with 8

wellness boosting habits

DR RACHEL WYNDHAM MBBS ND

RESET YOUR HEALTH BY DR RACHEL WYNDHAM

drrachelwyndham.com

PAGE 1

CONTENTS
WELCOME: NAVIGATING BACK TO WELLNESS
Recalibrating your Internal Guidance System

3
5

INTENTION

WHAT ARE YOUR HABITS?

7 Day Diet Diary

BIOMETRICS: KNOW YOUR NUMBERS

10

THE 8 WELLNESS BOOSTING HABITS

11

AM
1. Start Up Tonic

14

2. Dry Body Brush

15

3. Cold Water Burst

16

4. Break the Fast - Well

17

PM
5. Magnesium

19

6. Stretch Out Before Bed

21

7. Rest for the Mind

22

8. Sleep Hygiene

23

THE TRICK TO SUCCESS ON THE PATH TO WELLBEING

Wellness Boosting Habits: Weekly Checklist

ABOUT DR RACHEL WYNDHAM

Contact

RESET YOUR HEALTH BY DR RACHEL WYNDHAM

26
27

28
29

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Navigating
back to wellness
Its the small and seemingly unnoticed rituals that lead to habit and its the consistent
practice of habits that can make all the difference to your overall state of wellbeing.

How you choose to begin and end your day, every day, matters.
What if I told you that you could feel better, look brighter, sleep more soundly and have
greater clarity of mind - without spending hours of effort, time and money to do so?
The good news is that you most definitely can and I made this guide to get you started!
By implementing simple wellness boosting habits that have passed the rigors of time
and research. Subtle daily tweaks to your morning and evening rituals that will slowly
shift you towards your natural state of wellbeing.
Two years ago, I found myself hiding in the stores cupboard in the busiest emergency
department in the country.
I was the cardiology registrar admitting critical patients with heart disease. I was also
carrying the Code Blue emergency pager. The first responder if a patient on the wards
anywhere in the hospital was at risk of dying.
Leaning against the cupboard door my heart was racing, my skin was cold with sweat
and there was not enough air on the planet to relieve the suffocation I felt.

Breathe Inhale, exhale. So this was panic. How did I get here?
I was capable and tough. I knew this job well and could make the correct decisions.

RESET YOUR HEALTH BY DR RACHEL WYNDHAM

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I had completed a degree in naturopathy, a bachelor of medicine, a bachelor of surgery,

an internship, a residency, GP training, all with 3 beautiful kids and a husband with a
thriving business.
My work was valuable and important, but I had stopped caring - for my patients and
for myself. I had to hold my tongue when a patient was having a third coronary stent,
and still overweight and smoking. I had to tolerate complaints and demands from
those who had the latest successful treatment in facilities equal to the best in the world
without any cost. I knew they would be back.

I was a fire-fighter rushing to emergencies that would not cease, in patients who took no
responsibility for their health. I was stressed and exhausted.
That year, I had turned 40, lost my dear friend to cancer and developed an autoimmune
disease. How had I moved so far from my divine state of being? When was the last time
my face wore its natural expression?
When I started my career, I worked in health retreats - an environment of limitless
opportunity for growth, change and healing. Now it was again time for me to walk the
talk and make some hard decisions.
I had to learn to trust, to get back into the flow of life - and be aligned with my self and
purpose. To listen to the messages my body was sending.
So I walked away. I quit. I took a full year out of clinic and hospital work.
I imagined I would have this blissful life of leisure, reading, doing yoga, cooking organic
whole food meals. But nothing was farther from reality.
My habits were weak. My self talk was negative. There was a deep disconnection from
my emotional being. I had to spend time in this discomfort, and heal.
It took one whole year. There is something complete about a 12 month cycle. Four
seasons. Like The Happiness Project and Eat Pray Love, or my favorite philosopher Henry
David Thoreau when he escaped life to Walden Pond.
Now I am back in clinic, at workshops and writing for you. Not only the knowledge of
natural integrated health and scientific medicine, but how I experienced being way off
track and returned to health by developing simple routines and habits.
This is my story now back to you. Lets get started!

