Blog | Wellness Insights and Naturopathic Advice

Innate Wisdom Q&A: Travel Tales and Inside Tips with Dr. Angelina Riopel

Get to know us better! Each month we interview one member of our wonderful team of practitioners to glean wisdom from their personal experiences. This month we will be talking with Dr. Angelina Riopel, co-founder and naturopathic doctor at Innate Wellness about a topic near and dear to her heart, travel! Dr. Riopel has travelled extensively through Central America, Central & Eastern Europe, Australia and Southeast Asia. What is your favourite naturopathic travel tip? Having just returned from a beach vacation, I will have to say sun protection. The concern being, how to enjoy the sun, get our vitamin D but avoid skin damage and the nasty toxins in sunscreen? In order to minimize the need for sunscreens avoid the direct sun for long periods of time. Wear a hat and try to stay under an umbrella while at the beach. Thankfully there are now many effective, natural and toxin-free sunscreens available. Drink Your Sunscreen! A diet high in plant nutrients and anti-oxidants have been found to protect the skin from burning and sun damage. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) one of the main active compounds in green tea has been found to not only protect skin from sun damage, but it has been found to heal sun damaged DNA, having an anti-cancer effect. Drink vegetable juice (fresh is preferable) Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables Drink green tea Take green tea extract EGCG leading up and during your trip […]

By Innate Wellness|2024-06-26T07:23:46-04:00January 12th, 2016|Innate Wisdom Practitioner Q&A|Comments Off

Get Your Body On Board With Your Travel Plans

By Dr. Angelina Riopel, ND When travelling, changes in routine, sleep and diet can increase risk of susceptibility to infection, fatigue and digestive upset – the last thing one wants to experience while away. Prevention is key and is possible if you begin by preparing your body prior to departure. Two to three weeks before departure proactively addressing digestion, immunity and stress and continuing the protocol throughout the trip, will improve the likelihood of a healthy and enjoyable time away. […]

By Dr. Angelina Riopel ND|2024-06-26T07:11:12-04:00January 12th, 2016|Digestion, ND Editorial, Travel|Comments Off

Herbal Bitters for Digestive Drama

With Dr. Angelina Riopel, ND As we move into holiday season restrictive diets go out the window, and rightfully so. Unfortunately with holiday indulging many are plagued with digestive drama, such as gastric reflux, gas, bloating and bowel changes such as constipation and diarrhea. Alcohol, fatty foods and excess sugar put stress on the liver, leading to “liver stagnation” and large, complex meals can lead to incomplete digestion, due to insufficient gastric juices. Traditionally herbal bitters and digestive cordials were taken to prevent indigestion and improve digestive efficiency. The flavor of bitter is one that the western diet is lacking, culturally our preference being for sweet, salty and fatty. Traditionally and in many other cultures bitter herbs, bitter greens and bitter aperitifs are taken before or after meals to improve digestion and avoid the unpleasant digestive symptoms that follow heavy meals. […]

By Dr. Angelina Riopel ND|2024-09-26T07:22:24-04:00December 8th, 2015|Digestion, Nutrition|Comments Off

Stomach Healing Holiday Recipe

With Liane Wansbrough, CNP Looking for a digestible recipe for your holiday potluck party? This delicious salad is warm and filling like a gratin but without the cheese hangover. Not to mention, the nutrients in this recipe are great stomach healers. The rich zinc content in pumpkin helps to heal the stomach lining. Garlic, natures’s great natural antibiotic, helps to combat bacterial overgrowth. While all-spice contains herbs which warm and strengthen digestion. If chickpeas give you gas, substitute with 1 cup of soaked and peeled almonds. […]

By Innate Wellness|2024-06-14T03:17:10-04:00December 8th, 2015|Nutrition, Recipes|Comments Off

