Age: 27
Occupation: Student
Health issue: IBS
Symptoms: After a 10-year love/hate relationship with heavy drinking, I gave up alcohol at age 23. I had been feeling quite sick for a few years and expected that giving up alcohol would solve my health problems. Unfortunately, it only made me more aware of how poorly I’d been treating my body. I had terrible digestive cramping, painful bowel movements and overall exhaustion that made it difficult to get out of bed. I went to see my family doctor who sent me to a special clinic for gastro-intestinal health. They did some tests and said they couldn’t find anything wrong with me but diagnosed me with Irritable Bowel Syndrome and gave me Imodium, which made things much worse.
Health recommendations: At the end of my line, I met a Naturopath named Masina Wright who suggested that I might have Candida overgrowth in my digestive system. She recommended doing an anti-yeast diet that involved me taking a break from sugar, vinegar and fermented foods.
The results: Within two months of my “Candida diet” my symptoms were clearing up. I firmly believe there are some things that natural medicine is more effective for than tradition techniques. I have been inspired to attend Naturopathy school and become a Naturopathic Doctor myself.