Hi, I'm Wendy. Like many other functional practitioners, my personal health journey and that of my family is what has driven my 20+ year dive into natural health learning and consulting.
I struggled for many years with depression and cystic acne as a teen and young adult. At the time, I didn’t realize these were common symptoms of underlying gut dysbiosis and hormonal imbalance. I took antibiotics for extended periods of time to control the acne issue and eventually, as the problem continued, was prescribed a stronger medication paired with oral contraceptives. While the immediate result for me was clearer skin, I didn’t realize until years later, the importance of addressing underlying root causes of these symptoms.
Fast forward a few years later, now in my mid to late twenties, and seasonal allergy ramped up for me, turning into recurring sinus infections. I used more antibiotics to deal with this issue, still without an understanding of underlying imbalances in my body. This experience led up to having my first child in 2003. At the age of 6-8 months, my daughter began having ear infections (and would you believe, I’d had the same issue as a kid!). The answers provided were repeated antibiotics and then tubes. A few months later she developed eczema and asthma, for which topical steroids creams and breathing treatments were prescribed.
In my desperate attempt for something more than the need for chronic medications, I thought back to a continuing education conference I had attended a couple of years prior. It was on the topic of leaky gut. Now this was back in 2000, prior to much attention being given around this topic. Today, leaky gut is understood in most medical communities, acknowledged on both sides of the aisle (traditional and non-traditional). Reminded of this information, I dove into further research with a desire to take control of my daughter’s health and pursue answers for my own health issues (which had expanded to adrenal fatigue and migraine headaches). We added whole food supplementation and probiotics into our diet and removed dairy foods. My neighbor referred us to her herbalist, who helped us identify likely root causes of the health issues we were experiencing. She recommended herbal remedies to support my adrenals, gut and liver health, and my body began to heal. In conjunction to refining our nutrition and supplementation, I addressed underlying relational and emotional pain, which were also contributing to the depression and anxiety. Over a few months, significant improvement was happening. My daughter no longer had asthma or eczema symptoms, and my sinuses remained clear! I was having more energy, fewer headaches and less anxiety. We had come a long way!
Then came my forties. With a little more age and quite a bit more stress, my gut started really talking, and at times loudly. I began having frequent and more severe acid indigestion and symptoms of irritable bowel. I continued to fine-tune my nutrition, upped my supplement regimen and worked hard at ways to better handle stress and stay emotionally and spiritually strong. My gut healing process moved forward, but there still seemed to be a gap, or at least the process was slower than I would have liked. That's when I thought I'd give homeopathy a closer look. I'd tried homeopathic blends from time-to-time for our family, but not convinced they really worked for us. But I'd also heard about a local homeopathic practitioner, Katie Cunha, who had quite a wait list and following. Up for something different, I got on Katie's list and started working with her a few months later. Since using homeopathy detox therapy specifically, I’ve witnessed first-hand the power of homeopathy to work on a deep level in the body. I continue to follow a healthy diet and take quality supplements, but I can now tolerate foods even better that I didn't use to tolerate so well. My gut is healing on a deeper level, and I’m enjoying the freedom in that!
I believe God has used these health challenges I've faced to propel me onto more learning and healing, not just for me and my family, but for those I can help. Health is a journey and it encompasses many aspects of our lives. It’s made up of our genetic predispositions and our nutrition (from the womb to present). It’s also influenced greatly by our mental and emotional well-being, and how our body has dealt with trauma. The good news is, our bodies were designed for health and serve us well by alerting us of dis-ease. The body talks. Symptoms are our friend, signals used to get our attention. If we sweep them under the rug through suppression, the body will inevitably find another avenue to be heard. I’m thankful for the avenues in which God provides for healing, and the way our bodies are designed to heal.
So what is YOUR body saying??? Wellness by Design is here to listen, offer education and support, as well as natural remedies so that you and your family can discover greater health!
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