SERVICES
Welcome to South Perth Naturopathic & Herbal Clinic
South Perth Naturopathic and Herbal Clinic has been in operation for almost 16 years and was initially the brain child of Ricki Anderhuber.
Ricki was considered by many to be the matriarch of Herbalism in Western Australia and had a profound effect on so many Naturopaths, Herbalists and patients.When she retired she asked Gordon and Sue Carruthers to take her place knowing that Gordon had been well schooled by her and had similar principles in regards to treatment of people using Herbs, Homoeopathics, Nutritional supplements and Diet. In fact all our practitioners have been influenced and trained by Ricki, she has left a wonderful legacy in W.A.
At South Perth Naturopathic we believe very strongly that each person is an individual, with individual needs and concerns.
We believe that Nature has the power to heal.
We believe that the human body is a wonderous thing and that when supplied with physical nourishment, emotional support, rest, relaxation and positive living it is capable of anything. Unfortunately this is too rare in today's hustle and bustle world and occasionally we need help to make adjustments , to prioritise and where needed to use Safe, Natural products to help us achieve good health and vibrancy.
How we can help
The practitioners at South Perth Naturopathic pride themselves on the many disciplines they use. For example Kinesiology, Hypnotherapy, Herbalism, Homoeopathy, Speech Pathology and a form of eye diagnosis called Sclerology to name only a few . All of our practitioners have studied and are fully qualified and listed with the appropriate health funds so that where applicable health rebates are available.
By using a large range of treatment options it allows them to treat a greater diversity of health problems.
Whether it be a physical problem such as joint pain or muscle soreness,
a digestive problem such as Crohn's disease or Irritable bowel syndrome,
hormonal issues such as Menopause, Menstrual pain, Fertility or Prostate conditions,
help with speech and behaviour for Autistic and Aspergers children,
a skin condition such as Acne or Psoriasis,
an Auto-immune condition such as Rheumatoid Arthritis or Lupus,
a Mental condition such as Anxiety or Depression,
complimentary health care for Cancer patients,
Anti ageing medicine
or the core of Naturopathy - preventative therapies
the seven practitioners at SPNC are seeing and treating these conditions on a very regular basis.
To list all the conditions,states of mind and general health issues that SPNC can help you with is beyond the scope of this site however if you'd like to make sure that we can help you with a specific health problem please don't hesitate to email us or phone, we're always happy to answer enquiries.
Click here - For more information on Hypnotherapy at South Perth Naturopathic & Herbal Clinic.
History and Principles
The term Naturopathy was coined around the turn of last century yet its roots date back thousands of years. The term is used to describe a way of treating people that used only natural products via modalities such as Herbalism, Homoeopathy, Iridology, Nutrition, Massage, Kinesiology, Acupuncture, Flower essences and many others.
Naturopathy is built around a number of principles and these include
- First do no harm.
- Treat Holistically - i.e. consider the physical, emotional, mental and the spiritual when treating someone.
- The physician is a teacher - they are there to educate and empower their patients and imbue them with the responsibility for their own good health
- Prevention is better than cure - just as your Dentist wants to see every six months so does your Naturopath. All of us will stray from the path and in the long term prevention is cheaper than cure.
What do we use?
So often called Alternative medicine, Natural remedies have been around as long as humans have. From the first time a leaf was used to bind a wound to the ancient folkloric herbal remedies of almost every culture, to body works and the advent of homoeopathics in the 18 th century natural remedies have been with us for ever. In fact many of the medical drugs that are used these days are taken from copying the chemistry of nature and then manipulating it to achieve a specific result e.g. Valium from Valerian.
Seems unusual to call it alternative medicine doesn't it.
At South Perth Naturopathic and Herbal Clinic we have a strong emphasis on the use of Medicinal Herbs in both tablet and liquid form. We also use homoeopathic remedies, Diet and Nutrition, Flower Essences, Nutritional supplements, Amino acids, Oils and Creams
Herbal Medicine
History
Just think for a moment, herbs were our very first medicines, even long before the detailed herbology of our ancient civilizations, the history and use of herbal medicines is interwoven with humankind’s earliest attempts to find solace for its problems. In one sense herbs have been the subjects of an ongoing clinical trial for at least 40,000 years! We have constantly sought out those leaves, flowers, berries, roots and barks that have reliably eased our suffering and returned us to health. Along the way we have tried countless thousands of different remedies, discarding those that didn’t work well enough and constantly passing down the knowledge of what did, through the many generations.
Today
Today it is recognized by the World Health Organisation that herbs are by far the most widespread form of medicine used by people living on our planet. Enormous amounts of scientific research and discovery have taken place within herbal medicine in modern times. The great test of time has proven those herbal medicines that work, now the tests of science are helping us to understand how they work, and in the process new possibilities are constantly coming to light. Health problems seen by modern herbalists have typically developed over considerable periods and involve a weakness or imbalance of one or more of the body’s core systems. Herbal medicine is especially suited to the safe treatment of such long-standing problems. Herbs are strong, real medicines, they are here to stay!
