Sleep & exhaustion
Difficulty settling, interrupted nights, or feeling depleted even after rest.
Grief medicine · The body after loss
Grief lives
in the body, too.
Medical care for the physical effects of grief.
For widows and women after the loss of a partner.
A gentle place to begin
Everyday care,
one small step at a time.
If caring for yourself feels difficult after losing your partner, you can begin with something simple. My free Foundations course offers self-paced lessons on everyday health. There is no need to rush through them.
16 audio lessons with Dr. Michele Burklund
14 companion PDF guides
What no one prepares you for
You may be grieving.
And feeling unlike
yourself.
Perhaps you are exhausted, but sleep will not come. Your appetite has changed. Your thoughts feel harder to gather. The ordinary work of being in a body asks more of you than it once did.
Grief can be physical as well as emotional. Those experiences deserve attention, without assuming that every new symptom is caused by loss.
We make space for your story.
And look carefully at your health.
A whole-person approach
What is
grief medicine?
Grief medicine is the name I give to my work with the physical health of women after loss. I bring naturopathic and functional assessment together with nourishment, rest, nature, and the realities of widowhood.
It describes my approach, rather than a separate board-certified medical specialty. There is room here for your biology, your beliefs, and the life you are learning to inhabit.
A free guide for the newly widowed
For the days
nothing feels familiar.
When even the smallest things ask so much of you, a little guidance can be something to return to.
I created Functional & Naturopathic Medicine for the Newly Widowed to bring everyday care back within reach: rest, simple nourishment, and quiet moments of connection with yourself.
Sleep & daily rhythms · Easy meals
Grounding rituals · A comforting herbal tea
More than an emotion
The physical
effects of grief.
Appetite & nourishment
Changes in appetite, digestive discomfort, or the challenge of caring for yourself day to day.
Concentration & “grief brain”
Feeling foggy, distracted, or unable to gather your thoughts. Everyday decisions may take more effort.
Tension & a body on alert
Restlessness, muscle tension, headaches, or a sense that your body cannot settle. New symptoms still deserve their own evaluation.
Mood & interest in life
Feeling overwhelmed or disconnected, with less energy for people, routines, and activities that once felt familiar.
The rest of your health
Existing conditions, medications, cycle changes, and other symptoms still need their own clinical attention.
New, persistent, or worsening symptoms deserve assessment, even when they begin after a loss.
Widowhood & your health
Life has changed.
Your body is
living it, too.
Losing a spouse or partner can change the most ordinary parts of caring for yourself: the meal you used to share, the person beside you at night, the reminder to rest. You may be managing work, children, finances, or the aftermath of caregiving while trying to understand what your own body needs.
When I care for a widow, I begin with those realities. I make room for exhaustion, interrupted sleep, changes in appetite, and difficulty concentrating, alongside the health concerns that were present before your loss. You do not need to have a clear explanation, or to be “doing better,” to ask for support.
Our next step may be small: a more manageable eating routine, a plan for sleep, a review of medications, or an assessment of symptoms that have continued. I want your care to fit the capacity you have today.
You are more than what happened.
And your health still matters.
What the research is exploring
The biology
of bereavement.
I bring research into our conversation to help us understand the physical experience of loss. It informs my questions; your history and experience guide your care.
01 / Stress & inflammation
Connections, still being understood.
A 2020 conceptual review describes possible pathways between bereavement, stress responses, and immune activity. These mechanisms are still being studied. They do not mean that every grieving person has abnormal inflammation or needs an immune panel.
Seiler et al. · Frontiers in Psychiatry, 202002 / Sleep & recovery
Rest belongs in the conversation.
A longitudinal study of recently bereaved spouses examined sleep and inflammation over the first six months. Associations varied with socioeconomic circumstances. The findings support attention to sleep and daily resources; they do not establish that poor sleep alone caused the observed changes.
Wu et al. · Comprehensive Psychoneuroendocrinology, 202103 / Heart health
Keep in contact
with your care team.
A large Swedish cohort study published in 2026 found an association between partner loss and cardiovascular disease. It does not establish that grief alone caused the difference. When we work together, I encourage you to stay in contact with me and your other clinicians, and to tell us when something changes.
