Watch Your Back

For the past few weeks, I have been struggling with backache. I slipped and landed on my backside at a waterfall 2 years ago. Subsequently, I injured my back again, carrying some files when we moved office. Diagnosed with lumbosacral spondylosis,  standing or walking longer than ten minutes causes pain at my lower back, hip joints, calves and feet. My sitting posture too has to be upright but relaxed.

Lumbosacral spondylosis is a basic term used by medical professionals to describe common, age-related degeneration in the lower back at the site where the last vertebra of the lumbar spine (L5) and the first vertebra of the sacral spine (S1) connect. This area is especially prone to deterioration because the lower back supports upright posture and many different bending and twisting movements, and also because it supports such a large amount of weight.

Specific conditions that fall under the umbrella term of lumbosacral spondylosis can include herniated discs, bulging discs, bone spurs and osteoarthritis, all of which are spinal abnormalities that run the risk of protruding into the spinal canal and exerting pressure on spinal nerves. The sciatic nerve is often compressed at the meeting of the L5 and S1 vertebrae. Common symptoms of sciatic nerve compression include tingling, numbness, weakness and pain that can spread through the lower back, tailbone, hip joints, calves and feet

My activities have been severely curtailed since. Apart from twice weekly treatments at the famous Dr Chong of Sea Park and cari makan (working), I struggle with daily chores. The basic life chores which I took for granted became an achievement. For about a week, I felt very moody and depressed, I asked myself why I was so blue. Apart from the inactivity, I do not feel comfortable asking for help. I feel more comfortable being the provider and being needed. I was afraid of being a burden.  I believe I share the feelings of many who have problems with mobility.

If we are fortunate and have an understanding family, we have an easier time. We can treat it as a much needed time of rest for our body, Even so, it being a temporary situation helps us to bear with the dis-ease. However, for people who are sick and dependent in the longer term, it can be depressing.

In tough times such as these, how do we cope and live with the daily dependence on others without feeling like a burden? Our aged parents, people in homes, how do they get through each day? What can they do for themselves? Knowing this, how can we make their lives better and easier? 

Mind over Healing

I shall share what I learned from listening to David Hamilton, Ph.D this week. He is the best selling author of the book, "How Your Mind Can Heal Your Body." He leads workshops to help people understand the link between their minds, their health and their lives. The power of the mind and positive thinking can actually bring about physiological changes in the body, through visualization, belief, and affirmations to heal. How do thoughts and visualisation affect the neurosystem and our brain?

As we imagine something over and over again, we start to cause changes to the physical structure of the brain. In a research, volunteers were asked to play a simple combination of notes on the piano with all five fingers daily for 2 hours. Their brains were scanned daily and scientists found that the area of the brain connected to the finger muscles had grown in size. The brain actually generated  hundreds of neurons. but not only that, genes were being turned on and started changing.  To study the effects of visualisation, another group was asked to visualise that they were playing the piano notes for 2 hours daily. At the end of  5 days, a brain scan showed that the brain had changed in identical ways. In many ways, the brain does not distinguish whether something is really happening or it is just an imagination.

He believes that the power of visualisation can be used to heal, provided that it is done properly. An example is the visualisation of tumours shrinking. However, it has to be visualised in great detail, thus taking time and must be done consistently everyday.

In another study, 150 married couples were asked to talk about a topic of their choice for 15 minutes  From their interaction, couples were grouped into those who were hostile, aggresive and those who were more compassionate to one another. What they found was that the hostile group had more cases of heart disease whilst the other compassionate group had healthy arteries. The difference was the way they treated each other. He said that hundreds of genes are turned on by the way we treat people.

When two people are interacting, their emotions and body language has an effect on each other. The phrase “emotional contagion” embodies the idea that humans will synchronize their personal emotions with the emotions expressed by those around them, whether consciously or unconsciously, and thus that an emotion conveyed by one person will become “contagious” to others. In the presence of a happy person, others around them become happier. This unfortunately applies to negative emotions as well. Gentleness and compassion can protect ourselves.

