The Gypsy-Witchy Apothecary Naturopath

21/06/2025

🧠💪 🥦👌

A clinical trial from Hunan in China has demonstrated benefits from sulforaphane in schizophrenia patients.

A 24-week double-blind randomised trial recruited schizophrenia patients with significant negative symptoms. Negative symptoms in schizophrenia refer to the absence or reduction of normal emotional and behavioural functions. They contrast with positive symptoms, which involve the presence of unusual behaviours like hallucinations and delusions. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either sulforaphane or placebo, and were required to complete at least one post-intervention assessment to evaluate changes in negative symptoms and cognitive functioning. Existing antipsychotic medication treatment regimens remained unchanged throughout the study.

Each sulforaphane tablet contained over 30 mg of glucoraphanin, capable of producing a minimum of 12 mg (approximately 68 μmol) of sulforaphane, and the dose was 2 per day.

A total of 42 patients were included in the statistical analysis, with 28 receiving sulforaphane and 14 assigned to placebo. Sulforaphane significantly reduced the Negative Symptom Score from the PANSS (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale) 5-Factor model between groups (p = 0.007) and exhibited a significant time-by-group interaction (p = 0.023), with more pronounced group differences observed after 12 weeks compared to 24 weeks of treatment. Sulforaphane also demonstrated a significant reduction in the original PANSS Negative Symptom Score between groups (p = 0.029). However, it showed no significant effects on the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery composite score or its sub-scores.

For more information see: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40133020/

02/06/2025

🧠Neurodivergents is an umbrella ☔ term to describe a spectrum of disorders and health issues.

There is a strong prevalence of comorbidity with neurological & psychiatric conditions inc. epilepsy, seizures, GIT disorders, sleep disorders, connective tissue disorders, auditory processing disorders, & sensory sensitivities... 🤯🧠🌈

By understanding the greater holistic picture of these complex and challenging conditions we can treat the underlying causes to get the best results 🙌🌿.

02/06/2025

Naturopathic consultation workflow to get the best results for my clients 🫶🌿.

02/06/2025

Now available for Naturopathic & Remedial Massage services in my new clinic room located in the ❤️ of Nimbin 😌🌻✨. Bookings available Sundays & Tuesdays - message me for details or follow the link below to book in!

https://linktr.ee/thegypsywitchyapothecary

23/05/2025

Do you suffer from the magical sense of time 🐇🕑 that says you can achieve anything within a minute of your deadline? A warped sense of time is characteristic of ADHD and other neurodivergent disorders - commonly referred to as "time blindness."

People with ADHD are frequently running late for appointments and behind schedules, deadlines, and chores. They try to achieve everything whilst simultaneously achieving nothing. Time blindness causes them to underestimate the time needed to perform tasks and arrive on time.

Time blindness is attributable to lower activity in the prefrontal cortex - the part of the brain that is responsible for making decisions and executive functioning 🧠🕑

Chronic stress⚡️ changes our brain architecture - shrinking the prefrontal cortex and enlarging our amygdala - the fear and survival part of the brain.

The good news is we can help to change the brain architecture and restore balance by regulating the nervous system and rewiring the stress response 🫶🦋.

Are you ready to start your springtime self-care and take charge of your health and life? DM me to enquire about my upcoming consultations in September 2024 - located in Nimbin NSW.

References:

Psychology today https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.psychologytoday.com/au/basics/time-blindness%3famp

ADDA
https://add.org/adhd-time-blindness/

23/05/2025

Blame it on my ADD 😅🧠. When it comes to treating neurodivergent disorders naturally, we must balance the gut-brain-immune axis!

The gut is responsible for digesting and absorbing key nutrients required to manufacture our brain hormones (neurotransmitters) and optimize our immune function.

The gut is intricately interlinked with the brain in a bidirectional communication highway known as the gut-brain axis. When we have inflammation in the gut - due to food sensitivities or a poor fussy diet - we can also find inflammation in the blood brain barrier - known as neuro-inflammation.

Immune dysregulation is also a key feature in these neurodivergent conditions, with immune triggers playing a role in the onset of OCD and tics in cases such as seen in pans and pandas. This can present as low immunity, frequent and recurrent colds or infections.

To address these conditions holistically, we must focus on regulating our gut-brain-immune axis with key herbs and nutrients to get long-lasting results 🌱.

07/03/2025

My newly opened clinic is here to support those in need - I specialise in supporting neurodivergence, mental health, and trauma naturally - please reach out if you feel that you would benefit 🌿❤️🌻.

I also offer remedial massage with herbal infused oil by Om Alchemy for future stress-relief self-care 🥰. Be kind to yourself!

Available online and in-person in Nimbin once weather has calmed...

https://linktr.ee/thegypsywitchyapothecary?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=d3d27f85-2d8f-4808-a3d4-d9ba036dd05f

21/09/2024

Celebrating springtime self-care 🌿🫶. In Chinese medicine ☯️, spring is associated with the wood element, the colour green, the emotion anger, and the liver and gallbladder. We can promote greater health this spring by:

🌿Detoxing the liver with tonifying herbs like St Mary's, globe artichoke, & schisandra.
🌿Take nutrients that promote liver detoxification like B vitamins, cruciferous vege, & NAC.
🌿Process anger in healthy ways such as painting, dance, or martial arts.

Available for naturopathic consults this October! DM me if you're ready to jumpstart your health journey this spring 🌱✨️🌻.