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Lauren Owens

@owensnaturopath

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Online or in-clinic (Lennox Head)
www.laurenowens.com.au
🌿 Hormones
🌿 Fibromyalgia
🌿 Chronic pain & fatigue
🌿 Gut & Skin
🌿 Breast Implant Illness

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Hypermobility Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) is increasingly being recognised as contributing to chronic pain as well as a number of other symptoms.

Read my latest blog article for more detailed info on hEDS.

And reach out if you’d like naturopathic support for hEDS.

#ehlersdanlos #hypermobilityspectrumdisorders #lennoxheadnaturopath #northernriversnaturopath #naturalhealth by @owensnaturopath

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23 days ago

If you suffer from migraines, you’ll know just how debilitating and unpredictable they can be. I know this because I experience them myself, too.

One thing I’ve learnt through both my own experience and my work with clients is that migraines are rarely as simple as just taking a painkiller when one starts. Painkillers don’t work for everyone and have their own set of issues.

The triggers and contributing factors for one person can be completely different to someone else.

Some of the areas I explore when supporting my patients with migraines include:

🌿Blood sugar stability
🌿Hydration and electrolyte balance
🌿Stress levels & emotional state
🌿Hormonal influence, especially oestrogen fluctuations
🌿Nutrient status, especially magnesium and B vitamins
🌿Sleep quality
🌿Food intolerances or sensitivities
🌿Environmental sensitivities, such as strong smells, mould, chemicals, temperature changes

Rather than simply managing migraines when they occur, I like to explore what may be contributing to them, with the aim of reducing their frequency and impact on everyday life over time.

#MigraineSupport #MigraineRelief #lennoxheadnaturopath #byronbaynaturopathy
#northernriversnaturopath by @owensnaturopath

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2 months ago

This is something I’ve noticed numerous times in clinic. So many women who are in the midst of perimenopause are eating very little. They’re running on empty from the time they get up and skip breakfast and they plough through a busy work day fuelling themselves with little more than a few snacks and caffeine. Perimenopause is hard enough to navigate with all the biological changes taking place without also dealing with under-fuelling and not providing the body and brain with the nutrients needed to cope with those changes.

It’s more important than ever at this time to ensure you’re having nutritious meals so that you don’t feel even more fatigued, more brain foggy, irritable and moody. In particular, we need to maximise our ability to maintain muscle mass and stabilise our blood glucose to protect against insulin resistance and preserve bone for as long as possible.

The positive changes can often be felt fairly quickly when a patient starts to fuel herself better, with improved mood and energy usually being the first effects. From there, other benefits come such as having the motivation and energy to exercise again.

Start with making changes to one meal eg. breakfast and see if it makes a difference to how you feel.

#perimenopausehealth #northernriversnaturopath #lennoxheadnaturopath #menopausenaturopath by @owensnaturopath

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2 months ago

Acne is an issue close to my heart as I battled it for many years as a teen and in my early 20s. Looking back, mine was caused by a perfect storm of teenage hormones, numerous antibiotic rounds for tonsillitis, subsequent annihilation of my gut flora, a terrible vegetarian diet, and stress (because of my bad skin!).

Treating acne naturopathically means uncovering and addressing all aspects that could be playing a part in that person’s presentation.

It’s not necessarily a quick fix (although sometimes good results are fairly swift) but it does mean overall health is improved along with the skin because we work on improving a number of different areas such as gut health, diet, stress management, inflammation and detoxification support.

The best part for me is seeing my patients so happy with their skin and with a newfound sense of confidence.

#northernriversnaturopath #naturalhealth #lennoxheadnaturopath #acne #naturopathy by @owensnaturopath

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a year ago

Chronic pain is frustrating. It’s exhausting. It’s unpredictable. It’s expensive. It thwarts plans. It means taking longer to do things than other people. And putting on a brave face or retreating all together when you’re in the midst of a flare.

I understand it well as I have scoliosis and fibromyalgia. Fibro is kind of like an unlucky dip. What will I get this week? Headaches? Neck and shoulder pain? Gut issues? Maybe the whole gamut. Or maybe none.

Many years ago whilst I was still studying to become a naturopath my pain became so bad I could barely function. I made changes to my lifestyle and diet and I experimented with herbs and supplements. I also had testing done to get insights about what was causing all this pain. I worked with an amazing naturopath who turned my life around. It’s been a journey and it’s ongoing but I’ve gained many insights to help my own patients. Some of the things that work for me to manage my condition are:

🌿 Gluten free - I feel better without it

🌿 No longer vegetarian - my iron was rock bottom (ferritin was 9 😱)

🌿 Avoid sugars & crappy carbs (majority of the time) as they increase inflammation.

🌿 Minimise alcohol or avoid it

🌿 Exercise - I need to move daily whether it’s gym or walks & stretching

🌿 Methylation-supportive nutrients (I’m homozygous for MTHFR C677T genetic mutation)

🌿 Stress reduction & nervous system support - huge one for me! Being mindful of not overdoing things.

🌿 Acupuncture & massage regularly

🌿 Gut microbiome work - as a teen I had chronic tonsillitis and took so many antibiotics (there’s a link between gut health & fibro).

