Earth Sourced Naturopath & Medical Herbalist

07/11/2025

BENEFITS OF GRATITUDE
When your heart fills with gratitude there are a number of physical & emotional benefits. It also changes the energy field around the heart known as the Torus (1)

When we feel gratitude we release feel good neurotransmitters such as dopamine & serotonin. Dopamine is linked to pleasure & reward & serotonin to positive mood & contentment. We also release the social bonding hormone called oxytocin which helps us feel connected & loved up. (2)

Research further indicates that cortisol levels drop dramatically when we feel gratitude. This hormone is released when we are anxious and stressed to calm the stress response. High chronic levels will lead to weight gain. (2)

Also researchers found that endorphins which reduce pain & elevate mood are released when we feel grateful. (2)

There is some evidence to suggest that gratitude may boost the immune system by influencing factors like IgA (an antibody blood protein), likely as a result of lowered stress levels. The overall reduction in stress hormones generally leads to improved immune function. (3)

So if you ever thought that a daily practice focusing on feeling gratitude was woo-woo…well you’re misinformed! Not only are you stabilising your emotional & physical wellbeing, you are also directly supporting your heart torus field which impacts with other people’s energy fields & also the energy field in the world around you.

This is a powerful way you can shift our world simply by changing your field. Imagine if we all spent 15 minutes per day doing this, what this love based social activism could achieve? 💜

How I integrate this in my life is each morning i meditate for 20 minutes & much of that time is spent growing feelings of gratitude & authentic unconditional love in my heart & then sending it wherever in the world it needs to go.

Does this inspire you? 🥰

Shine bright, Nic

Refs
(1) https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/building-the-habit-of-hero/202011/the-hearts-electromagnetic-field-is-your-superpower #:~:text=If%20the%20preference%20is%20not,will%20flow%20right%20into%20sleep.

(2) https://positivepsychology.com/neuroscience-of-gratitude/

(3) https://abcnews.go.com/Health/science-thankfulness/story? https://www.aheadpsych.com.au/unlocking-happiness-the-neuroscience-of-gratitude-practice/ #:~:text=According%20to%20neuroscience%2C%20regularly%20practicing,and%20supporting%20various%20bodily%20functions.&text=Incorporating%20gratitude%20into%20our%20daily,things%20you're%20grateful%20for.

28/10/2025

WHAT FATS ARE HEALTHY?
This is such a common question in clinic! Perhaps it will serve you too?

For heart health we all know polyunsaturated & monounsaturated are key. Which is why the Mediterranean diet is often cited & seafood or oils like extra virgin olive oil are mentioned. Omega 3 from seafood, lamb & wild meat and also seeds (linseed, chia, hemp hearts etc) can regulate hormones & reduces inflammation.

But we also need good quality saturated fats for hormonal health & vibrant skin. Did you know that coconut oil & tallow is known to be anti-aging to the skin?

Then comes the question of what oils we should cook with?!

Polyunsaturated oils (PUFAs) like canola, rice bran, & other seed oils are easily turned into toxic trans fats as they can only handle low heat. Olive oil (mix of monounsaturated & polyunsaturated) should only be used for dressings, marinades etc. PUFAs when cooked can increase oxidative stress & inflammation that adds to CVD risk. Overheating PUFAs can also cause the formation of unhealthy trans fats, which are known to increase harmful LDL cholesterol and raise the risk of heart disease. Mind blown?!

Monounsaturated oils like sesame, peanut, avocado oils have a slightly higher burning point which makes them better for cooking at low to moderate temperatures. They are better for the heart too! Avocados, nuts (almonds, cashews, pecans) seeds are some other sources to add to the diet.

But the best oils for cooking? The sadly, & incorrectly vilified saturated fats which have the highest smoking points so are better for stirfries & roasting or frying. Coconut oil (especially if not bleached in the oil refining process called copra), tallow, or non bleached lard, duck fat etc are some examples. These also lower stroke risk & while saturated fat can raise LDL cholesterol, it may raise a less harmful, larger type of LDL cholesterol, while also raising protective HDL ("good") cholesterol. It’s all about the type & the quality & quantity!!

Also deep frying using seed oils is really dangerous for our health & is a key reason why cardiovascular disease continues to sky rocket. If you must do this use a saturated fat like in the old days!

Finally the food most contributing to CVD & obesity? Refined carbohydrates. Mind blown again?

What I’ve learned to do is to keep a range of oils for different functions & flavours in my kitchen. This provides a variety of health benefits also!

I hope this serves you!
Shine bright!
Nic

08/09/2025

I was really delighted & proud to be asked to speak at the New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists conference last weekend as part of an expert panel on resilience & mood dysfunction & the tools we naturopaths & herbalists have available.

When I saw who was on the panel with me I felt my inner child become intimidated. I saw old imposter syndrome come up. I know with fear, much like shame, you don’t sit alone in the dark with it. So I messaged my closest girlfriends & asked them to share some tools for what they’ve used when this happens to them, & to shine a light to help me remember who I am. Boy did they come through!

My sisterhood raised me up, reminded me of all my gifts & the practical tools I mostly already knew. But the key was to of course to be loving with my inner child & to visualise the outcome I wanted & see it into fruition. To remember I already knew everything I needed to know. That I had a gift of sharing info in a relevant & warm way. That my goodness would ripple out to the conference and that was possibly the most important thing I could share.

