Many people are confused about just what a Naturopath does, and how they can help. To start with, Naturopaths are passionate about preventative healthcare and optimising wellness. Naturopaths treat people, not diseases, and you may not actually have a diagnosed health condition. In fact, you do not have to be “unwell” to benefit from seeing a Naturopath. You may be confused about the best way to eat, lacking in energy or simply feeling “not quite right”. This is where naturopathy really shines. One of the founding naturopathic principles is that prevention is better than cure, and your Naturopath will work with you on preventative healthcare tailored to your unique circumstances, such as taking steps to improve your digestion, nutrient intake or stress management.
Of course, Naturopaths are also able to assist individuals with a range of acute and chronic health conditions. Issues that we frequently see in clinic at Herbs on the Hill include:
- Anxiety and depression
- Fatigue
- Stress
- Skin issues such as acne, eczema, psoriasis
- Food sensitivity
- Digestive problems including constipation, diarrhoea, reflux, heartburn, bloating
- Allergies
- Asthma
- Frequent infections
- Premenstrual syndrome (PMS), period pain, irregular periods, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis
- Thyroid issues
- Autoimmune diseases
So, how does a Naturopath support you? Individualised treatment is of utmost importance. Seeing a Naturopath is empowering, as your appointment is all about you. There is no one size fits all in this approach. You will be encouraged to trust your body’s own inherent wisdom and healing capability and will learn ways to nourish yourself physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. After a thorough consultation (initial appointments generally take around 1 hour), your Naturopath will have developed a holistic understanding of what is underlying your health concerns and will develop a treatment for you. Your holistic treatment plan may incorporate an eclectic mix of one or more of the modalities in the naturopathic toolkit, which include:
- Diet modifications
- Lifestyle suggestions
- Flower essence therapy
- Herbal medicine
- Nutrient supplementation
Herbs and nutrients are blended in a bespoke fashion, specifically tailored and individualised to your unique needs. Rather than simply prescribing herbs and nutrients to cover up symptoms (sometimes termed ‘green allopathy’), Naturopaths aim to address the root underlying cause of your health concern. This is also what sets naturopathic consultations apart from simply obtaining a supplement from a health food store. You can watch Herbs on the Hill Naturopath and Nutritionist Tina Taylor talk more about the difference between naturopathic prescriptions and visiting a health food store here.
The team at Herbs on the Hill blend Science and Nature, which means that we select the most natural treatments and consider the most recent and rigorous scientific evidence in their application.Where appropriate, Naturopaths also refer to other health specialists and work collaboratively with them to ensure that the best patient-centred care is given. As degree qualified Naturopaths, the team at Herbs on the Hill is well versed in potential interactions between herbs and nutrients and other prescribed medication or supplements, and will consider these interactions to ensure safe prescriptions. Because of this focus on safety and patient-centred holistic care, naturopathy is an appropriate treatment modality for all life stages, from childhood and adolescence through to fertility and pregnancy and supporting healthy ageing.
We would love to assist you with your health concerns. Please contact us with any questions or book your appointment now.
Article by Insa Haidn
Photo by Victoria Strukovskaya on Unsplash.
