Naturopath

newlywed

Has anyone ever visited one? Did it help you?

Do they do mainly diet and herbs or do they do lots of weird stuff too? (that kinesiology and reiki stuff I find a little too strange for me).

Thinking of finding one but it's quite a bit of money for something that is apparently an unregulated industry in the UK and deemed debatable science (but then I've used homeopathy and aromatherapy and that helped me).

giantmutantbroccoli

No, but I'm incurably curious so I googled it...
This website offers courses in it:
http://www.naturopathy-uk.com/home/home-what-is-naturopathy/
I think this is the relevent bit:

"A Naturopath is a health practitioner who applies natural therapies. Her/his spectrum comprises far more than fasting, nutrition, water, and exercise; it includes approved natural healing practices such as Homeopathy, Acupuncture, and Herbal Medicine, as well as the use of modern methods like Bio-Resonance, Ozone-Therapy, and Colon Hydrotherapy."

More googling revealed to me that:
Bio-resonance is a pseudo-science with no evidence that it works. It involves applying an alternating current to the skin, and somehow interpreting this to diagnose, or even treat the patient.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioresonance_therapy#Controversy
Ozone therapy:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozone_therapy
For more interesting viewpoints try the talk page:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Ozone_therapy#medical_ozone_proponents_vs_opponents
Oh, and ozone is bad for your lungs:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozone#Health_effects
Colon hydrotherapy is a fancy way of saying colonic irrigation;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colon_cleansing
None of the treaments listed have any scientifically proven medical benefits, apart from some herbal remedies. Homeopathy and aromatherapy seem to have the same success rate as the placebo effect - which is not to say that they don't work, but that they probably only work because you think they work.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/horizon/2002/homeopathy.shtml

I think you would probably be better off seeing your GP about getting an appointment with a dietician (if it's your diet you're worried about) or perhap going to a herbalist. Or try positive thinking - then you can get the placebo effect for free!

newlywed

giantmutantbroccoli wrote: »

I think you would probably be better off seeing your GP about getting an appointment with a dietician (if it's your diet you're worried about) or perhap going to a herbalist. Or try positive thinking - then you can get the placebo effect for free!

It's a food intolerance that gives me appendicitus type pain and makes me chuck up for 8 hours at a time. Dr just said if the pain gets worse go to A&E and when I went back to explain it was when I ate certain foods just said oh that's interesting, well just avoid those foods then - and really isn't interested :rolleyes:

And avoiding it isn't that easy unless I never eat anything baked by a supermarket or a bakery again, or anything produced in a large factory consisting of multiple products - as they can (and some certainly do) have traces of the product :rolleyes:

Might try and find a herbalist though.

absolutebounder

newlywed wrote: »

It's a food intolerance that gives me appendicitus type pain and makes me chuck up for 8 hours at a time. Dr just said if the pain gets worse go to A&E and when I went back to explain it was when I ate certain foods just said oh that's interesting, well just avoid those foods then - and really isn't interested :rolleyes:

And avoiding it isn't that easy unless I never eat anything baked by a supermarket or a bakery again, or anything produced in a large factory consisting of multiple products - as they can (and some certainly do) have traces of the product :rolleyes:

Might try and find a herbalist though.

If you are allergic to something you may just have to accept it. Its not so bad missing out on supermarket rubbish anyway. it is far better and cheaper to cook from scratch and then you dont have to look out for nasty products like hydrogenated fats or e numbers.
These people will take your money off you whether they are of use or not

newlywed

absolutebounder wrote: »

If you are allergic to something you may just have to accept it. Its not so bad missing out on supermarket rubbish anyway. it is far better and cheaper to cook from scratch and then you dont have to look out for nasty products like hydrogenated fats or e numbers.
These people will take your money off you whether they are of use or not

It's not just the rubbish I get fed up of missing out on - there's traces of sesame in some packs of organic oats! As well as pita bread, most wholemeal bread, every single bought sandwich, salad dressings, and lots of other stuff too - basically anything made in a factory where they make ANYTHING with sesame (obviously can't be bothered to clean things properly).

I don't have time to bake bread by hand, and don't have money for a breadmaker just now (and the 5 minute artisan bread was a huge flop) But when it's even in a pack of oats from a health shop, it gets really annoying

Mojisola

I don't think that's a good enough response from the doctors. It's nearly impossible to avoid some ingredients, particularly if you are very sensitive. If eating the problem ingredient just made you feel off-colour, you may be able to manage but vomiting for eight hours every time just isn't on!

Go back and ask to be referred to the allergy clinic. They should be able to offer you some desensitisation therapy.

choille

I'd actually try a homeopathic doctor if I were you.

Sometimes a NHS Dr has qualified as one & sometimes you can get a NHS referal.

Ask around for recommendations from people you know or ask at your medical practice first.

Toothsmith

Homeopathy is rubbish.

The science of dummy pills.

I think they've stopped wasting taxpayers money on it now, although some doctors do use it as an excuse to give placebos.

The only people who benefit from it are people who didn't have much wrong with them in the first place. It's an excellent treatment for the 'worried well'.

Teerah

Toothsmith wrote: »

Homeopathy is rubbish.

The science of dummy pills.

I think they've stopped wasting taxpayers money on it now, although some doctors do use it as an excuse to give placebos.

The only people who benefit from it are people who didn't have much wrong with them in the first place. It's an excellent treatment for the 'worried well'.

Couldn't agree more

newlywed

I don't care even if it is a placebo effect. If it works and takes away the gut pain and stops me chucking up for hours then I'll still try it - placebo or not!!!

I have actually seen a homeopath for other things so will go see her again.

Toothsmith

newlywed wrote: »

I don't care even if it is a placebo effect. If it works and takes away the gut pain and stops me chucking up for hours then I'll still try it - placebo or not!!!

If that's what's happening to you, then you need a doctor and real treatment.