Melbourne Naturopath

20/04/2026

So matcha didn’t pass the test. But there is good news.

In case you haven’t discovered this yet, Coles sells a genuinely good pomegranate juice. Far better quality than anything I’ve tried elsewhere. USDA certified organic, in a glass bottle.

It beats green tea for polyphenol content. Its antioxidant potential is higher than resveratrol’s, which is a whole other story (are you still buying resveratrol supplements? Stop it. That myth refuses to die.)

What the research shows:

✅ One of the most consistently reproduced effects: blood pressure reduction. Daily intake lowers both systolic and diastolic by approximately 5 mmHg.

✅ It reduces oxidative stress, which decreases uptake of oxidised LDL, which significantly reduces atherosclerotic damage to your vessels.

In other words: it helps prevent cardiovascular disease ❤️‍🩹

✅ Excellent systemic anti-inflammatory. The compounds in pomegranate juice: punicalagins, ellagic acid, and anthocyanins m,odulate NF-κB signalling, reducing inflammation.

One caveat: sugar. It’s juice. Juice always means sugar. But this is one of the rare cases where it’s worth it.

19/04/2026

I’m not one to follow trends, especially one I spectacularly missed (how old is this one, 10 years? 20?) but a while ago my son and I were looking for a café at 3pm and this was the only thing open. So we succumbed to the trend. They had nothing except matcha, just many different versions of it.

Everyone knows the green tea joke? Does green tea help you lose weight? Yes, if you climb a mountain to pick it. And don’t eat anything.

But it’s still good for you, right? A superfood?

I’m not sure it earns that title, honestly.

Right now it’s being sold as detox, fat-burning, hormonal balance, basically youth in a cup.

I get why the marketing works. Research on green tea (and matcha is green tea, Camellia sinensis, just ground into powder) does show up with genuinely positive results across a range of contexts, from weight management to cancer prevention.
When you drink matcha, you’re consuming the whole leaf, not just a brew, so the concentration is higher.
What’s legitimately impressive: catechins, primarily EGCG, that’s the compound that keeps showing up in the research.

✅ Antioxidants- yes, real ones. ✅ Vascular support - yes.

It does contain caffeine, possibly as much as coffee, depending on the grade and how the coffee’s prepared, but it’s balanced by L-theanine, which produces a smoother, more sustained focus than coffee. Also: l-theanine offsets the stimulating effects of caffeine and that means reduced anxiety for most people (some will still react).

There’s a mild metabolic effect too, but it’s not going to move the needle on weight unless you’re literally going into the mountains to pick it yourself.

The downsides: 😩 Caffeine → can affect sleep 😩 Reduces iron absorption → important if you’re at risk 🫣 Cheap matcha = low quality and higher contamination risk

The moral of the story: if you enjoy it and don’t mind spending the money, go for it. It won’t hurt.

If your sleep, diet, and movement are already solid, matcha might give you a small bonus.

If they’re not, it won’t fix anything.

It’s still a better choice than a sweet coffee, a packaged juice, or yet another “detox tea.” Just keep it in perspective.

14/04/2026

As promised - the magnesium breakdown.

Let’s sort out what’s worth buying and what’s just money in the bin.

In short:

❌ Oxide: No
✅ Citrate: Yes universally
✅ Glycinate: Yes, especially for sleep and sensitive digestion
✅ Taurate: yes, for cardiovascular concerns and energy. L
✅ Threonate: yes, but go in with eyes open and don’t use it as your only source.

13/04/2026

Magnesium is involved in over 300 enzymatic reactions:

👉 Sleep
👉 Stress response
👉 Heart rhythm
👉 Serotonin synthesis
👉 Muscle relaxation

The standard test will tell you everything’s fine until things are very much not fine.

We want to know earlier than that.

The right marker to ask your doctor for is RBC magnesium (magnesium inside red blood cells). This reflects what’s actually happening in your tissues.

Tomorrow I’ll break down the overwhelming kaleidoscope of magnesium supplement forms and which one you should actually choose. There are so many. And they’re all for different things. If you have questions about magnesium, drop them in the comments.

09/04/2026

Most people think fibre works like a scrubbing brush, or a sponge, sweeping you clean from the inside. That’s actually not what’s happening.

The fibre from your vegetables, fruit, grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds arrives in the large intestine completely intact, because our enzymes can’t break it down. In other words, we eat it for someone else.

You probably know we have a microbiome. It’s an entire universe in there, with its own hierarchy, its own representatives of good and evil and like something out of a Lukyanenko (Russian speakers will know) novel, they need to stay in balance.

I won’t go deep on the whole ecosystem today, but I want to mention two residents in particular:

👉 Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Roseburia. These bacteria ferment dietary fibre into short-chain fatty acids.

The most important one: butyrate❗️

Colonocytes (the cells lining your large intestine) get roughly 70% of their energy from butyrate. Not glucose. Not glutamine. Butyrate.

When these cells are well-fuelled, they maintain the tight junctions that form the intestinal barrier. That barrier is what separates the contents of your colon from your bloodstream. Butyrate also stimulates T cell differentiation, which supports immune tolerance and keeps the pathological inflammatory signalling that drives many gut diseases in check.

But not all fibre produces butyrate equally.

🥔 Resistant starch (cooked and cooled potato, green bananas, cold rice) is the most efficient precursor.

