Last Updated on 10 June 2025 by Brisbane Livewell Clinic
A Naturopath is a practitioner of complementary therapies and natural health therapies, including herbal medicine, nutritional therapy, and lifestyle counseling. Naturopaths focus on understanding and treating the root causes of illness, not just the symptoms.
Key Takeaways – What is a Naturopath?
- Naturopathy is a holistic approach to healthcare, emphasising the body’s inherent self-healing abilities.
- Naturopathic practitioners focus on understanding and treating the root causes of illness, not just the symptoms.
- The field incorporates various natural therapies like herbal medicine, nutrition, and lifestyle counseling.
- Read more about “What is a Naturopath” below, and consider whether you should book in to consult with a Naturopath in Brisbane or online via videoconference about healing your chronic illnesses, allergies, pain, or other symptoms.
Understanding What is a Naturopath?
The Origins and Principles of Naturopathy
Originating from the Hippocratic School of Medicine around 400 BC, Naturopathy is based on the principle of vis medicatrix naturae – the healing power of nature. This philosophy, advocated by Hippocrates, stresses the importance of viewing the whole person in the context of their environment and lifestyle to find the root cause of disease.
What Does a Naturopath Not Do?
A Naturopath is not a doctor, and should not be consulted in place of your GP or Specialist. Naturopaths provide a complementary function to traditional medicine, and can be extremely effective when treating a patient who is under medical care or whom traditional medicine is unable to help.
Naturopathy is not a treatment for specific illness or disease. Naturopathy is a complementary therapy in that it may be used alongside other medical and therapeutic techniques. Always be guided by your doctor or specialist before using naturopathy for any serious or chronic illness. (Source)
Education and Specialisations
In Australia, becoming a Naturopath typically involves a 3-4 year degree in health sciences. Specialisations can range from skin problems to geriatrics, to female health issues, to pregnancy support, to gut health and weight loss to thyroid issues.
Naturopaths often work in various environments such as wellness centres (such as Brisbane Livewell Clinic), hospitals, spas, or as freelance practitioners.
Learn about the 6 Naturopathic Principles that Naturopaths Follow
Naturopathy vs. Conventional Medicine
While Naturopathy focuses on natural, holistic treatments, conventional medicine primarily uses pharmaceuticals and surgery. A Naturopath’s approach is to treat the underlying cause of health issues, whereas conventional doctors often focus on symptom management and reactive treatment.
Integration with Conventional Medicine
Naturopathy can complement conventional medicine. Many Naturopaths have knowledge of pharmacology and can integrate natural medicine safely with pharmaceutical prescriptions, aiding in reducing side effects and enhancing overall treatment effectiveness.
Common Techniques and Modalities
Naturopaths employ a range of techniques including clinical and laboratory diagnostic testing, clinical nutrition, herbal medicine, nutritional supplements, and lifestyle counseling. They may also use acupuncture, homeopathy, and other traditional treatments, depending on the inclinations and skill of the individual Naturopath.
Focus on Prevention and Education
Naturopathy prioritises prevention and empowers patients to take charge of their health. Education about diet, exercise, stress management, and proper nutrition forms a significant part of the treatment plan.
Naturopathy for Various Health Concerns
Naturopaths address a wide array of health concerns including gut health, psoriasis, eczema and skin conditions, mental health, menstrual problems, and joint issues, among others.
If you’re questioning “What is a Naturopath”, know that they are your support mechanism to help you improve your health in a natural and holistic manner.
The Role of Nutrition in Naturopathy
Naturopaths emphasise the importance of nutrition in treating and preventing diseases. Diet and nutritional supplements are tailored to individual needs, focusing on holistic health and well-being.
Read about Exploring Food as Natural Medicine
Working Alongside Other Health Practitioners
Qualified Naturopaths are often well-educated in various fields including pharmacology. They can work alongside conventional healthcare providers, offering a more integrative approach to health and wellness.
Treatment Approaches and Techniques
The methods employed by Naturopaths vary widely, including physical assessments, hair and iris analysis, blood and stool testing, and various functional testing. Treatments are customised to each individual’s needs, with a focus on natural, non-invasive therapies.
The Difference Between Naturopathy, Homeopathy, and Nutrition
Naturopathy encompasses a broader range of natural treatments compared to homeopathy, which typically focuses on homeopathic medicines. While Naturopaths receive extensive training in nutrition, they cover a wider scope than Dietitians or Nutritionists, who primarily focus on dietary principles.
How Naturopathy Addresses Specific Conditions
Naturopaths approach conditions like high blood pressure by looking for underlying causes and offering natural ways to treat them. This holistic approach considers various aspects of an individual’s health, including stress levels, dietary choices, and lifestyle habits.
