McMahon is a retired nurse who lives in Melbourne inner-West and suffered from chronic fatigue, osteoarthritis, back pain, and chronic pelvic pain for 20 years. Numerous doctors were unable to relieve her pain and one even suggested she undergo a hysterectomy. She refused, believing there was an alternative treatment that would be suitable. The pain continued and McMahon said she had reached a stage where she felt she could not go on anymore in her condition. ‘I knew there had to be a change in my life or something worse would happen to me. I desperately needed to improve my condition,’ she said.

She first read about Highwood Health’s doctor-supervised natural healing program in the Spring/Summer 2007 edition of aduki and entered the competition for a chance to win an 18-day live in program at the centre. To her surprise and delight she won, and on 25 May 2008 she checked into Highwood. The competition win meant she was treated to everything as part of her stay. Three delicious meals a day, rejuvenating massages and facials, health lectures, nutrition demonstrations, cooking classes and much more were all included.

Before going to Highwood, McMahon ate a standard meat diet, but now says she’s a vegan and wants to keep going that way. When asked to describe the experience of the health makeover, her answer is clear: ‘It was life changing, I am a new woman, I haven't felt this good for years.’

Her transformation began with an entrance medical consultation with Dr. David Bird, who prescribed a personalised program of natural treatments. McMahon says the treatments she received from the Highwood therapists ‘were totally nurturing and healing.’ Each day she was guided through a regimen of stretches and a walking exercise program, before attending health lectures. It was at these lectures that she learned eight health principles that encompass a vegan diet. Prior to going to Highwood, McMahon said she could ‘barely walk anywhere for 15 minutes’ due to sever knee, hip and back pain. At Highwood she walked every day and on one occasion managed a 1.5 hours walk. ‘It was miraculous,’ she said.

McMahon says the ‘food at Highwood was all deliciously vegan’ and at the twice weekly cooking classes she learned how to prepare the vegan food that was served to her at meal times. She was astounded and the variety and flavour provided by a vegan diet and now feels spoilt for choice in her daily menu. She said that the innovative lectures have given her the confidence to be vegan in the real world.

The results for Roma have been outstanding. During her stay at Highwood she lost 4kg, ceased taking pain killers and relieved her arthritic and pelvic pain dramatically. She said she has ‘not felt so much energy before. I now have this tremendous sense of well being. I am really grateful to aduki and Highwood Health for raising the awareness of alternative natural healing and the power of veganism to enhance one’s life. I am a happy and grateful testament to the effective good that it has done for me.’

Highwood Health
291 Maroondah Highway, Narbethong, VIC
Hours: Mon-Thu 8.30-6, Fri 8.30-12.30
Ph: 03 5963 7011 or 03 5963 7000


WORDS: Emily Clark