****UPDATE****... Been to the TCM Pharmacy!!!! AND... a Thank You to JOHN23
My TCM doc actually hands me a script..wrote in chinese!!! I then had to take it to the ONLY TCM pharmacy anywhere in my area. The place was really cool. It had a whole wall filled with shelves of different herbs. No clue what they all were. Then another wall with cubby holes all nicely labeled according to what the pill in the cubby hole did. Like "high blood pressure" Men sex aide, women sex aide, cramps, skin pain..etc..and all boxes and everything for that matter was in chinese..of course. They also had artwork for sale on the walls..chimes..chopsticks...candles..incense..clothing. Anyway, it was a new and very different experience for me.
Wednesday I start brewing my herbs. I am looking forward to this experience as well. I have heard that the herbs are not so tasty....some not so bad. Stay tuned on that. I have also started acupuncture a few weeks back. THAT is amazing to me and a whole other post....which I will share when I have been at it a while longer.
I LOVE the fact that TCM offers me another option to try. I try all the chemo and radiation crap these doctors throw at me and they all suck so I figured why not give this a try too. If it don't work..nothing lost.... if it does..WhooHoo and screw chemo!!!! Time will tell. Ya'll take care.
Jennie
Comments
-
Why not!
I think there is a lot of benefits to be had from herbs. I hope it all works for you!
Brenda0 -
ROFLMAO
I saw that picture, and thought what an interesting fire ring. I thought that was firewood in the middle laying on sand and was trying to figure out what kind of fire containment ring was surrounding it.
Good for you trying the TCM, hope you found a good TCM doc!!!
Go girl.
Winter Marie0 -
I think this is awesome that
I think this is awesome that you are trying this. We don't have a TCM practitioner close by but I have thought about trying this out myself although I haven't made any moves. I'll be interested to hear more about your acupuncture and herb usage.
Here's to successful treatment!
Laura0 -
be strong dear jennie
it tastes like crap.
after 14 months it still tastes like, crap.
sipping it right now.
my biggest tip is spend $100 and buy an automatic chinese medicine cooker and a thermos and while you are at it a 6 stage reverse osmoisis alkalanising water filter.
pure alkaline water is good for you, and the automatic cooker well it stops the fires in the kitchen.
I am committed to doing this 3 times a day for the rest of my life, however long that maybe, so the $100 is really well spent.
so each morning i put my tea on with boiling water, i get the first brew done in under an hour, then i put the second on. often i am gone by then. i sip it during the day.
i often go for 3 brews of the stronger anticancer cytotoxic variety.
tcm like all therapies has its place, its context in your treatment, but i would ensure your gut / gi is really strong. my tcm guy could not fix my gut parasite, it had to be my integrative gp's who diagnosed and fixed this. yes it took two doctors one did the test to find it, the other another test for leaky gut. ironically the fix my gut was a tcm product called panaxea gut bug formula in a capsule. it worked my gut is fixed.
enjoy the tea, sip it like i do and think positive things, like john23 often says its been used by 1,000,000,000,000 chinese for over 5,000 years. what harm can it do.
after you get the tcm sorted, you can start qigong and accuptunture. its kind of the asian triad of eastern medicine and they have synergy to some extent.
hugs,
pete
ps try not to miss a day, i get into such big trouble if i miss a day from henry my herbalist.
pps you can have some stomach upset from TCM, so i go each fortnight and get the herbal mix adjusted. just what i am doing.0 -
Yay Sis
You go girl. If I (yes I, for anyone who has left csn but still reading posts) if I could find a good tcm doctor in my area I would do it. Currently I'm taking herbal supplements (yes that is right, herbal supplements for anyone reading csn who has left but still here). Took those right through chemo, along with green tea. So yay for TCM!
XX0 -
Thanks for Support!!!....tommycat said:I haven't forayed into TCM
I haven't forayed into TCM but I admire you for trying it---why the heck not, right? And thanks for explaining the picture---I thought it was a campfire, then some MJ weed, then ????
MrsJP.... My TCM doc first gave me herbel "pills". He said the American people can tolerate these pills better than the raw form of it because they are not as strong and then once they are use to the pill form they can try raw form. He said Chinese people are reared on raw herbs and pills are useless for them to take. I was not even aware that my TCM doc had raw herbs...cause I didn't see any anywhere...just the pills. I didn't know they had to write you an RX and then you had to go to an actual chinese pharmacy to get the herbs. I didn't know such a thing existed..a chinese pharmacy?? what??? Yep..sure enough! and how very interesting. Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks???
