A preliminary nutritional study involving patients with bipolar disorder found that an increase in particular fatty acids such as Omega 3's appeared to reduce mood swings and irritability when used as an adjunct to traditional pharmaceutical drugs.

The study involved 41 participants between the ages of 20 and 75. Patients were treated over a 12 week period. In particular, an intake high in omega 3s and low in omega 6's, in addition to usual care led to a reduction in irritability, mood swings and pain and an increase in energy in Bi-polar patients.

There are more than 1 billion people throughout the world who experience migraines which can have an enormous impact on quality of life.

Whilst drug therapy is an effective option for some, it isn’t always everyone’s cup of tea.

Did you know that a recent study in China which has been published in the British Medical Journal, compared manual acupuncture with sham acupuncture along with usual care?

Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of illness and death in Australia. Such prevalence results in a landslide of well-meaning but conflicting advice and misinformation, particularly online. The risk factors for cardiovascular disease when identified and addressed early can make all the difference in preventing a cardiovascular event such as a stroke or a heart attack.

Despite the fact that in South East Queensland, autumn doesn't really commence until late March/early April, according to Chinese Medicine philosophy, it is still important to respect this seasonal transition. In Chinese Medicine each season is classified into elements, that being the metal element for the season of Autumn. The metal element relates to the lung and large intestine organs and their affiliated meridians.

Depression is now considered the second leading cause of years of life lost to disability (YLD), trailing just behind cardiovascular disease. It is highly likely that either you experience depression personally, or are close to someone who does. As rates of depression rise, the ripple effect expands outwards from the individual to the families, friends, social and medical systems that support those affected.

America officially recommends Acupuncture for lower back pain, will Australia follow suit?

Lower back pain is one of the most frequently reported pain conditions in adults worldwide. In the United States (US) alone, 25% of adults reported experiencing low back pain in some capacity within the last 90 days.

Calcium is synonymous with three things; strong bones, strong teeth and dairy. They fit nicely together when it comes to selling milk and dairy products, but is it all really that simple? With the rates of osteoporosis on the rise in the western world, despite regular consumption of calcium-rich dairy, it’s time to review the role of calcium.

When it comes to treating digestive symptoms, natural therapies are becoming increasingly popular. In fact, a US survey conducted on patients with gastrointestinal symptoms found that up to 85% were actively seeking relief from complementary therapies

Chronic pain is pain that usually lasts longer than the expected recovery time after an incident such as an injury, trauma or surgery.

Usually, chronic pain denotes pain that lingers for around 3 months or more.

Some of the conditions that produce chronic pain include migraines, osteoarthritis, muscle and joint pain. Other less, well known chronic pain conditions include nerve, pelvic, abdominal and facial pain as well as pain that persists post-surgery.

As a Fertility Naturopath and Acupuncturist, I am passionate about ensuring that thorough checks have been done for my clients so that they have the best chance of conceiving.

Around one in every nine Australian couples experience fertility problems: for 40% it’s caused by a problem with the woman’s reproductive system, while another 40% are sperm issues. The other 20% are a combination of both, or unknown.

In Australia, one in nine couples of reproductive age is said to experience fertility struggles. More and more of these couples are looking at how they can best support their bodies to overcome their fertility hurdles.

Acupuncturist and Naturopath in Brisbane's southside suburb of Moorooka discusses a recent study that looks at the impact of diet on health.

The study involving 250 participants, highlighted that a junk food diet comprising of meat, hamburgers, chips and soft drinks may in fact have the effect of reducing the volume of the left hippocampus in the brain. In contrast, a diet containing fresh fish and vegetables may have the opposite effect.

In particular, a compound found in red wine, chocolate and red grapes known as resveratrol is showing promising effects in slowing down the progression of Alzheimer's Disease according to a recent study.

One of the main bio-markers involved in Alzheimer’s Disease known as Amyloid-Beta Plaques was found to become stabilised in patients with moderate to advanced Alzheimer’s disease. This resulted in a slowing down of mental decline as compared with the placebo group.

A breakfast that contains fresh protein, slow-release gluten-free carbohydrates such as quinoa, buckwheat, millet, amaranth and brown rice, some good quality fats such as avocado or coconut oil and some green vegetables is the ideal way to start the day for every member of the family.

It provides the body with energy, clarity of mind, blood sugar stability and will keep you feeling full for at least 3 to 4 hours.

A huge study involving 4000 women aged between 60 and 80 years of age has established that those participants who followed a Mediterranean diet had a much lower risk of developing breast cancer than those who followed a low-fat diet at five years follow up.

In fact, the reduction rate in the women who added a generous splash of olive oil to their Mediterranean diet was as much as 68 % and those who added nuts to their Mediterranean diet were 41% less likely to develop breast cancer as compared with those who were eating predominantly a low-fat diet.

Some of the symptoms associated with hayfever include sneezing, runny nose and itchy eyes due to an inflammatory bodily response.

One study in Melbourne involving 175 patients found that the group of participants receiving acupuncture for hayfever over a 4 week period noticed significantly less severe symptoms than those who didn’t receive the treatment even four weeks after the trial ended. These same patients also reported a boost in their quality of life. One of the authors and professors involved in the study suggested that acupuncture most likely induced an anti-inflammatory response in the body.

Omega 3 Essential Fatty Acids comprise of two acids (EPA and DHA). Our body is unable to produce these compounds itself so it is important that we must obtain these fats from our diet. Salmon is one of the highest sources of these essential fatty acids, which are potent anti-inflammatory agents as well as vital compounds for our brain and nervous system.

So it seems that there has been a rather dramatic shift that has occurred particularly in places like Australia and the US where the general population is more concerned about eating healthily than ever before. There are raw and paleo cafes and restaurants opening up on every street corner, television shows like the Paleo way and Good Chef Bad Chef that are being targeted at a mainstream audience.

Hello health seekers

Spring is here which meals only one thing in the world of naturopathic medicine...DETOX

In my opinion, partaking in a 6 week supervised detox program during the season of spring is the most holistic way to shed pounds just in time for summer as well as have you feeling incredibly alive and energetic.