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LEANNE
VICKERY
Leanne's Specialties:
Womens Hormones - Skin Disorders - Nutrition - Diet and Detoxification - Stress Management - Thyroid Issues- Pregnancy - Postpartum care - Children's Health
Leanne Vickery
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Qualifications
Naturopath, Medical Herbalist, Nutritionist
Bachelor of Health Science (Comp Med)
Adv Dip of Naturopathy (ND)
Adv Dip of Herbal Medicine (Dip. Herb Med)
Post-Partum Professional Doula
Diploma of Cosmetic Science
Diploma of Organic Skincare Formulation
Member of Nutritional Aesthetics Alliance
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I began my journey into herbal medicine and natural skincare in my early 20's. I was going through an extremely stressful period in my life I was 7 months pregnant with my eldest child, when my younger brother was killed in a motorbike accident. A few weeks later a close friend took his own life. I gave birth one week later. A few months after that, my great-grandmother passed away. I developed pleurisy, discovered an allergy to certain drugs that were prescribed to me, then developed dyshidrotic eczema. I had my second daughter 20 months later and 11 months after that I became a single parent.
I had been dabbling around with making my own skincare and herbal medicines from the herbs growing in my garden. Although being a single parent is one of the hardest jobs in the world and brings with it many more stressors, for the first time I had total control over what food I chose to eat, what exercise I did and how I ultimately lived my life with my girls. I religously applied my homemade calendula ointment and my skin began to heal. I am the biggest bookworm out there, and I began to research the link to our emotions, thought patterns and natural healing. I took up yoga, walked every day, planted and tended my garden, and got back into other exercise that I loved.
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Although I worked full time in a corporate environment, my passion was natural medicine. I was still making my own skincare and medicines when I decided to study a Degree in Health & Medical Science majoring in Complementary Medicine, while also studying for my Naturopathy and Herbal Medicine Diplomas. I sold my home in Christchurch, New Zealand and moved islands to Auckland, to fund my studies and support myself and my children.
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Once I graduated, I began working privately with clients and also with some of the leading natural health companies in New Zealand and Australia. This lead to me to make the move to Australia with my girls, where I then began clinical practice full time. With 20 years of experience in the natural health industry and collaborating with other naturopaths, I decided to open The Herb Clinic.
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The focus of my clinic is to help women who are struggling with whacky hormones, skin complaints, weight issues and energy levels, from Menarche to Menopause. When I first graduated I thought I NEEDED to have the best diet, look the healthiest and be thin to show that I really knew what I was doing. I struggled with body issues, self esteem, fluctuating weight and chronic insomnia. My periods were heavy, ovulation pain was unbearable with a history of diagnosed Endometriosis, Adenomyosis, uterine tumours, ovarian cysts and I developed an autoimmune thyroid condition (Hashimotos). I tried every "healthy" diet out there, but would always gain back the weight I'd lost. When I looked back on the few photos I had allowed anyone to take, I realised I wasn't overweight when I thought I was. Body dysmorphia had been mentioned to me on more than a few occasions. So although I was getting fantastic results with my clients, I was still struggling with my own health issues. I had stopped doing everything I loved to do and was just working, working, working. Until I decided, enough was enough.
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I began planning meals around my cycles, nurturing myself when I felt I needed rest, setting up daily rituals to begin my day on a positive note, ending the day in a calm, relaxed, environment. I took the herbs I prescribed myself, I started making my skincare routine a ritual in itself, with the herbal creams I created. Getting a good nights restful restorative sleep become a priority.
These are all things that I incorporate in my treatment plans with clients. This lead me to create my 12 week Skin and Hormone Essentials program (SHE). I love nothing better that to see the confidence and radiance on the women who have had success with following the guidelines I teach.
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I am a constant student, with my most recent studies in postnatal mental health and as a postpartum health professional. My own postpartum periods were very stressful, as I was grieving the recent loss of my brother 2 months before the birth of my first daughter. My partner did not take any time off to support me after the birth of our second daughter, and I became quite unwell with pleurisy again, gastro, eczema and exhaustion. I was lucky enough to have a wonderful grandmother who came and stayed with me, a couple of months after she was born. Gran had worked as a midwife so that was an added bonus for me. Once my daughters had children of their own, it brought back all those memories of exhaustion and I did not want them to suffer the same fate. I am very lucky to have 3 grandchildren before the age of 50, so I am able to lend support to my girls when needed.
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So.... if you don't know me by now...here are a couple more things you may not know:)
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- I love being near the ocean. No matter where I have lived, I have always tried to be as close as I can. I learned to scuba dive when I was 17 years old, even though I have an intense fear of sharks! I now live across the road from the beach and look out onto it every day.
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- I was painfully shy as a child. It was literally painful for me to speak. I have improved somewhat, but I am still what is now fashionably known as an "introvert". I prefer reading to talking......
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- I am a Kiwi living in Australia. My ancestors are a mixed breed of Maori (Ngai Tahu), Irish, French, Scottish, Welsh and Scandinavian.
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- I have also studied Cosmetic Science and make my own skincare.
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- My wee girls are now 27 and 25, and I have a 2 gorgeous wee granddaughters, and two beautiful grandsons.
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- I have completed studies as a Post-partum Doula so I can provide continuity of care to my patients, and any new parents looking for help.