RESET YOUR HEALTH BY DR RACHEL WYNDHAM

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RECALIBRATING YOUR INTERNAL GUIDANCE SYSTEM

Think of your body as having its own internal guidance system. One that, when working
effectively, is naturally inclined to move towards your natural wellbeing set-point. Your
physiology wants to attain your genetic ideal weight, natural sleep patterns, abundant
energy, clear thinking and balanced mood.
If you were to connect your internal guidance system via wifi to a GPS map, where
would your little blue dot show up at the moment?
Perhaps youve taken a slight detour - a few kilograms over, a few sugar points higher,
a few sleep hours short? Are you aimlessly circling, miles from where you want to be?
Caught up in the detour destinations of pain, anxiety, addiction and disease?
Or perhaps youve lost your way altogether, through daily habits that have resulted in a
physiology so far from your natural genetic set point, that you feel hopelessly lost and
incapable of ever finding your way home?
The way to recalibration is to start HERE, in this moment. Wherever you are on the
map, its time to reset and recalibrate beginning today. Lets set an intention to move
towards the little red dot known as Destination Wellbeing.

RESET YOUR HEALTH BY DR RACHEL WYNDHAM

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The chains of habit

are too weak to be felt
until they are
too strong to be
broken.
SAMUEL JOHNSON

RESET YOUR HEALTH BY DR RACHEL WYNDHAM

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INTENTION
From reading this book I hope you develop insight, some answers about yourself. Why
you feel like you do, and some simple ways you can change to move towards your
health goals.
To do this I could teach you physiology - the way the body works. Or anatomy - all the
various parts that make you; or biochemistry - the chemical reactions that power you
up. But if you wanted to know all of that you would go to university and research from
text books.
If you wanted to know absolutely everything about how the body works it would take
you a very, very long time. It took me 9 years of formal university education, and 15 years
of clinical experience.

Life is busy, time is precious. Let me filter, decipher and give it to you in small usable
chunks.
Being this messenger is a very great privilege. That you are here reading today warms
my soul. Your trust is a very precious gift you give, and I honour that.
So come along on this journey hit the reset button and uncover your true health.
Action with intention is very powerful, even the small commitment to writing down
your needs will move you closer to your happier healthier self. I encourage you to give it
a go here:

Name _________________

Date _________________

It would feel like a miracle right now to ___________________________________

______________________________________________________________________
_____________________________ (e.g. be 6kg lighter, have clear skin, sleep well)
The habit I commit to working on is ______________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Signed, _______________________________________________________________

RESET YOUR HEALTH BY DR RACHEL WYNDHAM

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WHAT ARE YOUR

HABITS?

How many hours do you sleep?

What do you eat everyday?
Are you meditating, exercising, drinking water?
What quantity of caffeine, salt and sugar are you consuming?

Take a week to record and reflect its not a test, there are no correct answers.
I find so often in clinic when we start discussing diet, most patients feel they dont eat
processed sugar, or they are really good with consuming water until they start paying
close attention.
We do so many things without awareness, this exercise shines a light on all the little
daily habits that can make such a huge impact on your health.
Dont change anything, just do what you usually do and write it down. At the end of the
week take half an hour and consider your patterns. Here is a worksheet (over the page).

A FEW GUIDELINES:
Salt (Sodium or NaCl or Sodium Chloride) should not be greater than
120mg/100g. On packaged processed food this is simple to calculate from labels
(although very difficult to maintain - as all packaged food has large quantities
of sodium) When cooking with whole food you will rarely obtain this level, even
adding a pinch or sprinkle of salt to your cooking is fine.
Sugar high fructose corn syrup, fruit concentrate, fruit pulp, maltose, glucose,
sucrose, fructose, mannitol, are sneaky ways to say sugar. We should consume
no more than 6-9 teaspoons (24-36grams) of sugar per day. The average
Australian consumes 40 teaspoons!
Water 1-1.5L per day, one glass = 250mL, each caffeinated drink which is a
diuretic is minus one glass.

RESET YOUR HEALTH BY DR RACHEL WYNDHAM

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7 DAY DIET DIARY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

