what is naturopathy?

Naturopathy is a system of healthcare that aims to resolve health complaints at the root level, as opposed to just treating symptoms. It aims to educate and empower patients to support their health through correct nutrition and healthy lifestyle practices, and may use plant medicine to help facilitate healing.

Naturopathic medicine in Australia has its roots in the Germanic tradition which was passed to North America, adapted and modernised and is now considered the birthplace of modern naturopathy. 

Founded in traditional practices that underlie a philosophy of nature as healer, modern day naturopathy is supported by a growing collection of scientific, evidence-based research that reinforces many of the traditional practices and understandings. As such, the quality, efficacy and safety of the medicines utilised by naturopaths has an ever-increasing evidence base.  

As a naturopath, I’m all about educating my patients and empowering them with knowledge so they can maintain good health beyond my clinical care.

I work with people to establish realistic and achievable short and long term health goals.

I may use herbal medicine, nutritional medicine, diet and/or lifestyle advice to help you resolve your health issues and improve your wellbeing.

I am a holistic practitioner, working with you on the levels of your mind, body and spirit, as needed.

can a naturopath help me?

  • Do you need some quality healthcare advice from someone who will take the time to really listen? 

  • Do you have a chronic health complaint you can’t resolve? Or several seemingly unrelated symptoms that are worsening?

  • Do you want to improve your gut health? Lose weight? Or reduce your blood pressure?

  • Perhaps you’ve recently been given a diagnosis and you’re looking to see how you can support your health given this news. 

  • Maybe you feel good but you want to feel even better; or you proactively want to do what you can to prevent yourself from becoming unwell. 

Whatever your reason, naturopathic medicine can support your health and wellbeing as it naturally supports the body’s inherent healing capacity.

If you want to know more and aren’t sure if /how I can help you, then book in for a FREE 10 min chat to find out more.

naturopathy globally & in australia

 

Naturopathy sometimes gets a bit of a bad wrap in the press, but in reality everyday people get wonderful results working with their naturopath.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) stated in 2019 that “Traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM) is an important and often underestimated health resource with many applications, especially in the prevention and management of lifestyle-related chronic diseases, and in meeting the health needs of ageing populations”

REF: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/978924151536

Naturopathy is part of T&CM. The WHO states that “when practised correctly, TM/CAM can help protect and improve citizens’ health and well-being.”

(Retrieved from the Benchmarks for Training in Naturopathy Handbook here: https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/44355)

Here in Australia, naturopathy is not currently recognised as a regulated profession within the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). This means that people with varying levels of qualifications (or none at all) can call themselves a naturopath. This is unfortunate, as it undermines the profession as a whole and leaves it open for untrained people to call themselves naturopaths and ‘treat’ patients (this is, however, a very small minority within the profession as a whole). Hopefully we will become a regulated profession in the not too distant future, ensuring better outcomes for patients and practitioners alike.