Loving Awareness

24/07/2023

Hello Friends!

The most common complaints I've been hearing in clinic lately are patients catching cold/flu's and not being able to get over there symptoms.

So I thought, why not do a webinar about it?

During the winter months, we understand how important it is to stay healthy and resilient, especially in the face of seasonal challenges. That's why we're excited to invite you to an exclusive and engaging webinar that will empower you with valuable insights on optimising your immunity.

Join us on Saturday 29th July at 1:30PM for an illuminating webinar presented by leading experts in the field of health and wellness.

Here's what you can look forward to during this FREE webinar:

🍲 Winter Nutrition Essentials: Uncover the power of food and nutrition that will keep you feeling energized, well-nourished, and ready to take on any cold day that comes your way.

🧘 Strengthening the Mind-Body Connection: Explore the vital connection between a strong mind and a resilient immune system. Learn about some of the evidence behind mindfulness techniques and other lifestyle practices to support your overall well-being.

🌿 Expert Tips from Renowned Naturopaths: Discover natural ways to bolster your immune system and stay vibrant during the winter months. Our experienced naturopaths will share their secrets for maintaining optimal health through traditional home herbal remedies.

🙋 Interactive Q&A Session: Engage with our experts during the live Q&A segment, where you can get your burning questions answered.

🎁 Exclusive Webinar Bonus: As a token of our appreciation for your participation, all attendees will receive a special offer that will complement your winter wellness journey.

Can't make the event? No worries- we'll be recording the event live and all participants who couldn't make it will receive a copy along with our special bonus offer!

Registration link will be in the comments and available on my bio! Looking forward to seeing some familiar faces!!

25/08/2022

Now that I’ve highlighted some of the signs of poor function, lets take a look at some of the habits that contribute to this in the first place.

Lack movement is a huge contributor to poor . The lack of may create stagnation & poor . The act of rhythmic breathing during exercise helps to move things through the intestines as well as activating the which can help promote bowel motions.

Next is water intake- is so important for our gut health but it also helps with . Dehydration may contribute to , & poor mucous production in the intestines which aids the immune system. If you’re not a big water drinker, you can try adding water-rich foods to your diet to enhance .

Third we’ve got low intake. Fibre is one of the most important macros to maintaining gut health. Fibre helps to support the diversity of microbes within the gut so that they can in turn synthesise vitamins, neurotransmitters & anti-inflammatory compounds. Start by shifting your thinking to “what would my microbiome like to eat today?- It’ll be a win-win situation!

A diet high in sugar & refined carbs has so many downsides, but in relation to the gut it helps to feed unhealthy bacterial species & yeasts. The increase in unhealthy bacteria may cause symptoms of , abdominal discomfort and recurrent infections. I’m not advocating that you cut sugar out of your diet completely, but moderation is key!

This last one is probably the one I see most clinically- individuals who’ve had recurrent courses of and can’t seem to recover. Antibiotics do have a place in medicine, but it’s important to support your body with pre and probiotics during your course to avoid damage to the gut, recurrent infection & antibiotic resistance.

Don’t stress if you have some of these habits- they key is awareness so that you can take action to change! I’m always here for support if you want it.

23/08/2022

This will be the first post of my gut series! In this post I want to share the most common symptoms I see that arise from .

The first is digestive issues- because we live in such a fast paced world symptoms like , & is routinely common in clinical practice. If you’re experiencing these symptoms on a regular basis, it may be a key indicator that you need some digestive support or your NS is stressed and cannot keep up with the digestive processes. In either case, it needs some love!

The next is the presence of disease. Did you know that about 70% of your immune system resides in your ? Crazy! If your gut is not breaking down food properly, this creates a breeding ground for unhealthy bacteria to flourish. This will send alarm bells to our immune system. Over-time, this creates prolonged and may begin to change how the immune system functions.

Another common one is issues with . A significant amount of our neurotransmitters (NT) that help support our & sleep cycle are actually made in the gut. When gut function & microbiome diversity is poor, levels of these NT begin to decline. In these instances, it’s common to present with , & .