It is indeed true that the people we spend our time with are very important. They not only have great influence on our thoughts. They also have great impact on our health.

Dying to Be Me

 

I have been spending  some time listening to many world-renowned experts from the personal growth field sharing the practical, applicable ways in which they incorporate their teachings in their own lives. Topics range from health, diets, womanhood, happiness and success, the spiritual realm, past lives and so on..  I shall write on some of these speakers whose work have benefited millions of people. 

One such speaker whom I find so very inspiring  is Anita Moorjani. Her story is not new to many. Anita was diagnosed with end stage cancer (Hodgkin's Lymphoma) in April 2002.  On 2 February 2006, she fell into a coma. Her body was ravaged with cancer when she arrived at the hospital. Doctors said that her organs were shutting down and gave her hours to live. However, she went through a NDE or near death experience but made a choice to  come back.I chose to come back into physical when I understood that ‘heaven’ is a state, not a place.Anita Moorjani

She is now a famous speaker and author of the best seller, "Dying To Be Me." She has been sharing her fascinating life story and the many insights she gained when she went to the other realm.  "I realized what a gift life was, and that I was surrounded by loving spiritual beings, who were always around me even when I did not know it. I understand how illnesses start on an energetic level before they become physical. I then understood that when people have medical treatments for illnesses, it rids the illness only from their body but not from their energy so the illness returns. Everything going on in our lives was dependant on this energy around us, created by us. Nothing was real – we created our surroundings, our conditions, etc. depending where this “energy” was at."

"After what I have seen, I realize that absolutely anything is possible, and that we did not come here to suffer. Life is supposed to be great, and we are very, very loved. The way I look at life has changed dramatically, and I am so glad to have been given a second chance to experience “heaven on earth. Miracles are possible in your life every day."

What was her most meaningful lesson? "The most meaningful lesson I learned from being at death’s door is that unless I love myself, nothing else in my life can function at its best. The amount of depth, meaning, and joy I experience in my life is in direct proportion to how much love I have for myself. The amount of love, kindness, patience I have for others is also directly proportional to how much love, patience and kindness I have for myself, because we cannot give others what we ourselves do not have."

I resonate so much with what she said. That life is indeed a gift.  We create so much of our own unhappiness due to a lack of love. And it starts from a  lack of love for ourselves. If we do not know how to love and honour ourselves, how then can we genuinely love and honour others?.

We sometimes confuse narcissism with self-love so we hold ourselves at arms length. There is a big difference between the two. The energy of narcissim is one of fear. It is closed and contracting, wanting to keep everything for ourselves. It is about "me, me and me."  Self love is expansive, open and inclusive of others.  That is the energy of love. It is like a cup of love which overflows.

We are meant to be amazing, magnificent, loving beings but we have forgotten who we are. However, we do not necessarily need to go through a near death experience to realise that. The love is right there in our hearts already. We just need to open our hearts and tap into it.

Family Constellations

 

Have you tried Family Constellaton therapy? Bert Hellinger, a German psychotherapist and former priest developed Family Constellation work in the 80s. During his work with groups he noticed that unconscious Trans-Generational family bonds have a major impact on the current family system. Certain ancestral patterns are carried through many generations.

Many of us unconsciously identify with the emotions and traumas of other family members especially our parents as a way of belonging. Examples of such destructive familial patterns are anxiety, depression, anger, guilt, solitude, alcoholism and even illnesses. Such entanglements can lead to anger, frustration, depression and therefore to an unfulfilled life.

Family Constellations is very often called Trans-Generational Healing because it has a positive influence on many generations of the family system. It is said to have the power to shift generations of suffering and unhappiness. It is most effective in issues that appear to be systemic in nature. If one has already tried therapy but is unable to resolve the issue it could be that the issue is systemic, a pattern or entanglement coming from the family of origin,

The Family Constellation view, is that each person has soul or life force energy and is also part of the collective soul or life force energy of the family group. This means that each member within a family group has an effect on the other members in the group, via the genetic trail or soul energy by which they are linked. Newer members of the family can be greatly affected by what has gone before them in previous generations. Some event or situation may have taken place several generations before one's birth, that was perhaps not accepted or acknowledged by the family in general. This will usually manifest as guilt or shame by the “greater soul” or life force of the family group. The guilt or shame is taken on by individuals in later generations. This is done in an unconscious attempt to relieve the burden from the rest of the family and may result in such things as a range of mental and, physical illnesses, suicide, or addiction or disturbed relationships patterns.

