Heart meds are everywhere—so what else can we do to help manage blood pressure and cholesterol after 50?

In this episode, naturopath Tracee Blythe joins Alex to unpack resistant hypertension, the rise of statins, and why so many over-50s end up on multiple medications.

They explore:

• How aged garlic stacks up against statins

• The role of magnesium, fibre, fish oil, and curcumin

• When functional testing could be used

• How lifestyle changes can outperform another script

Whether you're a health pro or navigating your own heart health, this episode is full of practical insight.

📚 Learn more about Tracee’s Co-prescribing course:
https://www.traceeblythe.com.au/co-prescriber

📩 Connect with Tracee:Instagram: @safe.coprescribingEmail: [email protected]

Sponsor: Bold Health

You can now stock Bold Health Protein in your pharmacy:Bold Health is a high-protein formula designed for healthy aging—21g of protein per serve, added fibre, vitamins, and minerals. No added sugar. Easy to mix. Delicious.

🛒 Visit boldhealth.com.au to learn more or become a stockist.

In this episode, pharmacist Alex Shepherd chats with naturopath Tracey Gartner about the often-overlooked role of protein in menopause, and why it’s essential for muscle strength, bone health, energy, and healthy ageing. They explore holistic strategies to support women through perimenopause and menopause — from plant-based protein and gut health to herbal support and hormone balancing.

🔗 Connect with Tracey: ⁠traceygartner.com.au⁠📷 Instagram: ⁠@traceygartner.health⁠

🔗 Learn more about Alex: ⁠medicinereview.com.au⁠📷 Instagram: ⁠@alexshepherdpharmacist

In this episode, we unpack the real story behind menopause—and the symptoms that are often misdiagnosed or completely overlooked. We talk through fluctuating hormone levels, the limitations of testing, misunderstood symptoms like anxiety and brain fog, and the pharmacist's role in supporting women through this transition.

From MHT myths to lifestyle foundations, this episode is packed with insights for any pharmacist wanting to provide better care and clarity for their patients navigating menopause.

Guest: Bo Youn Kim | Instagram @menopharmacist | Business: EmpowHer Menopause

Sponsored by Bold HealthBold is a high-strength protein powder designed for healthy ageing—ideal for patients who may be skipping meals or struggling with low energy.
Now available for pharmacy shelves.
Visit boldhealth.com.au or email [email protected] to stock Bold in your store.

Join Naturopath Tracey Gartner and Consultant Pharmacist Alex Shepherd as they dive into the world of PPIs for reflux. Discover alternative management strategies, the role of gut bugs, and explore the long-term effects and potential overuse of these medications. A must-listen for anyone seeking holistic insights into reflux care!

When Maddison gave birth to her son, she had no idea that he would be born with a congenital heart defect. This is their story of how they coped with the diagnosis and the treatment they received. This story is one of hope, resilience and faith. 

In this episode we hear Maddison’s birth story which involved an emergency C-section. Although it wasn’t how she envisioned she would give birth, she still describes the experience as a positive one. When her little one was born, she didn’t know that soon she would discover something wasn’t quite right.

At just 2 weeks old, Maddison talks about finding out her son had a hole in his heart. The road to discovering this and getting the diagnosis was not a pleasant one. She talks about their experience in the hospital. Her precious little one received blood test after blood test, the nights were long, and they were exhausted! The journey from here was a long and stressful one but the outcome is one you will want to hear!

What we talk about

• Birth story
• C-section recovery
• How her son was diagnosed with a heart defect
• The treatment her son received
• Her son’s health outcome and where they are at now

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Maternal assisted c-section births have been on the rise in recent years. It is a type of Cesarean section where the mother is actively involved to help to bring her baby into the world. As in, she literally helps pull her baby out! In this podcast episode we speak with Kelsie, a mum who has experienced it herself. We talked about what was involved and what she loved most about the process. 

We also get to hear about her first emergency C-section story and what she learnt from this experience to influence her second birth.

Topics Covered:

• Her first Emergency C-section and why it occurred?
• Her C-section recovery and what helped the most?
• What a maternal assisted C-section is?
• How her and her husband came to this decision?
• What was involved in the maternal assisted C-section?
• How the day carried out?
• Her recovery after her second birth?

Unscripted with Alex is hosted by our pharmacist & Founder of Botika Co, Alexandra Shepherd.

You can follow Alex on Instagram @alexshepherdpharmacist for behind the scenes footage, health tips, motivation, & product reviews and recommendations.

Produced By: Botika Co

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This recording is part of our C-sections series where we listen to our guests positive birth stories.

In this first episode we chat with Amanda. Amanada had planned to have a homebirth using a private midwife but in the end she needed to be transferred to hospital for a C-section. During our conversation she explains why and how this decision to transfer was made. She talks about the overall experience as a positive one and explains how she made it this way.

