Anthrobotanica - Carolina Brooks, Address upon request, London (2026)

25/02/2026

Not all hyperbaric chambers are created equal. If you’re considering HBOT, understanding safety standards could be the difference between therapeutic benefit and unnecessary risk.

Chamber design matters. Reclining positions create uneven pressure distribution across your body, affecting circulation and therapeutic outcomes. Horizontal chambers ensure even pressure, optimised venous return, and proper parasympathetic activation.

Materials matter. Non-medical-grade chambers can off-gas volatile compounds under pressure. PVC coatings, flame retardants, formaldehyde. Medical-grade materials are third-party tested for hyperbaric conditions.

Training matters. Reception staff operating chambers without proper protocols, no ear equalisation teaching, no emergency training. It’s more common than you’d think.

Integrated systems matter. Combining air compressors with AC units and oxygen concentrators in one system violates medical standards and risks refrigerant contamination of breathing air.

Furniture in chambers is a fire hazard. Full stop. Foam off-gassing, static electricity, and oxygen-enriched environments don’t mix.

We only use FDA-approved chambers because safety isn’t negotiable. Medical-grade materials, horizontal design, separated systems, comprehensive training protocols.
HBOT supports recovery for long COVID, chronic fatigue, autoimmune conditions (including IBD), neurological issues, Lyme disease, gut dysfunction, fertility, post-surgical healing, and metabolic health. But only when it’s done safely and as part of a wider integrative approach.

Read the full article (link in bio) for everything you need to know about chamber safety, what to look for and why medical-grade standards matter.

Curious about trying HBOT? DM us to book a session or learn more.

ChronicFatigue AutoimmuneDisease BrainHealth LymeDisease GutHealth Fertility MetabolicHealth HolisticHealth IntegrativeMedicine NaturopathicMedicine LondonWellness HarleyStreet EvidenceBasedMedicine Wellness HolisticHealing FunctionalMedicinePractitioner

09/12/2025

👑If you are a cancer surivor, this one is for you.

🎄Party season is here. And you’re scrolling through Instagram wondering if you can just have one

The conditions that allowed cancer to develop in your body are still there. Treatment can remove a visible tumour. It didn’t remove the metabolic dysfunction, the insulin resistance, the toxic burden, or the stress response.

Every mince pie, every toast, every just this once is a choice between protection and vulnerability.

Cancer cells consume glucose 10-100x faster than normal cells. One indulgent December creates weeks of elevated insulin—a cancer-promoting metabolic environment lasting into February.

741,000 new cancer cases globally from alcohol. Even ONE drink daily increases breast cancer risk. Alcohol suppresses your immune system for 48-72 hours per drink.Dairy raises IGF-1 (a potent cancer cell growth promoter)

I’ve spent 15+ years studying cancer metabolism & survivorship care through the lens of naturopathic & functional medicine. You need:
→ YOUR dietary protocol (not one-size-fits-all)
→ YOUR testing schedule (based on your cancer type)
→ YOUR HBOT plan (immune support, detox, cellular rejuvenation—not just radiation recovery)
→ YOUR stress management approach
→ YOUR detox strategy
→ YOUR own version of a survival guide

**SWIPE through*** This is everything you need to know about:
✓ Sugar and the Warburg Effect (why cancer cells love Christmas)
✓ Alcohol’s mechanisms (it’s not just calories)
✓ What to eat instead (very low carb protocol)
✓ Why dairy must go (IGF-1 connection)
✓ Party season stress management
✓ Toxic burden from celebrations
✓ Movement prescription for December
✓ Testing you can’t skip
✓ **HBOT’s huge benefits** (immune powerhouse, 8x stem cell activation, detox support, anti-cancer mechanisms, radiation healing, cellular rejuvenation, quality of life)

🔗 Link in bio for consultations. Your remission is worth more than this!
💾 SAVE this—revisit before every party
📲 SHARE with a survivor who needs this

Drop a 💚 if you’re committed to staying cancer-free through party season

13/11/2025

“How do you keep up with exercise when you’re travelling so much?”

