Dr. Hayley Owens, Naturopathic Physician
852 Fort Street - Suite 304 V8W 1H8 Victoria, BC, Canada

Happy International Women’s Day 2021, Today I want to bring attention to Plan International Canada, a member of a global organization dedicated to advancing children’s rights and equality for girls. They work with children, their families, communities and organizations to bring about transformational change. I sponsor a young girl through this organization and the funding not only supports her education but also programs like maternal & child health/development, food assistance, water & sanitation and economic security. I like that they assists in all areas where support is needed. I know that when women are supported in all aspects of their lives, they live their best lives. I’m so happy I get to help women, all over the world, in getting the support they need to be their best and healthiest selves.

It’s InterInternational Women’s Day tomorrow and I want to share with you two facts (among millions) as to why the female body is so incredibly fascinating. Did you know if you are trying to conceive, you can predict your fertile window by analyzing your saliva under a microscope? If you are in the fertile window, which often starts about 3 days before ovulation occurs, you will see "ferning" of the saliva. This is caused by crystallization from an increase in estrogen level...s. Since ferning does not necessarily always occur at the same time every month and it does not always catch you on every single one of your fertile days, tracking your Basal Body Temperature (BBT) is another way to predict your fertile window. Plus, BBT is the best way to know if you are actually ovulating. How BBT works: Your body temperature drops slightly right before you ovulate, by a tenth of a degree and then it goes up after ovulation. Your temperature will stay high if you are pregnant, and it will drop if you get your period. Using these methods together can increase your chances of conceiving, and it can be pretty neat to see the changes that happen in your body throughout your cycle. If you have any questions about women’s health or anything mentioned above, you can send me a DM or visit my website (www.drhayleyowens.com), also found in my bio, for more information.

International Women’s Day is Monday March 8th and one reason why this day is very important to me is because women’s health is one of my greatest passions and focuses in naturopathic medicine. Last year, I successfully completed @avivaromm’s 10-month intensive Women’s Functional & Integrative Medicine Professional Training Program. The training is made for women and taken by women, and it covered all topics related to women’s health. The program always focused on a root ...cause approach, one of the six principles of Naturopathic Medicine. It was an opportunity for me to refine my knowledge and skills and get updated on the latest research that focused on women, since the majority of research is performed on male subjects. I loved being a student again and one of the things I love about my job is that the learning never stops. Medical school was a jumping off point and now practice and continuing education courses are keeping me a perpetual learner. Some days I am in awe by how much science has taught us about the human body. And then other days I am in awe about how little we know, understand and can explain about the human body. It keeps me humble. One of my mentors in school always said, "the more you know, the more you find out you don't know." The more I learn, the more I know this to be true.

Ginger is one of my favourite herbs! It helps fight infections of all kinds, it supports healthy digestion, treats nausea, it is excellent for pain reduction, menstrual cramps and so much more! Another great thing about it is that you can consume it in a variety of ways. One of my favourite ways is to juice it. It is super easy, fast, and makes a lot that you can store in the fridge for later use. To make ginger juice at home: ... 1. Break apart a handful of unpeeled ginger root with your hands and put it in a blender, or juicer if you have one (I don't). Add about 1/2 cup of water, or enough to get it blending. 2. Blend at high speed until a milky yellow fluid remains. You might have to scrape the sides to get it all blended. 3. Strain it and press with a spoon to squeeze out all the juices. Store in a glass jar in the fridge for several days. 4. Mix 1 TBSP with hot or cold water, or bubbly water. Try making modifications like adding lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, turmeric, a dash of cayenne, and/or a dash of molasses or maple syrup if it's too intense! Note: a white sediment at the bottom is perfectly normal. Just mix it in again before serving. Watch my story highlight Ginger Juice to see the step by step process. I would love to see your batches of ginger juice! - tag me @drhayleyowens

My friend Eva @miss__curious @freely_feminine introduced me to this line of skin care products called Shoreline Body Co., made by Amy in Ucluelet, BC. I love them because you know exactly what is in them and they are all made from beautiful herbs like calendula, rose, yarrow etc. and natural ingredients. They are fragrance-free, toxin-free, and they come in glass bottles so you don't get the BPA and phthalates. She even sent me a complimentary bath salts Thanks Amy! And thank you Eva! @shorelinebody

