https://www.thelovingawareness.com.au/

Remi Odisho Integrative, Melbourne, Melbourne (2026)

18/02/2026

Sleep issues are often one of the earliest signs of perimenopause, and the one symptom most women come in for clinically.

Night-time cortisol spikes, low progesterone, and nervous system hyper-arousal can all interfere with sleep quality. Acupuncture helps calm the nervous system and support circadian rhythm signalling.

It does this by regulating the expression of core circadian clock genes—such as Clock, Bmal1, Per1, and Per2—in the suprachiasmatic nucleus, which is the brain's main master clock. It has been shown to restore the amplitude of these genes, helping to stabilize sleep-wake cycles.

In addition to this, acupuncture helps balance the levels of serotonin and 5-HIAA (a serotonin metabolite), which act as "switches" that help manage the alternation of sleep-wake phases.

Better sleep supports everything else — mood, energy, and hormone resilience.

Rest is a form of treatment.

18/02/2026

Sleep issues are often one of the earliest signs of perimenopause, and the one I see most often clinically.

Night-time cortisol spikes, low progesterone, and nervous system hyper-arousal can all interfere with sleep quality. Acupuncture helps calm the nervous system and support circadian rhythm signalling.

It does this by regulating the expression of core circadian clock genes—such as Clock, Bmal1, Per1, and Per2—in the suprachiasmatic nucleus, which is the brain's main master clock. It has been shown to restore the amplitude of these genes, helping to stabilize sleep-wake cycles.

In addition to this, acupuncture helps balance the levels of serotonin and 5-HIAA (a serotonin metabolite), which act as switches that help manage the alternation of sleep-wake phases.

Better sleep supports everything else — mood, energy, and hormone resilience.

Rest is a form of treatment.

16/02/2026

Mood changes during perimenopause are common — and they’re not a personal failing.

Hormonal fluctuations affect neurotransmitters involved in calm, focus, and emotional regulation. Acupuncture influences these pathways by supporting nervous system balance and stress modulation.

Many women describe feeling calmer, more grounded, and emotionally steadier after treatment. And the best part of acupuncture is that it has a cumulative affect on the nervous system, which means you may have a frequent treatment period and then benefit from the impact from weeks to months.

Mood symptoms are a signal — not a weakness. Listen to your body.

13/02/2026

Stress doesn’t just sit in the background during perimenopause — it actively shapes symptoms.

Chronic stress increases cortisol output, disrupts progesterone, and keeps the nervous system stuck in “on” mode. If you're constantly on the go, or have been in state of chronic stress, then you know what this feels like.

Acupuncture helps shift the body out of fight-or-flight and into a calmer, more regulated state.

When stress signalling settles, hormones often stabilise more easily too. Once we combine this with targeted dietary and lifestyle recommendations, things become much easier to manage.

Your nervous system sets the stage for your hormones.

11/02/2026

Perimenopause isn’t just a hormone shift — it’s a whole-body transition.

As ovarian hormone output becomes more erratic, the nervous system, stress hormones, and brain–ovary communication all play a bigger role in how symptoms show up. This is why perimenopause can feel unpredictable and different from person to person.

Acupuncture supports regulation across these systems, helping the body adapt rather than forcing change.

Perimenopause care works best when we support the whole body.

09/02/2026

Perimenopause and menopause aren’t conditions to endure — they’re transitions that deserve respect and support.

More often than not, once lifestyle and diet modifications are made based on personal biochemistry we see long-standing, manageable changes throughout this transition.

Sometimes its as simple as making a few tweaks, other times its about empowering women through education. Where ever you are during this time, there is always support available to you.

You’re not failing at menopause. Your body is signalling for support.

24/07/2023

Hello Friends!

The most common complaints I've been hearing in clinic lately are patients catching cold/flu's and not being able to get over there symptoms.

So I thought, why not do a webinar about it?

During the winter months, we understand how important it is to stay healthy and resilient, especially in the face of seasonal challenges. That's why we're excited to invite you to an exclusive and engaging webinar that will empower you with valuable insights on optimising your immunity.

Join us on Saturday 29th July at 1:30PM for an illuminating webinar presented by leading experts in the field of health and wellness.

Here's what you can look forward to during this FREE webinar:

🍲 Winter Nutrition Essentials: Uncover the power of food and nutrition that will keep you feeling energized, well-nourished, and ready to take on any cold day that comes your way.

