Hair Loss & Hair Thinning: A Naturopathic Approach to Finding the Root Cause

Hair loss can be stressful and deeply upsetting. For many people, changes in their hair affect confidence, identity and self-esteem. In clinic, I often see women in their 30s, 40s and 50s who feel frustrated because their hair suddenly feels thinner, flatter, or is shedding more than usual.

Discovering a solution for hair loss or hair thinning is not always straightforward. Hair is influenced by hormones, nutrient status, stress, gut health, thyroid function, immune balance and more. This is why a quick-fix shampoo or supplement rarely addresses the real cause, and may delay you getting the answers and support you need. Sure, give the hair and nails multi a go if you want to, but if you’re not seeing hints of improvement after a month then you need to knuckle down and start looking at getting some answers.

The good news? With the right assessment and a root-cause approach, improvement is absolutely possible.

First: What Type of Hair Loss Are You Experiencing?

Understanding the pattern of hair loss gives us important clues.

General Thinning

Diffuse thinning across the scalp often suggests:

• Iron deficiency
• Thyroid imbalance
• Hormonal shifts (perimenopause, postpartum)
• Chronic stress
• Telogen effluvium

Patches of Hair Loss

Well-defined bald patches may indicate Alopecia areata. This is an autoimmune condition where the immune system targets hair follicles.

Strand Breaking

If hair is snapping rather than shedding from the root, we look at:

• Protein intake
• Nutrient deficiencies (zinc, biotin, silica)
• Thyroid dysfunction
• Chemical or heat damage

Receding Hairline or Thinning at the Crown

Often associated with:

• Androgenic alopecia
  This pattern can affect both men and women and is driven by androgen sensitivity.
• This can be impacted by increased tension on hair such as overly tight hairstyles.

Widening Part Line

Common in women 30-50, especially during:

• Perimenopause
• After stopping the pill
• Postpartum
• Periods of chronic stress

Identifying the pattern helps determine what systems we need to investigate.

The Key Nutrients for Healthy Hair Growth

Hair follicles are metabolically active, and so they need adequate nutrients to grow strong, thick strands.

Important nutrients include:

• Iron (Ferritin) – Low ferritin is one of the most common contributors to hair thinning in women.
• Zinc – Essential for hair follicle repair and immune regulation.
• Protein – Hair is made from keratin, a protein structure.
• Biotin & B Vitamins – Support energy production and follicle function.
• Vitamin D – Plays a role in immune balance and follicle cycling.
• Iodine & Selenium – Support thyroid function, involved in hormone balance and glutathione production.
• Essential Fatty Acids – Help maintain scalp health.

It’s important to test rather than guess, supplementing blindly is not ideal.

Hormones and Hair Loss

Hormones are one of the biggest drivers of hair changes, particularly for women aged 30-50.

For Women

Hormonal hair loss may be linked to:

• Oestrogen fluctuations (perimenopause)
• Low progesterone
• Elevated androgens (testosterone, DHT)
• Thyroid dysfunction
• Coming off hormonal contraception
• Postpartum hormone shifts

Artificial hormones that are androgenic (certain contraceptives or medications) can reduce the size of hair follicles over time.

Women may experience thinning along the part line or crown, a classic presentation of Androgenic alopecia.

For Men

Men commonly experience:

• Receding hairline
• Crown thinning
• Genetic androgen sensitivity

While genetics play a role, gut health, inflammation and nutrient status can significantly influence progression. Supporting testosterone metabolism by reducing the dominance of DHT can also be helped with some herbal medicines such as Saw Palmetto, and nutrients.

Stress, HPA Axis Dysfunction & Hair Loss

Chronic stress has a profound impact on hair growth.

When we are under prolonged stress, the HPA axis (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis) becomes dysregulated, often referred to as “adrenal fatigue.” This impacts cortisol rhythms, thyroid function, and sex hormone balance.

One common result is Telogen effluvium.

This occurs when stress pushes hair follicles into the resting (telogen) phase prematurely. Hair shedding may begin 2–6 months after a stressful event such as illness, trauma, burnout, or major life change.

If you suspect stress is a factor, I explore this deeply in my Beat Burnout eCourse, where we address nervous system regulation and HPA axis recovery.

Autoimmune Causes of Hair Loss

Hair loss can sometimes be immune-driven.

Alopecia areata

Characterised by round bald patches, this condition reflects immune system dysregulation.

When I see this in clinic, we investigate factors such as:

• Gut permeability or dysbiosis
• Inflammatory triggers
• Food sensitivities
• Stress load
• Thyroid antibodies

Supporting immune tolerance and reducing inflammation can help stabilise progression.

Photo by Tamara Bellis on Unsplash

We Need to Identify the Cause

Hair loss is not a diagnosis, it is a symptom.

Before treatment, we ask:

• Is this hormonal?
• Is there a nutritional deficiency such as low iron?
• Is thyroid function suboptimal?
• Is there autoimmune activity?
• Is stress disrupting the hair cycle?
• Is gut absorption compromised?

This is why personalised assessment is so important. In some cases you may need to be referred to a specialist who can investigate further with a biopsy, however it can be helpful to also start taking a holistic approach with these tests. (Not all of these tests need to be done at once).

What Tests Might Be Helpful?

1. Blood Tests (Starting Point)

I often recommend:

• Iron studies
• Full thyroid panel and thyroid antibodies
• Vitamin D
• B12
• Zinc
• Hormone panel (depending on age and symptoms)
• Autoimmune markers

2. DUTCH Test or ENDOmap

A comprehensive dried urine hormone test can assess:

• Cortisol rhythm
• Oestrogen metabolism
• Progesterone
• Androgen level and metabolism

This is particularly helpful for women in perimenopause or with complex hormonal patterns.

3. HTMA (Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis)

This test can provide insight into:

• Mineral imbalances
• Stress patterns
• Mineral metabolic rate

4. If You’re Not Improving, Look Deeper

The gut influences almost every aspect of health – including hair.

Looking at gut health involves assessing symptoms, history and potentially doing a thorough gut health workout such as with a stool analysis that measures the microbiome, as well as markers of inflammation, intestinal permeability and more.

Poor gut health can impact things like:

• Absorption of nutrients
• Chronic inflammation
• Hormone detoxification (e.g. may contribute to excess DHT, or poor oestrogen clearance)
• Gut-brain interaction

Poor nutrient absorption alone can stall hair regrowth, even if your diet appears adequate.

Types of Hair Loss Explained

For clarity:

• Androgenic alopecia – Gradual thinning due to androgen sensitivity.
• Alopecia areata – Autoimmune-related patchy loss.
• Anagen effluvium – Rapid loss during active growth phase (often due to chemotherapy or radiation).
• Telogen effluvium – Sudden shedding after stress or shock.

Each type requires a different approach.

From a Traditional & Herbal Perspective

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, hair is closely linked to Kidney and Spleen energy. Deficiency patterns may reflect chronic stress depletion.

In Western naturopathic terms, we would often interpret this as HPA axis dysfunction (commonly called adrenal fatigue), where prolonged stress has altered hormone signalling and metabolic resilience.

Supporting nervous system recovery is often a foundational step in treatment.

Apart from addressing the factors I’ve previously mentioned, I will often include the use of herbs that support circulation and hormonal health.

How Long Does It Take to See Improvement?

Hair growth is slow, so patience is essential.

General timelines:

• Reduced shedding: 6-8 weeks
• Baby hairs visible: 3-4 months
• Noticeable thickening: 6-9 months
• Full cycle improvement: ~12 months

Hair follicles cycle slowly. Sustainable improvement comes from addressing the underlying cause, not masking symptoms.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common cause of hair loss in women 30-50?

Hormonal shifts (perimenopause), low iron, thyroid dysfunction, and chronic stress are the most common contributors.

Can stress really cause hair loss?

Yes. Chronic stress can trigger Telogen effluvium by pushing hair into the resting phase prematurely.

Should I take a hair supplement?

If your hair loss is severe I don’t recommend starting without testing. Hair supplements can help, but only if they address your specific deficiency. Many people may notice an improvement from taking the generic hair loss supplements but it can be worthwhile to investigate first.

Can hair grow back after thinning?

In many cases, yes – particularly if follicles are still active. Early intervention improves outcomes.

When to Seek Support

If you’ve noticed:

• Ongoing shedding for more than 3 months
• A widening part line
• Patchy bald areas
• Hair thinning after illness or stress
• Hair changes during perimenopause

It’s time to investigate properly.

We take a root-cause, evidence-informed approach to hair loss and thinning. We combine functional testing, hormone assessment, nutrient optimisation and nervous system support to create personalised treatment plans.

