Are you confident in the art of naturopathic physical examination techniques? Today we are talking to Naturopath, Katie Barron who has a passion for enhancing her peers' clinicals skills in the art of physical examination. Katie is touring Australia running workshops to help practitioners build confidence in naturopathic examination techniques to answer a need she identified amongst her professional peers. In this episode Katie shares how building examinations into the consultation process is a ...
May 16, 2019
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is often a poorly understood, stigmatised disorder and more common than you think, with between 1-3% of the population suffering a breakdown at some stage. BPD can encompass feelings of depression, hopelessness, obsessive behaviors, self harm, suicide, substance abuse and unstable relationships. Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) is the new psychotherapy of choice in Australia for BPD. Today we're talking to Megan Shiell, an experienced DBT and Art Psychoth...
May 13, 2019
Psoriasis is a challenging condition for both patients and practitioners. With multiple clinical presentations and a laundry list of triggers and exacerbating factors, what's clear, is that there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to treatment. Today we are joined by integrative dermatologist Prof Michael Tirant who has a passion for sharing the knowledge he's amassed over three decades as a clinician and a researcher. Prof Tirant takes us through the many aetiological factors underlaying pso...
Apr 25, 2019
How well do you understand the inner workings of the brain? We're well aware of the effects that poor nutrition, lack of sleep, excessive or chronic stress and toxins can play on brain and cognitive health. But what are the actual mechanisms of damage to the brain? How does the brain clean away damaged cellular debris and what happens when our normal healing mechanisms don't work? Furthermore, how can we repair a brain damaged by chronic inflammation? Ahead of his travels down under for the 7th ...
Apr 17, 2019
What can genes tell us about our personal or cultural food choices? Ahead of her visit to Australia in May 2019 for the 7th BioCeuticals Research Symposium, Andrew talks to nutritionist and nutrigenomics expert, Amanda Archibald. Amanda is the mastermind behind The Genomic Kitchen and a founding pioneer in the field of culinary genomics. Today Amanda shares with us an insight into her career journey and how she has become a leader in actionable education delivering nutrigenomics to everyday cons...
Apr 09, 2019
Everyday too many women are enduring chronic pelvic pain from menstruation and endometriosis. What's more, sufferers often have to resist strong pain relief as it renders them unable to function in their occupation or to meet the needs of their family obligations. It's clear that more options need to be explored and that begins largely, with more research and this is where Dr Mike Armour comes in. He joins us today to share an insight into his career and how his passion for gynaecology, pregnanc...
Mar 28, 2019
Are natural therapies being systematically targeted? This seems to be the sentiment of many within the complementary medicine industry. Fringe groups and lobbyists are constantly citing that "there's no evidence for complementary and integrative medicine practices". But what are the facts and where can we find them? Prof Stephen Myers is both a respected academic and passionate advocate of the complementary and integrative medicine industry. Prof Myers has amassed an impressive portfolio of rese...
Mar 24, 2019
Is the Medical Board of Australia attempting to suppress the use of complementary medicines by lumping them into the same category as "unconventional medicine and emerging treatments"? Today we are joined by Prof Stephen Myers, a respected academic in complementary and integrative medicine, who shares his educated opinion on this recent move by the Medical Board of Australia. Find today's show notes and transcript here: https://www.fxmedicine.com.au/content/complementary-medicine-under-siege-pro...
Mar 24, 2019
Today we are joined by Australasian Integrative Medicine Association (AIMA) president, Dr Penny Caldicott to draw attention to a recent public consultation paper released by the Medical Board of Australia in February 2019 and its potential for negative impact on the complementary medicine industry. Find today's show notes here: https://www.fxmedicine.com.au/blog-post/breaking-news-concerns-over-complementary-medicine-suppression-dr-penny-caldicott *****DISCLAIMER: The information provided on FX ...
Mar 24, 2019
What role do healing cycles, the cell-danger response and the mitochondria play in restoring balance to children's overloaded neurological systems? Ahead of the 2019 Mindd Forum Conference we chat to integrative paediatric clinician, Dr Elizabeth Mumper about the core pillars she employs in her own practice when working with children with neurodevelopmental disorders. She also shares what she is most excited about teaching at the forthcoming Mindd Forum and what she's looking forward to learning...
