My name is Karen McElroy and I am a naturopath and medical herbalist. I ran a busy practice for 8 years in Melbourne before returning to the Sunshine Coast with my young family in early 2007. I now run my practice from a lovely multidisciplinary clinic in Noosa…(which is a nice place to visit for an occasional consultation for some of my old clients from Melbourne who have stayed with me via phone consultations!)
I am passionate about holistic health and find that if we get the simple things right - such as good nourishing whole foods, clean air and water, good sleep and a balance in work and play - the body does a wonderful job of maintaining health. Along with addressing lifestyle and environmental factors, I have found herbal, nutritional and energetic medicines to be invaluable tools in enhancing and optimising our body function and wellbeing. For example, specialising in women’s health, I have had great success over the years in helping women alleviate health complaints or achieve a healthy and successful pregnancy through good nutrition and herbal medicines.
When I am not at work in the clinic I am busy cooking and crafting with my two gorgeous kids, maintaining with my partner our lush 5 acres and expanding and growing our permaculture garden, keeping our 8 chickens happy and various wild animals at bay….hares, bandicoots, kangaroos, snakes, treefrogs etc etc…who share our beautiful land with us.
I hope to share my insights into health from time to time with the nourishing community.
Jan 16th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Our very first Nourishing Practitioner! Welcome Karen. I hope you do phone or email consultation. We receive many an inquiry about health via the comments. Now they have an actual professional to ask.
Jan 24th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
Hi Karen,
I’m studying to be a naturopath and one of our lecturers was complaining how so many naturopaths are now recommending consumption of meat. The lecturer is a vegetarian so I think she may be slightly biased! What do you think of meat consumption on a daily basis?
Jan 25th, 2008 at 1:41 am
Thanks Joanne - it’s nice to be part of the nourishing family. Yes, I do limited phone and email consultations - as time permits around my normal practice hours. See www.karenmcelroy.com.au for more details.
Jan 25th, 2008 at 1:55 am
Hello Sue
Where are you studying your naturopathy? There are quite a few zealots in both camps (meat v’s veg) in our profession. I was actually vegetarian for about 15 years until I was pregnant with my first child, when I literally dreamed of roast chicken and spaghetti bolognaise…the comfort foods of childhood. So I eventually started eating meat again and now feel better for it. I am passionate about organic food and high quality, well raised animals. Ethically as well as for health reasons, I avoid eating conventional lifestock & fruit & vegetables as much as possible. I don’t have a problem with daily meat consumption if it is from well sourced, healthy animals - but it should always be part of a broad, varied diet with plenty of other plant derived goodies and some regular seafoods. However, I do have a problem with people eating stacks of poor quality meats, battery raised chickens, processed and preserved meats etc as these do not support wellbeing.
You may find that the WAP way will probably be both supported and challenged along your naturopathy journey depending on who is teaching your different subjects. Anyway, good luck with your course.
Jan 25th, 2008 at 2:33 am
Karen,
I am studying in Perth at AIHM - Australian Institute of Holistic Medicine.
I totally agree that the meat has to be from very healthy animals and not processed etc. Its really good to know that there are naturopaths out there that support nourishing traditions.
Thanks for your well wishes.