GLOW

One of the most frustrating things for me about having seizures is the feeling that I am very limited in my holistic treatment options. For the first time in a long while, I have gladly surrendered to the medications prescribed to me by my neurologist, and though I haven't worked up to a dosage yet that can stop my seizures, I am already noticing a difference in my energy level, and feel optimistic. It is difficult, though, to deal with the fear of possibly losing health insurance in the future and losing my medication, or the possibility that eventually the effects of the medication will plateau, and I will have to begin the frightening process of accumulating more prescriptions to ensure a certain quality of life. It is not an option for me to continue to have seizures every day, multiple times a day, and to be so limited in my activities and mobility. But with all of the potential side-effects and concerns, I want to be sure that I do what I can to complement the treatments I receive from my doctors.

I find YouTube to be an excellent source for introductions into the various experiences of others with trying health problems, and introductions into the treatments that have worked for them. They are only this: introductions, and as with all information distributed on the internet, should be watched with a critical mind. But I find that they give me some sense of optimism. As far as natural treatments I have currently incorporated into my life, I try to drink a tea blend of skullcap and passionflower every day, and have begun energy work with a psychic medium per the recommendation from another person with epilepsy whose seizures stopped completely after energy work. I am planning on visiting a chiropractor as well, and hope that this will help.

Here are some of the videos that I've watched that I've found compelling and informative. Perhaps they will help you, as well.

This is an excellent overview of natural treatment options. I was pleasantly surprised to find that their knowledge of research into more rare forms of epilepsy is quite impressive, and even more thorough than many neurologists. I had to be referred to a highly specialized neurologist, in fact, to be able to work with someone who was actually aware of the hormonal-related forms.

The two other ladies that I know with epilepsy also do their best to avoid gluten. I have been on a gluten-free diet for at least two years now. I wonder how much worse the seizures would be if I was still eating it?

This is where I learned about skullcap and passionflower's beneficial impact on epilepsy, although this video is specifically about a form of epilepsy that I am not familiar with.

If you look up "epilepsy chiropractor" on YouTube, a ton of results come up with testimonials like this. I'm very curious to see if I have any results from it.

And the ever controversial issue of epilepsy and medical marijuana. There are so many stories out there like this young man's. I, unfortunately, do not respond well to smoking any sort of substance, as it really fires of my nervous system regardless of the substance, but if I am able to get my hands on a tincture, I will eagerly try it. From what I've read, it is important to have the Indica (sp?) strain rather than the Sativa when it comes to treating epilepsy.

As noted in the first video, neither these people, nor I, am advocating weening off of meds. Epilepsy is a serious disorder, and should be treated appropriately. What is important, though, is to find the highest quality of life possible, and if any of these options aid that, then they are worth a go in my mind. 

Have you had any experiences with these treatments, or any others?

It has been a long while since my thoughts have turned to this space, and for the most part I am grateful for that. 2009 & 2010 required me to spend most of my days researching what I could eat, planning what to eat, shopping for that food, cooking and experimenting in the kitchen, and finally, eating. My health was such, and my food sensitivities so plenty, that this was necessary for a long while. In order to maintain some sense of sanity, I looked upon it as a creative task, and often a spiritual task. I would work slowly, thoughtfully, often listening to Alan Watts or some sort of meditative music, and trying to focus my whole being on healing. This, naturally, gave me little time and energy for my true creative loves, and that, naturally, left me feeling unsatisfied. Come 2011, for the most part, my gut has healed enough, and my knowledge base is steady enough that my diet has become more low-maintenance. This is all relative, of course, and I still have to bring food with me to dinner parties and on trips, but it is all down to more or less of a manageable routine. Even more than this, however, is the fact that this year I have sadly discovered that diet & herbalism can not heal everything. I have gotten to a point where I have learned to control everything I can, and the rest is out of my hands. So that, dear friends, has been the reason why you have not found me here.

