Our lives are not back to normal. The virus remains, as do many new social norms, new work remote life, emerging social and employment conflicts about mandates, the virus, and the vaccine. Clearly we are a society under stress. And we can choose how we this will impact our own health and well-being. As stress is really about our response. Stress affects every system in our body.There is a healthier way we can respond to stress. Get the full powerpoint by signing up for my News Update on my website.
Some of my favorite naturopathic support includes;
1.Adaptogenic Herbs- help the body adapt to stress, and reduce cortisol the stress hormone
(HPA adapt, adapten-all, daily adapt, adrenotone, Relora plus Bacopa)
2.Nutrients-especially minerals to calm the muscles and central nervous system (magnesium taurate, magnesium 300, even topical magnesium)
3.Homeopathics- Ignatia, Nux Vomica, Aconitum ask me more next visit!
4.Amino Acids- GABA, dl-phenylalanine, L-theanine,L-tyrosine are my top ones for mood balance
5.Nervines- Valerian root, skullcap, chamomille, hops, lemon balm

Of course everyone is unique and I develop individualized naturopathic plans suite to meet your needs.

My New Digestive Repair program includes some of the following guiding principles.Coupled with the GI Map to assess underlying gut pathogens, and a customized digestive plan.

Principles for Healthy Digestion- Digestion is the basis for all health
1. Chew your food thoroughly; digestion begins in the mouth where enzymes are released through chewing and saliva. Add in digestive enzymes.
2. Try a food rotation/elimination diet where you eliminate a highly allergic or difficult and congesting food like cow’s milk-dairy, wheat, eggs, nuts, soy, corn, etc. You must allow 72 hours of each food to be eliminated then re-introduced. Another option is eating a clean diet for 30 days avoiding these foods then re-introducing. Also consider food allergy and sensitivity testing. You must identify the offenders.
3. Eat an alkaline diet. Foods high in acid such as sugar, dairy, breads and other refined foods and meats are difficult to digest-eat a mostly plant based but not exclusively raw diet.
4. Eat foods easy to digest such as cooked fruits, vegetables, soups, rice and other whole (non-gluten) grains, fish and poultry.
5. Use natural antimicrobials in cooking to reduce bad gut bacteria and pathogens; oregano, ginger, garlic, sage, thyme, rosemary, and use fermented foods such as unsweetened kefir, miso or occasional plain yogurt, sauerkraut, and probiotics (good bacteria such as fermented miso, yogurt, sauerkraut) and pre-biotics (dandelion greens, asparagus, leek, garlic, onion, chicory, yams) to replenish good gut bacteria.
6. Eat and cook with foods to stimulate and warm digestion such as bitter foods; turmeric, ginger, dandelion greens, arugula, aloe, herbal bitters. Herbal bitters stimulate the digestive process and have been used for hundreds of years. Also consider HCI and Digestive Enzymes.
7. Understand your own energy- is your system too “hot” or “cold”? If you have a lot of digestive heat, eating raw foods can be helpful. If your system is “cold” eat warm and cooked foods.
8. Repair and soothe mucosal lining of the stomach with slippery elm, licorice root, aloe leaf juice, l-glutamine, or camomile (aloe is naturally a slight laxative). Look for a formula that has all of these. Also look for a multi-type of probiotic with many strains of good bacteria
9. Eat to nourish the brain gut connection, herbs which are calming for brain gut connection include chamomile, hops, valerian, lemon balm, milky oat.
10. Engage in a mind body practice or daily relaxation
11. Take a day such as a Sunday to rest digestion eating broths, fresh juices, soups and steamed vegetables
12. A special Note About contstipation- Eating more fiber, flax, fruits, vegetables, juices, and use magnesium bisglycinate, vitamin c, and other good fats such as flax oil, fish oil to keep the system lubricated. castor oil paks. Vita C every 2 hours until bowels move. Ask me for my constipation protocol you can order on Lynn’s List, available to all past and current clients.

Recent published studies suggest a specific viral protocol to intervene as both prevention and intervention. I am reading several interesting books about pandemics. Clearly food remains the foundation for optimal health, but I believe we need to have additional strategies in place for a vital immune system.
Of importance is the fact, in regards to COVID-19 there seems to be two phases to the virus. During the first phase, your innate immune system responds, immune support such as vitamins A, C, and D are all important. Specifically, oral doses of vitamin C can achieve similar rapid increase in plasma concentration as Infusions. Correcting any deficiencies before the onset of a virus is essential. Additional prevention strategies include melatonin, zinc and iodine. During the second phase, pro-inflammatory response, your immune system is in “rapid-fire”phase, natural anti-inflammatories are helpful here. Preferably, natural ones. Flavonoids and curcumin are examples of this. The second phase is a time I believe therapeutic doses might be beneficial. Also during the second phase Vitamin C can be used every few hours. I also believe homeopathy can be helpful to have on hand for specific individual reactions to this virus. I have a list of what I will be keeping on hand for family this winter. If you would like to learn more about my immune regulating support program or wish to read my Immune Building Support Guide, email me at lynnwestfeinman@gmail.com

