The Pancreatitis Supporters Network
Alternative Medicine
December 2001
I hope no one is offended by the Smile for you! I found this quote via the Pain Support Site (http://www.painsupport.org.uk) and thought you might all like to share its levity! On to this Newsletter. We are going to be telling you about some more of the alternative therapies which are out there from our members perspective along with other stories which I hope will interest you all. At the back of this issue is something called a Gift Aid Form. This is ONLY relevant for the UK and will allow any of you who make a donation to give us permission to claim back the tax on the same. This is a significant amount of money that we are losing in revenue each year and I do hope you will feel able to sign and return the form to us. As with all information held by ourselves it is completely confidential and protected under the terms of the Data Protection Act. We mention also some information from a book called Herbs Against Cancer as this was found in a major Women's magazine. As always, the information in this Newsletter does not necessarily form the basis of our opinion at the Network and ANY change of lifestyle must be discussed with your GP or Consultant.
HOLIDAY INSURANCE A continuing problem we all face is Holiday Insurance. We have mentioned others before but here is one we have not told you about before from Rachael: Hi Just thought I'd let you know I managed to get holiday travel insurance to cover pancreatitis from ABC extras travel insurance. The address is
Holiday Services, 1 Charnwood Drive, Ripley, Derby DE5 3TB . Tel: 01773 747426. I didn't need a doctors certificate, but I did need a verbal ok from the GP that I was fit to travel. It would cover me for pancreatitis if I got in when on holiday - I didn't need it it turns out, but I did get acute pancreatitis
Contents
Holiday Insurance page 1 Coxsackie Virus page 2 Great Fun Run page 3 Contact/Letters page 4 Gift Aid page 5
a week after returning home. Best wishes Rachael One other is FREE SPIRIT who can be contacted on 01483 255888.
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Pau d’arco for Cancer
QUESTION: We heard about this herb through Style Magazine and the question and ansewer went like this: Can you tell us anything about a herb called paud’arco? My sister has been diagnosed with a large bowel tumour that is inoperable as it is attached to the pancreas. We have heard of one case, overseas, where a tumour like this disappeared when the person took this herb. Can you recommend a supplier and tell us how to use it?
ANSWER: Pau d’arco is a Brazilian herb, also known as lapacho, and since it is common to find products containing very little of the active ingredient, you are right to take care about where you source it from. To learn more about this and other anticancer herbs, read Herbs Against Cancer by Ralph Moss (Equinox Press £15,25 and available from the NutriCentre bookshop on 020 7436 0422). If you decide to go ahead, order your pau d’arco from the same company. Forty ready-made teabags from Wisdom Herbs costs £5.99. The loose, dried herb costs £4.99 for 50g from Rio Trading (01273 570987). To make the tea, add two tablespoons of the bark to three cups of water and simmer for 20 minutes. Your sister should aim at three cups per day. Concerns about the toxicity of this herb have been raised, so your sister should consider working with a qualified naturopath who will monitor her reaction. To find one see the above. To find a Naturopath contact the British Naturopathic Association on 01458 840072. Before following any medical or dietary advice in this column, please consult your GP if you suffer from any health problems or special conditions, or are in doubt as to its suitability.
Homeopathic Treatment for the Coxsackie Virus.
