Your Remedy Naturopathy

Your Remedy Naturopathy Experinced in treating acne, psoriasis, eczema, HS. Protect and support your biggest asset - Your Health. Feel your best. Perform at your best.

Norelle Hentschel helps people with persistent skin and gut concerns understand what's driving their symptoms and guides them with personalised, evidence-informed care to support lasting health. Your Remedy Naturopathy works with you to create a sustainable, fad-free treatment plan using a mix of diet, lifestyle advice, nutritional and herbal supplements. You’ll get the tools knowledge and guidance to be in control of your own health.

Are you struggling with perioral dermatitis? You're not alone. This frustrating skin condition can be challenging to tre...
10/09/2026

Are you struggling with perioral dermatitis? You're not alone. This frustrating skin condition can be challenging to treat, but natural remedies can provide support.

🌿Symptoms
Perioral dermatitis (POD) first presents with small, pale pink bumps around the mouth (excluding the lips), nasal folds, or eyes. These then morph into vesicles or papules, usually with clear fluid, often misdiagnosed as acne vulgaris. Unlike acne, there are no comedones (plugged pores). As the condition progresses, the skin becomes red and inflamed, often with an itching and burning sensation. The skin feels dry and tight and flakes in the affected areas.

Women are more affected by POD than men, and it may emerge during times of hormonal transitions such as puberty, pregnancy and perimenopause. It is also seen in younger children.

🌿Causes
The cause of POD is not fully understood, but it involves a complex interplay of skin barrier dysfunction, skin microbiome imbalances, genetic predisposition, and hormonal and immune factors.

🔗 Read the full blog post to explore the causes and underlying drivers and discusses some effective, natural approaches to managing perioral dermatitis and restoring your skin's health.

Will Vitex help your acne?Chaste tree or Vitex agnus- castus is a popular herbal remedy for female reproductive health.A...
08/09/2026

Will Vitex help your acne?

Chaste tree or Vitex agnus- castus is a popular herbal remedy for female reproductive health.

Although it's often marketed as "herbal progesterone," Vitex does not contain progesterone. It can help hormonal balance by improving signalling from the pituitary gland (the master controller of all things hormonal). Improved pituitary communication enhances the body's ability to make progesterone.

I like to use it when acne is related to the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, especially if there are cystic acne lesions on the chin and jaw.

I'd also consider it when there are signs progesterone production is low (post-pill acne) or there is PMS with anxiety and fluid retention.

Be aware, though. Vitex is not suitable for everyone. If you tend towards irritability or have a history of menstrual headaches, chaste tree might not be the herb for you. I am also cautious of using it in PCOS-type situations where insulin is imbalanced.

I've found that less is more when it comes to Vitex, with lower dosages getting superior results. Vitex can often worsen things in the first month, but this generally corrects after 2 to 3 months.

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, use only under the supervision of an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

Stopping the itch in eczema naturallyItching is often one of the most irritating and distressing symtoms of atopic derma...
30/08/2026

Stopping the itch in eczema naturally

Itching is often one of the most irritating and distressing symtoms of atopic dermatitis. The itch scratch cycle can worsen dermatitis and if the skin is broken increases the risk of infected lesions.

The cause of itching in dermatitis is a complex mix of skin barrier dysfunction, immune cascades and nervous system activation.

In clinic I approach it from both an “inside out” and “outside in”. Using both topical and internal treatments to calm things down.

Topically you are looking at emollients and humectants to soothe, soften and improve the skin hydration. Theses can include plant-based oils and butters. Colloidal oats is a traditional remedy that may provide significant relief.

Herbs can be helpful in managing itch and depending on the symptom picture I might add a combination of the following:
• Chamomile
• Licorice
• Plantain
• Peppermint
• Chickweed

Internally, I will look at managing immune balance and reducing histamine release in addition to providing support for stress management.

There’s a lot which can be done to get the itching under control.

👉🏻 Please get in touch with me via the link in the bio if you’d like help with your skin. I’ve supported hundreds of patient to improve their skin health.



