[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”My family is fourth generation \u201cNaramation\u201d, and for three” _builder_version=”4.0.6″ text_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”text_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ text_text_shadow_vertical_length=”text_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ text_text_shadow_blur_strength=”text_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ link_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”link_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ link_text_shadow_vertical_length=”link_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ link_text_shadow_blur_strength=”link_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”ul_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ul_text_shadow_vertical_length=”ul_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ul_text_shadow_blur_strength=”ul_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”ol_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ol_text_shadow_vertical_length=”ol_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ol_text_shadow_blur_strength=”ol_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”quote_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ quote_text_shadow_vertical_length=”quote_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ quote_text_shadow_blur_strength=”quote_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_2_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_2_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_2_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_3_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_3_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_3_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_4_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_4_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_4_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_5_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_5_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_5_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_6_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_6_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_6_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ z_index_tablet=”500″ box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px”]<\/p>\n
![\"Collage](\"https:\/\/womensvoice.com\/en-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/08\/Collage_TrueGrit.jpg\")
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My family is fourth generation \u201cNaramation,\u201d and for three generations scraped out a living on the orchards. The land is still in the family, owned by my brother and his family who now grow grapes and operate a winery.<\/p>\n
My life was pretty ideal looking back, building forts from apple boxes, changing sprinklers with my dad, target practicing in the hills, lifting rocks in the lake and watching cray fish scurry away, and of course teasing my two brothers. We never had television until the year I left home in 1964. I graduated at the age of 16 and a half, and went off to explore the world.<\/p>\n
For many years I had the travel bug. To feed my adventurous spirit, I worked until I had money to travel, then I would travel until I ran out of money, and start all over again. One sport that certainly filled that spirit was skydiving. I was part of, and traveled, with the Canadian skydiving team in 1968 to the world competition in Graz, Austria. Skydiving was a big part of my life until I had a skydiving accident and hurt my back. The world changed for me in an instant. For 18 years I was often bedridden and had to endure debilitating pain. It took many years to find a non-invasive treatment that helped me without having to have surgery, and this was the beginning of my search outside of conventional medical treatments.<\/p>\n
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In the early 1970s after the birth of our first child, my husband and I headed \u201cback to the land\u201d to a remote area of BC. We had no running water, no electricity, and a cow \u2013 so I learned to churn butter, and make yogurt wrapped in blankets behind the wood stove. Eventually we had to move to find work \u2013 with plans of returning soon to complete our projects. But then the twins came along, so we never did go back to the land. And alas, the marriage was not to last either, and I ended up with three toddlers. At the time, I taught teenagers with behavioral problems, while juggling three young boys \u201cplus one,\u201d an unofficially adopted son. Even though he didn\u2019t live with us full time, our family was his support system. He still remains part of our family after so many years. The demands of young children and teaching teens with special needs were huge, and it seemed overnight I went from being an ever-ready battery with boundless energy to someone who could hardly get out of bed in the morning.<\/p>\n
The medical doctors all said the same thing \u2013 \u201cyou are depressed.\u201d Well, I didn\u2019t have time or the inclination to be depressed.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Friends had been telling me about a naturopathic doctor in our area. Back then I had never heard of a naturopathic doctor and I was soon introduced to the adrenal glands<\/a> \u2013 the organs responsible for stress adaptation. With some supplement support, I was back to my normal energy, and off and running again, not realizing at the time that understanding the importance of adrenal glands in health<\/a> was going to be an important part of a new career in the future.<\/p>\n
In the early 1980s I found love in my longtime friend and moved back to Naramata with my sons. Our plan was to live up the ski mountain in the winter, home school the children, and run his orchards in the summer. Sadly, life had other plans for me. While we were up the mountain on a sunny January, my fianc\u00e9 was killed in an avalanche. It was like a bad dream, and in many ways still is. This sad and heart-breaking experience significantly changed my life onto a completely different course \u2013 eventually becoming a naturopathic doctor. A person never knows what life is going to bring and why \u2013 but the only thing that is guaranteed in life is change and this change was huge for my entire family. After the shock of my love\u2019s death had worn off a little, I had to ask myself \u201cWhat do I want to be when I grow up?\u201d I was 37 at the time and decided to become a naturopathic doctor. I proceeded to complete the necessary prerequisites at the university at night while working during the day.<\/p>\n
Now the next hurdle \u2013 the money. There wasn\u2019t any! Naturopathic college was extremely expensive. I did own a wonderful little log cabin that I very reluctantly sold to pay for my first year\u2019s tuition. I decided I would worry about the remaining three years when the time came \u2013 and off I went \u2013 simply on a wing and a prayer in an old beat up Dodge van with whatever I could fit in along with three little boys. The years proved to be very challenging as student loans barely covered tuition.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.22.4″ src=”https:\/\/womensvoice.com\/en-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/08\/KJensen_TrueGrit.jpg” z_index_tablet=”500″ align=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” align_tablet=”center” \/][et_pb_text admin_label=”Perhaps one of the biggest challenges during naturopathic college came in my final year.” _builder_version=”4.0.6″ text_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”text_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ text_text_shadow_vertical_length=”text_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ text_text_shadow_blur_strength=”text_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ link_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”link_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ link_text_shadow_vertical_length=”link_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ link_text_shadow_blur_strength=”link_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”ul_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ul_text_shadow_vertical_length=”ul_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ul_text_shadow_blur_strength=”ul_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”ol_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ol_text_shadow_vertical_length=”ol_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ol_text_shadow_blur_strength=”ol_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”quote_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ quote_text_shadow_vertical_length=”quote_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ quote_text_shadow_blur_strength=”quote_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_2_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_2_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_2_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_3_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_3_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_3_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_4_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_4_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_4_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_5_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_5_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_5_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_6_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_6_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_6_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ z_index_tablet=”500″ box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px”]<\/p>\n
