Hi and Welcome!
My name is Monica and I’m the blogger behind Manifest2Heal (M2H). Originally from Minnesota, I transplanted to Colorado in 2004.
My initial flare of Crohn’s disease in 2015 ignited a passion to figure out the root cause of my incurable diagnosis. At the time I was aware that my poorly managed stress levels were likely a major, if not the, reason for my gut dysbiosis. However the results of my colonoscopy left me both shocked and devastated. Upon receiving the news I read all the literature on how to heal myself and complied with things like meditation, supplements/medication, sleep/rest, yoga, and strict elimination diets. Fortunately my body has healed over time; unfortunately I’ve had two flares since the beginning of my health crisis nightmare. Suffice to say, I haven’t cracked the code to my illness yet.
The elimination diet journey was originally what sparked my intention behind M2H. In 2021 I was following one called the Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) and started to make my own recipes that adhered to the food parameters. I had friends visit me that year who witnessed the commitment this diet required, my passion for creating new recipes, and encouraged me to post my concoctions to the world. I had already wanted to give back to the autoimmune community and this seemed like a perfect way to do that.
I graduated from the AIP diet in 2022 and found that when I’m in remission I can consume practically anything in moderation. This celebratory discovery left me somewhat lost as to how I wanted to proceed with M2H since I was no longer restricted. Knowing I feel best when I cook at home with nourishing ingredients, I’ve decided to start sharing recipes prioritizing whole foods to reflect my preferred way of eating while my disease is under control. I hope they bring joy to your gut as well.
Now onto my interest in 🍄🍄🍄 ~
Mushrooms have been getting a lot of buzz in recent years for their numerous benefits and I’ve been particularly intrigued from a medicinal perspective. In 2022 Colorado voters passed Prop 122: The Natural Medicine Health Act which decriminalized the personal use, sharing, cultivation and possession for people 21 years or older of 5 psychedelic plants and fungi. Included in the list were psilocybin and psilocin “magic” mushrooms. I’d tested many stress relieving techniques, some ongoing, but I hadn’t tried microdosing yet. The passage of Prop 122 gifted me the chance and in early 2023 I seized the opportunity. I was instantly fascinated, not only by the cultivation process, but also by the noticeable health benefits I felt on the days I took my magical little mushroom pill.
I’m a newbie to the fungi world who’s personally experimenting with medicinals and gourmets to see if they can help heal my gut long-term. I remain highly optimistic about my future with mushrooms and am excited to share my educational findings here with you.
I have many aspirations for M2H but due to a full-time job that takes a lot of my energy I’m only able to update my recipe and mushroom affairs sporadically. Regardless, I appreciate you following me and am always open to a conversation. Email me anytime with comments, questions, collab ideas, volunteer opportunities, etc., at manifest2heal@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing from you.
Cheers!