The Health & Wellness Magazine - Autumn 2026
Content of The Health & Wellness Magazine - Autumn 2026
What's On & News
CHANGE OF PHONE NUMBER:
Please use the mobile phone number 0492 814 971 to contact us or make an appointment.
Getting To The Point
In this inspiring episode from Children’s Hospital of Orange County, families share how acupuncture is helping children facing serious health challenges feel more comfortable and supported. The video explains how specially trained practitioners use very gentle, child-appropriate techniques to help manage symptoms such as pain, nausea, and anxiety — alongside conventional medical treatment.
Parents also hear directly from doctors and integrative care providers who emphasise that acupuncture is used safely within a hospital setting as part of a team approach.
The short documentary above was commissioned by a colleague of mine in the US. He runs a website called Acupuncture Now Foundation which tries to promote the safe and effective use of acupuncture for a wide range of health issues.
Please share the video with your friends and family. Only by letting people know what Acupuncture is capable of doing will there be more acceptance and integration into the healthcare profession.
Some of the health conditions for which Acupuncture has been shown to be safe and effective
In total there are some 117 conditions for which acupuncture has been found to be safe and effective for according to the world health organisation (WHO). Here I’ve listed some of the most common for which people come to see an acupuncturist.
• Allergic rhinitis (perennial & seasonal)
• Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting
• Headache (tension-type and chronic)
• Postoperative nausea & vomiting – Postoperative pain
• Post traumatic stress disorder
• Prostatitis/ chronic pelvic pain syndrome
• Sciatica
• Smoking cessation
• Temperomandibular pain TMJ
• Anxiety
• Cancer Support
• Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
• Induction of Labour
• Insomnia
Special Newsletter Subscriber Offer:
50% off all herbal teas
Offer ends 25th March ’26
ONLY WHILE STOCKS LAST
We have a wide range of herbal teas available in different sizes (50-100g).
Please call the clinic on 0492 814 971 for any price enquiries and orders
Nourishing Your Body in Autumn
Seasonal wisdom from Chinese Medicine & Ayurveda
As the air becomes cooler and drier, Autumn invites us to slow down, conserve energy, and nourish ourselves more deeply. In both Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda, this season is associated with dryness, increased sensitivity of the lungs and immune system, and a need for grounding, warming foods.
Eating seasonally is one of the simplest ways to stay well.
🍂 Why Autumn Nutrition Matters
In Chinese Medicine, Autumn is linked with the Lung system, which governs immunity, skin health, and our response to grief and change. Dryness can affect the lungs, digestion, and skin.
In Ayurveda, the cooler, windier qualities of Autumn can aggravate Vata, leading to dryness, anxiety, bloating, or disturbed sleep.
The solution in both systems?
Warm, cooked, moistening, and gently spiced foods.
🍎 Best Autumn Fruits
Fruits are best enjoyed lightly stewed or poached rather than raw during this season.
Apples (stewed with cinnamon)
Pears (wonderful for dry coughs or scratchy throats)
Figs
Grapes
Plums
Persimmons
Pomegranates
Dates
Quince
Tip: Add warming spices such as cinnamon, ginger, cardamom or clove to enhance digestion and blood circulation.
🥕 Nourishing Autumn Vegetables
Root vegetables and sweet, nutrient-dense vegetables, such as watercress, kale, spinach, beet greens, and chard. Other nutrient-dense, filling options include broccoli, carrots and sweet potatoes, help ground the body and support digestion.
Root Vegetables
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Sweet potato
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Pumpkin
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Carrots
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Parsnips
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Turnips
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Beetroot
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Daikon radish
Other Excellent Choices
Butternut squash
Green beans
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Broccoli
Kale
Spinach (lightly cooked)
Leeks
Onions
Garlic
Fresh ginger
Soups, slow-cooked stews, and roasted vegetables are ideal at this time of year.
🌰 Additional Supportive Foods
Oats and brown rice
Lentils and mung beans
Walnuts and soaked almonds
Sesame seeds (especially black sesame)
Bone broths
Ghee (clarified butter)
🍲 Simple Autumn Guidelines
✔ Choose warm, cooked meals over raw salads
✔ Eat at regular times
✔ Include natural sweetness from root vegetables and grains
✔ Use gentle warming spices
✔ Reduce iced drinks and cold foods
Autumn is a season of transition. By adjusting your diet to align with nature, you strengthen digestion, support immunity, and create a sense of calm and stability.
If you’d like personalised seasonal guidance based on your constitution or current health concerns, we’re always here to help.
Here Are Some Of Our Most Popular Products
Wildcrafted's Healing Cream
Treats minor skin injuries, cuts and bruises
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Wildcrafted's Arnica Cream
Helps to rapidly clear bruising and swelling
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Wildcrafted's Comfrey Plus Cream
Treats traumatic injury to nerves, joints, bone, muscles and more
Read more...Why Your Skin’s pH Matters More Than You Think
When we talk about healthy skin, most people think about hydration, wrinkles, acne, or sun damage. But one of the most important — and often overlooked — foundations of skin health is something far more subtle:
Your skin’s pH.
At Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre, we see skin not simply as a cosmetic surface, but as a vital organ of protection and communication between your internal health and the external world. Supporting its natural balance is essential — and that begins with understanding the acid mantle.
The Skin’s Protective Acid Mantle
Healthy skin is naturally slightly acidic, with a pH typically between 4.5 and 6 (ideally around 5.5).
