03/13/2003 23:40
barbaranot registered
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Chinese Med
I'm aware that I'm responding to you six months after your original post -- but...
I was recently diagnosed with DC by a surgeon, tho I have apparently had it for some time. I spoke with my Oriental Med doc this morning, and she told me that this disease would be a liver/kidney Qi deficiency problem -- not curable, as it's genetic, but, hopefully, treatable over the long term with the goal of avoiding (or putting off) needing invasive techniques for correction.
I have a history of liver/kidney Qi deficiency (as does my younger sister), so it was not the least bit surprising when she mentioned this. At this stage, we have divided up the work of researching DC, and when we have it all done, we will meet and discuss what the options seem to be. I have not heard of "tuina" -- but then I'm not the doc, here -- I'll mention it to my doc.
The thing about "alternative" meds -- herbal, homeopathic, "home remedy" -- is that, unlike Western meds, any given herb/remedy will not have the same results in a large population, because the herbs are specific to the individual: his/her genetic makeup, body type, lifestyle, diet, medical history, etc, etc. The good thing about herbs/remedies is that there is almost always a number of them that will produce the desired result for one specific complaint -- IOW, there may be twelve different herbs that will treat one problem -- the task is to try each one until you find the one that works specifically for you. By maintaining a long-term relationship with the same alternative practitioner, your treatment history builds to the point where the practitioner can look at it and say, "Okay, out of these twelve herbs, this one looks like the best candidate to work for you for this problem" -- and be right-on the first time.
As I'm very negative about any type of invasive procedures, and as the risks associated with DC surgeries (in the US, anyway) are so high (I sew for a living -- I need full use of my hands), I am not willing to consider surgery as a viable treatment at this point in my disease. So, I will be working with my Oriental Med doc to see what we can do to arrest the progression.
I'll post periodically with info on what I'm doing and how I feel I'm responding.
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