Julia Segal, N.D.

08/27/2023

Plants be my medicine indeed...

My top 5 currently:

1) Lemonbalm. Amazing for the nervous system, sleep, and even the thyroid. Member of the mint family but has such a unique and nourishing lemony smell and taste.

2) Yarrow. Blood cleansing, liver supporting, helps break a fever (the term is diaphoretic) and even helps heal deep wounds. Has a balancing effect on the uterus, reducing heavy bleeding and cramps. Traditionally also turned to for psychic protection and by the "witches"/woman healers of Europe. I managed to plant some in the garden this year! (Life goals).

3) 🌹 Rose. My favorite use is as a uterine decongestant and to clear reproductive or other trauma. Both the flowers and the rose hips are oh-so-edible and extremely nourishing!

4) Ginger. Promotes circulation, warming us up all over- including for women's health. This is one of the few natural treatments which has been studied for reducing endometriosis symptoms with good results. Not to mention supporting digestion and restoring gut motility. Also respiratory tract support.

5) Dandelion. Mostly the root, mostly to support liver health and move bile. But the leaf is a great culinary green and medicinally works as a diuretic (but does not deplete our potassium like the meds do). And, while a powerful healing herb, like many others, dandelion is also so nourishing.

08/21/2023

Smelling the 🌹 might just save our lives.

Health is not just the absence of disease, symptoms or discomfort. It is resilience, flexibility, connection and purpose.

Having meaning and pleasure in our day to day is what gets us through when things are tough.

A ton of my meaning and purpose comes from my relationship with nature, so I am savoring these months when just stepping out the door elicits such bliss and nourishment.

07/22/2023

You can't break these berries down into polyphenols or even pesticides. They are a tender expression of life's energy and the experience of picking them is one we will always come back to.

Nutrition goes beyond nutrients. It can connect us to our origins, our nature, our world and our most important relationships.

07/01/2023

I am speaking up to with my

The Canadian government will be re-regulating Natural Health Products to add massive expense loads to supplement companies in Canada, unless we create enough pushback now.

75% of supplement companies surveyed said they would leave the Canadian Market should these regulations go through.

If you value having access to safe and well-regulated supplements that can effectively support your health, or even if you just want to tell the government that it's not okay to randomly enforce a cash grab on an entire industry, please write to your MP, call your MP, meet with your MP!

Saveoursupplements.ca makes this super easy.

05/29/2023

Pine Pollen Harvest Time!!! Right now in Toronto. This is how these pine cones looked a few weeks ago on our neighborhood white pine (Pinus strobus) trees.

Today just one touch and this liquid gold flies out in a cloud. I collected the little bunches of cones into a paper bag and they were pretty fluffy and on the verge of drying out with the heat we've been having.

Next is the process of sifting out the pollen from the cones which is heading up! Shout out to Simon from Evergreen for teaching and spreading the word about pine pollen.

The pollen helps to heal stomach aches and sore throats as well as providing hormonal support.

05/19/2023

Celebrating and appreciating my family!

04/01/2023

Learning about postpartum care all weekend. Because the reality of being a naturopathic doctor, is that I am always learning, I am always questioning how I can help people better, and I am always faced with the limitations of what I know and the reality of what I don't know.

01/13/2023

11/21/2022

Your gut transit time is a more informative marker of gut microbiome function than either your stool consistency or frequency.

BTW I talk about p**p with all my patients. 🤸‍♀️

If you eat beets some time (which I highly recommend), see when you notice that reddish p**p.

What goes in, must come out!

Another way to do it is the **pchallenge

Much past a day and we may have an issue...

11/19/2022

Tis the season... to care for our mood, sleep, and energy!

It's not as simple as taking the right supplement for said concerns. I wish it was!

My patients report better energy, improved mood and sleep - because we work with the WHOLE person.

From the core.

And it starts with the gut.

08/30/2022

Nature holds the answers.

Most of the things we can encapsulate, prescribe and supplement can be found in an in-tact form, part of the package deal of the world we live in.

Again and again, basics like light and darkness, breath and stillness prove to be some of the most potent for our health span- and our lifespan. Right up there with community and moving our bodies.

And they feel good too.

The more we separate from nature, bottle our lives, insulate our senses and simulate our experiences, the more we need to add elements that are missing.

But also...

When the air is delicious, we breathe more deeply. When the water tastes clear we drink more of it. When the food is simple and wholesome, we feel satisfied and know when to stop.

The roots of are nature retreats with a strict routine of air bathing, river bathing, wholesome food, clean air and plenty of rest.

I have to remind myself, after this kind of plunge into living in and with nature, that there are some benefits to modernity. But it's not what I seek.

We've come very far. Far enough. I find myself looking back.

08/15/2022

Lots of plants create a real difference to indoor air quality. And air quality indoors can have as many issues as outdoor air quality!

Just a reminder some of these are not Pet Friendly 🐶🐕‍🦺🐈‍⬛🐈