Eggplant Dip
Description
Eggplant Dip has a great texture with a tangy, vinegary, seasoned taste that is mellowed with the pita. You also can smear the dip inside warm crepes for a different kind of presentation.
Food as MedicineRich color in vegetables usually indicates abundant heart-healthy antioxidants, and deep-purple eggplant is no exception. Eggplant is a particularly good source of an antioxidant called chlorogenic acid, which is among the most potent plant-based free-radical scavengers ever discovered.
Ingredients
1 eggplant (1 1/2 pounds)1/2 medium onion, grated or finely chopped2 tablespoons capers2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil1/2 teaspoon dried oregano 1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper1 tablespoon red wine vinegar 4 pitas1 tomato, peeled, seeded and diced1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 375° F.2. Set the eggplant on a baking pan or dish and pierce it a few times with a knife. Bake it until it becomes soft, about 30 minutes; it should pierce easily with a fork. Remove it from the oven and let cool. When completely cooled, peel the skin off and put the flesh into a blender or food processor. Add the onions, capers, and lemon juice. Turn on the machine, then gradually add the olive oil. Continue to blend until the eggplant is smooth and creamy. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the oregano, salt, pepper, and vinegar.3. Warm the pitas briefly on a baking sheet, then cut each of them into 8 wedges. Arrange them on a plate or platter. Just before serving, stir the tomato and parsley into the dip.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Fibromyalgia...Fact or Fiction (lots of info)
http://www.massagea ndbodywork. com/Articles/ FebMar2006/ fibromyalgia. html
Fibromyalgia - Fact or Fiction
Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a widespread musculoskeletal pain and fatigue disorder for which the cause is still unknown. Ongoing investigations continue as medical and manual therapy offices are flooded with increasing numbers of reported fibromyalgia cases but, like the oft-quoted analogy of the blind man and the elephant, we currently know more about the components of FMS than we know about the “beast” as a whole. Now that rheumatologists have granted legitimacy by labeling and classifying this vague and controversial syndrome, current beliefs regarding possible origins must be discussed.
Fibromyalgia primarily manifests as pain in muscles, ligaments, and tendons — the fibrous tissues in the body. FMS was originally termed “fibrositis,” implying the presence of muscle inflammation, but contemporary research proved that inflammation did not exist. Some in the complementary medical community believe that fibromyalgia should be a primary consideration in any client/patient presenting with musculoskeletal pain that is unrelated to a clearly defined anatomic lesion. Conversely, many researchers question the very existence of the syndrome since fibromyalgia sufferers typically test normal on laboratory and radiologic exams.
For more than a century, medical science has continued to move forward in its ability to recognize, categorize, and name painful patient disorders. Technological advances have made it much easier for medical doctors to rule out specific maladies from a variety of symptoms presented in the clinical setting. Additionally, modern testing methods have allowed researchers to become more confident in their ability to determine what is and what is not a disorder or disease. However, this newfound confidence has created controversy and debate over some disorders that cannot be universally proven, even though the symptoms are undeniable.
In recent years, many common diseases have been named and treatments discovered. This applies to mental health as well as physiological disorders. Today’s society seems to be more open now than ever before to the possibility that there exists mental and physical dysfunctions not yet recognizable through medical testing, but real just the same.
Part of this acceptance comes from mankind’s history of disease discoveries. It was not so long ago that people with epilepsy were believed to be possessed by the devil. Today, it is an accepted disorder with known biological causes and medical treatment options. The historical fact that symptoms, dysfunctions, and diseases often appear long before researchers are able to devise reliable diagnostic testing procedures to identify and treat the malady makes it appear unreasonable that the existence of the condition would be doubted or debated … but this is the case with fibromyalgia.
Psychosomatic or Physiologic Fibromyalgia has come under fire in many circles including medical, psychological, and manual therapy. There are two camps firmly divided on their beliefs as to the cause and treatment of the disorder while a third group of researchers and medical practitioners reject the existence of fibromyalgia altogether.1
Simply put, one camp believes that FMS is a mental health issue without a biological origin, whereas the other camp is firmly convinced that it is a physiological disorder even though researchers have yet to identify definitive diagnostic criteria. While each side squabbles over the fibromyalgia conundrum, thousands of Americans each year suffer diverse and sometimes disabling symptoms with little help coming from the medical and insurance industries.
Meanwhile, the debate over the reality of the disorder carries on as scientific evidence continues to accumulate in favor of the physiological aspect of fibromyalgia. Currently, traditional and complementary medicine success rates in treating the disorder point to the fact that it is primarily a physiological condition with biological origins.
In the heat of the debate, the American College of Rheumatology comprised a list of criteria for the purpose of classifying fibromyalgia. The list includes classic symptoms such as having a history of widespread pain for more than three previous months.
The college went on to define a series of 18 checkpoints (tender points) for the pain sites (see Figure 1). A client is required to have pain in 11 or more of the 18 sites to be considered a true case of fibromyalgia.2 Since the symptoms are relatively simple to recognize, why the continued debate? Part of the trouble lies in the fact that the symptoms are sometimes vague and reminiscent of other musculoskeletal complaints.
Confusing Symptoms From the massage therapist’s office to the traditional medical facility, clients/patients are presenting in increasing numbers with a variety of unexplained symptoms. However, there are definitely some shared symptom commonalities such as predictable tender points, extreme fatigue, poor sleeping patterns, and whole-body pain upon awakening. Regrettably, musculoskeletal pain research generally lags behind well-funded scientific projects with possibilities for more lucrative outcomes. It often takes years to definitively confirm and classify conditions with vague, widespread symptoms like fibromyalgia. This confusing disorder continues to be poorly understood, and clients often suffer for several years before a medical diagnosis is made. Figure 2 illustrates an interesting biological explanation detailing the downward degenerative spiral seen in many fibromyalgia clients.
Fibromyalgic symptoms have been described as steady, radiating, burning, and spreading over large areas of the body. The pain often involves the neck, shoulders, back, and pelvic girdle. Clients report that pain seems to emanate specifically from muscles, tendons, ligaments, bursa, and joints. Most identify pain as their cardinal symptom. Fibromyalgia pain appears to worsen with cold temperatures, increased humidity, weather changes, overexertion, and stress. Many clients report symptomatic pain reduction with hot baths, heating pads, and warm weather.
Fatigue and lethargy are also on the following list of symptoms (see page 64) for the disorder. Clients commonly complain of feeling extremely fatigued and unable to muster the energy to do the things that they need to get done. This can entail a lack of energy for cleaning house, getting to work, performing at work, participating in social outings, etc. Poor sleeping patterns are another classic symptom of the disorder. Many report that they wake several times each night and often have a difficult time returning to sleep.3
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is another commonality that fibromyalgia clients tend to share. It is interesting that IBS is an accepted medical disease even though there is no concrete medical proof of its origin or existence, while fibromyalgia is still under scrutiny.
The reduced ability to concentrate as well as frequent bouts of depression also top the fibromyalgia symptom list.
Physical Examination Careful examination reveals areas of pain on palpation but without the classic inflammatory signs of redness, swelling, and heat in the joints and soft tissues. Skill in palpating tender points is critical to establishing a correct assessment for fibromyalgia. Physical findings encountered during soft-tissue palpation include tender points, increased resting muscle tension, and tissue texture changes in the skin and subcutaneous fascia.
When assessing the possibilities of fibromyalgia, it is important that other potential conditions be ruled out as well. The symptoms may mimic dysfunctions such as myofascial pain syndrome, peripheral neurogenic pain, medicinal toxicity, and some types of arthritis. Therefore, when presented with the possibility of a true fibromyalgia case, detailed assessment and history intake are of utmost importance. Since the most significant area of pain tends to shift over time, the first step in assessing true fibromyalgia is to determine if similar functional/structur al disorders are at play.
Myofascial Pain or Fibromyalgia Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) emanating from hyperirritable trigger points is often confused with fibromyalgia. To complicate the situation, MPS may occur in clients suffering with fibromyalgia. However, a carefully conducted history intake and physical examination usually helps the therapist determine if the client is presenting with fibromyalgic symptoms, MPS, or both. While fibromyalgia pain is widespread with changing areas of emphasis, myofascial tender points are typically restricted to one spot, though the point may refer pain to other areas.
Contrary to popular belief, many in the medical field do not believe MPS symptoms arise from taut myofascial trigger point bands, but instead from peripheral nerve pain at motor end plates.4 Much of the neurological literature today does not include the trigger point taut band theory as a recognized anatomical cause of entrapment neuropathy. Since the connective tissues of human peripheral nerves are well innervated, some researchers believe peripheral nerve pain (aching, tingling, and numbing) best describes the symptoms occurring in many myofascial pain syndrome cases. MPS is said to result from hyperexcited chemoreceptors activated by inflamed, disorganized nerve ending bundles.
Regardless of the outcome of the myofascial pain syndrome debate, the disorder still should be easy to identify during the evaluation process since the client’s pain will be limited to a particular region (over time), often eliciting a referral pattern when digital pressure is applied. Although location does little to distinguish between MPS and fibromyalgic tender points (since they often occur in similar body areas), specific hands-on assessments help to clearly differentiate between myofascial pain and fibromyalgia (see Figure 3).
The Psychologic Debate Goes On As is the case with many disorders, fibromyalgia is attracted to one gender more than another. This agonizing condition is more pervasive in women with the most common onset between 25 and 50 years of age. Estimates of prevalence are 3.4 percent for women and 0.5 percent for men.5 It is estimated that 20 percent of the female population will end up in a rheumatologist’ s office.