The purpose of Family Constellations is to uncover the hidden dynamics of the family or relationship in an experiential way. Family Constellations can be enlightening when it comes to the search for the real root cause and may remove blockages in the family system which are causing disharmony.

It allows us to break these patterns so that we can live healthier, happier, more fulfilled lives. In a moment of insight, a new life course can be set in motion. The results can be life-changing!

CA Care - Herbal Cancer Therapy

"The standard recipe of present day cancer treatments comes in  different combinations of surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and oral drugs of some sort. This is sometimes referred to as slash, poison and burn method of treatment. Many people say the treatment is worse than the disease and many patients died because of the treatment rather than their cancer. Some authors even went to the extent of saying that present day cancer treatment with highly toxic drugs is crude and is probably the most barbaric in modern medicine. 

Those who have undergone these treatments may understand what I am saying. Those who have not undergone them yet may not but the observant ones may have heard or learnt about it from the
experiences of others. These patients now want to know if there is another option for them. My answer is: Yes, there is another option."  (from the flyer of "Cancer. What now? Is there another option?'')

 
Last Saturday, I joined my friend, Khadijah for a talk by CA Care founder, Dr Chris Teo. The 2 hour talk titled "Cancer, What now? Is there another option?" was aimed at giving people diagnosed with cancer an alternative to mainstream medicine.  With us, was a friend who was diagnosed with breast cancer 10 years ago. After her surgery (but no chemotherapy) she went to see Dr Teo and took his herbs. She is looking good today.
 
Khadijah and her husband, Yeong have been taking care of CA Care Central Region for many years. As Dr Teo is based in Penang, cancer patients can get their supply of herbs from Khadijah and Yeong. They are a lovely couple, who provide consultations from their home in Subang Jaya. I first met them through my Qigong center many years ago. Later, I learned that my late friend, Chang went to them when he was trying out the herbs from CA Care.

Dr Teo was formerly a professor of botany in Universiti Sains Malaysia. He has written many research papers and more than a dozen books. He started CA Care with his wife, Ch'ng Beng Im in 1995, after helping a patient, Benedict Yeoh with liver cancer, A week later, Ben brought Vijay who had lung cancer, From that humble beginning, CA Care was born as word spread.

Dr Teo prescribes a variety of capsules and teas for the different cancers. Even people without cancer can benefit from consuming his herbs as there are teas that help with stomach discomfort, pain teas and ascites tea to help with fluid retention. 

Apart from consuming his herbs, it is also mandatory to change one's lifestyle and eating habits. Foods to avoid are all kinds of meat, dairy products, white sugar, table salt and oil (except coconut or olive oil). Mrs Teo has also written a book on healthy recipes.

His prescription to healing is as follows:-
1. Give total commitment to healing
2. Seek proper medical help
3. Take herbs
4. Eat rightly
5. Lead a happy, stress free life

I find Dr Teo to be straight talking and hard hitting.   This remains a controversial topic and not many may agree with him. To find out more about Dr Chris Teo's healing therapy and his success stories, you may visit his website at http://cacare.com/content/view/20/41/.

Our Precious Health

I used to be a purist,  having much faith in alternative medicine. The stories of Louise Hay, Professor Lai Chiu-Nan, Ann Wigmore, to name a few, are almost miraculous. These are people with success stories to tell, using purely the holistic approach. However, after following the experiences of my terminally ill friends, I must admit that alternative therapies have lost their lustre somewhat. How many ordinary people out there have met such success?  How many can successfully shrink a growth or tumour? I am not putting a damper on those following the holistic approach. Neither am I advocating only Western medicine.

