Naturopathy for Chronic Pain & Skin Issues

How I Work

Ananda Mahony Naturopathy is based in Grange, Brisbane, with online consultations available for clients across Australia.

Pain Conditions | Chronic Skin Issues | Complex Health Issues

CLINICAL NUTRITION | NATUROPATHY | PAIN MANAGEMENT

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Do you suffer from persistent pain?

Person sitting on the floor with legs crossed, wearing ripped jeans and a cream-colored sweater, holding their ankle with both hands.

Would you like to get back into life, feel better and move more freely?

Often the cause for chronic pain can’t be clearly explained by a medical model, even when it can, the solutions can be limited or invasive.

Ananda, the Pain Changer, assists clients who have chronic pain to find out what factors are contributing to their pain and then systematically and holistically address them.

With the right support, your body can shift out of survival mode and into a place of lasting relief.

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Resolve skin conditions such as acne, eczema and psoriasis

Are you battling with ongoing skin issues?

Be your best version and achieve clear skin, naturally. You can expect to experience lasting improvements in your skin and your overall quality of life when you work with Ananda.

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Featured Blog Posts

Featured
EDS, POTS & MCAS: the Trifecta
EDS, POTS & MCAS: the Trifecta

Many people living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) find these conditions overlap significantly. This is sometimes called the trifecta, although now considered a more complex interplay with gastroparesis and autoimmunity coming into play. Other overlap sees ADHD, neurodivergence, chronic pain and fatigue impacting people’s lives as part of this cluster of conditions.

FAQ: Functional Testing
FAQ: Functional Testing

So, when does testing become worth it?

When the needle hasn't moved, testing becomes more relevant. If you've tried multiple treatment approaches, seen other practitioners, and still feel stuck, then it is worth asking if the underlying causes have yet to be established. Functional testing is most useful when there is a history of treatment resistance, when symptoms span multiple body systems, or when standard pathology has come back "normal" but something is clearly still wrong.

Your Brain's Best Guess Might Be Driving Pain
Your Brain's Best Guess Might Be Driving Pain

Your brain is not sitting around waiting for information from your body. It's constantly generating predictions about what's happening, using everything it knows about you, your history, your past injuries, your past experiences and then assessing whether the incoming signals match what it expected.

Some things can’t be simplified!
Some things can’t be simplified!

A scroll through socials would have me believe that my skin issue or my pain is not because of the food I’m eating or my dairy intake or the topical products I’m using, but it all comes down to my gut health or my hormones or xxx. And yes, it might be a factor but is it just that simple? Fix this one problem and my xxx will resolve. Well, the simple answer is no!

