Where to Start?

[Bidoche]

In my case, I used a herb (Silymarin) that is usually meant for patients who have liver disorders such as cirrhosis; it repairs the damaged cells. Should it be that my liver is perfectly functional, this may have impeded its operation. I do not drink alcohol and generally speaking, do not have diabetic complications. From tomorrow, I'll stop using it and we'll see if everything goes back to normal. I'll keep you all posted.

 

[tree]

Wonderful suggestions here regarding diet. I would like to add that 300iu of vitamin D may not be enough. You may want to get your levels checked. ...here is something I found quickly online:

"How much Vitamin D is enough? What levels of Vitamin D are safe?
The dietary allowance set by the National Research Council is 400 IU per day for all healthy individuals who have no exposure to ultraviolet light. The Daily Reference Intake (DRI) had been set at 200 IU, and it was recently tripled for people over 70 years of age, to 600 IU per day - but for everyone else, the DRI remains at 200 IU. Reinhold Vieth's evidence suggests these levels may be dangerously low.

According to Vieth, a knowledgeable Vitamin D researcher, there is still no published data that shows that 200 IU Vitamin D/d has any effect on the concentration of calciferol in the blood of adults. This low level of D does tend to prevent osteomalacia - but big whoop…. Osteomalacia is the last stage of a thirty year process of bone degeneration, that begins with osteoporosis.

"Except in those with conditions causing hypersensitivity, there is no evidence of adverse effects of 10000 IU/d of Vitamin D. Published cases of vitamin D toxicity with hypercalcemia, for which the 25(OH)D concentration and vitamin D dose are known, all involve intake of 40000 IU/d. Because vitamin D is potentially toxic, intake of >1000 IU/d has been avoided even though the weight of evidence shows that the currently accepted, no observed adverse effect limit of 2000 IU/d is too low by at least 5-fold." - Reinhold Vieth

Vieth now estimates the daily requirement for Vitamin D from all sources at 4,000 IU/d, and he offers compelling evidence that 10,000 IU/d is a safe and desirable level. "From all sources" means that these levels are the result of daily intake of Vitamin D from supplements, from foods such as cold water fish, and from exposure of the skin to UVB. Although Vieth believes that 10,000 IU/d of Vitamin D is safe for most people, whether or not that level is desirable is not clear. It's also possible that some people could develop an excess of vitamin D taking these amounts. We urge caution using these high amounts, and recommend frequent blood tests for 25(OH)D levels to make sure that excess amounts are not accumulating."

Also, we are so concentrated on the physical, but you did mention your emotional health as well. What actions are you taking to address this very important aspect of your health? Have you looked at the Eiriu Eolas breathing program? You mentioned playing music...something I can also identify with as a self-healer. Can you find more opportunities to fit this in your life? Often physical ailments show up as a message from our bodies that our physical , emotional, and spiritual needs are not being met, and all levels must be addressed.

Please consider this forum as a network of support...

Tree

 

[Bidoche]

Also, we are so concentrated on the physical, but you did mention your emotional health as well. What actions are you taking to address this very important aspect of your health? Have you looked at the Eiriu Eolas breathing program? You mentioned playing music...something I can also identify with as a self-healer. Can you find more opportunities to fit this in your life? Often physical ailments show up as a message from our bodies that our physical , emotional, and spiritual needs are not being met, and all levels must be addressed.

Please consider this forum as a network of support...

Tree

Thanks, Tree for the welcome.

BTW, the best way of getting Vitamin D is to be out in the sunshine. I only started taking D3 supplementation this Winter as the sun was rarely seen due to massive cloud cover.

Emotional well-being is a biggie. If you read my introduction to the forum [New Member], you'll see where I'm coming from. I've been writing my own songs for about 25 years, usually between 1-2 per month. This is where I put my emotional energies. I'm a very spiritual person and deeply concerned about the world and the direction its "leaders" are taking us. There are so many bad things happening due to corruption and over-interest in money, I felt it necessary to address these issues in my music. As I am an underground musician (and consequently out of the system), it's hard to meet others of like mind, especially here (in Switzerland), however I've done countless collaborations with artists from different countries via mail contact.

Living alone is not for everyone, but it has been beneficial for me. To answer your question about opportunities, I do what I can, although at present, isolation and loneliness are taking their toll. It would be interesting via this network to meet other musicians with whom I could work; it's so much easier being in a band than having to play all the instruments oneself! I do like to play live and hopefully my sortie in 2008 won't be the last.

