Madeline Sheppard, naturopath in Geelong and Drysdale

Who does Madeline see?

Madeline sees people with gut concerns such as bloating, IBS and food intolerances;

women with irregular, heavy or painful cycles, PMS, PMOS (previously called PCOS), endometriosis and the perimenopausal and menopausal transition;

people living with anxiety, low mood, ongoing stress or disrupted sleep;

women through preconception, pregnancy and after birth;

people of any gender with acne, eczema, psoriasis or other persistent skin concerns;

and people whose blood sugar, insulin resistance or weight is tangled up with stress, sleep or hormones.

Many arrive having felt unwell for a long time without a clear explanation.

Gut health Women’s health Mood and stress Fertility & pregnancy Skin health Perimenopause Metabolic health

Madeline doesn’t diagnose or treat these conditions; that stays with your doctor. Her part is the nutritional, herbal and lifestyle work that sits alongside their care.

What happens in a first appointment with Madeline?

Expect a full hour and an unhurried conversation. Madeline covers your whole health history, not just the concern that brought you in, reviews any reports you bring, and explains what she thinks is going on before she suggests anything. Her psychology training means stress, sleep and mood are looked at alongside the physical picture. You leave with a plan built around what you can realistically sustain, and the reasoning behind it.

Does Madeline use functional testing?

Only where it would genuinely inform the plan, and she’ll discuss it with you first. Depending on your history that may be a functional hormone panel read with any blood tests you already have, thyroid and nutritional markers, or gut and food intolerance testing where skin or mood point that way. Testing is billed by the laboratory, not the clinic.

All testing methods

Does Madeline work alongside my GP or psychologist?

Yes, and she prefers to. Madeline works collaboratively with GPs, psychologists, midwives, obstetric teams and other allied health practitioners, and refers on where a concern sits outside naturopathic scope. Care during pregnancy is always given in collaboration with your maternity team.

Does Madeline see men as well as women?

Yes. Her areas of focus centre on women’s health, mood, pregnancy and skin, but Madeline sees patients of all genders; skin and mood concerns in particular bring men to the clinic.

Qualifications and memberships

• Bachelor of Health Science (Naturopathy)
• Bachelor of Psychological Science
• Member, Naturopaths and Herbalists Association of Australia (NHAA)