My toxic overload!
 

In just the last couple of weeks, I have begun to develop some serious health problems when painting...(headache, nausea, chills) starting with mild symptoms and becomeing increasingly severe.

So - "Doctor's orders" - I am not to use any solvents or mediums for a couple of weeks (I use Liquin and citrus thinner) and "stay out of the studio."

Baloney. I can't NOT paint! So today I started to play with heat-set Genesis brand paints. These paints are totally non toxic and not as difficult to use as I had feared....they feel exactly like oils. Here is more about them: http://www.genesisartistcolors.com/

There is a book that tells how to convert brand-name paints into Genesis: "Decorative Painting Color Match Sourcebook" by Bobbie Pearcy (My copy included a Color Match Supplement on Genesis.) Because of this I am able to use my usual palette of colors....

Below is a detail of a painting that might normally take me months (drying times) using traditional oils, but I did it in about 5 hours using all the underpainting and layering techniques I am used to...

Her name is Grace and I have painted her from an old photograph taken in 1887. Her coloring is based on a great gradnchild who resembles her...

This is the fastest portrait that I have ever painted and I can't wait to really explore what these paints can do!

Please note...that this is NOT a finished work - just an experiment...

Sorry to hear about your condition. Was it just the solvents and mediums that caused your condition or were oil paints also to blame?

These "genesis" paints sound too good to be true. I will be interested to read of your progress.

I really don't know what chemical part of the traditional painting process is making me sick right now. I suspect that the Liquin (medium) that I use plus the thinners are the main problem. Who knows?....maybe the paint has a negative effect on my health too..

Meanwhile, Genesis is pretty darn good and it doesn't make me sicker to use them. They are archival and still classified as "oils." I intend to begin a batch of new work immediately with them. Because I am able to work so quickly with Genesis, maybe I'll be able to seriously cut into my two-year backlog of work:D

Unfortunately, I have many unfinished paintings in the studio right now with clients waiting for them. When the weather gets warmer, I'll open all the windows and doors, crank up the fans, hold my breath, and finish them the way they began...with all the traditional materials.

Then I'll probably go back to Genesis and try to get/stay healthy....

I wonder how many artists are sadly prevented from working with oils because of the health problems caused by traditional materials? ;C

Karin,

I am so sorry to read about your ailments! Good luck with the new paints you have discovered.

I decided to start using oils again after a 20 year hiatus because of the water soluble oils. I have 2 children and didn't want to expose them to turpentine etc. I am very happy with them. I do notice that when I go to an art class with people using traditional oils and turp, I get a slight headache. The paints you have found sound even better as you don't really need a mixing medium and if you do, it is non-toxic.

Hope you feel better! :)

Karin,

I don't know if you were at the ASOPA festival where an Oriental woman talked about the use of Applied Kinesiology to test substances to see how they are affecting us.

I didn't personally see that presentation, but I heard about it and as I understand there were some in the audience who received it well and those who did now. It's definitely into the alternative field of health.

For those who do not know, Applied Kinesology uses muscle resistance testing to determine the affects of various substances on our bodies or to test the function of systems and organs in the body. About 16 years ago when I first encountered this, I was very skeptical, but experience since then has taught me otherwise.

When you consider that everthing in the physical universe is basically energy, and energies can affect each other, then Applied Kineseology starts to make sense.

Frankly, as one who has had bad experiences with doctors, I must admit a prejudice against the reigning medical tradition. Of course, they have their place, but I believe they are all too willing to cut and drug and never look for the basic source of a problem.

When my son had allergy problems as a child, the pediatrician was more than happy to continue to prescribe more and more medications. He was looking thinner and more pale by the day and could barely eat without stomach spasms because of all the medications. I was angry about this.

I finally decided to do some research on my own and was shocked to find simple things the doctor had never told me...like no feather pillows and no dairy products! I was angry that she'd never done the least bit of eduction on me and I never went back to her and refused to pay my last bill.

