Cravings aren’t just about hunger or willpower—they’re messages from your nervous system. When stress depletes key neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, your body instinctively seeks out sugar, salt, and fat to rebalance. But the relief is temporary, leading to a cycle of cravings. Understanding what your body is truly asking for allows you to nourish yourself in a way that supports long-term well-being. What if your cravings weren’t the enemy, but a guide?

Stress, hormones, and daily habits all play a role in whether you wake up feeling refreshed—or like the creature from the Black Lagoon. I’ve been on my own sleep journey, from crashing anywhere as a kid (yes, even on ski lifts) to learning how to navigate the push-and-pull of stress, cortisol, and hormonal balance. If you’ve ever found yourself waking up at 3 a.m., dealing with a second wind at night, or feeling groggy no matter how much sleep you get—you’re not alone. In this post, I dive into why sleep changes, how stress and hormones throw off your rhythms, and what you can actually do about it—including herbs, lifestyle shifts, and foods that support deep, restorative rest.

Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night and wondered why? While modern society treats uninterrupted sleep as the gold standard, history and biology suggest that biphasic sleep—waking for a period in the night—is actually quite normal. In this post, we explore why some people are naturally wakeful at night, how age and stress impact sleep rhythms, and when wakefulness signals a deeper imbalance. Plus, learn practical tips to work with your body's natural rhythm instead of fighting against it.

Our brain is a symphony of interconnected regions, each playing a crucial role in how we think, feel, and respond to the world. In this post, we explore some of the most fascinating yet often overlooked areas—the thalamus, insular cortex, corpus callosum, brainstem, and reticular activating system (RAS). Learn how these regions act as bridges, regulators, and filters for our sensory, emotional, and physical experiences. Discover actionable tips, herbal allies, and the gentle support of craniosacral therapy to help restore balance and optimize your brain’s natural harmony.

Explore the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS)—the "rest and digest" counterpart to the fight-or-flight response. Learn how the vagus nerve, neurotransmitters like acetylcholine, and supportive players like nitric oxide work together to calm your body, improve digestion, and support immune function. Plus, discover actionable tips like diaphragmatic breathing, mindfulness, and craniosacral therapy to activate your PNS and bring balance to your nervous system. Dive in and give your body the relaxation it deserves!

Ever feel your heart race at the sound of a sudden noise or tense up when you’re running late? That’s your sympathetic nervous system kicking into gear—your body’s own ‘fight or flight’ mode. In this Tour of the Body post, we’ll dive into the our sympathetic system, exploring how it works, what chemicals like norepinephrine, epinephrine, and cortisol do to keep you alert, and the real impact of being ‘on’ too often. Plus, we’ll share actionable tips for shifting back into balance so you can manage stress and feel more at ease in your body.

The “Tour of the Body” Series' endocrine system continues with The Adrenal Glands: The Stress Responders. These pair of pyramid shaped glands on top of our kidneys are incredibly hardworking, and unfairly vilified. They are crucial to responding to stress, in an over-stressed world.