I am thrilled to welcome Carissa back from maternity leave! After spending precious time with her beautiful baby girl, Poppy, Carissa is returning to practice and will be available for online consultations on Thursdays. In addition, she will be the primary practitioner handling email consults, making it easier than ever to get expert naturopathic support from the comfort of your home.

Get to Know Carissa

What’s your favourite thing about being a naturopath?

My favourite thing about being a naturopath is based on one of the naturopathic principles “the healing power of nature.” It truly amazes me just how interconnected we are with the planet; how herbs and nutrients can support the body in restoring balance. It’s really rewarding working with nature to guide my clients toward better health with the tools we can find in our backyard!

What’s your latest obsession?

Right now, my latest obsession is kids’ nutrition, especially since my little girl has just started solids. I couldn’t resist diving deep into it! I’m loving the book Boob to Food—it’s been a great resource for creating healthy, nutritious meals for my bub (and hub). I find myself reading it weekly and picking up new tips every time.

Current herb obsession and why?

If I had to choose a favorite herb, it would definitely be the beautiful dandelion! It’s such a versatile plant—supporting everything from digestion to detoxification. Plus, it makes such a delicious tea. It’s hands down one of the herbs I use most in my formulas, and I’m always amazed by its benefits.

Favourite meal?

My favourite meal would be grilled salmon with sautéed greens (especially broccolini, kale and Brussels sprouts) with roasted pumpkin or sweet potato—yum! I could eat this every day.

Favourite conditions to work with?

Some of my favourite conditions to work with are skin issues like eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis. I can really relate to these conditions, as I was that typical eczema kid growing up—constantly battling flare-ups due to a poor diet. It wasn’t until I discovered naturopathy that I started to find real relief, and now I’m passionate about helping others do the same.

What is something that you’ve learnt about pregnancy and motherhood since becoming a Mum?

Wow, where do I start? Since becoming a mum, what I’ve learned more than anything is just how incredibly adaptable the female body is, especially during pregnancy and motherhood. Our hormonal system is so complex, and it’s fascinating how it shifts and changes to support us through every stage—from conception to birth and beyond! What strikes me the most is the way our bodies respond to the demands of motherhood, from breastfeeding to the emotional rollercoaster we experience, and how everything is interconnected. As a naturopath, I’m in awe of how our bodies are designed to nurture and care for our little ones while keeping us balanced, even through all the changes we go through.

Carissa has a special interest in working with children’s health, pregnancy, and all aspects of skin health. Whether you’re looking for support with your little one’s health, navigating pregnancy and postpartum wellness, or addressing skin concerns naturally, Carissa brings her expertise and compassionate approach to every consult. Of course, as a fully trained naturopath, she is well-equipped to work with a wide range of health conditions, offering tailored, holistic solutions to support your well-being.

One unique aspect of working with Carissa is the incorporation of iridology into her consultations. Iridology is the study of the iris (the colored part of the eye) as a reflection of overall health and genetic predispositions. By analyzing patterns, colors, and markings in the iris, Carissa can gain valuable insights into your constitution, organ function, and potential areas of imbalance. For online consults, we make this process simple: before your appointment, we will send you instructions on how to take a clear photo of your iris and email it to Carissa. This allows her to integrate this valuable tool into your consultation, providing a deeper level of understanding and personalized recommendations.

Carissa also utilizes drop dose herbal prescribing, a method that involves using highly concentrated herbal extracts in small doses to create profound therapeutic effects. This gentle yet powerful approach allows for precise, individualized treatment, making it particularly effective for sensitive individuals, children, and those with complex health conditions.

Carissa is excited to reconnect with both new and existing clients and support you on your health journey. Whether through a video consult or an email consultation, she is here to help you feel your best with evidence-based naturopathic care.

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Below is listed the range of infused herbal oils that can be added onto your massage.

Read more about infused herbal oils, and complete a mini quiz to select which is best most indicated oil for you here.

Lavender

Well known for it’s calming and relaxing properties, it is soothing to your mind and body.

For those who feel uptight and tense, Lavender is beneficial as it helps to soothe anxiety but also to relax tight muscles. It also contains some anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.