🌿 Sleep practices - sleep mask, herbs, magnesium glycinate…

🌿 Nature - ocean & greenery

Those are just some of the things that have helped me.

Chronic pain is complex because every single person has a different story as to how they experience it and why it developed in the first place. I love working with patients in this space because when they get improvements it’s literally life-changing. It can make them feel as though they’re back to their “old self”.

#lennoxheadnaturopath #northernriversnaturopath #chronicpainnaturopath #naturalhealth taken in Lennox Head by @owensnaturopath

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a year ago

Oestrogen sometimes gets a bad rap but there is a lot of good that comes from this all-important hormone.

Oestrogen has a number of beneficial health effects throughout a woman’s lifespan including protecting the cardiovascular system, the brain, bones and maintaining good metabolic status.

As women move towards menopause and beyond and oestrogen levels decline to eventually reach a permanent low, we lose those protective benefits which puts us at greater risk of chronic health conditions developing such as cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive decline, obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and osteoporosis.

Holistic support for the peri and post menopausal woman therefore involves helping to alleviate difficult menopause symptoms (of course) along with decreasing the risk of these chronic diseases developing. The post-menopausal years can comprise a third of a woman’s life and we all want to be in the best health we possibly can be to make the most of those years. These serious health issues significantly impact quality of life. They can also worsen the symptoms of menopause in some cases.

The good news is that there are so many measures we can take naturopathically to improve outcomes and prevent women from developing these conditions in the first place. Or if pathology has already developed, then we can slow down progression or sometimes reverse it all together.

The key is being proactive, seeking professional guidance and being committed to achieving your best state of health. And it’s never too early (or too late!) to start thinking about post-menopausal health. Taking positive steps towards better health is like insurance for the future years.

DM me if you’d like to have a chat about how I can support you naturopathically through your peri/menopause transition.

#naturopath #lennoxheadnaturopath #northernriversnaturopath #perimenopause #menopause #menopausenaturopath #naturalhealth #naturopathy by @owensnaturopath

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2 years ago

Cycle syncing is a concept that many women are becoming more aware of and practising to help them align more comfortably with how their menstrual cycle affects them throughout the month. I love the fact that I see a lot of younger women being more conscious of their own cycle and recognising the effects of their hormones. When I was younger, it seems the majority of women including myself were on the oral contraceptive pill. We had no connection with our cycles and therefore I’d argue no natural connection with our bodies. How could we!? Our reproductive hormones had been completely switched off. Little did we know there are ramifications to that and the risks and benefits need to be communicated and weighed up - a post for another time perhaps.

Most women do get affected by their periods - whether it be in a big way or only in minor ways. Many of us are very accustomed to pushing through pain, discomfort and fatigue and essentially just ploughing on. But what if we understood what is happening within us better and made some adjustments to help support our bodies as these hormonal fluctuations occurred? It can help reduce some of the symptoms but it also takes away the pressure or some of the frustration we may feel about not being able to go about “business as usual”.

Here are some suggestions around nutritional, exercise, social and work life approaches that could help you recognise and align with the phases of your cycle each month.

I’ve used a 28 day cycle as an example here but obviously cycle lengths vary greatly amongst women so this can be adapted accordingly. I’d love to know if any of you out there already adopt some of these practices or have your own.

#northernriversnaturopath #lennoxheadnaturopath #naturalhealth #cyclesyncing #menstrualcyclesyncing by @owensnaturopath

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2 years ago

Gluten Free Granola
I made a big batch of this yesterday and ate some with fruit and Coyo coconut yoghurt this morning. So good! Lots of fibre, healthy fats and gluten free. The hot weather here has me craving fruit.

I’m not really one for specific quantities when it comes to cooking. I tend to chuck things in and go by look and taste testing along the way but here is a loose guide to my recipe:

Puffed buckwheat (about 3 cups)
Pecans, chopped (about a cup)
Walnut pieces (a cup)
Sunflower seeds
Black chia seeds
LSA (linseed, sunflower, almond) mix
Buckwheat flakes
Organic extra virgin coconut oil (enough to coat the mix)
Organic maple syrup (a drizzle)
Sultanas (oil free and organic)
Coconut flakes

I mixed all the nuts and seeds plus the puffed buckwheat and flakes together (not the coconut flakes or sultanas).
Then I poured enough coconut oil over to stir through and coat it (but not let it get too wet and oily).
Drizzle maple syrup to give it the slightest sweetness. You could use honey.
Put it in the oven for about 12 minutes at 150 Celsius.
Then I took it out and added in the coconut flakes and sultanas. Mixed them through.
Popped it back in the oven for another 10-12 minutes.
You could keep watch and take it out when the colour is to your liking.

