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In this episode of the MediHerb Podcast, Laurence Katsaras is joined by naturopath Amina Eastham-Hillier to explore the clinical applications of nutrigenomics, pharmacogenomics and herb genomics in personalised healthcare. Discover how genetic variations and epigenetic influences can shape individual responses to nutrients, herbal medicines and lifestyle factors, and how genomic profiling may provide additional insight into complex presentations involving inflammation, cardiovascular health, metabolic dysfunction, chemical sensitivities and nutrient metabolism. Drawing on clinical case examples, Amina discusses how practitioners can use genomic insights to inform individualised herbal prescriptions, nutritional strategies and lifestyle recommendations, while supporting patient understanding and engagement. From interpreting inflammatory markers and methylation pathways to considering caffeine metabolism, food sensitivities and exercise tolerance, the conversation explores how genomic testing can help identify areas for further investigation and guide clinical decision-making. Importantly, Amina highlights that genes are not destiny, emphasising the role of environment, nutrition, stress management and lifestyle in influencing gene expression and supporting long-term health.   Bio: With over 30 years of naturopathic experience, Amina successfully treats complex chronic illnesses in her clinic in the Noosa hinterland. Amina is a keynote speaker, presenting to medical doctors and naturopaths at international conferences, and on medical documentaries, webinars, and podcasts. In addition to clinical practise, Amina has been awarded the title of Australian Practitioner of the Year with her passion extending into teaching bush survival medicine and wild crafting medicinal herbs and food. Amina is the author of Lyme Natural, encompassing naturopathic treatment for Lyme disease, co-infections, mould illness and stealth infections, and hosts regular online clinical master classes and workshops for practitioners. For more details, please visit https://amina.com.au/

As GLP-1 medications become increasingly integrated into weight management, understanding their implications for muscle and bone health is essential for practitioners supporting patients through significant weight loss. In this episode, Laurence Katsaras is joined by Professor David Scott, exercise scientist and NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow at Deakin University, to explore the latest research on GLP-1 therapies and body composition. They discuss the relationship between weight loss and lean mass reduction, the distinction between muscle loss and changes in muscle composition, and the potential implications for long-term physical function, bone health and fracture risk. David shares practical, evidence-informed strategies to help practitioners support healthy body composition throughout the weight loss journey. From protein requirements and nutritional considerations to the importance of progressive resistance training, he outlines how specialised exercise prescription can help minimise muscle and bone loss. The conversation also explores accessible clinical tools for monitoring body composition and physical function, strategies for supporting sustainable behaviour change, and the opportunities for practitioners to provide individualised lifestyle support. Discover how integrating targeted nutrition, exercise and ongoing monitoring can help patients achieve healthier, more sustainable outcomes while using GLP-1 therapies. Head over to David's 2025 article - Exercise and dietary recommendations to preserve musculoskeletal health during weight loss in adults with obesity: A practical guide: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11154-025-09968-3 Learn more about David’s research via his institutional profile page: https://experts.deakin.edu.au/53841-david-scott

Globe artichoke has a long history in Western herbal medicine, yet its broad applications can be easy to overlook in an era of increasingly targeted therapeutic approaches. In this episode, we welcome David Casteleijn back to the MediHerb Podcast to explore why this classic herb deserves renewed attention. David shares his clinical experience using globe artichoke as a general digestive tonic, supporting digestive function, while considering its bitter principles, choleretic and cholagogue actions, and prebiotic fructans. The conversation takes a deeper look at where globe artichoke may fit in contemporary naturopathic practice, including digestive dysfunction associated with nervous system dysregulation and the complex relationship between the gut, microbiome and nervous system. David also discusses the apparent contradiction of using a fructan-containing herb in people with IBS, challenging an overly symptom-focused approach to FODMAPs and highlighting the importance of considering the whole person. With insights from his observational research into herbal medicine use in anxiety and depression, this episode offers a fresh clinical perspective on a versatile herb that deserves a place in your dispensary.

