Goulds Natural Medicine Clinic & Apothecary Hobart

At Goulds Natural Medicine Clinic, they treat people – not diseases. Effective treatment begins with an accurate diagnosis to understand the underlying causes of the disease process and how to measure success. Goulds has existed in Hobart for over 100 years. The current Apothecary draws on this rich history combined with the latest in research. We are a naturopathic dispensary committed to providing high quality, safe, natural health care in an over-the-counter setting. Goulds operates a certified organic herb farm where a significant proportion of the herbs used in the dispensary are grown and processed. The herb farm is managed by Greg Whitten who has over 35 years’ experience in producing high quality herbs for medicinal use.

Location & Contact

71–73 Liverpool Street, Hobart TAS 7000
Phone: (03) 6234 4223
Website: gouldsnaturalmedicine.com.au

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Clinic Services

• Naturopathy and nutrition consultations

• The Hawrelak Gut and Microbiome Clinic (HGMC)

• Women’s health, fertility, pregnancy and lactation care

• Men’s sexual and genitourinary health

• Infant, toddler and children’s health

• Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine

• Counselling and mental health support

• Massage and CranioSacral Therapy

Apothecary (Natural Dispensary)

They are a naturopathic dispensary committed to providing high quality, safe, natural health care in an over-the-counter setting. Their approach is based on a synthesis of traditional and evidence-based practices. They assist with a wide range of ailments from acute coughs and colds to chronic conditions using quality herbal medicines, nutritional supplementation, dietary advice and lifestyle modifications.

What They Stock

• Bulk dried herbs

• Herbal teas

• Herbal extracts (tinctures)

• Herbal tablets/capsules

• Essential oils

• Homeopathic and flower remedies

• Nutritional supplements

• Therapeutic creams

Other Retail Items

• Natural beauty products

• Soaps and deodorants

• Hair care products

• Fair trade gifts

• Specialty recipe books

• Snacks

Some of the Brands They Stock

Mediherb, Metagenics, Orthoplex, RN Labs, Nature’s Sunshine, BioCeuticals, Bronzewing Botanicals, Miellerie Honey, Melrose, Nordic Naturals

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Goulds Organic Herb Farm

Their organic farm is used to grow as many herbs as their climate allows. The farm, located in Allens Rivulet, is certified organic and follows biodynamic practices and principles. The herb farm has been operating since 1995 and was set up and managed for many years by Greg Whitten who has over 45 years’ experience in producing high quality herbs for medicinal use. It is now run on a collaborative basis by their dedicated Farm Team.

Their production gardens cover a hectare of land. They grow and harvest around 80 species of herbs and process these on the farm. Production is small-scale and largely done by hand using traditional tools. They make their own compost and apply biodynamic preparations. Tasmania’s unique climate supports high levels of active constituents. Herbs are harvested at optimal vitality and dried carefully, using drying rooms designed to use mainly passive solar energy.

Some of the Over 50 Herbs They Grow Include

Motherwort, Nettle, Licorice, Sage, Echinacea, Valerian, Rose, Peppermint, Marshmallow, Hyssop, Lemon Balm, Dandelion, Spearmint, Yarrow, Chamomile, Calendula, Mullein, Oregano, Raspberry, Thyme, Rosemary

Tincture Production

The majority of their tinctures are produced via percolation: dried herbs are milled, pre-soaked in ethanol/water, then packed into a tall stainless-steel column. The ethanol/water mixture percolates through the herb bed and is collected below. Most tinctures are produced at 1:2 strength (from 1 kg dried herb, 2 L tincture). They grow many herbs ourselves and source additional organic herbs where needed, then make the tinctures in-house.

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The Team

Goulds Natural Medicine Clinic consists of a variety of health practitioners.

Nutritionist

Sarah McCure

• Mental health and wellness, including cooperative support for mental illness

• Mental health across the menstrual cycle (PMS and PMDD)

• Perimenopause and menopausal transition support

• Healthy brain ageing and neurodegenerative conditions

• Gastrointestinal and digestive conditions

• Autoimmune and inflammatory conditions

• Immune function, recurrent infections and post-infection recovery

• Metabolic syndrome, diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors

• Nutritional support for elimination and restricted diets

Senior Naturopaths/Nutritionists

Their Senior Naturopaths/Nutritionists have extensive clinical experience and are leaders within the profession.

