Kombucha vs. Lupus

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Kombucha vs. Lupus

"I THINK KOMBUCHA IS A REAL MIRACLE"

By Ariana Estelle-Symons, Ph.D., Copyright 1997

From the Kombucha

Konnection Newsletter, April 1997

 

 

 

At least once a week I hear from someone that suffers from Lupus,

asking if I have any 'good news' for them regarding the effects of

Kombucha on people with this condition. So, for those of you that have

Lupus or know someone who does - here's some good news!

The following comes from the publication, 'Heliogram, Official

Publication of the Lupus Network', March, 1997 Issue. The author has

given us permission to publish her letter in the Kombucha Konnection.

KOMBUCHA - THE MIRACLE TEA

"I have been suffering with debilitating lupus for 3 years. Going to

doctors and searching for a cure. I had extreme weakness and pain in my

upper arms and upper legs. I also had muscular pain throughout my whole

body. All my joints were involved, especially my shoulders and hips.

The disease also affected my thyroid and I was diagnosed with Graves

disease and Exothalamus disease (a disease involving the muscles around

the eyes - they bulge - and it causes double vision and even loss of

vision). I had surgery to help with the eye disease and the dry eye.

I also have neurological symptoms such as numbness in the hands and

arms and my feet and legs. I fall very easily and very often. I had

terrible blinding migraine headaches. My short and long term memory

were also affected. Some days I could not remember from one moment to

the next. I had a difficult time carrying on a conversation and could

not express myself the way I was used to doing. This made dealing with

medical staff very frustrating. They were very condescending and

ignorant. Before I became ill, I worked with people with mental

retardation and I saw how people treated them like second class

citizens. But being in their shoes was the worst experience I have had

in my entire life.

My lungs were also affected. I was diagnosed with asthma and it

seemed to get worse instead of better, even with treatments. The

slightest thing would bring on an attack (smoke, cool air, perfumes).

I had multiple muscle spasms in my back and shooting nerve pain down

my arms and down my legs. I was so weak and fatigued, I could hardly

walk. Many days I did not even have the strength to get out of bed. I

had to move into a first floor apartment. I needed help with every

aspect of my life. Thank God for the support of my friends and family.

Life was hard but we were adjusting to it.

Then one day in March of '95 my mother told my sister to tape the

Maury Pauvich show . After my sister reviewed the tape, she called and

was very excited about Kombucha Tea. They said it was very helpful with

immune disorders such as arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and asthma, to

name a few. At this particular time I had been dealing with the

symptoms from lupus I described before for 3 years with no relief from

any of the medications or vitamin therapy or physical therapy that I

had tried. So I was really open to the whole idea. The only trouble was

finding the mushroom. At this time it was only available on the West

coast. Coincidentally, I had a very close friend going to California

for a vacation, So we recruited her help. She, being one of the best

persons on this planet, brought me the tea with no problem. It has

changed my life. For the better, of course!

A few days after drinking Kombucha, I began to get more energy. The

congestion and pain in my chest subsided and my asthma attacks have

lessened. I was basically bedridden when I first began the tea. In fact

my sister had to prepare the tea for me for the first few months. But I

began to get stronger, both mentally and physically, and with the help

of a professional and lot of hard work, my memory has been restored.

I still have bouts with the lupus and I still struggle, but the

Kombucha Tea definitely helps. I will NOT do without it. I am much

better today than I have been and years, and I attribute that to the

Kombucha Tea.

I also use the tea as a toner and moisturizer. You're probably well

aware of the havoc lupus plays on your skin. So I keep a small bottle

in my medicine chest and apply it to my face and my arms where I have

eczema. It makes your skin nice and soft and definitely lessens those

nasty wrinkles. I don't know why it works, but it does. I have even put

it directly on the lupus rash and it has calmed it down. If you decide

to try this, just remember to shake the bottle up periodically or you

will grow a little mushroom on the top of the bottle.

Kombucha Tea is very versatile. I have read that you can give a few

drops to your dog or cat and it will help them with their health and

their coats. So, after many months of self-experimentation, I gave my

Crystal (my kitty-cat friend) a taste. She loves it. I give it to her

once a day in her water and she will drink up the Kombucha water more

readily than the plain water. She hasn't been sick since we started

taking the Kombucha and her fur is as soft as silk, and she has no more

fur balls.

There has been a lot of controversial media coverage about Kombucha.

But in my opinion, it is perfectly safe if produced in a clean and

sanitary manner. I have never gotten sick from it and it seems to agree

with all my medications. I am presently on Plaquenil, prednisone,

Calan, Tapazole, Levoxinne, Zoloft, Ambien, Claritan, Vanceril, Ultram,

potassium, Alupent, and Prevacid. I am also on several vitamins: a

multivitamin, Vitamin E, cod liver oil, calcium, B6, B5, B12,

B-complex, lecithin, manganese, zinc, and Vitamin C. The Kombucha is

complimentary to all my medicines and it doesn't lessen their

effectiveness - it probably enhances them.

I usually drink my Kombucha in the morning because it does give me

energy. I am afraid if I drink it at night, I will have a hard time

falling asleep. Although there have been nights I drank a glass before

bedtime and I have slept like a baby. That within itself is a miracle

since I am also plagued with sleeplessness due to the lupus.

Today Kombucha is much easier to get hold of than when I first heard

about it. Many people have Kombucha and would be happy to give you a

mushroom. So if you are interested, ask your friends and neighbors if

they know anyone who drinks Kombucha and brews it themselves. I think

you'll be surprised how many people are into this miracle mushroom. If

you still cannot find a mushroom, you can purchase one from Harmonic

Harvest, P.O. Box 82, Harwood, TX 78632.

I think Kombucha is a real miracle. It may not be a cure for lupus,

but it helps with many of the symptoms. It has been the best medicine I

have taken and it is very tasty too. Good luck with your Kombucha and I

hope and pray it creates a miracle for you like it has for me. Have a

drink to your health."