Hippocrates once said “let thy food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” – Braden firmly believes this sentiment carries even more weight in our modern reality, especially considering the extensive lack of trace minerals and vitamins in our foods. In hunter-gatherer times, humans didn’t have the option to “supplement” with over the counter vitamins — instead, they simply ate the most nutritious foods that came straight from untainted environments. It’s no surprise that many of them actually ate the bodily organs before they ate the flesh, since organs such as the liver contain a much higher nutrient profile. Today, modern foods are not only lacking nutrients and minerals, but contain many compounds that contribute directly to disease and inflammation, such as additives, preservatives, and harmful genetically modified compounds that affect our opiate receptors, leaving us unknowingly addicted to processed foods. It is his belief that not all calories are created equal, and this means the content of what you’re eating matters the most. 

When creating a diet plan, Braden works with you to craft a meal regimen that considers many unique factors, including selecting foods that are optimal for your ethnic background, blood type, body constitution, and even suggesting foods that still taste good (since eating should truly be an enjoyable, nourishing experience). Braden will work directly with you to construct a daily meal-plan and explain in detail how to shop for certain food items, what to look for (or not to look for) on ingredient labels, all while ensuring these foods fit in comfortably with your lifestyle and income. Although buying expensive organic food is generally a good idea, there are ways to shop on a budget and still design a dietary plan that allows your body to function at a much higher level…

Braden has seen many clients experience drastic changes in their health simply through modifying a few basic principles – sometimes a person’s primary health concern may be stemming from a condition like celiac, or certain food sensitivities that create strange symptoms such as skin rashes, headaches, acne, loose stools etc. – therefore, eliminating common trigger foods (such as dairy and gluten) can make a noticeable impact on a person’s overall health and wellbeing, even leading to other changes like weight loss, improved sleep, and a more balanced endocrine system. Additionally, many undetected chronic infections such as candida overgrowth and parasites feed directly off foods commonly consumed in a poor diet, meaning that intentional dietary changes can potentially lead to significant reductions in symptoms from these infections. Eating a diet that is rich in the appropriate amount of proteins, amino acids, healthy fats, and bacterias, ensures that the body is better able to manufacture tools like neurotransmitters and hormones; with these fundamentals taken care of, utilizing herbs that rely on these neurotransmitters and hormones will be notably more effective. 

Quite literally, you ARE what you eat – your body takes on the frequency of what it consumes, so being healthy requires you to eat foods that are fresh, nutrient-dense, unprocessed, and nourishing to the spirit and soul.

It’s no surprise to anyone that achieving consistent, high quality sleep is critical for our body’s ability to function, especially from an immune, neurological, and an endocrine perspective. The body cannot function maximally without a person maintaining a consistent, high quality sleep schedule, which allows them to fall asleep quickly, sleep uninterrupted through the night, and wake up feeling refreshed. Our bodies use this valuable time to “refresh and rest,” where many major internal repairs and overhauls take place. 

Braden sees that poor sleep arises from a wide variety of circumstances, many of which may stem from conditions such as post traumatic stress disorder, an overactive bladder, anxiety/depression, reliance on caffeine, a dysfunctional circadian rhythm, and many other factors. Treating sleep disorders is not always as simple as taking Benadryl or consuming a standard dose of melatonin – many individuals need to adopt drastic lifestyle adjustments, experiment with other supplements and herbs, and learn the general habits and practices that constitute good sleep hygiene. Braden will work directly with you to identify any triggers that may be contributing to your sleep disorders, address them appropriately through lifestyle, herbal, or vitamin modifications, and work to create a daily plan that allows you to best prepare yourself at the end of the day for a satisfying night’s sleep. 

Once a person’s normal circadian rhythm is restored and daily stress is modulated, many people can back off on consuming any herbs or supplements that help them to fall asleep, since the neuroendocrine system will be responding more appropriately to a consistent schedule, lack of blue light, reduced stress, and darkness in the room. 

Braden has seen success in addressing sleep problems with a variety of herbs, homeopathics, and supplements such as valerian root, gaba (gamma aminobutyric acid), tryptophan, 5-htp (a precursor to serotonin), bach flower remedies, ashwagandha, CBN (cannabinol), and many others. He will work directly with you to determine an appropriate supplement regimen and dose to consume in order to reduce stress and better prepare the body for a more restful night’s sleep.

Chronic stress and anxiety are directly linked to four out of the five leading causes of death in our modern world: heart disease, cancer, chronic respiratory issues, and stroke – this means that stress and anxiety are quite possibly two of the most critical conditions to consider when analyzing a person holistically. Countless peer-reviewed studies have demonstrated that stress (especially chronic stress) has a direct impact on decreasing our overall immunity, which leaves us more vulnerable to bacterial, viral, and other opportunistic infections (many of which are difficult to detect). Chronic stress also affects our body’s ability to maintain a normal state of homeostasis, meaning that a person’s “new normal” becomes a state of constant anxiety where they experience a dysfunctional endocrine system, depressed feelings, lethargy, and a lack of motivation. 

Fortunately, there are a variety of herbs, vitamins, supplements, homeopathics and dietary/lifestyle changes that can offer clients both short and long term relief from stress…

Braden will consult directly with you to determine any vitamins, supplements, dietary modifications, or herbs would be beneficial to introduce into your daily schedule. A variety of personal and constitutional factors need to be considered before introducing any new herbs or supplements into a person’s life, such as their personality, body type, constitution, mental health status, history or experience with other herbs/vitamins, their current list of medications, and many others. Additionally, introducing practices such as daily exercise and basic meditation routines can have a remarkable impact on an individual’s sleep quality…

Here is a brief explanation of a few common natural herbs that Braden recommends for stress/anxiety and how they are deemed appropriate for each individual: 

Adaptogens: these are meant for individuals who may be more sensitive to consuming other herbs, since they work by gently negotiating with the nervous system. Herbs such as holy basil or ashwagandha assist bodily functions (such as our adrenals) in adopting a more appropriate stress response, leaving a person feeling more level-headed after an anxious situation. By increasing a person’s overall vitality (through achieving a more stress-free state of being), people often see positive results such as more balanced hormones, greater ability to respond to stressful situations, reduced mood swings, and many other benefits. Unlike many commonly prescribed medications, most natural health professionals believe that adaptogens can be consumed long term and don’t create any kind of bodily or psychological dependencies. 

Herbs that closely mimic medications: these are meant for individuals who need a strong push to feel well – however, these herbs often come with side effects and can interact with other medications, meaning that it’s crucial to ensure they are consumed appropriately. A common example is St. John’s wort, since it has been widely consumed for many years to help alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety. St. John’s wort  acts as a “reuptake inhibitor” (meaning, it tells the brain what to do) – this is believed to operate very similarly to a class of antidepressants known as MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors), which function to increase current activity of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. With that being said, it is critical to determine whether or not a person is currently taking any MAOI medications, since this can cause interactions such as serotonin syndrome. Although uncommon, clients need to be mindful of side effects such as photosensitivity, dizziness, and upset stomach – fortunately, compared to many clinically prescribed antidepressants, herbs like St. John’s wort have been notably better tolerated with similar positive physiological outcomes. 

Braden will work closely with each client to consider all factors to ensure they are consuming herbs that are safe and dose appropriate. Additionally, a variety of physical and emotional assessments may be utilized in order to further uncover and address any underlying causes of stress/anxiety.