Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group I have given up the pharmies..

Okay, so I was overwhelmingly frustrated with all the crap that goes along with taking all those pharmaceuticals. First, The vicodin hardly helped and constipated me (of course, that was before my diagnosis), then, the Voltaren ends me up in the ER. Then, the MTX, though helping with the pain, brings me to the lab every two weeks for blood testing to be sure that it's not killing my liver. So my boyfriend's friend recommended this Naturopathic doctor. I don't know if any of you have any experience with homeopathy (though I'm sure a few have), but I thought, why the heck not?
So I went to see this guy, who, as it turns out, has had extensive medical training. He went to medical school, but didn't look to much into osteopathic medicine, instead, he left medical school and proceeded to studying homeopathic remedies.
I felt immediately comfortable in his office beneath the bookstore he also owns (attached to the huge pharmaecopea of herbs, vitamins and etc..). He's the first doctor I've found myself able to be completely open and honest with.
He looked at my tongue, then proceded to tell me most everything wrong with me; many things I knew about, some things suprising.
He balked when I told him I had been on MTX. He said (mind you with know further exam than to look at my tongue), I'll bet you have rashes on your upper arms and legs, and probably back as well. I do, and told him I had since I was quite young. He said that was because my liver was already functioning at a less than desirable level, despite "within normal limits" results on my blood testing. He also pin-pointed my severe allergies, fatigue, terrible menstrual periods I'd had since menarche, and severe inflammation in my body. After I mentioned my past meth use, he said I probably have reduced bone (and tooth) density. I told him I had been diagnosed with Osteopenia.
He suprised me quite a bit and I vowed to follow his recommendations. I figure (as I argued to my mom and several others since beginning his treatment plan) that these sorts of treatments have been around for thousands of years.. Modern medicine can really only lay claim to less than a hundred... I'll take thousands of years as good backing.
I'm on a strict regemine of vitamin, mineral and enzymatic supplements, tea, vegitarian glucosamine (since I am allergic to shell-fish), flax oil (for the fatty acids) and a basically vegitarian (pretty near-vegan) diet. (The diet is due to a theory behind blood type dieting. He gave me a book to read about my blood type and the foods I should be eating.. I've actually given up very little.. Seems my body already knows what's good for me.) And yoga (for free through his shop, mind you)
I've been off MTX for 4 months, and have basically stricken any synthetic drugs from my lifestyle.
I feel better mentally and physically. I have had one sleepless night in the last two months versus I don't know how many even on the MTX. I wake up feeling better and more limber than I can remember feeling in years.
He's truly a great guy, last time I saw him, he functioned quite like a counselor, allowing me to spill my guts on him about so many problems I've been having with my boy. He nailed him immediately asking questions and making assumptions. Does he do this? Does he act like this? Does he look like this? He gave me something to give him. I'm happy to report that my boyfriends depression and anxiety have decreased dramatically since he began taking it too. (which makes me a happy girl!)

Sooo... Guess I haven't been on in quite some time.. I've been busy with work and all that life stuff. But, I thought I'd drop in and throw my two cents at you all and recommend a trip to your nearest homeopathic doctor!

Merry Holidays All!

i noticed you're in Mpls. I'm a bit south of you. Would you mind sharing your doc's name?

Chelsie - brilliant Well done you. All for getting rid of the pharmies! Have 'just about' got rid of them myself... I take AAKG (L-Arginine) with Jiaogulan. Keeps the inflammation down, gets rid of most of the pain and, holds my BP in check. What more can one ask from a small bunch of herbs?

Also have a herbalist, but she don't tell me what is in the bottle! Certainly feel brighter and a heck of a lot more positive with a nice up-swing in mood. Will be posting her details - she said that I may do so. Anyone may e-mail her, she will be happy to answer questions.

Just soooo pleased for you. IF I'm ever in his vicinity I will have an appt going - what's his name and what's his address?

Molly

Isnt that nice when that happens. My accupuncturist is also a herbalist and has several degrees in it and she did the same thing. My first visit she talked with me for about 20 min or so and then looked at my tongue and gave her dx pretty much the same way! Crazy isnt it! But she was right on the money. Unfortunatly she has since moved . Hope it keeps up and you find some relief.

Angie

Hi Chelsie,

Good to hear you are feeling better and without meds.

I wanted to ask if you could give in detail the diet your Naturopath prescribed you. What blood type are you? and are you taking any herb medicine or any homeopathic medicine?


Oded

First and foremost, my doctor's name is Andrew Lucking. Like I said, he owns and operates a bookstore/herb shop where his office is located. The store is called Present Moment. It is located at 3546 Grand Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN. Here is the link for the website: Present Moment

Alright, and my regimen goes something like this:

Upon waking:
2 Inflamase (Gastric Release: Bromelain, Catalase, Superoxide Dismutase/Enteric Release: Pancreatin, Amylase, Lipase, Trypsin, Alpha Chymotrypsin)

After I walk the dog:
Yogurt with active live cultures mixed with one tblspn of Flax oil (Omega 3, 6, 9 fatty acids)
A cup of juice (I tend to really like apple) with one tblspn of Veggie Glucosamine (it's liquid)

At lunch:
1 Bone Power (Vit A, C, D, B-6, B-12, Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Zinc, Boron)

Mid-afternoon:
2 Inflamase

Before Bed:
3 Bone Power
2 Vit A and D

I also have two teas with a bunch of stuff in them. One helps with my asthma, pain and it's supposed to help me quit smoking (which I fully intend to do when I move out of the house I'm living in right now since my roommates smoke (a lot) in the house). The other is mostly for energy and a little for pain.
I also have these little dissolving pellets Rhus Toxicodendron 30c (which I do believe is fancy talk for poison ivy..) I'm not sure how, but it works in about 15 minutes for pain and stiffness. I take those as needed. Usually when I get up and then any other time I'm sitting around for a long period of time.

It should be noted, however, that not all of these are for AS. I have a lot of other issues going on too (of course!).

As for my diet, I'm type A. The book I have is written by Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo. There is a diet for each blood type. The idea is using food as medicine and eating according to your specific cultural/regional background. For me, that meant going vegitarian (which, as it was, I rarely ate meat) and cutting a few other things out, which I'm doing slowly. It doesn't mean I can't eat meat at all, but that I should really limit myself. I recommend checking it out. It's really not too difficult. Looking through the book I realized that apparently my body already knows what's good for me and what isn't. A fantastic example is that I hate bananas. I also happen to be allergic to latex. Come to find out, bananas are a natural source of latex. My body doesn't like eating them because it knows that it's not good for me. Also, when I avoid meat and dairy and a few other things, I don't get the terrible gut thing that they screened me for IBS over. Lucky for me, I happen to really like tofu, soy milk, soy "meat", etc... So, it's not been all that difficult to maintain a balanced diet.

So far so good on this new treatment plan. I have taken into consideration that I may just not be flaring right now. But I've also taken into consideration that winter is my worst time and the last 3 winters have been hell. Since starting my new plan, I've yet to have much of a problem. Not to say that I've found the maracle cure though. My doc and I are still tweeking the dosages and I still have a rough day or night here and there.. But not like I used to. On top of it, I feel healthier, more energetic, and more positive about things. I think I'll be sticking with it for a while.
Feel free to ask any more questions of me or even check out the website and give the people a call. All the staff there are very knowledgeable and can probably answer some questions.
Good luck!

Good to hear you found success with naturopath, I often look at the coloration of my tongue as well to determine current health status.

The naturopath you found sounds like a winner, best wishes on continued success.

Tim