Today, I'm on a 24-hour fast, only drinking water with lemon juice. It was a terrible mistake on my part to take Silymarin and I hope no damage has been done. Future activities may include breathing exercises and a full-body massage :)

 

[Bidoche]

Today, I'm on a 24-hour fast, only drinking water with lemon juice. It was a terrible mistake on my part to take Silymarin and I hope no damage has been done. Future activities may include breathing exercises and a full-body massage :)

After reflection, I doubt whether Silymarin is to blame for the joint pain. My liver is probably having lots of problems dealing with the changes in food I have put myself through these past months, so once I stock up on the ingredients necessary, I'll start the Ultra-Simple diet. It certainly has been difficult to find the right way to live correctly without a guide.

 

[Laura]

After reflection, I doubt whether Silymarin is to blame for the joint pain. My liver is probably having lots of problems dealing with the changes in food I have put myself through these past months, so once I stock up on the ingredients necessary, I'll start the Ultra-Simple diet. It certainly has been difficult to find the right way to live correctly without a guide.

I think you'll be pleased with the result. It really allows your system to calm down and get some work done. It's anti-inflammatory and that really helps you to get sorted out.

 

[Bidoche]

My liver is probably having lots of problems dealing with the changes in food I have put myself through these past months, so once I stock up on the ingredients necessary, I'll start the Ultra-Simple diet. It certainly has been difficult to find the right way to live correctly without a guide.

I think you'll be pleased with the result. It really allows your system to calm down and get some work done. It's anti-inflammatory and that really helps you to get sorted out.

A huge thumbs-up to Laura for the Ultra-Simple Diet. Yesterday was my first day and I followed the rules quite closely albeit using Whey in place of Rice protein (which I haven't found yet). The UltraBroth cooked away for three hours and made me quite dizzy when I first drank it. A short time later, my often-constipated body let go of itself big time...

It was also the day that I visited the doctor, but wasn't listened to at all [do doctors all have God complexes?]. Diagnosis was somewhere between Fibromyaglia (diabetic nerve disease) and Rheumatoid-Arthritis. When I spoke about Diet and not eating correctly, this was dismissed as being irrevelant. As I haven't had a good night's sleep in almost two months, taking the anti-inflammatory pill was all I got out of the visit. It did help though. I'm quite convinced (already) that the USD will be my salvation. I have never eaten this well in my life!

 

[anart]

Hi Bidoche, just a note that whey protein is dairy, so best avoided.

 

[Gaby]

When I spoke about Diet and not eating correctly, this was dismissed as being irrevelant.

Oh jeez, totally clueless!

 

[aragorn]

A huge thumbs-up to Laura for the Ultra-Simple Diet. Yesterday was my first day and I followed the rules quite closely albeit using Whey in place of Rice protein (which I haven't found yet). The UltraBroth cooked away for three hours and made me quite dizzy when I first drank it. A short time later, my often-constipated body let go of itself big time...

Good luck with the USD! I'm on my second week now and things are calming down. Drinking the broth makes me sometimes dizzy too, maybe I'm taking too much? This week I've included buckwheat pancakes and sardines, big big help! In my case I remember that the 5th day was absolutely the worst, I was really cranky. I also couldn't find rice protein in any stores, but searching the net I found two resellers (bodybuilding related) here in Finland who sell them. I have to say that the rice protein doesn't taste that good. I wonder if all brands taste awful?

 

[Bidoche]

Good luck with the USD! I'm on my second week now and things are calming down. Drinking the broth makes me sometimes dizzy too, maybe I'm taking too much? This week I've included buckwheat pancakes and sardines, big big help! In my case I remember that the 5th day was absolutely the worst, I was really cranky. I also couldn't find rice protein in any stores, but searching the net I found two resellers (bodybuilding related) here in Finland who sell them. I have to say that the rice protein doesn't taste that good. I wonder if all brands taste awful?

The first thing I did was to convert US measurements to metric. 1 Cup is equal to about 2.5 dl. That I can understand. The pain in my legs is less sharp and gradually becoming a dull ache. I'm optimistic. The UltraBroth, in terms of getting one's 4-5 vegetables a day, is a premium source of nourishment. Tonight, I fried some Cod in olive oil and seasoned it with curry powder, sea salt and lemon juice. On the side, some raw red rice, sauteed spinach with garlic and sauteed mung beans. I could have done with a glass of white wine. When I'm well.

