My Journey: Coming home to a healthier me
Jessica McLaren invites us on an adventure that begins in the serene landscapes of Rishikesh, India, which later evolved into her commitment to restoring health and vitality within South Africa.
In 2017, Jessica went on a soul-searching expedition to India, where she completed her Yoga teacher training in the sacred town of Rishikesh. The seeds of holistic health that had been planted by her mother as a child seemed to blossom. In India, the spiritual sanctuary became the forge shaping her philosophy :“Our body’s natural state is health, and we possess an inherent ability to self-heal.”
By providing the appropriate environment and essential resources, Jessica believes that we can empower our bodies to their natural state of optimal health and homeostasis. Her holistic approach has become the cornerstone of her life’s work. In 2018 she stumbled upon a programme at the University of the Western Cape. Drawn by the prospect of becoming a naturopathic doctor, she immersed herself into the comprehensive curriculum, exploring counselling, clinical nutrition and supplementation, medical biosciences, diagnostics, herbal applications and much more. From 2018 to 2020, she completed her undergraduate degree, BSc in Complementary Health Sciences, followed by a two-year post-graduate degree in BCM: Naturopathy.
he intersection of traditional and modern knowledge has been the driving force that propelled Jessica. In 2021 as part of her post-graduate degree, she began attending a clinic situated in Michell’s Plain, an economically disadvantaged community facing public safety challenges, where patients from various backgrounds seek treatment for a wide range of conditions, including hypertension, pain, arthritis, insomnia, hormonal imbalances, skin conditions and many others.
“Being able to help people who cannot afford healthcare has deepened my passion for making a meaningful impact on the lives of community members.” says. Jessica
Implementing holistic principles, she began making a positive impact, relieving people of their physical and mental health conditions. Jessica’s passion shifted from theoretical studies to hands-on healing, as she witnessed the powerful benefits of naturopathic medicine in restoring health to others. Even after graduating and opening her own virtual and in-person practice, she continues to volunteer at the clinic, where she has conducted over 200 consultations.
Today, she is on a mission to improve people’s health and vitality as she strives to go deeper, beyond the surface, to the root causes of their issues, through her Integrative naturopathic and Yogic practice. Jessica’s vision is one of fostering a close community that values support, education, sustainable practices, inclusivity and diversity; with a dream to make wellness accessible to all.
In a recent interview, Jessica spoke about the profound impact that Yoga has had on her life. Beyond the physical postures, Yoga has influenced her relationship not only with herself but, in the intricate ways that she engages with life and others. Adopting practices such as non-violence (ahimsa), truthfulness (satya) and self-study (svadhyaya) has become an indispensable tool in her everyday life. For her, holistic wellness is about considering the whole person – body, mind and spirit. It involves addressing the root causes of illness, not just symptoms and providing individualised care that includes clinical nutrition, diet, lifestyle, herbal regimes, supplements and natural therapies. Her transition from Yoga teaching to naturopathic medicine was inspired by the shared core ethos of looking beyond symptoms to the root cause of imbalance and disease.
Stemming from her time spent in the sea as a child, she incorporates her love for the ocean through hydrotherapy in some of her patients’ treatments, allowing them access to pain relief, inflammation reduction, endorphin elevation and immune system boosts. She has found many other ways of incorporating nature’s healing power into her treatment plans. Whether through herbal medicine, cryotherapy, or spending time in nature, she explores diverse modalities to support her patients’ wellbeing.
She reminds us of the importance of taking care of ourselves, as it is the quality of this relationship which dictates our relationship others and the world around us. Debunking the myth of the constant grind, Jessica reminds us to slow down and look around every once in a while, so that we may take care of the present moment and trust in its processes. Through education on naturopathic medicine, and advancements in naturopathic science, she’s on a mission to foster wellbeing and connection within our community and inspire a deeper relationship with our natural environment.
Her journey is a testament to the power of integrating ancient wisdom with modern science, fostering a community united in the pursuit of wellbeing for all. Jessica offers her expertise through naturopathic consultations available both online and in person, as well as through individual and group Yoga classes. She also provides a variety of workshops focused on corporate and workplace wellness.
Her profound message is that health is a journey and not a destination. She urges everyone to make conscious choices in their everyday life, to stay connected with nature and listen to their bodies, recognising the inherent wisdom within.
Dr. Jessica McLaren is a dedicated naturopathic doctor specialising in holistic, evidence-based medicine. With a BSc in Complementary Health Sciences, a postgraduate degree in Naturopathy and extensive clinical experience at the Lentegeur outreach clinic, she focuses on addressing the root causes of health issues rather than merely alleviating symptoms. Passionate about improving South Africa’s health, she combines naturopathy with Yoga and breathwork to empower her patients to achieve optimal wellness through a balanced and integrative approach.