Gut Health and Naturopathic Support

March 25, 2023 Christine Carley

Digestive issues are quite common and can be caused by a variety of factors, including stress, poor dietary choices, food intolerances, and digestive disorders. Naturopathy offers a holistic approach to managing digestive issues by focusing on the root cause and promoting optimal digestive function through lifestyle and dietary modifications, herbal remedies, and targeted nutrient supplementation.

Herbs for Digestive Support

Several herbs have been traditionally used for digestive support and can help to improve digestive function, relieve bloating and gas, and soothe inflammation in the gut. Here are some of the top herbs for digestive support:

Ginger - Ginger is a powerful anti-inflammatory herb that can help to reduce nausea, bloating, and other digestive discomforts. Ginger can be consumed fresh, in tea form or in capsule or tincture form.
Peppermint - Peppermint is known for its ability to relax the muscles of the digestive tract, reducing gas and bloating, and easing cramps. Peppermint can be consumed as tea, essential oil or in capsule form.
Chamomile - Chamomile is an anti-inflammatory herb that can help to soothe the lining of the digestive tract, reduce bloating, and promote better digestion. Chamomile can be consumed as tea or in capsule form.

Dietary Recommendations for Digestive Health

In addition to herbal remedies, dietary changes can be an effective way to manage digestive issues. Here are some dietary recommendations to support digestive health:

Eat a Balanced Diet - Eating a diet rich in whole foods, including fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins can promote optimal digestive function. Also, avoiding processed foods and refined sugars can significantly improve digestive health.
Chew Your Food - Chewing your food thoroughly can help to break it down more efficiently, reducing the workload on your digestive system and improving overall digestion.
Avoid Trigger Foods - Certain foods can be problematic for people with digestive issues, such as gluten, dairy, and processed foods. Identifying and avoiding these trigger foods can help to reduce digestive symptoms.

Nutrients for Digestive Health

There are several key nutrients that can support digestive health, including:

Probiotics - Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that help to promote a healthy gut microbiome. Consuming probiotic-rich foods such as sauerkraut, kefir, and kimchi or taking a high-quality probiotic supplement can improve digestive health.
Digestive Enzymes - Digestive enzymes are essential for breaking down food into nutrients that the body can absorb. Supplementing with digestive enzymes can help to improve digestive function and reduce bloating and gas.
Fiber - Fiber plays an important role in digestive health by promoting regular bowel movements and reducing inflammation in the gut. Consuming fiber-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can improve digestive function.

Digestive issues can significantly impact your quality of life. Naturopathy offers a variety of holistic approaches to managing these issues. By incorporating herbal remedies, dietary changes, and targeted nutrient supplementation, you can improve your digestive health and enjoy a more comfortable and enjoyable life. Remember that the key is to address the root cause of your digestive issues and to work with a qualified naturopathic practitioner to develop a personalised treatment plan that meets your unique needs.

You can book a free 15min Discovery Call here with a naturopath to see if we can help you.

Pic Photo by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash

Balancing Your Hormones - 5 Easy Tips

November 30, 2022 Christine Carley

Balancing your hormones is such a IT word phrase at the moment so we thought it was fitting to give you very simple top 5 tips to balance your hormones.

Fertility, Preconception and IVF Support

September 12, 2020 Christine Carley

Preparing to have a baby is one of the most meaningful experiences in our lives. Fertility preparation and support is a chance to optimise not only your own health, in preparation for a family. You are also optimising the health of your future child and family. Read further to find out - What needs to be assessed for better fertility outcomes….

Flu Season Preparing Yourself

April 19, 2020 Christine Carley

Published Aug 2017

Melbourne and surrounding states are going through one of the worst flu seasons on record. The Victorian government report week ending 13th Aug, states the number of laboratory confirmed influenza cases is 160% higher than at the same time in 2016. In Melbourne pediatric viruses have lead to a 70% rise in adult pneumonia.

