Discovering Balance with Melissa Jane

Discovering Balance with Melissa Jane Naturopath | Nutritionist
Founder
Online Clinic🌍
Gut Health | Mental Health
B.Couns.&Psych👩🏼‍💻
Functional Testing🧪
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🎉 Melissa Jane of Discovering Balance Naturopathy and Dispensary has been named a finalist in the Wellness Business Awar...
31/07/2026

🎉 Melissa Jane of Discovering Balance Naturopathy and Dispensary has been named a finalist in the Wellness Business Award category for the AusMumpreneur Awards! 🏆
. It’s been a while since I have written an introductory post so, I think what better time to share some my journey than now, with this great achievement..

1️⃣ I started my journey after a significant mental breakdown during my parents separation, which lead me to experience physical symptoms of illness that I could not shake. I saw many allopathic practitioners to no avail until I saw a Naturopath, who treated me as a whole and I knew from then I wanted to work in a similar role; where I could take the time effort and level of care he did. Shoutout to Jad Patrick !

2️⃣ I qualified in 2018 and launched my business practicing from Melbourne CBD, seeing clients face to face until the dreaded pandemic hit and I wasn’t playing part in any experiments

3️⃣ I launched the second half of my business Discovering Balance Dispensary in 2022 and quickly had 16 accounts across Australia 🥰🫶🏻 . Then came the TGA changes to capsules and we had to discontinue the capsules and start from scratch AGAIN!

4️⃣ 2023 After losing my consultancy to COVID, my capsule range to the TGA changes , I then lost my daughter Meeya in the second trimester, a loss that later in the year saw my 🌈 baby Albs being conceived.

5️⃣ Meeya & Albies father and I separated before Albie was born and I was left to raise Albie alone. During 2024 I never thought I’d see myself back to where I am now but, I didn’t give up, at least not fully!

6️⃣ October 2025 I relaunched Discovering Balance Dispensary with two powders, carefully curated for six months to assist those living busy lifestyles that need the extra support winding down; mothers, tradesmen, shift workers, front line workers, athletes, corporate workers, CEOs, students and anyone who feels they need that extra support to wind down at the end of their hard working days!

I am so happy I never gave up and I am proof that it’s NOT EASY, but it’s possible!

7️⃣ 2026 I have gone back to uni to study a Degree in Counselling & Psychotherapy. Mental health is something I’m very passionate about

DID YOU KNOW YOUR GUT HEALTH CAN DIRECTLY IMPACT YOUR KIDNEYS? Deep in the human gut lives a bacterium with a very speci...
11/07/2026

DID YOU KNOW YOUR GUT HEALTH CAN DIRECTLY IMPACT YOUR KIDNEYS?

Deep in the human gut lives a bacterium with a very specific, very important job: eating oxalate.

Its name is Oxalobacter formigenes, and while you’ve probably never heard of it, it might be quietly protecting you from kidney stones (if you have good levels).

WHAT IS IT?
Oxalobacter formigenes is an anaerobic, gram-negative bacterium that colonizes the large intestine of humans and many animals. It’s what scientists call an “obligate anaerobe,” meaning it can only survive without oxygen, which makes it notoriously difficult to grow and study in a lab.

ITS MAIN PURPOSE
Oxalate Degradation. What makes this microbe unique is its diet. Unlike most gut bacteria that ferment sugars or fiber for energy, O. formigenes has evolved to use oxalate, a naturally occurring compound found in foods like red meat, spinach, beets, nuts, and chocolate as its primary source of energy and carbon.

It breaks oxalate down into simpler compounds, mainly carbon dioxide and formate, through a specialized metabolic pathway. In doing so, it performs a valuable service for its host: reducing the amount of oxalate available for absorption into the bloodstream.

WHY DOES THIS MATTER?
Kidney Stone Prevention

This is where the bacterium’s role becomes medically significant. Excess oxalate in the body is a major contributor to calcium oxalate kidney stones, the most common type of kidney stone.

When oxalate levels in the gut are high and absorption goes unchecked, that oxalate can travel to the kidneys, bind with calcium, and crystallize into painful stones.

By consuming oxalate before it can be absorbed, O. formigenes effectively lowers the oxalate burden on the kidneys.

Research has shown that people who lack this bacterium in their gut microbiome tend to have higher urinary oxalate levels and a greater risk of forming kidney stones.

09/07/2026

Contrary to popular belief.. Chronic stress doesn’t always = high cortisol 🔬

Did you know that over time, cortisol can shift from high → blunted, and adrenals compensate by shifting into high DHEA production?

