With an estimated 1 in 10 women suffering from endometriosis, this condition is a major health and economic drain, not to mention the mental health aspects, which can be devastating. For too long, women with endometriosis have had to suffer in silence, regularly dismissed by their medical professionals, family and peers who often don't appreciate how debilitating this condition can be. Now, the tide is turning, with Donna Ciccia championing the cause. Donna is the co-founder of Endometriosis Aus...
Oct 25, 2018
Cardiovascular and metabolic disease account for a large number of deaths in Australians, and we're not getting any healthier. As clinicians we're tasked everyday with making therapeutic decisions based on the best available science for a patient's individual health circumstances. There is an art to interpreting scientific conclusions drawn from nutritional and lifestyle modifications, which can often be ambiguous and leaving us with more questions than answers. This is where Dr Bradley McEwen's...
Oct 23, 2018
Is mentorship the most overlooked element for driving a clinician to a pathway of success? In the Australian naturopathic profession, seeking a mentor is becoming more commonplace, but it hasn't always been the case. Mentoring has the capacity to fill knowledge gaps that may be missed through standard, didactic continuing professional development (CPD) approaches. Fostering a collegiate atmosphere in a peer-to-peer group is what mentorship means to mentoring pioneer, Rachel Arthur. In today's po...
Oct 18, 2018
Collectively cardiometabolic syndrome(s) account for more deaths in Australia than any other single disease. In today's podcast we're joined by Dr Bradley McEwen who, through his own research and clinical practice, is an expert in treating cardiometabolic disease with natural medicines, diet and lifestyle interventions. Today Dr McEwen takes us through the complexities of working with cardiometabolic disease; from assessment techniques to methylation, lipids and the myriad of hormonal disruption...
Oct 10, 2018
Geomedicine. Sounds like a futuristic medical term…and maybe it is. We're now learning that our geographical environment can have dramatic impacts on our health, particularly when dealing with chronic, insidious and recalcitrant conditions. To truly understand what geomedicine is, we are joined once again today by leading Australian building biologist, Nicole Bijlsma. From putting on her detective hat to find the issues facing patients with chronic conditions, to teasing apart the research to re...
Oct 03, 2018
As research continues to grow and evolve, it's becoming clear that the vagus nerve is far more complex than just simply being 'the longest cranial nerve in the body.' It is proving to be multi-talented, with sensory fibres crossing into many tissues making it a useful target for modification of internal physiology using external stimuli. Today we're joined once again by Emrys Goldsworthy to continue the discussion about the emerging benefits of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (TC-VNS). Em...
Sep 26, 2018
When we think of enzymes, we can often compartmentalise them as being purely for digestive support. However, they have so much more therapeutic potential. Today we are joined by Bec Guild to discuss the plethora of clinical uses for proteolytic, or protein-digesting enzymes, that are not connected to digestion. Bec shares how we can use enzymes for inflammation, pain, infection resistance, sinusitis, as a mucolytic and much, much more. Bec expertly highlights the many reasons why enzymes are a s...
Sep 18, 2018
Have you heard of eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE)? This condition is thought to affect 1/100 adults and 1/10,000 children and it appears to be on the rise. Moreover, it is challenging to diagnose and may be misdiagnosed, or simply overlooked altogether. Navigating the world of EoE with her own daughter, naturopath, sports scientist and former Olympian, Nicole Hannan has become a crusader to raise awareness about this confounding condition. Through her personal experiences of working with her dau...
Sep 11, 2018
"Endometriosis was first microscopically identified in 1860 and the term itself coined in 1927," both in time periods when naturopathic medicine was very commonplace. So, what is the history of the naturopathic interventions in Endometriosis versus what we know now? Today we are joined by Rebecca Reid, naturopath and researcher who has been delving through historical texts to uncover some of the key naturopathic interventions for endometriosis through the ages. What she has uncovered is an intri...
Sep 05, 2018
Eating disorders are varied and complex in their presentation, so how can we identify and support these patients? Today we are joined by holistic dietician and nutritionist Natalie Bourke, who takes us through her professional and personal expertise on eating disorders. Natalie takes us through the many different types of eating disorders, how to recognise them, and how to connect with patients who are navigating the physical and emotional turmoil of their eating disorder. Natalie also shares wi...