Not only do we have people with the flu, we have people with conditions that come about post infection, such as pneumonia, bronchitis and those people effected by this with compromised immune systems.

Lowered immune resistance can also lead to further illness susceptibility. The aftermath is a body and an immune system that has basically had a hammering! :(

What can you do?

1. Keep your fluids up - sip hot immune boosting drinks. Include bone broths, organic chicken soup, miso & vegetable soup for vegetarians. Include warm water with lemon and Manuka honey drink – see recipe below.

2. Eat lightly to allow your body to reroute from digestion to fortification

3. Ease your aches and pains – Take warm baths with magnesium chloride or Epsom salts.

4. Most importantly REST REST REST & SLEEP - Take the day off before it really hits and be early to bed to keep your immune system functioning optimally.

5. Reduce Stress - excessive stress can decrease immune function and make you more susceptible to the flu. Deep breathing, gentle yoga and meditation can help reduce stress in every day life.

Over the counter medications generally treat the symptoms of cold and virus. Botanical medicines including including antivirals immune stimulating herbs as well as nutritional supplements help support the body's ability to implement its natural defenses.

How Can a Naturopath Help?

1. Prescribe a personalised liquid herbal remedy – including antibacterial, antiviral and immune boosting herbs to support your immune system.

2. Support your gut– 70% of your immune system is located in the mucousal lining of your digestive system.

3. Prescribe appropriate dietary advice and nutritional supplements which may include Vitamin D, C, A, Zinc.

The main goal is to work with the bodies defence system and enhance immunity rather than suppress symptoms with analgesics.

So the first step is early intervention to avoid getting sick. As soon as you feel a tickle or sore throat, or your child comes home sick and you think “oh no here we all go again”. Or for goodness sake, someone coughs on you on the way home! Get in fast and book an appointment. We have TGA approved herbal remedies to help support your immune system.

Apple Cider Vinegar Drink For Cold and Flu:

http://lovethyhealth.com.au/wholefoods/#/soupscongeebonebroth/

http://www.health.gov.au/flureport

http://www.health.gov.au/flureport#state

Christine Carley is a bachelor qualified naturopath, with a focus on women’s health and wellness. She passionately supports her clients with, fertility and IVF optimisation, menopause and hormonal health as well as gut health. She spent most of her early clinical practice working with people with chronic and complex autoimmune condition, whilst working in a clinic with cardiologist, psychologists, podiatrist and allied health professionals. She loves assisting those stress, anxiety, fatigue and sleep. She is a passionate health ambassador who takes a holistic, person centred approach to the wellness model of health.

Book an appointment or free online discovery call here: bookings here: LOVE THY HEALTH or call 0409027221

*National and International Telehealth available

For more on her retreats and holistic wellness program touch here:

FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM

or call (61+) 0409027221

Love Thy Health

0409 027 221 ONLINE BOOKINGS

christine@lovethyhealth.net

0409 027 221 ONLINE BOOKING

Lose Weight While You Sleep

January 27, 2020 Christine Carley

Lose Weight While You Sleep

Did you know that insufficient sleep is seen to be directly associated with weight gain and obesity?

So before you pay for that new gym membership to start off your 2020. Consider giving yourself permission to sleep and commit some time and energy to improving your sleep quantity and quality by making some changes.

I am thinking if you are like me you have probably been enjoying the festive season and staying up later. This can have a significant impact on our circadian rhythm / sleep cycle.

Disruption to this system and lack of sleep can affect our caloric intake and increase consumption of unhealthy foods. Alterations in appetite regulation can also affect our hormone production and regulation while promoting weight gain.1,2.

Following is a full list of effects of short sleep duration compiled from Bioconcepts Research.

