I have taken TCM medicine or Chinese Herbs - on and off. I am not sure why the herbs did not help me more with the MRSA - except to say that really I thought the MRSA was just acne and stress breakouts on my face - and asked my herbalist to focus on my stomach - which she did amazingly. Her herbs really helped ramp up my digestion and significantly reduced the acid reflux - even more than the purple pill.
I found this herbalist several years back, recommended by a friend of the family. I had been having abnormal pap smears for about 5 years that were HPV positive. The gyne felt that since my body hadn't cleared it in all that time, it was probably best to freeze the small area of my cervix that was causing the issue. I wasn't in love with that idea - so I pushed for a couple months to figure out alternatives that might work.
In the meantime, a friend had recommended an herbalist - Dr. Lisa - she had seen. I figured that I had nothing to lose and worst case scenario I'd do the freezing thing.
This herbalist was/is set up in the back office of what looks almost like a gift shop. Out in front is a glass display counter and a wall of small drawers with Chinese characters scribbled on tiny cards reminiscent of the old school card catalog.
After listening to my symptoms and diagnosis, feeling my pulse, and looking at my tongue ( a total of about 10 minutes max), she sent me home with packages of herbs that I was to boil for approx 2 hours and drink. She said that after 2 months of this I could go back to the doctor and my cervix would be clear and normal. Well I did what she said and now for 2 years, I have thankfully had - normal pap smears.
I could spend days there just watching Dr. Lisa's assistants prep and wrap herbal recipes. Mixes of twigs, rocks, leaves, flowers.... you name it. Basically a concoction of everything that covers the forest floor. A couple months back I met a woman who was getting a preparation that contained ruby red dried curled beetle-like bugs. I couldn't help myself - I had to ask what the tea was for.
She told me that she had been diagnosed with leukemia 6 weeks prior. In the time between her diagnosis and treatment start, she had been drinking Dr. Lisa's teas - about 4 weeks. When she returned to her doctor to follow up and start treatment - the doctor informed her... "well we don't know what happened, but we don't see the cancer anymore."
Chinese herbs - all herbs - are a reminder to protect our planet. These herbs are our medicine - and not to get all soap boxy - but when they are tainted with heavy metals and toxins because of environmental contaminants we are screwing ourselves on both ends.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Friday, September 23, 2011
Light Therapy
After 4 weeks antibiotics for the MRSA - First it was augmentin. Then clyndamycin. Finally, 14 days of doxycycline - things have improved, but my face still has a big red patch on the side.
I've been reading about light therapy. There are ultraviolet light systems used to kill bacteria on surfaces. There was also a study where blue light was used to kill MRSA in vitro. The wavelength tested was 470 nm ( a pretty specific wavelength). I spoke with a rep at a light company that sells systems in the thousands of dollars - and he stated that they use their blue light systems in nursing homes to control MRSA skin infections. There was also a posting on the MRSA forum where one person used tanning beds as part of his treatment.
Needless to say, in my almost desperate quest to rid myself of this infection - I've been going to the tanning salon every other day - and tanning on the most powerful bed they have. I have noticed a significant improvement on my face. Probably the biggest improvement since the first week of doxycyline. I still have one small patch that bled yesterday, not so good - but it is smaller than it's been. So a week after the antibiotics have stopped, I am definitely improving.
Another interesting thing to consider - if the blue wavelength is of primary importance in obliterating bacteria - is that the earth's atmosphere diffuses just that wavelength of light as the sun's rays beam down onto us. And so, in following that logic, the only way to really get some strong dosing of blue light, is to use an artificial source.
I have also been using a gel - called microcyn (interesting stuff posted about their product online - however customer service is TERRIBLE. I ordered 3 of the products and only received 1/3 of my order, which I paid to have shipped overnight and it arrived 1 week later. I am now 2 weeks into waiting and the rest of my order has yet to be filled.) Not sure if I'd recommend them. If you do venture to use the product (again well reviewed product) beware of the AWFUL customer service - non-responsive call center contracted to fulfill orders. Also, I'm not sure if the gel is having an effect, or if it is just the tanning beds. Either way, I plan on tanning every other day until I feel like I am well into healed.
I've been reading about light therapy. There are ultraviolet light systems used to kill bacteria on surfaces. There was also a study where blue light was used to kill MRSA in vitro. The wavelength tested was 470 nm ( a pretty specific wavelength). I spoke with a rep at a light company that sells systems in the thousands of dollars - and he stated that they use their blue light systems in nursing homes to control MRSA skin infections. There was also a posting on the MRSA forum where one person used tanning beds as part of his treatment.
