Earth Sourced Naturopath & Medical Herbalist

12/01/2026

BREAKING SUMMER HABITS! Sometimes it’s tough to re-establish healthy choices after our seasonal excesses. You’ve just come out of the garden working up a sweat & you’re craving that cold alcoholic beverage - am I right? I’ve found that replacing it with alternatives can be super helpful. For instance try soda water with some passion fruit pulp & mint or basil. Or kombucha with sparkling water & thyme. Honestly it’s delicious, refreshing & leaves you feeling proud you’ve made a better choice for your body that day! What’s your favourite non alcoholic beverage for a hot summer day?
Shine bright! Nic

19/12/2025

Did You Know Your Muscles Can Act Like Natural Antidepressants?

Most people think of muscles as something we use only for movement and strength. But science has uncovered something remarkable: when you contract your muscles, they release mood-boosting chemicals and proteins directly into your bloodstream — influencing your brain and emotional wellbeing.

Your muscles are chemical messengers delivering joy, emotional balance, motivation & pleasure!

During muscle contraction (exercise, stretching, holding a pose, even gentle movement), muscles behave like an endocrine organ, releasing substances called myokines. These travel through the blood to the brain and nervous system, where they support mental health.

Some of the key mood-supporting substances released include:

• BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor) – supports brain resilience, nerve growth, and emotional regulation
• Irisin – helps protect the brain from stress and boosts BDNF
• Endorphins – your body’s natural “feel-good” pain relievers
• Endocannabinoids – calming compounds responsible for the “exercise high”
• Anti-inflammatory signals – exercise-induced inflammation actually reduces depressive inflammation in the body
• Improved serotonin and dopamine activity – supporting motivation, pleasure, and emotional balance.

Low levels of many of these chemicals are commonly found in people experiencing depression and anxiety.

You don’t need intense exercise for this to flow.

Here’s the empowering part: you don’t need to run marathons or hit the gym hard to get these benefits.

Even gentle forms of muscle contraction can help, such as:
✔️ Walking
✔️ Stretching
✔️ Yoga or t’ai chi
✔️ Resistance bands
✔️ Holding muscles tight for a few seconds (isometric contractions)
✔️ Functional daily movement
✔️ My favourite: dance!

This is why movement therapies are increasingly used to support depression, anxiety, trauma recovery, neurodivergent regulation, PMDD, and chronic illness.

Movement as medicine

Research consistently shows that regular muscle activation can:
• Lift mood
• Reduce anxiety
• Improve stress resilience
• Lower inflammatory markers linked to depression
• Enhance cognitive function

In some studies, exercise has been shown to be as effective as antidepressant medication for mild to moderate depression — and supportive alongside medication for more severe cases.

The takeaway

💡 Every time you contract a muscle, you’re sending chemical messages of resilience and balance to your brain.
Movement isn’t just physical — it’s deeply neurological and emotional.

So next time you stretch, walk, or simply move your body, remember: your muscles are helping your mind heal. Which means you can rise your vibration & the quality of the collective energy contributions you offer to the world around us. As well as the actions you take! 💜🥰

✨ Feel free to share — someone might really need this today?

Shine bright, Nic

Key References
1. Schuch, F. B., et al. (2023). Effects of exercise training on inflammatory, neurotrophic and immunological markers and neurotransmitters in people with depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 149, 105160.
2. Li, D., et al. (2024). The role of exercise-related FNDC5/irisin in depression. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 15, 1342781.

18/12/2025

Aloe Vera, Acemannan & Cancer

Most of us think of aloe vera as something you grab for sunburns or digestion. But beneath that familiar green skin is a compound called acemannan that can assist in cancer or inproving HIV immune markers.

Back in the 1980s and ’90s, researchers began studying acemannan, a complex polysaccharide found in the inner gel of aloe vera. What they discovered was intriguing: acemannan doesn’t act like a drug that attacks disease directly. Instead, it appears to communicate with the immune system, particularly macrophages — the immune cells responsible for surveillance, cleanup, and signalling other immune responses.

What does this have to do with cancer?

Cancer research has long recognised that immune dysfunction plays a central role in tumour development and progression.

