A Naturopath, Nutritionist, Herbalist, Homeopath + Mother Of 5 Helping Highlands Families Live Healthy, Well Lives.
Olivia McFadyen has dedicated her career to helping people nourish their bodies and understand the role holistic health has in achieving optimal health for all the family.
A qualified naturopath, nutritionist, herbalist and homoeopath, Olivia uses her knowledge of all these modalities to help Highlanders navigate the often fast-paced and confusing world of health and wellness.
“Often it’s about getting back to basics and starting from there,” Olivia says.
“My clients are often amazed by how simple changes to their lifestyle and diet supported with natural remedies can make such a big difference to their health, daily energy and enjoyment of life.”
And that’s what it comes down to for so many of us, right?
Making the most of and enjoying life!
We chatted to Olivia to find out more about how she helps locals do just that!
1 :: Let’s start with how it all began for you. Was natural health always part of your career plan?
I actually started out working in social work and welfare in foster care, and with refugees and asylum seekers, helping them develop life skills such as cooking. That’s when I realised that nutrition had such a huge impact on the physical, emotional and mental health of people who had and were living through challenging times.
I’d always had a passion for natural health and the role it plays in wellbeing, so I decided to learn what I could about four of the areas I was most drawn to, became a qualified nutritionist, naturopath, herbalist and homoeopath and started my own clinic in 2011.
2 :: So, why those four modalities?
Each of them brings their own unique qualities to the health and wellness table.
Naturopathy is an umbrella term that incorporates nutrition and herbal medicine. Herbal medicine uses the healing properties of plants and that has been a form of treatment that has been around for centuries and still used in many cultures. There’s fantastic science and data that supports the role it can play and is used regularly in mainstream health. An example of that is turmeric supplements being used as an anti-inflammatory.
Nutrition is a fundamental aspect of every session I have with patients because the food we eat plays such a vital role in our overall health. I often say we are under-nourished and overfed. Every day we can choose foods to nourish and propel us to better health but so many people don’t know how to do that.
Homoeopathy is a lesser-known modality that works on an energetic level. Think of it as liquid acupuncture. It can be a powerful tool in addressing multiple issues and is particularly effective in the fertility program I offer. Homoeopathy is actually the second largest form of medicine in the world. One of the most well know homeopathic medicines is Arnica, which is often used for bruising, swelling and pain relief.
All these disciplines combine beautifully well together and give me an arsenal of tools that I can call on to support my clients with their wellness goals.
3 :: Tell us more about those clients and how you help them?
I tend to work with two different types of clients.
The first group are health conscious individuals, already very passionate about their wellbeing, keen to seek guidance and options to enhance their health further. They’ll often come in and say I’ve got this going on, help me sort it out please.
Then there are people who have been navigating the medical world for some time but not having any progress finding answers to their health questions, so they turn to holistic treatments.
I predominantly work with women, especially mums and families, focusing on metabolic health, digestion, hormones and fertility.
Hormones play such a big part in the health of women. I’ve helped teenagers deal with heavy periods right through to women dealing with the often life-altering symptoms of perimenopause and menopause.
In saying that, I’m here to support people of all backgrounds and ages, and I do work with newborns right through to mature aged clients. My oldest patient is 93!
4 :: You’ve helped a lot of couples with fertility issues. What’s your approach to that?
The success of a natural approach to hormone health and fertility is very well documented. I follow a specific homoeopathic protocol called the Liz Lalor Protocol. Liz Lalor is a very famous Australian homoeopath who works with IVF clinics in Melbourne.
She’s shared her knowledge and taught homoeopaths all over the world and has a success rate of 87% which is amazing.
So many couples have experienced the heartbreak of miscarriage and gone through years of fertility issues, so this protocol is a pretty incredible and often untapped option for them.
My fertility program that I run incorporates that particular protocol in combination with the other modalities I work with.
Homeopathy, nutrition and lifestyle changes can enhance fertility by balancing hormones, stimulating ovulation, increasing cervical mucous and improving sperm health, within months.
5 :: Wow, that sounds amazing. Okay, it’s been a big few years in our world. Have you seen the impact of that in your work?
Absolutely. The last few years have brought unexpected challenges and stress to so many lives, so it’s never been more crucial for people to take their health into their own hands.
Our modern world bombards us with distractions, chemicals and stresses that our bodies aren’t designed to handle. One of the things I do is cut through the noise to help people get back to basics.
This means focusing on nourishing foods, increasing fibre intake, proper hydration, emotional wellbeing, stress management [stress plays a role in 60% of medical illnesses so addressing it is crucial for overall health], creating a healthy mindset and introducing clients to the world of natural treatments and solutions.
It’s a pretty good antidote to what’s going on out there!
6 :: How can people work with you?
I offer a free 10-minute chat to make sure I’m a good fit with what the client wants to achieve.
I provide one-on-one consultations at a clinic in Bowral or online via telehealth, and I also offer packages tailored to different needs.
For instance, the one month health reset package includes three consultations and is ideal for quick reset.
The three month ‘Nourished’ package dives deeper into gut health, includes extra testing, and provides weekly support, consults and learning modules.
Actually, speaking of gut health, 90% of serotonin [the happy hormone] is made in your gut and 75% of your immune cells reside there too, so it’s really important we get gut health right.
There’s a number of different programs and consultations available so the best thing to do is check my website and book in that free 10 minute chat and take it from there.
7 :: Now, you’re a mother of five, you run your own clinic and you’re building a house! We can imagine you’re drawing on your toolbag of holistic medicine to help you manage all that.
Yes, we have a busy life with five kids under 8. But we wouldn’t have it any other way.
We’re building a house in Moss Vale at the moment and just love it in the Highlands. We love all the walks in the area, the markets and there are so many family friendly places to go. One of our favourite spots is the Sutton Forest Inn where the kids have space to run around and play while we relax.
And the community here is amazing too. On the first day of school, his teacher gave me her phone number and the bus driver stopped, introduced herself and reassured me about their safety on the bus – everyone really does care for each other here and it makes such a difference.
So true……thanks so much, Olivia. We’ve loved chatting with you and learning more about what you do.
Highlanders, if you’re keen to take your wellness to the next level or you’re struggling with some sort of health issue that you don’t seem to be able to shake or put your finger on, reach out to Olivia for the free 10-minute consultation.
Life’s too short to feel tired and unwell, right?
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