Understanding Pain: Natural Remedies and Bowen Therapy
11 Jul

Pain. It’s something we’ve all experienced—sometimes fleeting, sometimes persistent—but always a message. It’s our body’s way of saying, “Hey, something needs attention here.”

Understanding pain—what triggers it, how it lingers, and how we can support the body through it—can be life-changing. And the good news? There are gentle, natural ways to reduce pain and inflammation that don’t rely on harsh medications or invasive treatments.

In this post, I want to explore two of my favourite tools for pain relief: natural remedies and Bowen Therapy—a powerful combination that I’ve seen change lives in my clinic over and over again.

🌿 Start with Prevention: Support the Body Before Pain Starts

The best place to begin? Prevention. Many of the chronic pain conditions we see today have roots in inflammation—something we can influence daily with our choices. Here are a few key habits that make a big difference:

• Eat anti-inflammatory foods – Think berries, leafy greens, turmeric, oily fish like salmon, flaxseeds, and chia. These foods help calm inflammation before it turns into pain.
  
  
• Stay hydrated – Dehydration makes everything feel tighter and more reactive. Good hydration is like oiling the hinges of your joints.
  
  
• Keep moving – Gentle, consistent movement keeps the body fluid and helps circulation. Even a walk in nature does wonders.

🌿 Nature’s Medicine Cabinet: Herbs for Pain Relief

We’ve been using plants for healing for thousands of years—and for good reason.

• Turmeric is a standout for joint and muscle pain thanks to curcumin, its active compound. It helps reduce inflammation at the root.
  
  
• Ginger isn’t just good for digestion—it’s a natural pain reliever too. Great in tea, meals, or as a supplement.
  
  
• Magnesium is often overlooked but can ease tight muscles, headaches, and even nerve pain. Magnesium baths or powders can be a great addition to your routine.
  
  

These remedies work beautifully alongside other treatments and can be especially helpful for long-term wellness.

🌿 Bowen Therapy: Gentle, Profound, and Powerful

This is where Bowen Therapy comes in—and if you haven’t experienced it yet, let me say, it’s one of the gentlest and most profound tools I use in clinic. Bowen Therapy uses subtle, rolling movements over specific points on the body. These moves help reset the nervous system, relax tight fascia, and allow the body to recalibrate and begin healing itself. What I love about Bowen is:

• It’s non-invasive and incredibly gentle (no cracking, pressing, or force).
  
  
• It’s safe for all ages—from newborns to the elderly.
  
  
• It works with the whole body, not just the site of pain.

Clients come in for back pain, migraines, joint issues, or even pain related to emotional stress—and often leave with a surprising sense of calm and ease that goes beyond the physical.

🌿 A Holistic Approach to Healing

Pain shouldn’t be something we just put up with. It’s our body’s way of asking for care.

By combining nutrient-rich food, natural remedies, and Bowen Therapy, we can support the body to heal in a way that’s gentle, empowering, and deeply effective.

You don’t have to wait for things to get worse. Often, small changes make the biggest difference—especially when they’re consistent.

If you’re navigating persistent pain or simply want to support your body in more natural ways, I invite you to explore Bowen Therapy and the healing power of nature. You might just be

surprised at how much better you can feel—without the struggle.

Let’s help your body feel safe, supported, and ready to thrive.

By Christos
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Feeling Flat? Bloated? Just Not Yourself?
5 Jul

Let’s talk juice fasting.

If you’ve ever wondered whether fasting is just another health trend or something truly helpful, you’re not alone. I get asked about it all the time.

And honestly? I understand the confusion.

There’s a lot of conflicting information out there.

➡️ “Isn’t it just starving yourself?”

➡️ “Won’t I lose nutrients?”

➡️ “Wouldn’t it be better to just eat the fruit or veg whole?”

Let’s break this down together, not from hype, but from what I’ve seen firsthand in my own life, and clinic.