I don't believe healing from chronic diseases is as straightforward as changing one's diet alone. Nor is it about going through the list of alternative therapies available and trying them out one after another. Healing is more complex than that. One has to find the root cause of one's disease in order to have a good success rate in healing. One also has to have alot of patience as well as diligence. A great deal of effort is needed. And many a time, it demands change. Change in eating habits, lifestyle, mental  and emotional patterns. At a time when a person is down with a sickness, how much willpower and stamina does one have to do so much?

It makes sense, then, to learn healthy living habits and to teach our children to do the same. Healthy living includes not only eating correctly but being able to connect with what is going on within us, in our minds. Knowing how to manage life and our expectations. Knowing how to manage our emotions.

As human beings, there is a tendency to take things for granted. It sometimes take many knocks for us to realise this. We neglect our precious health in our youth and treat our bodies like machines, for a variety of reasons like earning money, etc. In our later years, we spend the same hard earned money trying to heal. Where does that get us? It may not seem seem very wise but that is what it takes for us to learn sometimes, through pain. But is it really necessary to walk that path?

Unconditional Positive Regard

Today's post was contributed by Dr Chong, a family physician who uses unconditional positive regard with her patients. She is a caring and compassionate person who has helped many cancer patients. I wish to thank her for sharing this article with us.

Unconditional positive regard is a term made popular by Carl Rogers. It is basic acceptance and support of a person regardless of what the person says or does. This type of communication is essential to healthy development. People who have not been exposed to it may come to see themselves in the negative ways that others have made them feel. Through this therapy patients eventually accept and take responsibility for themselves. By showing my patients unconditional positive regard and acceptance, I am providing the best possible conditions for my patients' personal growth.

 David G. Myers says the following in his Psychology: Eighth Edition in Modules:

People also nurture our growth by being accepting—by offering us what Rogers called unconditional positive regard. This is an attitude of grace, an attitude that values us even knowing our failings. It is a profound relief to drop our pretenses, confess our worst feelings, and discover that we are still accepted. In a good marriage, a close family, or an intimate friendship, we are free to be spontaneous without fearing the loss of others' esteem.

Unconditional positive regard can be facilitated by keeping in mind Carl Rogers' belief that all people have the internal resources required for personal growth. Rogers' theory encouraged other psychiatrists to suspend judgement, and to listen to a person with an attitude that the patient has within himself the ability to change, without actually changing who he is.

The concept of unconditional positive regard also has a simpler meaning outside of the therapist's goal to elicit change. It is the simple act of one individual accepting all traits and behaviors in another individual, as long as is it does not entail causing significant harm to oneself. The key word here is "significant". If one states that "This person's behavior annoys me, and thus is causing me 'significant' harm", then unconditional positive regard is made subject to so many objections that it cannot exist. Thus, finding a person's behavior/beliefs reprehensible when they pose no threat of harm to oneself or others, is incompatible with unconditional positive regard. To treat a flawed individual's otherwise harmless behavior or beliefs as cause to reject the individual's worth, morality and right to merit interaction with oneself, is a violation of the unconditional precept.

The Holistic Way

I have always had an interest in healing. Besides, diet and nutrition, I have special interest in the healing of the mind and emotions. As we are body, mind and spirit, I believe healing should encompass all three aspects because of their interconnectedness. The role of emotions and its effect on our health, for example, is an interesting area to look into. Along the way, to deepen my knowledge in this interesting area, I read books, follow my friends' journeys as well as enrol in courses on healing, when my schedule permits.

The area of alternative medicine is often said to be lacking in scientific backing. There are many claims and testimonies of people being healed from various therapies, some very costly. Generally, people find it easier to trust the advice of doctors who have been trained in mainstream Western medicine. The purists, i.e those who rely fully on alternative medicine are a minority.  Most people would use alternative medicine as a complementary therapy.

It was in 2006 that I learned that one of my friends had her spleen removed due to a rare blood condition.  After the surgery, she tried to heal herself by following a strict organic vegetarian diet recommended by a famous Taiwanese health expert. The diet consisted of soup, salad, steamed vegetables, brown rice and sweet potatoes. She was very disciplined and positive throughout. However, she wanted more from her life and decided to undergo a bone marrow transplant. She succumbed to complications as a result of her body's rejection of the transplant. My group of friends and I were deeply saddened by her passing. 