Back into the alternative arena:
I recently had something called a Meridian Health Analysis, which is very comprehensive and totally painless and gets into energetic diagnostic methods, which is where I'd say Applied Kinesology lies also. I was shocked to find out that having my tonsils out at 12 was affecting my lymphatics and that having a rubella vaccine at 28 was affecting my thyroid. I also learned that I had problems with allergies, which didn't surprise me. I also learned that things we don't currently have but have had in the past can still be stored in our bodies as an energy pattern that can affect our body's energy. And, lastly I learned that where we have scars can also disrupt the normal energy flow in the body.

There are times when I go through a minor period of rejection of these concepts because they are so far outside what us Westerners have been taught. And, then I remind myself that every practitioner that has ever tested me has always come up with the same problem allergens on me, even when I had no idea what was being tested.

Unfortunately, the Meridian Health Analysis is not available around every corner. I've also seen it call Meridian Stress Assessment. Here's some places you can read about it, though I think the description of what it tests is rather limited. For example, my test included all kinds of things including food additives, anesthesia, environment chemicals, hormones (yes, you can be allergic to your own hormones) and much more.

http://www.phr.net/meridian.html
http://www.funimky.com/bio_feed_back.htm

I was fortunate to find an alternative physician that offered this rather than a chiropractor. I have nothing against chiropractors, I just preferred the greater range of services the physician was able to offer.

As you say, when our bodies start to manifest such symptoms as yours, it's an indication that the toxic overload has become more than can be effectively handled. Anything that cleanses the body can potentially be helpful...exercise to the point of sweating, drinking tons of water, going vegetarian (no grains), doing a full or modified juicing program, colonics, etc.

A disclaimer here: I'm not diagnosing or prescribing, but simply speaking from my own experience. I also am not recommending the avoidance of traditional medicine if that helps you and it's what you want to do.

One final note on this post. I am a kindly person and generally very open to the expression of divergent opinions and varying opinions are not discouraged. However, I must mention that if you plan to write a scathing debunk of what I have just posted, that you could be treading on very emotionally sensitive territory. I have 25 years of study and research in this field due to my son's and my own problems that no traditional doctor could diagnose. But there's also been lots of years of frustration because this is information that isn't necessarily easy to find.

Cynthia,

You're my kind of gal! I too am an alternative medicine convert. I have many stories too long to tell, but have switched the bulk of our medical care to a Homeopath who is also a D.O. Can't speak more highly of it. We have a son with Crohn's Disease that's doing wonderfully well under her care. Thank you for that info, I'll check into that as well!

(...I seem to have a fondness for all things 'alternative') ;)

Karin,

Please take care of yourself! Hope you get better soon..

Stanka,

It really is a fascinating field once you get hooked on it. I would probably study it now even without any health challenges just because it is no riveting.

I also have a D. O. I go to, but she's not quite alternative enough for me. The D. O. was a good start, but I found going to the physician who does the Meridian Stress Assessment gave me tons more information. The thing with this type of testing is that it can find things that are challenging the body before they cause disease.

:sunnysmil Would you believe.....I just had the Meridian Stress Assessment...and will do whatever it takes to feel like a human being again. What is a D.O.?

Karin!! That's so amazing! Did you get your results yet? Did you do it through a physician or a chiropractor? Are they right there in your area?

A Chiropractor...right here in Peterborough, NH.

The body's energy
 

Hello all,

This is my first post, so a little about myself. I'm currently finishing my studies in physics at UMC, after which I plan to attend art school (hopefully an atelier-style school), and then to start a career as a fine artist/portrait artist. I'm trying to learn as much as possible on my own (until I graduate), and this site has been incredibly informative. Given the exquisite work done by most of you, and the amount of knowledge and experience you bring to this forum, I haven't had anything to contribute until now....just been trying to learn as much as possible.

At any rate, this topic (the body's energy) is a little more familiar to me. I wanted to mention that not only is it quite effective to treat and diagnose various maladies using the body's energy (qi, or chi in China), but there's also a quite developed system of preventive health maintainence based on the same energy system.

