Dr Megan Coad

Integrative Doctor

Dr Megan Coad is uniquely trained as both a Medical Doctor and Naturopath and she intuitively works with an integrative approach to health. With a special interest in Women’s Health, Megan supports in the management of various gynaecological conditions from teens to menopause, preconception and fertility, pregnancy and beyond.

Completing with Excellence, the Master in Reproductive Medicine (UNSW), she understands the intricacies of ART and IVF well, and tailors complimentary treatments to aid the fertility journey. Healthy bodies have the best chance of making healthy babies.

Yet, as vast as naturopathy can be, Megan is also confident in managing a wide range of ailments. Areas include digestive health, mood disorders, hormonal imbalance and autoimmune conditions. Without doubt, Megan’s approach takes a birds-eye, multi-system and holistic view, which accounts for co-morbidities, nutritional deficiencies, system interactions and medications.

Previously, Megan served as a corporate educator to health practitioners for over a decade, as well as lectured in a number of tertiary institutions. She follows the age-old ethos that ‘we are what we eat’ and extends on this to consider emotional wellbeing and personal growth. Megan also manages a busy family, modelling strong ethics, positive mindset, good food on the table and a compassionately attuned approach to parenting.

Megan currently works primarily as a Resident Doctor in Melbourne’s public hospital system and private appointments are limited to pre-arranged times only.

Qualifications:

Doctor of Medicine (MD), 2023.
Master of Reproductive Medicine, 2018.
Advanced Diploma Naturopathy, 2011.
Bachelor Health Science, 2009.

Naturopathy

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) takes a holistic approach to wellness. It is based upon the body’s innate ability to heal itself. Combining scientific understanding of bodily physiology and disease processes, naturopaths use natural therapies like herbal medicine, nutritional supplementation, diet and lifestyle to restore a state of health. These modalities have been used for thousands of years. We seek to identify and manage the underlying cause and processes behind disease, as well as address clinical symptoms. Given the body is a finely tuned interweave of systems, naturopathy often treats a variety of areas, one system is rarely addressed in isolation. Treatments are given in evidenced based doses and forms, which accounts for the standardisation of active medicinal constituents as well as the absorption and ability to utilise such ingredients.

Naturopathic principles:

First, Do No Harm (Primum non nocere)
The Healing Power of Nature (Vis medicatrix naturae)
Identify and Treat the Cause (Tolle causam)
Doctor as Teacher (Docere)
Treat the Whole Person (Tolle totum)
Prevention (Praevenir)

Modern medicine

Mainstream approaches, or modern medicine as we know it, began to emerge in the 18th century and grew immensely with scientific discoveries and inventions. Breakthroughs such as the germ-theory revolutionised hygiene and control of infectious diseases. Invaluable techniques such as blood transfusion and anaesthesia become standard practice in wound management. With the discoveries of Aspirin in 1897 and Penicillin in 1928, pharmaceutical research exploded and in the decades following – medications became widely used. Inventions like the simple stethoscope, the ECG machine and dialysis machines continue to be life saving instruments used today. Newer areas of targeted stem-cell treatments and genome sequencing / DNA technology is evolving into an exciting space as we look ahead.

The premises of modern medicine is based on the concept of ‘disease’ and focuses on treating the illness in and of itself, as well as eliminating the causative agent.

‘Integrative Medicine’, the best of both worlds.

In Australia, the concept of blending both modern medicine with natural medicine approaches began to gain traction in the early 2000’s.

Integrative medicine is a philosophy of healthcare that is highly focussed on individual patient care. Like CAM, there is emphasis on treating the whole person and on the relationship between the practitioner and patient. It combines the best of conventional medicine – like pathology and diagnostics, with evidence-based complementary therapies. It has a particularly useful role in the management of chronic diseases. Integrative practitioners seek to achieve health and healing through a variety of means by supporting the body’s innate healing processes. This might be with the prescribing of well-considered mainstream medications, or natural options, and often both. Rather than polarised positions, Integrative Medicine asks, “What is best for my patient’s journey and outcomes?” The combination offers true tailor made medicine in its fullest, without a one-size-fits-all mindset. The wider and collaborative effort is an inspiring place to be.