Adrian Harper - Naturopath

09/04/2020

Setting my alarm for 5.30am tomorrow to start an online retreat with . COVID-19 means a lot of us aren’t going to be doing the typical things we do at this time of year. So for me, this program was an opportunity to go inward whist we can’t go outward. I’m looking forward to switching off my phone, social media, and the news over the next four days. How are you spending Easter?

08/04/2020

Getting in my daily nature time on the way back from the post office.
The current lockdown is likely impacting your capacity to engage with nature, particularly if you live in an apartment. Spending time in nature has a range of health benefits:
- strengthens the immune system by increasing natural killer cells
- reduces high blood pressure and pulse rate
- normalises blood glucose levels
- decreases stress and anxiety by lowering cortisol and dopamine
- improves moved
- has anti-inflammatory effects
Make sure you are factoring in some time in nature daily. Your local park is probably one of the best places with the current restrictions. Exercising in nature is a good way to stay active and get in your green time, but you likely can also get some time in nature en route to essential activities like grocery showing.
How are you keeping up time in nature with the current lockdown?

04/04/2020

One of the core elements of my naturopathy practice is liquid herbal prescribing. This is my liquid herbal dispensary, which allows me to individualise a herbal prescription by combining several synergistic herbs into one formula. This enables a more targeted approach and with more than a hundred different extracts in stock provides almost limitless combinations of herbs.
Liquid herbal extracts are generally well absorbed compared with tablet formulas and avoid the additional excipients often in tablets, capsules and powdered formulas.
Some of the main issues I commonly use liquid extracts include supporting:
- immunity
- acute and chronic infections
- gut health
- kidney and urinary issues
- CIRS
- chronic fatigue
- mood disorders
If you’re interested in a herbal medicine prescription, liquid herbs are a good place to start. There’s nothing quite like the taste of a liquid herbal formula 😋 Get in touch or book an appointment with the link in my bio.

02/04/2020

Echinacea has traditionally been used for the management of infections and fever. Good quality Echinacea root imparts a tingling sensation on the tongue for some time after consumption. This is due to the alkylamides, one of the key active constituents.
Clinical research has demonstrated Echinacea
- increases phagocytosis and white cell count
- effects immune cell activation and modulation
- may assist in preventing the development of respiratory symptoms
- prevention of the common cold
- may provide relief of symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection
However, not all Echinacea products are equal. There are two main types of Echinacea; Echinacea angustifolia and Echinacea purpurea. Many products on the market only contain E. purpurea, and although the alkylamides are the more therapeutically active, they break down faster. However, combining E. angustifolia and E. purpurea together allows the actives to remain longer in the body and providing stronger support to the immune system.
So, if you are using Echinacea for immune support, you really want to make sure it’s a good quality extract, containing both species. This is one of my favourite extracts available, it’s a strong potency, contains both species and great for immune support. And it leaves a very nice tingling sensation on the tongue. it’s in stock now, best prescribed in a formula with other immune-supportive herbs, such as Elderberry, Chinese Skullcap, Liquorice, and Thuja.

28/03/2020

Naturopathy appointments continue to be available either online via Zoom, Skype, or FaceTime or by phone. In-person appointments are currently not available. I’ll keep you updated with any further changes to services. Supplements can be posted out via vital.ly or my clinic dispensary. If you want to discuss immune support, book an acute 15-minute appointment. Appointments can be booked online using the link in the bio.

27/03/2020

Some strategies to reduce your mould exposure whilst self-isolating in a water-damaged building.

26/03/2020

My clinic dispensary is stocked up with a range of immune supporting herbs. These are some of my favourite, but there’s many more in my dispensary.
15-minute acute appointments are available for herbal and nutritional prescriptions for acute infections and general immune support. You can book an appointment using the link in bio.
As well as liquid herbs, I have a range of nutritional supplements and herbal tablets for immune support in stock.
Supplements can be sent out via Australia Post.
Please get in touch if you need immune support. Now is the time to start.

25/03/2020

There’s a range of strategies to support immunity if you have chronic kidney disease.

24/03/2020

Naturopathy appointments are now available online only, via Zoom, Skype, FaceTime, and phone

21/03/2020

Social distancing measures are an important part of flattening the curve of the COVID-19 pandemic and protecting vulnerable members of our community.
In-person naturopathy appointments currently remain available in Prahran with social distancing measure in place. However, appointments via Skype, Zoom, FaceTime, or Phone are available and encouraged.
If you would like to move your current ‘in-person’ appointment to another format, please contact.
Acute 15 minute appointments are available for anyone requiring herbal or nutritional medicine prescriptions for immune support
Appointments can be made using the online booking link in the bio or contacting me directly.

18/03/2020

With the growing concern around COVID-19, I'd like to provide some additional information regarding naturopathy appointments and associated services during the current coronavirus pandemic.

