- Apple Cider Vinegar - A couple of years ago I had gotten plantars warts on my foot. Needless to say, I thought they we're callouses so I buffed them, only to spread them to cover the entire ball of my foot and my middle finger. After $800 in dermatologist payments (I had good insurance at the time), 6 months, and lots of freeze, cut, freeze, cut...PAIN, the warts persisted. The derm recommended localized chemo injections. I declined. I tried banana peels, duct tape, potato... you name it. Then I discovered online - apple cider vinegar kills warts. So I tried it. Soaked a cotton ball, put it on with bandage, changed every 24 hours. In about 3 weeks all the warts were gone. Just a warning, although this didn't happen to my friend, it burned like HELL for about 3 days. Not just burned, but throbbed from my foot to my knee, and my finger to my wrist. Ow! - But yes, apple cider vinegar killed the shit out of the warts. My son had a stubborn one on his face - that eggplant managed to get down a little, but not all the way. Apple cider vinegar-ed it for about 10 days - gone.
ACV for ovarian cysts - now this is something I just starting. I've been having intense, waxing and waning, chronic pain in my right side. An ultrasound today revealed a "dominant follicle." I am following up with a gyne next week to further discuss. But, my understanding is that it is a type of cyst. Needless to say - I have been, over the last several days, drinking 1 tblspn of ACV in water 3-4 times a day - and as crazy as it sounds it's actually reduced the pain. I'm hoping that it helps completely resolve it. But in the meantime, having some pain relief is a welcomed respite. - Probiotics - I'm not that old, but old enough to have some joint pain. Mainly in my elbows, wrists - probably from computer working. If I take 1 packet of VSL a day for about 5-10 days the pain will disappear. I do this as needed. Rock on - very expensive, but well worth it
- Garlic Pills - Now, I would not have discovered this had I not had MRSA. And I must confess - for me the garlic pills did not attack the MRSA - not even the super expensive Allicin. But what I noticed while on the garlic pills was that my digestion improved. I still continue digestive enzymes - but I found that I can now skip digestive enzymes and digest food without them. Which for me is huge. At my high point - I was taking 2 garlique pills with each meal.
- DMSO - Prior to receiving my the Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang and vitamin C, I used one last doxycycline dissolved in a tiny amount of DMSO to eradicate a budding boil on my face. 3 days of saturating the boil in the making with the mixture - and it was gone. Way less meds than orally - although without the systemic effects.
- Vitamin C - I really can't sing the praises of vitamin C enough. We do use the lypospheric stuff around my home - for now - until I can squeeze enough time from my already stretched schedule to make our own encapsulated vit C in an ultrasonic cleaner. But for now we have used it to clear a nasty flu, nasal congestion, asthma cough, and keep bacteria at bay. Although I am breakout free, I will get little pimples occasionally on my nose if I skip lypo C for a couple days - I suspect these to be MRSA. 1 gram of lypo C a day keeps me breakout free. I am contemplating experimenting with upping my dose to 2-4 grams daily for a week or so and then cutting it off to see if I can just knock the MRSA out of me totally. But I have not yet done so.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
5 alternative healing MUST HAVES
I get overwhelmed lots of times with the amount of 'alternative' therapies there are out there to try. But here are 5 that I have tried and can vouch for.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
How we are reducing IGE levels
Now I have read a lot of articles and studies on how IGE levels have been reduced. Just some of the things I've found that have been documented in scientific studies to reduce IGE levels are:
whey (30% decrease in a month)
deep sea water (vague, but interesting)
sodium ascorbate 1 gram daily (initially dropped IGE levels, fluctuated, then rose slightly over initial levels)
spirulina (there is a study on the internet - but it's published mainly on producer's website.)
raw dairy
camel milk (watch Dr Michael Mandl session - I believe that is where IGE levels are discussed)
herbs (there are varying studies and stories - from Ayurveda through Traditional Chinese Medicine). Here is an interesting article covering several TCM herbal mixtures.
deep needle acupuncture (searching for article I read awhile ago)
So, as I posted earlier, we saw our allergist a couple weeks back. Since then the blood results came in and my son's IGE levels have declined from 1722 to 1059 - a 36% decrease since our last blood draw 6 months prior. This is the first such a drop to date without steroids. His levels dropped somewhat about 2 years ago - but this was following 2 doses of steroids (1 injection for a failed food challenge and 1 oral for an asthma attack). So we are definitely moving in the right direction with our present protocol. We will retest in 6 months and hope to see the healing trend continue.