I don't know if any of you have heard of qi-gong (Chinese meaning "the practice of qi"), but basically it is a set of slow, relaxing exercises that improve and correct the body's flow of energy. There are hundreds of qi-gong practices in China, and literally tens of millions of people in east Asia practice qi-gong. Stories like Ms. Daniel's of significant health improvement are common among qi-gong practitioners.

Personally, I have practiced a form of qi-gong (called Falun Gong, or Falun Dafa) for about two years, and have greatly enjoyed and benefitted from it. With this particular practice, there are 5 exercises that are slow and easy to learn. Three of them take about 3 minutes each to complete, and 2 are meditative and can be done for as long or as short a period as you'd like, so it couldn't be more convenient from a scheduling standpoint (I work full time while attending classes, so I stay pretty busy).

Here's an introductory website about Falun Gong in case you wanted to take a look. Everything for Falun Gong is free.

http://www.falundafa.org

Hope you find it interesting,
Nathan

Thank you Nathaniel....what a wonderful website! I intend to contact them and explore this asap.

I think that atelier training is the way to go...please keep us informed.

Cynthia,

I'm glad you have found something health related that you can believe in. I think alternate medicine can be good if it's provable.

If anyone is interested in Kinesology from a scientific approach including double blind studies. There is quite a bit of information about it at www.Quackwatch.com at the search window type in Meridian.

Steve

Steve,

Thank you for the reference, however, I'm aware of their web site and did just now read what they said about the device and have read other things there earlier.

When I first encountered the site, it was very obvious to me that the owner of the site is heavily prejudiced in favor of Western medicine. That alone is reason for me to discard much of what he says, since it's obvious he doesn't have an open enough mind to even consider something new.

Western medicine has it's place, but so does the Eastern tradition. And, there are many scientific things that are now commonly accepted, but in the beginning were treated as ridiculous.

In fact, accupuncture is now entering the mainstream of medicine and many insurance companies are paying for accupuncture treatments. Yet in earlier times it was looked upon by Western medicine as quarkery.

As much as we know scientifically, there is so much more we still don't know and who knows what discoveries tomorrow will bring. Throughout history, those who have made the greatest scientific discoveries often did so because they kept an open mind and could think "outside the box".

So, I will continue to keep an open mind since it works for me and allows my life to be filled with the wonder and passion of constant learning.

The website called "Quackwatch" is known for its one-man diatribes. Quackwatch has sometimes cited lopsided or downright bogus "scientific" evidence at times...

Anyone would be well advised to keep an open mind and check any "fact" taken from there.

I find it interesting that though the owner of the site (Quackwatch.com) is accused of being prejudiced, he has highlighted links throughout his site that go directly to Kinesiology sites. Making it easy for one to read about Kinesiology in the words of those who promote it.

As far as who has an open mind, I had not heard of Kinesiology until yesterday. What I have found out about it, including reading websites of those who advocate it, is that it is irrational. In my humble opinion. If it can be proven I'll change my mind. Is that having an open mind? Will the believers do the same?

Steve

A Kinesiology website.
http://www.bewellnaturally.net/HTML/...uscletest.html

Since you never heard of Kinesiology until yesterday, I find it odd that your "open mind" slammed shut so quickly on this subject.

I gather that Cynthia (and many others) have had years of direct positive personal experiences that you insultingly trivialize and dismiss.

I trust that you missed (hopefully not ignored) Cynthia's request in an earlier post on this topic, so here is a repeat...

"I am a kindly person and generally very open to the expression of divergent opinions and varying opinions are not discouraged. However, I must mention that if you plan to write a scathing debunk of what I have just posted, that you could be treading on very emotionally sensitive territory."

I think it insensitive (not to mention impossible) to demand that Cynthia somehow must show you evidence of "double blind studies" in order to "prove" and "justify" her sharing of an intimate personal experience regarding her son's illness.

