What is Traditional Medicine?

Traditional Medicine is a broad term for many different types of indigenous whole medical systems, such as Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Homeopathy, or Naturopathy. The overarching philosophy in common is a holistic one; equilibrium of mind, body, and the environment. The focus is on the individual factors that increase the likelihood of disease rather than the disease itself. Naturopathy borrows heavily from Western Herbal Medicine (WHM) based on Anglo-American traditions but also draws from Ayurveda, TCM principles, and evidence-based research. Practitioners adopt different styles of working and methods (modalities); most include herbal and nutritional medicine, diet and lifestyle modification.

Promoting Health

Traditional Medicine acknowledges that the human body is self-organising and constantly in motion. We need to be dynamic beings in an environment of constant change; this dynamism is an opportunity for the body to restore balance. The level of vitality or robustness is a clue to the depth of pathology or imbalance. Very low vitality, demonstrated by very poor daily functioning suggests a deeper penetration of disease. At the other end of the spectrum, good vitality can suggest illness is superficial and probably short-lived. The ultimate goal is to not only function normally but to function optimally; being free of disease and capable of resisting disease. Preventing the progression to (or of) disease is about helping the body correct itself by promoting an environment that will allow health to flourish; rather than sustaining the disease process.

Modern Naturopathy

Staying healthy in the modern age is a team effort. Naturopathy is a complementary therapy that works alongside your other healthcare providers. The strength of naturopathy is the prioritisation of gentler patient-managed lifestyle-orientated treatment methods, nutrition, physical activity, and stress management while recognising when more invasive therapy is needed. This is all contextualised in the individual variability of genes, environment, lifestyle, and new research. Naturopathy is a flexible organism ever expanding with new insights into systems biology. A better understanding of the complex interactions regulating function – biochemically, and genetically – from the cell to the system level, offers more targets for improved function. While a solid grounding in the fundamental principles of traditional medicine means that you the person are always at the centre.

The Australian naturopathic profession is self-regulated. Independent regulatory bodies and professional associations share responsibility for managing education and practice standards. To ensure you are seeing the most qualified practitioner check they are registered with a naturopathic association that requires a minimum bachelor's degree qualification.

Role of Herbs

Herbal medicines can be used in a number of ways but are generally used to promote better bodily function; at the system, organ, tissue, or cell level. Forms include liquid (alcoholic) extracts/tinctures, capsules, tablets, and teas.

Treatment with herbal medicine is always viewed through the lens of the individual story and contributing causes, which is often multi-faceted. Being whole herb extracts (though some are isolated extracts) they have multiple actions. Isolating one constituent from a plant that has many constituents in its raw plant form, will act more like a pharmaceutical drug, increasing the possibility of side effects. Herbal medicine that contains a similar ratio of chemical constituents to its raw plant form will have a gentler effect on the body; acting synergistically to buffer against side effects. Though mild side effects are possible. To reduce the possibility of side effects all herbal medicine is checked for interactions with medication use.

Role of Supplements

Over a lifespan nutrients can become depleted for many reasons: ageing, fighting infections, detoxing toxins, excess physical or mental stress, epigenetic changes, metabolic changes, autoimmune disease, and pharmaceutical drugs. Targeted nutrients can help organs and/or systems function while diet and lifestyle modification support more long-term goals. Forms include powders, capsules, tablets, and functional foods. Nutrient interactions are checked with medication use.