 

[Approaching Infinity]

It was also the day that I visited the doctor, but wasn't listened to at all [do doctors all have God complexes?]. Diagnosis was somewhere between Fibromyaglia (diabetic nerve disease) and Rheumatoid-Arthritis. When I spoke about Diet and not eating correctly, this was dismissed as being irrevelant.

I'll second Laura's recommendation to read Detoxification and Healing. Baker describes the above very well. Most doctors dismiss diet as irrelevant because their whole approach is wrong. Just as in psychology, they base their science on statistics and the mythical "average human", as if "disease" has the same causes and treatments for every person. They think every disease has a specific cause and a specific treatment, and use statistics to see which treatments work. Systems theory is anathema to them, the idea that the different parts of a human interact in regards to well being. In fact, each person is different, and reactions to certain substances can be drastically different between humans. And diet is a huge factor. When you start looking at "disease" in terms of the individual, you see that recovery often DOES happen as a result change in diet, determining which substances are lacking (nutrients, vitamins, minerals, etc.) and which are present but harmful (toxins). Many things are more toxic to some than others, and scientific tests aren't always developed to the point where this can be determined. Often the only thing that works is to first test and THEN see if a change for the better has occurred. Most doctors are so brainwashed that they'll refuse to even consider the idea.

 

[Bidoche]

In fact, each person is different, and reactions to certain substances can be drastically different between humans. And diet is a huge factor. When you start looking at "disease" in terms of the individual, you see that recovery often DOES happen as a result change in diet, determining which substances are lacking (nutrients, vitamins, minerals, etc.) and which are present but harmful (toxins). Many things are more toxic to some than others, and scientific tests aren't always developed to the point where this can be determined. Often the only thing that works is to first test and THEN see if a change for the better has occurred. Most doctors are so brainwashed that they'll refuse to even consider the idea.

On many occasions my blood sugar has been elevated, this partially due to the fact that I take regular Vitamin C (in doses of 2-4g). I tried to explain that glucose levels may be altered (for the worse) because of this, but was not given any credibility. On this last visit, I agreed to take an anti-diabetic pill [Janumet/Metformin] and the doctor was really happy, telling me that many poisons in my blood would be countered. I totally agree that eating correctly is the answer to many health problems and not just pharmaceutical drugs. In the past, I've experienced malnutrition, gastro-enteritis and pneumonia all because of a bad diet with few or insufficient fruit and vegetables. As for reading books, being very limited financially, gathering information from this forum will have to suffice.

 

[Laura]

Rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia (I think that the former is often diagnosed as the latter when it is atypical) and sleep issues have been among my main problems. Little by little I'm homing in on the exact things that work for me which include taking micro-doses of hydrocortisone to let the adrenals rest, taking 5-htp to boost seretonin, and a large dose of melatonin at night. I find that if I can sleep well, long and deeply, it really, REALLY has a positive effect and calms the inflammation right down.

 

[Bidoche]

Rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia (I think that the former is often diagnosed as the latter when it is atypical) and sleep issues have been among my main problems. Little by little I'm homing in on the exact things that work for me which include taking micro-doses of hydrocortisone to let the adrenals rest, taking 5-htp to boost seretonin, and a large dose of melatonin at night. I find that if I can sleep well, long and deeply, it really, REALLY has a positive effect and calms the inflammation right down.

Laura, I'm glad you've found a solution appropriate to your condition. In my case, from what I can gather, there's too much Yang and not enough Yin. I need a big dose of fun perhaps with a laugh or two. This would clear my spirits and possibly help with my pain issues ;) I'm still hoping that the UltraSimple diet will allow my body to heal itself a bit better.

 

[Pierre]

I need a big dose of fun perhaps with a laugh or two. This would clear my spirits and possibly help with my pain issues ;)

And vice versa.

I noticed that the Diet affects positively the mood. Chemical reactions play a big role in triggering our moods and physiological reactions. Actually it's funny and amazing to observe that the exact same situation can trigger very different reactions.

Well the Work could partly explain a very progressive change in reactions to similar stimuli but I only see dietary changes to explain those quick and dramatic changes in mood.