Alison Mitchell Naturopath

23/07/2025

Our cycles are so fascinating: do you know the stages of your menstrual cycle can influence your body and mind?
Mental health, self esteem, vaginal health, strength and exercise recovery are JUST SOME of the things that change throughout your cycle.
I love working with women’s health. I love teaching women how their hormones can affect them, I love using herbs to treat all sort of issues related to the menstrual cycle. I love helping women on their journey with contraceptives whether it’s supporting their health whilst they’re on them or helping them on their journey off of them. Your choice. 🙌🏻

I love using diet to support hormones too. There’s so many powerful tools at our disposal💃🏻

If you need some support with your hormones or menstrual health there are a few ways we can work together :
👉🏻learn at your own pace in my ecourse The Cyclical Woman
👉🏻1:1 consults with myself or Carissa

Want to know more? Comment CYCLICAL for the link to the ecourse or CONSULT for the link to the booking page

17/07/2025

Modern life has brought many conveniences, but it has also increased our exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and microplastics—two major drivers of chronic inflammation. Found in plastics products, pesticides, beauty products, and even our food and water supply, these chemicals mimic/interfere with hormones, disrupting balance and negatively impacting the immune system.

Why does this matter? Because inflammation is at the root of many chronic conditions, including autoimmune diseases, endometriosis, PCOS, and even neuroinflammatory conditions like ADHD, ASD and dementia. Exposure to EDCs and microplastics has been linked to gut inflammation (IBD), metabolic dysfunction, and immune dysregulation—which can worsen conditions like perimenopause, impact fertility, and contribute to long-term health issues.

The good news? While we can’t avoid all exposures, small changes can reduce our toxic load and support our body’s natural detoxification.
– Limit single-use plastics, not just in food containers but also in fast fashion, excessive packaging, and disposable products. Overconsumption fuels more plastic production and waste.
– Choose natural cleaning and beauty products where possible—your skin absorbs what you put on it. On that note, consider the fibres you wear.
– Vote with your dollar. Support brands that limit plastic packaging and opt for sustainable alternatives.
– Prioritise gut health. A well-balanced microbiome helps eliminate toxins, including EDCs. Fibre-rich foods like flaxseeds, fermented foods, and polyphenol-rich plants help support detox pathways.

You don’t have to be perfect—just conscious. Small choices add up.

17/07/2025

Endometriosis + IBS: Why They Often Show Up Together

Because having endometriosis isn’t fun enough… did you know you’re 3x more likely to have IBS if you have endo?

It’s super common for endometriosis to be misdiagnosed as IBS because they share a LOT of the same symptoms:
- Abdominal pain
- Bloating
- Constipation or diarrhoea

Sometimes it’s not IBS at all, just digestive symptoms from endo—but many people have both, because they share similar root causes.

Let’s break it down 👇
Possible links between endometriosis + IBS:
- Chronic low-grade inflammation
- Histamine intolerance + mast cell activation
- Gut microbiome imbalance (dysbiosis)
- Leaky gut
- Gut-brain axis dysfunction (aka nerves in the gut being too reactive)

If you have deep infiltrating endo, there may also be scar tissue or adhesions affecting your intestines, slowing digestion and worsening symptoms like constipation and SIBO.

But get this: research shows IBS symptoms can occur with or without endo lesions on the gut. This tells us it’s not just a mechanical issue—it’s about inflammation + gut health.

Even before your first period, endo can show up as IBS-like symptoms. Teens with endo often experience nausea and generalised pain—not always tied to their cycle. This gets labelled as IBS, delaying proper diagnosis, which can lead to:
- More scarring + adhesions
- Increased pain sensitivity
- Stress on the ovaries (impacting fertility)

Good news? Naturopathic support helps both conditions by addressing the root causes.

From reducing histamine + inflammation to healing gut imbalances and calming the gut-brain axis—there’s SO much that can be done 💛 I have written an article with more information, if you'd like to read it comment ENDOIBS and I'll DM you the link.

PS - Want to know what your hormones are doing?
Take my free quiz to get insight into your hormonal health 👉Comment QUIZ and I'll message you the link to the quiz

30/06/2025

There’s so much that we never get taught about our hormones, our cycles, and even less on what we can do about it if things go awry.

That’s part of why I created this mini ecourse - to teach about how to get in tune with your cyclical nature as a woman and how to connect with the cyclical nature of our environment. Even more than that, this ecourse shares information about :
✨learning to understand how your hormones affect your mood, energy, and more.
✨the oocyte (egg) recruitment cycle and how this impacts fertility
✨herbal medicine for hormonal health
✨eating for your menstrual cycle
✨tips on understanding hormone testing

And plenty more.

🤗
I’ve decided to offer a flash sale for the next 48 hours - use code CYC20 to get 20% off!

26/06/2025

Have you made elder berry syrup before? Its super simple! I made a video showing how to do it.

(Turn on captions)Elderberry season is the end of summer, start of autumn and depending on your tree can lengthen into winter. Last year my tree finally prod...

