Where Natura Can Help You

Endometriosis is a condition where the endometrial-like tissue grows outside of the uterus on other organs such as the ovaries. Depending on the severity the sufferer might experience intense pain or problems with the bladder or bowels.

While it is normal to have some pain during the menstrual cycle, continuous or intensifying pain, that persists despite painkillers, may be a sign to seek medical attention. The only way of diagnosing endometriosis definitively involves a laparoscopy, a minimally-invasive surgery where a small incision is made close to the navel and a camera inserted into the pelvis to examine the organs.

Your Natura doctor can help you find out whether plant-based treatments might be right for your individual circumstances.

Chronic pain is any type of noticeable, unpleasant sensation in the body that lasts for a period greater than three months. Examples include arthritic pain, backpain, migraines and neuropathic pain with varying underlying causes. Consequently, the experience of chronic pain is unique to the individual, making it one of the most difficult and frustrating conditions to treat and live with.

While many other conditions have clear signs of when to see your doctor, individuals suffering with chronic pain often spend years coping with their condition without relief. In short, if the pain does not go away with the intervention of simple and commonly-used treatments, or is getting progressively worse, it is important to speak to a doctor. Chronic pain is usually diagnosed when it has persisted for a minimum of 3 to 6 months and treatment of the underlying cause shows little to no improvement.

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Insomnia is a lack of quality sleep despite having the motivation, time and space for it to happen. Sleep is imperative for physical, emotional, and mental recovery and is more than just a time to recharge the batteries. Sleep is at the heart of optimal brain function as well as maintaining an effective immune system. A lack of sleep can be the underlying cause for numerous physical and mental disorders including anxiety and depression.

Multiple studies show up to half the adult population in western societies has trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or both; resulting in less than the 7-9 hours of sleep recommended by most health authorities. Changes to the sleep environment, stress levels or physical changes (aging, for example, leads us to produce less of the hormone melatonin – one of our sleep triggers), can impact our quantity and quality of sleep. If a lack of sleep is causing a physical or mental disruption to your daily life, it is advisable to seek out professional medical advice.

Your doctor will help you find out whether plant-based medicine might be right for your individual circumstances.

Epilepsy is one of the most studied conditions for plant-based treatment in the world. A neurological disorder that causes a wide spectrum of unpredictable seizures, Epilepsy can have a catastrophic impact on the life of those who suffer. Epilepsy can differ greatly from person to person in terms of seizure types which are usually recurrent and unprovoked. Many people living with Epilepsy experience more than one type of seizure.

A diagnosis for Epilepsy becomes likely after a person has two or more unprovoked seizures where there is no known underlying medical condition that is reversible. While brain injury or family tendencies can be early indicators for this type of disorder, the cause is often unknown.

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Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition that stems from traumatic experiences. PTSD can result in a wide range of comorbidities such as insomnia, increased stress levels, anxiety-induced panic attacks and depression.

Since some people are more resistant to trauma than others, or have a more robust and supportive social network, what is labelled as a ‘traumatic event’ differs from person to person. In general, once any of the above-mentioned signs occur – whether linked to a specific event or not – it is best to seek medical advice. Healthcare professionals use questionnaires alongside the DSM-5 framework to diagnose PTSD.

PTSD is often treated with a combination of therapy and medication. Due to some of the negative side effects of traditional pharmaceutical treatments, there has been an increase in research looking into plant-based medicine as a further approach to managing these conditions. It is important to recognise that plant-based treatment for PTSD is very much dependent on the individual patient, their personal history and the form their PTSD takes.

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Fibromyalgia is a condition associated with sensations similar to that of chronic pain but without the associated physical inflammation or tissue damage. Fibromyalgia is often linked to neuropathic or nociplastic pain, where there is an altered function in the pain-related sensory pathways. It is believed that pain receptors in the brain and spinal cord develop a memory of pain that was caused by a physical or cognitive traumatic event and become overly sensitive in the aftermath.

The location and intensity of the resulting pain can differ from person to person, but patients often report multiple pain points throughout the body. Comorbidities often include insomnia, fatigue, anxiety, and depression. The complexity of symptoms for fibromyalgia makes it difficult to diagnose, so healthcare professionals use multiple tools like MRI and CT scanning, and blood tests to diagnose this condition to rule out other possibilities like arthritis.

Traditional pain medication like opioids or benzodiazepines are often used in conjunction with physiotherapy to treat this condition. As the condition cannot be treated or cured directly, doctors focus on treating and managing symptoms.

Find out whether plant-based medicine might be right for your individual circumstances.