BREAKFAST

LUNCH

DINNER

SNACKS/
DRINKS

SLEEP HOURS
MEDITATION
MINUTES
WATER

SUGAR

SODIUM

CAFFEINE

RESET YOUR HEALTH BY DR RACHEL WYNDHAM

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BIOMETRICS:
KNOW YOUR NUMBERS
Where is your body today? Are you aware of your health status?
You cant begin on your journey if you dont know where you are right now.
Take check, do some investigation, record your findings. Knowledge is power.
Do you know your blood pressure, your cholesterol, or the level of plaque in your
arteries? Do you know how your liver is functioning or what your body fat percentage is?
On the next page is a worksheet for you to complete. It contains the basic biometric
parameters you should know. Print it off and go on a fact finding mission.
If you have had blood tests in the last 6 months, your doctor should be able to provide
you a copy of the results. This is your information to own, so gently insist on taking a
print out. If you dont have results, a yearly check up with blood tests is a great idea, so
have a chat with your lovely GP.
Your local chemist may offer blood pressure testing. A small personal blood pressure
monitor is not expensive. You can purchase one or sometimes a family member with
hypertension may own one and let you borrow it.
Remember that blood pressure fluctuates and it is important to take a few readings at
different times of the day and look at the average and the variation.
If your blood pressure is high on one occasion, there is no need to panic. Over 30%
of patients have white coat syndrome where their blood pressure increases while
having a test or in a doctors office due to the stress and perceived threat. I have all my
patients with high blood pressure do a 24 hour blood pressure monitor where they
have measures taken night and day to obtain a correct picture of their pressures before
considering treatment.
BMI, body fat percentage and hydration can be measured with smart scales, if you have
these at home - great. Your doctor may be able to help you with this, or your gym will
often do an initial assessment when starting a new program. The BodPod is an excellent
tool for measuring body fat and muscle mass.

RESET YOUR HEALTH BY DR RACHEL WYNDHAM

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Know your numbers

WEIGHT

KG

HEIGHT

CM

BMI
BMI = weight kg / height M2

Your body mass index is your mass in kilograms

divided by your height in metres squared. Here is a
calculator, BMI is an indication of an average healthy
weight range for your height. Some people with very
stocky frames and little body fat or those with large
muscle mass will be misled by the BMI. If your BMI is:
Under 18 - you are underweight and possibly
malnourished.
18 - 25 - you are a healthy weight.
25 - 30 - you are overweight.
Over 30 - you are obese.

ABDOMINAL GIRTH

CM
(Women > 80cm at risk > 88cm high risk.

Men > 94cm at risk > 102cm high risk)
(the measure of your waist around your belly button breathing out relaxed! This is a direct
indicator of visceral fat around your organs and risk of diabetes and cardiac disease)

HIP THIGH ARM

CM
CM

Body Fat Percentage

Ideal for women is 20-30%

Ideal for men is 10-20%.
There are slight variations for under and
over 40s. If you cant get to a gym you
can calculate this from you BMI with this
formula:
Women: (1.20 x BMI) + (0.23 x Age) - 5.4 =
Body Fat Percentage
Men: (1.20 x BMI) + (0.23 x Age) - 16.2 =
Body Fat Percentage

REACH IN CM

CM

(how far can you reach to your toes

when sitting with your legs extended?
You may not reach all the way
therefore you will have a minus - 3cm,
for example. If you reach you are 0, if
you reach past you are +x cms.)

Paper catch test

Blood pressure
(Normal is 90-120/60-80. Over 140/90
needs review)

Resting heart rate

bpm

(Average adult 60-80s. Athlete 50-60s)

Heart rate after 3 minutes of

strenuous exercise
bpm
Minutes to recover to
resting heart rate
bpm

RESET YOUR HEALTH BY DR RACHEL WYNDHAM

Have someone hold a piece of A4 paper

from the top and you hold your fingers
either side of the paper at the bottom
ready to catch it when it is dropped.
Your reaction time is a measure of
body age and nervous system function.
Measure the distance in cm, and record
the average of three of these tests.

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Cholesterol (fasting)
over 5.5 increased risk of Cardiovascular
disease, over 6.5 is extremely increased risk.
Triglycerides (circulating fat)
less than 2
HDL (good cholesterol)
greater than 1
LDL (bad cholesterol)
levels less than 2

Ferritin
(circulating iron)
> 25 but healthy female
80-100 is ideal

Vitamin B12
over 250

Vitamin D
50 75 is ideal

Zinc
over 10

Blood pressure can be simple a closed plumbing system (blood vessels)

with a pump (the heart). The amount of fluid in the system = the pressure, just
like your garden hose. It is also immensely complex, with kidney function and
delicate hormones and sodium levels affecting the system every second.

HIGH BP TIP NO. 1 For each extra kg of weight you grow an extra
kilometre of small blood vessels which the heart has to pump blood
through. That is a huge extra stress on the heart. Lose the weight and sort
the blood pressure.

