• what can naturopathy help me with?

Lots!! Naturopathic treatment aims to boost the body's natural healing potential and focus on restoring harmony or homeostasis (balance) to the body by removing the underlying cause of disease.  It is also a preventative health care approach that can be used to support the body's optimal functioning. It is not a magic pill and depending on each individual and their conditions, results may be seen quickly or may take some time. 

If you are failing to see results with a long term chronic health condition, Naturopathy can provide tremendous support as it seeks to treat the underlying cause of disharmony and disease, rather than just the symptoms. Symptoms are your body's way of telling you to look deeper. 

My practice has a special focus on digestive support and postpartum care. Read more about about my own story with a chronic digestive condition here and my postpartum journey here.

I also really enjoy supporting:

- Stress and anxiety conditions
- Low energy and fatigue
- Poor immunity
- Preconception care

  • are naturopaths anti-pharmaceutical medicine?


No, not at all. We have a lot to thank the pharmaceutical industry for. There is a time and a place for pharmaceutical drugs and at times they are unavoidable. In saying that, naturopathic treatment can work incredibly well alongside conventional pharmaceutical treatment. It can be used as a complementary treatment and in some cases, may help reduce reliance on drugs. 
The studies required to qualify as a naturopath involve the study of pharmacology to ensure we have a broad understanding of drug mechanisms, classes and their interactions with other herbs & nutrients.

My personal desire is to communicate with your doctor to ensure he/she remains informed with your health journey. 

 

  • What diets do you support?


I believe that every single body is unique. One size doesn't fit all. Diet trends are sometimes aggressively promoted by followers and I think it can often be difficult for people to decipher and discern what they 'should' be eating or what diet they 'should' be adhering to. I don't support calorie counting, restrictive dieting or following trends. A diet that works for one person may not be a good fit (or food) for you. I think one of the most important lessons we can learn is how to tune into our own bodies needs and requirements and master what works for us. I have always advocated for a whole foods diet rich in nutrient dense plant based foods and fibre. 

 

  • will you remove a bunch of foods from my diet that I enjoy?


What we eat is the foundation to our health. It provides the framework that everything should stem from. We are what we eat and what we absorb from our gut. It is the fuel we give our body to run. To get the best out of our food, our bodies need to be functioning well to absorb and digest nutrients. If a client has had recurring symptoms which I believe may be connected to a food they are eating, sometimes this food will need to be removed for a trial period to investigate. I don't believe in food restriction or deprivation for the sake of it and it will always be done with a valid intention. Furthermore, sometimes we don't know how great our bodies are designed to feel! If you provide your body with good quality, nutrient dense foods to fuel it, you will reap the benefits of it. 

 

  • What did you study to become a naturopath?

The study undertaken to become a naturopath is founded on human biological science, chemistry, nutritional biochemistry and pathology and is then broadened to include herbal medicine, nutrition and dietary planning. I have a bachelor of health science in Naturopathy.
 

  • is naturopathy a regulated industry?

In short, no. The issue of regulating naturopaths and herbalists in Australia has been a hot topic for the last decade. The complementary and alternative medicine associations have been lobbying for regulation for years. The argument for regulation is to protect the public from untrained, fraudulent or unscrupulous practitioners. Unqualified naturopaths cannot join naturopath and herbalist associations, so when seeking out a practitioner, always make sure they are a member of an accredited association. Elle is a member of the NZ Society of Naturopaths.