My journey with my son

I have personally experienced how stressful it is as a parent who has a child who once struggled with persistent health symptoms. When my oldest of three boys (who is now 11yo) started solids, he broke out with eczema that covered his entire body. He was constipated, had diarrhoea, and was extremely unsettled which led to sleep issues. He progressively became more sensitive to different foods and food groups (gluten, dairy, soy, nightshades, colours, preservatives).  The ongoing inflammation in his body led to intense hay fever, asthma, salicylate food sensitivities & behaviour that led others to wonder if he might have ADHD.

the journey begins…

At the time, treatments allowed for short term relief, but nothing eradicated his symptoms completely because no one we sought help from at the time suggested that I consider addressing the root cause of his symptoms. I tried everything but there was no silver bullet. We struggled on for years, using creams and medication recommended by doctors and tried to cope as well as we could by restricting his diet, and seeking support through naturopaths, kinesiologists, acupuncturists and chiropractors.

When Etienne hit the age of 4, I knew I did not want to rely on pharmaceuticals to put a band-aid on his health concerns so through an integrative, holistic approach, firstly addressing his Diet & Nutrition, then creating better sleep and home routines, we slowly implemented change that allowed his body the support it needed to reduce inflammation and to work towards re-balancing itself.

a mother can’t ignore her gut!

A couple years passed and even though Etienne’s health and wellbeing had improved significantly from the dietary and lifestyle changes I had made, my gut was telling me that there was still more work that needed to be done. Etty is a kid that is gifted in language and is well liked amongst his peers however he was struggling with the school environment and his inability to focus and learn for an extended period of time concerned me. I started getting anxiety around what might happen if Etienne’s health didn’t improve and how this would impact his schooling and relationships with his peers in the coming years.

During this time, I was still restricting Etty’s diet to avoid salicylates (which is a naturally occuring chemical found in alot of fruit and vegetables) as these foods resulted in excitable ADHD -like behaviour for him. We were also avoiding gluten, dairy, processed food as well as nightshades, eggs, soy. As you can imagine, we were omitting so many foods from his diet I was conscious that this was not a normal thing to be doing and he surely would not be getting the essential nutrients he needed as a developing child.

the discovery of At-home lab testing

It was around this time I first discovered At-home lab testing which was a game changer for our family. At-home lab testing offers the convenience of assessing various health parameters without the need to visit a clinical setting. It provides individuals with insights into their physiological markers, including nutrients, hormones, and potential health concerns. This approach enables early detection and a deeper understanding of any health concerns so appropriate support can be given for the individuals specific needs.

To start, we ran the Organics Acids Test which showed me that Etty had Candida overgrowth in his gut. Candida overgrowth can cause alot of symptoms for an individual and for Etty he experienced symptoms of on-going diarrhoea and digestive issues which caused him ongoing discomfort and inflammation. No wonder he was always out of sorts! We embarked on a protocol which involved taking supplements specifically designed to kill and remove the overgrowth of yeast in his gut. Etty’s sleep and digestion improved dramatically along with his behaviour and overall vitality.

Ettys health improved and he was thriving. He reached the age of 7 and I felt like we had a lot more control over his health again as it seemed he was living his life full of energy. However, he was still excitable and emotional which made him a handful to deal with at times. There would be more work to be done over time.

the moment that inspired me to help others

Etienne’s journey showed me how important lifestyle factors, food and our environment can impact our health and wellbeing. I had come across so many parents who were in a similar situation who had opted for a more western medicine approach. They were still struggling to make progress with their child’s health as some things had changed but medication had caused other issues to crop up. This sparked a fire within me, prompting contemplation on the rarity and obscurity of an alternative path to Western medicine for individuals and families. This is when I decided to embark on my studies with IHP (Integrative Health Practitioner Org) with the goal to becoming an Integrative Health Practitioner. This certification would enable me to apply an integrative approach to provide support and guidance to help others struggling with their health and wellbeing as well.

my sons journey continues…

At-home lab testing was a big portion of my certification with IHP Level 2 while I was studying, I learnt about the Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis Test (HTMA). A penny dropped and I had a feeling that this test was the missing piece from our puzzle. Etienne’s results showed that he had heavy metals present in his body. Heavy metals don't naturally leave the body that easily, so they often need help to be removed. They can build up over time and can lead to health issues. For children in particular, heavy metals exposure can lead to various health issues, including developmental problems, learning difficulties, behaviour changes, and even long-term damage to organs like the brain and kidneys. I was fascinated by the data that these at-home tests could provide, relieved and excited that we were going to make even more progress with his health.

After carrying out a Heavy Metals Protocol, Etty became more settled, his erratic behaviour subsided and he is now more focused at school. It really did take a combination of approaches to help us re-balance his body and I believe it was the best approach which has evidentally given us the results we have been looking for. Etty has not had to rely on pharmaceuticals since we made the decision to look at natural, alternative options and after doing further testing around food sensitivities, he is now also able to eat a well-rounded diet to support his health.

Etty’s journey has taken time and that is something I will always keep in the forefront of my mind. Good things take time and change doesn’t happen overnight. Etienne’s journey has taken 11 years so far and we will continue to make adjustments to his and our own lives to adapt to the ever-changing scenery of our lives. We have had many situations that have gone our way, and others that have forced us to pause to take two steps backwards. What I have learnt through it all, which will always give me a feeling of elation, is that we did it through a natural process using integrative medicine.

If you have any concerns with your child or if they are experiencing similar symptoms to the ones I have mentioned, please get in touch with me. I’d love to help you.