Barleycorn Clinic

Barleycorn Clinic Specialising in your Hormones, Gut Health, Skin, Lab Testing & Weight Loss Clinic

08/04/2026

Still tired and losing your hair?

Your thyroid might not be the only issue… 👀

Normal thyroid function doesn’t just rely on iodine — it also needs iron, selenium & zinc to work properly.

👉 And here’s the catch:
Low iron (ferritin) can look exactly like hypothyroidism.

Common signs of low ferritin:
• Fatigue & low energy
• Hair loss or slow hair growth
• Reduced exercise tolerance
• Weakened immune system
• Digestive issues

Sound familiar?
These overlap A LOT with thyroid symptoms.

Important:
If you have hypothyroid symptoms, you should always check:
✔️ Iron
✔️ Ferritin (optimal ~50–70 for T4 → T3 conversion)

Support your thyroid naturally:

✨ Selenium (200mcg daily for 3 months, then retest)
✨ Zinc (10mg daily – best absorbed in small doses)
✨ Iron (if deficient)
✨ Potassium-rich foods
✨ Protein intake: 1.2–1.6g/kg
✨ Vitamins A, B2 & E
✨ Magnesium & B vitamins
✨ Ashwagandha (~600mg daily)
✨ Restore s*x hormones

Hormones matter too 🧠

• Low progesterone = reduced thyroid activity
• High oestrogen = impaired T4 → T3 conversion
• Hormonal imbalance can increase thyroid-binding globulin (TBG)

⚠️ This is especially common during perimenopause

Key takeaway:
Your thyroid doesn’t work in isolation — it’s deeply connected to nutrients, iron levels & hormones.

We run full thyroid, hormone & mineral panels to get to the root cause 🔬

💬 Do you struggle with thyroid symptoms? What’s helped you?

This hormone literally turns on your brain’s “calm mode”Why is micronised progesterone helpful?Progesterone can be trick...
04/04/2026

This hormone literally turns on your brain’s “calm mode”

Why is micronised progesterone helpful?

Progesterone can be tricky for your body to absorb through the skin or digestive system.

That’s why it’s micronised—broken down into ultra-fine particles and suspended in oil, then placed into a capsule.

👉 This process helps your body absorb it more efficiently, so you get the full benefit.

How micronised progesterone supports sleep & anxiety

When you take oral micronised progesterone, your brain converts it into a calming compound called allopregnanolone.

🧠 This interacts with GABA-A receptors (your brain’s natural “calm down” system), which can:
• Reduce anxiety
• Promote relaxation
• Improve sleep quality

💡 In simple terms:
It works with your brain chemistry to help you feel calmer and sleep better.

Not all women get alone with it though? It’s like marmite…

What’s your experience?

29/03/2026

✨ Struggling with low energy, mood changes, or stubborn symptoms that don’t make sense?

On HRT but still don’t feel ok?

For one of our 42-year-old clients, standard tests didn’t give the full picture… but deeper hormone testing revealed low cortisol levels and suboptimal hormone balance.

🔬 That’s where the DUTCH test comes in — giving us a detailed insight into your hormones so we can actually address the root cause.

💡 Alongside advanced testing, our blood panels and personalised health programmes are designed to help you feel like yourself again.

👉 Check out our case study reel to learn more
👉 Or book your FREE discovery call today
👉 Comment Dutch for more

PCOS & the Adrenals — a real case insight 👀This is exactly why we run blood tests and a DUTCH test — highlighting adrena...
28/03/2026

PCOS & the Adrenals — a real case insight 👀

This is exactly why we run blood tests
and a DUTCH test — highlighting adrenal dysfunction, cortisol imbalances, and hidden drivers behind the PCOS symptoms.

Because hormones don’t work in isolation.
Your adrenals, stress response, and metabolism all play a huge role.

✨ This is why we combine:
• Blood testing
• DUTCH hormone testing
• Cycle mapping (where needed)

So we can see the full picture, not just a snapshot.

If you’ve been told everything is “fine” but you still don’t feel it — this is your sign to dig deeper.

👇 Want to learn more about DUTCH testing or cycle mapping?
Comment “DUTCH” and I’ll send you the details + a link to book your free Discovery Call.