Book a consultation in person or via telehealth if you’d like guidance tailored to your unique presentation. The sooner we investigate, the sooner we can support regrowth.

The post Getting to the root of Hair Loss appeared first on Alison Mitchell Naturopath.

A New (Very Furry) Family Member

One of the biggest highlights of the year was welcoming Rosie, our golden retriever, into the family. She has been an absolute bundle of energy and joy. Chances are you’ve already met her, as she loves greeting patients as they arrive. Her enthusiasm is infectious, and she’s certainly brought an extra dose of happiness into both our home and clinic.

Community, Creativity & Twilight Markets

Carissa and I had a wonderful time attending the Twilight Markets at Windsor Public School this year. I loved being able to share my pottery, herbal teas, flower essences and creams, while Carissa offered mini iridology sessions, which were incredibly popular.

If you enjoyed your session or missed out, don’t forget you can book in with Carissa for a more in-depth iridology assessment — she’s wonderful at what she does.

If you’re looking to get any of the goodies I had for sale, including pottery, don’t hesitate to get in touch. Most of it is available on my online shop.

Continuing Education & Professional Growth

Ongoing learning remains a big priority for me, and this year I attended several seminars, webinars, and a symposium, including:

• Learning how to implement the GEMM protocol, a gut health program designed to help reset immune function in the gut, reduce food sensitivities, and improve overall digestive health

• Gaining a deeper understanding of how to support people using GLP-1 medications, and how hormones can affect their efficacy

• Attending the Lipoedema Symposium

• Completing a course in oncology support

These experiences continue to shape how I support patients and refine treatment approaches.

Carissa’s Return

Earlier this year, Carissa returned to work after her maternity leave, and it’s been so lovely having her back. We often catch up over Zoom to discuss cases, treatment protocols, or simply check in with one another. She continues to offer consults via telehealth (Zoom video calls) and has some availabilities at Rouse Hill on a Thursday or Friday for face to face appointments.

Checking In on My Goals

At the start of the year, I set a couple of personal goals. One was to be more intentional about spending time with friends. While there’s always room for more, I’m genuinely happy with the new and deepening friendships that have grown this year.

Another goal was to achieve an unassisted pull-up. I’m not quite there yet — but I’ve made significant progress. I’m much closer to the bar, and the level of assistance I use has steadily decreased. Truthfully, I forgot about this goal for a while (until someone reminded me mid-year!), but I’m not too upset about that. Progress is progress.

Time Away & Simple Joys

We were lucky enough to take a family trip to Queensland, enjoying a little holiday and visiting some of the theme parks — a beautiful change of pace.

More recently, I’ve been finding joy back in the garden. After a few months of what felt like stagnancy, it’s been so satisfying to see the vegetables growing again and to reconnect with that slower rhythm.

Last-Minute Gift Ideas 🎁

If you’re still looking for thoughtful, meaningful gifts, here are a few ideas that are easy to organise and genuinely appreciated:

• Audible Subscription
  A wonderful gift for book lovers, commuters, or anyone wanting to learn or unwind.
  👉 https://amzn.to/4oDBUdM

• Massage or Naturopathy Gift Voucher
  The gift of rest, care, and wellbeing is always a good idea.
  👉 https://www.naturopathnsw.com.au/product-category/gift-vouchers

If you’d like more inspiration, you can also browse gift ideas from previous years here:

• https://www.naturopathnsw.com.au/xmasgiftideas2024

• https://www.naturopathnsw.com.au/gift-guide-for-the-health-and-environment-conscious

With Gratitude

Thank you to everyone who has supported myself and the practice this year — whether through appointments, conversations, events, or kind words. I’m deeply grateful.

Wishing you all a beautiful Christmas and a happy New Year, and sending thoughts of peace to all.

The post A Year in Review & Last-Minute Gift Ideas appeared first on Alison Mitchell Naturopath.

There’s something lovely about stepping into a warm, bustling market as the sun goes down — especially at this time of year. I’m excited to share that I’ll be holding a stall at the Twilight Christmas Market at Windsor Public School on Thursday 28th November, from 5pm to 9pm.

It’s not often I do markets, so this feels a little special. I’ve been quietly gathering and creating behind the scenes, and this will be the first chance in a while to bring everything together in one cosy, festive spot. I’ll have my herbal teas, creams, and flower essences with me, including a couple of new remedies I’ve been working on and can’t wait for you to try.

Another little joy for me is sharing my pottery. Over the past few years I’ve been slowly building a collection of handmade pieces — mugs, bowls, and odds and ends that make their way into daily life. They’re not perfect but they’re made with a lot of heart, and I’m looking forward to seeing them out on the table, hopefully to be off to a new home.

Carissa will also be joining me for the evening. She’ll be offering mini iridology sessions – 5 minutes for $10, which are always such an insightful way to spark a conversation about health and what might be going on beneath the surface. We’ll both be around to chat, answer questions, and catch up with anyone who wanders past — whether you’re curious about herbs, want to know more about naturopathy, or just feel like stopping to say hello.

The market itself has such a lovely atmosphere. It’s at the lovely historic Windsor Public School, and there will be several other stallholders there as well as food stalls and face painting. Think twilight, fairy lights, Christmas energy, families wandering through, people picking up gifts, and the simple pleasure of seeing familiar faces. If you’re local, I’d truly love to see you there and share a little of that festive spirit together.

• Where: Windsor Public School

• When: Thursday 28th November

• Time: 5pm–9pm

If you’re planning to come along, feel free to send me a message — it’s always nice to know who I might see on the night. I hope to catch you there!

The post See You at the Twilight Christmas Market! appeared first on Alison Mitchell Naturopath.

Not long after you blew the candles out for your 40^th birthday cake, you likely started to notice some subtle shifts in how you were feeling. Maybe you started feeling a bit more irritable, anxious, or sluggish. Perhaps your menstrual cycle started to alter. Or maybe your libido took a hit. While menopause occurs around 50 years of age for most women, it’s possible to start experiencing the hormonal shifts of perimenopause –  the period of time that leads up to the time your menstrual cycle stops for good – in their early 40s.

Here are some of the most common questions that people have around perimenopause, and what can be done to help support their hormones naturally.

What are the symptoms of perimenopause?

Perimenopause is a time of hormonal fluctuations, and with this many symptoms can occur. Some of the most common symptoms that women experience sleep disturbances, mood swings, reduced stress tolerance, lowered libido, hot flushes, menstrual irregularity, changes in menstrual flow (may be lighter or heavier than usual, sometimes with significant increases), bloating, brain fog, joint or muscle aches, hayfever, itchy ears, fatigue, vaginal dryness, increased tendency to thrush or BV, and headaches/migraines.

Why do women get perimenopausal symptoms?

Unlike after menopause, when hormones are at a lower state and symptoms can occur because of these low levels, in perimenopause symptoms can be caused by the fluctuations of oestrogen and the gradual decline of progesterone. These hormonal shifts can cause the adrenal response to stress to be affected, which also means that stress can be harder to deal with.

Why do hormones change in your 40s?

Hormonal balance is largely a result of regular, healthy ovulation. The follicular phase, the time between the start of menstruation and ovulation is a time of abundant oestrogen, and then in the luteal phase, oestrogen declines (with a few spikes) while progesterone levels come to the show. It is all dependant on ovulation.

For this to all work in harmony, many factors need to be working seamlessly, such as stress hormones, inflammation, mitochondrial health and nutritional health. The previous cycle will affect subsequent cycles, as low progesterone often triggers higher levels of FSH.

As oocyte (egg) numbers decline and mitochondrial health depletes, the signals of the HPO axis in perimenopause are altered and ovulation doesn’t occur every cycle. This results in a gradual decline in progesterone, and fluctuating levels of oestrogen as the brain tries to adjust to the fluctuation of irregular ovulation.

Photo by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash

What is the difference between menopause and perimenopause?

Perimenopause is the time leading up to the definitive marker of menopause, the time when there has been 12 months since the last menstrual bleed. You are perimenopause in the time leading up to this moment, and post menopausal afterwards. Menopause is the umbrella term that incorporates all of these. It is worth noting that it is still possible to experience a random bleed in the post menopausal period, and if this occurs you should discuss with your health care practitioner as while it can be a renegade menstruation, it can also be a sign of something more concerning.

Should I take supplements to support my hormones?

Not everyone needs to take supplements, and many nutrients can be obtained through your diet. But there are a lot of people who aren’t eating enough of the vitamins and minerals that are essential for healthy hormones and nervous system health, or have genetic polymorphisms which increase their demand for certain nutrients.

