Carla,
What is Cats Claw/Devils Claw?  Is it only available in the US, or can
I get it here in Australia?

Rayna

On Sun, Mar 04, 2001 at 08:38:02AM -0400, Carla MacInnis wrote:
    Hi,

      For the most part doctors won't go along with alternatives unless they are of
    the younger school, and are well-versed on the benefits of vitamins, herbs and
    good nutrition. Many know nothing about nutrition and opt for the easier route
    of masking symptoms (spasming, aches and pains) with lots of drugs that do
    nothing more than set us up for addiction without any real resolution to issues
    related to improved quality of life. I took Dantrium during my work life. In
    university it was Valium - for muscle spasming. Both were wrong for me. After
    doing my research, I stopped taking all that crap and opted to explore
    alternatives - Vit C is a natural anti-inflammatory. At 1000mg daily (twice the
    daily recommended) for several weeks, it will markedly improve your situation
    with regard to aches and pains. Reduce the inflammmation, and you concurrently
    reduce spasming and fatigue.

      Magnesium (cheleated) at 400mg morning and evening will combat fatigue and
    also improve heart health. Potassium (found in bananas) will also improve heart
    health.

      Devil's Claw or Cat's Claw are both natural anti-inflammatories, but take at
    least 20 weeks to appreciate any difference with regard to reduction in
    inflammation. I use the Devil's Claw.

      My current doctor, of the old school, but educated about vits and herbs, is in
    total agreement with my present course (self-prescribed). My previous doctors
    were old poops who arbitrarily prescribed me into a wheelchair and recommended a
    bag full of drugs. No way. Until doctors, whether specialists or general
    practitioners learn more about aging with cerebral palsy, I think we who live
    with this condition and know our bodies far better than any medical
    professional, should become more proactive and educate ourselves about any
    alternatives, whether that be a return to passive physiotherapy in a clinical
    setting, or looking to herbs and vits.

      Hydrotherapy is an excellent way to improve life as we age with cp; warm water
    naturally relaxes muscles and makes passive stretching exercises easier. You can
    achieve this result in your own bath tub at home :) Doesn't cost you much,
    unless you invest in candles and mood music :)

    Cheers!

    Carla
    http://www.brunnet.net/terrier


    "K. Salkin" wrote:

    > Hi, Bobby,
    >
    > I think one of my problems is that I loathe taking pills.  They're not hard
    > for me to swallow, I just don't like taking a lot of pills.  The
    > anti-spastic medication I'm presently taking is Dantrium, and it makes me
    > sleepy, so I only take it at night.
    >
    > My job as a systems analyst for the HR department where I work requires a
    > high degree of mental reasoning and problem-solving, so I need to be alert.
    > Unfortunately at times I'm fatigued, so it becomes difficult.  I had a
    > physical exam last month which showed nothing wrong with me, so I am trying
    > to find alternative treatments. If Carla's recommendations make sense, I'll
    > discuss them with my doctor, and see what she says.
    >
    > Sounds like you've got quite a family there!  How do your son and
    > daughter-in-law like living in Charlotte?  I live in Winston-Salem, which is
    > not too far.
    >
    >         Kathy
    >
    > ----- Original Message -----
    > From: "Bobby Greer" <[log in to unmask]>
    > To: <[log in to unmask]>
    > Sent: Saturday, March 03, 2001 8:35 PM
    > Subject: Re: Introduction
    >
    > > Kathy,
    > >
    > >     Welcome, I am a 63 year old male, married with two children and 3
    > > grandchildren.
    > > My son and daughter in law live in Charlotte. My daughter in law is from
    > the
    > > Raliegh area. My daughter lives in Austin, TX.
    > >
    > >     I have very mild spastic quadriplegia. I teach at the University of
    > > Memphis and will be retiring from there at the end of April, this year.
    > >
    > >     I take too many oral meds myself. Listen to the advice of others on
    > this
    > > list. You will probably be hearing from Carla, our reesident expert on
    > herbal
    > > remedies. I would listen to all, because somewhere on this list is a
    > person
    > > who has some advice for you.
    > > In general, we are a group of diverse personalities united by a common
    > > neuromuscular condition. The topics on here range from the utterly sublime
    > > and spiritual to the lowest kind of punning around. LOL
    > >
    > > Welcome to the list, Kathy
    > >
    > > Bobby