What’s so good about Naturopathy?
When it comes to healthcare, there are so many options these days. You might start with your GP and believe that they should have all the answers. If you are experiencing an acute illness I think they are a good choice, but many health concerns are not acute and you may find that your doctor doesn’t have the solutions you need. Chronic conditions are often associated with your diet and lifestyle and this is an area that Naturopaths excel in.
Uncovering the cause of your health concern takes time and unfortunately this is something that your GP doesn’t have a lot of. Our mainstream health system is very time poor and so getting to the bottom of your symptoms can be very frustrating for all parties. As well as this, test results don’t always point to a clear diagnosis, leaving you feeling frustrated and without any answers.
When you consult with a Naturopath, a lot more time is spent uncovering the hows and whys of your symptoms. They take a deep dive into your medical history and family history. They look at all the factors that impact your health such as what you eat, where you work, how much sleep you get and who you hang around with - all these things affect the way your body functions and can harm or heal. A lot of this work happens after your first consult - mindmaps and timelines are built to get a better understanding of how they can help you.
When it comes to treatment, naturopathy focuses on improving the way you live your life so that you better support your health. It doesn’t mean you need to sell up and move to a monastery at the top of a mountain, it just means making achievable improvements that give you the most benefit. Other treatments including herbal medicine and nutritional supplementation are secondary to this and only used when necessary. The goal is to restore your health so that you don’t need to be taking supplements all the time.
Consulting with a Naturopath is not a passive process. To gain the benefits from treatment, you need to buy in and commit to improving your health. This is really powerful - it means you have the power to live a healthy, vital life. This empowerment is also about education and understanding your body and what it needs to be healthy.
Naturopaths have been part of the natural medicine landscape for a long time, but the modern naturopath is a degree qualified health professional who practices evidence based medicine while remaining true to traditional naturopathic principles that emphasise a patient centred approach to treatment. A good naturopath also understands that the best care often includes other healthcare practitioners and they are happy to refer you.
A consultation with a Naturopath might cost more than seeing your GP but the long term health benefits are well worth the outlay and will save you money in the long run.