Unexplained is a big one- especially for people who feel they’re getting enough sleep. This may relate to poor gut function, but it may also indicate signs of poor nutrient absorption or a slow-detoxifying liver. Other symptoms include , poor memory & forgetfulness.

Another biggie is & ! This is an absolute key indicator that the body is not eliminating waste and/or hormones properly. This build of waste ends up circulating through the body to seek alternate routes of exit, ie skin! Symptoms of this usually present as , , & .

If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms, shoot a message and let’s have a chat about how I can help!

18/08/2022

The correlation between our nervous system (NS) and digestion is - one can not work without the other. In modern society it becomes difficult for the NS to differentiate stress from an actual perceived threat. For example, the NS cannot differentiate the difference between you having to go speak in front of a thousand people vs being chased by a tiger; the response is the same- the body goes into survival mode and diverts all of its energy to the skeletal muscle so you can quite literally “fight” or “fly” away from the perceived threat.

This response impacts the digestive system because all digestive functions are halted until the body deems it is safe by entering the NS response. This is why we can sometimes feel , or even when we’re eating meals. If we don’t allow the time and space for our body to come out of our response then our and is greatly decreased.

With this comes many common digestive symptoms like , , , , , , , & . And because the body is not digesting and absorbing what it needs to, the NS becomes even more depleted, and the vicious cycle continues.

It’s common and normal to experience these symptoms from time to time, but if they’re happening on a regular basis, there may be a disconnect between the NS and the digestive tract. Stay tuned for my gut series, where I’m going to talk about all issues on the gut, what behaviours contribute to poor - and how you can support your gut with & .

If you found this post helpful, give it a like & send it to someone who may benefit!

16/08/2022

There’s definitely been a delay in between posts but here are some of the most common herbs I use clinically for supporting nervous system function.

First, we’ve got Avena Sativa, better known as Oat! A beautiful and gentle way to improve mood, reduce anxiety and remodel the nervous system. This herb is referred to as a nerve tonic for its high nutritional value of minerals and b-vitamins which help to support overall nervous system function. Its indicated in conditions of , , and drug-withdrawal.

Next is a very popular , , commonly known as or Indian ginseng. In WHM this herb is mostly described as an , but has ample effects on enhancing nervous system function due to its ability to decrease . Withania is indicated for cases of burn out, debility, physical/emotional stress & .

Another one of my favourites is Verbena, commonly known as . This herb has both medicinal and energetic actions. As an herb it’s used as a natural and nerve tonic. Vervain also helps to support the and digestion due to its bitterness and strengthens the relationship between the & the brain. Energetically this herb helps to reduce feelings of anger and for those who are highly strung.

Third is Skullcap. One of the most underrated herbs, skullcap is amazing for any type of nerve condition, recovery from illness, anxiety, , , - basically any kind of over-firing of nerve conduction. It does this because of its concentration of calcium, magnesium and potassium to reduce & manage nerve conduction.

Last is Passionflower, another relatively popular herb used- with good reason. It is a great sleep tonic, especially in cases of . Passionflower is another great tonic for reducing severity of headache, anxiety & irritability.

These herbs are often used in combination with others for a synergistic effect- if you struggle with nervous system function, let’s chat and get you onto some beautiful herbs!

17/03/2022

Now that I’ve highlighted some of signs and habits associated with stress, I want to use this post to share some nutrients that can help support the nervous system (NS) in times of stress.

First up we have magnesium (Mg). In times of heightened stress there is a greater need for Mg because of the increased levels of nerve conductivity and neuro-muscular transmission. If Mg stores aren’t replenished, this begins to reduce levels of dopamine, serotonin and melatonin which can affect our mood, digestion & sleep.

Next up we have Zinc (Zn), and most people think of Zn for immunity, but it has pivotal roles in the NS due to all the enzymes that require Zn to carry out the synthesis of neurotransmitters (NT). In fact, Zn has roles in modulating our excitation & relaxation responses.

Third we have B-Vitamins. B’s are important for energy, maintaining nerve cell function and also have roles in synthesising NT. The big players in the nervous system are B6 & B12 as they’re used in so many NT systems, which can be good for targeted therapy or supporting overall NS function.

