ABOUT ME

My history

I am a BANT Registered Nutritional Therapist practising in Wimbledon in South West London (and also online). I specialise in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and gut health.

My interest in nutrition came from my own struggles that began in my twenties with skin problems, and then in my thirties with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and gut problems.

Like many people I encounter who suffer from a chronic health problem, my story involved seeing many doctors but making little or no progress. I was prescribed countless topical creams and ointments for my skin by both GPs and Harley Street dermatologists, and was also prescribed a 9-month course of Doxycycline, which not only made my skin worse, it also gave me intermittent diarrhoea and other gut problems.

It wasn’t until I saw a doctor who practices Functional Medicine that I started to make progress. His approach was very different. He was extremely thorough - taking a comprehensive health history, analysing my food diary, and carrying out a set of blood and urine tests that examined hormone levels, nutritional status, and immune reactions to common foods.

This marked a significant turning point because I finally had some answers and was able to take steps to put my health back on track. The igG testing showed that my immune system was reacting very strongly to casein (one of the proteins found in milk), and after a few days of avoiding dairy products my skin dramatically improved. The rash of spots that I had lived with for more than 15 years was gone, and my eyes had been opened to a new way of approaching chronic health problems.

This was the start of my interest in nutrition and the Functional Medicine model which identifies and treats the root causes of illness (not just the symptoms). It was also the reason that some years later I decided to enrol on the internationally renowned Nutritional Therapy Diploma at the Institute for Optimum Nutrition (ION) which teaches a Functional Medicine approach and has been running for over thirty years.

What I do now

I now use the skills and knowledge I’ve acquired to help people with complex chronic conditions, and because of my history, I’m known for energy and skin.

As I was, my clients have often been given a frustrating "dead-end" diagnosis, such as "IBS" (irritable bowel syndrome). However, with the right skills and testing it’s possible to identify 13 distinct clinical conditions that sit under the label of IBS, most of which can then be treated. And that’s my goal, to identify and address the root causes of my client’s illness (not just treat their symptoms).

I specialise in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and skin health, and work with those whose symptoms typically include:

• Unrelenting or general fatigue

• Acne, rosacea, or other skin problems such as rashes, redness, eczema or psoriasis

• Constipation

• Diarrhoea

• Bloating

• Indigestion

• Stomach pain

• Acid reflux

• Food sensitivities/ intolerances

• Mild cognitive impairment (“Brain fog”) - problems thinking, remembering or concentrating

• Unexplained weight gain or loss

• Headaches and migraines

My goal is to help people who are going through a similar struggle to the one I went through, and try to prevent years of unnecessary suffering, and I believe that with the right understanding and the right support, people can transform their lives.

I also aim to provide the on-going support clients need to make lasting changes that support optimum long-term health and wellbeing, so there is a significant educational component to my work.

Other services

I work with those who simply want to maximise their healthspan by making general improvements to their diet and lifestyle (which often leads to improvements such as a reduction in body fat, less frequent illness, etc.,).

I also offer menu analysis and development, ‘wellness’ presentations relating to diet and healthy ageing, or custom packages, e.g., live cooking events, Q&A sessions, etc.,.