What happens at your first visit to my naturopathic practice?

You are wondering if this place is different.

Maybe you have been to many already, and every time you left with the same feeling: that you were not really heard. What is waiting for me this time? Will I be sent home again after ten minutes, with a list of herbs and no real answer?

This worry is completely normal. I hear it almost every week. So let me tell you how a first visit with me really goes.

It starts with a conversation, not a diagnosis

Before you come to me, we talk on the phone. The free introductory call is not just a formality for me. It is really the moment where we both feel whether it fits. I want to understand what is on your mind, and you should get a sense of how I work.

As the mother of a child with ADHD and Noonan syndrome, I know how it feels to look for answers and not be heard. That is exactly why I take my time for this first call. No time pressure, no standard questions.

When we both have the feeling that it fits, we make an appointment for the first consultation.

The first consultation: 60 minutes that belong to you

In my naturopathic practice in Zürich-Witikon I take at least 60 minutes for you. That is deliberately longer than a doctor's visit, because I want to see the whole picture, not just single symptoms.

We talk about your complaints, your story, your everyday life, your nutrition, your sleep. Sometimes also about things that seem to have nothing to do with your concern at first, but that is often where the key lies.

I work along the principles of Traditional European Naturopathy (TEN). That means I look for the connection behind the complaints, not just for the next remedy against the symptom. You can read more about my background and my training on my page About me.

How I work with phytotherapy

After our first consultation I put together an individual plan for you. The heart of my work is phytotherapy, the targeted use of medicinal plants. No standard recipes from a textbook, but a combination that fits exactly your situation.

Depending on the picture, I recommend herbal tinctures, teas, capsules or applications for the skin. I explain to you exactly why I choose which plant and how you use it. Because only when you understand what you are taking can you really carry it through in everyday life.

Not just herbs: the whole picture

Phytotherapy never stands alone with me. Together we look at your nutrition, your sleep, your stress load and possible connections that were overlooked until now. Sometimes it turns out that a digestive complaint is connected to sleep, or that a recurring infection in a child has to do with nutrition.

Seeing how these things hang together, that is really my work as a Naturopathic Practitioner TEN. And it is why I take so much time.

Understanding what happens in the body

One thing is especially important to me: that you understand why your body reacts the way it does. Not in medical jargon, but in a way that makes sense to you.

In the first consultation I explain step by step which connections I see. Why a certain complaint came up, what it sets off in the body, and why you feel exactly the way you feel. Because only when you understand the whole picture can you also follow why I recommend you this particular plant, or why a certain change in everyday life can make a difference.

This is not a lecture. It is a conversation where I keep explaining until it clicks. Because I know from experience: someone who understands what is happening in their body finds it much easier to actually change something. And that is exactly my goal.

You do not have to believe in it

I often say this already in the introductory call: you do not have to believe in phytotherapy for it to work. Do you remember the chamomile tea your grandmother made when your tummy hurt? Maybe sage when your throat was sore. These were not nothing. That was already phytotherapy. Nobody had to believe in it. It simply helped, because medicinal plants contain active substances that have long been used and studied. What worked for our grandmothers still works today. I build on this old knowledge and combine it with what we know now.

Some people come to me because they are enthusiastic about herbal medicine. Others come because they have nothing left to lose and simply want to try a new way. Both are completely fine. I work with you, not with your belief system.

What you should bring

You do not need any preparation and no documents. If you like, bring your current doctor's reports or a list of your medications. That helps me to complete the picture. But it is not a must. The most important thing you bring is openness.

And in case you are wondering: my approach complements medical treatment. I do not work against your doctor, I work together with your doctor. Phytotherapy is a complement, never a replacement.

And if you do not live in Zürich?

If you do not live nearby, a first visit is also possible online, by video, worldwide and in five languages. The first consultation works just as personally online as in person. You can find more about it on my page about online consultation.

What comes after

After the first consultation you receive your individual support plan. In a follow-up consultation after a few weeks we look together at how you are doing and adjust the plan if needed. How long a course of support lasts depends on your situation. Sometimes a few weeks are enough. With chronic complaints like allergies, burnout, ADHD or Noonan syndrome it often takes several months. We go slowly, at your pace.

You can find all the information on costs and health insurance reimbursement on my pricing page. My services are EMR-recognized and are partly covered by most supplementary health insurances.

No quick promises

This has been my approach for over ten years. I listen to you, I take my time, and I accompany you for as long as it makes sense.

If you have become curious, write to me. A short message on WhatsApp is enough. Tell me in one or two sentences what is on your mind, and I will get back to you personally.

No quick promises, no miracle cures. Just an honest look and a natural approach that has stood the test of time.

With warmth, Elena 
Naturopathic Practitioner TEN 
Phytotherapy for children and adults