White Swan Naturopathy in Helensburgh, New South Wales, Australia | Alternative & holistic health service

White Swan Naturopathy

Locality: Helensburgh, New South Wales, Australia

Phone: +61 407 546 319

Address: 5/3 Short Street 2508 Helensburgh, NSW, Australia

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• Medical and health
• Alternative & holistic health service
• Naturopath

25.01.2022 Corona virus is extremely hot news this month. I have seen surgical masks being sold out, hand sanitizer sold out and of course the toilet paper debacle. Setting minds at ease will take a long time. We're all afraid of something new, unknown and apparently deadly. May I remind everyone that we live with serious illness all the time. Staying calm is always the best first step. Rest and time to recoup energy is the next one. I recommend that anyone who is feeling panicky at th...is time, go online and read the government's website on their recommendations. We are already into an early cold and flu season - not surprising with the bad air quality we endured for months and then lots of rain kicking up pollen and dust. We have also been stuck inside for more of the past summer than we normally would be, so vitamin D is low. So what do we do? Echinacea products are brilliant as prevention, so long as it is taken consistently. Vitamin D, at no less than 1000IU (1 capsule per day), with vitamin C and zinc are good too for prevention of colds. However, we also need frequent quality sleep to aid our immunity too, with low amounts of stress. Good luck with those two! In today's lifestyles we're frequently low on sleep and high on stress. Don't be surprised when you get sick even on Echinacea and the rest! Take Echinacea and everything else, so that when you do get sick it won't make you feel as sick as it could do and a cold won't last as long either. Our bodies require all sorts of bacteria, so take probiotics for immunity but stay away from hand sanitizers and sprays because they kill off the weaker bacteria and good bacteria and leave the more resistant strains. It will be interesting to see what the long term ramifications of heavy hand sanitizer usage will be. Just wash your hands after coughing or sneezing into them and use your elbow or a tissue to sneeze into instead of your hands. Simple but effective ways to ensure low exposure to others!

24.01.2022 White Swan is a naturopathic business focused on the whole person and their needs. Year round practitioner learning makes sure that patients get up-to-date treatment protocols that are research based. Within a consultation the patient will give an in depth medical history, be given nutritional guidance, liquid herbal formula(s) and treatment guidelines and aims. Follow up consultations allow for treatment updates and support. All sorts of conditions will benefit from an natu...ropathic consultation including: skin conditions, sluggish liver, impaired memory and concentration, hormonal imbalance, bone loss, and more. A consultation can range in length from 30 minutes up to 2 hours and is priced accordingly.

24.01.2022 There are many health conditions that trouble people but there is one that isn't even a disease but it plagues each of us at some time in our lives. Weight control. Whether it is to gain weight or to lose weight for medical or other reasons is a burning problem for many. To look wholisticly at the problem questions must be asked such as: is weight gained/lost because of diet, medicine, medical conditions, lack of/too much exercise? Amount of exercise is reasonably easy to fi...x for most and the issue of medicines and medical conditions is best tackled within a consultation with your healthcare professional but diet is something else altogether (and also requires input from your healthcare professional). Assuming that you are following a suitable, balanced diet, what else can you try? Refined sugars are a stumbling block for any diet. A refined sugar is a carbohydrate that has been cleaved through processing to make glucose. Our bodies are programmed to use glucose as their preferred energy source and so many people prefer a diet high in pies, lollies, cakes, biscuits, breads, drinks and shelf-stable sauces. Gymnema is a wonderful herb that can come to the rescue. It stops sugar cravings and balances out blood sugar levels. Combine the Gymnema with cayenne pepper and green tea and you have a great way to keep weight in check. Always check with the appropriate healthcare professional that you can use weight management herbs (a medical doctor will not be of any use with herbal advice). DO NOT use herbal supplements if you are taking any medications including other herbs as they may interact. Before seeking weightloss strategies see your doctor or naturopath for a checkup on blood pressure and blood sugar levels to help put you on the right plan.

22.01.2022 A brand new year is here but so are all the old anxieties. To calm the anxiety or clear the headache, grab a handful of lavender or a drop or 2 of lavender oil. Some people, however, are allergic to lavender so in that case swap for citrus oils instead. Smell deeply of these wonderful fresh smells and enjoy the relief!

21.01.2022 Bbrrrr...it's getting colder and it's only going to get colder! To warm up why not try a couple of fresh ginger root slices with a couple of slivers of lemon zest in a cup of boiled water mixed with some raw local honey. Wonderful! Or a nice hot chili used in a Dahl or in a restaurant-quality bruschetta? Nothing will keep away the winter chill and colds better than a cup of echinacea tea mixed with shitake mushrooms, garlic, thyme, and goji berries with chicken chunks in an immune soup ( recipe from James Wong, Ethnobotonist).