Here’s what that pattern looks like:

Early/acute stress → high cortisol, adrenals working overtime to meet demand

Chronic/prolonged stress → cortisol output flattens or drops; especially in that morning peak, while DHEA rises as the adrenals shift their compensatory output

This is why someone can be deep in a chronic stress state and still test with low cortisol, because the high-cortisol phase isn’t the whole story.

Symptoms of low cortisol + high DHEA:

🔸 Persistent fatigue that doesn’t improve with sleep, which is this wired but tired picture

🔸 Trouble waking up, relying on caffeine to function

🔸 Low blood pressure / dizziness on standing

🔸Sugar or salt cravings

🔸 Poor stress tolerance = small stressors feel huge

🔸Brain fog, poor concentration

🔸Acne, oiliness, or increased facial/body hair

🔸Irregular cycles

🔸 Getting sick more easily

Vs. classic high cortisol symptoms:

🔺Wired, anxious, racing thoughts
🔺Trouble falling asleep and staying asleep
🔺Elevated blood pressure
🔺Weight gain, especially central/abdominal
🔺Sugar cravings paired with restlessness
🔺Feeling “on edge” or hypervigilant

Same root cause — different phase of the stress response, different testing picture, different approach.

Educational content only, testing and full clinical context matter for accurate interpretation.*

This study looked at whether a very low dose of red yeast rice could improve cholesterol and cardiovascular markers in p...
17/05/2026

This study looked at whether a very low dose of red yeast rice could improve cholesterol and cardiovascular markers in people with mild high cholesterol (dyslipidaemia).

Key points from the study

Researchers gave 18 Japanese adults either 200 mg/day of red yeast rice containing 2 mg monacolin K (the naturally occurring statin-like compound), or diet therapy alone for 8 weeks.

What they found:

Compared with diet alone, the red yeast rice group had:

👉🏻 A significant reduction in LDL (“bad”) cholesterol
👉🏼Lower total cholesterol
👉🏽Lower apolipoprotein B (a marker linked to cardiovascular risk)
👉🏾Reduced blood pressure

Disclaimer: Not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Shop red yeast rice supplements via:

www.discoveringbalance.com.au/shop

04/12/2025

🧬 Genetics and mental health - PART 2

THE “REWARD GENE” & MENTAL HEALTH
DRD2 / ANKK1 Explained Simply

Ever wondered why some people are more prone to addictions, ADHD, anxiety, or low mood—even when life looks “good” on the outside?

Today we are talking about 👉 DRD2 / ANKK1

What does this gene do?

This gene controls how many dopamine D2 receptors you have in the brain.

Dopamine = motivation, reward, pleasure, focus & drive.

Some people carry a variant (called Taq1A / A1) that leads to 30–40% fewer dopamine receptors

Meaning:

👉Less reward from everyday life
👉Lower motivation
👉Higher need for stimulation

What is this gene linked to?

🧠 ADHD
🧠 Depression & lack of pleasure
🧠 Anxiety
🧠Bipolar & schizophrenia
🧠Strong links to addiction (alcohol, food, gambling, drugs, scrolling)

This pattern is often called:

👉 Reward Deficiency Syndrome

Does having this gene mean you are doomed?

Absolutely not - Genetics load the gun but, environment pulls the trigger.

Gene expression is strongly influenced by:

👉Stress & trauma
👉Sleep
👉Nutrition
👉Gut health
👉Hormones
👉Inflammation
👉Substance use

This means twp people can have the same gene with very different outcomes.

How do we support dopamine naturally?

✅ Protein & tyrosine
✅ B6, iron, magnesium, vitamin C
✅ Strength training
✅ Sunlight
✅ Deep consistent sleep
✅ Cold exposure
✅ Reducing constant dopamine hits (doom scrolling, sugar, caffeine overload, alcohol)

The bottom line:

If dopamine signalling is low, the brain will seek stronger stimulation to feel normal. That does not mean that you lack willpower or are lazy; it means biology + nervous system + environment.

… These pathways are modifiable.

27/11/2025

🧬 Genetics and mental health - PART 1

Our mental health, resilience, and even how we respond to stress are shaped by more than just our environment; our genes play a powerful role too.

Today we’re going to talk about just 1

MAO-A

This genes directly influence how our neurotransmitters work, which impacts mood, focus, motivation, and emotional regulation.

