Thyme - Alternatives for Everyone: A Guide to Non-Traditional Health Care

ALTERNATIVES FOR EVERYONE

A Guide to Non-Traditional Health Care

Lauren O. Thyme

Lauren O. Thyme Publishing

Santa Fe, New Mexico

2017

Table of Contents

Alternatives for Everyone Copyright 1988 by Lauren O. Thyme

Lauren O. Thyme Publishing, Santa Fe, New Mexico

Second Edition 2017

All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photography, recording, e-books, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

For information contact:

Lauren O. Thyme Publishing

thyme.lauren@gmail.com

LaurenOThymecreations.com

Thyme.lauren@gmail.com

Jacket/cover design:

Cover photo Pixabay flower-204161_960_72

Cover and interior design by Sue Stein

Special thanks to Sue Stein and Roy Briggs for their

enormous help in creating this 2nd edition.

Other books by Lauren O. Thyme:

Thymely Tales, Transformational Fairy Tales for Adults and Children , 2nd edition

The Lemurian Way: Remembering Your Essential Nature, 2nd edition (with Sareya Orion)

Forgiveness Equals Fortune (co-authored with Liah Holtzman), 2nd edition

Along the Nile , 2nd edition

From the Depths of Thyme

Strangers in Paradise , a novel of forgiveness

Cosmic Grandma Wisdom

Twin Souls, A Karmic Love Story

Traveling on the River of Time , a handbook for exploring past lives

Catherine, Karma and Complex PTSD (to be published in 2018)

This book is dedicated in gratitude to my holistic physician,

Dr. Michael Kwiker, who told me in 1977,

Wow! You are really sick! and the rest is history.

DISCLAIMER

The purpose of this guide is to educate, inform, and even entertain. The author and publisher shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by the information contained in this book.

Alternatives for Everyone is designed to provide information in regard to the subject matter covered. The book is sold with the understanding that the publisher and author are not engaged in rendering medical, psychological, or other professional services. If medical or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. I, the author, am not medically trained to answer your questions, nor is the intention of this book to give medical advice.

I do not endorse nor sponsor any therapy, treatment, book, service or product listed in this book. Although I have undertaken most of the practices in Alternatives for Everyone , I have not personally investigated all of them. Please use your own discretion.

I have no knowledge of going rates, fees, or appropriate amounts to pay for treatments.

I am not responsible for any treatment you receive as a result of reading this book, or any consequences thereof, from using any methods listed. I am not responsible for consequences of non-traditional health care when emergency, urgent care, or any other health care was needed instead.

Any difficulty encountered must be dealt with on your own. I am not a legal advisor.

The possibility exists that what was accurate when I published this book is no longer accurate when you read it. Also possible is that the way you interpret a statement may not be how I meant it.

Every effort has been made to make this guide as complete and accurate as possible. Even though I have thoroughly checked my manuscript, there may be mistakes, both in editing and in content. Therefore, this text should be used only as a general guide and not as the ultimate source of alternative health care information.

INTRODUCTION

My reason for creating this book is intensely personal. For most of my life Id been sickly and unhappy, which kept me out of school and being able to play, hardly able to be satisfactorily employed nor healthfully parent my children. I received traditional medical care for years without much difference.

In 1974, immediately after giving birth to my second child, I became extremely ill and bedridden. Although I was only 27 years old, I felt like I was an ancient old woman.

I was alternately hungry or bloated, with constant stomach pain and indigestion. I was having difficulty breathing, along with many other physical symptoms. I was depressed, anxious, lacking in energy and vitality. I started having panic attacks and was diagnosed as agoraphobic. At one point I counted 40 symptoms ranging from physical to mental to emotional, which disturbed my job, my family, my outlook on life, my relationships, and my happiness.

What followed was a stream of specialists, internists, and psychotherapists as my family doctor couldnt figure out was wrong with me. I was treated with massive doses of antibiotics to treat an unknown bacteria. That medical treatment led to a vaginal infection I couldnt get rid of for 5 years. One diagnosis pointed to a pre-ulcer condition, so I was treated with medicine, antacids, and a bland diet. Another was that I was anxious, for which valium and therapy were prescribed.

I began sleeping 15-18 hours a day. I was hardly able to work. My stomach was upset and painful even with all the prescriptions I was taking. I didnt feel any better with drugs or therapy either. In fact, I felt worse. After a while I was afraid to go to work, shop, movies, drive, or even out into the back yard because of the panic attacks I was suffering. Life wasnt worth living. I was at the end of my emotional rope.

I read about hypoglycemia and asked an internist to perform a three-hour test of my blood sugar. He agreed, but afterwards told me my test results were odd but were nothing to worry about. Then he berated me for wasting his time and the insurance money. Its patients like you who drive up the cost of health insurance. Maybe the doctor was right, that I was a hypochondriac.

Later I found out that my test results were classic for hypoglycemia.

My family and I relocated to Sacramento, thinking that the clearer air might help my breathing problems. When we settled in, I decided to try a new approach. The yellow pages advertised Sacramento Holistic and Preventative Medical Clinic, created by Dr. Garry Gordon. I made an appointment to see his associate, Dr. Michael Kwiker. What did I have to lose?

Before my initial visit, I filled out an in-depth four-page questionnaire of my symptoms and history. Then I had a 2 hour consultation with Dr. Kwiker. After questioning me thoroughly, he commented, Wow! You are really sick! I was 32 years old.

I broke down and cried. Finally, someone was listening.

The clinic ran a number of non-invasive tests. The resulting diagnoses was lengthy, which determined that I had hypoglycemia, thyroid and adrenal gland dysfunction, prolapsed colon, multiple food sensitivities, lack of hydrochloric acid necessary in digesting food, low to non-existent levels of vitamins and minerals, a hiatal hernia, and a few other problems.

A new world opened up for me. A special diet was prescribed, along with many vitamins, minerals, and herbs. I took hydrochloric acid for two years until I was finally able to digest proteins on my own. I also took glandular products to help my thyroid and adrenal glands. One of the special treatments was a weekly shot of adrenal cortex extract with massive amounts of vitamin C vitamin and B complex. The clinic had a non-force chiropractor on staff, whose efforts reduced my physical pain and helped heal the hiatal hernia. In the beginning I visited the clinic twice a week for various treatments, tests, and follow-ups. By the end of 5 years I was seeing them on an as-needed basis.