Postpartum Depression – Natural Treatment Options

postpartum depression

Giving birth can be a magical time full of hope, joy, and love. But for many women and gender-diverse people, postpartum depression can make it difficult to enjoy this stage of life. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that approximately  1 in 8 women with a recent live birth experience symptoms of postpartum depression.1 

In Canada, data from Statistics Canada shows that almost 25% of mothers who recently gave birth reported feelings consistent with either post-partum depression or an anxiety disorder.2 

Quality of Life Impacts

To learn about the naturopathic approach to postpartum depression, as addressed through the Therapeutic OrderTM approach, we sat down with Dr. Kristin Wing, ND, in Oregon, and Dr. Samantha Klim, ND, in Washington. 

Childbirth is arguably the most natural process in the world. But ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ is hard to implement in our increasingly busy and socially isolated world. New parents often struggle to get the care and attention they need to be fully present for their children and themselves. And when postpartum depression is a factor, that only adds to the burden. “Being a new parent is huge. You have a new role in life, and it can be lonely and isolating,” says Wing. “I think about building connections and getting social support so you don’t feel alone.” 

“It’s hard to get your basic needs met when experiencing postpartum depression,” adds Klim. “It’s hard to eat nutritious food, stay hydrated, and recover on a physical level. There are many physical aspects of healing that happen postpartum. It’s hard to do [that healing] appropriately when struggling with depression. It impacts the quality of life in every single way.”

What is the most significant quality of life impact from postpartum that Klim sees in her patients?  “New parents expect to love their baby unconditionally and be filled with joy. Then they experience a mental health condition that impacts their ability to feel those emotions and create that lifelong bond,” Klim explains. “They have a hard time enjoying the day-to-day experiences of early parenthood. I also see impacts years down the road, when parents feel guilt or shame about potential negative impacts on their baby’s development.”

Level 1: Establish the Foundation for Optimal Health

When establishing the foundations for optimal health for postpartum patients, naturopathic doctors explore several factors. Significant events like birth, illness, and the accompanying hormone shifts may trigger the onset of genetically susceptible conditions such as mental health conditions and autoimmune issues. Exploring family history makes the ND aware of which conditions should be monitored for changes. 

Birth trauma is another aspect of patient history that NDs pay close attention to at this stage. “I look at the patient’s birth story. Pregnancy, preconception care, and birth experience are the foundation for a patient’s postpartum experience,” says Klim. “If we don’t address what happened leading up to the postpartum experience, then we miss key components.” Wing adds that emergency C-sections, blood transfusions, and other complications can add further trauma that people may not have the time or space to process. “In the conventional care system, postpartum patients typically only have one doctor’s visit six weeks after birth. Parents may have issues that a doctor couldn’t address in that 10-minute visit.”

Klim takes a big-picture view of what addressing the foundations of postpartum depression means in the larger cultural context.  “We need to look at the culture we’re living in and ask how we care for postpartum people on a social, cultural, and economic level. The therapeutic order also includes removing obstacles to cure,” Klim notes. “The ultimate obstacle to cure is our lack of societal support. I view postpartum depression as a very natural response to the profound deficiencies in our culture.” 

Wing asks detailed questions to assess their levels of support, then ‘triages their day’ by helping patients figure out what kinds of care and resources they may need. She also frequently recommends local and online parent communities such as “Swap and Play” and “Buy Nothing,” where patients can build friendships and have access to traded or donated baby and parent supplies. Klim takes a similar approach, asking questions to assess how well their basic needs are being met. Her questions commonly include asking whether the patient has access to the following:

  • Security
  • Shelter
  • Nourishing food
  • Enough water
  • Adequate rest 

Then, Klim asks whether they have a supportive partner or family who can care for them while they rest and recover. “The community aspect is one of the first things I ask about because it’s really hard to treat postpartum depression without adequate support,” Klim notes.

