The Natural Narrative

The Magic and Science of Herbal Medicine - Diana Bowman on plant chemistry, healing traditions, and why nature remains one of our greatest teachers.

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2373338/fan_mail/new]  🌿 Herbal medicine is more than tradition—it's chemistry, pharmacology and thousands of years of human observation. Join Leone Wilson and Diana Bowman as they explore why nature remains one of our greatest teachers.  What if some of our most powerful medicines were growing all around us? In this episode of The Natural Narrative, Leone Wilson sits down with herbalist, educator, researcher and mentor Diana Bowman to explore the fascinating world of herbal medicine and the science that underpins it. Diana was one of Leone's lecturers during her naturopathic studies at Endeavour College of Natural Health, and years later they had the opportunity to work alongside one another teaching and mentoring future naturopaths. Together they share a passion for understanding how plants can support health and wellbeing through their complex chemistry and therapeutic actions. From ancient healing traditions to modern pharmacology, this conversation explores the remarkable relationship between plants and medicine. You'll discover how herbs exert their effects through active constituents such as alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides and terpenes, and why herbal medicine remains an important part of contemporary integrative healthcare. The discussion also highlights the fascinating origins of many modern pharmaceuticals, including aspirin derived from willow bark, digoxin from foxglove and the plant-based discoveries that continue to shape medicine today. Diana also shares insights from her doctoral research into herbal medicine use among breastfeeding mothers, discussing the importance of evidence-informed practice, safety and the evolving role of herbal medicine in modern healthcare. Whether you're a practitioner, student, herbal enthusiast or simply curious about the healing potential of nature, this episode offers a thought-provoking exploration of both the magic and the science of herbal medicine. In this episode we discuss: 🌿 The history and evolution of herbal medicine 🌿 Plant chemistry and active medicinal constituents 🌿 Herbal pharmacology and therapeutic actions 🌿 Traditional knowledge and modern research 🌿 Whole plant medicine versus isolated compounds 🌿 The origins of many modern pharmaceutical medicines 🌿 Herbal medicine in breastfeeding and women's health 🌿 Evidence-informed naturopathic practice 🌿 Why nature remains one of our greatest teachers A fascinating conversation that reminds us that long before laboratories and pharmaceuticals, there were plants—and many of them are still teaching us today. You can find us at - https://harvestinghealth.com.au/ facebook - https://www.facebook.com/LeoneDeborahWilsonNaturopath Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/harvesting_health_hub/

Metamorphosis: Life After Breast Cancer. Michelle Aziz on breast cancer, survivorship and rebuilding life after cancer

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2373338/fan_mail/new] When we think about cancer, we often focus on diagnosis, treatment and survival. But what happens when treatment ends? What happens when everyone expects you to be "back to normal," yet life feels fundamentally different? In this episode of The Natural Narrative, Leone Wilson is joined by counsellor, breast cancer survivor and founder of Second Life Counselling, Michelle Aziz, for a powerful conversation about survivorship, resilience and transformation. Michelle shares her personal journey through breast cancer, the physical and emotional realities of treatment, and the often-overlooked challenges that emerge once the medical appointments become less frequent and life is expected to resume. Together, Leone and Michelle explore the grief, uncertainty and identity shifts that can accompany survivorship, as well as the opportunities for growth and self-discovery that can arise through adversity. A recurring theme throughout this conversation is metamorphosis – the process of being transformed by life's most difficult experiences. Michelle reflects on how cancer changed her perspective, her priorities and ultimately her purpose, leading her to support others navigating their own life transitions. The discussion also touches on a fascinating metaphor: feeling as though chemotherapy restored her to "factory settings" – stripping away the unnecessary and creating space to rebuild life with greater intention, clarity and authenticity. This episode is not just for cancer survivors. It is for anyone who has experienced a life event that divided their story into "before" and "after" – illness, grief, trauma, burnout, loss or significant change. In this episode we discuss: • Breast cancer diagnosis and treatment • The emotional reality of survivorship • Identity after cancer • Fear, uncertainty and resilience • Relationships and support during recovery • Post-traumatic growth and meaning-making • Metamorphosis and personal transformation • Rebuilding life after adversity • Finding purpose through lived experience • Supporting others through healing and recovery A thoughtful and deeply human conversation about what it means not simply to survive, but to create a meaningful second life. To reach out to Michelle at Second Life Counselling https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583051827023 michelle@secondlifecounselling.com [michelle@secondlifecounselling.com] You can find us at - https://harvestinghealth.com.au/ facebook - https://www.facebook.com/LeoneDeborahWilsonNaturopath Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/harvesting_health_hub/

Beauty Has No Expiration Date | Celebrating Women at the Peak of Their Power.

