Holistic Healing Questions

My mother is starting to see a holistic "healer" to help her with her lymes disease that she just recently discovered she had. Well, this guy claims that he can rid her of the lymes, and also her depression which she has had for years. I'm worried that if this guy convinces her that she isn't suffering from her depression anymore, she'll quit taking her prozac (which she has tried on a couple occasions with terrible results).

My question for everyone is this: does anyone have any personal experiences with this holistic healing stuff, and if so, what were the results? I have done some research but I would also like to hear some stories from real people as well. Thanks a bunch. PEACE!!!

While I don't have much experience with holistic medicine - I can't see where it would hurt unless your mother uses it in lieu of mainstream medical care. The placebo effect of holistic medicine can be significant based on the subject's "belief."

With that said Lyme Disease and severe depression should not be taken lightly. From the CDC website on Lyme disease:

If untreated, weeks to months later some patients may develop arthritis, including intermittent episodes of swelling and pain in the large joints; neurologic abnormalities, such as aseptic meningitis, facial palsy, motor and sensory nerve inflammation (radiculoneuritis) and inflammation of the brain (encephalitis); and, rarely, cardiac problems, such as atrioventricular block, acute inflammation of the tissues surrounding the heart (myopericarditis) or enlarged heart (cardiomegaly).

Thing is Lyme disease is readily treatable usually through a small course of antibiotics.

As far as the depression goes, personally I think the depressions itself is far worse than having to take a pill once a day. She should also know that she shouldn't go "cold turkey" when discontinuing anti-depressants. I was on zoloft after the birth of my child. Once I was back on my feet I wanted off. My doctor weaned me off the drug over a period of 6 weeks - using smaller and smaller doses.

Anyhow this is just my opinion - let your mom seek holistic healing but encourage her to continue with regular care as well.


[edit on 2-8-2004 by Bleys]

Please PLEASE PLEASE!

Have her consult with a specialist in Lyme disease treatment. I say that so strongly because I had an undiagnosed case of Lyme that cost me, and continues to cost me, dearly. Diagnosis and care at the right time would have probably saved me and my family four years of horror. Many physicians make a connection between Lyme and depression, btw.

I wish you and your mom the very best. Feel free to post or u2u if you need anything.

I hope that your Mom stays on her Prozac. I've taken it for years, and on a couple of occasions I have attempted to stop taking it. These times made it very apparent that I need this medication. If she really needs it then she should take it.

I have not heard of any holistic treatment for depression except for St. Johns Wort. The problem with St. Johns Wort is that you never really know how much or the quality of the actual herb that is in the pills. Also, I've heard that it interacts with other medications, so you have to be careful with St. John's Wort.

Good luck to your Mom.

Agreed -- who diagnosed the Lyme disease? Herself or an MD?

Lyme's curable -- what she MAY have is fibromyalgia, instead. It's an unpleasant condition and is sometimes misdiagnosed by the inexperienced as "Lyme Disease." Fibro isn't curable, but there are some good adjunct treatments.

I sincerely hope she stays away from homeopathic medicine and that she DOES stay on Prozac and continues her treatment.

Have Mom continue to see her doc and if the little guy comes thru, then more power to him. Just make sure not to undermine her thinking on this, but keep her under the doctors supervision

Ive found that alot of regular physicians are actually preferring to recomend homeopathic medicines rather then put a patient on to drugs if its an option. Id have your mother see a good physician and ask him/her about natural remedies opposed to pharmaceuticals, or to refer her to a physician who could if they couldnt. At least that way she can get all of the options, rather than just relying on one method.

Hey everyone, thanks for the info so far. I knew there was a reason I don't fully trust this holistic "doctor." As for more info to help understand the situ-ach, here's the details.

1) A few months ago she started complaining about major cramps, aches and pains. Said she felt 90 years old. She's only 44 (45 in November).

2) Went to family physician and he diagnosed her with some type of arthritis (I forget the specific type at the moment).

3) Her boss convinced her to see this holistic guy.

4)Upon her first vist, he told her she was allergic to peanuts and seafood (she already knew this, but wanted to "test" him) and that she should be tested for lyme disease.

5) Went back to family physician to get tested and tested positive.

6) Went back to holistic guy a couple of times and claims the pains are going away.

7) He has "guaranteed" that he can rid her of the lyme and the depression (his logic with the depression is that it is a chemical imbalance and he can re-balance the chemicals).

8) She is now convinced that this guy will be able to help her.

That is where we stand as of now. She is so convinced of this guy that she tried talking me into going to see this guy for my kidney disease, which I just recently discoved has been healed with the help of modern meds I don't believe in this holistic stuff, but I don't want to prove to her that it's crap because if she believes in it, it might (and possibly is, to an extent) help her a little, for the brain can be one of the strongest healing agents. I just don't want her to get off her meds, for I have seen that they can and do work, as is the case with my kidney disease. Thanks again, and keep the feedback coming, as it can only help. PEACE!!!

