What is Naturopathy?
Nutrition and lifestyle changes are the foundation of naturopathic therapy. Naturopathy recognises that mind, body and spirit are interconnected, and need to be in balance for vibrant health. Imbalances within us are expressed as symptoms. We are all unique, and the same imbalances may be expressed differently, depending on genetics, biochemical makeup, lifestyle and emotional health.
A naturopath will educate you about why disease can occur, and will teach you how to maintain good health. By using natural therapies they are able to treat both acute and chronic ailments successfully.
Naturopathic Principles:
- Healing power of nature – nature has the innate ability to heal
- Identify & treat the cause – there is always an underlying cause, be it physical or emotional
- Do no harm – a Naturopath will never use treatments that may create other conditions
- Treat the whole person - when preparing a treatment plan, all aspects of a person’s being are taken into consideration
- The physician as teacher – a Naturopath empowers the patient to take responsibility for his/her own health by teaching self-care
- Prevention is better than cure - a Naturopath may remove toxic substances and situations from a patient’s lifestyle to prevent the onset of further disease
Naturopathy can help with:
- Digestive complaints (constipation, diarrhoea, heart burn, IBS, Ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease)
- Women’s health conditions (PMS, menopause, PCOS, cysts, pregnancy, weight, skin problems)
- Urinary Tract infections
- Skin conditions (eczema, psoriasis, acne)
- Arthritis
- Joint conditions (gout, osteoporosis)
- High Cholesterol
- General fatigue and tiredness
- Chronic fatigue
- Allergies to food and environment
- Anxiety
- Stress
However, you do not have to be ill to see a Naturopath. You can see a Naturopath for preventative reasons and to get advice on how to best gain and maintain optimum health.
What does a treatment consist of?
On the initial consultation you will be asked questions about your condition, medical history, diet and lifestyle, and any conventional treatments that they may be taking. Your practitioner may then look into your eyes, or at your tongue and nails to get a better picture of your health.
Once all of the information is gathered, a treatment plan is formulated that addresses all areas of the person’s life, providing the body with the optimum chance to heal itself. The treatment plan may include advice on diet, lifestyle changes, hydrotherapy, exercise, manual therapy (Osteopathy) or other suitable remedies.
Candice McKendrick is our registered Osteopath and Naturopath. If you have any queries about Naturopathy and how it can help you, please contact her and she will be happy to answer them.
