Why See a Naturopath?
This is a question that I asked myself when starting out in private practice and one that I periodically revisit. In our modern world where we have a plethora of information at our fingertips (literally), I realised I needed to be really clear about the value I can offer above and beyond what you can easily find or access on your own.
As a naturopath, I am guided by the philosophy of natural medicine, which is based on the healing power of nature and the body's innate healing potential. I provide nutritional and lifestyle advice and utilise herbal/nutritional supplements to support health and wellbeing.
However in addition to this, I focus on three key areas which I believe foster the best possible health outcomes.
1) Partnership
My approach to working with you is to create a partnership. I believe that by providing you with information and direction, you will feel empowered to make decisions which are right for you and your health, both in the short-term as well as in the long-term.
Having an effective partnership also means that if you need advice later on down the track, we can continue to build on what we've already established.
2) Individualised Advice
Have you ever searched the Internet for a natural remedy for your symptoms and wondered why you were presented with so many products to choose from or such a wide range of different dietary advice? Why weren't there just one or two solutions to choose from?
One of the principles of naturopathy is: treat the whole person. This takes us away from the approach of using a specific product to address a specific symptom and instead encompasses a more holistic approach, recognising each person as a unique individual.
By treating the whole person, we consider not just your immediate symptoms, but also what else is happening in your body as well as any external factors (commonly referred to as 'lifestyle factors') that might be impacting your health.
3) Ongoing Research
I can't begin to comprehend how much time I have spent researching natural medicine and nutrition. Information is changing all the time and it takes a lot of work to distinguish the facts from the latest hype. There's also a lot of misinformation and strongly divided opinions, which creates so much confusion.
Fortunately researching is something I really enjoy! I'm certainly not saying that I have all the answers, but when there is something I need to learn more about, I will happily embrace the opportunity to further my knowledge.