Inside the Apothecary

Menopause technically happens on one day.

So why can women feel completely different for years beforehand?

In this episode, Mel Gearing and Jaime Chew explain what perimenopause really is, why it often begins earlier than expected, and why so many women don't recognise the symptoms.

They explore anxiety, insomnia, brain fog, mood changes, heart palpitations, weight gain and why these experiences are often dismissed as simply getting older.

You'll learn:

• What perimenopause actually is
• How it differs from menopause
• The symptoms many women never expect
• Why women often feel dismissed
• Lifestyle strategies that genuinely help
• Nutrition and exercise considerations
• Understanding HRT discussions

If you're in your late 30s, 40s or early 50s, this episode will help you better understand one of the biggest hormonal transitions in a woman's life.

#perimenopause #menopause #womenshealth #brainfog #hormones #healthpodcast

Endometriosis affects one in seven Australian women, yet diagnosis still takes years and many people are told their pain is normal.

In this episode, Mel Gearing and Jaime Chew explore why endometriosis is far more than a reproductive condition and how it can affect the entire body.

They discuss the inflammatory and immune components of endometriosis, fertility, fatigue, digestive symptoms, bladder symptoms and why imaging doesn't always provide answers.

You'll learn:

• Why diagnosis is often delayed
• Why scans can appear normal
• How endometriosis affects fertility
• The role of inflammation and immune function
• Why symptoms extend beyond the menstrual cycle
• The impact on work, relationships and quality of life
• Why treatment involves much more than surgery

Whether you have endometriosis yourself or are trying to better understand someone who does, this episode offers practical insights and evidence-informed discussion.

#endometriosis #pelvicpain #fertility #adenomyosis #inflammation #healthpodcast #womenshealth

Painful periods. Heavy bleeding. PMS. Fatigue. Recurrent infections.

So many women are told these symptoms are simply part of being female.

But are they?

In this episode, Mel Gearing and Jaime Chew discuss the symptoms women most commonly normalise and explain why common does not always mean normal.

Together they explore why these symptoms deserve investigation, what they may be telling us about underlying health, and why early intervention matters.

You'll learn:

• Why painful periods shouldn't simply be accepted
• Heavy bleeding and what it may indicate
• Mid-cycle spotting and irregular cycles
• PMS and when symptoms become excessive
• Recurrent thrush, BV and urinary tract infections
• Fatigue that isn't explained by a busy lifestyle
• Migraines linked to hormones
• Why listening to your body matters

If you've ever been told your symptoms are "just part of being a woman," this conversation may change the way you think about your health.

Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

#periodpain #pms #endometriosis #fatigue #hormones #womenshealth #naturopath #healthpodcast

Hormones have become one of the biggest topics on social media, but are we actually becoming more informed or simply more confused?

In this episode of Inside the Apothecary, naturopaths Mel Gearing and Jaime Chew explore the growing world of hormone advice online and separate evidence from misinformation.

From cortisol "spikes" and adrenal fatigue to hormone balancing, cycle syncing and hormone testing, they unpack the trends that have left many women overwhelmed and unsure where to start.

You'll learn:

• Why hormones are blamed for almost everything
• What "balancing hormones" actually means
• The truth about cortisol
• Why adrenal fatigue remains controversial
• When hormone testing is useful and when it isn't
• Whether cycle syncing is helpful or unnecessarily complicated
• Why more supplements don't always create better health
• Where experienced practitioners actually begin when someone walks into clinic

If you've ever wondered whether the advice you're seeing online is actually helping your health, this episode will help you cut through the noise and focus on what truly matters.

Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

#hormones #cortisol #adrenalfatigue #cyclesyncing #womenshealth #naturopath #healthpodcast #fertility #insidetheapothecary

Have you ever been told your blood tests are "normal" but still felt exhausted, foggy, anxious, in pain, or simply not like yourself?

You're not imagining it.

In the first episode of Season 2 of Inside the Apothecary, naturopaths Mel Gearing and Jaime Chew unpack one of the most frustrating experiences patients face: being told everything is normal despite ongoing symptoms.

They explain why pathology reference ranges don't always reflect optimal health, how two people can have identical blood test results but completely different health experiences, and why understanding the person behind the numbers is just as important as the numbers themselves.

Together they explore how practitioners interpret pathology in the context of symptoms, medical history, lifestyle, and long-term trends, rather than relying on a single result in isolation.

In this episode you'll learn:

• What a "normal" blood test actually means
• Why normal doesn't always mean optimal
• How pathology reference ranges are created
• Why symptoms should never be ignored simply because results fall within range
• Why trends over time are often more valuable than a single test
• The importance of looking at patterns rather than isolated markers
• Common examples using ferritin, thyroid function, vitamin B12 and vitamin D
• Why good practitioners treat people, not pathology reports

Whether you're living with fatigue, hormonal symptoms, digestive issues, fertility challenges, chronic pain or simply know something doesn't feel right, this episode will help you understand why your health deserves a deeper conversation.

If you've ever walked out of an appointment feeling unheard because your results were "normal," this episode is for you.

Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and share it with someone who has ever been told, "Everything looks normal."

For more evidence-informed education on hormones, fertility, endometriosis, gut health and women's health, follow Inside the Apothecary and Nourishing Apothecary.

