the_herbal_collective

the_herbal_collective The Herbal Collective is run by Tamara Welsh, a herbal medicine practitioner on the Nth Beaches

Tamara treats men, women and children of all ages with a special interest in treating women and their children during the childbearing years. Herbal medicine is the oldest and still the most widely used form of medicine practiced today. Western herbal medicine practitioners draw from ancient knowledge paired with the latest scientific research to create herbal formulas to help support and improve all systems in the body. Herbalism aims to stimulate a return to health by strengthening the body’s organ systems. It is a holistic form of medicine which aims to not only address symptoms but also address the underlying causes of a condition or disease.

16/09/2026

This is a topic I’ve touched on before. IV iron, generally in the form of Ferric carboxymaltose (Ferinject) here in Australia is becoming a common prescription for those with low iron… and I say low iron and not iron deficiency anaemia because I have seen clients who have been prescribed IV iron for just that, low iron. Oftentimes, it’s following an unsuccessful period of oral iron supplementation (which is maybe another story for another day! I’m looking at your Ferrograd C!)

But IV iron does come with risks which I’m not sure all patients are aware of. Increased risk of bone fractures, blood pressure and infusion reactions, high oxidative stress, staining at the injection site and the inflammatory burden of iron overload.

I really don’t like fear mongering posts, the ‘wellness’ world seems to thrive off them, but I do think we first need to be asking ‘Do you actually have iron deficiency, why is it happening, and does the benefit of IV iron outweigh the risks for you?’

Feel free to let me know your experience with IV iron in the comments of via DM

14/09/2026

If you’re not making stock from your used chicken bones, what are you actually doing with them?

Throwing them in the bin?

Blasphemy!!!

Honestly though, chicken bone broth is truly food as medicine and well worth making. Throw the bones or carcass in a pot with water and veggie scraps and simmer for a few hours. That’s it! Season with salt and herbs.
You’re left with a nourishing broth that can be enjoyed on its own or added to meals (think soups, curries, stews, minced meat).

Full of goodies like electrolytes, amino acids, collagen and potassium, it’s a cup of gut healing goodness.

Are you making bone broth with your leftovers?

There’s a lot of confusion out there about what to eat; a lot of noise from every direction convincing us to try differe...
04/09/2026

There’s a lot of confusion out there about what to eat; a lot of noise from every direction convincing us to try different restrictive diets to heal your gut, lower inflammation, balance your hormones, clear your skin, cure your arthritis or

It’s at the point where many people don’t think they are ‘healthy’ unless they are restricting certain foods from their diet (gluten, dairy, sugar, soy, corn, eggs, nightshades etc)

But of course, there is soooo much more to health than eliminating certain food groups.

The restriction of certain foods can be helpful for some people for periods of time. Most of us shouldn’t need to follow a restrictive diet. When clients come to see my they are often pleasantly surprised that I’m asking them to include MORE variety rather than eliminating food groups from their diet.

At the end of the day, if we eat a wide variety of whole foods then we are much more likely to get a wide variety of all the nutrients we need as well as all the nutrients needed for a healthy microbiome. Those gut bugs need to be fed 💪

I’m all for being well nourished.
You?

01/09/2026

A strong Calendula infusion is the absolute GOAT when it comes to anything to do with the eyes. Redness, dryness, irritation or infection, calendula can be so helpful. It soothes, fights unwanted microbes, supports the mucous membrane and reduces inflammation, discomfort and puffiness.

Make a strong calendula infusion, strain well and use it as an eye wash, compress or wipe.

Your 👀 will thank you

28/08/2026

CHIMICHURRI RECIPE

Sauces and dips are really easy way to bump up the nutrition and phytochemicals (plant chemicals) in your meal. If you’ve been following me a while, you’ll know that phytochemicals are really good for your health. 🌱

Here is a really quick recipe you can throw together that goes well with nearly anything…eggs, meat, fish, chicken, tofu or vegetables.

Ingredients:
Approximately two bunches of parsley (sorry bro!)
3 cloves of garlic
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp dried oregano
125ml extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper
Optional chilies

Blend it all up and enjoy!