Let’s break this down in simple terms:

MAO-A: The “Neurotransmitter Breakdown” Gene

MAO-A (Monoamine Oxidase A) is an enzyme that helps break down key neurotransmitters, including:

🧠 Serotonin (mood, calm)
🧠 Dopamine (motivation, pleasure)
🧠 Noradrenaline (focus, alertness)

When MAO-A is working well:

👉🏻Neurotransmitters stay in healthy balance

👉🏼Mood and stress responses are regulated

👉🏽Emotional processing is proportional

When MAO-A is overactive:

👉🏾 Neurotransmitters are broken down too quickly

This may contribute to:

🚩Low mood or depression
🚩Anxiety
🚩Low motivation
🚩Irritability
🚩Poor stress tolerance

When MAO-A is underactive:

Neurotransmitters may linger too long

This can be associated with:

🚩Emotional reactivity
🚩Impulsivity
🚩Overstimulation
🚩Anger dysregulation (in some cases)

People with MAO-A variants often respond differently to medications like SSRI, SNRI, Stimulants (ADHD medications) even herbal medications - this is why some people get extreme side effects at even a low dose.

We cannot change the gene but we can influence how it behaves (epigenetics)

Lifestyle factors that strongly influence MAO-A expression:

👉🏻 chronic stress
👉🏼 childhood trauma
👉🏽poor sleep
👉🏾Alcohol excess

24/11/2025

Free Cortisol vs Metabolized Cortisol

What’s the Difference?

FREE cortisol

🔺This is the active cortisol circulating in the body at any given moment.
🔺It’s the tiny fraction (about 1–3%) that isn’t bound to proteins.
🔺Because it’s unbound, this is the cortisol your tissues can actually use to respond to stress, regulate energy, and support your circadian rhythm.
🔺Saliva and urine tests commonly measure free cortisol.
🔺Think of it as your immediate cortisol availability or your “on-hand” stress hormone.

METABOLIZED cortisol

🔻This reflects how much cortisol your body has produced and processed over time.
🔻After free cortisol is used, your liver converts it into metabolites like cortisone metabolites, which are then excreted in urine.
🔻A DUTCH urine test measures these metabolites.
🔻Think of it as your total “cortisol output” or how hard your adrenal system has been working overall.

In summary: Free cortisol shows what’s happening right now. Metabolised cortisol shows the whole picture over the day.

Because of this, you can see patterns like:

👉🏻Low free cortisol + high metabolized cortisol: You are producing plenty of cortisol, but clearing it quickly; often seen with high stress, fast metabolism, or “wired but tired.”

👉🏼High free cortisol + low metabolized cortisol: Your cortisol is spiking, but your overall production is low. sometimes seen with slower metabolism or early adrenal dysregulation.

👉🏽 Both high: High stress load and high output.

👉🏾 Both low: Burnout, chronic stress, or downregulated HPA axis patterns.

24/11/2025

Let’s talk about cortisol — and why “high cortisol” isn’t always the villain.

There’s a huge misconception that cortisol is bad, with some companies even making “anti cortisol” products.

But, the truth is, we actually need healthy cortisol peaks to function.

Cortisol is meant to rise in the morning to help us wake up, feel alert, and have the energy to start our day. This natural rhythm is part of our built-in body clock.

The real issue isn’t cortisol as such, it’s when it peaks. If cortisol surges at the wrong time (like late at night), that’s when it can leave us feeling wired, restless, or thrown off balance.

Supporting your natural daily rhythm is key, not eliminating cortisol, but helping your body produce it at the right times.

Herbs with Clinical Research on Cortisol Support

1. Ashwagandha
2. Rhodiola rosea
3. Holy Basil (Tulsi)
4. Panax Ginseng

Nutrients with Clinical Evidence Related to Cortisol & Stress Physiology

1. Magnesium
2. Vitamin C
3. B Vitamins (especially B5, B6 & B12)
4. Omega-3 Fatty Acids (EPA/DHA)
5. Phosphatidylserine

The “let-down effect” is a psychological and physiological phenomenon where people often feel tired, sick, or emotionall...
06/10/2025

The “let-down effect” is a psychological and physiological phenomenon where people often feel tired, sick, or emotionally low after a period of stress or intense activity has ended.

Here’s how it works 👇

🧠 The Science Behind It

During stressful or busy times, your body releases stress hormones — mainly cortisol and adrenaline — to help you stay alert, focused, and energized.

When that stress suddenly stops (for example, after a big project, an exam, a competition, or even a vacation), those hormone levels drop sharply.

That drop can cause:

• Fatigue or exhaustion
• Headaches or muscle aches
• Weakened immune function (you might catch a cold)
• Mood dips or anxiety
• Sleep changes

HAVE YOU EVER EXPERIENCED THIS?
Let’s talk about it in the comments 👇🏻

Have you had to up your antidepressant medications many times? Or maybe you know someone that this has happened to? Swip...
25/09/2025

Have you had to up your antidepressant medications many times? Or maybe you know someone that this has happened to?

Swipe to read more 👉🏻

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