I think you have stepped way over the line from the kindly expression of varying and divergent opinions.

Karin,

Wow! It seems that Toxic Overload is the appropriate name for this thread. The main thing that keeps puzzling me on this "forum" is the lack of the permission to be truly honest and open. This is a "forum," not a support group. Forums are public places that allow open opinions...not places where all must agree and be gentle with each other at the expense of the conversation.

Cynthia is a big girl, I'm sure that whether or not I believe as she believes will not hurt her. I doubt that she is that fragile. I have not attacked her, just brought new evidence to opinions that apparently are not popular with the folks on this site. Yet, whenever I voice my opinion there seems to be a quick gathering of the wagons to vilify my opinion.

Let's be clear. Years of experience is just anecdotal evidence and doesn't mean very much. For instance, if I have a friend who has smoked for 30 years and isn't dead then anecdotal evidence says, smoking isn't harmful. There are lots of stories of people getting hope from non-proven tactics, and this hope or relief can come from various places. Yet this sense of being helped is not scientific, nor demonstratable. I am just trying to bring a little less emotion and more facts into the conversation.

I didn't demand, anything of Cynthia, and I said my mind could be changed. That isn't "slammed shut." If you want to be truly sensitve on this Web site, then you will not call me insensitive, but will honor my opinion as well as Cynthia's.

Steve

One of the things I find wrong with Western medicine is that often what the patient experiences matters little in the face of lack of "evidence" to prove the patient did something scientifically proven to cause improvement.

So, if I feel better when I stand on my head, the doctor might say that I couldn't possibly feel better because that subject has never been scientifically studied. Without a study there is no scientific proof to support my feeling better when I stand on my head, therefore I must not feel better. Huh? So, this doctor is now an authority on whether I feel better or not.

I remember thinking about antibiotics when I was 18. Okay, they kill bacteria. But, I reasoned, there are good bacteria in the body too. Hmmm, I wondered if the antibiotics were "smart" and only killed the bad bacteria. But, I'd never heard anything about antibiotics being "smart".

Then, some years later I received the information that antibiotics do kill both the good and bad bacteria in your body, as I had thought. "Good" bacteria...hmmm, sounds like something that should be there and if destroyed by an antibiotic needs to be put back.

More years later I find out how devastating the effects can be of that good bacteria being destroyed. Hmmm, wonder why the doctors don't tell us these things when they give us an antibiotic?

More years pass...now there's finally some doctors starting to tell patients that they need to take acidolphilus after a round of antibiotics in order to restore the good bacteria.

Looks like doctors have become more informed about the subject of these good bacteria in the body. But, I'll bet if I told a doctor when I was 18 that eating yogurt (which contains acidolphilus) made me feel better after I'd had antibiotics, many, if not most doctors, would have discredited my information. And, I specifically remember when I was 18, no yogurt containers claimed "acidolphilus" on the label as many now do.

So, the medical awareness and knowledge on this subject has shifted considerably since my first question at the age of 18.

Bottom line is that I don't consider the lack of scientific studies to be a valid reason to discredit someone's first-hand, personal experience that they feel better and that whatever they did worked.

I doubt that Lorenzo's Oil would have ever been found if those parents only accepted what traditional medicine told them.

And the rapidity with which the medical profession changes their tune is in itself disconcerting...oats lowers cholestrol...oops, we were wrong...fats make you fat, not carbs...oops, no it is carbs, not fats...coconut oil is one of the biggest no-nos...oops, it's not so bad afterall and there's actually health benefits to it...if your cholestrol is high, you're eating too much fat...oops, doesn't much matter how you eat, it's mostly hereditary.

As I said before, Western medicine has it's place, but Western doctors are not my god. I have first-hand experience in both Western and Eastern medicine. It seems to me that to make an informed decision about the workability of Eastern medicine, one would need personal experience from which to judge.

Permission to be "open and honest" is not a euphemism for an intentional and mean spirited attack.