How can practitioners help patients achieve lasting success with GLP-1 medications beyond weight loss alone? Glenn Mackintosh shares his expertise on psychology, behaviour change strategies and interdisciplinary care that turn short-term results into sustainable outcomes.   Bio: Glenn is a psychologist who is extremely passionate about eating, physical activity, weight, and body image. He is the Clinical Director of the Weight Management Psychology Clinic, the Creator of the Transformation Support Community Online Program, and the Author of the bestselling 'Thinsanity: 7 Steps to Transform Your Mindset & Say Goodbye to Dieting Forever'. He enjoys supporting the health-conscious public and training the wonderful health professionals who support them.   Links: The Missing Piece Free eBook: https://www.weightmanagementpsychology.com.au/the-missing-piece-ebook/    Weight Management Psychology Clinic: https://www.weightmanagementpsychology.com.au/  Transformation Support Community Online Program: https://programs.glennmackintosh.com/transformation-support-community 'Who Do You Want to Be?' Blog: https://www.weightmanagementpsychology.com.au/who-do-you-want-to-be-in-2023-personal-reflection-free-resource/

GLP-1 medications are reshaping the management of obesity and metabolic health, but where do integrative practitioners fit into this rapidly evolving landscape? In this episode, Laurence Katsaras speaks with internationally recognised obesity and metabolic health expert Dr Jacqueline Jacques about GLP-1 therapies, why obesity should be viewed as a chronic disease, and the opportunities for naturopathic and functional medicine practitioners to support patients throughout their treatment journey. The discussion explores the often-overlooked challenges of GLP-1 therapy, including nutrient deficiencies, lean muscle and bone loss, side effect management, and the sobering reality of post-treatment weight regain - what it means clinically, highlighting the post-cessation window as a genuine opportunity for integrative practitioners. Jacqueline introduces the concept of the "life cycle of care," encouraging practitioners to move beyond seeing integrative medicine as an alternative and instead position themselves as collaborative partners alongside pharmacotherapy.

In this episode of the MediHerb podcast, Laurence Katsaras is joined by Dr Antony Underwood, integrative paediatrician and cofounder of Spectrumceuticals, to explore the rapidly evolving science of probiotics and microbiome therapy. Together, they unpack strain specificity, probiotic research quality, taxonomy and trademarks, storage and stability, and how practitioners can apply evidence-based probiotic prescribing in clinical practice. The conversation also dives into probiotics in paediatric care and the first 1000 days, including applications for NEC prevention, colic, reflux, antibiotic-associated diarrhoea and immune resilience. Dr Underwood also shares insights into diet, polyphenols, fermented foods, postbiotics and emerging “keystone” bacteria shaping the future of personalised microbiome medicine.

In this clinically rich conversation, David Casteleijn revisits Passionflower through a far more nuanced lens than its traditional “mild anxiolytic” label. Drawing on decades of practice and deeply personal clinical observations, David explores the herb’s powerful role in acute nervous system dysregulation—particularly in states of panic, PTSD, and heightened sympathetic activation. He shares practical insights into “stacked” dosing strategies, demonstrating how passionflower can rapidly interrupt escalation cycles without the residual sedation, making it a valuable tool both in-clinic and for patient self-management. Beyond acute use, this episode expands the conversation into long-term nervous system retraining, highlighting passionflower’s potential role in supporting neuroplasticity and reducing reliance on substances such as alcohol and anxiolytics. David also challenges common assumptions around dependency, safety, and herb-drug interactions, while unpacking emerging insights into its broader neurotransmitter activity. With discussion spanning ADHD, addiction patterns, and herb selection, this episode offers practitioners a deeper, more flexible framework for prescribing Passionflower across a wide spectrum of presentations.

