THREE GOOD STORIES

Here are three stories of recovery or great improvement in health taken from my patient files.

I hope they will encourage you on your journey to wellness.

LIONEL

Lionel (not his real name) was eighty three years old when he first came to see me. He had

been diagnosed with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease about a year earlier, but was also

troubled with Emphysema, Hiatus Hernia, Reflux, Hypertension and Hypoglycaemia.

His list of prescribed medications included one levodopa drug, one anti-nausea drug, a drug

for reflux, two drugs for hypertension, one antidepressant and two drugs to control the

symptoms of emphysema.

Lionel’s symptoms were dramatic and debilitating: he was unable to walk without support

from a walking frame, but often fell even using the frame; he had significant tremor, paucity

of movement and frequent freezing; his hypertension was not fully controlled in spite of the

two drugs prescribed; he was nauseous most of the time and, so, lacked appetite; he

experienced gastric reflux frequently despite drug prescriptions; he was chronically

depressed despite his antidepressant drug.

After investigating his history and current circumstances, we commenced on a basic

“improving health program” including changing his food choices (my views on this are well

known), increasing water intake, regular moderate exercise, meditation, Aqua Hydration

Formulas daily and Bowen therapy weekly.

Regular follow up appointments, each 8-10 weeks apart, showed some improvements in

strength and appetite, but there seemed to be little or no progress in mobility, balance,

tremor, paucity of movement or persistent nausea. Despite this, Lionel continued with his

program in the hope of improving his quality of life. I was disappointed that there was not

more improvement, but supported Lionel in his choice to continue with the “standard”

protocol.

Exactly one year eleven months and two weeks after our first consult, Lionel’s wife called me

in tears. She said, “Lionel is outside walking around the back yard!”

“Why?” I asked, feeling rather puzzled and quite worried at this start to our conversation.

Her reply was simply, “Because he can!”

On that day, Lionel had suddenly felt confident in his ability to stand and walk, had left his

walking frame in the living room, and started walking a circuit around his yard. This was the

first time in nearly three years that he had been able to walk without support.

From then on, Lionel started to make good progress. His strength improved, balance and

mobility continued to improve, his tremor slowly reduced (although it took another 3 years to

disappear), his general outlook on life improvised dramatically (he had gained hope of a

better quality of life) and his appetite increased. We were able to reduce his antidepressant

medication (remember, most antidepressants have the possibility of exacerbating

Parkinson’s disease symptoms) and he increased his social activity, which brought joy to

both Lionel and his wife.

However, a persistent problem was daily nausea. This did not seem to be influenced by any

particular foods, so we were puzzled. Lionel found this persistent symptom distressing as it

reduced his enjoyment of life. We tried herbal remedies and homeopathics without success.

After becoming frustrated with this nausea puzzle, I produced a chart of Lionel’s medication

including the most common adverse effects noted by each manufacturer (therefore real, not

imagined by a biased investigator). Here is how it looked:

RELUX DRUG nausea weakness depression rash

NAUSEA DRUG nausea weakness nervousness rash reflux

LEVODOPA DRUG nausea weakness anxiety

BLOOD PRESSURE nausea weakness

BLOOD PRESSURE nausea weakness anxiety rash infection

ANTIDEPRESSANT nausea weakness anxiety rash

EMPHYSEMA DRUG nausea

EMPHYSEMA DRUG nausea

All his drugs had the possibility of nausea, five had the possibility of

anxiety/nervousness/depression, while his nausea drug could cause reflux for which he was

taking a drug that could cause nausea.

The “polypharmacy” prescription seemed illogical to me so I wrote a letter with the above

chart for Lionel to take to his doctor. I had little hope that the doctor would take notice, but

felt I had to try.

Lionel’s doctor was attentive and understanding, read the letter, and immediately stopped

everything except levodopa (which Lionel still needed) and one blood pressure drug. The

nausea reduced rapidly and, with some very low-dose herbs, disappeared entirely within

three months. Most of his challenge had been drugs that had been prescribed to offset the

adverse effects of other drugs. His GP was smart enough, and adventurous enough, to

reduce Lionel’s unnecessary drug intake (without any ill effect) and resolved a major quality

of life challenge. Eventually we were able to wean Lionel off his levodopa drug with no return

of Parkinson’s disease symptoms.

Over the next couple of year, I kept in touch with Lionel as his health continued to improve.

My last contact was some time ago when he was 93 years old, enjoying life, active in the

community, and living without any Parkinson’s disease symptoms.

There are some clear lessons from Lionel’s story:

• If he had not persisted against all odds for two years, he would not have made

progress, and would have spent his remaining years miserable, incapacitated and

nauseous. Persistence is key if we want to recover.

• Drugs are usually prescribed with our best interests in mind. However, sometimes

doctors and specialists prescribe drugs without thoroughly investigating the

possibility of interactions and/or accumulative adverse effects. Therefore, it is worth

checking regularly with your GP to make sure your symptoms are not drug related.

• Age is no barrier to wellness. Lionel was 83 when he started the process of recovery,

and succeeded.

• Recovery needs our full attention and dedication. We cannot “play” at getting well.

We must be fully engaged with the process and be willing to make all the changes

needed to reach our goal of living without symptoms.

ROGER

Roger was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease by a neurologist in Canberra during

May 2001. He had sought medical help for symptoms that had been developing for

some time.

During 1995, he noticed that he dribbled on the pillow during sleep. Over the ensuing

six years, he progressively noticed that he developed pain in his shoulders when

swimming freestyle, stiffness on either side of his elbows and knees, leg cramps,

interrupted sleep (he would wake each night at about 2.30 am), and increasing

tiredness. Roger became more concerned when he found difficulty in using a

computer mouse and, six months prior to diagnosis, he developed tremors.

