Naturopathy takes a holistic approach to wellness. Naturopathy supports a person to live a healthy lifestyle. The foundations of naturopathy are the importance of a healthy diet, clean fresh water, sunlight, exercise and stress management.
Assessment by a naturopath
A well-trained naturopath will ask you about your diet, lifestyle, family background and environment, as well as the history of any illnesses or complaints. After taking a detailed health history, the naturopath may use other techniques, such as:
- kinesiology
- iridology
- blood analysis
- stool and urine analysis
- hair analysis
Treatment by a naturopath
A naturopath employs a range of non-invasive techniques and these include (but are not limited to):
- nutrition and dietary advice. A poor diet stops the body from functioning well and a build-up of toxins can lead to a range of illnesses. Whole, fresh and unprocessed foods are recommended
- herbal medicine – herbs can support the body
- homeopathy – homeopathic treatments are used to stimulate the body
- hydrotherapy (water therapy). For instance, the use of hot and cold compresses might be used for certain conditions to influence the flow of blood and body heat
- physical therapies – such as massage, Bowen, acupressure, bio-puncture or mechanotherapy
- kinesiology and integrated bio-dynamics (IBD)
- counselling techniques – emotional problems and stress can interfere with the healing process. Counselling techniques can include stress management strategies and life coaching.