naturopath Archives • Alison Mitchell Naturopath

What you need to know about ADHD and gut health

Alison — Mon, 04 May 2026 04:58:35 +0000

TL;DR

The gut and brain communicate constantly via the gut-brain axis and vagus nerve — and for many people with ADHD, the gut is a significant piece of the puzzle.
The gut microbiome produces around 90% of the body’s serotonin, as well as dopamine precursors and calming neurotransmitters like GABA.
Compromised gut lining (leaky gut) can trigger neuroinflammation that directly impacts focus, mood, and behaviour.
Microba gut microbiome testing can show us exactly what’s happening rather than guessing — and help build targeted, effective support.

Why the gut keeps coming up in ADHD

If you or your child has ADHD, chances are most of the focus so far has been on the brain. Medications, strategies, routines, sensory tools. And all of that absolutely has its place. But there’s another system worth paying serious attention to, and it lives a lot further south.

The gut.

Over the last decade, research into ADHD gut health has grown enormously. What’s emerging is genuinely fascinating: the gut communicates constantly with the brain, produces a significant portion of the body’s neurotransmitters, and houses an immune system that can either support or undermine how we think, focus and feel. When the gut is struggling, the brain often is too.

In clinic, I see this pattern regularly. Kids and adults with ADHD who also deal with constipation, bloating, food sensitivities, or a history of frequent antibiotic use. It’s rarely a coincidence.

Gut health isn’t separate from brain health in ADHD — they’re part of the same conversation.

The gut-brain axis: a two-way conversation

The gut-brain axis is a sophisticated communication network linking the digestive system and the central nervous system. It works through the vagus nerve, the enteric nervous system (the gut’s own independent nerve network), immune signalling, and hormonal pathways.

The vagus nerve is the superhighway of this system. Here’s what surprises most people: roughly 80 to 90 percent of the signals travelling along it go from the gut up to the brain, not the other way around. The gut is quite literally briefing the brain all day long.

For people with ADHD, vagal tone — how efficiently the vagus nerve functions — is an area of growing research interest. Poor vagal tone has been associated with difficulty regulating the nervous system, increased impulsivity, emotional dysregulation, and reduced attentional control.

The enteric nervous system adds another layer. This network of over 500 million neurons lining the gut wall operates largely independently of the brain. When its environment is disrupted, the signals it sends upstream change accordingly.

The microbiome and ADHD: what your gut bacteria are doing

The gut microbiome — the trillions of bacteria and other microorganisms living in the digestive tract — has an outsized influence on brain function. Here’s how:

Serotonin production

Around 90–95% of the body’s serotonin is made in the gut. Serotonin influences mood, sleep, impulse regulation, and is a precursor to melatonin. When the microbiome isn’t producing adequate serotonin, all of those areas are affected.

Dopamine precursors

Dopamine is the neurotransmitter most directly implicated in ADHD. While dopamine itself doesn’t cross the blood-brain barrier, gut bacteria influence the availability of the precursors that do — including L-DOPA.

GABA

GABA is the brain’s primary calming neurotransmitter, playing a key role in reducing anxiety and supporting focus. Certain gut bacteria are involved in its production — and these species are consistently lower in people with ADHD.

Short-chain fatty acids

SCFAs like butyrate are produced when gut bacteria ferment dietary fibre. Butyrate feeds the gut lining, supports blood-brain barrier integrity, and has anti-inflammatory effects in the central nervous system. Altered SCFA profiles are consistently found in children with ADHD.

What the research says

Studies consistently find distinct microbiome profiles in people with ADHD — lower Bifidobacterium, lower Lactobacillus, and lower Faecalibacterium. A 2025 meta-analysis also found a 63% increased risk of IBS in people with ADHD, covering data from over 175,000 individuals.

Leaky gut, neuroinflammation, and ADHD

The gut lining is designed to be selectively permeable — allowing nutrients through while keeping bacteria, toxins, and larger molecules out. When that lining becomes compromised (leaky gut), things get through that shouldn’t.

This triggers an immune response. Inflammatory signalling compounds called cytokines increase in circulation, and inflammation begins to affect the brain as well as the gut. This state of neuroinflammation is increasingly understood as a meaningful contributing factor in ADHD symptoms.

The current model gaining traction in research: gut dysbiosis leads to increased intestinal permeability → systemic inflammation → impaired blood-brain barrier function → neurological environment associated with worsening of symptoms associated with ADHD. It’s not the whole picture, but it’s a significant part of it.

Signs that gut health may be contributing to ADHD symptoms: frequent digestive complaints, history of repeated antibiotic use, significant food sensitivities, strong sugar or processed food cravings, sleep difficulties, mood instability or anxiety alongside ADHD, and history of formula feeding or caesarean birth.

Microbiome testing: actually seeing what’s going on

One of the most valuable things we can do when ADHD and gut symptoms overlap is to look at what’s actually happening in the microbiome — rather than applying a generic protocol and hoping for the best.

