non-conventional treatments

D-ribose Therapy

A simple sugar molecule, D-ribose, is one of the key components of ATP. The more D-ribose that is available, the faster ATP levels return to normal. D-ribose supplementation has been shown to boost heart muscle function following heart attacks, and to improve blood pumping in people with congestive heart failure. This helped us increase energy levels and better control shortness of breath. For a heart patient, 15 to 20 grams is usually the recommendation. If taken too late in the evening it can affect sleep. Three types are Bulk Supplements Pure D-Ribose Powder (500 grams), or Now Foods D-Ribose 750 mg, Veg-capsules Bio energy, 120 count or Now Foods D-ribose 1500 mg chewable tablets, 90 count. The last time I ordered from Bulk Supplements I was able to get 2.5 pounds which will last longer than the others and economically is a better deal. They may even have larger quantities than 2.5 lbs.

Magnesium Therapy

Since magnesium is responsible for over 300 biochemical reactions in the body, it is important to keep the levels in the normal range. Magnesium helps the bones remain strong, promotes normal muscle and nerve function and helps maintain a steady heart rhythm. Most magnesium is found in the tissues, organs, and bones with the highest concentrations being in the heart and brain cells. Only one percent of magnesium stores are found in the blood. Many prescription drugs and fluoride drain your body’s supply of magnesium. You should get an RBC (red blood cell) magnesium test ( www.requestatest.com) to check your levels and supplement accordingly. A good level is 6.0 to 6.5. Four types of magnesium I recommend are Nci (Dr. Hans Nieper) Magnesium Orotate 500 mg (200 tablets), Ancient Minerals Magnesium Oil (transdermal magnesium), Natural Calm Magnesium by Natural Vitality, 16 oz. or larger (comes in different flavors, just dissolve in water and drink), Liquid Ionic Minerals Magnesium by Good State, 8 oz., easy to mix with juice or water and high bioavailability. Good State also sells a Liquid Ionic Magnesium Ultra Concentrate, 10 drops equals 50 mg. The small size is great for travel. It depends on preference and whether you are a pill swallower or more of a liquid person.

Potassium Therapy

If you are on a diuretic then you are excreting important minerals like potassium. Low potassium can cause many electrolyte imbalances and arrhythmias. If the potassium chloride is causing an upset stomach and you want to try something more natural then potassium orotate would be a good choice. Advanced Research by Dr. Hans Nieper makes a potassium orotate capsule which is 175 mg per capsule and 200 veggie caps per bottle. The orotates pass through the cell’s double layered outer membrane and are decomposed for utilization by the inner components of the cell. Make sure you have your potassium levels checked often either with a lab or with the potassium ion meter at home (Horiba LAQUAtwin 3200456566 Model B-731 Compact Potassium Ion Meter). The doctor will tell you what levels are acceptable. Remember if you are on a blood thinner and potassium chloride makes you sick, do not take a chance on having a stroke by losing the blood thinner. There is a newer Ionic Potassium available called Ionic Potassium 732, 16 fl. Oz. from Good State. The advantage to this is that it is liquid and much easier to deal with than pills. It is made with nano-sized particles and is highly absorbent. This was not available when we needed it. Insurance does not cover supplements and this is considered a supplement. But it is better than the nausea and vomiting and stroke.

Feeding Tube Therapy

Hopefully you can skip this section because it is likely for those who have experienced a stroke of some kind. This really slows down the appetite and requires feeding through a tube in the stomach, known as a g-tube. One challenge with the tube was making sure it did not get clogged. Some feedings are bolus feedings (all at once) and some are with a pump next to the bed overnight. It is important to calculate calories per day needed and make that your goal everyday, especially if weight gain is a concern. Making your own food is a noble idea but it is difficult to get the right consistency (I even bought the fancy blender). I loved the Liquid Hope feeding tube formula because it is whole food based, organic, and very nutrient dense. As far as quality and how the body responds, this formula is leaps and bounds above hospital recommended formulas. Keeping the tube clean is a constant challenge. The pure colloidal silver (MesoSilver) helped with this challenge as it kills every known pathogen. You can visit the Purest Colloids web site to learn more. It comes in liquid, spray, and gel form.

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Therapy

When you have a heart problem and low energy there tends to be a lack of mobility that goes along with that. With a lack of mobility comes the possibility of infections. One thing that worked wonders was CranRich Super Strength Cranberry Concentrate 500 mg capsules. One capsule morning and night did the trick. Another way to get rid of these nasty infections is by taking 3 to 5 grams of D-mannose which is found in health food stores or at Amazon. Divide this up and take every three to four hours while awake. Nine times out of ten this takes care of it. Naturally, if you do not start feeling better in a day or so, visit your doctor.

