DOES THE RESEARCH SHOW THE BENEFITS FROM TAKING FISH OIL SUPPLEMENTS? 

In my clinical experience, Naturopaths used to be the primary health care practitioners that recommended fish oil supplements to their patients. We could see the large range of potential therapeutic benefits from taking marine-derived omega 3 fatty acids and we knew they were not called ‘essential’ fatty acids for no reason! These days, taking fish oil […]

MTHFR – GENETIC CAUSE OF ANXIETY, DEPRESSION AND CARDIOVASCULAR PROBLEMS

As a practitioner for over 21 years, I’m always bemused when I read an article in a newspaper or see a story on a current affairs program that claims to provide ‘breaking news’ about a health condition that I’ve usually been treating for many years. I’m equally bewildered when they allege that there is a […]

CALCIUM SUPPLEMENTS – DO THEY POSE ANY RISKS?

WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING HEADLINES GRABS YOUR ATTENTION MORE?:   CALCIUM SUPPLEMENTS MAY POSE A SLIGHTLY HIGHER RISK OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE IN SOME PEOPLE WITH RENAL FAILURE BUT RESEARCHERS STATE THEY ARE UNSURE WHAT TYPES OF CALCIUM AND WHICH DOSAGES MAY CAUSE PROBLEMS OR:  CALCIUM SUPPLEMENTS MAY CAUSE EARLY DEATH   Which headline you read will depend on the […]

TGA WARNS OF LIVER DAMAGE WITH PANADOL USE

TGA warns on liver damage with therapeutic dose paracetamol   1.8.12 Niamh Mullen Medical Observer Medicines Safety Update 2012; Volume 3, Number 4, August   THE TGA has issued a warning about the risk of liver damage caused by paracetamol even at therapeutic doses. The regulator said the hepatotoxic effects of intentionally overdosing on the […]

The Dangers of Anti-Depressant Use in the Elderly

New antidepressants increase risks for elderly 3.8.11 The University of Nottingham Research conducted at the University of Nottingham found that: “Older people taking new generation antidepressants are at more risk of dying or suffering from a range of serious health conditions including stroke, falls, fractures and epilepsy, a study involving researchers at The University of […]

Are You Suffering From ‘Metabolic Syndrome’?

Metabolic Syndrome is an increasingly common health disorder which affects many people’s lives by reducing their quality of life as well as their potential life span. Metabolic syndrome can cause a number of serious health conditions such as diabetes, fatty liver and chronic cardiovascular diseases. As a naturopathic practitioner, I find that early intervention is […]