March 11, 2020

Laura's Favorite OTC Remedies for Cold Season

March 11, 2020/ Laura McKinley

Let’s face it, in spite of our best efforts we all get sick sometimes. Many of us would prefer a “natural” option to a pharmaceutical one, but the health aisle in the grocery store can be overwhelming. Since the FDA doesn’t regulate herbal medicine, there are a lot of products out there making claims about what they can do. So where you do start? As a trained herbalist, I want to share with you my favorite over-the-counter (OTC) remedies for cold season. Please know that none of these are sponsored, they’re just my personal go-tos

June 21, 2018

Health Advocacy: Your Annual Gynecological Exam

June 21, 2018/ Laura McKinley

Every woman I know loves her annual visit to the lady-doctor. After all, there's nothing more fun than your yearly gynecological exam, right? Let's be honest, climbing into those stirrups is rarely anyone's favorite time of year, so let's talk about how to make the most out of your annual exam.

April 04, 2017

Quick & Dirty Grocery Guide

April 04, 2017/ Laura McKinley

"You are what what you eat eats."
- Michael Pollan, In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto

With a plethora of shiny, pretty options littering the shelves at the grocery store, it can be a challenge to make sure that the food you're buying isn't just glitzy, but also nutritious. Here are some basic tips for hitting the aisles.

April 03, 2017

Equinox Cleanse: Reset Your Body for the Season

April 03, 2017/ Laura McKinley

Asian medicine treats the body in alignment with the natural world. When you come to see me for treatment, I not only look at you and your chief concern today, I also look at the weather outside, the season, the time of day, and more. When taking the reins on your own health care, aligning your body with seasonal energetics is a wonderful starting point. The spring and autumn equinoxes are of particular importance as they mark a shift between yin and yang energies, the two energies at the core of Asian medical theory. This makes the start of spring and fall an optimal time to make a shift within your own body. My favorite way to shift? A whole foods-based reset, or cleanse.

December 05, 2016

A Safe Space for ALL: Non-Discrimination Declaration

December 05, 2016/ Laura McKinley

My clinic will always be a safe space, free of discrimination. All patients can expect the same rigorous and thoughtful care regardless of race, class, gender, sexual orientation, age, ability, religious affiliation, immigration status, body size, or any other (self-)identifying qualities. I stand with you.

August 10, 2016

Health Advocacy: Emergency Care for the Uninsured

August 10, 2016/ Laura McKinley

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, access to health insurance is easier than ever before in our country's history. Every single one of us should have health care (and are legally required to do so). There are a lot of "shoulds" in this world, and it is important to let go of some of them. Having health insurance is not a "should" to let fall by the wayside, and no one knows this truth more than an uninsured person looking at a bill from the emergency room.

April 28, 2016

Health Advocacy: Your Yearly Physical

April 28, 2016/ Laura McKinley

Call it what you will: a physical, a check-up, or a wellness exam. If you've got health insurance, your plan is required to cover one wellness visit per year. The trick about these physical exams is that their scope is very limited - if you refill a prescription or ask your doctor a detailed diagnostic question, it may be billed as a different type of visit, resulting in a hefty medical bill in your mailbox. Let's talk about the do's and don'ts of your annual check-up.

February 22, 2016

Health Advocacy: Medical Bills

February 22, 2016/ Laura McKinley

Did you know that your medical bills are (somewhat) negotiable? This is not to say that you get to decide how much you want to pay. However, with a bit of preparation and knowledge, you can ensure that you are not being overcharged for your visit.

February 19, 2016

Health Advocacy: Insurance Billing Terminology

February 19, 2016/ Laura McKinley

Insurance shminsurance. You paid your premium, you're done, right? Not if you're wearing your Health Avocate Hat! Understanding a few basic terms around your health insurance can take a lot of stress out of your life, particularly in relation to the documents you receive from your insurance company. While learning how to read documentation can sound a bit boring, doing so will not only make you a better health advocate, but can also save you money.

January 05, 2016

Health Advocacy: Your Rights

January 05, 2016/ Laura McKinley

To be an effective health advocate for yourself or others, approach health care as business. After all, health care in the United State is business: we pay for services, and profit is involved.

With any business, there are basic rules of interaction. For example, when you wear shoes and a shirt to a restaurant at lunchtime, someone takes your order and brings you food. Learning the operating rules for health care, and how to work with them to meet your goals, is at the core of health advocacy.

January 01, 2016

Health Advocacy: The Basics

January 01, 2016/ Laura McKinley

A health advocate is a person who campaigns actively to protect and support patient's rights in health care situations.

Ideally, all health care providers have the time and desire to advocate for each and every one of their patients. In reality, this is not always the case. I recommend that you walk into every medical situation expecting that you will need to be your own #1 health advocate.

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