Digestive Health

The breakdown and absorption of nutrients from food along with elimination is integral for our health and well-being. Incomplete or dysfunctional digestion can be a major contributor to the development of many disorders and diseases. A healthy gut microbiota is important for the homeostasis of the gut brain axis. Naturopathy is centred around finding the cause of imbalances, healing the digestive mucosa and bringing the digestive processors back into balance while providing education on how to maintain homeostasis.

Immunity

Our immune function is very complex, with imbalances leading to allergic diseases, immunodeficiencies and autoimmunity and on going slow recovery from viral infections. Naturopathic modalities, such as Western Herbal Medicine, and Nutritional Science support all the body systems needed to supply a healthy immune response to infection and environmental toxins, while also promoting a quicker sustained recovery from immune driven illnesses.

Chronic Stress and Anxiety

It is my experience support through Herbal and Nutritional Medicine targeting the Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal axis (HPA axis), a major contributor to the fight or flight response, can be nurtured and brought into balance, exerting a positive impact on stress disorders and chronic stress. The prime function of the Endocrine system is to achieve internal homeostasis. Unlike the Nervous system modulation of the endocrine system is slow to take effect and bring back to balance. Herbal Medicine offers adaptogens to help regulate the Endocrine system along with Nervine tonics for the Nervous system. Nutritional medicine is used to assess diet and ensure all vitamins and minerals are available to the body for metabolic pathways (cortisol and neurotransmitter synthesis) and energy production.

Parasitic Infections

Chronic Parasitism often results in cognitive and developmental impairment, anaemia, liver fibrosis and overall debilitation. Less chronic infestations can result in malabsorption, diarrhoea abdominal cramping, weight loss and fatigue. It has been demonstrated  parasites can affect digestive processors reducing their elimination and down grading immune response. Herbal Medicine incorporates the use of anti-parasitic  herbs to combat the over population of parasites along with mucosal healing of the digestive tract important for healthy digestive function.

Hormonal Imbalance

Hormonal imbalance can be experienced by both men and women. Naturopathy provides proven support for Pre-Menstrual Syndrome Menstrual dysfunctions, Endometriosis and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Andropause in men (decrease of the androgen Testosterone), is recognised by many prominent researches and though a normal part of ageing, there are other factors affecting androgen production at a younger age that goes unnoticed. As with older men it can have a negative impact on general health and well-being. Herbal and Nutritional Medicine plays an integral role in improving these imbalances.

Understanding Conception

Solid evidence supports infant health is linked to the health of the women who bear them, especially in regards to preconception care. Naturopathy not only supports preconception care, it also addresses general health imbalances (male and female), investigates exposure to chemicals and environmental toxins, family history of illness (thyroid, diabetes, hypertension) all are capable of having a negative impact on conception. As a Midwife and Naturopath strategies will be put in place to help conception and optimise infant health.