Today we’d like to introduce you to Anastasiia Gertsen.
Anastasiia, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
When I was 22, I joined one of the best airlines in the world — Emirates Airlines. My life was full of traveling, new people, parties, and adventures. I gained so much experience and broadened my horizons. Yet, my life was full of sleepless nights, stress, and physical exhaustion.
When we picture a stewardess, she’s a beautiful young lady with a winning smile. Yes, stewardesses just jetting off on their first few flights are like this! But from my time in the industry, I saw those gorgeous young girls turn into old ladies within just a couple of years, suffering from severe hair loss, skin problems, depression, early aging, and more. Of course, some stewardesses have more natural resilience so their health lasts longer. Unfortunately, I was one of the fragile ones. My friends often say of me: “A wind blows and she falls apart,” implying that my health has always been delicate. Complicating that even further, every year, working with the Airline was getting worse and worse.
I visited many doctors who kept prescribing different pills that had minor or no effect at all. Some were predicting a dark future, some that I would be just “ok”. But what I felt was not what I wanted. I started to read as much medical literature as I could, as well as popular books on health topics. I tried all the possible diet protocols — from eating only raw food to fasting, giving up on dairy and gluten, etc. At some point, I realized I needed to take responsibility for my health to a whole new level.”
If I didn’t help myself, no one would. So, I decided to study nutrition professionally. However, education was very expensive, and back then, I was in financial difficulties. I gave a call to my old friend from California, Walter Ludlow, a professional accountant, and asked for help. And this is how it all started. Thanks to Walter I finished two degrees — one in Nutrition and Functional Medicine, and one in Ayurveda — one year of study for each. I continued studying nonstop until the present day, constantly learning from the best doctors and professionals.
My first clients were family and friends, and of course me myself. I managed to sustain my harmful working environment and improve my health. Now I know what my body asks for at any particular moment. Later on, I wanted to share my knowledge with people, so I started participating in yoga festivals and events as a speaker.
My approach is a combination of Ayurveda, nutrition, and basic medicine knowledge. Modern medical research is discovering things all the time, but many have already been described in Ayurveda thousands of years ago. Ayurveda and its dosha concept help to understand modern science, biochemistry, physiology, cause-effect relationships, and pathophysiology on a much deeper level, while fundamental medical knowledge helps to correctly interpret and apply all the instructions given by Ayurveda.
This amazing combination helps me to understand better the roots of each body’s disbalances, and treat it accordingly, as bodies may have the same diagnosis and symptoms while the cause is different. In my work, I use Ayurvedic remedies as well as supplements you can easily find on iHerb or Amazon.
I have a very long questionnaire where every single detail should be described. I ask for pictures of nails, eyes, and tongue — all of these additional facets help me in diagnostics. Blood tests may be affected by the human element, diet, or stress, but our body never lies. Our skin, hair condition, and even body shape reflect our inner health condition.
Also like when clients come to me with very minor symptoms — even the tiniest but oh-so-important things, such as saying “I’m happy, I feel good, but just something tiny bothers me” can be of prime importance. Typically, even if blood tests fall within the normal range, we might find results that aren’t optimal for the individual and may require slight adjustments on an individual basis.
I learned how to see those early stages of imbalance which, when fixed in time, would never develop into something serious. Ayurveda gives me an understanding that you cannot just look at the number on blood test results. They should always be compared with the symptoms and constitution of the particular person. Those reference ranges are just averages. However, for someone, vitamin D at level 60 is enough, whereas for someone else it would be too low. When you know which dosha type you belong to (in Ayurveda there are three doshas and ten different combinations — Vata, Pitta, and Kapha being the main three) it is easier to predict the optimal range just for you.
In Ayurveda, there are six stages of illness, and when we normally go to a doctor it is already a 4th or 5th stage. That’s why it is important to learn how to notice those minor symptoms and catch a disbalance before it develops into an illness or diagnosis. Even a regular flu goes through all those stages.
