My Story of Raw Discovery to Health!

My Recovery to Health

I had suffered from “Chronic Emotional Fatigue Syndrome” which is really an umbrella  label for many types of fatigue symptoms but in a nut shell  my immune system had completely crashed. This was caused by becoming emotionally overwhelmed or stressed by unresolved past life traumas. I believe I suffered from what some would refer to as a spiritual crisis. Only to help me find my true path.I had to give up work, sell my house, rehome my gorgeous dog and two cats and was off for around 4 years and moved from south London up to the North. All this was mainly due to lack of understanding by various health practitioners about what was going on. I had reached depths of despair.  Previous to this I had always been quite a happy go lucky person before the onset of my ill health. Here is a brief mention of some of my signs & symptoms:-

1. Loss of around 2 stone or 12.7 kgs
2. Jaundice
3. No period (Amenorrhoea) for 2 years
4. Cravings for foodsthat I never liked before especially sickly toffee chocolate mousse type bars and melted cheese( butI was always a chocoholic;)
5. Terrible mood swings and bouts of crying for no apparent reason
6. Extreme depression - I felt I was dying(which I probably was on many levels), feelings of helplessness & hopelessness
7. Complete loss of spirit almost feeling numb, no emotion- spiritual distress
8. Complete loss of confidence
9. Loss of libido
10. withdrawal
11. constant aches and pains down the sides and back of legs
12. Insomnia
13. inability to relax, anxiety
14. And severe IBS &dysbiosis – no signs lactobacillus acidophilus growth in gut – all brought on by extreme stress (lab stool test).All bacteria have consciousness
15. Allergies
16. Sinus problems
17. Constant nausea
18. Mental & physical fatigue - as fatigued in the morning, upon wakening, as when I went to bed
19. Chronic Hypoglycaemia –see more on this subject in “about raw food”
20. achlorhydria -absence ofhydrochloric acid in the stomach (lab test)
21. extreme low amino acid profile (lab test)

So I started my journey and love of Chinese Medicine  with my own recovery to health and I drank litres of boiled bitter elixir majickal Chinese Herbs for a number of months along with havingregular Acupuncture which brought back my periods within 3 months. And now I  can drink anything  quite bitter in taste without feeling yuk! I then came across a prominent leading Iridologist – John Andrews (with whom I trained with), and after a consultation he informed me that I would benefit from eating raw live food – uncooked food. And to chew my food well.He explained to me that my main physiological imbalance was the Dysbiosis and chronic hypoglycaemia.  And I also learned that anyone who has a low immune system needs to avoid ALL forms of sugar. It is important to remember that 80% of our immunity is in the GUT. This explained to me why I found I was only able to digest sprouted beans and seeds etc without feeling unwell.

So after looking into raw foods I decided to go and experience my first encounter with raw living food with Steve Meyerowitz - ``Sproutman``. He was running a workshop down in London talking all about the benefits of growing & eating sprouted foods (see About raw foods). I knew that I felt better when I was eating sprouted live food but I was not aware of all the whys and so on? And I always like to know the whys. I think most of us do? And now I focus on natures' natural super live foods for my wellbeing ~ sprouts of all sorts & juices & smoothies galore & more!

I also came to learn and understand more about digestive enzymes and enzymes in general (see info on raw food page). I was in great need of enzymes and alkaline foods. It all began to make sense. And the more I understood about the makings of a healthy body the more I looked into Raw Food and the energy associated with it.

I went to many a raw food demonstration, workshops & festivals etc. And I began to try and find out as much as I could about the raw food lifestyle. So I signed up to Raw Food  & Healthy Living Magazines such as Get Fresh and Funky Raw. I also started going to Raw food gatherings, in fact anything that would help to inspire me on the RAW food path! And now there are many raw food gatherings all over the UK springing up & run on a regular basis. Just go onto Facebook or Google for local raw food gatherings .

