You Drive Doctor Crazy

During one of my appointments with my doctor of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Dr. L said, "You have soooo MANY problems! YOU drive doctor crazy!" We both had a good laugh.

 I said, "Yes, I'm a challenge for a doctor!"

 "Yes! Yes! Ooooh, goodness!"

 How could I laugh when someone, especially a doctor, was telling me that I had so many problems that I was driving them crazy? With Dr. L. it is so wonderful that she knows. She knows I have these problems not because I'm telling her that I have anxiety attacks, bladder issues, tight chest from asthma, spasicity so tight that my muscles feel like a rubber band that is about to snap along with other health issues. With Dr. L. she can tell my current status of health from using her senses during each visit to exam me.

Removing Toxins

At my second visit (which has been a few weeks ago now) to see my doctor of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Dr. L. and I began to see more clearly just how sick I am.

Traditional Chinese doctors can tell the status of your health in ways that fascinate me; by reading radial pulse, looking at the tongue, the eyes, the color and feel of the skin, sensing the way the body reacts to different puncture areas, and feeling changes of temperature across the body. I had learned a little about reading of the tongue, from my previous acupuncturist. A tongue with a thick coating and odd color is a sign of problems in the body. How the tongue looks, its size, and its shape are all important to a TCM doctor. They are also trained to know to look at specific areas of the tongue to know more about where the problem is occuring.


Of recent, my tongue, regardless of how well or how often I brush/gargle has had a thick bright yellowish orangey color. Fortunately, this isn't something noticed unless I decide to do a Jena Bush and stick out my tongue. The bright yellowish orangey color is due to my body trying to detox from being on so many prescription medications as well as having toxins in my body from a diet that was lacking in being healthy. Along with the oddity of the color of my tongue, have been other changes that are a quite odd and somewhat embarrassing. But hoping that others may benefit from reading my blog, I feel that I need to be somewhat open. However, being reared by a very modest mother, I have been taught there are certain things a lady doesn't discuss...forgive me, Mama.


My urine and bowel movements are GREEN! Yes, green! Freaked me out at first, actually a couple weeks later it still does! I make sure to tell my doctor. She says, "No problem! One lady I treated, she pooped white." White??? Did she say white??? How does that happen? As one friend told me when I told her about the color of things coming out of me, she said, "It's pretty scary isn't? To think that we are trying to do what is best for us (referring to me taking the medications I need for MS and other health issues) and then to see something like that coming out!"

My body has also been itching a lot. Unfortunately, I can't take Benedryl to help with the itching...I would be defeating the purpose of trying to eliminate the toxins. It is something I must try to deal with if at all possible. I have found that by taking as hot of a bath or shower that can be tolerated (or not cause pseudo symptoms if you have heat sensitive MS) and scrubbing with as much pressure as you can without tearing the skin helps. I also use an exfoliator to help release the toxins that might be trapped by dead skin cells. During a detox, our bodies will try to release the toxins through different methods including our skin and scalp. Along with my skin itching, my eyes have itched a lot during this process. Flushing my eyes out often with saline solution for contacts (although I'm not wearing my contacts right now...wouldn't be able to stand it during this detox phase) brings relief.

I go back and forth between being hot and cold. I guess the best way to describe this and probably the same principle is involved...it is like being sick and what occurs as our body defends the foreigner. I will break out with a clammy sweat and then, soon I will be freezing from being wet all over (from the sweat). I shower and start the process all over again. Fortunately, these cycles from sweating and freezing are beginning to slow down as I have continued to remove more toxins.

To speed up the release of toxins, I drink lots of warm to hot teas (not all of them being what we think of as traditional tea). One of my favorites my TCM provider told me about...tea made from corn silk (or as she said corn hair).

