About Debbie:
My name is Debbie Lourenco, I am 45 years old, and I am a trained Naturopath, Medical Herbalist and Acupuncturist. I have a special interest in women’s health as well as mental and emotional health and digestive health.
I believe wholeheartedly in treating each patient on an individual basis and take pride in prescribing bespoke treatments to fulfill the unique needs of each. This has become most useful in women’s health as many women are increasingly suffering from health issues that unfortunately cannot be healed with the ‘one drug cures all’ approach.
I am an enthusiastic cook and avid book reader and I relish time spent with family, friends, and most of all in nature.
Q&A:
- What led you to holistic health? Was there a moment on your personal journey that you struggled with and found your now area of expertise could help you and others?
I have been keenly interested in holistic health since I was a young girl and having broken my arm for the second time, my mother decided to self-treat with home-made salt and vinegar compress. And it worked! As I have gotten older, and now in my 40s, I have seen an increase in fertility and overall women’s health concerns, some of which mirror my own concerns which I have been able to draw from to help other women.
- How can your specialist area support those considering, or already on a fertility journey?
What makes Acupuncture and TCM awesome, and of course, I am happily biased, is that it can help in ANY and ALL aspects of the fertility process, so it is never too late to start. Because it is a targeted system of healing it can get to work immediately and safely.
- How do your clients integrate your practices alongside conventional medical treatments? How do the two co-exist?
It is not difficult to combine the two modes of treatment and certainly in the UK, there are fertility clinics offering Acupuncture alongside Western medicine. Most fertility specialists are aware of the benefits of Acupuncture if it is undertaken by professional therapists, and I personally encourage open dialogue with fertility specialists so that the best interests of the patient are considered priority.
- If you were speaking to your younger self what advice would you give her?
An interesting question, the answer to which is probably deserving of an article in itself! I believe as women we have historically been made to feel ashamed or closed off from society with regards to our menstrual cycle and we have been grossly denied appropriate treatment due to a lack of interest or information from the wider community, including medical staff. This has had an incredible impact on how we see ourselves as women and our fertility. Luckily nowadays there is increasing knowledge, acknowledgment, appreciation and thankfully, support for what it is to be a woman struggling with fertility issues.
- Do you have a personal mantra or favorite quote that you live by / inspires you?
My favorite mantra is from the Buddhist, Lao Tzu who wrote the famous ‘Tao Te Ching’ and it goes “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step” – in times of stress or upheaval this always brings me peace.
- Have you had any mentoring on your journey or someone who has guided you that you look up to?
My growth and learning have been greatly affected by people such as Emma Cannon (unfortunately no longer with us) who was one of the experts in fertility in the UK, as well as Maisie Hill who has brought our understanding of our cycles into the 21st Century. I must say, however, that my biggest teachers have been my patients. Their strength and resilience have been inspirational.
- What do you think is the biggest challenge your female clients face when it comes to fertility or their general health?
What challenges my female patients the most has been dependant on what support they have around them. Having said that I think stress is a big challenge. Some women have very supportive partners, families, and doctors but unfortunately, this is not the case for all of them as they can at times be made to feel ashamed or guilty at not being able to conceive. This alone has a significant impact on a woman and can be devastating if not supported properly.
- What excites you the most about SheWell’s mission to bridge medical and holistic approaches to fertility?
It is exciting because women can finally have access and support from both sides, mutually supporting and encouraging. When women have access to information from both holistic and medical approaches, they will feel empowered to undertake this journey and hopefully in the process, alleviate an unmistakable weight off their shoulders.
- What conversation do you feel we are not having as women and should be having when it comes to fertility and female health?
I believe that we need to stop thinking of infertility as a fault or problem that needs to be dealt with in silence or alone. This is an issue that is affecting more and more women, and we need to offer a platform to support and help women so that they feel safe and un-judged.
- What is the best way to get in touch with you?
I can be contacted at hello@debbielourenco.co.uk or visit me on Facebook or Instagram.
