My Introduction to Natural Health

As a child, I delt with health issues. When I was just a baby, I suffered with ear infections. As any parent would, an appointment to the doctor's office would be scheduled and attended. The doctors only knowing what they have been taught, prescribed me antibiotics. I have since come to learn that antibiotics can do more harm than good at such an early stage in life, that is a whole other topic for another day.

Growing up, I suffered with seasonal allergies. There would be times where it would be absolute torture. With the nasty mucus plugging my nose and getting stuck in my throat, causing a hard time to breath. To the cold sweats and all the other sufferings that come with being sick. My seasonal allergies were so bad that even when I wasn't sick, I'd have nightmares of not being able to breath at all and not being able to clear out my nose.

In 2011, I was 16 at the time, my seasonal allergies were back that year ready to make my life miserable! Deciding to go to the doctor's office and see about getting an allergy test done to see exactly what was causing my allergies. When we finally got in to see the doctor, we explained what was going on and what we wanted to do. Unfortunately, no allergy test was done, and I was sent on my way with a prescription for God know what. So, just like anyone else who gets a prescription, I took the "medicine."

At that time, my great aunt was a graduate of the Naturopathic Institute of Therapies and Education. My mom, after seeing that the doctor just gave me a prescription and not actually helping me with finding the cause issue, decided to schedule an appointment for me to go see my aunt. When I got to my aunt's, she did an assessment on me, but it was nothing like what the doctors do. Yea, sure questions were asked, and information was collected, but it wasn't "tell me your symptoms and I'll give you this for it." My aunt used a technique called "muscle testing." I had no idea what that was, but went along with it because what other option did I have to figuring out what was wrong with me? I'm someone who gets a smile on my face when something new and exciting happens to me. So, when my aunt started muscle testing me and seeing the response that it was giving brought a smile to my face! Through muscle testing, she was able to find what my issue was.

Apparently, I had what is called "leaky gut syndrome." Leaky gut syndrome, in layman's terms, is where there are gaps in-between the cells of the intestines. This can cause allergies. So, it wasn't that I was specifically allergic to something, but rather my intestines were not in the best of shape. I was then muscle tested to find out what natural medicine would work best for me in healing my leaky gut. I don't fully remember all that she had recommended I take, but what I do remember is taking a food enzyme and a probiotic. There were other things that I was taking. She also recommended that I change my diet. I was then muscle tested to what foods I should avoid eating. I have learned since then that it was a blood type diet, which that is a thing.

The diet change was one of the most difficult things that I had to endure, and I thank my parents for enduring that change with me, or at least cooking two separate dishes. It is difficult when you have to remove red meat from your diet. That means no more meat loaf, sloppy joe, and other types of meals or foods. Thats when the idea came up to try using chicken, which I could eat, as a substitute for beef. To my surprise, chicken works with sloppy joe, chili, and other dishes. Chicken hot dogs are actually not that bad! There was more change to my diet besides the meat.

Year after year my seasonal allergies slowly died down. It wasn't until 2021, exactly 10 years later I just realized, I only got sick once that year! And before some of you react, no it wasn't covid. The next year, to my surprise, I didn't get sick at all! To this day I no longer suffer from seasonal allergies!

When I noticed that the natural medicine and the diet change was working, I had more of an interest in the world of natural health! I had then decided to attend the Naturopathic Institute of Therapies and Education. Now, my view on health has dramatically changed and for the better! If it wasn't for my aunt helping me, and me doing the work, I'd still be suffering and still going to the doctor for yet another prescription. Learning more and more about natural health has taught me that the healing process takes time, and that there is no "quick fix" to health!

Stay healthy everyone!

Eric VerEllen, NHT