Tag Archives: fatigue

The little known secret to great health…is in your hands

Natural Medicine Melbourne Naturopath Nutritionist Melbourne No Comments

When I began studying Naturopathy in 2002, I was stunned and amazed by the host of health treatments and information that exists in the field of natural healthcare.

Who knew there was a whole wellness industry out there focused on the treatment and prevention of illness? What a concept!

Growing up, I had a mostly western medicine approach to health. My only experience of holistic healthcare was from eating a healthy diet, which my parents considered essential for health living.

As I was nearing the end of my Naturopathic studies in 2006, I had to decide on an area to specialise in. For me, Nutrition was my favorite modality in the whole course and the one which I naturally gravitated to.

I loved the whole concept of ‘Food as Medicine’ but also using the diet as a preventative treatment to maintain health. It just made so much sense that we all have to eat, so why not select foods that could reduce weight, decrease inflammation, improve energy, improve periods and other women’s health issues, enhance fertility, improve immunity, reduce anxiety and depression, enhance concentration and memory and improve just about any health concern you care to mention.

The study of Naturopathy is very comprehensive in the fields of study that it entails. Ranging from hands on therapies such as reflexology and massage to nutrition, herbal medicine, homeopathy and more. Not to mention the health science subjects such as chemistry, physics, anatomy & physiology, pathophysiology & symptomology and pathology to name a few.

So whilst Nutrition has always been my favorite treatment to share with clients, the combination of Nutrition and Naturopathic principals is quite exceptional in the results it can achieve.

The twin power of Naturopathic Nutrition can boost your health beyond belief.

Before I go on I should explain, I don’t use any hands on therapies (despite having trained in them). I prefer to work as an ingestive practitioner (ie. I prescribe diet, herbal and nutritional formulas in the form of powders, tablets, capsules, etc…anything that you ingest).

However, treatment recommendations don’t end there. Lifestyle recommendations and referrals to other treatment modalities (sometimes for hands on treatment, etc) or specialised testing also rounds out the Naturopathic Nutrition (NN) experience.

One the best things about using NN is that you will not only get well, you also be educated and empowered to take control of your health.

So that instead of just going to appointments and getting prescriptions when you’re sick, you’ll be able to help prevent getting sick in the first place. Or able to get better quicker by adjusting your routine, lifestyle & diet.

Working with a NN means you’ll learn what caused you to become unwell in the first place and you can use this knowledge to prevent it happening again.

For instance, as a past sufferer of sinus infections, I know my triggers are diary, sugar and stress. This trinty of factors repeatedly lead me to suffering horrible headaches, nasal congestion, fatigue and facial pain on and off for years until I made this discovery that changed my life.

Thesedays, my sinus infections are very mild or non-existent. But I could have gone my whole life without knowing that I had the power to prevent and treat these infections effortlessly.

There has never been a better time to invest in your health. Book today for a healthier tomorrow.

Happy International Women’s Day – March 8

Women's Health No Comments

Today (International Women’s Day) we are reminded of the phenomenal contribution that women make to our society.

However, there is still a long way to go.

One area of the women’s movement that is seldom highlighted and where women need to make more progress, is in the field of women’s health.

Admittedly, women now have access to a huge array of medical interventions and services, however, what is really missing is work life balance to ensure that women’s health and wellness is maintained.

Far too often women are putting themselves last while attending to the needs of their family and career to their own determent.

My female clients are often so depleted and overwhelmed by their responsibilities that they forget all about their own self care until it becomes a major concern.

Improving the health and wellbeing of women is the primary focus of my clinic.

If women could recognize the early signs of not coping physically and emotionally they can get help before it becomes a major stumbling block.

Stress is undoubtedly the biggest underlying issue that women face.

As is eating foods that don’t nourish them but are quick and easy to prepare.

Without addressing these issues women can experience hormonal dysfunction, digestive issues, fatigue, recurrent infections and then more stress as it becomes harder and harder to simply get through a normal day and keep up with all of her responsibilities.

Prevention and early intervention is the optimal way to stay healthy. So if you’re feeling a little under the weather now is the time to take action.

Book online today to receive 20% an initial Naturopathic or Nutrition consult,…

Because You’re Worth It!

 

Feeling rundown following the change of seasons in Melbourne this March?

Health Wellness No Comments

The final burst of summer was exceptionally hot and dry in Melbourne this year. Temperatures in the high 30’s set the stage for sleep deprivation and difficulty finishing even the simplest of tasks, as we attempted to stay awake and motivated in the unrelenting heat.

This has been followed by a week of much milder temperatures, a chill in the air and a sprinkling of rain as we entered Autumn.

It’s certainly easier to sleep now the nights have cooled down. However with sun down now arriving earlier, there is also a sense of wanting to go to bed earlier and this is compounded by having more difficulty waking up, as it’s comfortably warm under the donna!

Hibernation mode is kicking in. It’s becoming harder to plan activities in the evenings now than it was on the long, warm sunny days. This is nature’s was of easing us into the cooler months of the year where we cocoon ourselves against the elements and stay indoors more.

The change of seasons also brings with it more colds, flus, runny noses, sneezing, headaches, muscle and joint aches and fatigue.

Thankfully there are lots of natural ways of dealing with these maladies. Getting enough sleep is crucial to recovery.

As is giving yourself some TLC and listening to what your body needs. If that means calling in sick for a day or two, it’s better to do that than push on and potentially make yourself worse.

Hot lemon, honey and ginger drinks, clear soups with onion and garlic and light nourishing foods should have you feeling tip top in no time.

However, if these simply measures don’t have you feeling better within a week, then you may have some underlying health or diet concerns that we can address to boost your immunity as we head into winter.

Don’t hesitate to book an initial Naturopathic consult if you experience any lingering health concerns.

 

How do I know if I’m dehydrated?

Health Wellness Uncategorized No Comments

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.

Thyroid Imbalance

Naturopath Depression No Comments

Overweight,Tired, Depressed?

Maybe your thyroid is to blame.

Among my clients, a thyroid imbalance can often be the culprit responsible for unwanted weight gain, fatigue and depression. It’s not uncommon for my clients to present with blood test results which indicate that their Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) is within the normal range.

Therefore, any notion that the thyroid is out of balance is dismissed by their GP’s. However, there is now much evidence to support the notion of subclinical hypothryoidism. In other words, if your TSH blood tests show that you are on the lower end of the range, there’s a good chance that your thyroid may not be functioning as well as it could.

The thyroid is also significantly affected by stress and infection. Both of which can produce thyroid abnormalities. Women who experience PMS and peri-menopausal symptoms may also be suffering from thyroid imbalances. Interestingly, thyroid function fluctuates throughout the menstrual cycle. It’s generally, more sluggish in the premenstrual and menstrual phases and more efficient during the remainder of the cycle.

Balancing the thyroid through targeted supplementation has worked wonders for many of my clients. Not only for weight loss but also for increasing energy and alleviating feelings of depression.

If you feel the cold, experience fatigue, depression, weight gain, dry skin or a horse voice, it’s worth investigating a possible thyroid link, regardless of your TSH results.

Phone 8618 6872 today and get the body you deserve.