Dr. Rachel Low is a naturopathic doctor and owner of Commune Natural Health in Salisbury, CT. What is naturopathy, you ask? Naturopathic medicine is a modality within the field of medicine that takes an evidence-based approach to holistic health and healing. “My practice is grounded firmly in the naturopathic principles of addressing the root cause of disease and working to support the natural healing process,” she explains.
Dr. Low seeks to find how the individual systems in the body are interconnected, and she strongly emphasizes establishing good foundational health in the form of diet and lifestyle, while also using plant and energy medicines to stimulate the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems to help direct the body towards healing.
“As an integrative provider, I blend evidence-based medicine with traditional and energetic practices. Modalities that I frequently use include clinical nutrition, herbal medicine, lifestyle changes, and homeopathy,” she explained. “Naturopathic medicine is like the original functional medicine. It takes a deeper dive into what’s going on to get beyond symptom management and find long-term healing.”
Photographs by Lawrence Braun
Dr. Low completed her undergraduate degree at the University of North Carolina at Asheville, studying biochemistry, psychology, and anthropology – all of which are subjects that continue to inform her understanding of the body. She then went on to receive her doctorate in naturopathic medicine from the National University of Natural Medicine in Portland, OR, which is where she was trained as a primary care physician.
After completing a year-long mentorship and training program in integrative fertility, Dr. Low shifted her practice away from primary care and is now focused primarily on “providing powerful, holistic, trauma-informed, and inclusive fertility support” to people in and around northwest Connecticut and online. In addition to fertility, she helps folks with menstrual cycle irregularities, perimenopause, digestive issues, and mental/emotional wellness.
Connecting with nature
Dr. Low comes from a medical family – her mother is a nurse and her stepfather is a surgeon, but it took her a while to discern what she was most interested in when she was attending college. She reflected that she has “always been able to identify” some of the ways in which conventional medicine “didn’t make sense” to her.
“My grandmother lived with us while I was growing up, and she was very sick. I remember watching her get put on more medications, and instead of helping, she just seemed to get sicker,” she shared.
She noted that naturopathic doctors are far more common in Oregon where she received her doctorate: “There’s one on every corner.” When she moved to the Hudson Valley, she encountered a lot of misconceptions about what naturopathic medicine truly is. “Some people hadn’t heard of it at all, and others assume that it’s something that it’s not. I definitely had to explain myself quite a bit,” she shared.
She also misses the sense of support she had whilst being surrounded by so many other naturopathic doctors in Oregon. “It feels sort of like losing that community where we learned from one another and supported each other in our work. In our digital world, I have group chats with many other naturopathic doctors all over the world, so that’s been a helpful way to remain connected.”
Dr. Low believes that naturopathic medicine fits perfectly into the Hudson Valley, Berkshires, and Litchfield Hills communities. “I think naturopathy fits in particularly well in this community of farmers. There’s so much connection between food, soil, and health, and it’s amazing for me to be working alongside farmers who are doing regenerative agriculture. It’s all connected,” she said. “It feels good to bring naturopathy to a community where we don’t have many options. More people should be informed and have a choice in their healthcare.”
Functional fertility and reproductive care
Dr. Low’s primary specialty is fertility, but given her history working in primary care, she’s well equipped to treat a variety of general health conditions. In addition to reproductive health support, Dr. Low can also address gut health, thyroid disease, anxiety and depression, chronic fatigue, postpartum, and general wellness.
“Even when we’re focusing on one thing – let’s say fertility – we’re still recognizing the ways in which everything is connected in the body, so we’re also talking about gut health and mental health. I work with a little bit of everything.”
When it comes to fertility care for her patients, Dr. Low often works alongside their OB/GYNs to create a treatment plan that addresses all of the concerns of the patient. “I’ve found that working with other doctors goes really well. I think sometimes people have this idea of naturopathic doctors and medical doctors butting heads with each other, but I have never had a bad experience working alongside someone’s primary care physician or OB/GYN. We all respect each other.”
So, what role does nature play in fertility? Dr. Low explains that when a person is trying to conceive, one of the most vital things they can do is get back to the basics with nutrition and lifestyle changes.