In laboratory and early clinical research:

• Acemannan has shown the ability to stimulate macrophage activity

• It can increase signalling molecules involved in immune coordination

• Some animal studies observed enhanced tumour surveillance, not tumour destruction.

Importantly, this does not mean aloe or acemannan treats or cures cancer. What it suggests is something more subtle — that certain plant compounds may help support immune responsiveness when the body is under stress. Which means that the immune system starts to work correctly, because it’s identifying cancerous cells for destruction, by encouraging immune system surveillance for these cells.

From this knowledge I’m also now considering this as a treatment for other diseases where there is immune dysfunction. For instance reoccurring chronic infections (colds & flus, chest infections, UTI’s, thrush, bacterial vaginitis, even small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) & other gut issues.

Why not grow some aloe vera & add at least 1 Tbsp of the inner gel within the succulent leaf (also known as a blade) to your smoothies occasionally.

However I recommend following a process to remove the toxic latex. To see these instructions take a look at my full article:

Main Text. Feel free to style these blocks to your taste and move them around within the container. Also feel free to remove whichever you don't want to show up on the blog.

14/12/2025

BREAST CANCER PREVENTION TIP!
Can Switching Personal Care Products Change Breast Tissue Biology?

In 2023, a peer-reviewed pilot study published in the journal Chemosphere (known as the REDUXE study) explored whether reducing exposure to certain common cosmetic chemicals could affect breast tissue at a molecular level.

What did the study do?

Researchers followed 41 healthy women who regularly used personal care products containing parabens and phthalates — chemicals commonly found in cosmetics, lotions, deodorants, and products labelled simply as “fragrance.”

For 28 days, participants switched to alternatives free of parabens and phthalates. Researchers collected:
• Urine samples (to confirm exposure reduction), and
• Breast tissue samples (using fine-needle aspiration) before and after the intervention.

What did they find?

After four weeks, researchers observed:
• Significant reductions in paraben and phthalate metabolites in urine, confirming that exposure dropped quickly.
• Changes in gene expression within breast tissue, shifting away from patterns associated with cancer-related pathways, including PI3K-AKT/mTOR, which plays a role in cell growth, survival, and hormone signalling.

Importantly, these women did not have cancer. The findings relate to cellular and molecular patterns, not disease diagnosis.

What this study does prove

✔️ It shows that everyday chemical exposures can change quickly when products are swapped.
✔️ It demonstrates that breast tissue responds at a molecular level to changes in environmental exposure.

Which chemicals were involved? EDCs (endocrine disrupting chemicals)

This study specifically focused on:
• Parabens (e.g., methylparaben, propylparaben)
• Phthalates (e.g., DEP, DBP — often hidden under “fragrance”)

Why does this matter?

Parabens and phthalates are known as endocrine-active chemicals, meaning they can mimic or interfere with hormones like oestrogen. Hormones play an important role in breast tissue biology, and oestrogen dependent cancer.

💚 The takeaway

Choosing cleaner personal care products isn’t about fear — it’s about informed choice, precaution, and supporting your bodies health & function.

Shine bright, Nic

12/12/2025

Give the Gift of Relaxation & Profound Healing this Christmas
I have massage and consultation gift vouchers available!

Sometimes finding the perfect gift for someone can be difficult.

Consider offering a voucher where the client can choose whether they want a massage to unwind, relax or release tight muscles, or perhaps a consultation to assist them in keeping their intentions for 2026 moving forward.

Simply message me to get the ball rolling.

Thanks Emma for the recent gorgeous Google Review of my skills below! You made my day!

Do you want to do your own Google Review of your massage or consultation with me? Thank you! https://share.google/GnIWHn5238Ljmr1da

03/12/2025

Breast milk is more than food. It’s an adaptive form of medicine which changes in reaction to differing needs. Is the baby male or female? Premature or full term? First child or not? Survival needs or abundance? Illness or health? This researchers discoveries are mind blowing!

References

Research by Dr. Katie Hinde — Summary of Key References

🔹 Sex-Biased Milk Composition

Hinde & Capitanio (2007)
Current Biology
– First-time rhesus macaque mothers produce higher-energy milk for sons.