🧘 Strengthening the Mind-Body Connection: Explore the vital connection between a strong mind and a resilient immune system. Learn about some of the evidence behind mindfulness techniques and other lifestyle practices to support your overall well-being.

🌿 Expert Tips from Renowned Naturopaths: Discover natural ways to bolster your immune system and stay vibrant during the winter months. Our experienced naturopaths will share their secrets for maintaining optimal health through traditional home herbal remedies.

🙋 Interactive Q&A Session: Engage with our experts during the live Q&A segment, where you can get your burning questions answered.

🎁 Exclusive Webinar Bonus: As a token of our appreciation for your participation, all attendees will receive a special offer that will complement your winter wellness journey.

Can't make the event? No worries- we'll be recording the event live and all participants who couldn't make it will receive a copy along with our special bonus offer!

Registration link will be in the comments and available on my bio! Looking forward to seeing some familiar faces!!

25/08/2022

Now that I’ve highlighted some of the signs of poor function, lets take a look at some of the habits that contribute to this in the first place.

Lack movement is a huge contributor to poor . The lack of may create stagnation & poor . The act of rhythmic breathing during exercise helps to move things through the intestines as well as activating the which can help promote bowel motions.

Next is water intake- is so important for our gut health but it also helps with . Dehydration may contribute to , & poor mucous production in the intestines which aids the immune system. If you’re not a big water drinker, you can try adding water-rich foods to your diet to enhance .

Third we’ve got low intake. Fibre is one of the most important macros to maintaining gut health. Fibre helps to support the diversity of microbes within the gut so that they can in turn synthesise vitamins, neurotransmitters & anti-inflammatory compounds. Start by shifting your thinking to “what would my microbiome like to eat today?- It’ll be a win-win situation!

A diet high in sugar & refined carbs has so many downsides, but in relation to the gut it helps to feed unhealthy bacterial species & yeasts. The increase in unhealthy bacteria may cause symptoms of , abdominal discomfort and recurrent infections. I’m not advocating that you cut sugar out of your diet completely, but moderation is key!

This last one is probably the one I see most clinically- individuals who’ve had recurrent courses of and can’t seem to recover. Antibiotics do have a place in medicine, but it’s important to support your body with pre and probiotics during your course to avoid damage to the gut, recurrent infection & antibiotic resistance.

Don’t stress if you have some of these habits- they key is awareness so that you can take action to change! I’m always here for support if you want it.

23/08/2022

This will be the first post of my gut series! In this post I want to share the most common symptoms I see that arise from .

The first is digestive issues- because we live in such a fast paced world symptoms like , & is routinely common in clinical practice. If you’re experiencing these symptoms on a regular basis, it may be a key indicator that you need some digestive support or your NS is stressed and cannot keep up with the digestive processes. In either case, it needs some love!

The next is the presence of disease. Did you know that about 70% of your immune system resides in your ? Crazy! If your gut is not breaking down food properly, this creates a breeding ground for unhealthy bacteria to flourish. This will send alarm bells to our immune system. Over-time, this creates prolonged and may begin to change how the immune system functions.

Another common one is issues with . A significant amount of our neurotransmitters (NT) that help support our & sleep cycle are actually made in the gut. When gut function & microbiome diversity is poor, levels of these NT begin to decline. In these instances, it’s common to present with , & .

Unexplained is a big one- especially for people who feel they’re getting enough sleep. This may relate to poor gut function, but it may also indicate signs of poor nutrient absorption or a slow-detoxifying liver. Other symptoms include , poor memory & forgetfulness.

Another biggie is & ! This is an absolute key indicator that the body is not eliminating waste and/or hormones properly. This build of waste ends up circulating through the body to seek alternate routes of exit, ie skin! Symptoms of this usually present as , , & .

If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms, shoot a message and let’s have a chat about how I can help!

18/08/2022

The correlation between our nervous system (NS) and digestion is - one can not work without the other. In modern society it becomes difficult for the NS to differentiate stress from an actual perceived threat. For example, the NS cannot differentiate the difference between you having to go speak in front of a thousand people vs being chased by a tiger; the response is the same- the body goes into survival mode and diverts all of its energy to the skeletal muscle so you can quite literally “fight” or “fly” away from the perceived threat.

