In today’s society where life is becoming more complicated and fast paced, stress, depression and other mental illnesses are sadly on the increase.  Like many other disease processes, various underlying factors can be involved in the development of mental illness - such as nutritional and hormonal imbalances as well as environmental and hereditary factors.  A Naturopath is trained to support the body in restoring balance and reducing the impact of stress on our systems.

Kathleen McFarlane is a compassionate and caring Naturopath. She believes that real health cannot be achieved until all aspects of ourselves (physical, mental and emotional) are in balance.

The importance of a good’s night sleep is often undervalued in today’s society where we become easily disconnected from our body’s natural biorhythms. Apart from replenishing energy levels and promoting relaxation, many important biological functions depend on recuperative sleep. Numerous health conditions are exacerbated by poor sleep such as mental illness, cardiovascular disease and even unwanted weight gain.

There are many different problems that can exist with sleep, from disrupted sleep in newborns and night terrors in infants through to insomnia, nocturia, chronic pain and obstructive sleep apnoea in adults. Usually, no two patients are the same. So, individualised care is paramount. A Naturopath looks at each patient holistically and formulates a specific treatment plan for that individual. A Naturopath uses both nutritional and herbal medicine, as well as lifestyle recommendations to help restore the sleep cycle and promote more recuperative sleep.

Kathleen McFarlane is passionate about helping patients improve their sleep and believes that ensuring recuperative sleep should be the cornerstone of many treatment plans. She is very knowledgeable and presents to various groups on the topic.  Through her access to leading Sleep Medicine Specialists she is also able to offer patients a ‘home based’ sleep study to help analyse individual sleeping patterns to enable more appropriate care.

Hormonal disturbances are usually the result of environmental factors, stress, nutritional imbalances and genetic makeup. Naturopathic treatment is effective in supporting all these areas and is designed to restore hormonal balance and reduce reproductive health symptoms.

Kathleen McFarlane is well trained in the naturopathic treatment of –

• ·       Pregnancy and preconception care
• ·       Polycystic ovarian syndrome 
• ·       Endometriosis 
• ·       Menopausal symptoms 
• ·       Irregular menstruation 
• ·       Pre menstrual syndrome 
• ·       Mother and baby care 
• ·       Thyroid disease 
• ·       Insulin resistance

Naturopathic Preconception Care is about looking at ways to optimise the health of both parents before they decide to conceive, whether that be via the natural method or IVF . Preconception care is designed to ensure adequate supply of all nutritional factors which are essential for the health of the sperm, ova and foetus. It is also designed to ensure an absence of those factors which are known compromise general health or may be harmful to foetal development.  Stress is known to play a role in fertility issues and a Naturopath will also consider the emotional wellbeing of the prospective parents. 

In today’s society where environmental toxins are on the increase and fertility rates on the decrease, there is an even greater need to consider Preconception health care.

Pregnancy is a time when you want your body to be as healthy and as vital as it can be, not just for you, but also for the baby.

A Naturopath is trained to help in many ways during pregnancy. Whether it is to support the extra nutritional demands of pregnancy, reduce morning sickness, address undiagnosed allergies, reduce heartburn, constipation and stress or other pre-existing conditions – Naturopathy can offer safe and effective support.

Health patterns established in childhood often carry through to adult life. So looking after our children’s diet and lifestyle now will not only help our children reach their greatest potential, it will also support them today in being happy, healthy children.

In today’s world where environmental pollution, modern technology, poor diet and stress are placing a greater strain on all of us, especially children, a Naturopath's ability to apply natural methods of healing is becoming increasingly important.

Kathleen McFarlane is well trained in paediatric health care. Conditions supported include -

• ·       Food intolerances and sensitivities 
• ·       Skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis
• ·       Digestive disturbances
• ·       Ear and sinus infections 
• ·       Behavioural disorders
• ·       Poor immunity and frequent colds and flu’s
• ·       Weaning and infant nutrition

In today’s’ society where environmental pollution, digestive issues, poor food choices and weight gain are placing greater strain on our bodies, individualised detoxification programs are becoming more and more relevant.

The aim of an effective Naturopathic detoxification program is to improve digestive function, reduce systemic acidity, decrease the body’s workload and support efficient detoxification pathways via the liver, urinary and lymphatic systems.

The end result is greater energy and vitality, weight loss if it is relevant and brighter skin, eyes and hair.

Whether it is weight gain or weight loss you are concerned with, a Naturopath can help you create an effective and realistic eating programme, designed to ensure healthy weight management and optimal nutrition.

Unwanted weight gain can be a function of a number of factors not just diet and exercise.  A Naturopath will consider the typical weight loss factors such as diet, exercise and detoxification and look for imbalances specific to the individual, such as sluggish glucose metabolism, hormonal dysfunction, poor sleeping habits and stress in order to formulate an effective, lasting weight loss plan.

Problems putting on weight can also be multi factorial and it is a Naturopath’s role to consider the patient holistically to help identify the underlying cause. A Naturopath is trained in sports nutrition and can design a healthy eating plan to help optimise weight, nutritional profile and performance.

A modern Naturopath is well trained in nutritional studies and understands the importance of maintaining optimal nutrition throughout the life cycle. Poor nutrition can be fundamental to many health conditions, so identifying and correcting imbalances is integral.

A Naturopath will look for specific signs and symptoms that may point towards certain nutritional imbalances. If further investigation is required, a Naturopath may use ‘in clinic’ tests, or refer for functional pathology testing to greater understand the patient’s nutrient profile.

Kathleen McFarlane is passionate about ensuring each patient consumes a nutritionally rich diet.  She takes the time to educate each patient about his / her diet and nutritional status so that every patient feels empowered to make healthy choices. Kathleen also uses nutritional medicine when diet alone cannot fully address the problem. She is well trained in the interaction between nutritional supplements and pharmaceuticals drugs and all treatment plans take this into consideration.

Many people live with poor digestion and unnecessarily put up with symptoms such as flatulence, bloating, diarrhoea, constipation, heart burn, cramps and bad breath. A Naturopath is well trained in supporting digestive issues and believes that poor digestion can also play a role in other conditions such as skin problems, fatigue, unwanted weight gain, headaches, allergies, chronic pain etc. Correcting digestive problems is paramount to the Naturopath’s holistic treatment plan.

Kathleen McFarlane works with patients to identify the underlying cause of their digestive problems and utilises ‘in clinic’ IgG food sensitivity testing to help identify possible food intolerances.  She helps patients design healthy eating plans that suit their individual needs and has supported many patients, who have had chronic digestive issues, in reducing or eliminating their symptoms and increasing their overall health and vitality.

No two patients are ever the same. People present with a unique story and health profile that usually encompasses numerous body systems. That is why the Naturopathic philosophy of looking holistically at each patient and treating them as an individual is so important.

A Naturopath is trained to look at each person as a combination of inter related systems. This is what sets them apart from Medical Doctors who often specialise in one system.

So whether it is a long standing illness, such as chronic asthma or rheumatoid arthritis or an acute condition such as bronchitis, the flu or even a broken bone, a Naturopath can help support the body’s natural processes to restore heath and promote on going wellness.

If you are unsure if Naturopathy can help you, Kathleen is available to speak to you about your concerns before making an appointment.