What Is Natural Medicine? (Hint: It’s Not Just Essential Oils)
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been asked about essential oils—if I sell them, which ones I recommend, how to use them. And while I appreciate the interest (and the enthusiasm!), I want to gently clarify something: I don’t specialize in essential oils. In fact, when we talk about natural medicine, essential oils are just one very tiny piece of a much bigger, richer tapestry.
Don’t get me wrong—essential oils can be useful and powerful tools. They can be emotionally uplifting, antimicrobial, and supportive when used safely and wisely. I respect their potential. But in my clinical practice, they’re not my go-to. And that’s not because I’m dismissing them—it’s because my training, my focus, and my philosophy around healing draws from a much broader and deeper spectrum of natural medicine.
As a naturopathic doctor and licensed acupuncturist, my work includes things like:
Herbal medicine (in whole-plant forms—teas, tinctures, salves, vinegars, syrups)
Nutritional and lifestyle counseling
Hands-on therapies like acupuncture, cupping, and bodywork
Mind-body techniques rooted in trauma-informed care
Clinical assessments that look at the whole person—labs, history, constitution, environment
Essential oils, by contrast, are a highly concentrated extract—a distillation of one small aspect of a plant. That’s not a traditional way most cultures have used herbs throughout history. Whole-plant medicine tends to be gentler, more complex, and more synergistic, which better aligns with how I like to work.
I also think we need to name the cultural influence here: over the past few decades, companies like Young Living and doTERRA have done a masterful job of marketing essential oils, especially to women seeking natural options for their health. And while that has opened some doors for conversation, it’s also skewed public perception—making it seem like this is what natural medicine is all about. That’s not the full picture.
So if you’re curious about natural medicine and wondering how it might support your health, know this: you don’t have to start with oils. In fact, you don’t have to use them at all. There’s a vast world of botanical and holistic care that honors the body, supports the nervous system, and fosters real, sustainable healing—without needing a diffuser.
Let’s expand the conversation. I’m here for that.
