What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 8am - 5pm Saturday 9am - 12pm

http://www.claridgenaturopathics.com.au/

Claridge Naturopathics, 114 West Fyans Street, Geelong (2025)

20/12/2025

What the year leaves behind...

As another year comes quietly to a close, it invites us—almost politely—to look back on what it has placed in our hands. There were, no doubt, moments of lightness and moments of weight; gains that surprised us and losses that altered the shape of our days. Yet the true measure of the year is not found in what it gave or took away, but in what it taught us.

For many, the festive season arrives with mixed emotions. Alongside its familiar rituals and gentle warmth, it can sharpen our awareness of those who are no longer present. Their absence may be felt most keenly now, when memories seem closer to the surface and time feels momentarily suspended. In these moments, there is a certain grace in sharing their stories—speaking their names, recalling their humour, their kindness, the small habits that made them unmistakably themselves. In doing so, we elevate their lives and we tend to our own healing.

May you allow yourself the space to reflect, to remember, and to move forward with tenderness toward yourself and others. Take care, and may the season ahead offer moments of comfort, connection, and quiet hope.

Season’s greetings.

Rob and the Claridge Naturopathics team

17/12/2025

A friendly reminder that Claridge Naturopathics will be taking a short break over the holiday period, allowing our team some well-earned time to rest and be with their loved ones.

Our clinic will be closed from Saturday 20 December 2025 and will reopen at 9:00am on Wednesday 7 January 2026.

To help you feel supported over the holidays, we kindly ask that any orders are placed and collected by tomorrow, Friday 19 December.

Our friendly reception team can take your order and payment over the phone, just call us on (03) 5221 8220.

Thank you for your continued trust and support throughout the year. We wish you a joyful festive season, and we look forward to supporting for you again in the New Year.

With love and gratitude,

The Claridge Naturopathics Team

13/12/2025

Why disconnecting is one of the healthiest things you can do

In a world that never stops moving, most of us don’t realise just how constantly “switched on” we’ve become. Between notifications, work, messages, social commitments, emails and the pressure to always be available, our nervous system is working overtime. And the truth is, your brain was never designed for this level of continual input.

When we are always switched on, the brain’s “fire team” slips out of balance.
• The alarm system (limbic brain) becomes jumpy and reactive.
• The firefighter (brainstem) stays on high alert, ready to put out the next spot fire.
• The fire chief (prefrontal cortex) gets overwhelmed, making it harder to think clearly, regulate emotions, stay motivated or make good decisions.

This isn’t a character flaw, it’s biology.
And it’s why deliberate disconnection is one of the most powerful tools for mental and physical health.

When you intentionally step back from social media, constant commitments and digital noise, your nervous system finally gets space to reset. The alarm quiets. The firefighter settles. The fire chief regains control. Mood lifts, sleep improves, digestion settles and your body slides back into balance.

Disconnection isn’t laziness or avoidance, it’s required maintenance. Just like you’d never drive your car endlessly without stopping for fuel, your mind and body need planned downtime to function well.

As we move into the Christmas and New Year period, easily the busiest (and most overwhelming) time of the year, give yourself permission to slow down. Even a few intentional pauses can shift your mood, calm your nervous system and help you start the new year feeling grounded instead of burnt out.

This season, choose stillness. Choose space. Choose you.

I would love to help you plan your lifestyle so it respects this important fact. This could include bespoke relaxing strategies and a timetable for their implementation that can be reasonably accomplished.

If I don’t see you before the break, wishing you a safe and wonderful Christmas.

I look forward to seeing you in 2026.

Matt

11/12/2025

Is your child running on sunshine… or have they lost their sparkle?

This time of year has a way of stretching us all, especially our little ones.
End-of-year activities, late nights, excitement… and I’m sure a fair bit of tiredness creeping in too.

So when your child seems a bit off, more tired than usual, extra cranky, or catching every cold, it’s easy to blame the silly season.
But sometimes it’s their body giving them a gentle warning signal.

One of the most common things we’re seeing right now is low Vitamin D.
And this simple nutrient makes such a difference.
Vitamin D supports strong bones, steadier moods, and a resilient immune system.

