We had the pleasure of sitting down with Fleur - naturopath, mama, and weaver of all things earth wisdom. Her work is deeply rooted in the rhythms of nature, the intelligence of the body, and a belief in slow, nourishing healing.
In this conversation, Fleur shares her personal journey - from growing up on coastal NZ land to navigating postpartum depletion, home birth, and breastfeeding challenges. She speaks to the rawness of motherhood, the power of plant medicine and minerals, and the importance of reconnecting with our natural rhythms in a world that often pulls us away from them.
This is a story of reclamation - of body, of land, and of the ancient wisdom women have always carried. Whether you’re in the early days of motherhood, deep in your healing, or simply longing for a slower, more intuitive way to live - there’s something here for you.
Fleur, you’re a naturopath, mumma, and weaver of all things earth wisdom. Tell us a bit about your journey to the work and life you live today.
My journey started with the land and my own body. I was lucky to grow up around horses, on large coastal pōhutukawa forest - I think that time on the earth and roaming as a kid quietly shaped a lot of who I am now. As I got older, life pulled me away from that connection - and I became unwell and disconnected from myself. A retreat in Thailand helped spark something in me again. I didn’t realise it at the time, but that experience planted the seed that would eventually bring me back to my roots.
In my mid-twenties, I was so inspired I studied naturopathy - I didn’t even really know why it was quite intuitively led but it felt like coming home. I’m not super academic so it was really after my studies that everything began to make sense. This was when wild alchemy was born. I was just obsessed with the magic of the earth and sharing that. Linking, people, the connection to themselves and the earth: I found myself spending more time with the plants, in the forest, letting the learning integrate in a deeper way and often taking people on guided walks and holding day retreats up on the land. I’ve always been drawn to supporting people, and over time my practice has expanded to include herbalism, energy healing, cranio-sacral therapy, and a strong focus on minerals and terrain based earth wisdom support. It’s just so apparent to me in clinic that the body is speaking and it shows up in symptoms, and it’s usually that deeper subconscious trauma that really wants to be seen heard and held.
"It’s just so apparent to me in clinic that the body is speaking and it shows up in symptoms, and it’s usually that deeper subconscious trauma that really wants to be seen heard and held."
I’ve been lucky to learn alongside others - through my very special sisters who hold the lineage of ancient practice like tea ceremony, hands-on healing, and plant work, time with BioTrace and Foraged For You, and sitting with people who carry different traditions and perspectives had also shaped me. That time taught me how to listen with respect, not to take, but to honour my own lineage and deepen my understanding of healing and that it’s not about me as an ego but about our collective liberation with each other.
Now, I continue to be guided by the humbling magic of being a mama to a little human. It was birth that transformed me again into the full power of being a women. It’s really rooted so much strength in me: She’s been my biggest teacher and gift.
At the moment I’m in a season of reweaving everything I’ve learned - and it feels really special.
As a naturopath and a mother, how has your definition of women’s health evolved since becoming a mum?
It’s changed entirely. I now see that women’s health is everything - our health and the earths health. And how sacred we are. And how important it is to nourish women.
And that health begins long before conception - in how we live, how we nourish ourselves, how we relate to the world. Our cells hold memory. I believe the way we care for our body, our nervous system, and our environment directly shapes the way we birth and become mothers.
...not just babies, but ideas, relationships, and our sense of self. So many women today are living out of sync with natural rhythms due to societal norms and how the world is today. As mothers, as women, I think we’re being called to reclaim those rhythms - to reconnect with the light, the plants, our wombs, and the minerals that old earth wisdom that us wise women held to support us to truely hold life.
Birthing my daughter transformed everything for me. I was told many times how my birth would go, but I wanted to be at home - and I was. I birthed her at home on her own timing, before the midwife arrived.
That might sound radical, but in truth it was just natural. Birth is not a medical event - it’s something our bodies know how to do. That experience gave me even more strength to support women in their power - and I see how that experience shaped my daughter too, in the way she meets the world.
Motherhood has also humbled me. Breastfeeding was hard - I didn’t expect how much grit the postpartum period would demand of me. I fought for my supply, and I now bring that same advocacy into my work, supporting women to nourish themselves, to feed their babies, to feel held through the rawness of it all. Breastfeeding and birth are both incredibly magical and incredibly vulnerable. They changed me.
In clinic, being a mother has change and deepened my lens. When I sit with a mother who’s running on no sleep or navigating the fourth trimester, I just get it now. And I’m often struck by how little I knew before - how beautiful and how hard it really is, all rolled into one.
What were some of the most unexpected challenges - or gifts - of the postpartum period for you, physically or emotionally?
Breastfeeding completely caught me off guard. I thought I’d birth and slide naturally into being a breastfeeding mama - but that wasn’t my path. My supply was low, and I remember so many nights crying over my baby, staying up around the clock on a pumping schedule. Even now, I flinch a little at the sound of the breast pump - it lives in my nervous system. But that time showed me my fight. I didn’t want to be told to give up. I wanted to try everything. And I did.
