Samantha Pledge - Acupuncturist, Naturopath + Chinese Medicine practitioner

26/06/2026

Just sharing this highly relevant post, thanks Dr. Kim Bretz ND - Fundamentals Of Health for this important reminder to us all.

"𝐈'𝐯𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡"
I hear this phrase a lot. And honestly? I believe you.

I don't think most people are making health decisions without trying. They're searching. They're watching reels & videos. They're reading articles. They're asking AI. They're following people they like and trust.

That's research...or at least it's what most of us mean when we say we've done research.

But something has changed over the last few years. When we go looking for information, we're not all starting in the same place anymore. Have you ever noticed that once you watch a few videos about a health topic, your feed suddenly seems full of people saying the same thing?

The articles, videos and creators that show up for me may not be the same ones that show up for you. What we searched yesterday influences what we see today. What we click on influences what we're shown next. Before long, we can end up seeing more and more information that points in the same direction.

That doesn't mean it's wrong. But it does mean we might not be seeing the whole picture.

To me, research isn't just about finding information. It's about trying to find the information you're least likely to come across.
• The studies that didn't find a benefit.
• The clinician who disagrees with the person you've been following.
• The limitations that don't make it into the Instagram reel.
• The evidence that makes you stop and think, "Hmm... maybe this is more complicated than I thought."

Because that's usually where the learning happens.

I don't think good research is about proving yourself right. I think it's about being willing to ask, "𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘐 𝘣𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨?"

And that's true whether you're a patient.....or whether you've been doing this professionally for over 20 years.

I know it's something I have to keep reminding myself of too.

22/06/2026

Curious about what's going on in your gut? We partner with Microba for complete microbiome analysis and assessment. Get in touch to learn more! https://microba.com/

15/06/2026

01/06/2026

Love this one! Credit .houghton.5243 thanks for your beautiful work.

23/05/2026

Love your work BioMedica Nutraceuticals!
I often see ALL the rest missing for so many people!

22/05/2026

https://theconversation.com/when-we-took-37-strangers-into-the-urban-bush-their-loneliness-began-to-ease-282378
Love this! Thanks The Conversation Australia + NZ

Loneliness is common – and so is our alienation from nature. New research shows we can tackle both at the same time

16/05/2026

Omega 3! Still important.

Despite well-established evidence supporting the health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA), national Australian data indicate that more than 80% of adults do not meet the recommended intake, while approximately 90% of women of childbearing age do not meet the advised DHA requirements during pregnancy and lactation.

Omega-3 insufficiency rarely presents as a classical deficiency state. Instead, it reflects a progressive shift toward a pro-inflammatory physiological environment.

Over time, this may be associated with:
• Altered cognitive performance and reduced neural efficiency
• Slower recovery and tissue repair capacity
• Increased inflammatory symptom expression
• Reduced cardiometabolic resilience

Clinically, it reflects a long-term imbalance in cellular membrane composition and inflammatory signalling rather than a simple nutrient shortfall.

Certain populations are at greater risk of omega-3 deficiency including vegans, vegetarians, infants and children, elderly, those with metabolic disorders and athletes and intake should be evaluated regularly.

Omega-3 status represents a meaningful marker of long-term inflammatory balance and cellular function, warranting routine evaluation within a comprehensive nutritional assessment.

Request a diet assessment by your natural healthcare practitioner. https://buff.ly/7Gjh9sZ

14/05/2026

I've listened to Margie speak before and she is so full of energy and life! This promises to be a valuable session and I would encourage you to attend, especially if you're a woman!

What happens when you leave the doctor's office with a osteoporosis diagnosis, a prescription, and almost no real information about what to do.

You walk to your car with a slip of paper and the name of a medication. And no one has explained what's actually causing the bone loss, what tests to ask for, which exercises build bone, what to eat to support them, or how stress fits in.

I've been a physical therapist for over 30 years, and this is what I keep seeing happen. So I'm going to do something about it.

Monday, May 18 at 2pm Eastern, I'm teaching a free 90-minute class called Strong Bones for Life: the 4 keys to stronger, healthier bones at any age.

We'll cover all four:

✔️ Root causes and the tests most doctors aren't ordering.
✔️ Exercise that builds bone and protects your spine, plus the moves to be careful with.
✔️ Nutrition. The foods that build bone, and what to crowd out.
✔️ Happiness and stress. Why cortisol breaks down bone, and what actually helps.

By the end, you'll have a real framework and a first step you can take this week.

It's live, it's free, and the replay goes to everyone who registers, so sign up even if you can't make it.

💜 Save your seat at the link in my bio or by pasting the link below.

https://f.mtr.cool/tjuchrblzv

I would love to see you there.

10/05/2026

Happy Sunday!