Yang et al. · JAMA Network Open, 2026New chest pain, severe shortness of breath, fainting, or stroke symptoms need urgent medical attention. Do not assume they are grief.
Research links updated October 23, 2026. I use this research as context; your care begins with an individual clinical assessment.
The approach
Support for the body.
Space for the grief.
I use the therapeutic order to guide these four areas of care, beginning with your foundations and adding targeted treatment according to your needs.
A little more
steadiness.
I begin by understanding your sleep, daily rhythms, and stress, then help you find practical ways to rest.
Care for your
foundations.
I help you attend to nourishment, hydration, movement, and the everyday needs that can become difficult after loss.
Understand
what has changed.
I evaluate persistent symptoms through your history, examination, and appropriate testing, then discuss treatment for what we identify.
Keep care
connected.
I build a realistic plan with you, revisit your response, and coordinate with your other clinicians or grief counselor when appropriate.
Clinical & functional evaluation
Your symptoms
deserve attention, too.
Your sleep. Your energy. Your cycle. The way your body feels. We begin with what has changed, your health history, and the symptoms you want help understanding.
Depending on your symptoms and health history, we may explore hormone levels, thyroid function, inflammatory markers, and cardiovascular health, including blood pressure and cholesterol. Cortisol testing may be appropriate when your history or examination suggests an adrenal concern. Each test is chosen to answer a meaningful question and help shape your care.
Your story guides the questions.
Your biology helps shape the care.
Medicine meets lived experience
I have lived
this, too.
I am a licensed naturopathic primary care physician. I am also a widow.
After losing my husband, I experienced how grief could alter the most ordinary parts of life. My clinical training taught me to investigate. My own experience deepened the way I listen.
I bring both to this work: thoughtful medical care and respect for a loss that cannot be reduced to a diagnosis. Here, my clinical focus is the physical experience of grief and women’s health.
A moment, just for you
Join me in a
mindfulness exercise
by the river.
The water is always changing. The light. The current. The water at its edges. We cannot step into the same river twice.
In grief, acceptance can be as small as acknowledging: this is where I am today. It does not ask us to approve of what happened, stop missing someone, or leave our love behind.
Spend one minute with the sound of water.
No pressure to move forward. Just room to be.
One minute of river sounds. Press play when you’re ready.
A quiet invitation from Dr. Michele Burklund. Pause whenever you wish.
Further reading & clinical context
Grief Medicine · The Restoration Protocol
The Grief
Medicine Edit.
Nourishing the body
that carries the loss.
As a naturopathic physician and a widow, I care deeply about the small, practical ways we look after ourselves when life has changed.
When meals become irregular, sleep is unsettled, or digestion feels different, the foundations of care deserve attention.
I’ve gathered botanical formulas, nutritional options, and comforting rituals into my personal Grief Medicine edit—so you have a thoughtful place to begin exploring.
Opens my Fullscript collection. Choose individual products and order what fits your needs.
A closer look inside
Begin with what
you need today.
All eighteen selections from my Restoration Protocol, gathered here as individual options. Begin with nourishment, rest, gentle movement, and connection; choose additional support around your needs.
Something nourishing, within reach.
Protein options and simple snacks for the days when preparing food asks more of you.
- Bone Broth Protein - PureAncient Nutrition
- So Lean & So Clean, Plant Protein, UnsweetenedOra Organic
- Fast Bar - Coconut MacadamiaProLon
- Fast Bar - Nuts and HoneyProLon
Choose the foods and protein options that work for you, alongside regular meals.
Your nutritional picture.
Begin with eating enough. Nutrient choices follow your food intake, symptoms, and meaningful laboratory findings.
- Core NutrientsCellCore
- Vitamin D3 5,000IUProtocol for Life Balance
- Easy VeggiesCodeage
Vitamin D strength and use belong in an individual plan informed by your vitamin D status.
A little space to settle.
Regular meals, a gentler evening rhythm, and room to rest come first. These are individual options for the conversation that follows.