Many people have passionately held beliefs and what is "proof" to one is frequently not "proof" to another (hence the different religions of the world). For example, it is generally thought that to attack another's religious belief is out of bounds. I think that your "demand" to Cynthia to justify her belief by providing nearly impossible "proof" to you crosses over into this area...and you seem to have missed the whole point of what she said.

But she did clearly say that this is a verrrry sensitve area to her and she did NOT want to be attacked. Obviously she is aware that not everyone shares her opinions about western medicine and she has no problem with that...she just doesn't want to be personally and pubicly attacked for it.

I have nothing else to say on this subject...

At this point it is probably better to agree to disagree. I am more comfortable dealing with evidence than emotion and anecdotal stories. We both have a right to our opinions and experiences.

I do believe that medicine and science are always evolving. Does kinesiology do the same?

When I first saw the posting on kinesiology, I researched several Web sites, curious and wanting to know more. What I read did not convince me. In fact, the opponents made a stronger argument for me. I then posted that if one of the followers of kinesiology could prove the validity of this practice, I would be open to changing my mind. I did not demand anything. I was actually saying that I'm open, but not convinced...convince me. This is not an attack. This is an appeal for more information. What I received was closer to an attack than what I posted.

Again, as I said in the first posting, "I'm glad 'Cynthia' found something health related that 'she' can believe in." I hope you find relief from your problem. Kinesiology just doesn't sound like a solution for me.

Steve

Can you believe it? Spring training is right around the corner. And how bout that El Nino thing coming back?

Steve,

I actually have no desire or interest in trying to change your mind, that's not how I work and it's not my purpose to convince you or debate it. Perhaps you are someone who, in general, likes to debate. My post was intended to present something that might help Karin or others dealing with unusual problems that traditional Western medicine has not been able to help.

You mentioned you were glad I found something to "believe" in. It's not a "belief". I spoke from my personal experience. And, no lack of scientific evidence can ever negate my own personal experience. Perhaps you recall that when I first encountered kinesiology that I was skeptical myself.

What I don't see is that you've had any first-hand experience in the use of kinesiology, so I have a hard time understanding how you can make an informed conclusion.

This is all I have to say on the subject, except that's it's too bad things have taken this turn. Most members are probably running for the hills from this thread.

Hope you don't think I'm a nut.........
 

Hello all,

It's certainly not my intent to debate anything or attempt to change anyone's thinking. In the interest of keeping this conversation interesting, though, I'd like to add a third perspective on scientific evidence vs. other forms of 'proof'. As someone going for an advanced degree in theoretical physics, I think it's a subject that I can speak on with some information (I'd hope that people wouldn't run for the hills from such an interesting topic, but if it's not an appropriate topic for discussion, please accept my apologies, and I'll not post again on this thread).

My personal view on this subject (and I respect that others' will differ) is that science does afford us a measure of objectivity, but it is a method of taking natural phenomena and attempting to put it into a form we can understand. That is, it is an exploration into existence that denies anything but the five senses and mathematical proof (mathematics is used to divorce us somewhat from the subjectivity of our senses). This is one method, and has led to some advances in human understanding. I think this method is decidedly rigid and quite limited.

I'm not trying to "advertise" the qi-gong system I practice, but I think there's a good quote from the preface of the book Zhuan Falun, by Li Hongzhi, which is a transcription of a lecture given on how to practice it.

I also want to point out that the phrase "Buddha Fa" has nothing to do with Buddhism. Buddha is a sanskrit work meaning "awakened or enlightened one", and Fa is Chinese meaning "principles", so "Buddha Fa" in this context means something like "principles of true knowledge" or "principles of awakening", and is not religious in the least, nor does it refer to the historical Buddha (Guatama).

