by | | Curated Content
May 1st 2025
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WellBeing Magazine
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To be clear, a disclaimer is necessary here. I am not taking methylene blue, nor am I financially intertwined with any company that sells this substance. It’s not endorsed by the TGA and you won’t find it in any health food shop in this country. But I recently attended a conference of the medical eclectics where all the subterranean buzz was about the protean benefits of methylene blue. Also, one of my more avant-garde patients has been importing this potion and concocting his own formulation in his home laboratory (he is a Mensa). This is why I’ve decided it was time I got jiggy with the science of this new “longevity wonder drug”.
Methylene blue’s first iteration was as a textile dye in 1876. Since then, it’s morphed into an omnipotent drug with a wide range of applications: to stain surgical slides; medicate malaria; operate as an antiseptic; treat cyanide poisoning; and manage a condition called methemoglobinemia, a rare ailment that alters the capacity of haemoglobin to deliver oxygen to our tissues, which is reversed once this substance is administered. In the anti-ageing arena, it’s surfaced as a master antioxidant capable of neutralising free radicals, those supposed principal instigators of bodily degeneration, which is thought to be a major boon for our brains where free radicals are generated at a rapid rate as oxygen is utilised to generate energy.
Although scientists are still uncovering the mysteries that surround the origins of Alzheimer’s disease-damaged mitochondria, our cellular batteries, where oxygen cycles through a progression of biochemical pathways to make energy, and the accumulation of potentially destructive proteins called amyloid beta and tau are possibly the prime drivers of this disorder. Research suggests that methylene blue — by corralling free radicals and ramping up the elimination of amyloid beta and tau protein — can help to salvage mitochondrial function, which might go a long way to preventing Alzheimer’s.
In 2008, a clinical trial was conducted showing that a group of patients who exhibited features of mild cognitive impairment, a pathological condition presaging the transition into Alzheimer’s, characterised by increasing forgetfulness and the inability to function at work, had an 81 per cent reduction in cognitive decline over a 50-week period after they took a low dose of methylene blue. Another trial has demonstrated diminishing brain atrophy in mild Alzheimer’s sufferers after a similar treatment for nine months. In rats, methylene blue can slow the evolution of Parkinson’s disease by preserving the production of dopamine, the brain neurochemical whose increasing absence leads to the crippling march of this decimating disorder.
For those who simply want to enhance their cognitive function, there is some evidence that it can enhance memory and slow down brain ageing. It has even been used to successfully treat covid infestation, an outcome that has not been widely publicised.
Compared with vitamin C and retinol, skin cells treated with methylene blue demonstrated a greater capacity to proliferate and had reduced signs of ageing, but this hasn’t yet translated to methylene blue being incorporated in topical anti-ageing formulations.
It’s considered safe when taken in low doses at <2mg/kg per day. What we do need is more mainstream research to substantiate its advantages. But because it has been around for so long and has yet to be embraced by the wider scientific community, this initiative appears doubtful. At the moment, experimenting with the potential benefits of this formulation appears to exist at the extreme edges of the anti-ageing community, among those chemical bungee jumpers who delight in exposing their bodies to the outer limits of biochemical enhancement.
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The new anti-ageing wonder drug
by | | Curated Content
May 1st 2025
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WellBeing Magazine
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The Australian Integrative Medicine Association (AIMA) describes integrative medicine as “a philosophy of healthcare with a focus on individual patient care. It combines the best of conventional Western medicine with evidence-based complementary medicine and therapies.”
My definition of integrative practice is healing using the best of both worlds, although that’s probably too simple. These days, conventional veterinary medicine includes aspects previously regarded as complementary, such as nutrition and nutraceuticals, as well as rehabilitation. Holistic medicine may consist of many modalities, including but not limited to Western herbal medicine, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Ayurvedic medicine, naturopathy, homeopathy and physical therapies, such as acupuncture, massage, chiropractic and photobiomodulation. There are energetic remedies, including Reiki and Bowen, and emotional remedies, such as flower essences. Other alternative treatments include intravenous vitamin infusions, faecal transplantation, ozone, hyperbaric oxygen and gold implantation. This list isn’t complete, but most integrative vets will offer some of these modalities.