20.01.2022 In the past week I have been asked about ginger by several different people. Maybe I should discuss this simple but potent herb? Ginger has been used for many lifetimes as a digestive stimulant and antiemetic. When used in a tea or in a tablet, ginger can be enjoyed by all who suffer from nausea of any kind. From morning sickness to the nausea caused by chemotherapy, ginger is useful and effective. If nausea has been caused by a fatty meal or pregnancy and soft drink or lolli...es are out of the question, then a tea of ginger is best. Ginger does have to be prepared well to be effective. Boil thin slices of about 2cm of the fresh root for 10minutes, skin on. Then leave the tea to stand for 5 minutes before draining it off into a cup. Drink when the liquid is cooled but still warm. Be very careful if you are taking any blood thinners or other blood pressure medications. Ginger can increase absorption of some medications. This could trigger a crisis to occur if taken alongside these medications.

20.01.2022 I'm moving out of home!!! To support an increase in clients I've taken on a room at Inside Out Health at the top of town! I'll be there Thursday's, between 9 and 2 at this stage. Appointments can be made with me directly or via the Inside Out Health online booking system.

19.01.2022 Anxiety can be tricky. Anxiety with no other symptoms, can be treated with products that contain Chamomile, Oat Straw, and Passion Flower; magnesium and B vitamins. Anxiety with weight gain, depression or insomnia, however, needs further investigation by a trained Naturopath as soon as is possible.

19.01.2022 Spring is definitely here! Sneezing and itchy eyes etc causing havoc where ever you look. Unfortunately, for those who are susceptible to hay fever, there is no one way to deal with the discomfort of inflamed sinuses. There are, however, many different things you can do. Although many will recognise these two as being used for colds, garlic is used as an antibacterial and antioxidant and horseradish is an anticatarrhal (reduces snot). Along with garlic and horseradish, vitami...n C can be of great help. It is an antihistamine, antioxidant and improves immunity. For vitamin C to have the above actions you need to take at least 2000 mg twice a day and drink plenty of water. But as I said, there are many ways to skin this cat and the best way is to go to your friendly naturopath for a consultation and they can give you a more rounded treatment that might include an herbal mixture with appropriate supplements and dietary advice like "avoid sugar" and "use bone broths". We are complex animals and even something that seems straight forward like hay fever ends up needing lots of support to get rid of it. See more

19.01.2022 As winter continues many of us will need to turn to antibiotics to help shift stubborn infections. While you are taking antibiotics you might consider SB Floractive from BioCeuticals or ProBiotica from MediHerb. Both of these are practitioner only brands, which means that you can be assured of a high quality product. These probiotics can be taken with your antibiotics and will reduce the risk of antibiotic induced diarrhoea and thrush.

16.01.2022 Allergies can be seasonal or year round. Those who suffer from allergies can expect the usual symptoms like runny, itchy nose and eyes; itchy rashy skin; sneezing... Sometimes the usual over the counter (OTC) antihistamine doesn't quite help get rid of symptoms. One way to extend the antihistamine value of OTC medications is to take a good vitamin C and take Echinacea. An immune enhancer like Andrographis may accentuate the response of the immune system making the symptoms of the allergic reaction worse. Another way to reduce allergic symptoms is to take antiallergenics. These include Baical Skullcap and Albizia. These herbs are best taken under naturopathic supervision to avoid herb-drug interactions. To improve the information content of posts published by White Swan, please leave suggestions of health issues of interest. Thank you.

14.01.2022 Happy New Year! As Christmas is now past we have the new year to look forward to. Liver detoxes, diet control, and any number of outstanding health conditions to be tackled. This is the first installment of short blogs where as many issues are covered as possible. Since alcohol and rich sugary foods are the mainstay of Christmas and New Year celebrations, liver detoxes are up for discussion. The following is to be undertaken under supervision by a qualified practitioner. ... A liver detox is simply where herbs and supplements are used to improve the livers function of turning nutrient gained from our food to useful nutrients. When we use herbs such as St Mary's Thistle, globe artichoke, Dandelion root and Andrographis we are improving the movement of nutrients within the liver and their release from the liver. Vitamins such as A, C and E support liver function as does vitamin B2, R,S alpha lipoic acid, and glutathione. It is best to find as many of these as you can in a formula. This is because they support each other, one working on one part of the liver while another works elsewhere. Keep these supplements close when you feel sick after eating fatty foods, or have hangovers after alcohol. A detox is meant to take up to 3 weeks and should always include dietary changes to low fat, salt and sugar containing foods and lots of water (1-2L per day). 2 liters of water per day is too much over long periods of time so only use this much water as a flushing of the system that lasts only 1-2 days. I hope that this gives a guide to detoxing. There are many ways to detox so ask your friendly naturopathic practitioner as to a detox that will suit you best.