- Magnesium Bisglycinate NSFThorne
- Lavela WS 1265Integrative Therapeutics
- Cortisol ManagerIntegrative Therapeutics
Select around your sleep pattern, medicines, and health history.
Plant knowledge. Personal attention.
Botanical blends and curcumin are part of my wider naturopathic approach, chosen around a specific need.
- Adaptogen PerformanceGaia Herbs Pro
- Nootropic FocusGaia Herbs Pro
- Curcumin Phytosome (formerly Meriva) NSFThorne
Review overlapping ingredients when considering more than one formula.
A reason for each selection.
The microbiome, nutrition, and the demands of daily life belong in a whole-person assessment. Explore these additional selections individually.
- Resveratrol Complex (formerly PolyResveratrol-SR)Thorne
- Synbiotic+Ritual
- N-LivenNatura Health Products
A small moment of care.
Warm water. A quiet room. A bath or foot soak can become a familiar pause at the end of the day.
- Epsom Salt Pharmaceutical GradeWhite Egret
- Medi-Soak CleansePremier Research Labs
Follow each product’s bathing directions.
Your next step
Explore my
Grief Medicine Protocol.
View the products, ingredients, and current pricing in one place. Choose the items that fit your needs.
Make something gentle · a DIY botanical ritual
Dr. Burklund’s
Grief Tea Blend.
Some days, care can begin with the kettle. This is my blend of oatstraw, lemon balm, holy basil, and chamomile: a warm cup, a familiar scent, a few minutes with nothing to accomplish.
Let the water warm.
Let the herbs open.
You can simply be here.
01 / Blend a small jar
- 1 part oatstraw2 tablespoons
- 1 part lemon balm2 tablespoons
- ½ part holy basil (tulsi)1 tablespoon
- ½ part chamomile1 tablespoon
Use dried, food-grade herbs. “Parts” are measured by volume. Mix gently and store in a clean, dry, airtight jar away from heat and light.
02 / Make one warm cup
- Place 1 teaspoon of the blend in a tea strainer or covered teapot.
- Pour over 1 cup (240 mL) of freshly boiled water.
- Cover and steep for 10 minutes, then strain.
- Allow it to cool to a comfortable warmth. Add a little honey if you like.
Notice the scent before your first sip. Feel the cup in your hands. Nothing needs to be solved in this moment.
The plants in the cup
Oatstraw: the grassy, earthy base of this blend, with a longstanding place in Western herbal traditions.
Lemon balm: bright and softly citrus-scented, traditionally used for mild stress, sleep, and digestive comfort.
Holy basil: aromatic tulsi, cherished in Ayurvedic tradition, bringing a warm, spicy note to the cup.
Chamomile: floral and apple-scented, familiar in evening tea rituals.
These traditional uses offer context for the plants. Research on individual preparations does not establish this particular blend as a treatment for grief.
For adults. Avoid this blend during pregnancy, while trying to conceive, or while breastfeeding. If you take medicines, have thyroid or blood-sugar concerns, or are preparing for surgery, seek individual guidance before use. Avoid ingredients you are allergic to; chamomile can trigger reactions in people allergic to related plants such as ragweed.
Botanical reading: EMA · Lemon balm · NCCIH · Chamomile · MSK · Holy basil · Holy basil · Safety
Care for the body carrying the grief
Your stress response.
Your heart deserves care, too.
After loss, you may feel on high alert: unsettled sleep, a racing mind, or a body that cannot quite soften. Grief can affect the stress-response system. Studies have found cortisol changes months after bereavement, including at six months in some older adults; your body’s response has its own course.
Research in older adults also links partner loss with a higher risk of cardiovascular events in the early weeks and months, with a particularly clear increase in the first 30 days. This is a reason to care for your foundations and consider your individual health picture.
Stress & daily rhythm
Cortisol & adrenal health
A way to explore cortisol patterns alongside your sleep, energy, daily rhythms, and medication history. The results can add context to a clinical assessment and help shape more specific questions about your physiology and care.
