Catch the latest episode of The House of Wellness with Chemist Warehouse on The Breeze where Mike is joined by journalist and author Lisette Reymer, kiwi cell biologist Dr Iona Weir, our resident G.P Dr John and resident pharmacist Piyara Perera.
Featured Guest: Lisette Reymer
Journalist and author Lisette Reymer sat down with Mike to talk about her new book, ‘No, I Don’t Get Danger Money - Confessions of an Accidental War Correspondent’.
After Newshub closed and Lisette lost her job working as a European Correspondent, she returned to New Zealand and wrote a book that pulls back the curtain on frontline journalism.
From near-misses with landmines and missiles to sleepless nights in bomb shelters, Lisette recalls her time reporting in war-torn areas and the impact it had on her well-being.
“Still I can’t handle fireworks because they remind me of the bombs,” Lisette admitted.
“There are things like that that I’m obviously still working through.
Lisette’s book reveals not only the pressure of war reporting, but also the dark humour and rare moments of joy found in unimaginable circumstances.
Featured Guest: Dr Iona Weir
Kiwi cell biologist Dr Iona Weir has made a groundbreaking advancement in women’s health with the development of a new non-hormonal treatment targeting Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM).
Formerly known as vaginal atrophy, GSM is a condition affecting up to 84% of women with symptoms like vaginal dryness, itching, bladder urgency and painful sex - all linked back to declining estrogen levels.
“If you’re going to invent viagra, you’ve got to think of the other side.” Dr Weir explained.
After 30 years of research and a two-year clinical trial, Dr Weir’s innovation offers a comprehensive solution that restores vaginal health and supports bladder function, without relying on hormone therapy.
Resident GP: Dr John
Resident GP Dr John returned to the show to bust health myths and answer listener questions.
Dr John debunked the old wives’ tale that going outside with wet hair causes colds - spoiler, it doesn’t - and explained that cracking knuckles won’t lead to arthritis.
He dismissed detox teas as unnecessary thanks to the liver’s natural filtering power and warned that even moderate alcohol consumption impacts liver health.
Dr John also emphasised listening to your body, drinking when you’re thirsty, resting during illness and keeping joints moving to ease pain from arthritis.
Resident Pharmacist: Piyara Perera
This week, Piyara joined Mike to explain how cold weather can trigger flare-ups in asthma, arthritis, heart disease and diabetes, due to changes in temperature, activity levels and reduced sunlight.
Piyara underscored the value of pharmacists in offering walk-in health advice, blood pressure monitoring, medication reminders and guidance on when to see a doctor.
She also recommended building a tailored winter first aid kit, including inhalers, thick moisturisers, heat packs and cold and flu essentials, to stay prepared and avoid unnecessary hospital visits.
Listen to the full episode up top and tune in next Sunday from 8 am for The House of Wellness on The Breeze.