I also began to get into green smoothies elixirs with Superfoods inspired by David Wolfe and Victoria Boutenko.  These smoothies became the main part of my daily regime and why I began to affectionately call myself Suziesmoothie!Im nearly a liquidarian. But I chew on my liquids!

I soon started to introduce more raw food into my daily life little by little. And I noticed how my head felt clearer and I could focus & concentrate on things a lot better! I also noticed umpteen other changes too. From increasing energy levels, better moods like feeling a lot chirpier and more positive about life in general.  My digestion in general really started to improve and my *dysbiosis* symptoms began to disappear. My hair grew thicker, & my skin began to glow . And I felt ``RAW`` & ALIVE !

As time went on I found it easier & easier to stick to eating raw food because I wanted to feel better!. But this does not mean I did not have my pitfalls. I noticed that when I had emotions to sort out ‘I fell off the wagon so to speak’. One of the most important lessons we can learn in life is that it is about INTENTION and not being 100% PERFECTION. This perfection mode can lead to rigidity in the mind, body and spirit.  And we learn through our mistakes ~ and remember mistakes are not bad they are only lessons in life to learn from.   When we are ready to do something to help ourselves improve our health in mind,body and spirit we will do it. And at every stage of development you can gain wisdom! I have had some of my biggest insights when I have taken a step back and moved two steps forward. Ultimately it is a journey and the only person that will judge us is ourselves.*Click here for tips on how to stick to a healthier increased raw diet.This should read click here for tips on how to integrate raw food into your diet*

But a HUGE part of my journey was & is still that of a true Warrior’s path. And I realized that a big part of it was about healing my soul.

So I have mentioned some of the various therapies and healing practices below, that I have followed and still do to awaken my inner most being. I am now truly grateful for all that I have experienced in terms of suffering as this had lead me to where I am right now:-

• Cleansing the body – cleansing "Mucoid Plaque" with Arise & Shine herbs click here for article – each time I did a cleanse I was able to let go of some toxic emotion, which Dr Anderson talks a lot about in his book ``Cleanse & Purify Thyself``. Click here for some pictures.
• I combined this with Body Electronic sessions run by my friend & colleague Peter Hinde see www.bodyelectronics.co.uk - this emotional release technique dissolves calcification in the body as calcification contains a record of suppressed emotion.
• After all my efforts towards healing my body with Body Electronics and cleansing retreats with Peter Hinde and attending a Shamanic Drumming circle etc I can honestly say that my most wonderful shift of energy was released through having a Maori Deep MyoFascial Healing from Anaru. I knew that just before the session my body was telling me I was going to experience something quite new and different as I was feeling quite anxious. And the whole experience was a wordless one!. I just know that what was released allowed me to take on my life from another aspect/dimension ~almost being “reborn” into this Universe. So powerful an experience in the hands of a Maori Shaman. 
  Click here for his website.
  Click here for You Tube Video on "Maori Healers, Myofascial massage for trauma, spiritual awakening, birthing & fertility."
• I also continue to attend other Shamanic Retreats & a drumming circle on a regular basis.
  
• Another reason to decalcify the body, i.e. cleanse, is because nanobacteria hide in calcified areas. If you read `` The Cure for All Diseases`` by Dr. Hulda Clarke, you find that she researched that all diseases are linked to infections, i.e., virus, bacteria, fungi etc. (nanobacteria).
• Dr Hamer in his research & book New Medicine points out that all disease is linked to an emotional trigger, kind of like a shock to the system - The Dirk-Hamer Syndrome....this research is absolutely a must read if you are interested in learning more about emotions & health!
• I also listened to Bruce Lipton on Epigenetics. (How perceptions can change your DNA). He says how around 95% of our habits are controlled by our sub-conscious mind, not our conscious creative mind. This is why we tend to repeat old negative patterns and we can help to change this by becoming aware of our thoughts and having some type of ‘therapy ‘ that manages to access our sub-conscious mind where all the `files` are stored. This is why I chose Body Electronics and Shamanism. Shamanism involves experiencing journeys and Shape~ shifting which has been said to alter your DNA.
• The more we repeat a negative habit with a positive habit eg meditation or yoga, Qigong,Tai Chi etc the more likely we will want to feel  and stay with these positive feelings & change. So the negative `files` will become replaced with new positive `files`.  So I took up Qigong and practiced it for 2 years learning all about chi and pre natal chi and so. Then I got back to my yoga and I attended a Buddhist meditation group at a Thai Buddhist Temple.  I learned a lot about suffering and perceptions and the ancient Buddhist psychology of reality, which I still use to this day. http://youtu.be/5_eASmGTd00
• The more I used these various healing techniques the more aware I became of how stress creates acidity in the body.
• I also use Pacific flower essences & Holosync, which all just add that extra help to nudge me into that place of following my heart in life 
  
