What is Naturopathy?
Naturopathy is a branch of holistic medicine used to treat disease and improve health. Naturopathy utilises herbal medicine, nutritional therapy, and lifestyle changes, amongst many other modalities to facilitate healing of the body by addressing the root causes. The core belief that governs naturopathic practice is the idea that the body is completely capable and innate in healing itself, and only needs support to do so.
Healing happens when the time is right, and naturopathy is most effective when paired with a commitment to making gradual, sustainable changes. If you’re not in a place to implement lifestyle adjustments right now - that is okay! When you’re ready, I’m here to support you on your journey.
Who is it for?
Here are some of the many areas naturopathy can make a difference:
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Chronic pain/fibromyalgia
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Pre & post conception health
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Infertility
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Hormonal imbalances and reproductive health
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Stress/fatigue
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Sleep disorders
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Chronic health conditions i.e., COPD, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, arthritis, autoimmune diseases.
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Metabolic syndrome
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Weight management
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Digestive conditions i.e, food intolerances/sensitivities, IBS, leaky gut syndrome, acid reflux, constipation/diarrhoea.
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Skin conditions i.e., acne, psoriasis, eczema, dermatitis, chronic dry skin.
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Enhancing well-being from good to great.
What is holism and why does it matter to you?
Holism in healthcare is the idea that all aspects of ourselves influence our body and the presentation of illness and disease. These aspects range from our mental and emotional states, to our energetic capacity and trauma, to the food and habits that surround us.
Rather than only addressing your symptoms and isolating them from your body, I focus on the body as a WHOLE to ensure the root factors are addressed.
Holistic medicine has a great emphasis on the bioindividuality of each of us. Bioindividuality is the concept that each of us with our own genetic-makeup, biology, nutritional needs, and outlook on life makes us different and unique. For this reason, what worked for someone else may not be the thing that gets you to exceptional health!
Functional Testing
Functional testing is available as an additional cost within the initial and follow-up consultations and may be recommended as a part of the treatment plan.
Functional testing can be a very useful tool that provides insights into how specific body systems are functioning such as the immune system, hormonal pathways, and digestive system.
Functional testing differs from the usual conventional testing that a GP may order for you i.e., complete blood count, kidney and liver function, and TSH (thyroid) tests. These conventional tests use a broad population-based “normal” range, and usually only detect pathologies (disease) within the body. Functional tests on the other hand assess your overall body function; centred around optimal functioning of the body. They identify patterns of dysfunction and can detect early-stage imbalances that have the potential to develop into disease.
Ultimately, conventional testing takes a disease diagnosis approach, whereas functional testing takes a preventative approach.