Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Sarah Murphy, ND.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was born and sculpted by the vibrant, creative ethos of San Francisco and Los Angeles, California. As a young person, I adored dance, and quickly became a passionate explorer of theatrical performance. While I loved the work, over time, the taxing demands of the entertainment industry began to wane on my health. Looking back, that personal confrontation with imbalance made it essential for me to find and embrace health and wholeness for myself. In college, I discovered the vast realm of naturopathic medicine – an art and science that resonated deeply with my growing belief in the body’s innate healing powers.
I went on to create a customized college degree that I called “Holistic Life” so I could study the connection between mind, body and spirit. I also delved into my pre-medical science studies to prepare me for a naturopathic doctor degree from the National College of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon and a Masters degree in Acupuncture from the Academy for Five Element Acupuncture in Gainesville, Florida.
Ultimately, I’ve returned to Los Angeles to support other creative souls like me. I have a passion and know-how for helping other artists, creatives, and purpose-driven professionals find a more balanced and healing path in life so that they can be healthy, grounded, and better able to creatively express their talents without burnout, drug addiction, and the physical and mental health challenges that so often come with a life in the creative arts industry.
Malibu, California isn’t just where I work and practice; for me, it’s a significant source of natural inspiration. The tranquility of the canyons, coast and sacred land of the Chumash Indians here mirrors my approach to health: calm, comprehensive, powerful, and holistic.
My main aim is to share the holistic worldview that transformed and saved my own life when I was struggling. I strive to create a nurturing space where people can rediscover balance, invigorate their vitality, and benefit from a return to whole health and thus a more fulfilling and successful life.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?Life always has its twists and turns and ups and downs. Moving away from the creative arts and taking on a doctor’s life has been a challenge at times. The many years of natural medicine science studies were intense. And integrating the wisdom of creative thinking with scientific thinking – the left and right sides of the brain, so-to-speak, is an ongoing endeavor.
Working intimately with patients and their suffering can be both difficult and deeply rewarding. It’s an ongoing priority to keep myself balanced, ensuring that I make time for my own self-care and that I’m routinely practicing the foundational lifestyle habits that I share with my patients every day. We’re all human, and I’ve struggled with life-work balance, as many of my patients do.
I’m also the CEO of my own private practice, Zuma Wellness, and while I’m grateful for the continual growth and learning that comes along with that, the life of an entrepreneur can definitely be a challenge. Running a thriving business on top of being a doctor can certainly be a lot. That said, I couldn’t ask for a more fulfilling calling.
I also find—and this is a very big deal, something that needs to be said—the American healthcare system is broken. The politics and regulations that support big pharma profit over health are discouraging. From my perspective, the current system is biased against natural medicines and nutrition and lifestyle medicine. The lack of focus on illness prevention through healthy nutrition and lifestyle measures is disheartening. The overfocus on developing more drugs and surgeries while Americans grow sicker and sicker is sad.
We’re in great need of a healthcare revolution! Things need to change. Our systems are not working. The number and severity of chronic illnesses in America is only getting worse. We need to return to a deep focus on the backbone of what makes a person truly healthy—that’s the first step. Health is built upon a foundation of access to clean water, healthy food, unpolluted air, good sunshine, social connection with other people, a connection to nature and our planet, and a well-balanced lifestyle with ample time for sleep, exercise, rest, play, and connecting to our purpose and inspiration for living, etc. That’s the life-giving juice we all need more of! No pharmaceutical drug or surgery will be able to make up for a lack of these things.
We’ve been impressed with Zuma Wellness, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My Malibu-based clinic, Zuma Wellness, is a place to come for holistic, personalized healthcare, where we dive deep into solving the root causes of your health concerns and get you back to living your best, most fulfilling life. We’re known for our personalized naturopathic health plans, cutting-edge natural medicines, the highest-quality, customized IV vitamin drips, and other holistic therapies.
We’re known for helping people heal from stress, fatigue, hormonal imbalances (including sex hormone, thyroid and adrenal problems), digestive issues, depression, dissatisfaction, and addictions.
We’re very excited to soon be offering psychedelic medicine with a holistic approach to ketamine-assisted-therapy for burnout, depression, anxiety, addictions and other mental health support.
In a time where so much is available online, it can be hard to distinguish what is real and what is just a well-marketed fad or health trend without much therapeutic value.
In opposition to this, Zuma Wellness is a reliable and expert source for natural healthcare that is built upon my almost 20 years of naturopathic medical experience in the health industry. We’re here for people who seek a trusted, reliable, experienced source of information and support with their health.
At Zuma Wellness, we don’t just treat symptoms. We dig deeper. Uncovering the real causes of your health concerns, we craft a tailored approach to bring you back to your optimal health, revitalizing your well-being, naturally. Every person is unique, and so should be your health journey.
At our core, we believe in a patient-centric approach. Our treatments aren’t just remedies; they’re partnerships in wellness. Through Zuma Wellness, and our online initiatives, we treat the underlying causes of patients’ health issues, championing personalized plans that harness the body’s natural restorative abilities. We offer the most cutting-edge and highest-quality natural health therapies, always!
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
The weather is great in LA. The coast is beautiful too. But traffic sucks of course! That’s all a bit cliche, but so true. Right? As a creative person, I also love how Los Angeles is a major hub for creative arts and culture. There is so much talented creative expression and art to experience here. I love to get out and go dancing, eat delicious food, see performances, and I’m currently taking improv comedy classes – exploring the many ways there are to have fun and express myself in life.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.drsarahmurphy.com
- Instagram: @drsarahmurphy
- Facebook: @drsarahmurphy
- Linkedin: @drsarahmurphy
