An education piece by Naturalist
My journey with endometriosis
A personal story of navigating endometriosis through natural medicine, gut and hormone support, and reclaiming wellbeing the holistic way.
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Like so many women, my journey with endometriosis wasn’t straightforward. I wasn’t handed a clear diagnosis, and I definitely wasn’t given a holistic plan or much explanation. It’s taken me years of learning, unlearning, healing, and eventually becoming a naturopath to understand how deeply this condition can affect every part of your life, and how possible it is to feel better again.
I’m sharing this not because I have all the answers, but because I’ve walked the path. If you’re in the middle of it right now, I want you to know there’s hope.
The early years: when it didn’t make sense
Between the ages of 14 and 16, my period just didn’t feel “normal.” It was irregular, heavy, and incredibly painful. I bled for long stretches of time, and alongside that came acne, weight gain, digestive issues, and hair growth that didn’t seem quite right.
Doctors initially diagnosed me with PCOS, and while that explained some things, it didn’t explain the pain. It was confusing, and no one ever brought up nutrition, inflammation, or stress as part of the picture.
The day everything changed
When I was 20, I ended up in emergency surgery after a ruptured ovarian cyst. It was a scary experience, but what the doctors told me afterward hit even harder.
“While we were cleaning up the cyst, we noticed you were riddled with endometriosis. It’s all over your lower back and down near your rectum.” Explains the painful pooping I was experiencing.
I still remember how that moment felt. I had no idea what to make of it. PCOS, ovarian cysts, now endometriosis too? It felt like my body was breaking down. I was young, I was eating relatively well (so I thought), and yet I was in chronic pain, on and off medications, with more surgeries on the horizon. At one point, I was even told I might never have children and that I should consider freezing my eggs (at age 20!!)
So after coming home with more meication, another specialist to visit for another condition that 'I should be to young to have', I became a little bit obessed about how I can turn this all around.
What no one told me
What still shocks me today is that no one sat me down to talk about the things that actually support the body, the role of diet, stress, alcohol, inflammation, gut health, spiritual and emotional wellbeing.
Yes, I had seen a naturopath years earlier, and her support had made a difference. But somehow I had drifted away from that path (being young with hormonal imbalances is a hard life). Now, with a new diagnosis and no clear answers, I guess you could say I was so scared about my future and reproductive health.
Lets be clear about this one point: There is no magic overnight fix, a one consult that would solve everything, a blog post that will answer all your questions, it has to be a lifestyle of finding and making changes that worked for you. This a really important aspect, you don't go to the gym once and magically become fit, it's the same with endometriosis, it's comittment, it's consistency, it's dedication to your health because you deserve it. Try new things, eat new foods, be curious about your symptoms, give yourself the opportunity to heal.
Healing didn’t happen overnight
It wasn’t a single supplement or surgery that changed things. It was the decision to show up for myself, day after day, with a whole-body, holistic approach.
I committed to:
Learning about my body
Supporting my nervous system
Addressing inflammation and gut health
Using the right herbal medicines and nutrients
Creating a sustainable, nourishing lifestyle
I also started tuning into the emotional and energetic side of healing, something I had ignored for too long.
And the result?
Where I am now
Today, I experience:
Regular, pain-free cycles: I am serious this is 100% possible. No pain medication for years!
Normal bleeding
Balanced hormones and weight
Clear skin
A calmer, more grounded mind (most of the time!)
I no longer feel trapped in my body. And while healing is never linear, I feel empowered and connected to myself in a way I never thought possible during those early years.
Why I do this work
I became a naturopath because I couldn’t not do this work. Endometriosis changed my life, but it also gave me purpose. I now support women who feel like I once did: confused, exhausted, and searching for answers beyond prescriptions and surgery.
If that’s you, please know that your symptoms are valid. Your pain is real. And there is a way forward.
I have been learning about endometriosis ever since I was diagnosed at age 20, that is nearly 10 years! I know what is backed by science, I have seen what reduces pain, eases inflammation, calms the digestive system and how to support gentle detox all while living a day to day life.
I am so passionate about helping women with their health especially when it comes to endo and PCOS. If you are reading this looking for a practitioner you can trust then I want to hear from you.
Let's connect today, all you have to do is book a discovery call and we will chat about how we can get your health back on track. I look forward to hearing from you.
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How to work with me
Three pathways depending on the support you need.
However you start, you're getting the same standard of care. Every pathway is grounded in naturopathic medicine, shaped by evidence-based practice, and dedicated entirely to women's health. Whether you need clarity, structure, or full transformation, the depth of care doesn't change, only the level of support you need right now.
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Reset Packages
Online, or in-person in Wānaka
Structured, focused support to start addressing what's actually driving your symptoms. Includes functional testing, full interpretation of your results, and a strategy session to build a plan shaped entirely around what we find, not a generic starting point.
