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Book NowKnee problems are very common; it is estimated that frequent knee pain affects about 25% of all adults. It may be caused by arthritis, an injury that hasn’t healed properly, overuse, or sometimes there is no obvious cause for the pain. For information on knee pain caused by arthritis, please click here.
Knee problems often take a long time to heal, and it is not uncommon for someone to experience some degree of pain and stiffness the rest of their life. The main reasons for this slow healing or lack of healing are
Muscles have a very good blood supply, and generally heal quickly. Bones also heal fairly quickly (usually around 6 weeks). However connective tissues such as tendons, ligaments and cartilage have a much more limited and indirect blood supply, meaning they are relatively poor in blood vessels compared to muscles. (Tendons get their blood from the connected muscles, attached bones, and outer tissue layers, while ligaments get their blood mainly from surrounding joint membranes and outer covers.) This low blood supply makes them heal very slowly after an injury. Apart from the bones, knees are mostly made up of these connective tissues.
So if a footballer injures a muscle or bone, they will be back on the field in a month or two, whereas if they have a significant tendon or ligament injury they may be out for the rest of the year.
In some ways the knee is a very simple joint, as it only moves the lower leg backward and forward in one direction. (On the other hand, the shoulder joint allows the arm to be moved in almost any direction.) The knee is actually very strong while it is moving backwards and forwards, but will start to play up if it is bent or twisted out of alignment. It is a little like having bad alignment on one of the wheels of your car- after a while your tyre will wear out or get damaged.
The main causes of misalignment of the knee are the joints above and below it, i.e. the hip and the ankle. Try standing up and turning your hips to one side; it is likely you will feel a strain in your knees. So if your hips are rotated or one hip is sitting higher than the other, this will often result in knee problems, especially on the inside of the knee.
Ankle issues that affect the knee are often due to an old ankle sprain that hasn’t healed completely. The ankle may feel completely fine with normal use, but if it is pressed carefully where the original injury occurred there will still be a tender spot there. On a subconscious level the mind recognises there is still an problem with that ankle, and will favour it a little when you walk. This will cause an increased pressure plus a more uneven pressure on the opposite knee, eventually causing damage. (So in most cases, the pain is in the opposite knee to the old ankle injury.)
Sometimes the ankle itself is fine, but if there is a misalignment of the foot with the lower leg bones it can have a similar effect.
If the alignment issues are not properly addressed, the knee will continue to be a problem, or any improvement will only be temporary.
This often involves a number of steps.
There are a large number of acupuncture points that can be used, depending on exactly what is happening with the knee. A few examples include
Tendons and ligaments are notoriously slow to heal, and in many cases they are never as good as they used to be. Sometimes there may be ongoing pain or discomfort, or the area gets sore with use, is easily damaged again, or the injury starts to play up again as the person ages. This poor healing is often due to the poor blood flow to these tissues.
However, having high doses of the right nutrients needed to repair tendons and ligaments can make a major difference to how quickly and well the damage heals. (As an example, a lady who had an old ankle injury which still caused her pain years later. She tried every therapy she could for her ankle, but none of them helped. But when she started taking the right nutrients, her ankle finally came good.)
An experienced naturopath will be able to determine the correct nutrients and dosage to help repair the damage. These nutrients will often be ‘practitioner-prescribed only’ products, which will have a stronger effect than over-the-counter products, and can only be prescribed by a therapist trained in their use. The naturopath may also prescribe natural anti-inflammatories if inflammation is an issue.
Acupuncture can also help by increasing the blood flow (and nutrients) to the area.
To properly address knee problems it is important to address all of the factors involved. We find that a combination of acupuncture and naturopathy normally produces the best results.
(Disclaimer – Please be aware that each person’s body is different, so individual results may vary. If you have an appointment at our clinic, your therapist will conduct a detailed assessment of your condition, and they will be able to advise you on how successful your treatments are likely to be. A result is not promised and/or guaranteed from the act of receiving a treatment.)
We are currently offering a limited number of free Comprehensive Assessments. (Terms and conditions: the Assessment is a completely free service, with no obligations whatsoever.)
