Michael Blanch is an alternative medicine practitioner with more than thirty years experience as a naturopath and homeopath. He is qualified in all the main areas of western holistic natural therapy, including herbal medicine, homeopathy, nutrition and vitamins and minerals. He has been a lecturer in homeopathy, herbal and naturopathic medicine for more than twenty years, both in Sydney and Perth.
As the most experienced homeopath in Perth, and one of the two or three most experienced 
naturopaths, he helped establish natural therapies here and helped train most of the other people currently practising. He was also the President of the WA branch of the Australian Homeopathic Association for more than 15 years. And he was the WA representative to the peak body that developed the National Competency Standards in Homeopathy in the 1990’s.
Michael Blanch studied at the NSW College of Natural Therapies and Nature Care College, Sydney. He graduated with Diplomas in Naturopathy, Herbal Medicine, Therapeutic Massage and Homeopathy. He commenced practice in Sydney in 1984 and lectured in natural therapies from 1986 at Nature Care College. On moving to Perth WA in 1990, he established Cottesloe Naturopathic Clinic and lectured in homeopathy and natural medicine at the Perth Academy of Natural Therapies from that time until 2006. He is a well-respected and experienced practitioner. Over the years he has given many postgraduate seminars to his colleagues.
Michael has had an interest in the principles of natural health for most of his life. From his teenage years he developed an awareness of a healthy diet and regular exercise. He runs several times weekly, practices yoga and meditates. In the past ten years he has also pursued an interest in dance. He practises and does classes in different styles, including swing dancing, lindy hop, blues and balboa and Latin styles like salsa and bachata. To Michael, dance is a uniquely healthy activity. It is a celebration of life through music, movement, rhythm and social interaction. He has helped raise two healthy daughters, now 27 and 31, who have never had antibiotics or any drugs.
This recent blog article describes a typical day in Michael’s life: A Day in the Life of a Perth Homeopath and Naturopath.
From early in his studies, Michael became aware of the importance of the principles of holistic health. This means that true health is a reflection of the whole person: the body, the mind and the emotions. Everything is connected; it is regulated by the intelligence of the whole that we might call the life force, known historically as the “Vital Force”. Any symptoms of ill health or disease stem from a disturbance in the balance of this whole. The symptoms themselves are the intelligent response by the life force to a disturbance, whether physical, environmental or emotional. These symptoms attempt to limit the damage and protect against further harm to the organism as a whole.
Michael Blanch’s philosophy of treatment is based on the understanding that true health can only be achieved by working with this innate healing mechanism, not against it. Unfortunately, many modern natural therapists have taken on the role of “alternative doctor”, using natural medicine that, like drugs, only treat symptoms, in that way working against what the body is trying to do and delaying or preventing complete restoration of health, where that is possible.
The symptomatic approach is fostered by the spread of naturopaths employed by health food stores and pharmacies, who are mostly there to sell product; this usually means quick consultations that can never really treat the whole person. Initial consultations with Michael Blanch take about an hour and subsequent consultations half an hour. They are truly holistic in approach and cover all aspects of the patient’s health – mental, emotional and physical. (See under Patient Information)
As an alternative medicine practitioner, Michael believes that there are two aspects to the important task of maintaining and restoring your health. Firstly, it is important to adhere to natural laws. Having a good diet and getting enough sleep and adequate exercise is a start. Fulfilling social relationships are also vitally important to health. They foster a sense of purpose and belonging: this is the “spiritual” side of health, which for some extends into the religious; but for our purposes let us just say that we need a sense of meaning in our lives, whatever the source.
Stress management is important. For some, this will simply be a hobby. However, there are more powerful forms of relaxation such as meditation, whose techniques have evolved over thousands of years. Michael is an experienced meditator. He has practised yoga and meditation for twenty years, including advanced kriya yoga meditation and breath-work. He can assist you with all the lifestyle changes necessary to maintain optimum health. (See under Naturopathy Explained)
These principles are important in maintaining natural health. They may also be necessary in the restoration of health, where the individual has become sick. In many people, however, these changes for the better are not enough, due to inherited weaknesses or longstanding abuse of the principles of natural health. In these cases medicine needs to be given. To work holistically this needs to be natural medicine that treats the whole person and removes the blocks that are stopping the body from healing itself.
Michael Blanch is trained in the main areas of western alternative medicine. This includes vitamin and mineral therapy, herbal medicine and homeopathy. At different times, Michael may use any of these therapies. If there are vitamin and mineral deficiencies, together with poor absorption, he may prescribe supplements or dietary changes. If specific organs like the liver, kidneys or nervous system need to be detoxified then he may use herbal medicine. As an alternative medicine professional he has many tools in his toolbox. See the page naturopathy explained for an overview of what a naturopath does and the philosophy of natural medicine.
However, the medicine prescribed in most cases is homeopathy. Through more than 30 years experience, Michael finds that homeopathy is the only form of natural therapy that consistently fulfills the ideals of holistic treatment. This is because because (a) it treats the symptoms of the whole patient, mentally, emotionally and physically; and (b) it is not a chemical medicine that imposes its own symptoms or interferes with the body’s self-regulation. Herbs and vitamin supplements, on the other hand, are chemicals, and they do not treat the patient as a whole. Homeopathy is the only system of natural medicine that works purely by balancing the whole organism, and it removes the blocks that prevent the body from healing itself. When prescribed properly, it is a catalyst to health. It does not heal by its own action: it works by teaching the body to heal itself. (See under Homeopathy Explained)
Michael Blanch is accredited as a naturopath by the Australian Traditional Medicine Society (ATMS) (#0465).
He is a member of the Australian Homeopathic Association (AHA) (#163)
He is a registered homeopath under the National Competency Standards for Homeopathy by the Australian Register of Homeopaths (AROH) (Reg. #00-019)