🥣 Beta-glucan from oats and psyllium help, but less so.

🧄 Inulin and FOS produce a lot of butyrate but cause more noticeable bloating in sensitive people.

Did you know the lining of the large intestine renews itself completely every 3–5 days?

A low-fibre diet isn’t just slower digestion. It’s cutting off the fuel supply to the cells responsible for barrier integrity and immune regulation.

This means what you eat matters! And it can make a big difference quite quickly.

02/04/2026

It crept up slowly. I didn’t realise what was happening at first.

I was tired. But I had a small child and I was working a lot. So naturally I was tired, right?
I was snappy and easily irritated. But people are annoying and I was tired. It made sense. Right?

I was putting on weight. But I’ve never been skinny and I gave in to cravings because I was exhausted and it was an easy dopamine boost. And I had no time or energy to exercise. Completely logical and expected.

Then I had a photoshoot.

I was shocked. I looked awful. But maybe the photographer was bad. And I had a cold that day so my face was puffy and swollen. And my friend did my hair (to the best of her limited ability). I decided to get over it and move on.

A few months later I had another photoshoot. This time with a photographer I trusted. She took many gorgeous photos of me three years ago. Surely she could do it again.

Shock horror. I looked awful.

Between the photos from three years ago and now, I had aged fifteen years. There were no excuses left. No bad photographers. No colds. No unfortunate hair days. If I didn’t act fast, this would be the new me, and it would only get worse.

So I went to my GP. Got the blood tests, the ultrasounds, the referrals. The results told a story I recognised immediately. I’ve seen it in my patients a hundred times.

Here’s the thing.

I’m a naturopath with 15 years of clinical experience. A Masters in women’s health medicine. A full subject on menopause. Another on reproductive endocrinology. I know this transition better than most GPs.

I knew exactly what was happening to me.

I kept telling myself I was different.

I’m not.

So I’m going to document everything I do about it. Not as a patient. As a clinician who just became her own case study.
You get to watch this unfold.

First thing I’m starting with?

It’s not hormones.

30/03/2026

This is not protocol-based care.

Your treatment is developed from a detailed understanding of your health, with interventions selected based on clinical relevance, not trends.

From there, we track, adjust, and refine.

Because effective care requires precision, not guesswork.

Drop a message or comment, ask a question or book your first appointment.

Website is now live (link in comments section below)

29/03/2026

I’m Inna Mitelman, naturopath, university lecturer, leech therapist and mum of two, but it all started when I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at 17, and then told at 20 that I’d never conceive without IVF. I’ve been Crohn’s-free for 32 years. I have two children, both conceived naturally with the youngest arriving at age 43.

Swipe to learn more about my story and my work.

08/10/2025

The weather is warming up, and leeches are out of hybernation!

After their winter rest, our leeches are active again and ready to ease your pain.

If you’ve been waiting to continue your treatments or were due for a maintenance session, this is the perfect time — the leeches are in peak condition, and results tend to be strongest in the first few months after hibernation.

Leech therapy can help ease joint or muscle pain, reduce inflammation, support circulation, and speed recovery after injury or surgery.

All treatments are carried out under strict hygienic conditions using individually sourced, single-use medical leeches.

If you’d like to book your next session, simply reply to this message or get in touch to schedule a time that suits you.

16/04/2025

Exciting news! The first Australian certification course in Hirudotherapy has just concluded, and our first cohort of students has successfully completed their practical workshops. Once their assessments are finalized, they’ll be ready to bring the healing power of leech therapy into clinical practice.

This marks a significant milestone as we now have trained leech therapy practitioners ready to serve communities across Australia, from major cities to country towns. Our mission is to make this remarkable healing modality widely accessible, offering natural relief for various conditions. 

If you’re seeking a practitioner near you, feel free to leave a comment or send me a private message. We’re here to connect you with qualified professionals who can assist you on your healing journey.

For health practitioners interested in expanding their therapeutic repertoire, we’re now accepting expressions of interest for the next intake of our Hirudotherapy certification course. This comprehensive program covers everything from the history and benefits of leech therapy to hands-on application techniques, ensuring you’re well-equipped to integrate this therapy into your practice.

Join us in revitalizing an ancient healing art and making a meaningful impact on patient health.

25/06/2024

Dealing with diabetic neuropathy can be incredibly challenging, especially when conventional treatments offer little relief. But did you know that leech therapy, an ancient healing practice, is showing excellent results in managing this condition?

Leeches release a unique blend of bioactive substances, including hirudin, which helps improve blood circulation, reduce inflammation, and promote healing in affected areas. For those suffering from diabetic neuropathy, this means potential relief from pain and numbness that other treatments might not provide.

If you or a loved one are struggling with diabetic neuropathy and seeking alternative solutions, leech therapy might be worth exploring. Send me a private message or call 0411230026 to discuss your needs.

My name is Inna Mitelman, I am a clinical naturopath leech therapist and a health sciences lecturer.

02/09/2023

The relationship between leeches and humans has always been symbiotic. We feed them, they heal us.

These little miracles reduce pain and inflammation, improve tissue repair and promote healing.

If you suffer from arthritis, varicose veins, alopecia, skin problems such as eczema, acne, psoriasis, and many others - ask me if hirudotherapy is right for you.