Originally posted by Bleys
While I don't have much experience with holistic medicine - I can't see where it would hurt unless your mother uses it in lieu of mainstream medical care.

Exactly! Lymes is something that you do not want to mess around with. I have had it twice, but was lucky enough to catch it early. Do you know what necrosis of the skin is? It is not a pretty sight when the area around the tick bite begins to decay and like I said, I caught it early. I know two people that were not so lucky and they are continously ill. One has to get a bi-weekly iv to get the medication directly into her bloodstream. My parents had a friend that got a brain fever (or something like that) and died from it.

Make sure that she sees a medical professional first and formost.

I have received Reiki healings which were for me nothing more than relaxing "feel good" experiences--I was not healed in any way, shape or form.

I've also had various spiritual healers lay hands on me and perform healings, and experienced emotional healings from this.

I've practiced Therapeutic Touch healing for years, and have had good results such as immediate healings of migraine headaches, numerous emotional healings, healing of a woman who suffered from agoraphobia (fear of leaving the house).

What my experiences have led me to conclude is that the best results are when I pray for others healings. This can be considered "distance healing". I have found there is no need for me to lay hands on others.

I would recommend she only be treated by sincere Christian healers, and to avoid Reiki healers.

Also I would avoid any healer which makes claims that he can heal a person. I attribute all healings to God, and believe He uses me as an instrument to heal people. Healing may be instantaneous or may take awhile, or may never occur. I have found that almost all illness and health problems have emotional or mental roots, and that these must be healed first in many cases before the physical healing can take place.

Also if a person is spiritually unbalanced and out of touch with his spiritual life, I believe this can lead to illnesses. When I pray for others healing, I ask that God heal them spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically, in accordance with His will and in His timeline.

Sometimes I believe we are meant to experience an illness for a reason, or that others may benefit from our illness experience. Illness can be humbling and very purifying to the spirit, and there can be merit in suffering if one contemplates the spiritual aspects of it.

I would tell your mother not to go off her medication without her doctor's approval.

I hope this helps.

Originally posted by Bleys
The placebo effect of holistic medicine can be significant based on the subject's "belief."

First up it should be stated that the power of the mind is a great thing. All healers I have known have always maintained that without a firm mental attitude then you are going to get no where. With this in mind, the above quotation should really be reexamined. When scientists test new drugs, there is always a certain percentage of the control group that gets given the placebo, that actually find they get cured, purely from the belief that they will be cured.

This isn't to say that any kind of holistic approach to medicine is rubbish, but rather unless you have any belief that these things are going to work, they dont stand a chance.

With regards to the type of healing being presented, I would read up on the Chinese concept of "Chi". Bruce Kumar Frantzis wrote a series of these and other books on meditation method that explain in simple, understandable terms, the concepts governing Chi.

With regards to aWoman's point, a GOOD healer is not necessarily a GOD healer. It works better with whatever a persons governing belief structure is, but the healing method itself exists outside of belief.

ho�lis�tic ( P ) Pronunciation Key (h-lstk)
adj.
Of or relating to holism.

Emphasizing the importance of the whole and the interdependence of its parts.

Any treatment being given is not limited to the time spent at the healers. It will entail a change in ones lifestyle- eating habits, drinking habits- if done properly it should even change the way one breaths... Anything short of this is simply NOT holistic...

With regards to the Prozac problem... DO NOT stop taking these- in reference to the above point of the mind needing to be strong for any kind of treatment to work, even if your mother feels strong enough to stop taking them, the effects on the brains chemistry upon it's removal would be devistating.

I would ALWAYS stick to what the regular doctors recommend, but use the healing as a side-treatment.
About myself....I got HEALED for walking and breathing July 2nd. I was on a WALKER most of the time, and my breathing was labored at times. A friend gave me a HUG, and ....NO WALKER...NO CRUTCHES....NO CANE! My breathing improved, also. (I NEVER smoked.) Nothing else changed....not my meds or anything. It HAD to be the HUG!!
I didn't know I was going to get healed. It was not in a "healing location". (Not a religious place or hospital) The man who gave me the hug was a friend, but I don't know if he even knew what he was doing! I wrote to him snail-mail and thanked him.
I have an appointment with my regular doctor on Tuesday.

Originally posted by Byrd
Agreed -- who diagnosed the Lyme disease? Herself or an MD?

Lyme's curable -- what she MAY have is fibromyalgia, instead. It's an unpleasant condition and is sometimes misdiagnosed by the inexperienced as "Lyme Disease." Fibro isn't curable, but there are some good adjunct treatments.

I sincerely hope she stays away from homeopathic medicine and that she DOES stay on Prozac and continues her treatment.

Can you please tell me what the medicine is which cures Lyme desease? I know somebody in distress because of this desease.

Thanks..