This article was submitted by Mrs R Heard and she would like to hear from others who have had experience of this Virus. Her full address is given at the end of this article. I felt I should advise you of my progress over the last seven months after starting treatment for the coxsakie virus, so that you can inform other pancreatic sufferers who may benefit as well. A brief summary of my medical history is as follows: My pancreatitis began in October 1995 following gall bladder problems. After three weeks in hospital I was told I had pancreatitis. I had acute pain, vomiting and generally feeling extremely unwell. Since then and until I started
homeopathy treatment I spent varying amounts of time in hospital. My social life has been extremely limited. Although I managed to work part time my family did all the housework as every activity required great effort and I felt so weak. I weighed under eight stone much of the time. In February 1977 my gall bladder was removed, as it was very diseased. The pancreatitis continued, but no one was able to suggest a way to prevent further attacks. However, I have always received extremely good treatment whilst in hospital. I only consumed very small amounts of alcohol before the attacks and I am now tee total and on a very low fat diet. I have also been refered to Manchester Royal Infirmary for Antox treatment. Following Dr Braganza’s retirement, Dr Makin carried out further tests to ascertain what was causing my
problem, but these did nid not come up with anything positive. Dr Makin wanted to wait for new equipment to carry out a new test, in the meantime I did try Antox but it did not seem to help. My new consultant at Bedford Hospital, Dr Harvey discussed my case with Addenbrooks Hospital, Cambridge where the new equipment was already available, but they agreed this new test would not add to what was already known. Surgery has been suggested by Dr Makin, but Dr Harvey said this could aggavate the condition long term and make me worse. Dr Harvey investigated further possible assistance that the NHS could offer but apologised that he could not find any. In early 2000 my husband’s work colleague suggested I see a Complementary Medicine Specialist that she highly recommended. Natasha Linderman has a clinic in Bedford and I attach a leaflet for your
Alternative Therapies 2
The Pancreatitis Supporters Network
information.. I had to wait a few months before my first appointmment. I was amazed at her knowledge and the electroacupuncture diagnosis technique she uses. Natasha explained that my medical problems over many years had been caused by a coxsackie virus. Over recent years it had attacked my digestive system as well as my pancreas. My liver, spleen and kidneys had also been affected. I was given homeopathic treatment for the virus and other toxins and gradually began to feel better in myself and put on weight (I know weigh over 10 stones). The coxsackie virus was removed in November 2000.. Often the pain was severe, but Natasha informed me this was due to the pancreas repairing itself and I had further treatments to aid this. I cannot stress enough the difference treatment has made both to me and my family. I still attend
to deal with viruses that conventional medicine cannot seem to cope with. Christmas 2000 was the best I had felt for six years. Unfortunately, when I returned to work I caught a chest infection which upset my pancreas. However, Natasha was able to give treatments for the infection asnd the coxsakie virus, which reappeared after the infection. I am now recovering a good deal faster than after my previous attacks and Natasha is very pleased with my overall progress. She has indicated that she recommends regular check ups for the next year to keep things under control. Then yearly or twice yearly to monitor the situation. Please let me know if you require any further details. I should be interested to know pleases whether you have had further reports about the coxsakie virus causing pancreatitis.
Article from: Mrs Ruth Heard 11 Emerton Way Wootton Bedfordshire MK43 9DS Ms Natasha Lindeman can be found at: The Tree of Life Clinic of Biological and Complementary Medicine and they are based at: Flexible Health and Fitness Club Plalace Chambers Silver Street Bedford MK40 1SY Telephone: 01234 211144 ‘Phone - in time Weekdays 8:30 - 9:00am. Tree of Life Clinics were founded by Andrian Lindeman a qualified Heilpraktiker/Naturopath/Ho meopath/Electroacupuncturist.
hospital appointments and use conventional pain killers etc. My experience shows that these Specialists need to work alongside our hospitals, as in Germany etc. In order
Great Fun Run
What can we say but a BIG thank you to Miss Jacqueline A Langford who completed the Great Fun Run in memory of Dorothy Morton. She raised an incredible £420!!, The photograph shows Jacqueline ready to go with her runner’s number on her shirt. She also have T-Shirts with our name printed up as well so all around a jolly good effort for the Network. Jacqueline is going to do another one next year and if anyone
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else is interested in helping and either having a go or even sponsoring Jacqueline next year then let us know here at the Network. We can send you out sponsorship forms for you to get the signature's and then when she completes the race we will send you a letter confirming this. You then collect the money owing and send it on to us here at the Network. We will send you a letter of receipt which you can show to your sponsors that we have received the money.
Alternative Therapies
The Pancreatitis Supporters Network
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Merry Christmas to you ALL!
