Revive Wellness

20/01/2026

The Power of Plant Medicine 🍃

A pilot registry study found that treatment with an oral gotu kola extract (Centella asiatica) significantly improved the closure and healing rates of chronic venous leg ulcers when used in addition to best management treatment.

The study included 160 patients with venous ulcers and chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). One group received 675 mg/day of oral gotu kola extract (standardised to 35% total triterpenes) along with best management (BM) practices (compression, elevation, wound cleaning), while a control group received only BM.

The results demonstrated a significant improvement in the herbal group:
• Ulcer Closure Rate: 96.2% of ulcers in the gotu kola group achieved complete closure after 90 days, compared to 83.7% in the control group.
• Faster Healing: after just one month, 65% of ulcers in the gotu kola group were completely healed, versus only 18.75% in the control group.
• Reduced Ulcer Area: the average ulcer area in the gotu kola group decreased dramatically (from 2.34 cm² to 0.33 cm²), a significantly greater reduction than that observed in the control group (from 2.4 cm² to 1.61 cm²).
• Improved Microcirculation: the herbal group showed enhanced microcirculatory parameters, including improved skin resting flux and transcutaneous oxygen/carbon dioxide partial pressures, indicating better blood flow and tissue oxygenation.

Gotu kola remains our leading herb for tissue repair and microvascular support, and this trial further vindicates its clinical value. Notably, the dose used was high, but still realistic and achievable in practice. The benefits observed in this venous ulcer study are well explained by its established pharmacology. The triterpenes asiaticoside and madecassoside improve microcirculation and venous tone, helping reduce venous hypertension and local tissue hypoxia—central drivers of ulcer chronicity. At the same time, the herb promotes healing through enhanced fibroblast activity, collagen synthesis, and extracellular matrix repair, accelerating granulation and re-epithelialisation. Its anti-inflammatory effects temper chronic wound inflammation, while modulation of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signalling supports angiogenesis and tissue remodelling.

For more information see: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40719428/

30/11/2025

A recent study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that people who consumed about 100 grams of sugar per day, or roughly 25 teaspoons, had more than double the risk of developing dementia.

Sugar doesn’t just affect your metabolism. It also influences how your brain ages.

Reducing added sugars and focusing on whole, nutrient-dense foods is one of the most powerful ways to protect cognitive function long term.

12/11/2025

Ora - A new ranged stocked online at Revive Wellness 🥳🙌🤩⭐
What more could you ask for than highest quality of ingredients, an unprecedented level of transparency and intelligently-crafted formulations that deliver on their promise. From sleep support to hormone support, and wellbeing support, Ora products are also made to taste delicious so you can enjoy adding them to your daily routine.
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Our bestseller for a reason. Whether you’re struggling racing thoughts while trying to fall asleep, waking up in the middle of the night or waking up feeling like sh*t, Profound Sleep is just the thing you need ☁️

30/10/2025

Don’t suffer in silence. We have the right probiotic strains at Revive Wellness to sort out female ecology 🥳

26/10/2025

https://www.revivewellness.co.nz/shop/product/890906/first-or-nothing-onefit-pouch--sachets/

Australian made and owned

23/10/2025

Results from a small clinical trial suggest that curcumin might boost the efficacy of conventional therapy in multiple myeloma patients by modulating molecular pathways tied to inflammation and tumour survival. However, results are preliminary and larger, better-controlled studies are needed.

In this pilot randomised clinical trial from Indonesia, 33 patients with multiple myeloma were assigned to receive either standard therapy (melphalan plus prednisone) or the same therapy plus 8 g of curcumin daily as an adjuvant. These patients were ineligible for bone marrow transplant. The study found that the curcumin group achieved a much higher remission rate (75% versus 33.3%, P=0.009, per-protocol analysis of 24 patients) and showed significantly greater reductions in inflammatory/pro-tumour markers such as NF-κB, VEGF and TNF-α. TNF-α levels were significantly correlated with remission (Odds Ratio, OR=1.35; P=0.03). There were early deaths and dropouts in both arms (infection, cytopenia, adverse events); 12/17 vs 12/16 patients in the respective groups completed 4 cycles of treatment.

What was encouraging from the trial were the biologically coherent effects: NF-κB/VEGF/TNF-α shifts all aligned with the proposed mechanism. However, there were several limitations such as the few participants, the high dropout rate, the short follow-up and the outdated conventional treatment.

