Inside the Apothecary

Jaime Chew and Melissa Larkings (Gearing)
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Inside the Apothecary is a weekly conversation where clinical wisdom meets real life. Hosted by Naturopaths Mel and Jaime, each episode unpacks a focused health or lifestyle topic, breaking down the science, challenging common myths, and translating what actually matters in practice. From fertility and hormones to gut health, inflammation, nervous system regulation, herbal medicine, and food as medicine, the conversations go beyond surface level advice and into how the body actually works. Expect myth-busting, real clinical insights, practical education, and honest conversations about mind–body health, all delivered with warmth, clarity, and a touch of banter. Whether you’re navigating your own health, trying to understand your body more deeply, or working in the integrative space, this is where complex health starts to make sense. Explore more at insidetheapothecary.com Ready to go deeper Book a free discovery call nourishing-apothecary.simplecliniconline.com/diary Shop practitioner-formulated products nourishingapothecary.com/collections Follow along Podcast Instagram https://www.instagram.com/insidetheapothecary/ Nourishing Apothecary Instagram http://instagram.com/nourishingapothecary/ Mel Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mgnaturopath/ TikTok Inside the Apothecary https://www.tiktok.com/@insidetheapothecary Nourishing Apothecary https://www.tiktok.com/@nourishingapothecary Mel https://www.tiktok.com/@mg.herbs.naturopa Jaime https://www.tiktok.com/@jaime Seed Apothecary Instagram https://www.instagram.com/seed.apothecary/ Shop practitioner-formulated products nourishingapothecary.com/collections

  1. 4d ago

    S2 #Ep6 Why Weight Loss Gets Harder As Women Age

    Why does it feel like the things that used to work for your body suddenly stop working? In this episode of Inside the Apothecary, Jaime and Mel unpack why weight regulation can become more complex as women move through their 30s, 40s and beyond, and why simply eating less and exercising more is often not the answer. We explore the physiological changes that can influence weight, including declining muscle mass, changes in insulin sensitivity, stress and cortisol, sleep, hormonal shifts and the transition through perimenopause. We also discuss why increasingly restrictive diets can sometimes work against us, and why understanding what is happening metabolically and hormonally is far more useful than blaming ourselves for a body that has changed. In this episode we cover: Why metabolism and body composition change as we ageThe importance of maintaining and building muscleInsulin resistance and blood glucose regulationPerimenopause and changing oestrogen and progesteroneStress, cortisol and sleepWhy chronic under-eating can become counterproductiveThe difference between weight loss and improving metabolic healthWhat we actually focus on with patients in clinicIf your body feels different despite doing all the things that used to work, this episode will help explain why. 🎧 Listen to Inside the Apothecary on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube. #InsideTheApothecary #WomensHealth #Perimenopause #WeightLoss #MetabolicHealth #HormoneHealth #Naturopathy

  2. Sep 29

    S2 #Ep05 If Menopause Is One Day, What Is Perimenopause?

    Menopause technically happens on one day. So why can women feel completely different for years beforehand? In this episode, Mel Gearing and Jaime Chew explain what perimenopause really is, why it often begins earlier than expected, and why so many women don't recognise the symptoms. They explore anxiety, insomnia, brain fog, mood changes, heart palpitations, weight gain and why these experiences are often dismissed as simply getting older. You'll learn: • What perimenopause actually is • How it differs from menopause • The symptoms many women never expect • Why women often feel dismissed • Lifestyle strategies that genuinely help • Nutrition and exercise considerations • Understanding HRT discussions If you're in your late 30s, 40s or early 50s, this episode will help you better understand one of the biggest hormonal transitions in a woman's life. #perimenopause #menopause #womenshealth #brainfog #hormones #healthpodcast

  3. Sep 14

    S2 #Ep04 Episode 4 Endometriosis: It's Never Just Period Pain

    Endometriosis affects one in seven Australian women, yet diagnosis still takes years and many people are told their pain is normal. In this episode, Mel Gearing and Jaime Chew explore why endometriosis is far more than a reproductive condition and how it can affect the entire body. They discuss the inflammatory and immune components of endometriosis, fertility, fatigue, digestive symptoms, bladder symptoms and why imaging doesn't always provide answers. You'll learn: • Why diagnosis is often delayed • Why scans can appear normal • How endometriosis affects fertility • The role of inflammation and immune function • Why symptoms extend beyond the menstrual cycle • The impact on work, relationships and quality of life • Why treatment involves much more than surgery Whether you have endometriosis yourself or are trying to better understand someone who does, this episode offers practical insights and evidence-informed discussion. #endometriosis #pelvicpain #fertility #adenomyosis #inflammation #healthpodcast #womenshealth