HIGH BP TIP NO. 2 Basic high school chemistry, water follows salt.
More salt you eat, more fluid = more pressure. We look at sodium in the
diet diary section.

RESET YOUR HEALTH BY DR RACHEL WYNDHAM

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PM AM

8 simple
wellness boosting
habits
1

Lemon juice / Apple Cider Vinegar in water.

Dry body brush.

Cold water burst.

Breakfast with protein and no sugar within 30

minutes of waking.

Magnesium supplement, spray, rub or soak.

Stretch out before bed 5 poses in 5 minutes.

Rest for the mind meditation 10 minutes.

Sleep hygiene. Clear the space. 9:30pm to bed.

No EMFs.

WEBSITE:

SOCIAL MEDIA:

www.DrRachelWyndham.com

Facebook // Instagram

RESET YOUR HEALTH BY DR RACHEL WYNDHAM

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AM HABITS
The following wellness boosting tips are based on the assumption that you drink water,
shower and eat in the morning. You can adjust as necessary, to suit your schedule.
The beauty lies in their simplicity. They require little extra time, energy, or effort and will
soon become an automatic part of your daily routine.

1. START UP TONIC
Upon waking, drink a 250mL glass of filtered water with Lemon juiced, or one
tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar. Room temperate or slightly warm is best.
You can heat it with a 1/4 teaspoon of Organic Honey as a morning cuppa, or use your
favourite herbal tea blend with the Lemon or Vinegar. Sip slowly, over 20 minutes.
This morning drink stimulates the stomach, cleanses the
mouth and reminds the stomach hormones (known as
Gastrin) to prepare for the Break of the Fast!
Youll break down your proteins, absorb your nutrients
and reduce the load of gas producing substance. This
helps with weight, fluid and skin health.

DO NOT USE Lemon juice or Apple Cider Vinegar:

If you take a regular prescription medication called a
PPI (proton pump inhibitor) such as Nexium, Losec or
Omeprazole.
If you have severe heartburn or reflux.
If you have been diagnosed with a gastric or duodenal ulcer.
If you have oesophageal dysplasia.
Instead, start with 250mL of warm water and one teaspoon of
Slippery Elm Powder. When your condition has improved, you
may begin this process of stimulating the stomachs natural acidproducing ability with lemon or ACV.

RESET YOUR HEALTH BY DR RACHEL WYNDHAM

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2. DRY BODY BRUSH

Take a natural fibre brush with a long handle, and start brushing your skin vigorously in
small circles.
This is best done just before you step into the shower. My hot water always takes a
minute or two to warm up so having your brush on hand, undress for your shower and
brush while you are waiting to step in - this quick simple therapy will get your skin
glowing and your circulation pumping.
Start from the tips of your fingers, towards your heart.
Imagine that you are colouring-in and have to cover every inch of your skin. Do this
quickly up one arm, then the other, then resume at your toes and go up your legs to
your buttocks.
Continue up your stomach and chest, finishing with big circles on your biggest muscle,
the bottom. This is often the greatest storage area of fat and subcutaneous (under-theskin) toxins which appear as cellulite. Brush this up your lower back, over your thoracic
(mid-back), shoulders and finish at your heart.
Dry Body Brushing stimulates the skin, moves the circulation from internal to the
external vessels and pushes the lymphatic system to drain its collected lymphatic fluid.
The lymphatic system doesnt have a pump like the heart pumps blood; it relies on
your movement or massage to shift stagnant flow.
Dry Body Brushing also aids immunity, skin health, circulation and cellulite. It also
exfoliates old skin cells and feels amazing!
If you shower at night or take baths, no problem just switch this to the evening or
before a soak.

Here is your challenge:

Brush 5 days per week
for 30 days.

RESET YOUR HEALTH BY DR RACHEL WYNDHAM

PAGE 15

3. COLD WATER BLAST

Yes, I know its cold, but thats the point!
Think of the Scandinavians, with their saunas and cold plunges into snow covered
waters. And look at their health statistics, longevity and beautiful complexions!
Blasting cold water at the very end of a warm shower shocks the circulation and sends
the blood back to the skin, giving it a boost of oxygen and nutrients.

You will glow!