⸻

Why I Stand Behind Juice Fasting

Here’s the short version:

Juice fasting works.

Not as a diet. Not as a punishment.

But as a healing reset.

And it’s not new. It’s ancient.

When animals are sick, they stop eating. They rest. The body knows, it needs to use its energy to repair, not digest.

Juice fasting simply taps into this same wisdom. It gives your body space to catch its breath and focus on the healing process.

⸻

Wait, Don’t I Need Fibre?

Yes, fibre is important.

But in a juice fast, we’re not aiming to stimulate the gut; we’re giving it a holiday.

Removing fibre for a few days allows your digestive system to rest, while the nutrients still flow in, big time.

Fresh vegetable and fruit juices are rich in:

• Vitamins and minerals

• Enzymes

• Antioxidants

• Cellular hydration

• And life force

You’d never be able to eat the amount of nutrients you can drink during a juice fast. And more importantly, you wouldn’t be absorbing it in the same way.

⸻

“But Will I Get Enough Nutrients?”

Great question. And yes, in fact, you might absorb more.

Juice fasting gives the digestive system a break, which means your body doesn’t have to work so hard to access the goodness.

That’s why people often feel clearer, calmer, and more vibrant during and after a fast.

It’s not about starving, it’s about simplifying.

⸻

Fasting & Metabolism: Busting the Myth

You may have heard that fasting slows metabolism.

Done incorrectly? Sure.

But when guided well, it helps rebalance metabolism.

It teaches your body how to:

✅ Burn fat more efficiently

✅ Reset hormones

✅ Clean up inflammation

✅ And return to natural rhythms

It’s like hitting the “reset” button on your internal systems.

⸻

A Secret Bonus: Cravings Shift

This is one of the parts I love most.

After a juice fast, people often tell me, “I don’t even want the sugary or heavy stuff anymore.”

Juice fasting doesn’t just shift your physical health; it resets cravings.

It’s a circuit breaker.

An invitation to build a better relationship with food… and with your body.

⸻

One Last Thing — The Exit Matters

What you eat after your juice fast is just as important as the fast itself.

Start with:

• Juicy fruits

• Steamed veg

• Gentle, whole foods

Avoid jumping back into processed or heavy meals; your body will thank you.

And the truth is, most people don’t want to go back to old habits. They feel too good.

⸻

So… Is It Right for You?

If you’re feeling:

🔹 Sluggish

🔹 Inflamed

🔹 Foggy

🔹 Stuck in unhelpful eating cycles

…then juice fasting might be a gentle, powerful next step.

I’ve seen it help people reclaim energy, clear skin, improve sleep and feel more themselves again.

If you’re curious or want a bit of guidance, I’m here. This is the work I love.

⸻

With vitality and warmth,

Christos

⸻

Naturopath | Bowen Therapist | Iridologist

For appointments or consultations, visit: North East Naturopathic Group

To explore my courses, head to: christosmili.org.au
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What’s Really Causing Psoriasis (and Eczema)?
27 Jun

I’ve seen a lot of skin conditions in clinic over the years — from dry, itchy rashes and flaking patches to intense flare-ups that make everyday life uncomfortable. And what I’ve come to learn is this:

Conditions like psoriasis and eczema are not just skin deep.

They’re messages — loud ones — from the body asking us to stop, look inward, and reset.

They might look different — eczema is often linked with inflammation, allergies and an overactive immune response, while psoriasis involves rapid skin cell turnover — but the truth is, both often stem from the same root causes: toxicity, inflammation, and internal imbalance.

🔍 Listen to What the Skin Is Saying

In natural medicine, we say that the skin reflects the internal terrain.

When something is off inside — the gut isn’t functioning well, the liver is under pressure, or the immune system is dysregulated — the skin often becomes the messenger.