1. Fruits: Preferably fresh whole fruit, or frozen. Avoid everything else and be aware of low glycemic index choices. Some dried fruit is allowed. The best fruits include fresh berries, apples, pears, melons, grapefruit, oranges, and grapes. Choose seasonal fruits. Optimal is 3-4 servings a day.
2. Vegetables: Preferably fresh, raw, steamed, sautéed, roasted, juiced-include non-starchy and starchy (*especially dark green leafy vegetables- cabbage family veggies). Cook with onions, scallions, and garlic; these are sulphur foods that aid in detox. Other spices include ginger and especially cumin and turmeric. Optimal is 5-6 servings a day.
3. Dairy Substitutes: Oat milk, rice milk, almond milk, cashew, and coconut milk. (any unsweetened nut or seed milk is fine). Some people do OK with occasional plain yogurt. Generally, my initial cleanse should be dairy free.
4. Non- Gluten grains: Brown rice, buckwheat (not a wheat) basmati rice, millet, oats, buckwheat, and quinoa are acceptable. One serving a day. Avoid wheat, barley, rye for this cleanse. Flax type crackers are a nice option for a snack.
5. Vegetable proteins: Beans, split peas, lentils, chickpeas, and all other beans and legumes. I believe a vegan-based cleanse to be the most beneficial. Spinach is a great source of protein. Moderate amount of tofu is acceptable. If you have a thyroid issue avoid soy.
6. Nuts and Seeds: Sesame, pumpkin, sunflower, hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds, cashews, and pecans (RAW). Aim for a handful or two a day.
7. Fats: Cold pressed olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, and flax oil.
8. Drinks: Filtered water, green tea, herbal tea, licorice root, chamomile, chai yerba mate, rooibos, nettles, etc. I believe teas can offer great assistance to achieving your goals. Aim for 8 glasses of water a day (including teas). Iced herbal tea is a great option for variety.
9. Sweeteners: Raw honey, real maple syrup and stevia are allowed. My personal preference is honey, especially raw and local honey. In moderation.If you are doing a sugar detox, or are carbohydrate sensitive avoid all of these. You can sweeten food with dates, pumpkin puree, applesauce, apple cider, and cinnamon. All spices and herbs, ginger and garlic (fresh), are fine. Tamari (wheat free) and miso are best. Vinegars are also fine. Apple cider vinegar alkalizes, along with lemons.
10. Herbs and Spices: All Seasonings and spices are wonderful. They all have healing qualities. Experiment to find your favorite tastes. Learn more about my comprehensive Nutritional Cleanse Program by arranging a complementary introductory session. Just email me!

Does everyone need vitamins or herbals as a supplement to their diet? My answer is another question to consider, “How is your health?” If you want to improve your health while and have digestive, emotional, immune, or hormonal health issues, then it is my belief, as a naturopath, that vitamins as well as herbals can and do help to restore health.
There are millions of supplements on the market today. There are millions of dollars spent on marketing to sell you vitamins. How do you know what you need? How do you know which company to buy?
First, I believe a foundational micronutrient formula is a good place to start. You can not achieve this with a one-a-day pill. If you have any health challenges you definitely can benefit from repleting specific nutrients related to your health condition. Also as we age, or if we have underlying immune issues, allergies, digestive issues I believe we need more antioxidants, and minerals. If you are over 40 I believe a nutrient test is a valuable tool. A local lab I refer to offers such tests, as well as hormone tests and food sensitivity testing. I personally did this a few years ago and found it very beneficial.
Second, choose vitamins carefully. Look for a few stamps or certifications on the label such as good manufacturing practices, nutritional council membership, third party testing, accreditation for in-house labs, and certification to produce organic products. Usually, quality supplements are sold by health-care practitioners. Also know that most vitamins are water soluble, so they are not stored in the body. But the fat soluble vitamins such as A, E, Zinc, Selenium, D are stored in the body so you can take too much. Vitamins should be a part of an overall naturopathic plan which includes nourishing whole foods, herbs, and homeopathy, to strengthen vitality, optimize your health and energy rather than merely treat the symptoms of disease. I feel strongly everyone benefits from a customized naturopathic plan.

By Caroline O’Halloran

Masks and hand washing only go so far. To fight off COVID-19, we need to clean from within. So says pre-eminent board-certified Doctor of Naturopathy Lynn Feinman (above) who’s been successfully guiding Main Line clients toward optimum health for 12 years.

“With COVID, a lot of people realize they better get their act together,” she says.

SAVVY sat down with Dr. Lynn to discuss her top tips for disease prevention and better health.