Tina, Pete...thank you for thinking about my well being and possible side effects of the herbs. These are indeed strong medicine and side effects...if you can even call them that...are very minimal. NOTHING like chemo. My TCM said the strength of the herbs may mess with my stomach...give me a stomach ache. That is why we are starting slow and I have to report to him every day...via email or phone...on how I am feeling...as dosage and/or herbs may need to be adjusted. Just like you would do if chemo was messing with you.
Now...there is something I want to share with you all and I am so glad I finally get this opportunity to do so. I researched TCM for many months...followed this board and mainly John23. You all know what a spokesperson he is for TCM. I have spoke to many others who have tried TCM. When I decided to take the plunge and give it a 100% commitment it was then I realized the first..and most important step would be to find a GOOD TCM doc. OK...I was at a loss here. Not only did I not know where to find one in my area...even if I found one I had no idea what to look for. What constitutes a good TCM? What questions do I ask him to know if he is good? I am completely stupid on this subject..even after much research..I just didn't know. So who DOES know...ahhhh...JOHN23 KNOWS!!!! I started sending PM's to John and he answered every one of them. He told me what to ask potential doctors and what to look for in a TCM. BUTT...and this is a big BUTT.... I still didn't feel comfortable talking to those doctors...shoot, some of them I could not even understand because they spoke such broken English. This is when John23 stepped in. What he did for me goes above and beyond what you would expect from a person you only know thru the internet. John asked me for my zip code. He...on his own time...and own expense...did research to find TCM doctors in my area. He then called and interviewed each of these TCM doctors until he found one he felt would be suitable for me to go to. John KNOWS the questions to ask..he KNOWS what to look for..he KNOWS if a TCM doc sounds on the up and up. After he spoke with my TCM..who is Dr. Mo...I then called Dr. Mo and said my friend John called and spoke with you. He understood why since I am TCM stupid. It's actually created a good foundation for me and Dr. Mo because he knows everything he does for me I am going to run by John and he KNOWS John KNOWS his stuff. It's made me feel SAFE with this new treatment. JOHN23.....THIS IS MY TIME TO SAY THANK YOU SO SO SO VERY MUCH!!! YOU TRULY CARE AND HAVE PROVEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN YOUR COMMITMENT TO THIS CAUSE.I SO LOVE YOU AS A PERSON AND A DECENT HUMAN BEING!!!! WE ARE BLESSED TO HAVE YOU ON THIS BOARD.
John has told me that if ANY of you need or want help in locating a TCM in your area...or want any advice on TCM...he would be more than happy to help ANY of you out..just as he did me.All he needs is your zip code.So PM him if you want help. WoW! I am sooo happy I finally got to share that with you all.
Ya'll take care now ya hear???
Jennie 0 -
Thankful
So glad to hear that you are trying TCM. I am a big believer in healthy, natural medicines. I think what is wrong with most of us is all the chemicals that are placed in our food and water. Praying that this is the answer and that you will get fantastic results. Although I don't post often since Frank's passing, I do lurk in the background checking up on those I care about. You are an amazing lady and I pray that you get the results you are looking for. Keeping you always in my thoughts and prayers.
Love ya,
Anna0 -
Hey Anna!!...amcp said:Thankful
So glad to hear that you are trying TCM. I am a big believer in healthy, natural medicines. I think what is wrong with most of us is all the chemicals that are placed in our food and water. Praying that this is the answer and that you will get fantastic results. Although I don't post often since Frank's passing, I do lurk in the background checking up on those I care about. You are an amazing lady and I pray that you get the results you are looking for. Keeping you always in my thoughts and prayers.
Love ya,
Anna
So very very good to hear from you. I am so glad to hear you check in from time to time and keep an eye on us. The TCM is different but I am certainly hoping for a positive outcome. Miss you and Frank and I too keep you in my prayers.
Love and hugs Anna,
Jennie0 -
John23 is a hero. This isidlehunters said:Thanks for Support!!!....
MrsJP.... My TCM doc first gave me herbel "pills". He said the American people can tolerate these pills better than the raw form of it because they are not as strong and then once they are use to the pill form they can try raw form. He said Chinese people are reared on raw herbs and pills are useless for them to take. I was not even aware that my TCM doc had raw herbs...cause I didn't see any anywhere...just the pills. I didn't know they had to write you an RX and then you had to go to an actual chinese pharmacy to get the herbs. I didn't know such a thing existed..a chinese pharmacy?? what??? Yep..sure enough! and how very interesting. Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks???
