Emily Parker - Acupuncturist & Chinese Herbalist

07/11/2025

If you’ve ever been told you have PCOS, you’re not alone—and you’re certainly not the only one confused by what that diagnosis really means. Polycystic O***y Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common hormonal conditions affecting women of reproductive age, yet it’s also one of the most misunderstood.

Here’s what’s important to know: PCOS isn’t one single thing. It’s a spectrum of symptoms and hormonal patterns that can look quite different from one woman to the next.

What’s Really Happening with PCOS

At its core, PCOS involves an imbalance in how your body produces and responds to certain hormones, especially insulin and androgens (like testosterone). That imbalance can interfere with ovulation, leading to irregular cycles or even missed periods. When ovulation doesn’t happen regularly, eggs don’t mature and release as they should. Instead, they stay in the o***y, which can create that “polycystic” (meaning many follicles) appearance on an ultrasound.

But that’s not the whole story. Insulin resistance—when your cells stop responding properly to insulin—is a major player for many women with PCOS. This can drive higher blood sugar, make it harder to use carbs efficiently for fuel, and increase fat storage around the abdomen. Over time, this hormonal-metabolic loop can affect body composition, energy levels, and even how your body responds to training.

​Read more on the new full article here >>> https://bit.ly/4hNj6FW

05/11/2025

21/10/2025

With World Menopause Day happening tomorrow, it feels like the right time to address some key questions I’m often asked about perimenopause and postmenopause. I know only too well that navigating these changes can feel confusing, frustrating, and even disheartening.

Maybe your training isn’t as effective as it used to be. Maybe your nutrition plan suddenly isn’t working. Maybe your recovery feels slower, your sleep is off, or you’re noticing mood swings or shifts in body composition you didn’t expect.

You are not broken. You’re not doing anything wrong. You’re just in a different physiological state—and when you understand what’s going on, you can work with your hormones, not against them.

Let’s break it all down so you can take back control of your training, nutrition, and performance—whether you’re in perimenopause or postmenopause (or supporting someone going through it)...

Read the full article >>> https://bit.ly/47eZJRw

14/10/2025

Now Available Online

09/10/2025

Not in the clinic today but super excited to come back next week with fresh ideas on all things fertility, IVF, pregnancy and birth!

Unleash your potential at IICMC 2025, the ultimate three day fertility conference 💙

Join Melbourne’s esteemed TCM community (Oct 10-12, 2025) or live-stream for 32 CPD points and bonus content!

Master fertility skills, transform patient live confidently with higher income and patient retention. Don’t miss out – secure your ticket now at www.icmc.com and rise with the fertile seas! Our last 20 in-person tickets are selling fast 🌟

08/10/2025

21/09/2025

In a groundbreaking clinical trial, Japanese scientists have successfully implanted lab-grown dopamine-producing neurons into Parkinson’s disease patients, marking a significant advancement in regenerative medicine. This Phase I/II study, conducted at Kyoto University Hospital, utilized induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells derived from healthy adult donors. Seven patients aged 50–69 underwent bilateral transplantation of these cells into the putamen, a brain region affected by Parkinson’s. Over a 24-month period, participants experienced an average improvement of 20.4% during medication-free periods and 35.7% during medicated periods, with no serious adverse events reported.

This achievement builds upon the Nobel Prize-winning work of Dr. Shinya Yamanaka, who developed the technique to reprogram adult cells into iPS cells. The successful application of iPS cells in this context represents a promising alternative to previous methods that faced ethical and safety concerns. The study's results suggest that this approach could restore lost brain function and offer a new avenue for treating neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s.

As research progresses, this innovative therapy holds the potential to transform the treatment landscape for Parkinson’s disease, offering hope to millions affected by this debilitating condition.

18/08/2025

Research shows period pain can be as intense as a heart attack for some women.

For years, menstrual pain has often been brushed off as something “normal” or “just part of being a woman.” But medical research is proving what many have been saying all along — the pain can be severe, debilitating, and even comparable to the intensity of a heart attack.

Menstrual cramps, or dysmenorrhea, happen when the uterus contracts to help shed its lining. In some women, these contractions become so strong that they cut off blood flow, triggering pain signals that can overwhelm the body. For those affected, the pain is not just a dull ache. It can radiate through the lower back, hips, and thighs, leaving them unable to focus, move comfortably, or even stand.

Despite this, menstrual pain is still often underestimated in medical settings. Many women report being told to “just take a painkiller” without deeper investigation into potential underlying conditions such as endometriosis or fibroids, which can make the pain even worse.

Experts say it is time to take menstrual pain seriously. Not only does it affect daily life, but ignoring it can delay diagnoses and treatment for more serious health issues. Open conversations, better research, and improved medical support are essential steps toward ensuring that women are not dismissed when they describe their pain.

Period pain is real, it is serious, and it deserves the same attention as any other intense medical condition.