Therapy is like an art for me, there is no same case, no same body. Each case is wildly different even if they look the same at first glance. I don’t have an on-size-fits-all standard scheme. It’s like sewing a dress — you take the measurements, make a design, and then make adjustments to fit the dress perfectly.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My clients hail from all over the world, allowing me to identify certain universal challenges. For instance, many find it difficult to readily access blood tests or ultrasounds. In my home country, Ukraine, one can easily visit a nearby laboratory and undergo any type of test at a reasonable cost.
Many clients in Europe, the US, or Canada are struggling to get a doctor’s referral for even the most basic checks, and that’s not even taking into account the additional tests that are often required. Moreover, it takes a very long time to get any of these done. Or if you go to an independent lab, you would normally spend a fortune just to do run-of-the-mill checks. Some tests are not available at all. This problem makes it complicated to keep track of your health.
My visual diagnostics, rooted in Ayurveda, have allowed me to compile a detailed questionnaire that allows me to omit some of those checks that my client is unable to do. Of course, having access to laboratory diagnostics is always a plus and makes our cooperation more efficient.
Many people are also not ready to change their habits or lifestyles, not ready to give up on some foods. They get supplement subscriptions and hope they will resolve all their issues. But preventive medicine talks for itself — it’s a change at the core — and, of course, it’s always better to prevent than to cure. Unfortunately, taking painkillers, not noticing what your body is telling you, or taking a statin pill to block the production of cholesterol doesn’t work here.
I respect all choices, even those I don’t personally advocate for. Each has its value, but implementing change demands inner strength.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Recently, I was invited to host webinars for Angela Pearl’s online course on weight loss. Angela is a famous astrologist and motivational speaker from Ukraine living in Australia. Her YouTube channel has over two million followers. She decided to bring her followers to order to improve health and lifestyle. We had over 1,000 people attend this online course. One of my most recent works is a guide I wrote on hair health called The Hair-Body Connection: Unlocking the Secret to Fabulous Hair.
There I talk about how to find the real reasons behind common hair problems like hair loss, brittle or dry hair, etc. Good shampoo, masks, professional treatments, and all the rest don’t resolve the problem at the core, as all of it is coming from the inside. I also made a quick check list of must-have supplements for weight loss. Weight loss takes time. It should be as healthy as possible, and we should endeavor to avoid any unnecessary side effects.
Right now, I’m working on my own Telegram channel where I’m going to share how to take care of your liver and gall bladder, how to diagnose slight imbalances early, how to support them naturally, especially the liver as one of our core detox organs suffering from the environment, our modern diet, etc.
The liver is a base for hormonal health, energy production, storage for fat-soluble vitamins, the base for our youth and beauty, and so much more. If you don’t know where to start on becoming healthier, I’d say you can’t go wrong by starting with your liver —you will definitely approve of the results.
I think this kind of knowledge should be taught at school. Almost everyone doesn’t know how to eat right, how to mix food, and how to understand what is going on in their body. I work with all kinds of health issues such as digestive problems, constant headaches, acne, autoimmune illnesses, and so on. Soon, I will start working closely with hormonal health.
What were you like growing up?
Since an early age, I was curious about holistic approaches towards health. I used to try all kinds of herbs and natural remedies. My mother always used to tell me while preparing her face or hair mask to “only put on your skin whatever you can put in your mouth.” She was right.
My mother always tried to take care of our family health using only natural remedies — herbs, honey, and other bee products like propolis, royal jelly, etc. I think this is how I developed my longing for natural medicine. In high school I was interested in so many things: I studied Spanish, French, German, and English. I learned how to play piano and sing.
During University, I used to go to individual yoga classes and qigong workshops. I loved frequenting restaurants and developing my own recipes based on what I ate. One of my favorite things has always been dancing. I have tried out many dance styles which give me so much inspiration, set a good mood, and keep my body fit. I’ve always been active and even now I still love active sports.
Among all of those hobbies, what always had been there was my desire to help people live healthier, happier lives. Even at a much younger age, when my friends were getting sick, I would cure them with ginger tea and natural herbs. I also discovered Ayurvedic herbs from the only Ayurvedic shop in the city and tested them on myself.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://anastasiiagertsen.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anastasiiagerts
Image Credits
Javier Ospina https://www.instagram.com/javierospina
