Conventional medicine used in the treatment of women’s health concerns often comes with a dose of side-effects that can make you feel even worse. Ailments particular to women: PMS, PCOS, menopause, hormonal imbalances, and fertility issues can all have a life-changing impact on your day-to-day life. Without a consistently effective treatment that gets to the heart of the problem, it might feel like an agonising merry-go-round of symptoms – without real change for the better.
Rather than act as a barrier stemming the tide, naturopathic practices aim to treat the central causes of your symptoms by taking a holistic approach to your health and wellness. By approaching your symptoms as part of a whole-body system, naturopaths can achieve more than the ‘single symptom treatment’ approach.
Some wonder ‘what is the role of naturopathy in disease management?’ when it comes to some types of disease, naturopathy looks at the body as an interconnected system, allowing for the development of a treatment plan that considers a wide range of related symptoms. Complementary therapies can be used in conjunction with modern treatments where necessary, however, in some cases, targeted intervention can help you stay informed of things such as dietary or lifestyle triggers that exacerbate your symptoms.
What Is Naturopathy?
Originating in the 19th century as a comprehensive treatment system, the naturopathy original proponents built upon centuries of natural healing knowledge and practices. Using this wisdom of the ages, the way was paved for modern professional accreditation and development of naturopathic practices. Traditionally, naturopathy is based on the healing properties of the natural world. Though, today, some naturopathy courses of treatment might include some very modern techniques based on scientific research and innovation.
A naturopathic doctor combines their extensive knowledge of the body and the practical function of many different herbs and treatment options to promote holistic natural health. Holistic treatment – which is based on treating you as a whole person (and not reducing you to the sum of your symptoms). In this way, comprehensive identification of root causes, and their treatment, takes priority. However, a true naturopath will not recommend any treatments if they are likely (in their view) to cause further conditions or complications.
If you’re interested in finding out how naturopathy can help you, it’s worth taking the time to find an experienced and knowledgeable naturopath who can navigate this delicate balance.
What Are the Five Elements of Naturopath Treatment?
If you’re discovering naturopathy for the first time, you might be wondering ‘what is the common naturopathic practice to promote overall health?‘ In particular, how can it help you combat common ailments experienced by women?
There are five elements of naturopathic treatments that your naturopathic doctor will base their diagnosis and treatment options on. Their naturopathy treatment list may include:
- dietary and lifestyle factors,
- hormone balance and stress relief,
- herbal medicine,
- movement therapies,
- and adopting the Doctor as a Teacher approach.
Let’s look at these and consider how they can help treat the base cause of your symptoms.
Dietary and Lifestyle
A balanced diet and regular exercise are crucial to the maintenance of healthy bodies and minds. Every person is unique, and a naturopath aims to look at each client as an individual, rather than applying simplified principles to all people indiscriminately. By analysing your current diet and lifestyle, and investigating your symptoms holistically, your naturopathic professional will help you find the perfect balance of the ideal foods you can ad to your diet or exercises that suit your current limitations, to help you make small changes that will have a lasting and positive impact on your life.
Our natural strategies are designed to work with your body’s natural healing processes (in many cases reducing reliance on manufactured chemicals). Nutrient-dense foods can help bring balance and harmony to your hormonal fluctuations and the pains associated with PMS. Addressing nutrition deficiencies can improve fertility and reduce the impact of endometriosis pain in your day-to-day life. Similarly, some naturopathy courses – with the support of a trained professional – can assist your thyroid function, metabolism issues, and weight management support.With the right approach, herbal medicine for weight loss may complement these efforts by promoting a balanced metabolism and overall well-being. Additionally, a well-balanced diet can also help you get an improved sleep, reducing tiredness and fatigue that can elevate other symptoms.
Hormone Balance And Stress Relief
Our bodies are coursing with hormones, and when they become unbalanced, they can have a severe and lasting impact on hundreds of micro-processes in the body. Painful symptoms, combined with the hectic pace of modern life, can have detrimental effects on your stress levels. Higher stress levels create a feedback loop which powers deteriorating symptoms and lowers your quality of life.