Tina, Pete...thank you for thinking about my well being and possible side effects of the herbs. These are indeed strong medicine and side effects...if you can even call them that...are very minimal. NOTHING like chemo. My TCM said the strength of the herbs may mess with my stomach...give me a stomach ache. That is why we are starting slow and I have to report to him every day...via email or phone...on how I am feeling...as dosage and/or herbs may need to be adjusted. Just like you would do if chemo was messing with you.
Now...there is something I want to share with you all and I am so glad I finally get this opportunity to do so. I researched TCM for many months...followed this board and mainly John23. You all know what a spokesperson he is for TCM. I have spoke to many others who have tried TCM. When I decided to take the plunge and give it a 100% commitment it was then I realized the first..and most important step would be to find a GOOD TCM doc. OK...I was at a loss here. Not only did I not know where to find one in my area...even if I found one I had no idea what to look for. What constitutes a good TCM? What questions do I ask him to know if he is good? I am completely stupid on this subject..even after much research..I just didn't know. So who DOES know...ahhhh...JOHN23 KNOWS!!!! I started sending PM's to John and he answered every one of them. He told me what to ask potential doctors and what to look for in a TCM. BUTT...and this is a big BUTT.... I still didn't feel comfortable talking to those doctors...shoot, some of them I could not even understand because they spoke such broken English. This is when John23 stepped in. What he did for me goes above and beyond what you would expect from a person you only know thru the internet. John asked me for my zip code. He...on his own time...and own expense...did research to find TCM doctors in my area. He then called and interviewed each of these TCM doctors until he found one he felt would be suitable for me to go to. John KNOWS the questions to ask..he KNOWS what to look for..he KNOWS if a TCM doc sounds on the up and up. After he spoke with my TCM..who is Dr. Mo...I then called Dr. Mo and said my friend John called and spoke with you. He understood why since I am TCM stupid. It's actually created a good foundation for me and Dr. Mo because he knows everything he does for me I am going to run by John and he KNOWS John KNOWS his stuff. It's made me feel SAFE with this new treatment. JOHN23.....THIS IS MY TIME TO SAY THANK YOU SO SO SO VERY MUCH!!! YOU TRULY CARE AND HAVE PROVEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN YOUR COMMITMENT TO THIS CAUSE.I SO LOVE YOU AS A PERSON AND A DECENT HUMAN BEING!!!! WE ARE BLESSED TO HAVE YOU ON THIS BOARD.
John has told me that if ANY of you need or want help in locating a TCM in your area...or want any advice on TCM...he would be more than happy to help ANY of you out..just as he did me.All he needs is your zip code.So PM him if you want help. WoW! I am sooo happy I finally got to share that with you all.
Ya'll take care now ya hear??? Jennie
John23 is a hero. This is so awesome Jennie, that he helped you find a practitioner! This has been one of my concerns about trying TCM, the fact that I know nothing about it! And how do you know someone is good? This is great news for you that you have a practitioner that you trust. Yay! I'm looking forward to hearing how it goes.
Laura0 -
birdsnest with a watch on itidlehunters said:Hey Anna!!...
So very very good to hear from you. I am so glad to hear you check in from time to time and keep an eye on us. The TCM is different but I am certainly hoping for a positive outcome. Miss you and Frank and I too keep you in my prayers.
Love and hugs Anna,
Jennie
Hi Jennie, so glad you told us what the picture is about, GREAT that you spoke to John23 and what he did for you. What an awesome friend he is. I am ned at the moment and refused chemo before, If ever anything comes back I am right there for TCM all the way.
Please keep us posted.
Hugs,Marjan0 -
I am definitely interested Ithingy45 said:birdsnest with a watch on it
Hi Jennie, so glad you told us what the picture is about, GREAT that you spoke to John23 and what he did for you. What an awesome friend he is. I am ned at the moment and refused chemo before, If ever anything comes back I am right there for TCM all the way.
Please keep us posted.
Hugs,Marjan
I am definitely interested I went to A TCM by the name of Parson in Fresno. I wasn't too impressed. John if you ave time for mr my zip is 93630!! Thanks in advance.0 -
TCM Practitioneridlehunters said:Thanks for Support!!!....
MrsJP.... My TCM doc first gave me herbel "pills". He said the American people can tolerate these pills better than the raw form of it because they are not as strong and then once they are use to the pill form they can try raw form. He said Chinese people are reared on raw herbs and pills are useless for them to take. I was not even aware that my TCM doc had raw herbs...cause I didn't see any anywhere...just the pills. I didn't know they had to write you an RX and then you had to go to an actual chinese pharmacy to get the herbs. I didn't know such a thing existed..a chinese pharmacy?? what??? Yep..sure enough! and how very interesting. Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks???