Sep 04, 2018
What factors influence the terrain of the vaginal environment and its associated microbiota? Today we are joined by Dr Jessica Younes, nutritionist, scientist and researcher in the areas of gynecology, urology, and women’s health. Jessica has a special interest and a wealth of expertise on the vaginal and urogenital microbiome. Today she shares with us the key influencers on these microbial communities, from sexual partners, biofilms, dysbiosis and infection, even the impact of an emergency c-se...
Sep 02, 2018
Is polycystic ovarian syndrome being over-diagnosed? Today we are joined by Leah Hechtman to share some insight into new biomarkers with a stronger association to ovarian function that are now in early stages of research, and so far the results look promising. Both from a diagnostic perspective, but also for predicting fertility outcomes, these new biomarkers could mean less fear and uncertainty about having a family, but also, potentially less intrusive medical interventions in the long term. L...
Aug 26, 2018
Menopause heralds the conclusion of a women's reproductive years. For some, this is a welcomed change, for others it’s a cruel harbinger of change that brings with it a new phase of aggravating health complaints. Ranging from hot flushes, to anxiety, sleep disturbances, depression, heart palpitations, anger and mood swings as well as a number of other physical changes, many women menopause is an unwelcomed affliction. But it doesn't have to be that way, natural medicine has a lot to offer these ...
Aug 20, 2018
How do our genes influence our hormones? We often view our genetic make-up as static and unchangeable, but in actual fact they are dynamic and constantly evolving in direct response to our environment, diet and lifestyles. For instance, hormonal secretion, metabolism and excretion are all swayed by both our nutritional status and the many enzymes systems that may be up, or down-regulated as a result of our unique single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). In today's podcast we're joined by Dr Denis...
Aug 12, 2018
SNP Testing is booming in medicine but we need to be mindful of how these tests are being delivered and interpreted. Patients and practitioners need to be aware of the calibre of the testing companies, and the quality of the results they're receiving. Today's guests, Dr Elvira Zilliacus and Linda Funnell-Milner believe in treating the patient, not the SNP, giving ethical, caring, and targeted information about the relevance of SNP testing to their patients. Today they talk to us about how they'r...
Aug 02, 2018
Recognising the future clinical implications of methylation dysfunction and the MTHFR gene early on, Carolyn Ledowsky started MTHFR Support Australia and hasn't looked back. With MTHFR issues being detected more readily through better access to testing services, health professionals turn to MTHFR Support Australia as crucial leader and educator within this growing field of health care. In today's podcast, Carolyn outlines the inter-related health issues which may present to those with MTHFR and ...
Jul 24, 2018
The term "Lyme Disease" is polarising. Orthodox medical authorities in Australia refuse the term outright, despite the same genus of the pathognomonic organism being found, at least in echidnas. Testing is fraught with controversy since Borellia spp are notoriously hard to detect. Moreover, there appears to be a gang of pathogenic organisms, often termed 'stealth infections' that are high-jacking immunity and yielding chronically tired and inflamed individuals who are left with few places to tur...
Jul 17, 2018
The accessibility of genetic testing is on the rise, with a range of testing services now available world-wide. Although our genes are the scaffold from which we are fundamentally built, genes are not as black and white as we're led to believe. They're simply one layer of the onion, or one piece of a very large puzzle and by all accounts, this area of science is still quite new. The genes which encode for two important enzymes, catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) and cystathionine beta-synthase ...
Jul 17, 2018
Are you referring your polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) clients for exercise interventions? If so, are you familiar with the evidence around what exercise, movement and lifestyle interventions are of the most benefit for women with PCOS? As a clinician and researcher Professor Nigel Stepto is an expert in this field and was part of the team developing the evidence-based Australian and the soon-to-release international guidelines for the treatment of PCOS. In today's podcast we delve into the m...
Jul 10, 2018
Why are some people more prone to addictions than others? Why do some crave the "hit of the high", where others can enjoy a substance or an experience and leave it behind? Most of us think of addiction pertaining to illicit or mind-altering drugs, but what about peoples' addiction to alcohol, religion, sugar or even exercise? In today's podcast, we welcome Elizma Lambert, Naturopathic specialist in complex cases, to take us through the important factors to consider with addiction. From uncoverin...
