Karen Coleman

Naturopathy uses modalities that aim to re-balance and strengthen your system - mind, body and soul.
You and your family are unique so there is no "one-size-fits all".

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"You have changed my life! I've struggled for years with my digestion and have had no success finding the cause through GPs. Discovering via your treatments that my problems were related to a food intolerance has helped me to learn about and avoid the foods that trigger the uncomfortable symptoms. I feel well and happy again." Chelle :)

Why natural therapies?

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When I most needed something to change in my life natural approaches are what made the difference. I have no doubt that I would be experiencing a much reduced quality of life by now had the right people not come into my life.

I trained as a practitiioner because I wanted to be able to give others the options that had most made a difference to me. Other work roles have allowed me to witness pain and disability often due to the reduced alternatives available in regional areas.

Natural alternatives work! People are voting with their feet an experiencing the benefits. My only hope is that one day they will attract the same subsidies as other forms of medicine so that everybody can benefit.

I recommend options that are based on evidence of their effectiveness and I am not into gimmicks.
Being local I am accountable to my community

Do you want choice?

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An important part of health is you feeling empowered to make choices so recommendations are explained. You may want to alter the foods you eat to get well or not. You may not be able to swallow tablets or prefer herbs or energy approaches. You may need a supplement that does not interact with the medications that you take from the Doctor. Options are available.

Time may be precious to you. After hours and week- end appointments are available. Follow-up consultations can be done over the telephone or internet. Please ring and enquire.


What happens at the first appointment?

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The initial appointment considers all the factors that influence your current concern so that an individual wellness plan can be developed. Your diet (the foods you choose); lifestyle; age; emotional factors; past health; genetic predispositions and overall vitality in different physical systems create a picture of the best place to start. We can then discuss the natural treatment options as some may fit with your style better than others.

Digital photos of your eyes are taken at the initial assessment to provide further information about your basic constitution and health risks. The iridology reading is completed at your second appointment and you receive a written report and an email of your iris photos for future reference. Areas of the iris connect to all parts of the body and can show the systems that are at risk of developing disease.

Other tests and modalities are listed in the modalities section.


Why do I get sick when my diet is good?

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What constitutes a "good "diet can be confusing with a lot of different information around. Think about how science has now caught up with the need for "good" fats in our diet

• Foods that are artificially ripened, processed and grown in mineral deficient soils do not provide the same nutrition that our ancestors received from naturally grown and seasonally ripe food.
  
• Your lifestyle may be busy and stressful so more of some nutrients are used compared to others.
  
• You may take long term medications that interfere with your bodies nutrient balance.
  
• Your body works hard to process and remove pollution, heavy metals, other environmental and food chemicals from your system. Some of us have systems that are better at this than others. These take or block some nutrients and can play havoc with minerals and hormones that seek to keep us well.
  
• Your digestion may be weak so that less nutrients are absorbed or able to be transported to where they are needed.
  
• You may have an allergy or food sensitivity that causes you to react badly to what is otherwise considered to be healthy food.
  
• You may already be deficient in nutrients that are critical to the millions of biochemical reactions that occur in our bodies every second due to any of the above processes.

Digestion can be improved so that you do get better nutrition from your food. We all take our digestion for granted and many people see variations as too minor to discuss with their GP. How useful would your home be if you could not get in the front gate or if waste water and sewerage could not leave? The cells of our body are much the same so getting digestion right is important.

A matrix evaluation uses saliva, urine and a digestive assessment to provide information about regulatory processes in your body. This is an optional extra way of having more information about the way your body is working.


I just need to get rid of this pain and I would feel better.

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Dorn spinal therapy is a gentle method used for realigning the spine and leg length that relies on your body movements. It is safe for young and more elderly. Regular sessions are required for full benefit with long standing conditions. The technique provides exercises and methods that you can replicate at home to relieve any residual pain.

Dorn spinal therapy is combined with a Breuss massage that gently stretches the spine to relieve aches and pains. All you need to do during this section is sleep or relax.

The Breuss spinal massage is offered complementary in the third naturopathic review and is also available on its own. Great for relaxation and energetic healing.


I think I may have a food allergy but cannot work out what it is. Can you help?

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Food allergies and sensitivities can be determined through a supervised elimination and challenge diet.

Biocompatibility testing can be employed to find out what foods are causing your immune system to over respond. This type of hair test assesses over four hundred local foods and products and provides a comprehensive report from which you can tailor your diet towards biocompatible foods. Eating only compatible foods helps your body to lower levels of inflammation and improve many health concerns. You may be surprised at which ones are keeping you unwell. Testing is also available to animals with hair or fur.


What modalities do you offer?

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Changing the food or liquids we consume can reduce some unwanted symptoms and improve your health in a sustainable way. This can be hard for some but brings the quickest and most sustainable results.

Nutritional and mineral supplements provide concentrated nutrients to re balance your body and can be used in therapeutic ways.

