FLF #5 - Chinese Herbal medicine & how you prepare it

I've been slowly improving and losing a bit of weight. My energy leaves have improved so much that I'm able to do exercise, it just takes the next day to recover. All in all I'm very happy with my efforts so far. I'm off the MS Contin and have no steroids. I've maintained the lyrica at 300mg twice a day and mercyndol as I need it; about 3 times a day while I'm on holidays at home.

A number of people have asked me about the herbs I use and what they are called. It is such a large mixture of herbs that it's impossible for me to say what they are. Thé Chinese medicine doc I am seeing is a very well respected professional in the field with 30 years experience. His name is Steve Clavey and as you can see by his name he is not Asian, but I have seen a few Asian students, as well as others, being taught by him in the practise. He specialises in gynocology but he assures me that he is well aware of lupus and fibromyalgia and can achieve excellent results. So far it is really helping so I'm very pleased. I've not experienced results in years. But please note this is not cheap; I think the money is well worth my health improving though. The first consultation cost $75 and the herbs $60 but they lasted about 6 weeks. The consult gets a bit cheaper for return visits. He is at 126 Russell St Melbourne. I'm sure there are plenty around that are as good as him so look around. As he is so well known in the profession I can ask about individuals if people want feedback. It may or may not be useful. 

So here is what the herbs I am currently using look like: 

The type varies from visit to visit as a result of what pain I am focusing on. The first visit the doc asked what pain there was but when I said it was everywhere he made me choose the two greatest issues I had at the time. I chose fatigue and the pain in my right knee. He told me my body was "damp" and this also needed to be addressed. I was too unwell for acupuncture which is what I went there for in the first place.  Now I'm on herbs. 

So I take the herbs and put them in the teapot below. I cover them in boiling water and soak them for 10 minutes. Then I put them on the stove, bring them to boil and the simmer slowly for 40 minutes, making sure the lid of the teapot is letting some steam out. 

I then drain the liquid through a sieve into a jug, cover the herbs with boiling water again and simmer for another 40 minutes. After seiving this lot of liquid I do the last step again. So it has been strained three times in total. This is what the herbs look like after straining. 

When you are finished the process you have a large jug of 'herbal tea' or what I refer to as 'jungle juice' left to drink.

I portion it out into the quantities advised by the doc and drink it morning and night. I'm on 100ml in morning and 130ml at night. 

I have some ready in the fridge in small containers for convenience. It tastes horrible so I always have a glass of water ready as a chaser. 

According to my partner my energy levels have increased by 60%, my knee is still a problem but is improving, enough so now that I don't automatically limb first thing in the morning and if I pace myself correctly I don't limp all day. This has happened about 5 times now (I'm still learning) 😀

I hope this answers some of your questions. Feel free to ask more and help keep me motivated to get this sorted. I go back to work next week so that will be a huge pressure to incorporate into my lifestyle. Wish me luck!