"Your body is designed to heal itself"

Often, conventional medicine treats symptoms without addressing root causes. That was my experience, leading me to embrace holistic healing approaches that view each person individually, supporting natural healing through lifestyle changes and treatments like acupuncture. In the book Between Heaven and Earth, Harriet Beinfield reflects on how Western medicine shifted away from seeing humans as integrated beings within nature and how at some point the West we stopped seeing ourselves as a whole and that we are a part of nature - we sacrificed a unified reality for domination over it. When it comes to treating the body medically she describes doctors as "Mechanics" and that they were trained to view the body as a machine. with interchangeable parts. This approach overlooks individual differences, giving the same diagnosis and treatment to everyone.

While modern medicine has life-saving benefits, its focus is often on symptom management rather than holistic healing. For 16 years, I dealt with severe acne, but everytime I went to the doctors, years and years, again and again, they only prescribed antibiotics. Little did I know that this was not doing good for my gut health, exacerbating my underlying condition and cause of my acne—a chronic Candida overgrowth. The antibiotics wiped out beneficial gut bacteria,. meanwhile, I unknowingly fueled it with sugar, alcohol, gluten, caffeine, dairy, and processed foods - all the foods candida needs to thrive, I wasn't aware how these foods were effecting the unbalances in my body, it was never questioned or taught.

I got my diagnosis in Thailand during a chance meeting with a holistic therapist named “Joy.” She used iridology, examining my iris to identify my conditions, and explained that with a strict diet, my skin, fatigue, and depression could improve.What?! Sixteen years of suffering could be healed by food? After her brief advice, Joy left, leaving me to act on this new insight. That meeting was life-changing.

Holistic doctors often begin by examining lifestyle and diet, viewing health as an interconnected network. They believe lifestyle choices are both the root cause and solution to many health issues. In contrast, Western medicine often favors quick treatments, rather than addressing potential deeper issues caused by diet or stress, for example getting rid of the heartburn you suffer with regularly with a proton-pump inhibitor can hide serious gastrointestinal issues so then you continue to eat the foods that are harmful.and then pop a pill to cover the side effects up.

In Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), food is seen as medicine. These systems consider the energy of food—its flavor, color, and warming or cooling qualities—as essential to maintaining body balance. TCM emphasizes that a balanced life shields us from illness. By being mindful of habits like regular meals, sleep, work, and relaxation, we become more empowered in managing our health. Each time I resorted to antibiotics, I missed a chance to take true ownership of my wellness.

I know I’m not alone—many of us have felt disconnected or even frustrated with our bodies. Yet, we can shift from feeling like our bodies are failing us to actively optimizing our health. Taking responsibility for our choices, especially around food, is a powerful step in supporting wellness.

Sometimes, small changes make a big impact. Many people find that simply eliminating gluten or sugar for a few weeks brings surprising benefits. Living now in a humid climate, I recently adjusted my diet to reduce “dampness” symptoms like heavy limbs and headaches by swapping my morning fruit bowl with carbs—"The Great Potato Experiment of 2020.” It worked in just five days.. What we eat profoundly affects the quality of our experience within our unique, beautiful bodies.

"Our health is determined by what we eat and how we eat it. As our only renewable resource besides air and water, food is the fabric out of which we create ourselves everyday"- Gail Reichstein

I’ll close with a gentle reminder: often, our bodies give signs of digestive imbalance, but we acclimate and dismiss these as "normal." Symptoms like bloating, excessive gas, fatigue, brain fog, loose stools, constipation, yeast infections, excess phlegm, or skin issues are signals that something is off. Listen to your body and take action—consulting with a TCM, Ayurveda, or nutrition specialist is a great start. Gail Reichstein’s Wood Becomes Water and books by David Frawley offer insights into balancing health from these perspectives.

As you take responsibility for your health and begin to feel stronger, the journey itself can become inspiring. I once read, “Maintaining health is easier than regaining health”—which resonates, as it takes effort at first, but sustaining wellness can be truly joyful. Diet is just one piece of the health puzzle, but it’s a powerful one.

Thank you for reading. I’m passionate about this topic and hope it resonates. Please feel free to reach out with questions!

Jai Ma