In-depth Exploration of Naturopathy
- Holistic Approach: Naturopaths view health as a complex interplay of physical, mental, and emotional factors.
- Personalised Care: Each treatment plan is tailored to the individual’s unique health needs.
- Root Cause Analysis: Identifying and treating the underlying cause of illness, rather than just symptoms.
- Natural Therapies: Emphasis on using natural, non-invasive therapies like herbal medicine and nutrition.
- Preventative Care: Focus on lifestyle changes and natural methods to prevent illness.
- Integration with Conventional Medicine: Naturopathy can complement traditional medical treatments.
- Patient Education: Empowering patients with knowledge about their health and self-care practices.
- Non-invasive Diagnostics: Use of methods like hair analysis, stool analysis and iris analysis for diagnosis.
- Mental Health Support: Addressing mental and emotional factors in overall health.
- Diet and Nutrition: Tailoring dietary recommendations to individual health needs and conditions.
- Herbal Medicine: Utilising plant-based remedies for natural and gentle treatment of various health concerns.
- Physical Treatments: Incorporating methods like acupuncture and massage.
- Stress Management: Techniques for managing stress and its impact on health.
- Detoxification: Guidance on detoxifying the body for improved health.
- Health Maintenance: Ongoing support for maintaining optimal health and wellness.
Conclusion
Naturopathy, with its holistic, patient-centered approach, offers a comprehensive way to understand and treat health issues.
In answer to the question, “What is a Naturopath?”, Naturopaths are complementary therapy practitioners who treat their patients holistically, emphasing the body’s natural healing abilities, focusing on preventive care, and integrating natural therapies into treatment plans. Naturopathy addresses the root causes of illness and promotes lifestyle changes, therefore contributing significantly to their patients’ long-term health and wellness.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What qualifications do Naturopaths have in Australia?
Naturopaths in Australia typically hold a 3-4 year degree in naturopathy, nutrition and health sciences.
2. What is Naturopathy and how does Naturopathy differ from Conventional Medicine?
Naturopathy focuses on natural therapies and treating root causes, while conventional medicine often emphasises pharmaceuticals and symptom management.
3. Can Naturopathy Complement Conventional Treatments?
Naturopaths can safely integrate with conventional medical treatments, especially with a knowledgeable practitioner. Ask your Naturopath about the contraindications of any medicine you may be taking with your Naturopath’s proposed treatment.
4. What types of conditions can Naturopathy address?
Naturopathy can address a variety of conditions including digestive issues, skin conditions, mental health, and chronic diseases.
5. What are some Common Naturopathic Treatments?
Common treatments include herbal medicine, nutritional supplements, dietary advice, and lifestyle modifications.
6. Is Naturopathy supported by scientific research?
Many naturopathic treatments, like herbal medicine and nutrition, have scientific support, although the level of evidence varies.
7. Can I see a Naturopath for Preventive Health Care?
Naturopathy emphasises prevention and overall wellness, focusing on maintaining health rather than just treating disease. Naturopaths are therefore ideal to consult for preventative health care.
8. Are Naturopathic Consultations Affordable?
Naturopathy consultations are generally affordable and offer long-term health benefits, making them a cost-effective healthcare option.
Read more about what is a Naturopath at the Australian Naturopathic Practitioners Association
Our Amazing Naturopaths at Brisbane Livewell Clinic
Shella Hall (Sunshine Coast and online)
Amy Angus (Wavell Heights and online)
Jen Strachan (Cannon Hill and online)
Nicole Odlum (Wavell Heights and online)
Dominique Johanson (Wavell Heights and online)
Locations We Service – Naturopathy
Naturopath Caloundra
Naturopath Wavell Heights
Naturopath Cannon Hill
Naturopath Sunshine Coast
Naturopath Noosa
Naturopath Brisbane Northside
Naturopath Brisbane
Naturopaths Brisbane
Brisbane Naturopaths
Naturopathy Brisbane
Naturopaths Near Me
Best Naturopaths Near Me
Best Naturopath Near Me
Natural Therapies Brisbane
Therapists Brisbane
Relevant Naturopath links
- How Naturopathy Can Help You Recover Your Health
- Seeing a Naturopath: The Ultimate Guide
- Naturopaths
- Guide to Seeing a Children’s Naturopath
- The 6 Naturopathic Principles that Protect a Naturopath’s Patients
- ADHD Naturopath
- Brisbane Wellbeing
- Natural Dispensary Brisbane
- Achieving Good Health With A Holistic Approach
Why You May Wish to Consult a Naturopath
Gut Health
- Leaky Gut Syndrome – Symptoms, Causes and Gut Repair Support
- Naturopath for Gut Health
- Solving Gut Issues by Treating SIBO
- SIBO Test Brisbane
- Daily Ritual Gut Health
- 6 Digestive Problems that Cause Weight Gain
- How Stool Testing Helps IBS Sufferers Part 1: Digestive Markers
- How Stool Testing Helps IBS Sufferers Part 2: Microbial Markers
- Can Irritable Bowel Syndrome Cause Weight Gain?