Women suffering fibromyalgia often report high levels of stress in their daily lives, which also contributes to the idea that it may have roots as a mental health disorder and is not completely physiological in nature. Because the brain’s emotional center (limbic system) is the highest cortical level regulating muscle tone, any alteration in limbic function may precipitate myofascial pain patterns.
Psychologic disorders have been, and continue to be, researched to determine if a relationship exists with fibromyalgia. Depression, somatization, panic, and obsessive-compulsiv e behavior have been seen in some fibromyalgia clients. Depression occurs in about 20 percent of clients and may be the result of having to live with chronic pain. The debate is based on the belief that some think fibromyalgia is actually a mental health issue. There are those who believe it to be a subconscious attempt to avoid the stresses of daily life and work.
Currently, there is not a known physiological explanation for the widespread array of symptoms common to all sufferers of the disorder. It is because of the lack of a generally accepted physiologically- based explanation that it is often suggested to be a mental rather than a physical disorder.
Fibromyalgic symptoms could also be caused by mental malfunctioning according to those who do not believe it has a physiological basis. Over half of those diagnosed with the condition have a past history of other ailments which also have no medical proof of existence, including chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, and chronic headaches.6 It is this dilemma that causes some experts to reject a medical origin and point to mental health networks for answers to the problem.
The confusion with the mental health suggestion is that it does not explain certain physical changes that take place in patients with fibromyalgia. Certain organic aberrations have been found in people with fibromyalgia, although it is not yet known whether these came before or after the syndrome developed. Among them are changes in nervous system chemicals that may explain the common problem of disturbed sleep. Fibromyalgia patients typically lack restorative or slow-wave (theta and delta) sleep, which can result in chronic fatigue and heightened sensitivity.
Researchers have found levels of substance P, a chemical related to pain, and some abnormal pain-related peptides to be excessively high in the cerebrospinal fluid of fibromyalgia patients.7 Heightened levels usually mean the person perceives more pain. In a study reported in the Journal of Rheumatology , Muhammad Yunus, M.D., and associates discovered that people with fibromyalgia actually had diminished blood flow — meaning less functional activity in two areas of the brain that help regulate the amount of pain signals the brain receives.8 This study supports the author’s belief that poor upper cervical alignment from forward head postures may be a contributing structural factor to fibromyalgia. Poor occipitoatlantal (O-A) and atlantoaxial (A-A) alignment can compromise (occlude) vertebral and basilar artery output to posterior and mid-cranial regions, robbing the brain of vital nutrients, especially oxygen (see Figure 4).
Treatment Options Because the symptoms of fibromyalgia wax and wane, treatment (as with that of other chronic diseases) should be considered an ongoing process rather than management of a single episode. Flare-ups often exacerbate the client’s underlying stress. Furthermore, stress can also precipitate flare-ups of fibromyalgia.
The first line of defense for relieving basic fibromyalgic symptoms should be body therapy and exercise. Although pain from this condition primarily manifests in specifically designated areas, the trained manual therapist refrains from “chasing the pain” and instead, seeks to restore whole body function by testing for ART: asymmetry; restriction of motion; and tissue texture abnormality.
Postural evaluations using Upper and Lower Crossed Syndromes (see Figure 5), developed by Vladimir Janda, M.D., have proven extremely beneficial in identifying asymmetrical muscle imbalance patterns that exacerbate fibromyalgic symptoms. Specific hands-on techniques that lengthen tight, neurologically facilitated muscles and tonify weak, inhibited muscles helps restore balance and symmetry while fighting off the compressive forces of gravity.
Tissue texture abnormalities must be closely evaluated in clients presenting with fibromyalgic symptoms. Boggy, leathery, fibrotic, contractured, and spasmodic tissues are potential pain generators, with each requiring a uniquely different hands-on approach. Post-isometric relaxation routines (see Figures 6 and 7, page 68) prove beneficial in recovering lost range of motion to fibrotic spine-related tissues such as joint capsules, ligaments, and paravertebral myofascia. Any deep-tissue technique that calms central nervous system hyperactivity and lowers sympathetic tone will greatly benefit those with fibromyalgia.
While it is tempting for the client to relax and not move joints and muscles that are hurting, moving them is one of the best preventive and curative measures found so far to alleviate the painful symptoms. Traditional massage techniques are helpful in desensitizing hyperexcited cutaneous (skin and fascial) neuroreceptors. However, deep-tissue techniques that incorporate active client movements (enhancers) during the hands-on work add additional therapeutic power by calming pain-generating articular (joint) receptors. Intrinsic muscles and joints are inseparable; what affects one always affects the other. Therefore, a more holistic approach to treating fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndromes should include soft-tissue techniques that create extensibility in contractured tissues; tonify weak muscles; and decompress impacted, motion-restricted joints and their supporting ligaments.
Exercise … gooood! Incrementally, the more exercise clients are able to do, the better they will feel. It doesn’t matter what kind of aerobic exercise — swimming, biking, jogging, walking, dancing — as long as they hit their target heart rate for at least 30 minutes a day. Some clients report feeling better as they gradually increase their exercise programs to 30 minutes twice a day.
Why do clients suffering fibromyalgia improve with vigorous exercise? One notion suggested is that aerobic exercise beefs up the body’s supply of endorphins, a natural pain-dampening and sleep-deepening substance. Exercise increases levels of serotonin and growth hormones, the exact pain-reducing, muscle-repair hormones that people with fibromyalgia may lack. Exercise also increases blood flow to the muscles. It is well documented that people with fibromyalgia do have slightly less blood flow to their muscles, which might also contribute to pain. Exercise and bodywork together are often just the answer for helping reverse this often debilitating condition.
***
Fibromyalgia is a disorder with no widely accepted medical proof. It is a chronic condition characterized by symptoms of widespread pain and tender points as well as fatigue, depression, and sleep disorders. While scientists at the present time have found no generally accepted way to medically document the existence of fibromyalgia, it has been proven that there are physiological changes present in many who have the disorder. The debate will continue to rage as to its origin and existence. Some insist that it is a medical condition while others are convinced that it is a mental health issue. In the meantime, as the research rolls in and the truth is eventually decided, it is in the client’s best interest to immediately begin routinely scheduled bodywork sessions in conjunction with a specialized exercise regime regardless of origin. Well-structured manual therapy sessions and individualized rehabilitation programs appear to be the treatment of choice for this chronic and sometimes disabling condition that affects an estimated 2 million Americans each year.
Erik Dalton, Ph.D., Certified Advanced Rolfer, founded the Freedom From Pain Institute and created Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques to share his passion for massage, Rolfing, and manipulative osteopathy. Visit www.erikdalton. com for workshop, book, and video information.
References 1 Quinter, J., Cohen, M. Fibromyalgia falls foul of a fallacy. Lancet 1999; 353:1092–1094.
2 Sinclair, J.D., Turk, D.C., Okifuji, A., et al. Interdisciplinary treatment for fibromyalgia: treatment outcome and 6 month follow-up. Arthritis Rheumatism 1996;39(9):S91.
3 Sprott, H., Franke, S., Kluge, H., et al. Pain treatment of fibromyalgia by acupuncture. Arthritis Rheumatism 1996;39(9):S91.
4 Devor, M., Rappaport, Z.H. Pain and pathophysiology of damaged nerve. In Fields, H.L., ed. Pain Syndromes in Neurology . Oxford: Butterworth Heinemann; 1990:47–83.
5 Goldenberg, D.L. Fibromyalgia syndrome a decade later: what have we learned? Archives of Internal Medicine 1999; 159:777–85.
6 Perlmutter, Cathy. The truth about fibromyalgia. Musculoskeletal disorder. Prevention 1997 April 1;Vol. 49 (86):8.
7 Wilke, W. Treatment of resistant fibromyalgia. Rheumatic Disease Clinic of North America 1995 Feb 21;21(1),247– 60.
8 Yunus, Muhammad B. Towards a model of pathophysiology of fibromyalgia. Aberrant central pain mechanisms with peripheral modulation. The Journal of Rheumatology . 1992 31:2464–7.
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Fibromyalgia - Fact or Fiction
Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a widespread musculoskeletal pain and fatigue disorder for which the cause is still unknown. Ongoing investigations continue as medical and manual therapy offices are flooded with increasing numbers of reported fibromyalgia cases but, like the oft-quoted analogy of the blind man and the elephant, we currently know more about the components of FMS than we know about the “beast” as a whole. Now that rheumatologists have granted legitimacy by labeling and classifying this vague and controversial syndrome, current beliefs regarding possible origins must be discussed.
Fibromyalgia primarily manifests as pain in muscles, ligaments, and tendons — the fibrous tissues in the body. FMS was originally termed “fibrositis,” implying the presence of muscle inflammation, but contemporary research proved that inflammation did not exist. Some in the complementary medical community believe that fibromyalgia should be a primary consideration in any client/patient presenting with musculoskeletal pain that is unrelated to a clearly defined anatomic lesion. Conversely, many researchers question the very existence of the syndrome since fibromyalgia sufferers typically test normal on laboratory and radiologic exams.
