Naturopathic medicine is a distinct system of primary health care – an art, science and philosophy. Its practice consists of the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of illness. The principles of Naturopathic practice are based upon the objective observation of the nature of health and disease, and are continually re-examined in the light of scientific advances. Naturopaths are primary healthcare practitioners, whose diverse techniques include modern and traditional, scientific and empirical methods. Naturopathy has evolved much in recent decades, and its influence has been such that many hospitals and universities are now setting up departments studying the effects of natural remedies, as well as implementing them into care plans for the benefit of the wider public.

The following principles are the foundation for the practice of Naturopathic medicine:

 
Herbal Medicine
Herbal medicine has been successfully used to treat people’s medical ailments since pre-historic times. Herbal medicine uses plants to treat or prevent illness and to encourage the body to heal itself. Some can also nourish the body to improve general health and well-being. Refinement from trial and error of the use of herbs over thousands of years has enabled us to create detailed pictures of the actions and applications of plant medicines. Most modern medicines are derived from the same plants used in herbal remedies, although the purification, synthetic manipulation and concentration of these modern derivatives make them potentially toxic, prone to serious side effects and harmful for long term use. Herbal formulas on the other hand are generally much safer, being most commonly dispensed in the form of a tincture or liquid extract, though dried or tablet forms are also commonly prescribed.
 

Nutrition
Nutrition refers to the use of food as medicine and considers how it is digested, transported, stored, metabolised and excreted by the body. Nutrients are substances obtained from food and used in the body, giving us energy and structure and regulating growth, maintenance and repair of the body’s tissues. Nutrition is one of the most important foundations for health, development and well-being. In this day and age of pollution, pesticides, food additives, synthetic chemicals and convenience cooking many people do not absorb or digest nutrients efficiently so lack adequate nutrition even if they "eat healthy". Most of our crops are picked unripe, sprayed, stored, gassed or frozen so lose their freshness and vitality. Animals are fed polluted foods, are genetically engineered, medicated with hormones, antibiotics and other chemicals, so that the meat we eat is not as healthy as it should be. All this means that many people would benefit from not only a review of dietary habits, but also a process of detoxification and supplementing their diet with vitamins, minerals and other important compounds.

Iridology
Is based on the observation that the iris is an amazing reflection of your inner health. Many people today are talking about how we can see our level of health through looking at our eyes. The science and practice of Iridology is performed by analysing the iris (coloured section of the eye) along with the sclera (white of the eye) and the pupil. The iris is the most complex external structure of the human anatomy.
The iris is thought to reveal the level of constitutional strength, inherent weaknesses and the transitions that take place in your organs and tissues according to the way you eat, drink, feel and live. It can give valuable information on the qualitative state of health of an individual, even when their laboratory tests (such as blood / urine / stool) come back quantitatively normal.

Homoeopathy
It is a form of alternative medicine that was developed by a German doctor, Samuel Hahnemann more than 200yrs ago, and is popular on the continent of Europe even among medical practitioners. Homoeopathy is practised on the principle of "let like cure like." Symptoms presented by the patient are matched to symptoms of known medicines. For example a patient presenting with heart palpitations, excessive perspiration, anxiety, sleeplessness and urinary disturbance might be well cured by their reaction to a dose of coffee (in potentised form), as we know coffee to produce these symptoms in a healthy person. The medicines used in Homoeopathy are energetic medicines, taken from a variety of sources (including animal, mineral, vegetable and others). They are used in ultra high dilution (and potentised) which makes them safe and non-toxic, being particularly well suited to children, the very ill, and those with sensitivities to other medications. They are used as a minimum dose and are tasteless. While there is still much conjecture and debate as to how homoeopathic remedies elicit their responses, ongoing research is being conducted to refine and improve their use and to explain their mode of action. They can be used in conjunction with conventional treatment, and research trial results have so far been encouraging.

What to expect from a consultation ?
A consultation involves a comprehensive analysis of your health, with a thorough investigation of all body systems, including diet and lifestyle, and also includes an iris diagnosis. A specific treatment program is discussed and implemented, that will usually include; herbal medicines, vitamin and mineral supplementation if required, as well as dietary changes and lifestyle modifications.

 
What sorts of health problems will a Naturopath be able to help me with ?
Menopausal symptoms, painful and or irregular periods, bloating, digestion problems, allergies, colds and flus, tiredness, Candida, thrush, cystitis, headaches and migraines, sore throats, anxiety, low mood, acne and skin conditions, decreased immunity, weight control, high blood pressure, high cholesterol. If you have a health complaint and are unsure about whether Naturopathy can be of help, please call our clinic on 9822 0588  and we would be happy to answer any queries.

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