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Naturopath

trevor gilligan

19th April 2018

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Welcome!

I’m Alison, a clinical naturopath with a passion for helping people achieve that amazing feeling of good health, by blending traditional naturopathic wisdom with up-to-date scientific research and a lot of love and care. Here you'll find my collection of health articles, podcasts and recipes.

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“Keeping your body healthy is an expression of g

“Keeping your body healthy is an expression of gratitude to the whole cosmos — the trees, the clouds, everything.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

When I talk about fascia with patients—whether d

When I talk about fascia with patients—whether during massage or discussing lymph, gut, or nervous system health—most have never heard of it. I barely learned about it in training, but it’s become a big part of how I understand the body.
Fascia was once described simply as the "wrapping" around muscles. But newer understanding shows it to be a complex, intelligent connective tissue system—think of it like a living 3D scaffolding that wraps around everything: muscles, bones, nerves, blood vessels, lymph, organs.⁠
💧Imagine it like a sponge: compressing, expanding, adapting to movement, pressure, hydration—and even emotional state.
Fascia doesn’t just connect us structurally—it communicates. It’s the tissue that integrates all systems. When you see the body through this lens, it becomes clear: our muscles, organs, and tissues don’t function in isolation. This holistic view is core to naturopathic medicine, whereas conventional models often divide the body into disconnected systems.⁠
✨Fascia loves movement and pressure. Manual therapy + movement restores glide, elasticity, and hydration. And yes—hydration is crucial.
⚠️ What happens when fascia becomes restricted?⁠
• Reduced blood flow and lymphatic drainage⁠
• Increased tightness and discomfort⁠
• Decreased circulation⁠
• Restricted movement⁠
Fascinatingly, fascia seems to mirror the meridians of Traditional Chinese Medicine—those energy channels used in acupuncture and bodywork. In cadaver dissections, researchers have found fascial lines that align closely with meridian pathways. It begs the question: *what else does fascia do?*⁠
⁠
Some theories suggest that fascia may hold emotional memory or trauma—meaning chronic restriction could be just as emotional as it is physical.⁠
🎥 Jean-Claude Guimberteau, Strolling Under the Skin (excerpt)

Just look at this bundle of cuteness. She makes my

Just look at this bundle of cuteness. She makes my heart melt.
I struggled to think about replacing Chewie, our beloved labrador of 14 years but eventually we made the decision to get a new doggie and this new pup is beyond perfect. She’s had a lovely first day exploring the garden and the kids absolutely lost their mind coming home to her.
Rosie is our new golden retriever pup and I’ll be dedicating some time to her over the next few weeks which will mean appointments are a bit scarcer with myself but don’t worry Carissa is here for you, she has some availabilities on Thursdays for the next few weeks ❤️

Measuring cups have been restocked!! They’re so

Measuring cups have been restocked!! They’re so pretty 💚🩷🤍🩵

Your lymphatic system is one of the unsung heroes

Your lymphatic system is one of the unsung heroes of your body – working quietly behind the scenes every single day. 💫
It plays a major role in:
• Immune health – mobilizing white blood cells and protecting against pathogens
• Fat metabolism
• Clearing out cellular waste and toxins
• Maintaining fluid balance
• Helping move hormones for proper detoxification
Your liver actually produces a big portion of your lymph – so if your liver is sluggish, chances are your lymphatic system is too.
Every day, your lymphatic system clears about 2–3 litres of waste – but it needs your support to do that efficiently. Things like dehydration, constipation, stress, fascial tightness, tight clothing, low movement, inflammation, and toxin exposure can all slow it down.
The good news? There are simple ways to give your lymph some love:
✨ Stay hydrated
✨ Keep your gut moving
✨ Dry brushing
✨ Rebounding or using vibration plates
✨ Deep belly breathing
✨ Gentle self-massage
✨ And most importantly – move your body. Your lymph doesn't have a pump like your heart. Movement is the pump!
Sometimes though, it's nice to let someone else take care of you. I’m trained in the @chelsey_jean_lymphatics method of lymphatic massage – a beautiful way to support your body’s natural detox pathways.
💆‍♀️ Comment BOOKMEIN to book your session.
🧤Want to try lymphatic drainage at home? Comment LYMPHKIT for a link to the self-massage gloves.
Your lymph will thank you 🥰
#lymphaticmassage #lymphhealth #naturaldetox #lymphdrainage #selfcaretips #holistichealth #womenswellness #detoxnaturally #lymph #fluiddrainagemassage