I find a great deal of spiritual guidance from the symbols in the Tarot. In a workbook of mine, it has a numerological formula for finding which card represents the year you are in now. At the end of 2010, when I added up the numbers and found that the Hanging Man was the card for 2011, I was crestfallen. I felt momentum, I felt anticipation, I felt, more than anything else, a feeling that there was absolutely no way in hell I could handle another year without answers, with chronic pain and illness, and all of the crap that comes with it. The Hanging Man traditionally represents many things that I was ready to welcome, the consequences of your actions coming to fruition (both positive and negative) for example, but it also represents surrender, sacrifice, a period of inactivity, a recognition of the negative things that we might be hung up on. (See more here.) I thought that I already lived that. And I also thought that when I was diagnosed with Lupus in May, after almost a decade without answers and 4 months of the most extreme fatigue I'd had in years, that the card had been proved irrelevant. I would get on a raw diet, I would try Plaquenil, and I would start regaining my life back.

Summer passed, my fatigue became worse, I became extremely sensitive to sun and light, I would have bouts of numbness and inability to speak or move, and I had started to get these "ticks" as I called them, which were mild shakes and movements of my head that embarrassed me quite a bit, and so I told no one of them. 

But in August, when meeting with my new rheumatologist, during an appointment which was the most thorough and lengthy I had thus far with any doctor, I was told that I in fact did not have Lupus, that my auto-immune issues, while present in Sjogren's and Raynaud's, were mild according to my blood work, and that instead, he thought it very likely that I had a mild form of Epilepsy. I was shocked. So happy was I to have a doctor who finally cared and listened, but so helpless did I feel to know that I was starting from scratch again, with a suggested diagnosis that seemed so far from anything I had conceived. I thought of the year so far. I had only regressed. I was weak and without answers. The Hanging Man seemed relevant again. I tried to pay attention to the lessons I could learn from it.

The next day, while having ten vials of blood drawn for tests ordered by my rheumatologist, I blacked out momentarily, and fell into a violent and extended seizure for the first time in my life. I was absolutely terrified. I could not make this stop with a cup of tea. I could not prevent this from happening by avoiding carrots or capsaicin. This was happening in my brain, and I had no control.

Four months later, the seizures have become a regular part of my life. These "ticks" as I once called them come in varied forms, are usually fleeting, but almost always near the surface, just begging for a trigger to send it over the edge. Complications with insurance have delayed tests and doctors visits, and made for a very frightening autumn with some more severe episodes, but this month I will finally have the EEGs and appointments I've needed, and I am feeling like change may finally be at my doorstep. 

One of the most challenging lessons that I've had to learn, and continue to learn, is the necessity of asking for help, and for properly articulating my needs to those around me. This is a daily challenge, and you'd think that with something like a seizure that it would be pretty straight-forward and obvious that help is required, but this has not been easy for me. I am sharing all of these details of my life with you now for two main reasons: to tell those that are friends and family members to me that I need you, and that I am so grateful to you for how you have taken care of me and taught me that it is okay to be helpless sometimes, and to tell those of you that I don't know that it is absolutely okay for you to advocate for yourself. Are your doctors not listening to you? Do research, work with your insurance company, and get a new one. That one doesn't work, either? Get a new one. Make phone calls, get letters written so that you can see those specialists that aren't in your insurance network. Call your friends and family, and be honest with them about what is going on, and be patient and accept their honesty when it is not easy for them either. Sometimes we can make the mistake of assuming that our needs are obvious, but everyone handles trials differently, so communication is key. Most of all, know that it isn't your fault when you can't make it go away. By changing my diet and learning about herbalism, I rid myself of chronic migraines, decades of IBS troubles, seasonal allergies, and a number of other pains and difficulties. I am so grateful for those improvements. But we have to accept sometimes the humbling power of disease. It is a teacher, it is the alchemist's flame, it is, at times, completely out of our control. 

I hope that this year, which for me is represented by the Death card of the Tarot (which is the bringer of rebirth, the (sometimes painful) shedding of those things that no longer serve us), will bring healing and positive, cathartic change for those of us in need of it. My love to all those who are similarly struggling, have so in the past, or may in the future.

