blending science and nature

What exactly is Naturopathy?

Naturopathy is an alternative medicine, based on the idea that health problems are caused by lack of balance in the body – either physically or psychologically. Naturopathy is used to restore balance to help cure these problems. It is branded at “natural”, “non-invasive” and is promoted as “self-healing”.

Importantly, Naturopaths treat the root causes of illness rather than just the symptoms of disease. Symptom management may be important, but it is more important to not disregard the underlying cause.

The story of Naturopathy

The principles of Naturopathy began being used by the Hippocratic School of Medicine in around 400 BC. Hippocrates believed in viewing the whole person when finding the cause of a disease, and using nature to induce cause. It was from this that Naturopathy takes its principles.

Naturopathy principles

  • The healing of power and nature: the body can heal itself, given the right condition and treatment
  • Identify and treat the cause: identify the underlying cause of illness, rather than suppressing symptoms
  • Treat the whole person: when preparing a treatment plan, all aspects of a person’s being are considered
  • Do no harm: Naturopaths will never use treatments that could create other conditions
  • Prevention is better than cure – Naturopaths may remove toxic situations and substances from a patient’s lifestyle to prevent further disease
  • The Naturopath as a teacher: Naturopaths empower the patient to take responsibility for their own health by teaching self-care

Common health issues

Naturopathic medicine is used for most health issues. Some of the most common issues include:

  • Allergies
  • Fertility issues
  • Digestive problems
  • Headaches
  • Obesity
  • Hormonal imbalances
  • Chronic fatigue syndrome
  • Chronic pain
  • Prostate issues
  • Stress

What does a treatment consist of?

A consultation usually takes an hour. During this time, the Naturopath will ask questions about the person’s condition, diet and lifestyle, medical history, and any treatments that they are having. The Naturopath may then look into the iris, or tongue and nail diagnosis to get a clearer picture of the health state of the client. Pathology testing such as hair or blood analysis is sometimes recommended.

Once all of the information is gathered, a treatment plan is created to address all areas of a person’s life, providing the body with an optimum chance to heal itself. The treatment plan may include advice on lifestyle, exercise, diet, herbal medicine, homeopathic treatments, or other suitable remedies. A Naturopath may also refer the client to other practitioners as part of an integrated healthcare approach.

 

If you would like to book an initial consultation with me to review your health, please get in touch.

Till next time,

Shoela

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