I grew up in a small town in Ukraine where folk medicine wasn’t alternative—it was simply medicine. With few pharmaceuticals, healing happened in kitchens and gardens, using herbs, bee pollen, cabbage leaves, and food as therapy. Doctors were called only when absolutely necessary.

After immigrating to the U.S., I watched my mother shift from traditional remedies to prescription drugs. At first it seemed miraculous—but over time, the side effects accumulated. That contrast planted an early question in me: what if healing didn’t have to be either-or?

In my twenties, I traveled through China, Southeast Asia, and India, studying yoga and Eastern philosophy. On a boat to Shanghai, I fell seriously ill. A stranger treated me with herbs, acupuncture, and a quiet confidence in natural medicine. By the next day, I had almost fully recovered. That moment changed the trajectory of my life.

I went on to study at Emperor’s College of Oriental Medicine and, in 1997, opened East Meets West Holistic Center in Los Angeles. Over the years, my work has evolved into a deeply integrative approach— combining Traditional Chinese Medicine, Functional Medicine, and Western diagnostics to support long-term healing.

My clinical work eventually led to the creation of Divine Farmer, a line of herbal formulas born from patient needs during the pandemic. I developed Illuminate, a formula combining Chinese herbs and CBD to support emotional/mental and nervous system health.

At the core of my practice is the belief that healing is not about choosing sides—it’s about honoring both ancient wisdom and modern science to treat the whole human being.