  4. Aug 31

    S2 #Ep03 Things Women Are Told Are Normal (That Really Aren't)

    Painful periods. Heavy bleeding. PMS. Fatigue. Recurrent infections. So many women are told these symptoms are simply part of being female. But are they? In this episode, Mel Gearing and Jaime Chew discuss the symptoms women most commonly normalise and explain why common does not always mean normal. Together they explore why these symptoms deserve investigation, what they may be telling us about underlying health, and why early intervention matters. You'll learn: • Why painful periods shouldn't simply be accepted • Heavy bleeding and what it may indicate • Mid-cycle spotting and irregular cycles • PMS and when symptoms become excessive • Recurrent thrush, BV and urinary tract infections • Fatigue that isn't explained by a busy lifestyle • Migraines linked to hormones • Why listening to your body matters If you've ever been told your symptoms are "just part of being a woman," this conversation may change the way you think about your health. Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube. #periodpain #pms #endometriosis #fatigue #hormones #womenshealth #naturopath #healthpodcast

  5. Aug 17

    S2 #Ep02 What Social Media Gets Wrong About Hormones

    Hormones have become one of the biggest topics on social media, but are we actually becoming more informed or simply more confused? In this episode of Inside the Apothecary, naturopaths Mel Gearing and Jaime Chew explore the growing world of hormone advice online and separate evidence from misinformation. From cortisol "spikes" and adrenal fatigue to hormone balancing, cycle syncing and hormone testing, they unpack the trends that have left many women overwhelmed and unsure where to start. You'll learn: • Why hormones are blamed for almost everything • What "balancing hormones" actually means • The truth about cortisol • Why adrenal fatigue remains controversial • When hormone testing is useful and when it isn't • Whether cycle syncing is helpful or unnecessarily complicated • Why more supplements don't always create better health • Where experienced practitioners actually begin when someone walks into clinic If you've ever wondered whether the advice you're seeing online is actually helping your health, this episode will help you cut through the noise and focus on what truly matters. Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube. #hormones #cortisol #adrenalfatigue #cyclesyncing #womenshealth #naturopath #healthpodcast #fertility #insidetheapothecary

  6. Aug 4

    S2 #Ep01 Why Your Blood Tests Can Be "Normal" When You Feel Anything But

    Have you ever been told your blood tests are "normal" but still felt exhausted, foggy, anxious, in pain, or simply not like yourself? You're not imagining it. In the first episode of Season 2 of Inside the Apothecary, naturopaths Mel Gearing and Jaime Chew unpack one of the most frustrating experiences patients face: being told everything is normal despite ongoing symptoms. They explain why pathology reference ranges don't always reflect optimal health, how two people can have identical blood test results but completely different health experiences, and why understanding the person behind the numbers is just as important as the numbers themselves. Together they explore how practitioners interpret pathology in the context of symptoms, medical history, lifestyle, and long-term trends, rather than relying on a single result in isolation. In this episode you'll learn: • What a "normal" blood test actually means • Why normal doesn't always mean optimal • How pathology reference ranges are created • Why symptoms should never be ignored simply because results fall within range • Why trends over time are often more valuable than a single test • The importance of looking at patterns rather than isolated markers • Common examples using ferritin, thyroid function, vitamin B12 and vitamin D • Why good practitioners treat people, not pathology reports Whether you're living with fatigue, hormonal symptoms, digestive issues, fertility challenges, chronic pain or simply know something doesn't feel right, this episode will help you understand why your health deserves a deeper conversation. If you've ever walked out of an appointment feeling unheard because your results were "normal," this episode is for you. Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and share it with someone who has ever been told, "Everything looks normal." For more evidence-informed education on hormones, fertility, endometriosis, gut health and women's health, follow Inside the Apothecary and Nourishing Apothecary. #bloodtests #functionalmedicine #naturopath #womenshealth #fertility #thyroid #ferritin #vitaminD #vitaminB12 #healthpodcast #insidetheapothecary #integrativemedicine #pathology #hormones #fatigue