Many readers here would also remember Chang, a friend who left us last September. On diagnosis, his doctor said that the cancer was already too advanced for chemotherapy to be of benefit. He said that he was stumped initially, not knowing what to do next. He was inundated with emails and suggestions until he came upon the Gersons Therapy.  Like many, I followed his journey from reading his blog. I was intrigued by the many therapies he tried. Because he was seeking different views, we would sometimes discuss his therapies.

When Chang first started out, he adhered closely to what he called the modified Gersons Therapy (because he could not get the full set of supplements here in Malaysia, then). However, over time, he too started to use oral chemotherapy drugs. He commented, on hindsight, that he should not have been so naive, i.e. he should have combined conventional  drugs wth his alternative therapies much earlier on. At one time, he also described himself as being very comfortable with reading scientific papers but lost when it came to emotions.

After Chang's death, I  wrote to his doctor, Dr Chong, whom he consulted for hypnotherapy services, to contribute an article to his blog. I shall post the article on this blog and hope that it will benefit those who are seeking to complement their healing. I will share her article in the next post. 

HPV vaccination for cervical cancer (Part Two of Two)

There is some controversy regarding the HPV vaccination primarily because of its side effects. Minor side effects are pain, swelling, itching, bruising, and redness at the injection site, headache, fever, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, and fainting. However, there have been reported cases of vaccination deaths, serious side effects such as neurological reactions, paralysis, speech problems and blindness.

"Reports from Judicial Watch of USA stated that between May 2009 and September 2010, 16 deaths after Gardasil vaccination were reported. For that timeframe, there were also 789 reports of "serious" Gardasil adverse reactions, including 213 cases of permanent disability and 25 diagnosed cases of Guillain Barre Syndrome. While it is not clear exactly what is causing so many adverse reactions, it is said that Gardasil contains genetically engineered virus-like protein particles as well as aluminum, which can affect immune function. Judge for yourselves the validity of information at http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/01/24/hpv-vaccine-victim-sues-merck.aspx

Further, according to the product information insert, it has not been evaluated for the potential to cause carcinogenicity or genotoxicity.i.e. its potential to cause cancer or to be toxic to genes. Thus, no one knows the effects of the HPV vaccine yet because from reports, clinical trials were carried out only for up to 5 years. The recommended age of vaccination in western countries is from 9 to 26 years old because 24% of females report being sexually active by age 15 years, 40% by age 16 years, and 70% by age 18 years in the United States. Does this same statistics apply in Malaysia?

Dr Diane M Harper, scientist, physician, professor and the director of the Gynecologic Cancer Prevention Research Group in the US and a lead researcher who spent 20 years developing the vaccine for the human papilloma virus said "Duration of efficacy is key to the entire question. If duration is at least fifteen years, then vaccinating 11-year-old girls will protect them until they are 26 and will prevent some precancers, but postpone most cancers. If duration of efficacy is less than fifteen years, then no cancers are prevented, only postponed. According to her ‘data available for Gardasil shows that efficacy lasts five years; there is no data showing that it remains effective beyond five years.’ Read more at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marcia-g-yerman/an-interview-with-dr-dian_b_405472.html

Is it necessary to vaccinate all 13 year olds given that the protection is for a period of 5 years only?. Thereafter, there is as yet, no mention of booster shots. Even if we were to remove the short term side effects issue from the discussion, if the efficacy is only for 5 years, our daughters would be protected till 18 years old against 70% of cervical cancers.  The question is whether we expect them to be sexually active within these 5 years. And what are the longer term side effects such as carcinogenicity and gene toxicity which have not been evaluated?

Do we want to expose them  to the  risks given that within these 5 years, the vaccination may not even be necessary for them? An option is to take a cautious approach to evaluate the longer term side effects which may emerge over time. I am not  taking a stand against anyone or any organisation because we all have our own choices to make. However, it is always best to do more research and evaluate for ourselves before we commit to the vaccination. Weigh the risks against the benefits. Take away the politics, take away the consumerism, it is the safety and health of our daughters that is at stake.