Instagram

#routinesmatter #cuesofsafety #Rhythmsofregulation
Anti-inflammatory strategies for osteoarthritis #kneeosteo #nutritionandosteoarthritis
“Sleep doesn’t belong to one discipline — it’s shaped by nutrition, hormones, pain, physiology, and the nervous system.” Sleep is affected by breathing Sleep is affected by pain Sleep is affected by hormones Sleep is af
“Sleep doesn’t belong to one discipline — it’s shaped by nutrition, hormones, pain, physiology, and the nervous system.” Sleep is affected by breathing Sleep is affected by pain Sleep is affected by hormones Sleep is affected by stress Sleep is affected by structure Sleep Matters 2026 brings clinicians from across health disciplines into one room - including me. This Saturday 23rd I will be talking about the role nutrition plays in a good night's sleep. Good sleep is fundamental to health so understanding what contributed to poor sleep is important to recovery and wellness. #SleepMatters2026 #SleepWell #nutritionandsleep
Have you been 'justed'? It's a concept I read about in an article by herbalist Sally Kingsford-Smith. It goes something like this: "It's just heavy periods" "It's just perimenopause" "You just need to relax." "You just need to lose a bit of weight." "You just need to sleep more." 'Just' makes complex, real, lived experience sound like a simple fix you've been too lazy to try. Have you ever been justed by a health practitioner or by yourself? #justed #haveyoubeenjusted
“If I don’t address sleep and nervous system dysregulation, pain stays reactive.” In this short podcast with Dr Karina Patel from Inside Sleep Matters, I discuss the patterns I see repeatedly in clinical practice. Poor sleep, stres
“If I don’t address sleep and nervous system dysregulation, pain stays reactive.” In this short podcast with Dr Karina Patel from Inside Sleep Matters, I discuss the patterns I see repeatedly in clinical practice. Poor sleep, stress hormone disruption, unstable blood sugar, and a nervous system stuck in stress mode often sit beneath chronic pain. When sleep and nervous system regulation aren’t addressed, pain can remain easily amplified. When these foundations are supported, outcomes begin to shift. Pain rarely exists in isolation and for this reason among many others, it reminds me that whole-person care is so important. I will be talking about this and the links between nutrition and sleep at the upcoming Sleep Matters conference. 🎧 Listen to the full episode on Spotify, Inside Sleep Matters, Why Chronic Pain and Poor Sleep Feed Each Other 🔗 Learn more about Sleep Matters 2026 at sleepwell.education #sleepwelleducation #sleepmatters2026
Most chronic pain patients I see have already seen a bunch of health care professionals. Often they've had all the things...scans, physio, anti-inflammatories, maybe surgery but they're still in pain. It is often viewed as treatment failure but I th
Most chronic pain patients I see have already seen a bunch of health care professionals. Often they've had all the things...scans, physio, anti-inflammatories, maybe surgery but they're still in pain. It is often viewed as treatment failure but I think more often than not there is a significant assessment gap. When pain persists beyond tissue healing timelines, we need to start asking different questions. It's no longer "what's damaged?" It's "what has the nervous system learned, and what is sustaining that state?" The nervous system being on high alert is well-established in the pain neuroscience literature. What's less commonly applied in clinical practice is assessing the drivers that maintain it - the immune system getting all turned up and edgy, HPA and then cortisol dysregulation, the gut driving inflammation, sleep architecture disruption as some of the key factors. Swipe through for a breakdown of what this looks like in clinical reasoning and why treating the periphery alone is often an incomplete strategy. #chronicpain #painscience #centralsensitisation #neuroinflammation #naturopathicmedicine
Rosacea and oxidative stress 🍓 One of the more under-recognised mechanisms in rosacea pathogenesis is the imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and antioxidant capacity. Studies consistently show that individuals with rosacea
Rosacea and oxidative stress 🍓 One of the more under-recognised mechanisms in rosacea pathogenesis is the imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and antioxidant capacity. Studies consistently show that individuals with rosacea demonstrate elevated markers of oxidative stress alongside reduced levels of antioxidant production. The result is cumulative oxidative tissue damage that drives inflammation, compromises barrier integrity, and amplifies neurovascular reactivity. Dietary antioxidants can support this system as meaningful nutritional input into a pathway that is under-resourced in rosacea-affected skin. Key antioxidant foods to embrace: 🍓Polyphenol rich foods - generally purple, dark brown, red and blue. So berries of all kinds including blueberries (this is the blue food!), dark rye, black olives, red onions (and yellow actually), walnuts, flaxseeds and hazelnuts. 🍓Dark leafy greens - aren't these in EVERY nutritional prescription ever? But really, they are included for a reason. They are full of lutein, zeaxanthin and vitamin C which support tissue-level antioxidant activity. 🍓Green tea (EGCG) - also a polyphenol but gets its own listing because it is particularly beneficial for rosacea prone skin. It has documented capacity to reduce oxidative skin damage. 🍓Carotenoid-rich vegetables - these are the red and orange foods. They contain fat-soluble antioxidants that work at the cellular membrane level. 🍓Extra virgin olive oil - exert anti-inflammatory effects. 🍓Brazil nuts contain selenium, which is an essential cofactor for glutathione peroxidase, a primary antioxidant enzyme in skin tissue. The clinical focus is not any single food and rather than focusing on cutting out foods (unless they are known triggers), I recommend, that if you can, start to include some of these foods every day. It is building a consistent, varied antioxidant intake that supports the skin's capacity to manage oxidative load over time. Save this if you want to understand rosacea beyond the surface. ⬇️ #rosacea #rosaceaskin #oxidativestress #skininflammation #naturopathicskincare
#reframingpolyvagaltheory #dontthrowthebabyout #keepupthework
‘Hangry’ neurons might be a factor in pain persistence! A recent paper caught my attention examining sensory neurons in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and their relationship with satellite glial cells (SGCs), which are part of the immune
‘Hangry’ neurons might be a factor in pain persistence! A recent paper caught my attention examining sensory neurons in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and their relationship with satellite glial cells (SGCs), which are part of the immune system. Historically, SGC–neuron interactions were viewed as pain promoting. Xu et al. (2026) suggest something different. SGCs can actively suppress acute and chronic pain by transferring healthy mitochondria to DRG neurons. This points toward mitochondrial dysfunction and cellular energy failure as contributors to pain persistence, not just nerve damage or inflammation. Which also raises a broader question about systemic mitochondrial health in chronic pain. What’s the clinical implication? Supporting cellular metabolism, neuroimmune communication and mitochondrial health may represent a foundational strategy in chronic pain care. Even though this research is focused on details, it reinforces my understanding that pain is relational (between systems and parts), metabolic and a whole body issue. #ᴄʜʀᴏɴɪᴄᴘᴀɪɴ #shiftinperpective
#routinesmatter #cuesofsafety #Rhythmsofregulation
Anti-inflammatory strategies for osteoarthritis #kneeosteo #nutritionandosteoarthritis
“Sleep doesn’t belong to one discipline — it’s shaped by nutrition, hormones, pain, physiology, and the nervous system.” Sleep is affected by breathing Sleep is affected by pain Sleep is affected by hormones Sleep is af
Have you been 'justed'? It's a concept I read about in an article by herbalist Sally Kingsford-Smith. It goes something like this: "It's just heavy periods" "It's just perimenopause" "You just need to relax." "You
“If I don’t address sleep and nervous system dysregulation, pain stays reactive.” In this short podcast with Dr Karina Patel from Inside Sleep Matters, I discuss the patterns I see repeatedly in clinical practice. Poor sleep, stres Most chronic pain patients I see have already seen a bunch of health care professionals. Often they've had all the things...scans, physio, anti-inflammatories, maybe surgery but they're still in pain. It is often viewed as treatment failure but I th Rosacea and oxidative stress 🍓 One of the more under-recognised mechanisms in rosacea pathogenesis is the imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and antioxidant capacity. Studies consistently show that individuals with rosacea
#reframingpolyvagaltheory #dontthrowthebabyout #keepupthework
‘Hangry’ neurons might be a factor in pain persistence! A recent paper caught my attention examining sensory neurons in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and their relationship with satellite glial cells (SGCs), which are part of the immune