Inactive Bowel Therapy

When you have a heart problem and low energy the last thing you feel like doing is exercising in order to get your bowels moving. The immobility causes the digestive system to get backed up which can be very painful. One product that really helped was MagO7. This is the ultimate oxygenating digestive system cleanser. It is for colon cleansing and is not meant to be used as a magnesium supplement. Look for Aerobic Life MagO7 Oxygen Digestive System Cleanser in powder or capsules.

Hydrogen Peroxide Therapy

Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide is used as a therapy which kills viruses and other pathogens by oxidation. Not only does it kill diseased cells, it also revitalizes the healthy cells. The therapy works so well because oxygen makes up 62 – 71 percent of the body and is the body’s most abundant and essential element. Ninety percent of all our biological energy comes from oxygen. To get relief from breathing issues, we placed the food grade hydrogen peroxide in water in a vaporizer which ran all night at the bedside. In addition to this method, you can place drops of Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide in 6 – 8 oz. of water and drink. If too much liquid is an issue as in congestive heart failure, you may want to stick with the vaporizer. I use 35% Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide from the One Minute Cure and check out the book “The One-Minute Cure” by Madison Cavanaugh if you want to learn more.

Essential Oil Therapy

Essential oils are naturally occurring and are found in the seeds, bark, stems, roots, flowers, and other parts of the plant. We benefited from three particular oils by doTERRA. One helped with alleviating respiratory discomfort and is called “Breathe”. Another gave relief from digestive issues and is called “DigestZen”. Breathe can be rubbed under the nostrils and a few drops placed in a diffuser next to the bed. DigestZen can be rubbed on the stomach area and on the bottom of the feet which addresses the stomach. A third oil that was very pleasant and calming was lavender. Put a drop or two under the nostrils or on the wrist and take deep breaths inhaling the wonderful scent. You can learn more about doTERRA products at mydoerra.com/jennterra.

Arm Therapy (paralysis)

I hope no one out there has to deal with a stroke with paralysis on top of the heart problem. But, just in case this would help someone, I came across the MyoPro. It is a Myoelectric Arm Orthosis made for individuals with stroke, MS, ALS, brain and spinal cord injury and other neuromuscular disorders. The brace is designed to enable individuals to self-initiate and control movement of a partially paralyzed arm using their own muscle signals. It uses simple surface EMG sensing technology. When the user tries to bend the arm, sensors in the brace detect the weak muscle signal, which activates the motor to move the arm in the desired direction. The brace helps an individual perform activities of daily living like feeding, reaching and lifting.

Constraint Induced Movement Therapy

Another intervention for stroke is a type of therapy called Constraint Induced Movement Therapy or CIMT. This therapy teaches the brain to “rewire” itself following a major injury such as subacute and chronic stroke, acquired brain injury, traumatic brain injury and multiple sclerosis. This work is being carried out at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. It shows that patients can learn to improve the motor ability of the more-affected parts of their bodies and thus cease to rely exclusively or primarily on the less-affected parts. For additional information about CIMT, you can visit their website at https://www.uab.edu/citherapy/.

Stem Cell Therapy

A technology in which a person’s own cells (neuronal stem cells) are triggered to revert to their primitive embryonic form, then re-differentiate into mature cells of various organs. An example would be when they extracted the bone marrow from my daughter’s hip, harvested the cells then re-injected them in the heart and brain. The most widely used stem cell therapy is bone marrow transplant, but cells derived from umbilical cord blood is also in use. The goal is to inject the diseased tissue with these thriving stem cells so they reproduce and bring healing. As I said in my story, stem cell therapy is not a cure all. It will relieve some symptoms but will need to be repeated about every 8 – 10 months or when you feel the symptoms returning. For more information about a group of doctors in the U.S. who perform stem cell therapy go to www.stemcellmd.org.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a major component of traditional Chinese medicine. It is a technique used for balancing the flow of energy or life force known as chi. This life force is believed to flow through meridians in your body. By inserting tiny needles into specific points along these meridians, it is believed that your energy flow will re-balance. My daughter experienced a lot of relief from pain, mostly in the stomach area. She did this for about eight months and truly felt the benefits. Search for an acupuncture practitioner in your area. Make sure they have positive reviews online.

