Alternative Medicine?

Does anyone have an success stories regarding alternative medicine, natural medicine or Chinese medicine?

Because of my ongoing health struggles, I decided to go to this place called New Life Allergy. I had seen it on tv commercials here in Windsor and they talked about how many health problems stem from an allergy or sensitivity within a body's system to a particular food, nutrient, mineral, vitamin etc. So I decided that since I'm already in the process of eliminating every possible cause of my symptoms, it might be worth ruling out any and all allergies.

I went and got tested for 153 items. It was all computerized testing, which involved holding a probe in 1 hand and a touch of a small probe on 1 finger on the other, one touch for each item. I went back and got my results and this is what she told. She said: I am lactose intolerant, my body is not absorbing nutrients well, my body has a big problem absorbing all B vitamins, I have candida, and I have a virus in my system that is negatively affecting my energy. Now, needless to say, I found this facinating, as it is all true, and she discovered this with the odd probe test she performed.

She SAYS she can help me; that I can have a series of treatments which will clear up all these problems - including my lactose intolerance, which I am very skeptical of. I decided to go ahead and try a few treatments because I figured, I've tried everything else, I might as well try this as well. (Even tho yes, its not cheap.)

The test was weird. I laid on a table on my stomach. She did some tingly, touching or massaging on my back, saying she was opening up my system, and then she proceeded to touch pressure points (she called this acupressure) with a probe which was connected to a metal box containing the items she was testing me for on this treatment. It was over in a matter of a couple minutes. She said I would probly feel extra weird for a day or so, and maaaan was she right. Whatever she did to me, my body felt it! I was awfully weak and dizzy immediately following the treatment, and I felt odd, weird, sore, for the entire day.

Now I don't necessary know if I feel any different this week, but I'm scheduled to go back for 2 more treatments. I dont know about all this. Does this stuff really work?

Sleep Study

This past week I had to attend a 21 hour sleep and nap study at the hospital. It was one of the weirdest experiences I've ever had. Let me tell you about it.

When I first got there, they showed me to my room, told me to get settled and change into my pjs. Then they hooked me up to 21 wires, which didn't include the 2 elastic bands around my torso and chest and a pulse monitor on my finger. I also had to wear a breathing tube across my face and in my nose, which left red marks on my face for 2 days following. They hooked up all the wires on me to the machine by the bed and I settled in for the night. I thought it was for the night, until they starled me over the speaker and begun this series of tests to make sure the monitors were picking up my movements and brain waves?... this included scrunching my toes, swallowing, moving my eyes, and even snorting 5 times in a row. Ya this was all pretty weird.

I tired to get a good night's sleep but inevitably I had to go to the bathroom twice in the night, which meant they had to come unhook me and rehook me up again. I may have had a brief mild 3 am fit of wanting to pull all the wires out so I could move around comfortably. I was then woken up at 6 am and told to get up and get ready for the day. They unhooked 6 wires and left the rest.

The remainder of the day consisted of waiting around for a series of 5 naps, each 2 hours apart - one at 8, 10, 12, 2 and 4. Each nap had the funny series of movement tests before it began, and then I was given 20 minutes to fall asleep or I would be told to get up. I was so exhausted from my condition combined with the horrible night, and yet I was not able to fall asleep during even 1 of the scheduled naps. Maybe the environment was just too weird for me to settle down into.

I'm glad no one was taking pictures of this because I looked a mess. In order to get all the wires hooked up to my face and head, they used some sort of glue? maybe medical glue or something?. Needless to say I had gobs of dried glue all throughout my hair and it took 5 shampoos to get it all out. I have to admit, it was quite an experience; one I am glad is over!

Dear Body of Mine

This is a strange letter. And I feel strange writing this but I need to. You were such a part of my life. I took you for granted, like so many things in life. I didn’t take care of you enough. I wasn’t careful about how I treated you and what I put into you. You use to be able to do so many things; you use to have such natural stamina. You use to be strong and could last through anything. You could do anything. But now, you are weak. You are hurting and aching. You have no stamina and you are not working properly. And all those plans I had for you are gone.

I don’t like admitting this but I need to learn to live with a changed you.

I have to let go. I am letting you go. I’m saying goodbye to the way you use to be, to the things I use to do with you and all the things you did for me. And now I’m going to be thankful for what I have now, what I can still do. I don’t like it but it’s necessary. And when I start to dwell on the way you used to be and all that you could do, I’ll say goodbye again and look with appreciation at what I still have.

Rebecca

God is in Control

This is no time for fear
This is a time for faith and determination
Don't lose the vision here
Carried away by emotion
Hold on to all that you hide in your heart
There is one thing that has always been true
It holds the world together

God is in control
We believe that His children will not be forsaken
God is in control
We will choose to remember and never be shaken
There is no power above or beside Him, we know
God is in control, oh God is in control

History marches on
There is a bottom line drawn across the ages
Culture can make its plan
Oh, but the line never changes
No matter how the deception may fly
There is one thing that has always been true
It will be true forever

God is in control
We believe that His children will not be forsaken
God is in control
We will choose to remember and never be shaken
There is no power above or beside Him, we know
God is in control, oh God is in control

He has never let you down
Why start to worry now?
He is still the Lord of all we see
And He is still the loving Father
Watching over you and me

God is in control
We believe that His children will not be forsaken
God is in control
We will choose to remember and never be shaken
There is no power above or beside Him, we know
God is in control, oh God is in control

While I'm Waiting...

I wanted to share this song with you. It's a great song I've come to love during this time of my life. It's by John Waller, and its featured in the movie Fireproof (which is a great Christian movie you should watch if you haven't already seen it).