More and more pet carers are looking for alternatives to conventional medicine. When I started working as an integrative vet in the early 2000s, our practice was the only one in Sydney offering this approach. The CIVT (College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies) directory now lists seven integrative practices in NSW, although there are probably more. Why this trend? Perhaps many reasons, including some distrust of conventional medical care, a view that natural or less invasive interventions might be safer, a pet carer’s philosophy for their health and the importance of the human-to-animal bond. How do we know integrative approaches work? A conventional approach to treat allergic dermatitis might include antibiotics to treat infection and corticosteroids to reduce inflammation and itch. This combination will probably relieve symptoms within several days. However, there may be side effects such as increased thirst, toileting and anxiety, and the inflammation and itch may return once the medicines are completed. So, does this conventional approach work? Yes, in the short term, with side effects. Not in the longer term.
So, what would an integrative approach for skin allergies be? Tilly was a three-year-old Cavoodle when I first met her, and she had intensely itchy skin. We used an itch scale and she rated eight out of 10, itching all night and all over. She’d been treated with Apoquel (oclacitinib), an immune-suppressing drug, which stops the itch as long as it is used daily. Apoquel may cause some bone marrow suppression in 1 per cent of dogs. The product insert warns it may exacerbate cancer, although there isn’t good evidence to support this. The main reason Tilly came to see me was because her owner was uncomfortable using this long-term, even though her symptoms had improved.
I reviewed her diet. Nutrition is the building block upon which I create integrative care plans. She was fed a mix of a commercial dry grain-free food and a lamb-based home-made diet. Overall, her diet was unbalanced. Holistically, highly processed dry food is inflammatory and, using traditional Chinese food therapy, lamb is regarded as a warming ingredient.
Over four weeks, the dry food was reduced and the lamb diet was replaced with a cooked turkey and vegetable diet with added chicken heart and liver, sardines, an egg once per week and a whole-food “balancing powder” suited to healthy dogs.
I added probiotics as biome support, bromelain and quercetin for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects and a TCM herbal formula to address wind heat invasion and blood deficiency. We also focused on topical treatments — wiping her off with green tea after exposure to grasses — a common trigger for itchy dogs, as well as using chemical-free shampoos and conditioners and a moisturising oil to nourish her skin barrier.
After four weeks, her skin had improved, and she was no longer on Apoquel. I added some nettle leaf for additional symptom relief and Reishi mushroom for immune-modulating and prebiotic effects. We reviewed her preventative healthcare, reduced the frequency of vaccines and, while we continued tick protection due to the high risk for paralysis ticks, I added milk thistle as antioxidant support.
Integrative care takes time but, after several months, we’d successfully reduced her symptoms and her reliance on medication. Tilly now has one anti-itch injection (Cytopoint) each spring. For her, the integrative approach reduced her symptoms and improved her quality of life and overall wellness.
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What is integrative veterinary care?
by | | Curated Content
May 1st 2025
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WellBeing Magazine
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Years ago, when we held Open Gardens, they were “adult only” as, with farm dams and machinery, we had no way to keep kids safe. One invitee asked to bring her eight-year-old grandson. “He adores gardening. He’ll be fascinated.”
The kid told me later it had been the best day of his life. While the adults listened to a two-hour talk then toured the garden, he slowly worked his way down the three trestles of afternoon tea, able to eat all the home-made biscuits, cakes, frittata, lemon tarts and varied sandwiches he wanted.
Kids are not natural gardeners. A true gardener is excited when they plant a dead-looking stick, imagining the apple tree it will be. Kids don’t have the experience to understand garden magic, until they are shown it: these tiny seeds will become a lettuce. Watch this avocado seed shoot, balanced on toothpicks over a glass of water. Then we’ll plant it and one day you’ll eat its fruit.
Kids are natural garden lovers. Humans — especially kids — are happier and calmer with green and growing things around them. Want kids to put the screen away? Give them a tree to climb. Sadly, all too many kids need to be taught how to climb a tree. They’ve never been shown, not given one that is easily climbable.
A few months ago, I invited a passing family to pick fruit in our garden. I looked back as the small boy said wonderingly, “Mum, is that a lemon? Can I really pick it?” His sister had already chosen and picked an orange. She looked as if she’d been given the crown jewels. When I was a kid, most people had a few backyard fruit trees. At least one in three had hens and most a vegetable garden.
I suddenly realised that the majority of today’s kids miss out on basic human joys. Houses take up most garden space. Parks have swings and slides and climbing nets. Kids need a tree far more than a net. We have more dog parks than spaces where kids can pick flowers and fruit, make mud pies or puddles and jump into them or discover the difference between chillies and strawberries. Pick it fast, before the birds, snails and millipedes get it first.
