Meet Jessica Bush

BHSc (Nat) mNHAA

Clinical naturopath, herbalist and educator

I’m Jess, founder of Nacelium and a clinical naturopath, herbalist and educator based in Hobart, Tasmania. I was drawn to study naturopathy by its emphasis on understanding the underlying causes of health concerns, caring for the whole person and helping people take an informed, proactive role in their health. From the beginning, I’ve been interested in how we support people to stay well, alongside caring for those experiencing illness.

This whole-person approach led me to explore the microbiome - the community of microbes that live in and on our bodies. Learning about their role in health broadened my understanding of what makes up a ‘whole person’. More recently, I’ve come to understand how our internal microbial world connects with the world around us, and how individual, community and environmental health are intertwined.

Working with you

I enjoy helping people make sense of complex health concerns, especially when they’ve been managing symptoms for a long time or feel overwhelmed by conflicting advice. My approach starts with listening: understanding what you’re experiencing, what you’ve already tried and what matters most to you. From there, we work together on a plan that is informed by evidence and realistic for your everyday life.

My clinical focus is digestive health and the microbiome, and I’ve worked with clients from all over the world. I hold a Bachelor of Health Science in Naturopathy and have practised in Australia and the UK. I spent four and a half years within Dr Jason Hawrelak’s gastrointestinal fellowship at Goulds Natural Medicine, progressing from associate to senior associate. This work involved complex digestive presentations, detailed microbiome interpretation and collaboration with fellow practitioners.

Beyond the consultation

Research and education are a substantial part of my work. I critically assess emerging evidence, explore how findings fit together and translate them into practical information for patients, practitioners and community audiences. Through conference presentations, workshops, radio and podcasts, I share research on the connections between our microbiome, environment and health.

I’m also a member of a sustainability special interest group for herbalists, reflecting my interest in the relationship between human health, the environment and the responsible use of medicinal plants.

Closer to home, I organise and deliver community health education events and have launched the Bush Apothecary at Okines Community House. This new venture supports locals to be proactive about their health through access to herbal medicine, education and approachable conversation.

Whether I’m working with an individual, presenting research or developing a community initiative, I aim to make health information understandable and useful, while keeping the broader picture in view.

Speaking, media and community education

  • 2026 NHAA Herbal Medicine Summit — Facilitator with the Sustainability Special Interest Group session, “Reconnecting with Herbs as Friends.”

  • 2025 NHAA Naturopathic Symposium — Presented “Looking Disease in the Mouth - Oral Microbiota in the Aetiology of Systemic Disease”

  • 2024 NHAA Herbal Medicine Summit — Presented “Rewilding: The relationship between environmental biodiversity, microbial richness and human health.”

  • The Resilient Biome podcast, United States — Guest discussion on the oral microbiome and its connection to broader health.

  • ABC Radio Tasmania — Guest appearances sharing health information with the wider community.

  • Community education — Organised and delivered local public health talks, including events supporting community fundraising.

“Jessica Bush lives and breathes all things microbiome, she has studied extensively with Dr Hawrelak who is leading the developments in naturopathic microbiome management, all of her hard work and dedication is evident in her education programs. Jessica breaks down complex, multifaceted research and distills it into the essentials in a format that is digestible and relevant. She has a humble and warm manner which makes one feel welcome and a part of the conversation. Overall very inspiring. I highly recommend her educational events or consultations.”

-Jayne