This response impacts the digestive system because all digestive functions are halted until the body deems it is safe by entering the NS response. This is why we can sometimes feel , or even when we’re eating meals. If we don’t allow the time and space for our body to come out of our response then our and is greatly decreased.

With this comes many common digestive symptoms like , , , , , , , & . And because the body is not digesting and absorbing what it needs to, the NS becomes even more depleted, and the vicious cycle continues.

It’s common and normal to experience these symptoms from time to time, but if they’re happening on a regular basis, there may be a disconnect between the NS and the digestive tract. Stay tuned for my gut series, where I’m going to talk about all issues on the gut, what behaviours contribute to poor - and how you can support your gut with & .

If you found this post helpful, give it a like & send it to someone who may benefit!

16/08/2022

There’s definitely been a delay in between posts but here are some of the most common herbs I use clinically for supporting nervous system function.

First, we’ve got Avena Sativa, better known as Oat! A beautiful and gentle way to improve mood, reduce anxiety and remodel the nervous system. This herb is referred to as a nerve tonic for its high nutritional value of minerals and b-vitamins which help to support overall nervous system function. Its indicated in conditions of , , and drug-withdrawal.

Next is a very popular , , commonly known as or Indian ginseng. In WHM this herb is mostly described as an , but has ample effects on enhancing nervous system function due to its ability to decrease . Withania is indicated for cases of burn out, debility, physical/emotional stress & .

Another one of my favourites is Verbena, commonly known as . This herb has both medicinal and energetic actions. As an herb it’s used as a natural and nerve tonic. Vervain also helps to support the and digestion due to its bitterness and strengthens the relationship between the & the brain. Energetically this herb helps to reduce feelings of anger and for those who are highly strung.

Third is Skullcap. One of the most underrated herbs, skullcap is amazing for any type of nerve condition, recovery from illness, anxiety, , , - basically any kind of over-firing of nerve conduction. It does this because of its concentration of calcium, magnesium and potassium to reduce & manage nerve conduction.

Last is Passionflower, another relatively popular herb used- with good reason. It is a great sleep tonic, especially in cases of . Passionflower is another great tonic for reducing severity of headache, anxiety & irritability.

These herbs are often used in combination with others for a synergistic effect- if you struggle with nervous system function, let’s chat and get you onto some beautiful herbs!

17/03/2022

Now that I’ve highlighted some of signs and habits associated with stress, I want to use this post to share some nutrients that can help support the nervous system (NS) in times of stress.

First up we have magnesium (Mg). In times of heightened stress there is a greater need for Mg because of the increased levels of nerve conductivity and neuro-muscular transmission. If Mg stores aren’t replenished, this begins to reduce levels of dopamine, serotonin and melatonin which can affect our mood, digestion & sleep.

Next up we have Zinc (Zn), and most people think of Zn for immunity, but it has pivotal roles in the NS due to all the enzymes that require Zn to carry out the synthesis of neurotransmitters (NT). In fact, Zn has roles in modulating our excitation & relaxation responses.

Third we have B-Vitamins. B’s are important for energy, maintaining nerve cell function and also have roles in synthesising NT. The big players in the nervous system are B6 & B12 as they’re used in so many NT systems, which can be good for targeted therapy or supporting overall NS function.

Next, we have protein. When we breakdown protein they are divided into amino acids. It’s these building blocks that allow us to create NT that help support and reduce our stress response. Without having adequate protein, it makes it difficult for the body to reduce the flight/fight response.

Lastly, we have Omega-3, which is more known for skin health but also has key functions in the NS. Omega-3 has an anti-inflammatory effect in the nervous system, supports the integrity of nerve cells and helps produce more brain-derived neurotrophic factor- a hormone that helps create new neuronal connections.

This is a small list of some of the most used nutrients I use for NS function, but it’s important to remember that we are all individual and we all have different needs. If you need some help with your NS send me a message!

Please share this post if you found it helpful

Remi Odisho Integrative

18/02/2026

18/02/2026

16/02/2026

13/02/2026

11/02/2026

09/02/2026

24/07/2023

25/08/2022

23/08/2022

18/08/2022

16/08/2022

17/03/2022

Address

Website

Alerts

Contact The Practice

Shortcuts

Share