Lavender is well suited to those with a dominance of Air and Ether elements, such as those closer to a Vata constitution.

Rose

Cooling and calming, rose oil balances excess heat in your muscles, joints and nervous system. It can lend both strength and softness to your nervous system. Think of the image of a rose with it’s delicate flowers which reminds us to embrace our softness, yet it is surrounded with sharp thorns that help to remind us to maintain our barriers.

Rose has an affinity with women’s health and the reproductive organs and has been used traditionally for menstrual concerns and period pain. It energetically assists in clearing and healing trauma that sits in this area.

If this is something that resonates with you, you may like to incorporate abdominal massage into your treatment with rose oil.

Rose is also vulnerary (wound healing), anti-inflammatory and astringent which makes is a lovely choice for skin that needs tightening and soothing.

Rose is well suited to those with a dominance of Fire and Water elements, such as those with a Pitta constitution.  

St Johns Wort

A classic nerve nourisher, St Johns Wort oil soothes all aspects of your nerves, helpful for those with tension, nerve pain and sore muscles, and is also healing to your skin.

It is well known as a herbal extract for it’s use as a mood balancer however it also offers some aspect of this as an oil infusion, providing a protective and restorative element. It can be helpful for those who experienced ‘frazzled’ nerves emotionally or have been going through high amounts of stress.

If you experience nerve pain, this can also be helpful to apply topically as an oil.

These pretty little yellow flowers will make a stunning red oil when infused.

St Johns Wort is well suited to those with a dominance of Fire and Water or Earth elements such as those with a Pitta or Kapha constitution.

Rosemary and Lemon

This blend is warming and stimulating to your nervous system, muscles and circulation. Rosemary is a popular choice for those with cold, sore muscles or who need some extra support with their blood flow such as those with cold hands and feet, fluid retention or feelings of stiffness and sluggishness.

An old wives tail says to place a sprig of rosemary under your pillow to enhance your memory, which have elements of truth as rosemary has been used as a herbal extract to support brain health and cognition. It is also commonly use to support the livers detoxification processes and to stimulate the digestion.

The blend of rosemary and lemon is well suited to those with a dominance of earth and water elements, such as those with a Kapha constitution.

Calendula

Deeply nourishing to the skin, this golden oil has anti-microbial and soothing properties and is renowned for it’s healing abilities.

Calendula is considered to be one of nature’s best healers, it has antimicrobial and vulnerary (healing) properties.

Those with skin concerns would benefit greatly from the use of this oil, such as those with eczema, dermatitis, dry skin, acne or aged skin.

Calendula is well suited to with a dominance of the elements earth and water, or air and ether, such as those with a Vata or Kapha constitution.

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Health & Wellbeing Podcast #18 with guest Hayley Stockbridge

In this episode Hayley and I discuss our approach to treating eczema from a naturopathic perspective. We talk about the link between gut health and eczema; a nutritional approach to eczema such as nutritional supplements, diet change and looking at food intolerances; herbal medicine for eczema; what topical treatments we recommend; how stress affects eczema, and more.

Eczema Podcast

Hayley practices at Manly on Sydney’s Northern Beaches and in Stanmore in Sydney’s Inner West. Her major focus is always educating her patients to live healthier and happier lives. She treats women, men and children of all ages and a wide variety of health issues such as weight loss, digestive problems, anxiety/stress, fertility, hormone imbalances, food intolerances and headaches.

You can also connect with Hayley on Facebook and Instagram.

Want to subscribe to get podcasts automatically? You can do that here: https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/health-wellbeing-podcast/id1006574743

Podcast Breakdown

0:00 Intro and disclaimer
0:43 Welcome
2:09 What’s happening in the skin of someone with eczema?
3:15 Food intolerances and allergies
7:20 The importance of treating the gut
8:55 Types of people who experience eczema more
10:27 Increased prevalence of eczema
10:50 Immune imbalances leading to eczema especially in children
13:50 Probiotics to prevent and treat eczema
14:40 Stress and eczema
16:40 How can diet affect eczema?
17:33 Common nutrient deficiencies in eczema.
18:40 Herbs in eczema.
19:24 Low stomach acid is common in people with eczema.
20:33 The importance of changing your diet.
21:00 Topical treatments for eczema.
Moogoo Eczema and Psoriasis Cream – http://moogoo.com.au/irritable-skin-balm.html
Hope’s Relief – https://www.hopesrelief.com.au/
22:30 Cautions with topical coconut oil
23:40 Oat baths
24:30 The illusion of having less time
25:25 The importance of an individualised treatment approach
26:35 How to get in contact

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The good folks at Casa de Karma have featured some more of my articles in their Spring Into Wellbeing collection.
I talk about how to improve your skin from the inside and share some DIY skin care recipes, include masks and scrubs.

