By now you will have received notification from your private health insurer informing you that your rebates for naturopathy will no longer be available. For the millions of people who have benefited from the very real and very powerful results of naturopathic care, this political decision is equally concerning and confusing.
While we are busy being politically active, speaking and writing to members of parliament and signing petitions to change this unfounded decision, it looks like it is still going ahead as of the 1st April, 2019.
You will still be able to take advantage of your rebates for naturopathy up until the 1st April and as far as we understand, all claims that need to be made online for past appointments must be submitted before the 1st of April as well. If you haven’t already done so, now is the time to organise your receipts and make those claims.
We will keep fighting for this decision to be overturned and if you are benefiting from your work with our naturopaths, you can fight for it too. Give your local member a visit or call, write a letter using this template or sign this petition and help them to see how valuable our naturopathic services have been for your health and fertility outcomes.
There is SO MUCH EVIDENCE to support naturopathy and it’s not difficult to find the published research for the benefits of herbal, nutritional and lifestyle medicine. In fact, we are about to launch a book with over 200 scientific references supporting naturopathic approaches just for preconception. This represents a mere drop in the ocean for research and evidence supporting naturopathic approaches in diet and lifestyle modification, herbal and nutritional medicine for fertility, general health, acute and chronic conditions.
Rest assured that FGHG naturopaths will continue to provide professional, evidence-based naturopathic support and you will still be able to claim for acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, osteopathy and remedial massage at Fertile Ground, so all is not lost! Besides, the benefits you receive from naturopathic support will continue well beyond any rebate you don’t receive!
If you would like to learn more, or do something about the decision to remove naturopathy from health insurance, we hope you find these links to information useful and insightful.
The latest review of evidence is out and yes the results are clear. It seems it has been missed by many as it was published in the holidays on the 2nd January 2019!
This is considered the most up to date evidence from a systematic review and meta-analysis and should help to clarify the benefits and rectify the recent misunderstanding from a study published in 2018 that put the use of acupuncture under question.
If you are interested to read the research in full, follow the link to the review and jump to the discussion section for details on effectiveness.
In this review of all of the latest and relevant evidence from English speaking publications, Smith concludes that:
Acupuncture with IVF may have potentially significant benefits when compared to IVF only in regard to both clinical pregnancy AND live birth rates.
Acupuncture seems most effective when there are more treatments (higher dose) than just pre and posttransfer acupuncture – especially with treatment in both the stimulation and implantation phase.
Further benefits are seen when points selected are tailored to the individual rather than using a pre-prescribed treatment protocol.
Benefits are especially true for women who have had multiple previous IVF cycles.
What has been confusing in recent research and discussed in this review is that when acupuncture is compared to sham acupuncture as the control, the benefits are not seen for acupuncture over sham acupuncture. Rather than negating the effects of acupuncture (which seem clearly beneficial), this begs further questions about the placebo effect of acupuncture and/or the validity of sham acupuncture – these devices or points used may not be inert after all and have some effect.
It seems acupuncture is in fact considered effective when compared to IVF alone and worth pursuing for IVF patients.
Smith also mentions how acupuncture may be working via the stress relieving and psychosocial benefits with a significant anxiolytic effect reported and potential beneficial effects such as increase in uterine blood flow, endogenous endorphins and cytokines. The non-needling benefits of acupuncture treatment (the holistic nature of a consultation with palpation, education, self-care and diagnosis etc) are discussed too.
Smith further states that acupuncture remains a low-risk intervention.
While it is so good to read this validation of the use of acupuncture during IVF, for us, although our patients having a take home baby is obviously a key desired outcome, benefits of treatment are not only about the pregnancy and live birth rates. Reduced anxiety levels and a better ability to cope with infertility and IVF is so important for people with poor outcomes, fragile emotional health, and those doing back to back cycles who need to ‘gear up again’ after a negative result. This effect cannot be underestimated. Sometimes it can be the difference between patients feeling like they have the internal resources to take on the next cycle, or need a break. Regular acupuncture with practitioners skilled in working with IVF patients can provide support they need to navigate their experience as seamlessly as possible, potentially with fewer side effects and positive outcomes more quickly.
