Sunday, January 18, 2015

DRUGS & SIDE EFFECTS: ARE YOU AT RISK?



What are the odds that you might end up in the emergency room as a result of having a life-threatening side effect from medication? I never thought about it - until it happened to me.

Years ago, just before I was married, I came down with a nasty bug and was prescribed Compazine ( prochlorperazine)  to control my nausea and vomiting. After the second dose, something strange started to happen to me.  My jaw clenched and shut tight. My  arms and legs started to shake uncontrollably. I was having problems swallowing!   My fiance quickly rushed me to the emergency room of our local hospital ( it was only 5 minutes away) and I was administered IV Benadryl. As the drip instantly brought me back to normal, I  wracked my brain thinking, “why did my doctor prescribe such a potent drug with such adverse side effects - for a stupid intestinal flu?”

It turns out that Compazine is an anti-psychotic drug that works by changing the chemicals in your brain. It is used to treat psychotic disorders, anxiety and to control severe nausea and vomiting.  An anti-psychotic drug for nausea??? I didn’t suffer from  any“psychotic disorders”!   I had no prior health issues!  Did he interpret my anxiety over my up and coming wedding as a condition that needed to be treated?

My doctor never thought that I would have a rare side effect. He felt Compazine would, in a sense, calm my system down and get me well ASAP. I just remember feeling so thankful to be alive and that I didn’t  suffer from any kind of permanent damage.

Side effects can be more than just a nuisance. There are FDA approved drugs that may  cause serious debilitating conditions, some irreversible. One of these drugs is Xarelto.

Xarelto (rivaroxiban)  is a blood thinner ( anti-coagulant)  that treats and prevents blood clots. It is mainly used to reduce the risk of “deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism after knee and hip surgery.”  Johnson & Johnson, the makers of Xarelto, have been involved in numerous lawsuits as a result of serious side effects of Xarelto. The “most common and life-threatening side effect is an increased risk of excessive (internal) bleeding. Symptoms of internal bleeding are coughing up or vomiting blood, headaches, red or black stool, and spinal or epidural blood clots after a spinal tap or epidural.” The worst part is that there is no antidote for the bleeding. In other words, the bleeding cannot be stopped! (See American Recall Center for more info.)

 Abilify (aripiprazole) is another  drug that is loaded with side effects. It is widely prescribed for “bi-polar disorder, schizophrenia,  and  irritability associated with autistic disorder.  It may also be used in combination with other medications to treat depression.” (See Webmd)   Watch this Abilify TV commercial. The list of side effects is so over the top disturbing that it almost seems like a Saturday Night Live spoof!




One of the major side effects of Abilify is that it  can increase thoughts of suicide in children, teens and young adults. This is not just an Abilify side effect - this pertains to ALL anti-depressants. Even though this is considered  rare, it is still a side effect that can put you, your child or a loved one at risk. Anti-depressants aren’t the only drugs that are linked to increased suicide risk. Chantix (the stop smoking drug),  Accutane (acne drug), Tamiflu ( flu drug) and Singulair (asthma and allergy drug) all list mood or behavior changes and thoughts of suicide  as serious side effects.


Accutane was even pulled from the market for the increased risk of birth defects, miscarriages, and premature births when used by pregnant women; inflammatory bowel disease and suicidal tendencies. “Over 7,000 lawsuits were filed against the manufacturer (Hoffman-LaRoche) over the side effects including a 10.5 million verdict and two 9 million verdicts.” - prescriptiondrugs.procon.org Nevertheless, it is still available as a generic drug with limited distribution.



There is a growing number of doctors and healthcare practitioners who are looking for safer alternatives.These doctors  have changed their philosophy to  an integrative approach in order to help their patients safely heal. Their primary objective is to look for the root causes of illness and incorporate alternative therapies and protocols to promote wellness.

Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt  is considered one of the most influential natural medicine physicians in the world and is mentor to many holistic thinking practitioners. He is known for his successful treatment of chronic pain and illness and people travel from all over the world in order to be treated by him.

“His unique approach is diagnosing and treating diseases and disorders on both the physical and mental-emotional levels. He is an authority on the significance of metal toxicity  and its connection with chronic infections, illness and pain. Dr. Klinghardt is instrumental in advancing various fields with biological medicine - non-invasive pain management, injection techniques for pain and orthopaedic dysfunction, toxicology, neuro-developmental disorders, energy psychology, biological dentistry and others. He has also developed Autonomic Response Testing, a comprehensive diagnostic system that has helped many practitioners to become accomplished holistic physicians ”( See Klinghardt Academy for more info.)

