Jan Illingworth Naturopath

16/03/2026

It was reported that the TGA confiscated a shipment of supplements as it did not have the amount stated or even any melatonin in the product. Ironically, many experts claim that melatonin is just placebo, despite some prescriptions given to children and the elderly with dementia who do not comprehend placebo. Melatonin is a hormone produced at days end with reduced light to relax the body for sleep, which is why it was initially given to shift workers whose secadian rhythms were disrupted. Melatonin, like many other medications for insomnia should not be taken long term or reguarly. Strategies to reduce anxiety or stress like councilling, mindfullness, yoga, baths with essential oil or whatever can help. To get a good nights sleep, start winding down 2 hours before bedtime. At this time have a cup of chamomile, hops, lemon balm, lime blossom, passionflower and/or valerian. There will be nights when your mind is too frenetic to sleep, but usually the next night or two, you will catch up. Relax

06/03/2026

In Victoria the Govt is considering allowing pharmacists to prescribe the contraceptive pills. Doctors are responding by saying that this is the Drs job and not pharmacists. It actually is the pharmicists job to know about drugs as to what they treat, dosage, administration and the side effects. Infact, you can rely on the pharmacist to know more about drugs than a doctor. Pharmacists often tell patients about the side effects, how to take it and general health advice as the Dr does not generally have time for. And beside, it takes many days to get into a Dr and they are expensive, whereas pharmacists are more accessible, free and know alot more about drugs than anybody else.

24/02/2026

Noting the "4 Corners" programme ABC, 23rd February on unecessary surgery, I would like to add as a theatre nurse for some years that one should do a lot of research before going under the knife. Not talking critical or emergency surgery, but what they call elective where the medical problem has an impact on everyday living. Be sure that there is not excercise, weight loss, dietary improvements, nutrients and others auxillary treatment that could at least improve the condition which could remove the need for surgery. Also, get all the results back (don't they love sending bits off to the lab), the information on the particular surgery and if the outcomes would be an improvement to what is there at present. I have seen patients that have gained even more medical issues after the surgery. Also consider the aneasthetic given, and the follow up care and length of rehabilitation because if you do not have access to physios, wound care nurses or go home alone, you may well have worse outcomes. Sure, surgery can solve many medical problems to make ones quality of life way better, just do the research before taking that as the first option.

26/01/2026

Instead of reaching for those toxic pain tablets, here is a list of natural remedies for relieving aches starting with: HEADACHE-feverfew and rosemary made up as a tea and drunk every hour until headache gone. EYES; take a chamomile tea bag out of the teacup, drink the tea and rest it on the eyes when cool. EARACHE; crush a clove of garlic with warm olive oil to rest in the ear canal. SINUS- horseradish & garlic. GUM & MOUTH; swish a cool strong tea of sage around for 5 minutes every 2 hours. TOOTHACHE; clove oil on affected tooth. THROAT; gargle with a strong tea of thyme and salt. CHEST; put drops of eucalyptus oil and lemon balm herb into a bowl of hot water to inhale into lungs. STOMACH; apple cider vinegar or peppermint tea. GALLBLADDER & LIVER PAIN; lemon with any bitter herbs available in a tea. BLADDER; cranberry & bilberry juice with lots of water. BOILS & SKIN INFECTIONS; pulverise calendula flower with zinc cream to apply on a bandaide to cover. ARTHRITIS; mix chili powder with olive oil to bandage on joints or massage with eucalyptus oil. MUSCLE & JOINT PAIN; turmeric taken daily can reduce inflammation and pain. FEET & HANDS; soak in a bowl of warm water with magnesium/epsom salts. WATER is also good to take for flushing out the toxins and keeping things lubricated. For general pain from living, rest up with a nice cup of tea.

06/01/2026

Since June 2019, the Victorian Government has legalised volunteer assisted dying (VAD), but it was only the last sitting of parliament that the gag was taken off health care professionals offering it to palliative care patients. Many patients thought there was only the orthodox termination of opioids at increasing doses which causes unconsciousness, then finally adding the drug midazelam to send them off. This reaction also causes a relaxing of orifices at the moment of passing, to have what can only be described as an unholy mess, the very time peace and tranquility should be occurring. VAD is much more dignified in that the loved one can choose the time of their passing while they are still cognitive and say good bye to family and friends.

16/12/2025

There is a herb for every ailment known to man. Hundreds of herbs have been used medicinally for thousands of years to be tried, tested and true. Herbs, because of their antioxidant and nutrient makeup are able to strengthen and support bodily systems to repair. They are easy to digest and metabolise and have far fewer side effects than pharmaceuticals. Synthetic chemicals do not actually fix the problem, they are just symptom alleviating. Because of their toxic makeup, they often accumulate and overwhelm the body. They are tested on 35 year old men, so if one is young, a woman or elderly they are not designed for those makeups. If one is over 60 years old and feel the need to take orthodox drugs; 1. Have them reviewed every 6 months, 2. Have a reduced dose as the bodies systems are slower at metabolising and excreting the toxins, 3. Take a good multi vitamin & mineral because the drugs uses up the bodies nutrients and energy in their metabolism and 4. make sure that they are researched to be forewarned as the the inevitable side effects and long term outcomes. i.e. statins are known to accelerate ageing and dementia. Yes, there are herbs for that too.

09/12/2025

30/11/2025

Lately I have been seeing people presenting with fatigue, muscle wasting and general weakness. They have a common thread of being vegan/vegetarian. They also work, some have children, have the usual busy lives and are aneamic. Getting enough nutrients is nigh on impossible if one works or has a physical job. One needs to graze all day to get enough nutrients by eating vegetables, seeds, nuts, grains and constantly make up this shortfall. Eating bread and pasta does not cut it and many people are not good with flour and processed carbohydrates in general. Also, there are many vegan options in the supermarket these day like facon and vegie burgers which again are highly processed with added chemicals. Stick to natural foods. These are termed as 2nd class proteins as they are not as high as meat as well as iron and the B vitamins. Unfortunately for vegan/vegetarians, we are omniviours, we need these 1st class proteins as this is our makeup. Even at least once a week have an amount of organic meat to make up the shortfall. Love your love of animals, but if you are suffering heart failure that is not good for you as an animal.

18/10/2025

Zurich, yes l know, another awesome botanical garden, but it was. Great diversity and labelling (even in German). All areas from around the planet with excellent hot houses. Good medical, culinary, dyeing and agriculture herbs and their uses. This was the new garden (they have two BGs) with the old gardens closer to town being pretty good too with views over the city. Well worth being here.

04/10/2025

Gingko biloba. Originally from China with only the fruit used in TCM. Western medicine has found the leaves a circulatory enhancer making it valuable for many conditions that have capillaries involved like dementia, heart, kidney and liver insufficiency. Much research has shown that Gingko reduces agitation and improves cognitive dementia function. The fruit only forms on the female tree which when ripe exudes a vomit like smell that can permeate everything. The female tree in the Amiens Botanic Gardens was at least 10 metres high so l told my husband that ours was the smaller male.

02/10/2025

The best botanic garden is in Amiens: France, beds of herbs in their symptom categories making it very understandable even in French. There was also beds with sections on agriculture, cereals, dyeing and fabrics (l did note there was no h**p) making it well worth the visit especially with a baguette and beer.

19/09/2025

Sage: Salvia off. A great herb to have in the garden, both for culinary for anything savoury especially with pork and potatoes, as well as medicinal. For digestive and chest issues but sage’s main use is as a hormonal balancing agent to reduce hot flushes/flashes with menopause. Pictured is the usual sage with purple sage.