Research has found that social support in pregnancy can potentially reduce postpartum depression, especially for those not living with a partner.3 

Evidence shows that consistent social support is vital in protecting mothers from postpartum depression and other perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. A 2022 study notes the importance of social support in light of increased isolation related to the COVID-19 pandemic.4 

A 2023 study exploring the effects of the pandemic on postpartum women revealed that limited social support, social isolation, and fear of COVID-19 exposure or infection had worsened postpartum depression.5 

In addition to assessing history, levels of social support, and ability to meet basic needs, NDs also explore several physical aspects of health. Wing commonly conducts physical exams and orders lab testing to assess metabolic markers like blood sugar, cholesterol, and protein and vitamins’ nutritional status. Wing pays particular attention to vitamin D as she finds her patients in Oregon are often deficient. Both NDs assess a patient’s iron status, as iron deficiency is common postpartum. “I also look at copper and zinc, which are common minerals that become imbalanced during pregnancy,” Klim adds.

Both NDs also point to the importance of properly assessing the thyroid gland. In conventional medicine, the health of the thyroid gland is typically not appropriately evaluated. “Thyroid function fluctuates profoundly during pregnancy and postpartum, and not just TSH [thyroid stimulating hormone],” explains Klim. “Many conventional doctors only look at TSH, which isn’t a great picture of overall thyroid function. I do a really comprehensive thyroid assessment.”

Levels 2 & 3: Stimulate Self-Healing and Support and Restore Weakened Systems

After a thorough assessment, NDs consider how to support the body’s natural self-healing abilities best and support organ systems for broad-spectrum healing.

For Klim, the best way to provide support is to leverage the naturopathic principle of prevention—working with people as soon as possible in the postpartum stage, presenting a vital healing opportunity. “Working with people during pregnancy and immediately postpartum is a good opportunity to prevent common postpartum ailments, both physical and emotional,” Klim explains. “Pregnancy and birth put the body and soul through so much transformation. If we support the physiological changes in the body and the spirit, we stimulate the self-healing mechanism. If we support weakened systems, self-healing happens without making a pit stop at disease.”

In her naturopathic practice, Klim values how other cultural healthcare frameworks view postpartum support. Many cultures have postpartum-specific foods, exercises, and practices. She points to the belief in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Ayurvedic (Indian traditional medicine), where health in the first six weeks of the postpartum period informs future health status. “If you’re well cared for, and you recover with vitality, heal physical injuries, and have mental health support during that period, you set your pattern for lifelong health,” Klim notes. “If you have injuries or mental health concerns that aren’t addressed, that could set up a very different pattern.” 

In other words, the lack of postpartum support is a missed opportunity to establish lifelong health. “The healing power of nature is so strong during that time. We need to give the body what it needs, and it will heal. The same goes for the emotional aspects like depression,” Klim observes. “We need to give new parents the celebration, honor, and acknowledgment of the transformation they’ve gone through. That in and of itself stimulates their self-healing power.”

Wing focuses on supporting the nervous system.  “Some people have ‘wired and tired’ energy where they’re anxious (anxiety can be intermixed with depression). They feel irritable, frazzled, and may frequently wake at night,” explains Wing. “Other people feel apathetic, lack energy, and may have trouble getting out of bed. Some patients experience both ends of the spectrum.” She discusses the emotional experience in depth with each patient to decide which tools may be most effective.

Level 4: Address Physical Alignment 

Addressing physical alignment in the postpartum period can help bring the body back into balance after birth and address birth-related injuries. 

I think about optimizing healing of the uterus, vaginal tissue, or wherever other birth injuries occurred. Then, it’s about addressing how much your body has shifted,” says Klim. “The hip bones, all ligaments, the spine, and organs are trying to get back into alignment. Sometimes this is impeded by birth injuries, posture, previous biomechanics issues, and scar tissue. Addressing all of these is important for returning to proper alignment. Understanding how the hormone Relaxin continues to impact the body is also very important for recovery.”