Here’s a sneak preview

5 Tips To Get Healthy Skin From The Inside Out

We all want that clear, dewy complexion that some seem to be bestowed with; the glow that seems to radiant from within. Luckily, beautiful skin is obtainable for us all, here are 5 tips to get great skin from the inside out…

1. Hydrate

The top layer of your skin is about 80% water and if you’re not drinking enough fluids, this can be quickly reflected in the health of your skin. Sweating is one of our bodies natural detoxification systems, and we need to be properly hydrated for this to work properly. Find water a tad boring? Try freezing some berries, herbs or lemon wedges in ice cube trays and adding to your water for a bit of pizzazz. Alternatively, make your own flavoured water by steeping some fruit slices and herbs in water overnight.

Try these delicious naturally flavoured water combos:

• Mint, cucumber and lime
• Raspberry and mint
• Lemon and blueberries
• Blackberry and sage…

Read the rest here: http://casadekarma.com.au/heathy-skin-from-the-inside-out/

5 Naturopath-Approved DIY Skin Care Recipes

http://casadekarma.com.au/5-diy-skin-care-recipes/

Suitable for all skin types and perfect if your skin is itchy or inflamed.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon of dried oats, ground
• 2 teaspoons of water, witch hazel, or chamomile tea

Method

1. Grind oats (if not already ground) and mix with desired liquid until a paste forms.
2. Apply to the face in gentle circular motions, avoiding the eyes. (For the rest of the body, make a larger quantity and apply in the same manner.)
3. Rinse off with warm water.

Read the rest here: http://casadekarma.com.au/5-diy-skin-care-recipes/

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In the Media

Interviewed in Women’s Health & Fitness: Self Surface

In this month’s edition of Women’s Health & Fitness you’ll find an awesome article covering a few different perspectives on skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema and acne. And the Naturopath is yours truly!

To read more on a Naturopathic approach to skin conditions click here.

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Increased exposure to sunlight may reduce the risk of both food allergies and eczema in children, according to a new study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

The research team studied available data on Australian children and analysed how rates of food allergy, eczema and asthma varied throughout the country. In addition to demonstrating a link between latitude and allergies to peanut and egg, the results showed that on average children in the south of the country were twice as likely to develop eczema as those in the north.

Exposure to sunlight is important as it allows for vitamin D synthesis. This report builds upon existing evidence that suggests a link between sun exposure and the incidence of allergic disease.

Gray N. Low vitamin D status linked to food allergy and eczema in children: Study. Nutraingredients-usa.com, 7 Feb 2012.
Osborne NJ, Ukoumunne OC, Wake M, et al. Prevalence of eczema and food allergy is associated with latitude in Australia. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2012 Feb 1.

Thoughts:

Despite having what we have been told as enough time in the sun to get our vitamin D, there are still many adults and children who are deficient.  The latitude affects our ability to absorb vitamin D, along with many other factors We know that Vitamin D is important for moderating our immune system so if you or your children have an allergic condition than don’t just assume you’re getting enough vitamin D, get it checked.

Tips on how to get vitamin D from the sun while still being safe:

• Vitamin D is best absorbed between 10am and 3pm.
• Get 7-10 minutes of sun exposure to arms and legs.
• Follow with SPF30+ sunscreen.
• Always protect the face.

Past Vitamin D posts:

Vitamin D PDF

Vitamin D Newsletter

Vitamin D and Asthma

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The post Expectant Mums Reduce Infant Allergy with Fish Oil appeared first on Alison Mitchell Naturopath.

