Monica's Herbal Health

10/02/2026

Men don’t lose blood regularly (unlike menstruating women), so they normally maintain iron stores quite easily.
Therefore, low iron in a man is always worth investigating, because it’s not expected physiologically.

Some common underlying causes include:

Chronic blood loss – most often from the gut(e.g., ulcers, gastritis, haemorrhoids, colon polyps, or bowel cancer).
*Poor absorption – due to coeliac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, or low stomach acid.
*Dietary insufficiency – rare unless vegan/vegetarian with inadequate intake or heavy endurance exercise.
*Chronic inflammation– can block iron utilisation (functional deficiency).
Genetic SNP's may also play a role.

So in short:
👉 Men should not have a low iron state, and if they do, it’s important to find the cause rather than just supplement.
Reach out if you have recently being diagnosed with low iron or ferritin stores.
Share this with your Mates, so they know to take action as well!!
Your Wellbeing Matters
with Love
Monica

06/02/2026

Happy New Year — yes, even in February! 🌿

I’ve just fixed a little tech issue (Canva and I had a tech falling out 🫣), so I’m officially back online! (thanks to my kids and Bree )

Honestly, February feels like the real start of the year anyway — when routines settle, motivation returns, and we can actually breathe again.

I’m looking forward to sharing more naturopathic insights, practical tips, and a few laughs along the way.

Here’s to health, balance, and fresh starts — whenever they happen 💚

13/09/2025

🩺 **Had your bloods tested lately, only to be told everything is “normal”?**

One of my passions in practice is reading beyond the reference ranges, on your pathology results. “Normal” doesn’t always mean *optimal*, and that’s where so many important health insights can be missed.
I also see misread **iron results** . For instance, here’s a recent case:

* Ferritin: 220 (range: 30-300)
* Iron: 6 (L) (range: 9-30)
* Transferrin: 2.1 (range: 1.6-3.4)
* Saturation: 9 (L) (range: 15-30)

A common (but incorrect) interpretation would label this person as iron deficient and was recommend an infusion. But these results actually show an **acute phase response** — likely due to infection or inflammation. Their body is storing iron (high ferritin), not releasing it (low transferrin & saturation), in order to **starve the infection**, not because they’re deficient. Giving iron here could actually do more harm than good.

This is the kind of detail I look for when reviewing your blood work. If you've been told your results are "fine" but you still feel off — let’s take a deeper look together.

📩 Message me or book an appointment — I’d love to help you understand your results properly.
Your Wellbeing Matters
with Love Monica

🔍 Disclaimer:
The information shared in this post is for educational purposes only and is not intended as personal medical advice. Pathology results must always be interpreted in the context of your full clinical picture. If you have concerns about your health or test results, please speak with a qualified healthcare professional.

12/08/2025

Inspire Monday's on Tuesday ;)
After 9 months of rehabbing my broken ankle, I finally made it back to a mountain top this weekend — and wow, was it worth it. The view = instant soul boost. Just Spectacular. 😍🏔️

**Mountains don’t stand tall to impress us — for me, they remind me that strength comes from patience, perseverance, practice, and commitment… and, let’s be honest, probably a lot of sore legs too.** 😅

This hike brought home something I tell my patients all the time: **healing takes time.** Whether you're recovering from an injury, trying to get your energy back, working on gut health, or just wanting to feel more at home in your body — it all takes time, care, and consistency.

Whatever you’re working through, keep going. Your body is listening. And one day soon, it’s going to thank you for every small, healthy choice you made (even the ones that felt hard — like drinking more water 😉).

**You’ve got this.**
Here’s to small steps, strong bodies, and big mountain moments.
Your wellbeing Matters
With love (and slightly sore legs),
Monica 💚
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19/07/2025

18/07/2025

🌿 **Struggling with Bloating? It Might Be Histamine Intolerance** 😣

If you're constantly dealing with bloating, gas, or stomach discomfort — especially after eating “healthy” foods like avocados, spinach, or fermented foods — histamine intolerance could be the hidden culprit.

🧪 Histamine is a natural compound involved in digestion, immune response, and brain function. But when your body can’t break it down properly, it builds up and triggers symptoms like:

* Bloating and abdominal pain
* Headaches or migraines
* Skin issues (rashes, hives)
* Fatigue
* Anxiety or brain fog

🍷 Common histamine-rich foods include aged cheeses, red wine, cured meats, and even leftovers. Some people also have trouble with foods that **trigger histamine release**, even if they’re low in histamine themselves.