For further reading:-
1. Consumer Association http://www.consumer.org.my/index.php/health/healthcare/115-cervical-cancer-vaccines-tell-us-the-truth
2. New England Journal of Medicine  http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe078060

HPV vaccination for cervical cancer (Part One of Two)

I am writing this post because of my school-going daughter. I received a letter from her school requesting the consent of parents for HPV (human papilloma virus) vaccination of 13 year old girls. The Government has been providing free HPV vaccinations for the prevention of cervical cancer for 13-year-old girls after Budget 2012. Most parents in her school have consented. When I hesitated, she asked me for my reasons and I believe I owe her an explanation.

Human papilloma virus (HPV) is a virus that is passed on by sexual activity. It needn't be actual sexual intercourse: HPV can also be transmitted by oral-genital sex. There are more than 100 different sub-types of HPV, grouped into (i) high-risk types (may cause cancer) and (ii) low risk types (non-cancer causing). For  most people the virus clears up on its own, but for some it can cause vaginal and vulvar cancers in women and anal cancer and genital warts in men and women. Since there is no way to predict who will clear or not clear the virus, the vaccine is a very efficient way to cut down incidences of cervical cancer.

Two HPV vaccines are currently on the market: Gardasil and Cervarix.:-

Gardasil works against four HPV types. HPV 16 and 18 are responsible for around 70 per cent of cervical cancers, whereas HPV 6 and 11 are responsible for around 90 per cent of genital warts, but are not associated with cervical cancer. Anyone who is severely allergic to yeast, should not receive the vaccine. It is not for women who are pregnant.

Cervarix protects against two HPV types 16 and 18, but no others. So again, it offers in the region of 70 per cent protection against cervical cancer. Also, since both the vaccines are effective against 70%  of cervical cancers and will not block infection with all of the HPV types that can cause cervical cancer, the vaccine should not be considered a substitute for routine pap smears.

It is important for girls to get HPV vaccine before their first sexual contact -- because they have not been exposed to HPV yet. However, if a female is already infected with a type of HPV, the vaccine will not help prevent a disease resulting from that HPV type. The vaccines may not fully protect everyone, nor will it protect against diseases caused by other HPV types or against diseases not caused by HPV. They do not prevent all types of cervical cancer.  They are also not treatments for cancer and genital warts.

Tomorrow, we will look at the controversy surrounding these vaccines.

Traditional Tibetan Medicine

Traditional Tibetan medicine (TTM) is a traditional system of medicine which has been practiced for over 2500 years.  It is a natural and holistic medical science, which addresses the individual’s needs of body, mind and spirit, in an integrated way. It is one of the five major sciences, and it is called gSoba Rig-pa, the science of healing. It uses different kinds of ingredients such as herbs, trees, rocks, resins, soils, precious metals, saps etc. However, 95% of Tibetan medicine is based on herbs, and precious metals are used for the seven kinds of precious pill known as Rinchesen rilpo. If the physician is able to make the right diagnosis and administer the right medicine, then Tibetan medicine is good for all kinds of illness. However, it has been particularly successful in its treatment of chronic diseases such as rheumatism, arthritis, ulcers, chronic digestive problems, asthma, hepatitis, eczema, liver problems, sinus problems, anxiety and problems connected with the nervous system.

TTM is still practiced today although Tibetans are now in exile. The headquarters of the Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute are now based in Dharamsala, North India. It is here that all the Tibetan doctors now receive all their training, and it is also where the medicines are manufactured. 

The period of training before one qualifies as a Tibetan doctor is for a minimum of seven years. The first four years of training are taken up with studying the four main medical tantras, the classic of ancient Tibeten medical theory, where they have to memorize approximately forty specific chapters. One month each year is also spent collecting herbs in the Himalayas. In addition to studying the medical texts they also have to study Tibetan linguistics, grammar, poetry and have a complete understanding of basic Tibetan Buddhist teaching. In the fifth year they have to take both oral and written exams on the four medical tantras and at the end of the fifth year they take the Medicine Buddha initiation. The sixth and seventh years are spent at a branch clinic of the Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute where practical training is given in pulse reading, urinalysis and dealing with patients. followed by practice under supervision.

