All Is Well: Heal Your Body With Medicine, Affirmations, and Intuition by Louise L. Hay, Mona Lisa Schulz Read Free Book Online Page B

remission, which involved getting
    control of the cells that were making the tissue-attacking antibod-
    ies. Our treatment plan was aimed at making them “go to sleep,”
    or calm down.
    As a team, including Andrea and other practitioners, we
    worked to create a treatment strategy to address all of her options,
    which included everything from potent drugs to supplements to
    qigong —an ancient Chinese practice that uses a combination of
    breathing, postures, and mental focus for healing. Because the se-
    verity of Andrea’s lupus wasn’t over the top, she could work to heal
    with or without the use of medication. After discussing the pros
    and cons with her internal medicine doctor, Andrea started on
    the steroid prednisone to reduce the inflammation in her autoim-
    mune system. Prednisone is a strong medicine and can have many
    side effects on bone density, weight, blood pressure, skin, hair,
    blood sugar, mood, sleep, eyes, and the digestive tract. Although
    Andrea didn’t require such aggressive steps at the point when we
    were working together, if her symptoms became more severe in
    the future, she might have to consider taking immunosuppressant
    drugs such as methotrexate, Azathioprine, or chlorambucil, which
    have their own list of side effects.
    To counter the effects of the drugs she was taking, we sug-
    gested Andrea see an acupuncturist and herbalist. We also rec-
    ommended that she take a calcium-and-magnesium supplement,
    vitamin D, and a good multivitamin. In addition, she took DHA to
    repair injured body cells and an herb called Tripterygium wilfordii
    (TW), using the roots and stems each day to modulate the im-
    mune system and ease the symptoms of her lupus. Like any strong
    medicine, herbs also have side effects. TW can cause reversible
    changes in hormone levels, amenorrhea, and infertility, so use it
    only with your medical team’s supervision.
    39
    All Is Well interior.indd 39
    1/8/13 7:51 AM
    A ll i s w e ll
    We also asked Andrea to cut out a number of things from her
    diet. Alfalfa sprouts specifically may make lupus symptoms worse.
    And we suggested that she work with a nutritionist to see if she
    could identify other foods that seemed to aggravate her symp-
    toms. Luckily, they didn’t find anything more.
    Finally, we started addressing Andrea’s thought patterns and
    behaviors that could be contributing to her illnesses. We gave her
    specific affirmations for lupus (I speak up for myself freely and eas-
    ily. I claim my own power. I love and approve of myself. I am free
    and safe); bone health (In my world, I am the only authority, for
    I am the only one who thinks in my mind. I am well structured
    and balanced); scoliosis (I release all fears. I now trust the process
    of life. I know that life is for me. I stand straight and tall with
    love); back pain (I know that Life always supports me. All I need
    is always taken care of. I am safe); joint pain (I easily flow with
    change. My life is Divinely guided, and I am always going in the
    best direction); and rash (I lovingly protect myself with thoughts
    of joy and peace. The past is forgiven and forgotten. I am free in
    this moment. I feel safe to be me).
    She also followed the advice outlined earlier in this chapter
    and learned how to balance her personal needs with those of her
    family. She started going to Co-Dependents Anonymous meetings
    and took up journaling to explore her emotions. She also prac-
    ticed expressing her needs to those closest to her. Within months,
    Andrea was feeling better—emotionally and physically—and we
    knew she would be better able to tackle the challenges that lay
    ahead for someone with lupus.
    Blood Problems
    People who have anemia, bleeding, bruising, or other blood
    problems tend to feel as though they’ve hit bottom—that they are
    completely alone with no support from family and friends. They
    have become so destabilized that they trust no one, and they live
    in a world filled with seemingly endless