I hear this question all the time. The answer is simple: I treat movement as medicine, not as something I fit in when convenient. Whether I’m in London or abroad, my non-negotiables are Lagree, Pilates, hiking (mountains when possible), and tennis.

I’ll be honest—I’m quite terrified of losing muscle mass. Partly because i am vain 🤣 but also because I understand what muscle represents: metabolic currency, longevity insurance, and functional independence as we age.

Why does this matter from a physiological perspective?

Mitochondrial function. HIIT upregulates PGC-1α—the gene that drives mitochondrial creation. Hiking and endurance activities increase mitochondrial density in cells, whilst resistance work like Lagree optimises how efficiently those mitochondria function. Tennis delivers cardiovascular benefits through its unique pattern of intense rallies followed by brief recovery. The outcome? Enhanced cellular energy production, metabolic flexibility, and resilience under stress.

Metabolic regulation. Combining aerobic and resistance training lowers fasting insulin levels and improves how your cells respond to glucose. This combination is particularly effective for reducing visceral adiposity and supporting lean tissue development.

Stress response. Regular training lowers baseline cortisol, improves heart rate variability (your nervous system’s ability to adapt to demands), and strengthens recovery mechanisms after stressful events.

Supporting elimination. Movement enhances lung function and activates antioxidant systems. Both lungs and skin serve as detoxification organs—breathing deeply and sweating during exercise directly support these elimination pathways, boosting blood flow & lymphatic movement.

When travel disrupts my usual routine, I prioritise even more intentionally. I’ll find a Lagree or Pilates studio and book myself in, or use resistance bands in my hotel room—they’re always in my luggage and turn any space into a workout environment, along with a wall or a chair.

Perfection isn’t the goal. Showing up is

✨What does your movement practice look like when you travel?

25/10/2025

Have you ever wondered why certain wellness protocols work brilliantly for your friends but leave you feeling worse? Or why that supplement everyone raves about gives you unexpected reactions?

🧬The answer might be written in your genetics….

Your body holds secrets that often get missed.I’ve been fascinated by the intricate ways our genetic variations and epigenetic expression influence everything from supplement absorption to herb metabolism. The truth is, what works for others might not work for you—and that’s not a failure, it’s biology.

🚩So many patients come to me after experiencing adverse reactions to protocols they were never properly screened for. High-dose IV vitamin C administered without G6PD testing. Methylene blue protocols without genetic consideration.Berberine or wormwood to address dysbiosis…. (I won’t even get started on sulphur intolerance because that’s a different and equally important topic)

Most people are walking around with genetic variations they know nothing about. These aren’t rare conditions; they’re common differences that fundamentally affect how your body processes treatments, detoxifies, and responds to therapeutic interventions.

What if the missing piece isn’t finding the perfect protocol, but doing a proper deep dive to understand how your unique body actually works?

I’ve spent years diving into the genetics, metabolic pathways, and biochemical individuality that conventional approaches often miss. The patterns I see repeatedly are both fascinating and transformative for those ready to move beyond guesswork.

💫Your wellness journey doesn’t have to be trial and error. Your body has been trying to communicate with you all along—we just need to learn its language.

Ready to dive deeper with your health? Link in bio to book a preliminary consultation ✨

23/05/2025

This is the biggest problem I am seeing in clinics

You do everything right - take your supplements, use your herbs, follow your protocol, avoid trigger foods. But your symptoms keep returning.🤬 Why aren’t you getting better? The answer might be sleeping next to you...

Intimate partners share their microbiomes. When your partner has imbalances, they’re acting like a consistent reservoir. It’s like trying to empty a bathtub while the tap is still running.

