If you’ve ever walked into a practitioner’s office and walked out feeling as though your concerns weren’t addressed so much as they were ignored, or felt as though your regular GP would much rather give you a quick band-aid fix for your complex condition as opposed to addressing the root cause of your illness, know that you are not alone. 

While this is unfortunately the reality that many women and folks assigned female at birth have to face each and every single time they pay a visit to their healthcare provider, it doesn’t have to be that way. 

Fortunately, there’s a solution to this problem; and it doesn’t involve tirelessly shopping around for months on end on the off chance that you might eventually find a practitioner who actually cares. What it does involve though is holistic treatment for the whole person – including their mind, body, and spirit.  

Allow us to introduce you to naturopathy.

What Is Naturopathy? 

If you’ve heard the term thrown around before but aren’t exactly sure what all the buzz surrounding naturopathy is all about, we’re happy to be of assistance. After all, there’s a reason why it’s one of the most popular forms of alternative medicine in Australia today, with naturopaths receiving almost 5 million consultations annually. 

To take it back to basics for a moment, naturopathy refers to a wide range of therapies and natural medicines that when applied, have the power to heal the whole person. Naturopaths also believe that the human body has a strong, vital, and innate power to heal itself, and as such, naturopathic treatments take a patient’s emotional, physical, mental, and social health into account. 

While it may seem as though naturopathy is the new kid on the block in the healthcare scene, we’re here to squash that rumour once and for all. Naturopathy isn’t a new fad that just appeared overnight, in fact, its origins can be traced back to the traditional medicine practices in 19th century Europe that utilised herbs, minerals, hydrotherapy, diet modifications, and exposure to fresh air and sunlight as natural remedies. ]

Today, naturopaths utilise a range of therapeutic modalities to meet the unique needs of each patient, including: 

• Nutritional medicine.
• Herbal medicine. 
• Dietary modifications. 
• Lifestyle advice. 
• Massage. 

How Does Naturopathy Work?

Naturopathy operates on six core principles to help guide a naturopath’s approach to personalised health care. 

These principles play a role in how naturopaths treat their patients, the clinical decisions they make, how they view medicine, and even how they engage with other health practitioners. 

First Do No Harm

With patient care and healing as one of the key core focuses of naturopathy, naturopaths utilise methods and substances that reduce the risk of harmful side effects in order to correctly identify an illness and help improve a patient’s wellness. 

Treat The Whole Person

Naturopaths believe that health and disease are a direct result of a combination of physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, social, and other factors and take these into account when treating the ‘whole person’. 

Naturopathic medicine focuses on aligning all of these factors by creating a personalised and comprehensive approach to treatment that is unique to each patient. In short, when we said naturopathy was the practice of healing and treating the whole person, we meant it. Literally. 

Prevention 

Naturopaths understand that an individual cannot be healthy if their environment isn’t. We can’t expect roses to flourish in dry, unfertilised soil, can we? 

With this in mind, two of the primary objectives of naturopathic medicine is to: 

1. Prevent disease; and
2. Attain optimal health in patients. 

Dismissive doctors, start taking notes, because here’s how you could start scoring some serious brownie points. Naturopaths work to prevent disease and promote health by educating their patients, promoting healthy ways of living, assessing risk factors, and making appropriate interventions. 

Doctor as Teacher 

While they provide their patients with the necessary education, knowledge, and tools to succeed, naturopaths also believe in empowering their patients to take the driver's seat and have an active role in making decisions that impact their own health and well-being. 

Essentially, naturopaths get you ready for the long haul and equip you with the confidence you need to be the best version of yourself. Yep, just like your favourite school teacher.  

Treat The Cause

We know by now that naturopaths don’t believe that an illness can occur without a cause. What we mean by that is that it’s not likely that you sustained an ACL injury completely out of the blue, and it probably isn’t a coincidence that you experience severe bloating and stomach pain every time you consume dairy products. 

Naturopaths seek to understand the root cause behind your severe bloating or stomach pain to nip your illness in the bud, rather than just suppressing symptoms with a short-term fix. 

The Healing Power of Nature

At the core of naturopathy is the belief that the body has an inherent ability to heal itself. Our bodies are constantly healing themselves and working hard behind the scenes to keep us alive and functioning to the best of our abilities. How? Think about the last time you nicked yourself on the ankle accidentally with a brand-new razor, or got an annoying papercut on your index finger from tearing open your Uber Eats paper bag too quickly. It’s likely you didn’t faint from blood loss, and it’s even less likely that you lost a limb from either incident. 

