Honouring Gaynor Greber: A Life of Healing, Educating, and Storytelling

After one year of bioscience study, followed by three years of nutritional therapy training, I was thrilled to graduate and begin my practice as a nutritional therapist earlier this year. Yet, soon after celebrating this milestone, one of my mentors, Gaynor Greber, passed away.

Gaynor came to nutritional therapy after raising three children, graduating with Excellence from the Institute for Optimum Nutrition (ION) in London over 30 years ago. She built a respected career in both the UK and Switzerland, specialising in intestinal health and functional nutrition. What most inspired me was the depth and rigour she brought to her work. Gaynor was never superficial or formulaic; she approached eash case individually, engaging in careful research, seeking out hidden connections between symptoms, systems, and underlying causes. She was fascinated by the body’s intricate workings and did not shy away from complex health challenges, always seeking solutions to restore balance and vitality.

Beyond the clinic, Gaynor was a gifted writer and educator. Her books — including Chronic Digestive Disorders, On Guard, and Treating the Root Cause of Disease — combined case studies, nutritional insight, and drug-free treatment approaches, empowering readers to better understand their health and take action. She also brought humour and lightness to her children’s books, including Barnaby’s Disappearing Sweet Tooth, making the topic of basic nutrition fun and accessible for younger audiences.

What stays with me most, however, is how Gaynor embodied her principles — with care, joy, and integrity. Even at 80, we shared high Alpine hikes, and she remained deeply engaged in her work with clients and her writing. She also tended her garden with devotion, cultivating flowers, herbs, and vegetables, and took real pleasure in preparing nourishing meals — including her delicious homemade cookies, which she offered generously. Gaynor approached her own health as she did her clients’: with thoughtfulness, consistency, and deep respect for the body’s needs. Yet her wisdom was also grounded in balance. She understood that true wellness makes space for delight. I can still picture her happily tucking into fish and chips — a joyful but surprising moment that reminded me that living well isn’t about perfection, but also about knowing when to bend the rules. Through these everyday acts, Gaynor taught me in many ways what wellness is a way of being that is woven into how we eat, move, and care for ourselves and one another, and in doing what we enjoy.

For me, Gaynor remains a guiding force, reminding me to approach every client with curiosity, care, a deep commitment to understanding the whole person, and profound respect for the body’s innate wisdom. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to know her and for the influence she had on my life. Thank you, Gaynor, for lighting the path I now walk, and for showing me the way.

Gaynor Greber