Celebrating and discussing natural medicine

NEXT week, 20 to 26 May, is Natural Medicine Week, and the Central Highland Complementary Medicine Network is hosting a collaborative community event to celebrate.

Between 9am and 12pm on Monday, 20 May, qualified registered naturopaths, nutritionists, mental health practitioners and an exercise physiologist will be at the Ballarat Business Centre.

Amongst other therapists, they’ll be available to meet locals in a safe and open environment, answering questions, concerns and scepticism about natural medicine over a cuppa.

Special guests include Journalist and Naturopath, Julie O’Connell Seamer and General Practitioner, Dr Rod Hanton.

Organiser and Naturopath, Jacqui Fernandez has a background in Health Science. She said collaboration between bio-medical and natural medicine practitioners is important to deliver the best healthcare model.

“It’s not us versus them, it’s what we can do together,” she said. “I think a lot of people think we’re still hippies in orange robes and bare feet chanting. We’ve moved far from that.

“We take traditional philosophies and principles of treating the whole person, identifying the cause and use traditional knowledge along with more evidence-based practice to improve patient outcomes. Health is a way of living, and that’s what we want to showcase.”

Mrs Fernandez believes the government should regulate and register Naturopaths for public safety and best practice. The event is also an opportunity to discuss this issue.

The event is near-on sold out and a gold coin donation will be requested upon arrival, with all proceeds going to Creswick-based palliative care charity, Shannon’s Bridge.

The Federal government was recently under fire for cutting private health insurance rebates to natural therapies. Following public protest, Health Minister, Greg Hunt has said the changes will be reviewed.