You’ve got your body’s regenerative and self-repairing powers to thank for that. The very millisecond you start to bleed from a cut, your blood platelets rush to the surface and clot together to form a sort of impenetrable army to protect your nice, fresh wound. Your white blood cells gather in the wounded area to protect it from any infections (yes, it looks nasty. But yes, it’s doing a world of good), while your red blood cells start building new tissue and your blood vessels start to promote healing. 

Self-healing exists (and it’s more than just skin deep). Naturopaths work with you, your environment, and your lifestyle to help promote and support healing in your body – from the inside out. 

What Does Naturopathy Treat? 

Because of the strong emphasis on prevention, treatment, and promotion of optimal health, naturopathy can help to treat a range of different conditions and symptoms including: 

• Dysmenorrhea. 
• Depression. 
• Anxiety. 
• Vitamin deficiencies. 
• IBS. 
• Menopausal symptoms. 
• Inflammation. 
• Endometriosis.
• PCOS
• Adenomyosis

If conventional medicines have provided you with little relief from your conditions and you’re ready to ditch quick fixes, a detailed discussion with an expert in natural medicine could help put you on the right track. Book an appointment with a Hazel naturopath today to determine if naturopathy could be the missing puzzle piece in your health journey. 

How Effective Is Naturopathy? 

As with all medicine, the effectiveness of naturopathy can be impacted by several factors, including: 

• The condition/s being treated.
• The patient’s overall health.  
• Other existing conditions the patient has, if any. 
• The expertise of the naturopath. 
• Whether or not naturopathy is part of a collaborative care plan alongside other forms of care (such as conventional medicines).  

Despite the above factors and their ability to impact an individual’s experience with naturopathic treatments, several studies have highlighted the efficacy of naturopathy when used as a treatment for chronic conditions 

One study followed 75 adults who commenced naturopathic care for the treatment and management of moderate-severe anxiety. The study found that after 8 weeks, along with increased concentration levels, improved quality of life, and social functioning, anxiety levels decreased by 56.5% among participants. 

Another study reported that 89.3% of patients who utilised naturopathy as a form of treatment for musculoskeletal conditions such as chronic neck pain, lower back pain, fibromyalgia, and osteoarthritis found that the treatment resulted in positive outcomes and an overall reduction in symptoms. 

Most notably, naturopathy has also been found to improve the general health and overall well-being of patients living with Multiple Sclerosis – when combined with the recommended conventional medicine for MS. The study highlighted improvements in patients' timed walks and neurological impairment. 

Is a Naturopath a Real Doctor? 

You wouldn’t confuse a teacher with a nurse, or an IT whizz with a banker, would you? The same applies to a naturopath and a doctor. Despite the focus both of these professions have on healing, it is important to remember their individual approaches to healing are the very things that set them apart. 

While a naturopath can help address your health concerns and treat you with a mixture of natural therapies and medicines, a doctor or general practitioner is more likely to use conventional medicine, such as traditional medicines and surgeries. 

Can a naturopath effectively treat their patients? Yes. 

Do naturopaths have to receive a qualification in order to become a practicing naturopath in Australia? Yes. 

So… if they can effectively treat patients, have studied the human body, and understand the importance of personalised care plans, does that mean a naturopath is a doctor? No. 

Does that make the work they do any less impactful or important? Absolutely not. 

When taking a comprehensive, collaborative approach to healthcare, it is important to recognise that no one modality is more important or beneficial than the other. Here at Hazel, our doctors and naturopaths work collaboratively with each other (and our other specialists) to collectively treat the whole you, and provide you with a healthcare model that actually listens and addresses your concerns. 

Is Homeopathy the Same As Naturopathy? 

Short answer: sort of. Long answer: not quite. 

Let us explain. 

While both naturopathy and homeopathy have a shared focus on holistic healing, are non-invasive, and prioritise the body’s natural ability to self-heal, there are a few differences that set these care models apart. 

For starters, naturopaths will use a wide range of integrative techniques to holistically heal their patients, while homeopaths only utilise homeopathic medicine to heal their patients. It is not uncommon for naturopathy to be used alongside other, more mainstream forms of treatment in collaborative care plans. However, homeopathy is considered an alternative medicine and is usually not incorporated into care plans alongside other mainstream treatment methods. 

What’s more, homeopathic medicines are substances made from plants, minerals, or animals that are given to patients in an extremely diluted form and are believed to stimulate auto-regulatory and self-healing processes. 

Not sure if you’re on team naturopathy or team homeopathy? DW, Hazel is here to help. To find out which treatment option is most appropriate for you and your lifestyle, join Hazel today. 

Understanding Naturopathy for Pain Management 

As previously mentioned, naturopathy focuses on identifying underlying causes of illnesses, you won’t find any quick fixes or magic pills in this method of treatment. 

