March 17, 2011
I actually stumbled onto Acu-Na Wellness Center almost by accident a little over a year ago. At the time, I was simply looking for a new massage therapist, plus I also wanted to try acupuncture. In Consulting the yellow pages, I found Mary Houge’s advertisement, and was happy to see that Acu-Na provided both. But I was also intrigued by the list of other treatments that were available. Having suffered on and off from chronic depression for most of my adult life, I had reached a point where I was tired of going on and off anti-depressants and was looking for another way.
So skeptically, I made my first appointment, thinking I didn’t have anything to lose. This began a process that has taken patience and commitment, but has resulted in profound changes in my general health and well being that conventional western medicine has not come close to achieving. Beginning with a home lab test, Mary was able to determine facets of my body chemistry that were not even mentioned during the often rushed visits to a “regular” doctor. I received an education on things like serotonin, and cortisols, etc. and it was explained to me that conventional medicines were designed to simply suppress symptoms and not actually be of a healing nature. Mary started me on a regimen of supplements that, over time, helped me to feel normal again for the first time in I don’t know how long. Anti-depressants had provided a false euphoric feeling (that faded eventually), and came with several annoying side effects, and then gradually stopped working all together. The supplements gradually restored my body chemistry over the course of about 8-9 months, and I have now been off of them for about 4 months, with no sign of depressive symptoms recurring. I do reiterate that the process took time. Just as it takes time for body chemistry to become out of whack, it also takes time to restore it to normal.
So given my success with this course of treatment, I very recently started talking to Mary about a history of bronchial issues that I’ve has since I was a child. Allergy testes had revealed that I wasn’t allergic to anything, and I was surprised to learn that my years of congestion and coughing were most likely the result of acid reflux. And once again, Mary has steered me away from the conventional wisdom of western medicine that simple suggested that I take Prilosec. Instead, she has put me on a regimen of supplements for enzyme support in order to improve digestion, and within 2 weeks, I have noticed a great reduction in congestion and coughing.
I highly recommend Acu-Na Wellness Center and Mary Houge as a natural alternative to the so-called regular doctors. She takes the time to listen and to explain, whereas doctors typically write a prescription and get you out the door. (Plus, it turned out she provides the best massage treatments out of any practitioner I’ve ever visited!)
[Eric]
