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/

In this episode, we dive deep into one of the brain's most fascinating and overlooked systems - the glymphatic system. Joining us is naturopath and neuroscientist Renée Grandi who unpacks the science of how the brain clears waste, why this process is vital for healthy cognition, and what happens when it falters. She sheds light on the link between glymphatic dysfunction and neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and MS.

Renée discusses why sleep is so critical for brain detoxification, how chronic inflammation can undermine this delicate system over time, and the integrative strategies - from nutrients and antioxidants to key herbs and lifestyle practices - that can help keep the glymphatic system functioning optimally.

Bio: Renée Grandi is a neuroscience researcher, naturopath, and clinical nutritionist with over a decade of experience across scientific research, clinical practice, and functional medicine. She specialises in complex chronic illness, neuroimmunology, and integrative women's health, with a focus on conditions that are often dismissed or poorly understood.

Her work explores the connections between the glymphatic system, neuroinflammation, immune dysfunction, and hormonal imbalance, shedding light on the mechanisms driving neurodegenerative disease, autoimmune conditions, and chronic fatigue. Renée bridges the gap between research and integrative care, helping practitioners and patients alike understand how the brain, body, and biology are interconnected - and how this knowledge can be translated into more personalised and effective approaches to health.

In this episode, we sit down with a naturopath, lecturer, author, and wild crafter, Heidi Merika to explore what it means to “return to our roots” in herbal medicine. While evidence-based practice has advanced the profession in many ways, it has also created a gap—leaving many practitioners disconnected from the traditional knowledge and ways of prescribing that have long been central to herbalism.

Bio: Heidi Merika is a naturopath and medical herbalist with a passion for wild medicinal and nutritional plants. She has lectured in nutrition and herbal medicine at RMIT University, Endeavour College of Natural Health and the University of the Sunshine Coast. She runs popular courses and workshops on plant medicine, wildcrafting, herbal medicine and plant-based nutrition both in person and online. She is the author of Wildcraft: The Science and Spirit of Wild Plants as Food and Medicine (2019) and From the Wild (2024). She lives on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.

https://heidimerika.com.au/ 

In this episode, we continue our Herbal Heroes series and welcome back Professor Kerry Bone to spotlight his second favourite herb: Ginkgo. With his signature blend of deep research insight and clinical wisdom, Kerry takes us on a journey through the rich history of this ancient plant to its modern scientific validation. He explores key research findings and offers practical guidance on ginkgo’s clinical applications—from supporting cognitive health and microcirculation to addressing age-related decline. This episode will deepen your appreciation for this botanical.

Bio: Professor Kerry Bone. Kerry is the co-founder and innovation driver at MediHerb as the Director of Research & Development; practicing Herbalist and Naturopath with 40 years of experience; a lecturer in Australia and overseas; a prolific author with 7 published Herbal Medicine texts and over 40 scientific papers on herbal research including original research and Systematic Reviews.

In this episode, we’re joined by a naturopath and midwife to unpack the often misunderstood role of the naturopath and herbalist in pregnancy care. With misinformation and caution frequently clouding the conversation, she shares how naturopaths can play a valuable, supportive role throughout pregnancy and into the postpartum period. From promoting wellbeing to addressing common pregnancy concerns, she outlines the safe and appropriate use of herbal medicine during each stage—highlighting both her go-to herbs and those best avoided. Whether you’re a practitioner or simply curious, this episode brings clarity to a complex topic with evidence-informed insights.

Bio: Rebecca Tanner has over 30 years experience as a Naturopath, she is also a registered Acupuncturist & more recently, Rebecca qualified as a Midwife and completed a Masters in Reproductive Medicine.

In addition to her practice career, Rebecca has also been a trainer and educator for Blackmores and has lectured at Nature Care College, the Australasian College of Natural Therapies & at Endeavour College.

She is an experienced public speaker and regularly runs seminars on pregnancy support, pre- conception care & fertility. She has guest lectured for five consecutive years at Curtin University on wholistic support for labour. Rebecca has recently featured on the Health Masters Live pregnancy Series.

B.Sc Pharm/Physiol; Dip Naturopathy; Dip Acupuncture; Adv.Cert.N.F.M; BSc Midwifery; M. Repro Med. M.A.T.M.S; AHPRA registered Acupuncturist

In this episode, paediatric naturopath Brooke Klower shares her approach to uncovering the root causes of allergies in children. She explores key considerations in case-taking and assessment, reminding practitioners not to overlook simple —but impactful interventions such as correcting common nutritional deficiencies. Brooke also discusses her go-to herbs and nutrients for supporting paediatric allergy presentations, offering practical insights into personalised, evidence-informed care.