Klim points to essential links between addressing physical pain and postpartum depression, noting, “If they can’t go on walks because they are in pain, or they are experiencing incontinence or their perineal tears aren’t healing properly, that will contribute to depression because they can’t move through their daily life without pain and discomfort or move their bodies in a way that feels good to them” notes Klim. “Structural integrity is a huge thing in postpartum because so many people struggle with physical injuries and pain after birth, and the physical body transforms so much. There’s not a fantastic understanding of how to treat or prevent it in the conventional medical system.”

Klim feels that every person should receive physical therapy to rehabilitate their pelvic floor and core after birth. What types of physical therapies are most effective in addressing postpartum depression? Both Klim and Wing are strong supporters of holistic pelvic floor therapy. “It’s a potent area to treat,” Wing explains. “The pelvic floor can often store repressed emotions and trauma. Pelvic therapy can provide a sort of access point for deep nervous system healing and address common symptoms like pain with intercourse.”

“We store a lot of stories, trauma, and experiences in our pelvic bowls. Especially when people experience birth trauma, which influences their mental health state, it can be a powerful way to move through that,” adds Klim. 

Klim provides pelvic floor care by making adjustments to realign the bones, release tight muscles, and strengthen loose muscles. She also addresses the core. “Many people experience diastasis recti postpartum, where the abdominal muscles separate during pregnancy. If you don’t have a functional core, it’s hard for the rest of your body to function appropriately. The core is the center of all,” Klim explains. “If you don’t have core stability, you’re more prone to injuries and back pain. Breathwork exercises and TCM practices like belly binding helps to knit those muscles together.” Both NDs regularly refer patients to Pelvic Floor Physical Therapists if they need additional support. Research shows pelvic floor muscle training can boost sexual function and quality of life postpartum.6  

It can also speed the recovery of the postpartum vagina and pelvic floor muscles to prevent or treat postpartum vaginal prolapse and relaxation, urinary incontinence, and other pelvic floor disorders. Evidence shows that yoga can also significantly improve postpartum women’s physical and mental health.7 

Level 5: Natural Symptom Control

When using natural substances to address postpartum depression, NDs often start with dietary changes to address nutrient deficiencies and ensure they eat enough. But that’s not always realistic in the postpartum period. Supplements can effectively fill the gap. 

Regarding vitamins, both NDs prescribe vitamin D and iron to address the common deficiencies seen in the postpartum period. 

In terms of minerals, Klim most often starts with magnesium. Wing prescribes magnesium for muscle tension, among other uses but will sometimes prescribe calcium and magnesium together. “Calcium paired with magnesium in a ratio like 2:1 is a great support for supporting the uterus returning to size post-partum and the cramping that occurs with this.”

Klim also prescribes antioxidant minerals like selenium to support thyroid function and zinc to balance out commonly disrupted zinc/copper ratios in the body. “Fish oils help to insulate our nerves but also improve mental health, energy, and dry skin,” Klim notes. Research shows that zinc supplementation in the postpartum period has a significant positive effect on postpartum depression. 8 Klim emphasizes that “all supplementation should be targeted and specific for each individual- there is no one size fits all approach, especially in postpartum.”

Herbal medicine is another powerful tool. While in the throes of postpartum depression, everything can feel overwhelming. Herbs can help make life more manageable so patients can address things more deeply. 

Being mindful only to use herbs that are safe during breastfeeding, both NDs use herbs called adaptogens with their postpartum patients. Adaptogen herbs work holistically in the body, building our capacity to handle stress.  Wing commonly prescribes the herb shatavari and medicinal mushrooms such as reishi and chaga. Klim often prescribes rhodiola, devil’s club, and eleuthero to address depression. If anxiety is also present, she turns to herbs, including Avena sativa (oats), passionflower, and lemon balm. Herbs also contain nutrients; she sometimes prescribes nettles and red raspberries to provide more minerals. 