This microbiome ping-pong affects:
✨ Fertility & pregnancy outcomes
✨ Weight loss resistance
✨ Immune stability (hello autoimmune) flares
✨ Skin issues (acne, eczema)
✨ Mood & mental clarity
✨ Energy & vitality

I get it. Your partner may not be as invested in their health as you and often don’t want to see a practitoner.But just giving your partner the same supplements as you isn’t really the best solution - everyone has their own unique terrain, and underlying health issues. What works for you might be completely wrong for your partner, especially if you are in different life stages, have different genders, different toxic loads and genetics impacting the way we metabolise hormones…

My patients asked, we listened! Partner Microbiome Assessment is here.

In just 30 minutes, your partner gets:
→ Targeted assessment
→ Personalized testing guidance
→ Custom supplement protocols
→ Ongoing support options

Stop playing microbiome ping-pong. Heal together and stop wasting time and money.

Link in bio to read more and book your Partner Assessment if you are a current patient wanting to get your partner in to see me. If you’re not a current patient and want to know more, feel free to book in for a call.

📸 Helmut Newton

09/05/2025

Hi there, it’s been a minute. Thanks to those of you who have stuck around—I appreciate it. I’ll aim to show up more consistently. Honestly, I’ve been feeling completely blocked when it comes to social media. Curated posts feel inauthentic & not aligned with my values, and I can’t rely on anyone else to speak for me or emulate my voice when I’m time-poor.

What’s been frustrating is seeing the irresponsible advice that gets shared online accepted without question. It’s made me realise I need to speak up more. I’m uncomfortable with how some practitioners within the industry I’m part of sometimes promotes protocols & the inapproriate use of supplements to treat symptoms.The concept of true personalised medicine is being lost..

For anyone who doesn’t know me—I’m a naturopath with a focus on herbal & food medicine, and I actually practice true personalised healthcare every day.

I have extensive training in many modalities & systems (you may have found me searching for functional medicine, endobiogeny) but no extreme devotion to any single approach because every system has its limitations and flaws (plus none work in isolation) so this has led to me creating my own method, the Vitamorphic Method and my clinic doesn’t look very clinical (as you can see here)💫

I work with complex chronic patients & a broad spectrum of health conditions because I believe choosing a specialism as a practitioner is extremely problematic. it makes your knowledge & thought process narrow, eliminates the need for deep thought & restricts your boundaries of knowledge.

It feels irresponsible to me now to offer general advice, especially when I’ve seen how even simple supplements can cause reactions. Recently a patient told me maybe I should focus more on what people shouldn’t do or what gets overlooked. So that’s what I’ll do. I’ll focus on dismantling myths & gimmicks, highlighting things being missed when clinicians aren’t going deep enough & helping people learn how to really listen to their bodies harnessing both current knowledge & ancient wisdom and practices to understand their health.

More soon & much love x

02/01/2024

2024.. 💫I’ve taken time off social media this past year, I’ll be back, although less so, because I still find the whole concept of social media abhorrent.

This past year, there has been a lot of change. My practice, my patients are more complex than ever before, I’ve really dug into the power of hyperbaric oxygen therapy because I’ve seen how beautifully it works for stubborn chronic cases. Although sadly, most centres don’t know how to tailor treatments for individual cases.

I’ve shed a few skins 🐍, really listened to the wisdom of plants 🌱🌿, attuned my own creative and esoteric processes to engage them more with my work 🍄💥.

I have also had my own VERY personal post-viral experience of neurological autoimmunity and seen through the patients coming to me how most practitioners simply don’t understand the concept of post-viral autoimmunity@and long COVID. Choosing instead to batter patients with aggressive anti-microbials and ozone.. and completely ignoring fundamental pillars of health..

I’ve also learned who NOT to work with (NDAs so 🤐) traversed the globe on plant missions and product recces, and am close to launch a few pretty amazing projects which have been quite some time in the making! When those are ready for the world to see, I’ll share a bit more.🐆

I spent a lot of time in the Mojave desert this year 🌵which is my special place in the world so this is me in the Integratron whispering my quiet intentions, which seems quite apt for the new year. I figured it was more auspicious than the video of me accidentally swimming with a crocodile in a Mexican cenote. (That never happens they said.They lied).

