FOLLOW UP TO "SOME HELPFUL NEWS": ANCIENT CHINESE MEDICINE: HERBS & ACUPUNCTURE

Growing up in Southern California, a friend of mine was heavily immersed in the martial arts field. His step father owned a martial arts studio where Judo, Jujitsu, Aikido and Karate were taught. Since the age of seven he learned about ancient Chinese remedies for just about every aliment imaginable. Years later while living in New York and going through some stressful times he began using these remedies, but then stopped about five years ago simply due to a lack of discipline and consistency.

After watching me struggle for almost a year now and seeing me exhaust so many different options for my Treatment Resistant Bipolar Depression, he continuously suggested that we go to Chinatown and pay these doctors a visit ...and I continuously looked at him as if he had two heads!!!

Three weeks ago I decided to humor him. We walked into a long hallway on a little side street off of Canal and Mott. On the right was a line of metal folding chairs mostly occupied. On the left was a service counter behind which was a huge wall with hundreds of built in wooden boxes, much like tiny crypts. Each of the boxes were labeled and filled with a different herb: poria, salvia, raw rehmannia, lily bulb, white peony, corus, damiana, and the list goes on and on. We were sent up the stairs at the back of the place where we waited for the "herbal specialist doctor." While waiting I filled out a complete history and some consent forms. Once in his office, I could see by all the diplomas on his wall that he was in fact a "real" doctor who specialized in what ..."Alternative Chinese Herbal Medicine?" I would be lying if I said I had never heard of such a thing  but I had never really given it much credence before this.  Still at this point, unless my eyes were playing tricks on me or his diplomas were fake, I would have bet that this was all a farce. I wasn't convinced. He then took the forms from me and placed them to the side of his desk without even giving them a glance. Next he asked me to hold out my right hand, palm facing up. While examining my hand he began to ask me a series of questions, all of which I answered "yes" to. I began to wonder. Then he did the same with my left hand and asked more questions, again all of which the answers were "yes." Just to give you an idea, some of the questions were general, which 90% of the population might answer yes to. For example, are you tired a lot? Is your energy level low? However, some of them were quite specific; do you have frequent headaches, insomnia? Now I'm beginning to be drawn in a bit more as those are two symptoms that I battle on a daily basis. Next comes the clincher ...he asks me to stick out my tongue. As he leans over his desk and examines it closely, he asks, do you have ringing in your ears, anxiety, hair loss to all of which I answer, "YES!" This was all before even looking at what I had written on the intake history at which point he finally begins to read. Quietly as he's reading along I observe some looks of confusion on his face. Then, with his strong Asian accent, he asks, bipolar, what is this? Now faced with a state of utter confusion, I think to myself, "what kind of doctor hasn't heard of bipolar disorder?"  Here's where it's all over for me and I'm ready to get up and walk out. I shoot a look over to my friend who quickly yet tenderly puts his hand on my leg and signals me to wait. I explain bipolar disorder as best I could in summary mode to someone, a doctor no less, who has no idea what it is. "Mental illness", "depression", "mania" were the first three or four words that came to mind and shot out of my mouth. With that, he responds, "Oh, oh, I see, mood - up and down." "Yes, yes" I answer and then he calls in doctor number two - the acupuncturist. The two of them begin to collaborate and it becomes quite obvious to me that as he is explaining my history to the acupuncturist, he in fact seems to know and understand exactly what bipolar disorder is, at which point I begin to relax again.

The acupuncturist then spent about 45 minutes with me asking me all kinds of questions related to the intake - what appeared to be a very detailed and in-depth analysis. He began to sum up that I had reached peri-menopause and due to this hormone change, my bipolar meds are not working. I couldn't have said it better myself. That is exactly what I believe to be happening to me and what I've been telling my psychiatrist, who specializes in the treatment of bipolar disorder, as well as everyone else I know for over a year now. I was amazed and because I was so amazed, I had even more reservations!