Wing also leverages bitter herbs to support the vagus nerve (our ‘rest and digest’ nerve), which improves mental health, heart issues like palpitations, or digestive concerns such as bloating, reflux, or low appetite. She often prescribes supplementation of bitters such as ginger and chamomile to be taken with meals.

Level 6: Synthetic Symptom Relief

postpartum depression

When it comes to medications for postpartum depression, both NDs have prescribed anti-depressant medication, such as SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). “About 95% of the serotonin we make is in the GI tract, associated with the vagus nerve,” explains Wing. “I think of serotonin as the embodiment neurotransmitter. SSRIs are used for both depression and anxiety and typically lead to feeling more calm and less overwhelmed.” Wing finds that patients who respond well to SSRIs feel more space between an experience and their emotional response. Most of her patients reliably report that after 3-6 months, they are ready to stop taking SSRIs because they feel more capacity to process intense emotions. 

Klim used to work at a clinic with a high proportion of Medicaid patients who were often low-income with few resources. For those patients, medication was the only realistic option. “They couldn’t afford nutritious food. I tried hard to address their foundational needs, but sometimes medication was the only thing available to me. I use medications when it seems necessary or if appropriate, based on personal history or financial status,” says Klim. Most of her patients are not interested in anti-depressant medication at her current clinic, so she rarely prescribes it. 

These days the most common medication she prescribes is thyroid medication, but she first explores other methods to optimize thyroid function before going the medication route. 

Level 7: High Force Interventions (Suppress Pathology)

Klim points to two ways she commonly sees conventional medicine attempt to suppress pathology in postpartum patients. Birth injuries can lead to uterine prolapse or significant pelvic floor dysfunction. The first option usually presented by the conventional care model is surgery. Klim feels this approach bypasses pelvic floor therapy and other therapies that should be tried before resorting to such a high-force intervention. 

Second, many people experiencing symptoms of severe PMS or premenstrual dysphoric disorder in the late postpartum time frame, once menstruation has returned, are prescribed the birth control pill as their only treatment option, Klim sees. “These conditions (PMDD) can absolutely be related to postpartum depression or some other imbalance that happened during the initial postpartum recovery time.” How does this suppress pathology? “There’s nothing wrong with taking the birth control pill to prevent pregnancy,” explains Klim. “But when given birth control to suppress hormonal ups and downs, that’s not serving people in the long run. It’s only suppressing the problem at hand.” Klim notes that hormonal imbalances that cause PMDD or PMS are signs of a deeper root problem. 

Ultimately, much healing comes from the strength of the doctor-patient relationship. “We all know there can be stigma around mental health issues. By doing regular check-ins, really getting to know the patient on a personal level, and being a safe place for them to reflect and share their experience – that’s where we can shine as naturopathic doctors,” notes Wing.

“Ultimately, the solution for our postpartum depression epidemic is to change our narrative and culture on a large scale and start having these conversations,” says Klim. “You shouldn’t suffer alone. There are treatments for so many conditions, especially postpartum depression, pelvic floor dysfunction, and pain. It is possible to have a positively transformational and healing postpartum journey. I encourage people to seek help and education and not allow their symptoms and problems to be normalized by the conventional medical community.”

References

1. Depression Among Women | CDC. Published May 23, 2022. Accessed May 5, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/depression/index.htm

2. Government of Canada SC. The Daily — Canada leads the G7 for the most educated workforce, thanks to immigrants, young adults, and a strong college sector, but is experiencing significant losses in apprenticeship certificate holders in key trades. Published November 30, 2022. Accessed February 20, 2023. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/221130/dq221130a-eng.htm

3. Taylor BL, Nath S, Sokolova AY, et al. The relationship between social support in pregnancy and postnatal depression. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2022;57(7):1435-1444. doi:10.1007/s00127-022-02269-z

