Naomi Hester (she/her)
GradCert (Human Nutrition) Deakin, BHSc (Naturopathy), BHSc (Western Herbal Medicine), DipRM (Remedial Massage), MNHAA
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Naturopath, Herbalist, Nutritionist
The Hawrelak Gut and Microbiome Clinic - Associate
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Naomi is a double-degree qualified clinical Naturopath and Herbalist who has been engaging with clients for 15 years in private practice. Naomi recently obtained a post graduate certificate in Human Nutrition, dispensed by Deakin University, Australia.
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​Prior to working with The Hawrelak Gut and Microbiome Clinic Naomi has worked with a wide variety of clients, ranging from infants to the elderly, presenting with symptoms ranging from mild complaints to chronic dis-ease and complex genetic diseases.
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Naomi has a long personal history of autoimmune disease, IBS, SIBO, chronic fatigue syndrome and cancer and intimately understands the chronicity of disease and the sensation of powerlessness and overwhelm that accompanies a diagnosis—or lack thereof.
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​Naomi is a mother to two delightful little beings and is married to a most fabulous person. Naomi began her double degree studies after 6 months abroad trekking and exploring the wild places in South America and Europe. Acquisition of the obligatory, tenacious gut pathogen in her early 20’s confirmed her dedication to her studies, and cemented her interest in the area of gut health, frank gut disease and the ill-serviced, non-fatal but debilitating arena of gut dis-ease.
A short break to mother her children saw Naomi re-enter the field of naturopathy with a desire to dig further into the burgeoning field of the microbiome and its influence on systemic and local health. It was this desire that led her to seek out Dr Jason Hawrelak’s professional courses, that she crowned with the completion of his trainings in Naturopathic and Functional Medicine Approaches to Gastrointestinal Disorders and Advanced Microbiome Manipulation; these two courses were complemented by the completion of Vaginal Microbiome and Vaginal Holistic Health training with Dr Moira Bradfield-Strydom.
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Naomi is now a member of Dr Jason Hawrelak's Gut and Microbiome Clinic and enjoys engaging closely with her colleagues, as well as receiving mentoring from Dr Hawrelak, Dawn Whitten and Kate Rix. Naomi continues to delight in unravelling chronic and acute conditions alike, and facilitating her clients to achieve improvement in their symptoms, with a view to resolution or remission where practical. The health of the microbiomes of the gut and vagina have been the focus of her career evolution, and nothing delights her more than poring over and analysing relevant test results, explaining how the results fit the clinical picture of the individual in front of her, and crafting a methodical approach to bring about relief from dis-ease.
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Naomi is a prolific reader and has to dole out books to herself in a methodical manner so that she doesn't get lost in the literary world. She enjoys exercise of all persuasions and attempts to practice some kind of movement daily; she finds yoga to be an invaluable tool for pain management and strives - and frequently fails - to practice it with a mindful intention. In a parallel universe, if obligations were not a thing, you would find Naomi hiking in France or Spain, meandering along the Camino del Santiago, attempting the language/s and taking plant-medicine identification courses with her partner and children.
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Areas of Expertise
Gastrointestinal Conditions
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Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
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Constipation
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Diarrhoea
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Coeliac Disease
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Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD)
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Intestinal Hyperpermeability (leaky gut)
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Helicobacter pylori
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Microbiome restoration
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Heartburn, Reflux, Indigestion (GERD/GORD)
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Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO).
Genitourinary Conditions
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Vaginal Microbiome Restoration
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Bacterial Vaginosis
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Candida/thrush
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Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)
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Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)
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Painful intercourse
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Sexually transmitted infections (STI’s)
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Recurrent urinary tract infections
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Bladder microbiome restoration
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Endometriosis
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Adenomyosis
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PCOS
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Menstrual cycle irregularity
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Perimenopause
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Menopause
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Couple Infertility
Autoimmune Conditions
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Thyroid – Graves’ disease, Hashimoto’s disease
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Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD) Ulcerative colitis & Crohn’s disease
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Psoriasis
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Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Skin
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Rosacea
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Psoriasis
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Eczema
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Acne