Brought to you by the Australian Traditional-Medicine Society (ATMS)
Natural medicine practitioners have a wide variety of skills focused on supporting both internal and external health concerns. Whether you want to eat better, strengthen your body or loosen muscle tension – there is a therapy and a practitioner for you!
We asked our accredited practitioners what the four the most common reasons a client might visit them for the first time, and here is what they said:
1. Stress
According to the 2018 National Health Survey[1] conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, around one in eight adults experienced high or very high levels of psychological distress.
This has likely increased drastically over the past few years during the pandemic. While feeling stressed is normal and is heightened by extreme circumstances and uncertainty, it doesn’t mean you can’t find ways to help you manage your stress.
Acupuncture is a part of Chinese Medicine and involves the use of thin needles, inserted into specific points along the body’s energy pathways (meridians) to clear blockages and encourage the flow of energy in the body, or Qi. It works to relieve tension points in the body to leave you feeling more relaxed and at ease.
2. Immunity
Immunity is at the forefront for all of us and it’s important to support your immune system daily to ensure your body can fight off germs and viruses effectively. This can be things from the common cold and flu to supporting chronic conditions such as eczema.
Homoeopathy is the second most widely used medicine in the world. It is a therapeutic system of medicine that aims to promote a self-healing response based on the theory that there is one unifying energetic force that makes biological life functional. A Homoeopathic practitioner can offer you solutions to help boost the body’s natural immunity to the common cold and flu.
Naturopathy is a holistic approach to wellness based on the principle that the body has the inherent ability to heal itself. The therapy involves a range of techniques including nutritional advice, bodywork and herbal medicines to assist with internal health problems and to boost immunity.
3. Healthy diet
Eating healthy well-balanced meals is vital for our overall wellbeing and each body’s needs are different. For example, if you suffer from IBS or diabetes, it’s important to know what foods you should be eating to help manage the symptoms of those conditions.
Nutrition is the science of food and understanding the nutrients in foods and how the body uses those nutrients. It focuses on the whole body’s cycle from ingestion, digestion, absorption, metabolism, transport, storage to excretion of those nutrients.
A Nutritionist can look at your unique needs and build a suitable meal plan to help you eat your way to good health.
4. Muscle aches and pain
Muscle aches and pain can interrupt our daily lives and, in some circumstances, be quite severe. Whether your pain is from poor posture, a chronic condition or injury, it is important to seek treatment to relieve the pain and prevent further damage to the body.
Remedial massage is a complementary therapy that aims to treat muscles, tendons, ligaments and connective tissues to promote normal joint function and assist in pain and injury management. Practitioners can also partake in additional training for oncology massages and pregnancy.
When seeking natural medicine services, it’s important to see an accredited practitioner who is qualified in their field of practice. Don’t be afraid to ask to see qualifications at your consultation. To help make this easier, the Australian-Traditional Medicine Society (ATMS) has a ‘Find a Practitioner’ tool on their website that allows you to search for an accredited natural medicine practitioner (ATMS members) near you.
If you would like to learn more about natural medicine and the different types of therapy you can visit atms.com.au.
References.
[1] https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/health-conditions-and-risks/national-health-survey-first-results/latest-release
You’re invited to Natural Medicine Week, 23-29 May 2022. Join ATMS and their accredited practitioners for online events, read more in the blog or make a delicious healthy recipe.
Check out what’s on at www.naturalmedicineweek.com.au.
#naturalmedicineweek
Facebook: @atmsnatmed
Instagram: @naturalmedicineau