Nena Aleschewski

• Women’s health

• Fertility, preconception and pregnancy

• Breastfeeding difficulties: latch, suck, expressing, mastitis, supply, nipple pain

• Infant and baby feeding

• Crying and fussing: unsettled infant/baby behaviour

• Baby, toddler and children’s health

• Gastrointestinal health

• Mental health

Belinda Robson

• Childhood developmental disorders

• Autism and ADHD

• Female fertility and reproductive health

• Pre-conception care

• Children’s health and wellbeing

• Asthma, hay fever and respiratory conditions

• Mental health

• Coeliac disease and other autoimmune diseases

Daniel Robson

• Sexual and reproductive health for all genders: low sexual desire, erectile problems, orgasm/arousal difficulties, ejaculatory problems, painful sex

• Male genitourinary health: lower urinary tract symptoms, chronic prostatitis, male subfertility

• Autoimmune conditions

• Digestive problems

• Mental wellbeing (depression and anxiety)

Dawn Whitten

• Women’s health

• Fertility, preconception and pregnancy care

• Babies and toddlers

• Early childhood nutrition

• Breastfeeding support

• Thyroid health

• Allergies in children (prevention and treatment)

• Digestive conditions in infants and toddlers

• Immune dysfunction and autoimmune conditions

Lactation Consultants
Nena Aleschewski

• Low milk supply

• Mastitis and engorgement

• Nipple and breast pain

• Attachment concerns

• Suck difficulties

• Antenatal education

• Expressing

• Confidence and reassurance

• Unsettled infant behaviour

• Breast refusal

• Parent-baby separation

• Re-lactation

• Induction of lactation (with or without pregnancy)

Dawn Whitten

• Women’s health

• Fertility, preconception and pregnancy care

• Babies and toddlers

• Early childhood nutrition

• Breastfeeding support

• Thyroid health

• Allergies in children (prevention and treatment)

• Digestive conditions in infants and toddlers

• Immune dysfunction and autoimmune conditions

The Hawrelak Gut and Microbiome Clinic (HGMC)

Have you been suffering with long-term gastrointestinal issues? Have you seen numerous health professionals and still not getting anywhere? The HGMC focuses on determining underlying causes of gut disease or dysbiosis and helping patients return to better health. All consultations with HGMC practitioners are conducted via telehealth video call.

Dr Jason Hawrelak — Founder and Principal Practitioner

• Acute gut conditions: viral and bacterial infections, peptic ulcers, fungal and protozoal infections (parasites)

• Chronic gut conditions: irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, dysbiosis and microbiome restoration, inflammatory bowel disease, gluten-related disorders, heartburn, food intolerances, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)

• Liver disorders: non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

• Women’s health: optimising the gastrointestinal microbiota during pregnancy, recurrent UTIs, thrush, bacterial vaginosis

Dawn Whitten — Senior Partner

• Microbiome health and optimisation

• Gastrointestinal health

• Women’s health

• Fertility, preconception and pregnancy care

• Babies and toddlers

• Early childhood/toddler nutrition

• Breastfeeding support (including supply concerns and mastitis)

• Allergies in children (prevention and treatment)

• Eczema (infant and child)

• Digestive upsets in infants and toddlers

• Immune dysfunction and autoimmune conditions

• Thyroid health

Kate Rix — Lead Associate

• Microbiome restoration and optimisation (gut and vaginal)

• Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and similar

• J-pouches

• Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)

• Intestinal permeability (“leaky gut”)

• Coeliac disease

• IBS, reflux, Helicobacter pylori infection

• Constipation and diarrhoea

Talia West — Senior Associate

• Chronic gut conditions: SIBO, intestinal permeability, constipation, IBS, IBD, reflux, coeliac disease, food intolerances, intestinal methane overproduction (IMO)

• Acute gut conditions: gastroenteritis, bacterial and protozoal infections, intestinal parasites

• Gut microbiome health: dysbiosis, microbiome restoration, gut–brain axis

• Mental health and nervous system: insomnia, anxiety, brain fog, low mood, depression, ADHD support for adults

• Environmental health: low-tox living, water filters, air quality, heavy metals

Naomi Hester — Associate

• Accredited Intimate Ecologist and Human Microbiome Guild Member

• Gut microbiome analysis, restoration and optimisation

• Vaginal microbiome analysis, restoration and optimisation

• SIBO

• Rosacea and chronic skin disorders

• Functional gut disorders

• Women’s health

• Menstrual cycle optimisation

• Fertility and preconception care

• Perimenopause support

• Gynaecological support (PCOS/endometriosis)

