most underused natural medical tools

Welcome back to Sunday Goods, happy to have you here for another week!!

We keep looking for the next quick fix—another hack, another supplement, another perfectly color-coded wellness routine. But the most powerful mental health tools? They’ve been around forever: sunlight, sleep, nature, salt, laughter... basically the things that don’t come with an app so let’s bring it back to the basics.

Your brain doesn’t need another scroll session - it doesn’t need another hit of cheap dopamine from likes, notifications, or sugar highs.
It needs what it was designed for— nature, rest, movement, nourishment, and connection.

It needs you to remember that the best medicine isn’t always found in a bottle or on a screen - it’s found in the way you treat yourself in the quiet, everyday moments.

We’ve gotten used to looking for solutions in the loudest places, but so much of what we’re searching for—clarity, calm, energy, ease—is already built into us.

It just needs to be accessed again.

So let’s breakdown the real medicine:

Sunlight

Morning light regulates your circadian rhythm, boosts serotonin, and tells your body it’s safe to be awake - even 10 minutes can make a difference. (before the coffee, try sunlight)

Sleep

No productivity hack will replace what your brain does during sleep: this is where repair, regulation, and reset happen - prioritize rest like it’s part of your mental health routine. (because it is)

Nature

Trees don’t judge you - fresh air doesn’t rush you, nature calms the nervous system and reminds your body how to breathe- even stepping outside barefoot (a practice called earthing) can reduce stress hormones and inflammation.

Real food

Food isn’t just fuel—it’s information: your brain is made of fat, needs minerals, and runs on real nutrients - what you eat directly affects your mood, energy, and focus. (choose meals that come from the earth, not just a package)

Movement

Not for punishment but for regulation, clarity, & joy - exercise releases endorphins, supports mental flexibility, and helps discharge stress. (move in a way that feels like a gift, not a chore)

Heat & cold

Contrast therapy (like cold plunges or warm baths) can support your nervous system in learning how to reset - even a quick rinse of cold water on your face can snap you out of a spiral. (try it—it works.)

Salt & Magnesium

Minerals are the unsung heroes of mental wellness: salt supports adrenal health & hydration, magnesium calms the nervous system and aids sleep, sometimes what looks like anxiety is actually a mineral imbalance.

Meditation

Not just sitting still—it’s returning home to yourself: meditation helps rewire your brain, reduce cortisol, and build inner awareness. (even two minutes of silence counts.)

Earthing

Connecting with the actual ground—yes, barefoot—can help regulate your body's electrical charge and support your nervous system. (sounds woo, but the science is there)

Laughter

A full-body reset: a reminder that joy is medicine, laughter boosts dopamine, reduces stress, and brings you back into your body. (don’t underestimate it)

& here’s what I’ve learned:

• healing isn’t always about adding more.

• sometimes it’s about returning—to the basics, to the things that feel like nothing, but change everything.

This week, try choosing one natural medicine every day.
☀️ open a window
🥬 eat a real meal
🌍 stand in the grass
🧂 add a pinch of salt to your water
🛏 go to sleep before your phone dies

You don’t need to do it all at once - you just need to start reminding your body that it knows what to do.

The healing is already inside you- it’s just waiting for space.

With care,

Elle