What is Naturopathy?
Naturopathy is a holistic approach to health that focuses on supporting the body’s innate ability to heal itself. By addressing the root causes of illness rather than just alleviating symptoms, naturopathy aims to restore balance and vitality through natural therapies. This can include nutrition, herbal medicine, lifestyle modifications, and other gentle, non-invasive treatments.
Naturopaths believe that each person is unique, so treatment plans are individualised to align with your specific health needs, goals, and values. By considering all aspects of your health—physical, emotional, and mental—we work together to create a path to long term wellness and optimal vitality.
Whether you’re dealing with chronic conditions, seeking to improve your overall well-being, or looking for preventative care, naturopathy offers a comprehensive and natural approach to health that supports your body’s natural healing processes.
The 7 Naturopathic Principles are the foundation of naturopathic medicine. They guide practitioners in helping you achieve optimal health through natural and holistic approaches. Here’s a simple breakdown of each principle:
1. The Healing Power of Nature (Vis Medicatrix Naturae)
This principle believes that the body has an innate ability to heal itself. Naturopaths work to support and stimulate this natural healing process, rather than simply suppressing symptoms. The goal is to help your body restore balance and function on its own.
2. Identify and Treat the Cause (Tolle Causam)
Instead of just masking symptoms, naturopaths look for the underlying cause of your health issues. Whether it’s a physical, emotional, or environmental factor, addressing the root cause helps prevent problems from coming back and supports long term health.
3. First Do No Harm (Primum Non Nocere)
Naturopaths prioritise safe, gentle, and non-invasive treatments. They aim to avoid harmful side effects and use natural therapies that are as supportive as possible for your body. The idea is to treat you in a way that doesn’t cause harm and promotes healing naturally.
4. Doctor as Teacher (Docere)
Naturopaths view themselves as educators who empower you to take charge of your own health. They help you understand your body, health challenges, and the natural therapies that can benefit you, so you can make informed decisions about your wellbeing.
5. Treat the Whole Person (Tolle Totum)
Rather than just focusing on one part of the body or a single symptom, naturopathy takes a holistic approach. Naturopaths consider your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health, recognising that all of these aspects are interconnected. The goal is to achieve balance in all areas of your life for overall wellness.
6. Prevention is the Best Cure (Prevention)
Naturopaths emphasise the importance of preventing illness before it starts. They help you understand lifestyle choices, nutrition, and habits that can maintain your health and prevent future problems. By making proactive decisions, you can reduce your risk of chronic diseases and improve your quality of life.
7. Healing Power of the Mind-Body Connection
Naturopaths recognise that your mental and emotional health plays a big role in your physical wellbeing. Stress, negative emotions, and mental health challenges can impact the body, so naturopathy incorporates therapies to support emotional and mental balance as part of your healing journey.
These principles guide naturopathic practitioners to offer you natural, individualised care that promotes long term health and healing from the inside out.
Functional Testing
Naturopathic functional testing is a way for naturopaths to assess how well your body is functioning on a deeper level. These tests help identify imbalances or dysfunctions in your body that might not be obvious through simple physical exams or symptoms. Rather than just looking at what’s wrong, functional testing helps us understand why something might be happening in the first place, so we can treat the root cause of the issue.
What is Functional Testing?
Functional tests are a set of lab tests or assessments used to measure how different systems in your body are working—like your digestion, hormones, immune system, or nutrient levels. These tests go beyond traditional medical testing, which often focuses on diagnosing diseases. Instead, functional tests aim to identify early signs of imbalance or areas where your body might not be functioning optimally, even if you’re not showing major symptoms yet.
Common Types of Functional Tests:
Blood Tests: These tests check for nutrient deficiencies (like vitamin D or iron), blood sugar imbalances, thyroid function, and markers of inflammation. It’s a way to see how your body is dealing with things like stress, diet, and other lifestyle factors.
Saliva or Urine Tests: These are often used to assess hormone levels (like cortisol or oestrogen) or detoxification functions. For example, testing your cortisol (a stress hormone) through saliva can help us understand how well your body is managing stress.
Food Sensitivity Tests: These tests identify foods that your body might not tolerate well, which can cause symptoms like bloating, headaches, or fatigue. These sensitivities can sometimes be missed with regular medical tests.
Gut Testing: Since digestion plays such a big role in overall health, testing the health of your gut (including looking for bacterial imbalances or parasites) is a common part of naturopathic functional testing. Issues like leaky gut or an imbalance of gut bacteria can cause a variety of symptoms that affect your entire body.
Genetic Testing: Some naturopaths use genetic testing to look at your DNA and identify how your body might respond to certain nutrients, toxins, or stress. This can help create a more personalised treatment plan.