26/03/2026

Hard relate ✨

Not all women tolerate progesterone the same way 💫While body-identical HRT is often the preferred option, some women str...
24/03/2026

Not all women tolerate progesterone the same way 💫

While body-identical HRT is often the preferred option, some women struggle with oral micronised progesterone. And if you have a womb, taking oestrogen alone isn’t safe—you must have progesterone alongside it to protect the lining of the uterus.

Taking oral micronised progesterone can be a bit like Marmite—it’s very individual.
For some women, it feels incredibly calming, supports sleep, and can be really healing ✨
But for a minority, it may cause unwanted effects like feeling overly sleepy, sedated, or even low in mood.

If oral micronised progesterone doesn’t suit you, don’t worry—there are other options available.

For example, if you experience bleeding on micronised progesterone, a synthetic progestogen might actually work better for your body.

It’s all about finding what you can tolerate and what works best for your individual needs.

👉 Check out the table for a helpful comparison
👉 Speak to a healthcare professional to explore your options

What type of progesterone are you currently using? 💬

16/03/2026

OBGYN doctor nails why we run DUTCH tests on patients 💪

Hormones are complex, and standard testing doesn’t always tell the full story. That’s why we use the DUTCH test – to get a deeper understanding of hormone balance and metabolism.

If you’re looking for a personalised hormone journey, we can support you every step of the way.

We’re DUTCH test experts in the UK, offering at-home hormone testing with expert guidance and interpretation.

✨ DM “DUTCH” to learn more
🔗 Or check the link in our bio

11/03/2026

Joanne, 42 yo our client from last year.
She came to us feeling like something just wasn’t right.

Her symptoms:
• Insomnia
• Constant fatigue
• Low mood
• Intense rage before her period
• Hair loss

She knew something deeper was going on — and her DUTCH hormone test confirmed it.

Here’s what we found👇

👉 Perimenopause
👉 Progesterone bottomed out
👉 Low-end oestrogen but still oestrogen dominant
👉 Extremely high 16-OH (the more inflammatory oestrogen detox pathway)
👉 Low testosterone
👉 Low DHEA-S
👉 High waking cortisol — her body is under stress
👉 Low melatonin — no wonder she can’t sleep
👉 High free cortisol but low metabolised cortisol — a hypometabolic, burnout-type state

In cases like this, hormones are just the surface of the story.

We have to look deeper at the root causes, which can include:

• Subclinical hypothyroidism
• Blood sugar dysregulation
• Iron deficiency
• Sluggish liver detox pathways
• Environmental toxin load
• Gut dysbiosis
• Adrenal dysfunction
• Nutrition and lifestyle stressors

And we also look at something just as important:

Her life.

Is she overwhelmed?
Taken for granted?
Carrying too much?
Feeling undervalued or constantly stressed?

Because hormones don’t exist in isolation.
They respond to everything happening inside and around you.

The good news?

These patterns are very common — and very fixable.

We work with women like Joanne every day who know something isn’t right, but haven’t been given answers.

Our role is to help decode the data, identify the root causes, and empower women with a clear plan forward.

If you’d like a deep dive into your hormones and a personalised health plan, comment “DUTCH” below.

And don’t forget to book your free discovery call ☺️









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Henfied
West
BN5

Telephone

+447710857652

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Welcome

Barleycorn Aesthetics & Wellbeing provides advice and treatment in Cobham Surrey.

The Independent Healthcare Advisory Service (IHAS), endorsed by the General Medical Council (GMC), has been formed to regulate the cosmetic industry and protect the general public. IHAS states that only medically qualified practitioners, i.e, Doctors, Dentists or Nurses who hold the Independent Prescribing qualification, can safely provide injectable cosmetic procedures.

All consultations and treatments are with Donna Barleycorn MSc BSc Hons Dip HE PGCE FHEA Nurse Practitioner/Independent Prescriber.

Donna has been a qualified emergency clinical practitioner since 1998 and been in advanced practice since 2003. She qualified in aesthetics practice in 2012 including advanced treatments in the upper and lower face as well as the axillary areas. Her background includes MSc Senior Lecturer in Advanced Practice and Prescribing, trauma care, medico-legal work and professional development. She has published numerous clinical papers including in the Aesthetic Journal, presented at various national and international conferences and is on the editorial advisory board for an international clinical journal and reviews for a second international journal, highlighting research into best practice.