Short sleep duration in humans has been shown to: 3

Shift the balance of reward and impulse control toward enhanced reward and impaired executive functioning and impulse control
Increase stress and activate the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis
Decrease leptin levels
Increase ghrelin levels
Decrease Glucagon-like peptide-1 levels
Increase the opportunity to eat
Delay and enhance the endocannabinoid signaling pathway

Each of these pathways has been shown to increase food intake in human study participants.3

Additionally, while an unhealthy diet, obesity and poor sleep appear to be a vicious cycle, a recent systematic review and meta-analysis concluded short sleep as a causal factor driving obesity risk.4

It also doesn’t hurt to hydrate well, eat your greens, move your body, plan your meals, track your symptoms, snack smart, remove sugary triggers from your pantry and solidify your new health routine commitments with a friend. But perhaps getting your 7-8 hours of sleep a night could be a more relaxing approach to your new year and could prove to be a more effective weight loss tool in the long run.

If you are struggling with sleep here are some helpful tips to get you started.

Love Thy Health ARTICLE: Good sleep & How to Get it.

Make a time to see me to support you to find a cause for your sleep issues. To discuss herbal and supplemental interventions to support better sleep quality and quantity.

Book an appointment or free online discovery call here: LOVE THY HEALTH or call 0409027221

*National and International Telehealth available

References

Isaac Smith, Katherine Saed, M.-P. S.-O. Sleep and food intake. in Sleep and Health (ed. Grandner, M. A.) 243–255 (Elsevier, 2019).
Kelly Glazer Baron, E. C. Sleep and healthy decision making. in Sleep and Health (ed. Grandner, M. A.) 359–369 (Elsevier, 2019).
Spaeth, A. M. Insufficient sleep and obesity. in Sleep and Health (ed. Grandner, M. A.) 189–201 (Elsevier, 2019).
Patrice L. Capers, Aaron D. Fobian, Kathryn A. Kaiser, Rohit Borah, and D. & B.Allison. A systematic Review and meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials of the impact of Sleep Duration on ADiposity and Components of Energy Balance. Obes. Rev. 9, 771–782 (2015).

Exposure to Toxic Smoke

December 4, 2019 Christine Carley

I recently saw the article about the firefighters in the West Footscray factory fires, posted locally in WeFo. It really got me thinking about how sad it is that those who protect us in our community have had such exposure to toxic waste. They said they had literally breathed it in. It was unavoidable. They are now living with potentially un-diagnosed chronic conditions. I see people like this weekly in clinic. Often due to toxic exposure in their own homes and environments.

AGE ARTICLE - What Happen to us in West Footscray

The article really prompted me to think about when the fire first started… How did I react to protect my family?

The first thing I think about with toxic exposure is, remove to the offensive toxic item. Well in this situation the people needed to be removed. That didn’t happen. So If this is not possible or doesn’t happen, there is still a lot we can do to support our health.

The first thing I personally did was get started with some liver support. The liver is the main organ to detoxify the body of chemicals, medications and excess hormones among other thing. Anything really that we are exposed to, that the body doesn’t need in excess is, mainly detoxified by the liver. So we need to support this organ to do the amazing work it is capable of actually doing.

Herbs and supplements that can support the liver are…

A good quality B vitamin supplement - help with phase 2 detoxification and support the body to excrete them through other organs. They also support the nervous system in times of stress.

St Mary’s Thistle or Silymarin - is known for its liver support and detoxification qualities.

Vitamin C - is essential for your immune system which may be suffering post exposure and regrowth of new cells.

When taking anything it is important to ensure it doesn’t interact with your medications.

Detoxify the mind of all of the bad thinking about this is often ignored. In reality we cant always stop these exposures from happening. It is important to work through these feelings in a helpful way. My family and with many of my clients we use The Work of Byron Katie for this. You may benefit from speaking to a good friend, your psychologist or someone on a hotline. 131114 - Lifeline 1300 22 4636 - Beyond blue There are many people to choose from to talk to here: Health - Mental health help lines

I lived with an un-diagnosed chronic health condition for many years due to toxic exposure and trauma. So I can say from personal experience. There is hope! Now I live totally pain free after years of chronic pain.