Explore cortisol testingCardiovascular context
Heart health & inflammation
Explore selected cardiovascular and inflammation markers alongside blood pressure, family history, nourishment, movement, and existing results. This adds information to a wider assessment; a panel alone cannot predict or rule out a heart attack.
Explore heart-health testingBegin with food, hydration, rest, gentle movement, and support. Testing is individual—not every newly widowed woman needs these panels. New chest pain, fainting, or severe shortness of breath needs urgent medical care rather than an online test order.
The research behind this conversation
The studies describe group patterns, primarily in older adults; they do not establish a fixed six-month “fight-or-flight” state or show that purchasing these panels prevents cardiovascular events.
Spousal loss and cortisol at six and eighteen months Cardiovascular events after partner bereavementDr. Burklund’s selected labs
The Grief Medicine Lab Edit
Care for the body carrying the grief. My selected tests explore vitamin D, thyroid function, cortisol patterns, inflammation, and cardiovascular health.
Vitamin D · 25-hydroxy
Measures 25-hydroxy vitamin D, the main circulating marker used to assess vitamin D status. In a period when time outdoors, food intake, and daily routines may change, I consider whether this foundational nutrient deserves closer attention. The result can inform an individualized discussion about food sources, sun exposure, and supplementation rather than guessing at a dose.
Daily cortisol & cortisone profile
Looks at cortisol and cortisone measurements collected at different times of day. The pattern adds context to the body’s daily hormonal rhythms and is considered alongside sleep timing, medications, and collection conditions. In grief care, I bring this information into the wider conversation about rest and daily rhythm; the test does not measure the depth of your grief.
C-reactive protein
Measures C-reactive protein, a substance produced by the liver that rises with inflammation. It can help show whether an inflammatory process deserves further attention or whether an established pattern is changing. I interpret it alongside symptoms, recent illness, and other findings, because a raised result does not identify the source of inflammation by itself.
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
Measures how quickly red blood cells settle in a tube over a set period. This provides an indirect view of inflammation and can complement other measurements when the clinical picture calls for it. I look at the result alongside blood counts, symptoms, and history, rather than treating it as a specific diagnosis or a measure of emotional stress.
Advanced lipid & inflammation panel
Brings more detailed cholesterol-related measurements together with selected inflammation markers. This allows a broader cardiovascular conversation than total cholesterol alone. I consider the pattern alongside family history, blood pressure, metabolic health, sleep, nourishment, and movement—especially when the disruptions of loss have changed the routines that usually support your physical health.
Thyroid panel
Measures TSH, free T4, and free T3, giving a view of the regulatory signal and circulating thyroid hormones. Thyroid changes can overlap with concerns such as low energy, altered bowel habits, temperature sensitivity, or changes in mood. I consider these results when exploring physical contributors to symptoms during grief, while keeping your wider experience at the center of care.
About these tests & references
These tests explore aspects of physical health; they do not measure grief.
Choose individual tests around your history, symptoms, and existing results, with your clinician’s guidance.
References
Look beneath the symptoms
Your microbiome.
Your nutrients.
Your whole picture.
In my naturopathic and functional approach, we begin with nourishment, sleep, daily rhythms, and the support you have around you. When symptoms persist, thoughtfully chosen labs can help us investigate what else your body may need.
I interpret results alongside your history, symptoms, and changes over time. The goal is a useful next step for you.
Nutrients & energyCBC · ferritin & iron studies · vitamin B12 · folate+
Depending on your diet, symptoms, and history, these tests can help investigate anemia, iron status, and selected nutrient deficiencies that may contribute to fatigue.
Thyroid & metabolic healthTSH · selected thyroid tests · metabolic panel · glucose or HbA1c+
Persistent fatigue, weight changes, or other symptoms may prompt thyroid and metabolic assessment. The tests we choose depend on the question we are trying to answer.
Your microbiome & inflammationDigestive assessment · targeted stool tests · selected inflammatory markers+
Your digestive symptoms, food tolerance, and bowel patterns belong in the conversation. Depending on the findings, targeted blood or stool testing may investigate inflammation, infection, or conditions such as celiac disease. CRP or ESR may be useful for particular clinical questions.
