Rachel's Blogs

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The Silent Scream of Aging?

The Silent Scream of Aging?

One of my dear friends told her husband several years ago that she had noticed he was now making, 'old man noises' upon standing up from couches & chairs.  She told him that must simply stop. She pointed out that he was only 50 and that she neither could nor would...

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MasterCourse II

MasterCourse II

13 years ago I was first asked to contribute to ACNEM's thyroid training  8 years ago I put together a little Masterclass on Diagnostics & 6 years ago co-created another one on Thyroid 2 years ago I dived deep into new literature to update my ideas & my...

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*NEW* Advanced Thyroid Training Coming Soon!

*NEW* Advanced Thyroid Training Coming Soon!

I've spent the best part of about 4 months recording my *NEW* Advanced Thyroid Assessment training. I told my team this would be easy and quick, given it was to be based on a great little 2-part, 2hr updated presentation I delivered just last year for ACNEM!!  Sixteen...

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Keeping Things Real & Representative

Keeping Things Real & Representative

  Any pathology test is only of value if the result produced is 'real', or, representative of that individual, right? So the timing of the test is a major pivot point then: do I tell my patient to present for the test, or collect the sample themselves, on their...

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Is Your Diagnosis on the $ or a Misdirection?

Is Your Diagnosis on the $ or a Misdirection?

No, I can't leave it alone. I've been gabbing on about Gilbert's Syndrome for about 15 years now and it's not going to stop anytime soon! This is not because I think it's the most common condition we encounter but, rather because it is not uncommon. It is also not...

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I read it on Facebook

I read it on Facebook

We all (inaudibly🤞) sigh when patients utter this & adopt the brace position for whatever mis- or dis-information may follow. So how would you feel, if instead, these were the words of the health professional you're seeing? We could debate forever the pros...

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Increasing Patient Buy-in: Compliance Changers

Increasing Patient Buy-in: Compliance Changers

Have you ever noticed that our products don't work if our patients don't take them?!🙄  The reasons for non-compliance, dis- or non-engagement, poor patient buy-in & follow through are many: *My dog ate the instructions * My inbox swallowed the instructions...

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Have You Received a Nudge?

Have You Received a Nudge?

A recent foreboding article featured in NewsGP Pathology requests under the microscope warned, 'More than 5000 GPs are about to receive a letter from the Department of Health about their pathology requests.' This is a ritual cleanse performed by Department of Health...

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Independent Education For All

Independent Education For All

Over years of delivering independent education in integrative health I have spoken to some diverse audiences. This has included health professionals from very different backgrounds: from hospital-based psychiatrists & mental health nurses, to whom I presented on...

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What’s Changed For You?

What’s Changed For You?

How much has THE world🌏 changed in the last 2 years?! Have the changes within the field of Integrative Health been equally seismic? I'm sure there are many different aspects to speak to & we all have our own thoughts to share on this. I shared my thoughts...

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More FODMAP Fails

More FODMAP Fails

Last week, yet another patient with refractory diarrhoea, up to 10 stools a day, Bristol type 5-7, for 3 decades following a diagnosis of Crohn's at 16 years old. A range of specialists have thrown everything at 'it' - single & combination immunosuppressants, TNF...

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Where Is That??!!!

Where Is That??!!!

Ever been guilty of having a 'man's look' for something?  I have. Particularly when it comes to the online omniverse! I can be a bit flaky at finding things right there on the page...allegedly! So for those of you who have a similar experience with my website &...

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Meet My Alter Ego

Meet My Alter Ego

Did I say, ‘Our Brain’? 🙄 Maybe it really should be, ‘Their Brain...on Drugs: what recreational substances reveal'. While infinite self-analysis is an occupational hazard for health professionals, when we use our detective powers for good not evil, our patient...

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I’m Against Absolutes

I’m Against Absolutes

And health, no matter which side you sit on, seems to be particularly plagued by them.  I (incorrectly) recall my 4 year degree as being a series of deep personal losses, some favourite food, then caffeine, then alcohol etc etc.😂 Likewise, I'm aware that...

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That ‘Throat Feeling’

That ‘Throat Feeling’

"My 7yo daughter was frequently distressed, telling me she had that 'throat feeling'." As you can imagine, mum offered up a smorgasbord of suggestions to help her try and describe it: Can you swallow ok? Does it burn or taste funny? Where is it? Is it hard, soft,...

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What Good Can Come From ‘Getting on the Gear’

What Good Can Come From ‘Getting on the Gear’

When was the last time you 'got on the gear?'. Wait, am I showing my age?🙄  The afore mentioned 'gear' could be beers or GnTs, weed or hooch, eccies or pingers, 'nose candy' or blow. I could keep going! While, anything beyond alcohol, might be purely a...

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This

This

There's probably some poignant lines from a rap song everyone knows that I could insert here but, alas, Gold FM doesn't play anything produced after 1999, so I'm none the wiser. What I'm trying to bring to mind, is the potential clash between our reality & our...

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FREE Introduction to Nutritional Psychiatry

FREE Introduction to Nutritional Psychiatry

I've been hatching this passion project for quite some time. In truth, I can probably trace its beginning back 2 decades, when I returned to practice, after working in psych meds for big pharma. I knew then I had something to say.  Because even then I knew that we, as...

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