 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
I would like to share my story about fibromyalgia and the benefits I
have experienced from Traditional Chinese Medicine.
I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in August 2004.
At the age of 50, I don’t know how long I have had this “dis-ease”
(as Jean would call it).
Thinking back with the knowledge I have now, I would say over 20
years. When the severe
and debilitating pain became constant for 15 months, I knew I had a
serious health problem that western doctors seemed to know little
about. My rheumatologist had
given me numerous pain medications to no avail.
I was feeling hopeless and the chronic fatigue left me with
no energy to fight back.
I have two friends who rely on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
for their health needs and they encouraged me to pursue an
alternative medicine path for almost a year.
I witnessed their benefits from TCM and decided I would give
it a try – even though I didn’t like the thought of all those
needles! My decision
proved to be life changing!
In March 2005, I began seeing Jean weekly.
She explained that getting my health back would be a long
arduous process but assured me it could be done.
Jean was committed to helping me and needed to know that I
was committed also. So
the journey began and it was exactly as she had explained.
My visits included acupuncture, polarity, cupping,
moxibustion, and taking herbs three times daily.
During my visits I learned that the mind and emotions have a
far-reaching impact on your state of health.
Armed with this knowledge, I made the choice to no longer be
a victim of this dis-ease.
I was going to fight back and I was going to win!
After eight months, we had a breakthrough.
My pain level began to decrease, my memory was better, my
physical energy much stronger, and my digestion was improving.
I was ecstatic!
Now, three years later I see Jean once every 4-5 weeks.
Jean knew from the beginning that I could improve my health
even when I was doubtful.
She is genuinely compassionate, empathetic, honest, and
highly committed to helping people attain health through Traditional
Chinese Medicine. Jean
and Michael have been a blessing – my gratitude goes beyond words.
Don’t let your fear keep you from improving your health – try a
natural approach. I did
and it changed my life!
With Warm Regards, Virginia Beach, Va
I can still hardly believe it, but my allergies and asthma are gone. My problems started when I was 8 years old. By 9 I was getting allergy shots. After three-and-a-half years of shots, I had few problems until my early 40s. But then they were back with a vengeance. Soon Claritin (and later Clarinex) and nasal steroid sprays were part of my daily routine. Yet there were days I couldn’t get out of bed. Every year seemed worse than the one before. By 51, not only was I back on allergy shots, I was diagnosed with asthma. (Based on my lifelong symptoms and the results of the first pulmonary function test I ever had, the specialist said I’d probably had asthma since childhood.) So now I was getting weekly shots along with using a maintenance steroid inhaler twice a day, a second inhaler to exercise, daily Clarinex, a twice-daily nasal steroid spray that made my nose bleed, and sometimes Benadryl and Sudafed. Even with all that, there were still many miserable days. In summer 2006, believing there had to be a better way, I researched alternative treatments. One that was proving to work for allergy sufferers was acupuncture. Then I learned that a new friend was being treated by Jean. When ragweed season kicked into high gear in September, I met with Jean and started getting twice-weekly acupuncture treatments, as well as taking the Chinese herbs she prescribed. At her recommendation, I continued my allergy and asthma meds. What convinced me to try this approach is that Chinese medicine focuses on curing allergies, not just treating their symptoms. The cure has a lot to do with the digestive system functioning properly – and since I didn’t attend four years of acupuncture school after earning a bachelor’s degree, I dare not try to explain further. Jean said that because I was so young when my allergies developed, it might take a while to see results. She asked me to hang in there through the fall and spring allergy seasons. With nothing to lose but my misery, I did. It is now the end of May 2007. As the spring pollen season tapers off, I’m amazed to report that I haven’t had an allergy attack or taken any kind of allergy or asthma medication since mid February. In early May I started running again, this time without inhalers, and I’m stunned by how well I can breathe and run at the same time. Last weekend I did five miles. If you’re suffering, I highly recommend Jean. Not only do her treatments work, her compassion and healing spirit is a blessing. Now that I’ve had this experience, it’s puzzling to me that some forms of medicine, like Chinese and Native American, have worked well for thousands of years, yet Western practitioners are just starting to give them consideration. Wishing you good health, Nancy Chapman
