|
Testimonials
I started to see Dr. Jess
because I had numerous health problems that weren’t getting
much better on their own and I didn’t want to be dependent
on drugs that are toxic and just shut down my own natural
healing abilities.
Since seeing Dr. Jess I have
been inspired once again that my Body can heal in all areas
of my life thru wholesome and natural modalities.
She has addressed my heart, my neck pain, my back pain,
indigestion, skin problems, etc…
Dr. Jess has shown me thru her care
and concern and wonderful intellect and years of study that
nature and a listening Ear and properly prescribed life
style changes can make my health concerns melt away as my
body and mind get the proper nutrients and guidance to
heal.
She cares so deeply and is completely committed to giving me
the Best she and Naturopathy has to offer. I am so very
Blessed to have the opportunity to have her on my active
health plan and trusting her to continually guide me on my
path to wholeness and health and joy and fully living my
life.
She is absolutely a Top Notch
Healther and Lover of human kind and our future.
~William L.,
Harrisburg, PA
I first came to Dr. Jessica with complaints of tiredness and
the fact that I was taking several prescription medications
that I didn’t care to be on. I didn’t know much about
Naturopathic Medicine, which Jessica introduced me to.
Jessica is awesome! She
listens with care and concern, and is very informative.
She is willing to provide support when you need it.
After 7 months of treatment
with Jessica I am completely off my prescription medications
and feeling better than I have for a long time.
My tiredness is minimal. I am thrilled with the results so
far and look forward to living a healthier life.
I recommend Dr. Jessica to anyone looking for a better way
to stay healthy!
~Amanda L., Hershey,
PA
I was 57. My knees and all the other body parts I had been
so hard on were letting me know daily they were not happy
with me. I had two clear choices:
Take a pill
and masque the symptoms
(and maybe get side effects for which the drug companies
would be happy to (cha-ching) Rx yet another pill ((with
side
effects)). . .
or Alter my diet and behavior
to address the issues head on.
I chose the latter, but needed help navigating!
Jessica has been the educated, sensitive and very competent
advisor to direct me through the maze of print information
and supplement offerings to a beeline for restorative habits
and better health. Her care has been personalized through
careful listening to me.
Imagine, a Doctor who takes as
much time as you need to tell your WHOLE story, and really
listens, processes, then, gives a nail-on-the-head
recommendation! It's now hard to believe I was
living in that Other Body just six months ago… AND, I lost
weight.
~Cindy
B., Lewisberry, PA
______________________________________________________
Current Articles by
Jessica
► Back
to School Nutrition
► Beating
the Winter Blues
Back to School Nutrition
By Jessica Shoemaker, BS, ND
New School clothes? Classroom supplies? Bus stop schedules?
Have you considered Back to School Nutrition?
Here are some considerations to ensure your child’s success.
WELL-BALANCED
MULTIVITAMIN FOR YOUR CHILD
Nutritional deficiencies are prevalent in the Standard
American Diet. They are the result of poor food choices.
Our food products are negatively affected by processing,
bleaching and refining and can be further damaged by toxic
pollution and pesticides used in growth and production.
Sources of help to offset these problems for your children
are found in multivitamins. They contain many nutrients
that are supportive for a child’s concentration and focus.
For example, magnesium is a calming mineral that naturally
enhances a child’s concentration capacity and is involved in
over 80% of the chemical reactions that occur in the body.
Vitamin B6 is an essential co-factor in maintaining optimal
brain nutrition and serves to support the body’s ability to
cope with stress.
AMINO ACID
NUTRITION TO SUPPORT BRAIN CHEMISTRY
The
pharmaceutical industry has tried for years to affect the
brain chemistry balance with synthetic drugs. Unfortunately
these drugs create many adverse reactions and potential
safety concerns. L-glutamine, an amino acid, is a safe
alternative that naturally enhances the body’s
neurotransmitter GABA (Gamma Amino Butyric Acid). GABA is
one of the most calming chemicals in the brain. It acts to
decrease anxiety and restlessness allowing a child to be
more attentive and focused in a schoolroom setting. In
addition, the immune system is also directly supported by
L-glutamine.
ESSENTIAL
FATTY ACID NUTRITION
Omega 3 and Omega
6 fatty acids have been shown to be helpful for a host of
diseases. A partial list includes: diabetes, cardiovascular
disease, arthritis, eczema and depression. In addition,
many children with attention disorders and learning
disabilities have also been found to have a deficiency in
these essential fatty acids. The neurons in the brain
require these healthy fats to function at peak performance.
These healthy fats can be obtained through a diet rich in
wild (not farmed raised) cold-water fish, fish oil
supplements and raw nuts and seeds.
These examples
are general recommendations to enhance mental focus and
educational success. A healthy routine comprised of a
balanced diet (especially breakfast), adequate exercise and
sufficient sleep are always imperative to optimal wellness.
It is just as important to avoid foods that
aggravate mood and attention span, as it is to provide
proper nutritional support. Avoid packaged, processed and
fast foods high in additives, preservatives, artificial
sweeteners, dyes, trans fatty acids and high fructose corn
syrup. Avoiding these products and potential food allergies
may naturally enhance health and mental function.
