Environmental Health

How do you support people burdened with environmental toxicants Collective Health Center?

When it comes to our health, a lot of times people solely look at what we eat, how much we exercise, how much sleep we’re getting, and so on. While these all play vital roles in our health, one thing that most people don’t really factor in is our environment. There’s no hiding from it, we are all being exposed to forever chemicals due to environmental contamination. Where we live, how we live, and the things we surround ourselves with truly make an impact on our lives. Not only can we change the environment of our homes (and I have some amazing colleagues who are building biologists who can help with this), there are many things we can utilize to help enhance our health to combat any environmental factors affecting us. And I’m not just talking about filling your home with houseplants, although that can help your mental and physical health, it may not be great for your mold issues.

I have had so many patients with health issues that range from a variety of different environments, most not what you may commonly think of when hearing ‘environmental toxins.’ I have had patients who have had not only their homes but also their bodies invaded by mold toxicity which caused chronic fatigue. I’ve had patients develop autoimmune conditions exacerbated by the lead, dry cleaning fluids, and even some aromatic hydrocarbons that they were exposed to during their service to this country. The one common thing with all these patients? I was able to help guide them toward the root factors of their disease and see their lives turn around for the better within my practice. Identifying root factors, in these cases, the specific toxins to best understand how to support these patients was essential. And being able to help these patients out has truly spurred on my passion for environmental health. 

So, what exactly are some ways to combat environmental health risks? By teaching my patients how to support their body’s natural detox pathways. This includes the foundations of healthy living – a diverse plant-based diet, exercise/movement/sweating, proper sleep, and stress management. You may be thinking, ‘Dr. Sarah, how does my being less stressed help with environmental factors?’ Stress can slow down our ability to detoxify at a cellular level – it impedes the enzymes that help to break down drugs, hormones, and other toxins!

Every person detoxifies differently – this is based on their specific hormones and genomic data. As with all areas of my practice, I work with each patient personally to create a plan that works for them on both a physical and cellular level. I’ve seen where a family living in a mold toxic home may not all get ill or ill to the same extent, this is exactly why we look at genomic data and issue certain hormone metabolite tests when determining plan of action for environmental health issues. By being able to find how our body best detoxifies, we are able to help further health issues to appear later down the road. For example, without proper detoxification of the liver, we are not only more susceptible to the adverse impacts of the toxins we are exposed to, but can also cause hormonal imbalances in patients which could lead to more severe illnesses.

There are so many environmental toxins in the world we live in today – from air pollution to mold in the home – and there are some individuals who have been more burdened by them than the average person. My goal is to make sure we are supporting those individuals with detoxification to see amazing turnarounds in their health. With a holistic, naturopathic approach, we can work together to help your body detect what is harming it and learn how to detoxify in a way that works for your schedule. Living healthier together and continuing healthy living long after our time together is what I strive for with each and every one of my patients. 

I am also passionate about helping other healthcare providers become informed about environmental health issues too. Which is why I’ve partnered with mold expert, Dr. Jill Crista, in promoting her mold training course for medical practitioners. If you are a medical provider or know of a medical provider who would be interested in this course, please feel free to share it with them.