This is where I find gut microbiome testing genuinely useful. I currently use Microba, a gut testing service that uses deep shotgun metagenomic sequencing — a significantly more detailed method than standard testing. Rather than just identifying which bacterial families are present, it can identify bacteria at the species and strain level, measure functional capacity, and assess markers like SCFA-producing potential and inflammation-related species and metabolites.

What Microba testing can show
Microbiome diversity and composition
SCFA-producing bacteria and estimated butyrate production capacity
Presence of inflammatory or dysbiotic species
Markers of intestinal permeability risk
Markers associated with poor motility, inflammation, altered immune response, and there are some markers associated with an increased likelihood of mood issues

Testing is done at home with a stool sample and returned to the lab via post — straightforward for both adults and kids. The results are detailed but translated into accessible language, which I find really useful for explaining findings to patients.

This information takes the guesswork out of gut support. Rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach, we can see exactly where the gaps are and tailor support accordingly — specific probiotic strains, prebiotic foods, dietary shifts, and targeted herbal or nutritional support where indicated.

It currently costs ~$400-$500 depending on which level of test you choose which is not feasible for some people, but certainly gut health work can still be done without this, just not with the same level of fine tuning.

Common questions about ADHD and gut health

Does gut health affect ADHD?

Yes. Research consistently shows that people with ADHD have distinct gut microbiome profiles compared to those without the condition. The gut produces key neurotransmitters including serotonin and dopamine precursors, communicates directly with the brain via the vagus nerve, and influences neuroinflammation. Gut health is not the sole cause of ADHD, but it is a meaningful contributing factor for many people.

What gut issues are common in people with ADHD?

Constipation, bloating, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), reflux, and food sensitivities are all more common in people with ADHD than in the general population. A 2025 meta-analysis found a 63% increased risk of IBS in individuals with ADHD, covering data from more than 175,000 people. These symptoms often indicate underlying gut dysbiosis rather than coincidental digestive complaints.

Can improving gut health help ADHD symptoms?

Supporting gut health can be a helpful part of a broader ADHD management approach. Improving microbiome diversity, reducing gut inflammation, and supporting short-chain fatty acid production may positively influence neurotransmitter balance, sleep, mood stability, and attention — all areas affected in ADHD. It works best alongside, not instead of, other management strategies.

What is the best gut test for ADHD?

Comprehensive microbiome testing using shotgun metagenomic sequencing — such as Microba — provides the most detailed picture of gut health relevant to ADHD. This goes beyond basic bacterial identification to assess functional capacity, SCFA-producing potential, and inflammation markers, allowing for much more targeted support.

How does leaky gut relate to ADHD?

When the gut lining becomes permeable, bacteria, toxins, and inflammatory compounds can enter the bloodstream and trigger immune responses. This chronic low-grade inflammation can affect the brain and contribute to the neuroinflammatory environment associated with ADHD symptoms including inattention, mood dysregulation, and impulsivity.

Naturopathic support for ADHD gut health isn’t about replacing other management strategies — it works alongside them. The focus is on identifying the specific factors influencing your (or your child’s) presentation, and building support from there.

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References

1. Ng, R. W., Chen, Z., Yang, L., et al. (2025). Association between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders and intestinal disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Scientific Reports, 15, 19278. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04303-x
2. Steckler, R., Magzal, F., Kokot, M., Walkowiak, J., & Tamir, S. (2024). Disrupted gut harmony in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Dysbiosis and decreased short-chain fatty acids. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity – Health, 40, 100829. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbih.2024.100829
3. Stiernborg, M., Debelius, J. W., Yang, L. L., Skott, E., Millischer, V., Giacobini, M., et al. (2023). Bacterial gut microbiome differences in adults with ADHD and in children with ADHD on psychostimulant medication. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 110, 310–321. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2023.03.012
4. Phasouk, K., Saengnipanthkul, S., Lao-araya, M., & Chattipakorn, N. (2025). Impact of psychostimulants on microbiota and short-chain fatty acids alterations in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Scientific Reports, 15. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-87546-y
5. Jiang, H., Zhang, X., Yu, Z., Zhang, Z., Deng, M., Zhao, J., & Ge, X. (2021). Gut microbiota signature in treatment-naïve attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, 9, 329. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12309550/
6. Liu, Y., Li, W., Zhong, X., et al. (2025). Symptom-specific gut microbial and metabolic profiles in ADHD reveal SCFA deficiency as a key pathogenic mechanism. ISME Journal. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12309550/

Ready to look at the bigger picture?

If you or your child is navigating ADHD and you’ve noticed gut symptoms, food sensitivities, sleep struggles or mood instability alongside the attention challenges, it’s worth exploring the gut connection. I offer gut-focused naturopathic consultations for both adults and children, including Microba testing where indicated.

Book a consultation

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HPV & Cervical Health: What You Need to Know

Alison — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 03:23:25 +0000

If you’ve recently received an HPV diagnosis, first things first — take a breath. A positive result can feel alarming, but the reality is that HPV is incredibly common, and for most people, the immune system clears it on its own.