We continue to offer acupuncture services to support IVF patients at Fertile Ground Health Group as a 1:1 appointment or in our multi-bed facility which works really well for the flexibility of fitting IVF transfer patients in on the day when they find out their transfer times.
We generally recommend patients come in at least once before the transfer as the follicles are stimulated, one to two times on the day of transfer, and another around five to seven days after transfer for implantation support.
Even more ideally where possible and time permitting, we recommend weekly appointments in the two to three cycles leading up to IVF.
Please help us share this information to anyone you know involved with IVF as a specialist, practitioner or patient to ensure they know about choices available for appropriate supportive treatments.
Our acupuncture team is more than happy to write or speak about this new systematic review and meta-analysis to IVF and fertility groups too. Please be in touch if you have an opportunity for us to be involved in spreading the word about this.
Charmaine Dennis is the founding director of Fertile Ground Health Group and has been practicing naturopathic fertility and preconception health care for nearly 20 years. She is passionate about collaborative health care and ensuring that people going through IVF are given accurate information about all the many ways IVF outcomes can be improved with lifestyle and complementary medicine interventions.
What do you love about your work as an educator and counsellor in Aware Parenting?
There is so much to love in working with families. Over the years I have worked from pregnancy counseling and education to guiding families with Aware Parenting as their children grow and issues pop up through to working with teenagers around sexuality and relationships. I love seeing how information and insights can change behavior and dynamics with families. Especially when parents can make a link between patterns in their own childhoods and how that may affect the way they parent.
Why did you choose to specialise in Aware Parenting?
Before we have children I think we all have these grand ideas as to the type of parent we will be and then your child comes along and all those fantasies often fade into the background as life can be tricky and raising kids is an intense job. When I discovered Aware Parenting when my kids were little, I felt like I had found the magical key to raising kids with compassion, empathy and awareness. I saw such a shift within my own family, that I knew I wanted to share this with others. To me it encompasses what we all want in the bigger picture of raising children. Kids that are emotionally aware, connected to themselves and their families as well as being attuned to who they are and what they want to do in the world. Without having to overpower them or use punishments and rewards to get your needs met. It is a great balance of respect, love and boundaries.
How do you juggle being an author, birth consultant for couples and professionals, Aware Parenting and sexual educator for teens, plus running a business, parenting your own children AND everything else that day to day life throws at you?
Well – great question! It is a juggle. The secret for me is to take time for myself. Every week I have a day or two where I don’t speak to anyone, I stay quiet and fill up my cup. My work can be emotionally intense, so I need the quiet time to stay attuned to myself (mind you this is just in school hours). That means that when I am working I am fully present. When I am with my kids my aim is to be really present with them and when I am working, I get clear on what I can achieve and what may need to wait. Sometimes I outsource things and I have an amazing husband who supports me in so many ways. I have found that I can keep all the balls in the air if I take really good care of myself as well as set excellent boundaries on what I am willing to do. I am not afraid to say no to something.
What is the most common fear (or block) you find parents are facing when preparing to speak to their teenage children about sex? What do you recommend for them?
One of the biggest fears I see is that parents are often worried about saying too much. I encourage parents to start having age-appropriate conversations about sex from a young age so that it doesn’t become “a talk” it is many conversations over there life. This helps to normalise the topic so that children know it is something that is safe to talk about with parents. When parents are worried about saying too much or that it may encourage kids to be sexual – I show them all the data that says, educating kids often delays their first sexual experience as well as imprinting good messages around safety and consent.
Up until puberty, sex and sexuality education is just biology for kids, its the same as how digestion works or how we breathe. Helping them understand their bodies is gifting them with great information so they are more aware. When kids don’t want to hear something, they just switch off and conversations around sexuality often have to be repeated many times over the different ages. If you can practice lots when your kids are little, by the time they become teens, the conversations are often easier and children are more willing to come to you with a problem or question.
My other suggestion is to use books! There are loads of great books out there for all ages on all topics and they are a wonderful place to start if as a parent you feel nervous or think you will get it wrong. Give your child a book to read or better still read it with them and open up the conversation that way.