For more information about Balanced Beings please visit their website: www.balanced-beings.com.au 

Bio: Brooke Klower is the owner of Balanced Beings and supplement line BB Kids. Brooke started Balanced Beings when a large gap was seen amongst the lack of natural treatments and practitioners treating paediatrics and mothers. Brooke Klower is a naturopath, but first and foremost, a mother. She has now conducted over 6000 consultations and has had over 1000 children pass through the Balanced Beings doors, which consists of 7 practitioners and 11 staff members. As the principal naturopath at Balanced Beings she oversees all treatment protocols to ensure every family receives the highest standard of care, making her an expert in treating children's health concerns. Alongside clinical practice, Brooke mentors practitioners and students, helping them deliver transformative results and build thriving natural health businesses. 

Treating children requires more than scaled-down dosing—it's a specialised area demanding careful consideration of developmental stages, disease presentation, and metabolic differences. In this episode, we explore key clinical principles for safe and effective paediatric prescribing.

Topics include:

Essential listening for practitioners working with paediatric patients.

Bio: Rose Cornelissen is a skilled herbalist and naturopath with over 3 decades of practice and peer education experience. She has a special interest in the self-adjusting demands of practice and staying current without losing the connection and passion for herbal medicine and healthy nutrition. Anything from ethnobotanicals to hard core science is included in this blend which makes up contemporary naturopathic clinical practice. 

Rose has a Master of Health Science in Herbal Medicine and is a University of New England Vice-Chancellor’s Scholar, School of Health  Academic awardee and a former NHAA director and chair of the Professions Committee. She currently heads the Clinical Support and Medicines Safety Data teams at Integria Healthcare.   

In this episode, renowned herbalist Professor Kerry Bone explores the many faces of inflammation and how to prescribe herbal medicine with clinical precision. From acute to chronic presentations and system-specific patterns—including neuroinflammation—Kerry outlines how different herbal strategies can be applied based on the underlying drivers of inflammation.

He also challenges common misconceptions about well-known herbs. Highlighting willow bark as a prime example, Kerry explains its nuanced mechanism of action and why it shouldn't be confined to musculoskeletal prescriptions alone. Practitioners will come away with a deeper understanding of how to approach inflammation across body systems—and how to choose the right herbs for the right context.

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr Libby Weaver to shine a spotlight on an often overlooked yet vital mineral for human health—iron. Often associated with energy and fatigue, iron plays a far more extensive role in the body, impacting everything from thyroid function to neurotransmitter production and immune health. Dr Libby dives deep into the broad-reaching effects of iron deficiency, highlighting some of the more surprising and lesser-known symptoms that may signal a need for attention. This eye-opening conversation highlights the role of this humble mineral in whole-body health.

To purchase Dr Libby's new book 'Fix Iron First', please follow the link https://drlibby.com/products/fix-iron-first 

Bio: Armed with abundant knowledge, scientific research and a true desire to help others live with more energy and vitality, Dr Libby empowers and inspires people to take charge of their wellness and wisdom through her live events, courses, supplements and books. While most nutritionists will focus predominantly on nutrition, Dr Libby draws on her PhD in biochemistry, 20+ years of clinical practice and a deep understanding of how thoughts and emotions influence the body, to take a distinct three pillared approach to health challenges. Examining symptoms through a nutritional, biochemical and emotional lens, she delivers transformational wisdom with gentleness and genuine care to anyone, no matter where they are on their health journey. Her unique ability to help people make lasting changes in their lives by providing them with new knowledge and fostering a shift in their emotional understanding, empowers them to take charge of their health.

While hot flushes and night sweats are hallmark symptoms of menopause, the neurological effects of this hormonal transition are often overlooked. In this episode, Angela Hywood explores the profound impact of menopause on the brain. Estrogen plays a crucial role in neuroprotection, cognition, and mood regulation—so its decline during menopause presents significant changes in brain function. Join us as we go beyond the classic symptoms to examine how the brain adapts to new hormonal realities, the clinical implications of this shift, and how practitioners can better support cognitive and emotional wellbeing in midlife women.

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.