Frequently Asked Questions

"You don’t have to control your thoughts. You just have to stop letting them control you."

What is Naturopathy?

Naturopathy is a safe, effective, patient centred form of medicine practised widely throughout the world. Naturopathy is a holistic health care system – considering all the systems of the body when looking for the underlying causes of illness. As such, naturopaths evaluate all aspects of a person – mind and emotions, as well as the body – as all are believed to be important in returning a person to optimal health and wellness.

The naturopathic approach can be best summarized in the six naturopathic principles or The Six Maxims:

First, Do No Harm (primum non nocere) – every naturopath’s utmost role is to seek no harm with their medical treatment by employing only safe, effective and non invasive natural therapies.
The Healing Power of Nature (vis medicatrix naturae ) – naturopathy recognizes that like nature that has sophisticated systems in place that can create, maintain, repair and destroy matter synchronistically so does the human body have considerable power to heal itself. Naturopath then facilitates and enhances those processes with the aid of natural, nontoxic therapies.
Identify and Treat the Cause (tolle causam) – as a naturopath I am trained to seek the underlying causes of a disease rather than simply suppress or remove symptoms. Like a mechanic we won’t remove or cover a warning light from a dashboard to correct the problem as it won’t fix it would it?
Treat the Whole Person (tolle totum) – health and disease result from a complex set of physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, social, familial, occupational and other factors and all of those need to be addressed in order to achieve ultimate health.
Doctor as Teacher (docere) – term doctor has Latin origin and originally meant ‘teacher’ and naturopaths still embrace this role as they educate, empower, inspire and motivate their patients to take more personal responsibility for their health by adopting healthy attitude, lifestyle and diet.
Prevention (preventare) – in today’s sickness-focused healthcare system it is becoming harder and harder to prevent disease however naturopaths can provide general natural support to assist you to prevent both the sequelae of disease and development of new ones.
More information can be found at https://naturopath.org.nz/what-is-naturopathy/

What to expect from the appointment and myself?

Provision of Safe Environment

To provide safe environment for you as my client doesn’t just include those general health and safety rules but it is making sure that you are as comfortable as possible on many levels. This includes your privacy, individual needs (physical - comfortable temperature or fresh air, emotional – you feel safe and heard, spiritual, cultural, my attitude and approach towards you etc), respect those and accommodate them in the best possible way. I also work within my scope of practice only and I do comply with all legal rules and general human rights you as a patient have.

Legal Compliance Governing My Practice

As a qualified and registered naturopathic practitioner I have to comply with all legal acts that are governing my practice ranging from the Privacy Act, Health and Disability Commissioner Code, Human Rights Act to the Code of Ethics stated by the Naturopaths and Medical Herbalists of New Zealand, the association I am a professional member of and that is also govern by Allied Health Aotearoa New Zealand that I fall under as a non regulated member.

Boundaries of Care within Complementary Therapies Clinical Practice

As a qualified and registered naturopath I always have to work within my scope of practice to not only comply with relevant legislation but primarily to ensure your safety and desirable treatment outcome. If your case and expectations are out of my scope of practice I will advise you and refer you to other health care providers that will be able to help you the most.

The Modalities and Treatments I Can Provide and Use

I am trained at biochemistry, naturopathy, herbal medicine, homeobotanicals, basic aromatherapy, basis homeopathy, tissue salt therapy, flower essence therapy, massage therapy, zone therapy, nutrition and nutraceutical supplements, basic counselling and also reiki/energy and crystal healing. I have also done and continue doing extensive training in trauma and mental health issues. To keep my registration I have to provide a yearly evidence of CPE (Continual Professional Education) so am up to date with latest research and education in my industry.

What actually happens during the appointment?

The Process and Evaluation Summary

The evaluation summary of your individual case is based on looking at you from holistic perspective or as a ‘whole’ person. This means that the underlying causes of your presenting complaint are worked out based on assessing not only those relevant obvious symptoms, official diagnosis and tests results but also addressing your overall physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health together with your health history, diet and lifestyle.

