Bijana Kadakia ND LAc

10/31/2025

I had good intentions to post a few updates while I was gone earlier this month, but you know what they say about the best laid plans. So even though it’s Halloween, this picture is me being more myself than probably any other time during my sabbatical, you may or may not be able to tell that my expression is one of pure joy while feeding this reindeer from my hands. This was one of the plans that I was the most excited about during sabbatical and definitely lived up to the hype. It was a peak experience that I will never forget. And even taking a short break during my very full Friday of catching up on my mountain of paperwork to post this takes me right back to that feeling and fills me with joy again. May you find some joy today as well.

08/05/2025

Chatting with some friends I couldn’t remember the exact acronym but two of the four of us have recognized and helped someone get care during a stroke. I happened to pick this card up at a local event - so happy to have it to share as a reminder. If you or someone you love is experiencing symptoms of a stroke, call 911 or get (safely!) to an ER. Time lost is potentially brain lost.

08/04/2025

Healthcare for all means all. And with such success, we need to support global initiatives like this!

If you’ve ever watched the 1974 classic The Godfather Part II, you saw the scene when Vito Corleone arrived at Ellis Island as a child. But you likely missed the moment when his eyelids were examined.

05/31/2025

Day 1 of Advanced Cardiology Conference ✅ done! 2 more to go!

05/17/2025

Oregon residents, please send messages to your reps to ask that they vote on pay parity for my colleagues and me. We make 50% less than similarly educated clinicians for the same services, when we bill insurance. This is the reason I do not accept assignment for primary care though I often end up serving that way because patients are unable to find care elsewhere. This is why I don’t have office staff which means it takes longer to get your messages answered; referralsls processed; etc. I love what I do and things could be even better if I was paid fairly.

Thanks!

https://naturopathic.org/general/custom.asp?page=LegislativeActionCenter&fbclid=IwY2xjawKVh99leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFqdFp0M2l5cEt4ODFVZVRuAR6MCG7Ht9gcPDKHOeOzaOhYRO91WuzdMx3VRpAjsTey167S5G5f1bF8cP7QDA_aem_ywMhastk4crKQLG_51IxkA #/137re

04/22/2025

I have irregularly kept a gratitude journal for more than 25 years. Whenever I write in it, I feel the positive impacts of being grateful and writing it down. I even play a game with a friend where we pick random dates and read what we wrote on that date.

Lately I’ve been identifying one thing each day that made me happy in my planner and I realized, what is this but a gratitude practice? So the last couple of days, instead of focusing on “I’m grateful for…,” I’ve been writing “…made me happy.”

This has helped me out of the rut of writing the same five major things I’m grateful for every single day (yes I’m super grateful for them but it’s boring to write that down every day!). And it activates the reticular activating system in the brain that makes us see (notice) more red cars when we think about red cars. So now my brain is helping me find things that make me happy throughout the day every day.

Let me know if you give it a try!

04/01/2025

Happy April Fools’ Day! But what if today wasn’t just about pranks—what if it was about possibilities? In tarot, The Fool symbolizes fresh starts, adventure, and embracing the unknown. Just like spring, it’s a time for new beginnings and taking that leap of faith. 🌿💫

So why not welcome the season with open arms, trust the journey, and see where spontaneity leads? Maybe the best surprises aren’t the tricks—but the adventures waiting ahead!

I’ll be starting something new this April so stay tuned for news on upcoming developments. And if you need some support before moving forward, I’m here to help - it’s never foolish to prioritize your health.

10/02/2024

Happy National Kale Day. I didn’t grow up loving kale or even eating many vegetables but this has become one of my favorites…if prepared in ways I like.

You may have heard the story before of how I felt a lot of social pressure to LOOOVE kale in naturopathic school? I kept trying it but I hated it every single time.

It wasn’t until my final year that I had a raw kale salad that was truly delicious. The greens had been massaged with lemon juice then tossed with a lite creamy dressing and they were delicious. Next came kale chips and I was hooked. Kale chips are my no-guilt treat and helped my taste buds start to like kale in other ways.

So I learned a few things:

Preparation makes ALL the difference - now I try different foods prepared lots of ways before deciding I don’t like them. Palates change over time - with age and exposure to different flavors, what we like is subject to change. And finally, there is no one single food that we are required to eat for health. Even a so-called superfood, like kale, can be skipped if you truly don’t enjoy it. But maybe try the kale chips…

for
[image description: Dark green lacinato kale leaves show over a blurred background. Caption reads, “What I learned from hating kale.”]

07/26/2024

Be kind to your mind.

There are so many things this can mean. Here are a few ideas:

• Spend time with friends
• Reduce time with people you have to mask around
• Challenge negative self talk
• Speak kindly to yourself
• Recognize that mistakes are how we learn
• Stay hydrated
• Play games
• Make art
• Eat your veggies 🥦
• Move your body in a fun way
• Go outside
• Breathe deeply
• Meditate
• Limit screen time
• Take a break and do nothing

All of these ideas are good for your brain health and good for your mental health. And all of these are suggestions I give to patients - not all at once! 😉

Be kind to your mind this weekend.



[image description: A plastic letter board reads, “Be Kind to Your Mind” in colorful letters. I came across this in my good friend’s home and was inspired to write this post.]

07/24/2024

Patients can expect to start seeing me pull this book out during visits to share strategies for better blood sugar that don’t necessarily involve eating fewer carbs. I love the illustrations in this book!

07/11/2024

I opened an email today and was reminded of this fundamental truth that I teach every day. Self care isn’t an option for after everything else gets done - it’s how we are able to get things done.

My friend and sometimes coach, , said it so well: “Your wellbeing is the cornerstone of your sustainable success. Don’t leave it on the back burner. Bring it front and center where it can fuel you for the most demanding parts of your life.”

I hope you find this as inspiring as I did. For more like this, I highly recommend Sally’s book, Nourish, which I read through and now use as a daily reading (I revisit the first dare on the first day of the month and so on…) And should you need some help figuring out what to include in your self-care routine, I’m here to help.

04/23/2024

In case all weekend wasn’t enough continuing education (CE), the bimonthly lecture series I always attend is today and covering advanced topics in the use of medicinal 🍄 mushrooms. No, not the psychedelic mushrooms this time, but those more common options like turkey tail, reishi, cordyceps, and lions mane mushrooms.

Mushrooms in all forms are powerful medicine with broad effects so I look forward to renewing my familiarity with these species and the literature around them.



[image description: yellow background with two sharpened pencils resting on it. Text reads, “continuing education in progress: mushroom mycelia vs. mushroom fruiting bodies.”]