These are some of my favourite supplements to support the perimenopausal period:

• Magnesium glycinate – this is important for nervous system health, blood sugar level regularity and is important for hormone creation and detoxification.
• Taurine – I often prescribe this alongside magnesium, as it can help with improving mood and energy (it interacts with GABA receptors, producing a calming effect). It is also important for bile acid formation and mitochondrial health.
• Ubiquinol – The activated form of Coq10 is more effectively used in those who are over 30 years of age. CoQ10 and its activated form ubiquinol are important for mitochondria health, which has many wide-reaching benefits including cardiovascular health, energy, immune function, skin health and other anti-aging properties and more.
• Collagen – As oestrogen lowers, the body’s ability to make and repair collagen reduces, so supplementation can help to offset some of this loss. Collagen can be helpful for improving skin, bone and joint health, and often is useful for digestive health concerns.
• Phyto-oestrogens – In particular, soy which is abundant in isoflavones have a regulating effect on hormones. Isoflavones have been studied abundantly and found to be helpful for managing menopausal symptoms, as well as being protective against several of the long-term risks of menopause such as osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. It is protective against many forms of hormone-dependant cancers. I advise avoiding the overly refined forms of soy products, and opting for those made with the whole bean such as traditional soy foods, or milks made from the whole bean rather than the isolate.

There are many more nutritional supplements that can be beneficial, as well as herbal medicines that can support you through this period. I discuss these in more detail in my ecourse Natural Menopause Support. Alternatively, get in touch with your health care practitioner to help work out what your individual requirements are, as well as what doses you may need.

How do I know if I’m going through perimenopause?

This is a very common question, and unfortunately it doesn’t have a simple answer. Hormone testing can provide some insight into whether you are getting closer to perimenopause, but it can be difficult to interpret because of the fluctuations that occur in perimenopause.

The best way to know if you are going through perimenopause is taking several factors into consideration such as your age, your maternal family’s menopausal experience, your symptoms – notably your cycle regularity and whether this has changed.

Blood tests may show a gradual increase in FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and a decline in progesterone. Oestrogen levels can fluctuate in perimenopause, so they may be high or low. After menopause when you have not ovulated for at least 12 months, oestrogen and progesterone will be considerably lower, and FSH will usually be much higher.

How to lose weight in your 40s

It may seem like losing weight as you get older becomes more of a struggle, and that’s because your hormonal shifts cause your metabolic health to change. Insulin resistance is a by product of reduced oestrogen, which makes losing weight, especially around the abdomen more difficult than it was when you were younger. If there are other hormonal imbalances at play such as PCOS, oestrogen excess, thyroid dysfunction or chronic stress/HPA dysfunction this can also contribute towards difficulty losing weight with standard methods.

Assessing your hormonal situation is the first step to identify barriers to weight loss, and then you can make diet and exercises choices that will work best for you.

In the majority of cases the staples of weight loss still need to come into play, such as ensuring you are eating the correct amount of calories, exercising and maintaining muscle mass, and getting adequate sleep.

GLP-1 and GIP medications are becoming more popular, and while they can be very helpful in the weight loss journey they do have side effects and risks that need to be managed. As with any other weight loss approach, they are not a long term solution but can be helpful whilst other factors such as diet and lifestyle habits are improved, and hormonal imbalance is supported.

When should I consider HRT?

This is an individual decision and needs to be done in collaboration with your health care practitioner. Menopausal Hormonal Therapy (MHT), previously known as Hormonal Replacement Therapy (HRT) has had many advances in safety and can be used to help navigate the symptoms with low oestrogen, progesterone and/or DHEA. In perimenopause, progesterone therapy is more commonly used cyclically, with oestrogen being more beneficial only in the times when low oestrogen occurs. As oestrogen fluctuates in perimenopause, it is often not used until after ovulation has ceased.

Some people experience negative effects from taking MHT, but this doesn’t mean that MHT is not for you, but rather that you need to have your individual needs taken into consideration. If you feel worse from MHT, this may be due to poor detoxification of oestrogens or because your hormones are still fluctuating too wildly, as taking additional oestrogen when it is already high can cause issues such as heavy bleeding, headaches or mood changes.

You may be able to find out if you are not detoxing your hormones properly with a test that assesses the ratio of your hormone metabolites, such as the DUTCH test or EndoMap.

Should I see a naturopath for perimenopause?

Perimenopause and menopause are one of the most common reasons that people seek help from a naturopath, and for good reason. There is so much that can be done to support people going through this transition naturally, including supporting symptoms and hormonal fluctuations with herbal medicine, nutritional supplements to reduce symptoms and improve wellbeing, and education and guidance around diet and lifestyle adjustments that can help to both reduce the symptoms of this time and reduce the risks associated with after menopause such as osteoporosis, genito-urinary changes and cardiovascular and metabolic health.

Because this is such a common thing that people seek help with, I have created an ecourse – Natural Menopause Support – which provides an abundance of education about what is going on in menopause and perimenopause, as well as guidance on navigating the remedies that may be helpful.

As you move through your 40s, understanding and supporting your hormones can make a world of difference to how you feel each day. Perimenopause doesn’t have to be a confusing or uncomfortable time — with the right nutrition, lifestyle support, and individualised care, you can navigate this stage feeling strong, informed, and in tune with your body.

If you’d like to dive deeper into natural ways to manage symptoms and restore hormonal balance, you’ll find plenty of guidance in my Natural Menopause Support eCourse, where I share practical tools and naturopathic insights to help you thrive through perimenopause and beyond.

The post How to Support Your Hormones Naturally in Your 40s appeared first on Alison Mitchell Naturopath.

Guts and Girl Bits Episode #55

In this episode of Guts and Girl Bits, Raul Pastrana joins us to discuss sperm health. An incredibly important but often overlooked aspect of fertility, we discuss the importance of looking into sperm health at the start of the fertility journey, what can go wrong with sperm health (and why) and some tips to improve it. Sperm issues can contribute to ~50% of fertility issues, as well as contribute to many issues during pregnancy. The quality of sperm also has a massive impact on the health of the child, influencing many things including their immune health, reproductive and neurological health.

Watch this podcast on youtube or listen to the audio here

About Raul

Transcript

Because when we talk about fertility, we so often focus on the female side of things, our cycles, our hormones, our eggs, and we forget that sperm health plays a huge role, not just in the ability to conceive, but also in the health of pregnancy. And even the long-term health of the child. Sperm health has been linked to pregnancy outcomes like miscarriage and preeclampsia, and what’s fascinating is that while women are born with all of their eggs.

Eggs that were actually influenced by our grandmother’s health. Men are constantly making new sperm every few months, so that means that there’s a much faster impact on our offspring based on what is influencing the genetic expression of the sperm. [00:01:00] So lifestyle, nutrition and environmental factors can all have profound impacts on sperm quality, which in turn shapes not only fertility outcomes, but potentially even the health of and the development of our future generations.

So now that doesn’t necessarily mean that we’re talking about like evolving mutant powers anytime soon, but we are talking about how the choices that men make today can influence things like neurological, mental, and immunological impacts of our future generation and our future children. So to dive into this fascinating and often overlooked topic, I’m joined by Raul Pastrana.

Raul is a degree qualified naturopath. Specializing in fertility and reproductive health, he focuses on helping individuals and couples optimize their fertility with a particular emphasis on male reproductive health, which is a factor that’s often underestimated when it comes to conception outcomes.[00:02:00]

Raul works closely with patients through IVF Preconception Care and Natural Conception. He creates tailored plans based on each person’s unique presentation and goals, and importantly their blood pathology and semen analysis result. He’s also the author of the Sperm Factor Fertility, A Shared Responsibility where he explores how men can influence fertility outcomes and provide practical, strategies to improve sperm health.

So in our conversation today, we talk about why it’s so important to look at sperm health early in the fertility journey, some of the key factors that influence. Sperm quality and why what’s considered normal on a semen analysis might not actually be optimal. Raul will also share some really actionable tips on how men can start to improve their sperm health today.

So whether you are on your own fertility journey, whether you’re supporting a [00:03:00] partner or you’re just curious about how male reproductive health fits into the bigger fertility picture and evolution, this episode is full of insights that might just change the way that you think about conception and reproductive health and wellness.

So let’s get into it.

Thank you so much for joining me today.

Thank you for having me. It’s a pleasure.

But now we’ve got. On the podcast, we can really shine, shine some light on what is the actual relevant information that people can action. How can we do things about it? So I’m really excited to get into this.

Has had multiple blood tests, is already taking a few supplements because she has done some investigations to what could, what can she do in order to improve her outcomes. But in many cases, the male factor is under assessed undertreated and also under research.