- Gut Health with Parasite Cleanse
- Natural Parasite Cleanse Australia
- The Gut-Brain Connection to Mental Health
- The Gut-Brain Connection: How to Feed Your Brain
- Controlling Constipation and Bloating
- How Stool Testing Helps Find the Causes of IBS and Other Digestive Health Problems
- Gut Health Specialist Brisbane
- Gut Microbiome Testing Australia
- Gut Health Test Australia
- Probiotics for Thrush
- What is Leaky Gut Australia?
- Daily Ritual Gut Health: Finding Your Best Daily Rituals
- Addressing SIBO for Gut Health Improvement
- Gut Health, Diet & Nutrition
- Improve Your Gut Health Brisbane
- Naturopath Gut Health
- IBS-Friendly Slow Cooked Porridge
- L-Glutamine: A Solution for Gut Health Issues
Perimenopause and Menopause
- 3 Lifestyle Changes Women Need to Make After 40
- Guide for a Happy Menopause
- Menopause Clinic Near Me
- What is Menopause?
- Perimenopause
- Acupuncture for Perimenopause and Menopause
- Managing Menopause
- Strategies for Preparing for Perimenopause
- Finding Relief from Menopausal Symptoms with Naturopathy
- Brain Fog and Menopause
- Early Menopause: Preparation and Management
Hormone Health
- Hormonal Imbalance
- Hormone Testing Brisbane
- Find Reliable DUTCH Test Providers Near Me and Look After Your Hormones
- Take an At Home Hormone Test – DUTCH Hormone Package
- Hormonal Health and Thyroid Issues
- PCOS and the Insulin Connection
- Identifying Insulin Resistance
- Looking at Luteal Phase Deficiency
- Experiencing Painful Periods? Here’s What Might Be Causing It
- Test Cortisol at Home
- Cortisol Test Australia
- How to Get Hormone Levels Checked in Australia
- Blood Analysis Cost in Australia
- Reducing your Body’s Toxin Burden to Improve your Hormone Health
Thyroid Issues
- When You Suspect You Have Thyroid Issues
- Subclinical Hypothyroidism: When You Suspect You Have a Thyroid Issue
- Thyroid Disorders from a Naturopathic Aspect
- Thyroid Health for the Winter Months
- Thyroid Disease: A Brief Guide to Common Disorders
- Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s
- Thyroid
- How Hyperthyroidism Can Affect Your Health
- Hyperthyroidism and Graves’ Disease
- Naturopath Herbs for Thyroid Health
Detox and Cleansing
- Heavy Metal Toxicity: Strategies for Detoxing
- Detoxing Your Lifestyle, Not Just Your Body
- How Long Does It Take To Detox Heavy Metals From The Body?
- Heavy Metal Detox for Kids
- Naturopathic Detox Cleanse
- Naturopath Detox
- Do I Need a Heavy Metal Detox?