The tricky part is with so much time spent indoors, many kids just aren’t making enough.

Here are a few small shifts that may help:
• A touch of safe sunshine for 10 to 15 minutes in the low-UV parts of the day (before 10 am or after 4 pm in summer)
• Simple whole foods like eggs, fatty fish, and mushrooms (which naturally produce Vitamin D when left in the sunlight)
• A supplement if their levels need a little boost

Sometimes it’s these small, consistent shifts that can offer so much support.
A little bit of sunshine really does go a long way.

If something feels off with your child and you’d like a bit more clarity, I’m here to help. I specialise in Children’s Health and bring a calm, reassuring presence to your little one’s world.

You can book online or call our friendly reception team on 03 5221 8220.

At this busy time of year, our little ones need all the steadiness they can get.
And you don’t have to figure it out alone.

Yours in good health,

Sarah

11/12/2025

A friendly reminder that our clinic will be closed from Saturday 20 December 2025 and reopening on Wednesday 7 January 2026.

During this time, we won’t be available to organise appointments, remedies, scripts or Naturopathic support.

If you need anything to support you over the break, please call us on (03) 5221 8220 to book an appointment and arrange collection before Friday 19 December.

With gratitude,

The Claridge Naturopathics team

18/11/2025

Men’s Mental Health – It’s Time We Talked About It

Today is International Men’s Mental Health Day, a reminder that behind the brave faces, busy schedules and quiet resilience, so many men are carrying heavy emotional loads in silence.

In Australia, men are far less likely to seek help for stress, anxiety or depression, yet are tragically overrepresented in su***de statistics.

Too often, the belief that we need to 'just push through' becomes a wall between how we feel and the support we need. But mental health isn’t a weakness, it’s a reflection of how our body, mind and environment are coping with the constant pressures of modern life.

At Claridge Naturopathics, our approach to mental wellbeing looks deeper. It recognises that low mood, irritability or fatigue aren’t just “in your head”, they can be signs of underlying imbalance. Stress hormones, poor sleep, inflammation, nutrient deficiencies and gut health all influence the communication messengers in our brain affecting emotional resilience. By addressing these foundations with natural medicine, nutrition, and lifestyle changes, our team can help bring the body and mind back into balance.

What I love about this approach is that it’s not about masking symptoms; it’s about supporting men to feel clear, calm and strong again. Whether it’s through targeted herbs that restore the nervous system, nutrients that lift energy and mood, or simple practices to reduce stress and improve sleep, there’s so much that can be done safely and effectively.

Let's start the conversation, with a mate, a partner, or with yourself. Real strength is being open, honest and proactive about your wellbeing.

If you would like to learn more about my empowering approach to uplifting men’s health potential, or to achieve momentum for improved health for you or a loved one, please call our reception team on (03) 5221 8220 or book an appointment online (https://claridgenaturopathics.com.au/).
There is no better time to unite.

Matt

12/11/2025

THE QUIET ARCHITECTURE OF KINDNESS

Today we celebrate WORLD KINDNESS DAY. Kindness, in its simplest attire, is the deliberate act of easing another’s burden whether through word, gesture, or quiet presence. Yet beneath that modest cloak lies something grander: a social force woven into our biology that affirms our shared humanity.

Imagine a traveller offering their seat to a weary stranger on a crowded tram. The gesture is small, almost forgettable. But in that instant according to the quiet machinery of the nervous system two hearts perform a duet. Studies from Stanford and Oxford show that acts of kindness release oxytocin, lowering blood pressure, steadying the pulse, and deepening trust (1)(2). The giver feels the same gentle uplift as the receiver a physiological echo of connection.

Neuroscientists at the University of Zurich have found that kindness activates the ventral striatum, the brain’s reward centre the same region stirred by music, laughter and a hug from a friend (3). The brain, it seems, rewards benevolence with pleasure, as though nature were encouraging us to look out for one another.

Psychologists have turned their lens to this ancient currency. A 2018 meta-analysis from Oxford, spanning 400 studies, revealed that regular acts of kindness volunteering, offering help, or a simple compliment enhance well-being, heighten life satisfaction, and soften anxiety and melancholy (4). The benefit grows when given without expectation of return.