That said, there’s a lot you can do to support that process. Here’s what I want you to understand about HPV, and how a naturopathic approach can complement your conventional care.

First, the reassuring part

HPV is incredibly common — most sexually active people will encounter it at some point in their lives. The immune system clears the virus on its own in roughly 70% of cases within 12 months, and around 90% of cases within two years.

There are over 100 subtypes of HPV, and only a small number — primarily types 16 and 18 — are associated with the kind of cell changes that can progress toward cancer over time. Persistent infection over many years, rather than a single positive result, is what’s associated with higher-grade changes. This is why regular cervical screening is so important, and why early detection matters.

A positive HPV result is not a cancer diagnosis — it’s information. And information gives you the opportunity to act.

How HPV actually works

HPV works by targeting the body’s natural tumour-suppressing genes, typically at a site of micro-trauma in the cervical tissue. Certain high-risk subtypes carry what are called E6 and E7 oncogenes, which essentially interfere with those protective mechanisms. This is why supporting immune function — your body’s ability to recognise and respond to the virus — is so central to a naturopathic approach to cervical health.

The good news is that immune function is highly modifiable. What you eat, how you sleep, what you’re exposed to, and the state of your microbiome all play a meaningful role.

What influences your immune response to HPV?

Research points to several modifiable factors that influence whether HPV persists or clears. Here’s what’s worth understanding:

Nutrition

A diet low in fruit, vegetables, and methylation-supporting nutrients is associated with poorer HPV outcomes. The Mediterranean diet specifically has been studied with favourable results. Zinc, folate, and brassica vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts) are particularly relevant.

The vaginal microbiome

The vaginal microbiome plays a significant and often overlooked role in HPV persistence or regression. A healthy environment dominated by Lactobacillus species and a pH below 4.5 supports the immune responses that work in your favour.

Stress & sleep

High levels of perceived stress have been specifically associated with impaired immune response to HPV-16. Chronic stress shifts cytokine balance in the body, creating a more pro-inflammatory environment. Sleep disturbances compound this further.

Toxin exposure

Ongoing exposure to environmental chemicals — plastics, phthalates, pesticides, and persistent organic pollutants — impairs immune function. Everyday sources like synthetic menstrual products and non-organic underwear are worth considering.

Other lifestyle factors

Smoking, excessive alcohol use, oral contraceptive use, and a high overall infection load (including viruses like EBV and CMV) are all associated with increased risk of HPV persistence and progression.

What a naturopathic approach looks like

Naturopathic support for HPV isn’t about replacing your gynaecological care — it works alongside it. The focus is on identifying and addressing the factors unique to you that may be influencing your immune response, supporting the body’s natural clearance mechanisms, and reducing overall risk where possible.

This might include:

Nutritional and dietary support — tailoring your diet to support immune function, methylation, and healthy oestrogen metabolism, with specific foods and nutrients that research supports for cervical health.

Targeted supplementation — based on your individual presentation, testing, and health history.

Microbiome support — including the use of custom-compounded vaginal pessaries where appropriate. These can be formulated with anti-viral properties and beneficial bacteria to help reduce viral load and support a healthy vaginal environment. In some cases, a comprehensive vaginal microbiome test may also be recommended to get a full picture of what’s happening at a microbial level and guide treatment more precisely.

Related Reading: What to do when Thrush and BV don’t go away

Stress and sleep support — because a nervous system under chronic load is a significant barrier to immune function, and this is often the piece that gets missed in conventional care.

Reducing environmental exposures — practical, evidence-informed guidance on the changes that will make the most difference for your situation.

Every person’s picture is different. What matters is identifying the specific factors at play for you — which is why individualised, one-on-one care delivers results that generic advice simply can’t.

Please don’t skip your cervical screening

Whatever else you are doing, please keep up with your regular cervical screening appointments. Screening is what allows us to catch any cell changes early, when they are most straightforward to manage. It remains one of the single most important things you can do for your cervical health — and it works best when done consistently over time.

Naturopathic support and cervical screening are not either/or — they work best together. Screening gives you information; naturopathic care gives you tools to act on it.

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Ready to take a more proactive approach?

If you’ve had an HPV diagnosis and want support that goes beyond what a standard GP appointment has time to offer, I’d love to work with you. I take a thorough, whole-person approach to cervical and hormonal health — looking at everything from nutrition and gut health to stress, environment, and your microbiome.

Book a consultation

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Gut Health Explained – an interview

Alison — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 03:13:08 +0000

A few years ago I was interviewed by Carly Taber for Casa de Karma. It was a very well received podcast at the time but the website is no longer live, so I am going to share some of my content from there over the next few weeks. Here is a video version of the podcast episode where I was interviewed all about gut health.

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Thyroid Problems and Oestrogen

Alison — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 10:28:26 +0000

All of your hormones and hormonal glands have an intricate relationship with each other, giving each other feedback and having an influence on each others levels. A little bit of a one hormone going up can cause another to go down, and so imbalances can have a flow on effect which can cause many symptoms.

