Hunter Hunter Article – A Visit to the Naturopath

We had the pleasure of having the team from Hunter Hunter come to the clinic to find out about what a visit to the Naturopath entails – Here is their article

BY ALICIA POOLE

Are you feeling tired, irritable, anxious or depressed, having difficulty losing weight, suffer from bloating and gas or feel like your hormones are all over the shop?

And yet, you have been everywhere, have had every blood test under the sun and yet still no one can tell you what’s going on or how to fix your health concerns?

Naturopathy is unique in that they take a holistic approach, at Mullen Health they specialise in determining the underlying causes not just treating the symptoms. And importantly what you need to be doing to not only become well but stay well. Remembering that prevention when it comes to health is so much more powerful than cure.

We caught up with local Naturopath, and owner of Mullen Natural Health, Peter Mullen to chat about the benefits of visiting a Naturopath.

What is Naturopathy?

“Naturopathy is a form of complementary medicine, which works with the body’s natural physiological processes to promote healing. A Naturopath is a holistic health coach – someone who will help you, guide you, teach you and support you in all areas of your health and wellbeing,” Peter tells me.

“Our philosophy is based on our belief in our bodies’ ability to heal or rebalance itself given the right diet, lifestyle and herbal support. To do this, Naturopaths draw on a wide range of treatment methods, including herbal medicine, nutritional medicine, homeopathy, dietary and lifestyle advice or other therapies.”

Growing up in a family where health was always a priority and a frequent topic of conversation, it’s no surprise that Peter went on to study Naturopathy at the NSW College of Natural Therapies.

“Following on from college, I went on to work locally with McKay Biochemist, a naturopathic clinic in Beaumont Street, which had been around since 1958. When the opportunity came up to buy the business in 1990, my now-wife pushed me to take it on. Nearly 30 years later, we’ve grown to become one of the largest Naturopathic practices in Australia and we couldn’t imagine doing anything else,” Peter tells me.

Who can benefit from Naturopathy?

“Whether you’re 8 or 80, a Naturopath will take a holistic look at your health.

“Over the last 30 years, I’ve noticed a dramatic change in the health of our patients. We’re seeing a lot more challenging and complex health conditions in adults, as well as a lot more children suffering from allergies and behavioural challenges.”

How is Mullen Health different from other Naturopaths?

“Experience. Mullen Health is one of Australia’s leading Naturopathy practices, with more than 50 years [of] combined experience. We specialise in helping people find the underlying cause of their health condition so that they can feel well again.”

How is a Naturopath better compared to other health services?

“Unlike other health services, Naturopaths look at all aspects of your health, taking into consideration your physical, emotional, mental and spiritual wellbeing. For this reason, we think our patients benefit most from having a holistic health care team working with them. Where needed, we will refer to other trusted health professionals such as Osteopaths, Chiropractors, Acupuncturists, Massage Therapists, Psychologists and General Practitioners.

“My belief is that people need to take the best from both approaches — General Practitioners and Naturopaths — to get the best results. We’re all responsible for our own health and wellbeing, so it’s important to take control of your health and seek the help you need to feel well.”

Any tips for readers wanting to look after their health?

“We all want to become the best version of ourselves — happier, healthier, more peaceful and more mindful. So how do we do that? Here are my five tips:

Learn to manage stress | Practice mindfulness, find your purpose, spend time in nature.
Eat right | Fresh, organic, close to nature, not too much.
Exercise | Move for at least 30 minutes, five times a week.
Sleep | It’s the hours before midnight that count, as that’s when our body does the most repairing.
Work on relationships | Surround yourself with people you love and invest heavily in those relationships.”

Mullen Natural Health is offering 50% off an initial consultation for those that are new to Mullen Health or existing patients that haven’t been in for over 6 months.

Clients will need to call and book before the end of February 2019; but can make the appointment for anytime.

To redeem, download this voucher and present at your appointment.