Dryness, itchiness, thickening, cracking, or redness are all signs that the body is trying to eliminate something or restore balance. And depending on where these symptoms show up, we can even get hints about which organs are struggling — similar to how traditional Chinese medicine uses meridian maps to trace connections throughout the body.

So instead of suppressing symptoms with steroid creams or medications (which I understand may be necessary short term), I always ask:
What is the body trying to say?

Because when we view eczema or psoriasis as signals — rather than just surface-level problems — everything changes.

🌱 Natural Tools to Support Skin Healing from Within

Over the years, I’ve found a few simple, powerful strategies that make a big difference — especially when used consistently.

1. Detoxification and Fasting: Clean from the Inside Out

The number one game-changer I’ve seen for both psoriasis and eczema is detoxing the body gently but deeply — through fasting or a wholefood, anti-inflammatory diet supported by herbs, juices, and hydration.

Our skin is one of our largest detox organs. When the liver and gut are overloaded, toxins often get pushed out through the skin. That’s why giving the body a break — even just a few days — can create space for healing.

In fact, studies from the University of Chicago showed that skin conditions like eczema, acne and psoriasis often clear up during fasting, when the body is supported nutritionally and allowed to rest.

We’ve had many clients go through our 7, 14, and 21-day juice cleanses and report incredible results — reduced inflammation, improved digestion, mental clarity, and dramatically clearer skin. Some have even shared before-and-after photos that speak for themselves.

🧃 If fasting sounds intimidating, start small. A single day of fresh juices or a 3-day focus on smoothies, raw veggies, and broths can already do so much.

👉 For children or anyone sensitive, a full fast might not be appropriate — but a raw, wholefood diet full of fresh fruits, juices, and gentle detox support can still make a real difference.

2. Sunshine: A Natural Immune and Skin Regulator

One of the simplest but most powerful remedies for chronic skin conditions is something free: sunlight.

Sunshine helps the body create Vitamin D, which plays a critical role in balancing immune function, calming inflammation, and supporting healthy skin turnover.

Research has linked low Vitamin D to both psoriasis and eczema. Just 10–15 minutes of sunlight a day can start to shift things. I often get sun exposure between 10 AM and 2 PM, starting gradually and building up to 30–45 minutes when my skin is tanned and strong.

☀️ If you’re in a part of the world with long winters or overcast skies, UV therapy or even occasional use of a solarium can be helpful. It may sound controversial, but the bigger risk I see in clinic is low Vitamin D — not safe, moderate sun exposure.

✨ A tip before sunbathing: use a guasha body scrub to prep the skin and support detoxification, which brings us to the next step.

3. Skin Detox with Guasha, Salt Baths, and Natural Topicals

We often think of skincare as something we apply — but skin healing often starts with what we remove.

Guasha is a technique I use to scrub the skin and help eliminate toxins that build up in the outer layers. I make a simple, old-school scrub from vodka and bicarb soda, which deeply cleanses the skin and helps draw out things like petrochemical residues, yeast, moulds, and even parasites.

After scrubbing, follow with a warm salt bath using Epsom or sea salt, and essential oils like lavender, frankincense, or tea tree. These baths relax the nervous system (important for eczema especially), support the lymphatic system, and allow the skin to breathe again.

🛁 For kids, skip the vodka scrub and go straight to gentle salt baths — they’re safe, calming, and effective.

🌿 You can also support the skin topically with healing balms — made from calendula, chamomile, or chickweed — and internally with herbs like burdock, nettle, or Oregon grape.

🌈 Final Thoughts: There’s Always a Way Forward

Whether you’re struggling with psoriasis, eczema, or a mix of both, remember:

🌀 Your body is not broken.
🌀 The skin is not the enemy.
🌀 And you are not alone.

When you begin to see your skin symptoms as signs of deeper imbalances — and meet them with care, nourishment, and understanding — healing becomes possible.