02/06/2025

“Keeping your body healthy is an expression of gratitude to the whole cosmos — the trees, the clouds, everything.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

30/05/2025

When I talk about fascia with patients—whether during massage or discussing lymph, gut, or nervous system health—most have never heard of it. I barely learned about it in training, but it’s become a big part of how I understand the body.

Fascia was once described simply as the "wrapping" around muscles. But newer understanding shows it to be a complex, intelligent connective tissue system—think of it like a living 3D scaffolding that wraps around everything: muscles, bones, nerves, blood vessels, lymph, organs.⁠

💧Imagine it like a sponge: compressing, expanding, adapting to movement, pressure, hydration—and even emotional state.

Fascia doesn’t just connect us structurally—it communicates. It’s the tissue that integrates all systems. When you see the body through this lens, it becomes clear: our muscles, organs, and tissues don’t function in isolation. This holistic view is core to naturopathic medicine, whereas conventional models often divide the body into disconnected systems.⁠

✨Fascia loves movement and pressure. Manual therapy + movement restores glide, elasticity, and hydration. And yes—hydration is crucial.

⚠️ What happens when fascia becomes restricted?⁠
• Reduced blood flow and lymphatic drainage⁠
• Increased tightness and discomfort⁠
• Decreased circulation⁠
• Restricted movement⁠

Fascinatingly, fascia seems to mirror the meridians of Traditional Chinese Medicine—those energy channels used in acupuncture and bodywork. In cadaver dissections, researchers have found fascial lines that align closely with meridian pathways. It begs the question: *what else does fascia do?*⁠
⁠
Some theories suggest that fascia may hold emotional memory or trauma—meaning chronic restriction could be just as emotional as it is physical.⁠

🎥 Jean-Claude Guimberteau, Strolling Under the Skin (excerpt)

16/05/2025

Just look at this bundle of cuteness. She makes my heart melt.

I struggled to think about replacing Chewie, our beloved labrador of 14 years but eventually we made the decision to get a new doggie and this new pup is beyond perfect. She’s had a lovely first day exploring the garden and the kids absolutely lost their mind coming home to her.
Rosie is our new golden retriever pup and I’ll be dedicating some time to her over the next few weeks which will mean appointments are a bit scarcer with myself but don’t worry Carissa is here for you, she has some availabilities on Thursdays for the next few weeks ❤️

13/05/2025

Measuring cups have been restocked!! They’re so pretty 💚🩷🤍🩵

01/05/2025

Your lymphatic system is one of the unsung heroes of your body – working quietly behind the scenes every single day. 💫

It plays a major role in:
• Immune health – mobilizing white blood cells and protecting against pathogens
• Fat metabolism
• Clearing out cellular waste and toxins
• Maintaining fluid balance
• Helping move hormones for proper detoxification

Your liver actually produces a big portion of your lymph – so if your liver is sluggish, chances are your lymphatic system is too.

Every day, your lymphatic system clears about 2–3 litres of waste – but it needs your support to do that efficiently. Things like dehydration, constipation, stress, fascial tightness, tight clothing, low movement, inflammation, and toxin exposure can all slow it down.

The good news? There are simple ways to give your lymph some love:
✨ Stay hydrated
✨ Keep your gut moving
✨ Dry brushing
✨ Rebounding or using vibration plates
✨ Deep belly breathing
✨ Gentle self-massage
✨ And most importantly – move your body. Your lymph doesn't have a pump like your heart. Movement is the pump!

Sometimes though, it's nice to let someone else take care of you. I’m trained in the method of lymphatic massage – a beautiful way to support your body’s natural detox pathways.

💆‍♀️ Comment BOOKMEIN to book your session.
🧤Want to try lymphatic drainage at home? Comment LYMPHKIT for a link to the self-massage gloves.

Your lymph will thank you 🥰

27/04/2025

You might be surprised to hear this...
But if you’re struggling with recurrent thrush, BV or UTIs, the real culprit might not just be “down there” — it might be starting in your gut. 🦠➡️🐱

The gut and v&ginal microbiomes are deeply connected — and if your gut is out of balance, inflamed, or not absorbing nutrients properly, it can set off a chain reaction that affects your vaginal health too.

In my latest blog, I explain:
🌿 Why gut issues can make you more vulnerable to v&ginal microbiome imbalances
🌿 How a healthy gut supports immunity, hormonal balance and even pH regulation
🌿 Why simply wiping out Candida isn’t enough — and what real healing actually involves

And no — you’re not imagining it when symptoms come and go unpredictably. Chronic thrush (RVVC) often doesn’t show up clearly on swabs either, which makes it even trickier to manage if we don’t look deeper.

If you want to read more about how the gut is involved (and what we can do about it), comment CHRONIC below and I’ll send you the link. 📩

If you’re feeling ready to tackle this properly, Carissa and I are here to help with a holistic, personalised approach — including microbiome testing, gut support, and custom treatments. 💛

29/03/2025

Tomorrow I’ll be attending the learning more about Lipoedema.

It’s a condition that affects more people than you probably know about and have have a big psychological and physical impact.
Are you interested in hearing about my insights from this symposium?