At Wed, 14 Feb 2001, Wally wrote:
>
>At Tue, 13 Feb 2001, Robin Medici wrote:
>>Hello again to everyone who has asked for more information on herbal therapy.
>
>I am from a country town in NSW Australia. We are fortunate to have a
>very experienced chinese herbalist in our town. Gordon was trained in
>China, has attended university & also studied western medicine. The
>advantage is that he understands the western medications & pain
>relievers we are being prescribed by our GP's.
>
>There is no magic formula to Gordons combination of herbs. Each visit
>he talks to me and asks me what my symtons have been for the previous 4
>days. He takes copious notes and also checks the pressure of your blood
>(this is not the same as taking your blood pressure). What he does is
>rest your wrist on a smal pillow and then using the pressure of his
>fingers on your vains, he can check how the blood is moving through your
>vains. This is difficult for me to explain without going into enormous
>detail. It has to do with harmony, balance & Chi (please excuse my
>spelling) After he has completed his consultation, he prescribes the
>herbs to work on the symptoms I have been experiencing in the previous 4
>days. Therefore, the herbs are not exactly the same each week. He
>explains that it is a balancing act, and when our systems aren't working
>properly, the body gives certain sighns, it is these signs that he uses
>to prescribe treatment.
>
>He has also shown me some very simple massage tecniques starting on the
>upper right side of my beely button I place one hand over the other &
>massage my stomach in a clockwise direction for at least 100 rotations.
>It creates heat I have found & helps to "keep the bowel moving". Also
>Clockwise over my kidneys (This one I particularly love because pain
>from my kidneys can be very debilitating at times, especially when I
>first wake up of a morning.)
>
>To explain my faith in this man's abilities I feel I need to explain a
>little about my husbands condition. It started off with constipation,
>something he has delt with from childhood. As he got older, the period
>of time in between movements increased, until sometimes it was almost a
>month before he could open his bowels. It would then be several
>debilitating days constantly on the toilet. From there it progressed to
>severe migrane headaches, shaking, cronic diarrea and food sensitivity.,
>He was loosing his memory & had no concentration. He would fall asleep
>in the oddest places and began to deteriorate rapidly. He had endless
>tests, biopsy's & scans. They could find nothing, at one stage tests
>showed that his pancreas was shutting down, so they described medication
>to replace the ensimes in his pancreas. These enzimes help to break
>down food & absorb nutrients.
>
>He had a life threatening reaction to this medication & is now alergic
>to pork products & certain other foods. Eventually the only foods he
>could eat was a very small serving of steamed fish or chicken & a few
>steamed vegetables. A glass of water or a cup of watery tea his only
>liquids.
>
>The western specialists through up their hands at this point & told us
>"we don't know what is wrong with you!", one specialist has been doing
>some clinical research on chinese herbal therapy with irritable bowel
>syndrome patients. He recommended that my husband find one.
>
>For months friends, clients, collegues were giving us Gordon's business
>card, begging my husband to try him.
>
>Within six weeks he was starting to reduce the thirty odd tablets a day
>he had to take, and within two months was completely off western
>medication. That was twelve months ago..... *huge grin* I have my
>husband back, he is in what gordon calls the "fine tuning stage" now, &
>will be off herbals soon.
>
>*grin* As I write this to you all, my herbal is brewing on the stove, it
>stinks! But I will drink it because I had another 8 hours sleep last
>night, no pain meds ALL DAY AND I DROVE MY CAR ALL OVER TOWN & GOT ALL
>MY WORK DONE & HAD AN EMERGANCY TRIP TO MY DAUGHTERS SCHOOL. gUESS
>WHAT! i SIT HERE, STILL NOT NEEDING PAIN MEDS.
>
>I know there will still be bad days, but already I feel more positive. I
>know that surgery still may be a part of my treatment, but at least I
>will feel stonger, be in a better frame of mind for surgery, and I may
>not brake the poor nurses hand as I go go to sleep for surgery!