Mar 21, 2019
Have you heard of microchimerism? Today we are joined by Leah Hechtman to give us an insight into the topics she is lecturing on at the forthcoming Mindd Forum Conference 2019 in Sydney on the 23rd - 24th March. Leah talks us through the various forms of microchimerism and why it really highlights the significance that pre and post conception care play in the health of future generations. Leah shares the immunological consequences that are just starting to be understood in microchimerism and the...
Mar 21, 2019
The terminology "adrenal fatigue" may be the incorrect vernacular to describe what is actually happening at a physiological level. It's far more complex than "worn out adrenals." So what's going on - is cortisol low, or high? It seems that this old Naturopathic axiom may have been born from a misinterpretation of Hans Selye's work and that it needs adjustment, to bring it back into alignment with current science. This episode is part one in a two-part discussion with Beth Bundy on why the term "...
Mar 19, 2019
Mood disorders are rising exponentially in the younger population, affecting around 20% of young Australians. We are well-aware of the effects of computer gaming, social media and the "online life" of teenagers, and how these influence mood, but what about dietary effects on depression, anxiety, anger and aggression? Compounding this is the fact that teenagers are notorious for poor sleep hygiene and compliance with medications and medical advice. In today's podcast, Dr Adrian Lopresti takes us ...
Mar 12, 2019
One in seven males can expect to suffer with a problem with their prostate by age 40, the most common being benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate. However prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the fourth leading cause of mortality for males in Australia today. Despite these health issues being exceedingly common they remain chronically under-recognised and in some cases, poorly managed. Today we are joined by Dr Mark Donohoe who exper...
Mar 05, 2019
Are you having a discussion about phthalate exposure to your male and female fertility clients? Male fertility is a growing issue, from penile and genitourinary deformities to low sperm counts, the evidence is becoming clear; this is an issue that needs more attention. Today we're joined by Anna Sangster who specialises in not only helping potential fathers to optimise the health of their sperm, but she's also passionate about helping parents to make educated health decisions that will impact th...
Feb 27, 2019
The diagnosis of Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is a crushing one, with the medical treatment still being one of support instead of improvement in prognosis and only a few potential treatments on the horizon. Yet there may be some hope in easing symptoms and improving quality of life (QoL) for those afflicted with this devastating disease. In today's podcast, Vanita Dahia, pharmacist and expert in amino acid nutrition, takes us through the antioxidants, nutritional, herbal and amino acid options wh...
Feb 12, 2019
Is there a place for naturopathic medicine in palliative care? What is the active role a naturopath can play within a patient's healthcare team when a person's illness progresses to a palliative care phase? Sarah Franklin is a Registered Nurse, Naturopath and Acupuncturist with a vast breadth of expertise in oncology care and today we'll discuss the more personal, sometimes confronting aspects of naturopathic care when our patient's prognosis changes to palliation. Sarah shares her expertise on ...
Feb 05, 2019
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) is so much more than just a curious double-jointed ability…so much more! Imagine your limbs giving way as you run, jump, and play. Imagine your developing teeth dislodging from their sockets. Imagine the connective tissue structure of your bladder, your skin, even the integrity of your cardiovascular and digestive system constantly being compromised. This is what Cindy Kennedy will take us through today, as she discusses both her professional and personal journey as ...
Jan 29, 2019
Those patients for which medicine has no answers or solutions are very often the ones ending up in front of an integrative medicine practitioner. The time spent with patients is often longer, the investigations, sometimes deeper and in that process comes a mutual connection between patient and practitioner as they attempt together, to piece that person's health and wellbeing back together. The darker side of this kind of health care are the patients we were unable to help. Those who's health cha...
Jan 22, 2019
There is a growing body of research supporting a range of clinical benefits for intermittent fasting (IF). For those of us who aren't early adopters - what is it and when is it a clinically relevant choice for patients? In today's podcast, we're joined once again by Natalie Bourke, who shares her own clinical rationale for determining if intermittent fasting is the right choice for her patients. Nat expertly navigates us through outcomes for women vs. men, the impact on blood sugar and hormonal ...