What are signs of a weakened immune system?

Allergies, asthma, frequent colds and viruses, Lyme disease, fatigue, auto-immune and thyroid problems – those are the big ones that show things are starting to break down.

How do you help clients boost their immune systems?

It’s more about helping the immune system regulate itself. Food is the foundation: micronutrient antioxidant support, a plant-based diet, not a lot of sugar or alcohol, making sure you get restorative sleep, getting an optimal level of Vitamin D (which can be tested). If I’m going to be stranded somewhere, Vitamin D is the one vitamin I’m going to take.

What can you do if you’re diagnosed with COVID-19?

If I were starting to show symptoms, I would take Vitamin D and Vitamin C every few hours. There’s no harm in taking extra, especially compared to the unknown dangers of the virus, particularly if you’re immuno-compromised. Natural anti-inflammatories like flavonoids and curcumin can be helpful, too. I have a list I’ll be keeping on hand for my family this winter.

A few of Feinman’s suggested immunity and vitality boosters.

Who stands the best chance of surviving the virus?

Clearly, the healthier you are, the better. Why do some people get really sick with Lyme or HPV and others clear it from their bodies? I help clients find their personal best health quotient. It’s making sure you’re getting good sleep, balanced exercise and that you do get natural sun. In addition to vitamins, I think superfoods such as greens, nuts and seeds are a great benefit to overall inflammatory status. Ultimately, it is about naturopathically supporting health rather than only seeking to kill the germ.

Why might a naturopathic doctor be an especially wise investment during a pandemic?

Prevention is the name of the game. You want to stay out of the hospital during this pandemic. You don’t want to have anything else go wrong. The naturopathic model is about improving vitality. The more vital you are, the less disease. And in general, medications are suppressive. Naturopathy teaches you what your body needs. You don’t want to take a million things. You just want to take the thing you need. It’s about outrunning the bus. When you get run over, you have to go to the hospital. But beforehand, you try to outrun the bus. The modern naturopath uses food, nutrition, diet, herbs, homeopathy and lifestyle. It considers the whole person.

What’s the Number One thing people don’t understand about their health?

That we can deeply influence our health status and overall well-being. We can impact and improve any disease state, but especially our immune health, digestion, hormonal health and emotional balance. Our health is our responsibility.

What’s the most common mistake women make when faced with symptoms of menopause?

Not recognizing our hormonal cycles represent underlying imbalances and damage and that hormonal health is linked to immune health and seeking to “fix” it with hormone-replacement therapy (HRT). We do an in-office assessment and saliva testing for perimenopausal imbalances, then create a customized plan. Diet, supplements and sleep support are key. In 95 percent of cases, we can bring hormones into balance without HRT – there are other ways to cool off the hot flashes.

Does everyone need a detoxifying cleanse – even people with no symptoms?

Yes. Allowing the body short periods of digestive rest and nutrient dense foods to flush the system can benefit everyone. There is so much we are exposed to in foods and the environment.

Can diet really affect our mental health?

Yes! There’s a deep connection between our microbiome (your digestive ecosystem) and mood. We are what we eat. Take care of your microbiome – more prebiotics instead of probiotics – and you’re taking care of your brain and mental health.

What drew you to practice naturopathy?

I’ve always been interested in nutrition and battled to be thin in college – I tried every diet. The turning point for me was when I was diagnosed with Lyme and Hashimoto’s disease and then when I had my own children, there were way too many antibiotics being thrown at me, especially for my son’s ear chronic infections. I pursued homeopathic and naturopathy for them and myself. I went back to school 17 years ago. I thought, ‘I’m going to make myself and my family healthier and if I can do that, I’ll help other people.’

What ever happened with your son’s ear infections?

He was cured in a very short time with homeopathy. He’s a musician today – thank goodness, he didn’t end up losing his hearing.

I see health as an inter-relationship of all the aspects of the self, a continuum. Intervening anywhere within the continuum can ultimately facilitate health. This holds true no matter what your health challenge. For over 30 years, I have been on a quest to seek tools to assist my clients with their health recovery and healing, ultimately finding optimal health for themselves and their families. This past year I embarked on a year- long Clinical Homeopathic Training (Center for Education and Development of Homeopathy). I enjoyed learning about this 200 year old health care practice. For those of you unfamiliar with homeopathy, it is the use of very diluted substances, from plants, minerals, periodic table, and other substances naturally occurring in our everyday environment. The Clinician seeks to find similitude between the medicine and the person. I see great value for both acute and chronic conditions. Especially, immune, ENT, allergies, nervous system support, women’s health, and digestive disorders. Homeopathic medicines are very diluted and can benefit the highly sensitive person. There are no contra-indications or interactions with medications.I am excited to offer this additional modality in my practice. I believe it can be of great benefit for many conditions.