Hinde (2009)
American Journal of Human Biology
– Sons receive richer milk; daughters receive more volume.

⸻

🔹 Individual Variation in Milk

Hinde (2009)
American Journal of Physical Anthropology
– Large natural variation in milk fat, protein, and energy among rhesus macaque mothers.

⸻

🔹 Milk Cortisol & Infant Temperament

Hinde et al. (2011)
Developmental Psychobiology
– Cortisol levels in milk predict temperament in male infants, but not females.

Hinde et al. (2015)
Behavioral Ecology
– Milk cortisol across lactation reflects maternal life history and shapes infant behavioral development.

⸻

🔹 Bioactive Components & Infant Outcomes

Hinde, Milligan & Martínez-Malagón (2016)
American Journal of Primatology
– Bioactive compounds (growth factors, hormones, etc.) vary with maternal and infant characteristics and predict infant growth.

⸻

🔹 Milk & Immune Response (Related Field Evidence)

Hassiotou et al. (2013)
Clinical & Translational Immunology
– Immune cells in human milk dramatically increase when mother or infant is sick (retrograde flow mechanism).

(Not Hinde’s study, but supports concepts discussed in her work.)

⸻

🔹 Lactation & Infant Development (Book Chapter)

Hinde (2012)
In Building Babies
– Review of how milk composition programs infant growth, immunity, and behavior.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AVi5NBixC/?mibextid=wwXIfries