And this is really puzzling as a practitioner because the research is telling us that this is wrong.

50% of all fertility cases are related with the male factor. So there is, at least from all the infer, uh, infertility issues out there, 50% of them, there will be some. Male factor contribution. And this is why if a couple is having trouble conceiving, both sides of the equation need to be investigated at the same time in order to have the best fertility potential and the best outcome.

And in that semen analysis that is just the most basic, uh, start, we need to assess, uh, the most common findings, which may be, um, your listeners are already familiar with, which are the semen quantity or how much, how much sperm is there in terms of concentration.

Mm-hmm.

But also how is that sperm moving that motivity.

And last, how is the shape or the morphology of that sperm?

So these are usually the three factors that they are first assessed when the Mel factor is assessed at all. If so.

And that’s where, where everyone should start with,

That’s, uh, [00:07:00] that’s the baseline. The one thing that I will say, it gets overlooked. More often is the DNA fragmentation as well. So the DNA fragmentation, it’s a test that can be done in the sperm to understand what percentage or how damage, uh, is the genetic material inside of the head of the sperm. So if the genetic material inside of the head of the sperm is fragmented, that’s gonna have repercussions for.

Conception, fertilization uh, pregnancy outcomes and the future health of the baby. The DNA fragmentation think about it as a, if the DNA is broken, the instructions to make the baby and the instructions for fertility outcomes, they’re not gonna be as good as we want them to be.

Mm-hmm.

So we want to make sure that we are addressing all the factors that they’re affecting male fertility, to [00:08:00] make sure that the copies of the DNA inside of the head of the sperm as are intact as possible.

And the thing is, it’s just much more easy to get it done all together. On the first analysis, so the then there is not, uh, need to pay again to get again to the clinic. So it’s better if you haven’t done one yet. And fertility is a concern I always recommend to include DNA fragmentation inside of the panel.

I completely acknowledge that finances can be a barrier, but when you think about the cost of some of these very expensive and very invasive. Artificial reproductive technique interventions paying a hundred of dollars to understand the quality of the DNA in that sperm it is in the scale of things is not that much.

And does it swim correctly and swim fast enough?

Mm-hmm.

Because it’s not just about the sperm, be able to move, but move in a, in a straight direction. So the egg, so the sperm can meet the egg, usually in the fallopian tube.

And then they can be fertilization of the egg.

Because I’ve seen it and, but you would have the data on that.

Since the year 2000, so is sperm is not only declining in quality, [00:12:00] it’s also declining faster than it used to be since the year 2000. Um, and because the average male. Sperm, it’s has a such a poor, low, low quality. Then when we are, when we are creating those reference ranges, we’re, we’re comparing ourself with a sample that is not very good in quality.

Anyway, so I dunno if you know how those reference ranges were established, but in the year 2010, the World Health Organization um, did a study with over 4,000. Men from 14 different countries, and all of those men were able to conceive with a female partner in less than a year. And then they analyzed the data from sperm concentration, sperm morphology, and sperm multi for those 1400 men, and then divided from the lowest quality to the highest quality.

And they divided in percentiles [00:13:00] and they established that. The fifth percentile was the normal range, uh, and that’s what was established as normal reference range.

Not really normal will be the medium and the medial should be the 50 percentile, not the fifth percentile.

Mm-hmm.

And if you’re trying to assess that, it’s better to compare it with the 50th percentile. Yeah. So for example, for spare concentration, it’s still of 15 million. One five. You want to get closer to 73 million like you just said.

And for morphology is the same, only 4%. It’s enough to pass only. You only need a 4% of your sperm to have optimal multi uh, morphology in order to pass the test. And don’t get me wrong, you don’t need, uh, this parameter of morphology doesn’t need to be close to the a hundred percent whatsoever. It is very normal to have a morphology on the 10%.

Even 9% is it’s enough to to have a good fertility potential, but the [00:15:00] 50% I will be 15%. So you see the huge disparity that is between what is considered normal or what the reference ranges were established and what actually health and good fertility potential represents.

Men get told, you’re fine, you’re in the reference ranges. But we do wanna aim for a little bit better. We want super sperm. But I was thinking, and when I was researching for this, I actually realized that humans are the only species that have such a low average morphology. Mm-hmm. Compared like animals, their morphology is pretty much always like 99% normal.

We are our nutrition as an overall society and the quality of our diets is declining. The quality of our food supply, it’s, uh. Poorer than ever before with more, like I said, endocrine disrupting chemicals in the food supply. So all this is having an effect not only in morphology, but in all the other parameters.

And look what I always say to my patients or to anyone that is thinking about improving their sperm health, you want improve. Your particular circumstances, if you don’t identify the barriers and those barriers will be different from you than from someone else. Even though there are some commonalities, it’s important to do a thorough investigation to see what is affect, why your sperm health has been affected.

Mm-hmm.

And [00:17:00] things won’t get better because you take a very fancy supplement from the internet. That’s not how it works.

But taking just sup, a random supplement with really good marketing behind it is not going to solve the issue.

So that’s one of the major things that causes the damage at that point, isn’t it?

Mm-hmm. So that’s why if there is high level of stress, if there is chemicals, a sperm synthesis is the first thing that can go. And it’s a pro, this sperm synthesis or a spermatogenesis, it’s something that takes around 72 to 74 days to fully develop. And I think this is a really important takeaway from anyone listening because your spend results.

Can be highly influenced by you making the right things. So if alcohol intake is the problem, if stress is the problem, if sleep is the issue and you resolve and address that factor, you can see results. In your [00:19:00] sperm quality and quantity in only three months because of that constant and dynamic process that is happening in the, at the testicular area.

So renewing those those sperm cells every 72 to 74 days.

And just a note about what you said. So yeah, it’s a very delicate process that can be affected and influenced in many different ways. But from those 72 days, like you mentioned, very correctly, the last 15 days when the sperm is going through the final the final track in the reproductive male system is highly, um, highly and easily damaged.

Hmm. So it’s at that stage where we want to be extra careful. What are we putting in our bodies? Alcohol intake, stress, et cetera. So what I do with my patients, if, especially for those that they’re gonna freeze their sperm and their sperm is gonna be used for XE procedures or IVF [00:20:00] procedures, I give them a high level.

Of antioxidants such as vitamin C, coq 10, lipoic acids, uh, nicotinamide riboside, and many others. Do. So we protect that testicular environment, uh, and that sperm going through the last 15 days before ejaculation.

So the DNA is intact. The morphology and the motility is as good as we, as we can.

I, um, wanted to share something that I found really fascinating when I was researching this is that when they are in the, um, epididymis, which is basically like a big, like collecting duct after they’ve gone through the testes. It’s like an a training center that they go through where they learn to swim really well and their [00:21:00] immune system changes.

And I saw some stuff where they said they, they took the sperm from the testes before they got to that point, and then they, they, but inseminated a woman with it and the immune system killed it straight away. Whereas after, had it been through the epididymis, it, it didn’t. Um, but we can talk about that immune onslaught of the sperm later because that’s also really interesting.

But they learned to, so they learned to swim. Their immune system develops and they learned to smell. How amazing I found that was just like so fascinating and that they learn to detect the smell of follicular fluid. And just like a shark, they can find one part per billion follicular fluid and this z and that’s how they know how to go.

And I was just like, I had no idea beforehand that sperm could smell.

So it’s believed that the egg is, some is releasing certain chemicals that, like you said, they are in such a low quantity, but the sperm can. Sort of smell them. Uh, and be attract to it. So it’s really fascinating. And like you said, the that training and that capacity to to have that sense is is highly influenced for what’s happening in the last 15 days before the sperm is ejaculated.

Um,

so like you said, it’s like a training center. It’s like the sperm are going through the gym in LA in those 15, last 15 days.

And that, that is where a lot of that [00:23:00] olfactory sense comes in as well, which is so super interesting too because of how we know that like, for instance, the microbiome of the oral health. And the re um, gastrointestinal health, that all influences reproductive health as well.

Uh, but we can also do a vagina microbiome. Mm-hmm. And that can give us some insight into if there are any immune. Factors that could be negatively influencing fertility potentials. And, um, there is still so much data coming out. There is a lot of science and a lot of money that needs to be still put on.

So we hit better and more quality studies regarding this, but it is clear that, for example, from the female, the vagina microbiome of the female in order to have a good [00:24:00] 30 degree potential needs to be lactobacillus dominance.

Mm-hmm.

So we know that much. And, and that will easy, that will have a huge influence to whether or not the sperm can actually fertilize.

