Quintessential New England…old homesteads, and white-steepled churches nestled amidst the village green with fir trees still covered in snow. This is the quaint and peaceful scene you’ll stumble across as you drive into Newfane, VT to the elegant yet timeless Four Columns. I was so excited to visit the Inn and the legendary Artisan Restaurant Tavern and Garden as I am a huge fan of its sister properties, at Delamar Greenwich Harbor and Delamar Southport Hotels and soon to open, West Hartford! And as expected, The Four Columns did not disappoint. A beautiful, tumbled Carrera marble walkway leads you...

This business spotlight is our 4th in a series recognizing local holistic practitioners and businesses that are celebrating 10 years in 2017. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Dr. Lauren Young, owner of CT Natural Health Specialists to discuss her inspiration and success. DH: Why did you want to start your own business vs working for someone else? LY: I grew up in Hebron and always knew I wanted to be in this area. There really wasn’t an opportunity out here to join someone, so the choice was made for me! Hold your breath and trust your...

Does this sound like you? At times, it seems as if you’re totally getting the spiritual journey and your life is flowing in a beautiful manner . . . but at other times your spiritual journey can be the most frustrating or painful experience one may imagine. Why is this amazing experience so painfully good? Let’s break it down: The spiritual journey requires that you recognize that you are – first and foremost – a spiritual being having a human being experience. This recognition brings forth three sets of learnings: The first set of learnings revolves around you being...

Bioidentical hormone therapy refers to hormone replacement with hormonal substances that are, on a molecular level, identical to what our own bodies make. This, as opposed to replacement with synthetic hormones, allows for several advantages. First, because the bioidentical hormones you receive are identical to your own, they have a complete action in the body. That is, they act exactly like your own hormones would. Synthetic hormones are molecularly similar, and will exert similar effects to your own hormones, but will not have complete action. This incomplete action often does not elicit a balanced hormone response in the body....

In my many years in private practice as a board-certified Ob/Gyn, I had many appointments with women who complained to me that they felt that their “hormones were off,” or that they were “feeling so hormonal.” They would say to me, “Dr. Wei! Why do I feel like I want to kill my husband and children the days before my period? Why can’t I lose weight? Why am I so tired?” As a woman who also faced these issues firsthand, I understood fully what they were describing; however, in my conventional practice, I had few reliable tools to address...

There are many ways our immune system can be challenged from combating colds and flu to more chronic responses like autoimmune disease. While we generally recover quickly from colds and flu, autoimmune disease is an ongoing reaction. Approximately 50 million Americans or 1 in 5 people, suffer from autoimmune diseases. Women are more likely than men to be affected; some estimates say that as many as 75 percent of those affected are women. The most common diagnoses include rheumatoid arthritis, hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s disease and Crohn’s disease. Another common, often chronic, immune syndrome is Lyme disease. There are many...

Many of my patients come in with a myriad of health problems, dental concerns and an extensive history of dental procedures. People are not aware that problems in the mouth are responsible for many of our health problems. In fact, several holistic MD’s that spoke at a recent conference I attended refer 70- 80% of their patients to a knowledgeable, experienced, holistic dentist because they cannot substantially help their patients until the dental issues are addressed. Dental Concerns There are several major dental issues that have a direct effect on one’s health: 1. Silver fillings. The so-called “silver” fillings...

The “Power Bowl” is quickly becoming the Holy Grail of health food. For those unfamiliar with this rising food star – also known as the “Buddha Bowl,” “Happy Bowl” and “Glory Bowl” – it is a carefully-crafted, Instagram-worthy, bowlful of the perfectly, balanced meal. With an even mix of vegetables and grains that is topped-off with proteins and a dash of saucy seasoning, it has gained a cult-following from those seeking a satisfying and scrumptious meal that packs a powerful nutrient punch. And, now, Simsbury’s popular bistro hotspot – Popover Bistro & Bakery – is rolling out their own...