What is your best piece of advice for someone who is struggling with tears and tantrums in their child?
Do some research or reading or come to a workshop and understand what is happening in your child’s brain and how you can support them to move through it. Tears and Tantrums are a completely normal process for younger children to help reset their nervous system. A 3-year-old doesn’t have the cognitive capabilities to use their words and express their hurts or fears when something happens. Often the only way the can come back into balance and reset is through raging and crying. I firstly like to explain to parents that it is so normal. What little ones need in times like this is a calm parent to hold a space for them as it passes. When kids are isolated and sent to there room or smacked or shamed for having these big feelings, it often pushes all these big feelings inside and children here a clear message that when I am upset, it is not a good thing and love is withdrawn. We want children to be able to express themselves and each time we hold a calm space for a child when they cry or rage, we are showing them through mirror imprinting that the emotions will move and pass and they will come back into balance. As children’s prefrontal cortex grows, they are able to express themselves with words and the need to rage and tantrum becomes less and less. They have also learned that you as the parent are a safe place to come, even when they are at their most upset.
What part of your work has ever brought you to tears?
So many parts have brought me to tears. When I was attending births, watching a woman overcome her fears would bring me undone. Or witnessing a baby arriving into the world and watching the parents step into this new role. I often have tears when parents make connections around what is the block between them and their child and how they can shift it. I am a big fan of tears. A great deal of my work is embracing emotions and supporting the healing that crying can bring – so tears flow easily for me. I see that as a great trait to have in my work and I really support it in others. Many clients say that I am the Crying whisper 🙂 They come to me so they can cry freely and easily without judgment and that is the biggest compliment I can receive.
According to the bureau of statistics, the average person has 10 jobs in their lifetime. What did you do before becoming a parenting and sexual educator? Do you ever see yourself doing anything different?
Before I moved into parenting, I was working in birth as a doula and childbirth educator, but even before that, I was a Children’s Entertainer!! I started my entertainment company when I was 19yrs old and we would put on big shows and pantomimes all over Melbourne. We would entertain at birthday parties and functions and I had a team of performers who worked for me. We would write and create all our shows. It was a lot of fun and taught me a great deal about public speaking and holding an audience and it also taught me a great deal about play, which is something I use in my work now with Aware Parenting and children.
I have always run my own businesses and I absolutely love the work I do now. I am a very passionate person and have to love the work I do, or else to me there is no point. So I am sure as I grow more, other passions will ignite and new work will evolve.
Do you recommend parents and their child see a naturopath to assist with behavioural issues? Why?
I am a big fan of supporting the body in whatever way we can. For some children, their diet plays a huge part in their behaviour. I like to look at the whole picture and explore what is going on at home and in the environment as well as how the body is feeling. I think it all works together. I have seen some families who have cleaned up a child’s diet but the behavior has stayed the same, as what is happening in the home is actually what the child is responding to – so I believe that looking at all elements is needed.
What other modalities do you find your clients and their children get benefit from?
I am also a big fan of Osteopathy, particularly Cranial Osteopathy for children. Children’s nervous systems can be very wired and that can have a big impact on there ability to sleep and regulate and express themselves. Many of my clients also use Homeopathics and Chinese Medicine with their kids. I also have some that use Subconscious reprogramming at night whilst the child is sleeping. I think its good to find a modality that resonates with you and your child.
What is your all-time best success story that you can share?
Every time a parent realises how they can do it differently or bring more connection and attachment to their dynamic – I feel like that is such a great win. I have many stories of parents owning and healing their own pains and hurts and as they support themselves within that – their child’s behavior shifts and the family dynamic totally changes. There have been so many transformations in families over the years. One story that stands out is with a child who refused to eat (it was a big control pattern for him) and after I worked with the Mum on some games and ways to create more connection, they ended up having a huge food fight in their backyard. Lots of laughing and silliness and mess and that night he ate more than he had in a week. The parents realised what was going on for the child on a deeper level and looked to heal that instead of trying to bribe him to eat food. His eating patterns completely changed after that one game and they began to focus more on connection and power reversal instead of disconnection and resistance.