• I also read the book before eating any raw food , ``Ask & it is Given`` by Esther & Jerry Hicks – which was life changing – but even more so when I began to eat raw food!
• I read dozens of books over the period I was off from work and I learnt that `` every thought you have has an affect on every cell in your body``. This theory is explained by Deepak Chopra & also By DrEmoto in one of my favourite books of all time ``Messages from water``. Just remember that our blood is 90% water so every vibration has an affect on our psyche – see  “ about raw food”
• Being grounded is also one of the most important aspects of healing the body. Click here for article.

The most profound thing I have learnt is that ``Health is Wealth`` & that I needed to treat my immune system with TLC. Remember, the most important thing in life is good health. As Hippocrates, the famous Greek philosopher, counseled:Let food be thy medicine, thy medicine shall be thy food.

I can honestly say that since I have began eating raw live food my life journey has really changed for the better in so many ways!

After experiencing the benefits of eating raw food I wanted to share this & try to inspire other people about how they can feel better by introducing raw food into their daily life. One thing I have learnt is that it helps if you can try and prepare & plan your raw food meal/s – just like any changes in your daily habits. Click here for more helpful tips on how to integrate raw food into your lifestyle.

I love a physical challenge which I like to look on as a bit of fun and in the year of 2010 I managed to complete the Teacher Training Ashtanga Yoga course with Union Yoga ! This was one of the most difficult physical challenges I have ever undertaken since having CFS. I was always a sporty school girl and in all of the school teams such as hockey, Lacrosse, tennis, volley ball, swimming, diving, gymnastics, table tennis, etc all for the challenge and fun. In fact I lived for the active side of life! During my Ashtanga teacher training I learnt loads about myself and the yoga life!  Now I practice Mysore Ashtanga Yoga on a regular basis with love & gratitude.

One of the most influential areas of my life has been my introduction to Shamanism. This I feel has been the path I have been waiting for since I was 8 years old, as I used to say “be at one with nature”, it was a little mantra of mine. And I believe in the saying “your life is your message”. So my journey has been about taking me back to nature, eating raw food, helping to save our planet and endangered wildlife. It is true the saying find the Guru within yourself because nobody knows better than your own body. Finding your Guru within yourself leads us to learning the journey of trusting ourselves more and therefore gaining confidence.
Awaken video - Wandering Wolf shares some of the prophecy he was taught by his Elders - http://youtu.be/XlLHEot3koI

I feel I am truly blessed to continue working in the healing field of Naturopathic Iridology and Nutrition. And I hope I may pass on my knowledge& inspire others who are on a journey of health. If I can do it you can too!
http://youtu.be/orxEawi9qro


Life is truly full of wonder and beauty when you observe nature and stay close to nature as possible ~

 ♥"Look deeply into nature and then you will understand everything better."  ~ Albert Einstein ♥

My background was first of all being trained as a Podiatrist, then I trained as a Naturopathic Iridologist & Nutritionist. I trained with 3 different Iridology colleges and laterally trained with John Andrews the worlds leading Iridologist. I write a blog if you would like to learn more about Naturopathic Iridology & Nutrition too. Click here to link up to www.iridologyforhealth.co.uk.