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Hello! I'm Jennifer.
I am a qualified Naturopath at Hope Island on the Gold Coast. I am passionate about helping others lead, happy healthy lives. I have a special interest in treating gastrointestinal problems, including digestive and bowel issues, IBS, GORD (acid reflux) and food intolerances. Apart from these special interests, I also treat many other disorders. But let me tell you a little about myself and why I became a Naturopath......... I have experienced both good health and bad health. Up to the age of 35 I had lots of energy, motivation and vitality. At the time, being Mum with 2 young children and assisting my husband in our construction business kept me extremely busy. Then I was suddenly struck down with a severe flu. Six weeks went by and I was still exhausted, my muscles ached all over and I felt depressed. The doctor explained my symptoms were post-viral and I would recover soon but months went by and I still felt terrible. To cut a very long story short, I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). Soon after that, I became intolerant to certain foods - first wheat and gluten; later dairy. My stomach would severely bloat! It was so frustrating and depressing! Plus my clothes did not fit! As the years went by and my health worsened, my life involved a merry-go-round of seeing doctors, specialists and naturopaths to find a diagnosis and cure for my CFS and food intolerances/allergies. Not to mention the thousands of dollars spent on tests and treatments. My mental health spiralled and I was diagnosed with severe chronic depression and put on anti-depressants which were a lifesaver. I felt the best I had in a long time – even though I didn’t like the fact I was on medication! My gastrointestinal issues exacerbated though, and I started suffering from severe constipation and bowel blockage. After years of doctors, pharmacists and others telling me to increase my fibre and trying about every fibre and constipation remedy on this planet earth – a gastroenterologist discovered I had a mega colon causing the problem. Medication was prescribed and if that didn’t work, I would need my large bowel removed. The merry-go-round continued to find a doctor or alternative therapist that could help without success. The ultimate slap in the face was when a doctor told me she couldn’t help me anymore! Then I had a low impact fall which caused a compressed fracture vertebrae. A bone density scan revealed osteoporosis – no doubt caused from my digestive and absorption problems. I was prescribed another medication! During all these years with my cascading health disorders, I researched everything I could find, looking for a natural treatments as I didn’t want to keep taking medication because of the side effects. Of course, I understand medication is required for some health problems and life threatening disorders. Later, I decided to study natural medicine to learn how to treat or even cure myself. With advancement in diagnostic functional tests, genetic tests and more that wasn’t available decades ago, I found the solutions to many of my health problems and feel more energetic. Recently, I changed my way of eating to a whole food plant based diet and I've noticed many benefits with my digestive issues. I feel positive that I’m on that healing pathway now but also realistic enough to know that long term problems require long term solutions. BUT there is hope. NEVER give up! From experiencing over 25 years of health problems, I can empathize with those that are dealing with theirs. I’ve also acquired a lot of knowledge on treatments that work and those that don’t - what is a waste of money and what is not. In turn, I want to share this knowledge and help others to solve their health problems. If your health problems has been bubbling away for some time and you need help with getting to the underlying cause, please email me at info@jennifer-steenland.com or book an appointment on 0400724646. |