The acupuncturist said that he would like to treat me for a little while, while the herbal specialist writes up a prescription for a certain blend of herbs that I would pick up downstairs on my way out. I somewhat reluctantly agreed as my friend nodded me onward. Before I knew it I was lying on what looked just like a massage table and I felt these tiny little needles enter, first, the right side of my neck with the slightest tap from his hand, then the left and lastly, in several different places along my back and then my calves. No pain at all mind you, in fact an over all relaxation as if the past 25 years of battles and struggles this disease plagues me with had just been lifted off my shoulders. For 20 minutes I was left there with a hot lamp over me heating my entire body and elevating this relaxed state to such high levels that I fell asleep, much the way one would while getting an entire body massage. When Mr. Acupuncturist entered the room again, I woke up and he began to remove the tiny needles. After removing each one he gently massaged the area they were in with his hands which felt like a soft rolling pin over my skin. Then he turned me over and repeated the process on my shoulders, abdomen and shins while explaining which symptoms and internal organs the placement of each of the needles were targeting. He left again and again, I slept. Let me add that in the past eight months I don't think there has been one single night when I slept more than three hours and I don't sleep at all during the day! When the treatment was over, Mr. Acupuncturist, in a most calm and soothing tone, accent as well, said "we will help you."

Now for my herbs:

Following 40 minutes of my newfound trance like experience and "comfort zone" I was directed back down stairs to pick up my custom blend of herbs. Specially put together by the herbal doctor these herbs were to address "my" specific symptoms and ailments. There were 12 of them all together, each one a powder in a tea bag packet with some Chinese writing, the name of the herb as well as the grams and its equivalency to the raw herb in grams. I was given seven7 little plastic packages, each one containing the twelve different herbs. I was instructed to blend all of the herbs together and boil them in two cups of water. I was to drink one cup in the morning and one cup at night and told to come back in a week.

I began drinking liquefied mud, to put it lightly. By the next day I felt some sort of change, drastic by no means, but an over all calmness that is difficult to even put into words. Perhaps a lingering effect from the acupuncture, perhaps the thought of a new found resource and hope, I had not a clue. By day four I was feeling differences in my mood; elation, no, but a general feeling or "well-being" if you will and overall better functioning. Daily tasks were not overwhelming to a point at which I become almost completely stagnant as they so often are. By day five I began to look forward to things as opposed to feeling impending doom at the thought of them. Thinking about the up-coming holidays, for example, brought a smile to my face. " A smile", yes, I began to smile again while looking forward to doing specific things.  Things I haven't looked forward to in the longest time such as watching the ice skaters at Rockefeller Center at Christmas time, seeing a Broadway show, contacting my friends again, the thought of a vacation, putting on make-up,(WOW!!! - haven't done that in months), and more.  It all seemed so unimaginable to me.

At my second visit to Mr. Herbalist & Mr. Acupuncturist on the following Tuesday, another 40 minutes of acupuncture was administered and my herbal mixture was only slightly changed as the first week on them was basically the "detox" week. However, because I had such a good response, only one of the herbs was altered. It was replaced with one called Rhodiola, which, after a great deal of research, I recently come to discover that Rhodiola is one of the main ingredient herbs used to make prescription drugs that treat mental brain dysfunctions and disorders such as depression, memory loss and more.

I boil and drink my herbal mud religiously, a full cup in the morning and a full cup at night. Tomorrow will be visit number three back to Chinatown. I am so looking forward to my 40 minute "comfort zone" and the soothing calmness taking over my mind and body that comes with it, as well as a refill of my herbs. It won't hurt to be there afterwards to get some of the best Pad Thai ever made, maybe a pocketbook and perhaps trade in some old gold on Canal Street to pay for it all, things I would have never even dreamed of doing only a month ago. Is it the herbs? Is it the acupuncture? Is it a placebo effect, or was it just coincidently my time to come out of the incapacitated state I was in? I don't know, and I don't care either. I'm welcoming it!!!

Below are some links that you can go to that will give you just a start into researching Ancient Chinese Herbal Medicine. I hope this was helpful and I wish the best of luck to anyone and all who are in the midst of dark times right now. I know your pain so well; reach out to me and try to keep an open mind.

http://vitamins.ultimatefatburner.com/rhodiola-rosea-review.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_herbology

http://www.raysahelian.com/herb.html

A special thank you to William who got me here and opened my mind.

~Michellerwites~

QUICK UPDATE:

FOLLOW UP TO "SOME HELPFUL NEWS" WILL BE ON HERE SHORTLY.  SORRY FOR THE DELAY!!!