• Thyroid health

Michelle Campbell — Associate

• Microbiome restoration and optimisation

• Chronic gastrointestinal conditions: IBS, SIBO, IBD (Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis)

• Women’s health: optimising the gastrointestinal microbiota during pregnancy and lactation; perimenopause transition and menopause; vaginal microbiome health

• Mental health

• Immune dysfunction and autoimmune conditions

• Skin conditions (eczema, psoriasis, acne, rosacea)

Bronwyn Quinn — Associate

• Optimising the microbiota during perimenopause and the menopausal transition

• Modulating the microbiome to improve chronic pain conditions such as migraine and endometriosis

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome

• SIBO

• Constipation

• Dysbiosis

• Peptic ulcer disease (Helicobacter pylori)

• Gastroesophageal reflux (heartburn)

• Intestinal permeability (leaky gut)

• Inflammatory Bowel Disease

• Gluten-related disorders

Lesley Baker — Associate

• Gastrointestinal and microbiome health

• Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease)

• SIBO

• Constipation

• H. pylori

• Reflux

• Intestinal permeability

• Coeliac disease and other autoimmune disorders

• Skin issues including eczema and acne

• Genitourinary conditions including candida, bacterial vaginosis and similar

• Vaginal and bladder microbiome health and manipulation

• Enjoys working with children

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Acupuncturist and TCM Practitioner

Jackie Pisera

• Acupuncture

• Cupping

• Chinese massage

• IVF/pregnancy support

• Chronic/acute pain

• Injury management

Registered Counsellor

Kate Johnstone

• Anxiety and depression

• Pregnancy, post-partum and breastfeeding mental health

• Trauma

• Grief and loss

• Life transitions

• Relationship issues

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

• Compassion-Focused Therapy

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What They Treat

With a focus on microbiome optimisation, the team treats a wide array of health concerns originating in or influenced by the gastrointestinal system.

Gastrointestinal Conditions

Crohn’s disease, chronic bloating, chronic constipation and/or diarrhoea, coeliac disease and non-coeliac gluten sensitivity, diverticular disease, dysbiosis, flatulence, food intolerances (including FODMAPs), gastroparesis, heartburn/reflux/indigestion (GERD/GORD), Helicobacter pylori, histamine intolerance, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, intestinal methane overproduction (IMO), intestinal permeability (leaky gut), J-pouches and bowel resection, microbiome restoration (including post-antibiotics/illness), oestrogen metabolism and the oestrobolome, microbiome optimisation for healthy ageing (metabolic and cognitive support), peptic ulcer, SIBO, ulcerative colitis

Acute Gastrointestinal Conditions

Bacterial infections (including E. coli, C. difficile, Salmonella spp., Klebsiella spp.), intestinal parasites (protozoa and worms), Blastocystis spp. (achieving symbiosis with Blastocystis)

Genitourinary Conditions

Adenomyosis, bacterial vaginosis, bladder microbiome restoration, candida/thrush, couple infertility, endometriosis, herpes simplex virus, human papilloma virus, insulin resistance and weight gain, menopause, menstrual cycle irregularity, menstrual migraine, osteopenia and osteoporosis, painful intercourse, PCOS, perimenopause, PMS/PMDD, recurrent UTIs, STIs, vaginal microbiome restoration

Autoimmune Conditions

Lupus, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren’s disease, thyroid (Graves’ disease, Hashimoto’s disease)

Skin Conditions

Eczema, acne, psoriasis, rosacea

Mental Health and the Nervous System

Anxiety, depression, insomnia

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Appointment Information

How many appointments will I need?

Most patients attend 6–8 consultations over 12–18 months to see the full benefits of treatment. Some may need fewer or more. Consider these figures approximate.

Typical Appointment Pathway

• Initial Consultation: 75–90 minutes

• Health Care Plan Consultation: 45–90 minutes

• Follow-up Care: 15–60 minutes, usually every 4–10 weeks

How Appointments Are Structured and Conducted

All HGMC consultations are via telehealth video call.

• Initial consultation: Detailed history, potential testing organised, preliminary recommendations where appropriate.