RAW ZUCCHINI & SUMMER SQUASH "NOODLES"* WITH AN HERBED LEMON & COCONUT BUTTER "CHEESE", LIGHTLY SPLASHED WITH RAW COCONUT AMINOS

 I've been spending a great deal of time (perhaps too much) researching Lupus since my diagnosis. I've wanted to be informed when attending my follow-up appointment with the rheumatologist (as he sadly didn't offer me with many resources), and have wanted to expose myself to alternative treatment options that an allopathic doctor would not typically suggest to me. The most commonly advocated alternative treatment for autoimmune diseases is an appropriate diet that eliminates food sensitivities and common toxins. Guess what? I have a head start. My intuition has clearly served me well in that department. Besides eliminating gluten, however, a diet largely made up of raw foods seems to be the most commonly talked about diet, which according to various anecdotal stories shared via the web and to me personally, can alleviate many of the symptoms and even lead some to remission. This gives me great hope, although I am keeping that hope in check with the understanding that every body is different; what works for one may not work for another. Let me be clear that Lupus is potentially a very serious disease, and therefore alternative treatments for it are highly controversial. I have the advantage of only having mild Lupus at this time (in my mind thanks to the dietary changes I've made, though I will elaborate on that more at a different time), and consequently have some leeway to experiment. Summer is an excellent time to eat raw food, as well; I am more than happy to rarely turn on the stove. I'm a little bit more skeptical about how this will work out in a cold New England winter, given that I also have Raynaud's. Anyone with experience in that department, please share your thoughts in the comments!

RAW SHAVED* ACORN SQUASH WITH MINT, SHAVED MACADAMIA NUTS, COCONUT BUTTER, LEMON, OLIVE OIL, LAVENDER BUDS & FLEUR DE SEL

So, have I noticed any improvements since making the shift? Hell yes. My cravings for starch and sweets have decreased significantly. My portion control (typically something I really struggle with) is leaps and bounds beyond what it has been. Also, when I've made exceptions to my diet by indulging in typically forbidden foods, my reactions are far less severe, and I recover much more quickly. Want an example? I'm eating fruit. Let me put that into perspective for you: with the exception of lemon & avocado, I haven't eaten fruit for almost 2 years. I've been following the recommendations of the Body Ecology Diet and eating it only in the morning and always by itself, but I've made some exceptions to that, as well. Papaya, pear & banana have been recent trials. Want another example? Today, my husband and I went to Kickass Cupcakes, where I indulged in not one, but two gluten-free cupcakes. (Sugar, eggs, flours, oh my!) So far, I'm suffering from some mild brain fog, but otherwise I'm okay. I followed the trip up with some raw celery to help move it along, and some stevia-sweetened sparkling mineral water with added peppermint oil to soothe any possible inflammation.

RAW SHAVED* DAIKON & EASTER EGG RADISHES WITH PARSLEY, LEMON, CHOPPED RAW HAZELNUTS, SEA SALT & OLIVE OIL

I would love it if you would share your thoughts on this approach. I am still holding off on fulfilling my prescription for Plaquenil at the pharmacy, but beginning to warm up to the idea. How do you treat your illness? Have you improved from an autoimmune disease through diet? Have you tried the raw food diet and improved your health? Have you recovered? Or are you one of the many who feels it to be a naive and mislead approach? Please weigh in.

In the meantime, here are two resources I have taken advantage of:

Shares her experience of putting her severe Lupus into remission on a raw food diet.

Despite many significant dietary modifications, many of my symptoms didn't noticeably improve until incorporating healing herbs into my daily routine. I may have mentioned this before, and most likely will again, but for over ten years of my life, I took 1,000 mg of pain reliever just about every day for migraines, chronic nerve pain, and severe menstrual cramping. Now that my food triggers have been eliminated, my symptoms are treated completely with herbs. So suffice it to say, I am incredibly enthusiastic about the benefits of herbs. I recently started an herbalism certification course, and have also had the opportunity to help out some friends by making some custom tea blends for them. I feel very at home with it all, and am excited to share some of my blends with you.