Here goes:

"What can be understood with modern human knowledge is extremely shallow and tiny; it is far from truly coming to terms with the truth of the universe. Some people even dare not face, touch upon, or admit the facts of phenomena that objectively exist, because they are too conservative and unwilling to change their conventional thinking. Only through "the Buddha Fa," can the mysteries of the universe, time-space, and the human body be completely unveiled. It is able to truly distinguish what is righteous from evil, good from bad, and eliminate all misconceptions while providing what is correct. "

Translated from the Chinese.


I hope you can see what I'm saying here,

Nathan

Gee!

I went to a fight today and a health discussion broke out.

I should add that upon the recommendation of her swim coach, I took my daughter to a doctor that used Kinesiology to treat her injury and allowed her to continue workouts through the successful treatments. It seemed like (and was) a better risk than cortisone.

So, this Lutheran and this Buddhist and this scientist go into a bar . . .

Some decades ago (the exact number is classified) I minored in Religious Studies, partly out of keen interest in comparative religions but mostly because of the opportunity to study under the most thoughtful, even-tempered, brilliant professor I ever knew. In this curriculum, we spent some time proving and disproving the existence of God. I forget which side won. It has been suggested that God laughs at all our proofs anyway.

I was quite interested in particular in Eastern thought and religions, and I now find myself residing in the mountains north of Taipei, a vantage from which I'm able to witness the full gamut of medical and well-body practices, from modern Western to ancient Eastern. A few minutes' train ride from me is the National Taiwan University Hospital, rivaling the best Western medical care centers in the world. Along that train route are dozens of Chinese apothecaries dispensing all manner of herbal and other mysterious packets. Every morning at 5 a.m., the road in front of my house is well traveled by people making their way up a nearby mountain path that leads to areas for tai chi exercise. Which of all these practices and approaches is "true", which are useful, which are mere intellectual and emotional opiates? Beats me.

I went to a nearby Zen monastery a few weeks ago to look into a more structured sitting meditation than I could put together on my own. Toward the end of one three-hour session, which had nearly dislocated (or dis-lotus-cated) my hips and knees (my mind didn't wander at all -- it was focused on pain), we were sort of stretching out the kinks with a walking meditation, and the gray-robed Buddhist nun half my height came up behind me with a flat wooden stick and, to my surprise, whacked me twice between the shoulder blades, saying "Too much tense here! Too much tense!!" "Lady," I wanted to turn and say to her, "You don't know the half of it." I'm not sure if I was experiencing alternative Chinese medicine, but in any event, I remain too much tense.

My wife, a completely literal and pragmatic person, has nonetheless undertaken a series of acupuncture treatments, which she swears have greatly moderated her tension headaches and stress-related discomforts. And if she says that's so, then as far as I'm concerned, it is. Doesn't entice me to volunteer for pincushion duty, but that in no way diminishes her experience.

While I do tend to look for explanations for phenomena -- which is why I enjoy, for example, medical doctor Deepak Chopra's presentations -- I do so not so much as a skeptic but as someone who simply wants to understand. That desire can't always be met. In the summer of '91 I was taking my son on a long trip to visit my father, and a couple of days before we left, I sat down in a chair in front of my wife and wept, telling her that this was the last time I'd ever see my dad. This was completely off the wall and had no basis in any facts known to me, and though my wife tried to reassure me, she tempered her response with the knowledge of having seen this sort of thing happen to me before many times. We made the trip, had a good visit, and a few weeks later my 59-year-old father died. Where's the proof of the basis for or existence of my premonition? I haven't any. But it was as "true", as real, as the keyboard under my fingertips.

If you're still reading along, waiting for my "big point", I haven't got one of those either. Just seemed like someone from the back of the room needed to have a say, while everyone else caught their breath. My third cup of coffee has gone cold, and just as well. Time to go to the studio and paint what I *can* see and what I *do* know.

Cheers,
Steven

Nathaniel,

Your post has been most well-received here. As much as a layperson can enjoy and understand theoretic physics, I do. Heinsenberg's Uncertainy Principle and Bell's theorem...I continue to be totally fascinated. (Don't think I have some great knowledge in the area just because I threw out those names). I think your post was highly relevant. I have the Tao of Physics, but unfortunately keep getting distracted from my reading.


