I've been visiting this forum for a few years, never posting, just reading posts, and doing research. I was diagnosed with Asthma when I was a teenager, and have been on Becotide, then Qvar as my preventative, and Ventolin/Serotide when I got short of breath, usually when I had cold or was feeling short of breath - you all know the drill. Anyway, to get to the point, I've been taking steriods for my Asthma for over 22 years, at least twice a day, and I'd really had enough of the effects that sustained steroid use had done to my body, but I saw no way out.
I never really put it down to stress, I always thought it was allergies etc or a worsening lung problem. Successive G.P's over the years have taken my peak flow readings and have happily written thousands of prescriptions.
Then in Autumn of last year I went to see a Kinesiologist in Manchester, who via a rigourous set of tests said my Asthma was merely a symptom of stress and then set about short-ciruiting the message from my brain to my chest, which always tightened when I was under pressure.
I run a very busy sales office, which is stressful at times; however since my treatment, I've been able to deal with things head on and leave them at the door when I leave at night. I also switch off completely when I get into bed at night - a major breakthrough.
I liked the fact that during the Kinesiology session we systematically went through the possible causes of my Asthma, in a great deal of detail, and we uncovered things that I'd never fully-considered before, across a range of situations.
My Kinesiologist was both knowledgeable and fully able to identify the causes of my asthma (stress) and provide useful, practical solutions to them. I quickly established a rapport with him, which made me both comfortable and able to open up.
It wasn't immediately obvious how I had changed after the session, but it became increasingly apparent over the following days that the physical manifestation of stress in my life (and the effects it caused on my body and on my chest) had been bypassed, and that was totally liberating.
It was totally freeing to experience a sense of control; I couldn't quite believe that after 22 years of having Asthma, being diagnosed as having severe Asthma in fact, it was not only now in control but the asthma is now seemingly eradicated. I'm calmer, happier and certainly not relying on steroids to regulate my breathing.
I'd never thought of using Kinesiology - if it hadn't been for my friend's prompting; I wouldn't have gone along; I'm a bit of a philistine where alternative medicine is concerned. I'm subject to regular Asthma health checks with my Doctor, who has diagnosed my condition, but never fully offered up reasons why I have Asthma or how I can cure it - any GP can write a repeat prescription out.
Since having my intense session, I've used my inhaler only twice in 6 months; a major, major breakthrough, and I'm also able to live in the moment more (another trick that was offered up) and I've also been far more resilient to stress.
I just wanted to share this with you, I've waitied nearly six months to see if this would come back and it never has - I use Emotional Freedom Techniques in place of my Inhaler, and all my G.P can say is that, at 37 (and for no apparent reason) I may have grown out my Asthma - No, not grown out of it, just taken charge of my health and refused to be passive in the face of conventional medicine. I dont urge you to abandon your inhalers, that's reckless, but for god's sake, don't take everything your GP tells you as gospel, and try Kinesology - do your research!
Tis a miracle indeed, and one I still can't quite believe.
Under no circumstances should you stop taking any medicines that you are currently prescribed without consulting a health professional (as the OP in this thread correcly pointed out). Certain alternative therapies such as this can be very unsuitable for moderate-to-severe asthmatics, and in some cases may make your symptoms significantly worse rather than better. Consult your GP/asthma nurse/consultant before embarking on any alternative therapy plans.
Equally, when used correctly and under the guidance of a health professional, many people can see a benefit in the use of alternative therapies.
But, and I've taken my moderator hat off again now, I remain deeply unconvinced by what I've read on the Internet after my search on this topic.
Steve
(moderator)
and that's exactly the same view that my Doctor took, the very same view that kept me tied to steroids all those years... I offered up my small miracle to this forum because nothing else ever worked, (I work out 3-4 times a week and really look after myself) and it took a huge leap of faith for me to even visit this Kinesiologist, let alone go with the flow and be for want of a better word 'de-programmed'; I'd had over two decades of chest infections, and taking Becotide/Qvar twice a day when I didn't need.
I don't advocate not taking your inhalers, but this really, and genuinely worked for me - I can't believe it, I couldnt even leave the house without my inhalers in the past; they ruled my life and as soon as needed them, my chest tightened and I struggled for breath - that reliance has gone completely. Don't discount my small miracle based on some throwaway words you may or may not have found on the net, try it yourself - my G.P's over the years totally let me down, this is as much a story about me taking charge of my Asthma, and not passively taking everything my GP said as gospel, on my twice yearly Asthma reviews.
p.s I don't know if this was Applied Kinesiology or not, I only know this guy was in Manchester and it worked for me - beyond question. This was indeed an alternative to conventional medicine, but I'm here as proof that it can work.
I think the medical profession will take great umbridge at your suggestion that a full double-blind study into the effecacy of this practice should result in ""a few throwaway words"". The only websites I can find advocating this practice are those which are selling it!
I stand by my general warning; trying any alternative therapy could have detrimental effects and thus anyone thinking about trying this should check with their GP/asthma nurse before doing so. If they give you the all clear, by all means give it a try. But ""safety first"" is the way to go.
Daney Boy, whilst I am pleased that your Asthma has improved that you now are able to lead a much more comfortable life and presently free of Asthma symptoms, I agree with Peaksteve that anyone following the Alternative Medicine path should be extremely careful.
In some circumstances alternative medicine can be very helpful in treating Asthma, but any good alternative practitioner would advise you to continue with current medications and keep your general practitioner informed. I have only ever used Alternative Medicine by qualified practitioners who are happy to work along side conventional medicine, and anyone wishing to go down this path this is extremely important.
Good Luck Daney Boy with your future health.