>
>As for finding a good herbalist in your area ASK!! Look everywhere. When
>you find someone ask LOTS of questions & ask to see proof of their
>training. A six weeks course with some alternative therapy centre just
>won't do.
>
>My husbands brother is in medical research & has sent us copies of
>various papers containing the results on herbal medicine. It has been
>proved in clinical trials that the style of treatment my husband & I
>have is the most likely to succeed. Gordon has told me up front that he
>may not be able to completely restore my health, but he is sure that my
>quality of life can be improved markedley.
>
>Well friends, my husband has finished brewing my dose.....one whole cup
>of a smelly black mess........*grin* cheers mate!
>
> P>Thanks so much for the info - you really did do a lot of research and
>>I'll take advantage of your experiences. I too hae atried a number of
>>things you mentioned. Like you, smoe helped for awhile, most didn't. I
>>just keep searching. You did mention a few I hadn't tried so maybe I'll
>>delved into those! thanks again for responding!
>>
>>At Tue, 13 Feb 2001, Janet Karam wrote:
>>>
>>>Dear Robin,
>>>
>>>I had a cupboard stashed with over 40 different hebs at one point, so I
>>>figured I'd share my experience with this.
>>>
>>>Out of everything I tried, a practitioner of oriental medicine helped me the
>>>most, combining acupunture and prescribed herbs. These practitioners are
>>>usually listed in the phone book under acupuncturists. Your first visit
>>>would likely be one and a half hours, and cost $85-115, then follow up
>>>visits would be less(around $50-60). I did get some relief from pain.
>>>
>>>Some healthfood stores carry bulk herbs(mostly western). Marshmallow,
>>>slippery elm, chamomile are all good for the digestive tract. I did alot of
>>>research from books and internet searches...I also worked in a healthfood
>>>store for a while and tried everything I could get my hands on!
>>>
>>>Papaya enzymes(papain) come in chewable tablets at the healthfood store, and
>>>can help with sour stomach, it is sometimes combined with
>>>bromelain(pineapple enzymes), that helps many with inflammation. These are
>>>the only enzymes I tried that I had success with.
>>>
>>>No natural product has ever helped my inflammation and bloating.
>>>
>>>..peppermint tea is also good for this. Uva ursi is a natural diuretic that
>>>helps with water retention...I was excited to try that one but it didn't
>>>work.
>>>
>>>I have tried acidophilus, digestive enzymes, aloe vera juice, flax oil,
>>>herbal laxatives, homeopathic remedies, electromagnetic biofeedback and
>>>natural fibers(psyllium, apple pectin)..none of these were helpful to a
>>>point that was noticeable...some made my symptoms worse.
>>>
>>>Senna and cascara sagrada are stimulant laxatives. These have helped many,
>>>but they caused me pain, cramping and severe bloating.
>>>
>>>The prescription my acupuncturist she mixed for me included chinese rhubarb,
>>>a potent herbal laxative...this did help with constipation. Eventually, I
>>>felt it was damaging to my digestive tract, and possibly hard on my liver.
>>>
>>>Absolutely nothing I tried other than acupunture helped with pain, and
>>>unfortunately this was short-lived.
>>>
>>>I hope this helps a little...
>>>
>>>Love,
>>>
>>>Janet
>>>
>>>>----- Original Message -----
>>>From: "Robin Medici" <rcmedici@home.com>
>>>To: "Multiple recipients of list ADHESIONS" <adhesions@forum.obgyn.net>
>>>Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2001 11:24 AM
>>>Subject: Re: Trying Chinese herbal therapy
>>>
>>>> Thanks Teresa for responding
>>>> No, I live in St. Louis MO...would your herbalist know anyone here? I
>>>> was hoping maybe they had a network or organization and may be able to
>>>> refer me to someone.
>>>>
>>>> I'm just so depressed today. I'm going into my doctor tomorrow (a new
>>>> one...this will be my second visit). I spoke to him last night and he
>>>> doesn't think it's diviticulitis (which I was thinking it is) but
>>>> perhaps a small bowel obstruction. I feel like if someone poked my
>>>> belly it'd explode and at least give me some relief. I'm not having
>>>> severe pain but am so uncomfortable and bloated I'm just miserable.