Like we said, that motility needs to be happening. If there is not progressive motility, which is. Swimming on a straight, uh, on a straight line is not gonna reach the egg. So the, uh, the egg has been is released obviously from, from the ovary and travels to the fallopian tube. The sper, uh, the sper is ejaculated [00:25:00] and starts swimming.

The process of swimming usually takes around two days. In order for the sperm to reach, uh, the egg, and that’s when usually fertilization of the sperm in the egg happens in the fallopian tube. If everything is going well, then that embryo already created, starts traveling slowly towards the uterus.

And in that process of traveling, which can last around five to six days, the embryo starts developing in and subdividing and. Going through a process of cell division into something called blastos. It is the blastos then that arrives to the endometrium. And uh, and if everything is going well, there is good endometrial lining.

There is good endometrial receptivity and there is also good endometrial microbiome. Again the immune system having an influence to whether or not. The, that embryo will be able to attach itself to [00:26:00] that endometrial lining and create a pregnancy and hopefully a healthy pregnancy.

And on the way to get there, it has to sort of go through a bit of an immune onslaught, doesn’t it, from the woman’s immune system.

Nor bad. We need good levels of inflammation when we have, if we cut ourselves or or if we have an a pathogen in our system. But when inflammation is not resolved, becomes chronic, and if, um, there is chronic inflammation that’s gonna, uh, activate [00:27:00] chronically the immune system. Now, the process of pregnancy.

Is highly sensitive to this to immunity. So we need to be able to lower our immune defenses in order for that embryo to attach to the endometrial lining. And if notice is not going to happen, if that is constant hyper surveillance because of that low grade chronic inflammation the embryo will be rejected.

And I advise all my patients to get test. The DNA fragmentation on their first semen analysis sperm antibodies is on the other hand not my first line of, uh, assessment if for, that’s

Then we can investigate that.

What I would say with experiment antibodies is one of other little thing that, uh, will come in most cement analysis is something called agglutination, and [00:29:00] that is how is the sperm behaving the whether. They’re all together in the sample or, or not. And if agglutination of the sperm is very high, then I always test that.

Semen antibodies, sperm antibodies.

Um, and so the whole concept of like a woman having to lie down for a period of time after sex, like, so women, I think that they have to lie down for like, you know, half hour or an hour or something like that. Whereas it’s really not that long, um, because of how sticky it is. But I, that comes from like.

Like way back evolutionary times when a bit like a praying mantis or a spider, like the man’s gotta get in and run.

It’s such a hot environment which causes the damage that oxidative stress.

And what a baril is, is nothing else than at function of the cardiovascular system. So it’s, um, part of the cardiovascular system that is not working well. So if it’s not working well, the blood that is arriving to the testicles to bring in nutrient. Reach and oxygen reach blood and removing waste products is not working well.

The other thing that an optimal cardiovascular system is doing at the testicular area is, uh, making sure that there is no rise in a scrotal temperature like you just mentioned. So. Again, we, we were talking about evolution and, and why things are the way are so, females, they have their ovaries inside of their body and that’s because the process of egg production and egg maturation doesn’t require different temperature than body temperature.

Um, for, for male [00:32:00] fertility, the process of experi nitrogen is requires around two degrees lower than. Total body temperature. So that’s why the male go nuts are hanging out,

right?

Mm-hmm. Now, if for whatever reason that temperature rises, one of the things would be vari cell because there is not enough.

Um. There is not enough blood flow, and blood flow is not optimized. Uh, but another thing is w wearing tight underwear, uh, being sitting for long periods of time, pushing the testicles towards the body, going to saunas, all those factors are gonna negatively influence the quality and the quantity of the sperm.

And what you were saying about you know, the cardiovascular, uh, the system and the vari cell. If we think about it, what is the number one cause mortality for men worldwide. It’s actually, poor cardiovascular health and cardio cardiovascular events. I mean, unless that it has changed [00:33:00] recently.

If it’s not, the number one is at the top, at the top there. So one dysfunction that happens from having issues with the cardiovascular system is having vari cell, which again, has a huge influence in sperm health. And the way to assess whether or not someone has vari cell ultimately is with an ultrasound of the testicular area.

Treatment, isn’t it?

Mm-hmm. Um,

and this is based on research and unfortunately, some couples don’t have their, that time on their hands. And then instead of, uh, surgically removing the Barco cell, other options are offered like IBF or other artificial reproductive techniques.

Tell me your clinical history. You have you had any major, uh, health events? Do you have any? Diagnose medical condition because that’s obviously gonna have a huge effect on your sperm health. So that’s how I start a consultation, letting the person speak. And if they haven’t talked about this, then I always chat about what I consider the pillars of health.

So that will be how is your nutrition, how is your sleep, how is your stress management? And are you exercising at all If those are not addressed. Usually I start from there.

Mm-hmm.

Uh, improving their diet, improving their sleep, their stress management, which goes hand in hand with the sleep. And then I always encourage someone to start exercising if they’re not exercising at all.

Little by little, so that will be the way that I think about a consult. But a above and beyond the four pillars of health. There are so many other [00:36:00] things affecting a sperm quality. One of the things that I speak a lot in my, in the book that is coming out, the Male Factor and why fertility should be a shared responsibility is about the role that pharmaceuticals play in, in, in male fertility.

For example the use of antidepressants has been linked with poor semen analysis. I remember this particular case for one of a patient that I had, um, a couple of years ago. Uh, this person was having this male patient was taking 150 milligrams of an particular SSRI, and then we analyzed.

Many of the other factors that could be influencing him, his diet, his sleep whether or not he had nutritional deficiencies, whether or not he had low testosterone, which obviously also influences sperm health and everything came as [00:37:00] normal. Nothing, nothing else than the antidepressant was an alarm bell.

So I obviously gave her, gave this person high level of antioxidants. Um, I gave him a multivitamin, an Omega-3 to make sure that we were protecting that testicular environment and giving a mass of the nutrients that the sperm that the, the body needs to create this sperm. But then the one thing that I work with.

As well as in conjunction with his doctor is to slowly reduce the dosage of the SSRI. And this is a case to case, uh, scenario. Some people, unfortunately, they cannot reduce the dosage of their antidepressants because they really need it, but in this particular case. The patient was open to, to try, and we worked together making sure that his his neurotransmitters were repleted, that everything was working as, as, as well as possible for him.

And he went from 150 milligrams to only [00:38:00] 25 milligrams in the course of six

I, I can’t remember on the exact number, but I think he’s concentration went from like something like 9 million to 39 million, something like that. Mm. Um, and. I think exercise plays hit a huge role and we will never know how much what was the percent of the influence. On each of the factors, but SSRIs is a good example of how a specific pharmaceuticals can have a huge effect on sperm health.

So we don’t need to study sperm, uh, in that case or female reproductive ’cause. God, I haven’t, haven’t forbid anyone study that. It’s like, it’s one of these things that is, it’s just an unknown and it often doesn’t get thought of at all until much later. Or it takes someone that’s a little bit more savvy to go, maybe it’s the medications causing the issue.

Potent form, DHT. So this medication prevents that conversion and therefore, because that doesn’t happen in the body head loss is prevented. So these days there are lots of 20 year olds, 30 year olds taking this medication. And, um, I have seen some preliminary studies that point towards how this medication is negatively affecting sperm health.

Clinically, I have seen a few cases of it where stopping the medication, uh, doing a bit of work with the male patient and retesting three to six months later lead to great improvements in sperm analysis. So, um. This is another factor, right? Um, this drug was not designed with the idea [00:41:00] in mind that could affect male fertility, but it is indicating that it, it does.

So if. A couple is having trouble to conceiving. I think it’s important to review all the medication that the two parts are taking the female part and the male part.

It is very common. It is, it is very common amongst teams, use users these days. I think, look, we could get into the rabbit hole of why is this happening in the first place, which will be, uh, social media putting body image placing attainable body, um, yeah. So social media these days, what I think it’s doing to our jam population is very clear.

It’s affecting their mental health, right? And then you have all these social media influencers telling [00:42:00] them, you can get the body that I have. You just have to follow this diet. And they’re not telling them the whole picture. In many cases, not all of them, but in many cases they might be using anabolic steroids.

And then this is filtering into the younger population. Everyday more and more I see, uh, the effect that anabolic steroids has in the medium and in the long term of a sperm health. So even if the person had used anabolic steroids a year ago or two years ago and they tr are trying to conceive the long-term effect that anabolic steroid had is still visible.

What you’re really doing is telling your brain you can shut down the communication between the brain. And the testicles. You don’t need to stim the brain doesn’t need to longer stimulate the testicles for more. Yes.