In this episode of the MediHerb Podcast, we welcome Angela Hywood to draw on some unanswered questions from the MediHerb Unplugged livestream. Angela shares her evidence-informed approaches to supporting patients in complex clinical scenarios, with dosing strategies and clinical rationale.   Bio: Angela Hywood is an experienced naturopathic clinician with over 26 years of clinical experience, specialising in integrative endocrinology, women’s health, fertility and pregnancy care. Angela is a well-known speaker at complementary and integrative medicine conferences in both Australia and internationally and has published articles in complementary medicine journals in Australia and USA.

Concussion is often minimised as a “head knock,” yet it represents a complex traumatic brain injury with far-reaching systemic consequences. In this episode, we welcome Louise Cork to unpack the physiological cascade that unfolds following impact — from axonal shearing and ionic shifts to glutamate excitotoxicity, blood-brain barrier disruption, neuroinflammation, and gut permeability. We explore how this acute response can evolve into persistent post-concussion syndrome (PCS), and why some patients remain symptomatic months, or even years, after the initial injury. Through a functional naturopathic lens, this conversation provides practical guidance on assessment, red flags, collaborative care, and therapeutic layering, while discussing the critical role of the gut-brain axis, immune activation, metabolic dysfunction, glial priming, autonomic dysregulation, and mitochondrial compromise. With the right support — nutrients, targeted herbal medicine, and realistic lifestyle rehabilitation, post-concussion outcomes are not fixed, and meaningful recovery is possible.

Following the MediHerb Unplugged livestream, renowned herbalist Kerry Bone returns to address some of the audience’s unanswered questions. Drawing on decades of clinical and research experience, Kerry explores complex and often misunderstood areas of herbal therapy, including the use of berberine-containing herbs, the role of St Mary’s Thistle in gut health, and evidence-informed perspectives on Echinacea and Withania in autoimmunity and endometriosis. The conversation also examines time-restricted eating and how targeted herbs may support metabolic and longevity pathways, before moving into deeper clinical territory with discussions on plaque stabilisation, APOE4 and dementia risk, with key herbal considerations in Parkinson’s disease. Packed with practical insights and integrative clinical frameworks, this episode is essential listening for practitioners navigating complex, chronic presentations.

In this episode, we welcome Dr Elizabeth Steels and explore the rapidly growing world of biohacking and longevity medicine—examining the technical, lifestyle, supplemental, and medical interventions people are turning to in pursuit of vitality and human improvement. Beth unpacks the pros and cons of this trend-driven space, including the risks of information shared without context or personalisation, and the growing pressure to self-optimise through constant tracking. We discuss the unique role natural healthcare practitioners play in guiding patients through this landscape with evidence-based, individualised support. From a naturopathic perspective, targeted biohacking techniques for vitality are well understood as foundational pillars—mitochondrial health, autophagy, inflammation reduction, and gut function, to support patients in navigating the noise and focus on interventions that truly enhance cellular health and reduce long-term disease risk. With realistic goals and incremental change, Beth highlights how sustainable, personalised biohacking with naturopathic principles can support meaningful improvements in healthspan—with natural healthcare practitioners leading the way in keeping it grounded, balanced, and evidence-informed.   Bio: Elizabeth is a clinical biochemist and nutritionist with over 30 years experience in clinical practice, research, clinical trials, formulation and regulatory affairs. She runs a consulting and research clinic in New Farm, Brisbane. She is also an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, School of Pharmacy, University of Queensland, and has a growing team of clinical naturopaths enrolled in MPHIL and PHD students, also becoming researchers to further support natural health research. The projects vary from metabolic disease and diabetes, pain and peripheral neuropathy, GIT health, candida overgrowth, to probiotics for bone health in menopause. She is well published and often speaks at academic and industry events.

