Complementary medicine
Rebecca Lang is a highly qualified Naturopath. She has a Bachelor of Health Science majoring in Naturopathy; Advance Diploma in Naturopathy, Advance Diploma in Nutritional Medicine; Advance Diploma in Western Herbal Medicine. Rebecca also teaches Reiki Courses and Personal Development Workshops, holds Women’ s Health and Wellbeing Retreats; Mentors Naturopaths around Australia and is a speaker and author. Rebecca is passionate about educating the public about how complementary medicines can help people and how to ensure you are taking the correct supplements for your body. She works closely with various doctors and specialists to ensure her clients are receiving holistic health care.
Alternative medicine is a term mainly used by those practitioners who wish to establish that they are alternative to Orthodox medicine. Complementary medicine was first used in 1976 in the United Kingdom as a means of linking the most appropriate techniques to serve the patients at physical, mental, emotional, vitality and spiritual dimensions. Natural medicines have been used for centuries. Complementary medicine is holism in practice.
Complementary and Orthodox medicine allows health practitioners to seek to complement the needs of the patient. By placing the patients first, this effectively removes an implied competition between professionals.
Newspapers, magazines, internet and the mass media feed out curiosity for new supplements and ways to manage our health on a daily basis. The public want to know what works and are willing to pay for products that will make them feel better. The problem is with so many products, inconsistent media coverage, lack of regulatory and issues with quality control, there is increasing frustration surrounding the natural medicine industry. Although there are many supplements that can be safely used by the public, it is important to note that the complex chemistry of herbs and multi-ingredient formulations may be profound effects, both beneficial and harmful, on the human body.
We must then also take into consideration the interaction these natural medicines may have with prescription and over-the-counter medications. Over the last 30years, a large amount of research has been published in medical journals on natural medicine and this is increasing daily. The interaction between natural medicine and pharmaceuticals is a relatively new area, but again there are resources, software and medical journals available.
“As a Naturopath, I feel it is my duty to encourage the public to speak to a qualified Naturopath about the supplements that you are taking, particularly if you are also taking prescribed or over-the-counter medication. A qualified Naturopath can also review the supplements to ensure that you are not wasting your money, you are taking it in the correct dosage for therapeutic benefits based on the research and also increase your awareness of any adverse effects the supplements may have with particular health conditions”
It is also important to ensure that your supplements are registered with the Therapeutic Goods Administrations (TGA) in Australia and that each product contains a breakdown of ingredients and the dosage of each ingredient. Many items on the internet may be either a waste of money, have ambiguous research behind them, or do more harm than good.
On a positive note, the correct administration of an integrative approach to medicine could utilise therapies that assist with the adverse effects of some medications, provided they are prescribed by a qualified Naturopath. Until you do visit a qualified Naturopath it may be wise to have a 2 hour gap between the ingestion of supplements and pharmaceutical medications.
Please also check the qualifications of any “Naturopath” that you consult with. Most qualified practitioners will have either a Bachelor of Health Science in Complementary Medicine or an Advance Diploma in Naturopathy. A qualified practitioner will not be offended by you asking to see their certificates and will be honoured to show you. This also ensures your safety that you are receiving advice from a qualified professional.
To contact Rebecca Lang for an appointment or supplement review: – in person, by phone, email or Telehealth – we can also assist you to order your supplements direct from our supplier.
To book an appointment –
Bargara Beach Holistic Health Centre : (07) 4159 1834
Or Email: [email protected]
Shop 1/15 See Street Bargara Qld
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