A major connection to consider is the link between your thyroid health and your oestrogen and progesterone levels.

We know excessive levels of oestrogen can have an impact on thyroid health, with too much oestrogen making your thyroid balance go out of whack, but how does it actually do this?

Essentially…

Oestrogen can raise thyroid binding globulin, which will lower free thyroid hormone levels.

This can be a problem for women who are on artificial hormones such as the oral contraceptive pill, or for women who have higher than normal levels of oestrogen in their system.

Typically this will show up as heavy periods and longer menstrual cycles. The increased oestrogen results in a relative deficiency of progesterone which is responsible for the thinning of the endomentrial lining. It can also impact on the coagulatory factors in the blood which control excessive bleeding.

Potenially thyroid problems can also contribute towards amenorrhoea, when your period disappears for a while.

Thyroid issues can also cause oestrogen to be bound up and carried away less than it should be, as thyroid problems can indirectly cause a reduced level of Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) which would typically bind to excess levels of hormones such as oestrogen.

Oestrogen imbalance can be the missing piece of the puzzle for many women (and men) who have issues with T3 balance. It is a cycle that feeds itself until the original cause of the thyroid imbalance or oestrogen excess is addressed.

High Oestrogen -> Increased thyroid binding globulin -> low free thyroid hormone levels.

Low Thyroid Function -> Low SHBG -> High Oestrogen

An interesting action of oestrogen is that it can increase the proliferation of thyroid cells. This isn’t always a bad thing, as it can be helpful to regulate thyroid function and help the repair of the thyroid gland when oestrogen is in normal ranges. However in excess this could result in an increased risk of autoimmune thyroid disease or thyroid cancer.

Image by StockSnap from Pixabay

Now we know that oestrogen isn’t the only female hormone. Progesterone is another important hormone for women, and it too has a connection with the thyroid hormones.

The thyroid – progesterone connection goes two ways. Thyroid helps stimulate release of progesterone from the luteal cells. Given this, we can consider that for some women who appear to have progesterone deficiency they may have underlying issues with their T3 hormone as the cause.

And progesterone deficiency can impact on the conversion of T4 to T3 via reduced deiodinase 2 activity. So for women who are post-menopausal, who have had an oophorectomy (ovaries removed surgically) or do not ovulate regularly (e.g in Hypothalamic Amenorrhoea or PCOS) the state of their thyroid is something to consider.

Imbalances in both progesterone and oestrogen can impact your immune system balance which can increase your risk of autoimmune disease, an issue which is common for thyroid problems.

If you suspect that you have an issue with your hormones and would like some holistic support or perhaps you would like to discuss testing options, contact your health care practitioner to discuss your options.

Book an Appointment

Extra reading

Your Thyroid Needs Iron

Heavy Periods

MTHFR and your Thyroid

Thyroid Problems After Having a Baby

Thyroid Health – Part 1

Understanding Underactive Thyroid – Webinar

References

Role of estrogen in thyroid function and growth regulation. https://doi.org/10.4061/2011/875125

Clinical review: Thyroid dysfunction and effects on coagulation and fibrinolysis: a systematic review. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2007-0199

An evidence for the transcriptional regulation of iodothyronine deiodinase 2 by progesterone in ovarectomized rats. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13105-013-0307-y

Menorrhagia and hypothyroidism. Evidence supports association between hypothyroidism and menorrhagia. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.320.7235.649

Menstrual disturbances in various thyroid diseases. https://doi.org/10.1507/endocrj.k10e-216

Thyroid disease and female reproduction. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2265.2007.02752.x

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How to find a good Naturopath

Alison — Fri, 10 Jun 2016 02:36:22 +0000

Natural therapies have a lot to offer, and if prescribed by a properly trained practitioner can be effective and safe.

In Australia, Naturopathy is still an unregistered profession. This means that anyone can put up a shingle and call themselves a Naturopath, whether they’ve done a four year university course, a bargain one week online course or nothing at all. It’s a scary thought, because this means the public is left unprotected.

Many Naturopaths are fighting for registration, however until this happens there are some ways that you can protect yourself.

Associations

So how do you know whether the Naturopath you are considering seeing is properly educated? Associations such as NHAA, ATMS, and ANTA have a minimum education and strict criteria for the courses they accept graduates from , so check whether your practitioner is registered with at least one association.

Association membership requires up to date first aid, for the practitioner to be insured and for them to accrue a certain amount of CPE (continuing professional education) points each year.

Some associations cover more than one modality so it’s also worthwhile checking that they are actually covered for what they say.

If you have a disability, you may consult your NDIS support coordination provider to connect you to the nearest Naturopath in their network. They will also help check whether your NDIS fund could cover the cost of consultations and other expenses.

Keeping you safe

A properly trained Naturopath is taught certain skills and behaviours that distinguish them from the self-taught therapists.

