Chantel Yates Naturopath & Herbalist

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Hobart, TAS
Chantel Yates Naturopath & Herbalist

Naturopath. Educator. Microbiome specialist. I help you get to the root - supporting your gut, nervous system, and whole self with honest, evidence-based care.

No extremes. No fluff. Just real, lasting change. Explore more at chantelyates.com.au

04/05/2026

New research spotlight 🧠

This systematic review suggests that gut microbiota modulation may be a promising strategy for supporting cognitive health in ageing adults - particularly in those with prodromal or mild cognitive impairment.

Reported benefits included:
〰️ improvements in memory and executive function
〰️ increased microbial diversity and SCFA production
〰️ reduced neuroinflammatory markers

Interestingly, effects were much more limited in advanced Alzheimer’s disease, which supports the idea that earlier intervention may be key 🌿

There is still plenty we need to clarify, but this is another meaningful addition to the research on the gut-brain axis.

Want access to the full article? Comment COGNITION below

30/04/2026

If you’re a practitioner with a complex gut case that feels stuck, layered, or hard to unravel… this pop-up is for you 💩

Complex microbiome cases are very much my jam. I’ve studied under Jason Hawrelak for years, and I genuinely love helping other practitioners think through the cases that don’t fit neatly into a simple protocol.

This is a small, supportive session for practitioners who want another brain on a tricky case, clearer clinical direction, and a space to talk it through properly.

If you’ve been feeling stuck on a case, I’d love to support you 🤍

Comment CASE below and I’ll send you the details.

29/04/2026

Hawthorn is often spoken about for the heart… but its effects may start much further down the digestive tract.

One of the most interesting things about hawthorn berry to me is its pectin content - a fermentable fibre that reaches the colon largely intact, where it can be metabolised by gut microbes into short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs).

These compounds do far more than support digestion.

They help maintain the intestinal barrier, reduce inflammation, regulate immune activity, and communicate with the nervous system through the gut-brain axis.

Emerging research also suggests hawthorn-derived pectin and oligosaccharides may:
〰️ increase SCFA-producing bacteria
〰️ support beneficial genera like Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus
〰️ shift the microbiome toward a more metabolically favourable profile

Which starts to make sense of how a berry traditionally used for “heavy” meals and sluggish digestion may also have such a strong affinity for the cardiovascular system.

When we use hawthorn in whole, food-based forms like syrups, jellies or decoctions, we may be doing much more than gently supporting digestion.

We may also be feeding beneficial microbes, calming inflammation, and influencing broader metabolic and nervous system function along the way.

If you’d like to read the full blog post, follow the link below🤍

https://www.chantelyates.com.au/blog/hawthorn-season

28/04/2026

I’m so excited to be offering 2 pop-up sessions this May only ⏳

And the truth is… they will not happen again.

These are small, focused, intentionally affordable one-off sessions.

One for practitioners and one for patients - created to offer real support, real answers, and something genuinely useful right when it’s needed. Both sessions are 90 minutes via Zoom, capped at 6 participants, and are offered as a one-off payment with no ongoing commitment.

For practitioners, the Complex Case Mentoring pop-up is for clinicians who need another brain on a tricky microbiome case - especially when things feel stuck, complex, or hard to prioritise. It will run on Tuesday 12 May at 4:00 PM AEST.

For patients, the General Group Appointment is a small supportive online session offering genuine 1:1 time with me at a fraction of the usual cost, with the added benefit of hearing others’ questions and answers too. It will run on Wednesday 13 May at 10:30 AM AEST (Hobart).

These sessions exist because sometimes practitioners simply need another brain on a case, and sometimes patients simply need someone to talk to without the financial stretch of a full consultation.

They are intentionally small so everyone gets real time, real answers, and something they can actually use. And they are not recurring events.

Six spots each. May only. Once they’re gone, they’re gone. 👏🏼

Learn more: https://www.chantelyates.com.au/pop-up-sessions

21/04/2026

“What can I take to give me more energy?” 🤭

It’s one of the most common questions I get, aand in perimenopause, my answer might surprise you.
Sometimes it’s not about adding more.

More supplements, more routines, more optimising.

Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is take things away.

What’s draining you? What’s on your plate that doesn’t need to be there? What would it feel like to actually rest, not just sleep, but truly restore?

This season of life is asking something different of you.

Learning to hear that, and honour it, can be more transformative than any supplement stack.

If your body is calling you toward rest and reset, my Microbiome Retreat might be exactly what you need ✨

We’re heading to Tasmania in October for an immersive experience designed to restore you from the inside out.

Comment GUT RETREAT below to learn more 👇

15/04/2026

Perimenopause asks something different of us ⬇️

As oestrogen begins to decline, many women notice they simply don’t have the same capacity they once did.

The strategies that worked in their 20s and 30s, pushing through fatigue, saying yes to everything, running on very little rest, often start to feel unsustainable.

And this is the point where many women think something is “wrong” with them.
But often, the body isn’t failing.

It’s asking for a shift.

While supportive nutrients and herbs absolutely have their place, another supplement alone can’t create the deeper change that perimenopause is inviting.

This transition is often about reconfiguring life.
✨ Different rhythms.
✨ More recovery.
✨ Clearer boundaries.
✨ A new relationship with energy and capacity.

Perimenopause isn’t just a hormonal change.

It’s a physiological transition that asks us to live differently.

And when we start listening to that signal, rather than pushing against it, things often begin to feel a lot more supportive.

Are you noticing shifts in your capacity during perimenopause?

13/04/2026

Iron is not microbiologically neutral, and this is a piece often missed in practice ⬇️

🦠 From a gut ecology perspective, iron functions as a growth-limiting nutrient for many microbes.