What are your favourite books to recommend on parenting?
Oh so many!!! My top 6 are :
Listen by Patty Wipfler
Cooperative and Connected by Aletha Solter
Attachment Play by Aletha Solter
Brainstorm by Dan Siegel (for understanding the teenage brain)
Patenting from the Inside Out by Dan Siegel and Mary Hartzell
Hold on to Your Kids by Gabor Mate and Gordon Neufeld
How can people contact you if they would like more information?
What inspired you to become an acupuncturist and Chinese Herbalist, with a special interest in fertility and pregnancy?
Fertility, pregnancy and women’s health conditions are some of the most interesting and complex to treat, for this reason it has always drawn me – there are so many interesting aspects to consider, such as hormonal and emotional factors.
I love the challenges fertility issues present, and in particular the joy of hard-fought successes such as conceiving a baby after years of trying. I also enjoy then treating patients up until they give birth – there is a real sense of completion and connection with the patient.
I first experienced the benefits of Chinese Medicine when my infant son did not gain weight and was diagnosed with ‘failure to thrive’, and was very unsettled. Several pediatricians were unable to provide a reason or a solution. Chinese Medicine, however, provided some notable improvements, and I was hooked.
What do you see as the strengths that acupuncture and Chinese Medicine (CM) have to offer in terms of fertility and reproductive support?
Fertility and pregnancy treatments are a major area of strength in Chinese Medicine as it fills a gap in conventional Western Medicine. This makes it a wonderful adjunct to medical treatments such as IVF. If a pathology is not visible (eg in scans/to the eye) or does not show up in testing such as blood tests, Chinese Medicine excels. This is why Chinese Medicine can be effective with diagnoses such as ‘unexplained’ infertility, or for older patients. Traditional Chinese Medicine has a different diagnostic system and we can find a diagnosis (and therefore help treat) even when there is none in Western Medicine.
Chinese Medicine practitioners treat the individual, not the disease, and aim to strengthen underlying issues in the body. The treatments are more patient- centred.
Also, Chinese Medicine is a holistic approach, supporting the OVERALL health and vitality of the body, as well as treating health issues directly. The principle aim of Chinese Medicine and acupuncture is to recover the equilibrium between the physical and emotional aspects of an individual, by treating the whole person. This is why we also provide lifestyle and dietary advice, and consider the emotional state of patients.
Patients often report they feel less stressed and more able to cope following acupuncture treatments, and we see this as a vital part of the treatment.
In your work you assist a lot of women on their journey to becoming pregnant, do you recommend they continue to see you after they have fallen pregnant? What does acupuncture and Chinese medicine have to offer during pregnancy?
Chinese Medicine is very useful throughout pregnancy. It offers a gentle approach to treatment without side-effects. It can help treat conditions such as nausea in early pregnancy, and any pain throughout the pregnancy. In late pregnancy, acupuncture can be used to prepare the patient for an on-time labour.
The benefits of treatment also extend to post-partum for issues such as poor milk supply and for a boost in energy when exhausted.
Your week tends to be very busy, what sort of self-care do you do to recharge outside of seeing patients?
I get lots of benefit from connecting with special friends, and possibly combining this with a walk. Also a regular yoga practice. I find that any practice that nourishes you emotionally as well as physically, has more far-reaching benefits. Whenever time permits, I also enjoy acupuncture, kinesiology or massage treatments throughout the year.
I enjoy massage treatments primarily for stress relief, and acupuncture or kinesiology when I have a more acute condition that needs addressing such as pain. I personally really enjoy kinesiology – it’s an eclectic mix of treatment approaches (and even incorporates some Chinese Medicine channel theory).
What are your top five tips for others to help maintain a healthy lifestyle?
Eat a nutritious diet with primarily fresh fruit and vegetables (no need to eat low fat foods) and get daily exercise (doesn’t need to be strenuous).
Make time for fun and nurture the special relationships in your life. Particularly important when going through challenging times such as when trying to conceive or with a new baby.