For more than a century, medical science has continued to move forward in its ability to recognize, categorize, and name painful patient disorders. Technological advances have made it much easier for medical doctors to rule out specific maladies from a variety of symptoms presented in the clinical setting. Additionally, modern testing methods have allowed researchers to become more confident in their ability to determine what is and what is not a disorder or disease. However, this newfound confidence has created controversy and debate over some disorders that cannot be universally proven, even though the symptoms are undeniable.
In recent years, many common diseases have been named and treatments discovered. This applies to mental health as well as physiological disorders. Today’s society seems to be more open now than ever before to the possibility that there exists mental and physical dysfunctions not yet recognizable through medical testing, but real just the same.
Part of this acceptance comes from mankind’s history of disease discoveries. It was not so long ago that people with epilepsy were believed to be possessed by the devil. Today, it is an accepted disorder with known biological causes and medical treatment options. The historical fact that symptoms, dysfunctions, and diseases often appear long before researchers are able to devise reliable diagnostic testing procedures to identify and treat the malady makes it appear unreasonable that the existence of the condition would be doubted or debated … but this is the case with fibromyalgia.
Psychosomatic or Physiologic Fibromyalgia has come under fire in many circles including medical, psychological, and manual therapy. There are two camps firmly divided on their beliefs as to the cause and treatment of the disorder while a third group of researchers and medical practitioners reject the existence of fibromyalgia altogether.1
Simply put, one camp believes that FMS is a mental health issue without a biological origin, whereas the other camp is firmly convinced that it is a physiological disorder even though researchers have yet to identify definitive diagnostic criteria. While each side squabbles over the fibromyalgia conundrum, thousands of Americans each year suffer diverse and sometimes disabling symptoms with little help coming from the medical and insurance industries.
Meanwhile, the debate over the reality of the disorder carries on as scientific evidence continues to accumulate in favor of the physiological aspect of fibromyalgia. Currently, traditional and complementary medicine success rates in treating the disorder point to the fact that it is primarily a physiological condition with biological origins.
In the heat of the debate, the American College of Rheumatology comprised a list of criteria for the purpose of classifying fibromyalgia. The list includes classic symptoms such as having a history of widespread pain for more than three previous months.
The college went on to define a series of 18 checkpoints (tender points) for the pain sites (see Figure 1). A client is required to have pain in 11 or more of the 18 sites to be considered a true case of fibromyalgia.2 Since the symptoms are relatively simple to recognize, why the continued debate? Part of the trouble lies in the fact that the symptoms are sometimes vague and reminiscent of other musculoskeletal complaints.
Confusing Symptoms From the massage therapist’s office to the traditional medical facility, clients/patients are presenting in increasing numbers with a variety of unexplained symptoms. However, there are definitely some shared symptom commonalities such as predictable tender points, extreme fatigue, poor sleeping patterns, and whole-body pain upon awakening. Regrettably, musculoskeletal pain research generally lags behind well-funded scientific projects with possibilities for more lucrative outcomes. It often takes years to definitively confirm and classify conditions with vague, widespread symptoms like fibromyalgia. This confusing disorder continues to be poorly understood, and clients often suffer for several years before a medical diagnosis is made. Figure 2 illustrates an interesting biological explanation detailing the downward degenerative spiral seen in many fibromyalgia clients.
Fibromyalgic symptoms have been described as steady, radiating, burning, and spreading over large areas of the body. The pain often involves the neck, shoulders, back, and pelvic girdle. Clients report that pain seems to emanate specifically from muscles, tendons, ligaments, bursa, and joints. Most identify pain as their cardinal symptom. Fibromyalgia pain appears to worsen with cold temperatures, increased humidity, weather changes, overexertion, and stress. Many clients report symptomatic pain reduction with hot baths, heating pads, and warm weather.
Fatigue and lethargy are also on the following list of symptoms (see page 64) for the disorder. Clients commonly complain of feeling extremely fatigued and unable to muster the energy to do the things that they need to get done. This can entail a lack of energy for cleaning house, getting to work, performing at work, participating in social outings, etc. Poor sleeping patterns are another classic symptom of the disorder. Many report that they wake several times each night and often have a difficult time returning to sleep.3
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is another commonality that fibromyalgia clients tend to share. It is interesting that IBS is an accepted medical disease even though there is no concrete medical proof of its origin or existence, while fibromyalgia is still under scrutiny.
The reduced ability to concentrate as well as frequent bouts of depression also top the fibromyalgia symptom list.
Physical Examination Careful examination reveals areas of pain on palpation but without the classic inflammatory signs of redness, swelling, and heat in the joints and soft tissues. Skill in palpating tender points is critical to establishing a correct assessment for fibromyalgia. Physical findings encountered during soft-tissue palpation include tender points, increased resting muscle tension, and tissue texture changes in the skin and subcutaneous fascia.
When assessing the possibilities of fibromyalgia, it is important that other potential conditions be ruled out as well. The symptoms may mimic dysfunctions such as myofascial pain syndrome, peripheral neurogenic pain, medicinal toxicity, and some types of arthritis. Therefore, when presented with the possibility of a true fibromyalgia case, detailed assessment and history intake are of utmost importance. Since the most significant area of pain tends to shift over time, the first step in assessing true fibromyalgia is to determine if similar functional/structur al disorders are at play.
Myofascial Pain or Fibromyalgia Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) emanating from hyperirritable trigger points is often confused with fibromyalgia. To complicate the situation, MPS may occur in clients suffering with fibromyalgia. However, a carefully conducted history intake and physical examination usually helps the therapist determine if the client is presenting with fibromyalgic symptoms, MPS, or both. While fibromyalgia pain is widespread with changing areas of emphasis, myofascial tender points are typically restricted to one spot, though the point may refer pain to other areas.
Contrary to popular belief, many in the medical field do not believe MPS symptoms arise from taut myofascial trigger point bands, but instead from peripheral nerve pain at motor end plates.4 Much of the neurological literature today does not include the trigger point taut band theory as a recognized anatomical cause of entrapment neuropathy. Since the connective tissues of human peripheral nerves are well innervated, some researchers believe peripheral nerve pain (aching, tingling, and numbing) best describes the symptoms occurring in many myofascial pain syndrome cases. MPS is said to result from hyperexcited chemoreceptors activated by inflamed, disorganized nerve ending bundles.
Regardless of the outcome of the myofascial pain syndrome debate, the disorder still should be easy to identify during the evaluation process since the client’s pain will be limited to a particular region (over time), often eliciting a referral pattern when digital pressure is applied. Although location does little to distinguish between MPS and fibromyalgic tender points (since they often occur in similar body areas), specific hands-on assessments help to clearly differentiate between myofascial pain and fibromyalgia (see Figure 3).
The Psychologic Debate Goes On As is the case with many disorders, fibromyalgia is attracted to one gender more than another. This agonizing condition is more pervasive in women with the most common onset between 25 and 50 years of age. Estimates of prevalence are 3.4 percent for women and 0.5 percent for men.5 It is estimated that 20 percent of the female population will end up in a rheumatologist’ s office.
Women suffering fibromyalgia often report high levels of stress in their daily lives, which also contributes to the idea that it may have roots as a mental health disorder and is not completely physiological in nature. Because the brain’s emotional center (limbic system) is the highest cortical level regulating muscle tone, any alteration in limbic function may precipitate myofascial pain patterns.
Psychologic disorders have been, and continue to be, researched to determine if a relationship exists with fibromyalgia. Depression, somatization, panic, and obsessive-compulsiv e behavior have been seen in some fibromyalgia clients. Depression occurs in about 20 percent of clients and may be the result of having to live with chronic pain. The debate is based on the belief that some think fibromyalgia is actually a mental health issue. There are those who believe it to be a subconscious attempt to avoid the stresses of daily life and work.
Currently, there is not a known physiological explanation for the widespread array of symptoms common to all sufferers of the disorder. It is because of the lack of a generally accepted physiologically- based explanation that it is often suggested to be a mental rather than a physical disorder.
Fibromyalgic symptoms could also be caused by mental malfunctioning according to those who do not believe it has a physiological basis. Over half of those diagnosed with the condition have a past history of other ailments which also have no medical proof of existence, including chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, and chronic headaches.6 It is this dilemma that causes some experts to reject a medical origin and point to mental health networks for answers to the problem.
The confusion with the mental health suggestion is that it does not explain certain physical changes that take place in patients with fibromyalgia. Certain organic aberrations have been found in people with fibromyalgia, although it is not yet known whether these came before or after the syndrome developed. Among them are changes in nervous system chemicals that may explain the common problem of disturbed sleep. Fibromyalgia patients typically lack restorative or slow-wave (theta and delta) sleep, which can result in chronic fatigue and heightened sensitivity.
Researchers have found levels of substance P, a chemical related to pain, and some abnormal pain-related peptides to be excessively high in the cerebrospinal fluid of fibromyalgia patients.7 Heightened levels usually mean the person perceives more pain. In a study reported in the Journal of Rheumatology , Muhammad Yunus, M.D., and associates discovered that people with fibromyalgia actually had diminished blood flow — meaning less functional activity in two areas of the brain that help regulate the amount of pain signals the brain receives.8 This study supports the author’s belief that poor upper cervical alignment from forward head postures may be a contributing structural factor to fibromyalgia. Poor occipitoatlantal (O-A) and atlantoaxial (A-A) alignment can compromise (occlude) vertebral and basilar artery output to posterior and mid-cranial regions, robbing the brain of vital nutrients, especially oxygen (see Figure 4).
