Naturopathy – what does this word conjure up for you? The key to this word is the beginning part, “nature” or “natural”. By this we mean something that is not artificial or synthetic. A naturopath is a qualified practitioner who practises healthcare according to natural principles.
Many of us these days have become aware of the vast range of choices in lifestyle and in what we buy. This can be anything from choosing an organic orange or chocolate-and-orange flavoured confectionery item, to cotton or polyester shirts – in each case, the one is closer to a natural form and the other is more synthetic and processed.
Consciously or unconsciously we make these choices all the time. Sometimes we make the natural choice because we think it’s the right thing to do, sometimes we choose the more processed item because it is more convenient or perhaps cheaper. But how about health? This should definitely be a factor in our decision-making, for as Augusten Burroughs said, “When you have your health, you have everything. When you do not have your health, nothing else matters at all.”
When considering your own health (if you do not have a medically diagnosed condition), do you consider it to be “pretty good”? What if you’d forgotten what it felt like to be healthy? To maximise your health potential, consider visiting a naturopath. A naturopath is trained in the application of medical science; this includes an in-depth understanding of pathology from both orthodox and complementary healthcare viewpoints, and includes performing diagnostic assessments using both orthodox and complementary methods. A naturopath will give you an objective evaluation, and, if they agree that you are “pretty good”, that’s terrific, but if they can identify areas that could be worked on, they will give you a plan with some recommendations. These may include dietary and lifestyle advice, and they may recommend supplements and/or herbal medicine. If you are being offered herbal medicine, do check that the practitioner is qualified to do so; if you are taking prescription medications, your registered medical herbalist is trained how to prescribe herbal medicines compatible with your pharmaceutical regime.
“When you have your health, you have everything. When you do not have your health, nothing else matters at all.”
To make the most of your health or to understand it better, make an appointment with Marianne Stobie, an experienced and registered naturopath and medical herbalist at Holden HealthCare – you may be given a plan for the health issue that has been of concern, and you may discover renewed energy and passion for life!
