Hi Guys,
My brother-in-law has just been diagnosed with CIDP (chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy).
He's had it for about 18 months and has only just been diagnosed this weekend. He's currently in hospital having tests and receiving treatment but should be out soon.
My question is this; What sort of holistic therapy might help him, either now or if/when he has a relapse?
I'd like to be able to offer him reflexology/massage/reiki or IHM when i'm qualified but wonder which would be best to use?
I found a website that is quite useful for finding out about CIDP:
[DLMURL] http://www.gbs.org.uk/cidp.html [/DLMURL]
RE: Some help please with CIDP
The name is self explanatory if you're familiar with medical jargon and was about to write an explanation, when found this on the informative web link provided above.
The symptoms of CIDP are due to inflammation and damage to the peripheral nerves and their roots. The peripheral nerves connect the central nervous system to the skin and muscle. CIDP is probably an autoimmune disease, ie one in which the immune system attacks its own body. The most likely mechanism is that the immune cells, called lymphocytes, somehow or other make a mistake and attack the nerves. The main part of the nerve which is attacked is the insulating sheath, or myelin.
The way in which the lymphocytes are tricked into attacking the body is still the subject of research. The lymphocytes may cause the formation of chemicals called antibodies which circulate in the blood and damage the myelin. Attempts to identify these antibodies have so far been only partially successful.
I am not familliar with this condition other than, as I say - self explanatory & what I've just read on the site.
A few points that may be of help.
If you're bro' inlaw is taking cholesterol lowering drugs (family of drugs known as statins & the name usually ends with statin), then seriously consider agreeing a plan with GP to get off them.
They have been reported to cause a very simillar neurological proble, although -I am not sure if inflammation is involved - can check if need be.
If on a low cholesterol diet - again - consider changing it.
I would even consider saying that if your GP says that there cannot be a connection with the above or refuses to consider it - see another GP.
Re. The above points - Myelin that makes up the insulating sheaths around the nerves is largely made up of cholesterol. If your system doesn't have the raw materials or a drug is interfering with the metabolising of cholesterol, then the system is going to struggle to repair & maintain the brain and nervous system. Another condition that this may have implications with is Althziemer's.
Re. The information on the web link. Before I read the info there - I was considering that if not caused by statin drugs, then it is most likely to be an autoimmune problem.
If that's the case, then I would advise NAET allergy treatment. The connection is that an autoimmune reaction is much akin to an allergy to one or more of the body's own tissues, glands, hormones, joints, etc.
The immune system regards these tissues as a threat to health & attacks them, causing irritation & inflammation of the involved tissues.
If you do an on site search on NAET it will throw up various threads with more info & there's some on the link below with an overview. Also, there's a database of practitioners here -
I am very interested to hear - if the cholesterol thing is an issue. [sm=scratchchin.gif]
Andrew.
RE: Some help please with CIDP
Hi Sam,
I don't know anything about CIDP but do know that Reiki will always work for the recipient's highest good and never harms. If not required by intended recipient it will simply not flow. So you would be perfectly safe with that.
Don't know about other therapies, sorry.
Hope that's a little help.