In-person naturopathy appointments currently remain available, however, appointments may also be conducted via videoconference (Skype, Zoom, FaceTime) and phone.

Read on for further information about current clinic operations...

Virtual Appointments (Videoconference and Phone) online booking Acute Appointments viaclinic. Availability Supplements Supplements will continue to dispensed by both Vital.ly and my own clinic dispensary. Supplements can be ordered as per usual via Vital.ly or if sourcing from my clinic dispensary,...

01/03/2020

Heading back to Melbourne after a weekend of upskilling at Lotus Institute Level 2 training with some amazing practitioners

27/02/2020

Enjoying a balmy Sydney evening before starting Lotus Institute training with Dr. Sandeep Gupta tomorrow

05/09/2019

These crackers are a healthier alternative to rice crackers. They are high in protein and healthy fats, plus they are super easy to make. I’ve used black cumin or nigella seeds, which are good for your gut and help to reduce inflammation. And I accidentally said sesame instead of sunflower so that second bowl is sunflower!

04/09/2019

It’s common to see people with Lyme disease experience an exacerbation of symptoms with exposure to mould. Lyme and mould are both considered biotoxin illnesses. However, there are a range of other biotoxins that can also contribute to symptoms. This includes:
- fungi
- bacteria
- dinoflagellate
- actinomycetes
- mycobacteria
- mould
- endotoxins: lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from bacteria
- beta-glucans
- inflammagens
- hemolysins
- microbial volatile organic compounds
Normally our body’s detoxification system is able to clear these biotoxins without them causing us harm. However, a subset of people have a genetic susceptibility that prevents the effective elimination of these biotoxins, and this causes a chronic, systemic inflammatory response, known as CIRS (chronic inflammatory response syndrome). This is why it’s common to see someone be affected by both Lyme and mould.
Without identifying all major sources of biotoxin exposure, effective CIRS treatment can be difficult. That is why if you have been diagnosed with Lyme or mould it is worthwhile ensuring other sources of biotoxins are not overlooked.
And if you are only looking at environmental exposures, you may be missing the full picture. The gut plays a key role in biotoxin load. If your microbiome is out of balance, this can also contribute to endotoxin production and further exacerbate symptoms.
Identifying the key factors in CIRS is essential for developing an effective approach for recovery.

03/09/2019

Lyme disease is know as the ‘Great Imitator’. It can mimic the symptoms of a range of diseases making diagnosis difficult.
It’s not uncommon for people with Lyme disease to receive multiple incorrect diagnoses that may include:
▪️chronic fatigue syndrome
▪️fibromyalgia
▪️multiple sclerosis
▪️motor neurone disease
▪️autoimmune disease
I’ve reviewed with many people who have been referred to one specialist after another without receiving appropriate care for their illness. It’s common to see medications prescribed due to an incorrect diagnosis that make Lyme symptoms worse.
Common symptoms of Lyme disease include:
▪️Cough, shortness of breath
▪️Unexplained fevers, chills, sweats
▪️Fatigue
▪️Chest pain, heart palpitations, and cardiac irregularity
▪️Double/blurry vision, pain or floaters
▪️Photophobia
▪️Joint pain and swelling
▪️Nerve pain, numbness and tingling
▪️Difficulty swallowing
▪️Swollen glands
▪️Sore throat
▪️Buzzing, ringing or ear pain
▪️Digestive issues such as abdominal cramping/pain
If you are experiencing a number of these symptoms and feel like you haven’t gotten to the bottom of your illness, the best thing you can do is review with a Lyme-literate practitioner who can provide appropriate assessment and care. DM me for more info.

27/08/2019

Borrelia burgdorferi is the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. It is transmitted by ticks, but people diagnosed with Lyme do not always recall being bitten by a tick.
Testing for Lyme disease poses it’s own challenges. It’s common in Australia for medical practitioners not to test for Lyme. Even if they do, standard laboratory tests can commonly result in false negatives. This is often the case in acute Lyme infections where the body is yet to produce an adequate antibody response.
A diagnosis of Lyme disease should be made on clinical presentation along with appropriate pathology investigations. There are specialised labs in Australia and internationally that can more accurately identify Borrelia burgdorferi and coinfections than standard labs. Some tests can differentiate between an active or latent infection.
Sometimes Borrelia burgdorferi is not the issue. There are a range of other tick-borne infections that can cause chronic symptoms. If you suspect you may have a tick-borne infection, it’s really important to review with a practitioner, like myself, who can assess your symptoms and recommend the most appropriate investigations to identify what’s causing your health issues.
Book an appointment online or DM me for more info.

22/08/2019

Lion’s Mane is a medicinal mushroom that is an excellent ‘brain tonic’ alongside a range of other therapeutic effects. I use it frequently in herbal preparations, but you can get it fresh at markets and make a tasty meal out of it.