There are several techniques used by naturopathic practitioners to help align your hormonal balance such as herbal medicine, meditation, and movement techniques. These treatment options can also interrupt your stress levels, allowing you to take control and manage them effectively. Stress is not just a ‘feeling’, it leaves a lasting imprint on your physical body. Adaptogens may be used to reduce this physical impact and support you to better health.
Herbal Medicine
Our bodies need an optimum balance of minerals and vitamins to maintain our health. Traditionally, these would be sourced in the diet – for example, eating enough greens and nuts to reach your daily intake of essential magnesium for overall body health. Today, many foods are overly processed, and high-quality, high-nutrition fruits and vegetables are not as easily accessible as they once were.
Herbal medicine can help re-establish the delicate balance that your body needs to address and manage imbalances. Appropriate lifestyle interventions can help balance your cortisol levels, as well as optimising your metabolism to improve absorption of nutrients.
Some herbal remedies are designed to promote cardiovascular health, whilst others assist in the management of your immune system. Your naturopath will investigate your current health to create a bespoke plan that gives you the support where you need it most.
Herbal remedies are available to support you through menstrual problems, while they can also give you relief from the persistent and life-changing symptoms associated with perimenopause and menopause. This could be helping you manage excessive sweating, hormonal imbalances that impact your mood, or even issues that interrupt your sleep leading to daily fatigue or tiredness that you, otherwise, just can’t shake. Rooted in the principles of holistic medicine for hormonal imbalances, these remedies work in harmony with your body’s natural rhythms to promote overall well-being.
Movement Therapies
Targeted movement plans help you focus on the exercises that support your body in the ways it needs most, while limiting impact on other areas to reduce agitation. For example, you may be recommended cardiovascular exercises that reduce impact on existing pains in your legs or knees. Physical activity is known to be a great benefit to mental health, which can then help you manage pain sensations and feel more in control of your body.
Other movement therapies may include some forms of meditation (such as yoga) to help realign your physical and spiritual selves, while providing a low impact exercise that gently improves your muscle range. These types of movements, with support from a professional practitioner, can help improve movement for those with chronic fatigue, while helping to support mental health and other health challenges.
Pilates can help boost core strength, while limiting the exertion and impact of other exercise programs. While energy balance therapies assist in the support of emotional wellness. For many women, self-care and exercise are a low priority. However, it’s important to give yourself some time devoted to self-care for long term health and overall feelings of wellness.
Doctor as Teacher
Arguably the most important of naturopathy’s elements, this principle promotes putting you in control of your own health through education, information, and respect. Unlike conventional medicine, naturopathic professionals don’t keep you in the dark about your health. Rather, you’ll be given the knowledge you need to make informed decisions about your health. If you search for ‘naturopathy near me‘, you’ll discover that this approach to healthcare puts you at the centre, with a holistic approach to your overall health so you can combat multiple symptoms that are potentially caused by one underlying issue.
Patient empowerment is important in naturopathy so that you have the tools and language you need to maintain control of your health. Medical jargon can be confusing and overwhelming, naturopathy aims to remove these inaccessible hurdles, allowing you to fully understand your body.
At Naturopathic Wellness, we develop our client treatment plans with our clients, ensuring you stay involved at every stage of the process. This helps to keep you informed as to why one treatment may be more beneficial than another, while taking your experiences and concerns into account.
What Can a Naturopath Do for Menopause?
Menopause can be a period of whole-body change for some women, so it makes sense to treat this experience holistically. Herbal remedies, dietary modifications, and acupuncture can help you manage and control hot flushes and night sweats. Adaptogens are useful in helping your body cope with the additional stress, while some vitamins can offer life-changing experiences of hormonal fluctuations. Some women find menopause comes with unexpected weight gain, loss of bone density, and mental health concerns. Naturopathy can offer a much-needed respite from these symptoms by taking your whole experience into account and uncovering the most effective path forward for you to achieve a better quality of life.
If you would like to know more about how naturopathy can improve your life, you can request a remote appointment with Naturopathic Wellness. Our empathetic team are ready to help you reach your wellness goals.