They should know how to analyse research and put it in context of other learnings in order to decide whether and how to apply it to their practice.
They are experienced enough to discern diet fads from genuine diet wisdom, and not to be sucked in to flashy product marketing.
They know their scope of practice – referring to other health care practitioners when necessary and not over promising on their abilities.
They will be willing to communicate with your other health care practitioners.
They know how to check for interactions between what they prescribe and what you are already taking.

Tools of the Trade

Many naturopaths will use herbal medicine and nutrition as the core of their treatment, along with lifestyle advice. There can be a bit of a difference between the style of their practice, some using drop dose herbal medicine, and some using larger doses; some practice other types of modalities such as homoeopathy, bush/bach flowers, massage, reiki or iridology. It’s your choice as to what you feel you will respond to best, so ask your practitioner what they practice or check their website where they may already describe what they do.

If you were wondering, I use herbal medicine with British Herbal Pharmacopoeia doses, nutrition (based around wholefoods and mindful eating) and massage.

Condition focus

Some practitioners have conditions that they are more experienced and interested in treating, so it is worthwhile looking for a practitioner that focuses on the condition that you are experiencing (if possible). Alternatively, ask the practitioner about their experience and knowledge of your condition/health concern.

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A Naturopathic Approach to Acne

Alison — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 06:09:13 +0000

Health & Wellbeing Podcast #19 with guest Hayley Stockbridge

Acne can be very troubling, affecting your self confidence and at times rather painful. It’s synonymous with the teenage years and often with PMS as well, but it doesn’t have to be. There is so much that can be done to help your skin if you are experiencing acne, including nutritional medicine, diet support and herbal medicine.

A lot of people believe that the only solutions for acne are medications such as the oral contraceptive pill, roaccutane or antibiotics, but all of these have their potential side effects and certainly aren’t for everyone. If you’re looking for a different solution to your skin complaints, naturopathy may be your answer.

In this episode Hayley and I chat about a naturopathic approach to acne, the underlying causes of acne, how to improve your skin with your diet, and more.

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
0:40 Meet Hayley
1:24 What’s going on in someone who has acne?
2:40 Why do some people get acne and some don’t?
3:52 Hormonal acne
6:43 Adult onset acne
7:34 The meaning behind the location of acne
8:55 Keratosis pilaris
9:20 Foods that can cause acne
13:20 Conventional treatments for acne and some issues with them
16:40 Naturopathic treatment for acne when coming off the pill
18:25 Topical treatment that Hayley recommends for acne.
MooGoo Acne Cleansing Cream – https://moogoo.com.au/acne-cleansing-…
19:35 Essential oils for acne
20:30 Clay masks
21:00 Moisturisers and oils
22:40 Scar treatment
22:55 Nutrients for acne
25:26 Herbs for acne
28:45 The benefit of a wholefood, plant heavy diet for acne
29:30 Anti-inflammatory foods for acne
30:33 How to get in contact with Hayley and Alison

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Thrush

Alison — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 01:26:24 +0000

Thrush – it’s something that most women have experienced at least once in their lives. Vaginal thrush is a fungal infection caused by an overgrowth of Candida, a type of yeast. Candida albicans is the most common species of the Candida family, and when it becomes overgrown this can be referred to as a Candida infection, a yeast infection, thrush, or Candidiasis.

Normally, Candida lives harmlessly within our digestive system, however if our immune system or gut flora is disrupted an overgrowth of the yeast can occur. For most people who experience an overgrowth it is only a temporary, albeit unpleasant occurrence. Genital thrush is more common in women than men, and oral thrush can occur in the sick, the very young and the very old. Systemic candida can occur in those with a very weak immune system.

Symptoms

The symptoms of a vaginal thrush infection can include:

Inflammation (swelling and redness) of the affected skin
A creamy or cottage cheese like discharge that may be white or slightly yellow, and can have no smell or a slightly yeasty smell.
Itching and/or pain

Types of Candida

Candida albicans is the most common species that causes thrush, however there are some less common forms of Candida which are becoming more prevalent, most likely due to resistance to the commonly used forms of antifungal treatment. These types include Candida glabrata and Candida rugosa.

Why does it happen?

While it’s fairly common to get thrush after a course of antibiotics, if thrush sticks around for a long time or is recurrent, then there may be some other causes.

This article is not exhaustive, so if you’re dealing with a difficult to shift thrush issue then consult a practitioner who can help you get to the bottom of the problem.

Have you ever wondered why you get thrush more if you’re on the oral contraceptive pill? Or why pregnant women commonly experience thrush? Oestrogen levels have a lot to do with it – when oestrogen is consistently high and doesn’t fluctuate as it normally would in a monthly cycle it sets up an environment that Candida can grow in easily.

Pregnancy and being on the Pill aren’t the only instances where oestrogen levels are high – some women with hormonal imbalances, thyroid disorders, poor detoxification of oestrogen and exposure to xeno-oestrogens (chemicals which interact with oestrogen receptors) will also be more susceptible to thrush.

If the vaginal environment is disrupted, such as change in the normal vaginal pH (3.5-4.5) or the normal flora (mostly lactobacilli) this also sets up an environment where Candida can grow. Some things you may not know that affect this environment are spermicides, semen, douching, regular use of diaphragms, as well as getting your period (blood has a pH of 7.35-7.45).

