Breast augmentation is the most popular elective cosmetic surgical procedure in the world. Approximately 20,000 women undergo this procedure each year in Australia, with 75% for cosmetic augmentation and 25% for reconstruction after breast surgery, such as a mastectomy. [1] Although considered to be relatively safe by the mainstream medical community, a correlation between breast…

Gallbladder disease can include inflammation, infection, stones or blockage of the gallbladder. Gallstone disease is a very common problem in Australia, with around 25% of the population developing gallstones before the age of 50. Research tells us that inflammation in the gut and leaky gut can be caused by gallbladder issues, and in turn, poor…

We now know that the health of our gut microbiome is linked to our overall health and more and more research is revealing the extent of its importance for our immune system. In fact, about 70% of the body’s immune system is actually located in the gut, meaning that taking care of the good bacteria…

Both the functioning of the intestinal barrier and the gut microbiome impact the health of your gut, causing gut inflammation and a host of other issues throughout the body. A functional medicine health practitioner can get to the root cause, or causes, of your gut inflammation and help you to take steps to heal. Let’s…

The functional medicine approach to osteoporosis is to look at the body’s interconnected systems to understand the causes of deteriorating bone health, build bone strength and improve overall health. Osteoporosis means ‘porous bones’. It is a condition where bones become thin, weak and fragile and even a minor bump or accident can cause a bone to break,…

We generally understand that eating fewer calories and burning more calories is how we lose weight: calories in versus calories out. However, many people find that although they exercise regularly and eat well-portioned, low-calorie meals, the weight just does not seem to come off. In fact, as we get older, the weight gets increasingly hard…

Biofilms are the barriers that form around infections, tumours, injury and illness in the body to prevent their spread. In this sense, they protect us from disease. But these barriers can also prevent the immune system, medications and therapies from reaching these areas when they are needed, meaning that you won’t get better until the…

FODMAP, which stands for fermentable oligo-saccharides, di-saccharides, monosaccharides and polyols, are different types of starches and sugars. In addition to balancing a person’s gut bacteria, following a low FODMAP diet is one of the most effective methods to reduce symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBS), small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and other gastrointestinal disorders. What…

The rate of mental health issues in Australia is increasing. The National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing conducted in 2007 found that an estimated 1 in 5 (20%) Australians aged 16–85 experienced a mental disorder in the previous 12 months (ABS 2008). 1 With such a high proportion of our communities reporting mental health…

Many women in Australia and worldwide aren’t aware they have adenomyosis because the condition doesn’t always cause symptoms. The condition may affect 20% to 65% of females in Australia and USA. March is Adenomyosis and Endometriosis Awareness Month, so we will be exploring the similarities and differences between the two. Many of our patients ask…