My passionate pursuit of health began in the spring of 1979, when at age 18 my robust health began to gradually decline with the onset of bleeding hemorrhoids. Within a few weeks, I experienced recurrent bloody diarrhea with severe gut-wrenching cramps. I didn’t know what was happening to me and I was totally clueless on what to do…so I continued to deny my sickness hoping that one fine day my problems will disappear on their own.

By the summer of 1979, I lost 25 pounds, felt continuously exhausted and remained in a state of constant pain. I was reduced to a weak, sickly shadow of my former self. In august of 1979, I found myself in a hospital with high fever, severe weight loss & anemia. The diagnosis was grim, Ulcerative Colitis. By the end of 1979, my life revolved around chronic stomach pain with up to 15 bowel movements a day with terrifying amounts of blood and mucus. I felt chained to the toilet, a prisoner to my disintegrating body. That same year I also got pregnant. What ensued was a nightmarish life of colitis flare-ups, morning sickness, chronic fatigue and depression. During the duration of my illness, I had experienced all of the following health problems in addition to my ulcerative colitis:

Despite everything, I continued to believe in modern medicine. I was certain that if I followed the doctor’s protocol, modern medicine would eventually cure my colitis. I was wrong.

I was treated by the top physicians in New York: Dr. Atkins, Dr. Hoffman, Dr. Gelb (chief gastroenterologist of Beth Israel Hospital). When I began taking prescription drugs my symptoms subsided, temporarily. But after few years, I began to experience the devastating side effects of my medications: intense heartburn, bone loss, joint pain, recurring yeast infections, uncontrollable mood swings and severe depression.

I tried numerous courses in antibiotics (Flagyl, Cipro, Tetracycline), oral & rectal steroids (Prednisone, Cortenema), and anti-inflammatory drugs (Azulfidine, Asacol, Dipentum, Rowasa). I was undergoing the most advanced treatments, but nothing worked.Desperate and exhausted I started to consider my last resort…surgery. My gastroenterologist suggested a full colectomy (surgical removal of the colon, including the rectum). A colectomy meant living with and defecating into a plastic bag for the rest of my life.

Due to my frail condition, the risk of death during or after such an invasive surgery was very high. Feeling helpless, I wept quietly in my hospital bed. I hit rock bottom when I started to consider suicide.

It was the thought of my children growing up motherless that changed everything for me. It flipped a switch in my brain. Suicide was NOT an option. I must be there for my kids. My depression and despair transformed into determination and a renewed will to live. I decided to get well, or die trying. I understood that ultimately I was responsible for my health and well-being. I declined surgery and began my relentless search for a cure.

I came back home from the hospital to the realities and responsibilities of life. We were an average middle-class working family with two young kids and bills (home, car, student loans and my sky high medical bills). We spent thousands of dollars and decades on treatments, doctors visits, spas and clinics in Mexico, Canada, Eastern and Western Europe. Our entire lives revolved around me getting well. My husband and I quickly learned that there was no quick fix.

It was a long and painful process. I experimented with numerous medications, butyric acid enemas, anti-parasitic, anti-fungal herbs and hundreds of supplements, liquid meal replacements, European homeopathy, volcanic minerals, colloidal silver, probiotics, ozone treatments, hydrogen peroxide infusions, vitamin and mineral IVs, chelation therapy, urinotherapy, classical Chinese acupuncture and herbs, electro-acupuncture by Voll, lymphatic drainage massage, past life regression, meditation, visualization, tai chi, pilates, weight training and yoga.

In 1989, I was fortunate enough to meet Dr. Bernard Jensen. He introduced me to the concept of healing through bowel detoxification with raw vegetable juices, vegetable mineral broths and specific nutraceuticals to heal my gut. After 2 weeks on the program my colon began to heal, my stomach pains and cramps vanished. And I felt rejuvenated and totally well in 4 weeks.

In years to come, I dedicated my life to the science of holistic nutrition and natural healing. I spent 8 years doing my undergraduate, graduate degree and internship in clinical nutrition and dietetics. While continuing to gather the latest medical research and alternative health solutions from doctors worldwide, most of my medical breakthroughs were discovered during my 25+ years of direct clinical experience with real patients.

As a result of my clinical findings and my own experiments with my body, I developed a series of “European Healing Systems” to help others reverse their symptoms, heal their bodies and prevent future illness.Today, I no longer fear another flare-up of ulcerative colitis. I feel healthy, happy and energetic. I enjoy pilates, yoga, belly dancing and swimming in the ocean. I am happily married to a very loving and wise man. We share our good times and our bad times with our 2 grown-up children. As my husband says: “Only the ones who suffered and got well truly know how to heal.”