Next, we have protein. When we breakdown protein they are divided into amino acids. It’s these building blocks that allow us to create NT that help support and reduce our stress response. Without having adequate protein, it makes it difficult for the body to reduce the flight/fight response.

Lastly, we have Omega-3, which is more known for skin health but also has key functions in the NS. Omega-3 has an anti-inflammatory effect in the nervous system, supports the integrity of nerve cells and helps produce more brain-derived neurotrophic factor- a hormone that helps create new neuronal connections.

This is a small list of some of the most used nutrients I use for NS function, but it’s important to remember that we are all individual and we all have different needs. If you need some help with your NS send me a message!

Please share this post if you found it helpful

04/03/2022

If you ever been sceptical about Naturopathic Medicine, here's the evidence to show you otherwise. This is a huge win for the industry as it already has 1,000s of years of traditional knowledge behind it.

If you're interested in seeking out Naturopathic Care, book a discovery 10 minute discovery call to discuss your options and how I can help!

Global report validates safety and effectiveness of naturopathic care Published 14 February 2022 Professor Jon Wardle is a lead editor and author for the Health Technology Assessment - Naturopathy. Researchers from the National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine at Southern Cross University have made....

28/02/2022

There are so many habits that all of us are guilty of that may contribute to overloading our nervous systems (NS) with unnecessary stress. When our NS is under stress our bodies don't function as well as they should with tasks such as digesting & absorbing nutrients, adequate recovery & proper immune function. I wanted to write this post to showcase some of the most common habits I see in clinic & how this impacts the NS overall.

First is lack of sleep. A full night’s rest may look different for many of us, but on average we should be getting 7-9 hours/night. When we’re outside of this window, the body doesn't go through its cellular clean-up process and it impacts the body's detoxification mechanisms. This puts an extra load on the body to release more cortisol to keep us going, but it also reduces the body’s ability to eliminate toxins which may lead to an increase in inflammation.

Second, too much screen time. This is one that I am also guilty of. The problem with excess screen time in the evening is that the blue light that comes off our devices and TVs stimulates the brain & causes an ‘alert’ response. This reduces our ability to tone down & relax & can impact our sleep & may lead to the cycle mentioned above.

Skipping meals is one I feel most people overlook. When we reduce our nutrient intake, the body perceives this as a ‘problem’ and goes into its fight-flight response to deal with the ongoing stress of hunger. This can impact our mood & cognition from low blood sugar but it also impacts our body’s normal digestive and immune function because we don’t have the nutrients there to support these vital systems.

When people think of sugar they think of sweet things, but most refined carbs like bread, pasta and rice are all essentially broken down into sugar. When we have a diet high in sugar & refined carbs this creates spikes and drops in blood sugar that the body perceives as a stress. This type of food is low in nutrient density & it also greatly reduces our immune function.

So I’ll be honest, I am guilty of all of these, but the most common one for me would have to be screen time. Let me know your most common habit in the comments! 👇

22/02/2022

I often talk about nervous system (NS) stress, but how do you actually know the signs? This post will outline some of the common signs that might indicate there’s some NS stress going on.

First up we have digestion. Almost everyone that’s in a cycle of NS overdrive will be experiencing digestive issues that can range from bloating, abdominal pain, nausea or loss of appetite. With a heightened stress response this reduces the ability of our digestive system to function properly. This causes a vicious cycle in the NS because we begin to lack the nutrients that keep our stress response in check.

Next up we’ve got hormonal changes. We often think of women experiencing this, but it is just as common in men. When we have an increased stress response, cortisol blocks the production of our s*x hormones, but it also impacts the nutrient co-factors we need for the production of hormones like estrogen and testosterone.

Thirdly, waking up unrefreshed is another key indicator. We may be sleeping, but our body isn’t going through an adequate recovery phase. We experience this when we’re waking up tired. This is a crucial sign of NS stress. This can be attributed to poor dietary intake, impaired nutrient absorption or low-grade immune inflammation.

People with a heightened stress response often find themselves always having a cold, tonsillitis, poor wound healing, thrush- the list goes on. Immune function inherently decreases significantly when there’s ongoing stress & this goes hand-in-hand with poor sleep as this reduces the body’s ability to recover from infection properly.