  7. Jun 15

    #Ep08 - How Naturopaths Think: What We Look For That Changes Everything

    In the final episode of Season One, Jaime and Mel take listeners inside the clinical thought process behind naturopathic medicine. When someone walks into clinic with fatigue, hormone issues, digestive symptoms, fertility challenges, skin concerns, anxiety, or chronic inflammation, what are we actually looking for? This episode explores how experienced practitioners connect patterns across the body rather than viewing symptoms in isolation. Jaime and Mel discuss the questions they ask, the clues they look for, and why understanding the story behind a patient’s symptoms is often more important than focusing on a diagnosis alone. They cover common patterns involving hormones, digestion, inflammation, nutrient status, stress physiology, sleep, fertility, immune function, and the nervous system, and explain how seemingly unrelated symptoms are often connected. Whether you’ve ever wondered what happens inside a naturopathic consultation, or why two people with the same diagnosis can receive completely different treatment plans, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at how clinical decision making works in practice. This conversation brings together many of the concepts discussed throughout Season One and demonstrates how a holistic approach can uncover factors that may otherwise be missed. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

  8. Jun 10

    #Ep07 - Stop Buying Random Supplements (Here's What Actually Matters)

    Most people are taking supplements without understanding whether their body actually needs them, can absorb them properly, or has the foundations in place for them to work. In this episode, Jaime and Mel unpack why supplements often fail to create meaningful change and the factors that actually determine whether a protocol works clinically. They explore nutrient absorption, nervous system regulation, blood sugar balance, inflammation, gut health, sleep quality, stress physiology, metabolic function, and lifestyle patterns, and why these foundations matter far more than constantly adding new products. This conversation challenges the modern idea that more supplements automatically equal better health and explains why many people remain exhausted, inflamed, hormonally imbalanced, or symptomatic despite spending hundreds of dollars on protocols. They also discuss supplement overwhelm, social media wellness trends, poor-quality products, and why foundational physiology will always matter more than chasing the newest "miracle" ingredient. If you've ever wondered why supplements help some people dramatically while others feel no different at all, this episode explains what is often being missed. Listen to Inside the Apothecary on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube. Book an Initial Consultation via Nourishing Apothecary: nourishingapothecary.com Follow: @insidetheapothecary @melendonaturopath @nourishingapothecary

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About

Inside the Apothecary is a weekly conversation where clinical wisdom meets real life. Hosted by Naturopaths Mel and Jaime, each episode unpacks a focused health or lifestyle topic, breaking down the science, challenging common myths, and translating what actually matters in practice. From fertility and hormones to gut health, inflammation, nervous system regulation, herbal medicine, and food as medicine, the conversations go beyond surface level advice and into how the body actually works. Expect myth-busting, real clinical insights, practical education, and honest conversations about mind–body health, all delivered with warmth, clarity, and a touch of banter. Whether you’re navigating your own health, trying to understand your body more deeply, or working in the integrative space, this is where complex health starts to make sense. Explore more at insidetheapothecary.com Ready to go deeper Book a free discovery call nourishing-apothecary.simplecliniconline.com/diary Shop practitioner-formulated products nourishingapothecary.com/collections Follow along Podcast Instagram https://www.instagram.com/insidetheapothecary/ Nourishing Apothecary Instagram http://instagram.com/nourishingapothecary/ Mel Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mgnaturopath/ TikTok Inside the Apothecary https://www.tiktok.com/@insidetheapothecary Nourishing Apothecary https://www.tiktok.com/@nourishingapothecary Mel https://www.tiktok.com/@mg.herbs.naturopa Jaime https://www.tiktok.com/@jaime Seed Apothecary Instagram https://www.instagram.com/seed.apothecary/ Shop practitioner-formulated products nourishingapothecary.com/collections

Information

  • Creator
    Jaime Chew and Melissa Larkings (Gearing)
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Jaime Chew and Melissa Larkings (Gearing)
  • Show Website
    Inside the Apothecary