Women In Wellness: Q&A With Madison Dohnt

In honour of International Women's Day, we're spotlighting Madison Dohnt (@madisondohnt), a passionate Naturopath, Nutritionist, and Women's Health Educator. Drawing from her own journey of overcoming cystic acne and PCOS, Madison is on a mission to empower women to reclaim their health and vitality. With her compassionate approach, she acts as a health detective, uncovering the root causes of symptoms and guiding women towards holistic well-being. Madison's inclusive programs prioritise knowledge and understanding, ensuring that every woman has access to the tools she needs to thrive. Let's honour Madison's dedication to women's health and empowerment this International Women's Day.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR LINE OF WORK AND WHAT YOUR MISSION ENTAILS?

I know too well what it feels like to be unwell and experiencing symptoms, only to be told “your test results are normal”, “there is nothing wrong”, and “we don’t have answers”. When I was struggling with severe cystic acne & PCOS, hearing these statements had me feeling depressed, not wanting to leave the house and held back from living my life the way I wanted. But… I refused to live the rest of my life struggling and feeling hopeless, so I became determined to find the answers that would get me out of my rut.

This is what motivated me to become a Naturopath, Nutritionist and Women’s Health Educator. I learnt that symptoms don’t just ‘appear’, and that there is always a deeper cause. I love taking the time to play health detective and analyse each patient’s unique case to discover what’s going on internally for them. It upsets me to hear of how many women have been gaslit to feel like their symptoms are normal or that there is nothing that can be done. My mission is to teach women how to support their bodies, so they can take control of their own health, find the cause of their symptoms, and have the knowledge to fix what is really going on - just as I did with my own symptoms and conditions. We only have one life and we deserve to live it to the fullest and feel amazing while doing so!

No one is going to care about your health as much as you do. And no one is going to notice the ins and outs of your symptoms like you do. Knowledge is power, and understanding our health gives us back the control instead of feeling helpless and relying on others. Understanding our bodies allows us to make educated decisions about our treatment and enables us to advocate for ourselves and our own health care.

I used to think natural medicine was a bit ‘woo hoo’, particularly given my background as a scientist, prioritising evidence-based approaches. However, upon delving into my own research, my perspective shifted significantly and I discovered that dietary and lifestyle treatments are strongly supported by scientific evidence and offer the best path towards a sustainably happier and healthier life long-term - because who wants their symptoms to come back in 6 months time? Not me!

WHY IS INCLUSIVITY WITHIN THE NUTRITION & WELLNESS SPACE IMPORTANT TO YOU AS A LEADER IN THE INDUSTRY?

Inclusivity within the nutrition and wellness space is absolutely crucial, and it's something I'm deeply committed to, especially as many health studies in history were completed on men. Every woman deserves access to accurate information, effective treatments, and evidence-based advice that is catered to our hormones. Our biology is different to men in many ways.

I strongly believe that health literacy shouldn’t only be available to those with a health science degree, which is why I have been so passionate to use my background and love of teaching to develop health education programs for the everyday woman - essentially teaching you how to become your own practitioner.

By creating inclusive science-backed programs that anyone can understand, it ensures that no woman feels left behind or excluded from the conversation about her health. Including more women in the dialogue around women’s health and wellness only helps with awareness and reduces the number of women who continue to go under-diagnosed with conditions such as Endometriosis and PCOS. Better conversations equal better and more comprehensive healthcare for women. It also reduces the number of women who unknowingly fall victim to unqualified health advice on social media, and stop women from wasting money, time and effort on pointless health and wellness trends/products.

WHAT ARE SOME KEY AREAS WHERE YOU BELIEVE MORE RESEARCH AND ATTENTION ARE NEEDED TO IMPROVE WOMEN'S HEALTH OUTCOMES?

There's a concerning trend of under-diagnosis and a lack of awareness surrounding conditions such as Endometriosis and PCOS, which are becoming increasingly common due to the stressors and hormone-disruptors of today’s society. Then there's the notion that women should simply accept symptoms like PMS, period pain, fatigue and acne as a normal part of being female, despite these being signs from the body that it is struggling.

I also wish for more awareness around how crucial it is to take a proactive approach to our health, addressing symptoms early and seeking treatment before a problem becomes severe. By being taught how to listen to our bodies, interpret patterns, and advocate for our own health, we can live life feeling like our best selves and full of energy!

I also strongly advocate for more research into women's mental health, particularly focusing on conditions like anxiety, depression, and stress management, as mental well-being significantly impacts physical health. As someone who's experienced firsthand the impacts of stress in causing hormonal imbalances and unwanted symptoms such as acne, I'm passionate about shedding light on this often-overlooked connection with stress.

To continue following Madison's journey and support her incredible mission for women, be sure to follow her on socials:

Instagram: @madisondohnt

TikTok: @madisondohnt