Nourish Flourish Thrive Integrative Health

04/08/2026

Many families confuse peacekeeping with peacemaking. Peacekeeping avoids conflict to keep everyone comfortable. Peacemaking addresses conflict so healing can happen.

Reconciliation isn’t the same as repair. Reconciliation may bring people back into the same room. Repair is what rebuilds the relationship.

Time doesn’t heal what no one is willing to acknowledge. It simply teaches people how to live around the wound.

If someone tells you that you hurt them, you don’t get to decide that you didn’t. You do get to decide how you respond.

These are just a few of the things I unpack in this week’s solo episode. It was inspired by a recent post I shared here that quickly reached hundreds of thousands of people, so it clearly resonated with many of you. I expand on that post in a short 20-minute episode.

Episode out now on Beyond The Surface. Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

15/07/2026

Addiction is more than a behavioral issue - it also has a significant physiological component.

Genes including COMT, MAOA, ALDH2, MTHFR, MTRR, SOD2, GSTP1, CAT, GCLC, GCLM and NQO1 can influence dopamine regulation, stress resilience, methylation, glutathione production, oxidative stress, acetaldehyde clearance, blood sugar balance, and nervous system function.

Key nutrients such as vitamin B3, vitamin C, magnesium, zinc, riboflavin and adequate protein help support these pathways. Orthomolecular pioneers, including Dr. Abram Hoffer, recognized the importance of nutritional support in recovery decades ago.

The Nutrigenomics Clinical Database helps practitioners connect addiction-related genes with nutrient interactions, biochemical pathways, and evidence-based orthomolecular strategies - supporting a stronger physiological foundation alongside comprehensive clinical care.

15/07/2026

This anatomical illustration presents an anterior view of the lower back, pelvis, and pelvic floor. At its center, the lumbar spine (L1–L5 vertebrae) transitions into the pelvic sacrum and tailbone (coccyx).
​Key muscular structures like the psoas major and quadratus lumborum stabilize the lower back, while the lumbar and pelvic (sacral) nerve plexuses branch out to supply the lower limbs via the femoral and sciatic nerves. Protected within the pelvic ring (iliac crest and p***c joint) are crucial visceral organs, including the urinary bladder, uterus, ovaries, and re**um.

03/07/2026

03/07/2026

🔥 PAIN BETWEEN YOUR SHOULDER BLADES?

You're not alone.

Pain between the shoulder blades is one of the most common complaints seen in clinics—but the painful spot often isn't the entire story.

Several muscles, joints, and even nerves can refer pain into this region.

🦴 Rhomboid Trigger Points

The rhomboid major and minor commonly develop trigger points after:

💻 Long hours at a desk
📱 Looking down at your phone
🏋️ Heavy pulling exercises
🎒 Carrying backpacks
😴 Sleeping in awkward positions

These trigger points often create a deep, aching pain along the medial border of the scapula that feels like a "knot" you can never quite massage away.

⚡ The Dorsal Scapular Nerve

The dorsal scapular nerve (primarily C5) innervates the rhomboids and levator scapulae.

When irritated or entrapped—often as it passes through the middle scalene—it may cause:

⚠️ Burning pain between the shoulder blades
⚠️ Aching along the inside border of the scapula
⚠️ Weakness or fatigue during rowing or pulling movements
⚠️ Pain that doesn't improve with stretching alone

While dorsal scapular nerve entrapment is far less common than muscular pain, it's an important condition to recognize when symptoms persist.

💪 Weak Scapular Stabilizers

The muscles that stabilize your shoulder blade—including the rhomboids, middle trapezius, and lower trapezius—work all day to maintain posture.

If they fatigue easily or aren't functioning well, the muscles often become overloaded, leading to stiffness and discomfort.

🦴 Don't Forget the Thoracic Spine

Restricted movement in the thoracic spine or costovertebral joints can also refer pain into the same region.

Sometimes the muscle isn't the primary problem—it's simply reacting to a stiff joint nearby.

⭐ Fun Fact

The rhomboids don't just "pull your shoulder blades together."

They help anchor the scapula against the thoracic wall, providing a stable foundation for nearly every shoulder movement. Without a stable scapula, your rotator cuff and shoulder muscles can't function efficiently.

🩺 Clinical Pearl

Pain between the shoulder blades doesn't automatically mean your rhomboids are "tight."

The source could involve trigger points, scapular muscle weakness, thoracic joint dysfunction, cervical referral, dorsal scapular nerve irritation, or even less common medical causes. That's why identifying the underlying driver is far more important than simply stretching the painful area.

🎓 Follow .Anatomy.Academy for daily anatomy breakdowns, pain science, clinical pearls, and evidence-based education that helps you understand how the human body actually works.

Pain between shoulder blades
Rhomboid pain
Dorsal scapular nerve
Upper back pain
Scapular pain
Rhomboid trigger points
Thoracic spine pain
Neck pain referral
Scapular stabilizers
Anatomy educa

27/06/2026

I am who I am

I am who I am and I’m proud of who I am. The versions of me that sacrificed so I could survive, made me into who I am today. Through all the hurt and pain, I wouldn’t change who I am. Show yourself some kindness. 🫶🏻

Katie

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Image Credit to NeroPsychology