Because of this, a naturopath’s approach to pain management is slightly different to that of other medical professionals. Where a GP might suggest taking an over-the-counter painkiller, the process is slightly different with a naturopath. The technique of managing pain with naturopathy involves identifying, treating and ultimately removing the external factor that could be responsible for causing your pain and discomfort. 

For example, prolonged, excessive consumption of foods high in omega-6 fatty acids (such as sunflower, soy, and sesame oils) can result in significant inflammation, autoimmune conditions, circulatory conditions, and some cancers. In the event that a patient presented themselves to a naturopath with localised pain and discomfort in their abdomen, the naturopath would review the patient’s diet and lifestyle to determine what food groups could be responsible for the patient’s pain. From there, the naturopath might provide the patient with certain dietary swaps or modifications to avoid inflammation and pain. 

However, naturopathy has also been shown to assist in the management of more than just dietary-induced pain. One study has identified naturopathy as an effective pain management tool for patients with musculoskeletal disorders, nerve pain, chronic respiratory diseases and those in palliative care. 

For those suffering with female pain and gynaecological conditions, we have some good news. A study conducted to examine the impacts of naturopathy on the management of dysmenorrhea found that it helped to regulate hormones, improve blood circulation, relieve congestion and significantly reduce symptoms of dysmenorrhea.

Another study found that phytochemicals and medicinal plants included in some naturopathy services are able to interact with biological processes and, when used in conjunction with other conventional therapies, can assist in alleviating symptoms of diagnosed endometriosis. 

While there is currently no known cure for PCOS, naturopathy has been found to cause positive changes in polycystic ovarian morphology, including lowering testosterone levels, improving ovulation response and regular menstruation. 

If you’re a chronic pain sufferer and would prefer a mixture of both conventional and natural therapies in your treatment plan, good news – naturopathy could be a suitable option for you. Why? Because naturopathy can be used in addition to conventional medicine to increase the effectiveness of the treatment and management of pain. 

Remember, naturopathy aims to heal the root cause of an illness – not just stop its symptoms – and requires long-term commitment from both practitioner and patient. 

After all, Rome wasn’t built in a day. 

Naturopathy at Hazel

We know how it feels to be dismissed by the very healthcare providers you trust with your health and wellbeing– so we’re committed to ensuring that no Hazel patient ever has to feel that way again. Our naturopaths know that health is not skin deep. We dig deep to uncover the root cause of your symptoms by looking into your emotional well-being, physical health and lifestyle factors to help treat the whole you. Our naturopaths specialise in all things YOU; from reliving endometriosis pain to managing PCOS symptoms, supporting fertility and addressing all things women’s health, we have a naturopath willing and able to support you and your needs. 

Every patient will leave their naturopathic consultation with a complete, comprehensive care plan that may include nutritional advice, herbal medicine, lifestyle modifications and referrals to vetted experts for specialised testing. 

Ready to experience holistic, whole-body healing for yourself? Join Hazel today. 

Naturopathy and Women’s Health: FAQ

How to Find a Naturopath Near Me 

Location isn’t important here. Whether you’re in Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, Gold Coast or somewhere in between, our naturopaths are here to support you with virtual consultations – Australia-wide. 

You don’t have to worry about jumping in the car and driving 45 minutes to get to your appointment, with the Hazel platform, your naturopath is only a click away. 

Can Naturopaths Help With Endometriosis? 

Our naturopaths approach each individual treatment with a complex understanding of herbal complementary medicine, holistic practices, and evidence-based methods. 

Understanding that no two patients are the same, our naturopaths use these principles to provide you with an individualised treatment plan to help you address the specific endometriosis symptoms and concerns that impact you and your lifestyle. 

What Is a PCOS Naturopath?

Like our Hazel naturopaths, a PCOS naturopath focuses on treating the whole body and incorporating both dietary and lifestyle modifications into their patients’ routine to help with the management of PCOS symptoms. 

While PCOS can’t be cured, treating the whole body and determining its underlying causes can help to manage symptoms such as: 

• Irregular periods and ovulation. 
• Unwanted hair growth. 
• Hair loss. 
• Acne. 

If you’re seeking support for your PCOS and are interested in exploring natural therapies, book a consultation with a caring Hazel naturopath. 

Can Naturopathy Help with Period Pain?

Whether you’re wanting to explore natural remedies for period pain, or use a combination of both natural and conventional treatments to address your period pain, naturopathy can help. 

Naturopathy can help ease period pain naturally through the use of herbal medicines, lifestyle and dietary modifications, supplements, and exercise. Interested in learning more about how naturopathy can help you manage your period pain? Book a consultation with a Hazel naturopath today.