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I have never heard about a Naturopath in Singapore but turns out, I would seek out for it.
It all started when I felt a dull bloating pain in my abdomen that comes and goes, and sometimes accompanied by diarrhoea in between. I went to see my family doctor and she sent me to a series of lab tests- blood, urine, stool, and pelvic ultrasound. The results came in and everything was fine. I should have felt relief. However, the same symptoms were still there.
My family doctor said, “Try to eliminate dairy in your diet and see if you feel better.” I did feel better.
I wanted to go back to my doctor and tell her of the improvement, but then again, I also wanted to say that I feel tired when I wake up in the morning and that I cannot function until I have my caffeine and sugar fix. I wanted to tell her that I feel overwhelmed at work even though I can do the job with my eyes closed. I wanted to stop thinking that something is wrong with me because I have the energy to still meet up with friends after office at night. I went home, got some sleep, and the cycle repeats.
Although my doctor had given me a clean bill of health, my overall wellness lay between the super healthy and super sick. I thought surely there is a better way to figure out why I am struggling. Does everyone feel that way or is it just me whining? This is where the naturopath doctor in Singapore came into the picture.
What is Naturopathy
Naturopathy is a healthcare system that supports good health promotion and disease prevention based on a holistic approach.
Naturopathic medicine is a distinct system of primary health care that emphasizes prevention, the treatment of illness and the promotion of health through the use of natural therapies that seek to encourage the self-healing process. Naturopathic doctors are medical experts in natural therapies and are the most comprehensively trained specialists in complementary and alternative medicine. Naturopathic medicine is distinguished by the six principles that underlie and determine its practice.
Naturopathy's scope
Naturopathic doctors may order and perform physical and laboratory examinations for diagnostic purposes. It includes but is not limited to school and annual physicals, gynaecological exams and male wellness exams. It also includes performing blood draws and running blood tests. They may also order diagnostic imaging studies, including X-ray, ultrasound, mammogram, bone densitometry, and others.
Naturopathic doctors may prescribe herbs, food, vitamins and minerals, homoeopathic remedies, dietary supplements, enzymes, nutraceuticals, amino acids, natural and synthetic hormones, and nonprescription drugs. They may order prescription drugs under the supervision of a physician or surgeon.
Other therapies that they may prescribe and offer include massage, hydrotherapy, resistance or stretching of the joints and small amplitude movement, electromagnetic energy, colon hydrotherapy and therapeutic exercise. They also may prescribe and administer IV/IM/SC injections.
My first experience with Naturopathy
On my first visit, my naturopathic doctor took a look at my health history. We discussed the physical, social and psychological issues that I experienced in the past years. The initial visit was followed by subsequent visits, undertaking a diet diary, and tests for stress, urine, blood and food sensitivity. The doctor’s goal was to help me find the root cause of my complaints and discover what other aspects of my body are contributing to the symptoms.
Eventually, I was able to uncover the root cause of my issues. I found out that I have a gut problem caused by candida overgrowth. Candida is a fungus in the intestines that breaks down the wall of the intestine when overproduced. The toxic then penetrates the bloodstream that may lead to different health problems, from digestive issues to depression. I also found out that I have a food sensitivity to dairy, cocoa, coffee and sugar cane. So I guess that explains my diarrhoea when I eat something with dairy.
Another finding was adrenal fatigue. My adrenal glands are not functioning efficiently brought on by the high levels of stress I have experienced in the past years, i.e. immigrating to Singapore and other major life changes. It explains my difficulty in getting up in the morning and my fluctuating energy levels throughout the day.
It sure sounded like I was a big mess. However, my naturopath provided me with a treatment plan. I understood that treating my conditions will not be as simple as taking a pill each morning. It will be a lifestyle change. Aside from the supplements that I have to take to detox my body, I also have to be mindful of what I put into it, what I think and how I feel.
All in all
My experience with naturopathy helped me to understand what was going on inside my body. I also realized that our mental and emotional experience affects our whole being, and negative experience manifests in physical illness sooner or later.
On the other hand, if you are looking for a physio osteopath to help you, I recommend City Osteopathy & Physiotherapy. They helped me with what has been going on in my body, and I am sure they can help you too.
