A serious diagnosis changes a lot. There are appointments, scans, new medications and a whole new vocabulary, and somewhere in the middle of it all, you can start to feel like a set of test results rather than a person.
At Malvern Natural Health Care, we start by listening. We want to hear what you are going through, how you are sleeping and eating, what is worrying you, and what matters most to you right now. Then we look at how naturopathic care (herbal medicine, nutrition and practical lifestyle support) might help you feel more supported in your body and day-to-day life.
We work alongside your GP, specialists and oncology team, never instead of them. Your medical care stays at the centre, and our role is to support you around it.
Our clinic has been caring for the Malvern East community since 1995, and is led by Benjamin Deutscher, Naturopath (BHSc), Herbalist and Nutritionist, Clinic Director. Benjamin works alongside naturopath and Registered Nurse Andrea Pryor, and kinesiologists Desma Carver and Elvan Kose, so the physical, nutritional and emotional sides of your health can be looked after together.
How we support you
Time to be heard
Your first consultation is unhurried. We ask about your diagnosis and treatment, but also about your energy, digestion, sleep, appetite, stress and the people around you. Understanding the whole picture comes first.
Herbal medicine, carefully checked
Where herbal medicine is appropriate, we choose it carefully and check every herb against your current medications and treatment plan for possible interactions. If you are having chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy or other ongoing treatment, we will be cautious, and we will encourage you to discuss any herbal or supplement plan with your treating team. Sometimes the right advice is to wait, and we will tell you that honestly.
Nutrition that fits real life
Serious illness and its treatment can affect appetite, taste, digestion and weight. We help you build practical, nourishing eating habits that suit how you are feeling, what you enjoy and what your medical team has advised.
Lifestyle and everyday wellbeing
Small, realistic changes to sleep, gentle movement, stress and daily routine can make a real difference to how you cope. We work at your pace, and adjust as your energy and circumstances change.
Testing where it is useful
Where it may help guide your care, we may suggest functional or pathology testing, or ask to see recent results from your doctors. We only recommend tests when they are likely to be useful, and we explain why and what they cost before you decide.
Working with your doctors
With your permission, we are happy to write to your GP or specialist about the naturopathic care we are providing, so everyone looking after you is on the same page.
Who we support
We support people living with and recovering from a wide range of serious and chronic health conditions, always alongside their medical care. These include people:
- going through cancer treatment or life after cancer: support with fatigue, appetite, digestion, sleep and general wellbeing, with any herbs or supplements checked with your oncology team first
- recovering after surgery, chemotherapy or a hospital stay: helping you rebuild energy, nourishment and routine
- living with long COVID and post-viral fatigue
- living with ME/CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome)
- living with fibromyalgia
- living with autoimmune conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis)
- living with multiple sclerosis (MS)
- living with Parkinson’s disease
- living with heart disease
- living with type 2 diabetes
- experiencing low mood, depression, anxiety, poor sleep or low energy and motivation, whether on its own or alongside any of the conditions above (see below)
Every person’s situation is different. Naturopathic care does not replace medical diagnosis or treatment, and we will always encourage you to keep your medical team informed. If you are unsure whether we can help, call us and we will talk it through honestly.
Mood, sleep and emotional wellbeing
Living with a serious or chronic illness isn’t only physical. Many people tell us the hardest part is how it affects their mood, their sleep, their energy and their sense of who they are. Worry about the future, broken sleep, exhaustion and losing motivation for things you used to enjoy are all common, and they’re nothing to be ashamed of.
We take this side of your health just as seriously. Alongside your GP, psychologist or mental health team, we support people experiencing:
- low mood and depression
- anxiety, worry and feeling constantly on edge
- insomnia and poor sleep
- low energy, fatigue and loss of motivation
- the emotional strain of diagnosis, treatment and recovery
Naturopathic support may include nutrition to help steady energy through the day, practical sleep and stress routines, and herbal medicine where it’s appropriate and checked against your current medications. This matters especially if you take antidepressants, anti-anxiety medication or sleeping tablets, because some herbs (for example St John’s wort) can interact with them.
We’ll always encourage you to keep your GP or psychologist involved.
Mind and body together
At our clinic, we believe that in chronic and serious illness, how you are feeling emotionally is part of your health, not separate from it.