• Health Care Plan consultation: Comprehensive treatment plan is presented and questions answered (not always required but common).

• Follow-up care: Progress review, adjustments as needed, questions answered.

• Email support between consultations: Brief, yes/no-type emails are welcomed for topics already discussed. Complex or urgent questions require a consultation.

Telehealth and Time Zones

All practitioners work within 8:00 am – 7:00 pm AEST/AEDT (Hobart time). International patients should convert these hours to their local time and note daylight saving shifts.

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Testing

Before the Initial Consultation
Testing is individualised; there is no standard panel. Patients are generally advised to wait for practitioner guidance after the first consultation. Common recommendations include SIBO breath testing, microbiome assessment and intestinal permeability testing.

Sending Previous Test Results
Please do not send test results or health histories before the initial appointment. Practitioners prefer to start with a fresh perspective and will request any additional information needed during the consult.

Fees and Ethics
Tests are not included in consultation fees. All testing is through third parties; the clinic does not benefit financially from recommendations or referrals. Testing costs usually range between AU$200–$1,000 over the course of treatment.

Products
Products are not included in consultation fees and are purchased independently as recommended by practitioners.

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Policies (HGMC)

Prepayment Policy
Prepayment is required for all consultations. Payment can be made when booking, or 48 hours prior to the consultation. Prices increase annually on 1 January; future-dated bookings may require an additional payment.

Cancellation Policy
Cancellations and no-shows within 24 hours of your consultation attract a fee equal to the full consultation price. You may cancel or reschedule during clinic office hours. If cancelling a prepaid appointment more than 24 hours in advance, a full refund is provided.

Clinic Office Hours (AEST/AEDT)

• Monday, Wednesday: 9:00 am – 7:00 pm

• Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

• Saturday, Sunday: Closed
  Note: Monday appointments must be cancelled before 3:00 pm on the prior Friday. For appointments following a public holiday, contact the clinic within opening hours prior to the holiday.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What level of input does Dr Hawrelak have?
Associates receive regular mentoring and guidance. Senior Associates and Lead Associates have completed mentorship and competencies and consult independently, with access to guidance as needed. Practitioners consult with Dr Hawrelak about individual cases when necessary.

If I book with a Senior Associate, can I transfer to Dr Hawrelak later?
Transfers are usually not possible due to Dr Hawrelak’s ongoing patient load and the importance of continuity of care.

How much will the whole treatment cost?
Costs vary widely. Discuss financial needs with reception or your practitioner. Approximate ranges:

• Appointments (6–8):

  • Associates: $1,000–$1,700

  • Senior Associates: $1,300–$2,500

  • Lead Associates: $1,750–$3,500

• Testing: $200–$1,000

• Supplements: $350–$2,000
  A 20% discount is available for Australian patients with a Centrelink-issued low income Health Care Card. Testing is third-party and the clinic does not benefit financially.

How do I choose a practitioner?
All practitioners are experienced and skilled. Five Associate practitioners joined in April 2024 (Bronwyn Quinn, Naomi Hester, Michelle Campbell, Lesley Baker, Talia West) after intensive training and certification as Microbiome Analysts and Healthy Gut Practitioners. They receive fortnightly mentoring.

How much email support is provided?
Practitioners reply on designated days and cannot provide emergency support via email. Brief questions may be answered by email; in-depth health queries require a consultation. Email “consultations” may be offered and invoiced for the time spent.

Is this program the right fit?
The team believes in food as medicine and an individualised approach, using dietary guidance, herbal medicine, nutritional supplementation and lifestyle counselling. Results cannot be guaranteed; each body responds differently. Care is person-centred and evidence-informed.

Can I receive initial treatment recommendations at the first appointment?
Sometimes initial recommendations are provided, but usually practitioners integrate health history and any test results before presenting a comprehensive plan.

What is the current wait time?
Associate practitioners are available now. Lead Associate availability is limited and managed carefully.

Where can I learn more about the treatment paradigm?
Patients are encouraged to explore available interviews and materials discussing the approach to gastrointestinal and microbiome care.

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Related Reads

→ NIIM – National Institute of Integrative Medicine
→ Victoria O’Sullivan – Naturopath
→ Steven Judge – Clinical Naturopathy
→ Joanne Kennedy – Naturopathy
→ Longevity Medicine Institute (LMI)

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Article originally published: 4 August 2025, by Editor