dr_faryal_luhar

I'm honoured to be a speaker on Wednesday April 29th hosted by Intellectus Campus which is a platform that showcases health experts within their CPD series.

Join the conversation as we dive deeper into thyroid function as a key driver of women's health and wellbeing. Conditions to be discussed include:






The educational sessions are designed to support knowledge exchange and professional growth within the healthcare sector. The CPD-accredited educational sessions are aimed at advancing continuous professional development for healthcare professionals.

Intellectus Campus also champions education, business, and broader healthcare initiatives, with a strategic focus on creating an inclusive platform open to diverse ideas, collaborations, and communities.

They say an elephant never forgets. What is less said is that once in the presence of these mighty, intelligent beings, one never forgets.
Capturing exciting moments with the matriarch of this herd Sally, who is auntie to Thandi, along with her mother Nandi.
Here's to emulating what these majestic giants teach us - empathy, grace, kindness and a silent inner power.

Question for you...can you use winter to heal?

In Traditional Chinese Medicine and naturopathic philosophy, winter is a time of rest, inward focus, and restoration. The stillness, shorter days and crisp air encourage a natural shift towards rest, repair and rejuvenation.

Yet somewhere between hectic schedules and the pressure to “stay productive,” we often fight that instinct.

But what if slowing down was nature's wisdom - just as nature rests in winter to prepare for spring growth, your body needs time to restore its balance. There is a common misconception that everything is "dead" in winter but contrary to this belief all the bare trees and hibernating animals are shifting their focus from outer being to inner being.

This quieter season offers an opportunity to reset, especially for your immune system, hormones, and nervous system.

Too many of us live our lives in high-outward-summer-energy mode which can lead to irritability, illness, fatigue and burnout.

Winter can be difficult for many people with colder, dreary and darker days but leaning into winter can bring unexpected gifts. Here are some ways to embrace coziness in winter:
❄️ lighting candles or using warm ambient lighting
❄️ drinking hot cocoa by a fireplace (add cinnamon or a pich of cayenne pepper for that extra zing and antioxidant power)
❄️ enjoying cozy sweaters, blankets and scarves
❄️ nourish with warming soups
❄️ revel in more sleep with longer darkness
❄️ schedule a massage or sauna session
❄️ take a brisk walk to activate brown adipose tissue which burns energy to efficiently use body fat and calories better and creates heat internally.

Menstrual health is not just a women's health issue. It is a public health issue. It's a workplace equity and human dignity issue.

And Nairobi County has just introduced a progressive policy allowing 2 paid menstrual health days per month for women employees.
No medical notes.
No penalties.
No performance consequences.

Around 65–80% of women experience menstrual pain significant enough to affect daily functioning. They miss work or school, and many more work through it because they fear being judged as unreliable, dramatic, or weak. This silence is not accidental.  Globally, menstruation is still treated as something to hide.

I was featured in a podcast a few months ago around this topic and my opening line was - It's about bloody time!  We need to start speaking about this plainly and compassionately. Across many cultures, menstruation is associated with shame, impurity, or secrecy.  Even in modern workplaces, women hesitate to ask for support or time off — not because they don’t need it, but because they're afraid.

As a Naturopathic Doctor, I see this every week. Women pushing through severe cramps, migraines, nausea, back pain, bowel symptoms, brain fog, irritability — smiling and suffering, and keeping up appearances.  Dysmenorrhea (menstrual pain) is still treated as something women should quietly absorb.  And this is what menstrual inequity looks like.  Not just lack of products — but lack of permission to be human. 

Countries like Japan, Spain, Indonesia and Zambia already recognize menstrual leave in policy. Nairobi County now joins that shift — with dignity and privacy at its core.  If Kenya can implement this in Nairobi, what's holding other (western) countries or institutions back?

I'm originally from Kenya and it makes me proud to know that Nairobi County has made this progressive gender-responsive policy leap by approving two paid menstrual health days per month for women employees. This not just compassionate but also smart governance - the policy understands that healthier teams are more engaged and more productive.

I’d love to hear from you — how should we treat in the context of other health issues?

In a car, shock absorbers don’t stop the road from being bumpy. They stop the bumps from damaging the vehicle. If only we treated our minds and bodies the way we treat our cars.

2025 is almost over with many feeling tired and depleted. It's been a hell of a year. Those desperately awaiting a break may not realize that they are probably already burned out.