In 2008, Katie Hinde stood in a California primate lab staring at hundreds of milk samples. Male babies got richer milk. Females got more volume. Science had missed half the conversation.
She was a postdoctoral researcher at the California National Primate Research Center, analyzing milk from rhesus macaque mothers. For months, she'd been measuring fat content, protein levels, mineral concentrations. The data showed something she hadn't expected: monkey mothers were producing completely different milk depending on whether they'd given birth to sons or daughters.
Sons received milk with higher concentrations of fat and protein—more energy per ounce. Daughters received more milk overall, with higher calcium levels. The biological recipe wasn't universal. It was customized.
Hinde ran the numbers again. The pattern held across dozens of mother-infant pairs. This wasn't random variation. This was systematic.
She thought about what she'd been taught in graduate school. Milk was nutrition. Calories, proteins, fats. A delivery system for energy. But if milk was just fuel, why would it differ based on the baby's s*x? Why would mothers unconsciously adjust the formula?
The answer shifted everything: milk wasn't passive. It was a message.
Hinde had arrived at this question through an unusual path. She'd earned her bachelor's degree in anthropology from the University of Washington, then completed her PhD at UCLA in 2008. While most lactation research focused on dairy cattle or developing infant formulas, Hinde wanted to understand what milk actually did in primate mothers and babies.
At UC Davis, she had access to the largest primate research center in the United States. She could collect milk samples at different stages of lactation, track infant development, measure maternal characteristics. She could ask questions that had never been systematically studied.
Like: why do young mothers produce milk with more stress hormones?
Hinde discovered that first-time monkey mothers produced milk with fewer calories but higher concentrations of cortisol than experienced mothers. Babies who consumed this high-cortisol milk grew faster but were more nervous and less confident. The milk wasn't just feeding the baby's body—it was programming the baby's temperament.
Or: how does milk respond when babies get sick?
Working with researchers who studied infant illness, Hinde found that when babies developed infections, their mothers' milk changed within hours. The white blood cell count in the milk increased dramatically—from around 2,000 cells per milliliter to over 5,000 during acute illness. Macrophage counts quadrupled. The levels returned to normal once the baby recovered.
The mechanism was remarkable: when a baby nurses, small amounts of the baby's saliva travel back through the ni**le into the mother's breast tissue. That saliva contains information about the baby's immune status. If the baby is fighting an infection, the mother's body detects the antigens and begins producing specific antibodies, which then flow back to the baby through the milk.
It was a dialogue. The baby's body communicated its needs. The mother's body responded.
Hinde started documenting everything. She collected milk from over 250 rhesus macaque mothers across more than 700 sampling events. She measured cortisol, adiponectin, epidermal growth factor, transforming growth factors. She tracked which babies gained weight faster, which were more exploratory, which were more cautious.
She realized she was mapping a language that had been invisible.
In 2011, Hinde joined Harvard as an assistant professor. She began writing about her findings, but she also noticed something troubling: almost nobody was studying human breast milk with the same rigor applied to other biological systems. When she searched publication databases, she found twice as many studies on erectile dysfunction as on breast milk composition.
The world's first food—the substance that had nourished every human who ever lived—was scientifically neglected.
She started a blog: "Mammals Suck...Milk!" The title was deliberately provocative. Within a year, it had over a million views. Parents, clinicians, researchers started asking questions. What bioactive compounds are in human milk? How does milk from mothers of premature babies differ from milk produced for full-term infants? Can we use this knowledge to improve formulas or help babies in NICUs?
Hinde's research expanded. She studied how milk changes across the day (fat concentration peaks mid-morning). She investigated how foremilk differs from hindmilk (babies with bigger appetites who nurse longer get higher-fat milk at the end of feeding). She examined how maternal characteristics—age, parity, health status, social rank—shaped milk composition.
In 2013, she created March Mammal Madness, a science outreach event that became an annual tradition in hundreds of classrooms. In 2014, she co-authored "Building Babies." In 2016, she received the Ehrlich-Koldovsky Early Career Award from the International Society for Research in Human Milk and Lactation for making outstanding contributions to the field.
By 2017, when she delivered her TED talk, she could articulate what she'd discovered across a decade of research: breast milk is food, medicine, and signal. It builds the baby's body and fuels the baby's behavior. It carries bacteria that colonize the infant gut, hormones that influence metabolism, oligosaccharides that feed beneficial microbes, immune factors that protect against pathogens.
More than 200 varieties of oligosaccharides alone. The baby can't even digest them—they exist to nourish the right community of gut bacteria, preventing harmful pathogens from establishing.
The composition is as unique as a fingerprint. No two mothers produce identical milk. No two babies receive identical nutrition.
In 2020, Hinde appeared in the Netflix docuseries "Babies," explaining her findings to a mass audience. She'd moved to Arizona State University, where she now directs the Comparative Lactation Lab. Her research continues to reveal new dimensions of how milk shapes infant outcomes from the first hours of life through childhood.
She works on precision medicine applications—using knowledge of milk bioactives to help the most fragile infants in neonatal intensive care units. She consults on formula development, helping companies create products that better replicate the functional properties of human milk for mothers who face obstacles to breastfeeding.
The implications extend beyond individual families. Understanding milk informs public health policy, workplace lactation support, clinical recommendations. It reveals how maternal characteristics, environmental conditions, and infant needs interact in real time through a biological messaging system that's been evolving for 200 million years—longer than dinosaurs.
Katie Hinde didn't just study milk. She revealed that the most ancient form of nourishment was also the most sophisticated. What science had treated as simple nutrition was actually a dynamic, responsive communication between two bodies—a conversation that shapes human development one feeding at a time.

02/12/2025

Police can now name the man who was killed on St Aubyn Street in New Plymouth on 19 November. He was Martin James Mooney, aged 68, from New Plymouth (pictured here).

A man charged with Mr Mooney’s murder has been remanded in custody, to appear in New Plymouth High Court on 5 December.

The investigation into Mr Mooney’s death is ongoing and Police would like to hear from any potential witnesses who they have not yet spoken to.

02/12/2025

HERBAL RECIPE: GINGKO PESTO!

Pesto is a brilliant vehicle for not only getting a diverse range of culinary herbs into us (basil own its own is boring in my world!) but also medicinal herbs! So why not Ginkgo biloba!

Ginkgo leaf has been used therapeutically for improving circulation to the brain, enhancing memory and cognitive function. For these reasons, I especially use it for brain fog, some symptoms of long covid, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, dementia, and menopause brain drain with oestrogen decline.

Why not forage some green ginkgo leaves for this lovely rich pesto with therapeutic benefits. Fills a 500ml jar.

