Healing Hands: How My Grandmother Inspired My Path to Nutrition Therapy

When I was in elementary school, I noticed that my maternal grandmother, Ellen Pugsley Brown, suffered from arthritis, leaving her hands severely crippled. As time went on, I saw a remarkable improvement—she could open jars without assistance. Curious, I asked her what had helped. She told me she had worked with a chiropractor who recommended high doses of Vitamin C with Rose Hips.

My grandmother had always been a bit of a naturopath. Growing up on a farm, she was naturally inclined toward alternative healing methods that didn’t involve pharmaceuticals. Her approach made a lasting impression on me.

Fast forward several years—about six months after the birth of my second child, I became seriously ill. After several days of uncertainty, I was diagnosed with Behcet’s autoimmune disease and referred to a rheumatologist. I needed to take several medications to reduce acute inflammation quickly, which was necessary at the time.

After about six months of following the prescribed treatment, I was able to taper off the medications and focus on an anti-inflammatory diet to keep my autoimmune breakouts in remission. My interest in using food as medicine was reignited.

In 2011, while managing a corporate career with frequent business travel, raising three children, and being in my 40s, I decided to take the leap. My grandmother would have been proud. Despite marrying with only an eighth-grade education, she earned her GED in her 60s and graduated with an associate degree in her 70s. Her journey reminded me that it was never too late, and I was not too old. I returned to school to understand the science behind using food as medicine.

Earning my Master’s in Nutrition Therapy was transformative. Whether working with a client or in everyday life, I use this knowledge almost daily—for myself, my grown children, my husband, a friend, or a yoga student.

Thank you, Ellen Brown, a.k.a. “Gram,” for sparking this flame in me.

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