What is clinical naturopathy? (and how can it help me?)
Clinical Naturopathy - What is it?
Naturopathy can be interpreted in different ways and falls into two main categories - Traditional and Clinical.
At Hypermobile Natural Therapies, we practice clinical naturopathy.
Both Clinical and Traditional naturopathy use the 7 principles:
First do no harm - This refers to choosing the gentlest non-invasive strategy to achieve the desired outcome for each individual patient. As well as self-education about safety issues, including medication interactions with herbal and nutritional remedies.
Healing Power of Nature - Refers to the body’s ability to heal itself. When the body is given the right tools or strategies, it can calm the brain and body and reduce symptoms of conditions.
Treat the Cause - Refers to the importance of identifying and treating the cause(s) of disease/conditions. It is based on the thought that health and disease are logical; they happen for a reason. Identifying the root cause of disease and the aggravating factors is an essential aspect of managing conditions.
This is a bit different with incurable conditions such as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. As the root cause is genetic, we look to the factors that set the condition in motion. Research shows us, this includes all different types of traumas - Environmental, mental, medical or physical.
Treat The Whole Person - Refers to the concept that recognises that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. The body is connected and when one part is not functioning well, this leads to dysfunction in other areas. As well, although individuals may have the same condition, each is unique with their own specific susceptibilities and the way in which their conditions manifest and present.
Doctor as Teacher - Refers to practitioners educating clients about the factors that affect their specific health circumstances, so that they are more informed about the impact of their choices and are more capable of maintaining their own health.
This also refers to one of our values - Collaboration with the patient and other health professionals in your team or our network for you.
Disease/condition Prevention and Health Promotion - Refers to promoting a healthy lifestyle, assessing risk factors, determining susceptibility to disease/conditions, and making appropriate therapeutic interventions. It involves assessing environmental and external factors, which might be affecting health, genetic/hereditary factors, and assessing the impact of researched medical interventions to-date.
This is also one of our values - Adaptability to condition updates, new factors affecting condition onset (such as COVID) and research changing.
Wellness or Wellbeing - Refers to the concept of health, not only being about immediate physical health. It is also about an individuals psychological (mental and emotional) and spiritual (community) health.
Clinical Naturopathy:
In addition to the 7 above principles, Clinical naturopathy uses evidenced based lifestyle, nutrition strategies. As well as researched nutritional and western herbal medicine supplementation.
A clinical naturopath observes a broad perspective of an individual's life, to (in the case of incurable conditions), uncover what may have been the catalyst for the condition to present in the body. Then we can manage the condition according to the person's individual needs. The individuality of care, rather than a protocol approach is how hypermobility and chronic complex conditions can be managed more effectively. This is not a one size fits all approach. The individuality allows a tailored prescription with specific education on beneficial health practices and allows people to take more accountability for their own health.
A clinical naturopath is also university bachelor degree qualified with a 4 years of study.
How can Clinical Naturopathy help me?
At Hypermobile Natural Therapies we can assist in areas including, but not limited to:
Chronic pain
Symptoms of a dysfunctional nervous system including - high/low heart rate, high blood pressure and temperature dysregulation
Sleep - Insomnia and sleep difficulties
Digestive disturbances - bacterial imbalances
Nutritional imbalances - Poor absorption of nutrients
These areas can lead to symptoms of:
Chronic widespread pain and inflammation
Digestive pain and bloating or slow/fast digestion and elimination
Fatigue, brain fog and poor memory recall
Dizziness, lightheaded-ness, nausea,
Persistent or frequent colds or viruses
Severe intolerances to specific foods or all foods
Disordered eating behaviours
In hypermobility and chronic complex conditions, there can be a dramatic improvement and often cessation of symptoms day to day. This leads to a higher quality of life and overall wellbeing.
If you would like assistance with managing your conditions, please book a 1:1 consultation Here