Practitioner products are available that consider the form and evidence based dose of nutrients for your condition and unique make-up. Nutrients do not work in isolation in the body and are more effective if formulated so that co-factors are present. Too much of one nutrient can cause a deficiency in another so careful selection is important.

Counselling is basically talking and listening but can move mountains.

• Getting your life in balance can improve your physical health and general happiness.
  
• Personal coaching can get you to where you want to be.
  
• Learn to relax and improve your focus.
  
• Feel better in your relationships.
  
• Understand more about yourself
  
• Let go of outdated habits
  
• See your situation differently

Confidentiality and privacy are of paramount importance with referrals direct to service provider.

Environmental toxins and heavy metals can silently undermine your health. A Hair Mineral Analysis can be used to evaluate your mineral make-up that allows accurate and effective detoxification and supplementation at an additional cost.
Particularly useful for

• pain
  
• mineral imbalance
  
• pregnancy palnning
  
• fatigue
  
• mental health
  
• behavioural disorders in children
  
• chronic conditions

Herbal products vary in strength and purity as they are natural and are influenced by the way they are grown and prepared. The preparation may be based on a whole herb or only one of their active constituents. Many pharmaceutical medications are based on extracting part of the active herbal constituent. Drugs such as opium, aspirin and heart medications had their origin in herbal medicine.

Herbs like other medications have been shown to be effective for use at a prescribed dose, strength and period. Thorough testing is required to be sure of the herbs purity and strength so that an effective dose can be used. Sometimes cheaper products use substitutes that have a lower quantity of the active constituents.

Combinations of herbs use the synergistic energies of several herbs to work on a number factors influencing the condition. Both western, aurvedic and chinese formulations have been used successfully for centuries.

I sources herbs in tablet, capsule, homeopathic and liquid forms that are tested for purity and strength.The liquid form has the advantage in that:

• They can be mixed to suit your constitution and needs.
  
• Avoid the need for multiple products.
  
• Can be digested readily.
  
• Have fewer side effects than medications from your doctor.

A range of Pathology tests are available at an additional charge.

Thought Field Therapy (TFT) is an energy option that uses a series of tapping movements to unlock energy flow through the meridians. Effective for

• past trauma
  
• depression
  
• grief
  
• phobias
  
• rage
  
• shame
  
• guilt
  
• anxiety

TFT requires only general information on the issues that you want to change. Other counselling approaches may involve much re- telling of your issues that can be embarrassing and counter productive. You then tap the areas as advised so there is no risk of interaction if you are taking medication.

Experience will demonstrate how powerful a few simple taps can be. One treatment may lie between emotional pain and being able to let go. You will still remember the hurts but will feel better and more able to move on. More complex problems may need follow up treatments but once you learn the movements you can repeat the treatment at home.

Australian Bush Flower essences are available to potentiate other remedies or as a stand alone therapy. These will not interact with other medications and can help especially where there is an emotional aspect to your issue.

Homeopathic formulas support your body’s healing in a gentle way. They provide an action comparable to the concentration of hormones that govern many significant biological processes. Homeopathy will gently reorientate and strengthen your body with a low risk of reaction or interaction.



I am worried about my child and want them to do well in life

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Children get fantastic results with the biomedical approach which is an alternative to drug therapy. Children can be more suseptible to dietary imbalances, food chemicals and genetic predispositions to inflammatory conditions. Given a tablet may seem quicker and easier but what will the long term effects be? More resources can be found at
www.mindd.org
Consultations and some products for children are offered at discounted rates.


Things have not been right since my pregnancy and I just want to talk.

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Women who are pregnant or have given birth in the last twelve months and have worries or concerns related to this can get a referral from you General Practitioner for three counselling sessions.

• You might not have planned to have the baby and might be worried about your career or relationships.
  
• You may not have much support and be worried you will not cope with a baby.
  
• Cultural and religious factors may also close in on you
  
• You and your partner may now be fighting more
  
• The baby may have brought up a range of emotions that you find uncomfortable perhaps because of your own childhood.

Come a talk things over! You will not be told what to do but you will gain a different perspective on the issues so that you can make decisions that are best for you.

This service is separate from Naturopathic services as I am also a Social Worker and accredited by Medicare to provide this service with a referral from a General Practitioner.



What about the costs?

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Naturopathic services are covered by private health fund rebates if you are covered at the relevant levels.

Products and some tests cost extra and cannot be claimed through health funds.

Pregnancy support counselling is covered by Medicare with a Doctors referral as I bulk bill for this service.

Why not make your health a priority?


Qualifications

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Naturopathy

• Advanced Diploma of Naturopathy
  
• Advanced Diploma of Western Herbal Medicine
  
• Australian Traditional Medicine Society accreditation.

More information at:www.atms.com.au

Social Work

• Bachelor of Arts(Recreation Management and Planning)
  
• Post Graduate Degree in Social Administration.
  
• Australian Association of Social Workers accreditation.

More information at:www.aasw.asn.au