Ingredients
3 cups freshly picked ginkgo leaves stalks removed (or you can do a mixture of pesto and other culinary herbs for instance basil, coriander, or even parsley for more of a chimichurri type sauce)
1 heaped tablespoon white miso
2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
1 teaspoon coarse sea salt
1 heaped cup raw cashews (or another seed/nut, mixtures are good too)
½ cup extra virgin olive oil

Instructions:
Layer the ginkgo leaves, miso, nutritional yeast, salt and cashews in a food processor, with the leaves at the bottom.
Quickly pour the olive oil down the chute as the motor runs. Process till just combined and still a little chunky.
Transfer to a 500ml glass jar, pour a little extra olive oil over the top to cover to keep the colour bright.
You can also freeze in portions.
Tap on a hard surface to remove any air bubbles, cap and store in the fridge.

Thanks New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists for this recipe!

Shine bright,
Nic

28/11/2025

LISTENING TO THE MESSAGES YOUR BODY GIVES YOU
I’ve spent 20 years teaching clients & naturopath students & graduates that your body is constantly in communication with you. It lets you know what food it likes, when it’s out of balance, it shows symptoms of deficiency and excess.
Sometimes the body shares its truth with a whisper & other times with a roar.
And when you understand your body’s language, you can finally work with it — not against it, to create a level of holistic wellness that is profound.
My recent experiment:
Recently I’ve been deepening into my listening. I’ve been asking my body what are my yes & no signals in many areas of life.
I’m curious to hear more about what my body thinks of all kinds of daily decisions. Does this friendship feel good? Would leaning into this new direction feel warm? Does my tummy want to eat this food or another choice? Does my body like touch from this person? Do these clothes feel soothing or empowering or feminine and what feels right today? Do i have capacity to exercise, garden or work or do i need to rest?
I realised that there have been many times in my life when I’ve over ridden my bodies signals. When I’ve ignored its cries of pain. When I’ve allowed a person in my field that didn’t feel right because I was yearning for a dream. Or when I’ve fed it something out of reward or to numb out instead of choosing what it actually wanted.
I think women are taught to ignore their instincts. To ignore their wisdom. To be good girls & not offend anyone. Instead of saying No. I don’t like that.
So we keep self abandoning and wondering why we’re unhappy, exhausted, unsatisfied and bloody angry.
I wonder what would shift in this world if we gave ourselves time to ask our bodies wisdom - what do you feel about this?
If we taught our daughters to listen to their bodies and not override it’s messages?
So how do you learn what your bodies yes & no feels like?
Here is a process that might serve you.
Think of a decision you made that you felt good about. What did it feel like in your body? Where in your body do you feel the sensation? Is it hot or cold?
Then think of a decision you were unhappy about. Do the same process.
Now ask a question you’ve been pondering and see what you notice.
Practice this with all sorts of big & small decisions and see what flows from this approach.
I’d love to hear what people feel in their bodies when it’s a yes or no as it might assist others too!
Shine bright, Nic

27/11/2025

Probiotics as Anxiolytic Support? The Evidence Says Yes

A recent study (1) reported that individuals consuming probiotic-rich foods experienced significantly lower anxiety severity, with the effect being particularly notable in men. Researchers described probiotics as “promising anxiolytic agents” due to their ability to increase key neurotransmitters such as GABA and serotonin—both central to mood regulation.

GABA is a neurotransmitter that makes us feel calm & balanced, which has a direct impact on anxiety. Serotonin is primarily produced in the gut (around 90%) and it is our feel good neurotransmitter, which gives a sense of stability, positivity & stress resilience. So you can see how important these fermented foods with their Lactobacillus species are for emotional health!

A 2024 Systematic Review across multiple trials found that Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species demonstrated prominent efficacy in supporting individuals with anxiety symptoms (2). Whilst you can get some species of Bifido in ferments it’s less than that Lactobacillus, however if you make your own yoghurt & add Bifido species you will innoculate your gut!

Here are some fermented foods & drinks to start regularly adding to your diet.
• Yogurt plain with Lactobacillus
• Kefir
• Kimchi
• Raw sauerkraut
• Kombucha, miso paste, pickled vegetables, tempeh etc.

These whole-food probiotics can be a gentle yet effective addition to mental-wellbeing protocols.