Safflower oil for topical use in skin conditionsI always feel like safflower oil from the seeds of Carthamus tinctorius ...
26/08/2026

Safflower oil for topical use in skin conditions

I always feel like safflower oil from the seeds of Carthamus tinctorius is an underrated oil for topical use in conditions like eczema and xeroderma (dry skin).

It’s rich in Vitamin E, antioxidants and linoleic acid (70-80%) an omega-6 essential fatty acid which we can’t make in the body.

The high levels of linoleic acid in safflower oil are essential to support a healthy skin barrier. Linoleic acid is important as it is required to make ceramide 1 linoleate. Ceramides act like tiles in your upper layer of the skin to keep the skin hydrated and environmental allergens out. This is really important for skin conditions like atopic dermatitis and eczema.

Safflower oil also has a sebum balancing effect and can be a good option for skin which is dry and damaged but prone to breakouts.

The comedogenic rating is 0 – meaning it has a low risk of clogging pores.

Choose an organic, cold-pressed oil and store in a cool, dark place.

As always when trying a new product do a small test patch and wait 72hrs.

Have you used safflower oil for you skin? Let me know about your experiences and any questions you have.

🔬 New 2025 research is changing how we think about HDL (“good cholesterol”) in hidradenitis suppurativa (HS).  A prospec...
20/08/2026

🔬 New 2025 research is changing how we think about HDL (“good cholesterol”) in hidradenitis suppurativa (HS).

A prospective study found that people with HS often have HDL levels *within* standard lab ranges but the *function* of their HDL is impaired.

Key finding: HDL’s antioxidant enzyme activity (paraoxonase‑1, PON1) was significantly lower in HS, and this correlated with disease severity, even when HDL-C looked “normal” on routine labs.

Why it matters: HDL isn’t just a number. It helps regulate oxidative stress and inflammation which are two key drivers in HS.

So, how can we support better HDL *function* in clinic? Evidence points to diet and lifestyle levers we already use:

- Oily fish (salmon, sardines, mackerel)
- Nuts (especially walnuts/almonds)
- Polyphenol‑rich foods: berries, extra virgin olive oil, colourful plants
- Regular exercise
- Smoking cessation

These are all associated with improved HDL functionality and lower inflammatory burden. Several overlap with dietary patterns (like Mediterranean) shown to help in inflammatory skin disease, including HS.

Take‑home: Standard lipid panels may miss HDL dysfunction. But we can still act by optimising the lifestyle factors that improve HDL quality, not just quantity.

👉🏻 If you're looking for diet support for your HS please reach out via the link in the bio. I work 1:1 with patients in Australia.

📚 Study: Molinelli E, et al. Oxidative Stress, High Density Lipoproteins and Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Prospective Study. Antioxidants (Basel). 2025;14(8):1014. doi:10.3390/antiox14081014 [pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40867910/)

Rebound acne when coming off the oral contraceptive pill is common. You can minimise this by taking some steps before yo...
17/08/2026

Rebound acne when coming off the oral contraceptive pill is common.

You can minimise this by taking some steps before you stop.

Book in a free 15-minute discovery call to find out how I can support you.

🔗 Link in bio.

Are you looking for a steroid-free option for topical treatment of psoriasis (plaque) lesions?Mahonia aquifolium (Oregon...
13/08/2026

Are you looking for a steroid-free option for topical treatment of psoriasis (plaque) lesions?

Mahonia aquifolium (Oregon grape root) has demonstrated clinically significant benefits in treating mild-to-moderate psoriasis through multiple clinical trials.

