ABOUT

SUMMER 2025 * CELEBRATING 30 YEARS

HIGHLIGHTS:

  • ERIKA MARQUARDT graduated in 1995 from the University of Guelph with a Major in Psychology, Minor in Family & Social Relations, and an unclassified Minor in Fine Art.
  • She took additional courses at the University of Waterloo in Social Work; and studied Clinical Hypnosis, Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), and Time Line Therapy (TLT) at the American Pacific University.
  • In the summer of 1995 she opened her business in Rockwood/Nassagaweya/Milton North called “Rockwood Health Services” and offered Counselling and Hypnosis, Past Life Regressions, NLP and TLT sessions to her clients, helping to heal their minds and souls.
  • That summer she continued her studies into Alternative Medicine and learned Reflexology, Massages, and Vibrational Medicine and then added that to her practice, supplying the physical aspect of healing to her clinic.
  • She originally wanted to become a Psychologist and Doctor, but somehow ended on a different path in life. Alternative Medicine fascinated her, and so the fall of 1995 she started advanced training and entered the 1st school in Acupuncture & Traditional Chinese Medicine in Ontario, Canada – at the prestigious Toronto School of TCM. After 4 years she graduated with top honours (equivalent to a Doctorate Degree in China), and became the 1st caucasian female to practice TCM in Ontario.
  • During the 4 years she also continued other holistic training courses throughout the world travelling to Hawaii, California, Florida, New Jersey, Montreal, and Switzerland studying with the Medicina Alternativa Institute The Open International University.
  • She was addicted to learning to gain knowledge and expertise in the subject. She became one of the top Natural Health Care experts in Canada and an encyclopedia of knowledge in the health & wellness industry.
  • She brought that knowledge back to Canada, and started one of the 1st schools for Alternative Medicine in Ontario, called the “Academy of Natural Health Sciences”. She designed courses, programs and exams, and became a Professor of Alternative Medicine. Students could take Introductory, Certificate, and Diploma Programs, learning up to 8 years of full-time training if so desired (1995 – 2014).
  • She added “Natural Health Supplies Depot” so students and clients could buy holistic supplies and herbs.
  • Eventually the business name changed to “International Healing Arts Center” to encompass it all.
  • At that time, Holistic Medicine was taking off in Ontario, growing faster than one could imagine.; and she was in the thick of it all. 🙂
  • Then government regulation came, to safe guard and protect the public. Erika wasn’t worried, as she passed government regulation exams in TCM with Honours.
  • She then had to make a choice between TCM or running a alternative medicine school. There was no time to do both, so she chose TCM.
  • Erika became an expert in TCM Health Assessments and Diagnostics treating the most difficult, unusual, and unexplained health cases in Canada. People would drive for long hours to see her, for she had a reputation for diagnosing and treating the mysterious unsolved health cases quickly.
  • She had offices in Toronto and Milton at that time.
  • Erika joyfully added a baby to the mix.
  • and then Boom! a major car accident, dead, resuscitated twice, helicopter lifted, hospitalized for over 2 months, paralyzed, and left in a wheelchair. Neck brace; broken right arm – nerve damage with paralysis, doctors said there’s no chance of using her arm and hand again; left knee smashed and reconstructed; back pain, hip pain; jaw misaligned so she couldn’t eat; and her second pregnancy dissolved. Left disabled, bedridden or in a wheelchair; Lucky to be alive… pondering why me? She decided this was the perfect opportunity to prove her skills, and so she did. Erika used a blend of Western and Natural medicine to take care of herself: Hypnosis, Acupuncture, Herbs, Massage, Reflexology, Reiki., etc. She had to learn to walk again, write again, move again, and get back to a new normal. Thank goodness for her training and expertise, and her family, friends and students that helped her through this.
  • Erika made it! Truly motivated she got back to her life and back to work, never ever wanting to go through that again.
  • Then in 2019 an economic recession and Covid hit. Everyone blamed the Chinese, so no one wanted anything Chinese anymore, including TCM… plus it became more and more difficult to import Chinese herbal remedies. So Erika retired from TCM after 23 1/2 years, and left the College of Acupuncture & TCM in good standing.
  • She sold her house and moved back home to Waterloo, ON. Erika re-opened her business offering Natural Medicine from around the World for the Body, Mind and Soul (without Acupuncture or Traditional Chinese Medicine). She still focuses on Health and Wellness, Stress Management and Relaxation, and in her spare time enjoys painting abstract paintings.
  • Erika is pleased to say, 30 years later – She’s still here offering you the best she can to help you with your Health and Wellness issues.
  • Come Book an appointment and say “Hello”. She’s always happy to take care of you. Feeling Blessed 🙂