This is why so many questions are asked, physical and complementary examinations take place and in general the consultation takes so long. It gives me really good insight into what is really going on.

Informed Decision Making and the Treatment Plan

By taking into account the above holistic approach and your individual needs and abilities such as culture, lifestyle, commitments, budget etc. I will be able to present a treatment plan that would not only provide the most desirable outcome but that will work with and for you as it needs to be realistic and manageable. It is then up to you if you agree to it or if anything needs to be adjusted or changed. You will also get my evaluation of your health situation and what is causing it and what we can do about it and what to expect next.

Evaluation and Adjustment of the Treatment Plan

The progress of the original treatment plan and your general feedback is obtained and evaluated during a follow up and relevant adjustments are made reflecting those to ensure continuity and success of your treatment.

What types of appointments do you offer?

I can see you in person, online (offering various platforms including Zoom, GoogleMeet, WhatsApp, FaceTime etc) or over the phone. Depending on the complexity of your condition I do offer longer and shorter appointments – for further details please check – Book page or if not sure what type of an appointment is the right one for you please get in touch.

What kind of supplements and herbs do you use?

As a fully qualified practitioner I do use exclusively “practitioner brands” which ensures products of top quality having therapeutic dosages backed up by research and clinical trials. Similar to prescription medications – they can be used and prescribed by fully qualified and registered practitioners only. I do have a dispensary in my clinic room where do I stock good range of various remedies and also liquid herbs or they can be couriered directly to you if this is your preference. With liquid herbs or tinctures they can be mixed to an individual mix that is unique to you and your therapeutic needs.

How many times will I need to see you?

That really depends on the complexity of your issue you are presenting with and your compliance and how well you will respond to our treatment approach. Some people see me for an initial consultation and couple of follow ups, some on regular bases for a medium to long term period. It is really individual and hard to honestly answer. I can reassure you that I will do my best to get you where you want to be as quickly as possible.

Can I bring a support person or children to the appointment?

Yes you can. When it comes to the little people I do have a children area in the room with toys and colouring books.

Do you do any testing and if so what kind?

I am trained at interpreting standard laboratory tests that you get through your GP and am also registered with those laboratories directly so can even request those tests myself, however am not funded. I do also have access to variety of functional testing covering various areas and that are very comprehensive and detailed (such as DUTCH Test, various allergy tests, various stool tests, thyroid assessments etc).

Can you work alongside other healthcare providers and/or my doctor?

Naturopathy is a complementary, not alternative, medicine so yes we do and can work alongside allied and allopathic practitioners, including GPs and specialists. I believe that both naturopathy and other health practitioners have all important strengths in supporting the health of an individual and should work together to achieve the best possible outcome for our patients.

Concurrent Use of Natural Medicines – is it safe?

Different natural medicines and modalities can be safely used alongside each other and I am trained to do so when safe and applicable.

What about if I take medications and or other supplements?

Natural medicines (herbs and nutraceuticals = vitamins, minerals, enzymes, probiotics etc) and orthodox medical drugs can be used alongside each other safely but it is not always the case, as primarily applies to herbs but also others. Hence it is important to inform me of all prescriptive and also OTC drugs you are taking to make sure the concurrent use of those with the remedies I give to you does not provide any undesirable outcome. Even concurrent use of just natural remedies is not always safe as you may be overdosing yourself or taking them incorrectly, so again I need to know what you are already taking. Just because it’s natural, it doesn’t mean it’s safe or appropriate for you.

What about if I am on a budget? How much extra will I need to pay on top of the consultation’s cost?

That again varies but I always check your budget first and we do come up with a plan that is suitable for that and that also allows you to plan forward. I do not oversell and always find the best alternative not just for you but also your valet. The first appointment is the most expensive one but then it gets cheaper. If you have private health insurance, some providers will cover my services and the same applies if you qualify for the Health and Disability Allowance (this needs to go through your GP first though). I do also offer repayment plans under certain circumstances. If cost is an issue please get in touch before making your booking so we can come up with the best solution for you.