Guided by the Medicine Wheel: A Wholistic Approach to Healing Stress Naturally
By Dr. Sadie Laronde, D.C. | Indigenous Chiropractor | @drsades
Stress is a universal experience, but the way we understand and heal from it can be deeply personal—and powerful. Guided by the Ojibwe Medicine Wheel and rooted in both Indigenous knowledge and neuroscience, this post offers a wholistic approach to understanding and releasing stress through physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual practices.
What Is the Medicine Wheel?
The Ojibwe Medicine Wheel is an ancient Indigenous teaching that recognizes four sacred directions—North, East, South, and West—each associated with seasons, elements of well-being, and stages of life:
North (Winter): Mental, Rest, Elder, Sweetgrass
East (Spring): Spiritual, Gratitude, Birth, Tobacco
South (Summer): Emotional, Growth, Youth, Cedar
West (Autumn): Physical, Freedom, Adult, Sage
Center: Reflection, Rose, Life’s Gifts
Using this framework, we can begin to understand the diverse ways stress affects us and how to heal in alignment with nature and spirit.
Understanding the Types of Stress
Stress is more than emotional turmoil—it’s any demand on the body or nervous system. It can show up as:
Physical Stress: Poor posture, lack of exercise, environmental toxins, or disrupted sleep
Mental Stress: Anxiety, depression, neurodivergence, or disconnection
Emotional Stress: Triggers, trauma, confrontation, or grief
Spiritual Stress: Racism, colonization, capitalism, or lack of belonging
By recognizing these different stressors, we can begin to heal more effectively, using the right tools for each layer of our being.
Healing Stress Through Indigenous Practices
The Medicine Wheel guides us not only in understanding stress but also in healing it. Here are four traditional and science-supported tools to help regulate the nervous system and restore harmony:
1. Swinging
Used traditionally in baby-soothing and now supported by modern nervous system science, swinging helps activate the parasympathetic system—our rest and digest state. You can gently sway, use a hammock, or spend time on a playground swing to reset your nervous system.
2. Singing & Chanting
Indigenous ceremonies often include singing, which naturally stimulates the vagus nerve, supporting mood, immune function, and emotional health. Humming or chanting can be a daily stress-relief practice.
3. Dancing
A celebration of life and expression, dancing strengthens the connection between mind and body. It’s a somatic tool for emotional release, movement therapy, and joy.
4. Connecting to the Natural World
Indigenous traditions teach us to live in relationship with the earth. Walking barefoot, spending time in the forest, or simply watching the sky can ground the nervous system and awaken the spirit.
What Is Somatic Healing?
Somatic practices bring the body into the healing process. Unlike traditional top-down mental models, somatic exercises help us feel safe again—especially after trauma. One example is the eye roll from EMDR, a technique used to desensitize the nervous system and release stored stress.
Wholistic Chiropractic and Stress Relief
Stress often causes spinal misalignments that disrupt nervous system function. Wholistic chiropractic care uses gentle, specific techniques to support realignment and healing—physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
“A body functioning well can indicate lower levels of experienced stress.” - Dr. Sadie Laronde
Chi Miigwetch / Many Thanks
Stay curious. Stay open. Keep on growing