To recap, here are my top 3 tools for supporting chronic skin conditions naturally:

1. Detox the body — with fasting, raw food, and nourishing juices
   
2. Soak in sunshine — or use UV therapy to stimulate Vitamin D
   
3. Cleanse the skin — with guasha scrubs, healing baths, and gentle topicals
   

These principles are gentle, natural, and suitable for all ages — and they’ve helped countless people in my clinic begin their healing journey with hope and confidence.

If you’d like to learn more, or explore these tools in a step-by-step way, check out the Free Resources section on my website. There’s a whole collection of guides, recipes, and videos waiting for you.

Here’s to vibrant skin, whole-body healing, and listening to your body’s quiet wisdom.

Warmly,
Christos
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✨ Why Following Your Dreams Is Good for Your Health
13 Jun

Over the years in my clinic, I’ve seen all sorts of health complaints walk through the door—fatigue, burnout, gut issues, brain fog, skin conditions, hormonal imbalances… you name it. But beneath the physical symptoms, there’s often a common thread that doesn’t show up on any blood test:

Disconnection from purpose.
Dreams left behind.
A quiet ache for something more.

I can feel it when people sit down—especially those in their 30s, 40s, 50s and beyond—when they’ve lived a life of looking after others, doing the right thing, ticking the boxes... but never truly listening to that whisper inside: “There’s something else I want.”

And it’s not just emotional.
That disconnection shows up in the body.


🌱 Your Nervous System Craves Purpose

When you’re not living in alignment with who you really are, your body knows.

You might feel tired all the time, even if your bloodwork is “fine.”

You might have trouble sleeping, feel anxious for no reason, or feel that lingering sense of blah you can’t shake.


That’s your nervous system in a constant state of low-grade stress.

But when you start to move toward your dreams—even if it’s just in small ways—your body responds. Your stress hormones settle. Your breathing deepens. Your digestion improves. Energy flows again. The immune system lifts. Your whole system says: “Thank you for coming home.”


💛 Your Body Knows When You’re Not Being True to Yourself

From a naturopathic perspective, emotional suppression can absolutely contribute to physical illness.

We store what we suppress.

Anger in the liver. Grief in the lungs. Fear in the kidneys.

And unfulfilled potential? That sits heavy in the heart and gut.


When we deny our dreams—when we tell ourselves it’s too late, too selfish, or too hard—we slowly dim our own light. And sometimes, symptoms are just our body’s way of trying to get our attention.


But here’s the good news:
You don’t need to make a massive leap overnight.
You just need to start.


✨ Joy Is a Healing Frequency

One of the most healing things we can do—mentally, emotionally, physically—is to give ourselves permission to feel joy again. To move toward what lights us up. Whether that’s starting a new project, learning something just for you, travelling, dancing (yes, even in the lounge room), writing, teaching, connecting—whatever sets your soul on fire.

And I can tell you this from experience.

For years, I told myself dancing wasn’t “practical.” That it was too late to start. I didn’t have time - if I wasn’t working I had to be with my family. Life was way too busy. But eventually at the age of 52 I had an epiphany while watching my daughter’s dance concert and I said yes - so I joined the local adult dance group and thought that if no one laughed at me I would go back - of course they were wonderful and no one laughed —and now I go to dance classes regularly. I have even done competitions and last January competed in the Nationals Dance comp in Adelaide! I never thought I would do that!

It’s one of the things that fills me with joy and gives me life. I also get to run a business that inspires me daily, working with people who are open, curious, and ready to heal.

I honestly believe that a big part of my good health today comes from saying yes to those parts of myself that I had ignored and  were waiting so long to be lived.

Because when you come alive… you heal.

I’ve seen people come off medications, regulate their hormones, lose weight naturally, improve their sleep, and regain their vitality—not because they found a magic herb, but because they finally started doing what they were here to do.

And they stopped apologising for it.

So here’s your gentle nudge: What’s one dream you’ve put on the shelf?
What’s one step you could take toward it this week?
It could be tiny—researching a course, blocking out an hour for you, picking up the guitar, booking the trip, writing the first sentence of the book.