Jan 15, 2019
We are entering an age where technology and convenience are driving patients to favour online consultations. Practitioners must therefore, adapt and innovate to meet this growing market and what may be overlooked in the process is the ethical and legal aspects of protecting patient data. Today we are joined by dietitian, Robbie Clark who, like many others, started to explore the possibilities of taking his practice digital and what he discovered in the process is not only shocking, but relativel...
Jan 14, 2019
The term 'polypharmacy' is usually defined as the use of five or more drugs, which can include both prescribed and over-the-counter medicines but what is often overlooked is the concomitant use of complementary medicines. Here in Australia, it's becoming more commonplace for pharmacists to intervene in patients with polypharmacy by conducting a medication review and working with their GP to determine if their medications are necessary. What's increasingly evident that pharmacists are a trusted a...
Jan 09, 2019
What can we uncover with hair mineral analysis? In today's podcast, we are joined by clinical nutritionist, Maria Shaflender, who uses hair mineral analysis as part of her standard consultation and assessment process. Maria shares with us the value she finds in using hair mineral analysis as a clinical tool to craft her individualised treatment plans for a range of conditions from thyroid disorders, children's health, mental health and toxicity. Maria draws from specific patient cases to illustr...
Dec 18, 2018
Are your breast implants making you sick? This niggling little question arises for many women (and men) months, even years after breast augmentation surgery. Despite being controversial and no clear link has yet been found, more and more women are connecting the dots with their long term, chronic inflammatory and immunological conditions that they have been suffering since undertaking implant surgery. Today we are joined by Alysha Habgood, a naturopath with her own personal journey through breas...
Dec 11, 2018
The true value of preventative medicine lies somewhere between a patient's own self care activities and their proactive practitioner's screening processes. Today we are joined by integrative GP, Dr Penny Caldicott who is long-term champion of team-based, multidisciplinary healthcare, having founded her practice on these principles. Dr Caldicott joins us today to take us through her views on some of the forgotten aspects of self care in modern society and the many important ways a GP, or health p...
Dec 04, 2018
Sometimes clinical intervention is necessary to help your patients achieve a good night sleep. There's an art to deciding which interventions are most appropriate for each individual patient and which herbs or nutrients need to be included in the prescription to address a client's specific needs. Should you choose valerian or kava, magnesium or B6? In this episode Norelle Hentschel shares her own clinical wisdom in differentiating her sleep prescriptions. Picking up where we left off in part 1, ...
Nov 27, 2018
What is sleep hygiene? Most of us know we feel better after a good nights sleep, but how can we maximise patient wellbeing through sleep? Today we are joined by naturopath and sleep expert, Norelle Hentschel from Your Sleep Remedy to take us through the vital components of attaining restful, rejuvenating sleep for ourselves and our patients. With so much to cover in a single podcast, we've broken it up into a two-part series. In part one, we look at the hormonal and lifestyle drivers of sleep an...
Nov 22, 2018
Imagine collaborative research initiatives that are simultaneously taking place in several international locations, all of which are aimed to not just validate singular natural medicines, but are looking at the bigger picture of validating naturopathy as a system of medicine and a professional that can contribute meaningfully to the health system. Does this sound too good to be true? Well, in today's podcast, Dr Amie Steel joins us to share that this is not just possible, but is already underway...
Nov 14, 2018
It was Einstein who said; "Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds." This quote resonates with the story of today's guest, pioneering orthopaedic surgeon, Dr Gary Fettke. Tune in to discover why Dr Fettke describes himself as a "committed sardine," and why he was targeted by his professional peers for daring to question the status quo. Dr Fettke shares his awakening to the limitations of current, medically-accepted food guidelines and the challenges he has fa...
Nov 05, 2018
What do you do when your skills as a mentor are in such demand that there are not enough hours in the day to help them all? Today we're joined by Geraldine Headley to talk about how her career grew organically to develop her own mentoring system. Faced with the realisation that she would need to diversify her business model so she could reach more people, Geraldine had to innovate. And innovate, she did. Geraldine shares with us her career journey, the systems she has developed and how it all cu...
Nov 05, 2018
