Carissa McAllister Naturopath

02/08/2026

29/07/2026

Many modern diagnoses are essentially descriptions of symptoms or clinical features. That means they can be surprisingly open to interpretation.

Descriptive diagnoses can also be temporary. You could quite feasibly reach a point when a particular label no longer applies because you no longer have the symptoms (or meet the criteria) that led to it.

Possible examples include ADHD, PMDD, PCOS, perimenopause, and even, in some cases, endometriosis.

Such labels can, of course, be helpful if they guide you towards a reality-based understanding of what is happening and treatments that actually work.

They are far less helpful if they become an ongoing story or identity that does not lead to ways of feeling better. In that case, it might be time to look beyond the label.

Links to some discussions of the modern labelling problem:
• my peer-reviewed article: Beyond the label: A patient-centred approach to PCOS: https://candjournal.ca/index.php/candj/article/view/114
• my recent episode: The hidden story of endometriosis: https://www.larabriden.com/the-hidden-story-of-endometriosis-pain-lesions-and-the-microbiome/
• Suzanne O'Sullivan's book: The age of diagnosis: How our obsession with medical labels is making us sicker: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/214986203-the-age-of-diagnosis

👇🏽 And share your thoughts.

03/07/2026

A new clinical trial will test whether heavy menstrual bleeding can be reduced by stimulating the vagus nerve to boost acetylcholine and increase platelet activity.

In itself, that’s interesting. But it also opens the door to a broader conversation about the roles of the nervous and immune systems in menstrual health, including the autonomic nervous system, mast cells, platelets, histamine, and the gut.

That neuroimmune connection is why periods can be improved through strategies like diet changes, gut treatments, breathwork, yoga, and more!

The future of women's health is systems biology.

Link to the trial: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07326722

The image is by artist Sonia Alins from her 'Water Women' series. Shared with her permission.

03/05/2026

24/04/2026

More evidence that women with PCOS may have higher ovarian reserve, which can translate to prolonged ovarian function and potentially later menopause.

This tracks with many of my PCOS patients who don't achieve fully regular ovulatory cycles until their mid to late 30s.

Through an evolutionary lens, a genetic tendency to PCOS (higher androgens, more follicles, longer cycles) could be (at least in part) a survivor adaptation for later reproduction in a harsh environment.

Essentially, a somewhat delayed reproductive timeline. (Of course, there are lots of other factors in PCOS, and improvement is possible at any age!)

Link: https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/aogs.70198

02/04/2026

Source: unknown

15/03/2026

Get an instant mood boost from sparkling water? Scientists might have just figured out why.

According to a new small study, carbonation could boost alertness by activating sensory nerves in the mouth, which signal the trigeminal nerve, brainstem, and prefrontal executive networks.

It’s similar to another study that found the astringent taste of cocoa polyphenols can directly activate the autonomic nervous system.

Part of the benefit is the repeated stimulation with every sip, generating small bursts of trigeminal activity. A bit like the alerting effects of cold water on the face or chewing gum.

Links:
- Drinking sparkling water helps gamers stay mentally sharp for hours: https://www.news-medical.net/news/20260304/Drinking-sparkling-water-helps-gamers-stay-mentally-sharp-for-hours.aspx

- That dry, bitter taste may be waking up your brain: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260206012224.htm

And if you’re worried about sparkling water harming your teeth, know that the amount of carbonic acid is very low. Plain sparkling water is safe for enamel (it's far less acidic than soda or juice).

16/01/2026

If you're in the midst of trying to conceive, it's easy to measure everything by this cycle, this month, or this test result. But fertility isn't a moment in time. It's a system, and systems can be restored and reset.

Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is pause, nurture your body, regulate your nervous system, and create the conditions for your future fertility to thrive, instead of pushing through exhaustion and frustration.

It isn't giving up, it is giving your body the space it needs to work with you again.

If this resonates with you, you're not alone.

Learn more about my Fertility Reset Method at carissamcallister.com.au for support and a reset strategy for you.



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