Encompass Health Centre - Neutral Bay -

Naturopathy

Naturopathy is a complete and holistic approach to healthcare that focuses on the individual and looks to treat the root cause of illness and poor health. It combines modern science with a natural treatment approach that uses effective medical-grade natural medicines and lifestyle advice to enhance the body’s natural healing response and to restore healthy function and vitality.

The foundation of Naturopathy is that the body has built-in healing abilities, and instead of focusing on a specific disease, a Naturopath focuses on the whole person, taking into account the physical, emotional, environmental, energetic and spiritual aspects of wellness.

 

Naturopathy can help you to:

• Achieve your optimal weight.
• Increase energy and stamina.
• Sleep better.
• Improve skin health.
• Raise healthy children.
• Improve digestion.
• Increase focus and concentration.
• Relieve joint, bone and muscle pain.
• Reduce cold/flu incidence & symptoms.
• Improve your ability to cope with stress.

Naturopathy treats the whole person, not just one symptom, and the brilliant thing about this is that a client may come in to have one health problem addressed, and as that problem is being treated, other health issues clear up at the same time!

A thorough case history is taken to not only look at family and personal history, but also lifestyle factors like quality of sleep, diet, stress levels, hormonal influences, hydration levels, bowel health and other contributing factors that may be affecting your health.

Once the cause of your health issues have been identified, an individualised treatment program will be formulated for you, which may include herbal medicine, nutritional therapy or homeopathic medicine, in addition to effective dietary programs and lifestyle prescriptions.

Even if you are already in reasonable health, naturopathic medicine can provide a preventative and proactive approach to your health. Josie can help you to identify potential future health issues based on functional testing and past medical history, from which a preventative health plan can be developed to help you to take control of your own long-term wellness.

In practice, our Naturopath draws on the scientific evidence and traditional wisdom of herbal medicine and nutrition to put together individual treatment programs for clients.

 

What is a Qualified Naturopath?

Becoming a Naturopath involves first studying all the principles of natural medicine, and then learning to apply them using specific techniques.

Because a naturopath treats the whole person and needs a good understanding of human biology and psychology, becoming a naturopath requires successful completion of at least a 3 year advanced diploma or bachelor degree program and a designated number of hours of supervised clinical practice.

 

Disciplines studied include:

• Anatomy and Physiology.
• Symptomology and diagnosis.
• Chemistry and Pharmacology.
• Herbal medicine.
• Nutrition.
• Homoeopathy.
• Remedial massage.
• Evidence based practice.
• And a broad range of elective studies which may include Bach Flower Remedies, Iridology, Ayurvedic Medicine and much more.

Upon graduation, a Naturopath can then apply for acceptance into one or more of the recognised Australian or International Naturopathy associations to become entitled to enter into professional clinical practice.

 

What happens in a Naturopathic appointment?

An initial consultation takes an hour or so. Your Naturopath will take an extensive medical history and will ask many questions about your past and present health – physically, mentally and emotionally. Sometimes a physical examination will be required, and your Naturopath may take blood pressure and use diagnostic tools such as iridology, tongue and nail analysis to help get a complete picture of health. You may also be referred for allergy testing, blood, stool or salivary hormone tests.

During this consultation you will be provided with nutrition and lifestyle advice, and possibly be prescribed natural medicine, herbal or nutritional supplements. Sometimes a follow up appointment or two may be required to monitor results or progress treatment.

 

Is Natural Medicine safe?

Generally speaking, nutritional supplements and herbal remedies are safe whilst being effective. They usually have less side effects than pharmaceutical medicines. However, herbs and nutrients do have potent actions, and so it is always best to see a Naturopath, Nutritionist or Medical Herbalist to ensure that the supplements you take are the most suitable for you and won't interact with any other medicines you may be taking.

 

Appointments.

To make an appointment with Josie Gruber our Naturopath here at Encompass, call us on 9904-1333 or go to our Contact Page.