NATUre’s Pharmacy: my natural REMEDIES JOURNEY
Like many, I relied heavily on medication, especially antibiotics, due to chronic strep throat, occurring several times a year. With a weakened immune system from a childhood illness called Dysautonomia, I was frequently falling ill. Alongside gut dysbiosis and SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth), I practically carried a mini pharmacy wherever I went—Tums, GasX, DayQuil, Afrin, Advil, and more.
Amid my quest to decipher my gut health, I began realizing that the medications I depended on were causing more harm than good. That realization led me to pursue education at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Learning about nutrition, the body's workings, and the effects of medications made me realize I was disrupting my own microbiome. I made a conscious decision to shift away from conventional Western medicine towards a more natural approach.
I discontinued all medications, including birth control, discarded over-the-counter pills, and embarked on a two-year exploration into Ayurvedic and Chinese Medicine techniques. At my core, I believed in the power of food as medicine. For centuries, natural remedies have healed us. It's ingrained in our being—the body's innate ability to heal itself using herbs and food to support its health.
This journey led to the creation of Nature’s Pharmacy—a dedicated guide rooted in my experiences and the wisdom passed down through generations. From regrowing hair post-stress-induced shedding during COVID, overcoming common colds, managing anxiety, supporting menstrual cycles, to resolving gut and digestive issues, this guide has been my lifeline. Now, I'm sharing it with you, offering access to centuries of wisdom from Mother Earth's natural resources for healing.
This is one example of how I prepare for cold and flu season, find the full recipe here.
Mocktail making guide: my Sober curious journey
Never in my wildest dreams did I envision an alcohol-free life for myself. From college days to navigating the hustle of NYC, drinking was part of it all—a constant companion at work events, social scenes, and dates. It was ingrained in my everyday lifestyle.
But as I continued down that path, my gut health took a nosedive. I could feel the toll it was taking on my body—physically and mentally. That 'work hard, play hard' mentality had caught up with me, dragging me down to my lowest point.
I thought I could brush it off until my gut health deteriorated to the point where basic medicine made me sick for days. I struggled for years—constant bloating, nausea, vomiting—attributed to food sensitivity or elusive diagnoses. Even after numerous medical tests, alcohol was never discussed as a potential culprit.
The night I reacted so severely to cold medicine, a realization hit me. There had to be a link between alcohol and my stomach issues. Research revealed alcohol's devastating impact on the gut microbiome—like using alcohol wipes to sterilize a wound, it wipes out the crucial bacteria supporting our health.
But that wasn’t all. Alcohol links to multiple cancers, neurological damage, offering no benefits to the body. Armed with this knowledge, there was no turning back.
I didn’t think I had a 'problem,' but in hindsight, the signs were always there. As self-love grew, so did my commitment to my health, leading me to two years of being alcohol-free after my first Sober October in 2021.
Choosing myself over alcohol became a conscious decision. I refused to lose the fun, happy, carefree side of me. And guess what? You CAN do both. Prioritize health and still have a blast with friends. Enjoy the fun times while staying sober.
That is why I fell in love with making mocktails and created this guide. I found that I still loved having a drink in my hand and it took the pressure off, plus who doesn’t love a delicious drink?
I hope you love this mocktail making guide and whether you are fully sober, or just exploring. Alcohol free options, I am here for you!