Naturopathy, or naturopathic medicine, is a form of alternative health-care that favors a holistic approach with non-invasive treatments and generally avoids the use of surgery and drugs.
A traditional naturopath specializes in wellness. That is to say, teaching clients how an application of a natural lifestyle will facilitate the body's own natural healing and health building potential. The traditional naturopath does not undertake to "diagnose" or "treat diseases," but rather recognizes that the majority of sub-health conditions are cumulative lifestyle effects, and that the underlying cause of what we call "disease" (or, "dis-ease") is improper diet, unhealthy habits, and external environmental factors which cause biological imbalances leading to a weakening of the bodies' natural defenses and subsequent breakdown in health. (The practice of Traditional Naturopathy is not considered the practice of medicine and is currently legal in all 50 states.)
Personally, I have been influenced by the teachings of Dr. Henry Lindlahr, Dr. John Christopher, Dr. Bernard Jensen and Dr. Richard Schutze and well as herbalist such as Rosemary Gladstar, James Green and Michael Tierra. In any case, when I utilize "western" treatments I individualize them based on Ayurveda principles.
"Naturopathy is a philosophy which encompasses a view of life, a model for living a full life. The word naturopathy is a Latin-Greek hybrid which can be defined as 'being close to or benefiting from nature.'" — Stewart Mitchell, Naturopathy: Understanding the Healing Power of Nature
Services
- Nutritional counseling and meal planning
- Whole-food supplementation
- Western herbal medicines
- Home remedies
- Therapeutic oil treatments
- Therapeutic skin care
"The art of healing comes from nature, not from the physician. Therefore, the physician must come from nature, with an open mind. - Paracelsus (1491 - 1541)
The traditional naturopath's role is to create an environment of support that encourages the body's inherent ability to establish, maintain and restore whole health through assisting in removing obstacles and providing support for the creation of energetic equilibrium known as homeostasis.
How it works . . .
Understand your health
Initially, with health assessment questionnaires and other assessing methods, I will thoroughly evaluate your health condition, learn about your health history, understand your digestive system and determine your constitution-type [Ayurveda Dosha]. At each session where applicable, I will monitor as needed your body fat %, pH balance, blood pressure, blood sugar level, nutritional state and other indicators such as appetite, bowel movements, sleep state and energy levels throughout the day.
By journaling your dietary and lifestyle habits, I can further determine the nutritional value of your current diet. With a deep and broad understanding of your health condition and nutritional needs, I can do proper meal planning with very specific guidelines. With a clear understanding of both your health concerns and individuality, I can safely provide suitable herbal products as well as Naturopathic or Ayurvedic therapies.
Provide you with everything you need.
I do the footwork for you so you can concentrate on achieving the necessary tasks. I will work with you to create menus of satisfying meals and a supplementation schedule that will give your body what it needs nutritionally. I know the "tricks" and have many helpful tools to make progress easy too. I will provide teas for better sleep, digestion, energy, weight loss, allergies, inflammation, constipation, hormonal balance and more as needed.
I will recommend natural therapies that are appropriate for your health conditions, lifestyle and situation. These restorative methods may include nutrition counseling, cooking and meal planning, herbal remedies, body work or massage, detoxification, and other natural treatments. In the long-term, however, my goal is to empower you to care for yourself.
Implement your health goals into your life.
Any plan, no matter how impressive or well designed, isn't worth much to you until you really follow through with it. To further support your path to restored health, I will make recommendations for whole-food supplements, superfoods, skin/hair/body products and products like juicers and air-filters. If necessary, I will take you shopping, help you cook and plan meals, assist in cleaning out your kitchen cupboards and even speak with other family members.
Stay with you every step of the way.
No matter how important these changes can be to your health, we all know how difficult it is to stick with new habits especially dietary ones. Modern life is stressful and fast-paced with responsibilities and time constraints so its easy to feel the urge to cut corners or fall back into old habits. So I will communicate with you on a regular basis, monitor your progress and help keep you on track. As your partner, I will help you integrate your new habits into your life in a way that works for you and is still effective.
Consultations
Individual / Phone Consultations
A consultation generally lasts for 60 to 90 minutes, depending upon your health needs. I employ observation, questioning and touch to understand the current state of health. I also include an assessment of your [Ayurvedic] body-type (Prakriti) and examine your hair, nails, teeth, eyes, pulse and skin for indications of specific health issues and imbalances. Then step at a time, I provide detailed dietary guidelines with individualized meal plans, lifestyle recommendations, home-remedies, herbal formulas and wholefood supplements as needed.
For details see: Fees & Online Health Assessment Forms.
Khabir Southwick, T.N., M.H., N.T., C.A.S., A.P., A.H.P., P.A.C.E. Provider
Traditional Naturopath (TN), Master Herbalist (MH), Nutritional Therapist (NT), Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist (CAS), [Registered] Ayurvedic Practitioner (AP), [Registered] Ayurvedic Herbal Pharmacist (AHP), [Registered] Professional Ayurvedic Continuing Education (PACE) Provider
Member of: Association of Ayurvedic Professionals of North America (AAPNA), American Herbalist Guild (AHG), Ayurvedic Institute, Ayurveda Association of Canada (AAC), National Ayurvedic Medical Association (NAMA)
Taking the first step is simple.
(805) 308-3480