Treatment Options Because the symptoms of fibromyalgia wax and wane, treatment (as with that of other chronic diseases) should be considered an ongoing process rather than management of a single episode. Flare-ups often exacerbate the client’s underlying stress. Furthermore, stress can also precipitate flare-ups of fibromyalgia.
The first line of defense for relieving basic fibromyalgic symptoms should be body therapy and exercise. Although pain from this condition primarily manifests in specifically designated areas, the trained manual therapist refrains from “chasing the pain” and instead, seeks to restore whole body function by testing for ART: asymmetry; restriction of motion; and tissue texture abnormality.
Postural evaluations using Upper and Lower Crossed Syndromes (see Figure 5), developed by Vladimir Janda, M.D., have proven extremely beneficial in identifying asymmetrical muscle imbalance patterns that exacerbate fibromyalgic symptoms. Specific hands-on techniques that lengthen tight, neurologically facilitated muscles and tonify weak, inhibited muscles helps restore balance and symmetry while fighting off the compressive forces of gravity.
Tissue texture abnormalities must be closely evaluated in clients presenting with fibromyalgic symptoms. Boggy, leathery, fibrotic, contractured, and spasmodic tissues are potential pain generators, with each requiring a uniquely different hands-on approach. Post-isometric relaxation routines (see Figures 6 and 7, page 68) prove beneficial in recovering lost range of motion to fibrotic spine-related tissues such as joint capsules, ligaments, and paravertebral myofascia. Any deep-tissue technique that calms central nervous system hyperactivity and lowers sympathetic tone will greatly benefit those with fibromyalgia.
While it is tempting for the client to relax and not move joints and muscles that are hurting, moving them is one of the best preventive and curative measures found so far to alleviate the painful symptoms. Traditional massage techniques are helpful in desensitizing hyperexcited cutaneous (skin and fascial) neuroreceptors. However, deep-tissue techniques that incorporate active client movements (enhancers) during the hands-on work add additional therapeutic power by calming pain-generating articular (joint) receptors. Intrinsic muscles and joints are inseparable; what affects one always affects the other. Therefore, a more holistic approach to treating fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndromes should include soft-tissue techniques that create extensibility in contractured tissues; tonify weak muscles; and decompress impacted, motion-restricted joints and their supporting ligaments.
Exercise … gooood! Incrementally, the more exercise clients are able to do, the better they will feel. It doesn’t matter what kind of aerobic exercise — swimming, biking, jogging, walking, dancing — as long as they hit their target heart rate for at least 30 minutes a day. Some clients report feeling better as they gradually increase their exercise programs to 30 minutes twice a day.
Why do clients suffering fibromyalgia improve with vigorous exercise? One notion suggested is that aerobic exercise beefs up the body’s supply of endorphins, a natural pain-dampening and sleep-deepening substance. Exercise increases levels of serotonin and growth hormones, the exact pain-reducing, muscle-repair hormones that people with fibromyalgia may lack. Exercise also increases blood flow to the muscles. It is well documented that people with fibromyalgia do have slightly less blood flow to their muscles, which might also contribute to pain. Exercise and bodywork together are often just the answer for helping reverse this often debilitating condition.
***
Fibromyalgia is a disorder with no widely accepted medical proof. It is a chronic condition characterized by symptoms of widespread pain and tender points as well as fatigue, depression, and sleep disorders. While scientists at the present time have found no generally accepted way to medically document the existence of fibromyalgia, it has been proven that there are physiological changes present in many who have the disorder. The debate will continue to rage as to its origin and existence. Some insist that it is a medical condition while others are convinced that it is a mental health issue. In the meantime, as the research rolls in and the truth is eventually decided, it is in the client’s best interest to immediately begin routinely scheduled bodywork sessions in conjunction with a specialized exercise regime regardless of origin. Well-structured manual therapy sessions and individualized rehabilitation programs appear to be the treatment of choice for this chronic and sometimes disabling condition that affects an estimated 2 million Americans each year.
Erik Dalton, Ph.D., Certified Advanced Rolfer, founded the Freedom From Pain Institute and created Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques to share his passion for massage, Rolfing, and manipulative osteopathy. Visit www.erikdalton. com for workshop, book, and video information.
References 1 Quinter, J., Cohen, M. Fibromyalgia falls foul of a fallacy. Lancet 1999; 353:1092–1094.
2 Sinclair, J.D., Turk, D.C., Okifuji, A., et al. Interdisciplinary treatment for fibromyalgia: treatment outcome and 6 month follow-up. Arthritis Rheumatism 1996;39(9):S91.
3 Sprott, H., Franke, S., Kluge, H., et al. Pain treatment of fibromyalgia by acupuncture. Arthritis Rheumatism 1996;39(9):S91.
4 Devor, M., Rappaport, Z.H. Pain and pathophysiology of damaged nerve. In Fields, H.L., ed. Pain Syndromes in Neurology . Oxford: Butterworth Heinemann; 1990:47–83.
5 Goldenberg, D.L. Fibromyalgia syndrome a decade later: what have we learned? Archives of Internal Medicine 1999; 159:777–85.
6 Perlmutter, Cathy. The truth about fibromyalgia. Musculoskeletal disorder. Prevention 1997 April 1;Vol. 49 (86):8.
7 Wilke, W. Treatment of resistant fibromyalgia. Rheumatic Disease Clinic of North America 1995 Feb 21;21(1),247– 60.
8 Yunus, Muhammad B. Towards a model of pathophysiology of fibromyalgia. Aberrant central pain mechanisms with peripheral modulation. The Journal of Rheumatology . 1992 31:2464–7.
Share your thoughts! Click here to send a letter to the editor and let us know what you think. Your letter may be used in an upcoming issue of Massage & Bodywork magazine.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Someone Online Like Me
2a.
Re: Please Help me with Adrenal/Thyroid Problems...Very Long
Posted by: "Leslie Patenaude" lesliepatenaude@yahoo.com lesliepatenaude
Sun Jan 13, 2008 4:27 pm (PST)
MY BIGGEST ADVICE TO YOU WOULD BE TO DROP ALL THE DOCS. sorry, i did not mean to use caps. anyway, you will never get docs to believe in saliva testing and most wont believe there is an adrenal problem unless you have addisons or cushings disease, so the best way to go is on your own. i have been sick for 3 years, way longer, but i have been diagnosed for 3 years by saliva testing that i did thru a natural doc. most everything else I have done on my own by researching and reading alot of info online and many books. turns out i have adrenal problems, thyroid problems, hypoglycemia and food allergies. It has taken me a very long time to get this right and the things that have helped me the most are natural thyroid med( i buy it online as I could not get it prescribed to me), cutting back stress as mcuh as possible, i take an antianxiety med for sleeping at night as i had insomnia so badly, and i take things like herbs to help my adrenals. you need to change your diet. thisstep helped me more than anything. lay off the carbs. when youre low in blood sugar you need protein, not carbs. carbs cause a rise in blood sugar and then a terrible dip, creating a problem. complex carbs should be eaten, but always with protein. i can't do gluten amymore so i eat veggies and brown rice for complex carbs. i eat organic beef and i eat often. Any questions, feel free to ask. LeslieDonna <donna6270@yahoo. com> wrote: I am a 38 year old female who started on Armour Thyroid one year agoalmost to the date, I was started at 1/2 a grain and am now on 1 1/2grains a day. For about the last month I have had Little to NO energyat all, I feel competely wiped out and drained, I feel tired all thetime but can't sleep, even at night with a dose of remeron, I stillwake up many times. Its fustrating to sleep for 12 hours and get uptake a shower and feel so drained that all I want to do is lay back down.My Anxiety feels as though it is out of control too, and I am findingmyself taking my ativan 1/2mg twice a day lately. I am having highpulse rates that range from 92-105 and at the doctor on thursday myblood pressure was even high at 132/95. I have always had some sort of hypoglycemia episodes, all my life if Iwould go to long without eating I would get really shaky and have toeat something to feel better. But the past month and a half I havehad this so much that the doctor gave me a glucose meter to starttaking my readings, they have dipped all the way down to 58, with ahuge majority in the 60's, 70's and 80's. Now I know 80's are normalbut I can feel symptoms badly even in the 80's and even though I hurryup and eat something high in carbs, it just drops back down shortlyafter again. And doctors don't know what it is thats causing it onlyto say that its not my hypothyroid.I ended up going to the ER last wednesday because I just couldn't takethe feelings anymore, along with chest pressure...after lots of bloodwork and ct scan of my chest for blood clots and x-rays...It only cameback that my TSH came back at 4.95, with the range ending at 5.0, sothey considered this a normal TSH.My TSH on October 22nd came back at 1.90...The one Before that was taken 7/17/07 and was...10.90My Endo doc only does TSH tests and I am only with him because I getthe Armour Thyroid, which no other doc will agree to give me even if Iam already taking it, and its the only thyroid med that has helped upuntil now, cause I don't understand why its bouncing back and forth.Now I did order the saliva tests from Diagnos-tech last april andthose test results are below...BUT AGAIN MY DOCS HERE IN MINNESOTADON'T BELIEVE IN THESE TESTS (SALIVA).TSH 72 normal 26-85FT4 0.37 normal 0.17-0.42FT3 0.62 normal 0.28-1.10TPO PositiveEstradiol 20 normalProgesterone 243 normalFree Testosterone 31 elevatedCortisolMorning 2 depressednoon 9 normal5pm 15 elevatedmidnight elevatedCortisol Burden 37 with norms between 23-42DHEA 7 normalNow I did also have a 24HR Cortisol Urine Test and that came back aswith the same Cortisol Burden of 37, so the endo said that was fineand nothing to worry about, ya right.Symptoms are as follows...Extreme fatigue and weeknessNo Appetite at allNausea....Preg test done and negative so not thatBody aches and hurts all overDizziness, mostly upon standing and walkingPain on left and right side by kidney areas- but test came backnegative for any type of infectionSwinging between constipation and diareheaFeeling very anxiety prone, can't handle any type of stress, insidenervous feeling and shakinessOn the way out of the ER on Wednesday the doc. said go to your regulardoc and ask them to check your adrenals that sit on top of yourkidneys...which on Thursday I did go and ask my regular doc whobasically kicked us out, she started that thats all on endo not her. God how I wish that er doc would of done some kind of test right there.And just alittle history cause I know stress plays into how wefeel...Since Thanksgiving I have had one stressful situation afteranother non stop...Only the past week things have settled down as I amputting everything on my fiancee to do, but I do even if the phonerings I get startled so badly that it takes me a half an hour torecover from that...Sounds strange huh.Also My time of the month has always been where I get diarhea rightbefore and then once it starts I goes away, but I got my last periodon New Years Eve and it was just so light, but I was extremely illthrough the whole thing until friday. Now I found this strange as Iusually have heavy periods and am usually only ill the first 2 days of it.Any and all help and advice is greatly appreciated as I do travel fromminnesota to wisconsin tuesday am to see the endo for all of this, butI really admire all the support and advice here and imformation.Thank YouDonnaYahoo! Groups LinksLeslie------------ --------- --------- ---Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.
