Natural medicine? Naturally!
Healing with natural medicine and thereafter staying healthy - natural medicine is the oldest form of healing. This is the best choice of treatment for many chronic illnesses in combination with a varied and healthy diet.
For which problems can I offer advice and treatment
Rheumatism/jointproblems
Migraine/headaches
Skin problems
Bowel problems
Lung problems
Depression
Digestive problems
Tiredness
Obesity
Healthy eating and fasting
Candida/fungal infections
Menstrual/menopausal problems
ADHD
etc.
Which treatments I can offer
Nutritional medicine (orthomolecular medicine based on psycho-neuro-immunology)
- Despite a balanced diet, nutritional deficiencies can occur for various reasons.By means of taking detailed medical history and undertaking the necessary tests, a holistic diagnosis can be made and the appropriate therapy recommended in the form of dietary supplements and nutritional & lifestyle changes.
Applicable as part of my treament advice for most patients
Case: Female 60 years of age, diagnosed 14 years ago with ulcerative colitis. Takes sulphasalzine to surpress the symptoms. Also has serious eczema since her childhood. This lady suffers from a ‘CMIS’ or common mucosal immune system syndrome in which both of the organs - skin and bowel form a part. The first phase of treatment is always treating and healing the bowel by changing or adapting the diet (for example gluten free, milk free, low arachidonic acid intake) supplementing with probiotics (healthy bowel bacteria) , restoring the balance of fatty acids in the body, and giving specific aminoacids, vitamins and minerals that help in regenerating the bowel. Within 2 months, this patient was no longer taking medication for her colitis and had a normal bowel fuction. Her eczema is still being treated.
- This is herbal medicine and is centered on regaining and restoring balance in the functioning of the person.
- Herbs are renouned for their sublte but strong healing potential on a physical and an emotinal level.
I often combine phytotherapy with nutritional medicine for optimal effects. Treatment is in the form of tinctures, dry herbs, teas, compresses etc.
Case. Female 40 years old with a 15 year history of chronic fatigue, vaginal candidiasis, and acne. Investigations included a faeces culture which also revealed a co-existing parasite (blastocystis homini). Over a period of 4 months, this patient was treated with diet, herbs (pau d’arco, thymocapryl, echinacea, ginger etc) and orthomolecular supplements. Together with professional psychological help, her symptoms have completely disappeard.
-By means of fasting or special diets, the body can be encouraged to release accumulated toxins. Done in a gentle and appropriate manner this can give great relief for many chronic illnesses.
This is used for general welbeing, for people with MCSD (multiple chemical sensitiviy disorder), people with allergies or chronic problems such as athritis, migraines, IBS etc.
Case. Female, 34 years old. (dit staat in het nederlandse gedeelte niet goed ) For many years problems with yoyo dieting and weight problems, allergies and chronic tonsillitis. Treatment involved dietary advice, a 10 day orthomolecular fast and herbs/supplements. The tonsillitis has stayed away and weight is now stable
Colonhydrotherapy
-The large colon has an important function in the excretion of toxins. The cleansing of the colon promotes healthy colon function and be an excellent form of treament for many problems.
This is used not only for treating people with a sluggish colon, but also in cases of allergies, migraines, chronic fatigue etc. It is also an important supportive intervention as part of a fast.
Case Female, 32 years. Suffered with contsipation and abdominal pains ‘all’ her life. After a detailed history, dietary advice, supplements and a ‘course’ of 3 colonic irrigations over a period of 3 months, she has a normal bowel function. In these situations it is helpful to have regular 3-6 monthly colonics for a year or 2
Neuraltherapy
-Neural therapy uses injections of anasthetics to remove short circuits in the body’s electrical network which are often in old scars. This process frees up the body’s flow of energy and normalizes cellular function, making neuraltherapy an effective treatment for a variety of health conditions, especially chronic pain.
I use this in cases of acute back pain, chronic jointpains, scars that stay irritable months or years after an operation or if I suspect that an old scar is causing an interferance field.
Case. Female 56 years. Multiple scars on the abdomen as a result of various operations. Partly painful, red and highly sensitive. Over a period of 8 weeks, initially at weekly intervals and later every 2 weeks, the scar were injected with local anaesthetic intradermally. This resulted in a soft non painful white scar that is no longer sensitive.
- The ancient form of chinese medicine that balances the meridians of the body.
I use this as supporting therapy as part of the healing process, forexample in migraine patients, burnout, muscle and jointpains.
About myself
Born and raised in Hong Kong, I was exposed from a young age to the chinese culture and I was fortunate to have a very multicultural environment at school. I moved to Liverpool U.K. to read medicine (qualified in 1987) and thereafter completed my training to become a general practitioner in the U.K. Whilst working as a GP, I studied acupuncture in Hong Kong and China, and more recently nutritional medicine and natural medicine in the Netherlands where I have been living since 2000 with my husband and 3 children.
My motivation
I would like to give an idea about my motivation for working in natural medicine.
Since the beginning of medical school I was interested in the emotional aspects of illness:- Why someone was suffereing at that particular time in his life? Were there unspoken issues at play? I enjoyed talking to people, asking questions, listening, and making connections with past and present issues if there were any. When I was working in Hong Kong as a GP (huisarts) I was fascinated by the herbal medicines that my collegues were cooking up during lunch to treat various complaints. They also often made comments about what I was eating for lunch (for example a cheese sandwich) and offered kind advice on the how I could improve my diet with particular teas to balance out the 'heat' according to the chinese philosophies on nutrition. This started the ball rolling - I took a course in Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupucture and subsequently also investigated Aruyvedic diets. I became passionate about organic food and cooking with fresh and healthy ingredients.
Subsequently in the netherlands I studied nutritional medicine (orthomoleculaire geneeskunde) or otherwise known as psycho neuro immunology and found that I had finally found something that integrates the pschye and the body. PNI is scientifically based, very up to date and well reseached and extremely effective. The mind is of utmost importance in illness but if there are also deficiencies of amino acids or vitamines, or if there is a parasite infection or an intoxication then these need to be found and treated also to heal both the body and soul. And underlying everything is the need for a healthy balanced (stone age!) diet and healthy excercise.
As part of my hope for more integration between conventional and complementary medicine, I am involved in a study to research the connection between migraine, mitral valve prolapse and mineral supplementation. I will publish progress updates on this and further studies in this field of integration on this web site in the future.
The first consultation is 1 to 1½ hours long. It comprises a detailed history and physical examination. I formulate a therapy plan, which usually involves (blood) tests and treatment in the form of dietary and lifestyle advice, supplements and /or phytotherapy. Colonhydrotherapy, acupucture, neural therapy and fasts are further treatments that can greatly support the healing process as appropriate.
My charges are as follows:
First consultation 114 euros (90 euros if less than 40 minutes)
Followup consultaions - 36 euros (15 min)
57 euros (25 min)
Followup telphone consultaion - 25 euros