A clinical case reflection from my naturopathic practice
By Charmaine D – Naturopathic Herbalist
There is a type of woman I see often in clinic.
She is not significantly overweight by medical standards.
She is functioning. Working. Showing up. Managing a household.
From the outside, she is “fine”.
But she will sit in front of me and say:
“I don’t feel like myself anymore.”
“Nothing is working.”
“I’m doing what I used to do… and my body just won’t respond.”
And what makes it harder —
is that her blood tests often come back as “within range”.
This is not uncommon — and it is not imagined
Recently, I worked with a woman in her early 40s.
Her main concerns were:
• weight gain that began after her second pregnancy
• persistent fatigue
• brain fog
• bloating and a sense that food “just sits there”
• and a body that no longer responded to effort
She was not overeating.
She was not inactive by intention.
She was doing her best within a life that had become significantly busier.
But her system had shifted.
When your body moves into conservation mode
From a naturopathic perspective, what I often see in these cases is not a lack of effort — but a change in how the body is using energy.
After periods of:
• increased demand (pregnancy, children, work)
• reduced recovery
• inconsistent nourishment
…the body adapts.
It becomes more efficient at:
• holding onto energy
• slowing processes down
• and prioritising storage over output
This is not a fault.
It is a response.
But when that pattern stays in place, it begins to feel like everything is harder than it should be.
“My thyroid is normal” — but is it functioning efficiently?
Standard thyroid testing may sit within reference ranges.
From a medical perspective, that is appropriate.
But clinically, we sometimes see patterns where:
• energy is low
• metabolism feels reduced
• weight is resistant
• and mental clarity is affected
One of the patterns I explore is how well thyroid hormone is being converted and utilised, not just produced.
Under certain conditions — such as ongoing demand, digestive inefficiency, or inadequate nourishment — the body may favour more conservative pathways.
What that looks like day-to-day is:
• low drive in the morning
• needing stimulation to get going
• a brief window of better energy
• followed by another drop
Why going harder can make things worse
This is where many women unintentionally push themselves further into the problem.
They:
• reduce food
• increase exercise intensity
• try to be more disciplined
But if the body is already conserving,
this reinforces the signal to slow down further.
If the system doesn’t feel supported, it won’t spend energy.
So instead of forcing change,
we change the conditions the body is responding to.
Digestion — often the missing link
In this case, digestion was central.
She described:
• food sitting high in the stomach
• frequent burping
• pressure after eating
• bowel motions that were daily, but incomplete
This tells me food is not being broken down efficiently.
If that step is compromised:
• nutrients are not properly absorbed
• the body remains undernourished
• and energy production is affected
So even when you are eating well,
you may not be receiving the benefit of that food.
Fluid retention and facial puffiness
One of the first things many women notice — and often feel self-conscious about — is the face.
That subtle change:
• puffiness
• loss of definition
• a heavier, more stagnant look
This is something I see clearly in clinic.
It often reflects what is happening deeper in the body:
• fluid not moving efficiently
• circulation not as active
• and cellular activity slowed
Where I start in these cases
I do not begin by pushing weight loss.
I begin by restoring function.
That means:
• improving digestion
• supporting proper elimination
• increasing nourishment earlier in the day
• introducing the right type of movement
• and reducing what is keeping the body in that holding pattern
Sometimes the most effective place to start is not stimulation —
it is nourishment and support.
The part most people don’t expect — but deeply need
There is another piece to this that is often overlooked.
Women in this stage of life are:
• giving constantly
• managing everything
• and very rarely receiving care themselves
And yet, the body responds incredibly well
when it is both supported and cared for.
In this particular case, alongside her naturopathic plan,
she also began coming in for regular treatments.
These are not just “skin treatments”.
They are designed to:
• reduce stagnation
• stimulate circulation
• and bring activity back to the tissues
I use techniques including Chinese-style cupping across the face and body.
Not purely for lymphatic drainage —
but to:
• encourage oxygenation
• stimulate cellular activity
• and gently move areas that have become sluggish
On the face, this helps:
• reduce puffiness
• restore shape and definition
• and bring a healthier tone back to the skin
Through the body, it supports:
• movement of stagnation
• improved circulation
• and a sense of lightness returning
Treatment becomes part of the process — not separate from it
What I find is that when women come in regularly:
• they begin to feel change sooner
• they reconnect with how their body feels
• and they stay engaged with the process
It also allows space to:
• check in
• adjust what we are doing
• and guide the next steps
Often we will:
• complete the treatment
• then sit for 10–15 minutes
• and review how things are progressing
This becomes a natural extension of their care — not an extra task.
For those local to Adelaide
If you are based in Adelaide,
this becomes an added layer of support available to you.
Alongside your consultation and protocol,
you have access to:
• in-clinic treatments
• ongoing guidance
• and hands-on support as your body begins to shift
For those not local, we continue to work virtually —
but for those who are, this is where we can deepen the process.
What happens when the body starts to respond
When we correct the environment — rather than force outcomes —
we begin to see:
• improved digestion
• more complete bowel movements
• reduced puffiness (especially in the face)
• clearer energy
• better mental clarity
• and a body that begins to respond again
Weight often follows —
but it is no longer the only measure of progress.
This is why I wrote Everyone’s Insulin Resistant
Not because everyone has a diagnosis —
but because many women are experiencing a pattern where the body is not using energy
efficiently.
Where:
• fuel is not being utilised well
• storage is prioritised
• and the system feels stuck
In the eBook, I explain:
• how this develops
• what it looks like
• and how we begin to shift it
Where to from here
If you recognise yourself in this:
You can access the eBook
Everyone’s Insulin Resistant
Or receive it as part of your initial consultation with me.
From there, we work through your case properly — in a way that fits your current life, not an ideal one.
Final thought
There is a point where pushing harder stops working.
And there is a point where supporting the body properly
changes everything.
Support starts with a conversation