Yoga

Yoga is an ancient art based on a harmonizing system of development for the body, mind, and spirit. The practice of yoga leads you to a sense of peace and well-being. It makes your body strong and flexible and improves the functioning of the respiratory, circulatory, digestive, and hormonal systems. Yoga tends to bring about emotional stability and clarity of mind. It is the means by which you can realign and re-balance your body regularly. Many times yoga instructors hold classes at the local YMCA. There are also instructors in private studios which tend to be more pricey but classes are smaller.

Healing Touch

Healing Touch is an “energy therapy” that uses gentle hand techniques thought to help re-pattern the patient’s energy field and accelerate healing of the body, mind, and spirit. Healing Touch practitioners believe that this process balances and realigns energy flow that has been disrupted by stress, pain, or illness. The process eliminates blockages in the energy field so that the patient is in an optimal state for healing to occur. Some other types of energy therapies are Reiki, Qigong, and therapeutic touch. Search for a therapist in your local area.

Ionic Detox Foot Bath

The Ionic Detox Foot Bath is a detox water bath that cleanses, balances, and enhances the bio-energy present in the body. The foot bath is mainly used to increase energy, vitality and stamina but, it also detoxifies the body of toxins, chemicals, radiation, pollution, synthetics and other foreign materials trapped in the tissues of the body. Purging the body of this foreign matter can result in less body fluid retention, reduced inflammation, improved memory, greater bladder control, a more balanced pH, a stronger immune system, and noticeable pain relief. Usually you can get this done at alternative health clinics or spas. Again, I would look closely at the reviews.

Massage Therapy

Massage therapy is defined as the manipulation of the soft tissues of the body, consisting of hands-on techniques such as applying fixed or moveable pressure, holding, and moving muscles and body tissues. Massage is used to improve blood flow, reduce muscular tension, to affect the nervous system through stimulation, and to enhance tissue healing. Therapeutic massage has many benefits such as: relieving stress and inducing relaxation, promote easier breathing, promoting feelings of well-being, and enhancing immune system functioning. Many times massage therapists work in a chiropractic office or at the local YMCA. This as well as the other alternative therapies are usually not covered by insurance. Be sure to ask.

Oxygen Therapy

There are many ways to get oxygen into the cells. I truly believe this is a very beneficial therapy for anyone that has been diagnosed with a disease or those who are practicing prevention. I have already discussed Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide Therapy. The other types of oxygen therapy I am familiar with are listed below:

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy –A therapy whereby a person is placed inside a hyperbaric chamber containing increased air pressure and administered large doses of oxygen. Hyperbaric chambers have proven to be a lifesaving device for treating various diseases that do not respond to pharmaceutical drugs. Like other oxygen therapies, this addresses the problem of inflammation in the body. These chambers can be found at hospitals, rehabilitation centers, alternative health clinics, or are available for home rental.
Stabilized Liquid Oxygen – Liquid Oxygen is the highest quality, strongest and most stable of all the liquid “electrolytes of oxygen” on the market. This product is a concentrate of electrolytes of oxygen that is made available to the body in a molecular form. The oxygen is released upon contact with stomach acid. By providing your bloodstream with molecular oxygen, it is possible to kill anaerobic bacteria and parasites on contact without harming your tissues or friendly aerobic bacteria. This oxygen is an oxidant similar in effect to hydrogen peroxide, but is more stable, because instead of releasing gas in the stomach, they react with the stomach acid, and release molecular oxygen. This can be found at wholelifehealth.us. Two products I found effective were Pure Advantage Aerobic Life O7 Stabilized Oxygen, 2.33 fluid oz. and Immune Tree OxyQuest Stabilized Liquid Oxygen 2 oz.
Anti-Inflammatory Oxygen Therapy – This therapy is a new, simple way of injecting massive amounts of oxygen into the cells. It is a way of healing without drugs or chemicals, and without surgery or invasive techniques. AIOT is the best re-oxygenating and detoxifying method for people who want to treat the root cause of disease which is inflammation. It involves breathing in high levels of oxygen while exercising for 15 minutes. By improving delivery of the most important substance for tissue life and repair, the body will have a much better chance to correct any problem. The equipment needed is an oxygen concentrator, exercise bike, mask kit with reservoir that stores enough O2 for a 15 – 20 minute session. The book “Anti-Inflammatory Oxygen Therapy – Your Complete Guide to Understanding and Using Natural Oxygen Therapy” by Dr. Mark Sircus is very informative. The site http://liveo2.com/ has the equipment.