Naturopathy

What is Naturopathy?

Naturopathy is a system of alternative or complementary health care which draws its key philosophic foundations from the “Father of Medicine” Hippocrates and healing traditions of various cultures.

Depending on their training Naturopaths may use a variety of treatment modalities. I am trained in diet planning, clinical nutrition, flower essences and herbal medicine so those are the modalities I use in my clinical practice.

What does a naturopath do?

I’ll work with you to support your body’s natural healing process. A naturopathic consultation is longer than a standard medical consultation. There’s plenty of time to explore your current health, your health history and family history.

The goal is to improve your current health, identify and address the underlying cause and promote ongoing wellness and vitality.

Naturopathic principles

Naturopathic medicine is defined by a set of seven principles that determine the methods used to establish therapeutic relationships, reach diagnosis, and to prescribe the appropriate treatment for the individual patient.

First do no harm

Treatments should be safe and effective, minimising the chances of adverse reactions or harmful side effects. Treatments take into account interactions between drugs (both herbal and pharmaceutical). If the patient would benefit from the services of other healthcare professionals they should be referred to them.

The healing power of nature

This foundation principle of Naturopathy states that it is the natural state of the body to be well and the body’s cells and systems strive to maintain optimum health.

Treat the cause

A symptom is a signpost to the underlying cause of an illness. Guiding the way to access deeper, long-term healing.

Symptoms can only give a general indication of the disease. Patients may present similar symptoms but have differing underlying causes for those symptoms. Someone may be constipated due to a lack of fibre in their diet while another patient’s underlying cause may be low thyroid function. The treatment approach would be different in each case.

By treating just the symptoms the root cause of the illness may go undetected and long term healing may be compromised.

Treat the whole person

A differential diagnosis will take into account not just the disease but other aspects of health which include environmental, physical, emotional, mental and social. In this way Naturopathy recognises the uniqueness of each patient and the requirement of individualised treatment that takes into consideration these complex interactions.

Preventative medicine

Naturopaths will work with a patient to assess risk factors such as heredity and individual susceptibility to illness to determine appropriate interventions for the prevention of illness.

Wellness

Wellness is not just being free from disease. It implies a balance between every level of being – body, mind and spirit.

Patient education

In Naturopathic medicine the patient is encouraged to have an active role in their healing and be empowered by it. The role of the Naturopath is to provide education on how a healthy lifestyle can be maintained. This emphasis on self responsibility means healing is more likely to occur and disease is less likely to return.

What can naturopathy treat?

Naturopathy can treat a wide range of health conditions and provide support for healthy living. See the health issues page for more detail on my clinical focus areas.

Acute conditions

These are health conditions which often come on suddenly, and generally would be expected to be resolved quickly with no ongoing health issues. Examples of acute conditions treated include: colds and flu, urinary tract infection, conjunctivitis, shingles, colic, cold sores, sunburn.

Lifestyle transitions

Naturopathy offers support for lifestyle changes including preconception care, pregnancy support, menopause and healthy ageing.

Are you ready for better health?

Let’s get started.