Watch my interview with Dr. Jo here:
When Dr. Jo Polich gave her resignation to her boss as director of engineering, she couldn't bring herself to tell him why.
After years of coloring inside the lines in a male-dominated field, she was about to venture into territory that would make most engineers scoff: homeopathy.
But this wasn't a random career pivot.
It was the result of a personal journey that began with her daughter's illness and would eventually lead to a breakthrough in sports medicine that even the most skeptical doctors couldn't ignore.
The Breaking Point
"I grew up poor, paid for college myself, and I became an engineer," Dr. Polich explains. "I'm a female in a largely male-dominated world, and all I want to do is be accepted."
Her early career was marked by impressive achievements, including appointments to two boards in a multi-billion dollar company - one in fiber optics and one in space satellites - when she was in her twenties.
Then her world turned upside down. Her one-year-old daughter developed chronic diarrhea that no specialist could cure.
After a year of frustration, a simple homeopathic remedy from Whole Foods solved the problem overnight.
For someone with two materials engineering degrees, this inexplicable success demanded investigation.
From Skeptic to Innovator
Dr. Polich's engineering background wouldn't let her accept results without understanding the mechanism.
Her research revealed four major factors critical for success in treating sprains and strains: localized and direct application, high potency (at least 2000 times the potency of typical products), application for a long period of time, and coverage of a fairly large area.
The results were impossible to ignore.
When Dr. Polich herself suffered an ACL rupture, she used her product and experienced something the head of orthopedics at Northwestern called "impossible" - virtually no swelling.
After her surgery, without using conventional anti-inflammatories, her knee was barely swollen at the one-month mark, and she could move it almost completely.
Breaking Through the Skepticism
The medical establishment's resistance to homeopathy is well-documented, but Dr. Polich's engineering mindset helped bridge the gap.
She conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study showing her product reduced bruising by 88%. A plastic surgery study demonstrated that 87% of patients recovered ahead of time, with 52% recovering seven days faster.
Dr. Roy Geronemus, past president of the American Society of Dermatologic Surgeons, was among the skeptics. After two years of refusing to try the product, he finally tested it on patients who historically always bruised after procedures. The result stunned him - none of them bruised.
The Ultimate Validation
The most significant validation came when Allergan, the maker of Botox, licensed the product - marking the first time in history that a major pharmaceutical company had licensed a homeopathic product.
Staying True to Principles
Despite her success, Dr. Polich maintains a commitment to honesty that's rare in the health product industry.
"We actually tell people what it doesn't work on," she emphasizes. "It doesn't work on arthritis. It doesn't work on bones, actually doesn't work on shin splints."
This transparency extends to customer service - she regularly tells potential customers not to buy her product if she doesn't think it will help their specific condition.
Key Takeaways for Recovery from a Workout Injury
Be Prepared: Having the right first aid supplies before injuries occur can dramatically improve recovery outcomes. Keep products like ActivMend in your first aid kit to address injuries immediately when they happen.
Stay Open-Minded: Even highly scientific, data-driven professionals can benefit from keeping an open mind about alternative treatments - especially when they're backed by evidence. Dr. Polich's journey from skeptical engineer to innovative developer demonstrates the value of questioning established beliefs.
Track Your Health Data: Consistent health data tracking helped Dr. Polich identify what worked for her daughter and validate her product's effectiveness. Keep detailed records of your health issues and treatments to make more informed decisions about your care.
Make sure you're set up to the fastest recovery possible from a workout injury by having ActivMend in your first aid kit. Visit www.activmend.com and get a 25% discount on your order.
Comments