Naturopathy In Balance

29/01/2026

27/01/2026

Contributing Factors in Cognitive Decline & Alzheimer’s.

Cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease are rarely caused by a single issue. They usually develop from a combination of stressors that affect brain cells, circulation, and communication over time.

Contributing factors can include:
• Reduced brain energy supply and insulin resistance
• Chronic inflammation and immune activation
• Oxidative stress and cellular ageing
• Vascular changes affecting blood flow to the brain
• Poor sleep and impaired brain waste clearance
• Hormonal and metabolic imbalance
• Nutrient insufficiencies (especially B vitamins, omega-3s, antioxidants)
• Gut–brain axis disruption and microbiome imbalance
• Chronic stress and nervous system overload
• Environmental burden, including mould toxins and heavy metals

These drivers increase the overall load on the brain reducing resilience and the ability to repair and regulate effectively. An approach that supports metabolism, circulation, inflammation balance, gut health, detox pathways, and nervous system regulation can play an important role in maintaining cognitive function.

This is an area of growing focus in my work and I’ll be sharing more on supportive strategies for brain health along side a brilliant new qualification to support this :)

26/01/2026

If you're wondering how BICOM can help you...

BICOM works by reducing interference, not by targeting symptoms or treating a named condition. Allergies, toxic stressors, unresolved infections, and energetic blockages act like background noise in the body’s regulatory systems. When that noise is high the nervous system, immune response, hormonal signalling, and detox pathways are constantly distracted, reactive, or overloaded.

By identifying and reducing these interferences BICOM helps calm the system and restore clearer communication within the body.

This means the focus is bioregulatory rather than allopathic.

Instead of suppressing symptoms or trying to treat a named condition directly the aim is to support the body’s natural ability to self regulate and heal once obstacles are removed.

When regulation improves symptoms often reduce as a downstream effect not because they were directly treated, but because the body is finally able to function more efficiently and appropriately.

If you’re curious how this applies to your own health feel free to get in touch.

25/01/2026

Just a little note regarding response times.

I respond to messages and enquiries from Monday to Thursday and will always reply as soon as I am able within clinic hours.

When I’m in full clinic on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, my focus is on client sessions, so responses may be slightly delayed. Thank you for your patience during these days. This approach allows me to remain fully present during appointments and maintain the quality of care for all clients.

Messages received on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday that are non-urgent will be responded to on the following Monday.

11/01/2026

Which one do you think affects weight more in peri-menopause?
A) Calories?
B) Hormones?
C) Stress?
D) Sleep?

Why peri-menopausal weight gain is as much a brain issue as a body one.

Most people are told that weight gain in peri-menopause is about eating too much, moving less, or hormones alone. However the brain also plays a much bigger role than we are usually told.

During peri-menopause fluctuating oestrogen changes how the brain regulates metabolism, stress, sleep, and blood sugar. The hypothalamus (this is the the area which acts as the body’s metabolic control centre) becomes more sensitive to stress and less efficient at regulating energy balance.

When the brain perceives ongoing stress, poor sleep, inflammation, or unstable blood sugar, it shifts the body into a protective mode. Energy is conserved, fat storage is prioritised, and metabolic flexibility is reduced. This can happen even when food intake has not increased.

This is why many women notice that the same foods, the same exercise, and the same routines no longer produce the same results. Stress affects weight more than it used to. Sleep disruption impacts appetite and energy. Brain fog, fatigue, and weight changes often appear together rather than as separate issues. As I’ve been saying in previous posts this is not all about a willpower problem.

It reflects changes in brain based metabolic regulation driven by hormonal transition, stress signalling, and nervous system load. So supporting peri-menopausal weight loss therefore requires more than calorie restriction (but being realistic about calories is still important). It means supporting the systems that regulate metabolism in the first place, including nervous system regulation, blood sugar stability, sleep quality, inflammation, and overall brain health.

When these systems are supported the body is more able to respond appropriately again.

This is why a whole-body approach matters.

Weight changes in peri-menopause are rarely an isolated problem. They reflect shifts across the nervous system, hormones, metabolism, sleep, and inflammation.

Supporting the body with an integrative approach allows more sustainable and appropriate change than focusing on a single symptom alone.

06/01/2026

Alzheimers isn’t just genetic. While having the APOE4 gene can increase risk, genetics alone don’t set our futures in stone. For many people cognitive decline develops when multiple underlying stressors affect the brain over time. The common contributor of this can include;

* Chronic inflammation
* Blood sugar imbalance and insulin resistance
* Hormonal decline
* Toxic exposure (think mould, heavy metals, chemicals)
* Nutrient deficiencies
* Poor sleep and chronic stress
* Reduced blood flow and stimulation to the brain

When all or some of these factors stack, the brains ability to protect, repair and maintain connections weaken.

