Why see a naturopath?
If you’ve never had a consult with a naturopath before, you might have no idea what an appointment might involve, or you conversely might have a preconceived idea about what we do. Many of us have heard stories about friends or family walking out after a consult with a holistic health practitioner armed with a hefty bill, hundreds of dollars of supplements, feeling confused about what they are supposed to be taking, when, and why! So, let’s start at the beginning.
So, what is a naturopath?
A naturopath is a holistic health practitioner with a formal qualification - in Australia this is typically a degree in health science specialising in naturopathy and/or nutrition. This means we are at university for four years studying biochemistry, human biology, nutritional medicine, herbal medicine, psychology, counselling theory, clinical diagnostic and examination, pathology, dietary planning, clinical skills, pharmacology, and public health. This is why we love asking questions about so many different areas of your health - to form a holistic picture of your health.
What is the naturopathic philosophy?
Ultimately, naturopathic medicine seeks to enhance wellness through the prevention of disease and the maintenance of optimal health. Naturopathy is founded on six principles:
First, do no harm (primum non nocere) – respect of the body’s self-healing processes, offering intervention that will improve the patient’s health, while minimising the risks of harmful adverse effects.
The healing power of nature (vis medicatrix naturae) - trust in the healing power of nature to restore patient vitality, recognising the body’s ability to heal itself.
Treat the cause (tolle causam) - identifying and removing obstacles to cure to treat the disease’s root cause, rather than just suppressing or treating symptoms.
Treat the whole person (tolle totum) - the treatment of the patient as a whole, rather than the presentation of their individual symptoms, incorporating physical health with mental, psychological, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing of the patient to optimise health.
Doctor as teacher (docere) – the original meaning of the word ‘doctor’ is ‘teacher’ – the naturopath seeks to educate the patient so they feel empowered to take responsibility for their own health.
Prevention (preventare) – the focus of naturopathic treatment is on health, rather than on disease. Preventative health, and optimising wellness to support vitality and longevity, is our aim.
What can you expect in your appointment?
An initial appointment will delve into your current and past health picture in detail – this includes your way of eating, movement and exercise, sleep, stress, emotions, relationships, work and family life, medical history, family health history, body systems, mental health, hormone picture, digestive health, and more!
What will you take home?
As well as answering lots of questions, you will receive a lot of information in the 75 mins of your first consult, and this will be detailed in your personalised treatment plan sent to you via email after your appointment.
Your individualised treatment plan will include:
Your health priorities
Your individual health goals that we are working towards
Personalised nutrition recommendations (this may include recipes)
Personalised lifestyle recommendations (this may include sleep, movement, stress management, breathwork, and other lifestyle changes)
Prescription of nutritional or herbal remedies if relevant
Any relevant handouts or resources specific to your health picture
Any relevant referrals (this may be for blood work analysis, or other testing such as Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA), microbiome testing, etc.)
What does a naturopath treat?
You don’t have to be ‘unwell’ to see a naturopath. In fact, the ultimate goal is to have you feeling well, and ideally only coming in whenever a new challenge or phase of life pops up, or you need some minor tweaks to get your health back on track. Here are some of the conditions and areas of health we can address.
Ready to book? I’d love to see you!