Blog

18
Jun
2025
Total views: 96   Comment count: 0
Ginseng - adaptogen

Adaptogens are a large group of herbs that might be described as the key to health. The word “adaptogen” refers to the nonspecific endocrine-regulating, immune-modulating effects of certain plants that increase a person’s ability to maintain optimal health and balance in the face of physical and emotional stress. Who doesn’t have some stress in their life? Stress is not all negative, but exploring how stress affects the body we understand why adaptogens are so effective at sustaining health and wellbeing regardless of the challenges faced. 

Taking a holistic view on health and wellbeing, healing is not simply a rational, self-centred, logical model it is a journey, that increases communication between mind, body and spirit, enabling integration and whole-ness.

 

27
May
2025
Total views: 256   Comment count: 4
Weight loss GLP-1 Receptor Antagonists

In recent years, GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro have been hailed as groundbreaking drugs in the fight against obesity. Originally developed and approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, these medications are now being marketed—and increasingly prescribed—for weight loss, with some even calling them a "miracle cure." But are they really the solution they’re touted to be?

Let’s take a closer look at what’s really going on beneath the surface.

 

What Are GLP-1 RAs and How Do They Work?

 

15
Apr
2025
Total views: 176   Comment count: 0
Dandelion to detox mind and body

DETOXIFYING REMEDIES IN THE HEDGEROW

As we leap into spring we are all feeling energised with the longer days and sunlight that blesses the early morning and makes waking easier with a stronger sense of embracing a new day. The blossoms this year seem to be richer, more dense and beautiful than normal. Or perhaps it is just a contrast to the long, dark days that seemed to go on forever. Apart from the blossoms, the hedgerow has several helpful herbs at this time to shake off winter sluggishness in both mind and body, as well as addressing the spread of pollens that for many becomes a difficult and even miserable time when the pollen count is high?

 

20
Mar
2025
Total views: 163   Comment count: 0
Detox your body inside and out

Just took a 15-minute break to go into my garden and grab some morning sunshine in the far corner where the tulips are beginning to form buds and the bees are visiting the flowering heather. Winter seems to have been very long and very grey this year and to finally see the sun can only be time to join the birds in joyful song and the bees intensely buzzing from flower to flower. Is it sunny all the way from here? Unlikely, but at least warmer and brighter.

During the seasonal transition it is natural to feel more energetic and want to clean things out, cupboards, garages, wardrobes and attics. This is the time also to have a good internal spring clean to remove the stagnation and sluggishness of winter and do that detox you have been promising yourself for months. 

 

12
Feb
2025
Total views: 201   Comment count: 0
Ultra processed foods in supermarkets

There is barely a day that goes by when someone on Linked In, X or Tik Tok aren’t talking about Ultra Processed food (UPF). Dr Peter McCullough, Mark Hyman, MD. R.F Kennedy junior, and Bryan Ardis are all very vocal, and with good cause.

 

25
Jan
2025
Total views: 467   Comment count: 0
Herbal medicine, natural remedies, naturopathy, kinesiology

This winter we have all been facing a very tenacious flu that seems to leave most with a lingering cough that goes on for weeks. Sound familiar?

Enhancing the body’s natural defence system (immunity) plays a vital role in maintaining optimum health. We all know that prevention is better than cure. Taking a closer look at lifestyle and how we support our immune system at this time of year has to be a priority for you and your family. Ayurvedic medicine has some simple remedies that do just that.

 

11
Dec
2024
Total views: 368   Comment count: 0
Kindness mental health and wellbeing

Recently I was listening to the Chris Evans Breakfast show and the conversation was around love. Evans said words to the effect that love is unlike your bank account, when the money is gone its gone. Perhaps inflows credit your account, but it may not be in balance with the outflows. Love is not like this, every day we have a full account to use and give out to others, when all is used up, your account will once again be full the next day to give away freely as you want. How beautiful is that? What would the impact be to our local communities and wider if we all gave out a full bank account of unconditional love and kindness every day?

 

7
Nov
2024
Total views: 330   Comment count: 0
Medicinal herbs for treating coughs and colds

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris), the hardy Mediterranean herb that not only looks gorgeous when lining footpaths and flower beds, smells divine, but also has many health benefits in addition to being a wonderful herb for adding flavour to fish, stews, soups, casseroles, to breads, muffins, as well as flavouring olive oil. Beautifully versatile!

As with most of the Mediterranean herbs it is aromatic containing essential oils thymol and carvacrol, triterpenes and polysaccharides not only to address respiratory issues, but also digestive issues. As one of many bitter tonics, thyme is carminative, anthelmintic and antiseptic supporting and aiding effective digestion.

 

11
Oct
2024
Total views: 519   Comment count: 0
Sleep and wellbeing

According to the National Sleep Foundation “more than 40 percent of adults experience daytime sleepiness severe enough to interfere with their daily activities at least a few days each month - with 20 percent reporting problem sleepiness a few days a week or more”.

 

13
Sep
2024
Total views: 1,188   Comment count: 0
The benefits of exercise - stretching, endurance, flexibility, balance

Listening to a recent webinar with Dr Dugald Seely, N.D, M.Sc an integrative medicine doctor sparked my interest and broadened my understanding of the importance of exercising, but varying the type of exercise to build all round fitness.  Dr Seely, has been actively pursuing the growth and development of integrative medicine and pioneered an innovative model of cancer care and research through the creation of the Ottawa Integrative Cancer Centre, operating since in 2011. He reminded me of the importance of exercise in overall fitness and as part of treating cancer patients. Here, I focus on movement and exercise and the importance of a varied regime to build all round fitness and support wellbeing.