Naturopathy for               ADHD & AUTISM

Are you looking for a natural approach to supporting your ADHD, autism, or other neurological symptoms?

Are you looking for a practitioner who truly understands the complexities of neurodivergence?

Have you tried different approaches but still searching for answers?

You're in the right place.

My practice has a special focus on supporting adults and children with ADHD, autism, and cognitive dysfunction. I am passionate about helping people better understand their unique brain and the underlying factors that may be contributing to their symptoms.

As someone who is diagnosed with ADHD, I understand first-hand the daily challenges that can come with living in a neurodivergent brain. My personal experience provides a deeper understanding of the frustrations and complexities of ADHD, allowing me to approach every client with empathy, insight, and genuine understanding.

Living with ADHD is what led me to become a naturopath and develop a special interest in neuroscience and brain health. I am passionate about understanding the complex physiological mechanisms that influence brain function and using that knowledge to help others better understand their own unique neurological profile and investigate their contributing factors.

Whether you are seeking support for yourself or your child, my goal is to provide a welcoming space where you feel heard, understood, and supported throughout your health journey.

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Combining neuroscience with naturopathy to help support your unique brain

My approach

My approach goes beyond simply managing symptoms by looking for the underlying factors that may be contributing to ADHD and autism. This involves exploring the complex interactions between brain function, biochemistry, and overall health, including areas that can influence neurological well-being such as digestive health, genetics, hormonal balance, environmental toxins, stress, sleep, nutrition, and emotional health.

We begin by identifying any barriers to the foundations of health, including poor sleep, chronic stress, diet, lifestyle habits, and nutritional deficiencies. Sometimes addressing these core areas alone can significantly improve brain function and help restore balance. If symptoms persist or a deeper investigation is needed, functional testing can be used to identify additional drivers that may be contributing to your symptoms.

The complexity of brain development means that every person's neurological profile is unique. No two people experience ADHD or autism in exactly the same way, which is why every treatment plan is personalised to the individual. By combining an understanding of neuroscience with the principles of naturopathic medicine, I create tailored treatment plans that may include dietary suggestions, lifestyle modifications, behavioral and mindset strategies, herbal medicine, targeted nutritional supplementation, and evidence-informed functional testing where appropriate.

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Functional testing

  • Provides insight into metabolic function by measuring organic acids in the urine. This test can help identify patterns related to nutrient deficiencies, mitochondrial function, neurotransmitter metabolism, oxidative stress, detoxification pathways, and gut microbial activity.

  • Evaluates key biochemical metabolites involved in the methylation cycle—including methionine, SAMe, SAH , homocysteine, and cysteine. Methylation is a fundamental biochemical process essential for neurotransmitter synthesis, detoxification, DNA expression, energy production, and many other functions involved in brain and overall health.

  • Assesses the composition of the gut microbiome to identify imbalances that may be influencing brain function through the gut-brain axis. Gut health can affect neurotransmitter production, inflammation, nutrient absorption, and immune function, all of which may contribute to symptoms such as brain fog, poor concentration, anxiety, and low mood.

  • Identifies genetic variations that may influence nutrient requirements, detoxification pathways, neurotransmitter function, inflammation, and other biological processes. Genetic testing does not diagnose disease but can provide valuable insight into an individual's unique biological predispositions.

  • Standard pathology testing can be useful to assess nutrient status, hormones, inflammation, blood sugar regulation, thyroid function, liver and kidney health, and other biomarkers that may contribute to neurological symptoms and overall health.

  • Measures mineral levels in the hair to assess long-term mineral status and identify mineral imbalances that may affect nervous system function, energy production, stress resilience, and overall health. It can also provide an assessment of exposure to certain heavy metals, helping to identify potential toxic burden that may be contributing to symptoms.

  • Measures urinary kryptopyrroles, compounds that may be associated with increased loss of zinc and vitamin B6.