There’s a field of research called psychoneuroimmunology. Put simply, it studies how your thoughts and emotions, your nervous system, your hormones and your immune system all talk to each other. Long periods of stress, fear or unresolved emotional strain can affect sleep, digestion, energy and immune function. Feeling safer, calmer and more supported can help your body do its best work. Benjamin sees this mind-body connection as a crucial part of supporting people with chronic conditions on a deeper level.
That’s why our kinesiologists are an important part of our team. They can see you on their own, but they often work collaboratively with Benjamin, so your naturopathic and emotional care are aligned.
Desma Carver, Kinesiologist
Desma has been a kinesiologist at Malvern Natural Health Care since we opened in 1995. Her greatest strength is her ability to connect with people, and her sessions focus on getting to the emotional core of what’s driving a health issue. She combines kinesiology with emotional stress release, EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming), guided and creative visualisation, and Dr Bach and Australian Bush Flower Essences, which can be made up fresh in our dispensary. Desma consults on Fridays, 2pm to 6pm, by appointment.
Elvan Kose, Kinesiologist and Mind Body Medicine Practitioner
Elvan holds a Diploma of Kinesiology and a Diploma of Mind Body Medicine from the College of Complementary Medicine, and is registered with the Australian Kinesiology Association. She came to kinesiology through her own health journey, after more than a decade as a chartered accountant, so she understands first-hand the toll sustained stress and pressure can take. Her sessions focus on stress (physical, mental and emotional), burnout and work-life balance, using muscle monitoring, acupressure, nutritional support, body psychology and motivational counselling. Elvan consults on Fridays, 9am to 2pm.
What your first visit looks like
- A conversation first. Your first appointment is longer than a follow-up, so we have time to understand your story, your diagnosis, your current treatment and how you are really feeling.
- Bring what you have. Please bring a list of your current medications and supplements, and any recent test results or letters from your doctors. This helps us check for interactions and plan safely.
- A plan you can manage. Together we agree on a few practical first steps around nutrition, lifestyle and, where appropriate, herbal medicine. We will not overwhelm you.
- Ongoing support. Follow-up visits let us see how you are going and adjust your plan as your treatment or circumstances change.
Frequently asked questions
Will you work with my oncologist or GP?
Yes. We see naturopathic care as part of your wider care team, not a replacement for it. With your consent, we are happy to share our plan with your GP, oncologist or specialist, and we encourage you to let them know about any herbs or supplements you take.
Are herbs safe with my medications?
Some herbs and supplements can interact with medications, including some cancer treatments, blood thinners and immune-suppressing drugs. That is why we review everything you are taking before recommending anything, and why we may advise you to check with your treating team first. If something is not safe for you, we will not recommend it.
Can you help if I’m already seeing a psychologist or taking antidepressants?
Yes, we can support you alongside them. Naturopathic and kinesiology care are not a replacement for psychological or medical care. Please tell us about any medications you take, so we can check herbs and supplements for interactions, and keep your GP or psychologist in the loop.
Do I need a referral?
No, you do not need a referral to see a naturopath. You are welcome to book directly. If you have letters or results from your doctors, please bring them along.
Rebates
Many private health funds offer rebates for naturopathy, herbal medicine and remedial massage. Check with your fund for your level of cover.
Call to action
You do not have to work this out on your own.
If you or someone you love is living with a serious illness and would like caring, practical naturopathic support alongside your medical care, we would love to hear from you.
Malvern Natural Health Care
265A Waverley Rd, Malvern East
Phone: (03) 9572 3211
Book an appointment or call us on (03) 9572 3211.
Our team
- Benjamin Deutscher: Naturopath (BHSc), Herbalist and Nutritionist, Clinic Director
- Andrea Pryor: Naturopath, Nutritionist and Homeopath (BHSc Naturopathy), and a Registered Nurse with more than 35 years of hospital experience. Andrea’s nursing background gives her a detailed understanding of disease states, pharmaceutical medicines and pathology results, so she can work with your diagnosis, results and medication history, not around them.
- Desma Carver: Kinesiologist, at MNHC since 1995
- Elvan Kose: Kinesiologist and Mind Body Medicine Practitioner