What Your Skin Says About Your Health

by Dr. Angelina Riopel, NDThe Language of SkinSkin concerns often reflect internal imbalances, which is why understanding what your skin says about your health is important. While topical solutions like anti-ageing creams for wrinkles, steroid creams for eczema, and clear skin products for acne can help, they usually address only surface-level symptoms.Digging deeper, skin issues such as oily skin, acne or premature ageing often indicate underlying problems with digestion, hormones, hydration, or stress-related skin conditions. Your skin acts as a mirror, revealing what’s happening inside your body. By addressing these root causes with naturopathic skin care, dietary changes and holistic treatments, you can achieve both healthier skin and overall well-being.Your skin tells a story—listening to it is the first step toward long-term solutions for radiant, glowing skin.Understanding Common Skin ConcernsOur skin is more than just an outer layer; it’s a powerful indicator of overall health. From oily skin and acne to premature ageing, the appearance and condition of your skin often reflect internal imbalances. For example, hormones and skin health are closely linked, with fluctuations in hormone levels leading to breakouts, dryness, or other skin issues. Similarly, stress-related skin conditions like acne rosacea can reveal underlying factors such as candida overgrowth or chronic inflammation.Addressing these concerns requires more than topical skin treatments. It involves looking at the root causes, including digestion, hydration and lifestyle habits. Whether you’re seeking clear skin tips, ways to combat premature ageing skin, or insights into how gut health affects the skin, understanding the connection between your skin and your internal health is essential. By taking a holistic approach, you can achieve lasting improvements in skin health.Oily SkinOily skin is often dehydrated or your cleanser may be stripping your skin, causing [...]

By Dr. Angelina Riopel ND|2025-02-11T03:42:26-05:00November 12th, 2015|Skin Hair & Nails|Comments Off

NEW at Innate! Holistic Facials with Elodie Beauty

We are very excited to announce a NEW service at Innate Wellness – Holistic Facials – with Seanna Cohen of Elodie Beauty. This is a perfect pairing with our Naturopathic Holistic Skin Consultations and Cosmetic Acupuncture. In fact, it is such a perfect pairing that we are offering a special Holiday Holistic Skin Care Package. About Our Holistic Facial Expert, Seanna Cohen: Seanna Cohen NEW at Innate Wellness When Seanna pictured her ideal place to work, she envisioned a space where health and wellness was at the foreground. She wanted to be in place that was welcoming and approachable, where a community of like-minded individuals work together to inspire healthy and vibrant humans. That’s what she found at Innate Wellness and she is so happy to be promoting a ‘new face of skincare’ in a holistic space, where beauty begins from within. Seanna’s philosophy on skincare is simple: use plant-based ingredients, choose solutions that are easy to maintain, and treat the skin holistically. […]

By Innate Wellness|2024-06-14T03:12:30-04:00November 12th, 2015|Announcements, Self Care, Skin Hair & Nails|Comments Off

A Traditional Approach to Winter Wellness

by Dr. Angelina Riopel, ND The change of seasons requires a conscious shift in how eat and care for ourselves in order to support vitality, immunity, metabolism and digestion. As we move from autumn to winter this is even more essential for individuals with colder constitutions and weak digestive systems. Improve Circulation Support Digestion Keep Your Wind Gate Covered Support Your Kidneys […]

By Dr. Angelina Riopel ND|2024-06-14T03:11:26-04:00November 12th, 2015|Cold and Flu Season, Self Care|Comments Off

Kids & Chiropractic

By Dr. Jonathan Cartile, DC Through my career I have had people ask me if I treat kids with chiropractic. The answer is YES. They have a nervous system just like adults, They have a skeletal system that is on the path to being just like an adults. Chiropractic treatment in children can be beneficial for a range of conditions including frequent ear infections, colic, constipation, nervous system issues, growing pains, growth issues, scoliosis, birthing trauma and sports injuries. Treating these issues in childhood helps to promote healthy growth that will affect kids into adulthood. The birth process is one that is very hard and physical on both the mother and baby. Very often, this is when nervous system and skeletal issues start. The upper neck is at high risk of strain from the compression and pulling that are so common in modern births. As the spine develops and children start to weight-bear the stresses on the spine begin to change. How that body adapts to that change can have long lasting effects. Chiropractic treatment in kids is where I feel I can make the most impact in their lives. They are still growing and developing, so when we get proper alignment and nervous system function we remove potential barriers for growth. With treatment, the results are quick and they last for much longer in kids than adults. Interestingly, I have found over the years that kids are starting to fall into the same traps as adults now more than ever. Being a kid use to be about playing outside and in sport. Now kids are more happy being on a smart phone or video game. These long periods of sedentary activities are similar to [...]