Timeline considerations - Many individuals notice shifts in mood or digestion within a few weeks, while more substantial changes may unfold over several months of consistent intake.

Caution: If you have reactions (gas, bloat, histamine symptoms etc) then work with a naturopath (such as myself) or nutritionist to work on gut dysbiosis or histamine issues. Some stool testing could also be advisable.

I hope this inspires you to add fermented foods into your diet each day!

Shine bright, Nic

Note: here is a company i regularly recommend if you dont want to make your own fermented foods & drinks - GoodBugs Or for my Taranaki locals shop Down to Earth Organics where you’ll also find true fermented kombucha & sourdough made by Franziska of Bumblebee! The supermarket kombucha isnt a true ferment as it doesn’t grow a scoby!

References:
1. Tae H, Kim T-S. The effect of prebiotic and probiotic food consumption on anxiety severity: a nationwide study in Korea. Frontiers in Nutrition. 2024;11:1385518. doi:10.3389/fnut.2024.1385518
2. Zhang J, Huang X, Xue M, et al. Strain-specific effects of probiotics on depression and anxiety: a meta-analysis. Gut Pathogens. 2024;16:46. doi:10.1186/s13099-024-00634-8 ndg haiha

07/11/2025

BENEFITS OF GRATITUDE
When your heart fills with gratitude there are a number of physical & emotional benefits. It also changes the energy field around the heart known as the Torus (1)

When we feel gratitude we release feel good neurotransmitters such as dopamine & serotonin. Dopamine is linked to pleasure & reward & serotonin to positive mood & contentment. We also release the social bonding hormone called oxytocin which helps us feel connected & loved up. (2)

Research further indicates that cortisol levels drop dramatically when we feel gratitude. This hormone is released when we are anxious and stressed to calm the stress response. High chronic levels will lead to weight gain. (2)

Also researchers found that endorphins which reduce pain & elevate mood are released when we feel grateful. (2)

There is some evidence to suggest that gratitude may boost the immune system by influencing factors like IgA (an antibody blood protein), likely as a result of lowered stress levels. The overall reduction in stress hormones generally leads to improved immune function. (3)

So if you ever thought that a daily practice focusing on feeling gratitude was woo-woo…well you’re misinformed! Not only are you stabilising your emotional & physical wellbeing, you are also directly supporting your heart torus field which impacts with other people’s energy fields & also the energy field in the world around you.

This is a powerful way you can shift our world simply by changing your field. Imagine if we all spent 15 minutes per day doing this, what this love based social activism could achieve? 💜

How I integrate this in my life is each morning i meditate for 20 minutes & much of that time is spent growing feelings of gratitude & authentic unconditional love in my heart & then sending it wherever in the world it needs to go.

Does this inspire you? 🥰

Shine bright, Nic

Refs
(1) https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/building-the-habit-of-hero/202011/the-hearts-electromagnetic-field-is-your-superpower #:~:text=If%20the%20preference%20is%20not,will%20flow%20right%20into%20sleep.

(2) https://positivepsychology.com/neuroscience-of-gratitude/

(3) https://abcnews.go.com/Health/science-thankfulness/story? https://www.aheadpsych.com.au/unlocking-happiness-the-neuroscience-of-gratitude-practice/ #:~:text=According%20to%20neuroscience%2C%20regularly%20practicing,and%20supporting%20various%20bodily%20functions.&text=Incorporating%20gratitude%20into%20our%20daily,things%20you're%20grateful%20for.

08/10/2025

HEALING RECIPE - POULTICES FOR LUNG INFECTIONS & LIVER DETOX
I have used this onion & linseed poultice so many times! I've taught it in workshops and retreats, I've offered it to clients, and I've used the treatment personally and its very effective!

The great thing about it is that you can add other healing herbs, spices, essential oils to it, to add to its therapeutic benefits! For instance mustard for a lung infection, turmeric or chili for painful joints, kawakawa or dandelion for liver detoxification. See how easy it is?

You might enjoy this article I wrote for the recent Avena journal for the New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists.

I'm also the editor for this journal, so if you have any interest in sharing an article or advertising your products or services to naturopaths and medical herbalists, please message me!