Toxin Screening: Environmental toxins (like heavy metals or chemicals) can build up in your body over time and affect your health. These tests help identify any toxic load you might be carrying and guide detoxification strategies.
Why Do We Use Functional Testing?
Functional testing helps us see the bigger picture of your health. Instead of just addressing symptoms like headaches, fatigue, or digestive issues, we want to understand what’s happening inside your body on a deeper level.
For example:
Fatigue might be due to an imbalance in your thyroid hormones, poor digestion, or nutrient deficiencies. Functional testing helps pinpoint which of these could be the root cause.
Digestive issues might be connected to an imbalance in gut bacteria, food sensitivities, or even hidden inflammation that functional testing can uncover.
By understanding the underlying imbalances, naturopaths can recommend a personalised plan that may include dietary changes, supplements, herbs, or lifestyle changes designed to bring your body back into balance and support long term health.
How Does It Help You?
Personalised Treatment: Testing gives us the detailed information needed to create a treatment plan specifically for you—one that addresses your unique health challenges and goals.
Early Detection: Even if you’re not feeling sick, functional tests can detect small imbalances before they develop into bigger health problems, which can help prevent future illness.
Holistic Approach: Naturopathic testing looks at your overall health, considering all the systems in your body (like digestion, hormones, immune function), so we can treat you in a more balanced, holistic way.
Is It Right for You?
If you’re struggling with unexplained symptoms (like fatigue, digestive discomfort, skin issues, or mood swings) or if you’re simply looking to optimise your health, functional testing might provide helpful insights. It’s especially beneficial if you’ve been unable to find answers through traditional medical tests or treatments.
Naturopathic functional testing helps us uncover hidden imbalances or weaknesses in your body’s systems, so we can create a treatment plan that addresses the root causes of your health issues, rather than just masking symptoms. It’s all about finding what’s best for you, based on your individual health profile.
What Does it Cost?
The cost of naturopathic functional testing can vary depending on the specific tests required and the complexity of your health needs. Since each person’s health journey is unique, the type of tests you need will be tailored to address your individual concerns. Some tests may be more basic, while others may involve more in depth analysis.
We offer a range of testing options, from standard blood tests to more specialised tests like hormone panels, gut health assessments, food sensitivity testing, and detoxification screenings. During your consultation, we’ll discuss the most appropriate tests for your situation, and will provide a clear breakdown of the costs involved.
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about the tests we offer, please feel free to reach out. We’re here to help guide you in making informed decisions about your health and wellness.
What is Medical Herbalism?
Medical herbalism is the practice of using herbs to support health and treat various conditions. It’s one of the oldest forms of medicine, rooted in the knowledge that many plants have powerful healing properties. Rather than using synthetic drugs or chemicals, medical herbalism works with nature’s medicine to help the body heal, restore balance, and maintain wellness.
Herbalists use a wide range of plants, from common herbs like chamomile and peppermint to more specialised plants like echinacea or valerian root. These herbs can be used in different forms, such as teas, tinctures (liquid extracts), capsules, powders, or topical ointments, depending on what’s most appropriate for the condition being treated.
How does Medical Herbalism work?
Herbs contain natural compounds that can have various effects on the body. Some herbs might help reduce inflammation, ease pain, boost the immune system, calm the nerves, or promote digestion. Medical herbalism takes a holistic approach by considering your overall health—physical, emotional, and mental—and using herbs that address the root causes of imbalances, not just the symptoms.
For example, if you’re dealing with stress or anxiety, a herbalist might recommend herbs like ashwagandha or passionflower to help calm the nervous system. If you have digestive issues, herbs like ginger or peppermint might be used to soothe and support your gut.
Why choose Medical Herbalism?
Many people turn to medical herbalism because it offers a natural, gentle alternative to conventional medicine. Herbal remedies tend to have fewer side effects and can work well alongside other treatments. Herbalists often combine different herbs in a personalised formula tailored to your specific needs, providing a more balanced, individualised approach to healing.
Medical herbalism is an effective way to enhance your health, whether you’re seeking treatment for a specific condition or simply want to maintain your wellbeing naturally.
Therapeutic Dosage of Herbs
Therapeutic dosage refers to the amount of a herb that is needed to produce a beneficial effect on your health. Just like with any medicine or treatment, taking the right amount is key to making sure it’s effective without causing harm. When it comes to herbs, the “right amount” can vary depending on the herb, your health condition, and other factors like your age, weight, or overall health.
Herbs contain active compounds that can help with specific health issues, but these compounds only work properly when taken in the right dose. Too little of a herb might not give you the benefits you’re hoping for, while too much could cause side effects or make things worse. A medical herbalist is trained to determine this right balance for you to achieve optimal results. That’s why it’s important to follow the recommendations of a trained herbalist or naturopath, who knows the right doses for specific conditions.