>>>> Thank god for mother's - mine is coming out to stay with me and take me
>>>> in tomorrow. Even at 44 yers old I still want my Mom when I'm sick (:!!
>>>>
>>>> Well, enough venting - any info you or any "in the club" knows about is
>>>> certainly welcomed!
>>>>
>>>> At Tue, 13 Feb 2001, Teresa Waldrop wrote:
>>>> >
>>>> >Dear Robin,
>>>> >I know a great person that could help you in Memphis, TN. if that is near
>>>> >you. If so let me know and I can get some information together and send
>>>it
>>>> >to you. Teresa
>>>>> >----- Original Message -----
>>>> >From: "Robin Medici" <rcmedici@home.com>
>>>> >To: "Multiple recipients of list ADHESIONS" <adhesions@forum.obgyn.net>
>>>> >Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2001 9:47 AM
>>>> >Subject: Re: Trying Chinese herbal therapy
>>>> >
>>>> >> Wally
>>>> >> What interesting information! Like all of us, I have to deal with the
>>>> >> pain (and am having a bad day today but can work from home, thank
>>>> >> heavens)and don't want to sbumit to surgery if I can find an
>>>> >> alternative. I've looked up alternative medicine web sites but not had
>>>> >> much luck - how did you find the herbalist in your area? Is there any
>>>> >> way to check on their credentials? I'm very curious to explore this and
>>>> >> would appreciate any information you can share!
>>>> >> Robin M
>>>> >>
>>>> >> At Tue, 13 Feb 2001, Wally wrote:
>>>> >> >
>>>> >> >I have read with interest many of the messages on these message boards
>>>&
>>>> >> >other areas of this web site. Ihave suffered from extensive adhesions
>>>> >> >for years and wasn't told that each surgery I had was creating more
>>>scar
>>>> >> >tissue!
>>>> >> >
>>>> >> >I had 4 c sections and last year a hystorectomy. Obviously my
>>>problems
>>>> >> >have increased & two weeks ago a laperoscopy revealed that my overies
>>>> >> >are completely surrounded in scar tissue....the Dr couldn't find them!
>>>> >> >There is also extensive scarring on my bladder reducing it's capacity
>>>to
>>>> >> >approx. 1 cup. My bowel has also been pushed up, and I suffer from
>>>> >> >considerable pain.
>>>> >> >
>>>> >> >My Dr has said that I will probably require more surgery. Neitherof
>>>us
>>>> >> >want this, so I have started herbal treatment with a traditional
>>>Chinese
>>>> >> >Herbal Doctor. The herbal is totally discusting *grin* but if it
>>>helps
>>>> >> >me avoid surgery,or builds me up to cope with surgery better, I will
>>>> >> >give it a good try.
>>>> >> >
>>>> >> >I have been taking it for a week, and find that I am coping better
>>>with
>>>> >> >my days, and have had a couple of nights with 8 hours sleep! Which is
>>>> >> >amazing. I am not expecting a quick recovery, I am aware that this is
>>>a
>>>> >> >long term treatment.
>>>> >> >
>>>> >> >I have chosen to try this because of the success my husband has had
>>>with
>>>> >> >the same herbalist for intestinal problems. He has been off western
>>>> >> >medication for 8 months now and his health is almost completely
>>>> >> >restored.
>>>> >> >
>>>> >> >So......I guess my long winded message is......don't give up until you
>>>> >> >have tried everything you can find. I will let you know how things
>>>> >> >progress. I send everyone a warm smile and ask you to smile at
>>>someone
>>>> >> >else. A smile and positive attitude has always helped me cope. God
>>>> >> >Bless & good luck to you all.
>>>> >> >
>>>> >> >--
>>>> >> >You will never never know.......if you don't give it a go :)
>>>> >> >
>>>> >>
>>>> >> --
>>>> >> Robin M.
>>>> >>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Robin M.
>>>>
>>--
>>Robin M.
>>
>--
>You will never never know.......if you don't give it a go :)
>