Frequently

Asked

Questions

  • Yes. Naturopathy takes a holistic approach to pain by exploring underlying factors such as inflammation, nutrition, gut health, stress and hormone balance. Through personalised nutrition, herbal medicine and lifestyle support, many people experience long-term improvement in pain and mobility.

  • Pain can persist even when scans or blood tests appear normal. This is often due to nervous system sensitisation, nutrient imbalances, stress, or lifestyle triggers. A naturopathic assessment looks beyond structural causes to address these contributing factors.

  • Yes. Collaboration with GPs, physiotherapists or other physical therapists, or psychologists is encouraged where appropriate to support integrated care and sustainable results.

  • I commonly support clients with acne, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis and other chronic skin conditions. Each presentation is unique, so your treatment plan is tailored to your symptoms, triggers and overall health picture.

  • That’s common. Skin problems can stem from deeper imbalances in the gut, immune system or hormones. These are areas that aren’t always addressed by conventional treatments. Naturopathy works alongside your dermatologist’s care, not against it.

  • Ananda Mahony Naturopathy is based in Grange, Brisbane at Vibe Natural Health with online consultations available for clients across Australia.

    • A calm, collaborative space where you feel heard

    • Strategies that go beyond symptom relief to support long-term wellness

    • Investigative, root-cause exploration

    • Education and support so you feel confident in your body and your choices

    With the right support, your body can shift out of survival mode and into a place of real, lasting relief.

    If your ready to move beyond chasing symptoms and start addressing the root, I’m here to walk the path with you.

  • As a polyvagal informed practitioner, I work from the understanding that the body is always communicating.

    Polyvagal Informed practice recognises the relationship between the autonomic nervous system and our capacity for safety, connection, and healing.

    When we understand that responses like shutdown, anxiety, or disconnection are intelligent survival adaptations rather than flaws, we stop fighting the body and start working with it.

    This lens shapes everything in my practice: how I hold space, how I sequence sessions, and how I support clients in building the felt sense of safety that makes change possible.

  • Many people living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) find these conditions overlap significantly. This is sometimes called the trifecta, however, can also include gastroparesis and autoimmune issues. Chronic pain, fatigue and ADHD can also feature.

    Complex, multi-system presentations are a core part of my practice. If you are navigating one or more of these diagnoses, or are still seeking answers, a thorough intake process will help map your individual picture before any recommendations are made.

Have a discovery call and see if it’s right for you.

Book a time through the clinic’s booking platform. There’s no commitment, pressure, or obligation.

Book your 5-min discovery chat

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