Student Spotlight
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Rosa McNeil, candidate for M.S. in Holistic Nutrition
“Open Your Eyes to the Elements of Healing”
Growing up in Puerto Rico, Rosa’s family and neighbors celebrated the changing seasons with herbal tonics, cleansing, and shamanic rituals. “In those days and within that culture, even small children came to understand that plants have medicinal and mystical properties,” she recalls. “People knew that periods of silent prayer and fasting, sought in natural surroundings, formed a powerful communion with the spirits of earth, water, air and fire.”
But with age and alongside the Westernized habits of modern progress, her parents began to develop health challenges such as diabetes and fibroid tumors. A brother who enlisted in the armed service believes that vaccinations led to his developing cancer. As synthetic medicines replaced natural supplements in their homes, Rosa watched her family’s health slowly start to wobble.
In her own life, marriage and the births of her son and daughter preceded many busy years of studying to earn an undergraduate degree in education, and then embarking on her master’s degree in business. Through the emotional upheaval of an eventual divorce and the breakneck pace of single–parenthood, Rosa lost touch with the shamanic “knowingness” that had once guided her to comfort and contentment.
Years later, although blissfully remarried, Rosa would experience yet another new disappointment when various doctors told her that she could no longer conceive. “Through my research in discovering natural alternatives to infertility, I seemed to find all the answers I needed through Linda Page’s naturopathy books and her studies of Chinese herbs.”
Along with her two grown children, Rosa has since produced two healthy preteen daughters!
“Through iridology, I’m learning how to address many of our blended family’s ancestral health issues. As a result I’ve requested and demanded genetic testing that led us to reintroduce the old folk wisdom of blood–letting to rebalance systemic weaknesses.”
Along with careful attention to nutrition, activity and supplements, she adds, one relative has lost 50 pounds without medical intervention. Reminded, after so many years, of the innumerable powers of herbs, Rosa McNeil has brought her herbal studies to life by attending Linda Page’s herbal tour in China — and by enrolling with CCNH!
“Clayton’s annual conferences invigorate my interest in learning from natural healers in so many traditions: from TCM to Native American and Ayurvedic herbalism. I’ve loved learning from the Appalachian healers, and from herbalists in the Caribbean islands, the deserts and the West coast.
“One emotional step to healing that I’ve found is universal, that I’ve come to understand and that I hope to help many others understand, is that personal healing begins with self–acceptance,” Rosa concludes.
“Accept within yourself that whatever issues are impeding your healing or growth, you can and must first deal with these, lovingly, in order to open your spirit and mind to heal through and through. Forgive all people and all situations; especially forgive yourself. Cleanse your spirit at the soul level, and then you will be ready to heal.”
This article was based on an interview with the student.
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