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ANGELA WENSLEY PARKINSON'S UPDATE – April 2012

In January 2012, Wendi and I went to our condo in Floridawhere I began Howard Shifke's "Recipe for Recovery" from Parkinson's disease.  For more information on the "Recipe for Recovery", see Howard's website at http://www.fightingparkinsonsdrugfree.com/

After nearly 5 years post-diagnosis, I had managed to control most of the symptoms of PD using a combination of exercise, diet, supplements, and various other therapies including chiropractic, deep tissue massage, and physiotherapy.  With these I had managed to keep my Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (PDRS) at a manageable value of 8 (out of 100) but had not been able to get it any lower. 

I first heard of Howard Shifke in March 2011.  He had successfully recovered from PD in 9 months using Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in the form of medical Qigong.  Wendi and I visited Howard and his wife Sally inTampa,Florida, where it was apparent to us that he had indeed completely recovered.  He posted his "Recipe for Recovery" for other people to use.  He also offered "Parkinson's coaching".  He said he was willing to coach me through recovery provided that I stopped working and traveling.  Accordingly, I wound down my engineering business at the end of 2011.  I signed up for 6 months of coaching that involves weekly Skype sessions with Howard in addition to e-mail contact. 

Howard asked if I would be willing to give up all the supplements and botanicals that I have been taking.  I agreed, and in the process began saving myself approximately $600 per month.  Coming off such powerful botanicals as Mucuna Pruriens (a natural source of levodopa) and Hyoscyamus Niger (for control of tremours), as well as prescription meds such as low dose naltrexone (that boosted endorphins) was not the easiest ride in the world, but I made it.  Interestingly, I feel about the same other than having a slightly heavier wallet.

 The most difficult part of the "Recipe" is the set of medical Qigong exercises that I do in the morning and in the evening.  The exercises are probably a piece of cake for somebody without PD, but are intensely difficult for me and other people with PD.  The purpose of the Qigong is to remove toxins from organs such as the liver, gallbladder, and kidneys.  In TCM, PD is due to blockages in the meridians and it can be cured by removing these energy blockages.  However, meridians have no counterpart in Western medicine.  Western medicine says that PD is incurable.  So, the choice was between hope and resigning myself to having an incurable disease.  You can guess which choice I made.

 The interesting thing about the Qigong is that it never gets any easier, at least after 3 months of doing it.  Indeed, there are times when it becomes very difficult to almost impossible to perform.  Yet, I do the best that I can.  It is just those times when they are the most difficult that the greatest benefit is being realized.  It is as if my enemy, "Mr. Parkinson" finally realizes I am serious and fights back with everything he has.  He is like a bad tenant who has trashed the place and stopped paying rent, yet continues to live here.  The Qigong is serving his eviction notice.  I intend to continue the Qigong for as long as it takes to get him out of me.

 Howard's Recipe also requires spending time eliminating negative emotions.  Fortunately, my experience at theKenKeyesCenterin the 1990s has served me well.  Ken wrote the "Handbook to Higher Consciousness" and "The Power of Unconditional Love" and several other books that helped me immensely in my life.  Thanks to Ken, I am able to pinpoint separating emotions when they occur, and work promptly on upleveling them.

 The Recipe is also profoundly spiritual.  By this, I do not mean that it is religious, although religious practice may also be spiritual (but is often a hindrance, if the state of the world is anything to go by).  While in Florida, I have been attending the Unity Church of Delray Beach.  Unity believes in the oneness of all world views, including atheism.  As I see it, my Higher Power, True Self, or Love or God is who I am and that dwells inside of me, not externally. 

 After nearly 3 months in Florida, it is time to return home to Canada where I will continue my Qigong practice in different surroundings.  So far, my PD symptoms are about the same as when I began the Recipe.  Yet in my mind – and heart, and soul – I feel I am making progress.  I do not need or want medications that hide my symptoms yet do nothing to prevent the progression of PD (for those already on PD meds, Howard's Recipe has enabled many to cut way back on their use as their movement improves).  Mentally, I am firing on all cylinders.  Physically, I am somewhat impaired but I'm still able to get around and even find time for the occasional tennis game.  Spiritually, I am reawakening.  In short, I feel great!

If you're interested in receiving regular updates on my condition, please contact me at awensley@uniserve.com and I will add you to my mailing list.

Dawn Angel