A commercial microbiome profile is not a standalone diagnosis. We consider whether its findings can meaningfully guide your care.
Hormones & cortisolTesting chosen around your symptoms and life stage+
Cycle changes, night sweats, or other symptoms deserve assessment. Hormone tests are selected for a specific question; perimenopause is often assessed from your history and symptoms. Cortisol testing is considered when there is a clinical reason to investigate an adrenal disorder.
Explore the tests in my Grief Medicine Lab Edit.
Order tests myselfNot every person needs every test. Explore private care and discuss which labs fit your situation
Your pace. Your choices.
You don’t need
the whole protocol.
Explore the collection at your own pace. Read about each product, choose what fits your needs, and order individual items directly through my Fullscript storefront.
- 01Explore the edit
Open my Grief Medicine protocol and explore the recommended products.
- 02Choose thoughtfully
Review ingredients, directions, and current pricing. Ask for help if you’re unsure.
- 03Order through Fullscript
Select individual items and complete your purchase on Fullscript.
For help choosing supplements or doses, explore private care .
The care behind every choice
You should know what you’re
putting in your body.
Too many bottles. Conflicting advice. A label that tells you very little about why this formula belongs in your life. I created my apothecary to make the choices more considered.
As a naturopathic physician and botanical formulator, I begin with nourishment, sleep, movement, and the conditions that support health. Supplements have a place within that foundation. The ingredient, preparation, dose, and reason for choosing it all matter.
My Fullscript supplement offer
Enter my Fullscript shop 10% off your first supplement order.
5% off future supplement orders.
Why buy from my protocols?
You’re starting with selections I’ve gathered around a purpose—grief, perimenopause, longevity, skin, or preconception. My background in clinical practice and product formulation shapes the questions I ask about ingredients, preparation, and everyday use.
Explore the exact formulas I selected, then choose what fits your needs. A collection is a starting point; you don’t need every item, and it does not include an individual consultation or dosing plan.
Why can two bottles of the same supplement be so different?
The name on the front is only the beginning. Compare the ingredient form, amount per serving, number of capsules per serving, other ingredients, and number of servings in the bottle. A lower bottle price can mean a different formula or fewer daily servings.
I want a clear reason for each choice. Taking more, or adding overlapping formulas, is not automatically a better approach.
Why do the herb, plant part, and concentration matter?
The species, root or leaf used, extraction method, and amount per serving help identify what you are actually taking. Whole-herb powders, teas, tinctures, and concentrated extracts are different preparations; matching milligrams does not make them interchangeable.
An extract ratio describes the preparation. Standardization describes measured constituents or markers. Neither number alone establishes clinical benefit. I consider the particular preparation and the reason for using it, alongside traditional knowledge and relevant research.
Read about botanical preparationsWhat do you mean by clinical-quality supplements?
I look beyond the phrase on the label: correct ingredient identity, documented purity and potency, appropriate formulation, and manufacturing controls. Quality documentation helps answer whether a product contains what it says and how it was made.
Fullscript vets brands, reviews quality documentation, and independently tests selected products. Additional testing badges apply to the products that earned them; they are not a claim that every bottle has been independently tested. Quality does not make every formula right for every person.
Fullscript’s quality standardsWhy do you trust Fullscript?
I choose the formulas; Fullscript handles the storefront and fulfillment. Fullscript says it sources directly from brands and operates distribution facilities designed for supplements. That gives the supply chain a clear source and keeps the exact products I selected together in one place.
You can review labels, ingredients, current prices, and product details before you decide. Orders and payment are completed on Fullscript.
How Fullscript sources and handles productsDo storage and shipping really affect quality?
They can. Heat, moisture, light, and time can affect a product’s stability. Some probiotics and oils need particular handling; other products are shelf-stable. Fullscript follows manufacturer handling guidance and uses insulated packaging or cold packs when appropriate.
A cold pack can arrive thawed without proving the product is damaged. Bring your delivery inside promptly and follow the bottle’s storage instructions. Fullscript shows available delivery options and charges at checkout; heat-sensitive products may benefit from priority shipping.
