Meet Chelsea

I’m Chelsea, the founder of Arrowtown Apothecary, a clinical naturopath, medical herbalist, and yoga teacher based in the heart of Arrowtown, New Zealand. My passion is helping you move out of stuckness and into a state of vibrant health - supporting your body, mind, and spirit to thrive.

I believe your body speaks with purpose, and my role is to help interpret those messages - guiding you toward balance and deeper connection with yourself. My approach combines science and soul, empowering you to transform your health through education, prevention, and practical, sustainable care.

I offer comprehensive naturopathic care for a wide range of health concerns - essentially anything you might see a GP for in a non-emergency setting. My approach is different in that I focus on root-cause medicine rather than symptom management, taking the time to understand the “why” behind your presentation. From hormonal and digestive imbalances to immune, cardiovascular, metabolic, skin, mood, and energy concerns, my role is to help you uncover the underlying drivers of dysfunction and guide your body back toward equilibrium.

My journey into natural health began in childhood, though unbeknownst to me at the time. I grew up in a hospitality family here in Central Otago, surrounded by chefs, gardeners, and the rhythm of the seasons. My mother and grandmother were passionate gardeners, and my father’s creativity in the kitchen fostered a deep appreciation for food, foraging, and the cyclical changes of nature. Yet, working in the hospitality industry also gave me a front-row seat to its more unsustainable side - long hours, stress, and habits that wear down wellbeing. After many years immersed in that world, I realised I wanted to support people on a deeper level.

Like many, I experienced a constellation of seemingly unrelated symptoms over the years, each a whisper from my body trying to get my attention. I often say, “your body whispers, then it yells, then it screams.” Through learning to listen, find balance, and restore my own health, I found my calling to help others do the same.

At the heart of my work is a truly collaborative and educational approach to health care. I believe that lasting transformation happens when you not only feel better, but also understand your body and what it needs to stay well. Each consultation is a conversation - an opportunity to learn, connect the dots, and build practical, sustainable habits that empower you to take charge of your own wellbeing.

While I use functional testing and modern diagnostics where relevant, these are simply tools to guide understanding. The real work happens in the space between education and action - where we integrate nutrition, lifestyle medicine, herbal therapy, and mind-body practices in a way that feels achievable and meaningful for you.

My goal is to make the process of healing both informed and empowering. You’ll come away not just with a treatment plan, but with clarity, confidence, and the knowledge to make aligned decisions for your health long-term.

After years of life learning, tertiary study, followed by clinical practice, I've moved to a model that I believe truly gets results - and the 90-Day Health Accelerator is at the heart of that. The reality is, most people can commit to something for 30 days. Dry July works because it has a clear beginning and end. But real, lasting health change doesn't happen in a month - that first phase is often just laying the foundations. The second month is where we start building on them, and by month three, we begin to see genuine momentum - the kind that carries forward long after our work together ends. This isn't about quick fixes. It's about creating the conditions for transformation that actually sticks.

With over 10 years immersed in holistic health, my background bridges clinical natural medicine, herbalism, nutrition, yoga, and meditation, forming a truly integrative foundation for the work I do today. My studies include extensive yoga and meditation training across Asia and Australasia, totalling more than 500 hours (500YTT), alongside a Bachelor of Natural Medicine, where I was honoured with accolades in Medical Herbalism.

I’ve had the privilege of working with a diverse range of people - from professional athletes and high-performing executives to children and adolescents - helping each build a deeper understanding of their body and how to support it naturally. Empowerment through education is at the core of my approach, whether I’m guiding a teenager to connect with their health for the first time or helping an athlete optimise recovery and performance.

As the world of health and medicine continues to evolve, I’m dedicated to continual learning and professional development - both in formal study and informally through research, mentorship, and clinical exploration. This commitment ensures that my clients receive care that is current, evidence-informed, and holistic in its truest sense.

Now based in Arrowtown with my beautiful daughter Willow, my work has come full circle - from foraging wild ingredients to crafting herbal formulations and supporting others in their own transformative wellness journeys.

When I'm not in clinic, you'll find me off-grid in the mountains, paddle boarding on the lake, or running local trails with my dog. I have a deep love for nature and the elements - especially water. It's where I find clarity, creativity, and calm. Time spent by the rivers, lakes, and shores of the South Island keeps me grounded and connected to the rhythms that inspire my work.

I'm also passionate about live music, calisthenics, and somatic energy work, and love foraging with my daughter Willow as a way to weave nature into everyday life. Sharing the world of plant medicine is something that genuinely lights me up, whether that's running community workshops, involvement with the local schools, or growing and sharing produce. I want people to feel empowered by the natural world, not intimidated by it. I wish we were taught this stuff at school more!

A lifelong learner, I regularly immerse myself in new research and continuing education to stay at the forefront of integrative and evidence-based medicine - ensuring my practice continues to evolve alongside the people and environment that shape it. Big goals of post-grad study in 2026/2027 .. watch this space.