If we had to describe Kateřina Boesenberg ND in one word , her name would definitely be associated with naturopathy. She received her naturopathic education in Sydney, Australia and is a fully qualified clinical naturopath and nutritional therapist with over 15 years of experience in the field. She is also the founder and director of the School of Clinical Naturopathy . She specializes in gastrointestinal, immune and hormonal health.
She has been the chair of the Czech Naturopathic Society since 2014. She chaired the European Committee of the World Naturopathic Federation (WNF) from 2018 to 2020. She is also dedicated to deepening cooperation between European naturopathic societies and raising awareness of clinical naturopathy with an emphasis on quality education and accreditation of therapists.
In the second part of our interview, Kateřina and I talk about clinical naturopathy, herbs, and hormonal health.
Kateřina, you are one of the leading naturopaths and nutritional therapists in the Czech Republic. What brought you to this field and why did you decide to establish the School of Clinical Naturopathy?
Thank you for the compliment, Aneta :) I got into this field more than 20 years ago in Australia, where I lived at the time. I have always been interested in natural medicine and there I learned that I could study it at university, which took on a whole new dimension for me. In Australia, this field is integrated into the healthcare system, naturopaths work side by side with doctors to improve people's health. The whole study was extremely fulfilling for me, I realized that this is my life's mission. Since then, I have done nothing else.
The establishment of the school in the Czech Republic came about somewhat organically. At first, I passed on my knowledge in the form of weekend courses, a private institution hired me to teach herbs. The beginnings – let's say – were not easy – the students complained terribly that I wanted too much from them :D – but I couldn't do it any other way. For me, it was the absolute minimum of knowledge that I wanted to teach them at the time. I think it was around 80 herbs. We naturopaths work with around 250. When I think back on it, they probably went to the weekend school to get some rest from their families and then some Boesenberg came and asked them to remember the active ingredients of each herb – ha! But we got used to each other. And at the end of the school year, they came to me to see if I could teach them more and that was actually the beginning of the whole school. The one-year course in herbs gradually developed into a 3.5-year study, which is already comparable to foreign education. I added a similarly designed study of nutritional medicine to herbs and subsequently created the field of clinical naturopathy with everything that belongs to this profession. We maintain the WHO Benchmark for the performance of the naturopathic profession. I am very happy.
What attracted you to naturopathy and the use of herbs?
You know, I just enjoy helping people. That's who I am. Or at least one part of me. The other is to pass on the information so that what comes so naturally to us reaches as many people as possible. I enjoy teaching.
At the same time, I should probably explain to the readers that naturopathy is a profession that follows specific principles and philosophies, the origins of which can be traced back to Hippocrates. It is a healing system that has been used for three millennia. Unfortunately, a few hundred years ago, medicine, which until then was purely natural, was divided into what we now recognize as “Western” medicine and “natural” medicine. However, in the last 40 years, naturopathy has undergone a kind of revival and is becoming a very strong field.
It is a very comprehensive form of solving health problems, it is purely natural and includes many aspects. This includes nutrition and nutritional dietetics, herbal medicine, specific diagnostic methods of both Eastern and Western medicine, and many other modalities including aromatherapy, Bach flower therapy, etc. And not only that. An important part is also a detailed knowledge of anatomy, physiology and biochemistry. Many subjects are the same as in Western medicine, which allows us to communicate effectively and collaborate with doctors.
So even the herbs you mention are only one part that a naturopath uses in his work. It is extremely important to look at all aspects of being, not just our physical shell, but also our mental and spiritual one.
What is the difference between Asian, American and European herbs? Is it better to combine herbs from one place (e.g. only European herbs, or Chinese or Indian) or can we combine herbs from different countries?
There is a general opinion that we should use herbs from the region where we come from. On the other hand, if a person has a genetic profile done, they can get really interesting results. Although their family may come from Prague, Brno or Budějovice for several generations, according to the results they may not be Central European at all.
I personally use herbs from all areas, and more depending on what I perceive the client needs . I try not to discriminate against them by saying that they should not take certain herbs just because they live in Europe. On the contrary, often Asian or South American herbs are very potent adaptogens or immune stimulants, and we use them very often these days. Unfortunately, European herbs, except perhaps sea buckthorn, cannot do this.