Tina, Pete...thank you for thinking about my well being and possible side effects of the herbs. These are indeed strong medicine and side effects...if you can even call them that...are very minimal. NOTHING like chemo. My TCM said the strength of the herbs may mess with my stomach...give me a stomach ache. That is why we are starting slow and I have to report to him every day...via email or phone...on how I am feeling...as dosage and/or herbs may need to be adjusted. Just like you would do if chemo was messing with you.
Now...there is something I want to share with you all and I am so glad I finally get this opportunity to do so. I researched TCM for many months...followed this board and mainly John23. You all know what a spokesperson he is for TCM. I have spoke to many others who have tried TCM. When I decided to take the plunge and give it a 100% commitment it was then I realized the first..and most important step would be to find a GOOD TCM doc. OK...I was at a loss here. Not only did I not know where to find one in my area...even if I found one I had no idea what to look for. What constitutes a good TCM? What questions do I ask him to know if he is good? I am completely stupid on this subject..even after much research..I just didn't know. So who DOES know...ahhhh...JOHN23 KNOWS!!!! I started sending PM's to John and he answered every one of them. He told me what to ask potential doctors and what to look for in a TCM. BUTT...and this is a big BUTT.... I still didn't feel comfortable talking to those doctors...shoot, some of them I could not even understand because they spoke such broken English. This is when John23 stepped in. What he did for me goes above and beyond what you would expect from a person you only know thru the internet. John asked me for my zip code. He...on his own time...and own expense...did research to find TCM doctors in my area. He then called and interviewed each of these TCM doctors until he found one he felt would be suitable for me to go to. John KNOWS the questions to ask..he KNOWS what to look for..he KNOWS if a TCM doc sounds on the up and up. After he spoke with my TCM..who is Dr. Mo...I then called Dr. Mo and said my friend John called and spoke with you. He understood why since I am TCM stupid. It's actually created a good foundation for me and Dr. Mo because he knows everything he does for me I am going to run by John and he KNOWS John KNOWS his stuff. It's made me feel SAFE with this new treatment. JOHN23.....THIS IS MY TIME TO SAY THANK YOU SO SO SO VERY MUCH!!! YOU TRULY CARE AND HAVE PROVEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN YOUR COMMITMENT TO THIS CAUSE.I SO LOVE YOU AS A PERSON AND A DECENT HUMAN BEING!!!! WE ARE BLESSED TO HAVE YOU ON THIS BOARD.
John has told me that if ANY of you need or want help in locating a TCM in your area...or want any advice on TCM...he would be more than happy to help ANY of you out..just as he did me.All he needs is your zip code.So PM him if you want help. WoW! I am sooo happy I finally got to share that with you all.
Ya'll take care now ya hear??? Jennie
This is exactly why I hadn't delved into TCM, how in the world would I ever figure out who was a good practitioner and who was a bad one.
I never thought to ask John, duh, had a good resource right here on this site and never asked, glad you did!!!
Winter Marie0 -
Hi JennieNana b said:I am definitely interested I
I am definitely interested I went to A TCM by the name of Parson in Fresno. I wasn't too impressed. John if you ave time for mr my zip is 93630!! Thanks in advance.
I too wondered how you were going to control that fire surrounded by the grocery bags. LOL
This all sounds very interesting and helpful for you, and I'm really glad John was able to make recommendations for you. He is extremely knowledgeable on this subject and it has served him well.
I hope the taste of some of is not too bad(as Pete says), but I'll bet chemo didn't taste good either.
Hurray for you for stepping "outside the box" and I wish you continued good health.
Luv,
Wolfen0 -
Hey guys... Hold up a bit....lauragb said:John23 is a hero. This is
John23 is a hero. This is so awesome Jennie, that he helped you find a practitioner! This has been one of my concerns about trying TCM, the fact that I know nothing about it! And how do you know someone is good? This is great news for you that you have a practitioner that you trust. Yay! I'm looking forward to hearing how it goes.
Laura
Hey guys... Hold up a bit....
First of all, I am -not- a "hero"; never was and never will be.
The real heros are the Craigs, and Phils, and countless others
that have been doing battle against this disease for years,
and are still here to encourage others not to give up!
Second of all, all I volunteered to do, is to help locate a (hopefully)
qualified practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine for those
that can use a little help in doing so.