In this episode, we welcome pharmacist and Naturopath Diana Boot, and explore the safety considerations when co-prescribing herbal and nutritional therapies alongside conventional medications. Offering a unique dual perspective, Diana unpacks the complexities and opportunities of integrative prescribing in clinical practice. Together, Diana and Kerry examine the vital role natural healthcare practitioners play in supporting patients who are taking pharmaceuticals, helping optimise outcomes while maintaining safety and clarity in care. The discussion highlights practical strategies for collaborating effectively with GPs, strengthening communication pathways, and building trust within the patient–GP–practitioner partnership. We also delve into key risk factors relevant to specific conditions and address how to make informed decisions around continuing medication while concurrently supporting the patient with evidence-based natural interventions. This conversation brings an integrative, clinically grounded lens to co-prescribing, empowering practitioners to navigate it with confidence and care. Visit Natural Script at https://www.naturalscript.au/

In this episode of the MediHerb Podcast, esteemed Herbalist and Phytotherapist Professor Kerry Bone explores the complex landscape of Ischaemic Heart Disease (IHD) and how herbal medicine can address critical treatment areas often overlooked by conventional drug therapy. This episode also delves into gender-specific differences in cardiovascular disease, the impact of stress and anger on heart health, and how adaptogens can help mitigate emotional and physiological triggers. Kerry discusses emerging research on the role of herbs in supporting vascular integrity, plaque stability, and mitochondrial function, with therapeutic strategies targeting inflammation, microvascular health, connective tissue repair, and endothelial resilience. Gain insight into evidence-based herbal interventions for reducing cardiovascular risk with Kerry’s key herbal prescriptions, including his specialised formulation for post-cardiovascular event recovery, as well as practical considerations for co-prescription alongside conventional medications.

PROMO OFFER: $150 off Endo-SIBO Mastery - a five-part on-demand course to help practitioners support their endo clients to overcome endo belly. Listeners can use the code MEDIHERB to get $150 off, bringing the price to $197. Sign up for the course at jadeandlaura.com.   In this episode, we explore the fascinating intersection between the gut microbiome, the oestrobolome, and menstrual health — with a particular focus on Endometriosis and other inflammatory menstrual disorders. Join Laura Taylor as she unpacks emerging research on the gut–microbiome–menstrual axis and how dysbiosis, pathogenic overgrowth, and microbial metabolites influence systemic inflammation, hormonal balance, and reproductive outcomes. Discover how conditions such as SIBO, SIMO, and colonic methane overgrowth may underpin the so-called “Endo belly,” and why targeted testing can be a crucial part of patient care. We also discuss the role of LPS endotoxins, oestrogen recirculation, and impaired detoxification pathways in worsening reproductive symptoms. Laura shares her clinical insights, including go-to herbs, nutrients, and evidence-informed dietary and lifestyle strategies to reduce pathogenic load, support detoxification and elimination, enhance intestinal barrier function, and restore microbiome balance.

In this episode, we’re joined by naturopath Amina Eastham-Hillier for a deep dive into the art and science of liquid herbal blending. Amina shares her insights on the unique benefits of prescribing liquid herbal extracts in clinical practice, from tailoring formulations to individual patients and flexible dosing, to capturing the full energetic and synergistic essence of a formula.   We also explore the world of herbal energetics—how qualities such as warmth, cooling, moisture, and dryness influence herbal selection and treatment outcomes. Amina highlights some of her favourite herbs, offering practical examples of how their energetic profiles can guide clinical decision-making and enhance patient care.   Bio: With over 25 years of naturopathic practice, Amina successfully treats complex chronic illnesses in her clinic in the Noosa hinterland. Amina is a keynote speaker, presenting to medical doctors and naturopaths at international conferences, and on medical documentaries, webinars, and podcasts. Amina is the author of Lyme Natural, encompassing naturopathic treatment for Lyme disease, co-infections, mould illness and stealth infections; and is currently finalizing her second book (Chronic Stealth Infections – Filling in the missing pieces). In addition to clinical practise, Amina has been awarded the title of Australian Practitioner of the Year with her passion extending into teaching bush survival medicine and wild crafting medicinal herbs and food. https://amina.com.au/