"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful." --Albert Schweitzer
I love what I am doing. My calling is healing. I just happen to opt for a better type of healing using different modalities. My main modality involves body, mind and spirit and definitely does include herbs/plants. I have only become successful as I started to feel happy as a whole person. I always doubt if I am successful. Am I happy all the time ? The answer is a loud NO. I will tell you that on my worst days, I am much happier than I was before I began a twelve step program. WE each create our own happiness. Happiness is spending time with loved ones. Happiness is preparing tea concoctions or salves for patients. Happiness is tasting different types of honey. Happiness is observing the changes in my patient's health. Happiness is meditating in the morning. Happiness is the first morning rain on a spring day. Happiness is stitching a new canvas. Happiness is just being myself.
What is happiness to you ?
The inner bark of the plant Uncaria tomentosa (Cat's claw) is used to treat the arthritis and inflammation associated with Lyme. It is a great immunomodulator for the body especially if the body is trying to fight off Borrelia. I have seen this herb work wonders on individuals who have cognitive impairment secondary to Lyme. For those with chronic relapsing Lyme (by symptoms or some inflammatory markers) this is the herb you want to start. A low CD57 count is a blood test that is a marker for chronic Lyme. The problem is that a conventional infectious disease specialist does NOT believe in chronic Lyme. I do not understand their thinking.
If you are into biochemistry you will love Cat's claw with its many (17 or more) alkaloid compounds, each with different properties. Cat's claw became popular when a pilot study (not published) was presented by Cowden. Like many other herbalists, I have a problem with this study. It is touted on the Internet that you must use their version of Cat's claw, Salmento. In his book Healing Lyme, Buhner cites the serious flaws in his review and presentation. I have seen many Lyme patients who have used this protocol with little or no positive results. A Lyme patient will seek out the Internet for any supplement that might work. Anyone using the Internet for finding a 'cure' for Lyme and other diseases must be careful. There is a major debate on whether the Cat's Claw should be with or without TOA (tetracyclic oxindole alkaloids).
If you are into biochemistry you will love Cat's claw with its many (17 or more) alkaloid compounds, each with different properties. Cat's claw became popular when a pilot study (not published) was presented by Cowden. Like many other herbalists, I have a problem with this study. It is touted on the Internet that you must use their version of Cat's claw, Salmento. In his book Healing Lyme, Buhner cites the serious flaws in his review and presentation. I have seen many Lyme patients who have used this protocol with little or no positive results. A Lyme patient will seek out the Internet for any supplement that might work. Anyone using the Internet for finding a 'cure' for Lyme and other diseases must be careful. There is a major debate on whether the Cat's Claw should be with or without TOA (tetracyclic oxindole alkaloids).
I have found that the dosing for Cat's Claw should be same as Japanese Knotweed. The dose is not uniform for everyone. I was happy to learn that herbalist, Timothy Scott feels the same way when listening to his lecture at the IHS at Wheaton College. Start with a low dose and slowly. I might start at 500 mg four times a day and gradually increase to 1000mg four times a day. The maximum dosage I use is 2000mg four times a day, which is a lot. Be careful of gastrointestinal side effects. It has also been shown that Cat's claw can thin the blood. Thus you must make sure the patient is not taking coumadin, aspirin, pradexa and supplements like nattokinase, ginkgo, fish oils and Vitamin E. I use both capsule and tinctures of Cat's Claw.
Until tomorrow...
No comments:
Post a Comment