Category Archives: Uncategorized

It’s Hayfever Season…are you ready to knock it on the head once and for all?

If you’re plagued with seasonal hayfever every Spring, you may wonder if this is just your lot in life to be dealt itchy eyes, nose and throat, sneezing and the general frustration of having to avoid the outdoors, lest you have a hayfever attack.

In an effort to function, go to work and just do your daily activities, you resort to using anti-histamines such as Telfast & Claratyne for a couple of months each year to deal with these frustrating symptoms.

Thank goodness for anti-histamines…as short term relief is assured! There’s no doubt that these medications can be a lifesaver in times when you need to be at your best.

But, if you’ve ever wondered if it’s possible to enjoy Spring without the fear of a hayfever attack. Or why not everyone experiences these debilitating seasonal symptoms, then you’ve come to the right place.

Allergy triggers such as pollens, grasses and high winds worsen the symptoms of hayfever but they are not the primary cause. They are like bullets in a gun. The final catalyst in a succession of events that makes people susceptible to allergies.

Allergy symptoms are the result of many underlying factors such as issues with gut health and nutritional deficiencies, all powered by an immune system which is overreacting to everyday environmental triggers.

By restoring your gut integrity through diet, lifestyle, nutritional and herbal treatments you can reduce and potentially eliminate your hayfever symptoms altogether.

Reducing the allergenic load on the body by improving overall health and wellbeing means that the amount of histamine is naturally reduced. Thereby creating far less hayfever symptoms.

Instead of simply treating the allergy symptoms you will be attacking the hayfever at it’s root cause(s) which produces long term results.

Why not change your life today and enjoy Spring once and for all.

Visit the Contact Us page to book for the Northcote or Yarraville Clinics.

Clear Skin Soup

Roast together at 170 degrees C for 1 hour:

4-6 Sweet Potatoes,

1/2 a Kent Pumpkin,

1 red Capsicum

3 cloves of Garlic

2-3 tbsp of Extra Virgin Olive Oil or a nut oil such as Macademia Oil.

Once soft, add to finely chopped Celery (2-3 stems) or 1 Leek.

Move to a saucepan and add 1-2 litres of water (or more if desired).

Blend together and add and Keen’s Curry Powder to taste.

Add 1/2 cup of soy milk for a creamier consistency to the soup.

Simmer for 15-20 minutes or until all the ingredients are smooth.

Serves 6

With high amounts of beta carotene, a form of Vitamin A and Vitamin C, along with sulfur for the liver and other nutrients for cleansing the blood and lymph, fibre for the bowel and spices for inflammation and boosting the immune system, this makes a powerful skin beautifying meal for anyone suffering from acne or other skin issues.

The skin is an organ of elimination in the body. If other parts of the body are struggling to detoxify, (for instance, the bowel, bladder/kidneys, lymph or lungs, toxins can be expelled through the skin.

In order to keep the skin clear of blemishes, diet and lifestyle is just as important as topical skin treatments.

Working in tandem, good nutrition and beauty therapy, can create fantastically healthy and glowing skin, naturally.

The Young Skin Package now available at Westgarth Pharmacy, Northcote is your ticket to having the best skin of your life.

We have combined an 30 minute Nutrition Consult and 4 Facials to get your skin glowing! All for the fantastic price of $300 a saving of over $100+.

To book this fantastic offer simply book an Initial Nutrition Consult (normally $130, package price $79 included in $300) on the Contact Us page and you will receive your package details at your first appointment.

Combined Nutrition & Beauty Therapy packages exclusive to Westgarth Pharmacy, Northcote!

Getting Well Naturally is delighted to announce a beautiful new collaboration with Beauty Therapist, Melinda Vrees, available in store soon at Westgarth Pharmacy, Northcote.

Together we are offering a combined nutrition and beauty therapy package for teens and young adults to assist those suffering with skin issues such as Acne, etc.

The ‘Young Skin Package’ will include four facials (3 plus one free) and a 30 minute Nutrition consult to compliment the beauty treatment.

The Nutrition consult will focus on identifying nutritional deficiencies through a dietary assessment and will provide dietary suggestions for the teen to implement at home.

The ‘Young Skin Package’ would normally cost $425+. However, we can offer this fantastic package exculsive to Westgarth Pharmacy for the very special package price of $300! (for 5 appointments).

