Fresh Holistic Health Welcomes Dr Sharon Chant

It is with great pleasure that Fresh Holistic Health welcomes highly qualified and experienced Functional Medicine Practitioner Dr. Sharon Chant – MBBS (Hons); FRACGP; B.Sc.; D. Hom.

Dr Chant will commence practice at Fresh Holistic Health on Tuesday April 19th.

For Dr Chant’s full bio click here

Appointments and enquiries can be made on (07) 5445 2928 or reception@freshholistichealth.com.au

We take a moment to get to know Dr Chant:

My name is Sharon Chant and I am a General Practitioner. I graduated from the University of Queensland Medical School in 2004; after many years working in complementary medicine. This was followed by initial hospital training, and then undertaking General Practice training, receiving my Fellowship of the Royal College of General Practitioners in 2009.

As well, because of my personal interest in the nutritional, lifestyle, and biochemical underpinnings of disease; I became a member of the Australian College of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine; and have undertaken numerous courses offered by this organisation. I have also been trained by Dr William Walsh in Advanced Nutrient Therapy, in treating the biochemical imbalances that can produce symptoms of mental illness.

In 2017, having recently become a member of the Institute for Functional Medicine in the US; I will be travelling to the US to learn of their methods for understanding and treating ill health.

All of this has consolidated my understanding of the importance of seeing the client as a whole being, looking at the issues that are presented, and problems to be solved in a holistic perspective. The human body has an amazing innate healing power, and, when the obstacles to healing can be identified and removed; the body has a remarkable ability to rebuild and normalise process and function.

There are many obstacles in the way of a healthy body and mind in our current environment. They include nutrient deficiencies, infections, toxins.

Loss of nutrients in food occurs due to farming practices that result in poor soil quality, as well as the use of artificial fertilisers and pesticides. Food that is processed contains chemicals and additives that can produce allergic responses and sensitivity reactions. The standard Australian diet is unlikely to provide a full complement of vitamins and minerals needed to function at optimum levels.

Infections and the use of antibiotics in humans as well as farm animals, causes disruption of the normal bacterial population that should inhabit our gut. This disruption is recently being confirmed in scientific studies to have whole body effects, on mind and immune function to name just two.

Toxins are now a ubiquitous part of our environment; and, whether we are aware of it or not, are likely present in all our bodies. New chemicals are introduced every year into our environment, each have effects, but very little is known about the effects these chemicals have in combination, on our air, soil, water, and animal and human bodies.

Stress, and our responses to stress, is another factor that can have a role in deranging our normal physical and mental functioning. Mental health is just as important as physical health. When we feel well mentally, we are more likely to make positive decisions about food choices, exercising, and can find decision making easier. And the reverse is also true, feeling physically unwell, can enhance any tendencies we may have to low mood; which can then drive poor decisions, sometimes exacerbating lower mood.

Therefore, my approach is to look at the whole person, build up a picture of that person in all dimensions; and try to determine what might be precipitating symptoms. Then, using dietary and nutritional adjustments, medical and lifestyle changes; the aim of treatment is to bring about the removal of obstacles preventing wellbeing , and allow the body to heal itself.