Up first is a blend that I made for one of my best friends who has been dealing with a great deal of stress, including a job that taxes his arms and wrists and manifests itself in similar nerve symptoms to mine. I tested this blend out on myself first, and halfway through my mug, I felt like I had taken a muscle relaxant. My tense muscles eased up, my blood started flowing to my finger tips (yes, that is a rare feeling for me), and my mood noticeably improved. I was excited to pass this on to him and see how he responded. After his first mug, he felt relaxed and more at peace, and said that his lungs felt clean and open. He drank this sweet brew prior to bed, and woke up the next morning feeling more refreshed. The tea comes off as quite sweet because of the stevia and licorice root, so test it before adding any additional sweeteners to your cup.

Normally the tea recipes I share here are for a day or two's dose; this recipe is meant to fill a tea canister and last for a while.

1/2 CUP LICORICE ROOT

1/4 CUP CATNIP

1/4 CUP SKULLCAP

1/4 CUP MEADOWSWEET

1/4 CUP ROSE HIPS

1/4 CUP MUGWORT

1/4 CUP STEVIA HERB

1/4 CUP FENNEL SEED

1    TBS SHEEP SORREL

1    TBS PASSIONFLOWER

1    TBS ORANGE PEEL (HEAPING)

OPTIONAL: 1/4 CUP GOLDENSEAL (ADDED FOR SEASONAL ALLERGY COMPLAINTS)

MIX HERBS AND STORE. LOAD TEA INTO A TEA BALL AND STEEP ANYWHERE FROM 5 MINUTES TO AN HOUR, DEPENDING ON DESIRED POTENCY. YOU CAN ALSO PUT THE DESIRED DOSE OF HERBS INTO A FRENCH PRESS AND STEEP THE HERBS THAT WAY. 

LICORICE ROOT:

CATNIP:  

SKULLCAP:  

MEADOWSWEET:  

ROSE HIPS:

MUGWORT:

STEVIA:

FENNEL SEED:

SHEEP SORREL:

PASSIONFLOWER: 

GOLDENSEAL:

*Please note that herbs are potent medicine, and should be honored as such. I am not a certified herbalist (yet!), and am sharing this recipe based solely on my own personal research and experience with it. If you are unfamiliar with these herbs, it is best to first try them individually to test your body's tolerance of them.

My attention was recently brought to this article from Natural News, which raises many concerns about the future of alternative medicine, not only in North Carolina, but throughout the United States. Given the recent legislative trends in our country, it seems plausible that the idea could spread. Let's see what we can do to stop it, lest our health and the welfare of our healers suffer as a result!

After spending two days in the darkroom this week playing with chemistry, I found myself with a strong headache and a feeling of uncertainty as to whether or not I might remain on my feet. I meant to make this blend last night before going to bed, but didn't have the energy for it before falling into bed and passing out for 12 hours. I woke up without the headache, but still a bit light-headed, so I grabbed my bin of herbs and my herb guide, and brewed some detox tea. I've been brewing my teas in the french press lately rather than in a pot, as it requires less attention.

1 TSP SHEEP SORREL

1/2 TSP BURDOCK ROOT

1/2 TSP SKULLCAP

1/2 TSP MEADOWSWEET

1/4 TSP MUGWORT

1 ANISE STAR (OPTIONAL)

FILL FRENCH PRESS WITH WATER, AND POUR INTO KETTLE TO BOIL. POUR HERBS IN THE PITCHER, AND ONCE WATER IS BOILING, POUR WATER INTO THE PITCHER. COVER TO STEEP, BUT DO NOT PUSH DOWN STRAINER UNTIL DONE. AFTER ABOUT A 5 MINUTE STEEP, PUSH DOWN STRAINER AND SERVE.

ABOUT THESE HERBS:

SHEEP SORREL: A strong detoxifying herb, most commonly known in herbalism as part of the Essiac anti-cancer tea blend. It helps to cleanse the liver, bring oxygen to the blood, reduce inflammation and maintain a healthy nervous system. I feel a great relief from a number of my symptoms after consuming this herb.

