Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Kolin Durrant.
Hi Dr. Durrant, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
Growing up my parents and grandparents utilized a number of herbal home remedies. In my teens, I was fascinated by the ways in which plants have been used for thousands of years across the planet for their healing properties. Fast forward to age 30 and I still wasn’t sure what I wanted to be when I grew up. I had worked in a record store, detailed boats, done collections for banks, worked as a Project Manager, been an Operations Manager for a Commercial Real Estate/Property Management company, and was working in the nonprofit world supporting attorneys. I knew I wanted to be of service to the World and when I discovered that Pacific College of Health and Science had a robust herbal medicine program as an integral aspect of their Doctorate of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine program, I knew it was the perfect fit.
A couple of years into my Doctorate program I had a health crisis, the acute phase of which lasted about a year. I went to the ER twice and struggled in my day-to-day activities. I oscillated between crippling anxiety that lasted for days at a time and fatigue and lethargy that no amount of sleep would resolve. I started having alopecia patches and ended up shaving my head. I saw doctors, specialists, and a number of alternative medicine practitioners. Western medicine told me my blood work was normal and it was all in my head, offering antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications.
Working with an instructor and mentor I started looking at the functional ranges in my blood work and upon requesting some additional testing, discovered I had a thyroid autoimmune condition, Hashimoto Thyroiditis. With a diagnosis in hand, I immediately set to making dietary changes, which improved my symptoms by 80% in a matter of months.
As I was in the latter half of my graduate program, I had the privilege of learning Dr. Datis Kharrazian’s material by attending ten of Apex Energetics Functional Medicine Programs. This allowed me to better understand how to heal myself and the patients I now see in my practice. I came to understand autoimmunity in a whole new light. I learned that lab tests are instrumental in understanding internal physiology and how to bring the body back into balance through nutraceuticals, lifestyle changes, and diet/nutrition.
This process crystallized my desire to help as many people suffering from autoimmunity and chronic health conditions as I possibly could. I didn’t realize that my doctorate program would result in me specializing in immunity, autoimmunity, and functional medicine, but what it gift it has been for myself and my patients. The synergy of Eastern practices and Western methodology allows me to offer the best of each for a truly individualized treatment. I’m blessed to be on this path, through synchronicities, finding the right information that made a difference. I’m honored to carry my expertise, knowledge, and compassion forward to target the source of imbalances, address it, empower my patients to manifest greater health and wellness, and improve their quality of life.
I graduated with honors, received my Master’s and Doctorate, and got licensed, and have since opened Manifest Health & Wellness with my partner, Melissa Kress.
I have two beautiful children and two amazing grandchildren. I love camping, sailing, movies, and spending quality time with my family and friends.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
The journey to where I am today has been full of opportunities for growth, which is how I’ve chosen to reframe challenges. Looking at each situation as a potential catalyst for growth and change has been instrumental in my success. My journey through graduate school took eight years. I worked full-time at a non-profit through school, and worked a second job as the Nutraceutical Representative on campus for two prestigious nutraceutical companies; Emerson Ecologics and Apex Energetics, in addition to being a single father, and taking 3-6 classes/clinic shifts per term. I experienced a health crisis intense enough that I took a term off school, followed by a couple years to find balance. I had moments that I wanted to give up, I had late nights and tears on more than one occasion. Through this, I found my inner strength, my passion to pursue my dreams, and my desire to keep moving forward, even if that movement was almost imperceptible at times. I am truly fortunate to have amazing people in my life that showed up in one way or another through the dark moments to shine a light and share their love and compassion.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Manifest Health & Wellness?
Manifest Health & Wellness focuses on providing each patient with a multidisciplinary patient-centric model of care that infusing acupuncture, herbal medicine, and cupping with functional medicine, supplements, and PEMF technology.
We specialize in complex cases of autoimmunity, gut health, and chronic health conditions through an interactive process that engages and empowers patients through nutrition, diet, exercise, and lifestyle processes that become the tools for lifelong health, immune support, detoxification, addressing pain, balancing hormones, and improving physical and metal health.
We understand that depression, anxiety, brain fog, digestive concerns, fatigue, stress, and pain can make it difficult to manage work, family, and daily life. We are here to support you in Manifesting optimal Health and Wellness.
We love surprises, fun facts, and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I am a total rock nerd! From the rocks I find when camping or hiking, to the gems and minerals from local mines, to the meteorites from space that create tektites upon impact, I love rocks. There are so many different colors, shapes, patterns, and combinations to appreciate. I love to geek out when I get something new to see what conditions (heat, pressure, time) it takes for the Earth to produce such variety. A few favorites are pallasite meteorites, malachite/chrysocolla, and benitoite (which is the California State stone).
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ManifestHW.com
- Instagram: @Manifest_HealthandWellness
- Facebook: @ManifestHealthandWellness