Find Gratitude – notice things in your life daily that you are grateful for
Get plenty of sleep, ideally within the hours of 11pm – 6.00am.
And of course have regular therapeutic treatments such as acupuncture, massage, naturopathy, kinesiology, to maintain health – after all, prevention is better than cure! CM is great as a preventative to help keep you in peak heath and manage stress.
Respectful to culture, the retreat begins on Monday afternoon with a traditional Balinese welcome and story share, continues for 6 days and 5 nights, ending at lunchtime on the following Saturday.
This is not your standard goal setting, achieve more, make more jobs for yourself, write a list, you’ll be happier/more successful/make more money when you… Ra Ra kind of business mentoring. This is about taking time to stop and listen to your core aches and yearnings. Time to reflect more deeply on how you want to feel, why you do what you do, If you have any dis-satisfaction about the way you are working, any sense that you are off the path but not even sure why or how, caught in groundhog day, feel burnt out or a bit resentful about the state of your profession, your patients, your colleagues…or just a bit over it and wondering what’s next and how to make decisions about what to do, then this is definitely for you!
You don’t have to be burnt out either – you could just be starting out and wondering how to find your authentic style and voice in your profession. It often starts with clarity but gets so drummed out by the time we finish our degree we don’t know where to find it! Or know if it is really safe to voice it even.
Every day we explore a series of processes to lead you to clarity of understanding your core values, your purpose, potential and your true authentic voice. That voice that distinguishes you from everyone else in your profession and really sets you apart – and at the same time brings you together, busting that sense of isolation and competition, as you come to see that there really is no competition because no one can ever offer what you offer!
Is it the kind of business/personal development you need? It’s not something anyone else is talking about much for health professionals. There’s so much focus on the clinical side of business generally that this is so often neglected and we think a huge part of why there are such high rates of burnout among health professions.
There is also plenty of time for Q and As and nuts and bolts of business, both with Charmaine and Gill, as well as the whole group of experience to draw from. How do you…? When do you…? Why do you…? We all have so much to share! There will be juicy discussions around the meal table with so many wonderful practitioners as we drink kombucha and coconut water and pass the plates or organic, garden supplied food around. Bring your notebook and pen to meals for sure as the conversations are as juicy as the organic tumeric jamu!
We start every day with movement and meditation before breakfast. After the workshops, there’s many hours off every day to eat INCREDIBLE organic food, lay pool-side, swim, have massage, walk in the monkey forest, explore the organic food and herb gardens and animals, chat with like-minded practitioners running business, visit a Balinese healer or day spa, stretch, move, meditate, soak up the sunshine and rest in the shade… Mmmmm….
FLASH SALE STARTS MONDAY 15th OCTOBER 2018. A $500 deposit is required to secure your place.
For more information, please go Gill’s website or find the terms and conditions and application form here. You can also follow update by marking “interested” on the Facebook event page.
Are you coming? Please let us know ASAP so you don’t miss out!
Price:
Shared deluxe cottage $1990 FLASH / $2990 FULL
Deluxe room – $2190 FLASH / $3190 FULL
Deluxe cottage just for you! $2300 FLASH / $3300
🌟 What’s included in the price? 🌟
Six amazing days of mentoring with two of Australia’s most experienced complementary medicine practitioners / multidisciplinary clinic owners.
Immersive workshop program (approx. 30 hours).
Five nights’ accommodation
All incredibly delicious organic meals: 5 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 5 dinners.
A one hour massage at the Swasti Spa.
Movement/meditation session most mornings.
Excursion to Tirta Empul and ritual.
Plus surprises!
About Charmaine and Gill
Charmaine Dennis is as a naturopath and multi-passionate and inspired entrepreneur and leader with a love for helping others to find their sweet spots in life and business. Her greatest business accomplishment is the creation of the dynamic and highly successful multidisciplinary natural medicine practice Fertile Ground Health Group (now 18 years old). Alongside her fertility focused practice, she has created a number of other successful collaborations to support good health including the Be Fertile guided relaxation series and The Breakfast Project. The last 7 years of her 20 year career has seen her focus evolve from naturopathic practitioner to mentor and inspirational leader.