4. Feinberg E, Declercq E, Lee A, Belanoff C. The Relationship between Social Support and Postnatal Anxiety and Depression: Results from the Listening to Mothers in California Survey. Women’s Health Issues. 2022;32(3):251-260. doi:10.1016/j.whi.2022.01.005

5. Low SR, Bono SA, Azmi Z. Prevalence and Factors of Postpartum Depression During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Review. Curr Psychol. Published online January 7, 2023:1-18. doi:10.1007/s12144-022-04181-w

6. Hadizadeh-Talasaz Z, Sadeghi R, Khadivzadeh T. Effect of pelvic floor muscle training on postpartum sexual function and quality of life: A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials. Taiwan J Obstet Gynecol. 2019;58(6):737-747. doi:10.1016/j.tjog.2019.09.003

7. Li Q. The Effects of Yoga Exercise on Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation of Postpartum Women. J Healthc Eng. 2022;2022:1924232. doi:10.1155/2022/1924232

8. Aoki C, Imai K, Owaki T, et al. The Possible Effects of Zinc Supplementation on Postpartum Depression and Anemia. Medicina (Kaunas). 2022;58(6):731. doi:10.3390/medicina58060731

This article is provided by the Institute for Natural Medicine, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. INM’s mission is to transform healthcare in America by increasing both public awareness of naturopathic medicine and access to naturopathic doctors for patients. INM believes that naturopathic medicine, with its unique principles and practices, has the potential to reverse the tide of chronic illness that overwhelms existing healthcare systems and to empower people to achieve and maintain their optimal lifelong health. INM strives to achieve this mission through the following initiatives:

  • Education – Reveal the unique benefits and outcomes of naturopathic medicine
  • Access – Connect patients to licensed naturopathic doctors
  • Research – Expand quality research of this complex and comprehensive system of medicine

INM's team is made up of naturopathic doctors and health journalists.

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Deb Hubers

Debra Hubers is a serial entrepreneur and has started seven businesses; ranging from an advanced genomics to an employer health care purchasing cooperative. Deb has over 35 years of experience in healthcare finance, education, technology, and pharmacogenomics.

Ms. Hubers has dedicated her career to measuring and improving healthcare outcomes. Her expertise is leveraging technology to deliver personalized, preventative medicine. Ms. Hubers co-founded La Vita Compounding Pharmacy in 2007. Collaborating with her business partner, physicians and strategic partners, Deb has grown La Vita to be one of the most respected and sought-after personalized medicine providers on the west coast. She is also Co-Founder of EpigeneticsRx, a leading provider of precise, personalized, prevention which positively impacts genetic expression.

Alex Keller, ND

Dr. Alex Keller, ND, AFMCP is a graduate of the University of Ottawa with an Honours Bachelor in Health Sciences and Psychology. Although originally intending to attend conventional medical school, following a three-month volunteer internship at a rural Kenyan hospital where he observed how doctors used local food to treat patients, he shifted his career goals and pursued a degree in naturopathic medicine at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in Toronto.

After one year of practicing with the esteemed Dr. Chris Pickrell, ND, RH in a community acupuncture setting, in 2015 he and his wife Dr. Jenn Keller, ND moved to rural Ottawa, Canada where they started an organic farm and retreat center. In the same year, Alex and his athletic therapist sister Jess Keller combined their practices to form Keller Active Health, an integrative physical therapy clinic.

Ever curious and passionate about the education of evidence-based natural medicine, in 2017, Dr. Keller joined a fledgling Ottawa-based health tech startup named Fullscript. He serves as its Medical Director and oversees the development of medical education content for practitioners across North America.

Prior to medicine, Alex worked in the renewable energy sector, where he developed a deep passion for sustainable agriculture and environmental stewardship. This connection between medicine and agriculture now drives Alex to focus much of his energy on bringing awareness to the quality and sourcing standards in the supplement and organic agriculture supply chains.

