GUT HEALTH NATUROPATH – GOLD COAST + ONLINE
When your gut starts running your life
Bloating. Pain. Reflux. Unpredictable bowels. Foods suddenly causing problems. When your digestion stops being something you can ignore, we help you understand what’s going on and what to do next.
Personalised naturopathic care for digestive health, persistent gut symptoms and complex gut conditions.
what’s going on?
Gut problems aren’t always as simple as they seem
Bloating and cramps that come on without warning. Foods you seem to react to, that were fine to eat last week. Constipated for days, then running to the bathroom unexpectedly. The hot sweats, the cramps, the nausea.. and the never-ending guesswork of trying to work out what’s going on.
You’ve tried the supplements and diets, probably seen doctors and practitioners. You’ve gut out gluten, then dairy, then tried FODMAPS. You’ve taken the probiotics, the powders, ate fermented foods, juiced and tried whatever else you can think of, because the desperation is real.
You just want a reliable gut, and you want your life back. Because you’re tired of your gut dictating what you can eat, where you can go and the symptoms you have to tolerate every day.
Gut symptoms can show up in different ways
Gut dysfunctiuon can present differently in everyone, and the issue is, there’s no common cause or single pathology test that tells you what the issue is. Most times you’re looking for a needle in a haystack, and what’s continuing the issue generally isn’t what started the problem.
Symptoms can be varied and change daily, things like:
Bloating - feeling swollen, uncomfortable and distended
Constipation - infrequent bowel movements, straining, incomplete emptying or feeling like your digestion has simply slowed down.
Upper digestive symptoms like heartburn, reflux, nausea, burping, heaviness or discomfort after eating.
Food reactions and foods you've eaten for years suddenly causing bloating, pain, bowel changes or other symptoms.
Abdominal pain & discomfort with cramps, pressure, tenderness
IBS & unpredictable bowels with symptoms that fluctuate, change or seem to have no pattern whatsoever.
Symptoms beyond your gut like fatigue, nutrient deficiencies or other health concerns
Digestion - bloating, constipation, reflux, altered bowel habits or foods suddenly not agreeing with you.
UNDERSTAND WHAT’S DRIVING YOUR SYMPTOMS
Gut health is more than taking a probiotic
Your digestive system doesn’t operate in isolation. Your diet matters, but so can your health history, medications, infections, bowel function, stress, sleep, hormones, nutrient status and other factors. Things overlap and sometimes symptoms that have been labelled “IBS” for years deserve another look.
At Health Haven, we look at what’s happening, when it started, what makes it better or worse, what you’ve already tried and what else was happening when your gut changed.
Because effective treatment starts with a depth of understanding.
the gut guesswork
Trying to work out what’s behind your gut symptoms?
If you’ve been searching for answers, you’ve probably come across terms like SIBO, gut dysbiosis, microbiome imbalance, leaky gut, Candida or parasites – and plenty of advice about finding the “root cause” of your symptoms.
Sometimes these things may be relevant. Sometimes they aren’t.
Bloating doesn’t automatically mean SIBO. Digestive symptoms don’t automatically mean Candida or parasites. And a microbiome test isn’t necessarily the first thing every person with gut problems needs.
Our approach is to look at your symptoms, health history, previous investigations and the bigger clinical picture first. Then we determine what deserves further investigation and whether testing is actually useful.
The goal isn’t to chase every possible gut condition. It’s to work out what’s relevant to you and to fix the damage that has happened to your gut.
What We Look At
The key to how we work is taking the time to understand your digestive symptoms in context. Then we build a treatment plan around what we find.
Our process may look at:
your symptoms
What’s happening, when it started, patterns you’ve noticed and what makes things better or worse.
health history
Previous diagnoses, infections, medications, antibiotics, surgery, treatment and relevant pathology.
bowel function
Frequency, consistency, urgency, constipation, diarrhoea and what your normal actually looks like.
food & nutrition
What you’re eating, what you’ve removed, suspected food reactions and whether restriction has become part of the problem.
upper digestion
Reflux, nausea, burping, appetite, fullness and symptoms occurring around meals.
beyond the gut
Other symptoms and health factors that may be relevant to your digestive picture.
stress & sleep
Not because we’re going to tell you your gut symptoms are “just stress”, but because your digestive and nervous systems don’t live in separate bodies.
testing
If further investigation is genuinely useful, we’ll discuss it. We don’t test for the sake of testing.
what about testing?
Testing when it’s useful & relevant
You don’t necessarily need an expensive gut test just because you have digestive symptoms. Sometimes your history and symptoms tell us where to begin and what to address But sometimes further investigation can help us understand what’s happening or rule something in or out.
Depending on your presentation, this may involve standard pathology, or discussing other appropriate testing options like microbiome testing, SIBO, food trigger testing or other relevant tests.
When considering testing we don’t test for the sake of it, we ask if the results will help or change our treatment protocol. Only then do we consider it, when it’s clinically relevant and will inform the treatment positively.
QUALIFIED NATUROPATH & OWNER OF HEALTH HAVEN – CASSANDRA DUFFILL
Patient turned practitioner
Meet Cassandra Duffill
Gut health has been at the centre of my practice for over 13 years. It’s also the reason I became a naturopath.
