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.

The post Carissa is Back from Maternity Leave appeared first on Alison Mitchell Naturopath.

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.

The post Self Surface appeared first on Alison Mitchell Naturopath.

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.

The post A Healthy Glow – More than Skin Deep appeared first on Alison Mitchell Naturopath.