Happy new year, here’s to a wonderful 2024. 🎇🎆

26/04/2022

Other therapies that help with trauma recovery: EMDR, psychedelics & plant medicine & the importance of sleep specific to trauma processing

🌟EMDR is a clinically validated approach used for PTSD, anxiety, depression, addiction, behavioural issues & other mental health disorders. It safely reconnects the patient to images, thoughts, emotions & body sensations associated with trauma by accessing traumatic memories and starting bilateral stimulation using eye movements,sounds in alternating ears or tapping either side of your body. These eye movements are like those that occur during REM sleep and help you access your subconscious mind to process what is stored there.

🧠Neuroplasticity is the brain’s primary driver for adaptation. In trauma & depression, we see cognitive rigidity, loss of synaptic connections in mood & emotion circuitry, deficits in processing new information, & studies have also shown volumetric decreases in the cortex, hippocampus & connectivity changes with the limbic system.

👁️Psychedelics increase cognitive flexibility, alter sensory stimuli processing, enhance environmental sensitivity & emotional release. They induce neuroplastic effects.

💡Just 1 dose of ayahuasca which contains DMT increases BDNF levels, a key brain protein involved in neuroplasticity & neurogenesis.DMT & psilocybin create long-term behavioural outcomes, and improve limbic & thalamic connectivity.

😴Sleep:chronic stress increases neuronal immune function & drives inflammation (creating that altered neuroplasticity) & night time cortisol, which increases consolidation & encapsulation of traumatic memories. Trauma increases sleep heart rate, the brain is hypervigilant & that prevents extinction of unwanted memories, & reduces resilience.

🌟Our sleep cycles happen for a reason. Short-wave sleep consolidates dreams, REM retrieves, edits & reconsolidates, just like EMDR. Dreaming helps the brain emotionally regulate & helps the brain make more effective connections than when conscious.
PMIDs 31231276, 34565579, 33257322

📷 Nocturnal Sumber - A Mucha

25/04/2022

⭐️How do you heal from trauma?⭐️⁠
⁠
Not everyone who experiences trauma goes onto develop PTSD, but anyone who experiences trauma usually sees some impact on their life. The most important thing is working with the right therapist who you can build a trusting relationship with. Trauma therapy takes time. To ensure safety & best outcome, anyone with a history of trauma working with me must be under the care of a trauma-centred therapist so the integrative work we do alongside can focus on addressing the factors exacerbating a hyperreactive biochemical response to stress & trauma.⁠
⁠
PTSD treatment can really help to reduce reexperiencing symptoms, & the consequent impact it has on your emotional & physiological health. Everyone will respond to different tools but here are some that work well:⁠
⁠
Using regular grounding techniques to reduce the likelihood of slipping back into flashback, improve resilience & reduce hyperarousal. Some of the things my patients find helpful include listening to music (loudly), guided meditation, sniffing essential oils, breathing exercises, going for a walk, dancing, listening to white noise & tapping, burning incense or palo santo.⁠
⁠
My automatic trauma response is usually avoidance (I’ve been avoiding social media & the news because I had my own brutal, traumatic experience with Russian soldiers when I lived there as a young student and well, current news). Avoidance reinforces fear so it is not a solution, it’s a learned response to a traumatised brain. Prolonged exposure therapy is a really useful technique used in CBT to help individuals confront fears by gradually approaching trauma-related memories, feelings & situations. You need to have regular sessions to engage in exposure & process the experience safely so it can take a while but it works. ⁠
⁠
Image rehearsal therapy or dream rescripting is a CBT technique that involves playing through a dream sequence, rewinding it & rewriting it to modify negative interpretations.It works well if you have terrifying nightmares.⁠
⁠
⭐️I’ll talk about EMDR, the astonishing benefits of yoga, plant medicines & the importance of sleep for processing trauma in my next post⭐️

02/04/2022

TRAUMA PART 3

In brain scans of chronic PTSD patients, researchers discovered there was almost no activation of the “self-sensing” areas of the brain: the medial prefrontal cortex, the anterior cingulate, the parietal cortex, & the insula were dark & concluded these patients learned to shut down the brain areas that transmit the visceral feelings & emotions that accompany & define terror in response to trauma.

