Between Clinical Minds

We are often bombarded by new shiny gadgets and fads that are meant to help us achieve optimal health, but there is a return to ancient practices including breath and cold and heat therapy. Join integrative doctor Olivia Lesslar and naturopath and breathing instructor Mim Beim as they discuss the benefits of these timeless practices and learn how they can be used and monitored in conventional blood pathology. Are you a Healthcare Practitioner? Join us to continue the conversation at bioconceptsengage.com.au 

In this episode, we address myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and its similarities with Long COVID. Nutritional biochemist Dr Rhona Creegan explains that ME/CFS is considered a bio-toxin illness characterised by prolonged fatigue, muscle weakness, cognitive issues (brain fog), and other systemic symptoms. One distinctive feature is post-exertional malaise, where symptoms worsen after physical or cognitive exertion. Other symptoms include sleep disturbances, headaches, and orthostatic intolerance—where blood pressure and heart rate fluctuate upon standing, causing dizziness or fainting. This episode also features naturopath Stephanie Gadsden who was diagnosed with ME/CFS as a 17 year old – she shares her personal health struggles, which were initially misunderstood by the medical community, and highlights how she found relief through a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach. The focus is on reducing the patient's "toxic load" (infections, stress, environmental toxins) and rebuilding their body’s resilience. This often includes working with health coaches to help patients make sustainable, long-term changes. Stephanie also discusses common treatments she uses, such as immune-modulating herbs, antivirals, mitochondrial support, and addressing nutrient deficiencies, as well as using IV nutrient therapy when appropriate.  Are you a Healthcare Practitioner? Join us to continue the conversation at bioconceptsengage.com.au 

In this episode, diabetes focused GP Dr Gary Deed discusses the limitations of blood tests when it comes to diabetes diagnosis. For example, haemoglobin A1C may be inaccurate in certain conditions such as iron deficiency or recent blood transfusions. He points out that testing insulin levels to assess insulin resistance is controversial since lab variability makes it unreliable for clinical practice. Instead, visceral obesity, waist circumference, and BMI are more practical markers for insulin resistance. He also discusses the utility of newer tests like C-peptide and fructosamine, along with continuous glucose monitoring. Blood test interpretation expert Dr Rhona Creegan joins the discussion with the best blood and other diagnostic methods to detect the presence of atherosclerosis and metabolic syndrome. Dr Creegan underscores the importance of optimal ranges over standard lab reference ranges. Are you a Healthcare Practitioner? Join us to continue the conversation at bioconceptsengage.com.au

This discussion spans inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and thyroid presentations, with autoimmunity bridging the two. Integrative GP Dr Charlotte Middleton highlights the complex nature of IBD, its growing prevalence, especially among children, and the importance of early and thorough diagnostic workups to manage it. Thyroid focused naturopath Tara Nelson discusses factors affecting the accuracy of thyroid function tests including circadian rhythm, medications, stress and the patient’s own unique set point. She delves into the various thyroid antibodies, euthyroid sick syndrome and the patient who flips between hypo and hyperthyroid presentations.   Are you a Healthcare Practitioner? Join us to continue the conversation at bioconceptsengage.com.au

Join naturopathic doctor Lara Briden and women’s health naturopath Katey Weekes as they discuss their philosophy around testing in general and conventional blood testing in particular. Lara Briden explains that while measuring oestrogen and progesterone levels can have their place, she prefers assessing LH, FSH, prolactin, and androgens, particularly in conditions such as PCOS. She highlights that testing for PCOS typically involves a high LH to FSH ratio, elevated androgens, and sometimes low SHBG, but emphasises that a polycystic ovary ultrasound finding isn't sufficient for diagnosing PCOS. Katey Weekes highlights that testing helps differentiate whether hormonal issues are contributing to mental health symptoms and guides her treatment. Are you a Healthcare Practitioner? Join us to continue the conversation at bioconceptsengage.com.au

Join our host Toni Chambers as she explores the foundations of conventional blood pathology with nutritional biochemist and pathology interpretation expert Dr Rhona Creegan. They discuss how laboratory reference ranges are determined, the factors that affect the results and the importance of understanding both lab reference and optimal ranges, using uric acid and TSH as examples. Dr Creegan also outlines the clinical use of derived values. Are you a Healthcare Practitioner? Join us to continue the conversation at bioconceptsengage.com.au

Deepen your understanding of drug-herb-nutrient interactions in thyroid conditions. Hear from thyroid specialist naturopath Tara Nelson, pharmacist and nutritionist James Jensen and integrative GP Dr Aparna Hegde.  Are you a Healthcare Practitioner? Join us to continue the conversation at bioconceptsengage.com.au 

The increasing prevalence of toxins in the environment – whether they be from mould, plastics, heavy metals, pesticides or poor water quality – can all impact thyroid functioning, and affect younger people than ever before. Nurse practitioner Ashe Young details the many environmental insults and increasing pressure on young women as reasons for their increasing presentation with thyroid disorders. Emily, diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Disease in her mid-20s, joins the conversation to detail her journey with an under active thyroid.  Are you a Healthcare Practitioner? Join us to continue the conversation at bioconceptsengage.com.au 

In this episode, we talk to naturopath and thyroid cancer survivor Melissa Briggs as she shares her journey from diagnosis to recovery, through to her clinical practice supporting others through thyroid cancer. Holistic dietitian Natalie K. Douglas provides insight into how she determines those patients with cellular hypothyroidism versus hypothyroidism.  Are you a Healthcare Practitioner? Join us to continue the conversation at bioconceptsengage.com.au   

