“I'm a Patient… Get me out of Here…”
Self-help for Common Illnesses
by Dr Diana Samways MBBS
Self-help for Common Illnesses
by Dr Diana Samways MBBS
Contents
As reproduced from the book, "I'm a patient ... Get me out of here..."
| Preface |
“I’m Under the Doctor … Get Me Out of Here …”
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9
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Escaping old attitudes to the doctor as deity. Treating the doctor more like the plumber and how not to be run-over by the medical juggernaut.
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| Chapter 1 |
Conventional Western Medicine The Surgeon and the Pill Fairy
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12
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A DIY approach to common illnesses, staying in control and becoming your own “consultant”. How we threw out wisdom in favour of dubious science and poly-pharmacy. What conventional medicine does well, and where it fails, tips on collaborating with your GP. How to choose a specialist.
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| Chapter 2 |
There is an Alternative Way - Holistic Medicine
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22
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How Environmental Doctors work. Our lifestyle and surroundings affect our health, simple ways to improve things and strengthen the immune system.
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| Chapter 3 |
Importance of a Healthy Digestive System for Good General Health
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25
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How digestion depends on the bacteria contained in our intestines. Yeast, candida, bloating, pain and fermentation. Foods to avoid temporarily for relief. The worst excesses of the food industry explained: junk meat and BSE; irradiation and genetic engineering. Doubts about soya products. Forget cholesterol, eat healthily and enjoyably
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| Chapter 4 |
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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34
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Case history, symptoms and predisposing factors. An effective home recovery programme. Vitamins, minerals and tips to regain the control. Chronic food allergy.
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| Chapter 5 |
Mould and other Inhalant Allergies
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41
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How the contents of the air we breathe affects health. Mould allergy symptoms include mood swings, depression, exhaustion and panic attacks. Hints on reducing the indoor moult count and treating acute attacks. Connection with IBS and allergies. House dust mites. “Allergy shots” explained.
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| Chapter 6 |
More about Moulds
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51
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Common moulds and ill-health, more ways of controlling household moulds. Becoming your own detective and consultant.
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| Chapter 7 |
Houses, Hauntings, Underground Water and Electricity
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57
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Our houses may affect our health. Adverse earth energies and their correction. Electricity, transformers, mobile phone masts and powerlines. Neutralisation of adverse effects.
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| Chapter 8 |
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) and Gulf War Syndrome
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62
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A self-help approach to illness following exposure to modern chemicals. MMR vaccine controversy.
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| Chapter 9 |
Virus Infections and Shortening the Duration of a Cold
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66
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Effective alternative cold “cures” and the inside story on virus infections.
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| Chapter 10 |
Adult Children of Alcoholics and other Emotionally Challenged Families
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69
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“No” is a complete sentence. How childhood events affect adult behaviour, and long-term stress weakens the immune system. Eating disorders, recurrent nightmares and solutions.
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| Chapter 11 |
Alcoholism and Addiction
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76
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The good news about recovery, a secret somehow kept from doctors. Drug and alcohol problems, choosing a rehab centre or therapist. AA and the self-help group movement. How families and friends can help.
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| Chapter 12 |
Allergy and Addiction - the Crossover
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85
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Why some allergies (food, chocolate) seem like addictions, perhaps they are closely related.
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| Chapter 13 |
Staying Healthy in Later Life and Avoiding the Pill Fairy
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89
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HRT or not … the options; bone density, blood pressure and cholesterol. Pros and cons of Health Screening. Keeping active mentally, physically and socially.
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| Chapter 14 |
Spiritual Growth and the Purpose of Life
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95
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Life as a journey, or as celestial boot camp? Original shame vs original sin; setting boundaries and saying “No”. Anger, control issues; prayer and meditation. Rules for living well.
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| Chapter 15 |
On Dying Well at Home
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103
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Keeping fit physically, planning the layout of the house, helpers and carers. Avoiding doctors, hospitals and people calling 999. Making a will. “Choosing” the time to die. The importance of the painful role of the “bystanders”. Doctors for symptom relief only. Organ donation, or not. Comforting words.
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| Chapter 16 |
Electronic Medicine - The Pharmacy of the Future?
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107
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Small machines for pain relief. Light/sound machines for relaxation. Alternative theory about parasites and ill-health. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD, winter depression) and lightboxes.
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| Chapter 17 |
European Food Supplements Directive
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113
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This will ban most vitamins, minerals, homeopathic medicines, food supplements and herbs (except Cannabis and tobacco). The reason given is “safety”. (The dead hand of the multinationals, again?)
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| Chapter 18 |
Alternative Pharmacy and Home First Aid Kit
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116
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List of commonly used Alternative Health Products which the EU Directive seeks to make unavailable and/or illegal. Starred items are suggested for use in the home or as a holiday kit. All currently available to buy.
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| Chapter 19 |
Practical Solutions to Common Problems
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118
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Dealing with recurrent nightmares, apparent hauntings, insomnia without pills, natural hormone replacement, unpleasant reaction to vitamins. Healing the “aura”. Magnetism and alternative approaches to arthritis pain.
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| Postscript |
Why I have Written this Book
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123
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| Appendix 1 |
Further Reading
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124
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Bibliography
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| Appendix 2 |
Useful Information
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126
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How to find almost anything.
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| Appendix 3 |
Translating Food Package Labelling
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130
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The salt and sugar game. A “fruit drink” is flavoured water not fruit juice; other borderline truths and packaging obscurities explained.
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| Appendix 4 |
Entrainment of BrainWaves by Pulsed Signals
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132
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How the pulsed signals may affect our brains (the opposite of the “Mozart Effect”).
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