The Assessment helps to identify:
If you would like to book in for an Assessment, please give us a call on 3376 6911, or you can book online using the link at the top of the page.
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(Illustration 289 above is from 'Kiiko Matsumoto's Clinical Strategies Vol. 1.)
Vitamin D levels in midlife may improve long-term brain health. A recent study published in Neurology Open Access, an official journal of the American Academy of Neurology, looked at the Vitamin D levels of nearly 800 people over 16 years. The researchers found that those with higher vitamin D levels in their 30s and 40s had lower levels of tau protein later on, which is a key marker for dementia.
"These results suggests that higher vitamin D levels in midlife may offer protection against developing these tau deposits in the brain and that low vitamin D levels could potentially be a risk factor that could be modified and treated to reduce the risk of dementia," said study author Martin David Mulligan, MB BCh BAO.
Click here for more information on the study.
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive disorder that damages nerve cells in the brain and is one of the main causes of dementia around the world. It is due to the buildup of abnormal proteins in the brain, which form plaques and tangles that damage and kill brain cells. Current medical treatments are usually not very effective and can cause side-effects.
However, a new study reports that (in tests on animals), an amino acid called arginine, can significantly reduce these plaques and their effect on the brain. (Amino acids are natural molecules obtained from our food, which our bodies use to make the proteins it needs.) Arginine was found to dramatically lower plaque levels, reduce inflammation, and improve behaviour.
(The research team noted that although arginine is commonly sold as a dietary supplement, the dose and frequency used in their experiments were designed for research, and are different to those of basic over-the-counter products.)
Please click here to read more about the research.
*Please note: As with almost any bio-chemical imbalance, Alzheimer's Disease is a complex condition, and there will normally be a number of contributing factors. It is best to always consult with a highly trained and experienced health professional before undertaking a course of supplementation that could make a significant difference to your health.
We are currently offering a limited number of free Comprehensive Assessments. (Terms and conditions: the Assessment is a completely free service, with no obligations whatsoever.)
The Assessment helps to identify:
If you would like to book in for an Assessment, please give us a call on 3376 6911, or you can book online using the link at the top of the page.
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Clare (not her real name) came to us for treatment for her menopause issues. Usually when we think of menopause we think of hot flushes and night sweats, but these are only some of the symptoms women can have. Clare had no hot flushes, but was experiencing sleep problems, constipation, sore muscles, lower back pain, anxiety, and mood changes. She said that she felt like she was ‘falling apart’.
In acupuncture and Chinese medicine, there are 2 basic types of menopause. The first is a ‘hot’ type, with symptoms of
The second is a ‘cold’ type, with symptoms such as
Sometimes these types can overlap and a woman can have symptoms of both, however Clare obviously had the second type.
Research has shown that around 70% of women who are peri-menopausal, or in the early stages of menopause, experience muscle pain, joint pain, or frozen shoulder. (As menopause and frozen shoulder often begin around the same time, in Japan frozen shoulder is often known as ’50 year shoulder’.)
During these stages, women lose about 10% of their bone density, and after menopause their muscle mass may decrease by 0.6% each year. The combination of weaker bones and muscle weakness increases the risk of them developing injuries or chronic ongoing pain.
Clare tried HRT, which initially helped her to have better energy and moods. However after a while these problems came back again.
So she had a consultation with our naturopath Margaret, and a Female Hormone Profile blood test was requested from her GP, together with basic pathology markers. It revealed that Clare had hormonal imbalances, gut dysbiosis, an immune imbalance, pre-diabetes, and long-term liver imbalances.
(Correct digestion can be an important factor in menopause cases, as not breaking down and absorbing the nutrients correctly can lead to deficiencies in these nutrients. These deficiencies inhibit the manufacture of the hormones, neurotransmitters, and other compounds needed to correct the person’s symptoms.)
