Between Clinical Minds

Get ready to shine a light on skin health in this special “Sun Smart” episode of BioConcepts Between Clinical Minds! Join host Toni Chambers as we dive deep into the realities of skin cancer with naturopath and cancer immunology expert Dr. Shala Rasouli, and hear the powerful personal journey of skin cancer survivor Jane Hermann. Click here to complete our short community feedback survey and go into the draw to win a virtual ticket to our two‑day Neuro Resilience 2026 Summit. Are you a Healthcare Practitioner? Join us to continue the conversation at bioconceptsengage.com.au

Step inside the clinic with Season 5, Episode 7 of BioConcepts Between Clinical Minds, where we dive beneath the surface of skin and nail health. Join podcast host Toni Chambers as she sits down with TCM practitioner Sandi Ross and nurse/naturopath Alexandra Brewster for a frank, open-minded discussion on fungal infections—from candida’s shapeshifting nature to the challenges of mould and nail presentations. Discover how Western and Chinese medicine perspectives intersect, learn practical strategies for diagnosis and management, and hear real-world stories that illuminate the complexity of skin conditions. Whether you’re a practitioner seeking deeper clinical insight or simply fascinated by the science of health, this episode offers actionable tips, lifestyle advice, and a fresh look at the “terrain” beneath every rash and infection. Click here to complete our short community feedback survey and go into the draw to win a virtual ticket to our two‑day Neuro Resilience 2026 Summit. Are you a Healthcare Practitioner? Join us to continue the conversation at bioconceptsengage.com.au

Step inside the lived experience of Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW) with this episode of Between Clinical Minds. Hear naturopath Jacinta Mullins recount decades of battling eczema, the emotional toll of dependency on steroid creams, and the difficult journey through withdrawal—marked by sleepless nights, debilitating itching, and the search for true healing. Jacinta shares how changing her diet, setting boundaries, and focusing on gut and nervous system health helped her reclaim her life. You’ll also meet Grace Jacobs, who describes the isolating pain of TSW as a teenager—raw skin, relentless infections, and the struggle to find support when even doctors didn’t understand her condition. Grace’s story is one of resilience, combining naturopathic and medical approaches to finally restore her skin and her confidence. Through honest conversation, this episode reveals the physical and psychological challenges of TSW, the importance of holistic care, and the hope that comes from connecting with others who truly understand. If you or someone you know is facing eczema or TSW, these stories offer empathy, practical advice, and a reminder: you’re not alone. Click here to complete our short community feedback survey and go into the draw to win a virtual ticket to our two‑day Neuro Resilience 2026 Summit. Are you a Healthcare Practitioner? Join us to continue the conversation at bioconceptsengage.com.au

Join host Toni Chambers in this episode of BioConcepts Between Clinical Minds as she sits down with naturopaths Rebecca Hughes and Katey Weekes to unpack the complexities of eczema and dermatitis herpetiformis. This episode explores the nuances of differential diagnosis, the impact of genetic mutations, and the importance of family history in chronic skin conditions. Learn about evidence-based management strategies, including the judicious use of topical steroids, antifungals, and barrier-supporting therapies, as well as the role of stress and environmental triggers in patient outcomes. The conversation offers practical tips for integrating standard and functional pathology testing, supporting patients through flare-ups, and balancing conventional and naturopathic interventions. Whether you’re in clinical practice or supporting patients with chronic skin disease, this episode delivers actionable insights and peer-driven perspectives to enhance your approach to dermatological care. Are you a Healthcare Practitioner? Join us to continue the conversation at bioconceptsengage.com.au.

Explore the latest thinking on adult acne with naturopaths Asha Evertsz and Karina Hiscock. Discover why acne is now seen as an inflammatory disease, the role of the skin microbiome, and practical approaches for diagnosis and treatment. Real clinical stories and actionable insights for practitioners and patients alike. 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

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 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

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

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

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