And

then like you said, how long do you [00:44:00] take the anabolic steroids for, and what doses did you take and how old were you when you were having this? All these will have an influence to how fast you recover if you recover.

So let’s, let’s share the way of. Responsibility when it comes to fertility. Let’s go to those [00:45:00] appointments. Let’s make sure that if we haven’t prescribed a supplement, we’ll take that supplement that if we’ve been told that we need to stop alcohol, which we haven’t spoken about, but obviously it’s huge, we stop alcohol altogether.

Or maybe you reduce from having seven drinks per week to just having one to two per these drinks per week with your friends, but do your contribution. That’s what I will say.

Or sperm health can lead to early miscarriage. Let’s do our part into supporting our counterparts, our partners, as much as we can, and share the weight [00:46:00] of responsibility.

And let’s do what were asking me. What are the main things that someone can do? Let’s tackle the big ones, right? Like the, the obvious ones. So alcohol, huge. Like, I mean, there is so much research and do we need more research? I mean, we always do need more research, but it’s very clear the toxic effect that alcohol has in sperm.

So just stopping alcohol is gonna have a huge, huge effect in improving your fertility outcomes, uh, making sure that you are sleeping well and that you’re prioritizing rest. It’s really, really, really huge. Um, I. Eating, eating well, uh, making sure that you’re getting your protein, your fiber, that you’re eating, a food that agrees with you.

Those are huge factors. And then what I will say as well, if you are not working with a health professional and you are unsure what the factors will be, that that’s when you need to ask for help. And I think females are much better than males are asking for help.

Mm-hmm.

There [00:47:00] is. There is not nothing wrong with saying, okay, I don’t know what to do who can help me to improve my outcomes.

I think that is an important factor to, to acknowledge when Google doctor is not enough and when you need to look for a health practitioner that can guide you in the right direction.

That will be my main takeout.

I can tell you the success rate was always [00:48:00] much higher.

Those have a big impact too, don’t they?

Maybe it’s not in the. First consult, but it’s in the second consult. Or I give them some some handouts for them to read or websites that they can visit to understand the if their. The things that they’re using at home to, to clean, uh, to clean the house is affect, could have a negative effect. So I like to give all those resources, which are very important.

Another big one is where are you working? What [00:49:00] are you spending most of your time? If it’s a pain factory, for example, then we know that that can definitely be one of the reasons for low or poor quality sperm. Mm

And then beyond there, we, we’d have to consider the things that are genetic or structural, like the vari CILs we mentioned, or conditions like, um, like Kleinfelter syndrome or mm-hmm. People who are structurally missing vans, deference, or other, other, like under sended, testes and those aspects. Mm-hmm.

So beyond when we get to that point, that’s when, you know, you have, we have the referral network and the dis usually at that point we’d be seeing very big things in the sperm analysis, like zero sperm. So that’s a big red flag to refer on for that. Um, so people don’t usually have to worry about [00:50:00] that.

If they have already got the sperm analysis, they can sort of go, okay, it’s probably not too bad.

To wanna talk about it. So if they have something that’s in front of them that they can sort of sit down and privately assess, that’d be really good. So I’ll, um, I’ll pop some links in the, in the show notes in the, in the description to help people find all of this as well. But can you just share your links.

So all those, uh, important conditions regard regarding the reproductive system and obviously male fertility. So that’s what I’m working at the moment. So, the website is rhreproductivehealth.com. For anyone interested to contact me, uh, they can do it through the website and I will be always happy to answer.

The post Sperm Health appeared first on Alison Mitchell Naturopath.

Fascia is one of the most fascinating—and often overlooked—tissues in the human body. It’s not just a “muscle wrapping” as it was once thought to be. It’s a complex, intelligent, and responsive web of connective tissue that supports and connects every structure in the body—muscles, bones, nerves, blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and organs.

Problems with our fascia can not only affect us in the sense of stiffness, flexibility and pain, but it has broader impacts, impacting circulation, lymphatic health and more.

What is fascia?
Fascia is a a connective tissue that holds our muscles, bones and ligaments together. It is so often dismissed, but it’s role is big. When originally thought of as just a wrapper for our muscles, we know that this tissue weaves into every part of our being. Imagine it like a 3D, sponge-like network that compresses and expands, enabling fluid movement and support. It weaves through and wraps around everything, functioning like an internal scaffolding system. It’s a common thought that our bones hold us up. True, but without fascia this wouldn’t be possible. This connective tissue doesn’t just hold things together—it communicates between systems, distributing tension, force, and information.

The interconnection
Fascia allows for communication between all our body systems. While a muscle or bone may be isolated to a particular part of our body, fascia is usually seen as a continual expanse of tissue that exists from one end of our body to another. there are many different types of fascia, but some that exist on the outer layers of our muscles can be seen to run whole lengths of the body, crossing over itself into different pathways, connecting our muscles vertically, diagonally, horizontally. This challenges the reductionist view that treats our organs, muscles, and systems in isolation. In naturopathic medicine, we often emphasize the interconnectedness of health—fascia is one of the physical ways this interconnectedness is expressed.

Types of fascia
There are different types of fascia, including:

• Superficial fascia (under the skin, rich in fat and nerves)

• Deep fascia (surrounding muscles, tendons, bones)

• Visceral fascia (supporting internal organs)
  Each has a unique function, but all work in concert to keep us structurally sound and functionally integrated.

Fascia adapts to movement, pressure, and hydration
Like many aspects of our health, stagnancy leads to dis-ease. This is especially so with the fascia, as it can be seen to be constricted in those who have a lack of movement. Movement keeps fascia hydrated and elastic, like squeezing and releasing a sponge underwater it moves fluid through the tissues and helps to keep it pliable. Fascia also responds to pressure—so manual therapies like massage, myofascial release, or cupping can work beautifully alongside movement. And let’s not forget hydration: fascia needs fluid to glide and slide.

What happens when fascia becomes restricted?

• Reduced blood and lymph flow

• Tightness, discomfort, pain

• Impaired organ mobility (yes, fascia wraps around and affects internal organs too!)

• Restricted range of motion

• Increased risk of injuries

• A sense of physical or even emotional “stuckness”

Because fascia envelops nerves, organs, lymphatic and blood vessels, restrictions can lead to a range of systemic effects—from chronic tension and fatigue to digestive or hormonal imbalances.

Fascia and the nervous system
Fascia is richly innervated—it plays a huge role in proprioception (your sense of body awareness in space) and responds to changes in stress, trauma, and the autonomic nervous system. Relaxed, parasympathetic states support fascial healing, which is why rest and nervous system regulation matter. Our fascia doesn’t just reflect our physical habits—it responds to our emotional landscape, too. Tension in the fascia can also feed into the nervous system, so for those with nervous system imbalance it may be helpful to release fascial constriction.

Fascia and energy pathways
Fascial lines appear to align with Traditional Chinese medicine meridians, the same energy channels used in acupuncture. This anatomical overlap raises big questions about fascia’s role in energy flow, emotion, and perhaps even memory.

Some researchers, like Dr. Jean-Claude Guimberteau in Strolling Under the Skin, have beautifully captured fascia on film—alive with motion, shimmering, interconnected. Watching his work was a moment of awe for me. It confirmed what I see every day in clinic: the body is not mechanical, but organic, intelligent, and deeply interconnected. You can watch this fascinating video here

Supporting your fascia in everyday life

• Move daily. Walking, stretching, yoga, or dancing all nourish fascia. Ballistic exercises can be especially helpful in strengthening and toning fascia.

• Stay hydrated—think of water as lubrication for your internal networks.

• Rest well. Deep sleep is when tissue repair is most active.

• Try fascial therapies like massage, cupping, dry brushing, or somatic movement.

• Breathe deeply and slowly—breath supports fascial mobility through the diaphragm.

• Keep inflammatory foods to a minimum.

• Be patient. Fascia adapts slowly but meaningfully over time.

In short: fascia is vital, vibrant, and deserves your attention. Move it, hydrate it, nurture it—and it will support you back in ways that go far beyond flexibility.

The post Fascia: The Body’s Hidden Super Network appeared first on Alison Mitchell Naturopath.

Imagine this scenario – you’ve been getting symptoms such as vulval itching and redness so you treat it with an over-the-counter thrush cream. The symptoms go. Must have been thrush, right?

It happens again later, but this time the treatment doesn’t work. So you try something else – maybe a pessary or an oral antifungal. Still getting symptoms…

Eventually, you get a swab from your GP, but the results don’t show anything definitive.

So you do a bit of research and decide to go on a strict anti-Candida diet and take several strong natural products that wipe everything out.