If your immune system isn’t up to scratch this can also allow Candida to grow more readily. This can happen during periods of stress, as a result of poor diet and/or nutritional deficiencies such as vitamin c and zinc, use of steroid or immunosuppressant medications, after chronic infections (including glandular fever but most notably HIV), as well as during pregnancy (the immune system changes during pregnancy to allow a foreign body to exist within you – isn’t the body amazing?). People with diabetes are also more susceptible to yeast infections.

Does your diet affect thrush?

The “Anti-Candida” diet is well known method to keep thrush at bay. It involves strictly avoiding all sugar, refined carbohydrates and in some instances the recommendation is also to avoid yeast containing foods (such as breads and beer), and fermented foods.

When patients who have been following this diet seek my help, I observe that the diet often causes a lot of stress as any lapses in the condition can cause the person to blame themselves, attributing it to a ‘slip up’ in their diet.

I recommend keeping sugar and refined carbohydrates to a minimum for the majority of people, and you have most likely heard me prattle on about the importance of a whole food diet in the past as well, so it should come as no surprise that I would suggest to someone who is experiencing thrush to avoid sugar and refined carbohydrates (as much as possible), but in no instance would I recommend doing it to such a degree that it causes stress.

While I think the dietary component is important in dealing with thrush, it’s not the only factor. It is common for fluctuations of chronic Candida infections to occur (as it can be with most health conditions) so blaming yourself for poor adherence to a diet isn’t good for your happiness.

There have recently been challenges to the view that ingestion of yeast containing foods increases the incidence and severity of Candida. Theoretically, it may be that foods which contain yeast are often sources of simple and refined carbohydrates, which if over consumed can negatively affect the immune system and the balance of good and bad bacteria in the digestive system, which act to keep our normal levels of Candida in check.

Crowd Control

Most people are aware of the importance of ‘replacing’ the good bugs after a course of antibiotics to prevent thrush, but what you may not know is that just using a general probiotic may always not do the trick.

After taking a course of antibiotics, a lot of the friendly bacteria that exist in your digestive system are also killed and this can make room for opportunistic organisms such as Candida to grow. In other instances, bacteria such as Clostridium difficile can grow, the culprit for antibiotic associated diarrhea.

Taking probiotics during a course of antibiotics can help to keep the unfriendly bacteria from taking up too much space, but if Candida is a regular occurrence and needs to be treated directly there are some specific strains of probiotics which can be used.

The probiotic strains that have the best research behind their use in supporting vaginal health and reducing Candida are Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14. Probiotic capsules containing these species can be taken orally as well as occasionally inserted vaginally for best effect. For an over the counter option, I like Blackmores Women’s Flora Balance.

The therapeutic yeast Saccharomyces boulardii, commonly referred to as SB, can also be beneficial in the treatment of thrush.

Yoghurt, in particular Vaalia (because it contains the strain Lactobacillus rhamnosus LGG) when consumed regularly can help reduce the frequency of Candida infections.

Prebiotics are an important tool in keeping your gut flora happy – prebiotics are food for the good bacteria. I’ve written more detail about prebiotics here. Eating a diet rich in prebiotic foods will help with the crowd control, but if needed there are some prebiotic supplements which can be beneficial, such as lactulose. Taken in small doses this syrup can help to feed your good bacteria. Large doses can produce a laxative effect, so start small.

Are you sure it’s Candida?

I have had several patients seek my help for treatment of Candida, only to find that the reason they’re having such a hard time with it is because it’s not actually a Candida albicans infection. It’s definitely worthwhile getting a test from your doctor to confirm what is actually happening – it could be a more stubborn form of Candida such as Candida glabrata, or it could be a different condition which is causing similar symptoms such as lichen sclerosis, bacterial vaginosis, vulvodynia or genital herpes.

Related post: What to do when Thrush and BV don’t go away

Other treatments

If after tweaking your diet and using probiotics, chronic thrush is still a problem, then it may be worthwhile looking at some of the other treatment options available.

Boric acid has been shown to be a highly effective treatment for Candida, including the more stubborn form, Candida glabrata. It is something that can be prescribed by your doctor in the form of a vaginal suppository. Depending on how stubborn the Candida is, it may need to be used anywhere from 3 days to 4 months. The use of boric acid can disrupt the vaginal flora, so probiotic and prebiotic use alongside is a good idea.

Some more natural forms of topical treatment include the use of garlic or tea tree oil which have anti-microbial properties, however while they can be effective at killing Candida they are potentially irritating to the delicate vaginal and vulval tissues.

Herbs which producing soothing, healing effects such as Calendula can be used as a topical wash to help irritated and inflamed tissues. Herbs can be taken internally to support the immune system, and there are some herbs which can also be helpful in killing Candida.

Coconut oil can have a soothing effect topically and also has some anti-candida activity.

