the_herbal_collective, Sydney (2026)

25/02/2026

Everyone should know their bowel transit time — and this is a super simple way to test it yourself home.

Bowel transit time refers to how long it takes your food to move through your gut and pass out the other end as 💩

This little test is an easy way to get a good estimate.

Take 1 tablespoon of sesame seeds, add them to water and drink it down. Try not to chew them too much as we want them to stay intact so we can see them when they come out the other end! Fun!

Can have sesame seeds? You can do this test with corn on the cob as well- again just don’t excessively chew it up.

Interestingly, you can poo daily but still have a slow bowel transit time. If your bowel transit time is slow, that is a form of constipation — even if you’re going daily.

Why does bowel transit time matter?

Slow bowel transit time matters because stool sitting in the colon too long isn’t neutral — it changes the microbial environment, increases endotoxin exposure, alters immune signalling and can contribute to estrogen recirculation.

I hope I’ve convinced you to try this simple test!

20/02/2026

No, not THOSE kinda pills… I’m all above board here 🤣

That’s the text I got from a client after 3 weeks on her personalised nutrigenomic protocol.

She’d been dealing with IBS symptoms for 8 years:

Constant bloating
Unpredictable bowel movements
Cramping after almost every meal
Brain fog
Exhausted all the time
“Safe” foods list getting smaller and smaller

But of course there’s a plot twist: They weren’t magic! They were simply the right supplements for her condition and they made a huge difference.

If this sounds like you and you’re OVER IT, DM me or book a discovery call and let’s chat

18/02/2026

I bet you’ve got some chamomile tea hiding in the back of your pantry!? AND you might bring it out occasionally before bed to help with your sleep. That’s nice! Go you 🙃

But chamomile is so much more than just a sleepy herb. It’s a gentle herb and often used for children, but just because it’s gentle doesn’t mean it’s weak.

Chamomile is a versatile herb wonderful for the digestive system, healing the skin, soothing irritated mucus membranes and yes helping with anxiety, stress and sleep.

Gentle? you Betcha
Weak? not even close

How do you use chamomile? ⬇️

13/02/2026

Be nice to your gut bugs 🙂

Unfortunately, I’m seeing an influx of clients who have gut symptoms and interestingly their symptoms have gotten worse AFTER doing a parasite cleanse.
Here’s why I’m concerned as an herbalist:

Most people doing them don’t actually have parasites

The herbs used are POTENT- and if used incorrectly can damage your beneficial gut bacteria

Different parasites need different treatments (there’s no one-size-fits-all)

Don’t get me wrong, parasites do exist and sometimes need to be eradicated, but the trend I’m seeing is to do a ‘parasite cleanse’ first and then see if you’re feeling better and I really wouldn’t recommend this. There is also the common ideology that because these cleanses use herbs that they are gentle and safe and while this is often true, in the case of anti-microbial herbs, we need to be careful.

If you genuinely suspect parasites then consider getting tested and work with a practitioner who can walk you through the process.

Look after your gut bugs 🙃 for more info how, feel free to follow me

11/02/2026

Is it IBS? Or is it microbiome imbalance? 🤔

IBS isn’t a real diagnosis. It’s a label for “your gut is a mess and we don’t know exactly why.”

The likely answer…Your microbiome is unhappy. Your beneficial bacteria are depleted and/or problematic bacteria have taken over. Your gut lining is inflamed and permeable.

The result? Bloating, cramping, unpredictable bowel movements, food sensitivities, brain fog, fatigue, anxiety.

The mainstream solution? Manage symptoms with medications that don’t address the root cause.

My approach? Restore functioning of the gut wall, support immune balance to lower inflammation, rebuild beneficial bacteria in the gut, rebuild the diet to support microbiome diversity.

I have 3 spots open for my 1:1 packages in Feb. Comment or DM ‘package’ and lets chat about it.

10/02/2026

Little story from me:

A client came to me exhausted, bloated, anxious, and frustrated.

She’d tried every diet. She had done a juice cleanse. She had tried many supplements. She was convinced she had a parasite and she wanted to do a herbal parasitic protocol.

We did a little testing and I convinced her not to.

Nothing had worked because nobody had addressed her gut microbiome—the command centre for her immune system, hormones, mood, and metabolism.

We rebuilt her terrain and her symptoms began to disappear.

