5,500 dead in a day

Every day, according to the book I've just finished, 5,500 people die of AIDS/HIV in Africa.  I feel far better informed around the politics, economics, functions and everyday face of AIDS having read 28 Stories which details 28 different people's stories of living with or working with AIDS and HIV from around the African continent.  What is apparent time and time again however is the cost to access ARVs for ordinary people.  These drugs are incredibly expensive - even the generic versions which are more widely available - compared to the wages paid to individuals. 

It's interesting to read this book on the back of my awareness around homeopathy and AIDS.  I'm aware of end stages of ARV medication where patients are discharged from hospital as there is nothing else can be done. Effectively sent home to die.  It's not that there's a lack of compassion, it's merely there is no other route.  Homeopathic remedies, well chosen remedies can give another option - people who've had no chance to survive have been back in the fields 6 months later - working, supporting their families, alive-alive-oh.

Homeopathy for Health in Africa are working in Tanzania providing free care to patients and working within hospital settings as well as in rural clinics.  Their work is largely self funded and with help from donations. (Help me with my little donation here!) Challenges are many, determination is intense although I can only imagine the job satisfaction from cases such as this one:

Lady age 39
She is an upright proud and awake person, AIDS diagnosed  2006 but much longer, maybe 18 years.
Kids infected from her at birth
CD4 last year 340, ARV since 2006
Husband ran away when he found she is infected, she is very angry and sad about this (of course she got infected by him, he is now dead). Angry brother took away all their things after husband died (common in these situations, but deadly, this is stigma). Now the house is falling down no one take care of it.
No appetite, pain in under sternum, peeling lips.
Sleep is poor , worries about kids, there is no money to feed them.
Pain joints knees and elbows
Losing weight, used to be 68kg now 56kg.
Before ARV she suffered from diarrhoea, itching skin, eruptions and itch
Her vision is poor since AIDS
Feels very weak, tired legs so can’t work.
Headache temples and vertex
Occasional flu and malaria (flu can kill AIDS patients easily)
Has mouth fungal problem ulcer on lip,tongue black base white coating, chest tight with cough, chilly, back pain lumbar.
Dream in mortuary, washing dead bodies,dream chased lion and leopard, dream going to be marrie.
She would like to be like a lion strong and fast, if she was like that no one could hurt her.
She would like to kill her brother if she was a lion, for taking their stuff.

Remedy given.

Follow-up one month

Sleep much better, bad dreams gone
Eating better, weight up
She is feeling stronger
Continue remedy

Follow-up 2 months

Remedy helped a lot
They checked her blood and there is no virus!!!!!! Doctors baffled
Since then no malaria
Strong, can work better
Not tired any more, feels  very  strong, ulcer is improved.
Appetite much better, weight now 59 , up 3 kg.
Peeling lips better, joints better, vision is very much better sees very well, no mouth fungus.

This is just one case, there are many, many more. Few patients can afford the viral load test although CD4 results show vastly positive improvements, and, fundamentally, patients feel well, look better, are stronger and are able to provide for their children, bring in an income and enjoy life again.

Whilst I would love to visit the project really what I feel I need to do at the moment is assist a little with funds where I can.  I'm therefore doing an Olympic distance triathlon to fundraise.  I plan to raise at least £1k and would love it if you felt you could sponsor me.  Even if just every friend I have on facebook sponsored me just £2 I'd be nearly there... Please help with what you can:

https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/emmacolley2

With much love and gratitude,

Em x

'What They Said'... or The Greats on Homeopathy

I've always had a 'thing' about quotes.  I used to write them in the front of notebooks (my favourites were those ones from France with the fantastic square paper in - you'll know what I mean if you had one), on paper and frame them in clip frames, and memorise them. And sometimes stencilled them (along with the sunflowers) on the walls as a student.  I had particular favourites - 'No Day But Today' from RENT was one, 'Carpe Diem' - brought to my knowledge by the brilliant Dead Poet's Society.  Well, you get the picture. I liked quotes! 

So I thought it might be worth collecting a few Homeopathy quotes from various sources.  The amazing Hahnemann with ideas way ahead of his time who has brought this incredible medicine into being, into our awareness and created such an amazing guide which is still so relevant now, over 200 years on has to be first...

"The highest ideal of cure is the speedy, gentle, and enduring restoration of health by the most trustworthy and least harmful way." Samuel Hahnemann, founder of Homeopathy

“No individual has done more good to the medical profession than Samuel Hahnemann” (the father of Homeopathy).  Sir William Ostler, “The Father of Modern Medicine”

"Homeopathy is wholly capable of satisfying the therapeutic demands of this age better than any other system or school of medicine." Dr. Charles Menninger M.D., Founder Menninger Clinic

"In the records of three years of Diphtheria in Broome County, NY from 1862 to 1864, there was a report of an 83.6% mortality rate among the allopaths and a 16.4% mortality rate among the Homeopaths.  (Bradford)."---Julian Winston

 "Homeopathy .... cures a larger percentage of cases than any other method of treatment and is beyond doubt safer and more economical and most complete medical science." Mahatama Gandhi

 "Homeopathy is the safest and more reliable approach to ailments and has withstood the assaults of established medical practice for over 100 years." Yehudi Menuhin, World famous violinist

 "The introduction of homeopathy forced the old school doctor to stir around and learn something of a rational nature about his business. You may honestly feel grateful that homeopathy survived the attempts of allopaths (the orthodox physicians to destroy it." Mark Twain

 “There have been two great revelations in my life: The first was bepop, the second was homeopathy.” Dizzy Gillespie, great jazz musician

 "The long-term benefit of homeopathy to the patient is that it not only alleviates the presenting symptoms but it reestablishes internal order at the deepest levels and thereby provides a lasting cure." George Vithoulkas, Director, Athenian School of Homeopathic Medicine

And there are many who use and support Homeopathy today... some celebrities are listed below...


Today's Stars

Other modern-day famous people who have publically declared their interest in and support for homeopathic medicine include: Catherine Zeta-Jones, Whoopi Goldberg, Pamela Anderson, Jane Fonda, Cher, Rosie O'Donnell, Martin Sheen, the Chili Peppers, Jane Seymour, Lesley Anne Warren, Axl Rose, Linda Gray, Susan Blakely, Michael Franks, Cybill Sheppard, Vidal Sassoon, Angelica Houston, Boris Becker, Martina Navratilova, Priscilla and Lisa Marie Presley, Cliff Robertson, Jerry Hall, Diane von Furstenberg, Ashley Judd, Naomi Judd, Olivia Newton-John, Julianna Margulies, JD Salinger, Blythe Danner, Pat Riley (coach of the Miami Heat), and England's Prime Minister Tony Blair.

My own stars are my patients who teach me so much and I want to thank here.  You're all brilliant and I thank you for the privilege of working with you.  I adore my work, know that right now this is where I'm meant to be and I thank you for being there.

With Gratitude,

Em