The New Zealand herb Horopito can also be helpful in killing Candida, both when taken internally and topically. Kolorex has a range of products containing Horopito but I especially like the Intimate Care cream as a way to reduce discomfort and irritation.

Prevention

These are a few tips to help keep thrush at bay.

Wee after sex
Wipe front to back
Use condoms
Don’t douche
Don’t use soap down there
Wear non synthetic underwear such as cotton or bamboo
Keep blood sugar levels balanced with a low GI, wholefood diet
Eat a probiotic rich diet
Seek alternatives to antibiotics first, and limit use of antibiotics if possible (see a practitioner for help with this)

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A Naturopath’s Approach to Diet – Podcast #17

Alison — Sat, 19 Dec 2015 06:49:19 +0000

Health & Wellbeing Podcast #17

Here is another video and podcast for you – this episode I am joined with Laura Yen (you may know her as Laura Burton, she got married not long after we recorded this!) and we chat about our approach to healthy eating, which is based on naturopathic principles. We discuss things such as a whole food diet, our opinion on the paleo diet and the key principles we recommend for healthy eating.

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

Laura is a clinical naturopath practicing in St Leonards and Dural. Her key areas of interest are female hormone disorders, digestive health, stress & adrenal fatigue. Through her clinical experience Laura has identified the prevalence of stress in our everyday lives and sees it as the most common cause or exacerbating factor of her patients health conditions. Laura believes that we need to get back to basics and work on our ability to release and manage stress in order to prevent and treat disease.

Last year Laura set herself the mission to reach beyond the walls of her clinics and send her de-stress message out to Australian and New Zealand households through the Burton Health Tea Club. Each month she sends love letters and tea packages to her members to inject joy and excitement into their days and to remind them to slow down, relax and reconnect while sipping on a cup of organic herbal tea.

You can connect with Laura via her website www.burtonhealth.com.au, on Facebook, Twitter or on Instagram.

Podcast Breakdown:

0:00 Intro and disclaimer
0:44 Welcome
1:33 The importance of an individualised diet
2:45 Diet wars and fad diets
3:56 The 80/20 rule
6:16 A Healthy diet shouldn’t be about deprivation, rather learning to prepare and enjoying whole foods
8:14 Whole food diet
10:13 Processed foods
13:30 Fruit and juice
17:30 Calorie counting
18:55 Eat for health rather than weight loss and the importance of micronutrients
21:40 Antioxidants and other beneficial chemicals in food, herbs and spices
25:45 Wisdom from traditional diets
27:23 Anti-nutrient chemicals in food and how to minimise their impact on our digestive system
28:30 Our opinion on the paleo diet
31:03 It’s not just what you eat but how you eat
34:23 Plan your meals and try new foods and recipes
37:04 Foods for specific conditions and eating for the seasons
39:28 Short term diets e.g. ketogenic diets
40:36 Health food product deceptions, low-fat foods
42:14 Water
43:35 How to get in contact

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Adrenal Fatigue – Part 2

Alison — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 20:04:05 +0000

Health & Wellbeing Podcast Episode #16

In this episode Lisa and I continue our chat about Adrenal Fatigue, and this time we’re talking what to do about it.

If you experience adrenal fatigue there is a lot that can be done about it. In this episode we give you some guidance about the strategies that may need to be put in place, such as diet change, adjusting exercise levels, improving sleep, and what herbs we love for adrenal fatigue.

The thing about adrenal fatigue is that it’s not a straight forward condition. So while employing these strategies will help, it may be necessary to consult a practitioner who can help you work out the more complicated drivers of your condition.

Check out Part 1 here

Lisa is a Naturopath, lecturer and writer as as well as an Ayurvedic Lifestyle Consultant. Lisa has an interest in treating thyroid and adrenal health. Her practice is in Caringbah in South Sydney.

Connect with Lisa:

Website: http://lisacostabirnaturopath.com.au/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LisaCostaBirNaturopath
Instagram: https://instagram.com/lisacostabirnaturopath/

Click here to Subscribe on iTunes
Click here to Subscribe on Youtube

Podcast Breakdown

0:00 Intro and Disclaimer
2:00 The stages of Adrenal Fatigue based on tests and how that affects it’s treatment
3:05 Lifestyle recommendations for Adrenal Fatigue Stages
3:58 Over-exercising could be stopping you losing weight and recovering properly
5:54 When it’s lack of activity that starts the fatigue
8:00 Using herbs to support your ability to cope with training for an event
8:57 What sort of exercise to do if you have Adrenal Fatigue
12:10 Stage 3 Adrenal Fatigue misconceptions
14:22 Diet for Adrenal Fatigue: Balanced blood sugar levels, whole foods. adequate protein, nutrient dense diet, to snack or not to snack, caffeine.
17:10 Food intolerances and Adrenal fatigue
17:53 Reducing sugar
18:05 Keeping your gut healthy, fermented foods, gelatin, prebiotics
19:00 Seaweed
19:10 Sleep
24:30 Vitamin C
26:57 Magnesium
29:03 B Vitamins
30:40 Nutrient depletors
30:58 Adequate nutrient levels to begin with reduces the effect of stress (read more here: www.naturopathnsw.com.au/vitamin-c-and-stress-research-update)
32:04 Phosphatidylserine
32:52 Using test results to determine treatment
34:50 Herbs for Adrenal Fatigue.
37:25 Adrenal fatigue is not always straight forward, and it doesn’t have the most accurate name. Seeing a practitioner can help you target your treatment.
39:58 Immune involvement in Adrenal Fatigue and the importance of treating the gut.