But now your gut’s feeling off, you’re anxious about everything you’re eating, and somehow you’re no closer to answers.

You go back to your doctor, and this time you’re given an antidepressant.

How did you end up here!?

Now take this story, and swap out thrush for recurrent UTIs, or BV, or interstitial cystitis. It’s a common journey for so many people, and it can be incredibly frustrating when symptoms keep recurring and you’re left without clear answers. Sometimes things do get picked up early and treatment is straightforward – but often I hear variations of this story, where people don’t fully know what’s causing their symptoms, or they’re led to believe it’s just something they have to live with. Others are placed on long-term medications they don’t feel comfortable with or are never told there may be an underlying imbalance.

A different approach –

When looking into vaginal microbiome health it’s important to have a good idea what you’re working with.
Most people are familiar with the classic symptoms of Candida/thrush – itching, redness, discharge. But sometimes it can present in less typical ways – for example, with only skin irritation or splitting, and no discharge at all. And importantly, Candida is just one type of imbalance. There are many microbes that can disrupt vaginal health – including bacteria linked to BV or chronic UTIs, and others that can trigger inflammation or discomfort without a clear “infection.”

So how do you find out what the cause is?

First and foremost we look at signs and symptoms. The colour, texture, sensations and odour of vaginal discharge can be very informative. Then we can narrow down whether the environment is too acid or alkaline, something that has a big impact on determining what sort of microbes can grow.

After examining symptoms, we can look at vaginal pH – an easy thing you can do at home to monitor the fluctuates from day to day. Vaginal pH is a good indicator of whether the condition is bacterial or fungal, and can show changes before symptoms appear.

A typical swab performed by the GP can also provide a lot of insight. Things like the presence of clue cells, leucocytes, what can be cultured, and whether bacteria appears to be there regardless of whether we know what type it is or not. However, Candida and other microbes don’t always show up on the day of testing, especially in cases of RVVC (recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis), which can wax and wane.

This can often be enough. But if we need to dig deeper a more in depth vaginal microbiome test can be helpful.

There are several versions of vaginal microbiome testing available, currently my preference is through Nutripath which I discuss in the below video.

What is a microbiome?

A community of microorganisms that exist within an area of our body contributing to that spaces function and wellbeing. In female reproductive health we commonly refer to the vaginal microbiome – that microbiome that exists within the vagina and also affects the vulval tissues, as well as the endometrial microbiome (impacting the uterus and surrounding fluids) which may be different depending on cervical competency, and the peritoneal fluid microbiome. In the case of RVVC and chronic BV the vaginal microbiome is the most relevant.

Unlike the gut microbiome, the vaginal microbiome is meant to be relatively low in diversity. In most people, it’s dominated by Lactobacillus species, which help keep the environment slightly acidic and defend against invaders. There are variations in the vaginal microbiome based on hormonal stage (e.g. puberty, pregnancy, menopause) and even across the menstrual cycle. The type of lactobacillus that is dominant may vary based on your genetics, referred to community subtype (CST).

Signs of vaginal microbiome imbalance

• Itching in the vulval or vaginal tissues
• Redness or irritation
• Discomfort or soreness of the vulva or vagina that’s not related to
• Discharge that does not fit the typical ovulation discharge pattern
• Discharge that has a fishy, yeast, acidic, or “rotten/off” smell
• Recurrent UTIs
• Splitting in the creases
• Gushing or watery discharge (a clue depending on the microbe involved)
• Symptoms that flare or change during different phases of your menstrual cycle

Underlying Drivers of Vaginal Microbiome Imbalance

There’s no single cause for microbial imbalance. Often, several systems in the body interact and contribute. Here’s a breakdown:

• Gut health: Our gut is integral in almost all facets of our health and wellbeing. The impact of gut health on vaginal health may be different to what you may think. While older theories linked gut Candida to vaginal thrush, newer research shows this is unlikely due to the gut’s low-oxygen environment. RVVC is not typically caused by reinfection from the gut. Our gut health has an impact because of it’s influence on things like our immune system, hormonal balance, nutritional status and inflammation levels such as histamine tolerance. While gut candida is uncommon, and if present does not typically cause RVVC it is still important that we support gut microbiome in chronic dysbiotic cases.

• Oral health: Poor gum and oral health can drive systemic inflammation, which in turn can affect microbial balance elsewhere in the body.

• Immune health: An immune system that’s either overactive or suppressed can make it harder for the vaginal microbiome to stay balanced. Histamine excess can perpetuate chronic vaginal/vulval symptoms and can cause a heightened reaction when candida is present. There is a relationship between hormonal imbalance and mast cell activation issues that can feed RVVC.

• Hormonal balance: Both high and low oestrogen can create imbalances. In cycling women, this may lead to fluctuating symptoms throughout the month. In menopause, reduced oestrogen means less glycogen in vaginal tissues – a critical food source for Lactobacilli – leading to lower populations of these protective microbes. PCOS can be associated with a unique discharge pattern, and hormonal contraceptives like the OCP can alter both microbiome composition and typical discharge characteristics. Supporting hormonal balance is often a key goal in treating vaginal dysbiosis.

• Stress and nervous system regulation: Chronic stress can shift immune function, disrupt hormonal signalling, and create conditions in which opportunistic microbes thrive.

• Medication use: Antibiotics, antihistamines, and even some hormonal treatments can alter microbial environments by reducing protective species.

• Diet and lifestyle: High sugar and low-fibre diets, synthetic underwear, scented products, improper use of soaps or douching and certain sexual practices can disrupt pH or microbial stability.

The Complexity of Candida and RVVC

Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis is notoriously difficult to manage. One major challenge is timing – it may not show up on a swab done at your GP’s office if you’re between flares. But days later, symptoms can spike again.

And while low Lactobacilli is often linked to chronic Candida, this isn’t always the case. Some women have recurring Candida issues despite normal pH and healthy levels of Lactobacilli. In these cases, the key lies in addressing deeper factors – not just treating the yeast, but looking at immune regulation, inflammation, and systemic triggers.

The Broader Impact on Fertility and Reproductive Health

A disrupted vaginal microbiome can affect far more than just comfort. Studies link dysbiosis with higher miscarriage rates, IVF failure, and unexplained infertility. It may also fuel systemic inflammation via LPS production, worsening conditions like endometriosis and adenomyosis.

Both male and female reproductive microbiomes play a role in conception. The quality of the vaginal environment can influence sperm survival and how the sperm and egg interact.

What Can Be Done About It?

Effective treatment requires more than just “killing off” whatever shows up in a test. This is where working with a practitioner can make all the difference.

I’ve completed extensive training in vaginal microbiome care and offer tailored support – including custom pessaries and individualised treatment plans that target your unique underlying drivers.

A treatment strategy will typically involve:

• Supporting and regulating hormone balance

• Calming inflammation

• Addressing metabolic health and blood sugar regulation

• Modifying lifestyle and sexual practices as needed

• Supporting local vaginal tissue repair and resilience

• Enhancing immune function

• Restoring nervous system regulation and reducing chronic stress load

• Optimising diet, nutrient intake, and specific nutritional markers

• Identifying and targeting key pathogens where necessary

• Using timing strategies to prevent symptoms before they begin

• Balancing vaginal pH

• Supplying prebiotic fuels to feed beneficial microbes

• Using specific probiotics

References

Bradfield Strydom, M., Nelson, T.M., Khan, S. et al. The impact of fluconazole use on the fungal and bacterial microbiomes in recurrent Vulvovaginal Candidiasis (RVVC): a pilot study of vaginal and gastrointestinal site interplay. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 44, 285–301 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-024-04999-1

Ono, Y., Kobayashi, Y., Shimada, S., Fukushi, Y., Yoshino, O., Wada, S., & Yamada, H. (2024). Uterine Endometrium Microbiome in Women with Repeated Implantation Failure Complicated by Endometriosis. Journal of clinical medicine, 13(16), 4605. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13164605

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Hypermobility might have earned you a few “oohs” and “ahhs” growing up—maybe you could twist into strange positions or casually bend your thumb back to your forearm. But for many, it’s much more than just flexible joints. Hypermobility can influence everything from gut health to circulation, immune response, and even your sense of balance.

So let’s unravel this bendy mystery, look at what it really means, and talk about how to support a hypermobile body—without needing to become a contortionist yogi.

Is This You? Signs You Might Be Hypermobile

Everyone experiences hypermobility differently, and it can often show up in subtle ways that are easy to overlook. Some signs to keep an eye out for include:

• Your thumb can be bent back to touch your forearm (no, that’s not a universal party trick).

