Elixir Naturopathy Blog

Melissa Briggs Melissa Briggs

How Gut Health Affects Your Thyroid

Discover the critical link between gut health and thyroid function. Learn how leaky gut syndrome and microbiome imbalances can trigger autoimmune thyroid conditions, impair hormone conversion, and create systemic inflammation.

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What Is Sleep Hygiene?

Sleep hygiene is the term given to the habits, behaviours and environment we set in order to obtain a regular quality night's sleep. If you are someone that struggles with poor sleep quality, insomnia, fatigue, hormone imbalance, weight regulation, inflammation or chronic disease then focusing on your sleep hygiene is a great way to set yourself up for a great night's sleep.

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Melissa Briggs Melissa Briggs

The Top Herbs for Supporting Hashimoto's Disease

It's no secret that the side effects of living with Hashimoto's disease can be draining in every sense of the word. That's why as a qualified naturopath, I like to draw on the addition of herbal medicine to support the body and manage the many symptoms of this disease. Let’s start by having a look at some of my favourite herbal options for Hashimoto's disease management.

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gut health, thyroid health, digestion, nutrition Melissa Briggs gut health, thyroid health, digestion, nutrition Melissa Briggs

The Gluten, Leaky Gut & Thyroid Connection

There is a strong connection between the thyroid and gut health. Studies have shown that low thyroid hormone production can lead to leaky gut and impaired digestive health can impair thyroid function. Optimal digestion supports a reduction in the antibodies associated with autoimmune conditions such as Hashimoto's and Graves.

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gut health, thyroid health, digestion, nutrition Melissa Briggs gut health, thyroid health, digestion, nutrition Melissa Briggs

5 Ways You Can Reduce Your Environmental Toxin Exposure

We’re all trying our best to live clean, green lives. It’s one thing that we know is beneficial for our overall health. Only, these days the world we live in makes it harder to escape them. Environmental toxin exposure is concerning; from the food we eat and the water we drink to the products we clean our bodies and homes with. More often than not they’re laden with high doses of toxins that have devastating effects on our health in the long-run.

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gut health, thyroid health, digestion, nutrition Melissa Briggs gut health, thyroid health, digestion, nutrition Melissa Briggs

10 Signs You Have Might Have A Thyroid Problem & What To Do About It

The thyroid gland is a powerhouse in the human body. But because a lot of it’s magic happens behind the scenes in the endocrine (hormonal) system, when things go wrong they can be hard to pick up on. There are a few telltale signs that we tend to think nothing of, but when they begin to arise collectively (or sometimes on their own), they begin to point to a thyroid problem.

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7 Ways to Banish Burnout

In today's day and age we are working longer hours, not getting enough sleep and turning to coffee and sugar to push through the exhaustion. Only to wake up the next day and do it all over again. This my friend, is a recipe for burnout.

Burnout otherwise known as adrenal fatigue, is a chronic negative response caused by excessive and prolonged stress. Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion and occurs when you feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to cope with the constant demands of life.

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acne, gut health, hormones, women's health Melissa Briggs acne, gut health, hormones, women's health Melissa Briggs

Causes of Adult Onset Acne

Acne is a condition that is commonly thought of as a condition only affecting adolescents. However up to 51% of women between the ages 20-29 and 26% of women between 40-49 also suffer from this condition.

Acne is caused by multiple factors such as increased sebum secretion, inflammation, follicular keratinization, and Propionibacterium acnes. For many women, acne can be a debilitating condition that can have a huge impact on mental wellbeing.

The pathogenesis of acne in adult women can be quite complex and isn't always due to hormonal imbalances. So I am going to share with you the top contributing factors to be aware of. 

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fertility, health, hormones, nutrition, naturopathy Melissa Briggs fertility, health, hormones, nutrition, naturopathy Melissa Briggs

Seed Cycling for Hormones

You may have heard of a particular nutritional “fad” at present called seed cycling to promote healthy hormones. This is certainly something I get asked about often in my practice.

So I thought I would share with you exactly what seed cycling is, what the research says, how to implement seed cycling and what to expect when you do. 

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6 Daily Self Care Rituals to Reduce Stress

Feeling stressed or overwhelmed? Your not alone. In fact 26% of Australian experience moderate to severe stress on a daily basis. In addition, stress often accompanied by feelings of anxiety and depression. 

Whether it's the demands of deadlines at work, juggling after-school activities for the kids, or financial pressures that come with the ever increasing cost of living, all while trying to maintain some kind of social life. We all experience some form of stress. 

What's more, this often leads us to neglect our own health to meet the needs of everyone around us. In a time where we really need to be supporting and nourishing our bodies.

So how can you reduce your stress? I am here to show you 6 of the best self care rituals you can incorporate easily into your day to reduce stress.

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