Margaret prescribed supplements for Clare to correct her hormone balance, as well as address a number of nutritional deficiencies which were contributing to her symptoms. She also recommended some dietary modifications. Clare’s personalised Treatment Plan included
After following her advice, Clare started feeling much better. Her sleep and digestion improved, and she had more energy, which allowed her to return to her exercise. This helped her to lose weight, particularly her belly fat. She now feels like her body and mind are working for her, instead of against her!
We are currently offering a limited number of free Comprehensive Assessments. (Terms and conditions: the Assessment is a completely free service, with no obligations whatsoever.)
The Assessment helps to identify:
If you would like to book in for an Assessment, please give us a call on 3376 6911, or you can book online using the link at the top of the page.
Be well, and have a happy life!
A study involving multiple institutions across the US found that children aged 2 to 4 years are routinely exposed to a broad range of potentially harmful chemicals.
The children's urine was found to contain up to 96 different chemicals, many of which are linked to hormone and brain disruption.
The study of 200 toddlers found:
The lead author, Professor Deborah H. Bennett, said "Our study shows that childhood exposure to potentially harmful chemicals is widespread. This is alarming because we know early childhood is a critical window for brain and body development,"
"Many of these chemicals are known or suspected to interfere with hormones, brain development and immune function."
The researchers looked for childhood exposure to common environmental chemicals, including:
Children are exposed to these environmental chemicals through everyday activities, such as eating, drinking, breathing indoor and outdoor air, and touching contaminated surfaces.
Frequent hand-to-mouth contact, playing close to the ground, and higher intake rates relative to their smaller body weight make kids especially vulnerable to chemical exposure.
How to Limit Chemical Exposure
It is impossible to eliminate all chemical exposures. Yet, there are many simple steps parents can take to help reduce their children's contact with harmful chemicals.
For more information about the study, click here.
(As well as minimising exposure of babies and toddlers to these common chemicals, it is recommended that women who are considering having a baby look at conducting a chemical detox with our naturopath. This should be done before they try to conceive, to reduce the level of chemicals passed on to the baby during pregnancy. We do NOT recommend trying to do a detox by yourself, as without the correct natural products to neutralise the toxins and allow them to be easily eliminated, they can end up in other parts of the body and cause even more damage.)
For more information about the effect of chemicals on the body, you can
If you are interested in getting an indication of the level of toxins in your body, you can also complete our Comprehensive Toxicity Questionnaire.
When you come to our clinic, you may find a pot of herbal tea on our reception counter that you can help yourself to. Often these are organic teas formulated by an Ayurvedic herbalist for specific health benefits. The one we have been serving lately is Rumi’s Blend, which contains tulsi, rose, peppermint, lemon myrtle & blue cornflowers. This combination is designed to have a calming and balancing effect on the mind and body. It contains adaptogenic herbs to reduce cortisol (stress hormone) levels, calms the nervous system, and is helpful for meditation.
Feel free to pop into our clinic and have a taste of whichever tea is on offer that day. As well as Rumi’s Blend, we also stock a number of other herbal teas, including Miss Hibiscus (high in antioxidants, some people have found it helps their eyes) and Zen Zai (for boosting the immune system) by the same Ayurvedic herbalist.
Incorrect gut bacteria have long been known to be a source of many types of immune disorders as well as chronic inflammation in the body. There is now mounting scientific evidence of what naturopaths refer to as the Gut-Brain Connection, where certain imbalances in the digestive system (especially in the gut bacteria) can impact on brain function.
According to QUT neuroscientist Richard Gordon, there is now evidence suggesting the gut was as important as the brain in the development of Parkinson's. Studies have showed clear differences in the complex gut ecosystems of those with Parkinson's disease compared with healthy people.
Associate Professor Gordon also said that people with Parkinson's disease were known to experience persistent inflammation and activation of the immune system, believed to be closely linked to an imbalance of microbes in their guts.
"The inflammation, over a prolonged period, has been shown to damage the vulnerable dopamine-producing neurons that are gradually lost in people with Parkinson's.”
The US Department of Defence has awarded $4 million over four years to Associate Professor Gordon's team, to develop ways of treating Parkinson’s by improving the gut microbiome.