03/07/2026

If you’re looking for simple easy ways to support your gut, I’ve created my free e-book “Four simple everyday gut friendly recipes for better bowel movements”. Comment GUT and I’ll send you a copy.

This one is super simple and a great after dinner ritual.
Start by making a strong chamomile infusion using good quality flower heads, and allow it to steep for at least 10 minutes. Pour into a cup, then stir through 1 teaspoon of slippery elm powder and a little honey to taste.

This combination does more than just soothe digestion and calm spasms — it helps coat and support the gut lining, while also gently nourishing the microbiome. And as a bonus, a small amount of honey before bed may even support sleep.

Try this nightly for a week and notice how your digestion responds.

25/06/2026

Not sure about you, but I don’t really want to have to continually take supplements to correct nutrient deficiencies. There’s a time and a place for nutritional supplements, but if you’re not also working on the cause, then it’s really just a band aid solution. AND when you consider that high dose nutritional supplements aren’t really how nature intended us to get our nutrition… well that’s a whole other kettle of fish!

In my practise, I’m very keen on finding out the why. Why is my client deficient in iron, zinc, calcium, B12, magnesium etc etc. If we can figure out the why, we can correct it at the source and in my mind, that is truly resolving that deficiency which equals better health for my client!

If you’re not keen on taking nutritional supplements long term for good health, I’m your gal 😉

Comment ‘discovery’ and I’ll send you the link to book a free call.

17/06/2026

Here’s a simple recipe to reduce bloating and constipation.

Essential you only need TWO ingredients
Psyllium husks
Pomegranate juice (or another juice- prune juice would be great for constipation)

Take 3 teaspoons of psyllium and add it to 150ml of juice. Shake it up and pop it in the fridge for 15 mins (or longer).
You can multiply this recipe, pour into jars and use over the week!
It’s so easy and delicious. The psyllium acts like an internal sweep, moving through stuck waste and sweeping the bowels and bulking stools.

For more gut health info follow me Tamara | Clinical herbalist and nutrigenomics practitioner

It’s so easy to blame the food and cut it out of the diet. Sure there are some people who need to avoid certain foods (s...
12/06/2026

It’s so easy to blame the food and cut it out of the diet. Sure there are some people who need to avoid certain foods (such as individuals with coeliac disease or those with anaphylactic allergies) but in general, most people should be able to tolerate all good quality whole foods.

Many people come to me in the clinic on restrictive diets because they find they are reacting to foods, even healthy whole foods such as FODMAP containing foods, histamine containing foods, sulfur rich foods and the list goes on. If you or your children are reacting to normal whole foods, the food is likely not the issue. Instead, the internal environment is all out of whack. The bloating, pain, constipation and diarrhoea aren’t the problem….These are the symptoms, the clues that something else is going on.

The good news is that we have ways to restore the internal environment. We can recalibrate the functioning of the gut cells, calm the underlying immune system and build a healthy, protective microbiome. And the result of this spans far beyond the gut. Yes, your gut symptoms improve, but so do autoimmune conditions, dull or dry skin, energy levels and so much more.
This is a clinical focus for me with my clients in my packages. I love working in this space!

If you’d like more info on this, comment discovery and I’ll DM you. 🙂

03/06/2026

Because looking after your gut doesn’t need to be expensive, time-consuming, or complicated.

I’m a herbalist and nutrigenomics practitioner who specialises in gut health. Every day, I help people uncover the root causes of their digestive symptoms and restore balance from the inside out.

Why? Because your gut is at the centre of so much more than digestion. It influences your immune system, hormones, energy, mood, and overall wellbeing.

I’ve created a free ebook featuring 4 simple gut-friendly recipes that can be made in just 5 minutes using everyday ingredients.
Whether you’re dealing with bloating, constipation, loose stools, food sensitivities, or simply want to support your gut health, these recipes are an easy place to start.

Comment “GUT” below and I’ll send you a copy 💚

Address

Sydney, NSW
2101

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when the_herbal_collective posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Featured

Share

Category