Steven,

Leave it to you to provide some wonderful comic relief. You always continue to amaze me with your writing and rapier mind...you had me truly laughing out loud. :) As always, a beautiful contribution. Surely your skills at writing have been previously acknowledged before this forum. If not, they should have been.

And, we are all waiting with bated breath for when the mystery man is going to post his photo.


Jim,

There is actually a difference between Kinesiology and Applied Kinesiology. From the International College of Applied Kinesiology: "Applied Kinesiology (A.K.) is a system using muscle testing as a functional neurological evaluation."

From American Academy of Kinesiology and Physical Education: "Kinesiology refers to the study of movement. In American higher education, the term is used to describe a multifaceted field of study in which movement or physical activity is the intellectual focus. Physical activity includes exercise for improvement of health and physical fitness, activities of daily living, work, sport, dance, and play, and involves special population groups such as, children and the elderly; persons with disability, injury or disease; and athletes."

D. O. & finding the right doc
 

A D.O. is a Doctor of Osteopathy. There is a great deal of overlap in the coursework that D.O.s and M.D.s take in their professional training, but osteopaths believe that disease manifests itself in soft tissue and that doctors must address those symptoms through attention to and manipulation of soft tissue. Not surprisingly, chiropracty (hard tissue manipulation) arose through osteopathy. D.O.s can prescribe drugs. In some parts of the country, they are every bit as accepted for primary care as M.D.s but in other parts, they struggle and have had to adapt. (how do I know this? I previously worked in medical and science publishing).

I think it's possible to find a good doc regardless of training but it isn't easy. I have a lifelong history of middle ear problems. An Iyengar yoga instructor and macrobiotic follower suggested I swear off dairy to avoid further surgery. To my surprise, my Ear-Nose-Throat surgeon agreed that it was a sound idea to try, not quite for the same reasons she cited. After a lifetime of "intimate" relationships with ENT surgeons and more than 10 operations, I finally have one that has explained what's happening and why. And his bacground is...veterinary medicine! He came to the US from the Dutch Virgin Islands to be a vet, discovered medicine and never looked back. I just feel so fortunate to have found a healer who is a teacher as well.

(New kid gets kicked out)
 

Just a point in the way of mediation...

I had it pointed out, if memory serves, by a book on tape by Scott Peck, that doctors do not heal. The body heals itself, all doctors do is create a situation where healing can happen.

I think the initial offense was to the word "believe" which I feel is a very important condition to the practice of healing arts. My story is about a friend. Her husband retired at the age of 65 like everyone else, but he was not enjoying the time of his life, he got rapidly less healthy. When he finally got checked he was diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas.

I hear doctors say you die of that. He had a lot of options, but since doctors say you die, he was not going to go in for all the added suffering chemo was causing so he opted for an experimental study.

They gave him shots and iv's and the usual, but there was one aspect vastly different: The doctor encouraged and taught positive body imaging. My friend would leave him in his room for hours on end as he visualized a golden mesh filtering the disease from his cells. She tended to all his needs and reminded him to eat, but all they did was help him heal. He had a surgical bypass which was some sort of stop-gap expediency so he could continue to function, but nothing was removed. It was impossible.

This man's daughter and son in law were diagnosed with cancer within a month of each other. The daughter died a month after her husband. They fought death, did what the doctors said, vomited through the chemo and were ready, when the time came, to pass on their things to the only daughter. They prepared to die.

The father is 83 today. He is alive. He is well. His body did all the work. Ok, so miracles happen, but then so do people drop dead on the tables from LIPOSUCTION.

Knowing this story has convinced me there is a more than passing requirement of BELIEF in the healing process. It is not meant to offend or condescend, it is important to have a treatment you can believe in.

The children of my friend believed their doctor. My friend and her husband, believed he could live. I hope nothing here offends. I hope my lungs hold out in spite of loving to do pastels!