Approaching Healing Without Ego: A Conversation With Naturopathic Dr. Kaylie Rozen
- jennysmithmattfeldt
- Oct 14, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 6
BY JENNY SMITH MATTFELDT Published October 14, 2024
When it comes to embracing natural medicine, it can feel overwhelming to know where to begin. That’s where learning from a professional like Dr. Kaylie Rozen, an experienced Naturopath, can help guide you. Her philosophy is rooted in personalized care, optimization, and a deep commitment to her patients, which makes natural medicine accessible to everyone. If Dr. Rozen sounds familiar it's because I mention her throughout My Hormonal Cystic Acne Journey, the story of how I was able to heal my hormonal acne through a mix of natural remedies, Western medicine, and lifestyle changes.
I was introduced to Dr. Rozen at a time in my life where I felt like I had exhausted all other options when it came to healing my body. The beauty of natural medicine is that what often feels like a last resort can actually be the foundational healing your body has been craving, addressing the root cause rather than just the symptoms. And now, three years later, I was able to sit down with her to discuss how anyone can step into the world of natural medicine.
Her Start Into Natural Medicine
Dr. Rozen’s journey into the field of natural medicine began with her upbringing, her mother was an MD and from a young age she was drawn to the idea of becoming a doctor to help others. However, her parents cautioned her against pursuing the traditional MD route, pointing out that today’s system isn't really set up to heal patients.
She witnessed this firsthand, as her sister was funneled through the medical system for much of her life. What began as ADHD medication escalated to amphetamines, antidepressants, and eventually opioids. Watching someone she loved endure this heartbreaking cycle was devastating and opened her eyes to the harsh realities of the medical system. "It breaks my heart, and I think that pain is a large part of what drives me to help others. I want people to feel empowered and know there are options beyond medication and surgery, because the answer isn’t always ‘give a drug’ or ‘remove the organ that’s causing trouble.’ But at that time, there was no knowledge of other options."
She was exposed to the naturopathic field while working as a nature wilderness camp leader at a camp run by a Naturopathic Doctor. There, she witnessed firsthand how holistic practices such as yoga, meditation, supplements, and quality nutrition could transform lives. This experience solidified her belief in the interconnectedness of mental and physical health and ultimately guided her to embrace Naturopathic Medicine.
Baby Steps To Wellness
Natural medicine has been around for thousands of years but in the last few years has started to gain some serious traction in the U.S. With all this new curiosity surrounding the movement I asked Dr. Rozen how someone new to naturopathic medicine can start taking those first baby steps toward a more holistic lifestyle. "Don't get overwhelmed or try to change everything at once," she told me, "start by focusing on mindfulness and awareness." This could simply mean taking an inventory of the products you use every day and evaluating if there's a more natural option that could work just as well for you. Don't feel like you have to overhaul your whole routine, try to be mindful and swap out products when you need a restock.
If you are struggling with an illness Dr. Rozen recommends keeping a symptom journal and documenting everything you were doing when the symptoms occur. She emphasizes that understanding your symptoms in relation to your lifestyle choices, what you're eating, doing, and even thinking, is crucial. She repeatedly stresses that the internal aspects of your life profoundly influence the external, highlighting that our internal health is often the foundation for our overall well-being.
Taking A Deeper Look
The idea that our internal health influences our external well-being applies to both mental and physical aspects. On a physical level Dr. Rozen suggests starting with a food intolerance test. Finding out how your body reacts to specific foods "takes away the noise" and allows you to choose foods based on how your body responds to them rather than what society is saying is good or bad for you this week.
On a mental level we have to take a deeper look at how our internal thoughts and mindsets can influence our external world. It can be helpful to realize that how we see everything in our external world is being filtered through the lens of our past experiences and opinions. When I asked Dr. Rozen about the growing number of younger women facing challenges like PCOS, endometriosis, and fertility issues and what steps could be taken to support women's health holistically she explained that in today’s world many of us "aren’t living biologically," meaning we're disconnected from the natural rhythms our bodies are designed to follow. To support women's health, she suggests taking a deeper look at how we can live more in alignment with our biology.
This includes examining our relationships "with men, with ourselves, and with our own sexuality" because these connections play a vital role in our well-being. She also highlights that men and women are meant to complement, not compete with each other. As always, she reinforces her philosophy that what’s happening internally will inevitably show externally and encourages women to explore how their emotions and experiences may be impacting their physical health.
Approaching Healing Without Ego
More and more traditional Medical Doctors are starting to offer natural remedies and holistic lifestyle changes before prescriptions. While some Naturopathic Doctors are feeling frustrated that they've been offering this information for decades without much recognition, Dr. Rozen offers up a different reaction. She encourages anyone that advocates for holistic care to be extra gracious to everyone curious about exploring the concept and "just be happy they're there." Her welcoming attitude is a perfect example of how she leads from a place of healing without ego, she's not concerned with getting credit, only with helping you feel your best.
Dr. Kaylie Rozen operates her practice, Rozen Health, in Bozeman Montana in person and through video calls. If you are interested in looking into her personalized, holistic care you can schedule a free 30 minute consultation call today.
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