Your gut microbiome is so powerful. It’s time to stop destroying it and start nourishing it. 🙂

09/02/2026

Be nice to your gut bugs 🙂

Unfortunately, I’m seeing an influx of clients who have gut symptoms and interestingly their symptoms have gotten worse AFTER doing a parasite cleanse.
Here’s why I’m concerned as an herbalist:

Most people doing them don’t actually have parasites

The herbs used are POTENT- and if used incorrectly can damage your beneficial gut bacteria

Different parasites need different treatments (there’s no one-size-fits-all)

Don’t get me wrong, parasites do exist and sometimes need to be eradicated, but the trend I’m seeing is to do a ‘parasite cleanse’ first and then see if you’re feeling better and I really wouldn’t recommend this. There is also the common ideology that because these cleanses use herbs that they are gentle and safe and while this is often true, in the case of anti-microbial herbs, we need to be careful.

If you genuinely suspect parasites then consider getting tested and work with a practitioner who can walk you through the process.

Look after your gut bugs 🙃

05/02/2026

Public service Announcement! 📢

Culinary herbs are ridiculously nutrient dense! What does that mean? It means you’re getting all the good things when you include them in your diet.

But how you ask!?

Here’s some ideas:
🌱Make salads full of mint, coriander or parsley (tabouli)
🌱Sprinkle rosemary or thyme over roasted vegetables
🌱Add cumin, paprika, oregano or coriander to minced meat dishes
🌱Use rosemary with red wine to marinate red meats
🌱Use thyme with lemon to marinate poultry
🌱Add turmeric to mango smoothies or desserts for extra kick and colour
🌱Add mint to cold drinks
🌱Add chives, dill, mint or coriander to yogurt or cottage cheese
🌱Cover your Italian meals in fresh basil

Tell me what I’m missing 👇

02/02/2026

Myth busting Monday!!

For some people, dairy and gluten cause genuine inflammation, digestive distress, or immune reactions. For others, they’re perfectly tolerated and can be part of a nourishing, balanced diet.

The naturopathic field has a reputation for blanket eliminations. But my approach is a little different: I don’t believe in unnecessary restriction. Food diversity supports gut health, nutrient intake, and quality of life. I only recommend removing foods when there’s a clear, evidence-based reason—whether that’s testing, symptoms, or clinical necessity. Instead of removing entire food groups, I’d rather you aim for variety. Do you always buy the same bread? Try a different grain next time you’re at the shops. Do you always purchase cow’s cheddar? What about trying a goat’s cheese?

Some people thrive with dairy and gluten. Some don’t! The goal is figuring out which camp you’re in—not following blanket rules that don’t apply to your body.

If you’re unsure what’s right for you, let’s figure it out.

31/01/2026

Pumpkin seeds (or pepitas) are versatile, nutrient dense seeds that can be easily added to your daily diet. I highly recommend aiming for 1-2 tablespoons daily. Remember these are seeds not nuts, so they’re also lunch box friendly and they’re a particularly good source of magnesium!

For more quick health tips, follow me

Need some inspo on how to include them in your daily diet?

⚡️Add them to your smoothies

⚡️Grind them up and use in place of almond meal

⚡️Throw them in the oven with roast vegetables for the last 10 mins of baking

⚡️Sprinkle over salads, in sandwiches, over muesli or porridge

⚡️Make seeded bread or seeded crackers

⚡️ Use them in bliss balls, banana bread, muffins and cookies

⚡️ Cover them in dark chocolate for a yummy, crunchy treat

Other ideas? 👇

29/01/2026

This time of year always flies doesn’t it!? We’re almost into feb, kids are going back to school, life is settling back into a bit of routine.

I hate to be that annoying person who points this out but if you keep doing what you’ve always done, you’ll keep feeling how you’ve always felt. What do they say, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.

Here’s the thing though; often times you don’t need to overhaul everything. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to begin and motivation often comes AFTER you start, not before.

If you are hoping to feel different this year, you’ve got to be willing to change things up. I’ve got a few spots in feb still available so please feel free to DM me or book a discovery call to chat. Make this your year 💪

the_herbal_collective

25/02/2026

20/02/2026

18/02/2026

13/02/2026

11/02/2026

10/02/2026

09/02/2026

05/02/2026

02/02/2026

31/01/2026

29/01/2026

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