Heat-sensitive product guidance Shipping detailsWhat about expiration dates?
You should have time to use what you buy. Fullscript’s published policy guarantees at least 90 days of shelf life and removes products that fall below that threshold. Some brands print a manufacture date instead of an expiration date; Fullscript can help clarify the label.
Check the date and storage instructions when your order arrives. Freshness and proper handling are part of the value, alongside the formula itself.
Fullscript’s shelf-life policyHow do I receive 10% off, then 5% on future orders?
Enter through my Fullscript shop link and sign in or create your account there. My offer is 10% off your first supplement order and 5% off future supplement orders through my storefront. Return to the same practitioner storefront for later purchases and check the discount shown before paying.
These savings are for supplements. Lab tests, shipping, and taxes are separate. If the expected discount is not displayed, ask Fullscript support to check your connection to Dr. Michele Burklund’s storefront before placing the order.
When you’re ready
You don’t have to have
the words yet.
We can begin with what you are experiencing.
Inquire about grief careThe questions we carry
You can
ask that here.
Clear answers about grief, the body, daily support, and working together. Choose a theme or read at your own pace.
What is grief medicine?
Grief medicine is the name I give to my work with the physical health of women after loss. I bring naturopathic and functional assessment together with nourishment, rest, nature, and the realities of widowhood. It describes my approach, rather than a separate board-certified medical specialty.
What is grief brain?
Grief brain is an informal phrase for feeling foggy, forgetful, or less able to concentrate after loss. It is not a diagnosis. Sudden confusion or a major change in functioning needs medical assessment.
Why can’t I sleep after losing my partner?
Grief can change your nights as well as your days. Your routines, sense of safety, and responsibilities may have shifted. Persistent insomnia deserves assessment; a sleep specialist can help, including with CBT-I when appropriate.
What can I eat when grief changes my appetite?
Start with familiar food you can manage, such as soup and bread, eggs on toast, or yogurt with oats and fruit. Ask for practical help with meals. Ongoing appetite loss or unintentional weight change deserves individual care.
How do plants belong in grief care?
Plants can belong as food, a sensory connection to nature, a remembrance ritual, or an individually considered botanical preparation. These are different uses. I consider your health and safety before recommending an ingested product; a meaningful ritual does not need to become a prescription.
Can spiritual practice sit alongside scientific care?
Yes. Your beliefs, traditions, and sense of meaning belong in a whole-person conversation. You might choose prayer, a secular remembrance ritual, time in nature, or a gentle contemplation. No particular belief or emotional response is required here.
What if meditation makes me feel worse?
Stop or change the practice. You can keep your eyes open, notice the room, walk with someone, or choose another kind of support. Meditation can be distressing for some people; you do not have to push through it.
When should I seek a grief specialist?
Reach out whenever you want support, especially when grief is making everyday life very difficult. Persistent, intense grief can benefit from assessment by a qualified grief therapist. You do not need to wait for a diagnostic time threshold to ask for help.
American Psychiatric Association · Grief and specialist support
Do I have to move through five stages of grief?
Grief does not follow one required sequence. Feelings can overlap, change, or return around reminders. A model can offer language, but it should not become a schedule against which you judge yourself.
How can I support a friend after the loss of her partner?
Offer something specific and easy to decline: a meal, a ride, help with an errand, or quiet company. Ask before arriving. Let her speak about the person she misses, and keep checking in beyond the first weeks.
Where can I begin if I’m not ready to inquire about care?
Read a guide that speaks to what you are experiencing, explore the free Foundations audio course, or take a quiet minute on the homepage. The course offers general health education; it is not a treatment for grief.
How long do the physical effects of grief last?
There is no single timetable. Symptoms can change over time and return around anniversaries or reminders. Persistent exhaustion, disrupted sleep, weight change, or difficulty managing daily life deserves assessment; you do not have to wait for grief to be over to seek care.
Why am I so tired after losing my spouse?
Interrupted sleep, changes in eating, stress, caregiving, and the practical work of widowhood may all contribute. Fatigue can also have other causes, including anemia, thyroid disease, medication effects, or depression. Your history helps guide an appropriate evaluation.