And guess what? It went amazing! Just as I’d intended, and alongside a panel of diverse & heart based expert speakers 💜 Sometimes you just have to get out of your own way, to feel the fear & do it anyway as my mother would say!

What have you done lately that was scary but so worth it? What tool helped your imposter syndrome?

Shine bright, Nic

02/09/2025

WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW WHICH NEUROTRANSMITTERS FOR MOOD ARE OUT OF BALANCE IN YOUR BRAIN?
Various forms of emotional imbalance or dysregulation such as anxiety, depression, stress, overwhelm and more are linked to imbalances of neurotransmitters in your brain (many of which are also linked to gut-brain axis imbalances too, but that's another story).

From looking at the symptoms you are experiencing, we can often get an indication of neurotransmitters are out of balance. And from this, we naturopaths and Herbalists know which herbs or lifestyle suggestions to make.

Serotonin (calm and happy neurotransmitter)
Low mood, feelings of sadness or irritability for no clear reason, craving carbs and sweets, difficulty falling or staying asleep. Herbs that increase serotonin: St. John’s wort, kava, rhodiola, albizia, lavender, saffron.

Dopamine (pleasure and reward neurotransmitter)
Feel unmotivated, pleasureless, struggling with focus, seeking out stimulating activities, feeling flat or bored easily, need caffeine or stimulants to feel normal. Herbs that increase dopamine: pukatea, rhodiola, albizia, St John wort, saffron.

GABA (calming neurotransmitter)
Chronically tense, anxious or hard to relax, struggle with physical signs of anxiety such as racing heart, tight chest, muscle tension, suffering from insomnia or finding it hard to wind down, feeling wired but tired. Herbs that increase GABA: albizia, St. John’s wort, kava, skullcap, passionflower, lemon balm, saffron, Californian poppy, lavender, zizyphus.

Glutamate excess (excitory neurotransmitter)
Migraines, brain fog, mentally overwhelmed or scattered, prone to panic attacks or feeling buzzed in the brain, chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia symptoms. Herbs to calm glutamate: kava, lavender, zizyphus.

Acetylcholine deficiency (plays a role in memory, learning, attention, motivation and arousal)
Word recall, brain fog, forgetfulness, dry eyes and mouth, lowered digestive function. Herb to increase acetylcholine: albizia.

Norepinephrine dysregulation (adrenalin, fight & flight neurotransmitter)
Easily startled, on high alert, racing thoughts, trouble calming your system, crashing hard after stress, emotional volatility, mood instability. Herbs to calm norepinephrine: lavender, saffron.

Which of these neurotransmitter/s are you showing signs of dysregulation?

Comment below which neurotransmitter imbalances you have and I'll share a supplement recommendation you might want to consider!

Shine bright!
Nic

Image: Albizia leebeck (wikipedia). ntonrbs ndeLrbs ia

18/08/2025

Simon Mills is a famous herbalist & a wealth of knowledge. This has some fascinating information within & is well worth the watch!

Shine bright, Nic

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5Jk5XCLAr6w&fbclid=IwQ0xDSwMPvyBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHmhQLhAovtn0dcv8glpF1azL2sb04dawzL-nDUsUI5KET5BOTt83b43dwwuP_aem_oy1-My3479dXwNY-_O_xgA

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...

17/08/2025

CORTISOL REDUCING HERB
Have you been struggling to lose weight as you approach menopause? Or perhaps you have been burning the candle at both ends & can't seem to lose those extra kilograms like you normally could? Maybe you feel like you are repeatedly each day feeling anxious, overwhelmed, panicky, rushed? Its likely that your nervous system is dysregulated and in need of support.

I'm always on the look out for cortisol reducing herbs, because they can help you get a new or returned sense of normal. Of who you are without the anxiety or fearfulness.

On ceasing the herbs this gives you a new baseline which you can more easily return to and maintain with lifestyle techniques like deep breathing or meditation or grounding in nature.

Research has found that Tulsi can offer these benefits of nervous system support and reduces cortisol by 36% on average in just 40 minutes. Consider this herbal ally to reduce stress, inflammation, insomnia, cortisol induced weight gain and more....

() Originally published on www.linkedin.com Lanson Burrows Jones Jr.

27/07/2025

HERBALIST CONFERENCE! Open to everyone 💜
The speaker line up this year is next level. Every year I look forward to this conference for the learning but most of all spending time with such an amazing group of people. It’s special. Come along!

You're still in time for the early bird pricing. Special pricing ends in just 3 days so grab your spot today by visiting https://nzamh.org.nz/conference-2025/

Everybody is welcome, including non-members of the NZAMH. If you're not a member, grab your spot by visiting our shop - https://nzamh.org.nz/shop/

We'd love to see you at the conference!

Register before 30th July 2025 to take advantage of our Early Bird pricing. Pricing plans are available.

Grab your spot today by visiting https://nzamh.org.nz/conference-2025/

21/07/2025

CHAI TEA RECIPE!
It balances blood glucose, is a warming digestive & warms the peripherals (hands & feet) by boosting circulation, reduces pain, inflammation & histamine, & boosts immune response!
To get the recipe & discussion on its therapeutic benefits simply like my page & comment CHAI TEA and I’ll send it to you! 💜
Shine bright, Nic