Following diagnosis, his neurologist prescribed Sinemet 100/25 three times daily

(300 mg levodopa daily), and gave him a normal brief prognosis – there is no cure,

there is nothing you can do, you will need more medication over time and, eventually

need full time care. Roger felt that his neurologist displayed a lack of compassion,

understanding and support. Roger was given no idea that he should reduce stress or

look for other ways to help himself.

In June 2003, Roger came to see me when referred by one of my professional

colleagues. He was concerned that his condition was deteriorating and the only help

offered was more drugs. He was extremely busy in his professional life, participated

in Local Government, endured a stressful marriage relationship, and had little time to

rest or relax.

My questioning revealed a family history of degenerative disorders (although no

Parkinson’s disease), poor sibling relationships, low self-esteem in childhood, and a

need to compensate by being “successful”. I recommended a minimum of 15

minutes meditation each day, reduction of stress, dietary changes, Aqua Hydration

Formulas, Bowen Therapy, increased water intake, and some supplements.

Roger sent me an email in December 2003 stating that his condition was stable, he

had reduced his medication, and had become President of Parkinson’s ACT (the

Parkinson’s disease Association in the Australian Capital Territory).

I saw Roger again nine months later, and he said that he “feels the best he’s felt in

years”. He had resumed playing tennis, swam three times weekly, was following

most of my recommendations and seeing a Bowen Therapist each two weeks, and

had reduced his Sinemet to one tablet twice daily (200 mg levodopa daily). His leg

cramps were now intermittent, and I suggested an increase in Magnesium.

By March 2006, Roger had reduced his medication to ½ tablet twice daily (100 mg

levodopa daily), was still swimming and active in Local Government, plus his busy

professional life, was noticing his dreams and generally pleased with his progress.

On the negative side, he was experiencing tightness and tiredness in hamstring and

lower leg muscles.

I had no contact with Roger after that until 2010 when he called me to “bring me up

to date”. It seems that Roger slipped into some old habits after 2006. He allowed his

life to become more stressful, forgot the dietary rules, let his meditation lapse, and

forgot that his primary aim was to get well. His health began to deteriorate as a

consequence, and Parkinson’s disease symptoms increased again. Then, after

about two years, he found my Stop Parkin’ and Start Livin’ program (the basis of my

Parkinson’s Recovery Program) and decided to re-dedicate himself to wellness. In

his words, “I followed your advice to the letter”; with triumphant results.

By early 2010, Roger was free from all symptoms, needed no medication, had

developed a new loving relationship, maintained a sensible professional life, and

become National President of Parkinson’s Australia (Australia’s national Parkinson’s

Association).

I met Roger again at a lecture to People with Parkinson’s disease at a country centre

in Victoria (Australia) during early November 2010. He looked very well, was

maintaining his good health, showed absolutely no symptoms of Parkinson’s

disease, and was enthusiastic about my recovery program.

Roger is not “cured” of Parkinson’s disease. Through his own efforts in following a

sensible, health-giving program, he has developed so much wellness in his body and

mind that there is no room for illness. This is what we call RECOVERY.

MARTIN

I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s nearly 8 years ago (I am now aged 60). Up

until a year ago, the symptoms of the disease were developing slowly but

surely and I was having to take more and more medication to keep me

mobile (2 x 100mg Sinemet 3-4 times daily, plus Neupro patches, and

clonazepam to combat vivid dreams). I was working a four day week and

expecting to reduce to three in mid 2012. I was very tired and depressed,

particularly at the prospect of getting progressively worse. However, the

therapist who gave me reiki and massages in between my monthly visit to

the chiropractor informed me that she was planning to train in Bowen

therapy and thought it might be beneficial for my Parkinson’s. A search online

with the keywords Bowen and Parkinson’s soon led me to your book

which I purchased a year ago.

It was so encouraging just to read the story of your recovery – that was a

tonic in itself. However, the effect of following your recommendations has

been even more dramatic. Vicki, my therapist, used me as a test case during

her Bowen training and after only two sessions, my frozen shoulder

unlocked properly for the first time in 7 years (chiropractic treatment used

to give me temporary relief, but the shoulder used to soon lock up again).

Getting rid of dairy, meat and grain from my diet had a huge impact as did

changing to only natural products for health care. I now drink 6-8 glasses of

water per day as well as use the Aqua Hydration drops. I also chose to have

my amalgam fillings

removed and followed this with a detox program – the most immediate

benefit was the return of my sense of smell, which I had virtually lost

altogether.

After a year, I am now down to just 2 x100mg Sinemet twice daily and some

days even less than that. I am back working a full five days and still have

enough energy to undertake major DIY projects at home (I am transforming

my bathroom). Although I still have the occasion bad day, I generally feel

fitter and more mobile than I have been for years. There are things I know I

still need to do, such as relaxing and meditating, as well as keeping strictly

to my new diet of vegetables, fruit, nuts and oily fish. The main thing for me

is that I now feel in control of my life once again and also feel that I can

continue to get better.

Thank you so much , John, for all the trials and tribulations you went

through to find your own path to recovery, and thank you for sharing your

findings with the rest of the world. I ran an evening for our local Parkinson’s

group back in November with the help of my therapist, Vicki, and a

nutritionist. Several of the attendees have now bought your book and have

started to follow your teachings so hopefully, assuming they benefit as much

as I have, other members will follow suit as well.

With best wishes for your continued good health