If you've found studies/ideas/suggestions for reducing IGE levels please post.
whey (30% decrease in a month)
deep sea water (vague, but interesting)
sodium ascorbate 1 gram daily (initially dropped IGE levels, fluctuated, then rose slightly over initial levels)
spirulina (there is a study on the internet - but it's published mainly on producer's website.)
raw dairy
camel milk (watch Dr Michael Mandl session - I believe that is where IGE levels are discussed)
herbs (there are varying studies and stories - from Ayurveda through Traditional Chinese Medicine). Here is an interesting article covering several TCM herbal mixtures.
deep needle acupuncture (searching for article I read awhile ago)
So, as I posted earlier, we saw our allergist a couple weeks back. Since then the blood results came in and my son's IGE levels have declined from 1722 to 1059 - a 36% decrease since our last blood draw 6 months prior. This is the first such a drop to date without steroids. His levels dropped somewhat about 2 years ago - but this was following 2 doses of steroids (1 injection for a failed food challenge and 1 oral for an asthma attack). So we are definitely moving in the right direction with our present protocol. We will retest in 6 months and hope to see the healing trend continue.
If you've found studies/ideas/suggestions for reducing IGE levels please post.
Monday, July 2, 2012
Food allergy herb, lypospheric C, camel milk and the allergist
So last Tuesday we went to see the allergist - my son was given a lung function test as part of the visit. According to the test his lung function is well within normal range. The allergist looked up his nose - and said it all looks great. She encouraged us to halve our - already small dose of flovent (44mcg 1 puff 2x a day). So we are experimenting.
My son's weight also jumped - up to this point, he has been teetering from below 25 percentile to under 50. But this last weight measurement puts us at the 56 percentile - up from 25 percentile 6 months ago. Yay - camel milk.
This is him - about 3 months ago sitting on the counter scrapping every ounce of camel milk ice cream he could - from the ice cream maker.
Our current protocol - that we do every day
Food allergy herb - 6 capsules 2x a day
1 gram of lypo C right after waking up and 15 minutes before breakfast (If he coughs or seems otherwise congested - I will give him a second gram of lypo C before bed)
1-1.5 pints of camel milk
I give - without regularity -
vitamin D drops
cod liver oil
multi-vitamin
magnesium (which actually I need to make a point to give daily)
quercetin/bromelain mix
Our western medical protocol -
1 - sometimes 2 - puffs of flovent 44mcg/daily
albuterol as needed
and of course our epi bag with benedryl and epi's in it for emergency
We are waiting on blood results from our visit to allergist last week. I'm not a praying type of person - but I have been pleadingly putting out requests to universe last week or so for healthy and normal results.
On a note about myself - MRSA on face is totally gone. I continue 1 gram of lypo C for myself daily. I do notice if I stop the C that the itching returns within about a day or 2. I am not sure if I am just keeping it at a sub-symptomatic level. I might need to give a round of 1-2 weeks of larger doses... maybe in the 3-4 gram range and then discontinue briefly and see if itching returns. But at least I am no longer covered in red pimples, patches, or pustules. In fact, my brother commented recently "wow how did you get rid of that MRSA? Your face looks like you never had anything."
My son too has continued to have periodic bouts of the impetigo. I am going to speak to the TCM doc this month. I have not really given him more than 2 grams of lypo C since that flu in March - even though when I called the company that mentioned that doctor Levy recommends a maximum dosage of 1 gram per year over 1 that the child is. So technically, my son could go to 5 grams. And if you figure that his body is using some of the C as antihistamine - Maybe this would totally knock this bacteria out of our lives. I have not yet tried.
My son's weight also jumped - up to this point, he has been teetering from below 25 percentile to under 50. But this last weight measurement puts us at the 56 percentile - up from 25 percentile 6 months ago. Yay - camel milk.