By Innate Wellness|2024-06-25T04:33:19-04:00October 6th, 2015|Chiropractic Medicine, Pediatric Health|Comments Off

Herpes 101: Prevent & Treat Breakouts Naturally

By Dr. Kathleen Regan, ND Did you know that herpes can be worse in the winter? We are talking about both types of herpes - oral & genital. The cold weather places a big burden on the immune system which allows the herpes virus to thrive. The herpes virus lives in the nervous system where it hides from the immune system. But when our immune guard is down (during long, cold winters), the virus emerges. The best way to treat herpes naturally is by supporting the immune system. This will prevent the need for conventional medications during acute breakouts. Below is a summary of up-to-date facts on the virus, dietary tips, as well as chronic & acute naturopathic treatments for the herpes virus. Herpes FACTS Roughly62% of adolescents are infected with HSV-1 (Oral Herpes) Roughly 25% of the population test positive for HSV-2 (Genital Herpes) Only 10-20% of individuals who test positive by blood have actually had lesions (That means many people don't know they have the virus!) The first episode is usually the most severe and can involve lethargy, fever, headache and swollen glands (especially in the groin) Once exposed the virus will typically take 3-5 days to cause an outbreak (Although, the virus can incubate for much longer) Re-occurring infections are typically less severe The virus incubates in the nervous system where it lives until it is periodically reactivated The virus can 'shed' meaning that it can be transmitted from one person to another even when symptoms aren’t present (this is in 5-10% of infected individuals) The most serious complication from HSV-2 (Genital Herpes) is transmission from mother to her newborn child where the virus is most dangerous (this is often avoided with [...]

By Dr. Kathleen Regan ND|2024-06-25T04:27:51-04:00October 6th, 2015|Cold and Flu Season, Skin Hair & Nails|Comments Off

Darkness, Rain & Cold. Prevent the Weather from affecting your Health.

by Dr. Kathleen Regan, ND Did you know that weather has a huge impact on health? From ‘catching cold’ to winter blues, the fall & winter bring darker hours, damp/cold rain and eventually, dry cold weather that can compromise our health if we aren’t prepared. Understanding seasonal changes is one of the most important steps you can take in cold & flu prevention and in maintaining health all-year long. Darkness We have evolved with the 24 hour light-dark cycle of our planet. Our exposure to sun and darkness influences all of our biorhythms from temperature regulation to sleep cycle to hormonal balance. Long-dark days are notorious for causing us to sleep longer, feel more fatigued, and ‘out-of-sorts’. Tip#1 There are always beautiful, sunny days in the fall and winter. Get outside during these times and expose yourself to the light. This will help to boost mood and physiological balance. Tip#2 Supplement with adrenal support. The adrenal gland sits on top of the kidneys and is responsible for the secretion of cortisol, which is one of the hormones affected by long-dark days. Depletion or imbalance in cortisol secretion can leave us feeling, tired, and overwhelmed with poor stress tolerance. Taking adrenal support will help to nourish this gland and regulate production of stress hormones helping us to manage our stress better. Tip#3 Supplement with melatonin as the season changes. Sometimes the worst part about change is our inability to adjust. The dark days come and we never really make the natural transition. Taking melatonin before bedtime sends a message to the brain that darkness has come and it is time for sleep. This helps us to achieve a deeper state of [...]

By Dr. Kathleen Regan ND|2024-06-24T08:50:36-04:00September 7th, 2015|Cold and Flu Season, Nutrition, Self Care|Comments Off