Tara Nayak, ND

Contrast Hydrotherapy ALTERNATING ice and heat is now widely accepted as the best approach for injuries and reduction of inflammation. We know that arteries dilate and contract in response to temperature. By alternating the temperatures we create a pumping of the circulatory system that: - moves nutrients and healing factors to tissues via blood - promotes the circulation of inflammatory cytokines (chemical messengers) via the lymph. ... DO NOT just ice your wounds! But also....here's my personal next level contrast hydrotherapy tip: Alternate sips of hot followed by sips of cold drinks to reduce inflammation and speed healing of a sore throat or overtaxed vocal cords. (If you could only hear my voice this week you'd know why I am posting about it!) The tricks for contrast throat hydrotherapy is to use as hot as you can stand water (don't burn yourself!) and icy cold water. For example: 3 sips hot, 2 sips cold, 3 sips hot, 2 sips cold, repeat but ALWAYS END WITH COLD! This works especially well for that infamed, swollen gland type feeling associated with the flu this year! Here's to water cure! Photo credit: Jonathan Cooper #NaturopathicMedicine #HomeRemedies #PhiladelphiaHealing #FishtownHealing #WaterCure #Contrast #Hydrotherapy #SoreThroat #WoundHealing #ThresholdWellness #Fishtown #NaturopathicDoctor #PhillyND #HolisticHealth #Cure #Wellness #HotandCold #FireandIce

@lace_in_the_moon I was stopped short by this piece in the Fashion District on Market St in Philadelphia! Here are the words of the artist, Nicole Nikolich: "I created this piece to focus on normalizing mental health, specifically seasonal depression. Instead of attempting to run away from the impending depressive doom I face in teh darker months, learning to embrace and mold with my depression has proven to be a helpful way for me to prevent destructive tendencies an...d to rewrite my own story. Depression used to be a force that knocked me down hard, but with each year I am learning what my depression looks like. I now slow dance with depression, no longer letting it lead, but acknowledging its presence and guiding it along. Through color and repetition, this work explores how crocheting has become my meditative practice that helps me overcome my internal depressive battles." WOW! Yes! To all of the above. Art is medicine. Thank you for sharing this beautiful work. We all need a meditative practice. I love that it highlighted a kinetic meditation. Go see this in person...a picture does it no justice. #ArtIsMedicine #Meditation #SeasonalDepression #Depression #PhiladelphiaHealing #SeasonChange #Crocheting #PhillyND #FishtownHealing #HealYourself #movingmeditation #createandcultivate #create #PreventiveMedicine #PhiladelphiaNaturopath See more

Contrast Hydrotherapy ALTERNATING ice and heat is now widely accepted as the best approach for injuries and reduction of inflammation. We know that arteries dilate and contract in response to temperature. By alternating the temperatures we create a pumping of the circulatory system that: - moves nutrients and healing factors to tissues via blood - promotes the circulation of inflammatory cytokines (chemical messengers) via the lymph. ... DO NOT just ice your wounds! But also....here's my personal next level contrast hydrotherapy tip: Alternate sips of hot followed by sips of cold drinks to reduce inflammation and speed healing of a sore throat or overtaxed vocal cords. (If you could only hear my voice this week you'd know why I am posting about it!) The tricks for contrast throat hydrotherapy is to use as hot as you can stand water (don't burn yourself!) and icy cold water. For example: 3 sips hot, 2 sips cold, 3 sips hot, 2 sips cold, repeat but ALWAYS END WITH COLD! This works especially well for that infamed, swollen gland type feeling associated with the flu this year! Here's to water cure! Photo credit: Jonathan Cooper #NaturopathicMedicine #HomeRemedies #PhiladelphiaHealing #FishtownHealing #WaterCure #Contrast #Hydrotherapy #SoreThroat #WoundHealing #ThresholdWellness #Fishtown #NaturopathicDoctor #PhillyND #HolisticHealth #Cure #Wellness #HotandCold #FireandIce

It's a good time to learn the difference!

@lace_in_the_moon I was stopped short by this piece in the Fashion District on Market St in Philadelphia! Here are the words of the artist, Nicole Nikolich: "I created this piece to focus on normalizing mental health, specifically seasonal depression. Instead of attempting to run away from the impending depressive doom I face in teh darker months, learning to embrace and mold with my depression has proven to be a helpful way for me to prevent destructive tendencies an...d to rewrite my own story. Depression used to be a force that knocked me down hard, but with each year I am learning what my depression looks like. I now slow dance with depression, no longer letting it lead, but acknowledging its presence and guiding it along. Through color and repetition, this work explores how crocheting has become my meditative practice that helps me overcome my internal depressive battles." WOW! Yes! To all of the above. Art is medicine. Thank you for sharing this beautiful work. We all need a meditative practice. I love that it highlighted a kinetic meditation. Go see this in person...a picture does it no justice. #ArtIsMedicine #Meditation #SeasonalDepression #Depression #PhiladelphiaHealing #SeasonChange #Crocheting #PhillyND #FishtownHealing #HealYourself #movingmeditation #createandcultivate #create #PreventiveMedicine #PhiladelphiaNaturopath See more