Back to top Reply to sender Reply to group Reply via web post
Re: Please Help me with Adrenal/Thyroid Problems...Very Long
Posted by: "Leslie Patenaude" lesliepatenaude@yahoo.com lesliepatenaude
Sun Jan 13, 2008 4:27 pm (PST)
MY BIGGEST ADVICE TO YOU WOULD BE TO DROP ALL THE DOCS. sorry, i did not mean to use caps. anyway, you will never get docs to believe in saliva testing and most wont believe there is an adrenal problem unless you have addisons or cushings disease, so the best way to go is on your own. i have been sick for 3 years, way longer, but i have been diagnosed for 3 years by saliva testing that i did thru a natural doc. most everything else I have done on my own by researching and reading alot of info online and many books. turns out i have adrenal problems, thyroid problems, hypoglycemia and food allergies. It has taken me a very long time to get this right and the things that have helped me the most are natural thyroid med( i buy it online as I could not get it prescribed to me), cutting back stress as mcuh as possible, i take an antianxiety med for sleeping at night as i had insomnia so badly, and i take things like herbs to help my adrenals. you need to change your diet. thisstep helped me more than anything. lay off the carbs. when youre low in blood sugar you need protein, not carbs. carbs cause a rise in blood sugar and then a terrible dip, creating a problem. complex carbs should be eaten, but always with protein. i can't do gluten amymore so i eat veggies and brown rice for complex carbs. i eat organic beef and i eat often. Any questions, feel free to ask. LeslieDonna <donna6270@yahoo. com> wrote: I am a 38 year old female who started on Armour Thyroid one year agoalmost to the date, I was started at 1/2 a grain and am now on 1 1/2grains a day. For about the last month I have had Little to NO energyat all, I feel competely wiped out and drained, I feel tired all thetime but can't sleep, even at night with a dose of remeron, I stillwake up many times. Its fustrating to sleep for 12 hours and get uptake a shower and feel so drained that all I want to do is lay back down.My Anxiety feels as though it is out of control too, and I am findingmyself taking my ativan 1/2mg twice a day lately. I am having highpulse rates that range from 92-105 and at the doctor on thursday myblood pressure was even high at 132/95. I have always had some sort of hypoglycemia episodes, all my life if Iwould go to long without eating I would get really shaky and have toeat something to feel better. But the past month and a half I havehad this so much that the doctor gave me a glucose meter to starttaking my readings, they have dipped all the way down to 58, with ahuge majority in the 60's, 70's and 80's. Now I know 80's are normalbut I can feel symptoms badly even in the 80's and even though I hurryup and eat something high in carbs, it just drops back down shortlyafter again. And doctors don't know what it is thats causing it onlyto say that its not my hypothyroid.I ended up going to the ER last wednesday because I just couldn't takethe feelings anymore, along with chest pressure...after lots of bloodwork and ct scan of my chest for blood clots and x-rays...It only cameback that my TSH came back at 4.95, with the range ending at 5.0, sothey considered this a normal TSH.My TSH on October 22nd came back at 1.90...The one Before that was taken 7/17/07 and was...10.90My Endo doc only does TSH tests and I am only with him because I getthe Armour Thyroid, which no other doc will agree to give me even if Iam already taking it, and its the only thyroid med that has helped upuntil now, cause I don't understand why its bouncing back and forth.Now I did order the saliva tests from Diagnos-tech last april andthose test results are below...BUT AGAIN MY DOCS HERE IN MINNESOTADON'T BELIEVE IN THESE TESTS (SALIVA).TSH 72 normal 26-85FT4 0.37 normal 0.17-0.42FT3 0.62 normal 0.28-1.10TPO PositiveEstradiol 20 normalProgesterone 243 normalFree Testosterone 31 elevatedCortisolMorning 2 depressednoon 9 normal5pm 15 elevatedmidnight elevatedCortisol Burden 37 with norms between 23-42DHEA 7 normalNow I did also have a 24HR Cortisol Urine Test and that came back aswith the same Cortisol Burden of 37, so the endo said that was fineand nothing to worry about, ya right.Symptoms are as follows...Extreme fatigue and weeknessNo Appetite at allNausea....Preg test done and negative so not thatBody aches and hurts all overDizziness, mostly upon standing and walkingPain on left and right side by kidney areas- but test came backnegative for any type of infectionSwinging between constipation and diareheaFeeling very anxiety prone, can't handle any type of stress, insidenervous feeling and shakinessOn the way out of the ER on Wednesday the doc. said go to your regulardoc and ask them to check your adrenals that sit on top of yourkidneys...which on Thursday I did go and ask my regular doc whobasically kicked us out, she started that thats all on endo not her. God how I wish that er doc would of done some kind of test right there.And just alittle history cause I know stress plays into how wefeel...Since Thanksgiving I have had one stressful situation afteranother non stop...Only the past week things have settled down as I amputting everything on my fiancee to do, but I do even if the phonerings I get startled so badly that it takes me a half an hour torecover from that...Sounds strange huh.Also My time of the month has always been where I get diarhea rightbefore and then once it starts I goes away, but I got my last periodon New Years Eve and it was just so light, but I was extremely illthrough the whole thing until friday. Now I found this strange as Iusually have heavy periods and am usually only ill the first 2 days of it.Any and all help and advice is greatly appreciated as I do travel fromminnesota to wisconsin tuesday am to see the endo for all of this, butI really admire all the support and advice here and imformation.Thank YouDonnaYahoo! Groups LinksLeslie------------ --------- --------- ---Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.
Back to top Reply to sender Reply to group Reply via web post
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Cancer? Check out Graviola Tree
How many people died in vain while this billion-dollar drug maker concealed the secret of the miraculous Graviola tree?
If there ever was a single example that makes it dramatically clear why the existence of Health Sciences Institute is so vital to Americans like you, it's the incredible story behind the Graviola tree.
The truth is stunningly simple: Deep within the Amazon Rainforest grows a tree that could literally revolutionize what you, your doctor, and the rest of the world thinks about cancer treatment and chances of survival. The future has never looked more promising.
Research shows that with extracts from this miraculous tree it now may be possible to...
Attack cancer safely and effectively with an all-natural therapy that does not cause extreme nausea or weight loss
Protect your immune system and avoid deadly infections
Feel stronger and healthier throughout the course of the treatment
Boost your energy and improve your outlook on life
The source of this information is just as stunning: It comes from one of America's largest drug manufacturers, the fruit of over 20 laboratory tests conducted since the 1970's! What those tests revealed was nothing short of mind numbing... Extracts from the tree were shown to:
Effectively target and kill malignant cells in 12 types of cancer, including colon, breast, prostate, lung and pancreatic cancer.
The tree compounds proved to be up to 10,000 times stronger in slowing the growth of cancer cells than Adriamycin, a commonly used chemotherapeutic drug!
What's more, unlike chemotherapy, the compound extracted from the Graviola tree selectively hunts down and kills only cancer cells. It does not harm healthy cells!
The amazing anti-cancer properties of the Graviola tree have been extensively researched--so why haven't you heard anything about it? If Graviola extract is as half as promising as it appears to be--why doesn't every single oncologist at every major hospital insist on using it on all his or her patients?
The spine-chilling answer illustrates just how easily our health--and for many, our very lives (!)--are controlled by money and power.
Graviola--the plant that worked too well
One of America's biggest billion-dollar drug makers began a search for a cancer cure and their research centered on Graviola, a legendary healing tree from the Amazon Rainforest.
Various parts of the Graviola tree--including the bark, leaves, roots, fruit and fruit-seeds--have been used for centuries by medicine men and native Indians in South America to treat heart disease, asthma, liver problems and arthritis. Going on very little documented scientific evidence, the company poured money and resources into testing the tree's anti-cancerous properties--and were shocked by the results. Graviola proved itself to be a cancer-killing dynamo.
