About

Professional Bio

From as early as I can remember, human health held an interest for me. Strangely enough though, my passion was never to become a medical practitioner. My early studies took me into routine laboratories as a medical technologist, but that was too routine and boring for my enquiring mind.  I embarked on an academic career with special interest in cellular and molecular biology, as well as cell physiology. While finishing off my PhD in Belgium about 10 years ago, I became very ill and was diagnosed with Sarcoidosis, an autoimmune disease I had not heard of, up to that moment. I informed myself, and what I read on the Internet literally sent me into panic attacks.

I refused the conventional treatment which is corticosteroids, but agreed to take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. To me, this was the lesser evil. However, not even 1 week into my treatment, I developed severe side-effects from the anti-inflammatory drugs and was given more drugs to counteract the bleeding in my stomach. My blood pressure hit rock bottom and the only way I could stand up straight was after copious amounts of coffee.

I could feel myself getting sicker and because I was scared that the medical doctors in Belgium would not allow me to fly back to South Africa, I did not go back for a check-up consultation. Instead I dumped all the medication I was on, and arranged to see a homeopath on my return to South Africa. My fears were confirmed when my c-reactive protein, which is an indicator of inflammation, had gone up from 56% to 87% in a matter of days. I was weak, pale, losing weight fast and most of all I was scared. Again I refused corticosteroid treatment, even after my homeopath told me that if it was going to save my life, I’ll have no other option.

Looking back on it now, she must have thought I am stubborn to the point of stupidity. She stood by my decision though, for which I will forever be grateful. My healing started, and to me, not being a very patient person, it felt like it took a long time. After all, I had things to do, a PhD thesis to finish. My body however determined the time it needed to heal and I had to deal with that. Being bed-ridden for 2 months and not being able to sleep most nights, gave me a long time to re-think everything I believed in. I came to understand that I was abusing my body. Being a very ambitious and active person, I drove my body to breaking point. As far as nutrition was concerned, I was not the unhealthiest eater, but grabbing a chocolate bar for lunch because there was no time for anything else, was not unheard of. I always thought of eating as something I have to do to survive. It came down on me like a ton of bricks that I am to blame for my failing health. Before I became seriously ill I ignored being tired, or my sore joints and muscles. I expected my body to run on an empty tank or substandard fuel; something I did not even expect from my car. Over a period of 3 months, I clawed my way back to health with my only treatment being a change in lifestyle, some digestive enzymes and time. Additionally, I made a promise to my body never to abuse it again, to look after it and most importantly, to listen to it.

Today I am grateful for this terrifying period in my life. It changed me and everything I thought I knew about health. What became very apparent was; the body does not want drugs, nor does it require drugs to heal. What it does require is a change in lifestyle and time. I became very interested in how people healed themselves, without the use of drugs, even from terminal illnesses, like cancer. All my reading left me with the same conclusion; Change your Lifestyle – Change your Health.