Gill Stannard is a naturopath and mentor with more than 27 years in the business. She’s an expert in both old and new media, with many decades of radio (including the epic 3RRR Health Trip for 20 years), television and social media experience. Gill began mentoring practitioners in 1997, running group and individual programs. She loves helping clinicians grow their confidence, resolve blocks and find their authentic business style. Since following her heat and relocating from Melbourne to Sydney, Gill’s opened a clinic in the Inner West and continues to be a digital pioneer working with naturopathic and mentoring clients near and far. Read more about Gill.
Revitalise Your Health Practice: busting the blocks to success through exploration and collaboration. A one day workshop with Charmaine Dennis (FGHG director/mentor/naturopath) and her long-term friend and colleague Gill Stannard (Sydney naturopath and mentor) in Melbourne
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How does it feel to be in your business or clinic?
If your heart doesn’t sing when you think about work, or you feel stuck, overwhelmed or bored – this workshop is for you.
Revitalising Your Health Practice is ideal for health practitioners/business owners, who are struggling to find their voice or put plans into action. You might feel isolated, have decision paralysis or are looking for collaborators to explore a creative idea.
You don’t have to do it alone! It’s so rewarding to explore these shared struggles and find inspiration together.
This one day workshop provides the space, guidance and tools, to help you find clarity and breathe life back into your business.
We invite you to bring a block, struggle or a dream, an open mind and lunch to share to this fun and collaborative one-day event.
Feel free to invite any practitioners you know who are looking for inspiration.
Date: 18th November 2018 Time: 9.30 for 10 am start – 4 pm Location: East Melbourne (TBC) Cost: Early bird (until 30 September) $145 (including GST)
Full price $190 (including GST) Book: using the link attached ASAP. Numbers are limited.
Who: 2 naturopathic/mentoring legends for the price of one!
Gill Stannard naturopath & mentor has more than 27 years in the business. She ran her successful multi-disciplinary clinic in Melbourne and graced the Triple R – 3RRR 102.7FM airwaves for over 20 years before moving her practice to Sydney. Gill began mentoring practitioners in 1997, running group and individual programs. She loves helping clinicians grow their confidence, resolve blocks and find their authentic business style.
Charmaine Dennis is as a multi-passionate and inspired entrepreneur and leader with a love for helping others to find their sweet spots in life and business. Her greatest business accomplishment is the creation of the dynamic and highly successful multidisciplinary natural medicine practice Fertile Ground Health Group (now 18 years old). She has created a number of other successful collaborations including the Be Fertile guided relaxation series and The Breakfast Project. The last 7 years of her 20-year career has seen her focus evolve from naturopathic practitioner to mentor and inspirational leader.
Gill and Charmaine run Rest, Revitalise & Inspire – annual practitioner retreats in Bali. Next retreat launching soon for 17-22nd June 2019.
News coverage recently from Australian researchers suggested that if you take antibiotics while pregnant there is a 20 per cent increased risk that the baby or child will have a serious infection that they need to be hospitalised for. This was especially the case when the antibiotics were taken closer to delivery date and the findings suggested that the antibiotics upset the mother’s gut bacteria, the microbiome. A side-effect of taking antibiotics is to upset the gut flora by killing off some of the beneficial gut bacteria and allowing other bacteria to flourish. This altered microbiome is then passed on to the baby during a vaginal birth. The effects were seen in the study to affect newborns and continue throughout their childhood.
It doesn’t necessarily mean if you are pregnant that you should avoid antibiotics, and if they are necessary then the best health improvement you could give yourself and your baby would be probiotics after any course of antibiotics. This may mitigate the issue with the your own gut flora and subsequently your baby’s gut flora. This is certainly good news.
As an add on to the story it’s now known through research on specific strains of probiotic which are the best ones to take after a course of antibiotics. These are the one’s known to go through the placenta and also post birth through the breastmilk. Increasing the bifido strains in the infant is thought to be the most protective of illness and it’s known that among other strains the L rhamnosus GG is one of the main ones that when given to the mother has bioavailability for the baby and increases the baby’s beneficial gut flora. It can also be supportive to give probiotics directly to the baby post birth. If you are interested to hear more ask your naturopath.