Today, he splits his professional time practicing as a clinician, working for Fullscript, and expanding the farming operation while chasing his kids with Jenn and occasionally running ultra-marathon trail races. He is also currently completing an Executive MBA through the Quantic School of Business & Technology with a focus on supply chain innovation.

Pamela Snider, ND

Pamela Snider, ND, is Executive and Senior Editor for the Foundations of Naturopathic Medicine Project, producing a first of its kind international textbook of Naturopathic medicine through a series of international retreats and symposia. A nationally recognized integrative health and policy leader, she is active in both national and regional integrative health initiatives. Dr. Snider serves on the Board of Directors, was founding Executive Director and co-founder of the Academic Consortium for Integrative Health (ACIH/ACCAHCa consortium of the councils of schools, accrediting agencies and certifying bodies of the licensed, traditional and emerging integrative health professions, and is currently Vice Chair and co-founder of the Integrative Health Policy Consortium (IHPC).  Dr. Snider served as a founding Board Member of the Academy of Integrative Health & Medicine from 2014-2016. Her public policy work includes completing a two year appointment to the DHHS Center For Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) Medicare Coverage Advisory Committee (MCAC); serving as a Steering Committee Member for  the HRSA funded American College of Preventive Medicine NCCIM Integrative Medicine in Preventive Medicine Residency program, co-directing in USPHS Region X the Building Bridges Between Provider Communities Group, an exploration of interdisciplinary collaboration and common ground between public health and CAM; serving for 22 years on Washington State’s Health Professional Loan Repayment and Scholarship Program Advisory Committee (HPLRSP); providing technical assistance to and developing key language for the enabling legislation for NIH Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCIH/NCCAM); and staffing Joseph Pizzorno ND during his appointment as Commissioner on the White House Commission on CAM Policy.

From 1994-2003, Dr. Snider served as Associate Dean for Public and Professional Affairs and Naturopathic Medicine at Bastyr University, dividing her work between academic and public affairs activities, including chairing the Naturopathic Medicine Program Curriculum Review Committee.  Dr. Snider has been teaching, publishing and lecturing widely on Naturopathic philosophy, theory integrative health, public policy, and other topics for over 30 years. Currently, an Associate Professor at National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM) in Portland, OR, Dr. Snider also continues at Bastyr University in her 22nd year as a faculty member teaching naturopathic medicine history, clinical theory, and global context. Among her Naturopathic medicine professional roles she serves on the Institute for Natural Medicine’s Leadership Council.  In 1989, she co-led the naturopathic profession with Dr. Jared Zeff, in developing a unifying definition of naturopathic medicine and its principles of practice adopted unanimously by the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP) House of Delegates. She was a co-investigator in the 2004 NIH NCCAM research study, the North American Naturopathic Medical Research Agenda and CAM Advisor in NIHCCAM’s Financing Integrative Health Care (University of Washington).  Her areas of experience include healthcare education; naturopathic and interdisciplinary clinical theory, curriculum development; clinical practice; government and legislative affairs, public policy, interdisciplinary collaboration, and community organizing.  Dr. Snider has received the Ontario Naturopathic Physician of the Year Award, the Physician of the Year Award from the AANP, the President’s Outstanding Vision Award and Distinguished Alumnus Award at Bastyr University, AANP’s President’s Award, an honorary Doctorate of Naturopathic Philosophy from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM), the William A Mitchell Vis Award from the AANP and The Gathering – NMSA’s Beacon Award. She received her ND degree in 1982 from Bastyr University of Natural Health Sciences and is a licensed naturopathic physician in the State of Washington. She lives with her husband and children at their homestead in North Bend Washington, in the beautiful mountain to sea landscape and home of The Revival – Restore the Vis, an annual student-led community gathering.

