Thinking about seeing a naturopath? 5 common misconceptions explained

Despite growing interest in naturopathy, there are still plenty of misconceptions about what naturopaths do, who they work with and whether naturopathy can sit alongside conventional medical care. To help separate fact from fiction, we spoke with naturopath, nutritionist and owner of NatMed, Jade Bertolasi about some of the most common myths she encounters in practice and how she approaches supporting her patients' wellbeing.

What is Naturopathy?

Naturopathy is a holistic form of health care that aims to support overall wellbeing through nutrition, lifestyle advice, herbal medicine and other natural therapies, while considering the physical, emotional and environmental factors that can influence health.¹

Misconception 1: "Naturopaths are only for people who want 'natural' alternatives to medicine"

A common misconception, naturopathy isn't simply about swapping a pharmaceutical prescription for a herbal one. It's a much broader approach to healthcare, focused on understanding what's contributing to a person's health concerns and developing an individualised treatment plan.

“We see people from all walks of life, many of whom are already receiving conventional medical care. For example, someone might come to us struggling with ongoing digestive issues, such as bloating, stomach pain, constipation or diarrhoea. Rather than simply prescribing a herbal remedy to ease their symptoms, we'd take the time to explore their diet, medical history, lifestyle and relevant investigations to understand what might be contributing.”

Naturopaths work with you to develop a tailored treatment plan that might include dietary changes, herbal and nutritional medicine and practical lifestyle strategies, alongside conventional medical care where needed. “Ultimately, we want our patients to do more than just manage their symptoms. We want to help them understand their health, feel better in their everyday lives and have the knowledge and tools to stay well long term” says Jade.

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Misconception 2: "A naturopath just sells supplements"

Some people associate naturopathy with supplements because many naturopaths use nutritional and herbal medicine as part of treatment. However, most consultations involve much more than discussing supplements alone and may include nutrition, lifestyle and behavioural strategies.

Let’s tackle this one with an example. A busy dad sees a naturopath feeling constantly exhausted, struggling with poor sleep, questioning a big shift in energy levels. Rather than simply recommending a sleep supplement, a naturopath would take the time to explore his health history including nutrition, lifestyle and relevant blood tests to better understand what might be contributing.

Depending on the clinic and the individual's needs, naturopaths may review existing pathology results or recommend further testing through appropriate healthcare providers. Certain naturopaths also have an extensive herbal and nutritional medicine dispensary, allowing them to custom-compound formulas tailored to each patient's needs, using carefully selected, high-quality ingredients. 

“Ultimately, supplements are just one of the tools we use. What really matters is understanding the individual, identifying where we can make a meaningful difference, and helping them achieve lasting improvements in their health.”
- Jade, NatMed

Misconception 3: "Naturopathy and conventional healthcare don't mix"

Jade alongside many naturopaths believe the point is not simply natural versus conventional medicine. Holistic healthcare is about bringing together the right expertise to give patients the most comprehensive care possible.

“I've always felt that naturopathy and conventional medicine work best together, with each bringing different strengths to the table. Think of healthcare as a team sport. You wouldn't expect one player to cover every position, and healthcare is no different.”

Take perimenopause, for example. A woman might be experiencing poor sleep, mood changes, hot flushes and weight gain. Her GP might explore medical treatment options, while her naturopath can work with her on a personalised approach to nutrition, herbal medicine and lifestyle changes to help manage symptoms and support her wellbeing through this transition. “There's an enormous amount we can do to help women navigate this stage of life and improve their quality of life, and these approaches can work alongside each other” says Jade.

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Misconception 4: "If my blood tests are normal, there's nothing more I can do about how I'm feeling"

This is something Jade hears quite often in her clinic. Someone might be experiencing ongoing fatigue, brain fog, poor sleep or digestive discomfort, but their routine blood tests haven't identified an obvious cause. “That can be incredibly frustrating, particularly when they know they don't feel their best.”

A normal blood test doesn’t mean your naturopath won’t explore nutrition, sleep, stress and other modifiable factors.

But remember, when symptoms persist despite normal test results, it's important to continue working with your GP or healthcare team. Alongside this, a naturopath may help identify lifestyle, nutrition or behavioural factors that could be affecting wellbeing.

Misconception 5: "I need to have a diagnosed health condition before seeing a naturopath"

While naturopaths see plenty of people with established health concerns, preventative healthcare is also an important part of what they do. This means no, you don't need to wait until something is wrong to start seeing a naturopath.

Someone might be noticing their energy isn't what it used to be, their sleep has deteriorated, or they're approaching midlife and want to take a more proactive approach to their long-term wellbeing. Equally, they might be feeling perfectly well but want to understand how they can optimise their nutrition, maintain a healthy weight or support healthy ageing.

“I'm a big believer that healthcare shouldn't just be about treating illness. It should also be about helping people stay well. Preventative care gives us the opportunity to build healthy habits, address modifiable risk factors and support long-term health, rather than waiting until problems develop,” says Jade.