Sunday 23 November 2014

Guarantee for Success?!

A few days ago, a client sent me an e-mail in which she was inquiring about bunion treatment and the fees. I sent her a return message with all the information she was looking for. As first-time bunion treatment usually requires a course of treatment, I offered her a 10% discount if she booked a course of 5 sessions (requires payment in advance). Back came another e-mail in which she asked about the success rate for the treatment (fair enough ... about 80%) and if I would refund the fee if the treatment was not successful.

Bunions are painful and are likely to become worse the longer the sufferer leaves them untreated. One option is surgery which is likely to leave scarring and it takes quite a while to recover in most cases.

Alternative treatment involves acupuncture and massage/manual manipulation of the affected joint and takes about an hour for each session. Depending on the severity of the deformation, several sessions (typically 1 session per week) are necessary before an improvement becomes noticeable. Although an improvement of the pain in the affected joint will present itself relatively quickly, the deformation needs longer to correct. In some cases, a complete reversion is impossible, whereas a certain degree of improvement is to be expected. Also, follow-up treatment after 6-12 months might be necessary to maintain joint health.

I do everything possible to successfully heal the affected joint, as well as providing the client with the necessary guidance to improve their general health and well-being, but 'success' is both subjective and impossible to guarantee, as with all procedures; therefore a refund is not an option, I'm afraid ...

Thursday 13 March 2014

Culprit Candidosis



A young man in his mid 30s came to see me a few months ago. He had been suffering from pain that “wandered about” in his body and he was feeling tired and run down.  The pain peaked once or twice a month, which impacted on his family life and his job. He was ultimately diagnosed with Fibromyalgia by his GP and given little hope for improvement.

A kinesiology test revealed that he was suffering from a Candidosis (an overgrowth of Candida fungus in his intestines) and wheat intolerance. He also had acupuncture treatment as part of his treatment.
After the first session he changed his diet by cutting out sugar, wheat and starches as well as yeast as much as possible. He also agreed to take a kelp supplement as his thyroid was a bit sluggish as well as Vitamin C to help his immune system a bit.
After 4 weeks (with 1 session per week) he was still pain-free and felt completely “normal” again.
He booked another session for 2 weeks later, and when he came for his treatment he reported that he had had a milder bout a few days before. When I asked him if he’d eaten or drunk something out of the ordinary he confessed that a colleague had brought in some cake to work and he had “lots of it”. Two days after indulging in cake he was feeling the pains again and was feeling very tired and exhausted. The sugar, flour and yeast in the cake made the Candidosis flare up and brought back the symptoms. He had some more acupuncture treatment to help his body recover and I recommended taking acidophilus to feed the good bacteria in his intestinal tract.

Here is an interesting website with more info on Candidosis:

Wednesday 15 January 2014

Happy News



In September 2012, a lady booked an appointment with me as one of her friends had recommended me to her. Aged 44, she had a history of multiple miscarriages which always happened 6-8 weeks into the pregnancies. Her friend who mentioned me to her was already having fertility treatment in my clinic at that time.
She started treatment right away, with one session per week. In January 2013 she told me she was pregnant. We continued with weekly treatment sessions until we passed the critical first trimester. She decided to carry on with the treatment and I saw her every two weeks. When she was almost 7 months pregnant, she decided to stop treatments and in October 2013 she gave birth to a healthy, beautiful baby girl.
Her friend who had started treatment with me a few weeks earlier also gave birth to a gorgeous little girl, one month before her.

These are just two of the success stories from my practice – and very happy ones, indeed.
Although I offer a wide variety of treatments - I must say that helping women to get pregnant is lovely and so rewarding.


Thursday 2 January 2014

The "Forgotten" Vitamin



Not many of us may know the importance of vitamin K for our bodies. It not only regulates blood clotting, but it also activates osteogenesis (bone formation) and can prevent osteoporosis and even certain types of cancer. Vitamin K stops the calcium in the blood to accumulate in the arteries and build up fatal plaque, thus keeping our blood vessels clean. 
Green leafy vegetables - especially kale - and salads are a good source of Vit K and help to prevent a lack of this vitamin. However, if you suffer from osteoporosis already it is worth trying a Vitamin K supplement, in combination with a diet that is low in acidity.
Patients who are taking blood-thinning medication, however, should not take this vitamin without consulting their GP!