Why Naturopathy?

Baby Diana helping

in pappou’s garden

I often get asked, how did I get here? Why Naturopathy?

I grew up already encompassed in the work of gardening, health, herbs, plants and Naturopathy.

I was always amongst my yiayiades and pappoudes, in their gardens, in the dirt, tying their tomatoes to stakes to keep them from breaking, helping water their plants and watching them potter outside. I’d go for visits to my aunties and uncles houses and be taken on tours of their gardens, they would show me what was growing, tell me about how the season was right and how they’d plant things to enjoy later in the year. I’d never leave empty handed, either given plants and seeds for my own garden as I got older or leave with bunches of herbs or a bag of vegetables from their harvest.

I was fascinated by the way things grew from seed, seemingly from nothing but now know it was through their care.

Pappou had sage and other herbs that we’d cut and make tea from, there would always be bunches of oregano or garlic hanging out to dry for later use - this was all normal to me! He’d show me where the nettle grew and loved when I was able to share with him what it was useful for after I had started studying my degree.

My earliest memory of Naturopathy was when I was 4 years old, I don’t remember the reason but mum took me to see our family Naturopath, the clinic smelt like clove and I loved it! I had herbs given to me and mum made sure I would take it every day, mixing it with orange juice to get it down.

I didn’t fully understand how it worked, and it didn’t matter - because it did! Maybe I was naive, but I grew up knowing that if there was an “issue” there was most likely a solution provided to us by our plants. It just made sense to me.

I’ve shared plenty about my time in Greece and the love I have for the country but also the traditional knowledge around medicinal plants there too. The concept of Plantcestral Herbalism and its long lasting effect on the diaspora and I suppose that’s where I am now. Remembrance and full circle in a way.

Medicinal Echinacea

From Diana’s garden at home