Susan Haeger

Susan Haeger is Founder/Principal of Transformative Health Solutions Inc. She has applied her twenty plus years in executive leadership to help shape and drive adoption of progressive health policy for whole person healthcare. She was a section contributor to the 2021 INM/AANP published professional white paper, Naturopathic Physicians as Whole Health Specialists: The Future is Whole Person Health Care that provides supporting evidence for the profession’s significant and unique contributions to preventive, whole person care and models of integrative clinical practice.

Bruce Barlean

Bruce Barlean is an owner and founder of Barlean’s, a global dietary supplement manufacturer located in the Pacific Northwest in Ferndale, WA. Bruce has been actively involved in the Natural Products industry since 1989 and is passionate about making a difference in the world and positively impacting the lives of others.

Bruce believes that people can make a difference in the world through ordinary purchases. He is committed to improving the quality of life for every person on the planet by making the best products and by using the profits to support outreach programs. Bruce summarizes it simply, “We make good stuff to do good stuff”.

In the late 1980’s Bruce became passionate about how health could be dramatically improved with Flax Oil Supplementation. Bruce along with his entrepreneurial parents saw the potential to improve the lives of many people and in 1989 they began selling Flax Oil under the Barlean’s name. From 1989 – 2000 the business grew an average of 40% year over year. While most companies saw a decline in business in the 2001 recession, Barlean’s continued to grow and soon became America’s #1 selling flaxseed oil and continues to be to the present. The brand has since expanded to include additional oils, green food concentrates and other premium supplements. Bruce continues to drive innovation and over the years his products and company have won countless awards including: Eight consecutive Vity Awards for #1 EFA, Six consecutive Vity Awards for #1 Greens Food Supplement, Natural Choice Award for Best Specialty Supplement, Best Product of the Year, Best New Product, Gold Medal Taster’s Choice Award, Gold Medal American Masters of Taste Award, #1 Health Food Store Brand for Consumer Satisfaction by Consumer Lab, and Manufacturer of the Year.

In 2013 as the company was on the eve of celebrating the 25th year in business Bruce and his parents decided to take their desire to help people to a new level that they call Pathway to a Better Life – which is now seen in the Barlean’s logo. Bruce and his parents had always been generous in their giving and support of charities, but as part of the Pathway to a Better Life they decided to increased partnership with charitable organizations such as: Vitamin Angels, Compassion International, KidsTown International, Autism Hope Alliance, Engedi Refuge, Project 92, and others. And because so many people are unable to meet basic nutritional needs, Bruce created a comprehensive Omega-3 and multivitamin formula that he distributes free-of-charge to local food banks. In addition, Bruce decided the company would supply food banks with organic coconut oil to provide people with a health alternative to standard cooking oils.

Always generous with his time Bruce has served as a youth leader for his local church for several years and continues to mentor youth. He has been on several not for profit boards including; Whatcom County Pregnancy Center (2003-2006), Natural Products Association (dates?), and the Institute for Natural Medicine Leadership Council (presently).

The Barlean family have been avid supporters of Bastyr University since the 1990’s and in 2013 were given Bastyr’s most prestigious honor, the Mission Award, which recognizes their leadership over time in improving the health and well-being of the human community.

Bruce currently resides in Ferndale, WA with his wife Lisa and their two dogs: Heinz & Shadow. When he’s not helping others he can be found fishing (catch & release).

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Michelle Simon

Michelle Simon, PHD, ND

President & CEO

As president and CEO of INM, Dr. Simon brings her passion for working with organizations dedicated to improving the quality and delivery of healthcare. This desire stems from her years of practice as a licensed naturopathic physician. In addition to holding a Naturopathic Doctorate from Bastyr University she also holds a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

She has served on boards for the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP), the Naturopathic Physicians Research Institute (NPRI), and several advisory boards. Dr. Simon served nine years on the Washington State Health Technology Clinical Committee, as Ambassador to the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine (AIHM) and was recognized as 2018 AANP Physician of the Year. Dr. Simon shares with her husband a passion for adventure travel, preferably by boat or motorcycle. She also enjoys teaching a women’s off-road motorcycling class.