To book simply email gettingwellnaturally@gmail.com.

Wellness Consulting now available at Westgarth Pharmacy, Northcote

Westgarth Pharmacy, Wellness Clinic is your one stop shop for combining the best of pharmaceutical and complimentary medicine.

In a 20 Minute wellness consult you will gain an insight into the best way to compliment your prescription medicines with natural medicines for optimal health.

Wellness consultations are also valuable if you have ever wondered how a Naturopathic Nutritionist can enhance your existing medical treatment.

Or just as a way of introducing you to the wonderful world of complimentary medicine.

This service is normally $35……

However, on September 20th, 2019 I will be running these short consultations throughout the day as part of the grand opening of the Westgarth Pharmacy, Wellness Clinic.

On the day you can have a body composition assessment, a blood pressure check and a zinc level check all as part of the wellness consult. All completely free of charge.

Hurry, be among the first to experience this unique approach to healthcare.

Please note places are limited and bookings are essential.

Call Westgarth Pharmacy today on (03) 9481 3807 to book.

The Melbourne Thrush Clinic, now available at Westgarth Pharmacy, Northcote.



The Melbourne Thrush Clinic was created to address the many underlying factors that cause recurrent Thrush.

Dietary choices, certain medications, stress, hormones, altered gut flora and low immunity, all set the stage for repeated outbreaks of Thrush.

While topical anti-fungal treatments can be of benefit in treating the acute symptoms of burning, itching and discharge; their repeated use only addresses the surface issues associated with Thrush caused by the fungal infection called Candida.

The Naturopathic and Nutritional approach seeks to address Thrush at it’s root cause (altered gut flora) strengthen the immune system, correct nutritional deficiencies and rebalance hormones.

The unique treatment combination reduces the excess Candida and strengthens the gut lining.

Once the infection is under control, this natural approach can assist patients with preventing further outbreaks.

By educating and empowering patients to learn about the connections between dietary and lifestyle choices, stress, medications and the link to illness, patients can gain more control over their health outcomes.

The program is run by Merril Bowater ND. Women’s health concerns and recurrent infections are her areas of speciality. In particular, Thrush caused by chronic candidasis (fungal infections) which is so widespread.

Merril is health blogger for www.gettingwellnaturally.com.au and has been contributing writer for the women’s magazine Finally at 40 Life Begins.

In addition to presenting numerous health workshops for the local community on topics as diverse as depression to allergies and ways to boost your immunity over winter.

Appointments are available Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday mornings at Westgarth Pharmacy, Northcote.

To book online please visit www.westgarthpharmacy.com.au

Or book via the Contact Us page for the Northcote Clinc on this website.

Getting Well Naturally in conjunction with Westgarth Pharmacy, Northcote have created a new destination in heathcare….

Earlier this year Getting Well Naturally (GWN) began talks with local Northcote institution, Westgarth Pharmacy.

Established over 30 years ago, Westgarth Pharmacy has recently undergone a dramatic transformation and is now home to a very special clinic.

This unique offering comprises natural medicine and allied health care all under the one roof. Bringing together the best of natural and pharmaceutical health care for the local community.

Westgarth Pharmacy now boasts a complementary health care clinic which comprises Naturopathy, Nutrition and Remedial Massage. Alongside Beauty Therapy.

GWN’s Northcote clinic is also the home of a range of signature programs such as The Melbourne Thrush Clinic.

In a truly integrative approach to Thrush, customers can buy over the counter anti-fungal treatments for acute treatment from the pharmacy and then visit the Naturopathic Nutritionist, Merril to address the fungal infection at it’s source to help prevent future outbreaks.

The Melbourne Thrush Clinic seeks to educate and empower customers so they can become aware of the driving factors behind fungal infections and stop the repetitive cycle of recurrent Thrush.

Westgarth Pharmacy services the surrounding suburbs of Thornbury, Fitzroy and Fitzroy North, Carlton North, Clifton Hill, Collingwood, Fairfield, Kew, Ivanhoe and Melbourne’s Central Business District.

To book online simply visit the Contact Us page of this website www.gettingwellnaturally.com.au.

Or for more information visit www.westgarthpharmacy.com.au, select Naturopathy and Services under Merril’s profile.

When food isn’t your friend…

If you’ve ever wondered about the link between food and performance, then you need look no further than the current season of ‘Australian Survivor 2019’.

