Amber grew up in the West of Ireland surrounded by nature and developed a strong connection to the earth and a deep understanding of the healing properties of nature from a very young age. She comes from a family of artists and healers and was inspired by a childhood of freedom inspired by magic, creativity, and travel. She has spent most of her life traveling and living in Europe, Australia, and North America and now calls Perth, Western Australia home. Her mother is a self-trained herbalist & alchemist, reiki master, tarot reader, and mental health nurse. She attuned Amber to receive the life force of reiki at the tender age of 7 and over recent years she has honed this skill to become a Level 2 Reiki Practitioner. She has been studying naturopathy for the past 5 years and has a passion for helping people get to the root cause of their health concerns and empower them to take back autonomy of their healthcare choices using diagnostics, diet and lifestyle changes, exercise, energy healing, breathwork, mindfulness, manifestation, and gratitude. Amber is acutely aware that to assist and support others, her own ongoing personal growth and self-healing are of the utmost priority. Amber has devoted her adult life to practicing all the recommendations she offers her clients in order to support her own well-being and vitality. In her personal life, She loves the simple things in life, spending time in nature, cooking, quality time with friends and family, and traveling.
Learn more about Amber in this detailed MysticMag interview.
What is the fundamental philosophy behind naturopathy, and how does it differ from conventional medicine in its approach to healthcare?
The fundamental philosophy behind naturopathy is that the body has an innate and inherent ability to heal itself when given the right conditions. As naturopaths, we believe that dis-ease is caused by imbalances in the body on a physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual level. Naturopathy is a holistic approach to healthcare, focusing on the root cause of dis-ease in the body and treating the whole person using natural therapies to support the body’s own healing mechanisms. Conventional medicine tends to focus on a reductionist approach by just treating specific disease states and conditions. Conventional medicine relies heavily on pharmaceutical medicines and surgery as treatment whereas naturopaths emphasize the importance of disease prevention and treatment. We use a variety of lifestyle and dietary changes, herbal tinctures, and nutritional supplements.
Can you explain the principles and techniques commonly used in naturopathic medicine for promoting healing and well-being? How do these methods align with the holistic approach of naturopathy?
As Naturopaths, we follow the below 6 principles:
– Primum non nocere (First, do no harm)
– Vis Medicatrix Naturae (The healing power of nature)
– Tolle Causam (Treat the cause)
– Tolle Totum (Treat the whole person)
– Docere (Doctor as a teacher)
– Praevenire (Prevention)
These guiding principles support our philosophy of supporting the whole person, addressing the root cause of their dis-ease, and providing individualized treatments to address their specific needs.
We use a variety of techniques and modalities to promote overall well-being, these include lifestyle recommendations, nutritional education and supplementation, physical activity and mindfulness, herbal tinctures, energy healing, manual therapies (massage and kinesiology), and acupuncture. Many naturopaths are trained in multiple modalities to allow and support the best outcomes for their clients. These methods align with our holistic approach by focusing on the whole person and their individual needs. We believe that by addressing the underlying causes of dis-ease and promoting overall health and well-being, we can help our clients achieve optimal health and vitality.
Reiki is often described as a form of energy healing. Could you clarify how Reiki practitioners believe energy flows within the body and how Reiki therapy aims to balance and enhance this energy flow?
Reiki is a Japanese form of energy healing that uses gentle touch to channel healing energy into the recipient. Reiki practitioners have an understanding that we have a physical body surrounded by an energy field, an aura. We also understand that energy flows through the body in channels called chakras. When this energy field gets depleted, or these channels get blocked or imbalanced dis-ease or illness can occur in the body. Reiki healing aims to balance and enhance the flow of energy throughout the body, promoting healing and well-being.
Reiki practitioners act as a conduit, channeling universe-source energy through their own hands into the recipient’s body. Reiki is a non-invasive therapy in which the practitioner places their hands on or just above specific energy centers of the body, in a particular order to balance the chakras and auric field. Recipients may feel warmth or tingling throughout their body and an overall feeling of calmness and relaxation during treatment. Reiki has been known to promote healing in a variety of ways, including:
– Reducing pain and inflammation
– Accelerating wound healing
– Supporting immune health
– Improved sleep
– Reduce anxiety and depression
– Enhancing the body’s natural healing mechanisms
What scientific evidence or research supports the effectiveness of naturopathy and Reiki as complementary or alternative therapies? How do you address skepticism or criticism surrounding these practices?
There is historical evidence across all ancient civilizations that humans have been using natural therapies for thousands of years. For example, the ancient Egyptians used herbs, tinctures, and spices to cure many ailments, and the ancient Chinese used herbs and acupuncture for thousands of years to relieve pain and support the flow of energy throughout the body. Naturopathy is the oldest form of medicine known to mankind, long before conventional medicine ever existed.