BURDOCK ROOT: Aids in purifying the liver and kidney, neutralizing and eliminating poisons, promotes digestion, and is a diuretic. If you have fructose malabsorption, you typically should avoid burdock, but in small doses like this it may be tolerable.

SKULLCAP: Soothes the nervous system and is a diuretic.

MEADOWSWEET: Diaphoretic and diuretic, it helps to purify the kidney and liver, and also soothes the nervous system.

MUGWORT: Aids in the production and secretion of bile, mild purgative, helps to purify the kidney and liver, diuretic. Also known as the "dream herb". (The addition of Mugwort into this blend might not have been the wisest decision given my altered state, but I thought it's benefits trumped that concern.)

There are many books and online guides that further elaborate on the benefits of these herbs. I most frequently reference this book. I also find helpful information online here and here, to name only two. 

*Please remember that I am not a certified herbalist, and so I am only sharing recipes that have helped me in my own healing. Herbs are potent medicine, and can react differently with each individual. Listen to your own body, and consult a professional if you are able. 

I've tended to pretty much rely on the same herbs to help alleviate my symptoms, but this week I had to mix it up a bit. I recently introduced a new supplement to my daily regiment, and have been doing some exercises and stretches that, combined, have left me feeling a bit off. My routine has been off as well, and I haven't been very good about making my regular teas. I reached my breaking point today, though, and finally made a big pot. It never ceases to amaze me how immediate the relief can be! This blend has the lovely flavor of a mild black tea.

1/2 TSP CATNIP

1/2 TSP MEADOWSWEET

1/2 TSP ROSE HIPS

1/4 TSP GOLDENSEAL

1/4 TSP RASPBERRY LEAF

10 CUPS WATER

PUT DRIED HERBS IN A TEA BALL, AND PLACE IT IN A LARGE COVERED POT WITH THE WATER. BRING TO A RAPID BOIL, REDUCE THE HEAT, AND BOIL ON LOW FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES. TURN OFF HEAT AND ALLOW TO STEEP FOR 5-10 MINUTES, DEPENDING ON HOW STRONG YOU WANT IT, OR HOW DISTRACTED YOU ARE. POUR INTO A 1 GALLON MASON JAR*, AND THE EXCESS INTO MUGS TO ENJOY. PLACE JAR IN THE REFRIGERATOR TO CHILL. DRINK COLD OR REHEAT AS DESIRED.

 

ABOUT THESE HERBS:

CATNIP (AKA catmint, catnep, catrup, catswort, field balm) is the herb that I get the most cocked eyebrows about. It is a godsend for both us and our feline friends, although it seems to have a bit of a different effect on the nerves of humans than cats. Herb books will tell you that it is helpful for upset stomachs, spasms, flatulency, acid and diarrhea. In my experience, it also helps to bring a feeling of peaceful euphoria, settling the nervous system, curbing migraines and anxiety attacks, and generally just making my body all kinds of happy. For those reasons it is my favorite in my basket of medicinal herbs.

MEADOWSWEET (AKA bridewort, dollof, meadsweet, meadow queen, meadow-wort, pride of the meadow, queen of the meadow) is most often prescribed for cold and flu symptoms, but also helps to relieve indigestion, diarrhea and gastritis. It also helps to relieve joint pain, is helpful for arthritis and rheumatism. Additionally, it contains sacylic acid, which is a natural pain reliever, also found in white willow bark (which aspirin was originally made from.) It's use was recently suggested to me by a naturopath, and I've found it to be a helpful and tasty addition to my teas.

ROSE HIPS are unfortunately not listed in my herb guides, but while looking for some basic guides online, I stumbled upon this article, which details some benefits that I wasn't even aware of! Apparently I've been doing my body more of a favor than I realized...I've been adding rose hips to help relieve joint pain, but according to this article, it also helps to relieve dizziness and digestive problems, soothes the nerves, and helps to support healthy intestinal flora. I think that I'll be including them in my blends more often!