Hi Daney-Boy,
Really pleased that you have found something that you find more acceptable to help manage your asthma. From what you say, stress was your only trigger? If this is the case, I am not surprised that kinesiology may have helped you to deal with your symptoms/prevent them from arising in the first place. It sounds as though your practictioner has worked very hard with you on stress management and relaxation.
Sadly, for most of us who frequent these boards, the matter is nowhere near as straightforwards.
I'm afraid Kinesiology does tend to fall down, like several complementary therapies, by its claims of what it can cure. I do believe there is a role for complementary therapy in the management of some conditions, but its role can be limited.
I do hope you maintain your excellent asthma control.
CathBear
Once again from Wikepedia...
Kinesiology is the science of human movement. It focuses on how the body functions and moves....
'Applied Kinesiology' is different and appears to be used by some chiropractors.
From the above it is difficult to see where an examination of stress would fit in, this having more of a psychological bearing.
I do believe I came across a stand devoted to Kinesiology at a Mind Body and Spirit fair last year, but declined a free sample session - after a brief discussion. Was this a big mistake??!!
Twizzle
!
My (NHS) physio is also an alternative health practitioner trained in kinesiology, acupuncture and various other treatments i have never heard of and don't want to know about!
She will discuss what appear to be off the wall ideas BUT combines them with physio, general health advice standard exercises and would NEVER advise me to stop taking medication.
The main advantage of seeing her is she treats me as a whole person not just a bunch of symptoms and therefore was the first person to connect the pain in my lung to the fact i'd actually broken my leg and was twisting my back.
My lungs haven't been cured though so i'll stick with my inhalers!
To clarify...
Hi guys, I've had a number of emails to my work address from all over the place, please note, I don't advocate getting rid of your inhalers, I just wanted to share my breakthough, and vent my total frustration at years of bad asthma management due to a series of disinterested NHS G.P's who never showed even the mildest desire to treat my asthma, or to cut down my steroid intake.
My triggers were classic; dust, polish and paint and and as it turns out psychological ones, namely stress.
The practitioner who helped me was called George, I've found his details so you can check him out should you wish, I've no loyalty to him or indeed any afiliation - I just did my research - see: icpkp.com/index.html - It's quite different to regular kinesiology, as you will see - I didn't want to go on with steroids, I kept getting thrush and endless bad nights sleep and saw no way out via my G.P - this worked for me, and I'm grateful that this board's moderators let me post this as I appreciate it's not a conventional route to take. I may have to go back on my inhalers one day, but for now I'm steroid free, which after 22 years is a result.
I've even since recently done four days working in a paint filled room decorating for my mum without any reaction, so the breakthrough for me has been a major one. My Kinesiologist at no point ever advocated that I not take my inhalers; he just found out what the real triggers were and short circuited them, hence the usual triggers now seem disabled!
I think that it's more likely that stress was your only trigger, and that the other triggers you mention were just psychological - being in an area with paint fumes, for example, would increase your stress levels because you associate the paint fumes with the possibility of an asthma attack.
If this is the case, I can see how decent stress management could alleviate your symptoms. I can't understand how kinesiology could ""cure"" you of being triggered by paint fumes in any other way.
Nut allergy sufferers might like to note that one of the case studies on the website linked to below is of a woman who's anaphylactic reaction to even touching peanuts was cured such that within two weeks of treatment she was eating peanuts ""by the bowlful"", and consider that some of these claims - like the nuts, perhaps - should be taken with a pinch of salt?
Thanks Steve for the message - I self diagnosed my triggers; furniture polish, paint fumes and dust all gave me a tight chest - as did colds of which I had many.
If indeed stress was the main cause of my Asthma, don't you find it terribly, terribly sad that from the age of 15 to 37 not one Doctor ever cared enough to find out what those triggers were or indeed how to deal with them effectivey, e.g stress management - I didn't even know I had a stress problem!
This is in a nutshell, one man's story of being failed by his G.P's and taking everything he was told as gospel - until finally I was able to take charge of my Asthma myself - these days as soon as you go to your g.p with a chest infection, he/she seems to diagnose 'Asthma' and put you on a series of inhalers for life - it's simply not good enough.
Daney-boy, I'm sorry you're had poor conventional medical care, but please do be careful about making wide generalisations based on your experiences. If I diagnosed ""every person with a chest infection as asthmatic"" (sic) then I would have made roughly 300-odd diagnoses of asthma over the last few months. As it is, I can think of two diagnoses I've made - one in a child (not after a chest infection) and one in a middle-aged woman, after spirometry testing and positive reversibilty. There are good guidelines for the diagnosis of asthma and, in the main, they are followed by most GPs.
Hello Daney,
I work within a GP surgery and have done since I left school and in all that time i have never seen a GP prescribe inhalers in response to a chest infection. I am pleased that your stress has been relieved by kinseology but i think you need to be aware that some symptoms of stress can mimic asthma. I learnt the hard way that there really isn't a magic wand of complimentary therapy or otherwise for asthma and that without inhaled steroids etc my world would be shrunk. I am still frustrated by the restrictions that having brittle asthma places on me but with the help of Asthma UK i have accepted this and have stopped pinning my hopes on alternative methods. If they worked chest clinics and wards wouldn't be overflowing with wheezy people like me! And someone somewhere would be the hero/heroine of the hour and a millionaire to boot.
If your new to the forum be careful of pinning your hopes on anything unconventional in other words if its too good to be true its probably not. There isn't a magic wand yet and maybe not in our life time but what there is, is the support and care of this community and learning to live as full a life as possible whilst being safe and accepting the constraints asthma places but cheerfully making the best. I always try to find the best in everything no matter how bleak the situation is and it has served me well. I'm not saying that alternative therapies don't have there place but asthma is a life threatening illness and its too risky to chance your hand on. Take good care Daney et al, Lois
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