 Today we’d like to introduce you to Ariel Barkeim. Article from Voyage MN Hi Ariel, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today? I started on my path to naturopathic medicine as a seeker, not knowing what I was looking for. I wanted to help people holistically, but I couldn’t find how to do it. The conventional medical system felt like it only treated the body; the mental-health system seemed to only address the mind. Public health felt refreshingly holistic, but it was framed at the population level, and I wanted to work one-on-one, up close, helping individuals reclaim their health. While I was studying at Winona State, I went abroad to Australia and — wha-bam — I discovered naturopathic medicine for the first time. It felt like a homecoming: a system that honored physiology, environment, lifestyle, and meaning all at once. I came back fired up and set my sights on naturopathic school. Life took a few detours (classes to take, adventures to have), and then my partner, now my husband, and I moved to Portland, Oregon so I could do the rigorous work of graduate school. He stuck with me through four transformative years; his steady presence made the long haul possible. After graduation, we both knew we wanted to come home to southern Minnesota because of family. While we were staying with my aunt, uncle, and their kids, in true small-town fashion a local massage therapist heard I was in town and offered me space in her clinic, along with clients and business support! That generous opening is where Rooted Family Medicine began, in Albert Lea. Not long after, my husband and I settled our home in Winona, and today I’m blessed to have offices in both towns. My practice blends lab-driven investigation with nature-cure and individualized care. I love meeting people where they are, helping them restore function, resilience, and relationship to the natural world. Rooted Family Medicine is the place I wish I had found when I was searching and every day I get to be that place for someone else. I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far? I’d say it’s been a road with plenty of twists and turns. Running a small business means you’re constantly learning on your feet. Every day there’s something new to figure out, something you’ve never done before, and you’re wearing a lot of hats. On top of that, being a naturopathic doctor in an area where there aren’t many others like me means I see a really wide variety of cases. It’s a bit like being a generalist and a specialist all at once. I end up diving into a broad range of conditions, and that means a lot of ongoing learning and studying. It definitely takes time and effort to juggle both the business side and the clinical side, but all those bumps along the way have made me more resilient and more dedicated to helping my patients. So while it hasn’t been smooth, it’s been incredibly rewarding. Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others? Rooted Family Medicine is a naturopathic medical practice grounded in the principles of nature cure, the idea that when given the right conditions, the body knows how to heal. My work blends modern functional medicine with traditional naturopathic wisdom, looking at the whole person rather than a list of symptoms. I see a wide range of patients, from children to elders, but much of my work focuses on chronic, complex conditions; the kinds of cases that don’t fit neatly into a single diagnosis. That includes autoimmune and thyroid conditions, gut health issues, chronic fatigue, hormonal imbalances, and the lingering effects of infection, mold, or toxicity. I love helping people who have been told “everything looks normal” but know something isn’t right. What sets Rooted apart is the depth and intentionality of care. Every plan is individualized and lab-informed, but also deeply human. I take time to listen, to see patterns, to connect the dots, and to bring both science and soul into the healing process. Brand-wise, “Rooted” represents more than just the name — it’s a philosophy. It’s about returning to what’s natural and sustainable, honoring the rhythms of the body and the seasons, and cultivating resilience from the inside out. I want people to know that naturopathic medicine isn’t just an alternative — it’s a return to a more balanced, integrated way of being well. I tend to describe the work as a detective-like approach to individual care with a deep sense of community. I love using natural treatments—like herbs, homeopathy, and nutraceuticals—because they often have low side-effect profiles but are still effective. But I’m not against conventional medical tools—in fact, I often see them as complementary. My goal is to blend the best of both worlds to support long-term quality of life and preventative care, so our patients get the most holistic, sustainable path to wellness. Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us? Beyond the walls of the clinic, a big part of what shapes me and Rooted Family Medicine is my connection to nature and the land. My spouse Derek runs Seekers Wild (nature camps and outdoor education), so our lives have a creative, community-oriented rhythm — we garden, forage, host seasonal events, and look for ways to weave health into everyday life. We love to spend time immersing ourselves in the natural world, whether we’re canoeing on a local river or tending to our garden. This love of nature is really at the heart of the “nature cure” philosophy that guides my practice. It’s all about recognizing that the rhythms of the natural world can teach us how to live in a healthier, more balanced way. So, for me, naturopathic medicine isn’t just a job—it’s an extension of the way I live and the values I hold. It’s a lifestyle of being rooted in both the natural world and in community. Contact Info: 
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In the hustle and bustle of modern life, it's easy to overlook the importance of maintaining a well-balanced diet and getting adequate sunlight exposure. One crucial element that often flies under the radar is vitamin D. Known as the "sunshine vitamin," vitamin D plays a pivotal role in our overall health and well-being. Unfortunately, a growing number of individuals are falling prey to vitamin D deficiency, a silent epidemic with potentially serious consequences. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is unique in its ability to be synthesized by the body when exposed to sunlight. It is not only essential for maintaining healthy bones and teeth by aiding in calcium absorption but also plays a crucial role in supporting immune function, regulating mood, and promoting overall cardiovascular health.  Causes of Vitamin D Deficiency:
List of Conditions That May Be Improved by Optimizing Vitamin D. This list is not exhaustive but encompasses researched conditions that may see improvement through the optimization of Vitamin D levels
Finding the Sweet Spot - Dosing and Testing
Final Thoughts From The Doctor: My patients consistently report, they have a better mood or better energy when their vitamin D levels are optimized. Sometimes, I feel patients need a loading dose to get their levels up and then need to back off on the dosing. I find my patients rarely have symptoms from having too high of levels. This means retesting is the best way to monitor. I encourage you to get your levels tested and monitor them yearly.