Philosophy
At the heart of the practice of herbal medicine is the understanding that, given the removal of obstacles and the right support, the body has an incredible, sometimes almost miraculous ability to heal itself from injury and illness. The effect of taking herbal medicines, especially when a problem has been long-standing, is to slowly but surely build a tonic, healing response from within. This focus is far removed from simply treating symptoms; largely the role of allopathic drugs, which are often more appropriate for short periods of time in acute need. The correct herbs, used at full strength, can have a phenomenal effect on your health. You are taking the highest quality herbal medicines available; given their great history along with the many validations of modern research they deserve the confidence that they will make a positive impact on your health.
The Medicines
Herbal Extracts: These form the basis of most herbal treatment programs. They are the dark, concentrated liquids that you take in drops or mls each day. They are sourced from the best suppliers in the world using pure, high-grade herbs that have been carefully and exactly processed over months to produce pure, potent medicines. Compounding extracts together enables a formula to be tailor-made exactly for you, choosing from hundreds of medicines from the great European, Western, Chinese and Ayurvedic herbal traditions. The importance of giving a strong, physical dosage to achieve real success with herbs cannot be overstated. Modern herbalists realise that most people would prefer the ease of taking a pill compared to liquid extracts, however to reach the equivalence of a typical full adult dose of extracts you would literally need to swallow two large handfuls of pills or capsules every day! The taste aspect can be an initial hurdle, though it has been frequently observed that people do quickly become accustomed, and in many cases even grow to like the taste after a while! The flavour of extracts can be much reduced by minimising the amount of contact time in the mouth, this can be achieved by diluting the dose with a small amount of water (approx 10mls), swallowing it quickly and immediately following up with a small drink of water or other liquid.
Teas and Decoctions: (A tea is soaked, or infused in boiled water, a decoction is simmered in boiling water). These are the most widely used forms of herbal medicines around the world and again allow a strong dosage to be rapidly achieved. Teas and decoctions are frequently used as a support for the primary medicinal action of the extracts but can certainly also be used as health tonics in their own right. You will have instructions on how to prepare them if they have been given or recommended.
Selected supplements: Where there are clinical signs of a deficiency or we know that a particular problem should respond well; nutritional supplements are commonly used for a specific time. Likewise a few, selected herbal medicines can be used in the pill form, usually where lower doses are required to reach the therapeutic threshold or the herb has been concentrated to a much greater level than normal within a pill or capsule.
Adverse Reactions
The herbs used in modern herbal medicine are the most tried, tested and safe in the world. They are however powerful medicines and it is true that in programs that include a strong tissue cleansing component some people will get worse before the get better. This is usually very transitory and can be safely managed if necessary. You should contact the clinic if you are concerned about possible negative effects. For the overwhelming majority of people who use herbs there are absolutely no adverse side effects.
Length of Treatment
Remember that herbs do not suppress the symptoms of illness; rather they help the body to heal itself. Herbs are generally slower than drugs to affect changes but their long-term benefits can also be much greater. In many cases the effects are gradual and accumulative, which means that the longer you take herbal medicines the better they work. Having said that, it must be noted that many people report feeling the action of their herbal medicines very rapidly. Often after a short while of taking herbs people begin to feel an improvement in their overall vitality and general well being, an excellent sign that the body has engaged in the vital process of self-repair.
We will try to closely monitor how the medicines are working and alter or extend the course of treatment as needed. Stay the course, and be patient if necessary, it will definitely be worth it.
Nutrition
Good Nutrition or a well rounded diet based on whole foods has been at the heart of Naturopathic medicine for centuries. What you eat, when you eat, how you eat and how often you eat certain foods has a profound effect on your bodies biochemistry and in turn on your health. Sounds simple enough doesn't it? However when we start to look at the myriad of information being released to the public on a daily basis by Nutritionists, by biochemists, by drug companies and food companies suddenly we can find ourselves in a quagmire of information and misinformation.
You only have to look at the popular belief that Oranges are very high in Vitamin C to realise the effect that a little creative marketing can have. This is where we can help. Our Naturopaths keep abreast of all the latest issues in regards to health and Nutrition, they can give advice on the Atkins diet, CSIRO diet, food allergens, the effect of ph on the body,which foods energize, which are good for detoxifying and we can help in finding alternatives to foods which may have to be eliminated from your diet.
When you speak to one of our Naturopaths you'll be asked a series of questions about your diet designed to help us discover the impact your particular diet is having on your health. Then you'll receive advice on changes that need to be made to correct excesses, imbalances and deficiencies. Our Naturopaths will also look at your tongue and finger nails, for these areas guide us in relation to the health of the gut and the mineral balance in the body. We may also request blood tests such as a cholesterol or Homocysteine levels if we feel it is appropriate.
Did you know?
- some of the most acidic foods in our diet are Sugars and Dairy. Excesses of these can cause skin irritations, stomach problems,excesses of mucous and joint pains.
- although not completely intolerant of wheat many people today are sensitive to it. This often manifests as digestive bloating, tiredness and nasal congestion.
- Melons are an unusual food that digest very rapidly. For this reason we suggest they should be eaten alone, since if eaten with other foods its slows the digestion and can cause them to ferment.
Service Categories
Bowen Therapy, Flower Essences, Herbalists, Homoeopaths, Hypnotherapist, Iridologists, Kinesiology, Naturopaths, Reflexology
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