~Michellewrites~

MY JOURNAL REVIEW

READ ABOUT MY VISIT TO LINCOLNTON GEORGIA AND THEIR LOCAL TOWN JOURNAL WRITE-UP ON ME:

Just click on the link below & scroll down to the 3rd box with the title below:

"New York author gets crash course in Southern hospitality"

Michelle Longo-Bloom, an author, lecturer, psychologist, and stay-athome mom, made a brief stop in Lincolnton on Monday, June 22, en route to a book signing in Charleston, South Carolina. Commenting on small town life, the New Yorker said, "The diameter of Lincolnton can be measured by the number... More...

click on link to continue

http://www.lincolnjournalonline.com/news/2009/0702/Front_Page/


Feel free to leave any comments on the actual article site or right here on michellewritesaboutbipolar

Be back soon,

~Michellewrites~

SOME HELPFUL NEWS!!!

Hi All,

So sorry I've been away since May when I originally opened this blog, but unfortunately I had a relapse which I am still struggling to rise out of. It has been a very difficult four and a half months for me, but due to some alternative treatment options I have been made aware of, I am once again feeling hopeful and again beginning to see the colors of my rainbow.

The first option I would like to share with you was suggested to me by my boyfriend's mother after she read an article on the relationship between chiropractic treatments and mental wellness. The theory behind this is explained by the presence and absence of brain chemicals that make us feel good. When the body is properly aligned, chemicals known as neurotransmitters are released in a specific sequence, like falling dominoes. These neurotransmitters act as messengers to send certain optimal amounts of serotonin and dopamine to the brain. Serotonin and dopamine are chemicals which when released promote a sense of happiness, pleasurable feelings and positive well-being. If however, the spinal chord is not in order, the misalignment's can cause pressure and tension on surrounding tissue, interrupting this feel-good sequence. You can learn more about this process @ http://www.life%20chiropractic%20center/

I am also looking into acupuncture in conjunction with the chiropractic treatments. The notion behind this, aside from the general rule of thumb, "TRY EVERYTHING", is that acupuncture is known to restore imbalances found in the body. Based on a holistic approach, acupuncture consists of fine needles inserted along various points in the body, with the purpose of stimulating the body's flow of energy and functionality, known as Qi. Though acupuncture has been traditionally taught as a preventive form of health care, it has also been proven effective in the treatment of pain and chronic conditions. To learn more about this you can simply go to google and search "acupuncture & depression."

Even more interesting is that a research study done back in 2002 showed the positive effects of acupuncture and bipolar disorder in which the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) awarded Southwestern's Bipolar Disorder Clinic and Research Program a grant to further study the effects of acupuncture on bipolar disorder.

NIMH Awards Grant to Study Acupuncture for Bipolar Disorder:

For further information on the study, visit http://www.utsouthwestern.edu/ or contact UT-Southwestern's Bipolar Disorder Clinic and Research Program at (214) 648-7474.

A third option I am investigating involves hormones. It always struck me odd that during my pregnancy 16 years ago, I had not one symptom of either depression or bipolar illness. My days were mental trauma and incident free as well as free of any sadness. I was in my best mental state of my entire life and I had a wonderful and positive sense of well-being for 9 months. With in weeks after I gave birth my symptoms of depression and bipolar disorder began to sky rocket. I do know that during pregnancy a woman's hormones change, increase I believe. Now in my mid-forties, I was struck with abrupt and early onset menopause when my hormones are changing yet again and I am having a very difficult time. This certainly suggests to me that hormones are playing a huge role in my bipolar and depression affliction. With this in mind, I am looking into the possibility of natural hormone replacement therapy, specifically, "Biodentical."

I am however very cautious about this idea and will be fine tooth examining it before taking any steps towards implementation as there is a lot of controversial research out on this subject. In addition, I am even more skeptical about this because my mother is a breast cancer survivor which can be quite risky for me. If anyone has any knowledge or feedback on this particular option I would greatly appreciate it. So far, all of the advantages and positive things I have learned about it is from the "Biodentical" web site itself which could very well be marketing information. I have not met with a hormone specialist yet, but my OB-GYN has very blatantly referred me against this option claiming the hormones are not natural, they are synthetic just like all other replacement hormones for women and it is not safe. If you would like to read more about this just google "biodentical hormones" or go to: http://www.womentowomen.com/


Finally, my father came across a very interesting article about one woman's triumph against severe depression through running. He alerted me to this immediately and instead of quoting the article piece by piece, I would just like to share the following link with you so that you can read this woman's story on your own. It is most compelling and elicits a lot of hope!!!

When Drugs and Therapy Don't Cure Depression, Running Will


Well, that's all for now. Sorry I was away for so long. Still more to come on good reads of the past on Bipolar Disorder and mental health insurance issues.

I hope this has been helpful and all stay hopeful!!!