Our current protocol - that we do every day
Food allergy herb - 6 capsules 2x a day
1 gram of lypo C right after waking up and 15 minutes before breakfast (If he coughs or seems otherwise congested - I will give him a second gram of lypo C before bed)
1-1.5 pints of camel milk
I give - without regularity -
vitamin D drops
cod liver oil
multi-vitamin
magnesium (which actually I need to make a point to give daily)
quercetin/bromelain mix
Our western medical protocol -
1 - sometimes 2 - puffs of flovent 44mcg/daily
albuterol as needed
and of course our epi bag with benedryl and epi's in it for emergency
We are waiting on blood results from our visit to allergist last week. I'm not a praying type of person - but I have been pleadingly putting out requests to universe last week or so for healthy and normal results.
On a note about myself - MRSA on face is totally gone. I continue 1 gram of lypo C for myself daily. I do notice if I stop the C that the itching returns within about a day or 2. I am not sure if I am just keeping it at a sub-symptomatic level. I might need to give a round of 1-2 weeks of larger doses... maybe in the 3-4 gram range and then discontinue briefly and see if itching returns. But at least I am no longer covered in red pimples, patches, or pustules. In fact, my brother commented recently "wow how did you get rid of that MRSA? Your face looks like you never had anything."
My son too has continued to have periodic bouts of the impetigo. I am going to speak to the TCM doc this month. I have not really given him more than 2 grams of lypo C since that flu in March - even though when I called the company that mentioned that doctor Levy recommends a maximum dosage of 1 gram per year over 1 that the child is. So technically, my son could go to 5 grams. And if you figure that his body is using some of the C as antihistamine - Maybe this would totally knock this bacteria out of our lives. I have not yet tried.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Summing up what worked for MRSA for me
It is now several months later - nearly June. My experience with MRSA first began within days after a surgery - last May - as a soft, not painful boil that never came to a head. In fact, I thought it was a sebaceous cyst. When it ruptured months later, within days - I had several boils on face and red skin - cellulitis.
Now my face is generally clear. If I eat avocado for some reason, I will get a pimple. I am concerned that these are still the MRSA because they take weeks if not months to completely resolve and the skin is painful to the touch.
Presently, I have some little pimples and red spots on my nose - this seems to be the last problem area. Makes me think that my nose is colonized with MRSA. But again, this is self diagnosis. I am keeping them at bay and getting rid of them very slowly with blue cream (TCM) and face paste (TCM). I am also taking 1 gram of sodium ascorbate a day. The itchiness on my face has pretty much disappeared. I may increase vitamin C and see if that knocks it out completely.
Other than that - I have discontinued BZYQT and Acne tea herb capsules.
In hindsight - I think that for me the most helpful things were:
Vitamin C
Chinese herbs - capsules and topical preparations.
The Allimed for me did not work - it is possible that I did not take enough for long enough. But I did take what was recommended for about 14 days without any significant improvements. Garlic caps did improve my digestion though - but now I've been taking garlicnase with same success.
Tumeric - also did not work - even though I took recommended large doses.
Both of these things have worked for others. We're all different.
Now my face is generally clear. If I eat avocado for some reason, I will get a pimple. I am concerned that these are still the MRSA because they take weeks if not months to completely resolve and the skin is painful to the touch.
Presently, I have some little pimples and red spots on my nose - this seems to be the last problem area. Makes me think that my nose is colonized with MRSA. But again, this is self diagnosis. I am keeping them at bay and getting rid of them very slowly with blue cream (TCM) and face paste (TCM). I am also taking 1 gram of sodium ascorbate a day. The itchiness on my face has pretty much disappeared. I may increase vitamin C and see if that knocks it out completely.
Other than that - I have discontinued BZYQT and Acne tea herb capsules.
In hindsight - I think that for me the most helpful things were:
Vitamin C
Chinese herbs - capsules and topical preparations.
The Allimed for me did not work - it is possible that I did not take enough for long enough. But I did take what was recommended for about 14 days without any significant improvements. Garlic caps did improve my digestion though - but now I've been taking garlicnase with same success.
Tumeric - also did not work - even though I took recommended large doses.