Your health isn’t separate from your purpose.
Your body wants you to live a full life.
It’s not selfish to follow your dreams—it’s vital. For your spirit. For your health. For your family. For your joy.

Let’s Thrive Together

If this stirred something in you, I’d love to support you further—whether in clinic, in my workshops, or through the Thrive & Flow Pathway for practitioners ready to dream bigger and live lighter.

You deserve a life that feels good in your body and aligned with your heart. Read More…

Why I Chose Natural Medicine: My Journey to Healing & Helping
6 Jun

I didn’t grow up thinking I’d become a naturopath. In fact, like most people, I thought health came in the form of a script from the doctor and a few instructions to “rest and see how it goes.” But somewhere along the line, that never quite sat right with me.

I come from a big Greek family — loud, loving, full of life — and also full of stories passed down from yiayias and aunties who knew what herbs to boil when your stomach hurt, what foods to avoid when you were sick, and how to care for the body like it was sacred. Back then, I didn’t realise how deeply those moments were shaping me. I just knew they worked.



A Turning Point: Asking Bigger Questions

It wasn’t until my late teens that I really began to question what true health meant. I’d watch people I loved bounce between appointments, taking one pill to deal with the side effects of another. They weren’t getting better — they were surviving.
And I didn’t want to just survive. I wanted to understand.

That hunger to understand led me to study Naturopathy. At first, it was overwhelming. Anatomy, biochemistry, herbal pharmacology — it was a lot. But every step I took felt like I was remembering something ancient. Like I was returning to a truth I’d always known, deep down: the body has an incredible capacity to heal, if we learn how to listen.



The Power of Iridology & Bowen Therapy

When I discovered Iridology, I was hooked. The idea that your eyes — those tiny, detailed windows — could reveal what’s going on inside your body and mind? It felt like magic. But it was backed by science, case studies, and years of clinical observation. I started seeing patterns in people’s irises that matched the symptoms they’d been experiencing for years. And more importantly — things would shift once we addressed what the eyes were showing.

Then came Bowen Therapy — a game-changer in every sense. It was so subtle, yet so powerful. I’d perform a few gentle moves, leave the room, and come back to find the client’s body already unwinding layers of tension. It taught me something that still stays with me to this day: the body doesn’t need force. It needs permission.



Healing Isn’t Linear — It’s a Dialogue

Over time, I came to understand that healing isn’t about fixing. It’s about listening.
It’s not linear. It’s layered. And often, it’s less about what we add in — and more about what we take away: stress, toxicity, pressure, perfectionism.

I’ve seen people’s lives change not from the most expensive supplement or the most extreme detox, but from finally understanding the signals their body had been whispering for years.



From Practitioner to Mentor

Now, after 25 years in practice, my passion has deepened in a new direction: helping other practitioners.
There’s so much burnout in the natural health world — so many kind-hearted, smart therapists who are incredible at what they do, but feel overwhelmed trying to build a business. I’ve been there. And I now love guiding them toward more ease, clarity, and confidence — so they can keep doing the work they love without burning out.

I also continue to support families — especially parents who want to keep their kids strong, naturally. I believe education is the foundation. When we understand the body and how to support it early, we change the whole future of a family.



I Chose This Work Because It Chose Me

Natural medicine is not just my job — it’s my calling. It’s the quiet nudge I’ve felt again and again throughout life. It’s in the trust of every client who walks through the door. It’s in the sparkle in someone’s eye when they realise they’re allowed to feel good again.

And that’s why I do what I do. To help people feel empowered. To teach that healing is not about being perfect — it’s about being in relationship with your body. And to remind everyone that the wisdom is already inside them.
I’m just here to help them hear it.



Naturopath | Bowen Therapist | Iridologist

North East Naturopathic Group

To explore my courses, head to: christosmili.org.au

Read More…