What a naturopath does
A naturopathic consultation is usually long, often an hour for a first visit. Your naturopath will ask about your diet, sleep, stress, digestion, activity, medical history and current medicines. The goal is to understand the whole picture and the everyday habits that affect your health.
Recommendations typically focus on:
- diet and eating patterns
- sleep, stress and lifestyle habits
- nutritional supplements, where there’s a reason to use them
- herbal medicines, where the evidence supports them and they’re safe with your other medicines
- referral to your GP or another practitioner when something needs medical assessment
What “evidence-based” means in practice
Evidence-based practice combines three things: the best available research, the practitioner’s clinical experience, and your own values and preferences. It doesn’t mean every recommendation has a large clinical trial behind it. It does mean being honest about how strong the evidence is.
Some natural therapies have reasonable research support for specific uses. For example:
- Peppermint oil capsules have been shown in several clinical trials to ease abdominal pain and other symptoms in some people with irritable bowel syndrome.
- Ginger has evidence for reducing some types of nausea.
- Certain probiotic strains can reduce the risk of diarrhoea associated with antibiotics. The benefit depends on the specific strain, so “any probiotic” isn’t the same thing.
Other popular approaches have little or no reliable evidence. For example, a major review by Australia’s National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) in 2015 found no reliable evidence that homeopathy is effective for any health condition. We don’t think it’s fair to charge you for treatments that don’t work.
“Natural” doesn’t mean risk-free
Herbal medicines are pharmacologically active. That’s the point of using them, but it also means they can cause side effects and interact with medicines.
St John’s wort is the classic example. It can reduce the effectiveness of a long list of medicines, including the oral contraceptive pill, some heart and blood-thinning medicines, and some medicines used after organ transplants. It can also interact dangerously with some antidepressants.
A good naturopath will:
- ask for a full list of your prescription, over-the-counter and supplement products
- check for interactions before recommending anything
- never advise you to stop or change a prescribed medicine, as that’s a conversation for your doctor
- tell you when your symptoms need medical assessment
Red flags that mean “see your GP first”
Naturopathy isn’t the right first step for some symptoms. See your GP promptly if you have unexplained weight loss, blood in your stool or urine, a persistent change in bowel habits, chest pain, a new lump, ongoing fevers, or feel very unwell. Naturopathic care can support you alongside medical treatment, but it shouldn’t delay a diagnosis.
How to choose a naturopath
Naturopaths in Australia are not registered with Ahpra, so qualifications vary. Look for:
- a recognised degree in naturopathy or health science
- membership of a professional association, which sets education, insurance and conduct standards
- willingness to communicate with your GP
- honesty about evidence, cost and expected timeframes
- no pressure to buy large quantities of products
Check with your health fund about whether naturopathy is covered under your policy.
Naturopathy at Health Society Co.
Our naturopathy sits within a multidisciplinary clinic. With your consent, your naturopath can share notes with our clinical nutrition, physiotherapy and psychology practitioners, and with your GP. That means you’re not repeating your story, and your care fits together.