13.01.2022 Hi. I have some appointments available tomorrow (Thurs 16th) for Initial or Followup consultations. You can book a time through the link below or directly (0407 546 319) for - Womens health ... - Hormonal imbalances - Menopause support - Digestive complaints - Skin conditions - Dietary advice - Allergies - Sleep disorders - Relief for chronic inflammatory conditions e.g. osteoarthritis - Acute/chronic immune disorders/complaints - And more... See more

12.01.2022 Here are several tips to get through Christmas and New Years day. Have only 1 scoop of each salad, 1 slice of each meat and take it easy on the pre-dinner cheese and crackers. Dessert is never optional but maybe share a portion or try to leave some in the bowl. After each meal leave 10 minutes before going back for seconds - this helps the brain catch up with the stomach so that the brain registers that there is food present. Also, drink lots of water as alcohol and sugar...y drinks are dehydrating. Regardless, enjoy Christmas and have a happy and safe New Year.

11.01.2022 Spring it the time to detox! All winter our powerhouse (liver) has been slumbering. There is no better way to awaken our livers than to follow an easy detox program that is monitored by a trained naturopath - It only takes 3 weeks to complete! Book now for a consultation with a trained naturopath, a Whole Life Vitality Detox for Health program manual, and supporting herbs and lifestyle advice. ... Make a booking on our Facebook page by clicking on the "Book Now" button or message me directly.

09.01.2022 Hi Friends I am starting to register my practice with the various private health funds to make sure you can make claim back at least part of your consultation costs. Naturally, every fund is different and I need to register with each one individually ... So if you'd like to let me know what fund you are with, I will prioritise those funds first!

08.01.2022 Allergies are a part of modern life but they don't have to invade our personal space. The type of allergy dictates the treatment required to make the sufferer feel better. For instance dust and smoke can cause respiratory distress and often requires corticosteroids to make the sufferer breath better. At this time of year the lungs are often attacked, but who can avoid dust, pollen, smoke or cold air? Our lungs naturally produce mucous to aid moistening the lungs, stopping th...em from drying out. This mucous is thin and clear. When bacteria or smoke comes in contact with the lungs a much thicker mucous is produced, stopping the lungs from being able to swap air for carbon dioxide. It makes sense then to take something that will thin this mucous such as an expectorant and an anti-catarrhal like Grindelia and Eyebright. Anti-allergy and anti-asthmatic herbs are also helpful such as Albizia, Adhatoda, and Baical Skullcap. These herbs are useful but only when measured out in appropriate doses by a trained naturopath or in practitioner only brand tablets that contain amounts of herbs supported by clinical trials. When seen by a trained naturopath these treatments can be safely prescribed so that there are minimal interactions and appropriate dosages are recommended.

07.01.2022 Skin complaints are common and in many instances these complaints are due to what is happening inside the body. A few tips on how to approach chronic skin conditions are: what are you eating or drinking? Are you stressed? Do you regularly take probiotics? What happens around the time of an outbreak? What detergents or other external allergens are you coming into contact? It doesn't matter so much how it occurred in the first place but try to lock down the patterns around outb...reaks. Then go and see your friendly Naturopath for further advice armed with the data that you have so diligently gathered.

07.01.2022 Cold outside, isn't it? Warming ourselves is very easy with circulatory stimulants. Simply add garlic, chili or ginger to your next soup, stew or sauce to bring increased blood flow to your core. By bringing blood to your digestive system we can increase our core temperature just enough to feel comfortably warm for up to an hour after eating. Stamping our feet increases the blood flow to our lower extremities. Add a cup of tea to warm up your hands and you can remain comfy without a heater. Short of a warm blanket and a heater, a little effort will bring healthy warmth to your body.

06.01.2022 It's been a while! I hope that the following is worth the wait. An amazing herb called Licorice has been known to the Chinese for thousands of years, it has been known by the west for hundreds. The true herb of licorice is a sweet flavoured tap root that has no discernible flavour. The lolly called liquorice can be used therapeutically but it's best to take licorice under supervision as there can be unwanted side effects. These may be a mild laxative effect, raised blood pressure in those taking medication for hypertension, and water retention (oedema). But licorice can have many beneficial effects when used correctly by a trained naturopathic practitioner who will take a complete medical history, noting any prescription drugs or other herbs that may interact with licorice.

