What exactly does a Naturopath do?

When I tell people I'm a Naturopath, I sometimes see a quizzical look on their face... what exactly do Naturopaths do?

Basically, Naturopaths treat or help to manage almost any health condition using natural-based treatment methods such as nutrition, herbal medicine and homoeopathy. My explanation could stop here, but I shall go on.

Naturopathy's holistic approach, recognising the interconnectedness of all things, is guided by the belief that the body has its own innate healing ability with treatment aimed at removing obstacles to healing and strengthening each individual’s vital force (qi, prana, life force), or in other words, restore homoeostasis.

Naturopathic treatment can be undertaken for short periods focusing on addressing a particular complaint, with the person returning to the Naturopath only when another health issue arises.  However, Naturopathy is at its best for people who want to take an holistic, proactive and preventative approach to their health.

Naturopathy can be seen as a long-term resource that helps you achieve and maintain your optimal state of well-being throughout your life-time. As our vital force is continually being challenged by 'life', regular annual/quarterly/monthly Naturopathy consultations can help to keep you vitalised!  Just like regularly servicing your car! 

So, you’re in your first Naturopathy consultation:  while aiming to minimise symptoms and help you to feel better as quickly as possible, Naturopathy takes a thorough look at the big picture: Why are you sick right now? What is going on in your life, your body, your mind that may be contributing to your ill-health? These issues may be hormonal fluctuations, food choices, stress, environmental factors, digestive problems, a relationship, previous illness, or a combination of many.

A simple example: a person gets a cold. They take cold tablets and the symptoms clear, but they still feel worn out and a few weeks later get another cold but this time it’s worse. Naturopathic treatments will indeed treat the cold symptoms, but why is this person now more susceptible to colds? It's revealed that the person has been feeling tired and grumpy for some time and hasn't been sleeping well because of pressure at work... this high level of stress has depressed their immune response. So, treatments are aimed at the respiratory, immune and nervous systems, improving sleep, and supporting the patient to investigate strategies for managing the current and future stressful situations. A range of treatment options may be offered such as food-as-medicine, lifestyle coaching, nutritional supplements, herbal remedies and counselling.

Even if you are already on medication or undergoing other forms of treatment Naturopathy can provide support so you can achieve your best outcome. For example, if you are on an anti-depressant there may be food and supplements that can benefit, say, specifically your digestion to improve assimilation of nutrients and in turn your mood, thereby supporting the action of the anti-depressant.

Naturopathy's value is also clear in situations when patients say, “they can't find what’s wrong with me, the tests show nothing, the medication doesn't seem to be helping”.  Whilst diagnoses are helpful, the Naturopathic approach can formulate a treatment plan based on your medical history, the symptoms of your main complaint, and on information gathered through extensive questioning about other aspects of your body, mind, lifestyle, environment etc. The focus is on treating you the person, not a disease label.

People come to see me for a range of diverse reasons.  The most common can be grouped as follows:

MOOD: anxiety, depression, irritability, sadness, erratic moods, low motivation/energy

DIGESTION: constipation, bloating, cramping, irritable bowel, indigestion/heartburn

HORMONES: irregular periods, excessive bleeding/pain, infertility, low libido, menopause, thyroid dysfunction

The above in the presence of CHRONIC DISEASE: asthma, HIV, autoimmune disease, diabetes, arthritis

I hope reading this has given you information about why you might benefit from Naturopathic Health Care.  If you have a question, please contact me.

Home grown organic veges - yum!
(now cooked, eaten and enjoyed by me)