Before I began my studies, I was gung-ho about everything and this meant I was also unravelling way too fast. I was doing my best at following common health advice like eating plenty of salads and going to the gym, but that way of thinking clearly wasn’t working.

I was plagued with insidious health complaints and nothing showed up on my test results. The doctors kept telling me there’s nothing wrong, meanwhile I was suffering daily with irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety, palpitations, mood swings, hormonal pimples, poor appetite, unable to focus, pains and aches everywhere, painful and irregular menstrual cycles, and fatigue. I was only 25 years old!

There was never a time that I wasn’t interested in natural health and self care since I can remember. As I got older, I learnt of this incredible system of medicine and that was it for me, I knew what I had to do with my life.

So I was studying and healing myself at the same time. I am now in my mid 40s and my health is a completely different and empowered picture. I continue to have regular acupuncture, and yes I take my own herbal medicines!

To practice Chinese medicine I first had to gain a Bachelor of Health Science majoring in Chinese Medicine - a four year degree which took me a little longer as I juggled full time work and gained valuable life experiences to equip me for the responsibility of caring for others in a responsible and empathic way.

In addition to required ongoing CPE, I continue to undertake regular observations with my mentor, world-renown herbalist Steven Clavey in his Melbourne clinic.

Being a foodie since day dot, my first love area of Chinese medicine is diet therapy. I was on Masterchef in its inaugural year in 2009, I wrote a food blog based on Chinese medicine food therapy for a number of years, I travel and explore the world, diving deep into food cultures and their relevance to wellbeing.

In addition to my work, I am passionate about animal welfare. My fur-children are brother rescue cats Boe and Thunder who at times receive acupuncture and herbal medicines, and their diets are managed through the Chinese medicine understanding.