That experience helped me learn so much about my body - my thyroid (which I still support) and how complex supply can be. I realised that a baby’s latch doesn’t always come easily, and that breastfeeding isn’t always intuitive.
People told me to just give her a bottle - but I knew in my bones that wasn’t right for us. And now, I carry that fire into supporting other women through their feeding journey.
Breastfeeding supports so much - connection, nervous system development, oral structure, nutrient transfer, immunity - it’s a whole ecosystem of bonding and biology.
Postpartum also brought me back to the plants in a deeper way. My herbal allies, especially from my own lineage, showed up strongly. Rosemary filled the house before birth. Clary sage came in as labour neared. And in the early postpartum days, motherwort held me. I’ll never forget taking a shot of tincture and feeling like I’d just received the warmest hug - like something in me landed again.
Birth itself was one of the most awe-inspiring things I’ve ever experienced. I truly felt like I left my body to go retrieve my baby. I’ve never made sounds like that - so close to the earth. There was wildness and deep power in it. It changed me completely. And the gifts has been in this deep learning time that I’m still integrating as she is now 2 years old. I feel like I keep evolving as she does.
Many mums struggle with feeling depleted or disconnected from themselves. What practices have helped you restore your energy or sense of self?
I really feel this question - and to be honest, it’s still something I’m working through. There have been times I’ve felt disconnected, even from my own work with Wild Alchemy, and I’ve had to sit with the grief of that. I think what’s helped most is being radically honest - naming it - and leaning into people and spaces where my body feels safe.
Nature always helps. Simple moments like morning sun on my face, lying in bed with a hand on my heart and belly, or a nice meal.
I focus on what I call “micro-moments” - little rituals that don’t require a lot of time but help bring me back. Tea with a friend, a juice in the sun with my baby, painting together - these are the things that are small but helpful.
Being in a group space with other mums has also been incredibly nourishing. We meet every second week to learn about plants and share wisdom. It’s not often, but it’s something I look forward to and always leave feeling more resourced as we have some incredible people in the group who are teachers and stewards of different things. Tea ceremony - whether I serve in community or just solo is another anchor for me.
I also love herbs like motherwort and kava for nervous system support, and lately I’ve been drinking water infused with minerals and leaves - for hydration, but also to carry the spirit of the plants into my body. Being in the bush with my child, my partner, or even just my dog helps me feel like me again. And horses - being around horses recently has brought me back to my inner child in a really beautiful way.
In clinic, I try to keep things really simple for my clients. The wellness world can be overwhelming, especially for mums. I take an intuitive, less-is-more approach - helping women find small, doable things that support them in real life along with regaining nutrients and grounding foods to support on a body level.
How do you support your own nervous system and hormone health in the midst of motherhood?
Plants and minerals are my go-to supports - I work closely with herbal allies and focus on replenishing my body with what it truly needs. Time in the sun is really important for me. And time off my phone - which I find can be incredibly disconnecting. It’s something I’m constantly working on to protect my energy and presence with my family.
We eat nourishing, grounding meals every day - broths, juices, mostly organic as we grow our food too. Food really affects how I feel, so the way I eat has become a ritual in itself. I also work with mineral balancing and use supportive tools and supplements.
When it comes to hormones, I see it as a whole system - how we relate to light, rest, rhythm, digestion, our liver, our nervous system. It’s all connected. I love working with herbs, EFT, castor oil packs, water rituals, and somatic grounding practices. Even just slowing down enough to feel my feet or breath can be powerful. I also really try to honour my cycle - especially my bleed. I notice how much my body regulates when I work with, not against, each phase. That slow down during my bleed has become something I actually look forward to now.
Hormones and stress are a big topic, and I think for most mothers, this area can feel overwhelming or easily neglected. We can be so hard on ourselves - I just want to normalise that it’s not about doing everything perfectly. It’s about remembering ourselves in small ways, and gently returning to what supports us, when we’re able.
How do you approach nutrition now, both for yourself and your family? Are there any non-negotiables you try to keep in place?
We keep things simple - we’re not trying to be overly crunchy or perfect. But we do prioritise good-quality food. Organic meat, vegetables, and fruit are staples in our home, and we live in a way where that’s just part of our rhythm - it’s not a “thing,” it just is.
We’re still shaping what our true non-negotiables are, especially when it comes to self-care - some of mine need more attention, and I’m okay with that being a work in progress. But one thing we always do is give thanks. I think that food and water hold energy so that is part of how I view nutrition. We do Liogi (prayer) in Niuean before meals, before sleep, and when we’re entering special places like the forest or ocean. My partner and daughter are Niuean, and this practice has become a really grounding part of our family life. It’s not religious - it’s about reverence, listening, and connection. We want our daughter to grow up with an understanding of kindness, gratitude, and respect for both the seen and unseen. Watching her connect like this is incredibly beautiful. Knowing that this energy is also how we see nutrition in our house hold too:
Food, for us, is about nourishment from the earth. We aim for nutrient-dense meals and keep things like broth, wild herbs, and whole foods on hand. We love to share the joy of meals with others, and this notion that there is always more food for others. And that we are blessed by this abundance. My partner is a runner, so we often use Mitchells Bone Broth Protein Powder or wholefood blends to replenish - and we include these things for our little one too. We try to harvest what we can - wild watercress, herbs from the garden - and focus on meals that are mindful, nourishing, and grounding for the season we’re in.
