Melbourne Holistic Health Group

Published in Books on 31 July 2011 by Cara Tanner

Women, Hormones and the Menstrual Cycle is the definitive guide to natural medicine and women’s health, focusing on common health complaints from adolescence through to menopause and beyond.
 

Main Contributors

Ruth Trickey ND, is director and a naturopath at the Melbourne Holistic Health Group. She is an authority on natural medicine and women’s health and regularly lectures to medical and community groups. In recognition of her expertise in herbal medicine she holds the position of adjunct senior lecturer at Southern Cross University, Lismore, New South Wales and has been made a Fellow of the National Herbalists Association of Australia (NHAA). In Women, Hormones and the Menstrual Cycle Ruth has drawn on her training as a nurse and midwife and 30 years of clinical experience.
 

Sofie Mikosza was the principal researcher and main contributor to this edition of Women,
Hormones and the Menstrual Cycle working closely with Ruth Trickey. Sofie extensively researched evidence-based natural medicine on a range of topics; including gynaecological complaints, sleep disorders, thyroid health, depression and anxiety, optimal health and wellbeing, preventative health and screening, and cancer risk reduction. Sofie holds a Bachelor of Naturopathy from Southern Cross University and has undertaken postgraduate training with Ruth Trickey in the area of women’s health and fertility. She has a professional background in research and writing. Currently, Sofie is a practitioner at Melbourne Holistic Health Group and works collaboratively with other medical practitioners and specialists. She has used this approach in developing evidenced-based herbal, nutritional, dietary and lifestyle treatment protocols.

Mathias Schmidt PhD, Pharmacist was born in 1964 and studied pharmacy at the University of Tuebingen, Germany, graduating in 1989. He made his doctoral thesis on the topic of vitamin C chemistry and instrumental analysis, and simultaneously was in charge of seminars in pharmaceutical biology (the microscopic analysis of medicinal plants and identification of constituents) and organic chemistry. After obtaining his PhD in 1993 Mathias worked in scientific departments of pharmaceutical companies which specialised in herbal medicinal products. Since 2004, Mathias has worked as a freelance consultant with an emphasis on medicinal plant quality, efficacy and safety. He is a director of www.herbresearch.de and is qualified in Quality Control Pharmacovigilance according to EU legislation.
 

Ann-Maree Bartoli professional interests include gynaecological disorders and women’s mid-life health and healthy ageing. She assists women with fertility, supports expectant mothers through their pregnancies, helps women who are undergoing IVF and assists women who are undergoing treatment for cancer, particularly breast and ovarian cancer. Whilst Ann-Maree’s primary interest is in women’s health, she is also interested in children’s and men’s health. She holds a Bachelor of Naturopathy from Southern Cross University and on graduating was awarded the Australian Natural Therapists Association (ANTA) prize for excellence in naturopathy, as well as the clinical nutrition prize. She also has post-graduate qualifications in counselling and teaching.
During her undergraduate years and then following graduation, Ann-Maree was trained by Ruth Trickey in general naturopathic practice and specifically in the area of women’s health. In 2007 and again in 2008 she took on the challenging position as Ruth’s locum at theMelbourne Holistic Health Group while Ruth was overseas on extended leave.

Ljupka Peev is a practitioner at Melbourne Holistic Health Group. She has undertaken extensive post-graduate training at the Melbourne Holistic Health Group with Ruth Trickey specifically in the areas of women’s health and fertility. Ljupka has a broad knowledge of the healthcare system having worked in the industry for more than 10 years. She has developed a reputation for working in the area of women’s health and infertility with patients referred by doctors and medical fertility specialists. Ljupka has also worked collaboratively in a multidisciplinary obesity clinic with doctors, dieticians and exercise physiologists. Working in a holistic health environment provided her with the experience to manage the needs of patients with a variety of complex issues related to obesity, including PCOS and infertility and other non-gynaecological obesity-related complaints. She has experienced first hand insight into the collaborative approach to healthcare and the use of evidence-based herbal and nutritional medicine alongside western medical treatments.
 

