During my early 20s, I spent many years living with IBS. This was triggered by an acute Gastrointestinal infection whilst abroad, and am sure was also exacerbated by the pressures of medical school, and living a full and active university life.
After having my self-diagnosis confirmed with a Gastroenterologist, various medications were suggested to help with my symptoms. During this time, I had also identified specific foods and drinks which were troublesome for me. I was keen to avoid medications, so I intuitively trialled elimination diets by excluding those trigger foods and drinks for several weeks at a time. I also unknowingly allowed any inflammation in my gut to settle during the several years when I was a strict vegan. I have since reintroduced these trigger foods, including ethically sourced and produced meat and dairy, raw vegetables, fruits, spices, lentils and beans, and eat a hugely varied and healthy diet. I am still to this day symptom free. Unbeknownst to me at the time, I did my very own primitive version of a Gut Repair Programme! This is a fundamental tool in Functional and Nutritional medicine.
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Following my own successful experience of naturally resolving my IBS symptoms with diet alone, I wondered if there were other conditions that could also be effectively managed by other means, perhaps even without medications entirely. This lead me to learn about Naturopathic and Ancient medicines - I was particularly drawn to the sciences of Nutrition and Ayurveda. Their philosophy addresses the body as a whole. By focusing on identifying the root causes of conditions, the true underlying issues of disease states are revealed, allowing the opportunity for these to be successfully resolved. This is also the foundation of Functional Medicine.
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I truly believe that Allopathic Medicine (traditional 'Western Medicine'), is only one of many options to treat ailments, and address disease. Like with many things in the world today, if an integrative approach is appropriately used, incorporating various healing and treatment modalities, I am certain Humanity would flourish, in our collective mental, physical and emotional health. we will see a healthier and happier world.
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MY HEALTH STORY
MORE ABOUT SNEHA
I qualified as a medical doctor in 2011 from Imperial College London and underwent my medical training in the West Midlands and London. After completing my speciality training, I qualified as a GP in 2017, and have worked in the NHS and currently in the private sector.
Growing up in a medical family, I was exposed to the lives of Doctors, Health and Disease from a very early age. I would constantly hear about hospital life and General Practice, the long complicated names of procedures and medications – I was fascinated by it all and eager to be a part of it one day.
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During my training, I saw first hand, how incredible modern medicine truly is. The on-going discoveries saving countless lives, and those that have already eradicated many diseases. Common conditions which are easily treated today, could have been fatal in the not so distant past - something we often forget and take for granted. Continuing research demonstrates the many achievements and potential for further advancements, and live saving work.
Despite all this, I soon realised the focus of conventional Medicine (Allopathy) is primarily on disease - treating and managing conditions with medications, often after these have presented. Traditional medical teaching has limited emphasis on identifying the functional root causes of conditions, and the individual subtleties in variation of disease presentation.
The importance of nutrition & lifestyle, emotional & social wellness, as perpetuating factors, were not given their due recognition. Something which I always felt could not be considered as separate to health.
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In the last few years, there is very much an increased awareness and growing trend towards incorporating these aspects, in a personalised healthcare approach. Latest research is focusing on individual genetic variations and their effects on disease manifestation, and treatment efficacy. The emerging branches of Lifestyle Medicine and Integrative & Personalised Medicine reflect this new paradigm of health care.
During my early 20s, I spent many years living with IBS. This was triggered by an acute Gastrointestinal infection whilst abroad, and am sure was also exacerbated by the pressures of medical school, and living a full and active university life.
After having my self-diagnosis confirmed with a Gastroenterologist, various medications were suggested to help with my symptoms. During this time, I had also identified specific foods and drinks which were troublesome for me. I was keen to avoid medications, so I intuitively trialled elimination diets by excluding those trigger foods and drinks for several weeks at a time. I also unknowingly allowed any inflammation in my gut to settle during the several years when I was a strict vegan. I have since reintroduced these trigger foods, including ethically sourced and produced meat and dairy, raw vegetables, fruits, spices, lentils and beans, and eat a hugely varied and healthy diet. I am still to this day symptom free. Unbeknownst to me at the time, I did my very own primitive version of a Gut Repair Programme! This is a fundamental tool in Functional and Nutritional medicine.
​
Following my own successful experience of naturally resolving my IBS symptoms with diet alone, I wondered if there were other conditions that could also be effectively managed by other means, perhaps even without medications entirely. This lead me to learn about Naturopathic and Ancient medicines - I was particularly drawn to the sciences of Nutrition and Ayurveda. Their philosophy addresses the body as a whole. By focusing on identifying the root causes of conditions, the true underlying issues of disease states are revealed, allowing the opportunity for these to be successfully resolved. This is also the foundation of Functional Medicine.
With so much in today’s world that is out of our control – let’s shift the focus onto the decisions we can make for ourselves. What we eat, drink, and think; what we do, how we speak to ourselves, how we react to others and how we live in our environment. Our bodies respond to positivity in unimaginable ways - it really is never too late to make changes to impact our health and wellbeing.
MY HEALTH VISION FOR THE FUTURE