You might be surprised to hear this...
But if you’re struggling with recurrent thrush, BV or UTIs, the real culprit might not just be “down there” — it might be starting in your gut. 🦠➡️🐱
The gut and v&ginal microbiomes are deeply connected — and if your gut is out of balance, inflamed, or not absorbing nutrients properly, it can set off a chain reaction that affects your vaginal health too.
In my latest blog, I explain:
🌿 Why gut issues can make you more vulnerable to v&ginal microbiome imbalances
🌿 How a healthy gut supports immunity, hormonal balance and even pH regulation
🌿 Why simply wiping out Candida isn’t enough — and what real healing actually involves
And no — you’re not imagining it when symptoms come and go unpredictably. Chronic thrush (RVVC) often doesn’t show up clearly on swabs either, which makes it even trickier to manage if we don’t look deeper.
If you want to read more about how the gut is involved (and what we can do about it), comment CHRONIC below and I’ll send you the link. 📩
If you’re feeling ready to tackle this properly, Carissa and I are here to help with a holistic, personalised approach — including microbiome testing, gut support, and custom treatments. 💛
#GutHealth #MicrobiomeHealing #ChronicThrush #WomensHealth #NaturalMedicine

Hypermobility is linked to many conditions. There’s more to it than just being flexible as it also affects your gut integrity, circulatory health, nervous system, proprioception and immune activation.
There are strong correlations between hypermobility/erhlos danlos syndrome and many other symptoms, and recognising the link between these factors helps us understand why so many conditions come as a package deal(comorbidities).
One study found that 51% of neuro divergent people were hypermobile compared to 17.5% of Neurotypical people.
❓Why is there such a connection between hypermobility and these conditions?
👉🏻Immune regulation (leading to chronic inflammation) is a key driver I’ve hypermobility but also I’ve almost all the other conditions are listed in the video (not an exhaustive list)
👉🏻Hypermobility can cause fatigue which can be an additional strain on resources which can worsen many conditions e.g. ADHD
👉🏻weakened Connective tissue in the GIT can lead to altered motility which can affect regularity of bowel motions and increase the development of SIBO. It can also contribute towards intestinal permeability which can increase food sensitivities and exacerbate systemic inflammation.
👉🏻Dysautonomia is when the body gets stuck in sympathetic nervous system mode and this is typical in those with hypermobility and it can affect many other conditions not only emotionally but also our immune system, digestive system, hormones, vascular response and more.
👉🏻Ligament laxity as a result of hypermobility can increase things like clumsiness, impaired proprioception, posture and can increase risk of injuries or make daily tasks such as writing or chores painful this in turn affects our nervous system increasing stress response and an increased tendency to injuries with lower healing rates also affecting inflammation.

ADHD isn’t a disease—it’s a neurotype. That

ADHD isn’t a disease—it’s a neurotype.
That means support should be about working with your brain, not trying to force it to function like everyone else’s.
As a neurodivergent-affirming naturopath, I focus on identifying the underlying drivers that can make ADHD symptoms harder to live with—things like:
• Inflammation (commonly stemming from gut issues but there’s plenty of other potential causes)
• Nutritional deficiencies (especially omegas & minerals)
• Hormonal fluctuations (perimenopause, postpartum, cycle changes)
• Sleep disturbances
• Blood sugar instability
• Chronic stress & burnout
Understanding what’s happening in the ADHD brain—like dopamine differences, executive function challenges, and the overactive default mode network—can really shift how we approach support.
I talk more about this in my recent blog post. If you’d like to learn more, comment “ADHD” and I’ll send you the link!
If you’re ready to feel more supported, more balanced, and a little less overwhelmed—get in touch, we’d love to help you.
#ADHDSupport #childrensadhd #adhd #adhdinwomen #NaturopathNSW #HolisticADHD #ADHDWellness #ADHDNutrition #PerimenopauseAndADHD

Getting alllll the information from a thorough cas

Getting alllll the information from a thorough case taking and putting it together into a customised plan that not only gets symptoms under control but also starts working on the root cause of illness - so satisfying !!
When I put together a treatment plan I take into consideration lots of factors about that person so no-one gets the same cookie cutter advice. I love helping people cut through all the noise and conflicting information that’s out there and helping them identify what is the best way forward for them as an individual.

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Naturopath

B. App. Sc (Nat Stud); Post Grad Dip (Nat); MNHAA, MATMS

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