Born and raised in Soweto, Dr Tholakele Sekhukhuni, affectionately known as Dr Thols, is a homeopath and family doctor who has spent her life pursuing a passion for holistic health and wellness.
Despite initial aspirations to become a professional netball player, fate led her to discover her true calling in the field of health and wellness.
Through her journey, Sekhukhuni has become a shining example of living a holistic life, nurturing her mind, body, and soul daily.
“What I do daily is to be in the healing ministry as a homeopathic doctor, medically consulting with individuals who need or want to be assisted on their journey to holistic health and well-being naturally.”
“I aim to purposefully educate my patients on how to live a holistic life, taking care of each aspect to bring forth vitality, optimal performance and to have a sound mind,” she explains.
As a homeopathic doctor, she empowers her patients to take control of their health, educating them on how to listen to their bodies, address imbalances, and embrace natural remedies.
“I believe in educating people on how their bodies communicate with them through symptoms, how to get to the root cause of the imbalance, how to treat it with premium quality supplements and remedies from ‘mother nature and science’ that work with the body and not against it, and how to be in the preventative business of maintaining health and wellness long.”
Discovering a love for natural remedies
During her studies, Sekhukhuni was particularly drawn to tissue salts, which alleviated her family’s suffering and sparked a deep love for natural remedies.
“The inspiration to become a homeopathic doctor started when I realised the unpleasant side effects of conventional medicine, mostly within my family who were battling diabetes and hypertension.
“Since then, I got a deeper understanding of homeopathic remedies and other natural supplements that can assist in optimal health working with my highly esteemed mentor in his practice in Soweto from 2017. I then built my rapport of practicing homeopathy for over seven years, officially in private practice for three years to date.”
Explaining the differences between homeopathic doctors and general doctors, Sekhukhuni notes that homeopathic doctors focus on treating the whole person and not merely the symptoms.
She says this comprehensive medical case-taking enables the homeopath to understand the root cause of the disease and to prescribe the best-suited homeopathic remedy that mirrors the imbalances coming from the source.
“Homeopathy is based on the principle of ‘like cures like’, meaning substances that cause symptoms in a healthy person are used in very small amounts to treat similar symptoms in a sick person and restore balance.”
“GPs follow the conventional medical approach, mostly focusing on the symptoms and using the principle of ‘opposite cures’, which means treating a condition with something that produces an effect opposite to the symptoms being experienced.”
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A holistic approach to healing
“Homeopathic doctors use highly diluted substances, known as remedies, prepared according to homeopathic principles. The remedies are derived from plants, minerals, or animals, and are safe to be taken by all ages. The remedies stimulate the body’s natural ability to heal itself.
“Additionally, homeopaths focus on lifestyle factors such as diet, activity, and nutritional wholesome supplements to maintain health. GPs use a range of pharmaceutical treatments including prescription medications, surgery, physical therapy, and other conventional medical interventions. Their treatment plans are based on clinical guidelines.”
According to Sekhukhuni, the lack of funds for university fees was the biggest challenge in becoming a homeopathic doctor. She says God gave her mother strength and opportunity at work to generate more money. Additionally, Sekhukhuni took personal loans to finish off her master’s degree while working at health stores as a health consultant to make ends meet.
“There is not enough recognition and funding for homeopathy and due to that fact, many find themselves not completing the degree.”
Sekhukhuni has nevertheless built a thriving practice in Randpark Ridge, where she inspires individuals to prioritise their well-being as she believes that continuous learning and awareness of homeopathy is important to spread the word to multitudes about its healing abilities and how it can be a primary source of healthcare (first line of defence) for all illness, with personalised treatment options that are natural and have long-lasting health and wellness benefits to the whole body.
Making healthcare accessible
“Making health accessible to all is one thing I’m passionate about, which was recognised with a nomination for the Top Health and Wellness category in the Top 16 Youth-Owned Brand Awards (YOBA) 2024. I also make use of social media platforms and being on reputable radio stations such as UJfm, Chaval fm, and SAfm to give health and wellness education on common and rare conditions and how to restore balance by letting ‘thy food be thy medicine’.
“Additionally, I engage in health coaching and motivational talks for corporate companies and hold collaborative seminars with like-minded individuals to furthermore spread the word on holistic health. Not leaving behind my community in Soweto, I collaborate with my church annually (BWGM) on a Wellness Day, to give free health screenings and sampling bags of goodies to the senior citizens struggling with musculoskeletal aches and pains.”
Sekhukhuni shares that she lives by the scripture “Let thy fruit be thy food and thy leaves be thy medicine” (Ezekiel 47:12), and for her it is important because “health is wealth to do all and be the best in one’s God-given purpose”.
“I want to plant a seed of holistic health and wellness in each individual I encounter so that it has a ripple effect onto their loved ones, hence I go by the name Dr Thols – the homeopath and family doctor.
“I hope for more homeopathic clinics to be opened to increase awareness which will lead to homeopathic doctors getting a spot in government hospitals or building a government-funded homeopathy hospital,” she expresses.
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