"I had to become my own practitioner"

My health journey began when my vehicle was hit by a bomb. It was 2005, and I was a young Marine on a combat mission in Iraq. Though I walked away from the explosion with manageable physical injuries, I wasn’t prepared for the toll the trauma, stress, and relentless demands of service would take on my body in the years that followed.

Months of antibiotics prescribed after the explosion only worsened the damage, destroying my microbiome and gut health. Over time, chronic inflammation, stress, and lack of sleep led to insulin resistance and severe digestive issues. My immune system was shot, and I felt like I was constantly battling against my own body.

Despite looking healthy on the outside, I knew something was deeply wrong. When I sought help, I was met with the same cookie-cutter protocols: more medications and symptom management. I realized then that if I wanted to truly heal, I had to become my own practitioner.