[Kashia]

Yes. I was diagnosed with Hep C about 15 years ago and have lived peacefully with this virus most of those years. When I was going through a stressful period of my life I went in for check up and found my viral load and LFT's out of balance. actually quite high.
In cooperation with my Physician, she provided information and I did research on my own to make a treatment plan whose success was monitored by frequent labs and improved overall well being. In addition to taking some of the herbs listed at the link, I also took various supplements, enzymes and amino acids. In addition before starting these I spent two weeks at:

http://www.optimumhealth.org in San Diego, CA.

They have a comprehensive holistic raw food cleanse program
( which I discovered those with Hep C need to go lightly on ( 4-5 days max for me, break with regular vegan diet then resume)
I witnessed medical miracles occur for people with a wide range of disease.
http://nccam.nih.gov/health/hepatitisc/#scientific

These combined approaches along with making wellness a priority
brought me to what I would call large percentage of remission.

I elected to not have Interferon, to many side effects as bad as disease and hoping for improved allopathic treatment which I may try ...or if the above plan did not work I would as last resort try Interferon.

Be Well!

[TheCommuter]

I suffered from sciatica and its associated chronic pain for 2 years. The pain that shot down the posterior aspect of my right leg was so horrible that it rendered me unable to walk reasonable distances.

I first sought medical attention from an orthopedic surgeon, who first alerted me that I had a "back problem," although he was not very helpful. My next move involved going to a local urgent care clinic, where I received a script for Flexeril. The Flexeril helped somewhat, but I still grappled with the sciatic nerve pain on a daily basis. I also saw an acupuncture doctor once, but to no avail due to no relief of pain.

I proceeded to see a chiropractor, who precribed "spinal decompression therapy" after x-rays revealed I had an L4/L5 injury. I basically laid on a table while wearing a backbrace with pulleys attached. The pulleys applied a certain amount of pressure to alleviate the narrowing between L4 and L5. I felt slightly better, but the pain was still present.

I was involved in a car collision in November 2006, and experienced some whiplash. I began two months of therapy at the chiropractic clinic that was recommended by my attorney. The chiropractor did old-fashioned manipulations on my spine, and the sciatic pain was completely gone from my life within 3 months. In my case, an alternative practitioner alleviated my chronic condition when traditional Western medical methods failed me.

[Valerie Salva]

I've tried several herbals over the years for a number of conditions. I did not find them to be helpful.

I think that in a lot of cases, accepted western methods are not helpful, either.

[bethin]

I've had accupuncture to help with pain related to Crohn's. Helped some. Relaxed me more than anything.

[LiverpoolJane]

I completed a diploma in Aromatherapy in 1994 to allow me to treat patients in the clinical area. As it turns out I didn't use it to the full potential as I work in Renal and it needs to be used with caution in these patients. I did use the massage to aid relaxation and patients reported it helped them relax and sleep. The hospital I worked in used to vapourise Manuka oil in side rooms were the patienst have MRSA as it had been shown to be effetive against it. I don't know if they are still using it now but it was used with the full cooperation if the infection control team. My current hospital uses honey in infected wounds.
I still use aromatherapy to treat minor ails, lavander for minor burns, tea tree for cold sores & athletes foot.
My son as a child would get at least four cold sores a year, I started treating them with neat tea tree as soon as he got the tingle. They went within days and then he stopped getting them completley. I also used lavander when he had a crop of verrucas - again after one treatment they went. I also used this on a friends child who had verrucas - one treatment and they went.
I treated my SILs psoriasis with a combimation of patchouli and sandlewood oil - she reported a great improvement.
The UK news this morning has reported on an article that showed honey was more effective in treating childrens night time coughs than cough meds. When I start with a cold / sore throat I drink an infusion of honey, lemon and ginger - doesn't taste as bad as it sounds and really works.
One more - I could go on all day - feverfew for migraine, again my son used to suffer with then teribble as a teen after athletics etc, so I bought him tablets and again a reduction in the amount of migraines.

[bethin]

Jane, what's feverfew?

[LiverpoolJane]

Feverfew is a plant that is probably considered a weed in the UK. I used to grow it as occasionally get migraine - the leaves are quite bitter but worth it if you suffer with migraine. However you can buy it in capsule form in the UK, I would try and get my son to take them everyday but he would forget, however he would take it on the run up to a big athletics event and it really helped him. Let me know if you want me to get some for you if you cannot get hold of it yourself, it is sold in every health food shop here. Jane

[LiverpoolJane]

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/feverfew-000243.htm

A website from Maryland Uni about Feverfew

[deeDawntee]

I have an inversion table which I swear by!! It helps decompress my entire spine, from a stiff neck to a tired lower back. I also take cranberry pills to ward off UTI's...that REALLY works well. There is CoQ10 and Melatonin and others I take occasionally. Of course, I also believe in traditional medicine as well...don't we all, as nurses??

[Spidey's mom]

Honey, lemon and ginger in hot water has been used for generations - my grandma used to give it to me and I still use it for colds/sore throats/coughs. Glad to know research has been done.

I've heard of most herbs from my mother-in-law and my own grandmother.

I just can't use most of them.


steph