What
is Naturopathy?
Naturopathy is a
broad term that covers many different systems of healing, all of
which share some basic philosophies. It is a system of medicine
that aims to improve health using natural methods - that is, things
found in nature (such as food, herbs, water etc.) Naturopathy is
concerned with discovering and removing the root cause of disease,
as opposed to just eradicating the symptoms. It looks at a person
as a whole; all systems of the body are connected, including the
physical, mental and emotional planes. The aim of treatment is to
encourage the body to do the job it is supposed to do, thereby
allowing it to heal itself.
What sort of conditions can Naturopathy
treat?
Naturopathy can
be useful for any condition – whether it has been there for just a
short while (such as a cold) or a long time (such as irritable
bowel syndrome). You can even see a Naturopath for a general
health/diet screen, to check that you are doing all the right
things! If you are unsure whether Naturopathy is suitable for you,
come in and speak to one of our staff, who will be happy to advise
you.
Naturopathy is safe to use for anyone, including babies, children,
pregnant women and the elderly. Keep in mind however that some
herbs and nutrients can interact with prescribed medication or are
unsuitable in certain circumstances (particularly pregnancy and
breast-feeding). For this reason, it is always good to see a
qualified therapist for a suitable prescription.
What
should I expect in a consultation?
A Naturopathic consultation will differ according to the systems of
natural medicine practiced by your therapist. At Cure by Nature,
our resident Naturopath is trained in Nutrition, Herbal Medicine
and Homoeopathy. She will take your case and then choose which
system of natural medicine best suits your needs.
You will need to arrive 10 minutes early for your first appointment
to fill in a form (basic information about yourself). The first
consultation will last for about an hour. During this time, the
Naturopath will ask lots of questions about all systems of the body
– not just those you came in for. Some of these questions may not
seem relevant to your problem however the idea is to get a picture
of your overall health – physical, mental and emotional. She will
also use various diagnostic techniques which may include blood
pressure, iridology and tongue, hand and nail diagnosis.
At the end of the consultation, you will be given a prescription.
This may include any of the following: herbs, homoeopathic
remedies, nutritional supplements, dietary advice or lifestyle
advice.
The Naturopath will then tell you when she wants to see you for
your follow-up consult. Follow-up consultations take about 30
minutes.
What
is Naturopathic Nutrition?
Naturopathic Nutrition is a form of Naturopathy that uses food and
nutrients to heal. The therapist analyzes your dietary habits and
then relates these to any health problems you may be having.
Oftentimes, health problems are a result of poor dietary choices,
lack of specific nutrients in the diet or even the body’s inability
to absorb these nutrients.
