Brad Parkinson Naturopath

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Brad Parkinson Naturopath I'm a Clinical Naturopath specialising in treating Brain health, Gut Health and Immune health conditions. Looking for the best Naturopath in Kyogle?

Including autoimmune conditions, Dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and SIBO. Brad Parkinson Naturopath now has a Kyogle health clinic that offers a large range of services including; Naturopathy, Functional medicine, Herbal Medicine, Clinical Nutrition, Diet & Lifestyle Medicine, Wellness assessments and personalised Gut health, Brain health, Heart health, Thyroid Health and Immune health treatments. Brad has expertise in Digestive Health treating conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO), Food Intolerances, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (G.E.R.D.) and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Functional Pathology often used includes G.I. Map digestive health & microbiome testing, Microba microbiome analysis, food allergy & sensitivity testing, hair mineral analysis, full thyroid panels & D.U.T.C.H. hormone testing. Located in Kyogle servicing Kyogle, Casino, Nimbin, Lismore and the Northern Rivers Region.

19/09/2026

Proton pump inhibitors and chronic stress create a perfect storm for gut health decline.

When you combine acid-suppressing medication with high cortisol levels, your digestive barrier often suffers, leading to systemic inflammation and impaired immunity. Understanding this connection is vital for anyone struggling with persistent digestive issues despite being on medication.

Let me know in the comments if you have noticed your digestion worsening during periods of high stress or with antacid use.

17/09/2026

When we examine the breakdown of the gut barrier, known as intestinal permeability or leaky gut, we find a remarkably consistent pattern in autoimmune thyroid conditions. Research indicates that intestinal permeability is present in essentially every patient with established Hashimoto's disease.

When the tight junctions lining your intestine open up, bacterial fragments and microbial toxins flood into your systemic circulation. This constant exposure forces your immune system into a state of chronic, sustained inflammation.

In clinical practice, addressing gut barrier integrity is often an important priority when managing autoimmune health, as systemic inflammation frequently stems from what is passing through the intestinal wall.

Have you explored the connection between your gut health and thyroid function?

15/09/2026

Sleeping for eight hours does not automatically mean you are getting restorative sleep.

Certain medications, including benzodiazepines, can knock you out and significantly increase your time spent asleep. However, forcing sedation is not the same as driving natural, high-quality sleep architecture.

When a sedative forces you to sleep longer, it often bypasses or disrupts the critical deep sleep stages your body relies on for cellular repair, physical recovery, and cognitive reset. The result? You wake up feeling absolute rubbish, despite technically being unconscious for a full night.

If you regularly wake up exhausted despite spending plenty of time in bed, it is worth looking at the quality of your sleep stages rather than just the number on the clock.

Have you noticed a difference in how you feel based on how you fall asleep? Let me know in the comments.

10/09/2026

Cognitive therapy sometimes gets a bad rap in the broader health space. There are practitioners who get frustrated when patients turn to it, arguing that it is not as effective as other interventions.

In clinical practice, I take a different view. I have used cognitive therapy myself and found it to be a highly valuable tool. When I’m trying to help patients achieve positive health outcomes, identifying the specific roadblocks preventing them from making changes is just as important as the clinical protocol itself.

Understanding behaviour, motivation and cognitive barriers is essential for sustainable health improvements. If a patient is struggling to implement nutritional changes or manage a stressful lifestyle, assessing those roadblocks through a cognitive framework can be incredibly beneficial. It moves the focus from simply prescribing a solution to understanding why the solution is hard to execute!

“What roadblocks do you need to overcome to achieve your health goals?”

01/09/2026

Staying on a strict Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) diet long-term can feel exhausting, especially when your progress starts to plateau. While taking out potential dietary triggers is a logical starting point, elimination alone is rarely a complete long-term solution.

In clinical practice, I often see patients who have spent years restricting their food choices, living on a narrow list of safe options, yet still experiencing persistent symptoms. The shift happens when we transition from pure restriction to a complete therapeutic protocol.

By strategically introducing targeted dietary additions and specific herbal interventions, we can actively support immune regulation and tissue health rather than just avoiding reactive foods. In practice, adding these targeted tools has allowed patients who saw only modest results on AIP to completely turn their disease markers around within six months.

If you have been stuck in an endless elimination cycle, consider shifting your focus to what needs to be added to support your recovery, rather than just what needs to be removed.

29/08/2026

In autoimmune thyroid conditions like Hashimoto's thyroiditis, dietary changes, such as going Gluten Free, can often become a strict clinical necessity. One of the main biological reasons for this is a mechanism known as molecular mimicry.

Gliadin, the primary protein found in gluten, shares a striking structural similarity with the proteins that make up your thyroid tissue. When the immune system produces antibodies against gliadin, those antibodies can struggle to distinguish between the gluten protein and your own thyroid gland.

This cross-reactivity means that eating gluten may cause the immune system to mistakenly target thyroid tissue.

Have you discussed gluten sensitivity or thyroid antibody testing with your health professional?

Comment the word 'thyroid' and I'll send you the full video!

Dietary modifications for autoimmune conditions should be tailored individually and discussed with a qualified healthcare practitioner.

27/08/2026

Psoriasis flare-ups can be triggered by throat bacteria (Streptococcus) acting as superantigens, continually activating your immune system.

Using simple pantry items like thyme, sage, and raw honey can help reduce this bacterial load. Gargle a strong, cooled tea made from thyme or sage several times a day, followed by a small portion of raw honey for its antibacterial benefits. Addressing localized immune triggers is an important step in managing systemic inflammation.

My favourite antimicrobial tea (mentioned in video): 2 parts Calendula, 1 part Licorice (Liquorice) root, 1 part Green tea, 1 part Marshmallow root. Steep covered for 20 minutes. Optional: add a 50/50 powdered mix of cinnamon + xylitol for further antimicrobial action with a sweet touch.

25/08/2026

When the immune system remains overly active, regulatory T cells, or Tregs, act as the essential brakes to keep immune responses in check. However, metabolic signals can influence how effectively these cells perform.

When we eat continuously throughout the day and late into the evening, levels of the hormone leptin remain persistently elevated. Sustained high leptin can suppress regulatory T cell activity, making it harder for the body to moderate immune responses.

A straightforward way to support this pathway is by giving your digestive system a defined rest. A 12 to 14-hour overnight fast gives leptin levels a chance to lower, signalling to the immune system that it can slow down and relax.

If you are managing persistent immune activity, simple timing adjustments to your meals can be a practical place to start.

Have you tried an overnight fast before? Let me know how you went in the comments.

Follow for more functional medicine strategies to support autoimmunity.

Address

Sydney, NSW

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+61434516152

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