Luriko helped me to understand that, when you live together under one roof as a family, you are not just individuals existing together in a home–instead, you really become one system. So, if one part of the system “breaks down,” so to speak, the rest of it cannot help but be impacted.

I used to think of my husband’s health, my health and my son’s health as three separate, independent matters to be addressed separately. But almost two years ago, when I first took my son to Luriko to address some ongoing health challenges he’d had, she helped me understand that we needed to boost and maintain our health as parents in order to help him achieve optimal health. We accepted that notion and she started to work with both me and my husband at the same time.

I have learned so much, and most of that knowledge is in the area of prevention. I used to think that I had no real control over illness, but Luriko has shown me that with herbs, proper nutrition, and acupuncture treatments, we can reduce the amount of times we are sick each year, and – very importantly- we can lessen the severity of illnesses when they do strike.

With a preschooler in the house, extra exposure to viruses and other pathogens is a given, but I no longer live in fear that one of us is going to get super sick and have our lives disrupted. Luriko has put the power into our hands as parents by equipping us with tools we never knew existed. She’s the first practitioner to pull back the curtain and show us what other cultures have known for centuries– that the earth provides us with plants that we can use as powerful medicines. 

When my child has a fever, I don’t need to turn to the potentially harmful products lining the shelves at my local pharmacy. I can use an herbal tincture along with specific massage to help support his body through the fever, so that he can still fight off the infection but do so with less discomfort from the fever. (Luriko–I have so many other examples of how I’ve seen the herbs and techniques like cupping that you’ve prescribed to all of us work in ways that, for the life of me, feel like magic…and that’s the information I think moms would view as pure gold! And like when you told me that bananas, nut butters and eggs can cause mucous production–so we avoid those foods when Ethan is starting to get a runny nose. Little things like that have a BIG, positive impact!) That’s just one of dozens of examples of how she’s helped me view my family’s health in a whole new light.

I no longer feel powerless- I feel empowered, I feel wise, and she’s helped me to trust and hone my “mom gut” in so many ways. She’s also shone a bright light on how taking care of myself is not being selfish–in fact, it helps me be a better caretaker and leader within my family. I’m setting a good example for my son (and husband!) by eating healthy foods, exercising, and discovering ways to reduce my stress, as well as having regular treatments and taking herbs daily. We all benefit when I take good care of myself. 

I think the key is this- you approach health in a way that feels totally new to people who have only ever been exposed to “Western” ways and who just “pop a pill” when something is wrong. You take a lot of the mystery out of it and also a lot of the FEAR! Moms get into fear so much about their kids’ health, and you have helped me no longer be afraid. I know now that your methods are my go-to, and that they will work without harmful side effects. And we have all reaped the benefits on so many levels. “