Journal

Ashwagandha is commonly used in ayurvedic medicine as a general tonic for natural healing, and it is associated with a variety of clinical health benefits like blood sugar reduction, reduced cortisol levels, and stress relief to name a few.

Angela discusses the origins of Ashwagandha as a medicinal plant and how she uses Ashwagandha in her own practice. As a nervous system tonic, Ashwagandha is often associated with supporting healthy sleep. Angela reminds the listeners, though, that every herb isn’t for everyone. Ashwagandha can work for some people to calm the nervous system and help with sleep. 

If you visit a GP or Gynecologist, the medical approaches offered are generally one of two options: Drugs or surgery. The drugs prescribed are oral contraceptive pills to supply the body with synthetic hormones to induce a pharmacological menopausal state…less than ideal if you don't react well to the pill or are planning a baby. This means that they suppress ovulation and aim to reduce menstrual flow and the theory goes, reduce further lesion stimulation. The most common surgical procedure is a laparoscopy, which is aiming to remove the endometrial lesions and cysts. Laparoscopy is considered the gold standard regarding  as a diagnostic tool, meaning that at the same time as the diagnosis is made, the surgical removal of lesions can also be completed. 

Have you ever questioned if your menstrual cycle was normal and what all those monthly symptoms could be telling you about your hormones? In today’s world, so many females are not in touch with their menstrual cycle and are given ‘the pill’ to control or eradicate unpleasant symptoms - but it may be worth listening to your body and using these symptoms as clues to uncover what support your body may need. 

Find out what FIVE CLUES you can use today to know if your cycle is “normal”.

March is the month to educate and empower women with endometriosis, who are often suffering in silence, often unaware that their symptoms are caused by endometriosis. 

Endometriosis is a disease where tissue (similar but not the same as the tissue lining the uterus) grows in other areas of the body – most commonly on the bladder, bowel, ovaries, fallopian tubes and the wall of the pelvis. It has also been found on almost every other organ in the body.

Pregnancy loss or miscarriage is always heartbreaking, no matter how early or late your loss occurs. The loss of a pregnancy is both physically and emotionally stressful, especially when faced with the devastation of recurrent pregnancy loss (three or more miscarriages). Feelings of loss, grief, fear, guilt, anger and disappointment are all very common and complexly understandable. In addition to a lot of tender loving care, counselling and reassurance, it is important to have thorough investigations to try to understand the big question of why and why us?

In this episode, naturopathic clinician Angela Hywood returns to the show to talk with host Sara Le Brun Blashka, MS, about the role of herbs in premenstrual syndrome (PMS). According to The Office on Women’s Health within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, over 90 percent of women report premenstrual symptoms at some point in their lives.

In this episode, naturopathic clinician Angela Hywood returns to the show to talk with host Sara Le Brun-Blashka, MS, to talk about natural approaches to healthy skin, for aging, acne, inflammation, and the skin-gut connection. With herbs like gotu kola, stinging nettle, calendula, and more, you’ll hear all about how slowing down collagen degradation and managing a healthy inflammatory response can do wonders for the skin.

“Persevering in the face of extreme pain. It has been a journey full of so many highs and lows. I guess at times, with the pain being so severe, it was difficult to let go and accept that that was the reality of the situation” 

says 26-year-old Amelia about her journey with endometriosis.

Today host Sara Le Brun Blashka, MS, is talking with naturopathic clinician Angela Hywood, who guides us through a selection of medicinal herbs that play important roles as tonics and adaptogens for nervous and adrenal health. These herbs have long traditions of optimizing sleep and stress management habits, which in turn play an important role in overall, wholistic health.

Did you know that Acupuncture can help increase IVF success rates by 65%. Acupuncture as a treatment for infertility , shows great results both in man and women. Acupuncture can be considered as successful treatment in restoring fertility in the patients, by improving the sperm quality and ovaries function and balancing the endocrine system and hormones. 

Our Founder & Clinical Director, Angela Hywood, embarked on her love of natural medicine from as early as childhood. As a young girl, Angela was captivated by the daily activities at the pharmacy owned by her grandfather - and consequently her father - where she watched in awe as they mindfully measured, weighed and compounded medicines, some of which were herbal in nature.

In this episode we cover

• What the challenges are that couples face when it comes to fertility
• The best way to assess ovarian reserve
• The role of mitochondria in fertility
• The investigations Angela does for couples wishing to fall pregnant, especially after the age of 40

In this informative Podcast Tasha Jennings interviews leading fertility specialist from across the globe about the latest in treatments, advice and support to help you conceive and carry a healthy baby.

Diet, naturopathy and acupuncture can play a supporting role in the fertility journey. Nat believes the right foundations can make a fertility journey less stressful and increase the chances of success.

There are natural steps you can both take to improve the chances of pregnancy. As the average age of first- time mothers continues to climb in Australia, so too do the number of couples facing difficulty getting pregnant.