(If you haven’t read Part 1 yet, start there to hear the full backstory—including how ozone therapy saved my life.)
By 2021, my symptoms from mold exposure had mostly cleared after ozone therapy. But one thing lingered—acne. It would come and go in cycles, and I could tell it was tied to my autoimmune struggles. Back in 2017, I had tested positive for an autoimmune marker, but the nurse told me “a third of the population tests positive,” and that was all the info I got. I kept running into dead ends—until I found ozone therapy the following year.
I tried to self-diagnose: lupus? lichen planus? Hashimoto’s? The symptoms fit—until testing ruled them out. Even as a child, I was often sick. When I hit sixteen and tried to start working out, I couldn’t figure out why I’d always get sick afterward. I didn’t connect the dots until years later when I came to realize my lymphatic system wasn’t draining well.
Looking back, I see that the issues really began around age 11 or 12, shortly after my last set of vaccines. Around the same time, I started my period—and that’s when I began experiencing heart palpitations and irregular beats. I’ve since learned that the heart, liver, lungs (I had frequent pneumonia until my late twenties), gallbladder (which flared up well into my thirties), and hormones are deeply interconnected.
In 2021, after giving birth to my third child, I decided to become a surrogate. It was a way to financially support myself while staying home with my kids and enrolling in grad school. For two years, I went through IVF rounds and two failed embryo transfers. On the third try (new embryos this time), it finally worked.
The hormone treatments I had to take—birth control, Lupron, estradiol—were hard on my body (I’ll cover this in a future post). But oddly, during that time, my acne vanished. My skin actually looked great. That’s when it hit me: this was hormone-related. How had I missed this?
After the surrogate baby was born in February 2024, the acne came roaring back. It felt like a huge step backward in my healing. Ozone therapy wasn’t a long-term solution—it had helped during a crisis phase, but now I needed to go deeper.
2024: A Pivotal Year in My Healing Journey
But First—What About Diet?
Quick side note: Yes, diet matters. I’ve found that when I listen to my body, eat organic and whole foods, I do pretty well—with some exceptions. I do best with limited fruit and veggies that are mostly cooked, and surprisingly—meat. Cooked veggies have been key for me; raw ones tend to slow my digestion.
According to Chinese medicine, my long stint as a raw vegan (ages 20–24, post-mold exposure) likely made things worse. Women especially need warmth in their diets. Eating cold, raw foods created “dampness” and depleted the “fire” or chi in my body—something several acupuncturists noticed, especially in my spleen. I’ve since shifted to eating more warming foods, and my body thanks me for it.
One supplement I swear by (and have taken for five years now) is Feel Good Detoxy by Solluna (Kimberly Snyder). It’s ozonated magnesium, and it keeps me regular and supports gentle detox without the need for enemas. I’ll share more on this later, but it’s a staple.
Gallbladder Flare-Ups & Emotional Detox
In 2023, my gallbladder flare-ups returned—pain so intense I couldn’t move. Scans showed nothing, so I gave up on Western medicine and refused surgery.
A Chinese medicine-trained chiropractor showed me a trick: rub your sixth rib (right side, near the gallbladder meridian) with a massage gun. It helps unblock the channel and reduced my knee swelling (which used to happen when I hiked—yes, connected).
Then came a turning point: I participated in a plant medicine ceremony with a small group and a shaman. During the ceremony, guess what flared up? My gallbladder. That’s when I made the emotional connection: anger and fear get stuck here.
After the ceremony, the pain shifted to under my right rib—my liver. It felt enlarged, and bending over became difficult. That’s when I stumbled across the book The Amazing Liver & Gallbladder Flush—and everything clicked.
I found a hydrocolonic therapist through a friend. Her space was peaceful and warm, filled with sound bowls and essential oils. I committed to three flushes. The first one? I passed nickel-sized stones, hundreds of green liver stones, and some creepy parasites (which often hide in bile ducts). No wonder I was having gallbladder attacks!
After the second flush (which had me throwing up all night), my liver stopped hurting. I could exercise again without getting sick. It felt like a miracle.
But the acne? Still there. Sometimes cystic. I knew I wasn’t done.
Hormones, Skincare &… Coffee?
I finally faced something I hadn’t wanted to admit: my skin is sensitive. I’m rosacea-prone and reactive. I found a skincare line called Clear Stem whose founder had similar struggles and focused on hormone-related acne. The products weren’t cheap, but they helped. My skin was repairing—but the acne lingered.
Then came the coffee revelation.
I stumbled on a YouTuber who quit coffee and watched her acne vanish. Ugh. I was heartbroken. But I quit anyway.
Within days, my heart palpitations lessened. My face stopped flushing. Anxiety dropped. I had more sustained energy. My acne reduced by about 90%.
Here’s what I learned:
- Drinking coffee before 10 AM was a major trigger (sometimes I can get away with 9 AM).
- Quality matters. I now drink Bulletproof Coffee (tested for mold and toxins).
- I mix regular and decaf beans (I use an espresso machine and grinder) for a gentler caffeine experience.
That shift changed everything. I didn’t have to quit coffee—I had to time it better and reduce my load.
Cortisol, Sleep & Clean Makeup
I’ve always run high on cortisol. Years of stress will do that. So now I manage it daily. One game-changing product: Moon Brew—a stress-reducing adaptogenic night tonic. I sleep deeper, wake up without fog, and actually feel like getting out of bed (which used to be impossible).
And finally—makeup.
Just because it’s “clean” doesn’t mean it won’t clog your pores. I used Jane Iredale for years, but Clear Stem’s free ingredient checker flagged several products. I switched to Toups & Co, and their foundation not only passed the test—it’s stunning. Smooth, natural, and breathable.
I finish with a spritz of hypochlorous acid, which kills acne-causing bacteria and soothes my skin. (I’ll link some info on this soon.)
In Closing
This journey has been long, layered, and humbling. Healing is never linear. It’s a spiral. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, life hands you another clue. But each flare-up has led me closer to understanding my body—and I hope some of this helps you on your path too.
If you’ve dealt with acne, autoimmune issues, hormonal chaos, or mystery symptoms, you’re not alone. And if one thing from this post resonates with you—start there.
Let me know if you’d like a free checklist of the products and steps I use daily—I’d be happy to share!
SHE'S GOT RULES 
Leave a comment