Those areas are also responsible for registering emotions & sensations that form the foundation of our self-awareness so to shut down terrifying sensations, the brain wiped out the capacity to feel fully alive.

With trauma we see abnormal activation & constant misfiring of the insula, leaving someone feeling on edge for no obvious reason. The insula integrates & interprets information from sensory organs, & transmits fight-or-flight signals to the amygdala (involved in fear perception) when necessary.

Trauma causes changes in limbic system functioning. The amygdala (part of the limbic system) contributes to the formation of denser-than-normal memories and perception of time slowing down. This causes memories to be imprinted in greater detail in our memory, emotions, consciousness & subconscious.
Trauma sensitises the HPA axis, which increases reactivity to stress, dysregulates cortisol release, impairs cortisol regulation & increases sympathetic nervous system dominance. + it drives all those negative impacts that come with constant cortisol release). The vagus is part of our parasympathetic nervous system, which oversees crucial bodily functions (mood, immune response, digestion, and heart & respiratory rate) and with trauma we see vagus nerve dysfunction (a long topic for another day).
We see neurotransmitter-related dysregulation of arousal & endogenous opioid systems.
Hyperarousal (or hypervigilance) is common. This is the body’s way of staying prepared and is characterised by sleep disturbances, muscle tension & lower threshold for startle response. It can persist for years and it results from biological changes initiated by trauma as a means of self-protection. We see chronic pain.
Tomorrow, I’ll start looking at useful therapies that do actually help (there are many)

📷 sky_lover_920

01/04/2022

TRAUMA PART 2 ⁠
⁠
Initial reactions to trauma include anxiety, exhaustion, agitation, insomnia, confusion, sadness, agitation, numbness, dissociation & confusion. These typically resolve without severe long-term consequences, because most trauma survivors are highly resilient & can develop some coping strategies & have social support in immediate aftermath. Regardless of how well someone recovers, trauma is still incredibly distressing to experience. ⁠
⁠
Most people recover with time & function effectively in major life areas but a small % of people will end up with trauma-related stress disorders.⁠
⁠
Common delayed effects of trauma include⁠
⁠
Difficulties with focus & memory, or hyperfocus (both are dissociative)⁠
Overwhelming fear⁠
OCD behaviours⁠
Difficulty regulating emotions, depression, anxiety, panic disorder, irritability, poor motivation, unclear sense of purpose, shame⁠
Numbness & detachment or sensory overwhelm⁠
Sleep disorders, difficulty shifting out of fight or flight mode, nightmares, flashbacks⁠
Difficulty assimilating information & adapting behaviours⁠
Perfectionism, self-doubt⁠
Fear & anxiety around risk-taking⁠
Chronic fatigue, exhaustion ⁠
Avoidant behaviour,social isolation, lack of interest in activities⁠
⁠
There are other, indirect effects of trauma. Sometimes the physical & emotional pain make it hard to cope, leading to unhealthy choices with drugs & alcohol, disordered eating patterns, overworking, self-injurious or high-risk behaviours. This can be an avoidance strategm, an attempt to regain emotional control or disconnection with what the body needs⁠
⁠
Somatic symptoms are more likely to occur in people suffering traumatic stress reactions. Chronic pain is extremely common: back & neck pain, migraine, fibromyalgia, digestive problems, asthma. ⁠
⁠
Physical discomfort without obvious cause comes from self-numbing. Fidgeting & being constantly physically distracted are indicators of not being able to respond to the body’s ordinary needs in a mindful & quiet way. ⁠
⁠
Tomorrow I’ll talk about the biochemistry of trauma.

Anthrobotanica - Carolina Brooks

25/02/2026

09/12/2025

13/11/2025

25/10/2025

23/05/2025

09/05/2025

02/01/2024

26/04/2022

25/04/2022

02/04/2022

01/04/2022

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