When I was in  Mundgod, India, a kind friend brought me to consult an experienced traditional Tibetan doctor. Traditional Tibetan medicine is rarely heard of in Malaysia but as one who has much interest in alternative medicine, I decided to give it a try. Tibetan doctors employ a complex approach to diagnosis, incorporating techniques such as pulse analysis and urinalysis, and utilize behavior and dietary modification, medicines and physical therapies including Tibetan acupuncture and heat to treat illness.

 

On that day, the doctor palpated my pulse on both hands at the same time.  Unlike traditional Chinese medicine that is based on yin and yang, Tibetan medicine considers the balance of three principles - heat, cold and circulation - as the foundation of health. After the pulse reading, he went on to confirm his diagnosis of my health condition by interrogation. I found his diagnosis quite accurate. I was prescribed round black and brown pills to be consumed thrice a day and a powder for my cough. The way to take them is to grind the pills into a powder and mix with warm water, taken after meals.

Let Thy Music Be Thy Medicine

I have always loved music. It has been my constant companion throughout my life from as far back as I can remember. It has deepened my entire life experience and brought colour to my life. Studies have shown that engaging in musical activities not only shapes the organization of the developing brain but also produces long-lasting changes even after brain maturation is complete. For example, those who frequently play a musical instrument are less likely to develop dementia compared to those who do not, revealing that music works not only to train the brain, but also to protect cognitive functioning.

Dr Sharon Chong is an accomplished musician

Last weekend, I attended a talk held at a local hospice on the use of  music as a complementary medicine. The speaker, Dr Sharon Chong, is a pretty medical doctor and accomplished musician.  She has combined her medical knowledge and passion for music to spearhead the development of music as a therapy in Malaysia. To this end, she has set up the Malaysian Society for Music Medicine and she is the Proterm President.

Although music was used as a healing agent in indigenous cultures throughout time, it has become widely recognized internationally as an evidence-based approach in the care and treatment of challenging clinical problems. 'The many fields which benefit from music therapy are Alzheimers disease and dementia, Parkinsons disease, stroke, depression, anxiety,  cancer and also coping with end of life. Listening to music from 45 to 60 beats per minute helps synchronise heartbeat and reduce anxiety. It slows down breathing and  helps quieten the mind. Watch this video of how music therapy helped a breast cancer patient relax and gave her a welcome respite in dealing with the disease. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqcK02KkrWY

With sprouting evidence on how music affects our bodily systems, the belief that music plays a supportive complementary role in various clinical settings has been much researched upon. In the aspects of hospice and palliative care, numerous studies have shown positive effects of music therapy. Therapeutic goals are aimed not only on the patients but hospice caregivers and family members as well, particularly in improving communication and assisting emotional expression. Music can ameliorate pain, and symptoms of fear, anxiety, depression, loneliness, agitation, sleeplessness and labored breathing while enhancing mood and overall feelings of comfort and sense of control. At the end stage of life, music can play a role in helping patients and famillies cope. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Adqck2rNq7s.

Music therapy is administered by certified music therapists after assessment of the individual patient's conditions, inclinations and cultural background  Thus, it is prescriptive and maybe active with the patient playing an instrument or singing along. A variety of instruments can be used from the guitar, harp or any local musical instruments as well. In  patients with advanced conditions who are unable to sing or play instruments, it is receptive or passive. Patients with Alzheimers disease who cannot remember their loved ones were able to respond well to the music they loved. Watch this interesting video of  Betty Friedman http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XO_ZQy3PyY4

In the western world, music therapy is used widely in hospitals while in Malaysia,  it is still in its infancy stage. There are seven music therapists in the country and not all are practising. Of those practicising, there is strong emphasis in the paediatric field, especially helping with children with special needs such as autism. Singapore is more advanced with more than 20 music therapists whilst  Indonesia brings in foreign therapists to educate their people.

