Unlocking Happiness and Well-Being: The Benefits of 5-HTP and Serotonin

UNLOCKING HAPPINESS AND WELL-BEING: THE BENEFITS OF 5-HTP AND SEROTONIN with Reine DuBois Serotonin, often referred to as the “feel-good” neurotransmitter, plays a crucial role in maintaining our mental and physical well-being. 5-HTP (5 Hydroxytryptophan), a precursor to serotonin, has gained attention for its importance in our daily lives. FIVE ROLES OF SEROTONIN Serotonin, a neurotransmitter […]

An Approach to Treating Mental Health using Acupuncture

AN APPROACH TO TREATING MENTAL HEALTH USING ACUPUNCTURE with Becky Martin Acupuncture has the ability to access the body’s nervous system, creating a balance between the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, activating the parasympathetic nervous system and creating a balance with an over activated sympathetic nervous system response. This is a fantastic tool because, although sessions often do […]

SAMe and Mental Health: A Natural Boost for Emotional Well-being

SAMe AND MENTAL HEALTH: A NATURAL BOOST FOR EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING with Reine DuBois Mental health is a critical aspect of our overall well-being, affecting our thoughts, emotions, and behaviour. Conditions like depression, anxiety, and mood disorders can significantly impact our quality of life.  While there are various treatment options available, many individuals are turning to […]

Supporting psychological wellbeing through a deep connection with our natural environments

SUPPORTING PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLBEING THROUGH A DEEP CONNECTION WITH OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS with Simon DuBois I’ve been fortunate enough to embark on an incredibly enlightening and enriching journey lately. My latest venture has led me deep into the realm of nature connectedness – a concept also known as forest bathing and Shinrin-yoku. This deepening voyage commenced […]

Supporting Your Health Through Unique Times

Schedule a Consult with our Naturopath by Kristin Zanotti, Naturopath For many of us the pace of life has slowed considerably offering beautiful opportunity to move with the season of Autumn, a time of transition, a time to honour our need for rest and regeneration. However, it is not all garden beds, stock making and […]

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) for Treatment of Depression and Pain

    By Simon DuBois, Psychologist The idea that an electric current through the brain might improve its functioning isn’t new. The physician of Roman Emperor, Julius Caesar described how placing live torpedo electric fish over the scalp could relieve headaches (1) . Most people associate brain stimulation treatments with electro-convulsive therapy – a psychiatric […]

What is Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy?

By Simon DuBois, Psychologist Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychological treatment that enables people to heal from the impacts of difficult and intense life experiences.  Whether it’s the impacts of an accident or abuse, EMDR can assist. It is widely assumed that emotional pain requires a long time to heal.  EMDR demonstrates […]

Integrative Medical Retreat Case Study – Health, Happiness and The Vagus Nerve

    By Reine DuBois, Clinical Director and Hannah Hempenstall, Wellness Writer Feeling lost, lonely and lacklustre? Maybe it’s not all in your head… Picture this: it’s first thing in the morning and you’ve just brushed your teeth. Next? You stick your toothbrush down your throat. The very idea of that may make you gag. […]

How Traditional Chinese Medicine can support your mental health

By Joshua Leishman, Acupuncturist It is estimated that one in five Australians – roughly five million people – have suffered from mental health issues over the past year. Mental illnesses are far more than feeling sad or stressed, as they can have debilitating effects on our cognition and emotional balance, but conventional medications often have […]

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) and mental health

    Written by Alexandra Preston A common view of depression and anxiety is that they are purely biological, caused by a chemical imbalance. However, psychological trauma can play a key role in their development. Stressful life events are more closely associated with the onset of depression than genetics, and a survey of over 22,000 […]

How chronic illness effects mental health

    Written by Simon DuBois, Psychologist Being under the load of a chronic health issue is emotionally and psychologically stressful in the extreme. It creates a lot of uncertainty and fear about how we will cope. Our brains have been designed over millions of years to identify and ward off threats, but it really […]

Moving Forward from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Written by Alexandra Preston Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a condition where our natural response to threat is constantly heightened. It is characterised by recurrent flashbacks, including nightmares; avoidance of reminders; and emotional over-reactivity. Any traumatic event can trigger it, such as the death of a loved one or domestic violence. As PTSD can be […]