If adults vanished from the world, could today’s kids pick fruit and veg and grow them to survive? Have they ever camped in the backyard with the stars for a ceiling? Do they look out for the first star of the night? Watch the moon rise? Or know that birds sing at dawn, and why? This isn’t parents’ fault. We’ve let town planners bamboozle us, taking away green spaces so councils can have more power and money, and less green space expense. Green space isn’t a luxury. It’s a human right.
How to get your kids in the garden
- Step 1. Find some green space, preferably one that hasn’t been interfered with too much by humans. Hunt for gum nuts. Are they all the same or different?
- Step 2. Find a tree to climb. Test it first to make sure it’s not brittle. Climbing peach trees is not advisable, but mulberry, apricot and avocado trees are great.
- Step 3. If you have a young backyard tree, tie a branch to a stake so it grows horizontally. You have now made a climbing tree, a rocking horse tree, a place to hang a blanket for a cubby tree, worth far more than any store-bought cubby.
- Step 4. Build a cubby. Collect two 1L milk containers and tape them together. Use cardboard boxes for a table.
- Step 5. Find a banksia bush and look for the seed cones left from last season’s blooms. Spoon water into their mouths at the top, then watch it emerge from the bottom.
- Step 6. Throw two sticks on one side of a pedestrian bridge then race over to see which one comes first. That’s also fun with sticks in a creek or river.
- Step 7. Give kids aged four and above their own garden, even if it must be in pots. Be prepared to do the watering and feeding, but kids do can the planting and eating. Remember, what they grow is theirs. Let them discover that sharing is fun, too.
- Step 8. Convince your local school to have a garden that grows enough for kids to take home produce every week. Ask your local library, too.
- Step 9. Nag your local council until they give in and provide space for community gardens where all can have their own plot. Ensure there is space for all to sit and enjoy the flowers and peace of green and growing things, without having to sweat with a spade.
- Step 10. Never use kids as unpaid garden labour. Holding the hose or weeding will turn kids off gardening for years — though pruning the wisteria and swinging from its vines can be great fun.
- Step 11. The love of green and growing things is contagious. We have a generous planet, but kids won’t see it unless helped. It is so much easier today to find a screen. Once you love this planet, you will fight to save it, to keep it a world for the children’s children of us all.
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Tempting kids into the garden
by | | Curated Content
May 1st 2025
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WellBeing Magazine
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When life tested Louise Mace with its toughest challenges, she found healing, purpose and her true calling in natural health.
“The year 2020 changed my world, and I’m not referring to the pandemic,” Mace shares. “I’d been a widow for six years, working in an industry that didn’t align with me and relying on alcohol to numb my sadness. I knew I was off my path, and I felt completely out of place in my own skin.”
A deep period of soul-searching led Mace to a life-changing decision. “I’d always felt connected to nature and its gifts — the ocean, forests plants — and I was raised to appreciate natural healing. Growing up in Tasmania in the ‘70s, that way of life was just normal.”
In the early ‘90s, Mace took the opportunity to move her young family to Deniliquin, NSW, for a fresh start. It was here that her passion for supporting others began. “I started working as a pharmacy assistant in 1996 and I absolutely loved it. I embraced natural supplements, aromatherapy and helping mums with infant health. When a visiting iridologist came to the pharmacy, I was hooked. I knew this was the path I wanted to follow — to help others heal.”
However, life had other plans. Mace’s studies were put on hold due to family and work commitments and, later, the devastating loss of her husband in 2014. “All I could think about was surviving and protecting my children and their beautiful families. Meditation, soul-searching and the support of my circle saved me during that time.”
It wasn’t until 2020 that Mace finally reclaimed her dream. “I discovered Nature Care College and every word I read on their website resonated with me. I knew in my heart that this was where I was meant to be. At 54, I enrolled in three short courses to nurture my brain for the study journey ahead. My first online class was the most wonderful experience — I had found my tribe. I felt so excited — the lecturers, the content, my fellow students — everything felt like coming home. This was exactly what I was meant to be doing.”
Living in the small rural town of Deniliquin, Mace is committed to making nutritional and holistic health support accessible to her community and surrounding isolated areas. Her business, Nurture with Louise, reflects her desire to break down barriers to holistic healthcare and create a space of understanding and empowerment.
As a volunteer for the breakfast program at her grandsons’ primary school, creator of a preschool program called How to be a Food SuperHero and a community representative on the Deniliquin Local Health Advisory Committee, Mace is truly in tune with what her community really needs.
Her dedication to supporting her town has not gone unnoticed. Mace was recently recognised as a finalist in the Deniliquin Business Awards in the New Business category.
