Alternative Medicine
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| Sun, 06-05-2005 - 12:41pm |
I am currently suffering (and I do mean suffering!) with chronic hives syndrome. It was apparently triggered by an allergic reaction to amoxicillin in April. Following two separate steroid series, it is still very active and every day I have to cope with massive itching, inside and out, that nothing seems to relieve with any real effectiveness.
This morning after church, one of my friends suggested that I call a Healing Touch specialist he knows about. He was actually thinking about my vision issues, since he didn't even know about the hives yet. I have to admit, my yellow flags went up! I explained that the blindness in my right eye was from glaucoma and damage to the optic nerve, and that the loss is permanent. He continued to tell me about this wonderful healer (not his own first-hand experience) and how she has performed reversals of "medically irreversible" injuries and disease. My yellow flags were still up... He told me he was sure my hives could be helped if they reversed the negative energy flow.
Then he said she has a bunch of students that I could work with, and they only charge $100 a session. My red flags went up! I've known him for years. He has absolutely nothing to gain by promoting this person; he was just sharing in the hope of helping me. I am absolutely miserable with the itching, fever and sensitivity, but I am on a tight budget and couldn't afford a few hundred dollar sessions. I also suspect my disbelief in the process would be a good excuse when it doesn't work... The Dominican Sisters charge a LOT less for healing touch, stone therapy and Reiki... Somehow I would trust them more (even though I have never been Catholic!)
Is it real? Or a gimmick? Anyone have any first-hand experience in healing of chronic illness or injury? Was it psychic or physical? If you think it's a crock, let me know that, too!
Bink


Whoa!
I don't have any experience with the "healing touch" and I admit, I would be skeptical too...that's some serious money to put out for a gamble...I clicked on your post because I thought it was about herbal supplements--I take about 5-7 every day...a friend of mine owns a health food store so I get lots of free advice. Everything she's recommended for me has made an amazing difference in my life.
For example, she told me to take Quercetin for my chronic sinus problems (I couldn't even open my eyes on a sunny day, with all the watery, itchy stuff happening)and I've sailed through pollen season for two years now...no more prescription (steroid) nasal sprays, prescription anti-histamines and their side effects for me...I was averaging one sinus infection every six months before this stuff...the antibiotics and yeast infections became a vicious cycle...
So, I'm wondering if you could find an herbal supplement to help with the hives? My friend hangs out on the alternative health board...good luck...watch out for those Catholics, LOL.
Geese Barbara, is there any chance it could be Shingles?
I've never tried any alternative medicines, and honestly know nothing about any of it. But just on what your post said, I'd pass this one up. I strongly believe in following my intuition. Every time I've ignored mine, I've been sorry for it. And yours seems to be telling you this isn't the right way to go. If you do decide to try it, do lots of research and proceed with caution.
(((Hugs))) and good luck!
My hives are gone.
OK, here is what I know from learning all about Hoodoo and "healing"...medicine men, etc.
There are a LOT of people out there who will claim to be healers, and are not.
Shyla
Prayers for you with this suffering!
By alternative medicine, I think of acupuncture and chiropractic or herbal supplement therapies. I had a ruptured disc in my back several years ago and my MD sent me to a neurosurgeon, who said because of the location, the surgery would be risky and there would be no guarantees the pain would lessen (I was on hefty pain drugs) or that I would regain strength in my left arm and hand. :(( I have been using acupuncture and chiropractic for decades for various injuries or problems I've had in the past. So I told the surgeon to give me 3 months to try other avenues. He encouraged me to do so, and assured me that 3 months would not worsen my condition. I saw my acupuncturist and chiropractor each weekly, and I ended up nearly pain-free very shortly, cutting my pain meds in half after one week, and eventually regained my strengh and never had the surgery. :=O My DD had a terrible case of poison oak some years ago and western medicine wasn't much help. I took her to my acupuncturist who was also trained in Chinese herbs. She wrote out the herbs I should cook down into a tea for my DD, and I went to a Chinese herbalist shop. My daughter drank this tea 3 times/day for a few days. Her symptoms lessened the first day, and her symptoms and rash were completely gone a few days later. She was much more comfortable with the itchy symptoms while they were still there, also, whereas the MD's help was so minimal it didn't reduce her suffering at all. :( That's not to say surgery isn't the best option sometimes, or western medical intervention. If I have a broken bone, I need to have it set. ;) You have to use common sense and you have to do your research, and read up on things, talk to people, make sure they are licensed (in my state acupuncturists and chiropractors must be licensed) and have a good reputation. I DO think that one should consider acupuncture and chiropractic, however, and herbal therapies, in conjunction with western medicine, especially sometimes for "chronic" problems. It is difficult to find a skilled practitioner, however, and there are quacks out there. I have been fortunate to find reputable people.
I hope you find some relief soon!
Anna
I am glad to hear you are doing so much better! That's wonderful! :))
Anna