How should we best consume herbs – in the form of teas, tinctures or tablets?
Everything depends on the actual content of the herb, or rather the extracted active substance. Then on whether the tablet is absorbable, on the condition of our digestive tract, on the quality of the production itself. Many aspects play a role. All these forms that you mention can have different strengths of effect. It does not necessarily mean that the tea is weaker than the tablet. It is best to consult someone who really understands this.
How does naturopathy approach hormonal health? What does a naturopath examine to detect hormonal imbalances?
Absolutely every function in your body is interconnected. So even hormonal imbalances affect other aspects of your health . Hormonal health includes (but is not limited to) three basic areas – the ovaries, thyroid, and adrenal glands. If even one of these areas is out of balance, it’s a problem.
It is common for a woman to come in with painful menstruation or infertility, but after consultation and possibly tests, it turns out that she has sub-optimal thyroid function, which may also be due to adrenal exhaustion . See? Therefore, herbs alone will not help regulate the ovaries. This clinical picture is very common.
How can information about hormonal status obtained from functional medicine testing help target the cause of health problems related to hormonal imbalances?
The so-called functional medicine tests that you mention will allow us to have a very detailed look at what is happening. In the case of the presented ovarian hormonal imbalance, we most often use the so-called DUTCH test, and therefore also organic acids . These are the most sensitive tests that we have available and will show us not only the true activity and exact values of individual hormones, but also the function of the enzymes that convert them, whether they convert them correctly and many other aspects that will allow us to precisely set a plan for revitalizing the organism.
Are there any herbs that are safe for harmonizing hormonal imbalances in general, or is it always necessary to first determine what type of hormonal imbalance a woman has?
I am a proponent of knowing exactly what you are dealing with, and therefore general recommendations are completely pointless. It is a waste of money, a waste of time, and increasing the client's frustration with the feeling that nothing is working. And unfortunately, it reduces the good reputation of natural medicine. Let's take heavy menstruation as an example. This is the result of the so-called estrogen dominance. However, estrogen dominance does not necessarily mean that you have high estrogen. Estrogen dominates progesterone in several ways - you can have normal estrogen levels against a lack of progesterone or an excess of estrogen against normal progesterone levels . Both require a different approach. And then you must not forget the thyroid gland and the adrenal glands. You need to put it together like a jigsaw puzzle.
To maintain hormonal balance, is it important to supplement with certain minerals and vitamins in addition to herbs? Or which ones?
It depends on whether the client has a deficiency, what her genetic profile is, the condition of her digestive tract, whether she can methylate effectively, etc. Then yes. But otherwise, I would only consider supplementation after a consultation and proven deficiencies. Practically every person who comes to me has a cabinet full of supplements at home that someone recommended to them. Often they don't even know what they are for. Our goal is also to educate, one of our principles is "naturopath - teacher. Our goal is not for a person to come to us every month and we sell them dietary supplements. The goal is to teach them how to take care of themselves. Then they come for a check-up, for example once a year, when we adjust a possible imbalance or deficiency to prevent illness.
What basic things can women change in their diet and lifestyle to support their hormonal balance?
As for diet, the absolute basis is the so-called nutritionally dense diet. This means a diet that provides you with enough nutrients - fresh vegetables, fruit, spices, quality proteins and fats are the basis . Ideally in organic quality, i.e. without pesticides or toxic substances. Hormones and pesticides do not go together and this often shows up in the clinical picture. If this is not possible, it is a good idea to include regular detoxification, which will help relieve the body. And please, do not let yourself be told that we detox automatically and nothing else is needed . This is true only to a certain extent, but not completely. It is also a good idea to filter water. Subsequently, they should also have a clean, non-toxic environment at home and at work, and this applies not only to the physical (3D) world, but also to the mental and spiritual. Gradually resolve internal stresses and toxic relationships, sort out what is really important, which people are important. Then, exercise is extremely important for hormonal health. And don't smoke, it's a killer.
Finally, what message would you give to women suffering from hormonal imbalance?
That it is exactly as you say - an imbalance and not a disease. It is not a permanent condition. Many things can be resolved. Our therapists can guide you competently in matters of diet, nutrition, application of herbs and other modalities that will improve your health.