Before
implementing any new dietary changes or nutrient
supplementation, it is recommended to consult with a
healthcare professional. It is important to consider child
appropriate doses and potential drug interactions.
Jessica
Shoemaker, B.S., N.D. Alternative Healthcare Consultant is
practicing with The Family Wellness Center in Harrisburg.
For more information, please call (717) 558-8500 Ext. 2.
______________________________________________________
Beating the Winter
Blues
Jessica Shoemaker, BS, ND
For those of us that enjoy skiing, snow shoeing, ice-skating
and warming our hands over a blazing fire, the winter months
can be a magical time. For thousands of people that suffer
from mild winter blues or seasonal affective disorder, the
turn of the seasons can be daunting and dreaded.
Fortunately, there are many remedies offered through
nutrition and nature to help lift moods and spirits during
the colder months.
Medicinal
plants
in nature have a tremendous ability to restore mood, balance
our central nervous system and enhance our immunity. Some
of the well-known herbs to treat winter blues are
Hypericum perforatum (St. Johns Wort), Centella
asiatica (Gotu Kola), Melissa citronella (Lemon
Balm) and Gingko biloba (Gingko). St. Johns Wort
facilitates the body’s ability to receive sunlight and helps
to calm the feelings of isolation and disconnection from the
rest of the world. Anxieties, feelings of worthlessness,
insomnia and mild depression have all been effectively
addressed with this herb. Gotu Kola helps extinguish mental
chatter by having a calming effect on the central nervous
system and enhances the body’s resiliency against stress.
Lemon Balm has long been used as digestive agent and mood
stabilizer against anxiety and depression. It works best to
soothe and rebalance an agitated or irritable state of
mind. Many household cleaners often have a lemon scent for
this reason. And last but not least, Gingko is not only a
tremendous herb for enhancing mental clarity and stabilizing
mood but it also increases peripheral circulation to ward
against cold hands and feet and is a powerful antioxidant.
Herbal teas are a wonderful way to incorporate some of these
powerful and balancing botanicals into your winter routine.
For additional assistance on which botanical is right for
you, contact an alternative health professional.
Exercise
and sunlight
are two effective and well-known remedies that naturally
enhance spirits and boost the blues. In order to create a
balanced sleep/wake cycle that promotes energy and vitality,
it is essential to get adequate sleep in a dark room and to
receive sunlight upon waking in the morning. Eating
breakfast on an outdoor patio (with scarf and mittens) or by
a large window for 20 minutes provides additional Vitamin D
production to elevate mood with lasting effects throughout
the day. However, the sunlight received in the middle of
January possesses about 10 times less BTUs than the sunlight
received on a summer day in July. Therefore, individuals
that suffer from seasonal affective disorder may want to
consider adding these supplemental suggestions to their
regiment in addition to getting more sunlight. Receiving
adequate sunlight in the winter is only one part of a
balanced program to alleviate depression. Another important
part is exercise. Exercise by itself is proven to be
mood elevating, health restoring, disease preventing and can
be as effective as antidepressant medications. It is
important to begin exercise programs before the change in
the seasons, that way the exercise is habitual and already
part of a daily schedule. Don’t forget to dress properly!
Nutrition
is nature’s counterpart in preventing depression and mood
swings. Proper nutrition, inclusive of colorful
organic fruits and vegetables, nutrient dense whole grains
and wild cold-water fish is imperative. These include high
levels of antioxidants, bioflavonoids, vitamins, minerals
and essential fatty acids required to ensure optimal
vitality and resistance against depression. Single nutrient
deficiencies alone, such as vitamin B deficiencies or Omega
3 fatty acid deficiencies, have been shown to cause
depression. A simple switch from canned or frozen
vegetables to fresh, raw or steamed vegetables can
significantly contribute to the nutritional content of
food. In addition, foods to avoid in your diet are
just as important. Processed, refined and packaged foods
are often void of essential nutrients and building blocks
for a healthy body. Caffeine, alcohol, nicotine and sugar
are all culprits that can cause and/or exacerbate
depression. The timing of meals is also a
contributing factor that can promote or prevent mood
swings. It is essential to avoid drops in blood sugar that
are known to create discomfort in the form of agitation,
anxiety or headaches. Eating 6 small balanced meals a day
versus three large meals will help to maintain a stable
blood sugar and ward off anxiety and depression.
A natural remedy
often forgotten is the power of relationships.
Relationships provide support and compassion and serve as a
reminder of our connection with the universe. This winter,
make sure to surround yourself with trusted friends, family
(and even pets) and make the conscious choice to nurture an
old relationship or to begin a new one. Volunteer work
often creates a healthy environment to meet new people,
start new relationships and give back to the community. I
don’t know a single person who has ever felt worse after
volunteering their time to individuals in need, so go ahead
and give a helping hand this winter.
Jessica
Shoemaker, B.S., N.D. Alternative Healthcare Consultant is
practicing with The Family Wellness Center in Harrisburg.
For more information, please call (717) 558-8500 Ext. 2.
Return to Naturopathic Medicine &
Homeopathy
|