Can a blood test measure grief?
No. Research on stress and inflammation does not create a diagnostic blood test for grief. Testing is chosen for a specific clinical question and should help guide care.
Will you be my primary care doctor?
I am a licensed naturopathic primary care physician. In this practice, I focus on women’s health, functional medicine, and the physical effects of grief; I do not provide ongoing general primary care here. I ask you to maintain a primary care clinician for routine preventive care and needs outside our work together. With your permission, I coordinate with your other clinicians.
Is this grief counseling?
I provide medical care focused on your health and physical symptoms. Our work can complement grief counseling or psychotherapy, and I coordinate with those clinicians when appropriate.
Who is this care for?
I focus this part of my practice on widows and women navigating the loss of a partner who want help understanding changes in their health. Your initial inquiry helps me understand what you need and whether my practice is a fit.
Can we meet virtually?
I offer virtual care in California, Washington, and Montana when your location, clinical needs, and my licensure allow. Your physical location at the time of a visit matters. Read about care in these states.
How do I inquire?
I am welcoming private-care inquiries for future availability. Use the link below to tell me a little about what brings you here.
Is there a free guide for the newly widowed?
Yes. My free 15-page Functional & Naturopathic Medicine for the Newly Widowed handout brings together everyday ideas for rest, simple nourishment, and gentle rituals. Request the guide here by joining my newsletter. The PDF download appears after signup, and you can unsubscribe whenever you wish.
A few useful answers
Questions the body brings to grief.
There is room here for the physical experience of loss, as well as the love, memory, and meaning that no laboratory can measure.
What does Dr. Michele Burklund mean by grief medicine?
I use grief medicine to describe care that considers the body, emotional life, and sense of meaning together after loss. It is a place for medical questions alongside nourishment, nature, ritual, and support. You do not have to make your grief smaller to ask for help.
Can grief cause physical symptoms?
Grief can affect appetite, energy, and sleep; headaches and dizziness can occur too. New, persistent, or worsening symptoms deserve assessment instead of being automatically attributed to grief. Seek urgent care for severe chest pain, trouble breathing, or other sudden severe symptoms.
Can a cortisol test tell me how deeply I am grieving?
No laboratory result can measure your love, your loss, or the meaning of your grief. A test may help answer a particular medical question, but it needs context. We begin with your symptoms and history, then consider whether testing would change the next step.
Are Dr. Burklund’s grief supplements a complete treatment plan?
The Grief Medicine Edit is a collection to explore, with the freedom to select individual products. Personal recommendations depend on your health history, current medicines and supplements, and what you need support with. You do not need to order the whole collection.
Where can I find grief-related labs and ongoing support?
You can view my grief medicine lab collection, enquire about private care, or explore the dedicated Grief Medicine website. Ordering a product or test is separate from establishing a care relationship.
Untold Medicine · with Dr. Michele Burklund
A little space.
A deeper conversation.
For the questions that stay with you. Settle in with these conversations about stillness, identity, and the stories we carry.
With Dr. Alex Feng
Stop Trying to Meditate
Taoist stillness, presence, and the possibility of letting meditation become a way of being.
Listen to the conversation
With Stephen Knapp
Who Are You, Really?
Vedic wisdom, spiritual identity, and the deeper questions beneath the roles we carry.
Listen to the conversation
With Dr. Katherine Willow
What Are You Still Carrying?
A conversation about emotional history and personal meaning, through Katherine’s perspective on German New Medicine.
Listen to the conversationThe grief medicine collection
A little understanding.
A place to begin.
Read what feels useful today. Science, practical care, ancient wisdom, and space for the parts of grief that cannot be measured.
The body
The Body After Loss
Understanding the physical effects of grief
Read the article
Rest
When Grief Keeps You Awake
Sleep, exhaustion, and a gentler way into the night
Read the article
Nourishment
A Place at the Table
Nourishment when grief changes your appetite
Read the article
Ritual & spirit
A Ritual for What Remains
Nature, Taoist wisdom, and living with grief
Read the article