Consultation

I felt very uplifted after my consultation with my naturopath, Ashleigh, yesterday. We spent about an-hour-and-a-half discussing my health history and goals going forwards. I had already filled out a questionnaire, so she had something to go by in determining what needed to be changed or strengthened to achieve these goals.

I was impressed both with her knowledge and expertise in deciding what would work for me and what was most likely needed to bring my body to optimum health. Everything she said made sense, such as providing the herbs and nutrients that a well-functioning body needs. A lot of this has sadly been lacking in my diet and although I have started keto once again, cutting out that high-sugar intake I have been guilty of in the past, there are still extras I need to reintroduce into my diet.

As we walked back to the house after our discussion, I felt energised, like I had received a healing. It was like my body was responding positively to the changes Ashleigh was proposing. My body intelligence was telling me this was right.

I find it sad that doctors no longer have the time to sit with their patients, taking a history and discussing in-depth issues that are going on in their clients’ lives. Ashleigh was immediately able to see my pattern of infections, suggesting boosting my immunity to combat these. At the doctor’s, it is always more antibiotics with no discussion on probable causes. And I have heard many tales of patients being told they can only discuss one thing at each appointment – to discuss more would require a further session. But the frustrating thing here is when people have asked for and booked a longer consultation, they are still told they will have to rebook for the second complaint. Often issues are related, so to me this approach seems stupid.

When I was massaging, if I saw a mole that appeared different to the ones on the rest of the client’s body, I would tell them to get the doctor to check it next time they were there. Several times I had clients returning, telling me that their doctor wouldn’t look – to do so would require a second appointment. I am no expert on skin conditions, which I would tell these clients. I am sure a simple viewing would enable the doctor to say either yes, that needs another look, come back, or no that appears fine, but to not even look seems ridiculous.

It is a shame the health system has come to this. I think many doctor’s surgeries these days are run with a business mentality, rather than patient focus. I know years ago when I lived in the Hokianga, health care was free. If I brought one child with an ear infection, the doctor would examine the other children. That certainly wouldn’t happen these days.

I am not knocking doctors. I have an excellent one, myself. But it is the system that demands these doctors churn out patients every quarter of an hour, that I think is wrong. I am sure many of these professionals would get burnt out with their work load. So, we have a scenario where patients feel shunted through the system and doctors are expected to do this.

Yesterday’s consultation seemed like heaven. I had someone willing to listen to my own theories around my health issues. And I felt that I had already been healed as I exited this session.

Imagine if we had enough doctors, that patients were given this same amount of time as I was given yesterday. We could very well have a well society. Imagine how good that would be and how much money the government would ultimately save.