Continue to be Graced with the Colors of Life, please don't loose site of your rainbows and continue to be well,

~Michelle~

from

Michellewritesaboutbipolar

BIPOLAR ILLNESS & HEALTH INSURANCE

BIPOLAR ILLNESS: THE LONGER IT'S HIDDEN THE LONGER IT HURTS!

BIPOLAR ILLNESS IS NOT SOMETHING TO BE ASHAMED OF. IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE HIDDEN, BUT RATHER CONFRONTED. THE LONGER IT'S HIDDEN, THE LONGER IT HURTS!!! LEARN MORE:VISIT ME @

http://www.michellewrites.net/

ALSO LOOK UP MY NEW BOOK:

"Over the Rainbow:
A Story of Life, Love andFamily with BipolarDisorder"

NOW AVAILABE @

Barnes & Noble Stores
http://www.bn.com/ (Barnes & Noble online)
http://www.amazon.com/
http://www.mountainvalleypublishing.com/


MENTAL HEALTH INSURANCE

A REAL DILEMMA

I happen to have, who I feel, is a very good doctor who treats my bipolar illness. His practice is on the upper west side in Manhattan. He is a psychiatrist who specializes in pharmacological drugs for the treatment of mental illnesses, mostly bipolar disorder. It is my further assumption that many of his patients have been diagnosed with “treatment-resistant” depression (TRD), like me, at one time or another. Although he is not much of a talker, his pharmacological background and expertise has saved me from many situations which could have ended in dreadful outcomes. For talking, there is a whole separate doctor. She is called my psychotherapist and for someone with my condition, that is also imperative. So, what more could I ask for? In addressing my mental health, for the safety and treatment of my “mental” well being and for meeting my specific needs, the importance of these doctors is non-negotiable! The issue at hand ...that happens to be “cost” and “worth.” It is no secret that about 60 – 70 percent of the time I am being helped by my psychiatrist/psycho-pharmacologist and for someone with my diagnosis, those are very satisfactory numbers, hence the phrase, “it is well worth it” or better yet, “money well spent!” But a genuine question gets posed now. At what point and at how much money do we define the words “worth” and “well spent???” It would be equally easy to just stop typing right here and now and end this post with that all too common statement, “everything’s relative.” I’m sure the obvious is however suspected - this is NOT going in that direction, rather quite the opposite. In this case, everything is NOT relative!

The cost of my psychiatrist/psycho-pharmacologist is $275 just to get new prescriptions of the same medications I am on. This may include at times a 20 minute talk session or a 30 minute talk session up to 45 minutes, after which the price goes higher. If you are a new patient seeking help, the consultation fee is triple that for 90 minutes. A doctor I had consulted with over ten years ago whose fee of $500 for the first 45 minutes and $300 for each 20 minute session thereafter outraged me, so much so that I also alluded to it in my book when discussing this issue. The cost of a good child psychologist today is about $220 for one 45 minute weekly session. To stay in a decent in-patient hospital if ever needed, one where other sick patients aren’t urinating in the public showers, the cost can easily run up to $1500 a day. The problem is that many health insurance companies do not cover mental disabilities or if they do they have their own “in-network” providers. While I am sure many of the in-network providers are just as credible and qualified, I have not yet been fortunate enough to find one that meets my needs. Fortunately, due to family support, I am in a “bracket” which allows me to get by with what I have to pay out for my psychiatric needs. But, here is my question: what about those people who are battling my same illness on a day to day basis and are not in the “bracket” I am fortunate enough to be in??? I happen to know a good handful of these people and it is far from a good situation for them. Their symptoms get increasingly worse simply because they cannot afford the cost of the doctor visits in order to get refills of their medications. Once they finally do get to a doctor, the cost of these medications is a separate issue entirely as we all know the story with the pharmaceutical companies. Some of my medications cost up to $1100 a month and my drug plan wants me to pay $30 a month after meeting a $250 deductible each year. This does not include the “donut hole” catch that you fall into after you have cost the company a certain $ amount allotment for the year, after which you must pay out of pocket for each medication. Do I sound like I want to run off a copy of this post, in hand, frantically darting to Washington to pay Obama a visit? Do I sound like I want to be living in Canada? I know these issues are being worked on, but in the meantime, there are too may people who are ill, and continue to suffer, some with unnecessary fatal outcomes that could have been avoided had they been able to afford the proper treatment. I have a special regard and abundance of empathy for those of you who share in my diagnosis of TRD. To have refractory illnesses in this country is almost sinful for the average middle class income population, not to mention lower class bracket and poverty stricken individuals. I am not imposing that this is not the case with all medical health insurance, but is it fair that I got better because I could afford to? Either way, it is unacceptable.