1. Purchase corn that hasn't been shucked yet.
   
2. Tear off the corn silk (looks like hair).
   
3. Rinse off the corn silk with vinegar (the vinegar will help cleanse the silk without destroying the nutrients).
   
4. Boil two cups of water with desired amount of honey.
   
5. Once water comes to a boil, add corn silk and steep for 10 to 15 minutes.
   
6. Allow to cool to comfortable sipping temperature.
   

For best results, with the tea assisting in toxin removal, try to drink two to six cups of tea per day.


If you realize you have toxins that need to be released, make sure that you are under a doctor's care. If you too feel like you are on too many medications be sure to discuss with your doctor your concerns and outline together a safe tapering off level. Even under a doctor's guidance you are likely to experience unwanted side effects. For me, I keep reminding myself that it will be worth it in the end...when I'm no longer damaging my body by so many medications and can hopefully live a more productive life verses being tired all the time because of being so medicated.

With all the symptoms the one that is hardest for me is that of feeling so panicked. My body is going through so much turmoil trying to heal that my anxiety levels are through the roof. I have gained even a stronger sense of admiration for anyone who has ever recovered from being a drug addict or alcholic. I can see why it would be so easy to say, "Forget this!" and turn back to what their body has grown accustomed to and feel that it needs.

So, why exactly am I putting myself through this torture? Because on my second visit, when I discussed with Dr. L what had been occurring in the couple days since I had seen her and she read my body as described above, she said I'm the sickest patient she has ever seen and I was close to dying! Tears came to my eyes when she told me this, for I could tell she was sincere and wasn't saying this to get me to come see her more often. I immediately thanked the Lord for helping me choose Dr. L out of the yellow pages and for her strong knowledge of TCM.

Bottom of Form

Cleaning House, Making Room For Babies

The short conversation below, is a snippet of my first consulation with my new doctor of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).


Dr.  No babies?
Me: No, never been able to... after all these years of marriage (14 years).
Dr: No wonder! All these medications you on. All your germs. Your house is dirty! Must clean house first! Can't make baby!


What my doctor was telling me about my house (body) I knew had to be true. I have been a guinea pig to science for fifteen years. I'm on so many medications and taking the maximum dosage on most. Several of them carry high risks. Something that concerns my doctors and me. She wasn't just telling me that the medications could be harmful for the baby. She was saying that a baby couldn't develop in such a harsh atmosphere. Hearing her say this, gave me such hope. Hope that we (my Chinese doctor, my primary care physician, neurologist, asthma and allergy specialist, and me) can get my house clean by ridding my body of toxins, healing it through acupuncture, and slowly be able to reduce the medications.


As, I layed there having my acupuncture treatment, I was elated about the idea of being able to get my house clean. Anxious to prepare it for a baby. Lying there I remembered about articles I had read about a fertility specialist and accupunturist that worked as a team in VA. They were helping women who had never had children before become pregnant and carry their babies full term.


Today, my body began sweating spontaneously. The kind of clammy sweat one has when breaking a fever. I checked my temperature...normal. Then it occurred to me that my house was being cleaned. My body was continuing to expel toxins and germs. Is my body pure now? Not after one treatment. Someone, like myself, that has mulitple health issues and years of medication without end will need several more treatments. For now, I'm just happy knowing that some of the toxins and germs have been released.

Better Tomorrows? Become a Pin Cushion

Due to a recent move, I was in need of finding a new acupuncturist. I hadn't had a treatment in eight months and was very anxious to begin treatment but concerned about not knowing which acupuncturist to choose. After all, I was basing my selection on ads in the yellow pages. I finally decided to go with one who is considered a Chinese doctor (specializing in different aspects of Chinese medicine). I was concerned when I couldn't understand her on the phone. My worries soon escaped me once I went back for my initial consult/visit. I could sense she was very knowledgeable in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). I was determined that the language barrier wasn't going to keep me from obtaining better health.


Although having acupuncture treatments can end up being quite expensive due to needing to have several treatments in succession in the beginning, I have found that nothing compares with the way the acupuncture helps me. I will be adding more articles on my experiences of acupuncture. I'm keeping this one short because I'm in pain...my body is working on releasing toxins. Going to relax and drink lots of water to help the process.