For many people a drop in the temperature is enough of a trigger, and when the humidity drops the air becomes drier and is more likely to irritate a sensitive respiratory system. You may be bringing winter clothes out of storage in moth balls and dust is being stirred up. All of these and more could trigger your allergies or asthma.

Allergies

Sinus congestion, itchy eyes, sneezing, persistent cough, wheezing, headaches, and skin disorders such as eczema are all symptoms of allergies. These become more and more common, especially getting into the change of seasons. When your allergies occur often depends on what you’re allergic to: trees pollinate in spring, grasses in early summer and weeds in late summer. Mould spores in cooler climates persist outdoors only in summer, whereas in warmer climates it can persist all year. If your allergies last all year they are most likely caused by dust mites, mould or animal hair allergies.

The last four decades have seen an increase in the rates of hayfever in children, especially in urban areas. In prosperous societies, 20-40% of children suffer from hayfever. There is a greater risk of this in children who have have early exposure to solid foods or formula, have food allergies, exposure to tobacco smoke and heavy exposure to indoor allergens. In the US, allergies are among the most cited reasons for missed school days, accounting for more than 2 million school days lost anually.

For some people, the post-nasal drip and sinus pain can be debilitating, and interfere with their ability to think and concentrate. For others, they may just put up with it and pop a daily anti-histamine.

Anti-histamines can give you symptomatic relief, however it can be associated with drowsiness and lethargy. Unfortunately, they are also not getting to the underlying cause of allergies.

What you may not know is that allergies can be caused by underlying imbalances in your immune system. Our white blood cells which act like our ‘army’ need to act in a balanced way to be effective. If there is an imbalance in a certain type of immune cells auto-immunity can occur, of if the balance goes the other way it can lead to allergies.

To help balance your immune system, eat a healthy diet and drink plenty of water. It’s also important to manage stress levels, as chronic stress can upset the nervous system and aggravate allergies. Digestive health has a large role to play in allergies, and so it can help to do a detox before spring to ensure everything is working properly.

You may find benefit from avoiding certain foods which can aggravate allergies. For people who are allergic to ragweed, you should avoid eating the melon family (watermelon, honeydew, and cantaloupe), zucchinis and cucumbers. For people allergic to grass, you should avoid wheat products, tomatoes and carrots.

Eating plenty of garlic, onions, chilli, turmeric, radishes and fresh herbs and spices can help. Fenugreek tea is great for helping to clearing out mucous. Daily sinus washing with a neti pot is also something you can try.

Asthma

Asthma is a disease that causes inflammation of the airways of the lungs and it can be caused by a range of factors such as genetics, the environment, infections, allergies, emotions, and even the foods that we eat. The commonest symptoms of asthma are wheezing, coughing, a shortness of breath, and an increase in the amount of mucus that is produced. However, if you suffer from asthma, or have a family member that does, there is no need to suffer. There are plenty of natural health remedies that you can use.

Allergens that can Trigger Asthma

There are many different allergens that can trigger an asthmatic attack. These include pet dander, chemicals, drugs, dust mites, pollutants, feathers, food additives, mildew, mould, and cigarette smoke. Even the foods that you can eat can trigger an asthma attack, with milk, eggs, nuts, and seafood being some of the most common triggers.

If you suspect that an allergen is triggering your asthma attack, whether it is dietary or found in the environment, you can choose to eliminate the allergen from the diet or your environment and see if symptoms clear up. To be able to correctly identify the allergen, it is important that you remove all potential irritants and re-introduce them one by one. This is the basis of an ‘elimination diet’ and this should be performed over a period of at least 21 days. If you believe that you may have a food intolerence but don’t feel comfortable doing an elimination diet, there are blood tests that can be performed.

Nutrition for Asthma

A balanced diet is comprised of a range of food groups, and can help your body fight allergies and the effects of debilitating conditions such as asthma. Try including the following foods or food groups in your diet:

• Plenty of water
• Fresh fruits and vegetables
• Wholegrain foods such as brown rice,,millet, quinoa, amaranth and other ancient grains
• Lean meats such as skinless chicken
• Legumes and pulses
• Oily and/or white fish
• Items to avoid or limit in your diet include alcohol, salt, saturated fats and refined sugars.