Jenny Adams ND, Grad Dip Health Couns., MPH. Jenny is a naturopath, clinical supervisor and author. Since graduating as a naturopath, she has completed a Graduate Diploma in Health Counselling at Victoria University and a Master of Public Health at the University of Melbourne. Jenny has been in clinical practice since 1989 in various settings, including the Melbourne Holistic Health Group and Wellness Medicine, an integrative medical clinic. She is also employed as a naturopath at Foundation House, a mental health organisation for refugees and is a clinical supervisor to naturopathy students at Endeavour College of Natural Health. Jenny is the co-author of a textbook about herbal manufacturing with Eleanor Tan.

Michael Thomsen MSc, ND, DBM, naturopath and medical herbalist, was born in Denmark and completed studies in naturopathy and herbal medicine in Sydney. Michael has worked in private practice as a herbalist and worked for many years as a consultant to the herbal medicine industry both in Australia and abroad. He has had extensive industry experience as a technical manager of leading herbal medicine companies in Australia. Michael is Medical Director of Global Natural Medicine a company dedicated to informing clinical practice, the publisher of Phytotherapy Desk Reference and a database of herb/nutrient and drug interactions.

Research contributors

Sally Baraz is a qualified Naturopath, having completed a Bachelor of Health Science in Naturopathy at Endeavour College of Natural health and holds a certificate in Natural Fertility Management. Her main interests are women’s health, with an emphasis on fertility. Sally’s professional aim is to provide holistic healthcare, drawing heavily on nutritional and herbal medicine to restore optimal health status.
She has been part of the Melbourne Holistic Health Group Clinic since 2009 and her contribution to this edition included research, writing and editing the herbal and nutritional section.
 

Erin Collins ND, DBM Naturopath and Medical Herbalist. Erin graduated from studies in naturopathy and medical herbalism in Sydney, in 1986. Since then she has worked in private practice in NSW and Victoria, and for the last 18 years, in Hobart. Erin has worked in the area of women’s health with womens’ health centres in outer Sydney and in Hobart, family planning in Tasmania and in private practice. She has also worked for Foundation House in Victoria, in the area of refugee women’s health and wellbeing. Erin has contributed to several books and journals on herbal medicine.

Claire Denby Adv. Dip Naturopathy. Claire is a naturopath with particular interest in women’s health. She studied naturopathy whilst working for five years with Ruth Trickey and associates at the Melbourne Holistic Health Group. After graduating, she practised in a private clinic in London, before returning to Melbourne to continue her clinical practice. Claire is now a clinical supervisor to naturopathy students at Endeavour College of Natural Health and also works in research at the Key Centre for Women’s Health, at the University of Melbourne.

Cara Tanner ND, is a qualified naturopath and herbalist having completed a Bachelor in Health Science (Naturopathy). She was awarded an academic scholarship to attend the college and graduated as Dux of her class in 2009. During her undergraduate years, Cara developed a strong background in research and analysis and uses her research knowledge and skills to develop evidence-based herbal, nutritional, dietary and lifestyle treatment protocols. Cara has completed research in the area of phytochemistry and pharmacology, in particular herb/drug interactions. She has a special interest in mental health and all aspects of women’s health, in particular gynaecological problems. In 2008 Cara joined the team at the Melbourne Holistic Health Group where she has observed and gained further knowledge in these areas.
 

Sandra Villella Dip App Sci-Naturopathy M App Sci- Acupuncture. Sandra Villella has been a practising naturopath and herbalist with the Melbourne Holistic Health Group since 1994 and completed postgraduate studies in acupuncture, with a Masters of Applied Science-Acupuncture. She works predominately in women’s health and specialises in the management of peri-menopausal health complaints. Sandra is a consultant naturopath at the Jean Hailes Foundation for Women’s Health, a not-for-profit organisation providing important services for women from adolescence to mid-life and beyond. The Foundation is regarded throughout Australia as a leader in women’s healthcare. Through her work with the Foundation, Sandra is constantly exposed to up-to-date research and trends with regards to peri-menopausal women’s health. Sandra presents seminars with the Foundation to the general public on midlife women’s health. She educates GPs and other health professionals on the evidence-based and traditional naturopathic managements of peri-menopausal women throughout Australia. Sandra is also involved with educational resources for the Foundation and their website for the general public and health professionals.