Both of these things have worked for others. We're all different.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
About Me About US
I am not a scientist or doctor - just a layperson on a healing journey. All modalities have something to add and in my opinion locking onto one only can be downright dangerous and just plain stupid. I want to use this blog to share thoughts on research, healing modalities, stories of healing, and insights. While I am interested in scientific and clinical studies I recognize a couple things -
1 - I am not a scientist and so - I may not get the full depth of the study.
2 - Studies can be skewed, and unless you are a scientist and privy to the full study methodologies and compliance rates and other such details - it can be nearly impossible to discern the validity.
3 - Ultimately, we are all anecdotes. And therefore, our healing process will be as universal and yet individual as our circumstances and make-up.
4 - In the recent past, I would completely dismiss airyfairy sounding things like energy healing up through accupuncture. I just didn't see how a couple needles, or someone laying hands on someone, or whatever - could make a difference. But then I read studies from everything from drumming raising immune function and cytokine levels to accupuncture delivering quantifiable immuno-modulating results. So now - I am much more open, although still suspicious (additionally see 1-3).
1 - I am not a scientist and so - I may not get the full depth of the study.
2 - Studies can be skewed, and unless you are a scientist and privy to the full study methodologies and compliance rates and other such details - it can be nearly impossible to discern the validity.
3 - Ultimately, we are all anecdotes. And therefore, our healing process will be as universal and yet individual as our circumstances and make-up.
4 - In the recent past, I would completely dismiss airyfairy sounding things like energy healing up through accupuncture. I just didn't see how a couple needles, or someone laying hands on someone, or whatever - could make a difference. But then I read studies from everything from drumming raising immune function and cytokine levels to accupuncture delivering quantifiable immuno-modulating results. So now - I am much more open, although still suspicious (additionally see 1-3).
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Our vitamin C asthma and allegy protocol
I am writing this post to respond to a comment to a previous post on vitamin C megadosing. Blogger has not allowed me to reply - so while I am figuring that out I wanted to share update and answer question as to what we are using.
This time last year and the year prior my son was on flovent, flonase, and max dose zyrtec to keep the allergy symptoms at bay. His nose was so stuffed that it was completely blocked without the flonase (nasal steroids). This year so far he is on:
AM 15 minutes prior to breakfast - 1 gram of lypospheric vitamin C mixed in about 1 ounce of water/apple juice mix.
Then with lunch or after school through dinner - I take the large capsules of acorbic acid (Thorne with bioflavanoids) and pour into smaller capsules so he can swallow - about 1-2 grams more of vitamin C in approx 250 mg doses about 20 or so minutes apart.
Before bed he takes 1 gram of lypospheric again.
Also, huge shout out to - crystalchild - because it was her blog that turned me onto camel milk. My son also drinks between 150-300 ml of camel milk a day. So these things together have given him pretty clear sinuses and such. I don't necessarily let him play aggressively outside when pollen levels are high - but it has enabled us to drop flonase and zyrtec. We continue flovent.
I am exploring making our own lypospheric vitamin C with ascorbic acid. I have read that sodium ascorbate (which is supposedly the most bioavailable) is not the best for long term use. But that is work in progress.
My response to Janice's question - is here - MRSA and Vitamin C
This time last year and the year prior my son was on flovent, flonase, and max dose zyrtec to keep the allergy symptoms at bay. His nose was so stuffed that it was completely blocked without the flonase (nasal steroids). This year so far he is on:
AM 15 minutes prior to breakfast - 1 gram of lypospheric vitamin C mixed in about 1 ounce of water/apple juice mix.
Then with lunch or after school through dinner - I take the large capsules of acorbic acid (Thorne with bioflavanoids) and pour into smaller capsules so he can swallow - about 1-2 grams more of vitamin C in approx 250 mg doses about 20 or so minutes apart.
Before bed he takes 1 gram of lypospheric again.
Also, huge shout out to - crystalchild - because it was her blog that turned me onto camel milk. My son also drinks between 150-300 ml of camel milk a day. So these things together have given him pretty clear sinuses and such. I don't necessarily let him play aggressively outside when pollen levels are high - but it has enabled us to drop flonase and zyrtec. We continue flovent.