For her second birth, she opted for a VBAC and talks us through this experience. She discusses how they came to the decision of having a VBAC, what her labour was like, and her recovery.

• Why she was transferred to hospital?
• Why she required a C-section?
• What her C-section recovery was like?
• Deciding to have a VBAC for her second birth
• VBAC experience

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mental health issues are on the rise in our teens and young people. But what is the reason for that? Seeing your child suffer, is heartbreaking for all parents but what if you aren’t even aware of their suffering? Mental health issues can be silent. But according to psychologist Crystal and Jo from Core of Wellbeing, if we really tune in and become curious of any behavioural changes, we may be able to support them through these troubling times.

In this week’s podcast, I spoke with Crystal about some of the causes of depression and anxiety are in teens, how social media is impacting them, and how we as parents we can support their mental wellbeing.

• Why do you think depression and anxiety is on the rise in young people?
• How much is social media impacting the way our teens are able to interact with each other
• and how do they see the world?
• What can parents do to help teach their children about the impacts of social media?
• What can parents do to help teach their children about living in a world that is so heavy on technology?
• How is social media linked with an increase in addictive behaviour?
• What are some self-care and mental wellbeing tips teens can try?
• What ways can parents help support their children during stressful times?
• How can a parent identify if their child is having difficulty with their mental health? What are some signs to lookout for?

At Core of Wellbeing, Jo and Crystal offer a service where they work with families to help equip them and build their toolkit.

Links Mentioned

Core of Wellbeing Website: https://coreofwellbeing.com.au/

Instagram: @coreofwellbeing

Hosted by

Unscripted with Alex is hosted by our pharmacist & Founder of Botika Co, Alexandra Shepherd.

You can follow Alex on Instagram @alexshepherdpharmacist for behind the scenes footage, health tips, motivation, & product reviews and recommendations.

Produced By: Botika Co

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mental health is an important issue for all ages, including our little ones. Supporting the mental wellbeing of our children can help them thrive now and in the future.

As a mum, it's important to me that I help build resilience in my children. It's something that I know is going to be valuable for them throughout their lives. But what exactly is resilience, and how can we go about building it in our kids? 

In this week’s episode I spoke with Psychologist Jo from Core of Wellbeing about how to help kids develop resilience so they can thrive when things get tough. But we also spoke about how to identify when their mental wellbeing may be suffering and what we can do to help support them.

According to the World Health Organisation, around 450 million people suffer from mental health disorders worldwide. That's 15% of the global population! Considering that 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem in their lifetime, it's important that as parents we take steps to support our children's mental wellbeing. 

So in this conversation with Jo, I wanted to explore more on how as parents we can practical support and nurture our littles ones mental wellbeing and resilience.

Topics Covered

1.  How prevalent is depression and anxiety in this age group?
2. How can a parent identify if their primary school aged child is having difficulty with their mental health? What are some signs to lookout for?
3. The use of technology starts early. How much does this affect their brain development and emotional stability?
4. What is resilience and what are we trying to achieve with building it?
5. What are some techniques or methods of helping our children build resilience?

At Core of Wellbeing, Jo and Crystal offer a service where they work with families to help equip them and build their toolkit.

Core of Wellbeing Website: https://coreofwellbeing.com.au/

Instagram: @coreofwellbeing

Unscripted with Alex is hosted by our pharmacist & Founder of Botika Co, Alexandra Shepherd.

You can follow Alex on Instagram @alexshepherdpharmacist for behind the scenes footage, health tips, motivation, & product reviews and recommendations.

Produced By: Botika Co

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As your child gears up for exams, you may be wondering if there's anything you can do to help boost their brain power. Well, it turns out that there are a few things you can feed them which will help them perform at their best. In this week’s episode, we talked with Nutrition Coach Kellie Ashdown, about how to best fuel the brain during exam time.

We discuss some of the best foods to boost cognitive function and memory, as well as improve overall concentration and focus. So whether your teen is studying for exams or just trying to do better in school, tune in for Kellie’s top tips!

1. How much nutrition really impacts our learning
2. Top brain power foods to eat during study periods
3. Foods to avoid during exam time
4. Best ways parents can support their children and eating habits during the study period
5. Inspiring lunchbox ideas to support brain power

Kellie’s goal as a nutrition coach is to offer guidance around making sustainable changes that will help improve a family’s overall eating habits. By the end of this podcast, parents should feel inspired but also have a good idea of where they can start.

Instagram:  Small Steps Family Nutritions @small.steps.family.nutrition

Website: www.smallstepsnutrition.com/

Unscripted with Alex is hosted by our pharmacist & Founder of Botika Co, Alexandra Shepherd.

You can follow Alex on Instagram @alexshepherdpharmacist for behind the scenes footage, health tips, motivation, & product reviews and recommendations.

Produced By: Botika Co

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.