For more about this, visit https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-28/qld-parkinsons-disease-treatment-targets-gut-microbiome/103897110 .
To find out more about how an imbalance in gut bacteria can cause a variety of diseases, visit
It is great to see the medical community starting to accept and embrace naturopath approaches to treating diseases, such as recognising
Our clinic stocks around 16 different probiotics to treat a large variety of conditions, and our naturopath is highly experienced in their use.
We are currently offering a limited number of free Comprehensive Assessments. (Terms and conditions: the Assessment is a completely free service, with no obligations whatsoever.)
The Assessment helps to identify:
If you would like to book in for an Assessment, please give us a call on 3376 6911, or you can book online using the link at the top of the page.
Be well, and have a great life!
Certain mushrooms are becoming well-known for their effect on improving the immune system, and now there is growing evidence that they may be effective in the prevention and treatment of cancer. An article by the Medical Director of a hospital in the UK has reported a few examples of this research.
A study was conducted on 30 patients who were diagnosed with chronic fatigue. They were all found to have high antibody levels for Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) and/or human herpes virus 6 (HHV6) or Cytomegalovirus (CMV), so were or had been infected by these viruses. The level of natural killer (NK) cells was low in these patients, and NK calls represent the first line of defence against cancer cells and viral infections. However, after taking a Coriolus versicolor mushroom product for 60 days, their NK levels increased by a massive 35% So this species of mushroom could potentially be an effective treatment for both chronic fatigue and cancer.
Another study found the edible mushroom Flammulina velutipes to have cancer-prevention effects. A 15 year epidemiological study of 174,505 individuals was conducted in the Nagano area of Japan, where the mushroom is grown. The study compared the cancer death rates of farmers who grew the mushroom with those of a control group, the assumption being that the farmers would eat some of the mushroom they grew. Results showed a cancer death rate in the control group of 160 per 100,000, compared with 97 per 100,000 among the mushroom farmers. (So the control group were 65% more likely to die of cancer than the farmers.)
In addition, the National Cancer Center Research Institute of Japan has established that the basidiomycetes group of edible mushrooms can have anti-cancer activity.
Whilst none of these or the many other studies are able to prove conclusively that cancer can be successfully treated with mushrooms, the right type of mushrooms can certainly improve the immune system, which in turn may help reduce the risk of cancer developing, or possibly act as a treatment. The varieties of mushrooms that have been shown to have this effect may one day become a significant weapon against this disease.
*Please note: Taking any supplement, herb or food should never be a reason not to have regular medical treatment for a serious condition, including cancer.
Always consult with a highly trained and experienced health professional before undertaking a course of supplementation that could make a significant difference to your health.
We are currently offering a limited number of free Comprehensive Assessments. (Terms and conditions: the Assessment is a completely free service, with no obligations whatsoever.)
The Assessment helps to identify:
If you would like to book in for an Assessment, please give us a call on 3376 6911, or you can book online using the link at the top of the page.
Be well, and have a great life!
Certain probiotics could help women lose weight and keep it off, according to a recent study published in the British Journal of Nutrition.
Various studies have previously shown that that the intestinal flora of obese individuals differs from those of thin people. This may be because a diet high in fat and low in fiber promotes certain bacteria at the expense of others.
A Professor Tremblay and his team performed a study to determine if taking probiotics could help reset the balance of the intestinal microbiome in favor of bacteria that promote a healthy weight.
125 overweight men and women completed a 12-week weight-loss diet, followed by a 12-week period aimed at maintaining their body weight.
Throughout the entire study, half the participants swallowed 2 pills daily containing probiotics from the Lactobacillus rhamnosus family, while the other half received a placebo.
After the 12-week diet period, researchers observed an average weight loss of 4.4 kg in women in the probiotic group and 2.6 kg in the placebo group.
However, no differences in weight loss were observed among males in the two groups.
"We don't know why the probiotics didn't have any effect on men. It may be a question of dosage, or the study period may have been too short," says Professor Tremblay, who is also the Canada Research Chair in Environment and Energy Balance.
