other activities lend themselves to a high rate of head injury.  In many cases, a mild concussion will resolve in a few days with no long-term effects.  However, with a more severe concussion, recovery may take months to years and may cause lingering effects such as headache, dizziness, vision problems, balance problems, confusion or difficulty with concentration and memory.  I have had very good results treating traumatic brain injury with a combination of specific nutrients and constitutional homeopathy.  Call my office if you are interested in treatment or have further questions.

Dear Friends,

We did it!!!  Thanks to your efforts, Governor Hickenlooper signed into law a measure to regulate naturopathic doctors and define their scope of practice.  Colorado becomes the 17th state to do so (along with the District of Columbia).

To celebrate this momentous occasion and to thank you for your persistent phone calls and emails to your legislators, I am hosting an open house at my office this Friday from 2 to 5 pm for refreshments and information about what this legislation means for your health care.

See you soon!

I am now settled into my new office space; feel free to stop by and take a look!  It is located at 195 S. Lena St. Unit B (corner of Lena and Hyde) in Ridgway.  The office is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9 AM to 5 PM with some Friday morning appointments available as well.

I continue to carry the same high quality dietary supplements which are available for purchase in the office or can be shipped directly to you.  Call or email to place an order.

Homeopathic Influenzinum is still available for those of you who have not taken flu prevention precautions yet!  It has been a difficult flu season thus far but I feel one of the things that has helped most of my patients avoid the flu has been Influenzinum.

Stay tuned for legislative updates!  A bill to license and regulate Naturopathic Doctors in Colorado is being presented to the State House of Representatives this month.  Licensure is essential in order for us to be able to serve the people of Colorado to the full extent of our training as primary care doctors.  For more information check out www.coloradond.org and click on Advocacy.