But that's where the Graviola story nearly ended.
The company had one huge problem with the Graviola tree--it's completely natural, and so, under federal law, not patentable. There's no way to make serious profits from it.
It turns out the drug company invested nearly seven years trying to synthesize two of the Graviola tree's most powerful anti-cancer ingredients. If they could isolate and produce man-made clones of what makes the Graviola so potent, they'd be able to patent it and make their money back. Alas, they hit a brick wall. The original simply could not be replicated. There was no way the company could protect its profits--or even make back the millions it poured into research.
As the dream of huge profits evaporated, their testing on Graviola came to a screeching halt. Even worse, the company shelved the entire project and chose not to publish the findings of its research!
Luckily, however, there was one scientist from the Graviola research team whose conscience wouldn't let him see such atrocity committed. Risking his career, he contacted a company that's dedicated to harvesting medical plants from the Amazon Rainforest and blew the whistle.
Miracle unleashed
When researchers at the Health Sciences Institute were alerted to the news of Graviola, they began tracking the research done on the cancer-killing tree. Evidence of the astounding effectiveness of Graviola--and its shocking cover-up--came in fast and furious...
...The National Cancer Institute performed the first scientific research in 1976. The results showed that Graviola's "leaves and stems were found effective in attacking and destroying malignant cells." Inexplicably, the results were published in an internal report and never released to the public...
...Since 1976, Graviola has proven to be an immensely potent cancer killer in 20 independent laboratory tests--yet no double-blind clinical trials, the typical benchmark mainstream doctors and journals use to judge a treatment's value--were ever initiated...
...A study published in the Journal of Natural Products, following a recent study conducted at Catholic University of South Korea stated that one chemical in Graviola was found to selectively kill colon cancer cells at "10,000 times the potency of (the commonly used chemotherapy drug) Adriamycin..."
...The most significant part of the Catholic University of South Korea report is that Graviola was shown to selectively target the cancer cells leaving healthy cells untouched. Unlike chemotherapy, which indiscriminately targets all actively reproducing cells (such as stomach and hair cells), causing the often devastating side effect of nausea in cancer patients.
...A study at Purdue University recently found that leaves from the Graviola tree killed cancer cells among six human cell lines and were especially effective against prostate, pancreatic and lung cancers...
Seven years of Silence Broken--it's finally here!
A limited supply of Graviola extract, grown and harvested by indigenous people in Brazil, is finally available in America. The full Graviola story--including where you can get it and how to use it--is included in Beyond Chemotherapy: New Cancer Killers, Safe as Mother's Milk, a Health Sciences Institute FREE special bonus report on natural substances that will effectively revolutionize the fight against cancer.
This crucial report (along with five more FREE reports) is yours ABSOLUTELY FREE with a new membership to the Health Sciences Institute. It's just one example of how absolutely vital each report from the Institute can be to your life and those of your loved ones.
From cutting-edge cancer and heart research and revolutionary Amazon Rainforest herbology to world-leading anti-aging research and nutritional medicine, every monthly Health Sciences Institute Member's Alert puts in your hands today cures the rest of America--including your own doctor(!)--is likely to find out only ten years from now.
You need the Health Sciences Institute in your life because you and your loved ones deserve to know--and you deserve to know it NOW!!
Sign up for your FREE bonus report today!
If there ever was a single example that makes it dramatically clear why the existence of Health Sciences Institute is so vital to Americans like you, it's the incredible story behind the Graviola tree.
The truth is stunningly simple: Deep within the Amazon Rainforest grows a tree that could literally revolutionize what you, your doctor, and the rest of the world thinks about cancer treatment and chances of survival. The future has never looked more promising.
Research shows that with extracts from this miraculous tree it now may be possible to...
Attack cancer safely and effectively with an all-natural therapy that does not cause extreme nausea or weight loss
Protect your immune system and avoid deadly infections
Feel stronger and healthier throughout the course of the treatment
Boost your energy and improve your outlook on life
The source of this information is just as stunning: It comes from one of America's largest drug manufacturers, the fruit of over 20 laboratory tests conducted since the 1970's! What those tests revealed was nothing short of mind numbing... Extracts from the tree were shown to:
Effectively target and kill malignant cells in 12 types of cancer, including colon, breast, prostate, lung and pancreatic cancer.
The tree compounds proved to be up to 10,000 times stronger in slowing the growth of cancer cells than Adriamycin, a commonly used chemotherapeutic drug!
What's more, unlike chemotherapy, the compound extracted from the Graviola tree selectively hunts down and kills only cancer cells. It does not harm healthy cells!
The amazing anti-cancer properties of the Graviola tree have been extensively researched--so why haven't you heard anything about it? If Graviola extract is as half as promising as it appears to be--why doesn't every single oncologist at every major hospital insist on using it on all his or her patients?
The spine-chilling answer illustrates just how easily our health--and for many, our very lives (!)--are controlled by money and power.
Graviola--the plant that worked too well
One of America's biggest billion-dollar drug makers began a search for a cancer cure and their research centered on Graviola, a legendary healing tree from the Amazon Rainforest.
Various parts of the Graviola tree--including the bark, leaves, roots, fruit and fruit-seeds--have been used for centuries by medicine men and native Indians in South America to treat heart disease, asthma, liver problems and arthritis. Going on very little documented scientific evidence, the company poured money and resources into testing the tree's anti-cancerous properties--and were shocked by the results. Graviola proved itself to be a cancer-killing dynamo.
But that's where the Graviola story nearly ended.
The company had one huge problem with the Graviola tree--it's completely natural, and so, under federal law, not patentable. There's no way to make serious profits from it.
It turns out the drug company invested nearly seven years trying to synthesize two of the Graviola tree's most powerful anti-cancer ingredients. If they could isolate and produce man-made clones of what makes the Graviola so potent, they'd be able to patent it and make their money back. Alas, they hit a brick wall. The original simply could not be replicated. There was no way the company could protect its profits--or even make back the millions it poured into research.
As the dream of huge profits evaporated, their testing on Graviola came to a screeching halt. Even worse, the company shelved the entire project and chose not to publish the findings of its research!
Luckily, however, there was one scientist from the Graviola research team whose conscience wouldn't let him see such atrocity committed. Risking his career, he contacted a company that's dedicated to harvesting medical plants from the Amazon Rainforest and blew the whistle.
Miracle unleashed
When researchers at the Health Sciences Institute were alerted to the news of Graviola, they began tracking the research done on the cancer-killing tree. Evidence of the astounding effectiveness of Graviola--and its shocking cover-up--came in fast and furious...
...The National Cancer Institute performed the first scientific research in 1976. The results showed that Graviola's "leaves and stems were found effective in attacking and destroying malignant cells." Inexplicably, the results were published in an internal report and never released to the public...
...Since 1976, Graviola has proven to be an immensely potent cancer killer in 20 independent laboratory tests--yet no double-blind clinical trials, the typical benchmark mainstream doctors and journals use to judge a treatment's value--were ever initiated...
...A study published in the Journal of Natural Products, following a recent study conducted at Catholic University of South Korea stated that one chemical in Graviola was found to selectively kill colon cancer cells at "10,000 times the potency of (the commonly used chemotherapy drug) Adriamycin..."
...The most significant part of the Catholic University of South Korea report is that Graviola was shown to selectively target the cancer cells leaving healthy cells untouched. Unlike chemotherapy, which indiscriminately targets all actively reproducing cells (such as stomach and hair cells), causing the often devastating side effect of nausea in cancer patients.
...A study at Purdue University recently found that leaves from the Graviola tree killed cancer cells among six human cell lines and were especially effective against prostate, pancreatic and lung cancers...
Seven years of Silence Broken--it's finally here!
A limited supply of Graviola extract, grown and harvested by indigenous people in Brazil, is finally available in America. The full Graviola story--including where you can get it and how to use it--is included in Beyond Chemotherapy: New Cancer Killers, Safe as Mother's Milk, a Health Sciences Institute FREE special bonus report on natural substances that will effectively revolutionize the fight against cancer.
This crucial report (along with five more FREE reports) is yours ABSOLUTELY FREE with a new membership to the Health Sciences Institute. It's just one example of how absolutely vital each report from the Institute can be to your life and those of your loved ones.
From cutting-edge cancer and heart research and revolutionary Amazon Rainforest herbology to world-leading anti-aging research and nutritional medicine, every monthly Health Sciences Institute Member's Alert puts in your hands today cures the rest of America--including your own doctor(!)--is likely to find out only ten years from now.
You need the Health Sciences Institute in your life because you and your loved ones deserve to know--and you deserve to know it NOW!!
Sign up for your FREE bonus report today!
Treatment for Herpies Virus
The three dangerous mythsof the herpes virus:
1. You don't have herpes
2. Herpes is no big deal.
3. There's nothing you can do
Most people "know" herpes. They know it to be the sores, lesions, chicken pox, or shingles some unfortunate people get as a result of stress, infection, or other diseases. They think either you have herpes or you don't. They also know that, while herpes is no fun, in most cases, it's not a big deal either.
Most people are wrong. Dangerously wrong.
Up to 90% of the population carry the herpes virus--and have been from the age of 10 years or younger! The vast majority simply don't know it. In most people, the virus is dormant. But, that doesn't make it any less dangerous. Science is learning, with growing alarm, that the herpes virus is linked to an ever-growing list of very serious ailments. Some, you'd have never guessed.