Four years after beginning her journey at Nature Care, Louise Mace now sits proudly in her own beautiful space, supporting clients as a clinical nutritionist and naturopath. “I feel so proud of what I’ve achieved — academically, personally and physically, she says. “Nature Care didn’t just teach me. It gave me a sense of belonging and a supportive community that lifted me up every step of the way. I’m forever grateful to the lecturers, the caring staff and my fellow students.”
For more details, visit naturecare.com.au and nurturewithlouise.com.au.
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Nature and nurture
by | | Curated Content
May 1st 2025
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WellBeing Magazine
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In recent years, the gut microbiome has emerged as a key player in health, earning its title as the “second brain”. This intricate ecosystem of trillions of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses and fungi, influences digestion and nutrient absorption, immune function and even mental health. Supporting a healthy gut microbiome is essential for the whole family. Probiotics play a pivotal role in achieving this balance.
The first 1000 days
The first 1000 days of life, from conception to a child’s second birthday, are critical for shaping a healthy microbiome. This period influences not only digestive health but also the immune system and lifelong wellbeing. During pregnancy, a mother’s gut microbiome significantly impacts her baby’s development, making it essential for expecting mothers to prioritise gut health. Probiotics can help promote a healthy pregnancy and prepare the infant’s system for life outside the womb.
After birth, factors such as breastfeeding, diet and environment further shape the infant microbiome. For instance, breast milk contains prebiotics and beneficial bacteria that help populate a baby’s gut with good microbes. Supplementing with an infant-specific probiotic can provide additional support, especially for babies born via caesarean section or those who aren’t breastfed, as these scenarios can result in a less diverse microbiome.
Life-Space’s range of probiotics is expertly designed to support these early years. The brand’s Probiotic Powder for Baby is tailored to meet the unique needs of infants, helping to establish a solid foundation for gut and immune health.
Tailoring probiotics to every life stage
As children grow, so do their microbiome needs. Factors such as dietary changes, antibiotic use and stress can disrupt gut balance. For toddlers and school-aged children, probiotics can help maintain healthy digestion and support immunity — this helps children thrive during their active and demanding years.
Teenagers, with their unique hormonal and dietary shifts, can benefit from probiotics that support gut and skin health and mood regulation. Similarly, adults need probiotics that address lifestyle factors such as stress, poor dietary habits and sleep disturbances.
Life-Space offers targeted formulas such as Probiotic for Children and Broad Spectrum Probiotic for Adults, ensuring optimal gut health for the whole family.
For seniors, gut health becomes even more crucial. With age, the diversity of the gut microbiome decreases, which can potentially impact digestion, immunity and overall vitality. Probiotic supplements tailored to older adults can help restore balance, support nutrient absorption and enhance quality of life. Life-Space’s Probiotic for 60+ Years provides a blend of beneficial bacteria to address the unique challenges of ageing.
Gut health and immune system function
A healthy gut microbiome is a cornerstone of immune
system function. Did you know that approximately
70 per cent of your immune system resides in the
gut? Optimal gut health is essential for defending
against illness and maintaining overall resilience.
Probiotics contribute by promoting the growth of
beneficial bacteria, crowding out harmful microbes and
supporting the gut’s barrier function.
Life-Space is uniquely positioned to support
this connection between gut and immunity. With
a comprehensive range of probiotics for all life
stages, Life-Space helps families maintain a robust
immune system year-round. The company’s expertly
formulated products are backed by research and
designed to meet the diverse needs of individuals from
infancy to over 60.
Why choose Life-Space?
When it comes to probiotics, Life-Space is the brand that Australian families trust. As the nation’s number-one probiotic brand, Life-Space combines cutting-edge science with a deep understanding of gut health. The company’s extensive range covers all stages of life as well as various health conditions — this makes it easy for families to find a tailored solution for their needs.
Life-Space’s commitment to quality and efficacy has earned it the reputation of being the go-to expert in probiotics. The brand’s products are not only crafted with care but are also supported by the latest scientific advancements, ensuring they deliver real results for consumers.
Embrace a healthier future for your family
Supporting your family’s gut health is a powerful step toward overall wellbeing. From the first 1000 days to the golden years, probiotics provide targeted support for every stage of life. Life-Space makes it simple to prioritise gut health, offering trusted solutions that cater to the unique needs of babies, children, adults and seniors. Invest in your family’s health today with Life-Space — a healthy microbiome means a healthier, happier future for everyone.
For more, visit lifespaceprobiotics.com
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The gut microbiome: A foundation for family wellness