Also worth noting is the curcumin was not given with any technology to enhance its bioavailability, hence the very high dose.

Of course, curcumin is widely regarded as an ‘antioxidant’, and we have the “antioxidants are contraindicated during conventional cancer therapy” mantra that has been widely repeated in oncology. However, it is increasingly being questioned (at least by biomedical scientists), especially in the light of clinical trial data such as this and nuanced biochemical evidence. Specifically, many natural compounds like curcumin are not merely antioxidants; they act as redox modulators—context-dependent regulators that can enhance oxidative stress in cancer cells while protecting normal tissue through selective activation of adaptive pathways such as Nrf2, AMPK and p53.

Curcumin, in particular, has been shown in multiple preclinical studies to sensitise malignant cells to chemotherapeutic agents and enhance apoptosis. Human data, including the above pilot trial, support the possibility that it can improve remission rates rather than blunt therapy responses. In other words, the “antioxidant = interference” dogma fails to account for biological complexity and context specificity.

For more information see: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35919637/

21/10/2025

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Vegan options

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15/10/2025

Real Mushrooms stocked at Revive Wellness 🐶🐱🐕🐕‍🦺

08/10/2025

I recently posted a study suggesting that non-antibiotic drugs may have an unexpected disruptive effect on gut flora. Now a study from Australia has generated findings suggesting that certain drugs might also contribute to the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). While antibiotic overuse is a primary driver, emerging evidence suggests that non-antibiotic medications (NAMs) may also play a role. The authors note that this concern is particularly relevant in residential aged care facilities (RACFs), where both NAMs and antibiotics are frequently used.

They investigated nine NAMs commonly used in RACFs, including ibuprofen, diclofenac, paracetamol (acetaminophen), furosemide, metformin, atorvastatin, tramadol, temazepam and pseudoephedrine at gut-relevant concentrations in a test tube model of ciprofloxacin-induced mutagenesis in Escherichia coli.

Findings showed that ibuprofen and paracetamol significantly increased mutation frequency and conferred high-level ciprofloxacin resistance. Whole-genome sequencing identified mutations in the regulatory genes GyrA, MarR, and AcrR, with the latter two correlated with overexpression of a key drug efflux pump (a bacterial defense mechanism). Co-exposure to two NAMs further elevated mutation rates and ciprofloxacin resistance levels. Mutants showed ≥4 fold increased resistance, not only for ciprofloxacin but also for other antibiotic classes such as β lactams, levofloxacin and minocycline. Notably, ciprofloxacin resistance rose by up to 32 fold.

The authors suggested their findings underscored the overlooked role of NAMs in driving AMR and highlighted the need to reassess polypharmacy risks in aged care settings.

The University of South Australia’s official media release (dated 26 August 2025) emphasised that common painkillers "quietly fuel one of the world’s biggest health threats: antibiotic resistance" by increasing bacterial mutations and resistance.
However, it should be noted that this work needs to be repeated, and the findings were laboratory-generated and may not reflect the real-world situation.

For more information see: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40855113/

03/10/2025

Two updates on adolescent health I just had to share:
A meta-analysis of over 1.5 million people found a strong association between energy drink consumption and suicidal thoughts and actions :( not the first study to find this of course but the largest of its kind and the advice to make assessment of intake of these part of ANY mental health screen invaluable 🧠

Next up, we're missing obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) and potentially even misdiagnosing it as ADHD. Again a clear actionable adjustment to our assessment practices from experts: every child flagged for ADHD should in fact undergo at least one comprehensive in-house (not at home!) sleep study 💥

Want to read more and access the original evidence? Follow the links in the comments...

01/10/2025

It might look like your average dry body brush, but it’s anything but average. The Ionic Body Brush is made with ultra-fine copper bristles, which naturally generate negative ions when brushed against your skin. Sounds science-y? It is—but in the best way. https://www.revivewellness.co.nz/blog/post/153356/why-everyone-is-talking-about-the-ionic-body-brush/

Experienced Auckland & Online Naturopath and Health Coach addressing hormonal issues, mental health, sleep, digestive disorders. Herbal Dispensary available.

27/08/2025

The wonderful art of herbal medicine. So powerful and versatile. Formulas are made uniquely for you. Full herbal dispensary at Revive Wellness

Is the root of every illness your gut? Could 5 simple herbs replace your medicine cabinet? Natural remedy expert Simon Mills reveals the herbal medicines tha...