Excellent, back to the centre and all the way up to the ceiling please.
OK are you comfortable there? Yes. Good.
Naturopathy is all about healing the body naturally.
Here I am using iridology to help me analyse this patient.
Different parts of the eye correspond to different parts of the body.
It gives me hints as to what is going on inside.
Yes.., You are not in bad health at all.
However, there is a little bit of acid building up in your system at the
moment, so we will need to talk to you a little bit about your diet.
I really like the detective side of the job.
Sam, I was wondering if you could tell me a little
bit about this viral infection that you have.
Yes, sure. I've had it about a week now, I think. It started when I went to the gym.
I did too much of a workout. Initially I thought that was what the problem was.
And then umm..
So have you been feeling fatigued with it. Yes.
Ahh yea I've been feeling fatigued, definitely.
People tell me how they feel, their symptoms, and from there I narrow
down what the problem is and guide them to the best course of action.
You are dealing with people who are emotionally or physically
ill so a sense of empathy and compassion is very important.
I can see that the fibre structure is a little bit narrow or thin there.
That tells us about a slight weakness in your lung in that area.
Around in the throat area you can see a little
orange dot there and some cream surrounding
that, and that cream is the lymphatic
congestion that is showing up in that area.
My interest in naturopathy was sparked when I was working in the building industry.
I consulted a natural therapist for work stress and
found it so interesting that I changed careers.
Hi Jenny, how are you? How is your pregnancy going?
You've been having a lot of trouble with morning sickness. OK.
Look Jenny, one of the best things that we can suggest ...
A lot of my time is spent talking to people, whether it be on the phone or
in the office, so in this line of work you have to be a good communicator.
One of the great rewords of this job is knowing
that your advice will, or has, made a difference.
We only use natural products in naturopathy such
as herbs and homeopathics, vitamins and minerals.
After a consultation we can mix a remedy right here in the clinic.
Chrissie, I wonder if I could ask you to make up this herbal for me please,
for Sam Smith - 5 ml twice daily.
OK and would you like a 300 ml bottle. Yes thank you.
Part of my day is spent catching up on paperwork and researching new products.
Then there is always ordering to do.
Naturopathy tends to be a 9.00 to 5.00 job with a lot of clinics opening on Saturdays.
If you're self-employed like myself you can be more flexible and choose your own hours.
You're always learning in this job.
There are new products, research to read and update seminars to go to.
If you are not feeling too well at the moment can I
suggest that you call our number right now: 9221 1882.
I also do a weekly talkback show which helps me
keep in touch with the community's health concerns.
People who have trouble with wheat will often find, after
they have eaten, that they start to feel tired and lethargic.
They'll often find that they get bloating of the abdomen.
It's not unusual for naturopaths to offer a range of natural therapies -
anything from iridology to reiki and remedial therapies may be included.
I specialise in sclerology which is the study of the white section of the eye.
Not many people are qualified in this so I jumped at the chance to learn it.
Can I have a look at your palms please.
Now, this is not the fortune-teller. I'm actually
looking for lines running down the fingers themselves.
You have very mild lines running down those fingers. But that will.......
The main misconception about naturopathy is that anyone can call themselves a naturopath
but the truth is this profession requires years of study and is quite complex.
The holistic approach is based on the principle that by keeping the
body and mind in balance you can prevent sickness and disease.
To get a feel for the industry some people start out by taking courses such as reflexology,
aromatherapy, massage therapy, reiki, acupuncture and acupressure, just to name a few.
To become an accredited naturopath with one of the governing bodies, you'll need to have a
diploma, advanced diploma or degree in naturopathy, applied science or natural medicine.
Sam, these are your proscriptions.
The herbal formula is 5 ml twice a day after food.
Naturopathy is a growing industry which is going from strength to strength.
People are taking more interest and control of their
wellbeing using a natural approach to healing.
With great career prospects, it's definitely an industry to keep an eye on.