Mother-Well Holistic Health

23/12/2025

UN body to study the possibility of integrating centuries-old practices into mainstream healthcare.

From herbalists in Africa gathering plants to use as poultices to acupuncturists in China using needles to cure migraines, or Indian yogis practising meditation, traditional remedies have increasingly being shown to work, and deserve more attention and research, according to a World Health Organization official.

A historical lack of evidence, which has seen traditional practices dismissed by many, could change with more investment and the use of modern technology, according to Dr Shyama Kuruvilla, who leads the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre.

Earlier this year, countries agreed the WHO should adopt a new global traditional medicines strategy for the next decade that “seeks to harness the potential contribution of TCIM [traditional, complementary and integrative medicine] to health and wellbeing based on evidence”.

It includes plans to establish a robust evidence base for traditional medicine practices, develop regulation of treatments and practitioners and, where appropriate, integrate the practices into mainstream biomedical healthcare.

UN body to study possibility of integrating centuries-old practices into mainstream healthcare

22/12/2025

Merry Christmas Mother-Well ers!
Wonderful wāhine who support so many in their fertility journey, birth and well beyond

https://www.mother-well.co.nz/our-team/

Love you all, and love being a little part of your team. Thanks for a fantastic night and thank you for supporting Calmbirth

17/12/2025

Looking for a last-minute Christmas Gift. This book was recommended by a client today as a great book, with practical solutions to help in sharing the mental load and bringing value to the unpaid work that often takes a big toll on women.

I wrote Fair Play to find a way for women to have more time and space to reclaim, discover, and nurture the natural gifts and interests that make you uniquely you.

16/12/2025

15/12/2025

We loved welcoming Sharon from Serenity ph into Mother-Well all the way from Australia.
What an incredible service and product you provide for women. Your passion, education, and advocacy around vaginal health is inspiring.

We learnt so much (and definitely enjoyed geeking out over vaginal health 😌).

For anyone experiencing BV or thrush, boric acid can be a really helpful first-line support when used appropriately. Sharon shares a wealth of information on her Serenity pH blog and Reddit feed which is well worth exploring if this is something you’re navigating.

BV and thrush are conditions we see often at the Mother-Well clinic. If this is something you’re struggling with, our Naturopaths are here to support you with personalised care and guidance.

Accessibility matters deeply to Sharon, and we’re so grateful she has provided samples for us to share with our Mother-Well clients 🤍

15/12/2025

Mother-Well will be closing 2pm on Wed 24th 2025 and re opening on Monday 5th January 2026.

Dispensary Hours:
Last orders for courier are Monday 22nd at midday

Last orders for collection Tuesday 23rd at Midday.

We wish you all a safe and restful holiday break.

15/12/2025

This year’s Mother-Well Christmas gathering took us kayaking along the beautiful Pūhoi River with the wonderful team at
They were the best hosts and made it & us feel truly special. If you’re looking for a meaningful, family-friendly activity over the holidays, we highly recommend it.

An 8km paddle was followed by nourishing kai, good conversation, and live music at the Pūhoi Pub. The kind of day that fills your cup in all the right ways.

We are so grateful for our team and for the work we get to do each day. Thank you to everyone who trusts us to walk alongside you on your health journey.

May your Christmas and holiday break offer you deep, restorative rest, connection with those you love, and space to reflect on what has been and what you’re welcoming in. ❤️

-Well

13/11/2025

We highly recommend these SPACE groups for new parents. Such a great support, resource and community during these precious early days with your little one.

Kia ora whānau!

Great news — Space @ Playcentre enrolments for next term are officially OPEN! 🎉

Got a baby born or due from October 2025 to December 2025? We’ve got a Space group just for your little one!

Starting February 2026, our Space sessions are all about fun, connection, and those magical first-year moments. Come join us for songs, chats, messy play, baby discovery, and a warm, welcoming community of parents with pēpi the same age. It’s the perfect way to enjoy special time with your baby while making new friends.

Ready to join the fun?
👉 bookwhen.com/spaceaucklandplaycentres

Need help or looking for a group for an older baby?
📧 northern.programmes@playcentre.org.nz

13/11/2025

Super Interesting!

Hunger isn’t just about an empty stomach. Your brain receives signals from body composition, hormones, emotions, and even gut microbes. Here’s how the three major types work:

3 types of hunger explained "simply"

Hunger isn’t just about an empty stomach. Your brain receives signals from body composition, hormones, emotions, and even gut microbes. Here’s how the three major types work:

1️⃣ Homeostatic Hunger (Energy Balance Hunger)
This is your body’s “fuel gauge.” It rises and falls based on energy needs and metabolic signals.
What drives it: Ghrelin from the stomach stimulates hunger; leptin from fat cells and incretin hormones (GLP-1, PYY, CCK) reduce it.

What it does: Ensures your intake matches your energy needs for exercise, growth, and tissue repair.

🟢 Example: After a long run, homeostatic hunger pushes you to replace calories and glycogen.

2️⃣ Hedonic Hunger (Reward-Driven Hunger)
This is your “food pleasure” system. It’s triggered by sight, smell, habits, and emotions, not by actual energy needs.
What drives it: Brain reward circuits activated by highly palatable foods (sugar, fat, salt).

What it does: Encourages eating even when you’re not truly hungry. Weak satiety signals make it harder to stop.

🟢 Example: Craving dessert after dinner even though you’re full.

3️⃣ Microbiota-Driven Hunger (Gut Microbe Hunger)
Your gut bacteria also shape hunger signals by producing metabolites that influence hormones and the brain.

What drives it: Microbes generate compounds that mimic hunger or satiety signals, affect insulin, and modulate ghrelin, GLP-1, and PYY.

What it does: Links gut health to appetite regulation and metabolic control.

🟢 Example: Certain bacterial imbalances may increase cravings or weaken satiety, nudging overeating.

Fasano, A. (2025). The physiology of hunger. The New England Journal of Medicine, 392(4), 372–381.

10/11/2025

Fascinating!

Continuous sleep is a modern habit, not an evolutionary constant, which helps explain why many of us still wake at 3am and wonder if something’s wrong. It might help to know that this is a deeply human experience.

07/11/2025

This petition is closing very soon, please have a look and support if it resonates with you! New Zealand has barely any regulations to protect children around social media, and its doing real harm to their developing minds.

Petitions are addressed to the House of Representatives and ask that the House do something about a policy or law, or put right a local or private concern.