Meet Health Connect Shen Director, Nicola Macdonald

We recently asked our fabulous Director and owner Health Connect Shen, Dr Nicola Macdonald (Chinese Medicine) a few questions so we could get to know her better.

The answers were insightful so we wanted to share them with you!

What do you like to do when not in clinic?

I'm definitely a lover of the outdoors, learning and adventure. I have spent a lot of time embracing Yoga, travel, cooking (and I love eating!) I am a water lover, nature lover and I'm currently learning to surf. I'm passionate about dancing, singing, oh and a history lover too!

What is the most interesting place been to in the world?

I would have to say Rio because it was one of first trips when I began working on the Queen Mary 2. We went for Carnivale and it is by far one of the most exciting experiences of my life.

I also loved Egypt and found the history a big overload, but in best way possible.

Turkey and then Rome in Italy were other destinations I threw myself into the centuries old history and seeing the things I learned about as child in real life.

Oh and then there is China which I found to be a places of natural beauty. And you can add Alaska, Bora Bora and so many more destinations to the list.

As a food lover and avid cook, what is the most interesting / weird thing you have eaten?

I have eaten all sorts of things including crickets in Mexico, witchety grubs that were deep fried with satay sauce, ostrich, crocodile and plenty of unknown when it came to eating the local cuisine when I was studying in China.

What are you future dreams?

Definitely more travel, retreats including yoga and other gorgeous adventures, experiences involving as much learning as possible, finding new love and singing with greater confidence in front of people!

Tell us something interesting about you you’re happy to share with the world?

I have a ridiculous sense of humour and can definitely bring the laughs to any situation.

What difference do you want to make?

Empowering women, people, kids, anyone really, to understand they have choices about health. There is not just one way and one solution.

Health and wellbeing has many shapes, forms, sizes and no one size fits all.

I want people to be informed about their choices and to understand there are plenty of safer, non drug related solutions. There is choice in knowledge and much of that knowledge comes from respected ancient wisdoms across all indigenous health no matter what part of the world it comes from.

When asked to tell us about who you are, what would the people you treasure the most say about you?

They will tell you I am generous and willing to give people everything, whether I can do so or not.

I love music, singing and dancing.

Cooking for others and having friends who are family around me and sharing time with them is so important.

I have high expectations of peoples loyalty and friendship because of my personal values.

I'm fun to be around and always ready for the next adventure.

How did you end up as a TCM practitioner?

I was in London, having gone travelling and started my working holiday adventures working a ski season in Austria in hospitality.

Hospitality was my adventure for 5 ½ yrs in the UK and 4 yrs in I found I had not travelled as much as I had hoped. I found myself in a bit of a slump and didn’t know what to do. I was clear that hospitality was not my lifelong destiny. I needed a change but had no idea what it would be or should be.

A friend invited to a gathering and someone there ended up doing a reading and said “you are going to study medicine”. I thought this was both bizarre and random. She then said the word "acupuncture" and I was more intrigued.

I knew a friend who had studied it and felt immediately inspired thinking about it as an option for my future. You could say the seed had been planted!

It then turned into a beanstalk and I climbed it. My sister was studying psychology in Sydney so I asked her to research where to study Accupunture back in Australia.

I stayed in the UK for another year and did some basic courses there. My life felt like it had new meaning, purpose and intention and before long I was on my way back to Australia to study Accupuncture and Chinese Medicine.

I am so glad I did because it led me here and to being in an incredibly blessed position to support you.