How I did it: After being told there was no hope of recovery, I turned to acupuncture, which immediately helped. Months of treatment and a change in perspective opened my eyes to more and more ways to both treat and prevent illness without medication/synthetic chemicals. Acupuncture, qi-gong, homeopathy, and reflexology all played a role in my recovery, and I couldn't be more thankful.
Lessons & tips: Be open to alternative medicine. You have far less to lose adding an extra herb to your diet or having a few needles stuck into you than you do taking a steroid. And go to a practitioner who is open to treating people on a budget. The Community Acupuncture Network serves clients for $15-$35 dollars per visit.
Resources: http://www.communityacupuncturenetwork.org/clinics
http://www.EarthClinic.com
badmilk finds thrill in an open mind.
Agh, I’m sorry about your possible RA. It’s really strange, how younger and younger people are developing arthritic problems. I understand wanting to say away from the chemicals. Check out Earthclinic! The weirdest things can reduce arthritic pain, like gin-soaked raisins, for example.
Weird, cheap and natural are all adjectives I dig, though… :)
Good luck.
I’m going to see if I can talk my Dad into trying it for his arthritis.
