Clive Plucknett
- Qualifications
- Doctorate in Natural Medicine
- Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner
- Allied Member American Board of Naturopathic Oncology
- Bachelor in Holistic Health Science
- Advanced Dip in Naturopathy
- Advanced Diploma in Nutrition
- Advanced Diploma in Herbal Medicine
- PG Dip Cancer Nutitional Medicine
- PG Dip Mental Health Nutrition
- PG Dip Anti Aging Nutritional Medicine
- MBA (Distinction), BA, PG Dip Science
My path to becoming a Naturopath has spanned several decades with heavy influence from my years leading organisations in conventional and natural medicines.
In the 1970s, I trained in naturopathy, iridology, homeobotanical therapy, shiatsu, remedial massage and neuro-linguist programming. One day the bright lights beckoned and I left it all behind to pursue a career in business. I went back to university, part time, and did a B.A., Post Grad. Business Diploma, Post Grad. Diploma of Science and an MBA.
My first career was in the New Zealand Police where I rose through the ranks. I was the National Director: Training and in charge of one of the six police regions, when another dream beckoned. I wanted to run an organic farm. What started as a dream and a bit of dirt grew into the largest and most diverse organic production unit in NZ. We broke into the Japanese market and had to franchise the operation to keep pace with demand. We developed an agro tourism business in conjunction with the production side of the operation. We rode the wave of new products constantly upgrading and diversifying our range.
One sunny afternoon we sat in the sun drinking the last of the previous year’s vintage. A good friend told me about a social services organisation that did amazing work. It was dying for lack of leadership and business skills. I’m still not sure what happened, but a few weeks later, I gave up my country clothes for a suit, an apartment and a job leading 500 passionate people.
A few years later I found myself as the CEO of a non-government health provider agency. I automatically assumed that the medical professionals were providing the very best care and yet I was troubled by their abysmal results when compared to some innovate integrated doctors and practitioners in different parts of the world. I was astounded by their closed mindedness.
I worked with various overseas institutions and foundations, running pilot programmes in New Zealand. The results were amazing. People who had been on powerful drugs for the majority of their lives were coming off those drugs and experiencing a quality of life not previously experienced. More encouraging results led to more exploration and soon I discovered a wide range of integrative doctors, throughout the world, secretly providing a wide range of natural treatments for a range of conditions including: cancer, heart disease, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes and alleviating the symptoms associated with menopause and andropause and the diseases that go with these changes in life. Unfortunately many of these doctors were shunned by their more conservative colleagues and hounded by medical councils.
During this time, I had the privilege of leading a group of passionate and talented people and together, we developed the most amazing health and wellness service. We wanted to stop the revolving door of sickness, so we developed a “one-stop shop” service, where people could have all their wellness needs met. We established a group of companies providing not only innovative health services, but housing, employment, education, advocacy and support. We grew it to the largest and most diverse of its type, with private enterprises funding wellness services. People were getting well and staying well. We thought that health and social services in NZ would embrace the model, based on its impressive results. We were wrong. Politics, patch protection and fear of change were more important than patient welfare.
I got a little tired of some health professionals in DHBs resting on their qualifications to justify the use of heavily sedating medication to dumb down clients making it impossible for any attempt at rehabilitation. I completed three post grad diplomas, three advanced diplomas, a Bachelor in Holistic Health Science, a Master in Natural Medicine, and a PhD in Natural Medicine, proving the efficacy of specific natural therapies over counterpart conventional therapies. I am now completing a qualification in Functional Medicine. Strange thing is that none of that study has changed my philosophy on what is good for the human body and what is bad. It has however allowed me to advocate best practice, with authority.
Along the way I cured myself of the most debilitating asthma. In one week, I went from being terrified to go anywhere without my puffers to never having to take a single puff again. This was after I had been to doctor after conventional doctor looking for help. When I went back to tell the doctors/specialists what had been done to cure the asthma, they were not interested.
When it comes to medicine, we think we know so much. The reality is we know very little and we are moving further away from true healing. The answers are there, we just have to look in different places.
One other thing I would like to share with you. It relates to my time working in one of the largest rest home provider organisations. Every month I had the privilege of meeting with clients, one on one. They all said the same thing “Health is the most precious asset, I wish I had taken better care of it”.
The greatest gift you can give yourself or someone you care about is wellness.
Lauren Horak
- Qualifications
- Master of Educational Psychology
- Diploma in Health Sciences
- Adv. Cert. in Naturopathy
- Cert. in Nutrition
- Cert. Health Coach
- Cert. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Technician
- Cert. Thermography Technician
- BA Psychology (Honours)
- Higher Diploma in Education
I have worked in various countries and industries including education, information technology and health, as I follow my passion of lifelong learning and helping others to achieve their full potential.
My career began as a teacher, after a degree in education and psychology, with a focus on the psychology of learning and thinking. Immigration then gave me an opportunity in the IT world managing teams focused on support, corporate system applications and service delivery. On the side, I completed my post-graduate diploma in educational psychology and a consistent theme arose for me. People need the foundation of good health if they are to fully maximise their potential. And thus, began a career in nutrition, where I have immersed myself for the last 6 years. I have recently graduated with a Master of Educational Psychology with a focus on nutrition and cognitive performance so as to help children who need learning and behavioural support.
My focus is on food as medicine. I am one of the nutritionists in the clinic and support our clients with nutritional diet and lifestyle options. I also specialise in women’s health, including thermographic breast imaging. I am certified in a number of therapy modalities to support the services that bewell offers.
In my spare time I enjoy growing and cooking my own food, with a mantra of “from farm to table”. I love being in nature, trail running, practicing yoga and studying.