Neuroplasticity & brain development

The brain we are born with is not the same brain we will have for the rest of our lives. Through neuroplasticity, the brain continually develops and adapts in response to the experiences it is exposed to throughout life, including environmental toxins, social connections, emotional experiences, relationships, love, stress, and many other factors. The brain has the potential to develop optimally and reach its full potential when the conditions supporting healthy development are favourable.

ADHD & autism are neuro-developmental conditions, where developmental conditions have not been so favourable, and involve possible genetic components that create biological tendencies — such as differences in neurotransmitter signalling & metabolism, neuronal structure, inflammation regulation & immune dysfunction, reduced glutathione and oxidative stress - this can influence brain structure, regions, networks and neurotransmitter systems.

Developmental differences does not mean the brain is damaged or incapable of change. Rather, help explain why people often experience challenges with attention, motivation, emotional regulation, organisation, communication and sensory processing. Every person with neurodivergence has a unique pattern of strengths and difficulties, which is why understanding your individual experience is an important part of developing a personalised plan.

How the ADHD brain functions differently?

ADHD is associated with differences in several brain regions and networks involved in attention, motivation, impulse control, emotional regulation and executive function. These differences help explain why ADHD can affect many aspects of daily life and why symptoms vary between individuals.

The prefrontal cortex plays a central role in executive function, which is responsible for tasks such as planning, organising, focus, regulating behaviour, managing time and holding information in working memory. Those with ADHD usually have a decrease in activation of this region which can results in difficulties with these executive function tasks.

Other regions, include the anterior cingulate cortex and striatum, which contributes to attention, motivation, reward processing, task switching and initiating actions. These regions work together through interconnected brain networks. Differences in how these networks communicate can affect the ability to sustain attention, switch between tasks and filter competing thoughts and information. Altered connectivity between the prefrontal cortex and emotion-processing regions such as the amygdala can affect the brain's ability to regulate emotional responses.

ADHD is also associated with differences in dopamine and norepinephrine signalling. These neurotransmitters required for sustained attention & motivation are particularly important for the functioning of the prefrontal cortex and play a key role in executive function.

Together, differences in brain regions, connectivity and neurotransmitter signalling provide a neurological basis for many of the cognitive and behavioural characteristics of ADHD.

How the autistic brain functions differently?

Autism Spectrum Disorder is characterised by differences in social communication and interaction, alongside restricted or repetitive behaviours and differences in behavioural flexibility as well as sensory processing.

Like ADHD, these characteristics are linked to differences in brain structure, brain region function, and connectivity between brain regions. These neurological differences affect how the brain processes, filters and integrates information, helping to explain many of the symptoms associated with autism.

Differences in brain connectivity is a key characteristic of the autistic brain. The autistic brain showing different connectivity patterns to typical brains, with either increased or decreased connectivity, meaning reduced or increased synchronicity of brain regions.

Sensory processing differences are another key feature experienced by most with autism, which affect how the brain and nervous system receives, organizes, and interprets stimuli. These differences means sounds, lights, textures, smells and other sensations may be experienced with heightened or diminished sensitivity.

Neurotransmission differences also plays a part often with imbalances of inhibitory and excitatory chemicals resulting in hyperexcitability of the neurons and the nervous system.

Challenges with communication and language processing are a core part of autism. Reduced synchronization between key brain regions involved in communication and altered sensory processing, especially in the auditory center, can result in deficiet in social cognition.

Autistic attention can also works differently, with connectivity of the prefrontal cortex playing an important role in the symptoms presented.
This region carries out executive functions, and differences here can contribute to many of the everyday challenges experienced by autistic people, including difficulties with focus, organisation, task initiation and following through on goals.

The autistic brain is highly complex, with each person’s brain being unique, and these are just some of the ways in which it can function differently. Autism is not a brain that is broken or deficient, but a different pattern of brain development and information processing. These differences can create both challenges and strengths, depending on the individual and their environment.

Ready to deepen your understanding of your unique brain and take the next step towards improving your health and wellbeing?

With a personalised approach, we can look beyond your symptoms to understand the bigger picture and identify ways to support your individual health needs.

Book a consultation to get started.