GOLDENSEAL (AKA eye balm, eye root, ground raspberry, Indian plant, jaundice root, orangeroot, tumeric root, yellow puccoon, yellowroot) is also often prescribed for cold or allergy symptoms, as it relieves inflammation of the mucous membranes in the throat. It also aids in fighting intestinal bacteria growth, and soothes the digestive system in general, both of which are what prompted me to add it into the rotation. Read more here.

RASPBERRY LEAF helps prevent diarrhea and nausea, but is most popularly used to help relieve menstrual cramping and general PMS symptoms. Last month, I added this to my teas for the week prior to my period, and was amazed at how mild my symptoms were. I really didn't have any cramps, which for me is monumental.

As noted in my last post, I've been introducing some ingredients into my diet lately that I've avoided for quite some time. That paired with the glorious autumn season and the sugary root vegetables that accompany it has left me with a few flare-ups of symptoms that I could do without. Besides the usual stomach upsets, the inulin I've been ingesting (burdock root! sun chokes!) has seemed to affect my serotonin levels, and has brought on a few days of ye olde depression, anxiety, excessive and confusing fits of tears. Pretty awesome. The positive side of it, is that after a year of carefully monitoring my food, I have perspective and know that it's a result of food and brain chemistry, not a result of any lasting concern for my quality of life or being. Words can not properly express how freeing that knowledge is after years of very truly being in the dark! In the meantime, though, what to do to help accelerate my recovery? Never underestimate the power of herbs. I like to make a big pot of tea that I can drink over a day or two, allowing them to work their magic and clear my body of the offending substances. If you have indulged in some forbidden dairy products, I would suggest adding rosehips to the blend, as it really helps to soothe the joint pain that often accompanies it. Here is this week's prescription:

PUT DRIED HERBS IN A TEA BALL, AND PLACE IT IN A LARGE COVERED POT WITH THE WATER. BRING TO A RAPID BOIL, REDUCE THE HEAT, AND BOIL ON LOW FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES. TURN OFF HEAT AND ALLOW TO STEEP FOR 5-10 MINUTES, DEPENDING ON HOW STRONG YOU WANT IT, OR HOW DISTRACTED YOU ARE. POUR INTO A 1 GALLON MASON JAR*, AND THE EXCESS INTO MUGS TO ENJOY. PLACE JAR IN THE REFRIGERATOR TO CHILL. DRINK COLD OR REHEAT AS DESIRED.

ABOUT THESE HERBS:

LEMON BALM (AKA balm mint, bee balm, blue balm, cure-all, dropsy plant, garden balm, melissa, sweet balm) is a favorite of mine, as it takes care of a number of my symptoms. It is soothing to the nerves and digestive system, reduces inflammation, cramping, headaches, flatulence and melancholy, and on top of that has a wonderful almost milky flavor to it that compliments just about any tea blend.

LICORICE ROOT (AKA sweet licorice, sweet wood) is somewhat mucilaginous, so it helps to coat and soothe the digestive system as well as the throat. It also helps fight nerve inflammation, and soothes the nervous system in general. It is also recommended as an herb to help fight candida overgrowth; I find it particularly helpful in this regard simply because it is so sweet that drinking it can help curb my intense cravings for sugary indulgences.

SKULLCAP (AKA blue skullcap, blue pimpernel, helmet flower, hoodwort, mad-dog-weed, side-flowering skullcap) is another go-to herb for soothing the nervous system. It is also anti-spasmodic and diuretic.

CATNIP (AKA catmint, catnep, catrup, catswort, field balm) is the herb that I get the most cocked eyebrows about. It is a godsend for both us and our feline friends, although it seems to have a bit of a different effect on the nerves of humans than cats. Herb books will tell you that it is helpful for upset stomachs, spasms, flatulency, acid and diarrhea. In my experience, it also helps to bring a feeling of peaceful euphoria, settling the nervous system, curbing migraines and anxiety attacks, and generally just making my body all kinds of happy. For those reasons it is my favorite in my basket of medicinal herbs.

Herbs can be purchased in bulk online; I get mine in bulk from my local co-op in Cambridge.

There are many useful books on herbalism out there. The one I reference the most is here. There are also many online guides; I recently turned on to one here.