The Magic of Bodywork

Explicit content warning

09/27/23 • 34 min

Massage, chiropractic care, acupuncture, reflexology. These are just a few examples of bodywork, a commonly known but lesser used therapy that promotes healing in both the body and the mind.

From a naturopathic perspective, bodywork is an essential part of our care regimen for many reasons that we’re going to get into today. Many of the ancient practices can offer comparable or better results than what can be achieved through modern medicine. But with so many options available, it can be hard to decipher what’s actually right for you. So that’s what we are going to tackle today.

Dr. Julia Vitali is an Osteopathic Physician who practices alongside me at Collaborative Natural Health Partners in Connecticut. Dr. Vitali lives and breathes an integrative approach to medicine and she uses a lot of bodywork in her practice to ensure that her patients can move freely and heal naturally.

Dr. Anthony Pascucci is a Naturopathic Physician with a focus on gastrointestinal disorders, men’s health issues, and chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, arthritis, and diabetes. He honors the power of the mind and body to heal using traditional naturopathic techniques married with modern functional medicine testing and clinical nutrition.

Here on Your Health Toolkit, we often talk about how conventional and naturopathic medicine can play complementary roles in our overall health. We call this “collaborative medicine” and through the work that we do at Collaborative Natural Health Partners, we are able to give people the knowledge and the tools they need to feel great every single day. If you’re interested in learning more, head over to our website or follow us on Facebook or Instagram for information, articles, and resources to take the guesswork out of your health.
Your Health Toolkit is a podcast presented for general information and educational purposes only. The discussions presented by Dr. Lauren Young and the show’s guests should not be considered medical advice but rather a conversation starter with your doctor. Everyone’s body is unique, and we recommend having a discussion with your personal healthcare team before trying anything discussed on the show.

Massage, chiropractic care, acupuncture, reflexology. These are just a few examples of bodywork, a commonly known but lesser used therapy that promotes healing in both the body and the mind.

Previous Episode

Pelvic Floor Health

Difficulty using the bathroom, painful sex, lower back pain? These might sound like average post-partum symptoms or even another delight of aging. But what many people don’t know is that there is another, lesser-known medical issue that could be the root cause.

Pelvic floor dysfunction affects one in every three women and it’s a problem that many general practitioners and even OB/GYN’s fail to address. We see this issue so frequently in our practice that we decided to dedicate an entire show to it! Our goal today is to ensure that people don’t feel embarrassed by pelvic floor issues and that they talk about it with their doctor to get help.

So let’s get right into it. It gives me great pleasure to introduce you to our experts.

Dr. Mary Tracey is a Naturopathic Physician whose areas of focus include women’s health, pain management, and chronic disease intervention. She is passionate about the inner workings of the human body and utilizes methods that promote long-term states of health and wellness for her patients. She is also certified in holistic pelvic care.

Dr. Jennifer Loos is a highly skilled physical therapist and the owner of Worthy of Wellness PT. With over 16 years of experience in the field, her passion for women's health was sparked by her firsthand experience with physically challenging pregnancies and postpartum pain. Jennifer has completed several specialized courses in women’s health and pelvic health and is a member of a Global Pelvic Health Alliance.

Next Episode

Sleep Better

A good night’s sleep is the foundation of proper health. From our internal organs to the way our brains work, every function of our body relies on rest. But with more demands from world, the gravitational pull of devices, and skyrocketing stress, the sleep that we need is more elusive than ever.

If you’re worried about those restless nights, you’re not alone. More than one-third of U.S. adults sleep less than seven hours per night, on average. Nearly half of U.S. workers say they are regularly tired during the day and poor sleep results in unplanned absences from work that cost the U.S. economy $44.6 billion each year.

So your quality of sleep isn’t just your problem. It’s something that communities, doctors, and even the government are keeping an open eye on. So what’s the deal with sleep really and how can we get a good night’s rest once and for all? That’s what we are going to talk about today. Let’s meet our experts.

Dr. Kate Zachau is an Osteopathic Family Medicine Physician who works with patients to determine the root cause of their symptoms in alignment with naturopathic and osteopathic philosophies. She specifically works with women as they move through menopause and her passion for integrative medicine is most notable in the modalities of mind-body medicine, nutrition, and osteopathic manipulation.
In today's episode, Dr. Tracey and Dr. Zachau mention several of their favorite tools for good sleep: