Question for All Members

[PlateletGal]

I've read that Mitt Romney's wife, Ann, has been successfully treating her MS with holistic medicine. She has used reflexology, acupressure, acupuncture, deep-breathing exercises and yoga. She also has a healthy diet. Apparently this approach has worked wonders for her. I was wondering how many of you have tried alternative medicine and your experiences with it ?

[PlateletGal]

Hey Momzilla !  It's good to see you posting !

Yes, this is a new approach. Years ago, I had found an alternative medicine practitioner who basically treated me the same way that Dr. Jernigan's protocol did. The remedies she gave me, made me feel worse and so I freaked out and stopped therapy. However... I felt better about those few weeks of treatment.... even my friends & family members noticed. Obviously now I know that I was herxing (AKA: immunopathology) and that was a good thing because it meant that the pathogens responsible for my disease were dying off.  So I was thrilled when I heard about Jernigan's protocol... it's doing the same thing that the Marshall Protocol did for me and I've made so much progress. My only complaint is that it takes so long, but I understand that the longer you've been ill.. the longer it takes to heal.

The more I make progress and the more I watch others, including my mother (she has Sjogren's) make progress on this treatment... the more upset I become with the pharmaceutical companies. It is my opinion that the pharmaceutical companies are only interested in making new medications to help with palliative care. It seems to me after reading patient's testimonials on the Roadback Foundation website and reading Dr. Garth Nicholson's research (and wait until you read his resume... a Nobel Prize nominee), that there are already some very good treatments for autoimmune illnesses at a low-cost.

I do agree with Dr. Marshall's research about vitamin D. I believe a low vitamin D level is a symptom of disease and not the cause. I remember a woman in sunny Florida who posted on MedHelp because she had EBV and a low vitamin D level. Months later, she posted again and her vitamin D level was rising. She was also feeling better and getting over her illness at this point. I mentioned this on another website. I know when my illness was at its worst... I had photophobia. That was my body telling me that I needed to avoid sunlight and vitamin D.

[Momzilla]

Hey, Gal!  Good to see you over in our neck of the woods!  

Is this new approach instead of the Marshall Protocol?  Is that the low dose antibiotic therapy you are referring to?  I'm just curious.  We've spoken about so many therapies so many times...

I'm glad you are feeling well!  I have been taking high doses of Vitamin D, since I am always pretty low and have neuro symptoms.  Elaine is convincing me about other supplements.

I hope you continue to feel well, Gal!

Take care!

Zilla*

[PlateletGal]

Thank you for responding ! I have had CFIDS for many years and most of those years, I was undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. I have found "alternative medicine" to be very beneficial for my condition. In fact, there was a study of CFS patients and the study shared the same results. I know my mother mentioned to me weeks ago that Dr. Weil mentioned how homeopathy can be beneficial to people with autoimmune conditions.

Currently I'm getting well on a therapy that kills the mycoplasmas that are responsible for my disease (and other autoimmune conditions). I recently changed from a low-dose antibiotic therapy to a natural therapy and I'm having the same results of success. I'm thrilled ! This physician is also successfully treated lyme disease patients without antibiotics. It really has changed my view of healing.

[monotreme]

I had read about and seen Ann Romney be interviewed.  She has kept her MS under control with holistic approaches.  She also uses therapeutic horseback riding to "re-educate" the muscles in the legs and how they communicate back to the brain.

My husband (Craig) turned to alternative medicine when he could not get a diagnosis and was suffering from motor loss in his legs.

He takes high doses of Vitamin D3, he has raised his serum testosterone level, he takes LDN, and about 10 to 15 different supplements.    He also tried reflexology which initially helped, but when his spasms got worse in his feet, it was no longer an option.  

Craig has improved in that his fatigue has lessened so he can work full time again, and he feels better.  However, he does have to use muscle relaxants at night and physical therapy to help stretch his muscles.

We are both grateful to the alternative medicine M.D. that is helping him, and believe her interventions have increased his quality of life.  But it is a personal decision and you need to do what is best for you.

Best Wishes,
Elaine