Gina Foxis a naturopath with over 15 years’ experience. She trained under Francesca Naish (author of Better Babies) and has a Masters in Reproductive Medicine. As well as being an experienced clinician she is a speaker, naturopathic lecturer and student clinic supervisor.
Gina loves to help couples achieve full-term pregnancies and give birth to beautiful healthy babies. Gina excels at addressing underlying stressors while couples achieve their optimal fertility. Her own meditation practice led her to become a meditation instructor and co-develop the Be Fertile series of guided relaxation CDs for women around conception, IVF and pregnancy support.
Fertile Ground Health Group (FGHG) is a busy, multidisciplinary, natural medicine practice with expertise in preconception, infertility, pregnancy and family health. We are currently seeking an experienced Osteopath with a desire to develop their career and work with other high achievers in a vibrant, professional team.
If you are a dedicated professional with special interest and experience in treating pre and post-natal women, newborn babes and children, as well as general osteopathic support for men and women, we encourage you to apply. A minimum of 3-5 years’ experience as an Osteopath working with pregnancy is an absolute necessity and additional training in this area, as well as treating babies will be highly regarded.
The team at FGHG are regarded as some of the most experienced, professional and effective practitioners in Melbourne. Working at FGHG will provide you with a well-established platform for you to develop your skills as a practitioner so you can take your profession to the next level. Do you value research, education and a collaborative approach in a patient-centred environment? So do we! Results are what we expect at FGHG so we only accept practitioners who want to focus all of their attention on their patients to help them achieve their desired health outcomes, leaving all the administration and business responsibilities to our expert clinic support team.
You will also want to actively raise your own profile amongst your peers, medical specialists and other important referrers as well as share your expertise with our patient base through blogs and facebook posts. Your ability to collaborate with other practitioners, coupled with confidence in communication with and presenting to medical specialists and other primary health carers will be highly regarded.
Starting immediately, FGHG has room for a practitioner doing at least 2-3 days per week including valuable Saturdays. To apply please email a covering letter and resume to Monique Bevan at management@fertileground.com.au. Application close 7th September 2018.
New research is suggesting that Ibuprofen (the pain-relieving NSAIDs sold as Neurofen, Advil, Motrin etc) may negatively affect testicular health and fertility.
When researchers realised the impact on pregnant women (including more than double risk of miscarriage) and the testicles and heart of her male offspring (to be avoided in pregnancy!), they were interested to see if there were implications for men taking it regularly too.
In this new study of 31 men, 14 were given the recommended dose of ibuprofen (600mg 2 x day) for 14 days and 17 given placebo. The men in the study group showed an imbalance of hormones producing a compensated hypogonadism, a condition normally seen in elderly men and associated with impaired fertility, depression and increased risk for cardiovascular events, including heart failure and stroke.
While researchers thought it likely reversible with short-term use, they said they fear effects on the testicals could be permanent for long-term users. Given the trends for unmonitored use of ibuprofen amongst weekend warriors and high performance athletes, this needs research needs careful attention.
As spermatogenesis turns over sperm every 70 days, it seems senisble to consider likley negative impact if men are taking it in the 3 months prior to conceiving too. This is the preconception health care period where our naturopaths and acupuncturists help to support optimal health and investigate all likely contributing factors to fertility.
If you need other ways of finding anti-inflammatory pain relief, come and talk to us. Across our modalities on offer, there is much we can do to get you back on a path to pain-free wellness and optimal fertility too.
It is also important to note, there is evidence that other medications are also harmful to the male reproductive system and fertility, including testosterone, opioids, antidepressants, antipsychotics, immune modulators and even the over-the-counter antacid cimetidine. My rule of thumb is – if a medication or any substance is known to be problematic for pregnant women and their developing babies (especially teratogenic substances) it is important to consider if it is a factor in the health of developing sperm too. It can take time for research on medication to catch up to these things and common sense is required at times.