Lucky for us many of these drivers are modifiable.

When we support brain health it means looking beyond memory alone and address the whole internal terrain (that’s metabolism, inflammation, detox pathways, hormones gut health, sleep, and nervous system regulation)
It’s a really complex subject but when we understand why we forge the way forward to better support.

Going forward a key focus of my work will be prevention and early stage cognitive support where I will integrate functional testing, naturopathic and lifestyle approaches as well as the BICOM bioresonance therapy to support brain health.

05/01/2026

New Year Reset with Auricular BICOM Bioresonance Therapy.

If weight loss, cravings or low energy still feel hard despite doing all the right things this maybe for you.

As we head into the new year I’m offering a focused Auricular BICOM Program designed to support how your body regulates metabolism, stress, hormones and appetite, rather than relying on willpower alone.

This program is for people who:
* feel stuck despite eating well
* struggle with cravings or emotional eating
* have low energy or hormonal weight gain
* feel their body just isn’t responding anymore

It’s not a quick fix and it doesn’t force change instead it supports the nervous system and internal regulation so your efforts actually translate into progress.

This program is offered based on suitability so message me if you’d like to discuss whether it’s right for you.

Interested in learning more? program details are linked in the comments.

27/11/2025

Clearing Blockages in BICOM. What does this mean?

Many of you who have been in clinic for a BICOM session have heard me talking about clearing blockages. Here’s what this actually means in practical terms.

The body communicates through tiny electrical signals and natural frequency patterns. Ever organ, tissue, nerve and cell has its own very specific oscillation. When everything is clear the body can regulate, repair and heal naturally.

Sometimes something blocks that communication. These are interference fields and they can come from things like the following for example;

* Old scars
* Emotional trauma
* Radiation/WIFI, 5g etc, geopathy
* Spinal
* TMJ/Hyoid
* And many more!

When a blockage is present the body can’t regulate property. Think of it like a kink in a hose.

One Blockage is scars. Scars can disrupt nerve ending, blood vessels, lymphatic flow, acupuncture meridians and communication between cells that can lead to long standing issues like digestive problems, shoulder restrictions, chronic pain and sensor disturbances.

BICOM is incredible helpful here because it can identify a scar, or scars as a blocked circuit and apply the corrective frequency patterns needed to restore that communication. And when the blockage clears the body often self corrects very quickly.

So what is the BICOM doing? Its just simply helping the body reconnect the signals it couldn’t send before!

19/11/2025

Women 40+, Weight Issues? Burnout ?

Is your body suddenly harder to manage? Maybe you’re gaining weight more easily… constantly fatigued… inflamed… foggy… or feeling exhausted no matter what you do.

This is incredibly common during perimenopause and menopause when stress hormones, sleep cycles, inflammation and metabolism all shift.

BICOM bioresonance is a gentle, non-invasive wellness therapy used to support the body’s natural regulatory systems.

No needles. No meds. No pain.

Just calming frequency-based support that works alongside your usual healthcare, nutrition and exercise.

Read about Bicom here:
https://www.naturopathyinbalance.co.nz/post/bicom-bioresonance-therapy-a-natural-approach-to-healing

Women use BICOM as part of their midlife wellness plan to feel:
more balanced and centred.
* less overwhelmed
* clearer mentally
* more regulated around stress and energy
* better able to stay consistent with weight goals

(Experiences vary person to person but please note that the BICOM does not diagnose or treat specific medical conditions rather BICOM supports the body’s natural self-regulation and balancing processes).

A package of 6 sessions is recommended to help clear energetic blockages and support consistent regulation over time.

If you’re over 40 and feeling stuck, inflamed, exhausted or just frustrated with midlife weight changes…I’m wanting to work with women just like you.

Please note: I work with a small number of BICOM clients at a time so I can give personalised, focused care including naturopathic support if wanted.

If you’re ready to make changes and want to explore whether this therapy is the right fit for you, please message or email me. Limited placements at a time.

Qualified Naturopath
Located Kaiapoi, Christchurch
www.naturopathyinbalance.co.nz

17/11/2025

Neurogensis: Our brain can grow new cells!

Once upon a time scientist thought that the brain couldn’t grow new neuron’s. That’s been disproved now. We can create new brain cells even as adults.

Here’s the big thing to keep in mind. The choices we make on a daily basic can switch neurogenesis on or off.