Needless to say, in my almost desperate quest to rid myself of this infection - I've been going to the tanning salon every other day - and tanning on the most powerful bed they have. I have noticed a significant improvement on my face. Probably the biggest improvement since the first week of doxycyline. I still have one small patch that bled yesterday, not so good - but it is smaller than it's been. So a week after the antibiotics have stopped, I am definitely improving.
Another interesting thing to consider - if the blue wavelength is of primary importance in obliterating bacteria - is that the earth's atmosphere diffuses just that wavelength of light as the sun's rays beam down onto us. And so, in following that logic, the only way to really get some strong dosing of blue light, is to use an artificial source.
I have also been using a gel - called microcyn (interesting stuff posted about their product online - however customer service is TERRIBLE. I ordered 3 of the products and only received 1/3 of my order, which I paid to have shipped overnight and it arrived 1 week later. I am now 2 weeks into waiting and the rest of my order has yet to be filled.) Not sure if I'd recommend them. If you do venture to use the product (again well reviewed product) beware of the AWFUL customer service - non-responsive call center contracted to fulfill orders. Also, I'm not sure if the gel is having an effect, or if it is just the tanning beds. Either way, I plan on tanning every other day until I feel like I am well into healed.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
MRSA
I presently have MRSA cellulitis on my face. I thought it was acne, but it turned out to be more. My best guess is that I have had an ongoing acne problem for the last 2 years. I was seeing one herbalist for accupuncture and herbs. He prescribed some herbs that I took to regulate my menstruation - well it worked. My periods are pretty much to the day of 28 days apart. But I got acne. Started small, got big - but ultimately never quite cleared. It would flare during my cycle but then go down. Up and down, just like a teenage boy minus the sex drive and energy. I had this, now I recognize as destructive, habit of picking at my face. This past May I went into the hospital for ankle surgery and three days later had what I thought was a sebaceous cyst. Well after much ignoring and putting everything I could find on my face that I thought would help - I landed here - 3 months later with a pretty bad looking infection along my right jawline and cheek. MRSA.
I feel like I have the plague. Although the doctors seem very casual about it. "Oh, yeah MRSA. We see it all the time." I've taken augmentin, clindomycin, and now doxycycline. I'm 1 week into the doxy and there are some improvements, but not enough for my comfort. So learn from my mistakes. Here is what I've learned about my face and this MRSA that is trying to eat it.
1 - I can't put any sort of bandage on it without it growing.
2 - I burned my face with iodine that I was holding on my face until the pustules would pop and bleed. Now I realize that the MRSA is actually second worst to the big scabs of blood that I have created.
3 - I put garlic on my face and I think burned it. Not sure, but between the iodine and the garlic things got worse. It is possible that I pushed too hard and actually spread the infection more. Either way, I am still open to garlic, but I will try garlic baths first. This supposedly will sent allicin (the component linked to garlic's potent antibacterial power) into your body through your pores. You may smell like pizza but you won't look like it.
Things I will be trying - or at least are things that I will explore to have in the aresenal of health - above and beyond MRSA.
1 - Blue light therapy. On one of the MRSA forums, someone mentioned tanning studio time helped take away the MRSA episodes he experienced. Also, there is a study that I'll post in my blue light write up.
2. Ozone Autohemotherapy - infusing withdrawn blood from the body with Ozone (O3) and then reinjecting.
3. Ozonated oils/creams.
4. Food grade hydrogen peroxide.
5. Ways to move above and beyond fortifying the immune system.
I feel like I have the plague. Although the doctors seem very casual about it. "Oh, yeah MRSA. We see it all the time." I've taken augmentin, clindomycin, and now doxycycline. I'm 1 week into the doxy and there are some improvements, but not enough for my comfort. So learn from my mistakes. Here is what I've learned about my face and this MRSA that is trying to eat it.
1 - I can't put any sort of bandage on it without it growing.
2 - I burned my face with iodine that I was holding on my face until the pustules would pop and bleed. Now I realize that the MRSA is actually second worst to the big scabs of blood that I have created.
3 - I put garlic on my face and I think burned it. Not sure, but between the iodine and the garlic things got worse. It is possible that I pushed too hard and actually spread the infection more. Either way, I am still open to garlic, but I will try garlic baths first. This supposedly will sent allicin (the component linked to garlic's potent antibacterial power) into your body through your pores. You may smell like pizza but you won't look like it.
Things I will be trying - or at least are things that I will explore to have in the aresenal of health - above and beyond MRSA.
1 - Blue light therapy. On one of the MRSA forums, someone mentioned tanning studio time helped take away the MRSA episodes he experienced. Also, there is a study that I'll post in my blue light write up.
2. Ozone Autohemotherapy - infusing withdrawn blood from the body with Ozone (O3) and then reinjecting.
3. Ozonated oils/creams.
4. Food grade hydrogen peroxide.
5. Ways to move above and beyond fortifying the immune system.
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