Perhaps one of the biggest challenges during naturopathic college came in my final year. As I was studying for my final board exams, I had another accident. I ended up with a concussion, broken pelvis, and fractured acetabulum (cup in the hip socket). By some miracle I was able to write my board exams and actually pass. I eventually graduated and received the award for Proficiency in Naturopathic Medicine. When I went up to receive the award, I mentioned the award should really go to my sons because if they hadn\u2019t been the amazing kids that they were, I would not have managed what I did. We all sacrificed a lot during those years, and although there were so many times I wanted to quit, I knew I couldn\u2019t for my children\u2019s sake. I just had to keep going no atter what.<\/p>\n
\nI think it came down to grit \u2013 the stubborn refusal to give up.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
My main focus during my 25 years in clinical practice was women\u2019s health. My first book on women\u2019s health and menopause was in 1998 and over the years I have written several books on these and other topics. My most recent book: Women\u2019s Health Matters \u2013 The Influence of Gender on Disease<\/em> <\/a>is a good read to learn more about women\u2019s health issues, as well as the influence of the adrenals on overall health and hormone health. Currently, Julie Reil, MD<\/a>, and I are collaborating on a very comprehensive new book with a focus on women\u2019s health. Every woman faces changes and challenges in each phase of their lives, from puberty through the senior years. For example, in teens mental health problems and early puberty are on the rise while infertility is affecting many women. Moreover, women of all ages are suffering from hormone disorders and the senior years can result in new and different challenges. We provide information and solutions from both conventional medical approach as well as natural solutions to many of the common challenges that occur throughout the ages.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”The adrenal glands command the most powerful hormones” _builder_version=”4.0.6″ text_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”text_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ text_text_shadow_vertical_length=”text_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ text_text_shadow_blur_strength=”text_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ link_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”link_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ link_text_shadow_vertical_length=”link_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ link_text_shadow_blur_strength=”link_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”ul_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ul_text_shadow_vertical_length=”ul_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ul_text_shadow_blur_strength=”ul_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”ol_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ol_text_shadow_vertical_length=”ol_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ol_text_shadow_blur_strength=”ol_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”quote_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ quote_text_shadow_vertical_length=”quote_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ quote_text_shadow_blur_strength=”quote_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_2_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_2_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_2_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_3_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_3_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_3_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_4_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_4_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_4_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_5_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_5_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_5_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_6_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_6_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_6_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ z_index_tablet=”500″ custom_padding=”|50px||50px” custom_padding_phone=”|0px||0px” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px”]<\/p>\n
\nThe adrenal glands command the most powerful hormones that affect your body and, in fact, your life. When the adrenal glands are functioning optimally, during the menopausal hormone changes they produce adequate amounts of precursor hormones that are further synthesized into estrogens and testosterone. However, many women have adrenal insufficiency due to chronic stress, and the adrenal glands struggle to respond to the ongoing demands of stress and additional demands of hormone changes, resulting in many different symptoms.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n
\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”About 12 years ago, I moved to Victoria where all my sons were living.” _builder_version=”4.0.6″ text_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”text_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ text_text_shadow_vertical_length=”text_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ text_text_shadow_blur_strength=”text_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ link_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”link_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ link_text_shadow_vertical_length=”link_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ link_text_shadow_blur_strength=”link_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”ul_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ul_text_shadow_vertical_length=”ul_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ul_text_shadow_blur_strength=”ul_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”ol_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ol_text_shadow_vertical_length=”ol_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ol_text_shadow_blur_strength=”ol_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”quote_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ quote_text_shadow_vertical_length=”quote_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ quote_text_shadow_blur_strength=”quote_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_2_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_2_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_2_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_3_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_3_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_3_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_4_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_4_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_4_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_5_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_5_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_5_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_6_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_6_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_6_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ z_index_tablet=”500″ box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px”]<\/p>\n
About 12 years ago, I moved to Victoria where all my sons were living. I started a new practice and probably would have continued working as long as my physical and mental abilities allowed. Again, life intervened. One of my twin sons was diagnosed with an incurable brain tumor. I quit practice the day he was diagnosed in order to support him through this extremely challenging process which continued for about four years. As his brain slowly recovered from medical treatments and the seizures became manageable, he was able to become more independent, although still not without extreme challenges on a daily basis.<\/p>\n
![\"Family](\"https:\/\/womensvoice.com\/en-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/08\/Beach_TrueGrit-300x204.jpg\")
My grandchildren are a special gift. They continuously fill my heart with love and joy, and are a constant reminder that through all the difficulties in life, there are always gifts. For me, the role as grandparent is a very special and wonderful gift. Although life brings changes and challenges to us all, some people will not have the opportunity to reach older ages and I now realize that aging is indeed a privilege.<\/p>\n