After the 12-week maintenance period, the weight of the women in the placebo group had remained stable but the probiotic group had continued to lose weight, for a total of 5.2 kg per person.
In short, women consuming probiotics lost twice as much weight over the 24-week period of the study.
Researchers also noted a drop in the appetite-regulating hormone leptin in this group, as well as a lower overall concentration of the intestinal bacteria related to obesity.
According to Angelo Tremblay, probiotics may act by altering the permeability of the intestinal wall. By keeping certain pro-inflammatory molecules from entering the bloodstream, they might help prevent the chain reaction that leads to glucose intolerance, type 2 diabetes, and obesity.
Please note- every person's body is different, so there is no single approach that works well for everyone. Weight loss is complex issue, and it is likely that there will be a number of imbalances in each person's body that will be factors behind them putting on weight.
As with any condition, in order to get results it is crucial to first investigate the cause of the problem. We are currently offering a limited number of free Comprehensive Assessments. (Terms and conditions: the Assessment is a completely free service, with no obligations whatsoever.)
The Assessment helps to identify:
If you would like to book in for an Assessment, please give us a call on 3376 6911, or you can book online using the link at the top of the page.
Be well, and have a great life!
An international collaboration, led by the University of Melbourne and Deakin University, has stated that evidence is rapidly growing that there is a strong connection between diet quality and mental health.
In an article published in The Lancet Psychiatry, leading academics stated that psychiatry should now recognise and embrace diet and nutrition as key factors in mental health.
Lead author, Dr Jerome Sarris from the University of Melbourne and a member of the International Society for Nutritional Psychiatry Research (ISNPR), said psychiatry is at a critical stage, as the existing treatments have only resulted in modest benefits.
"While the determinants of mental health are complex, the emerging and compelling evidence for nutrition as a key factor in the high prevalence and incidence of mental disorders suggests that nutrition is as important to psychiatry as it is to cardiology, endocrinology and gastroenterology," Dr Sarris said.
"In the last few years, significant links have been established between nutritional quality and mental health. Scientifically rigorous studies have made important contributions to our understanding of the role of nutrition in mental health."
The review showed that nutrient-based prescriptions have the ability to assist in the management of mental disorders. Studies show that many different nutrients have a clear link to brain health, including omega-3s, B vitamins (particularly folate and B12), choline, iron, zinc, magnesium, S-adenosyl methionine (SAMe), vitamin D, and amino acids.
"While we advocate for these to be consumed in the diet where possible, additional select prescription of these as nutraceuticals (nutrient supplements) may also be justified," Dr Sarris said.
Associate Professor Felice Jacka, a Principal Research Fellow from Deakin University and president of the ISNPR noted that many studies have shown associations between healthy dietary patterns and a reduced level of depression and suicide.
"Maternal and early-life nutrition is also emerging as a factor in mental health outcomes in children, while severe deficiencies in some essential nutrients during critical developmental periods have long been implicated in the development of both depressive and psychotic disorders," she said.
A systematic review published in late 2014 has also confirmed a relationship between 'unhealthy' dietary patterns and poorer mental health in children and adolescents.
Naturopaths have long been aware of the importance of diet and nutrition to treat and prevent a broad range of mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, high stress, sleep problems, brain fog, cognitive decline, etc. A top naturopath will be aware of all of the latest research, and will be highly skilled in the treatment of these and other mental and emotional disturbances with diet and nutrients. Rather than just advise a collection of recommended nutrients, they will individually assess each person and tailor a particular prescription just for them.
For more information on the article, visit https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/01/150129104217.htm .
If you are having any mental or emotional difficulties, we offer a free Comprehensive Assessment, to help identify
(Terms and conditions: the Assessment is a completely free service, with no obligations whatsoever.)
If you would like to book in for an Assessment, please give us a call on 3376 6911, or you can book online using the link at the top of the page.
Be well, and have a great life!
Valued at $120, your Assessment will help to uncover:
All this will be fully explained to you, and you can ask as many questions as you like. That way we can be sure to give you all of the right information, understanding and advice you need. Terms and conditions: This is a free, no obligation offer.