But burn out doesn't happen suddenly. It creeps in between meetings and kids' activities and dinner dates. It shows up as fatigue even after sleep, loss of appetite, brain fog, weight gain or loss, irritability, anxiety, impatience, and loss of pleasure in otherwise delightful activities. More complaints. More negative self-talk. More edginess or being anti-social.

Burn out happens when impact keeps hitting an unprotected system - akin to driving life at full speed without shock absorbers. Long hours, a toxic boss, caregiving, deadlines, hormonal shifts, emotional labour, poor sleep — in some combination over a long time cause burnout.

Clinically, most high-functioning people tell me: “I’m managing. I just need to push through.” As a naturopathic doctor, I recognize these early signs - at this stage, the shock absorbers are already worn down. I don't wait for collapse. I ask the question: ''what buffers or stress-support toolkit is missing here?''

What are shock absorbers for humans?
They are non-negotiable buffers that absorb physiological and psychological stress before it accumulates. They are not once-off activities like a spa day; they are consistent practices that eventually become systems. They serve to protect one's capacity to manage stress and demands DAILY.

Think restorative sleep, nutrient-dense foods, movement, boundaries, emotional hygiene, and periods of mental quiet or actually doing nothing.

Just ''pushing through until''................comes at an expense. Burnout is not a motivational problem; it's a capacity problem that impacts biology. The nervous system, hormones, digestion, and cognition all start compensating — until they can’t.

If this resonates, I’m curious:
What shock absorber has quietly faded from your life or which one is serving you well?

Tis the season...... and it sure is magical!
Right up until your sleep falls apart, your stress skyrockets, your circadian rhythm forgets what century it’s in, and you suddenly find yourself Googling “Why am I tired, wired, and emotionally fragile in December?”

Every year in December I encounter patients with the same pattern - which for many, actually starts in November. The festive season puts every system in the human body under pressure: sleep, nervous system regulation, movement, mood, and emotional bandwidth.

Most people assume this is “just how Christmas is”. I'm here to tell you the truth - you CAN enjoy the season without burning out, snapping at your in-laws, or collapsing into January feeling like a wilted ornament.

You're not alone if:
🌲You want to feel calmer and more balanced this Christmas
🌲You’re already tired this early in December
🌲You want to enjoy the holidays without sacrificing your wellbeing
🌲You love science-backed strategies delivered in a human, relatable way
🌲You want guidance without unrealistic rules - just small, meaningful shifts that help your nervous system stay regulated and your energy stay steady through the season

Gift yourself by clicking on the link in my bio if you're ready to breeze into the festive season feeling more rested, less reactive, calmer around family dynamics, more in control of your time and energy, centered, grounded, and emotionally supported.

And honestly?
You’ll wonder how you ever survived December without it.

Link in Bio - Get it for yourself or someone you love. Or comment the word Festive and I will send you the link.


🎄☃️❄️

They say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Science is now showing us that this statement is surprisingly accurate when it comes to our health and longevity.
We all know about the detrimental effects of chronic stress. However "good stress" can actually bolster our antioxidant and anti-inflammatory pathways and boost cellular health and mitochondrial output to keep us healthy and youthful. This concept is called Hormesis and in the right dose at the right time, it is a powerful longevity tool.
Hormetic stressors are short, potent episodes of a challenge which force the body to adapt and increase its resilience. Take the example here of cold exposure and even wading barefoot in freezing water for just a few seconds. Too much longer would be harmful. The same goes for sunlight which in appropriate doses is health-giving but if excessive can cause inflammation and oxidation.
Whether it's strength training, sauna or cold plunges, fasting or caloric deprivation, sunlight or cold temperatures, or daily tasks like walking up the stairs instead of taking the elevator, these actions promote vitality, immunity and strength.
Think about "good stressors" in your life which may present as a challenge but ultimately jumpstart rejuvenation and make you more resilient. Remember...... the power is in the dose at the right time! Here's to more good stress!

Almond blossoms in full bloom at Badam Vaer in Kashmir! The gardens which are dotted with gorgeous white flowers made for a delightful and very relaxing afternoon stroll.
History suggests the gardens existed even before the rule of Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin in the 14th century. It was opened to the public in 2008 by Jammu & Kashmir.
Almonds are a significant part of Kashmiri cuisine and are added to tea, curries, halwa (almond desert), and traditional rice dishes.
Almonds support general health in various ways including heart and metabolic health, balancing blood sugar and hormones, weight management, cognitive performance, and glowing skin. New research also reveals eating almonds positively impacts sexual function and libido in men and women due to their high arginine content.