What is naturopathy?
Naturopathy is a system of healing that aims to provide holistic or whole body healthcare by using treatment methods from several traditional systems of medicine, including; nutritional and lifestyle counselling, herbal medicines, homeopathic, and nutritional supplements.
Naturopathy focuses on treating the cause of a disease rather than the symptoms themselves.
Whilst naturopathy has often been described as an alternative medicine, we believe that it is complimentary in nature. That is it is an additional therapy or alternative of some non-serious medical conditions and can be used in conjunction with modern medicine. A properly trained naturopath works with other health professionals, referring people to other practitioners for diagnosis or treatment when appropriate.
Naturopathy is not suitable for medical emergencies or serious conditions. Always consult your doctor first if you have symptoms of disease or are unwell.
What does naturopathy do?
Good health and wellness is what naturopathy treatment is all about. The main philosophy behind naturopathic practice is the belief that the body has an inbuilt ability to strive for health. The naturopath works with a person to promote the natural healing of the body. Naturopathy is rooted in the belief that health is more than just the absence of disease and works on strengthening the body’s natural defences so that the patient is able to achieve and maintain a higher level of health and wellness.
How do naturopaths work?
The aim of a naturopath is to educate, empower and motivate the patient to assume more personal responsibility for his or her health by adopting a healthy attitude, lifestyle and diet. They do not simply treat the manifestation of a disease and its effects but rather search for the cause and treat more underlying causes. Many people consult with a naturopath to assist them maintain health and prevent disease.
A naturopath will design a treatment plan that meets each individual’s needs. After taking a detailed client history, including lifestyle, the naturopath and the client decide together where best to begin planning for better health. Often the first advice given is to remove the underlying causes of the stress that is causing problems in the body. This could involve lifestyle or dietary changes, teaching ways to achieve deeper levels of relaxation and supplementation.
What therapies do naturopaths use?
As well as nutrition supplements, naturopaths may use herbal medicines, homeopathy, counselling skills, flower remedies and tissue salts.
What do naturopaths treat?
Common ailments that naturopaths seek to treat or relieve the underlying causes of include:
- Allergies, including food allergies
- Arthritic conditions
- Asthma
- ADHD/ADD
- Back pain and problems
- Childhood complaints, including learning difficulties
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Colds and flu and other immune system issues
- Constipation and diarrhoea, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, low energy, irritable bowel, digestive problems, ulcerative colitis and cocliae disease, infertility, preconception care, pregnancy care
- Stress, depression and anxiety
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Menstrual and menopause problems
- Migraine/headache
- Skin conditions such as eczema, herpes and psoriasis
- Weight loss
- Insomnia
Nutritional Checklist
Take the Quick Nutritional Assessment to see if you may be deficient in one of the most important mineral used in over 300 processes in the body. Indications of a zinc deficiency may include:
- Behavioural and sleep disturbances
- Dandruff
- Delay in wound healing
- Diarrhoea
- Different kinds of skin lesions such as eczema, psoriasis and acne
- Growth retardation
- Hair loss
- Soft, corrugated nails
- Hyperactivity
- Increased allergic sensitivity
- Inflammation of your nail cuticles
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Loss of appetite
- Loss of senses of taste or smell
- Loss of sex drive
- Mild anaemia
- Pre-eclampsia (toxaemia) in pregnancy and post-natal depression
- Pre-menstrual syndrome, disturbance in your menstrual cycle
- Reduced fertility
- Skin dryness and rashes
- White spots on fingernails, transverse lines and poor nail growth?
Did you know that if you are deficient in Zinc you will most likely be deficient in B-group vitamins, which along with zinc are essential for optimal brain function and mental health.
Do you suffer from:
Mental Stress-
- Deadlines to meet, with little time to meet them?
- Feelings of being overwhelmed?
- Difficulties prioritizing your work and life schedules, just can’t seem to decide what to do, what not to do and what order to do them in?
Emotional Stress-
- Interpersonal disputes with family, friends or work colleagues?
- Differences in opinion with bosses and family members?
- Loss or change of job, moved house, personal injury or illness, financial difficulties, children leaving home?
Physical Stress-
- Over work?
- Lack of sleep or not feeling relived after sleep?
- Addicted to the gym?
Physiological Stress-
- Fear, anxiety, anger?
- Tense and easily agitated
Biochemical Stress-
- Food cravings, especially chocolate or salty foods?
- Decreased energy levels?
- Increased time to recover from illnesses, eg colds and flu?
- Mild depression?
- Skipping or hurried meals?
- Alcohol, caffeine and junk foods?
If you answered yes to any of the above, your body may require extra nutritional support as prolonged stress often leads to many chronic health issues.