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2373338/fan_mail/new]  Beauty has no expiration date — and women over 40 are not past their prime, but often standing right in it. A conversation with Vanessa Van Straaten about the 40 Over Forty Project, visibility, confidence, and celebrating women not despite their age — but because of it. In this episode, Leone sits down with photographer and creator Vanessa Van Straaten to explore the powerful vision behind the 40 Over Forty Project — an initiative celebrating women in their 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond through portraiture, storytelling and community.  Together, they discuss visibility, identity, confidence and the cultural narratives women are taught about ageing. Vanessa shares how the photographic lens often acts like a mirror, allowing women to truly see themselves — sometimes for the first time in years. This conversation explores why women over 40 are not fading into the background, but often stepping into one of the most powerful and authentic stages of life. The 40 Over Forty Gala Exhibition & Magazine Launch celebrates women at the peak of power — not despite their age, but because of it. Because beauty has no expiration date. KEEN TO ATTEND THIS EVENT?                                                                                              Here is a TWO FOR ONE special link https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/40-over-forty-gala-exhibition-magazine-launch-3rd-edition-tickets-1987184170347?aff=oddtdtcreator [https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/40-over-forty-gala-exhibition-magazine-launch-3rd-edition-tickets-1987184170347?aff=oddtdtcreator] You can find us at - https://harvestinghealth.com.au/ facebook - https://www.facebook.com/LeoneDeborahWilsonNaturopath Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/harvesting_health_hub/

Resilience Isn’t a Destination: Birth Trauma, Fertility Journeys & Rebuilding After Loss

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2373338/fan_mail/new]  Birth. Loss. Fertility. Trauma.  These experiences are more common than we speak about — and resilience isn’t the absence of them, but how we move through them.  In this episode of The Natural Narrative, Leone sits down with counsellor and perinatal mental health midwife Astrid Tiefholz to explore the often unspoken realities of birth trauma, reproductive trauma, fertility journeys, and perinatal loss. Together, they unpack the emotional and psychological layers that can follow experiences in the perinatal space — from feeling unheard or out of control during birth, to the repeated cycles of hope and grief that can accompany fertility challenges, and the quiet, often unseen weight of loss. Astrid shares a powerful perspective that resilience is not a fixed trait or a place we arrive at, but a dynamic, lifelong process — one that shifts and evolves as we move through different seasons of life. The conversation also draws on the concept of Kintsugi — the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold — as a metaphor for healing. Rather than hiding what has been fractured, Kintsugi honours it, suggesting that there can be beauty in the rebuilding. This episode offers a gentle, trauma-informed space to better understand these experiences — not to minimise them, but to give them language, context, and compassion. Whether your story includes birth, fertility challenges, loss, or something that doesn’t quite fit into a category — this conversation is a reminder that your experience matters, and that healing is not about returning to who you were, but allowing yourself to become something new. If this episode resonates, you’re invited to share it with someone who may need to hear it — or simply sit with what came up for you. These are the conversations that remind us we’re not alone. You can book Medicare Rebated Pregnancy Counselling with Astrid https://HARVESTINGHEALTHBOOKINGS.as.me/?appointmentType=77039996 [https://harvestinghealthbookings.as.me/?appointmentType=77039996] You can find us at - https://harvestinghealth.com.au/ facebook - https://www.facebook.com/LeoneDeborahWilsonNaturopath Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/harvesting_health_hub/

Your Body Isn’t Broken - A conversation on hormones, acupuncture and moving from self-judgement to understanding

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2373338/fan_mail/new] What if your symptoms weren’t a sign that something is wrong with you — but a signal asking to be understood? In this episode of The Natural Narrative, Leone is joined by acupuncturist Natasha Erickson to explore women’s hormones, acupuncture, and the shift from self-judgement to body awareness.  In this episode of The Natural Narrative, Leone Wilson is joined by acupuncturist Natasha Erickson for a thoughtful and grounded conversation on women’s health, hormones, and the way we relate to our bodies. A central theme throughout this discussion is the idea that women are often taught to view their bodies through a lens of deficit — something is lacking, not working, or in need of fixing. But what if symptoms were instead understood as signals of imbalance, rather than evidence that something is inherently wrong? Drawing on principles of acupuncture and traditional approaches to health, Natasha shares how the body can be viewed as an interconnected system — where hormonal changes, stress, sleep, digestion and emotional wellbeing are all part of a larger picture. Rather than isolating symptoms, this approach invites a more non-judgemental, responsive relationship with the body. In this episode, Leone and Natasha explore: *  The difference between a deficit-based and imbalance-based view of women’s health  *  How acupuncture supports hormonal regulation across all life stages  *  The role of stress and the nervous system in shaping hormonal symptoms  *  Why many women feel disconnected from their bodies — and how that connection can be rebuilt  *  A more compassionate, sustainable way of approaching symptoms and healing  This conversation offers a gentle but powerful reframe — supporting women to move away from self-judgement and toward understanding, awareness, and trust in their body’s signals. You can book with Natasha using this link Natasha Ericksen Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine - Book appointment [https://natasha-ericksen-acupuncture-and-chinese-medicine.au5.cliniko.com/bookings#service] You can find us at - https://harvestinghealth.com.au/ facebook - https://www.facebook.com/LeoneDeborahWilsonNaturopath Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/harvesting_health_hub/