Perhaps most telling: researchers from Harvard and the University of British Columbia found that those who spend money on others report greater happiness than those who spend it on themselves (5). Generosity is not merely noble it is neurologically rewarding.

In these times, kindness is not an accessory to civility but its cornerstone a quiet revolution enacted one human encounter at a time. It is sentiment and science, grace and neurochemistry. Society may prize ambition, but kindness leaves the deeper imprint: a soft touch that steadies the world, and in steadying it, steadies us.

Be the reason someone believes in kindness.

Rob

(Please see the references in the comments).

18/10/2025

UNDERSTANDING OSTEOPOROSIS - HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT YOUR BONES

Osteoporosis is common in Australia, especially for those over 50.

More than a million Australians live with osteoporosis, and another 6 million have osteopenia (low bone mass). With numbers this high, it’s worth knowing what makes up healthy bone – and what you can do to protect yours.

WHY BONE HEALTH MATTERS
Bone does far more than hold us upright.
• It provides structure and movement
• It protects vital organs
• It stores and releases essential minerals
• It produces blood cells
• It regulates hormones and even helps balance pH

Bone is living, dynamic tissue – a blend of minerals for strength, collagen for flexibility, and water for resilience. Specialised cells constantly build, repair, and maintain it. True bone health means more than density alone; flexibility and quality matter just as much when it comes to preventing fractures.

WHAT HAPPENS AS BONES AGE
As we get older, bones naturally change. Factors such as inflammation, hormonal shifts, oxidative stress, poor nutrition, inactivity, and chronic illness can speed up bone loss. The results are:
• Lower bone mass and density
• Reduced strength and flexibility
• Impaired bone function overall

THE LIMITS OF CONVENTIONAL TREATMENT
Medicines like Denosumab (Prolia) can increase bone density by slowing bone breakdown. However, they reduce the clearance of ageing and unhealthy bone cells, have no impact on collagen restoration and don’t support the bone-building cells we rely on for long-term strength. In short, density improves, but bone quality and health does not.

A WHOLISTIC APPROACH
The good news? While bones respond slowly, they do respond. By targeting both the causes (inflammation, oxidation, hormonal change, lifestyle) and the effects (loss of minerals, collagen, and cell function), it’s possible to support real bone health.
Naturopathic care focuses on this broader picture – helping you protect, nourish, and even rebuild your bones naturally.

If you’d like to take proactive steps for stronger, healthier bones, we’d love to help.
Please call our reception team on (03) 5221 8220 to book an appointment.

Yours in good health,

Rob

05/10/2025

Did you know anxiety is the most common mental health challenge in Australia?

The latest National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing (1) found that nearly 1 in 5 Australians aged 16–85 experienced an anxiety disorder in the past year. More than 3.4 million people sought help from health professionals for mental health concerns in that same period. Despite these numbers, many still wait months before getting support, and often the treatment addresses only symptoms and not what’s truly going on inside the brain.

That’s why understanding how the brain’s communication system works is so important.

Imagine the brain as a fire safety team.

The brainstem is the smoke alarm. It detects threats and responds instantly with basic survival responses like increased heart rate, enhanced reflexes, and muscle readiness. It doesn’t ask questions, it just screams “Danger!” In anxiety, this alarm becomes over-sensitive, with strong reactions to small triggers.

The limbic brain acts like the firefighter, rushing in with emotion and memory. It decides how bad the danger is using past experiences as a reference. The emotions associated with these references influence the actions that follow. High emotional history equals amplified response. In anxiety, the firefighter’s actions are amplified!

Meanwhile, the prefrontal cortex is the fire chief. Without panic, the chief assesses the situation and then adds a considered strategy to the situation, providing calm to the chaos. In anxiety, the fire chief’s message is not heard!

(To continue reading Matthew Burrell - Naturopath N.D's post, please click on the link below)

https://claridgenaturopathics.com.au/anxiety-a-fire-in-the-brain/

If anxiety is weighing you down and your current strategies aren’t enough, know that you don’t have to navigate this alone. I’d be honoured to support you.

You can call us on (03) 5221 8220, book online, or drop by and see us at 114 West Fyans St, Newtown, 3222.