#bloodtests #functionalmedicine #naturopath #womenshealth #fertility #thyroid #ferritin #vitaminD #vitaminB12 #healthpodcast #insidetheapothecary #integrativemedicine #pathology #hormones #fatigue

In the final episode of Season One, Jaime and Mel take listeners inside the clinical thought process behind naturopathic medicine.

When someone walks into clinic with fatigue, hormone issues, digestive symptoms, fertility challenges, skin concerns, anxiety, or chronic inflammation, what are we actually looking for?

This episode explores how experienced practitioners connect patterns across the body rather than viewing symptoms in isolation. Jaime and Mel discuss the questions they ask, the clues they look for, and why understanding the story behind a patient’s symptoms is often more important than focusing on a diagnosis alone.

They cover common patterns involving hormones, digestion, inflammation, nutrient status, stress physiology, sleep, fertility, immune function, and the nervous system, and explain how seemingly unrelated symptoms are often connected.

Whether you’ve ever wondered what happens inside a naturopathic consultation, or why two people with the same diagnosis can receive completely different treatment plans, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at how clinical decision making works in practice.

This conversation brings together many of the concepts discussed throughout Season One and demonstrates how a holistic approach can uncover factors that may otherwise be missed.

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

Most people are taking supplements without understanding whether their body actually needs them, can absorb them properly, or has the foundations in place for them to work.

In this episode, Jaime and Mel unpack why supplements often fail to create meaningful change and the factors that actually determine whether a protocol works clinically.

They explore nutrient absorption, nervous system regulation, blood sugar balance, inflammation, gut health, sleep quality, stress physiology, metabolic function, and lifestyle patterns, and why these foundations matter far more than constantly adding new products.

This conversation challenges the modern idea that more supplements automatically equal better health and explains why many people remain exhausted, inflamed, hormonally imbalanced, or symptomatic despite spending hundreds of dollars on protocols.

They also discuss supplement overwhelm, social media wellness trends, poor-quality products, and why foundational physiology will always matter more than chasing the newest "miracle" ingredient.

If you've ever wondered why supplements help some people dramatically while others feel no different at all, this episode explains what is often being missed.

Listen to Inside the Apothecary on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

Book an Initial Consultation via Nourishing Apothecary:
nourishingapothecary.com

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Bloating after meals. Food intolerances. Constipation. Diarrhoea. Abdominal pain.

Many people are told they have IBS, but IBS is not a true diagnosis. It is a label used when digestive symptoms exist without a clear explanation.

In this episode, Jaime and Mel explore what may actually be driving persistent gut symptoms and why so many people continue to struggle despite trying elimination diets, probiotics, supplements, and medications.

They discuss the role of stomach acid, digestive enzymes, gut bacteria, intestinal permeability, inflammation, nervous system dysfunction, and how stress directly influences digestion and gut symptoms.

The conversation also covers food sensitivities, why restrictive diets often fail long term, and the common root causes that may sit underneath an IBS diagnosis.

If you constantly feel bloated, react to foods, experience constipation or diarrhoea, or feel like you've been given a label without real answers, this episode will help you better understand what may be happening beneath the surface.

Topics discussed include:

• IBS and digestive disorders

• Bloating and abdominal discomfort

• Constipation and diarrhoea

• Food intolerances and food sensitivities

• Gut microbiome health

• Leaky gut and gut lining integrity

• Stress and the gut-brain connection

• Root cause approaches to digestive health

• Natural and holistic gut health support

Explore more or book your consultation via nourishingapothecary.com

Fertility Preparation: Why Doing Everything Right Still Isn’t Working

Trying to conceive can feel incredibly frustrating when you are eating well, taking supplements, tracking your cycle, and still not seeing results.

In this episode, Jaime and Mel unpack the deeper layers of fertility preparation and the reasons conception is not always as straightforward as people are led to believe. They explore the factors that influence egg quality, sperm health, ovulation, implantation, inflammation, metabolic health, and hormone balance, and why the ninety days before conception matter so much for both partners.

The conversation also looks at why “normal” test results do not always reflect optimal fertility, how stress and lifestyle impact reproductive function, and why fertility support should never focus on one partner alone.

This episode challenges the idea that fertility preparation starts and ends with a prenatal, and explains why personalised care, timing, and understanding the bigger picture can make a significant difference.

If you are planning for pregnancy, actively trying to conceive, or feeling stuck despite doing all the “right” things, this episode will give you a clearer framework for where to look next.

Explore more or book your consultation via the website nourishingapothecary.com

Your menstrual cycle is far more than just a monthly bleed. It is one of the clearest windows into your overall health.

In this episode, Jaime and Mel break down what a healthy menstrual cycle should actually look like, from cycle length and ovulation to cervical fluid, PMS, pain, mood changes, and bleeding patterns. They explain why so many symptoms women are told are “normal” are often signs that the body is under stress or struggling to compensate.

The conversation explores how stress, inflammation, nutrition, gut health, sleep, and lifestyle directly influence hormone balance and ovulation, and why the menstrual cycle is considered a vital sign in clinical practice.

Jaime and Mel also unpack one of the most misunderstood areas of women’s health: the oral contraceptive pill. They explain what the pill suppresses, why a withdrawal bleed is not the same as a true menstrual period, and what can happen underneath the surface while symptoms appear “controlled.”

Whether you are dealing with painful periods, irregular cycles, PMS, fertility concerns, post-pill changes, or simply want to better understand your hormones, this episode gives you a practical framework to start interpreting what your body may be trying to communicate.

Listen now and explore more via insidetheapothecary.com