I am exploring making our own lypospheric vitamin C with ascorbic acid. I have read that sodium ascorbate (which is supposedly the most bioavailable) is not the best for long term use. But that is work in progress.
My response to Janice's question - is here - MRSA and Vitamin C
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Mega dosing vitamin C, the flu, asthma, and allergies
So the last week and a half were crazy. My son picked up a flu at school or somewhere - it was a 7 day fever. We went to doctor at the beginning of it to make sure that his lungs were clear of any asthma issue - she checked for strept and said it was just a flu. Well after about 5 days of fever hovering around 100.5 to 101 - it broke on Friday-ish. Bear in mind, I don't give (for the most part) tylenol or any other fever suppressor - for a variety of reasons... not wanting to block his body doing healing work, asthma incidence and severity linked to tylenol usage...
Saturday during the day, his cough was really robust and frequent, then in the night the fever made a reappearance at 102.5. My son slept through a family gathering (only happens with higher fever). I was in a panic somewhat. Because the fever broke and reappeared - along with the present throughout robust rich cough - I was worried.
I decided to try megadosing vitamin C.
I gave him small amounts (starting at about 1am Sunday morning) and building to 1gram doses that totalled around 5-6 grams for the day on Sunday. Throughout the day his energy rose and the cough grew less frequent although robust. Fever back hovering between normal to 100.5 for the day. We continued albuteral - as directed by doc previously every 4-6 hours. Also, I continued dosing the vitamin C - combo of ascorbic acid alternating with sodium ascorbate. I buffered the ascorbic acid with a small dose of calcium. He did not have any loose stools that would indicate that he was reaching bowel tolerance.
Monday temperature back down to normal finally. The cough less frequent even still, and a bit less robust. (continued dosing vitamin C - 5 grams.
Tuesday temperature normal - vitamin C - 5 grams (spread out of course throughout the day). Cough less frequent, less robust. We went for a walk because it was so nice outside and ran into another classmate of his. The classmate (David) had also missed as much school with a 7-8 day fever (his had apparently spiked to 104 and he had gotten a bloody nose his mother said). David was on antibiotics. His mother had given tylenol throughout to break the fever. David also was diagnosed with a flu - but on Saturday was given antibiotics (not because of any diagnosis the mother said, but because the doctor could already tell that she was very very anxious over this flu. I confirmed with her - no strep diagnosis, no sinus or chest infection - just the lingering flu and thus antibiotics). I am not trying to criticize only to draw out an interesting thing - all mothers panic. I too panic and run to the doctor. Shit, I just panic. I panicked Saturday night - and vitamin C was my plan of action. But I have had enough infection now to know that antibiotics are not the panacea that I thought they were when I was younger. And hence, I want options. I want to know that I basically have a plan that can work if western medicine fails me - and it has. Not that there isn't much to value in western medicine, but all good things in their own place, time, and moderation.
Wednesday - back in school - first time in about 10 days. 3 grams of vitamin C
Thursday - 1 gram of vitamin C before school - I plan on giving at least 2 more over course of time between school day finish and bed time.
I post this story because there are a couple of things that I find interesting.
With increased vitamin C
1 - my son's cough has slowly subsided. We are moving towards healing after a really hard flu
2 - his nasal congestion due to pollen levels - too has subsided. In fact, I called doctor on Friday requesting a refill for last year's nasal steroids out of sheer desperation. We are on TCM herbs - but still the nasal congestion was so severe (clear discharge) since pollen blossomed about 2 weeks ago - that at least 1 nostril was completely closed at all times. I also thought that was what contributed to the really robust cough he was having - although the Saturday night's fever clouds my original thoughts. But at this point - the nasal congestion is present, but nothing too severe - like he can breath through his nose in the day and night.
3 - I wonder if with the increased vitamin C we can make it through pollen season on flovent (inhaled steroids) and zyrtec (anti-histamine) alone. And of course TCM herbs.
It's just interesting and got me curious about scurvy and vitamin C. And when I read about levels of ascorbic acid are necessary for the body - I just wonder if one of the keys in this lock of food allergy and asthma isn't - for lack of better term - "sub-clinical scurvy." The turn around that I witnessed on Sunday - really the cough and the fever actually getting down to normal for some part of the day - and then my son actually playing later in the day - was really miraculous. And the only thing we were doing was vitamin C - I didn't get any TCM herbs in him at all.