The match up between the elite athletes known as the Champions and their everyday Aussie competitors the Contenders, provides a very accurate picture of food and how it affects a person’s ability to perform at their peak.

The Champions have won the last three food rewards and have subsequently lost the immunity challenges that followed. You have to wonder if the array of calories on offer was more of a curse than a blessing.

The first decadent food reward was sugary marshmellows and hot chocolate.

The second food reward was greasy fish and chips.

And the third food reward was hamburgers with the lot & beer!

Meanwhile the Contenders had to be content with their beans, rice, coconut and mangos. Strangely though, they keep winning the all important immunity challanges which keep them in the game.

Admittedly, it’s human nature that if we’re starving we’ll eat whatever is put in front of us, healthy or not.

The problem is that fast food like this, translates to slow food in the body. Especially when you give it to people who are in their 40’s, who have a lesser digestive capacity to be able to break foods down and store them as energy or eliminate them as toxins.

So when you need power and energy you will struggle to muster it.

The lesson for all of us here is that these are sometimes foods. It doesn’t matter if you’re an athlete or just getting through your day at the office, what you eat the majority of the time, will determine your energy, vitality and overall performance, mentally and physically.

How do I know if I’m dehydrated?

Dehydration can affect anyone, any time, anywhere and in any season including winter.

However, in the warmer months it’s very easy to become dehydrated without even realizing it.

There are many people who are at an especially high risk of dehydration. They include the elderly who have a reduced sensation of thirst. Athletes and tradespeople who perspire at a higher rate due to the physical nature of their jobs. And young children and infants who need to be offered liquids frequently, as they are unable to ask or know when they need it.

But you don’t just have to be in a high risk group to be affected by dehydration. 

Picture this…..you’ve just put in a long day at the office and have had a couple of coffees to keep you going. After work you go out for drinks with friends.

You notice that you’ve hardly gone to the toilet all day and when you did go, it was a horrible dark brown color with a strong smell.

Feeling a little head achy and weak, you decided to have something to eat…assuming that you must be hungry. Oddly, you seemed to be craving salt so a big serve of French fries seemed like the perfect snack. After eating the fries you felt nauseous and really unwell. Your head started pounding and you felt like you needed to lay down.

You decided it’s time to go home, take some Panadol and go to bed. All the while not realizing that much of what you experienced was simply a lack of water.

Caffeine and alcohol exacerbated the dehydration problem by acting as diuretics further reducing your available water and the salt compounded the issue.

For many, the signs and symptoms of dehydration are often missed or attributed to something else entirely. For instance, nausea and headaches are common in people who need to rehydrate. As are feelings of fatigue and weakness, irritability, lack of concentration, palpitations, dry skin and muscle cramps and spasms.

The sensation of a dry mouth is one of the last symptoms that people experience and by the time that people register that they’re thirsty, they’re already dehydrated.

So how do you know if you are hydrated?

Well aside from a lack of the symptoms above, you will also have very light colored urine. This is really the best indication to go by.

Sometimes you have to drink water even when you don’t feel that you need it. This just keeps you topped up to account for all the body processes that use water continually to detoxify and purify your liver, bowel, kidneys, skin, etc.

So when in doubt aim for 2-3 litres of water a day. A small glass every hour or two is absorbed better than a whole litre at once! Keep a jug or water bottle within eyesight to prompt you to drink more and you body will thank you for it.

Want to be a pro at reading nutritional labels, ingredients & packaging?

Comparing groceries in terms of their health ratings, ingredients, nutritional profile and packaging can be difficult for the untrained eye.

How do you know if one product at the supermaket is better than another on the same shelf? The sheer volume of different choices all vying for your attention can be overwhelming.

Terms such as  low fat, gluten free, high fibre, lactose free, low sodium and sugar free can further complicate matters and make it more difficult to discern the best option for you and your family.

It’s often the small print on the ingredients list or nutrition panel that defines the best choice. Knowing how to read these key points can help you make an informed, healthy choice.

So with this in mind, I am offering Supermarket Shopping Tours in Yarraville for the first time in 2021!

It takes just 30 minutes to learn how to read ingredients lists, nutrition labels and to understand how to compare one product against another. This service would normally be $79, however, for a limited time you can book a 30 minute tour for just $50!

If you are interested in this service please email gettingwellnaturally@gmail.com.