This last one is less talked about- Pain Perception. Our stress response and chronic release of cortisol can modify how our brain perceives pain by altering regions of the brain that process our perception of pain. That’s not to say that everyone who experiences pain has a heightened stress response, but it may be a key modifiable factor that can help reduce pain perception.

If you experience any of this, send me a message and let's have a chat about how I can help! Better yet, book an appointment with me via thelovingawareness.com.au

20/01/2022

Hello my friends!

I know things have been a bit crazy lately which is exactly why I wanted to offer this promotion.

3 pack of Appointments for $230!! 😲🙉
You can book through Instagram, my website at www.thelovingawareness.com.au or message me to organize a time.

This is the perfect opportunity if you wanted to start a detox program, get some unanswered questions about your health or are looking to optimize your health! 👍

A big part of what I do is education, and I love to collaborate with clients to see what they need to be able to manage their health and wellbeing. 🙌

If you support me please give this a share or send it through to anyone who may benefit from treatment.

Any questions about what I do or how I can help? Message me or shoot me an email! ✅

P.S. Stay tuned for some upcoming posts 🙉

28/11/2021

Carrying on from my previous post- Lifestyle techniques are the best way to incorporate small but long lasting changes to reduce stress levels and enhance your health. And best of all, lifestyle medicine is completely free and available to us all. Using these techniques helps increase vagus nerve (VN) tone and stimulation, allowing our body to transition to its recovery state.

Exercise and movement is one of the best things we can do to reduce our stress levels. The onset of exercise creates an increase in the fight or flight response and increases levels of adrenaline and cortisol. Once exercise is ceased, a feedback loop is initiated to bring the body back down to homeostasis, which is regulated by the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). This effect can greatly reduce stress, increase energy and improve sleep.

Adequate rest is another big one! We’re all guilty of slipping up on this, but the first step to getting on top of your sleep hygiene is being aware of it. Poor sleep has been linked to a number of inflammatory diseases due to its ability to stimulate the stress response and subsequent inflammatory pathways. Ensuring a night-time routine is put in place and getting a 7-8 hour sleep in per night can enhance the body’s ability to repair itself.

Spending time in nature is another easy way to nourish your nervous system. When in nature, so much sensory information is coming in from the natural environment, most of which travels through the VN and stimulates our PNS. Additionally, the natural essential oils and increase in oxygenation from the natural environment may also enhance immune function.

Laughter is my favorite one, and is a practice that I make sure I utilize daily whether its watching/listening to comedy or goofing off with friends. The vocal cords are connected to the VN and is stimulated when we laugh. So the funnier, the better!

25/11/2021

Being able to to stimulate our parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) is crucial for long-term recovery.The gateway to accessing this system is through the vagus nerve (VN).

The VN is the longest nerve in our body and connects the brain to our organs. The VN originates in the brainstem and runs through the neck and thorax and down through the abdomen. In the throat, the VN innervates the muscles of the throat allowing us to use our vocal chords. In the thorax, the VN moderate heart rate and variability. In the intestines, the VN regulates digestion and motility of the GI tract. Utilising the VN can increase the tone of the nerve and the level of response.

VN tone can be exercised in a number of ways. One of the most common ones is cold water exposure. When exposed to cold water cholinergic neurons on the skin begin over-firing to the brain. This overload of information creates a feedback loop that starts to bring the body back to homeostasis where it can begin its repair process. This can be done by slowly increasing cold exposure after showers.

Deep and slow breathing has been demonstrated in a variety of different conditions, most likely through VN stimulation. The VN controls the diaphragm, and deep breathing exercises the use of the VN, thus stimulating our PNS. Using our voice to sing, chant or hum can also improve VN tone because of its proximity to the glossopharyngeal nerve.

Lastly, massage is a big one. Touch and massage generates a release of oxytocin, serotonin and dopamine that can reduce feelings of stress and allow our body to enter a state of repair. This can also be done with giving yourself a foot massage. The nerves in the bottom of our feet are linked to our organs. When these nerves are stimulated they send input to our internal organs, which then travel to the brain via the VN.