Dr. Michael Gurevich  is a “holistically minded board certified psychiatrist who has been recognized by Newsday and the prestigious Castle Connolly as a top Long Island doctor for over a decade.” Dr. Gurevich was not always a holistic doctor. When he saw that his patients weren’t improving with conventional treatment, he realized that he needed to find another way. He saw that the drugs that he prescribed had many side effects and were only suppressing the symptoms. He decided to change direction and take “the road less traveled.”

“In 2000, I met my mentor, Dietrich Klinghardt, M.D., Ph.D., who taught me how to personalize treatment of every patient based on muscle testing. I began to learn the importance of nutrition, hormones and toxins, and ways to resolve physical and emotional traumas. I also began to understand that there were ways to treat mental conditions without medications, and that medications can be an obstacle to full recovery.I learned  ways to get patients off of medication and help them heal.” Dr. Gurevich

Dr. Gurevich helped me to heal from chronic Lyme. (See My Healing Story)  A big part of my recovery was resolving past emotional trauma. Through APN (Applied Psycho-Neurobiology, a therapy developed by Dietrich Klinghardt), Dr. Gurevich was able to help me bring fears from my sub-conscious into my conscious mind. By tapping on acupuncture points, eye movement, and saying  affirmations, I was able to dissolve  emotional blocks that were preventing me from healing. (See The Holistic Dr. Goodsoul)

Dr. Thomas K. Szulc is board certified in Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine and has been incorporating biological medicine in his practice since 1985. “He is also the creator of Bioresonance Analysis of Health - an advanced evaluation system  that utilized quantum principles to analyze all aspects of the patients health and develop a highly specific and personalized program of treatment....It is the goal of Dr. Szulc, to restore the health of his patients by eliminating root cause dysfunctions and to bring them to a point of self-management.”

Dr. Chauncey Crandall is a cardiologist and author, who suffered a massive heart attack that changed his life. He believes that heart disease is preventable and reversible. Dr. Crandall believes that these five key lifestyle changes are essential to good  health and a healthy heart: 

Choosing a plant based diet ( with very little meat)
Exercise ( one hour of walking every day)
Proper sleep ( 8 - 10 hours)
Lower stress
Faith in God (connecting to a Higher Power)

Dr. Crandall’s goal is also to wean patients off of medication and help them live a healthier lifestyle. (from his book The Simple Heart Cure)

We, too, can empower ourselves in making healthier and safer choices. Last year, I discovered the amazing healing powers of CranialSacral Therapy. This is a light touch therapy, that “encourages the body’s natural mechanisms to improve the functioning of the brain and spinal cord, dissipate the negative effects of stress, and enhance general health and resistance to disease.” This therapy makes it possible for you to heal from pain and dysfunction….without medication. (See Upledger Institute for more info.)

I have also found a natural solution to bladder infections right in my local health food store. This supplement is just as effective as antibiotics - with no side effects! It’s called ClearTract. It contains a natural sugar, D-Mannose, that binds to bacteria in your urinary tract, preventing the invading bacteria to colonize and multiply. It’s that simple and it works!

So,what are the odds that you might end up in the emergency room as a result of having a serious side-effect from a prescription drug? Have you ever thought about it?  Well,maybe you should. If it happened to me, then it could happen to anybody!  We have the power to choose our path to wellness. If you choose to take medication, choose one that’s proven safe with little or no side effects. But better yet, find out more about safer alternative solutions that aim to not only treat your symptoms, but to  bring you back to a healthier, harmonious and balanced state. 

Think about the 3 B’s!

BE SMART!
BE SAFE!
BE WELL!








Thursday, January 1, 2015

7 NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS FOR A HEALTHIER NEW YOU!


I have recovered from chronic Lyme disease ( MSIDS) and have been symptom-free for over 3 years. In order to keep myself on the healthy track, I resolved to make healthier choices for myself and my family. 

These changes did not happen overnight. I  have never made a New Year’s resolution. I have adopted these simple but powerful ideas and goals that have helped me to live a happier, healthier, harmonious and more fulfilling  life.

    1.  BE CONSCIOUS OF YOUR THOUGHTS.  Your mind is the builder! - Edgar Cayce. Most of us are not aware of the constant chatter that goes through our heads.  The biggest problem is that most of the chatter is negative! Thoughts of anger, fear, anxiety, worry, jealousy,  envy, resentment and guilt, etc. are incredibly powerful and harmful. When I became aware of my thoughts, I resolved to change my old thought patterns to more positive, loving and healthier thought patterns. And believe me, this is      a lot of work!!! Reading books by spiritual teachers like Eckhart Tolle, Dr. Wayne Dyer, Louise Hay, etc. can open doors to a healthier way of thinking.

2. YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT.  My motto is: eat crap and you’ll feel crappy!   Resolve to take out the junk food in your diet and your body will thank you for it. Numero uno on my list is SODA!  It is probably one of the most unhealthiest crap you can drink. Especially DIET SODA - it is all chemicals and water.  This is a little story about diet soda. We all know that diet soda is sweetened with aspartame. Did you know that when aspartame is heated to 86 degrees, it releases free-methanol that breaks down into formic acid and formaldehyde? In other words, when you drink diet soda, you are slowly poisoning yourself with formaldehyde. And formaldehyde (a neurotoxin) can stay in your soft tissues for years!  How do I know this? It happened to me!

Allergie-Immun (the therapy that brought my son and myself into remission from Lyme) is an energetic, detoxing therapy that picks up chemical, biological, heavy metals, etc. that block your immune system from functioning. The first chemical that Allergie-Immun found in me was FORMALDEHYDE!  I used to drink lots of diet soda. I was probably addicted to it. But this was years ago!  My body apparently couldn’t eliminate it. My conclusion was that formaldehyde was part of the toxic mix that was making me sick. Resolve to make healthier choices in what you drink and eat.. By educating yourself, you can  be aware of the hidden dangers and therefore, make smarter choices for you and your family.

3. EXERCISE OUTDOORS. Go outdoors and move! There is nothing more stimulating and self-rewarding than exercising in the fresh air!  I am an avid hiker. (Thanks to my husband!) Being in nature, climbing up a mountain, feeling the warm sun on my face, filling my lungs with fresh air, has made my inner core stronger and healthier. OK, I admit that I am still working on my fear of bugs and bug bites leading to disease. So, when I’m hiking, I spray myself religiously with Dr. Ben’s Natural Cedar Oil  Insect Repellent, tuck my pants into my boots, and I am protected.

We also walk (my husband walks and runs) in our local park. We hike and walk all year round. We just bought crampons (metal spiked attachments to walk on snow and ice) so ice won’t stop us. I started hiking while I was still sick, by the way. My intuition told me that hiking (exercising outdoors) would help to strengthen my mind and body, so I didn’t give up. I believe that hiking helped me to get well. And now, exercising outdoors keeps me healthy.
View from the top of the Beehive Trail at Acadia National Park in Maine


4. LISTEN TO YOUR INTUITION. I have found my healing path by learning to listen to my intuition. Your intuition is the first thought that comes to your mind. It is your inner guardian angel. It is your “gut feeling”.

I had a gut feeling about the Allergie-Immun Therapy from Germany. This holistic therapy was not recommended to me by a doctor. It is best described as a self-help detox therapy. 
You do not need a prescription.  I knew people who were on the therapy. I researched and learned about it and said to my son who was suffering from chronic Lyme, “ this therapy will make you better.” He started the therapy and in little over a year, he was in remission. He is still healthy and well. Allergie-Immun Therapy was the best choice that I had made for myself and for my son - thanks to my intuition!

5. BEING THANKFUL.  I have learned to be aware of being thankful!  When you start seeing things from a more positive, loving and healthier perspective, your life will reflect your thoughts. Even your health! 

My sickness was a life lesson. And I am thankful for that experience! Sounds crazy? If I hadn’t gone through the nightmare, then I wouldn’t have taken the holistic path, or be aware of my thoughts or face my fears or be thankful for my life! I have learned to make thankfulness a permanent trait. And if I can do it, anybody can. The more you give thanks, the more you will feel blessed. The more you feel blessed, the happier you will be. Isn’t this what we are all striving for?


A Gratitude Mandala


6. BEING FORGIVING. Did you know that forgiveness is the great healer? When I started to release past emotional trauma, through therapies of Dr. Rasa and Dr. Gurevich, I noticed that my health was improving. I knew this was more than just a coincidence. Forgiving others is one of the greatest gifts that you can give yourself. When you forgive those who hurt you, you are radiating an invisible healing light throughout your body. You are also sending healing frequencies to the other person. When you forgive yourself from guilt, you are healing your soul. I continue to practice forgiveness and  healing through Mental Field Therapy and Cranial Sacral Therapy.

7. CONNECTING TO YOUR SPIRITUAL SELF. We are all connected to a higher power. We are part of this higher power. We are a part of the higher power that is known as God, the Universe, Jesus, the Divine, Buddha, Allah, or whatever you believe. We are not separate from God. This is the belief that has helped me to heal. I am learning to believe that God is love. God does not punish. God has no favorites and God does not make people sick. I have learned that our thoughts and beliefs are where all the negativity comes from.  It is all cause and effect.

Your thoughts are energy. And your thoughts create your world. If God is love and we are part of God, then our origin is love, too!  Our souls are pure love. But our souls do not think. Our minds do. Thinking good health, loving thoughts, compassion, forgiveness, peace and goodwill, bring harmony to not only your life, but those around you. It’s a beautiful thought.

And beautiful thoughts will create a beautiful world.


I wish everyone an abundance of love, good health, beautiful thoughts and positive changes in the new year!




© Danette Whelan 2015