Why Supporting the Microbiome Matters
Nurturing Your Microbiome: Practical Tips
How do I know how healthy my microbiome is? If you have ever had a visit at Rooted Family Medicine you have heard Dr. Ariel talk about the happy pooping box! This is a great tool to help decide if your gut is in order. The happy pooping box:
Many women come into my office wondering if they have hypothyroidism. Here I have included common symptoms and my favorite lab tests to assess thyroid.
This is a starting guide and with all health problems, individual assessment is important and essential for quality care. HYPOTHYROID (most common thyroid problem) Symptoms include:
HYPERTHYROID (less common thyroid problem) Symptoms include:
Dr. Ariel's Favorite Testing to Assess Thyroid Function (with Ideal Ranges):
What if all your thyroid tests are normal but you still feel like you have hypothyroid symptoms? Then a proper naturopathic assessment is needed of the below areas:
 What if I told you acid reflux actually can be related to low stomach acid?!
Many of us have been led to believe that acid reflux is a condition of too much stomach acid. I actually treat it regularly as a condition of not enough stomach acid. Let me explain. Generally the stomach desires to be a place of high acidity. It’s meant to be that way! When there is proper acidity levels, the acid works to break down your food, so it can be assimilated in your lower digestive tract. When there are proper levels of acid in the stomach, the acid comes up and touches the lower esophageal sphincter (the gateway between the esophagus and the stomach). When acid touches the sphincter, it automatically closes. If there is not enough acid in the stomach, the sphincter doesn’t close all the way and this creates many acid reflux symptoms. There is a small subset of folks who do have too much stomach acid, but this is less common. While proton pump inhibitors (like Prilosec, Nexium, and Protonix) and acid reducers (like Tums and Rolaids) can help reduce the symptoms of acid reflux, very rarely do they treat the root of the problem. Therefore requiring the patient to need to keep using them to manage the symptoms. I treat acid reflux successfully in my practice often. Let’s start with the basics. There are certain foods and beverages that can irritate the digestive system. Common trigger foods include: Coffee, Chocolate, Refined Carbohydrates, Tomatoes, Oranges, Pop (soda), Alcohol, and Peppermint. Eating a lot of food before bed can also be problematic. I often tell my patients to pay attention to the list above. It does not necessarily mean that you are sensitive to everything or you can never eat it again. Only it is worthwhile to pay attention to how you feel when you ingest these foods/drinks. It’s also important to be conscious of how you are eating. Eating in a stressed environment (i.e. behind your desk frantically typing emails or while driving) can cause blood to go to your muscles. While, eating in a relaxed environment causes blood to shunt to the abdomen to help with digestion. It is also important to chew your food properly to help break it down. When working with patients with suspected low stomach acid, I have common treatments that I have found to be helpful. First, I like to calm the inflammation and assist the digestive process. I often do this with some version of digestive enzymes and demulcent herbs. Demulcent herbs have a mucusy like function that coats the esophagus and stomach lining. Next, I like to stimulate acid production. This can be done with using some form of bitters. When thinking of bitters, I like to think back to when we started meals with a dark green leafy salad. This bitter salad was often served before the meal to help stimulate your stomach in the production of acid. Bitters can be used in a variety of ways, through bitter foods, drinks, or tinctures. I often like to use a combination of bitter herbs that is made to be more palatable. Some people will use apple cider vinegar or small amounts of lemon or lime juice. Note: some people with excessive yeast issues, can have issues with apple cider vinegar. The taste of the bitterness on the tongue is part of what stimulates the acid production. I usually have people do these two treatments regularly with each of their meals. Using this protocol, I have weaned many patients off of proton pump inhibitors and regular use of Tums or Rolaids. The great news is they don’t have to continue this protocol forever. Of course this protocol does not work for everyone. Nothing in medicine is that simple! I often say that this protocol works well for about 80% of my patients. The other 20% have a different problem that needs to be addressed first. Variables of this problem could include a hiatal hernia, digestive microbiome imbalances, and a common condition called SIBO. Further testing can help identify the path for the individual. Please locate a trained naturopathic doctor to guide you through this process, as not everyone is able to do it at the same pace.  