There is hope and so much you can do. Please don't feel like this is impossible.

Christine x

Here are some articles about detoxification you may find helpful…

Which Detox Suits You

10 Cleansing Tips for the Holiday Season

The Number One Principle for Health and Why Self Care is So important

Good Sleep & How to Get it

Book an appointment or free online discovery call here: LOVE THY HEALTH or call 0409027221

*National and International Telehealth available

Post Natal Depletion, Depression and What You Can Do Now.

October 29, 2019 Christine Carley

Adjusting to life with a new baby may come with so many emotional and physical challenges, making it common for mothers to experience frequent exhaustion or feel overwhelmed. There are many new experiences we face as new parents that we had never before imagined.

What you can do for yourself and baby now….

The Number One Principle for Health & Why Self Care is So Important

July 19, 2018 Christine Carley

Hello to you All,

I thought I would check in with you all today. This was prompted by a client I saw who came to see me after thinking about it for a number of years. I had been seeing his partner for a long time, but hadn't seen her for a year so I though she had gone on her merry way. He had been struggling with chronic health conditions for more than 20 years and he came to see me for his gut health and general well being. We had a really beautiful first consultation. At the end when he was leaving, he turned around and said "I have got to say something. I have been meaning to see you for years." He had tears in his eyes...and I really stopped, listened and waited, as he couldn't quite get the words out. He said: "I have seen what you have done for my wife and today I feel like I have truly been heard. I feel like I have had so many questions answered, that have been unanswered for such a long time. I feel like I have been waiting for this for a long time". In his own words, he gave me his deep gratitude and thanks. He was paying me gratitude for the space he had been given. He was also paying gratitude to himself for giving himself the space he obviously had been waiting to give for many years. - I am not sure if he knows this yet.

This is why I love, this work. I love what I choose to do.

What I wanted to talk about before I got into that story today is committing to your health and how to do that. What I realised, also took me a long time and many years to realise. It was my own commitment to my own health and my mental health that would be the turning point for me on my own journey.

So Here is the Number One Principle for Health

You might need a pen. This is a tip, an idea, a seed that I am planting. I wasn't ready for it for a long time.

This is the talk I have with many of my clients.

Principle number one

Principle number one Is committing to making your health, your number one priority. This means believing that you are a valuable person. This also means (and this includes mums', dads' and animal lovers), this means you are the most important person in your life. Because without putting on our oxygen mask in the plane, we cant help anyone else. When we do put on our oxygen mask on first in the plane, it is a trickle down effect. We sit at the top of the pyramid in our world and below that are our first most important people, below that are our other important people and so on.... and below that is then being able to help a whole lot of other people, beings and animals.

This is truly how I feel in my heart much deeper now that I have my own health in a place where I can truly say, I feel the most vital and energetic that I have ever been. When I was in the deepest illness called fibromyalgia for many years, I didn't have the ability to help others. Now I feel I do.

I still hold and practice principle number one. If my health and well being is the most important, then I am able to help other people. I get more clarity on this if ever I get sick or I go on holidays and I take care of my self.

How Do I Do this?

The way to do this is to have an open mind. It can be a really different way of thinking for some people, to put themselves first when they continually put their children, their puppies or their parents first. They put this on hold or that on hold, because I cant do this. I hear it a lot. I hear from my older clients who are in their 60s say, "I cant do anything for my health until I have mum or dad sorted out.". There is always going to be an excuse.

So if you are open minded and are willing to explore the cause of your dis-ease. You need to be willing to put yourself at the top.

I had to share this with you after my beautiful restorative yoga class at Dharma Circle, which I highly recommend if you are willing. This is when I get clarity. To make time for yourself, sometimes you need to get the old stuff out of the way and bring in the new concepts and ideas and allocate 'you' time. Time for your well being. Especially if your excuse is "I don't have time because" ...you can map your week out on a timetable. Allocate work time and play time. Especially for those Virgos who like to map things out.