• Your knees or elbows extend backwards a little when straightened (this is called hyperextension).

• You experience poor posture or feel like standing upright is more effort than it should be.

• You often feel clumsy or struggle with coordination.

• Aches and pains are a regular part of your day.

• You have flat feet or trouble with foot stability.

• Your skin is stretchy or has a “velvety” texture.

• You’re prone to hernias, varicose veins, or even pelvic organ prolapse.

• Piezogenic papules – small, soft bumps that appear on the heels when standing, caused by fat herniating through connective tissue (see picture below)

• Frequent fatigue, headaches, and a need to lie down or rest often.

• Frequent headaches or migraines.

• You bruise easily or heal slowly from cuts and injuries.

• If several of these feel familiar, hypermobility might be a piece of your health puzzle.
• 

Hypermobility or Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome?

Now, let’s clear up a common confusion: hypermobility and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) aren’t exactly the same.

• Hypermobility refers to joints that move beyond the normal range. This can be totally benign or part of a broader condition.

• Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) is a group of connective tissue disorders. The most common subtype, Hypermobile EDS (hEDS), includes joint hypermobility, but also often involves additional features like stretchy skin, chronic pain, frequent injuries, and systemic issues like digestive or immune challenges. The other types of EDS are considered to be rarer and are often connected with specific genetic mutations, whereas hEDS does not have a genetic testing option. It is one of the oldest known causes of bruising and bleeding, and it was described first by Hippocrates in 400 BC.

The difference? EDS, particularly hEDS, has more defined diagnostic criteria, it’s often familial and tends to present more extensively across different body systems.

If you’d like to explore the official diagnostic criteria, the Dysautonomia Support Network has a comprehensive guide here.

The Many Faces of Hypermobility

Hypermobility doesn’t always present the same way for everyone. Some people experience it more internally (such as digestive and reproductive health impacts), while others might deal with more vascular symptoms like varicose veins or POTs. Then there are those whose joints pop and click their way through the day, facing subluxations, dislocations, or even hernias and prolapses. And for many, inflammation is a key player, showing up as histamine issues, migraines, or autoimmune conditions.

Here’s a non-exhaustive list of conditions often linked with hypermobility:

• POTs (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome)

• ADHD & ASD

• Lipoedema

• IBS & gut concerns

• Endometriosis

• Autoimmune conditions

• Migraines

• TMJ & dental issues

• Fatigue and sleep problems

• Dysautonomia

• Venous insufficiencies

In one study, 51% of neurodivergent individuals were hypermobile, compared to just 17.5% of neurotypical people. These overlapping conditions often come as a “package deal” thanks to shared root issues like immune dysregulation and chronic inflammation.

Photo by David Hofmann on Unsplash

What’s Going On Beneath the Surface?

Hypermobility is often viewed as a structural issue—joints that bend too far, ligaments that stretch too much—but that’s only part of the picture. Underneath it all, immune dysregulation and chronic inflammation are key drivers. And they don’t just influence joint laxity—they ripple through many systems in the body.

Chronic inflammation plays a central role not only in hypermobility but also in conditions that commonly appear alongside it—like endometriosis, autoimmune disorders, IBS, POTS, ADHD, and more. When the immune system is constantly switched “on,” it uses up valuable resources, contributing to fatigue and leaving the body more vulnerable to further dysfunction.

Gut, Glands, and Gut Feelings

Weakened connective tissue doesn’t stop at the joints—it affects internal structures too. In the gut, this can mean altered motility, leading to constipation, diarrhoea, or both. There’s also an increased risk of SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) and intestinal permeability (aka “leaky gut”), which can heighten food sensitivities and drive inflammation even further.

The nervous system often gets caught in the crossfire. Dysautonomia, a dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system, is common in hypermobility. It keeps the body stuck in sympathetic “fight or flight” mode—affecting digestion, hormone production, immune response, vascular function, and even emotional regulation. It’s like the body’s internal control panel is out of sync.

Structural Stress and Muscle Overload

When collagen—the body’s main structural protein—isn’t working optimally, ligaments can’t do their job properly. Joints become less stable, and muscles are left to pick up the slack. This muscle overcompensation means they’re often overworked and tight, leading to fatigue, stiffness, and a higher risk of injury.

Nearby nerves may also become pinched or overstretched near unstable joints, contributing to chronic pain or sensitivity. Over time, this can lead to altered pain responses—where the body becomes hypersensitive even to minor stimuli.

Hormones and Histamine

It’s not just joints and nerves—internal organ health can also be affected. Lax pelvic ligaments may result in the uterus sitting differently, contributing to pelvic pain, overactive pelvic floor muscles, or prolapse. On top of that, many hypermobile individuals experience increased histamine levels, which can worsen period pain, fuel endometriosis, and further fan the flames of inflammation and immune dysregulation.

Blood Flow and Brain Fog

When blood vessels are stretchy too (as they often are in hypermobility), they may not efficiently send blood back to the brain and upper body. This can lead to orthostatic intolerance and POTS symptoms—things like dizziness, racing heart, heavy legs, tingling, brain fog, and even anxiety. And because the body interprets these blood flow issues as stress, it can perpetuate the sympathetic nervous system loop, feeding into fatigue, inflammation, and emotional overwhelm.

The Viral Connection

Interestingly, certain viral infections like COVID-19 and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) can worsen hypermobility-related symptoms. These viruses can increase inflammation, unbalance the immune system, and act as triggers or amplifiers for symptoms that were previously manageable.

Support Strategies for Hypermobility

While it’s not always possible to “fix” hypermobility, there are powerful ways to support your body and improve quality of life, these are a few of them:

• Strength Training: Carefully guided resistance training can help stabilize joints, improve proprioception, and reduce the risk of injury.

• Adequate Protein: Essential for tissue repair, strength, and energy. Adequate protein also helps with blood sugar level stability, an important factor for those with hypermobility.

• Mineral Balance: Key minerals like magnesium, calcium, and zinc support nervous system regulation and muscle health. We can assess mineral status through a HTMA (hair tissue mineral analysis) and also look into your diet to assess for potential gaps.

• Gut Health: Focus on restoring the gut lining and supporting a healthy microbiome to reduce inflammation and improve nutrient absorption.

• Nervous System Support: Practices like mindfulness, breathwork, and even vagal nerve stimulation can help reduce stress, improve digestion, and support immune balance.

Let’s Work Together

If you’ve been nodding along and thinking, “This is me!”—we’re here to help. Whether you’re newly exploring hypermobility or have been managing symptoms for years, working with a practitioner who understands the full picture can make all the difference.

Get in touch today to book a consultation. Let’s build a plan that’s tailored to your unique body and needs.

Because living in a bendy body shouldn’t mean bending over backwards to feel good.

References

1. Caliogna, L., Guerrieri, V., Annunziata, S., Gagliardi, F., Sessa, F., & De Caro, R. (2021). Biomarkers for Ehlers-Danlos syndromes: Is there a role? International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(18), 10138. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms221810138
2. Castori, M., Camerota, F., Celletti, C., Danese, C., Santilli, V., & Grammatico, P. (2015). Neurological manifestations of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome(s): A review. Iranian Journal of Neurology, 13(4), 190–208. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4300794/
3. Castori, M., & Voermans, N. C. (2023). Pain in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome: A non-diagnostic disabling symptom. Diagnostics, 13(8), 1443. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics13081443
4. Chopra, P., Tinkle, B., Hamonet, C., Brock, I., Gompel, A., Bulbena, A., & Francomano, C. (2017). Pain management in the Ehlers-Danlos syndromes. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part C: Seminars in Medical Genetics, 175(1), 212–219. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajmg.c.31555
5. Eccles, J. A., Owens, A. P., Mathias, C. J., Umeda, S., & Critchley, H. D. (2022). Joint hypermobility links neurodivergence to dysautonomia and pain. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12, 797165. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.797165
6. Glans, M., Bejerot, S., & Li, X. (2021). Association between adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and generalised joint hypermobility: A cross-sectional case control comparison. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 143, 334–340. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.07.006
7. Kanjwal, K., Saeed, B., Karabin, B., Kanjwal, Y., Grubb, B. P., & Karabin, B. (2023). Dysautonomia, hypermobility spectrum disorders and mast cell activation syndrome: A review of overlapping conditions. Frontiers in Neurology, 14, 1458385. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2023.1458385
8. Wang, E., Ganti, T., Vaou, E., & Hohler, A. (2021). The relationship between mast cell activation syndrome, postural tachycardia syndrome, and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Allergy and Asthma Proceedings, 42(3), 243–246. https://doi.org/10.2500/aap.2021.42.210034

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