Naturopathy encompasses a range of modalities such as herbal medicine, nutrition, and lifestyle practices. However, what really defines naturopathy is the philosophies guiding the practice and application of these modalities.

As a naturopath, my goal when working with you is always to identify and address the underlying causes and possible barriers standing in the way of you achieving your health goals. Of course, there can be a time and place for symptom suppression; I’d like you to feel as good as possible, as soon as possible! However, identifying and addressing the underlying causes is key to naturopathic practice, and is how we encourage your positive health changes to be long-lasting.

How do we identify the causes of your symptoms? Well, our bodies send us signs all the time. Let me help you interpret them! Together we will also explore your timeline and health history, family history, diet, and key lifestyle factors that can all influence your health today. Sometimes we need some extra information, so I may refer you for further testing.

Also key to my approach as a naturopath is taking a patient-centred approach. What does this look like? First and foremost, you are so much more than your symptoms or ‘conditions’ and I will always take the time to understand you as a whole person (which makes identifying the cause that much easier too!). Furthermore, I’m not about giving my clients mountains of homework or unachievable goals. We work together to come up with a plan that feels realistic and achievable for you.

(This is what the mysterious brown liquid and bottles contain that you’ll see pictured on this site!).

Herbal medicine uses whole plants or plant extracts (for example as teas, tablets, or tinctures) as medicine. These plants all have their own actions in the body, be that antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, or even anti-anxiety (anxiolytic).

If this is unfamiliar to you, think about one plant that most people are very familiar with: coffee. We choose a specific part of the plant, prepare it, and consume it in a manner to obtain the greatest effect. Like coffee, the plants used in herbal medicine all have different effects on the body. Some are immediately noticeable, like coffee! However, many others work more subtly, with effects sometimes taking a few days or weeks to be noticed.

Many pharmaceutical medicines we use today are also derived from plants. Common examples include morphine—our strongest painkiller—derived from poppies, aspirin from willow bark, and digoxin from foxglove. Herbal medicine is simply using plants in their whole form, rather than just an isolated chemical.

When prescribed by a qualified herbalist (hello!), herbal medicine is safe & effective. Blending different herbs together allows me to truly tailor my prescriptions to suit your needs.

I use herbal medicine so often in my practice—it offers countless possibilities and really works wonders.

Nutrition should always be a part of a natural health plan. Typically this involves looking at what you’re eating at present, and making some adjustments (always with your agreement - no crazy diets here!) to ensure your diet is in line with your health goals.

Other times nutrition will be used as more of a specific tool, a focused short-term intervention. Examples include avoiding certain foods if you are experiencing gut troubles, allergies, or even an autoimmune condition, as we work to support the gut and improve its future resilience to foods that may be causing you troubles at present.

I also use nutritional supplementation to address dietary deficiencies, or for specific therapeutic aims when you need more of certain nutrients than can be obtained from diet alone. Generally this is short-term; when symptoms and/or deficiencies improve, then using “food as medicine” long-term is typically the aim.

Although not every client may require further testing, for complex or long-standing cases, functional testing can offer a wealth of information to help guide our approach.

The most common tests I use in clinic are:

• GI360 complete microbiome stool test

• SIBO breath testing

• DUTCH hormone tests

• OATs organic acid urine test

• Dietary antigen blood tests

I will also work alongside your GP to request and interpret standard lab tests, or in some cases will send you directly to your community lab for blood test requests.

Of course, some people just love data so will request a test themselves. If this is you, please get in touch and I’d be happy to guide you through the process and provide recommendations as to which option/s may be most appropriate.

With any consultation with me, you also get my support as your own health coach.

As a qualified NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) Coach & Polyvagal-Informed Practitioner, I have many extra tools in my toolkit to support you in setting (& achieving!) goals, overcoming obstacles such as low motivation or mindset, and finding tools that work for you to regulate your nervous system.

This can be the difference between a successful natural health plan, or not! You can trust that you will be well supported in your natural health journey, as I walk alongside you step by step, supporting you in reaching the outcome you desire.