A few weeks ago, I attended an online event put on by @bcadventuresmart. Registration was free and easy through their Facebook event page (search in Facebook: ‘hug a tree and survive’ and it will come up). The next presentation is March 24th, but you can also find a lot of information, including the video they show in the presentation, on their website. The presentation was geared towards children and their parents, about what to do if you get lost in the woods. The informa...tion session was followed by a Q&A that families could participate in from home. It was a nice family activity we could do together without leaving the house that was educational, informative and fun. The Hug-a-Tree and Survive program has 4 rules: 1. 1. Tell an adult where you are going. 2. 2. If you are lost Hug a Tree and stay put. 3. 3. Keep warm and dry. 4. 4. Help searchers find you by answering their calls. I love how they talk about the benefits of hugging a tree: It will make you feel better, it provides you with shelter and it keeps you in one place and easy to find. The information they provide and tools they teach to survive apply to any outdoor enthusiast of any age and skill level. I love spending time in the outdoors, and I will be teaching these to Rowan when she’s of age. They also have a trip planning app you can download for you and your family and friends. You can never be too young to be included in the trip planning process, and never too old to learn how as well. Let’s have a collective breathe in 1-2-3- ‘to trees’, out 1-2-3- and thank them for all that they do. In 1-2-3 out 1-2-3

We are loving the sunshine today at Healing Cedar Wellness!

https://www.theguardian.com//veganism-intensively-farmed-m

Chemicals emitted from personal cleaning and cosmetic products are suspected to be just as high as those from air pollution!! If you make a greener choice, you won't just be helping yourself, you'll be helping all of us! Check out the article for some tips or visit ewg.org, a non-profit organization, whose mission is to protect human health and the environment. #ewg #cleangreen

Choosing Naturopathic Medicine doesn’t mean turning your back on conventional medicine. Why not benefit from the best of both worlds? #NatMedWeek Healing Cedar Wellness

Don't forget to enter the DAILY contest to win $100 toward seeing an ND in BC! http://www.bcna.ca/2018//daily-contests-british-columbia-3/ #MedicallyTrained #NaturallyFocused #NatMedWeek Healing Cedar Wellness

Normal test results and you still don’t feel well? Time to see a Naturopathic Doctor. #MedicallyTrained #NaturallyFocused #Happy #NatMedWeek Healing Cedar Wellness

True or False: Naturopathic Doctors treat underlying causes, not just symptoms. #MedicallyTrained #NaturallyFocused #NatMedWeek Healing Cedar Wellness

Enter the contest to win $100 to see an ND in BC! #NatMedWeek Healing Cedar Wellness

Check out all the events going on during Naturopathic Medicine Week! #NatMedWeek

Want more control over your health? Learn how during Naturopathic Medicine Week #NatMedWeek Healing Cedar Wellness

Naturopathic Medicine Week is coming up! If you know someone who could benefit from Naturopathic Medicine, please share with them! #NatMedWeek #MedicallyTrained #NaturallyFocused

Are you confused about what to eat? What's healthy these days? Are eggs good or bad? Is saturated fat good or bad? What about meat? It seems like every year there is a new reason to eat, or not to eat, a particular food. Dr. Mark Hyman, MD, a seasoned functional medicine doctor, has released his most recent book that lays it out plain and simple for your reading, and eating pleasure. Bon appetit! Healing Cedar Wellness

It's common knowledge that many adults are sleep deprived, but did you know that kids and teenagers are suffering from the same epidemic? A shocking and concerning study by the CDC estimated that 73% of children and teens are getting inadequate sleep! This is especially concerning for youth, who's brains are still developing til the age of 25, not to mention the increased risks of obesity, diabetes, depression, suicide and ADHD. Read on for more details and how to make sure your child (and you!) are getting enough sleep.

I see so many women who want to come off the pill, but are then plagued with horrible symptoms of hormone imbalance. Dr.Aviva Romm, MD does a wonderful job of summarizing the approach to getting your hormones back on track.