Eventually got around to wishing you greetings at this festive time of the year! Some information for you all. We have been fund raising this year to purchase more x-pain 2000 machines and we are pleased to say we were successful and have ten of these units to loan out. Some of these have already gone and anyone interested should let us know as soon as possible. For those of you who have a unit can you let us know the serial number on the unit. This is usually printed on the inside of the battery compartment. We
need to check out where all these units are. We shall be sending a blanket letter/survey to all of you who have had a machine in the past to let us know how you found it. There is no wish to upset anyone whose, wife, husband, daughter, son etc. who has died since we loaned a machine to you. We have to get this information for our records. These were corrupted in our major crash as were the backups, a real disaster day that one! Also we want to find out if any of these are lying around not being used or being kept as a ‘just in case’! Finally, this does help us with our
fund-raising if we can quote some of your comments on the use fullness of these devices. Anyone wishing to purchase a machine direct can contact Advanced Pain Management at the following address Advanced Pain Management Ltd Suite 2, Saturn Centre Challenge Way Blackburn Lancashire BB1 5QB Telephone 01254 661431 Fax/answerphone: 01254 611429 Customer Support and Advice Line: 01254 611430
CONTACT PLEASE!
We have received this e-mail asking for anyone with a whipples to get in contact. First the e-mail: I had a ‘whipples’ operation for pancreatic cancer during July 2000. A course of chemotherapy and radiotherapy during December 2000 and January 2001. I have been taking pancreatic enzyme supplements, Creon since June 2001 and have
found this beneficial. I am now trying to contact other people who have been through a similar operation who would be willing to talk about how they are coping with the discomfort after the operation. Please contact: (For those of you on the internet contact Jean at: malcolm.gay@ntlworld.com)
The rest of us can contact Jean by ‘snail mail! At the following address: Mrs Jean Gay 50 Tamworth Road Herdford SG13 7DN
LETTERS I was diagnosed when I was 20 and put ona low fat diet. I am now 40 and whilst I can control the pancreas I am beginning to get stiff ankles, knees and wrists. First started about two years ago. Very slowly it is getting worse, the doctor sent me for an xray and said I didn't have arthritis in the wrist. However I can feel significant stiffening now and pain. Is there a link? Could the low fat be responsible. Can anyone suggest any help? Helen
Dear Jim. I have good news for you. My son was operated on 20th June 2001 and his gall-bladder was removed successfully by a local specialist surgeon. He is now back to school and claiming his top position in his class, even after being out of class for a month. Jim you may not know but you helped me, my wife and family a lot by giving us the information on this disease. Thanks for the good work you and your organisation are doing. God Bless you abundantly. Keep up the good work. With Kind Regards P M
Have you had your computer training? Just to finish of with another smile!Don't feel stupid about using your computer - read on This is an excerpt from a Wall Street Journal article: 1. Compaq is considering changing the command "Press Any Key" to "Press Return Key" because of the flood of calls asking where the Any Key is. 2. AST technical support had a caller complaining that her mouse was hard to control with the dust cover on. The cover turned out to be the plastic bag the mouse was packaged in!
PO Box 8938, Birmingham, West Midlands, B13 9FW Tel: (123) 456 7890, Mobile: (123) 456 7895, psnjimarmour@cs.com http://www.pancreatitis.org.uk
We Offer a ‘Holistic Approach
Alternative Therapies
The Pancreatitis Supporters Network
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How you can help the Network financially
Your donations will help us to continue our work at the Network by allowing us to collect the tax paid on your donations, which until last April we were unable to do. It is ONLY for those members who are resident in the UK and STILL paying tax, this includes tax on savings. To clarify that statement: Your donation must be made out of UK Taxed Income, and/or Capital Gains Tax at least equal to the tax that the Charity reclaims on your declarations in the tax year (currently 28p for each £1 you give).
Please complete the Sections below:
I would like the Charity (The Pancreatitis Supporters Network) to treat all donations I have made since April 6th 2000 and all other donations I make from the date of this declaration and until I notify you otherwise as Gift Aid Donations.
Details of Donor:
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