There are articles and science behind using vitamin C for asthma attacks. Not that I would suggest that - an asthma attack is an instance in my book that warrants the Emergency Room. But, using vitamin C to prevent an asthma attack - that is something I can get behind.
Saturday during the day, his cough was really robust and frequent, then in the night the fever made a reappearance at 102.5. My son slept through a family gathering (only happens with higher fever). I was in a panic somewhat. Because the fever broke and reappeared - along with the present throughout robust rich cough - I was worried.
I decided to try megadosing vitamin C.
I gave him small amounts (starting at about 1am Sunday morning) and building to 1gram doses that totalled around 5-6 grams for the day on Sunday. Throughout the day his energy rose and the cough grew less frequent although robust. Fever back hovering between normal to 100.5 for the day. We continued albuteral - as directed by doc previously every 4-6 hours. Also, I continued dosing the vitamin C - combo of ascorbic acid alternating with sodium ascorbate. I buffered the ascorbic acid with a small dose of calcium. He did not have any loose stools that would indicate that he was reaching bowel tolerance.
Monday temperature back down to normal finally. The cough less frequent even still, and a bit less robust. (continued dosing vitamin C - 5 grams.
Tuesday temperature normal - vitamin C - 5 grams (spread out of course throughout the day). Cough less frequent, less robust. We went for a walk because it was so nice outside and ran into another classmate of his. The classmate (David) had also missed as much school with a 7-8 day fever (his had apparently spiked to 104 and he had gotten a bloody nose his mother said). David was on antibiotics. His mother had given tylenol throughout to break the fever. David also was diagnosed with a flu - but on Saturday was given antibiotics (not because of any diagnosis the mother said, but because the doctor could already tell that she was very very anxious over this flu. I confirmed with her - no strep diagnosis, no sinus or chest infection - just the lingering flu and thus antibiotics). I am not trying to criticize only to draw out an interesting thing - all mothers panic. I too panic and run to the doctor. Shit, I just panic. I panicked Saturday night - and vitamin C was my plan of action. But I have had enough infection now to know that antibiotics are not the panacea that I thought they were when I was younger. And hence, I want options. I want to know that I basically have a plan that can work if western medicine fails me - and it has. Not that there isn't much to value in western medicine, but all good things in their own place, time, and moderation.
Wednesday - back in school - first time in about 10 days. 3 grams of vitamin C
Thursday - 1 gram of vitamin C before school - I plan on giving at least 2 more over course of time between school day finish and bed time.
I post this story because there are a couple of things that I find interesting.
With increased vitamin C
1 - my son's cough has slowly subsided. We are moving towards healing after a really hard flu
2 - his nasal congestion due to pollen levels - too has subsided. In fact, I called doctor on Friday requesting a refill for last year's nasal steroids out of sheer desperation. We are on TCM herbs - but still the nasal congestion was so severe (clear discharge) since pollen blossomed about 2 weeks ago - that at least 1 nostril was completely closed at all times. I also thought that was what contributed to the really robust cough he was having - although the Saturday night's fever clouds my original thoughts. But at this point - the nasal congestion is present, but nothing too severe - like he can breath through his nose in the day and night.
3 - I wonder if with the increased vitamin C we can make it through pollen season on flovent (inhaled steroids) and zyrtec (anti-histamine) alone. And of course TCM herbs.
It's just interesting and got me curious about scurvy and vitamin C. And when I read about levels of ascorbic acid are necessary for the body - I just wonder if one of the keys in this lock of food allergy and asthma isn't - for lack of better term - "sub-clinical scurvy." The turn around that I witnessed on Sunday - really the cough and the fever actually getting down to normal for some part of the day - and then my son actually playing later in the day - was really miraculous. And the only thing we were doing was vitamin C - I didn't get any TCM herbs in him at all.
There are articles and science behind using vitamin C for asthma attacks. Not that I would suggest that - an asthma attack is an instance in my book that warrants the Emergency Room. But, using vitamin C to prevent an asthma attack - that is something I can get behind.
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