This is what slows or damages neurogenesis.
* Chronic stress & high cortisol
* Poor sleep / disrupted circadian rhythm
* Inflammation & processed foods
* High sugar + insulin resistance
* Smoking & excessive alcohol
* Sedentary lifestyle
* Environmental toxins & heavy metals

And this is what boosts it.
* Exercise (especially brisk walking, strength training, and high intensity intervals)
* Omega-3 DHA (brain’s structural fat)
* Polyphenols (blueberries, dark chocolate 70–85%, green tea)
* Curcumin & anti-inflammatory herbs
* Meditation & breathwork (lowers cortisol, improves neuroplasticity)
* Quality sleep (deep sleep clears toxins from the brain)
* Learning new skills (languages, instruments, puzzles)
* Sunlight / Vitamin D
* Healthy gut flora (gut–brain axis directly controls neurogenesis)

If you want to prevent cognitive decline or any neurodegenerative disease here’s how seeing someone like me can help:

We look at the drivers behind poor neurogenesis such as inflammation, stress hormones, gut health. Nutrient deficient, detox capacity, blood flow & microcirculation, sleep dysregulation, environment toxin exposure.

We target those causes with tailored nutrition, herbal medicine, mitochondrial support, stress/adrenal balancing, gut repair protocols, anti inflammatory strategies.

Even the BICOM bioresonance can help support the nervous system and brain regulation.

DNA nutrigenomics testing can help pinpoint variations in your genes that predispose you to the potential of dementia/alzheimers etc, allowing us to even better target nutritional and exercise protocols (Upregulate or down regulate those genes)

05/11/2025

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE!

Many people are prescribed blood pressure medication without ever being told why their pressure is high in the first place.

While medications can help manage the numbers it doesn’t always address the root causes.

Factors such as poor sleep, chronic stress, nutrient deficiencies, dehydration, or even liver and kidney load can all drive blood pressure up.

One of the most overlooked root causes of high blood pressure is insulin resistance…

When your cells stop responding properly to insulin your body compensates by producing more of it. High insulin over time doesn’t just affect blood sugar it drives the kidneys to hold on to more sodium and water. It also activates the stress (sympathetic) nervous system and reduces nitric oxide the key compound that helps your arteries relax.

Over time this combination tightens the blood vessels and raises blood pressure even in people who aren’t overweight or diabetic.
Some of the common sign of insulin resistance can be:

• Energy crashes after meals
• Cravings for sweets or carbs
• Easy weight gain around the waist
• Brain fog or poor concentration
• Skin tags or darkened skin around the neck or armpits
• High triglycerides and low HDL on blood tests
• Feeling sleepy after eating

Improving insulin sensitivity through balanced protein-rich meals, regular exercise, good sleep, and stress management can help lower both blood sugar and blood pressure naturally.

If this sounds familiar and you’d like support identifying your root causes or just guidance on how to bring your blood pressure back into balance naturally I can help.

www.naturopathyinbalance.co.nz
https://bookings.gettimely.com/naturopathyinbalance/book

20/10/2025

I’ve started introducing the BICOM auricular point program to help aid in weight loss but one thing that its really important to understand is this is a supportive measure, it doesn’t melt the fat off for you, you still have to do some heavy lifting.

Here are some key points to clear up about weight loss especially in your 40’s and up.

Our hormones, thyroid, liver health and metabolism all shift as we age. Oestrogen drops, thyroid efficiency can slow, liver detoxification pathways can get congested and muscle mass declines if you’re not actively maintaining it.

These changes absolutely affect how your body handles food, fat storage and energy and that can make losing weight feel harder.

But the truth is calories in vs calories out still matter. Its just how your body processes those calories that changes.

Hormonal shift influence your appetite, where you store fat, your ability to build muscle and how efficiently your metabolism burns fuel.

So when I talk about supporting weight loss

This means;
*supporting your liver so it can efficiently metabolise hormones
*Balancing thyroid
* Supporting hormones
*Maintaining muscle through protein and resistance training
* Managing sleep and stress so cortisol does’t keep you in fat storage mode

But managing your calories still matters!

A few helpful tips are:
* get to know what your daily calorie needs actually are
* Learn what calories are in your regular foods and drinks so you can make smart swaps without feeling deprived
* Adjust intake based on your active days. Eat more on days when you're more active and pull back when it's a slower day.

the key to this is smart choices so you don't feel deprived.

And of course we have helpful tools like the BICOM program
https://www.naturopathyinbalance.co.nz/post/bicom-for-weight-loss

and/or some supplements that can support liver health and glucose management.

All of these measures help in a successful plan to feeling great in our bodies.