Your heart will race and you may say a few words kiddies shouldnt hear! But youll
have forgotten quickly once you are dry and dressed. Youll feel invigorated and ready
to bring some extra bounce to your day.
This is also an excellent test of discipline.
Are you a comfort seeker? Unable to tolerate any level of discomfort? Be this the initial
discomfort of a craving, the heaviness at the start of exercise, or the avoidance of a
perceived negative feeling of fear or anger?
Many spiritual practices test the physical body to give the mind a chance to strengthen
and allow more discipline over its tendencies to sabotage our efforts.
The more resistance you have to this
practice, the more you need to push in.
Put that cheeky monkey mind back in
its box where it belongs.
How bad can it really be? You will feel
empowered and invigorated after.

Here is your challenge:

Switch to a cold water spray
for the last 10 seconds
of your shower.

RESET YOUR HEALTH BY DR RACHEL WYNDHAM

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4. BREAK THE FAST - WELL

Rules for breakfast:
1. Only whole fruit sugar no processed sugar
2. Include protein
3. No caffeine 30 minutes before or after (this applies to all meals).
Sugar is everywhere. Most of you are trying your best and choosing healthy
supermarket options such as cereal, fruit yogurt, and breakfast bars. Start reading the
labels and dont be fooled by the marketing. The sugar levels are usually dangerous.
Our second breakfast crime is eating bread: for breakfast, lunch and with dinner.

Here is your challenge:

30 days: No boxes of cereal, no fruit juice, no fruit yoghurts, no bread.

Include protein and no caffeine for 30 minutes before or after.

If you change your breakfast, you are

halfway there to a balanced healthy
diet, moving toward your ideal weight
and experiencing good levels of energy
throughout the day.
Make sure you do not consume
caffeine, either 30 minutes before, or
after, meals. If you eat and have tea or
coffee, your body cannot assimilate or
break down food correctly.
This results in poorly digested large molecules in the gut that causes irritation,
inflammation, and can imbalance the delicate gut flora.
Weight gain, bloating, lethargy, and poor mental function can also be caused by
consuming food with caffeine, so watch this: its a very common practice.

RESET YOUR HEALTH BY DR RACHEL WYNDHAM

PAGE 17

Look out for:

I Quit Sugar
Pete Evans Paleo Everyday
The Happy Cookbook
A Quirky Cooking

Great breakfast protein options include:

1. Eggs, fish or tofu.
2. Porridge is another good breakfast choice, add protein powder when cooking.
3. A smoothie with protein powder, fruit, water ice and yoghurt.
4. One of my personal favourites is a breakfast egg muffin.
Crack an egg with a small piece of ham/salmon or mushroom, a sprinkle of fetta and a few
spinach leaves into a muffin tin and bake for 15 mins. So easy!
These morning wellness boosting rituals shouldnt take any more time out of your day and you
have so much to gain. Really embed them into your routine, so they become second nature. Youll
experience long lasting benefits within days.

RESET YOUR HEALTH BY DR RACHEL WYNDHAM

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PM HABITS
5. MAGNESIUM FIX
Magnesium is the miracle mineral.
Well known to be essential for muscle relaxation, Magnesium is a critical nutrient. It
is estimated that 80% of adults are deficient in Magnesium. It is not a mineral that
can be tested for in blood tests. So it is a silent deficiency with slow subtle health
deterioration as its effect.
Over 300 enzymes utilise Magnesium which means it is responsible for thousands of
reactions in the body every second. Some critical uses include:
Detoxification
Growth
Repair
Immunity
Healthy Brain Function.
There are many forms of Magnesium. You can use a powder, tablet, oil, cream or salt.
Your practitioner or health food shop assistant can help recommend a form that suits
you. Blog posts on my site will discuss in more detail.

HERE IS MY MAGNESIUM ROUTINE:

If you bathe at night, use 1 cup of Epsom salts dissolved in the bath and soak for 10-15
minutes. If you dont have a bath, use a foot spa/small shallow bucket to soak your feet.
Remember, the Magnesium is absorbed into the blood stream through the skin, its not
only helping the feet but the whole system. I mix the following blends for muscle pain:
10 drops eucalyptus oil
cup chamomile flowers
2 drops chamomile oil
1 tablespoon of Magnesium Oxide powder.
Or replace the eucalyptus with 10 drops of lavender oil for relaxation, nervous system
support and to help sleep.

RESET YOUR HEALTH BY DR RACHEL WYNDHAM

PAGE 19

I mix the following blend for

muscle pain:
10 drops eucalyptus oil,
cup chamomile flowers,
2 drops chamomile oil,
1 tablespoon of Magnesium
Oxide powder.
(Or replace the eucalyptus
with 10 drops of lavender oil
for relaxation, nervous system
support and to help sleep.)