There is no doubt that medication is of course absolutly necessary in some cases – and sometimes other approaches are worth considering too. Let us know if you are wondering if we can help with any of your health concerns. We probably can! And we will always be in contact with your doctor when needed for your best health and fertility outcomes.
Charmaine Dennis is a naturopath, fertility and health expert, mentor, writer, mother, and businesswoman. She is the founding director of Fertile Ground Health Group, co-creator of the Be Fertile relaxation CD series and co-author ofThe Breakfast Project, among other health inspired projects. Her greatest gift and inspiration is making health, wellbeing, and passionate living accessible, inspiring and achievable for everyone. Charmaine’s naturopathic career has followed a special interest in working with couples with infertility requiring IVF support since 1999. She has assisted many in realising their dreams to conceive healthy, beautiful babies in collaboration with GPs and fertility specialists, acupuncturists and other health modalities.
By Sarah Harris, FGHG Paediatric & Family Naturopath
Did you know Australians spend more on vitamins and supplements than on prescription drugs? With over 11,000 complementary medicine products for sale in Australia it’s no surprise to find bewildered parents doing their best to choose a supplement that might help their child feel better, healthier or happier. As a naturopath I often feel compelled to stand beside these parents in supermarkets and chemists to offer assistance; but ultimately it is better to direct my focus toward lovingly consulting with children and parents to determine their real treatment needs.
Children’s health requirements are special given their immature physiology and varied nutritional requirements. Self- prescribing, whilst appropriate in simple cases, could end up costing more than you expect in time, money and results if you make the wrong selection. In many cases it is very important to seek advice on individual treatment. When you are clear about the real needs for your child’s health, you can be confident if and when you choose to buy natural medicines off the shelf.
Different stages of development require a tailored approach for every age and size, degree of fussiness, absorption ability, and consideration given to any possible underlying health condition. Professional prescribing for your child ensures appropriate dosing, directions and advice on various ways to get the right medicines into kids, with more fun and palatable options.
Spending time with a naturopath to understand your child’s health can be both educational and reassuring. Along with prescribing appropriate treatments, we often share fantastic traditional remedies that can have the same or better effect as some of the off the shelf remedies found in the chemist or supermarket. Many traditional remedies have been confirmed by scientific studies to have healing effects and they are readily available, if you know what you’re looking for. For example:
German Chamomile tea enhances sleep and is well known for its calming effect. Beneficial for children who are distressed and unable to sleep and many children enjoy the taste. Research shows that it improves the ability to fall asleep without affecting daytime functioning and cognitive performance. It is also useful for teething, and for irritable children with “nervous tummies”, having a soothing effect on digestive upsets, a common symptom of stress in children.
Using food as medicine is also a fabulous way to improve the long term health of your child. But with so many different opinions in the media and online, it can be difficult to know whose opinion you can trust. Many issues can be resolved through proper assessment and appropriate recommendations for your child’s diet. When a child has a nutritionally balanced diet and you use foods as medicine; naturopathic advice, supplementation and herbal medicines can be the additional layer of treatment when you need the big guns to prevent illness and treat acute or chronic conditions.
When there is so much to know and understand about your child’s health, it makes sense to seek tailored naturopathic advice and invest in child-friendly medicines, suitable for even the fussiest of kids. Taking the guess work out of choosing remedies for your family can give you peace of mind, better results and reassurance that the medicines going in will be safe and effective.
Sarah Harris, FGHG paediatric naturopath and nutritionist
Sarah is a qualified and experienced naturopath, herbalist and nutritionist with more than a decade of knowledge and practice in complementary medicine. As a mother of three children and highly skilled in providing naturopathic care, Sarah has a special interest in treating children of all ages. Her empathetic and kind nature instills comfort and confidence when providing advice to parents about their child’s health and she works well with families and individuals to find solutions for health concerns.
Charmaine Dennis is as a naturopath and multi-passionate and inspired entrepreneur and leader with a love for helping others to find their sweet spots in life and business. Her greatest business accomplishment is the creation of the dynamic and highly successful multidisciplinary natural medicine practice 
