Dr Shamistra Barathan

MBBS, FRACGP, FACNEM, DFFP, DRCOG

Dr Shami graduated from Imperial College School of Medicine in London in 2000 and worked in the United Kingdom and New Zealand before settling here in Melbourne.

She has over 22 years of experience and has specialised in nutritional and environmental medicine by completing a degree (FACNEM) with the Australasian College of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine (ACNEM). She also holds the fellowship to the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (FRACGP). In 2021, she was Vice-President of ACNEM.

Dr Shami is a pianist, loves singing, meditating, hiking and travelling. She is also a podcaster and blogger. Follow the SIX HATS PODCAST on all channels and listen to Dr Shami speak about how stress impacts our health and what we can do about it! It’s now in 22 countries!

Special Interests

Chronic disease management e.g. cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes . Weight loss . Anxiety and depression . Fatigue . Bloating and irritable bowel syndrome . Thyroid disorders . Female hormonal imbalances e.g. polycystic ovarian syndrome, premenstrual tension, endometriosis, heavy and painful periods . Medicinal cannabis . Long COVID

My Story

My personal journey with integrative medicine began more than 20 years ago when I was working as a GP. I felt incredibly disillusioned with the traditional medical model. The quick consultations, drug-focused treatments, and masking of symptoms seemed so far removed from what I had always believed medicine should be.

It wasn’t until I realised that my own chronic stress was affecting my health – from my gut health to my hormonal health and even my skin health – that I started searching for alternative solutions. It wasn’t until a friend introduced me to nutritional medicine in 2013 that I discovered the missing piece of the puzzle.

Learning about nutrient deficiencies, gut health, hormonal health, and the impact of stress and environmental toxins on our health felt like learning medicine all over again. I was amazed that, as a GP, I hadn’t been taught how effective integrative strategies could help our bodies heal naturally. In that moment, I discovered my passion to help others find solutions to their chronic symptoms and improve the quality of their health and their lives.

That’s why I founded MINT, an integrative natural therapies clinic where we could educate patients on the impact of stress and chronic disease. My ultimate goal is always to help patients achieve lasting health and wellness, so they no longer need to rely on medication or frequent doctor visits.

Looking back on my journey now, I’m so grateful that I followed my intuition and found a path that aligned with my beliefs about what medicine should be. If you’re reading this and considering MINT for your health needs, thank you! We can’t wait to help you on your journey towards optimal health and wellbeing.