What is Nutritional and Environmental Medicine?

NEM recognises that your health is determined by a complex interaction of physical, psychological, genetic, environmental and social factors.

Dr Barb consults in Nutritional and Environmental Medicine, which is an emerging evidence-based discipline of medicine which addresses how environmental influences, including diet, impact human health. NEM consultations include a comprehensive history and examination with the option of  pathology testing in order to help the patient understand their ill health. We then work together to implement the diet and lifestyle changes, and sometimes nutrient supplementation, required to achieve wellness in mind and body.

Dr Barb is a member of the Australasian College of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine, who define NEM as follows:

“Nutritional and Environmental Medicine (NEM) is concerned with the interaction of nutritional and environmental factors with human biochemistry and physiology, and the resulting physiological and psychological symptoms and pathology. NEM is evidence-based, drawing on the latest biomedical and genetic science and research to develop new treatment approaches to illness and disease, for primary prevention and to promote optimal health and well-being.

Nutritional deficiencies, imbalances, or the presence of environmental toxins in the body can result in cellular dysfunction, illness or disease. Treatment is aimed at correcting underlying causes as well as providing symptomatic relief. This may involve removal of certain foods from the diet or toxins from the patient’s environment, or prescription of supplements such as vitamins, minerals, trace elements and essential fatty acids where diet and lifestyle alone cannot rectify physiological imbalances.” (https://www.acnem.org/what-nutritional-and-environmental-medicine).

Dr Barb has also attended Bio-Balance training run by The Walsh Research Institute (http://www.biobalance.org.au/). Their website describes Bio-Balance Health as follows : “ Bio-Balance Health’s primary aim is to make available in Australia information on the use of a comprehensive biochemical assessment and advanced complementary nutritional treatment of a range of disorders such as behavioural disorders, ADD, ADHD, learning disorders and Autism as well as mental disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression.” 

Dr Barb has found that this approach has been particularly helpful in managing patients with anxiety, depression and ADD/ ADHD.

Health issues which respond to the NEM approach:

  • Children’s behaviour problems
  • Premenstrual syndrome
  • Period pain and menstrual issues
  • Cardiovascular health
  • Insulin resistance
  • Thyroid problems
  • Fatigue
  • Recurring urinary tract infections or vaginal thrush
  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • And many others.

“Listen to your patient;

He is telling you the diagnosis.”
-William Osler

Fees

At the heart of NEM is the patient, and time for the patient to tell their story. Careful questions are utilised to clarify issues and delve into what is causing the problem. This insight is supported by Dr Barb’s extensive experience as a GP and her commitment to ongoing learning in the fields of General Practice and of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine.

As in other fields of human endeavour, both time and education cost money, and Dr Panitz sets her fees to reflect the time and learning resources that she allocates to NEM.

Medicare rebates apply for consultations in a time and complexity based algorithm, as outlined by the Medicare Australia Schedule of fees. As you are no doubt aware, the Medicare patient rebate applied to general practice consultations has not kept pace with inflation since Medicare was established in 1984, and so your rebate will not cover the cost of the consultation. Please contact the friendly reception staff at the Gladstone GP Superclinic for additional information on fees.

With regards to investigations, such as blood tests, Dr Panitz will explain to which tests a Medicare rebate applies, and which tests lie outside of Medicare and attract a private fee.

From time to time Dr Panitz refers patients to pathology testing, compounding pharmacies, or herb and nutrient supplement companies. She does not receive any monetary gain from her use of these services for her patients.