Ancestral Health incorporates the best practices of traditional societies with modern medicine to prevent and treat chronic disease using lifestyle interventions. This includes (but is not limited to) nutrition, physical activity, restorative sleep, sunshine, positive social interactions, stress management, and a sense of greater purpose and meaning in life. 

We believe that:

1. Health promotion and disease prevention should first utilize personalized, preventive lifestyle interventions focused on nutrient-rich food, sensible exercise, stress management, and appropriate sleep.  Eating real rather than processed food is most important in terms of nutrition. 

2. Supplements, pharmaceuticals, surgery, and other non-ancestral interventions should be used judiciously when indicated.

We seek solid scientific evidence for all healing practices, ancestral and modern, natural and pharmaceutical. All sources of evidence, from case studies to epidemiology to randomized clinical trials, should contribute to our judgment as physicians about the interventions that will most benefit our patients.

We also believe in open-mindedness and a willingness to seriously explore the potential of a range of alternative, natural and ancestral approaches to successfully complement medical practice. All interventions must be subjected to scientific evaluation, but none should be excluded without a scientific test.

Please watch the video below, featuring Rick Henriksen, MD “Evolutionary Medicine in Primary Care” for more information about ancestral health.