Eilish Blade

I began my training in complementary therapies in the late 1990’s as a massage therapist and later qualified as a practitioner in the Bowen Technique and Neuro-Structural-Integration-Technique (NST). In 2003 I completed a diploma in Naturopathy with the College of Natural Therapy and followed this with one year training in Biomedicine at The College of Naturopathic Medicine (CNM). Naturopathy was an initial pathway for me into nutrition and lifestyle choices and complemented my role as a bodywork practitioner.

Life changed dramatically with my son’s diagnosis with the genetic condition Cystic Fibrosis. This came with emotional challenges, and the challenge to meet his nutritional needs while dealing with the serious digestive disorders associated with the disease. My own health became increasingly compromised and I felt that I was having test after test with no answers except a reminder that I wasn’t coping with the increasing stress. As a therapist I knew it was time to take a break and consider a new journey.

An escape from the city in 2007 saw my family move to a small holding in Ireland. Food has always been a passion and practising sustainable growing techniques using organic and permaculture techniques was an opportunity to explore health and wellbeing through a new medium.

In 2017, after returning to Wales, the timing felt right to take the plunge into an evidence based approach to Nutritional Therapy. I began my MSc in Nutritional Therapy at the University of Worcester and completed my studies in 2020 as a Registered Nutritional Practitioner. Having the combined experience as both a grower and as a practitioner my focus is real food first.  I now live and work in north Pembrokeshire which has allowed me to indulge in my passion for sea swimming which I now do all year round. It has been an incredible way to connect with nature, improve my mental well-being and overcome my fear of swimming out of my depth!

This has been central to working with my families health conditions and to my own clinical practice. As part of my commitment to sustainable nutrition and real food I have dedicated myself as an Ambassador to the Real Food Campaign.

‘’ Real food promotes health, is nutrient-dense, safe, and minimally* or unprocessed. Real food is raised and grown in ways that protect, regenerate and sustain our soils, our health, all of nature and our planet.’’

Additional Training / CPD

 I am committed to lifelong learning as a nutritional therapist 

– Long Covid. Metabolism and Gut Microbiota.

– Autoimmunity and Nutrition.

– Gut-Vagina-Bladder Axis and UTIs.

– Gut Health and the Microbiome.

– The Gut Microbiome and Probiotics.

– Skin Aging

– Histamine Intolerance

– Type 2 Diabetes and Nutrition

-IBS

– Adult acne

As part of my MSc I completed a dissertation on the ‘Impact of traditionally fermented sourdough bread on IBS’. You can read a review of this here. I also write articles which focus on nutrition, diet and lifestyle and my particular passion, Sustainable Nutrition. One area which has always been of interest is the benefits of eating nose to tail. You can read my article on this subject in Food Manifesto Wales. Read here.

If you would like to collaborate with me on any projects relating to these areas please do feel free to contact me. I love to engage with pro-active ventures where I can use my knowledge to bring about positive change both in the community and further afield.

The CNHC Register is provided by Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC) and is the national voluntary regulator for complementary healthcare practitioners in the UK. Its key function is to enhance public protection, by setting standards for registration and providing a hallmark for quality in the industry.

The British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine (BANT) is a professional body for Registered Nutrition Practitioners. Its primary function is to assist its members in attaining the highest standards of integrity, knowledge, competence and professional practice, in order to protect the client’s interests, nutritional therapy and Registered Nutrition Practitioners.