Naturopathic Medicine, or Naturopathy, is a practice of preventing, assessing and treating conditions of the human mind and body. By integrating conventional health sciences with a range of natural therapies and traditional medicines, naturopathy treats the patient's mental, emotional and physical states for a lasting effect.
The foundation of Naturopathy is the philosophy of the "healing power of nature" (Vis Medicatrix Naturae). This means that the body has its own healing energy within and with the help of naturopathic treatment; the body can repair itself and recover from illness if it is in a healthy and supportive environment.
A Naturopath aims to educate, empower and motivate the patient to assume more personal responsibility for his or her health by adopting a healthy attitude, lifestyle and diet. They do not simply treat the manifestation of a disease and its effects but rather search for the cause and treat it, rather than the effect. Prevention of disease is accomplished through naturopathic education, which builds lifestyle that supports health and wellbeing.
What Happens in a Naturopathic Consultation?
An initial Naturopathic consultation can take from 1 – 1.5 hours depending on the complexity of the case. It begins by taking a confidential and thorough case history that reviews your past and present health status, medical history, current medications and also takes a detailed look at your diet, lifestyle and current stresses. If appropriate, a physical examination (e.g. iridology, blood pressure) as well as specific tests (e.g. zinc levels, iron levels, hormone levels, food intolerance) will be conducted, requested from a naturopathic lab (such as ARL or NLS) or requested via referral to your GP.
At the end of the appointment and individualised treatment plan is then outlined for you that may include a prescription of herbal medicine, nutritional supplements, flower essences, one or two dietary modifications/suggestions and lifestyle advice.
A return consultation is usually requested in about 2 weeks and any subsequent appointments may be fortnightly, monthly or even quarterly depending on your particular case, the improvements you are experiencing and how far we have progressed with your treatment plan. Again, depending on your particular case, return consults can go for up to an hour but are normally around 30 minutes. Telephone consults are also available once Kiri is familiar with your case and also for repeat prescriptions.
What is Natural Fertility Education?
Natural Fertility Education empowers women with knowledge, confidence and understanding about their own menstrual cycle. By learning to chart your natural cervical mucus you will soon be able to identify when you are in the fertile phase of your cycle, when you have ovulated and when you are in the infertile phases of your cycle.
Charting will only take a couple of minutes each day. Although it may take a few cycles for you to become completely confident, your understanding of your own natural cycle will continue to grow and awareness of your cervical mucus and where you are in your cycle will become almost second nature.
It is suitable for all stages of a woman’s reproductive life – regular and irregular cycles, PCOS, coming off “the Pill” (or Implanon, Depo Provera etc), wishing to become pregnant, breastfeeding, wishing to avoid pregnancy and approaching menopause.
Initial appointments to learn menstrual charting are conducted separately to Naturopathic consultations. Once you are more familiar with charting your cycle any reviews or questions about your personal chart can be conducted within a Naturopathic consult (if you are also seeing Kiri for Naturopathic treatment).
To make an appointment please call Kiri on (03) 9754 6860 or 0401 081 136
or email naturopathy@coreconnections.com.au