Jul 05, 2018
Are you referring your patients with polycystic ovary syndrome to an Acupuncturist? Pigeonholed as an intervention we think of for chronic pain, acupuncture can often be overlooked as a therapeutic option in complex metabolic disease. Today we are joined by Dr Carolyn Ee, a GP with dual qualifications in Chinese medicine and a passion for research. Ahead of her forthcoming speaking engagement at the ATMS PCOS Symposium in Sydney, September 2018, Dr Ee joins us to help us understand the mechanism...
Jul 05, 2018
Mineral therapy has been employed for decades as a gentle, safe intervention for a range of clinical applications. In particular, practitioners turn to mineral therapy as a safe, effective, simple, palatable and cost-effective intervention for childhood illnesses. Today we are joined by naturopath, Elizabeth d'Avigdor who has over two decades of clinical experience and is a specialist when it comes to mineral therapy prescribing. In this interview Elizabeth shares some insights into the clinical...
Jun 27, 2018
Having a sick child can be worrisome indeed, and treating children can be both tricky and rewarding. One of the biggest hurdles when prescribing to children is compliance. When it comes to herbal medicines, lets face it, they weren't designed by nature to always taste pleasant and in fact, sometimes their unpleasant taste is a feature of their therapeutic action. Today we're joined by herbalist Rob Santich who shares his decades of experience in finding novel ways to deliver herbal medicines to ...
Jun 24, 2018
Have you identified Hashimoto's thyroiditis in children? Often regarded as a disorder affecting only grown adult women, the diagnosis is rarely put up for consideration when it comes to kids. So, what do we look for? What are the classic signs in children? What are the key dietary and lifestyle interventions that can make a difference to these kids? Today's guest is an expert in Hashimoto's, who lives and breathes it on both a professional and personal level, on a daily basis. Cindy Kennedy is a...
Jun 13, 2018
Autism spectrum disorders are rising exponentially, and greater awareness and better diagnostics don't appear to explain the increase. Autism alone has risen in Australia from 64,400 in 2009 to 164,000 in 2015 with studies in the United States indicating that as many as 1 in 110 children are now affected. Parents are crying out for greater help than merely medicating their loved ones can offer, and this is exactly where Dr Elisa Song's passion lies. As a Paediatrician with two vibrant kids, she ...
Jun 05, 2018
In this industry insights podcast.... It all started with the acknowledgement that there was a gap in the educational conference arena for a purely naturopathic-led event. An event that was clinic-focussed, non-commercial, where naturopaths could learn from naturopathic leaders in the Australian industry. Coming together Rachel Arthur, Nirala Jacobi, Kathryn Simpson and Nina Woods answered that call and little did they know, they would unleash a beast! Initially crowd-funding the inaugural Austr...
May 30, 2018
Worms never conjure up a pleasant picture in our minds and threadworm might be more sinister than we've been led to believe. Despite much talk of the potential therapeutic activity of helminths for things like autoimmune diseases and allergies, Enterobius vermicularis (threadworm) just doesn't seem to have a nice side at all. In today's podcast we are joined by Rachel Arthur aka "The Worm Whisperer". She will be busting a few myths & misconceptions about threadworms, sharing what she's learn...
May 30, 2018
Registration, co-regulation, statutory registration… Bottom line, what do they all mean for naturopathy in Australia? In today's podcast, Peter Berryman recounts the rich history of the Australian Traditional Medicine Society (ATMS), from it's beginnings with Dorothy Hall, through to becoming the largest Australian natural medicine association serving a plethora of clinical modalities that make up the greater complementary medicine industry. Peter joins us today to fulfil an FX Medicine podcast ...
May 29, 2018
If you haven't heard of Lara Briden, you're not listening. Lara is a force in integrative medicine who has written books, chapters of texts, podcasted, blogged and treated thousands of happy patients, both male and female, who selected her for her expertise in treating hormonally-related issues. In today's podcast, Lara covers the many drivers of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Lara delves into just what hormones become dysregulated and what we, as natural healthcare practitioners can do abo...
May 24, 2018
According to Dr Steven Lin we're facing a health crisis with issues such as Type 2 Diabetes, Sleep Apnoea, Obesity and Behavioural Disorders now at epidemic levels. Worse still, these issues are affecting the population younger and younger as time progresses. As a dentist, Dr Steven Lin is seeing these issues in practice and witnessing the relationships between dental health and systemic health and/or disease. It has prompted him to re-examine the underlying causative factors and resulted in him...
May 24, 2018