RESET YOUR HEALTH BY DR RACHEL WYNDHAM

PAGE 20

6. STRETCH - YOGA
You can do this before or after your shower or bath. I find this depends if Im in work
clothes or gym gear. Try to do it as close to bedtime as possible. Its also great to do this
with kids as part of their bedtime routine. Gets some of the wriggles out of them and
teaches them good habits.

5 SIMPLE ESSENTIAL MOVES FOR THE MAJOR MUSCLE GROUPS

If you are a yogi, these are very simple and you may like to mix up a few of your
favourite postures for variation that you can cycle through. Remember, even if you
have been to yoga class through the day, still practice this routine at bedtime for 10
minutes. This reminds your body of its balance and restores its awareness of the tissue
preparing you well for sleep.
If you havent practiced yoga before, dont despair: these are simple stretches that are
great to start with. Start where you are comfortable, hold the position while slowly
inhaling and exhaling through the nose. As you feel resistance and tension in your
muscles ligaments, fascia and joints simply breathe into that area and consciously
allow the body to relax. These tight muscle fibres will slowly lengthen with practice.
This will give you more flexibility, balance, joint protection and may reduce the risk of
injury. Try yoga online here, or take a look at the DVDs from my lovely teacher Michelle
Merrifield here.

Your challenge is 10 minutes 5 moves

SEATED FORWARD FOLD

DOWN DOG

COBRA

HIP OPENER

CHILD POSE

FINISH WITH MEDITATION

RESET YOUR HEALTH BY DR RACHEL WYNDHAM

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7. MINDFULNESS MEDITATION
There is a mass conscious shift to understanding that there is more to physiology than
chemicals nutrients and hormones. We are not only lego building blocks of cells but
energetic fluidity.

Chinese medicine knows it. Ayerveda knows it. Indian medicine knows it .
Aboriginal medicine knows it. Its time we in Western medicine caught up.
My undergraduate thesis in 1997 was on Psychoneuroimmunology. A then unknown
topic on how the power of the mind can influence the nervous and the immune
system. Science has forged ahead in this area and we have many powerful studies to
prove that our mind has a very powerful impact on our physiology. We must harness it
and not let it control us.
3-5 minutes to start is all you need. Many practiced meditators still feel they are
learning after 1000s of hours sitting, including extensive retreats and months abroad
in training. Be gentle, kind and patient.
Trust that the process your mind and body is going through is normal and is still very
beneficial, even if you feel like nothing has been gained.
The commitment to giving yourself those few minutes of what you may feel is
unproductive time, is a precious gift. Your time is more valuable than anything else
you can give. This is
caring for yourself at the
highest level, and you
will get better and better
eventually experiencing
peace, healing and even
rare moments of bliss.
Meditation
Some of my favourite
meditations:
Sonesence
Belinda Davidson
chakra meditation
Danielle LaPorte
Head Space app

RESET YOUR HEALTH BY DR RACHEL WYNDHAM

is for the mind

what sleep is
for the body.

PAGE 22

8. SLEEP HYGIENE
This term relates to the environment you create in which to sleep. Hygiene makes us
think of cleaning and in a way, it is a clean sleep environment without dirty air, noise,
light, dust or electromagnetic fields.
The word hygiene also reminds us that this is a daily practice, not a once off spring
clean, but the small efforts that you make everyday to create a healthy place to rest
your body.
1. ENSURE AIRFLOW, YOU MUST HAVE FRESH AIR IN YOUR ROOM. If you are out for
the day, leave a window open. Even in cold weather allow fresh air to circulate for a few
minutes in the morning or evening. Dont breathe stale air all night.
2. NO DUST. Vacuum mattresses weekly, seasonal airing in the sunshine. Replace
pillows regularly and use mattress and pillow protectors that are hot washed with
bedding. Consider the age of carpet and curtains and the possible need for cleaning/
replacing. Remove excess stuffed animals, stored old jumpers, linen or other dust
collecting material within bedrooms or wardrobes.
3. DARKNESS. The pineal gland is in the centre of our brain, behind the point of our
third eye. It detects light and dark cycles. With artificial light we confuse the natural
diurnal variation of hormones and dont allow natural sleep chemicals to kick in. Keep
lights low before bed and try to sleep in an environment of no light wherever possible.
4. EMF FIELDS. Electromagnetic fields are the energy emitted from power sources and
devices. These can be plugged in next to your bed, within the walls of your room or
even behind the outer wall in the power box. There is controversy about the safe types,
levels and distance we should sleep from these. A practical approach is to keep alarms,
phones, iPads or any electrical devices 3 metres from your body.
No screens 30 minutes before bed. Set your alarm for 9pm, then go to bed at 9:30.
Read a real paper book for 10-15 minutes, and then put in your earplugs if there is noise
and turn the lights out. If you lay there awake, use this time to practice meditation. Just
think how experienced youll be if you get to meditate 2-3 hours per night!
If you have persistent problems with sleep see your doctor. You may need a sleep
study, a trial of prescription melatonin (our lovely natural sleep hormone). You may
need to consider a hormone imbalance, review your heart health, or rule out anxiety
and/or depression.