Where does Bone Broth fit into your own rhythm - any go-to ways you use it for postpartum or family nourishment?
Bone broth is our staple safe food we return to every week. It’s such a safe feeling, I love bringing “safe foods” In for my clients like this. It’s a staple in our home - part of how we choose to eat in a more ancestral, grounded way. Every Sunday, we’ll make a broth, and once it’s ready, we add rice and vegetables back in and enjoy it throughout the week. It’s simple and nourishing.
Postpartum, I drank a lot of broth - it felt truly warming and restorative. It helped rebuild me. There’s a deep wisdom in this tradition - broth carries minerals, collagen, and comfort all in one, and it’s so well received by the body, especially when we’re depleted as mamas.
What are some simple things you encourage other mums to do to support their health - especially when time and energy are low?
When energy is low, think of being wrapped up with a warm cup of tea. Go back to basics - hand on the heart and belly in the morning with some breaths. A moment in the sun. Minerals in your water - I love them so much I’m actually bringing out my own trace mineral product soon, so keep an eye out for that. Receiving help with the children. Creating some space for the mama. Gratitude, connection, and time with people who make you feel safe - these are the foundations I come back to again and again.
In clinic, I usually start with nervous system support and safe, grounding food. Herbal infusions like nettle and oat straw are beautiful for building strength and resilience. Root vegetables, broths, slow-cooked meals - these are simple, nourishing, and achievable. I like to keep things real and doable: whole food be vitamins, iron support if need magnesium, cod liver oil, zinc, and food-based supplements are often enough to start creating change. Again when the system is depleted, my focus is more along the lines of Chinese medicine, bring the energy in and restore the fire / chi in the body.
Mothers disperse a lot outwards so internal warmth and energy inward is a big focus. And if someone is really struggling with energy then I think that’s when practitioners can be so helpful.
More than anything, I think what most mothers need is to feel heard and loved in their process. That alone can be incredibly healing.
I will offer body work and craniosacral therapy, which I find deeply supportive for mothers - especially when things feel dysregulated. And I always encourage my clients to seek support in this way, movement and touch: a gentle massage, Womb care, yoni stem, a walk in nature, a swim in the ocean. It doesn’t need to be complicated. Just consistent, kind, and connected
How do you balance your clinical work with the demands of motherhood - and what have you learned in that process? // What’s something you’re leaning into or learning right now as a woman, practitioner, and mum?
Oh my gosh - I’m still learning. I’m a full-time mama and my daughter isn’t in day care, so every day I’m immersed in her world. Which is just the best. Sometimes it feels like a stretch if I’m in clinic - like I’m holding two worlds - but I’ve learned to honour the pull toward motherhood. My brain wants to be with her, so I let that be the priority most of the time.
When I do show up for clinic or hold space in the community, I rely on my support system. My parents help a lot (they are just up the road), I love the grandparent / grandchild connection, and I think time with her elders is so important, my partner also supports so we share the load. The village makes it possible.
In this season, I’m leaning into doing things slowly. Trusting that I’m on my own timeline - that Wild Alchemy, and all I want to create and offer, will come through when the time is right. Right now, my focus is mostly on being a mama. And I’m okay with that.
I just love her so much. It goes so fast. She’s two now, and I look back at her baby photos and cry. I’m in awe of her intelligence, her spirit, her purity. She teaches me every day. This chapter is so sacred. I feel blessed.
If you could wave a wand and help every woman understand one thing about her health, what would it be?
That we are wild, messy, powerful beings - and we don’t need to be perfect.
But to be honest, I don’t believe in waving a magic wand to take away the hard parts. The polarity - the challenges, the dark moments - that’s where the gold is. That’s where we’re shaped. It’s in the grit and the grief that we find the depth, and I trust that those parts of the path are meaningful too.
What I think women (and all of humanity) really need is space - to be heard, to feel seen, to be met with tenderness. We need time to feel into our bodies again. To listen. We’re living in a time that calls for more humility, more care, and more reverence for the wisdom we already carry.
So if I could offer anything, it would be a remembering: that you hold power in your body. That women have always known how to heal, how to birth, how to connect with the earth. And that every scar, every challenge, can be a door - into beauty, into strength, into deep knowing.
Where can we find and follow you?
You can find me on Instagram @wild_alchemy_ and at wildalchemylove.com — though I’m currently in a reweaving phase with both my offerings and website so stay tuned. I’ll be sharing more earth wisdom, products of herbs and mineral medicine, and healing tools soon. This next chapter feels really special.
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