Healthcare practitioners and researchers alike have seen an increase in post COVID thyroid presentations. Hear from integrative GP Dr Ameeta Gajjar and thyroid specialist naturopath Tara Nelson on possible mechanisms, presentations and treatment approaches. A young patient also tells her story of developing hypothyroidism post COVID infection.  Are you a Healthcare Practitioner? Join us to continue the conversation at bioconceptsengage.com.au 

Autoimmune thyroid conditions are on the rise, with up to 40% of people in some part of the world presenting with Hashimoto’s and 3% with Graves diseases. Join thyroid specialist naturopath Tara Nelson and integrative GP Dr Ameeta Gajjar as they outline the triggers diagnostic markers. Also hear a patient’s journey with Graves’ disease and the impact of a delayed diagnosis on her family.  Are you a Healthcare Practitioner? Join us to continue the conversation at bioconceptsengage.com.au 

The number of women who develop a thyroid condition in perimenopause and menopause doubles. Join integrative GP Dr Lucy Caratti and naturopath Georgia Marrion from Melbourne’s Fertile Ground group to hear why perimenopausal women are vulnerable to developing thyroid conditions, and how best to individualise treatment considerations. Are you a Healthcare Practitioner? Join us to continue the conversation at bioconceptsengage.com.au

Join naturopath Shantini Iyngkaran from Melbourne’s Fertile Ground clinic as she delves into the predisposing factors for the development of postpartum thyroiditis, the pathophysiology and how to detect those affected while colleague and counsellor Suzanne Hurley describes the unique perspective she brings to her perinatal patients that often uncovers thyroid dysfunction as the driving factor for their symptoms.   Are you a Healthcare Practitioner? Join us to continue the conversation at bioconceptsengage.com.au

Join host Toni Chambers and naturopaths Belinda Kirkpatrick and Natalie Pickering, and functional medicine practitioner Alexandra Brewster as they discuss the various ways thyroid health impacts reproductive health – from menstrual regularity to ovulation, implantation and pregnancy maintenance to optimal infant development. They delve into mechanisms, contributing factors and treatment strategies.  Are you a Healthcare Practitioner? Join us to continue the conversation at bioconceptsengage.com.au 

Go back to basics with thyroid health – what is the thyroid? What influences its health and what does it influence in the body? How do the thyroid hormones interplay? What are the best tests to order? And what are the optimal values for those blood markers? Explore these questions along with treatment considerations with Acupuncturist and naturopath Dr Miranda Myles, functional medicine practitioner Alexandra Brewster and holistic dietitian Natalie K. Douglas.  Are you a Healthcare Practitioner? Join us to continue the conversation at bioconceptsengage.com.au

Our final episode looks at the area of metabolic health. Respected Melbourne dietitian Rocco Di Vincenzo discusses key nutrient deficiencies that is a large driver of metabolic conditions in children. Naturopath Amanda Howe takes a broad view of why we are seeing an increasing number of people presenting with metabolic conditions, and she shares her approach to treatment. Respected Sydney naturopath Tabitha McIntosh closes the season with a case study in which endocrine disrupting chemicals played a big part in one boy’s obesity and low testosterone. Are you a Healthcare Practitioner? Join us to continue the conversation at bioconceptsengage.com.au Podcast listeners receive a 10% discount on your first annual subscription to Bio Concepts Engage using code PODCAST10

This is a jam-packed episode! We talk to nutritionist and PhD candidate Jessica Bayes about her research into the impact of the Mediterranean Diet on the depressive symptoms of young males. The results are a wonderful reminder of the power of dietary change. Brisbane nutritionist Deborah Smart shares her take on the increasing incidence of anxiety amongst teenagers and her testing preference that informs treatments for these patients. Family naturopath Emma Wisbey discusses the interesting area of motor tics and her treatment approach. Are you a Healthcare Practitioner? Join us to continue the conversation at bioconceptsengage.com.au Podcast listeners receive a 10% discount on your first annual subscription to Bio Concepts Engage using code PODCAST10

It was a pleasure to talk to Dr Leila Masson, a consultant paediatrician specialising in nutritional and environmental medicine…we spoke about anxiety, OCD, ODD, causes, investigations and treatments, including positive parenting and forest bathing. Family naturopath Emma Wisbey also joined the conversation; she has a mental health focus in clinic and shares her clinical gems when it comes to treating children with anxiety. Are you a Healthcare Practitioner? Join us to continue the conversation at bioconceptsengage.com.au Podcast listeners receive a 10% discount on your first annual subscription to Bio Concepts Engage using code PODCAST10

Continuing on from Episode 8... integrative paediatrician Dr Elizabeth Mumper discusses childhood immunisation, informed consent, her altered vaccination schedule and supportive interventions she prescribes for her patients receiving immunisations. We also hear from a father of two who has traversed this topic with his own children – hear the journey he took to make a decision that was right for his family. And naturopath Amanda Howe explains how she helps support families with whatever decision they make – diet and supplemental support are both discussed. Are you a Healthcare Practitioner? Join us to continue the conversation at bioconceptsengage.com.au Podcast listeners receive a 10% discount on your first annual subscription to Bio Concepts Engage using code PODCAST10

We brave the controversial topic of childhood immunisations. Dr Elizabeth Mumper is an integrative paediatrician from the United States; she discusses informed consent, her altered vaccination schedule and supportive interventions she prescribes for her patients receiving immunisations. We also hear from a father of two who has traversed this topic with his own children – hear the journey he took to make a decision that was right for his family. And naturopath Amanda Howe explains how she helps support families with whatever decision they make – diet and supplemental support are both discussed. Are you a Healthcare Practitioner? Join us to continue the conversation at bioconceptsengage.com.au Podcast listeners receive a 10% discount on your first annual subscription to Bio Concepts Engage using code PODCAST10