On December 8th, 1991 I slipped and fell in my own backyard and ruptured the Patella Tendon in both legs. That set in motion a sequence of events that totally changed my life.
I had emergency surgery to reattach the tendons and 8 months of physio-therapy to learn to walk again. After this, I began to have increasing difficulty breathing and I was constantly getting respitatory infections. I was diagnosed as having Asthma and C.O.P.D. (Emphysema). I couldn't sleep lying down and so, I slept sitting up, in a chair. I had swollen and ugly bluish-red colored legs that would become ulcerated from time to time.
I had smoked heavily for 43 years. In April 1999 I finally quit. Still, I had great difficulty breathing. The doctors said I only had about 1/3rd of my lung function. The only thing I knew was that I couldn't walk more than 10 feet before I had to sit down and rest to recover my breath. I was on the same path that my father had travelled. He relied on medical science to help him and he lived the life of a complete invalid. I decided that I would search for a different way.
I found a Wholistic Doctor who was able to teach me some of the things that I needed to know. She is the founder of the Advanced Wholistic Centre whose motto is "Education, Not Medication". She has taught me that healing can only occur from within ourselves. No medicine, herb, or supplement can heal us, but, our own immune system can heal us. We are born with a functional immune system to protect us from disease. Over time our immune system gets broken down by toxic air, water and the foods, and we can then get sick. By supplementing our diet with "high quality" supplements, avoiding harmful chemicals, drinking clean water, and exercising regularly, we can slowly restore our immune system and it will, over some time, our own bodies will improve or cure our disease. Of course, the wisest of you (I already failed this test!) would see that by doing things to maintain your immune system before you get sick, would likely allow you to avoid the diseases and conditions together.
For many years I took numerous high quality natural supplements in an attempt to restore my immune system. I used CellTech SBGA, NONI Juice, USANA, M****tech, and others, all of which are very good and helped keep me alive, but did not restore my lost breath. I needed something more. Then a friend told me about a Russian Scientist named Dr. Buteyko who discovered that asthmatics get forced into a wrong breathing pattern that propogates the negative effects of their disease. I bought a video of the Buteko Method and immediately learned how to correct my poor breathing by simply learning to breath through my nose 100% of the time. I should point out that I did not complete the Buteko Training, but am grateful for this piece of help.
My wholistic doctor had me on a bunch of pure, high quality natural supplements. My condition was stabilized, I no longer had asthma attacks, but my breath continued to be laboured and I couldn't walk more than 10 feet without having to sit down and rest. Then my wholistic doctor was contacted by a company that had developed a method of processing ginseng into a powerful supplement. The product is called Bing Han Refined Ginseng Powder. After doing some investigation of this product, my Wholistic Doctor recommended that I replace all of the supplements that I was taking with this Bing Han Refined Ginseng (Panax) Powder. I began taking this pure Panax Ginseng, in the middle of May, this year. Within a couple of weeks I began to notice the greatest difference of anything I had done previously. My energy level and breath began to increase noticeably. There were some medical technical changes that occured. My blood pressure has gone from 180/105 to 120/78, my hyperinsulinemia glucose level has moved down from 200 to 160 (100 is normal). My lung function has improved from 39% to 57%. The only thing I did differently was to take the recommended dose of this ginseng every day.
I knew that in order to clear my lungs I had to get some exercise. I had never been a walker or exerciser before and I decided that in order to get some exercise I must do something beneficial, that I enjoyed. I have always enjoyed golf and I decided that it would be my first level of exercise, but I had not possessed sufficient energy to venture onto the golf course. I started on the ginseng about May 22nd. Within about two weeks I felt strong enough to go and hit some golf balls. I went to a local driving range and bought 1/2 of a small bucket of balls and hit them. Hit a ball, sit down and rest. Hit two balls, sit down and rest. So on, and so on. It must have taken 30 or 40 minutes to hit those few balls. But I did it!! I returned the next day and repeated the exercise. And the next. and the next. By the third week in June, I felt strong enough to play a round of golf. I bought a membership at a 9 hole executive golf course of a medium length and began to play. They graciously afforded me special consideration to drive a power cart on the fairways and near the greens. The entire staff knows me by name (kinda' like Cheers!) and, I think, in the beginning, were worried that I might keel over on the course one day. I could just walk around a golf cart at that point. Over the next 2 months, they witnessed my strength and breath improve. They have ackowledged that by asking what I was doing. The staff members now know that I eat ginseng and that I am getting better. I have made a deal with the manager, club pro and some of the marshalls that we will walk a round together at seasons end. They are all pulling for me. I am determined that I will walk that round and intend to invite all those people who thought I was a likeable lunatic, to walk with me.
In February, 2003 I had submitted to the doctors and was admited to hospital. I spent 2 weeks there under the care of a lung specialist and a heart specialist and was released with the following prescriptions: Warfarin, Furosenide, Ramipril, Raninidine, Ditiazen, Pulmicort, Oxeze, Atrovent, Nitroglycerin, Nitrodur, Cardym, Cipro. I have slowly had these medications removed or reduced.
At the time I began taking this ginseng, I was still taking Ventolin, Pulmicort, Oxzeze, Altace, Tiazac and Furosemide. My lung specialist bumped into me on the golf course one day, and was obviously very surprised because the last time he saw me I was struggling to walk 10 feet. I had an appointment with him 10 days later and we reviewed my new Pulmonary Function Test and he saw that my Ventolin was no longer helping me. He also reduced my Pulmicort from 16 puffs a day to 1 puff twice a day. He kept my Oxzese at 1 puff twice a day and we will meet again in six months time.
My family doctor knows that I am taking this ginseng powder. He is witnessing the incredible results. Since I started taking this ginseng in May my blood tests show a 40% improvement in my hyperinsulinemia, my blood pressure has dropped to 120/78, my Pulmonary Function Test indicates that my overall lung function is improving. But, most importantly, I can walk!!! I have lost that terrifying fear that gripped me!!!
I have started using a rebounder with a stabilizer bar to do controlled bouncing to continue the process of restoring my lungs to a healthy state. This activity is helping to remove the debris that the ginseng is loosening up.
Dave's Story and The Path to Health