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Taking Liquid Herbs

Alison — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 07:27:05 +0000

If you’ve ever been to see me in clinic chances are I’ve given you a bottle of herbs to take. I just love herbs, they can be individualised, they work amazingly well but oh boy do they taste funky. And I’m not talking about the taste of coriander type funky. Herbal medicines are made from a big range of various plants, usually from the bark, stems, roots, leaves or flowers (depending on what part of the plant has the action we’re trying to utilise). The funky I’m talking about has been described by my patients as ‘mud’, ‘swamp water’, or as one of my colleagues loves to joke, ‘witches brew’. But don’t let me put you off before you try it, because for the majority of my patients the taste grows on you, perhaps as your body starts to recognise that the herbs are doing it good, or perhaps because you just get used to it. And in addition to that, it’s just a small dose (taken as a shot usually).

But despite the fact the taste gets much more tolerable over time, there are a few ways you can make taking herbs a bit easier. In this guest post by Laura from Burton Health, she shares some tips to help make the experience a bit smoother.

Guest post by Laura Burton

I love using liquid herbal medicines in my clinic because they are individually designed on a client by client basis and there is the potential to work on a few conditions with one bottle of herbs which keeps patient costs down and also means less supplements to take each day.

The one and only down side to liquid herbs is the taste! Ohh man can it be bad! Even I have to psych myself up to take some of my mixes and the really yucky ones will be taken followed by a lot of complaining and face pulling!

The feral taste of liquid herbs is the main complaint I hear in my clinic (others include the size of the tablets and the taste of the powders). The great thing is that my clients persevere and continue to take their herbs despite the taste. Why? Because they work! Plain and simple, no other explanation needed.

Liquid herbs are cost-effective, quickly and easily absorbed and really work so for this reason I will often tell my clients to just ‘suck it up’ and take their herbs. Really, it’s a moment of displeasure for a big gain and, if you have ever done a tequila or sambuca shot, I’m sure you can take liquid herbs!

And the good news is, the longer you take them the easier it gets! Often a big part of what we don’t like in liquid herbs is the ‘bitter’ flavour. This is because the western diet is greatly deficient in bitter foods so we are not used to the taste. Once we wake up the bitter taste buds the herbs are quite easy to take.

Other tips for taking your herbs

1. Take them as a shot
Don’t pour your dose of herbs into a 200ml glass of water and force yourself to scull the whole thing! I advise my clients to measure out their herbs and then fill the rest of the measuring cup with water and get it down quick, like a shot.

2. Use warm water
One of my clients told me that this makes them a whole lot easier to swallow.

3. Use pineapple juice
I don’t like mixing my herbs with juice because it just makes the juice taste bad. But some people find them easier to take this way.

4. Wash them down with a glass of water with lemon juice
This will help to get the aftertaste out of your mouth

There are other options like glycerine and special flavour mixes that can be purchased from the herb wholesalers to add to the formula but I don’t believe in using these so I don’t stock them in my clinic. I know, I’m a big meanie!
Certain herbs, like those used to improve digestive function, actually need to be tasted. The bitter taste is what gets your digestion started so there is nothing gained by covering the taste up. Plus I don’t want to waste space in the formula with a flavour improver instead of using a valuable herb. And, I hate it when people try to mask an unpleasant flavour. I can always taste the real flavour underneath and it just makes the whole experience a lot worse. So I believe that the flavour of liquid herbs should be embraced!

Now, I don’t want to totally turn you off using liquid herbs. Some people actually like the taste and I have to admit that I will sometimes take a mix and find myself saying “ohh yummy” afterwards! To me, Liquorice is delicious and cramp bark is pretty good too! I always tell my new clients how bad their herbs are going to taste and really make them sound like the worst thing ever and I am often pleasantly surprised when they come to their next appointment and say “the herbs were fine, I don’t mind taking them at all”.

So I guess the message is, we’re all different and our taste buds are different too but if you persevere with your herbs, you should get used to the taste.
And if not, whinge enough and your naturopath will probably give in and order you tablets instead but remember, this will probably be more expensive as you’ll more than likely need a few different tablets to cover the different actions of the liquid herbs.

Alison: In addition to Laura’s suggestions, I sometimes recommend to keep your bottle of herbs in the fridge. My theory is that it works along the same principle of making a not so great bottle of red wine taste more appealing. I also suggest to hold your nose (if you can’t smell it, you won’t taste it as much). And follow with food to get the taste out of your mouth!

Do you have any secret tips for taking liquid herbs? Please share them with us in the comments box below

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