The importance of exercise should also not be underestimated; especially when one starts to age and metabolism slows. This makes it more difficult to burn off unwanted fat.

Herbal Medicine for Asthma

There are some fantastic herbs that can be used for managing asthma. A formula for asthma will usually include herbs that relax the bronchiols, reduce catarrh and mucous build up and encourage it’s expulsion, reduce inflammation on the airways and support the immune system to either get rid of chronic infections, or reduce allergic reactions.
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When we consider the adage “more than skin deep” we think of the truism that beauty is more than what we can see on the outside.  As a naturopath, I apply this philosophy to the treatment of skin conditions as naturopaths consider the skin to be a representation of not just the body’s external, but also internal milieu.

The skin is the largest organ of the human body, with a total surface area approximately 2m² and a total weight of 4.5-5kg.  The skin isn’t just a simple plastic bag that keeps out insides in and the outsides out – it is a sophisticated, semi-permeable barrier that is involved in many functions critical for good health, such as fluid regulation, detoxification and Vitamin D synthesis.

Dysfunction of the skin can occur in conditions such as acne vulgaris, eczema/dermatitis, psoriasis and acne rosacea.

There are many factors which influence the health of the skin.  I am going to discuss two of the most important ones:

Immune health – Allergies, Auto-Immunity and Infections

• Eczema/dermatitis is an allergic condition where the body reacts to an allergen (this can be a contact allergen or an internal allergen) and creates an inflammatory response in the skin.
• Psoriasis is considered to be an auto-immune conditions, where the body attacks the keratinocytes causing inflammation, as well as an unmediated over proliferation of keratinocytes.
• Infections are a common factor in most skin conditions.  Eczema is often associated with a Staphylococcus aureas infection, and we know that this bug creates inflammation and immune activation in the skin.
• Acne vulgaris is caused when the bacteria Propionibacterium acnes feeds from the excess sebum that is produced, thrives, and then causes inflammation in the pore.
• Acne rosacea is associated with an infestation of the mite Demodex folliculorum.  This causes inflammation of the follicles when it gets out of check.  Although a little disturbing to note, this mite is on everyone.  It is when our immune system is low and does not control them that problems arise.
• Conditions such as the cold sore virus and fungal infections have a direct connection with our immune system.  These conditions are obvious infections, and therefore our immune system needs to be strong and fit to keep these at bay.

Digestive Health – Bowel regularity, Microflora and “Leaky Gut”

• There is a strong connection between digestive conditions and skin conditions.  In a 2004 study analysing the correlation between skin and digestive health it was found that 14% of patients with ulcerative colitis, 24% of patients with crohns disease and 25% of patients with coeliac disease had a skin condition.
• The balance of bacteria in the digestive system, if disturbed can cause a large array of problems.  The good bacteria control our immune system, certain vitamin and enzyme synthesis and are important for regulating inflammation.  The gut microflora are disturbed by medications such as the pill, anti-biotics, by poor diet, alcohol or in conditions such as constipation.  An imbalance in the microflora can worsen or cause many skin conditions such as eczema and acne rosacea.
• Acne rosacea has a strong connection to infections of the small intestine.  A common cause of this is an overgrowth of Helicobactor pylori which stimulates inflammation and dilation of the blood vessels in the face.  This bug is famous for causing reflux, but it can also cause acne rosacea.  A 2002 study showed that eliminating H. pylori infections improved 51 out of 53 patients with rosacea.  The good news is that there are fantastic herbs and essential oils that kill this bug.
• According the Bernard Jensen, a famous iridologist and nutritionist: “When the bowel is underative, toxic wastes are more likely to be absorbed through the bowel wall and into the blood stream.  The blood then circulates these toxins to every part of the body and deposits some of them in tissues, with the greatest amount retained in the constitutionall weakest tissues.”  This is known as a condition called “leaky gut” and can be understood to mean that a slow, sluggish bowel can cause issues in other parts of the body because chemicals that were meant to be excreted have been re-assimilated into the body.  This phenomenen is also known as auto-intoxication.  Leaky gut occurs when the membranes in the bowel become inflammed and porous, usually due to long term constipation, food allergies or microbial imbalances.  You can be tested for leaky gut with a urine test, however this can often by picked up with iridology.

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