"I'm so glad I have signed up for your newsletter! What a wealth of information in my first issue. I think I'm going to start a file for your issues, for future reference, when I need it. Thanks again. Learning and interested!"
--Vivian P.
For instance--heart attack. There's a growing body of evidence that a herpes virus called CMV triggers the clogging of your cardiac artery walls. 75% of all Americans over the age of 60 carry CMV with no observable symptoms.
Among other illnesses, various strains of the herpes virus have been shown to trigger rheumatoid arthritis, mononucleosis, chronic fatigue syndrome and Kaposi's sarcoma (a deadly type of skin cancer).
The biggest problem, of course, is that herpes is a virus. By and large, medical science has no real answers to viruses of any kind. This leaves most of us to go through our lives carrying the dormant virus like a time-bomb waiting to explode into shingles...rheumatoid arthritis... cancer...heart disease...or any one of the most lethal ailments inflicting our society today.
But, as frightening as the idea of a single uncontrollable culprit behind so many illnesses may be, there's a flip side:
If there was something we could do about the herpes virus, we'd be eliminating a huge danger from our lives in one fell swoop!
And guess what? That "something" was indeed found. It was under our noses all along.
In the beginning, say Native Americans, God created a perfect remedy to the herpes virus and the symptoms it causes.
"I have shared much of the copious amounts of information you send with my family, and I feel that this information is helping us all live healthier lives. Thank you so much!"
--Ann B.
Legend has it the Larrea tridentata, an ancient desert bush, was the first plant created in the world. True or not, the Larrea bush (known in the Southwest as the creosote bush or chaparral) is certainly a special plant with some truly amazing healing properties. Chief among these is its ability to make short work of such diverse afflictions as herpes (of any kind), rheumatoid arthritis, Kaposi's sarcoma, and shingles.
Larrea's healing properties were known for quite a while. During the 1960s, much attention was given to the raw chaparral's promising anti-cancer properties. That research, however, was abandoned because some toxicity was suggested.
But the Larrea therapeutic potential was simply too big and too important to be forsaken. In the 1990s, a group of scientists succeeded in identifying the beneficial components of the Larrea plant and separated them from the oxidative components (which are the origins of any possible toxicity). A new compound was created and extensively tested. These tests proved beyond doubt that the new, all natural compound has no toxicity whatsoever to either animals or people--even at levels five times higher than the normal dose.
But the scientists also found the new compound to be a lot more than just non-toxic.
Stunning relief
The new Larrea compound was proven to be effective in a full 90% of the cases! This is an almost unheard of rate of effectiveness. As time goes by, study cases just keep on piling high with success stories of amazing relief. What's more, the new compound is not only effective--it's also incredibly fast!
A woman suffering from recurrent oral herpes previously used acyclovir with only mixed results. After a single application of the Larrea preparation, lesions were completely healed within 12 hours-- the pain and swelling were relieved immediately.
A male, 55 years of age, has herpes zoster (shingles) and possible candida yeast infection, which result in apparent skin rashes on the legs. The severity of pain reported before the use of LARREA was 7 on a scale of 1-10. Within 1 week the patient reported an improvement in pain severity to a level of 1. Lesions cleared within 24 hours.
A small study conducted in Philadelphia treated a number of patients with severe herpes simplex 1 and 2 and zoster (shingles) with both the Larrea preparation and capsules. The results? 100% success rate, usually within 24-48 hours! The clinicians also reported success using the lotion to avert impending outbreaks which are usually signaled by a tingling sensation.
Repeated tests showed that oral herpes outbreaks that last three to seven days were gone within 24 hours of the Larrea lotion application.
Shingles sufferers typically get complete relief within minutes!
Health Sciences Institute expert panelist Dr. Robert Sinnott is one of the leading researchers on the use of the Larrea preparation and the link between the herpes viruses and serious disease. Thanks to Dr. Sinnott, HSI members were among the first to hear of this incredible therapy, and were among the first to have access to it.
The product he helped develop is manufactured to the same exacting standards as those used with such success in the studies mentioned above. You will find the whole Larrea story in your FREE Urgent Health Alert Library report The Most Urgent Health Discoveries, along with the source for this truly miraculous remedy.
Yet, the Larrea story, as amazing as it is, is just the beginning.
It's stories like these--all important...extremely relevant...cutting edge...vital to your life and well-being--which are the reason why you should be a member of Health Sciences Institute and read the HSI Members Alert each month.
If you can only afford to read onehealth publication...
There are many fine health publications out there to choose from. But only membership in Health Sciences Institute brings you the newest, cutting-edge cures and treatments. HSI panel members are the leaders in more than a dozen fields, so HSI is always on the frontlines of the latest health and medical research.
As a member of HSI, you'll be right there with us. You won't have to wait until these new discoveries find their way into other publications.
Sign up for your risk-free Health Sciences Institute membership today. Your FREE Urgent Health Alert Library is waiting for you!
1. You don't have herpes
2. Herpes is no big deal.
3. There's nothing you can do
Most people "know" herpes. They know it to be the sores, lesions, chicken pox, or shingles some unfortunate people get as a result of stress, infection, or other diseases. They think either you have herpes or you don't. They also know that, while herpes is no fun, in most cases, it's not a big deal either.
Most people are wrong. Dangerously wrong.
Up to 90% of the population carry the herpes virus--and have been from the age of 10 years or younger! The vast majority simply don't know it. In most people, the virus is dormant. But, that doesn't make it any less dangerous. Science is learning, with growing alarm, that the herpes virus is linked to an ever-growing list of very serious ailments. Some, you'd have never guessed.
"I'm so glad I have signed up for your newsletter! What a wealth of information in my first issue. I think I'm going to start a file for your issues, for future reference, when I need it. Thanks again. Learning and interested!"
--Vivian P.
For instance--heart attack. There's a growing body of evidence that a herpes virus called CMV triggers the clogging of your cardiac artery walls. 75% of all Americans over the age of 60 carry CMV with no observable symptoms.
Among other illnesses, various strains of the herpes virus have been shown to trigger rheumatoid arthritis, mononucleosis, chronic fatigue syndrome and Kaposi's sarcoma (a deadly type of skin cancer).
The biggest problem, of course, is that herpes is a virus. By and large, medical science has no real answers to viruses of any kind. This leaves most of us to go through our lives carrying the dormant virus like a time-bomb waiting to explode into shingles...rheumatoid arthritis... cancer...heart disease...or any one of the most lethal ailments inflicting our society today.
But, as frightening as the idea of a single uncontrollable culprit behind so many illnesses may be, there's a flip side:
If there was something we could do about the herpes virus, we'd be eliminating a huge danger from our lives in one fell swoop!
And guess what? That "something" was indeed found. It was under our noses all along.
In the beginning, say Native Americans, God created a perfect remedy to the herpes virus and the symptoms it causes.
"I have shared much of the copious amounts of information you send with my family, and I feel that this information is helping us all live healthier lives. Thank you so much!"
--Ann B.
Legend has it the Larrea tridentata, an ancient desert bush, was the first plant created in the world. True or not, the Larrea bush (known in the Southwest as the creosote bush or chaparral) is certainly a special plant with some truly amazing healing properties. Chief among these is its ability to make short work of such diverse afflictions as herpes (of any kind), rheumatoid arthritis, Kaposi's sarcoma, and shingles.
Larrea's healing properties were known for quite a while. During the 1960s, much attention was given to the raw chaparral's promising anti-cancer properties. That research, however, was abandoned because some toxicity was suggested.
But the Larrea therapeutic potential was simply too big and too important to be forsaken. In the 1990s, a group of scientists succeeded in identifying the beneficial components of the Larrea plant and separated them from the oxidative components (which are the origins of any possible toxicity). A new compound was created and extensively tested. These tests proved beyond doubt that the new, all natural compound has no toxicity whatsoever to either animals or people--even at levels five times higher than the normal dose.
But the scientists also found the new compound to be a lot more than just non-toxic.
Stunning relief
The new Larrea compound was proven to be effective in a full 90% of the cases! This is an almost unheard of rate of effectiveness. As time goes by, study cases just keep on piling high with success stories of amazing relief. What's more, the new compound is not only effective--it's also incredibly fast!
A woman suffering from recurrent oral herpes previously used acyclovir with only mixed results. After a single application of the Larrea preparation, lesions were completely healed within 12 hours-- the pain and swelling were relieved immediately.
A male, 55 years of age, has herpes zoster (shingles) and possible candida yeast infection, which result in apparent skin rashes on the legs. The severity of pain reported before the use of LARREA was 7 on a scale of 1-10. Within 1 week the patient reported an improvement in pain severity to a level of 1. Lesions cleared within 24 hours.
A small study conducted in Philadelphia treated a number of patients with severe herpes simplex 1 and 2 and zoster (shingles) with both the Larrea preparation and capsules. The results? 100% success rate, usually within 24-48 hours! The clinicians also reported success using the lotion to avert impending outbreaks which are usually signaled by a tingling sensation.
Repeated tests showed that oral herpes outbreaks that last three to seven days were gone within 24 hours of the Larrea lotion application.
Shingles sufferers typically get complete relief within minutes!
Health Sciences Institute expert panelist Dr. Robert Sinnott is one of the leading researchers on the use of the Larrea preparation and the link between the herpes viruses and serious disease. Thanks to Dr. Sinnott, HSI members were among the first to hear of this incredible therapy, and were among the first to have access to it.