There is no guarantee that TCM will be of any help in the
fight against our dreaded disease, just as no western medicine
physician can ever guarantee that chemicals or radiation will
be able to bring good health. It's up to each of us to carefully
listen to our own body, and make -our own- choices about
the care we wish to get.
Locating a "qualified" practitioner of TCM isn't any less difficult
that locating a decent western medicine physician or surgeon.
A "license" or degree really doesn't matter much when you're
being treated; a piece of paper doesn't make one physician
better at what they do, or more qualified in what they do. A license
or degree is only a piece of paper that states the owner has
taken and passed tests in the courses involved.
Those of us that have had a wrong diagnosis that set our health
back, or suffered surgical "oversights" that cost us dearly in the
long-term, fully understand the meaningless of a piece of paper.
Locating a physician or surgeon that will do what you expect,
is difficult; it not only takes time and effort, but it takes some
basic knowledge of the science, and some idea of what questions
to ask regarding your treatment.
Even then.... you can wake up out of surgery (as I did), and find
yourself a complete, un-repairable mess.
TCM can never take the place of surgery. However, it has and
often does solve problems that surgery was considered the only
solution to.
Acupuncture and herbal broths are used to energize various organs,
but your body itself is what does the healing. It's a time consuming
process, since you are not taking fast-acting chemicals that are
designed to disguise your symptoms (hiding the real problem).
TCM may work at a slower pace, but it attempts to correct the
true underlying problem. Once the real problem is corrected,
no further treatment is needed!
Cancer is a dangerous event.
If your cancer is fast moving, or about to take over an organ
that will put an end to your life, then western medicine's toxic
efforts may be your best choice to stop cancer's advances into
that area immediately. There may not be a guarantee of it doing
anything, but at least you'll know if it might help or not quickly.
The bottom line, is that only -you- can determine if continuing
the toxic treatments are doing -you- more harm than good. All
too often, -continued- harsh treatments may do nothing more
than wear the body down.
Damaging the immune system can leave us without any defense
against all the ills that harsh treatments can cause. The event of
"second cancers" caused by chemical therapy and radiation are
well known and accepted as part of the hazards of such therapy.
Only -you- know when to call it a day; when to stop the harsh
treatment and do something to build your body back up.
That concept is accepted by oncologists, surgeons, and physicians;
You can't keep poisoning a living thing, without eventually killing it.
TCM may or may not be-your answer-, but it is another option
seriously worth considering.
Terminology of illnesses....
The Practitioner of TCM does not care about the terminology
western medicine attributes to a symptom; when you go to a TCM
practitioner, do -not- expect to hear the same terminology.
The TCM practitioner may describe your condition as Yin or Yang
related, or describe the heat or "fire" is too weak or too intense.
The terminology will seem foreign to you, but as you gain experience
with the science, it will all make perfect sense.
The science behind traditional Chinese medicine is firmly corroborated
by western medicine's scientific findings.
An example? Western medicine knows that an imbalance of
serotonin and melatonin can cause emotional problems as severe
as a bipolar condition. Western medicine attempts to treat that
situation with drugs to replace or balance the imbalance.
TCM may treat the liver, since the liver helps regulate both serotonin
and melatonin.
Both sciences are aware of the cause being the same, but each
science treats the malady differently; one using drugs/chemicals
that the patient takes forever, while the other gets the body to
do it's own regulating, making external management needless.
Since the liver's chemical regulation also controls the heart,
solving a condition such as atrial fibrillation can be as simple
as restoring the liver's ability to function properly. That was
my case; my AF was cured within 9 months with TCM's
herbal therapy, avoiding the invasive surgery my WM physician
was attempting to talk me into.
So guys..... While I'm more than happy to help locate a decent
TCM practitioner for anyone needing help locating one, and
as much as I'll try to help anyone understand TCM a bit better......
Please..... Remember that there are no guarantees that TCM will
be of help to you.
Advanced stages of cancer are difficult to treat, and once one
has gone beyond the "window of opportunity"; once the body
has become too worn down from harsh chemicals, it's difficult
(and unfair) to expect herbs and acupuncture (or any other
alternative medicine) to make all the repairs to the body's
system AND fight the ravages of cancer.
You -can- use TCM -and- western medicine (chemo/rad) at
the same time, and with very good results. M.D. Anderson, the
Mayo Clinic, and many, many other cancer institutions are doing
just that, so don't allow an oncologist's ignorance or prejudiced
thinking from holding you back from true survival.
I'm not a "hero", I'm just an old worn out guy that would like
to help someone else survive.
If it works, celebrate quietly; if it fails, try again..... You never
run out of options when you truly look for options.
Best wishes to all,
John0
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