💡 If this sounds familiar, you’re *not alone* — and it’s not in your head. Histamine intolerance is often overlooked, but understanding it can be life-changing.

Curious if this could be you? I have been helping people with histamine intolerance for some time now and would love to help you too, or perhaps you know someone that maybe suffering from a histamine intolerance. .Drop a comment or DM me! 💬
See you in the clinic
Your wellbeing Matters
with love Monica x

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18/07/2025

🌿 **Struggling with Bloating? It Might Be Histamine Intolerance** 😣

If you're constantly dealing with bloating, gas, or stomach discomfort — especially after eating “healthy” foods like banana's, avocados, spinach, or fermented foods — histamine intolerance could be the hidden culprit.

🧪 Histamine is a natural compound involved in digestion, immune response, and brain function. But when your body can’t break it down properly, it builds up and triggers symptoms like:

* Bloating and abdominal pain
* Headaches or migraines
* Skin issues (rashes, hives)
* Fatigue
* Anxiety or brain fog

🍷 Common histamine-rich foods include aged cheeses, wines, cured meats, and even leftovers. Some people also have trouble with foods that **trigger histamine release**, even if they’re low in histamine themselves.

💡 If this sounds familiar, you’re *not alone* — and it’s not in your head. Histamine intolerance is often overlooked, but understanding it can be life-changing.

Curious if this could be you? I’ve been helping people with histamine intolerance for some time now, and would love to help you too, or perhaps you know someone who may benefit from investigating if histamine intolerance has been effecting them.
Drop a comment or DM me! 💬
Your wellbeing Matters
with Love Monica

10/07/2025

A friend sent this to me 😂 to good not to share.
So to all my PMS, peri menopausal, post menopausal ladies, who else feels like this??
Your well-being Matters
With love Monica

25/06/2025

🌿 Winter Healing Chicken Soup (Pressure Cooker Friendly!) 🍲Low histamine

There’s nothing quite like a warm bowl of nourishing chicken soup to keep you cozy through winter ❄️—especially when it’s low histamine, gut-friendly, and packed with love 💛

Here’s how I make mine in the pressure cooker (a great option if you’re histamine sensitive like me!):

🌾 Ingredients (feel free to adjust to your needs!):

1 whole chicken (organic if possible)

1 leek (sautéed first)

Garlic (optional – leave it out if you’re following a low FODMAP diet)

2–3 celery stalks

2 carrots

A couple of potatoes

Optional extras: beetroot (yes really!), parsnip, zucchini, pumpkin—whatever you have on hand!

🧂 Seasonings:

Celtic sea salt

Herbamare (love this for extra flavour!)

Italian herb mix

½ tsp turmeric powder

Low FODMAP veggie stock (or homemade stock if you prefer)

🫕 Method:

Sauté the leek in a bit of oil in your pressure cooker.

Add garlic if you're using it.

Toss in chopped veg, whole chicken, seasonings, and stock (enough to just cover everything).

Pressure cook for about 1.5 hours.

Carefully release pressure, remove the chicken, shred the meat, and return it to the soup.

And that’s it! A big, healing bowl of goodness ready to nourish.

✨ I love how flexible this recipe is—you can add in any root veggies or herbs you love, and it still turns out delicious.

Would love to know—what’s your must-have veggie in a winter soup?

24/06/2025

🌱 Health isn’t just the absence of illness — it’s energy, clarity, and balance.
If you’ve been running on empty, putting off your own health, or not feeling your best — this is your reminder: your health matters.
As a Naturopath I help people rebalance naturally with gentle, personalized care. Whether it’s hormones, digestion, sleep, stress, or something in between — let’s find what’s really going on and help you heal.
You don’t have to figure it all out alone. 💚
📅 Book your consultation here,
looking forward to working with you soon
Your wellbeing Matters, with Love Monica
https://croydon-herbal-health.cliniko.com/bookings?embedded=true

  Supporting Women’s Health and Gut healthSometimes you need help with getting started on your natural health journey. You need a holistic and individualised healthcare that focuses on addressing the underlying causes of illness. Book In      Hi, I’m Monica Naturopath It is my vision to see ...

23/05/2025

Exciting!! A day ahead of learning,
Can’t wait to share some new information on women’s mid-life health..

30/01/2025

I can across this article today, and I couldn’t agree more
Your wellbeing Matters
With Love Monica x