Dr Nicola Buchan

18/11/2025

T3 is your body’s active thyroid hormone, the one responsible for energy, metabolism, mood, temperature regulation, and clarity of thought.
But… it’s also the one most often overlooked in standard testing.

Low T3 can exist even when your TSH looks “normal,” leaving you with symptoms that don’t make sense on paper.
If you’ve ever felt dismissed or confused by your lab results, you’re not alone.

In this reel, Dr Nicola breaks down why T3 matters, what affects its conversion, and why understanding this hormone can be a turning point for so many.

If you want to learn how to interpret your full thyroid panel, join the Thyroid Symphony Masterclass via backtobalancehealth.com

18/09/2025

Come and join Dr Murray and I as we discuss all things gut and perimenopausal hormones in a beautiful setting!

08/08/2025

On this Woman’s Day I want to shine a light on the common symptoms that I see in women struggling with burnout. Burnout is becoming more and more common as women are holding multiple roles both at work and at home. Rest is not a luxury but rather a necessity as we work towards improved neurological regulation.

13/04/2025

This photo has been doing the rounds on all my social media platforms over the past week. It shows a woman being assisted as she drags herself over the finish line at the Two Oceans half marathon. It has been touted as a great example of sheer determination and grit. Two Oceans Marathon have commented that “this is the heart of the Two Oceans Marathon”.

As an ex marathon runner and now a swimmer I do understand the sentiment. No endurance race is without pain. And therein lies the thorn for me. As a doctor I was taught that pain was an indication from the body that something was wrong. As a functional medicine doctor, I have deep respect for the innate wisdom of the body and the need to listen to our body’s messages. Not listening can result in disastrous consequences: and I’m not just referring to devastating heart attacks or rupture of an embolus. Consistently not “hearing” these messages can result in the slow decline towards burnout and other chronic conditions.

I’m afraid I just cannot get behind the irresponsible messaging being conveyed by this image.

22/02/2025

Mind your gut by feeding it prebiotics, probiotics and nutrient dense foods and your gut in turn will feed and heal your mind

03/12/2024

20/08/2024

Exercise and movement: for the body, mind and soul