BIPOLAR ILLNESS: THE LONGER IT'S HIDDEN THE LONGER IT HURTS!

BIPOLAR ILLNESS IS NOT SOMETHING TO BE ASHAMED OF. IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE HIDDEN, BUT RATHER CONFRONTED. THE LONGER IT'S HIDDEN, THE LONGER IT HURTS!!! LEARN MORE:

VISIT ME @

http://www.michellewrites.net/

ALSO LOOK UP MY NEW BOOK:

"Over the Rainbow:

A Story of Life, Love and Family with Bipolar Disorder"

NOW AVAILABE @

Barnes & Noble Stores

http://www.bn.com/ (Barnes & Noble online)

http://www.amazon.com/

http://www.mountainvalleypublishing.com/

MORE TO COME!!!

BIPOLAR BOOK: "OVER THE RAINBOW"

A TRUE DEPICTION

Meet me a bit more in depth and learn a little more about who

"Over the Rainbow:

A Story of Life, Love and Family with Bipolar Disorder"

speaks to and why it was put out there.

I am a 45 year old freelance writer and stay-at-home-mom of an AWESOME 15-year-old son, Matt. I am a board certified school psychologist, but currently spending my time writing in the field instead of working in it any longer. I recently had a book published titled, “Over the Rainbow: A Story of Life, Love and Family with Bipolar Disorder.” This is my true labor of love, (aside from Matt), as it provides a unique angular perspective in facing the issue of bipolar disorder at hand. Working in the mental health work force while secretly fighting the demons of my own mental disease was silently grueling. As a trained psychologist trying to tend to the needs of my clients while identifying with them at the same time gives this book an exceptionally astonishing and enticing point of view.

WHAT BIPOLAR CAN DO AND WHY WE MUSTN'T HIDE FROM IT!!!

A True Depiction:

I felt as if I were mentally shackled to my bedposts. I felt that not a person in the world could comprehend the devastating pain I was enduring. There were times it felt as though my feet were caught in the reeds beneath the water in a deep lake. There was the light above me and yet I could not swim to the top. All I felt was the tightening around my ankles and no escape. The answer seems so simple to some…just reach down and untangle your feet. Yet, it didn't quite work that way.

As you watch yourself, from the inside out, drowning in your own hopeless demise, gloom perpetuates and you can feel your tunnel of hope narrowing. The sadness is profuse as darkness closes in. Again and again you hear and see the words “THE END” in big black letters in your troubled head. Countless times this image haunts you as this beastly illness rips your soul out of your very being. It is a brutal and sinister existence, or nonexistence, and as your world grows darker and darker, it tears you and your family members apart. For the average person, the suffering is incomprehensible.

IT'S TIME!!!

The time has come for the public to be more educated about bipolar illness. The time has come for victims of bipolar illness to stop running from it and hiding it because the public does not know enough about it. The time has come for us not to be ashamed and for the stigmas and the guilt to stop. It is time for people to understand that this illness is mostly a genetic one much like heart disease or diabetes. Although it is classified as a mental illness, I believe that is a huge fallacy as bipolar disorder is more physical and chemical in nature than cancer is. In it's most beastly and negative light, I call it just that; "cancer of the brain."

I am not professing that we become scholarly read experts on the subject, but merely opening our eyes to the tumultuous suffering that bipolar illness bears on those who battle it every day may be a first step. How do victims stop running and burying when the world is casting judgement and throwing stones? Understanding that the stigma that goes along with bipolar only intensifies and worsens the disease for each and very one of its victims just may give someone a glimmer of hope ...and with that hope comes a glimmer of light, and then maybe some colorful thoughts and less darkness. Before we know it we will be finding our rainbows and then life begins. Can we do that? Are we capable of it? How far have we really come from "I Never Promised You a Rose Garden"??? This is 2009!!!

May you all be "Graced with the Colors of Life"


Also visit me @

http://www.michellewrites.net/

UPCOMING TOPICS FOR Michellewrites about bipolar:

• MENTAL HEALTH INSURANCE



• GREAT BOOKS FROM THE PAST (Martha Manning's "Undercurrents" & Kay Redfield Jamison's "An Unquiet Mind")

Michellewrites