After six years in practice, I’m still continuously surprised by how many women are anemic. This is important because anemia can cause symptoms of depression and anxiety. There are multiple forms of anemias including iron deficiency anemia and vitamin B12 and Folate deficiency anemia. Women have a higher tendency towards iron deficiency anemia because of blood loss during menstrual periods. “But I’ve been checked”, you might say, “my hemoglobin was normal.” Many conventional care practitioners are only looking at a hemoglobin level to check for an iron deficiency anemia. While this is a valuable test, I find a ferritin to be more indicative of quality-of-life in my patients. I prefer a hemoglobin to be in the range of 13.5 to 14.5 and a ferritin in the range of 50 to 100 in menstruating women. Any ferritin under 30, I consider to be anemic. Anything under 20, I consider an "under the floor" functioning level.
Common signs of iron deficiency anemia include:
If an iron deficiency is discovered, it’s important to note that the next step is not to just supplement iron. I prefer to ask WHY. Why are you anemic? My starting list to investigate usually includes: heavy menstrual periods, a vegetarian diet or a diet low in high iron foods, celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, digestive issues (constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain), and/or chronic infections. It is possible to have multiple issues contributing at once. Supplementing iron should always be done with care. It is possible to supplement too much iron. I like to monitor ferritin and other iron markers while treating with iron and getting to the root cause of the issue. Talk to your doctor to see if checking for an anemia could help you.  In celebration of Naturopathic Medicine Week (October 5-11) we are running a video contest for the patients of naturopathic doctors. You get a chance to make a quick video and let the world know why you love your ND! One submission will be randomly chosen as our winner to receive a complimentary 60 minute craniosacral with the one and only Dr. Ariel. How to enter:
1. Create a 30 second video that highlights why you love your ND or how Naturopathic Medicine has helped you. 2. Upload your video to YouTube 3. Email [email protected] with a link to your video 4. Sit back and wait to hear if you have won! 5. Submission deadline is October 1st by 5pm and the winner will be announced via social media on October 2nd. Your video will likely end up on our social media and website and will eventually make it to the website for the Minnesota Association of Naturopathic Physicians. Thank you for doing your part to help raise awareness for this important health care option. To get started uploading videos on YouTube from your desktop, follow the steps below: 1. Sign into YouTube (they now use your google account) 2. Click the Upload button at the top of the page. 3. Before you start uploading the video you can chose the video privacy settings, make sure your video is set to “public”. 4. Select the video you'd like to upload from your computer. 5. Click Publish to finish uploading a public video to YouTube. 6. Once the upload is completed YouTube will send you an email to notify you that your video is done uploading and processing. Simply forward this to r[email protected]
 As requested from a recent medicinal herb walk, here is a list of some of my favorite herb books and authors.  Medicinal Plant Books:
Of course this is just a short list of my favorites and I am always finding more. If you have a favorite list it in the comments below!  Image provided by photographer Destiny Skubis Let's talk sleep hygiene. If you have never heard this term before, let me introduce you. Just as we need proper body hygiene to prevent illness and promote health, we can also look at our sleep habits to make sure they are setting us up for optimal health during the day. During sleep our brains process the events of the day and cement memories as well as clean out thoughts we don't need anymore. Support your sleep and your brain by adopting these habits below.
If you are still having trouble falling asleep and maintaining sleep see your healthcare provider for further support. Naturopathic medicine has supportive therapies that can assist you in your change to healthy sleep patterns. This is a short summary for more a very detailed blog with more information check out: |
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