As medical technology becomes even more advanced, its practitioners recognize that there is suffering that eludes even the most sophisticated medical treatment. Many physicians and caregivers welcome music vigils as an integral form of care that offers an opportunity for relieving suffering and bringing comfort. The time may have come for caregivers to consider it seriously in view of its many benefits.  However, it also depends on whether the patient has a liking for music. To me, music is food for the soul. When my daughter was a baby, I would waltz around the house with her, in our own little perfect world. Life would never be the same without music.

The Cancer Stigma

I was moved to write about today's topic after reading the experience of a reader HC who made a comment in the previous post "The Precious Human Life." I hope to create some awareness here. .

Despite treatment advances and extended survival rates, cancer remains a stigmatised disease and people with cancer  have to contend with societal attitudes, prejudices and discrimination solely based on their cancer history. People respond differently to them and may negatively stereotype them as a "cancer victim' or believe that cancer is an automatic death sentence. Because of this, many people with cancer prefer not to disclose their disease publicly. This only leaves them feeling alienated when they should be receiving support.

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The following is an excerpt from an article published in PBS NewsHour:-
"The last thing a person needs after receiving a cancer diagnosis is to feel ostracized by friends or fear being left by a loved one. But in many countries, the stigma attached to cancer and the perception that cancer equals death creates great social costs for patients.

Patients often voice fears of being blamed for the diagnosis, and that some survivors have shared stories about husbands who left when they learned of the disease. A survey of nine countries,   highlighted at the International Conference on Global Health found that 25 percent of respondents believe cancer patients brought the disease on themselves.

Jesmin Shafiq, a doctor from Bangladesh but who works in Australia had a sister-in-law who died of breast cancer because she refused to go to a doctor. “She thought it was a shame on her, so she kept it to herself, that led to her advanced condition and that led to her death,” Shafiq said. Feelings of guilt, that the patient did something wrong and will be a financial burden to their families also contribute to people not wanting to seek medical help.

It's only in the last decade that people have really become open about talking about cancer diagnoses. Survivors sharing their stories, showing that they continue to thrive after treatment, is part of the key to dispelling stigma. Dispelling the idea that cancer can only mean death is also vital to encourage people to take preventative measures and seek care. If they believe there is nothing to be done for the disease, they won't take steps to save themselves".

If you are a close family member or friend of the one diagnosed, you too will be grieving, even if the prognosis is very good. You may be consumed with an urgency to fix the problem, but then be overwhelmed with feelings of helplessness or blame. All this is a normal part of being traumatized by the news of the diagnosis.

• Just try to stay present and listen without judgment. You may be uncomfortable to hear your loved one talk about death, but that may be what they need to do.
• Avoid exaggerating the gravity of the situation.
• Avoid minimizing the situation with “Everything is going to be alright,” or “The surgery will be a piece of cake.”
• Stay calm and let them talk about whatever they want to. Just be present with them as they go through the inevitable shock and emotional turmoil. If you don’t know what to say, just listen and say nothing.
• And be there for the practical stuff: telephone calls, organizing visits, transportation etc The last thing they need right is to be fretting about practical arrangement 

It is understandable that though people may have good intentions, they do not know what to say. Some fear erroneously, that the disease is contagious. It helps to ponder on how we would like to be treated if we were in their shoes. Everyone wants to be counted and accepted as a useful member of the human race, even when they are weak or sick. None of us like being "written off" or treated as any lesser than a "normal" human being. We fear abandonment and so do people with cancer. At this crucial time, they need to be treated normally, with dignity, respect and love. So, for the sake of our loved ones and friends, let us educate ourselves about the disease and equip ourselves to be the support that they need.

Chang had a very admirable attitude. He often said that there is no shame in getting cancer. In fact, that was one of the first things he disclosed to people about himself. He had no qualms sharing on public forums. And he always encouraged patients to talk about it openly because the burden of shame is not conducive to  the healing process.

Have you encountered similar experiences? It would be helpful to  share so that we can all learn from your experiences to be more sensitive towards the sick.