Viva Naturopathic Clinic

About Us

Craig Wainwright

As a naturopath and pharmacist, I am in a unique position to offer comprehensive health solutions. Since beginning my pharmacy practice in 1989, I have become increasingly aware that whilst modern medicine is good at alleviating symptoms, it neglects to find and treat the many causes of ill health. Not only can Naturopathy reduce these symptoms, it can also find and repair the causes of ill health. Treatments can be combined safely with many pharmaceutical treatments, often reducing the need for medication. I am particularly interested in complex health conditions, as I believe that there is an enormous scope for Naturopathic medicine to provide powerful antidotes in hard-to-treat diseases.

I am also passionate about the marked benefits of a whole foods diet and incorporating food as medicine into everyday eating (no fad diets here!) and helping people realise this can even be delicious. Combined with lifestyle changes, Naturopathy has a powerful ability to prevent, as well as treat ill-health and I find it exciting to make genuine improvements in people’s health and well-being

Ramona Shee

Ramona has recently completed a Masters of Social Work. She is committing fully to this new career along with providing background support for the clinic. We wish her all the best in her new venture.

(I completed my Naturopathy studies in 2002 and obtained a Master of Health Science in 2009. I specialise in herbal medicine, and believe it is important to combine traditional wisdom with up-to-date medical knowledge. Herbs are often an effective and safe component of a treatment programme. I am also passionate about the marked benefits of a whole foods diet and incorporating food as medicine into everyday eating (no fad diets here!) and helping people realise this can even be delicious. Combined with lifestyle changes, Naturopathy has a powerful ability to prevent, as well as treat ill-health and I find it exciting to make genuine improvements in people’s health and well-being. Since 1999 I have practised relaxation and remedial massage, including deep tissue and trigger point therapy. Massage may be used to treat existing injuries, as a preventative measure, to ease anxiety or simply as an indulgence.)

Treatment Options

Herbal medicine

Herbal medicine is safe and effective, and able to treat the underlying cause of disease rather than just the symptoms. Herbal medicine is underpinned by the philosophy of stimulating the innate healing force and although it retains a holistic approach that treats the whole person, it is also informed by a research-based, biomedical approach. Many herbs work by positively influencing gene expression and are considered by many to be smart drugs! We stock an extensive herbal dispensary so that we can individualise all herbal formulas for our client’s needs. However, we can also use tablet combinations for clients who prefer. We only use the highest quality practitioner only brands, as the best health outcomes using herbal medicine can only be produced with a thorough knowledge of correct plant species, part and ideal method of extraction.

Nutritional medicine

At its most basic level, nutritional medicine corrects deficiencies and prevents disease. However, it is now recognised that this view is too simplistic, and we need to go beyond recommended daily intakes to restore optimum health and as part of an evidence-based approach to treating specific conditions. As we gain a greater understanding of our unique genetic blueprints, it is now understood that some people require greater amounts of nutrients than others for health. Take, for example, the widely discussed MTHFR gene that demands a greater amount of readily utilisable folate and folic acid for those who carry this genetic polymorphism. We only stock the highest quality practitioner only brands, whose formulas reflect the latest research and correspond with the most bioavailable forms of nutrients, which have undergone stringent quality testing.

Diet

Our dietary recommendations are individually tailored as we recognise that eating is social, cultural and emotional, as well as for health. We often have to fit cooking around a busy lifestyle and consider other family members. So while we believe that diet is the foundation for good health, we won’t offer a one-size-fits-all approach. We also adhere to the adage of food as medicine, and believe specific dietary inclusions can be very successful as part of a treatment protocol.

Lifestyle

Once again we tailor this to you, and encourage you to take this on as much as you desire. We also highlight areas which are most important, dependent on your health priorities. For a woman with a strong cancer history in her family, we can advise about preferable cosmetics and natural cleaning products to reduce the chemical and xeno-oestrogen load. As part of an overall treatment plan we may similarly make recommendations for a woman undertaking a preconception plan. We know that most clients are informed about their health, and know that exercise is necessary but may need the added incentive of understanding what type of exercise is best for their unique health needs.