This mild acidity forms what is known as the acid mantle — a thin protective layer made up of natural oils (sebum), sweat, and beneficial microflora.
When functioning well, this protective layer:
• Discourages harmful bacterial growth
• Supports beneficial skin microbes
• Maintains hydration
• Protects against environmental stress
• Preserves barrier integrity
In simple terms, it’s your skin’s first line of defence.
When the acid mantle is disrupted, the skin becomes more vulnerable to dryness, irritation, acne, inflammation, and premature ageing.
How Hormones Influence Skin pH
During adolescence, hormonal changes stimulate oil production. This is why teenagers often experience oily skin and acne.
Interestingly, this hormonal shift also helps fully develop the acid mantle, strengthening the skin’s natural defence system.
Children, by contrast, tend to have a more neutral skin pH (closer to 7). This is one reason younger children are often more susceptible to certain skin infections or irritations — their protective acid mantle is still developing.
What Happens as We Age?
In our late teens and early 20s, the acid mantle is generally robust. Skin heals quickly, resists infection well, and often appears vibrant and resilient.
As we age, however, the skin’s pH gradually shifts toward a more neutral state. This reduced acidity can lead to:
• Increased susceptibility to bacterial overgrowth
• Greater dryness
• Slower healing
• More inflammation
• Compromised barrier function
At the same time, collagen and elastin — the connective tissues that provide firmness and elasticity — begin to decline. Skin becomes thinner, less supple, and more prone to fine lines.
Maintaining optimal skin pH helps protect against this cascade by supporting both the barrier and the microbiome.
The Link Between pH and Acne
Acne is not simply a matter of blocked pores — it is strongly influenced by inflammation and bacterial balance.
A bacterium called Cutibacterium acnes naturally lives on everyone’s skin. At a healthy pH of around 5.5, its growth is kept under control.
However, when the skin becomes more alkaline, this creates a more favourable environment for bacterial overgrowth — increasing the likelihood of breakouts.
This is why harsh cleansing, over-exfoliation, or stripping products can sometimes worsen acne rather than improve it.
The Hidden Impact of Soap
One of the most common disruptors of skin pH is traditional soap.
Many commercially available soaps are highly alkaline — with a pH between 9 and 11. Repeated use can:
• Strip natural oils
• Remove beneficial bacteria
• Raise the skin’s pH
• Increase moisture loss
• Leave skin feeling tight and dry
This applies not only to the face but to the entire body.
When we repeatedly disrupt the acid mantle, the skin works harder to rebalance itself — often leading to sensitivity, dryness, or inflammation.
Supporting Healthy Skin pH Naturally
The good news is that restoring balance is often simple.
Here are a few gentle principles we recommend:
1. Use pH-balanced cleansers
Choose products formulated close to the skin’s natural pH (around 5–5.5).
2. Avoid over-cleansing
Twice daily is usually sufficient. More is not better.
3. Preserve your microbiome
Avoid antibacterial products unless medically necessary.
4. Be gentle with exfoliation
Overuse of scrubs or strong acids can damage barrier function.
5. Support internal health
Diet, hydration, stress levels, and hormonal balance all influence skin resilience.
A Holistic Perspective on Skin Health
From a natural medicine and Chinese medicine perspective, skin health reflects internal balance.
When digestion is strong, stress is managed, and circulation is healthy, the skin is better equipped to maintain its protective mechanisms — including pH balance.
Healthy skin is not achieved through harsh correction. It is restored and preserved through balance.
Small Daily Choices, Long-Term Results
The products you use every day matter. So do your lifestyle habits.
When the skin’s pH is balanced:
• The barrier remains strong
• Moisture is retained
• Harmful bacteria are discouraged
• Healing improves
• Inflammation decreases
When disrupted:
• Acne may worsen
• Sensitivity increases
• Ageing accelerates
• The microbiome becomes unstable
Supporting your acid mantle is one of the simplest — and most powerful — ways to protect your skin long term.
If You’d Like Personalised Guidance
If you’re experiencing ongoing acne, dryness, sensitivity, rosacea, eczema, or inflammatory skin concerns, it may be time to look deeper than surface-level treatments.
At Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre, we assess:
• Skin barrier integrity
• Hormonal influences
• Digestive and liver function
• Stress load
• Dietary triggers
• Product suitability
Sometimes small adjustments create profound changes.
If you would like tailored advice for your skin — whether through herbal medicine, acupuncture, nutritional support, or guidance on appropriate natural skin care — we are here to help.
You are welcome to book a consultation to explore a personalised, holistic approach to restoring balance.
Healthy skin begins with understanding — and balance.
Did You Know?
Did You Know?
Did you know white cats with blue eyes are usually deaf
Did you know wind doesn’t make a sound until it blows against an object
Did you know there is no sound in space
Did you know sound travels 4.3 times faster through water than in air
Did you know to crack a whip the tip must be travelling faster than the speed of sound
Did You Know?
Did you know dolphin's can detect underwater sounds from 24 km away
Did you know when baby polar bear cubs are born they cannot see or hear for their first month
Did you know akousticophobia is the fear of noises
Did you know melophobia is the fear of music
Did you know lion's can't roar until the age of 2
Did you know a cat can keep purring while inhaling and exhaling
We hope you enjoyed our latest Edition of The Health & Wellness Magazine. We are always open to constructive feedback and ideas for future articles. If you have a particular topic you would like us to cover relating to yoga, alternative medicine, meditation, etc., please let us know and we will include it in an up coming Magazine
Namaste.
