How much difference does a naturopath make?

I thought I’d share 2 examples of how working with a naturopath can make a difference in your health. I have chosen two very different examples from my clinic in the last 12 months. Sometimes the journey is very straightforward, other times, there can be a few bumps in the road (names have been changed).

Case 1 – stress and fatigue

Emma, late 30’s, works, school aged kids.

She presented with anxiety (with panic attacks), fatigue, insomnia, and frequent colds.

Upon questioning:

• Energy 2/10
• Stress 7/10
• Too tired to exercise
• Daily nausea and bloating
• Poor concentration and memory
• Sleep waking 3x/night

I first prescribed an individual herbal medicine formula, a specific homeopathic, a mineral supplement, and a few foods to add to her diet.

2^nd appointment (2 weeks later)

• Anxiety has improved – no panic attacks
• Energy was a little better
• Sleep, waking just once/night
• Stress 5/10
• No cold/flu

Added an additional nutritional supplement

3^rd appointment (4 weeks later)

• Anxiety – not a problem anymore
• Energy – feeling a lot better
• Sleep – wakes very occasionally, falls straight back to sleep
• Stress no longer a problem
• Still no cold/flu

4 weeks later – Feeling really good, took products for another 4 weeks, and takes some of the products ongoing as she needs them.

Case 2 digestion with weight loss

Rob, early 60’s semi-retired

He presented with constant nausea with bloating and constant indigestion.

He had eliminated many foods to try and find the cause and had an extremely limited diet for 18 months.

History of stomach ulcers and bowel disease.

Upon questioning:

• Loss of appetite
• loss of weight
• Frequent bowel movements (6/day)
• Energy 4/10
• Diet: Low fodmap, extremely limited variety of food, 1 meal and 1 snack each day

I prescribed an individual herbal medicine, 1 nutritional product, 1 homeopathic.

2^nd and 3^rd appointments (each 2 weeks later)

• Nausea – decreased
• Bowel movements – decreased
• Appetite improved, able to increase food intake

We worked at slowly introducing a greater variety of foods

4^th and 5^th appointments (each 2 weeks later)

• Tolerated new foods and enjoyed them
• Appetite – feels hungry, but very full after eating
• No longer losing weight.
• Bowel motions down to 3/day

2 additional homeopathics were introduced

6^th and 7^th appointments (each 1 month later)

• Feeling so good that he worked with his doctor to reduce medications.
• Nausea gone, very slight gut pain
• looks forward to eating
• Able to eat a wide variety of foods without any symptoms
• Learnt that there are 2 foods to avoid that exacerbate his symptoms
• Energy is much higher and able to function well