When oral iron is not fully absorbed in the proximal small intestine, it reaches the colon where it can selectively promote the expansion of iron-dependent organisms, particularly within the Proteobacteria phylum.

Across human and experimental models, oral iron supplementation has been associated with increased abundance of organisms commonly linked to inflammatory states and dysbiosis including:
〰️ Escherichia coli
〰️Enterobacter spp.
〰️Klebsiella spp.
〰️Citrobacter spp.

In susceptible patients, this can manifest as:
✖️ increased bloating
✖️ urgency
✖️ altered stool patterns
✖️ symptom flares following iron initiation (even when using “well-tolerated” forms)

Emerging evidence also suggests oral iron may increase intestinal inflammatory markers, particularly where barrier integrity is already compromised.

From a clinical perspective, iron repletion strategies should aim to:
✔ minimise unabsorbed luminal iron
✔ avoid excessive or unnecessarily frequent dosing
✔ consider the broader gastrointestinal context.

This is particularly relevant in patients with underlying dysbiosis, post-infectious presentations, or a history of recurrent gut dysfunction.

🧬 Comment ‘IRON’ below and I’ll send you my latest blog

09/04/2026

Practitioners… are you remembering to take your tonics this change of season? 🍃

We often remind our patients about prevention and immune support, but it’s easy to forget to apply the same principles to ourselves.

Seasonal transitions are a time when the body can quietly become depleted, especially if you’re seeing a high patient load or exposed to lots of circulating infections.

This is why I like bringing in simple herbal tonics early, before depletion sets in.
One that often sits at the top of my list is elderberry 🫐

Traditionally used to support the immune system during seasonal change, elderberry is rich in anthocyanins and polyphenols, providing antioxidant support while helping maintain a healthy inflammatory response.

It’s also a beautiful herb for upper respiratory tract support during the colder months and can work well as a preventative tonic during high-exposure seasons.

I’ll often pair it with other seasonal supports such as vitamin C, zinc or complementary herbs, depending on the patient.

But the reminder here isn’t just for patients.

As practitioners, we are constantly holding space for others. Supporting our own resilience through seasonal transitions matters too.

So consider this your gentle reminder: take your tonics and look after yourself as well. 🍵
Send this to a fellow practitioner 🤍

08/04/2026

Group appointments are honestly, one of the best things I’ve added to my practice 🫶🏼

I’ve been running group appointments for the past few months now and I cannot recommend them enough.

There’s something really special that happens when people come together in a shared health journey...

The support, the questions, the “me too” moments.

It creates a space that’s just different from a one-on-one consult, and I’ve watched participants genuinely lift each other up along the way.

If you’ve been curious about how group appointments work in a naturopathic setting, or you’re a fellow practitioner wondering how to set them up, drop your questions below feel free to send me a DM

Chantel x

P

06/04/2026

Iron deficiency is rarely just a reflection of inadequate intake 🩸

In clinical practice, persistent or recurrent low ferritin often points to a mismatch between intake, absorption, and losses, with underlying drivers frequently overlooked.

Reduced bioavailability is common in patients with long-term dietary restriction or predominantly non-haem iron intake, particularly when inhibitors such as polyphenols (tea/coffee) and phytates are present.

However, impaired absorption is a key consideration. Iron uptake occurs primarily in the duodenum, making it highly sensitive to mucosal integrity and inflammatory signalling.

Conditions such as Coeliac disease, Helicobacter pylori infection, and Inflammatory bowel disease can significantly alter iron handling via structural changes and hepcidin-mediated mechanisms.

📈 Emerging data also suggest an association between Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth subtypes and reduced ferritin.

Ongoing losses must also be assessed, particularly in cases of heavy menstrual bleeding or where iron levels are labile, rapidly declining, or refractory to oral therapy, warranting investigation for occult gastrointestinal blood loss.

Ultimately, effective management requires identifying the dominant driver rather than relying on replacement alone.

🧬 Comment ‘IRON’ below and I’ll send you my latest blog

02/04/2026

Elderberry season is HERE, and I’m making the most of it

Just finished harvesting elderberries to make a homemade elixir that’ll be keeping my family and I well all winter long. There is something so grounding about going straight to the source.

Elderberries have been used for centuries as one of nature’s most beloved immune tonics, and for good reason.

They’re packed with antioxidants and compounds that genuinely support your immune system through the colder months.

This elixir is a winter staple in our house and I make a big batch every single year.

If you’re in Tassie or the south of Australia, get outside!

Elderberries are absolutely everywhere right now and they are free for the taking.

Nature really does provide.

Ps, just make sure you prepare them correctly as they are toxic if there is too much stem or they are not cooked.

01/04/2026

The 2026 Microbiome Retreat dates are officially set 🗓

Join us 29 October to 2 November 2026 for a few days dedicated to understanding and supporting the hormones, microbiome and reproductive system.

This retreat will explore how the microbiome influences women’s health across different life stages, and how we can support this through food, lifestyle and targeted practices.

Over the retreat we’ll be diving into topics such as:
~ Hormone-supportive foods
~ Detoxification pathways
~ Nervous system regulation
~ The vaginal microbiome
~ Sleep and recovery
~ PMS and cycle health
~ Hot flushes and menopause
~ Bone health

It’s designed to be both educational and restorative, creating space to learn, reflect and reconnect with your health.

If this feels like something your body has been asking for, we would love to have you join us.

✨ Your invitation to support your hormones.

Comment RETREAT below to join the waitlist and be the first to receive details.

Address

Hobart, TAS
7000

Website

https://www.chantelyates.com.au/

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