RESET YOUR HEALTH BY DR RACHEL WYNDHAM

PAGE 23

Sleep is essential. It is critical for wellbeing.

Sleep deprivation is the most effective form of torture, if you have ever worked shifts,
cared for babies, or travelled and experienced severe lack of sleep you understand the
dramatic effects on all areas of our physiology.
80% of Australians with sleep apnoea are undiagnosed if you snore, or feel tired in
the day. A sleep study is needed. Sleep apnoea causes low oxygen through the night
and creates stress on your heart.
If you arent sleeping well, nothing else you do in your life will have any lasting effect.
No perfect diet, exercise, spiritual practice will make up for adequate hours of good
quality sleep.
Make this your priority.

RESET YOUR HEALTH BY DR RACHEL WYNDHAM

PAGE 24

How we spend
our days
is how
we spend
our lives.
ANNIE DILLARD

RESET YOUR HEALTH BY DR RACHEL WYNDHAM

PAGE 25

The trick for success

on the path to wellbeing.
In clinic, as a doctor I often feel like a cheerleader, buoyantly motivating my patients to
take that first step.
Its a bit like trying to move a stationery car. Instinctively, you know that it will eventually
roll and gain momentum, but that initial push often requires all of our strength and
focus.
Where I see you fall is when there is an attempt to make too big a change, too quickly.
If you start a new Monday morning health kick by spending two hours at the gym,
meditating for an hour and cutting your daily caloric intake by half is it any wonder
that you end up feeling defeated and bingeing by Wednesday?
Where I see you succeed, is when you consciously implement subtle changes in small
increments.
The amount of water you consume every day.
The two minutes of stillness every day.
Keeping a regular bed time, as much as possible.
Motivation is the perfect way to kick-start change... and habit will keep you going.
There needs to be a balance between effort and ease, sustainability and satisfaction.
Its about letting go of the need to change everything at once and focusing on small
things that provide significant results.

Lets begin.

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WELLNESS BOOSTING HABITS: WEEKLY CHECKLIST

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

START UP
TONIC

DRY BODY
BRUSH

COLD WATER
BLAST

BREAK THE
FAST - WELL

MAGNESIUM
FIX

STRETCH
- YOGA

MINDFULNESS
MEDITATION

SLEEP
HYGEINE

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About
Dr Rachel Wyndham
MBBS ND
When I was young we took herbal tonics, grew sprouts, raised chickens and drank
goats milk. My aunt was a naturopath in the 70s. As a little girl I believed this was how
we all looked after our health.
When I qualified and began working in clinic as a Naturopath, now 17 years ago, I
realised this wasnt the case. Many people who came to me thought this nutrition and
lifestyle medicine was alternative - there was confusion and distrust.
I then went on to study Medicine. Fast forward through hospital medicine, emergency
trauma, psychiatric wards to general practice and a very different view of my world
was formed.
Ive dedicated my life to learning about wellness and how to re-establish balance and a
sense of peace. Ive seen both sides of the health industry and they are both valid and
valuable.
I have an Integrative clinical practice on the Gold Coast, Australia, and consult in
Wanaka in New Zealand every three months. I am also available for Skype
consultations. I run workshops and speak at events on the following topics:
Womens health and bio-identical hormones
Adrenal and thyroid support
Mental health with pyrrole and methylation nutrients
Cancer Support.

I look forward to continuing to help you uncover your true health.

Be Well With Love.

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WEBSITE & BLOG:

www.DrRachelWyndham.com

ON SOCIAL MEDIA:

Facebook // Instagram

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