06.01.2022 Prepare for Winter It amazes me that old favourites remain the best to support the immune system whether it is to prepare for a cold or flu, or even COVID-19. Maintenance doses: Zinc (25mg per day), Vitamin C (200mg per day), Vitamin D3 (2000IU per day) and 2ml liquid Echinacea per day, prepares the body to start fighting as quickly as possible. But the amounts need to be increased to aid in the fight to: Zinc 40mg, Vitamin C 1-2g, Vitamin D3 4000IU and change to an Andrograp...his or Astragalus based herbal formula. Probiotics also aid in the immune system protection. Social distancing is still going to help reduce colds and flu this year. So will vaccinations. There is always something that we can do to be proactive about our health and wellbeing. That includes the above suggestions, as well as exercise, stress management, and low sugar/low caffeine diets full of good fresh foods. Simple, old friends that see everyone through a season that is typically low in sun exposure and fresh fruits and vegetables but high in immune challenges and warming comfort foods. Try making a change and see how lifestyle changes can improve your winter!

06.01.2022 For years it has been known that health begins with the gut. How much this was true we didn't know until recently. The human gut is more complex than anyone could have guessed with layers of microbiome (bacterial colonies) along its length. Not only that, but, different bacteria are responsible for different effects all over our bodies. Look closely at the different bottles of probiotics on the shelf. There are bacteria for digestion eg paracasei and acidophilus; immunity (m...ost bacteria), eczema eg casei, rhamnosus and reuteri; and women's health, babies born via Caesarean section or put onto high doses of antibiotics early on eg some bifidobacterium and lactobacillus strains. Bacteria can effectively affect the body by releasing low levels of essential vitamins such as vitamin B12, Biotin and vitamin K into the blood stream and triggering our immune response via chemical signals. They also inhibit pathogenic bacterial growth and partially control stool consistency and gas production. This winter, go for a probiotic that has a few different strains in it. Each strain supports the functions of another as their functions often overlap. It makes little difference if the probiotic is in the fridge or is shelf stable. It is personal preference as to which is likely to be remembered to be taken, if that makes sense.

05.01.2022 Winter is difficult to shake so try a soup with a whole bulb of garlic, loads of fresh thyme, rosemary, onion and ginger. Classic chicken stock adds flavour made sharp by a twist of lemon. Echinacea tea is a nice immune boost and green tea adds antioxidant goodness. A simple home made soup will get you through the toughest of cold snaps!

04.01.2022 As many may know, zinc is an important nutrient for the immune system. Zinc is involved in immune function and also maintenance of immunity. You can test if you need zinc through a zinc drink/zinc tally test done at your local naturopath or if you take zinc and you get a metallic taste. The metallic taste means that you have too much zinc. Assuming that you don't have that metallic taste, a regular dose of zinc from autumn through to the end of spring will ensure fewer colds,... and the colds that you do get are weaker and don't last as long. Zinc, along with other nutrients, will help evade the worst of what winter can throw at us. When taking zinc make sure you are having doses no less that 10 mg a day during winter and no more than 100 mg a day when sick with a cold/flu. When sick use 100mg zinc alongside 15-30mg betacarotene or 5000IU vitamin A (don't use vitA during pregnancy), 1000mg vitamin C, and 100mg vitamin E. Echinacea and Astragalus are also wonderful in an immune challenge and Curcumin is a wonderful anti-inflammatory. There are tablets with these ingredients but not at these levels so that you can take multiple tables. These doses are for 12 - 65 year old's and are guidelines so that you don't reach toxicity levels and please DO NOT use any immune boosting product if you are pregnant or suspect that you are pregnant without professional advice. Please let me know if there is a topic that you want explained more to do with your health or a natural product. See more

01.01.2022 Now that the weather has started to change and become warmer, stomach bugs will come out to play. To avoid the dreaded vomit bug start taking probiotics and ensure that stomach acidity is high. To raise stomach acidity just add bitter foods such as endive lettuce and radicchio to pre-dinner nibbles or start taking gentian or dandelion root herbal extracts at about 2ml per dose per meal. It is important to take bitters before meals to prepare the stomach for food. Another stomach must are digestive enzymes found in a number of over the counter brands. As they say, prevention is better than a cure and as stomach bugs are only present when stomach acid is low.