Almost all the ingredients are organic and I got the nuts, seeds, coconut flakes, sultanas and puffed buckwheat from The Source @thesourcebulkfoods by @owensnaturopath

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2 years ago

When it comes to taking supplements, there are a lot of things to consider to ensure you’re going to get results, not waste your money and most importantly, not cause adverse health effects. Here are a few things to think about…

🌿 Quality counts - Not all supplements are created equally. In general, it’s probably safe to say you get what you pay for. Cheap supplements will generally use inferior forms of vitamins or minerals. This can mean they’re ineffective or they can be harmful. In the case of fish oils, cheap brands can contain heavy metals or rancid oils. Common iron supps from the pharmacy are notorious for causing constipation. Toxic excipients expose you to health risks, many of which we don’t know enough about.

🌿 Seek a naturopath’s help if you can – they will be able to assess your condition in detail to know what herbs or supplements are best and what to avoid. Self-prescribing can be dangerous especially if you are on medications. Or you may unknowingly be taking supplements that are incompatible with your health needs or genetics (eg. taking folic acid if you have an MTHFR genetic variant).

🌿 Dos and don’ts – there are ways to take your supplements and ways not to if you want to get your money’s worth, achieve results and not have unwanted effects like stay awake all night (been there, done that with Bs!). Zinc and iron compete for absorption so don’t take them together. Also, zinc on an empty stomach can cause nausea. And wait minimum one hour after having tea/coffee before having your supplements or you won’t absorb them properly. Fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamin D need fat to be absorbed so take them with a meal containing fat.

🌿 Supplements form part of the treatment plan but shouldn’t be relied upon entirely. They won’t magically mop up the detrimental impact of a poor diet, too much alcohol, smoking or lack of exercise…

#northernriversnaturopath #naturopath #lennoxheadnaturopath #naturalhealth by @owensnaturopath

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2 years ago

I know lots of people go straight for coffee first thing in the morning. And this might not be what you want to hear, but I generally recommend against doing that. Having coffee on an empty stomach is not ideal for a few reasons.

🌿 Our bodies tend to be dehydrated after fasting overnight so it’s good to start the day by replenishing with water. Having coffee straight away will dehydrate you further since caffeine is a diuretic. Squeeze some lemon juice into your water to stimulate the digestive system and trigger enzyme release.

🌿 Prepare yourself a nutritious breakfast to kickstart the metabolism and fuel the body and brain. Opt for some protein and healthy fats such as eggs, yoghurt, nuts, seeds, avocado, protein or collagen powder…

🌿 Caffeine inhibits nutrient absorption so it’s best to have coffee away from your food. Try to wait around an hour to allow your breakfast to digest. Then, go ahead and enjoy your coffee.

When we wake up, our cortisol is naturally at its highest level of the day. By having coffee at this time, our cortisol peaks even higher. This can leave us feeling anxious and jittery. Having some food in the belly will slow down absorption of the caffeine and keep cortisol levels more balanced. When cortisol is high, blood glucose levels rise, which sets us up for energy peaks and crashes throughout the day.

For those people with IBS and especially if you have a tendency for loose bowels, caffeine on an empty stomach can be particularly bad news. It can be very irritating to an already sensitive gut. Having food first will lessen the impact.

#lennoxheadnaturopath #northernriversnaturopath #naturalhealth #nutrition by @owensnaturopath

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2 years ago

I’m here Fridays for in-clinic naturopathy appointments at Lennox Head Acupuncture & Wellness @lennoxheadacupuncture

I treat a wide variety of conditions but some areas I have a special interest in include:

🌿 Women’s hormonal issues

🌿 Chronic pain conditions

🌿 Thyroid disorders

🌿 Anxiety and depression

🌿 Stress and burnout

🌿 Adolescent health & nutrition

🌿 Breast implant illness

🌿 Autoimmune conditions

Book in via my website, phone or send me a DM. I also offer 15 minute complimentary compatibility calls so we can have a chat first. If you prefer, I also conduct online consultations.

#lennoxheadnaturopath #northernriversnaturopath #naturopathy #naturalhealth by @owensnaturopath

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2 years ago

For all my fibro and chronic pain people… you are likely familiar with having pain flares. I wish that wasn’t so. Sometimes they can completely knock us down - both physically and emotionally and take a while to recover from.

At times we can recognise what triggered a flare, and at other times it isn’t so apparent.

Along with having an overall health plan in place to manage the fibro, there are practices we can adopt to try and reduce the likelihood of flares occurring. Or if they do happen, to reduce their severity and duration. Things like:

🌿 Maximising sleep and working on factors that may be hindering our ability to get a solid 8 hours minimum

🌿 Avoid prolonged positions that can wreak havoc with an already painful body such as sitting or standing too long

🌿 Exercising regularly but in a way that doesn’t over tax your body - don’t push yourself to exhaustion

🌿 Be mindful of recognising the signs that your body is approaching its limits & pull back in whatever way you can

🌿 Learn how to pace yourself - super important!

🌿 Plan ahead if attending events or occasions to remove unknowns & anxiety

🌿 Implement an antiinflammatory diet & consider avoiding gluten

🌿Get out into nature and sunshine regularly for vitamin D

I have written a more detailed piece on how to implement these approaches on my website blog page. See the link in my bio.

#Fibromyalgia #fibroflare #naturopathy #lennoxheadnaturopath #northernriversnaturopath #byronbaynaturopath by @owensnaturopath

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2 years ago