The product he helped develop is manufactured to the same exacting standards as those used with such success in the studies mentioned above. You will find the whole Larrea story in your FREE Urgent Health Alert Library report The Most Urgent Health Discoveries, along with the source for this truly miraculous remedy.
Yet, the Larrea story, as amazing as it is, is just the beginning.
It's stories like these--all important...extremely relevant...cutting edge...vital to your life and well-being--which are the reason why you should be a member of Health Sciences Institute and read the HSI Members Alert each month.
If you can only afford to read onehealth publication...
There are many fine health publications out there to choose from. But only membership in Health Sciences Institute brings you the newest, cutting-edge cures and treatments. HSI panel members are the leaders in more than a dozen fields, so HSI is always on the frontlines of the latest health and medical research.
As a member of HSI, you'll be right there with us. You won't have to wait until these new discoveries find their way into other publications.
Sign up for your risk-free Health Sciences Institute membership today. Your FREE Urgent Health Alert Library is waiting for you!
Shower Water Filter
This filter was recommended by one of the gals in my Christian mcs group. She said it is cost effective as she only has to change the filter as needed rather than the whole apperatis. And for her that's about every 6 months. For a family of 6, I figure about every 1 to 2 months. She said it costs less to get the filters replacements online rather than in a store. Here's the link:
http://www.waterfilters.net/culligan/showerfilters/sr-115.htm
http://www.waterfilters.net/culligan/showerfilters/sr-115.htm
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Adrenal Thyroid Symptoms Matrix (and treatments)
http://drrind.com/scorecardmatrix.asp
This link is taken from the main page at
http://drrind.com/scorecard.asp#matrix
This is full of information to help decipher symptoms and has some recommendations for treatment of some symptoms such as depression with tyrosine and 5htp, and poor absorption with HCL (acid) and enzymes.
This link is taken from the main page at
http://drrind.com/scorecard.asp#matrix
This is full of information to help decipher symptoms and has some recommendations for treatment of some symptoms such as depression with tyrosine and 5htp, and poor absorption with HCL (acid) and enzymes.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Online Book- Recovering from CFS
I wanted to share this online book:
http://www.collinge .org/Cfs. htm
Here is an excerpt that was particulary helpful to me.
RECOVERY: WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
With regard to CFS, "recovery" is a highly charged term that means different things to different people. The complex nature of this syndrome provokes us to look carefully at our use of this word. With many other illnesses, recovery usually suggests a "return to the old," recovering the old way of life, resuming the activities and lifestyle to which we had grown accustomed. Yet, one of the greatest mistakes people with CFS can make is to hold a vision of recovery as "returning to the way I was living before I got sick." The difficulty is that, given the multicausal perspective, the way you were living before you got sick may have been a co-factor in your getting sick.This raises the question of what it is that we hope to recover. Obviously, if you believe that certain lifestyle factors may have contributed to your vulnerability to CFS, and your vision is to return to those same conditions, then in that sense recovery is not desirable, nor is it likely to endure. If, on the other hand, recovery means re-establishing a sense of equilibrium, control, harmony, and quality in your life, then yes, recovery is desirable.Below we will explore two broad perspectives on the meaning of recovery. One looks at recovery in quantitative terms, the other in qualitative terms.Quantitative: Recovering a Prior Level of FunctioningMany clinicians and people with CFS think of recovery in terms of activity level or level of daily functioning. This entails a comparison of your current activity level to your pre-illness level. This of course is the first concern most people have, since it addresses the most obvious source of distress with CFS--not being able to do things in daily functioning like we did before. This approach defines recovery in quantitative terms, as in how much energy and activity you have compared to before. In this view, full recovery means a full return to pre-illness levels.Clinical experience indicates that in terms of activity level many patients improve in two to four years, though not necessarily back to pre-illness levels. There is however a range of responses. There are those who seem to improve faster. I have known former patients who, through learning the art of moderation, have been able to run, windsurf, or ski again. On the other hand, as observed by Jay Goldstein, M.D. of the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Institute of Beverly Hills, there are a minority of patients who experience progressive worsening of symptoms.7While it is impossible to predict for a given individual what degree of activity will be reclaimed, there is plenty of reason for hope of re-establishing a satisfactory level of functioning. This is especially true for those who take an active role in health promotion. What is "satisfactory" is of course a subjective judgement, and depends a great deal on your expectations and standards for what is acceptable.Qualitative: Recovering a Sense of Equilibrium and ControlI have known many former patients who describe themselves as recovered from CFS, but whose outward lives look very different from before the illness. From the quantitative point of view, they might be working fewer hours, getting less achieved, exercising with less intensity or duration, taking more rest than before, and paying more attention to managing their energy. Yet there has been a dramatic positive change in their sense of equilibrium and control in their lives. There is a new understanding and respect for the body's responses to stress or challenge.Their values and interests have changed, making them more appreciative of what they have. They may place less emphasis on outward performance or achievement, and more emphasis on living in harmony with their relationships and their surroundings. And amid all these changes has arisen a clearer sense of purpose, meaning, and living in balance, qualities that they did not have before the illness.As a result, the recovery they are describing is not a matter of picking up where they left off. Rather it is a departure from the direction they had been taking before, an expansion into new ways of living that make their lives richer and more meaningful. For many, this "recovery" has taken place while adjusting to and accepting a level of overall energy and outward functioning that is lower than what they had prior to CFS.We will explore the meaning of recovery at greater length in the next chapter. For now, consider the proposition that where CFS is concerned, recovery and discovery go hand in hand. The goal should not be limited to recovering the old, in the quantitative sense; it should include discovering the new. For some it takes courage to accept that this illness may signal the end of one way of life and the beginning of another. For others, this may come as a relief.Recovery from CFS is both a challenge and an adventure, and as you will see later in the stories of others, unexpected rewards await you.Thought it might help someone.
http://www.collinge .org/Cfs. htm
Here is an excerpt that was particulary helpful to me.
RECOVERY: WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
With regard to CFS, "recovery" is a highly charged term that means different things to different people. The complex nature of this syndrome provokes us to look carefully at our use of this word. With many other illnesses, recovery usually suggests a "return to the old," recovering the old way of life, resuming the activities and lifestyle to which we had grown accustomed. Yet, one of the greatest mistakes people with CFS can make is to hold a vision of recovery as "returning to the way I was living before I got sick." The difficulty is that, given the multicausal perspective, the way you were living before you got sick may have been a co-factor in your getting sick.This raises the question of what it is that we hope to recover. Obviously, if you believe that certain lifestyle factors may have contributed to your vulnerability to CFS, and your vision is to return to those same conditions, then in that sense recovery is not desirable, nor is it likely to endure. If, on the other hand, recovery means re-establishing a sense of equilibrium, control, harmony, and quality in your life, then yes, recovery is desirable.Below we will explore two broad perspectives on the meaning of recovery. One looks at recovery in quantitative terms, the other in qualitative terms.Quantitative: Recovering a Prior Level of FunctioningMany clinicians and people with CFS think of recovery in terms of activity level or level of daily functioning. This entails a comparison of your current activity level to your pre-illness level. This of course is the first concern most people have, since it addresses the most obvious source of distress with CFS--not being able to do things in daily functioning like we did before. This approach defines recovery in quantitative terms, as in how much energy and activity you have compared to before. In this view, full recovery means a full return to pre-illness levels.Clinical experience indicates that in terms of activity level many patients improve in two to four years, though not necessarily back to pre-illness levels. There is however a range of responses. There are those who seem to improve faster. I have known former patients who, through learning the art of moderation, have been able to run, windsurf, or ski again. On the other hand, as observed by Jay Goldstein, M.D. of the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Institute of Beverly Hills, there are a minority of patients who experience progressive worsening of symptoms.7While it is impossible to predict for a given individual what degree of activity will be reclaimed, there is plenty of reason for hope of re-establishing a satisfactory level of functioning. This is especially true for those who take an active role in health promotion. What is "satisfactory" is of course a subjective judgement, and depends a great deal on your expectations and standards for what is acceptable.Qualitative: Recovering a Sense of Equilibrium and ControlI have known many former patients who describe themselves as recovered from CFS, but whose outward lives look very different from before the illness. From the quantitative point of view, they might be working fewer hours, getting less achieved, exercising with less intensity or duration, taking more rest than before, and paying more attention to managing their energy. Yet there has been a dramatic positive change in their sense of equilibrium and control in their lives. There is a new understanding and respect for the body's responses to stress or challenge.Their values and interests have changed, making them more appreciative of what they have. They may place less emphasis on outward performance or achievement, and more emphasis on living in harmony with their relationships and their surroundings. And amid all these changes has arisen a clearer sense of purpose, meaning, and living in balance, qualities that they did not have before the illness.As a result, the recovery they are describing is not a matter of picking up where they left off. Rather it is a departure from the direction they had been taking before, an expansion into new ways of living that make their lives richer and more meaningful. For many, this "recovery" has taken place while adjusting to and accepting a level of overall energy and outward functioning that is lower than what they had prior to CFS.We will explore the meaning of recovery at greater length in the next chapter. For now, consider the proposition that where CFS is concerned, recovery and discovery go hand in hand. The goal should not be limited to recovering the old, in the quantitative sense; it should include discovering the new. For some it takes courage to accept that this illness may signal the end of one way of life and the beginning of another. For others, this may come as a relief.Recovery from CFS is both a challenge and an adventure, and as you will see later in the stories of others, unexpected rewards await you.Thought it might help someone.
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