“We often view ourselves as separate from nature, but that’s not the case,” she said. “We’re living in a world where we’re feeling disconnected from nature, so it’s important to get back into natural rhythms, have boundaries with the things that can disrupt our health and fertility, and move towards better balance. Our bodies want to be in a state of homeostasis, and when we can limit the things that push us out of balance, while nourishing ourselves well, we can find more robust health and fertility.”
Another way Dr. Low focuses on connecting with nature is through seasonal living, which she describes as “trying to go with the flow of the energetics of each season.” This can look like allowing ourselves to slow down and turn inwards in the winter, living “loudly” in the summer, and embracing seasonal produce and lifestyle practices that support the body’s needs throughout the different cycles of the year.
What you can expect from your first visit with Dr. Low
Dr. Low’s patients come from all over the tri-state area, and while she doesn’t accept insurance, she does accept HSA/FSA cards and can provide her patients with superbills for reimbursement from their insurance providers.
Initial visits are about an hour and a half, during which Dr. Low will do a deep dive into the patient’s health history. “I’m looking at the bigger picture, trying to understand the root cause of your concerns, how seemingly different factors may be connected, and if there may have been pieces that were previously overlooked,” she explained.
Dr. Low often gives a second opinion when it comes to previous lab work, noting that what is considered “normal” in labs is based on an average of the population, which is quite a big range.
“I like to use the shoe size analogy to explain it. The average shoe size is between a six and a nine for women, but I’m a size eight and I’m not going to feel right at a size six,” she explained. “If you fell in the normal range of your labs, but you’re still not feeling right, that’s where we look deeper to find out what’s optimal for you.”
She also notes that a more comprehensive investigation with additional lab work can help identify missing pieces of the puzzle when it comes to her patient’s healing journeys.
As far as a treatment plan goes, Dr. Low will create an individualized, tailored treatment plan that includes nutritional guidance, supplement protocols, custom herbal formulas, and recommendations around lifestyle practices such as exercise and stress management.
“My goal is to be a partner in health and to help my patients succeed,” she said. Sometimes that means “going the extra mile” and providing further support for her patients in the form of meal plans, phone calls, and emails in between visits to troubleshoot concerns or to help strategize how to implement some of the recommended changes.
“Breaking old habits and building new habits can be really challenging, and we all need support and accountability. I think that going beyond the typical doctor-patient relationship and providing a lot of support and coaching, as well as patient education, is what helps my patients meet their goals and really thrive,” she shared.
Making naturopathy accessible
With the goal of making naturopathic medicine and body literacy education more accessible, Dr. Low has created a series of online courses that people can access through her website. The courses center around women’s health and include topics such as “Foundations of Fertility,” “Master Your Menstrual Cycle,” “Postpartum Wellness,” and “Navigating Perimenopause (& beyond!)”.
“So much of what we focus on is making these slow and steady long-term changes. It’s easy to hand someone a list of things to do when they go home to change their lifestyle, but that can be overwhelming and hard to implement,” she explained. “Breaking down the how and the why, while providing step-by-step guidance can make it all feel more sustainable and doable.”
Creating the online courses allows Dr. Low to break down the foundational lifestyle pieces into weekly lessons, which in turn, allows participants to work through the course and implement changes at their own pace.
“While we’re all individuals, the foundations of health are pretty universal and for some, getting those lifestyle pieces in place can be enough to transform their health and meet their goals. For others, a more thorough investigation and tailored treatment plan may be needed,” she said. “I think the courses are a great option for getting to know your body and your health on a deeper level and feeling empowered in the ways in which you care for yourself.”
In addition to sharing online courses, you can also find Dr. Low facilitating workshops online and in person in the tri-state area throughout the year, covering topics ranging from fertility and preconception care to winter wellness and stress management. •
To learn more about Dr. Rachel Low and Commune Natural Health, visit her website at rachellownd.com. To learn more about her online courses, visit wombbloomwellness.com. If you’d like to contact Dr. Low, you can reach out to her via email at hello@rachellownd.com.
