Today marks the first step in bringing something to life that I’ve been daydreaming about for four years! I’m hitting send on the inaugural issue of a newsletter all about the small changes that you can make to achieve health and wellness in your life.

it started in march 2015
I had just wrapped up a two-week trip to India. It was magical. While boarding the plane home, I started to feel a little funky.
I sat down in my seat.
I started to sweat.
I lost my breath.
My stomach started doing twists and turns.
I started to shake.
I had never felt that way before, so naturally, I decided that I was dying. I got off the plane and requested to see the medical team at the New Delhi airport. I was told I was having a panic attack and to fly home the next day.

Panic attack? Anxiety? No way. Not me. Something “real” had to be going on. I never had anxiety before and had total control of my life!
From there, things got really scary including symptoms like:
Bloating and stomach pain every time I ate
Fatigue and insomnia
Hair loss
Joint pain
Excessive weight gain
Acne, backne, and skin rashes
Loss of my period
Anxiety, depression, and moodiness
And the list goes on.
It also included being told:
I probably had MS, but who knows
I probably picked up a toxic parasite in India, but who knows
It was in my head
I would probably never have kids
It would get worse over time and there is nothing that I could do
I didn’t have a thyroid problem (shout out to my Mum who knew I had a thyroid problem from the start)
And that list goes on, too…
I knew there had to be something that I could do to get my life back on track. A client of mine at the time noticed that I wasn’t myself, asked what was going on, and told me about Functional Medicine based on her own positive experience. I watched what she sent me, started Googling, and ultimately found a path to healing.
There is no doubt in my mind that working with a Functional Doctor and learning about Functional Medicine changed the trajectory of my life.
since then…!
I determined (through testing that I discovered on my own) that I have a very common, reversible autoimmune disease called Hashimoto’s
I learned that anxiety and panic attacks are typically some of the first symptoms of autoimmunity (explaining the New Delhi airplane panic attack!)
I have regained my health and have none of the symptoms that I used to experience daily
I have learned how to use data to inform the protocols that I follow and assess how they are working in my body, recognizing that everyone is different
I am getting better as a result of my new lifestyle and habits!
I feel energetic, happy, and excited to fulfill my mission on earth!
When I started to get better, I started to dream.
My dream is for all people to know that there are easy ways to live healthy and well so that their precious time on earth can be spent having fun, feeling joy, and spreading love.
My mission is to help people who feel sick, unheard, and stuck transform their lives, with baby steps over time, to feel optimal health, wellness, and joy.
why i’m starting a newsletter
This newsletter is the place where I will share things that I already know and things that I am learning with you (I’m starting Functional Health Coach Training on Monday - more to come in the next newsletter!). My goal, for now, is to start to build a community of people who want to know more about how to be healthy and well to live a vibrant life.
In this newsletter, I will share:
Products that I love and are alternatives for the many things we use that are toxic and/or bad for our tummies, hormones, etc.
Tips for sticking to a healthy and well lifestyle – acknowledging that changing old habits is REALLY HARD and learning that you need to change things that you’ve done your entire life is REALLY OVERWHELMING!
Things that I am learning
Things that I’m listening to/reading/watching
How to use data to guide health and wellness decisions, while always following your gut (I’m currently obsessed with the mind/gut connection - more on that in a future newsletter, too)
Q&A from readers
Information about easy blood, stool, and saliva tests to understand your genetic composition and key markers to build protocols that work
This newsletter is for you, so I desperately want to know what else you want to read. Let me know at millhouse.health@gmail.com.
That’s it for now. There is SO MUCH MORE TO COME!
Thank you, from my whole heart, for being on this journey with me.
Here we gooooooo!
Love,
Elizabeth 💕
Wow, Elizabeth! An amazing story of dedication to digging for and finding the answers you knew were out there. Functional medicine and functional nutrition have also been my 'go to' since I couldn't get helpful answers from traditional medicine doctors. I'm so glad you are creating this space for people to get answers and the support to find root causes of their issues allowing them to begin healthier a healing journey.
Love and Light,
Christine Castillo