I’ve been avoiding writing this post — mostly because when I wrote the earlier parts of my story, all the feelings came back up again. It was difficult, like reliving everything. I needed to pause and catch my breath for a while. But here goes:
The First Steps after the Diagnosis
Putting cardiac sarcoidosis into remission was, strangely, not the most difficult part. When they sent me home from the hospital, I was on high-dose Prednisolone, Methotrexate injections (later a specialist in Germany told me this was overkill), antibiotics, stomach protectors, calcium supplements (contraindicated for Sarcoidosis patients…), and more.
Prednisolone worked its wonders — it always does. It was fine for the immediate crisis. But once I was home and had recovered from the shock and the hospital trauma, I put myself to work immediately:
How can I heal this in a holistic way?
My First Holistic Swaps
The first thing I changed was the stomach protectors. I found an alternative straight away: flaxseed water — simply pour hot water over a spoonful of flaxseeds (ideally the yellow ones) and drink either the whole mixture or let it steep and drink the warm water only. I also didn’t take the calcium because my research showed it was contraindicated for Sarcoidosis (it even says so on the package insert).
A week in, I called my cardiologist to ask what the antibiotics were for and whether I could stop them. Done.
Finding Holistic Support
I looked up holistic doctors and found a holistic center nearby. I booked an appointment immediately. They did blood work, advised me on anti-inflammatory supplements, and — for the first time — someone spoke to me about the microbiome. I had never heard about that before! I also received ozone therapy once a week. I still do all my bloodwork there today.
I also learned that anti-inflammatory supplements aren’t universal — what works for one person may not work for another. I had specific blood tests done to figure out what my body needed, and I’ll share more about that in a separate post.
They also set me up with a Cranio-Sacral therapist, who ultimately helped me tremendously. I still go to her because seeing her feels like a wellness hour. She always knows exactly what’s going on with my body at any given moment — and as we age, there is always “a little something,” right? She was a manual therapist but also a bit of a psychologist for me, simply through her empathy. She was one of the few who truly cared and listened, instead of making me repeat my whole story again and again like many others did.
I was looking for answers — trying to find the root cause
Why did this happen to me when I was living what I believed was a healthy life? I didn’t smoke, barely drank, exercised, ate fairly well, slept enough… so what was the root cause?
Like many people on a complex healing journey, I kept hearing the same promise from practitioners:
“We will find the root cause.”
I wanted to believe that my symptoms could be explained by one single culprit — one imbalance, one deficiency, one hidden infection. But the truth is, no one ever found “the cause.” And looking back, I understand why.
It was never just one thing.
It was likely a combination of things slowly building up over time.
So instead of obsessing over a single root cause, I shifted my focus to supporting my body in every way I could — clean swaps, anti-inflammatory nutrition, healing therapies, and the other steps I talk about in this post (and will go deeper into in future ones).
Changing Doctors (More Than Once)
I also changed my cardiologist quickly. Although he was a good doctor, he was part of the same hospital where everything happened — and I couldn’t go back there.
The rheumatologist assigned to me wasn’t a fit either. When I asked about diet and holistic approaches, he laughed and said:
“You think you’re going to heal with some herbs? You will take medication for the rest of your life. And no, I have no diet recommendations — you don’t look like you eat hamburgers all day, so you’re good.”
That was the last time I saw him.
The Havelhöhe Protocol
My research led me to the Havelhöhe Protocol — the only holistic protocol for Sarcoidosis. I found an anthroposophic doctor just 15 minutes away (what a blessing). He started me on the protocol immediately. The anthroposophic approach resonated with me deeply — partly because I attended a Rudolf Steiner School for some years as a child and loved it.
At that point, I was still on Prednisolone, which had to be reduced gradually.
Getting Specialist Confirmation in Munich
Because cardiac sarcoidosis is rare and I couldn’t find a Swiss specialist with extensive experience, I went to Munich to be absolutely sure I was on the right path. Although I was following the Havelhöhe Protocol, my Swiss doctor had only treated one patient (with lung and skin Sarcoidosis), so hearing from true specialists mattered to me.
They:
- stopped Methotrexate immediately
- continued tapering Prednisolone
- weren’t enthusiastic about the anthroposophic protocol (the usual traditional vs. holistic divide)
But just a few months after my diagnosis, my MRI already showed remission.
They strongly recommended an ICD/pacemaker, especially if I wanted to fully discontinue Prednisolone — so I had the operation a few months later that year. It felt awful — as if my heart had failed me even though I was in remission. But it meant protection. Sarcoidosis can be insidious, even when you feel better. Better safe than sorry.
It took 1.5 years to taper off Prednisolone fully.
A year later, a PET/CT confirmed everything was still fine. I didn’t want another MRI due to the Gadolinium contrast agent, which stays in the body forever (even if they say otherwise). PET/CT isn’t ideal either — the radiation is higher — but between the two, I chose that one.
Nutrition
I researched anti-inflammatory nutrition, low-arachidonic-acid foods, and then discovered Dr. Tom O’Bryan’s documentaries — the first time I ever heard anything about gluten in connection with autoimmune conditions.
I switched to a gluten-free diet immediately. At first only on weekdays, until I learned:
With gluten, it’s all or nothing.
Even one croissant sets you back weeks.
Interestingly, the nutrition consultant I was referred to never mentioned gluten at all – I found it through my own research.
I also reduced dairy products and switched from regular brown sugar to date syrup, yacon syrup, and coconut blossom sugar which are all less processed and have a lower glycemic index. I love my morning Chai Tea and Matcha Tea Latte, so I couldn’t leave sugar out completely — and you don’t have to. Sugar isn’t all bad; it depends on the amount and the kind you use.
And on that note: for anyone (including me) who puts honey into hot drinks or cooks with it — you may actually be doing more harm than good. When honey is heated, it loses many of its healing properties, and it can form compounds that are not beneficial for the body. So it’s best to add honey only once your drink or meal has cooled down a bit.
I also researched which fruits are naturally lower in sugar and offer strong anti-inflammatory benefits. Some of my favorites are apricots, cherries, blueberries, and raspberries — they’re rich in antioxidants, gentle on blood sugar. I also looked into vegetables that support a calmer, less inflamed system. Certain nightshades, like tomatoes, aubergines, and bell peppers, tend to be easier on the body when they’re well cooked, since cooking breaks down some of the natural compounds that can be irritating for sensitive systems. But there are plenty of vegetables that are wonderfully anti-inflammatory even when eaten raw, like cucumbers, leafy greens, celery, fennel, carrots, and radishes. These have a cooling, soothing quality and became staples in my daily meals.
Losing Steroid Weight
Thanks to Prednisolone, I had put on around 10 kg. After stopping it, I lost weight — but not all of it. Long story short: after much trial and error, the only thing that worked for me was
Intermittent Fasting (16/8)
I follow the 16/8 plan and lost 10+ kg with it. Because I always ate breakfast late anyway, it worked perfectly. I simply stopped eating after 4 pm and started again at 9/10 am the next day. Highly recommend — it’s not hard!
Juicing as Part of My Healing
As part of healing, I also bought a juicer and started juicing to get more vitamins and minerals. Juicing truly is a wonderful way to nourish your body.
❤️
All of these steps—nutrition, lifestyle, therapies—became the foundation that helped me move from crisis into remission and stay there. Everyone’s path is different, but I hope my experience gives you a sense of what’s possible when you approach healing from many angles.
Disclaimer
I am not a doctor. Everything I share is based on my personal experience. Always consult a physician before starting any treatments on your own.
If you haven’t read the beginning of my story, you can find it here:
My Story – Part 1
My Story – Part 2