Dear Jean, My purpose for writing this letter is to provide you with the findings from my latest physical and to also give you my heartfelt thanks for the wonderful care you have given me over the past year. As you know back in 1999 while I was still living in Washington, D.C., I underwent a surgical procedure for the removal of a fibroid tumor which went very badly for me. During the surgery an artery was lanced without my surgeon’s knowledge. Seven hours later I was rushed back into surgery at a which time I was given 10 units of blood because of internal bleeding. The doctor repaired the artery but had to perform a partial hysterectomy due to complications brought on by this second operation. It seemed that my health went completely downhill following all of this. I went from being a “high energy” individual to someone who barely made it through my workday. I caught every cold or virus that came around. My blood pressure stayed in the 100/60 range for the next couple of years. I took early retirement from my job in January, 2001 at which time Bob and I moved to Asheville. I was committed to getting back to my old “high energy” self. Research on the Internet led me to try acupuncture. I started seeing you in April of 2001. For anyone who doubts the benefits of acupuncture and herbs … here are my past blood pressure readings: June, 2000 = 100/60; June 2001 = 100/70; January 2002 = 114/70; and March 2002 = 115/70. All the standard tests taken during the March physical came back normal. My energy is back and I feel marvelous! I can’t thank you enough for the wonderful impact you’ve made on my life. I feel like my old self again … which is more than I could have ever hoped for. Warmest regards, Elizabeth Burford
“Acupuncture has been my primary health care system since the mid-eighties. In that time I have been treated by quite a few practitioners, several of which have been considered ‘the best in the area’. I would say that Jean is definitely the best I have worked with and will miss her. She combines empathy, a deep need to help, and a great skill. But more important than these, she is clearly on a quest for answers and intelligent enough to know that the truth is always in flux in our ever-changing world.”
“Jean Hardesty listens to what you AND your body says and has a sincere, overriding desire to help you attain health. Using acupuncture and herbs, but also combining other healing modalities, Jean treats each aspect of the whole person. Chinese medicine has been my primary health resource for over twenty years and Jean is the best practitioner I have had the privilege to use as my ‘doctor’.” Douglas Rankin
“Back in September and October 2005, when I had my mini-strokes, I was despondent at best thinking how much the quality of my life had deteriorated and how quickly. Just two years before, I was very much engaged in my business, playing baseball, working out at the gym, teaching my grandson to play racquetball, riding my bike regularly and feeling good about life. At the beginning of 2005 I knew something was amiss. I barely had energy enough to get through the day. My joints ached; I struggled to move and at times shuffled like an old man. I'd fall asleep sitting in my chair and by six or seven in the evening I was done for the day. I thought "old age" had taken me over very quickly. During this period, I went to our primary care physician several times complaining and each time he wrote me a new prescription, most of which failed to alleviate the symptoms, or at best provided only temporary relief. After the "stroke" he referred me to a Cardiologist. On October 31, they did a heart catherization and pronounced that my heart was very weak and if wasn't for my age I was a candidate for a heart transplant. Once again, they gave me more potent prescriptions: Coumidin, alpha and beta blockers, and more or less wrote me off. They stated the best I could hope for over a lifetime was a 5% improvement. However, they wanted to see me weekly to draw and test my blood (and bill my insurance). Around the first of the year, my wife was seeing you and suggested I talk to you and receive treatment. I confess I hesitated. Acupuncture and Chinese medicine sounded too alternative. It seemed even more bizarre when I saw what went into herbal teas you prepared. But, I observed the improvement my wife was experiencing. Now, I thank God I listened to her and placed myself in your care. The quality of my life has improved consistently under your direction, with the treatments and the herbs you provided. I have a new lease on life. I have a restored sense of energy and vitality. My endurance surprises my family, friends and even me. I look forward to the future, no longer thinking my life is over. Monday, August 17, (2006) I had my follow-up visit with the Cardiologist. They did an EKG, stress test and echo cardiogram. Wednesday, my doctor called me to say I had experienced a remarkable improvement for which they could offer no explanation. They apparently dismissed the times I told them I was seeing you, receiving acupuncture treatment and taking the herbs. My heart pumping rate has increased 100%. He called it miraculous and said I could even discontinue some of the meds. I am glad to share my experience with everyone. Whenever the opportunity arises, I tell others about you and the benefits of Chinese medicine and therapy.” Donald Tartoni |