Take care,

Matt
B.H.Sc. N.D.

(1) National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing, 2020-2022 | Australian Bureau of Statistics Major Mental Health Study Released | Health, Disability and Ageing Ministers | Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing

10/09/2025

R U OK? Day 2025 – Rethinking Mental Health

Today, September 11th, we pause for R U OK? Day, a gentle but powerful reminder to check in with the people around us and, just as importantly, with ourselves. It’s about more than asking a question. It’s about opening space for real conversations, truly listening, and letting each other know that support is always possible.

Mental health is one of Australia’s biggest challenges. More than 3 million Australians experience anxiety or depression each year, and if you’ve ever felt low, stuck, or overwhelmed, you’re certainly not alone. The encouraging news is that our mental health is not fixed. It can be supported, nourished, and strengthened in ways that bring us more calmness, clarity, and resilience.

At its core, mental wellbeing is about connection, both with others and within our own brain.

The brainstem helps us feel safe by managing stress and survival responses.

The limbic system processes our emotions.

The prefrontal cortex gives us perspective, focus, and clarity.

When these areas “talk” smoothly through chemical messengers called neurotransmitters, life feels easier. Emotions settle, stress feels manageable, and we bounce back quicker from challenges. But when that communication breaks down, the opposite can happen, stress feels overwhelming, emotions spiral, and focus becomes harder to hold.

Too often, treatment focuses only on pharmaceuticals. While medication can be very helpful, it often doesn’t address the root causes of imbalance. For example, a poor diet might trigger nutrient deficiencies that affect how the brainstem regulates stress signals. This, in turn, can create heightened emotional responses in the limbic system and reduce the prefrontal cortex’s ability to calm things down. The result? Anxiety that feels relentless, fatigue that lingers, and a loop that keeps feeding itself.

The good news? There are ways to break that loop. Holistic strategies, through nutrition, lifestyle, and personalised care, can restore balance, improve resilience, and give you back a sense of control. This is what I’ve been trained to support people with, and it’s why I’m so passionate about helping you feel not just “okay” but truly well.

If you’d like to start this conversation for yourself, I’d love to walk alongside you.
You can book an appointment by calling our reception team on (03) 5221 8220 or book online via our website.

Take care of yourself, and remember, you’re never alone in this.

Warmly,

Matt

24/08/2025

Last weekend I had the privilege of presenting at the International Integria Healthcare Practitioner Symposium, at the Sofitel in Brisbane.

To stand in front of around 300 practitioners and know that just as many more were tuning in online from across the world was both humbling and uplifting.

I shared my keynote on ‘The Formula for Flourishing’. It centred on the power of lifestyle coaching and focused on how to find our unique habit change bullseyes from the clutter of information we are now bombarded with. Although prescriptions can give momentum to our health, it is the changes we make in our lifestyle habits that deliver the true health rewards.

The best part of the weekend wasn’t just having the opportunity to share my presentation. It was being in the room with so many dedicated practitioners who care deeply about moving holistic healthcare forward.
The conversations, the curiosity, the insights, and learnings reminded me how powerful it is when we come together and learn from one another.

I left feeling inspired, energized and incredibly grateful for the chance to contribute, and for the connections with colleagues both old and new.

After more than 40 years of practice, my hope remains unchanged that together we continue to shape a world where people don’t just make it through each day, but rise each morning with the energy and spirit to truly flourish.

Take care,

Rob

21/08/2025

The daffodil doesn’t ask for much.

It pushes through the cold ground, first thing in spring, a splash of yellow against the grey. A reminder that light always finds its way back.

Today, this flower stands for more than the season changing.
It stands for fight.
For courage.
For hope when the road feels impossibly long.

We pause to honour the people who carry that fight every day, our patients, their families, their loved ones.

Your strength is stitched into the heart of our work.

For four decades, Rob has walked alongside you.
Listening.
Learning.
Sharing in your battles.

That trust is something we never take lightly.
You are always in our thoughts, but today, on Daffodil day, we hold you a little closer.

With love,

The Claridge Naturopathics team

Claridge Naturopathics

20/12/2025

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11/12/2025

18/11/2025

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Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm
Saturday	9am - 12pm