In my 20’s I developed severe and chronic gut dysfunction. Doctors told me it was IBS, that this was my ‘new normal’ and I just had to get used to it. I disagreed.
A broken arm would heal, why should my gut be different?
That set me on a path of becoming a practitioner, healing myself, then using my protocols and frameworks to heal others.
My blend of personal and professional experience is why my treatment protocols succeed, where others failed.
how you’re supported
Tailored Treatment, Ongoing Care
There isn’t one “gut protocol” that works for everyone. If there were, you’d probably have found it on Google by now.
Your treatment is based on what we uncover through your history, symptoms, existing investigations and any further testing that’s genuinely useful.
Depending on your individual needs, care may include nutrition, herbal medicine, practitioner-only supplementation, digestive support, lifestyle strategies and further investigation or referral where appropriate.
And as your symptoms change, your treatment will change with them.
Some people prefer to work appointment by appointment at their own pace. Others want a more structured period of treatment and support through our Gut Recovery Pathway.
Either way, we start by understanding your gut and creating a custom treatment protocol for you.
Initial consultation
All new clients start with a 75-minute Initial Consultation, either in person or online.
We’ll go through your digestive symptoms, health history, diet, previous testing and treatment, medications and supplements, and what you’ve already tried.
From there, we’ll map your priorities and create an individual treatment plan.
Some clients continue appointment by appointment. If more structured gut support would be appropriate, we can also discuss the Gut Recovery Pathway.
Gut recovery healing pathway
A 12-week practitioner-led gut health pathway for people who want a more structured approach to investigating and working through persistent digestive symptoms.
It includes consultations, follow-up care, relevant testing within the pathway, support, trigger food testing, a supplement starter pack and ongoing practitioner guidance between sessions.
“I made it a full hour without needing a bathroom”
MATT B.
“I had outstanding results in the first two weeks!”
CHRISTIE R
Getting Started
Your first appointment is an Initial Consutlation of 75mins, giving us time to properly explore your digestive symptoms, health history, nutrition, existing pathology and testing, medications and supplements, and what has or hasn’t worked before. You don’t need to know whether you have SIBO, dysbiosis, food intolerance or anything else before you book, that is what this session is for.
Available in person at Health Haven in Nerang on the Gold Coast, or online Australia-wide.
Book an Initial Consultation
If we decide at your Initial Consultation that the Gut Recovery Pathway is the right next step, your Initial Consultation can become the first consultation in your pathway and the eligible consultation cost can be credited toward the program, subject to your pathway terms.
*Credit applies to a standard Initial Consultation booked at full price.
FAQs
Can a Gold Coast gut health naturopath help me?
In over 13 years of working in this industry, I haven’t had a client I couldn’t help. From people who’ve been strugging for decades, to clients who’ve more recently developed gut conditions, we get great outcomes for clients when we work on their gut health.
Do you test for SIBO, Candida, parasites or gut dysbiosis?
Testing depends on your symptoms, history and what’s already been investigated. We don’t automatically order comprehensive gut testing for every client. Where further investigation for SIBO, dysbiosis, parasites or other digestive conditions may be appropriate, we’ll discuss the available options and whether the results are likely to change your treatment.
We do often use food compatibility testing to help uncover your triggers and support faster healing, but that is on a needs basis and will be discussed with you if it is relevant.
What gut conditions do you work with?
We work with a broad range of digestive concerns including persistent bloating, constipation, diarrhoea, reflux, IBS-type symptoms, food reactions and ongoing digestive complaints. Clients also come to us with concerns about SIBO, gut dysbiosis, microbiome health, Candida and other digestive conditions. Where symptoms require medical investigation or specialist care, we’ll let you know. We are one of Australia’s leading gut health clinics and have developed a reputation for being able to heal gut function in clients who’ve not had success elsewhere.
Do I need gut testing before I book?
No. In fact, we’d generally prefer to understand your history and symptoms first. If further testing is likely to provide useful information, we can discuss the appropriate options with you.
I already had tests and everything came back normal?
Bring your existing results with you. We’ll review what’s already been investigated alongside your symptoms and history and determine whether anything else warrants consideration.
Do I have to go into Gut Recovery 12 week healing pathway?
No. You can work with us appointment by appointment. Gut Recovery is available when a more structured period of investigation, treatment and ongoing support is appropriate.
Do I have to follow a restrictive diet?
Not automatically. Nutrition recommendations depend on your symptoms, history and individual needs. We don’t believe everyone with gut symptoms needs to live permanently on an increasingly tiny list of “safe” foods. We do use a 600 food and item test regularly, as it clearly identifies your individual triggers foods, allowing us to create a personalised elimination diet that works better than anything else on the market.
Can you work alongside my gastroenterologist or GP?
Yes. Naturopathic care can sit alongside your existing medical care, and we’re happy to consider relevant pathology, diagnoses and treatment when developing your plan.
Can I have my appointment online?
Yes. Consultations are available online Australia-wide as well as in person at Health Haven in Nerang on the Gold Coast.
Do I need a referral?
No. You can book directly.
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