Today, naturopathy is considered a modern healthcare practice that incorporates the latest scientific research with traditional healing practices. Naturopaths are educated and trained in natural therapies and conventional methods, and they can provide a comprehensive approach to healthcare that addresses the root cause of illness and promotes long-term health and well-being.
There is a growing body of scientific evidence that supports the effectiveness of naturopathy for a variety of health conditions. A systematic review of 33 studies found that naturopathic treatment results in clinically significant benefits for cardiovascular dis-ease, musculoskeletal pain, type 1 & type 2 diabetes, autoimmune conditions, reproduction and fertility issues, anxiety, depression, and a range of complex chronic conditions. There have been thousands of studies and clinical trials carried out which have found that naturopathic medicine and therapies can be effective in treating most chronic conditions and dis-eases in the human body. In addition, there are also studies, such that published in Pain Medicine journal, showing the effectiveness of Reiki in reducing pain and anxiety in patients with cancer.
Some people believe that these therapies are not based on sound science and that they may be ineffective or even harmful. However, it is important to note that most of the research on naturopathy and Reiki has found them to be safe and effective. To address this scepticism and criticism, we aim to educate people about these therapies and provide them with information about the scientific evidence to support their use. We aim to empower people to make their own choices and decisions around their healthcare and have autonomy in their overall well-being. Most natural therapies are safe to use alongside conventional medicines and we encourage people to disclose to their medical doctors if they decide to use natural therapies.
Naturopathy emphasizes the importance of the body’s natural healing abilities. Can you provide examples of specific natural remedies or treatments that naturopathic practitioners commonly recommend to support these innate healing processes?
Naturopathic practitioners commonly recommend the following natural remedies and treatments to support the body’s innate healing process:
– Nutritional medicine: Naturopaths believe that food is medicine, and a healthy diet is essential for optimal health and healing. We may recommend dietary changes such as the inclusion of more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats and a reduction in ultra-processed foods, sugar, and saturated fats. We may also prescribe specific nutritional supplements including vitamins, minerals, and herbs to support each individual and their unique health conditions.
– Herbal medicine: Naturopaths use a wide variety of herbs in different forms to treat a wide range of health conditions. Herbs can be prescribed in liquid, dried, and culinary forms. We use herbs and their specific therapeutic constituents to boost the immune system, reduce inflammation, improve digestion, support reproduction and fertility, and promote relaxation.
– Lifestyle changes: To support overall well-being and longevity naturopaths often recommend lifestyle changes such as daily exercise, a healthy sleep routine, stress management practices, and time in nature. Making these small changes daily has been shown to have a measurable effect on the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of clients.
– Manual therapies: Many naturopaths also recommend clients utilize massage, chiropractic manipulation, and acupuncture alongside other recommendations. These therapies have been found to relieve stress, pain, and digestive issues and promote relaxation.
– Homeopathy: Homeopathy uses highly diluted substances to stimulate the body’s natural healing processes and is often used for infections, allergies, mental health conditions, pain, cuts, and bruises.
– Hydrotherapy: Hydrotherapy is one of the oldest naturopathic techniques which uses water for therapeutic purposes. We may recommend the use of baths, hot/cold therapy, cold water immersion, compresses and douches to improve circulation, reduce inflammation and promote healing.
These are just a few examples of the many natural remedies and treatments used by naturopaths. It is important to note that naturopathic medicine is patient-centered and has a holistic approach to healing, therefore we always tailor our treatment plans to the individual needs of each patient.
In Reiki, there are different levels of training and certification. Could you explain the significance of these levels and how they impact the abilities and techniques that a Reiki practitioner can use?
In Reiki there are three levels of training, each building on the previous one.
– Level 1: Provides the foundational understanding and ability to channel Reiki energy for self-healing and basic treatments. At this level, practitioners are initiated into Reiki and taught about the history of this modality and develop an understanding of the body’s auric field and energy centers (chakras). Practitioners are also introduced to the sequence of hand positions used in a Reiki treatment.
– Level 2: This level introduces practitioners to the use of reiki symbols which enhance the focus and power of the healing energy. Practitioners are now able to treat other people and teach them how to perform distance healing.
– Level 3 (Master/Teacher): Reiki Masters can teach, attune, and initiate others to Reiki energy.
Each level of Reiki training represents a deeper understanding of its principles and techniques, allowing the practitioners to work with more complexity and subtlety. The significance of these levels lies in the increased knowledge, experience, intuition, and ability to facilitate healing and balance through Reiki energy. However, even at the first level, Reiki can offer profound benefits for the practitioner, their clients, and those close to them. Each level of Reiki training represents a deeper understanding of Reiki principles and expands the practitioner’s abilities. While the higher levels grant access to more advanced techniques and teaching capabilities, all levels emphasize the same core principles of energy healing and balance.