- Heavy Metal Detox Australia
Insomnia and Sleep Health
- Save Your Sleep with What You Eat
- Insomnia Linked to Mineral Deficiency
- Solving Insomnia: Naturopathy’s Five-Step Solution
- 5 Ways Insomnia Can Affect Your Life and What You Can Do About It
- Natural Treatment for Insomnia
- Naturopathic Remedies for Insomnia
- Enhancing Sleep Quality with Natural Strategies
Autoimmune Conditions
Mental Health, Stress, Anxiety and Depression
- The Gut-Brain Connection to Mental Health
- The Gut-Brain Connection: How to Feed Your Brain
- Treating Depression with Naturopathy: What You Should Consider
- A Naturopath’s Guide to Improving Mental Health
- Naturopathic Anxiety Medication
- Naturopath Anxiety
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD): How a Naturopath Helps
- Pyrrole Disorder
- Breathing for Anxiety: How to Get Anxiety Relief Through Breathing Techniques
- Stress and How It Manifests
- Brain Fog: Causes And Some Treatments
- A Tasty Egg Curry for Stress and Anxiety Relief
- Warm Brussel Sprouts Super Salad for Increased Energy and Stress Relief
- Academic Achievement and its Links to Stress
Women’s Health
- Women’s Health
- Naturopath Women’s Health
- Women’s Health Week: It’s All About Women’s Wellness and Wellbeing
- Treating Vaginal Thrush the Natural Way
- The Lowdown on Low Libido
- Experiencing Painful Periods and What’s Causing Them
- Regulating Menstrual Cycles with Chaste Tree
- Painful Periods and Naturopathy
- Preventing Post-Pill Acne
- PCOS and Gut Microbiome Health
- Helping Cardiovascular Disease in Women
Fertility and Pregnancy
- Pregnancy
- Pre-Pregnancy Fertility Care with Naturopathic Nutrition
- Fertility Naturopath Brisbane
- Acupuncture and Naturopathy for Pre-Conception Care
- Pregnancy Care and Naturopathy
- Maximising Nutrition Before and During Pregnancy
- Getting Quality Sleep in the 3rd Trimester of Pregnancy
- Pregnancy Wellbeing and Naturopathy are Great Partners
- Naturopathy for the Management of Constipation During Pregnancy
- Prenatal Naturopath
- Postpartum Depression and Anxiety
- Keeping Calm About Colic
- Foods for Fertility
Men’s Health
- Men’s Health
- The Sperm Health Decline
- Better Prostate Health with Natural Medicine
- Naturopathy and Men’s Health
- Support Your Thyroid Health Naturally
- Men’s Health Supplements
- Understanding Postpartum Depression in Fathers
- Healthy Eating Guide for Men
Children’s Health
- The Importance of Naturopathic Care for Children
- Omega 3 for Child’s Health
- Find Your Children’s Naturopath at Brisbane Livewell Clinic
- Guide to Seeing a Children’s Naturopath
- Naturopath for Children and Teenagers
- Symptoms of Heavy Metal Toxicity in Toddlers
DNA Testing
- DNA Testing & Personalised Medicine
- DNA Testing Brisbane
- DNA Testing Brisbane, Australia
- Methylation Test Near Me
- Testing Functional Medicine
- Genetic Methylation Test Brisbane
- DUTCH Test Providers Near Me
- Full Genetic Testing Australia
- MTHFR Gene Test – Understand Your Genetic Health with Expert Guidance
Leaky Gut Syndrome
Food Intolerances and Allergies
- 7 Useful Strategies for Overcoming Food Intolerance
- Hayfever and the Gastrointestinal Immune System
- Food Intolerance, Hypersensitivity, and Allergies Explained
- Everything You Need to Know About Food Intolerance
- Food Allergy Testing Near Me
- Food Intolerance Testing Brisbane
- Food Allergy Testing
- Food Intolerance Testing
- Food Intolerance Testing Package
- How to Get an Allergy Test in Australia
- Food Intolerance and Food Allergies: Why are they so Different?
Weight Loss
- Can Irritable Bowel Syndrome Cause Weight Gain? (IBS)
- Naturopathy for Weight Loss
- Natural Weight Loss for Summer
- A Naturopathic Approach to Achieving an Ideal and Healthy Weight
- Intermittent Fasting: A Naturopath’s Guide to Success
- Weight Loss Naturopath
- Kick-Start Weight Loss: 5 Science-Backed Tips
- Combining Therapies for a Healthy Weight
- Naturopath’s Weight Loss Programme
Nutrition and Mineral Deficiencies
- Nutrition and Naturopathy: Healthy Diet
- Optimising Nutrition for Skin Health
- The Seriousness of Sugar
- The Importance of Mindfulness and Meditation in Natural Medicine
- Nutrition Deficiency: Visible Body Look Signs
- Helping Cardiovascular Disease in Women
- Sports Nutrition and Your Ideal Protein Requirements
- Creating a Healthy Diet for Good Health and Wellbeing
- Maximising Nutrition Before and During Pregnancy
- Nutrition and Naturopathy: Healthy Diet
- Combining Therapies for a Healthy Weight
- Intermittent Fasting: A Naturopath’s Guide to Success
- Iron Deficiency and Anaemia: When Things Go from Bad to Worse
- Naturopathic Medicine: What You Need to Know
- National Herbal Medicine Week
- The Role of Nutrition and Naturopathy in Wellbeing
- Clinical Nutrients
- Mood & Food
Parasites
- Natural Parasite Cleanse Australia
- Parasites from Traveling
- Natural Treatments for Those Pesky Parasites
- Clean Your Body of Parasites
- Parasite Cleanse
Chronic Fatigue / Exhaustion / Tired
- Treatment of Chronic Fatigue
- Combat Chronic Fatigue with this Delicious Curry
- Chronic Fatigue Treatment Brisbane
- Adrenal Fatigue: Stress and Burnout Management
Healthy Eating
Naturopath Health Screening
