“Cure sometimes, treat often, comfort always”
- Hippocrates
What is Naturopathy?
Naturopathy is a holistic approach to health and wellbeing, with the primary aim of identifying and treating the underlying causes of illness using nutrition, herbal medicines and lifestyle strategies.
The core principle of Naturopathic medicine is to ‘heal through nature’, therefore treatment focuses on supporting the body’s innate healing abilities to overcome health complaints and regain optimal wellbeing.
Naturopathic medicine is both an art and a science, using a unique combination of both scientific and traditional evidence in order to treat the whole person, not just the disease. With an emphasis on disease prevention, Naturopathic case-taking aims to uncover dis-ease, before diagnosable pathology develops.
Application of natural remedies is of considerable importance in our modern world, due to the environmental factors such as stress, technology, environmental pollution and suboptimal nutrition all playing a significant role in the development of disease.
The Origins of Naturopathy
The principles of Naturopathy were first introduced by the Hippocratic School of Medicine in around 400BC. These principles were based on the beliefs of Greek philosopher; Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine. Hippocrates understood the value of considering the whole person, in order to accurately determine the cause of disease presenting within them.
The following 6 principles underlie the foundations of Naturopathy:
First, do no harm – The least invasive treatment options are used
Healing power of nature – Recognition of the body’s inherent ability to heal itself
Identify and treat the cause – There is always an underlying cause, be it physical or emotional
Treat the whole person – Recognising the body as an integrated whole
Naturopath as teacher – Empowering patients to take responsibility for their own health
Prevention is better than cure – Promotion of overall health, wellness and disease prevention
Who should see a Naturopath?
Naturopathy is well suited to anyone, at any age. Naturopaths can assist with the treatment of both acute and chronic conditions, with numerous health conditions successfully treated using Naturopathic principles. The safe, patient-centered approach to treatment offers a wide range of treatment options, often alongside existing medical intervention.
A range of conditions such as digestive complaints, stress, fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, PMS (premenstrual syndrome), menstrual irregularities, arthritis, allergies, skin disorders and asthma are particularly well-suited to natural medicine.
What can I expect from a Naturopathy consultation?
An initial Naturopathic consultation will last 60 mins, and involves a comprehensive health review including a discussion about the presenting condition(s), relevant body systems, medical history, diet and lifestyle, as well as physical examinations such as blood pressure, nail, tongue and iris analyses (if applicable). Follow-up pathology testing may also be required.
Once all the required information has been gathered, a treatment protocol addressing all aspects of the individual’s health will be formulated in order to support the body with healing.
A treatment plan may include nutritional supplements, herbal medicine and other suitable remedies as well as advice on diet, lifestyle and exercise. Referrals to other health practitioners may also be necessary as part of the integrated healthcare approach.
Subsequent consultations are 30 minutes in duration, and involve a progress review to determine whether any changes are required to the initial treatment protocol, as well as any follow-up questions and further supportive strategies.
