Naturopathy Frequently Asked Questions

What training do Naturopaths receive in Australia?
A modern naturopath in practice in Australia is trained in medical sciences and most often in the modalities of herbalism, homeopathy, nutrition, massage and counselling either via a University or accredited college.

How can I tell if I am dealing with a qualified Naturopath who has received appropriate training?

A good sign will be membership of a professional body such as the ATMS, ANTA, NHAA or ANPA. These bodies set academic standards, collect CPE points (continued professional education) and will only accept members from approved colleges or courses.

How is a Naturopath different to my GP?
Your GP will often have more training in the medical sciences and disease processes, will offer a 6 to 15 minute consultation, is allowed to diagnose conditions, prescribe pharmaceutical medication and/or minor lifestyle modification and is able to swipe your Medicare card.

Naturopaths do not replace GPs. A naturopath offers an alternative methodology to the treatment of illness, and will spend longer trying understanding the client’s individual needs so as to obtain optimal health outcomes. They will use substances that subtly and slowly modify the internal environment, as well as recommend epigenetic, lifestyle and dietary modifications so that you can better understand yourself and learn to support your body’s own self-healing processes.

Why choose a Naturopath?
It depends how you want to approach your own health care. Many people who see naturopaths have a condition that has not been resolved by the established medical system or they may realise that pharmaceuticals are not the answer and/or they are making them feel worse. This is not to say that a naturopathic treatment can offer a cure, but often an individual's understanding of their unique needs and requirements to improve their quality of life is discovered. Others may see a naturopath for philosophical reasons - they believe that a subtle form of health care and learning the art of self-responsibility is more beneficial for them in the long term.
A naturopath is not simply interested in the condition you present with, they will endeavour to understand you in a broader sense and provide feedback to gently guide and coach you through the changes that will be required for you to reach your happy place. It is important to assess your level of readiness to change as the real breakthroughs change come from within you.

Why Practitioner recommended Products?
The effectiveness of a Natural Medicine is directly proportional to the quality and strength of its raw materials (and the ability for your body to absorb it as well as your ability to stay committed to your treatment). We only select and recommend remedies that contain the purest ingredients and are vigorously tested to confirm the raw material purity, quality and efficacy.
Be aware that although many now use the internet to self-prescribe, and purchase from health food stores, discount vitamin shops and pharmacies, it may not always get to the heart of the issue. The training required to use natural medicines safely and effectively takes years, and sometimes the information provided to the public via mainstream advertising it’s plainly misleading. Low-quality products are formulated based on price and marketability, not therapeutic value.
Professional practitioners seek active ingredients with efficacious results delivered in a timely manner. If a product does not work, practitioners will seek another. We look for quality and efficacy in nutritional products, and prefer to recommend excipient-free products, usually in powder or liquid form if possible to ensure high bioavailability.

How long will it take to see improvements?
It depends on the reason why you have come to a Naturopath - it may be for an acute or chronic issue. Acute conditions can frequently be resolved in a week or two. In the case of chronic conditions, often these problems have taken many years of metabolic and/or emotional imbalance to actually manifest physically. A symptom may have taken many years of imbalance, neglect and ignoring to bring you to your current state, so expecting all your issues to be solved in 2 weeks is not realistic. Many physical issues have their root in emotional, mental and spiritual matters; therefore these areas all need exploration and attention. And to know thyself and what makes you uniquely you, we offer coaching packages with 3 &12month epigenetic lifestyle memberships to help you develop the necessary healthy habits that provide you lasting results for spritely longevity!