April 24, 2017

Meet Ray Mirzabegian of Center for Complementary and Alternative Treatments in Burbank

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ray Mirzabegian.

Ray, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Thirteen years ago today we welcomed our daughter Emily into this world. She was born a normal, healthy child with a normal pregnancy and no complications. Unfortunately, few months later after encountering a severely high fever from the vaccinations, she started having seizures starting with a 45-minute-long seizure that landed her in the PICU. She’s had thousands of seizures ever since despite trying 13 medications and other treatments which have mostly failed to control her seizures.

A few years ago, in 2012-2013 we turned to alternative and natural therapies including Cannabis and Hemp extracts in addition to diets and nutritional changes and essential oils and supplements. In the last 3 plus years Emily has been able to wean off all of her pharmaceutical medications and has had a reduction in seizures by 70%. her success stories spread across social media and landed her story in articles and documentaries in National Geographic and Time to name a few. This experience prompted me and her mom to completely change our successful careers and dedicate and commit our lives to helping others in the Autism and Epilepsy community to improve their quality of lives.

Two years ago, I started the Center for Complementary & Alternative Treatments (CCAT) in Burbank California where we offer free consultations and resources to the clients and families effected by Epilepsy and Autism Spectrum diseases. With over 1000 local and nationwide clients and growing, we’ve been able to change and improve many lives. Success stories range from seizure free or significant reductions to weaning off pharmaceutical medications to being able to talk or walk or sit or laugh for the first time. It’s amazing how high quality tested natural therapies and supplements can do so much good. we’re here to help and educate and advocate for them and help them gain access to these potentially lifesaving treatments.

My previous career was a college professor – teaching the Opticianry program at the American Career College. CCAT in Burbank has two chiropractors, a Health and Wellness Coach – An Acupuncturist – an Alternative treatments consultant whom all specialize in Autism, and Epilepsy.

Has it been a smooth road?
Absolutely not…coming off of medications for a little child has been extremely tough. most of these meds are Benzodiazepines which are extremely dependency building and addictive. No rehab or medical support for minors who are trying to come off meds that they’re addicted to etc…

Treating severe cases with alternative therapies is not supported by the medical community at all. It is always a tough battle trying to collaborate with doctors or nurses etc.

It’s all worth it once you see the results of improving and changing a child’s life.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the CCAT story. Tell us more about the business.
CCAT works in partnership with the Realm of Caring Foundation which is a nonprofit that offers resources and grants and services for free to families and patients who are interested in these alternative therapies. We Specialize in Cannabinoid Therapies. (CBD, THC, and other cannabinoids) for Autism and Epilepsy for the most part. Our success and efforts have been featured a lot of places. Proud of improving so many pediatric autism and Epilepsy lives. What sets us apart is that we are the only company that does what we do … we specialize in Improving Quality of Life.

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
It is just growing so rapidly… more and more people are turning into natural medicines due to gaining knowledge and awareness of the dangers and limitations of Pharmaceutical meds. I think we’ll open San Diego and Northern California chapter in the near future and take it from there.

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