Efficacy
• Multiple studies show 10% Mahonia aquifolium cream reduces Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) scores by 50-75% over 12 weeks:
• 81% of patients achieved complete clearance or significant symptom reduction
• Comparable efficacy to calcipotriol (Dovonex®) with 63% patients rating it equal/better than standard treatment

What dose?
• A 10% concentration in a cream base, applied topically 2-3 times a day

How long
• Improvements observed from Week 4 with progressive benefits up to 12 weeks

How does it work?
Three primary therapeutic pathways:
1. Antiproliferative: Inhibits abnormal keratinocyte growth via berberine alkaloids
2. Anti-inflammatory: Suppresses lipoxygenase and lipid hydroperoxide activity
3. Antimicrobial: Contains berberine/oxycanthin with antifungal properties

Safety Profile
• Tolerability:
o In trials 82-85% patients report good/very good tolerance
o Less than 5% experience transient itching/burning
• Adverse events:
o Mild rash (0.9%)
o Clothing staining (0.5%)
o No systemic toxicity observed
• Contraindications: No major restrictions, though caution advised in pregnancy

My experience
I make my own topical psoriasis creams, and I find Mahonia aquifolium to give consistently good clinical results in my psoriasis patients. Sometimes I’ll add in Chickweed if there is a lot of itchiness and other herbs as indicated.

Topical creams are only one part of a holistic psoriasis treatment plan. Work with me 1:1 and we’ll explore diet, gut, immune and nervous system health as part of a comprehesive treatment plan that works with your existing medical treatment.

🔗 Head to the link in the bio to access my clinic booking page and prices.

🙏🏻Thank you to every naturopath who completed the survey and to every person living with HS who continues advocating for...
10/08/2026

🙏🏻Thank you to every naturopath who completed the survey and to every person living with HS who continues advocating for better care. 💜

I look forward to continuing to support my patients with HS. If you’d like to work with me I offer 1:1 clinical consults (in Australia only). You can book a FREE Discovery Call via the link in the bio to learn more.

🔗 Link to the study is also in the bio.

Herbal creams for stretch marksStretch marks (Striae distensae) can occur on the abdomen, breasts, buttocks, and thighs ...
06/08/2026

Herbal creams for stretch marks

Stretch marks (Striae distensae) can occur on the abdomen, breasts, buttocks, and thighs after rapid weight changes that may occur during pregnancy, puberty, weight loss programs, or Cushing’s disease.

I regularly dispense custom herbal creams for topical application, including zinc and gotu kola, so I was interested to come across a small 2024 study that showed significant improvements in the appearance of stretch marks after 8 weeks of use of a 3% cream with green tea extract.

The study was done on 18-to 25-year-olds, of whom 75% had post-pregnancy stretch marks. Although they only evaluated the skin appearance, the researchers think the polyphenols, particularly the catechin in green tea, helped reduce inflammation, increase collagen production, increase fibroblast proliferation, and improve skin hydration.

This is promising, and hopefully, they will expand the study to include more people and varied patient groups. Finding an effective and safe treatment for striae distensae is crucial, as along with psychological impacts, the marks also cause physical discomfort, with itching and burning sensations sometimes present.

When people ask, "What do naturopaths use to support hidradenitis suppurativa (HS)?" they're often expecting a single he...
03/08/2026

When people ask, "What do naturopaths use to support hidradenitis suppurativa (HS)?" they're often expecting a single herb or supplement.

Our research suggests the answer is much more nuanced.

In our recent survey of Australian naturopaths, zinc was the most commonly prescribed nutritional supplement, while turmeric (Curcuma longa) was the most frequently prescribed herb. Other commonly used interventions included inositol, vitamin A, calendula and berberine-containing herbs.

But the finding I found most interesting wasn't which individual herbs or nutrients were used...

It was that respondents reported using 32 different herbal medicines overall.
To me, this reflects something fundamental about naturopathic practice.

HS doesn't present the same way in every person. Disease severity, triggers, comorbidities and treatment goals can all differ, so it's not surprising that practitioners aren't relying on a single protocol. Instead, they're individualising treatment based on the person sitting in front of them.

It's also important to remember that this survey explored current clinical practice, not whether any particular intervention is effective. More clinical research is needed to evaluate these approaches and strengthen the evidence base for integrative HS care.

💬 If you're a naturopath, does this reflect your clinical experience?

💬 If you're living with HS, were you surprised to learn there isn't a one-size-fits-all approach?

🔗 Study Link in the bio

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