Doctrine of Signatures: Walnuts In the folk medicine tradition of the middle ages many believed that herbs and foods looked like the human body part they are useful for. Paracelsus coined the term "doctrine of signatures" to explain this phenomenon. It has also guided common names of herbs such as "lungwort", "eyebright", "toothwort", etc. ... The walnut is a prime example of this as it has the "signature" of (or it looks just like) a BRAIN! In fact, walnuts are a powerful brain food for many reasons: Walnut oil has been shown to improve the brain's natural self cleaning activity known as autophagy. Autophagy is the process of digesting dead cells and cellular debris and removing the waste. When autophagy is NOT functioning correctly the long term effect of accumulation of waste can be neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia. Autophagy in the brain typically only happens when we SLEEP. This is why sleep deprivation alters our brain function so much. Without sleep our brains are literally TOXIC. Luckily, walnuts come to the brain's rescue again! They are a great dietary source of melatonin, an important regulator of the circadian rhythm or sleep/wake cycle that is usually made in the brain. I'm thinking a warm glass of walnut milk may be the new bedtime trick!!! Walnuts have also been shown to reduce short term memory loss, improve circulation, and reduce inflammation in the brain. This all leads to improved mental clarity, mood, and overall feeling of well being. Unless you have a nut allergy...walnuts are a SUPER BRAIN POWER FOOD! #DoctrineofSignatures #BrainHealth #NaturopathicMedicine #PhillyND #PhiladelphiaNaturopath #NaturopathicDoctor #FoodAsMedicine #HealthTips #Walnuts #NaturalMedicine #FishtownHealing #BrainFood #WalnutOil #FolkMedicine #TipsforSleep #MemoryLoss #PreventiveMedicine #CleanEating #SuperFood #philadelphiahealing See more

LIFE JUICE File this under hangover cure, headache remedy, morning jump start, summer hydrator!

It's not just what you eat...it's what you cook in! I asked for new pots and pans for Christmas and did a deep dive into what's healthiest in cookware. The reality is a bit scary! Here are the big avoids: 1. Aluminum- this leaches into food and is a well known neurotoxin (aka BRAIN POISON!) and has been associated with Alzheimer's disease. In fact, aluminum damages the protective "blood brain barrier" that usually protects our brains and selects what substances can pass to it.... 2. Copper- Although these are the prettiest, long term use of copper cookware can deplete your levels of zinc because they compete with each other. These two elements are in a specific ratio in our bodies that actually contributes to hormone health! Thought our bodies need some copper, every day exposure can push it into unhealthy levels! 3. Teflon- This is often used to coat non-stick pans but unfortunately has been associated with SERIOUS health risks including thyroid imbalances, obesity, and testicular cancer. THROW THESE POTS OUT!!! The perfluorocarbon they're made with is actually identified by major environmental groups as also harmful to the environment. What SHOULD we cook with? I personally think the winner is.... 1. Enamel Covered Cast Iron! These are safe and beautiful. Think Le Creuset. 2. Stainless steel comes in second for me (but mainly just for aesthetic purposes). 3. Ceramic pots are also good but some contain lead and I haven't yet figured out how to identify which ones. 4. Glass is super safe but breakable. I've had a set that lasted 1.5 years before every piece was shattered!! Eek. UPDATE: I landed on Stainless steel with copper bottoms to even out the heating!

I've been pretty quiet on my social media for some time because I'm endlessly sharing my thoughts, health tips, recipes, and more on feminology! Have you followed us yet? feminology is based on the work of myself and Dr. Ginger Nash, two naturopathic physicians with different perspectives on life that have come together to bring women back in tune with their bodies' natural rhythms. In our private practices do all of this WITHOUT the use of suppressive drugs OR synthetic horm...ones which is why we decided to create this resource and tribe. We not only tackle women's health but also how it intersects with politics, culture, and community to influence our lived experiences. We've got a podcast forthcoming and some exciting live events in the works. Ask to join our group and get on the wave! https://www.facebook.com/groups/168878283890605/

I am a newer patient of Dr. Nayak - about 5 months. I was diagnosed with RA about 3 yrs ago. I was working with another naturopath dr with little results. Dr. Nayak was recommended to me and I decided to give her a try. Man am I glad I did!! She reviewed my current plan, made a few suggestions/tweaks and within days, I experienced significant relief. My inflammation is almost gone, my energy is up & I'm sleeping great. I can't thank her enough for everything." Dawn L"