Nurture Your Own

Hi! haven’t been posting for a month! My apologies for the long delay partly due to computer problems and busy with other things! This is a continuation of my earlier post Bilateral Isokinematic Therapy (BIT) and today I would like to introduce the use of Motor Imagery in stroke-rehab.

Motor imagery (MI) is the mental representation of movement without any body movement. Abundant evidence on the positive effects of motor imagery practice on motor performance and learning in athletes, people who are healthy, and people with neurological conditions (eg, stroke, spinal cord injury, Parkinson disease) has been published.

An advantage of MI is that patients can practice it independently during the regeneration phase between two physical therapy sessions. MI can also be practiced in all stages of stroke recovery. In an early stage of recovery, MI allows patients to mentally practice a task which they cannot yet carry out physically due to motor impairment. However, it has not been determined yet, when it is best to start with MI.

The Video Links given below are the routine MI and BIT exercises that Rock goes through daily! The use of the mirror is to create the artificial impression to her brain that her affected hand is moving in tandem with her good hand! In a way this is also considered Bilateral Isokinematic in a sense. There are in total 8 Videos of different exercises involved and you may watch each specific exercise to get a better understanding of how it is done. These Videos were recorded at the University Hospital Stroke Rehab Clinic with the kind permission of Puan Noorieni the Chief Physiotherapist there. Hope these Videos are helpful to other caregivers who want to use them at home but you need to purchase or make those accessories yourself. Thank-you.

Exercises that Rock did since 2005 … 3 times a day with each exercise lasting an hour or more.

1. Motor Imagery – Wrist Rotation Exercise.
2. Motor Imagery – Wrist Up-down Exercise.
3. Motor Imagery – Wrist Open-close Exercise.
4. Weight Bearing Exercise.
5. Bilateral Isokinematic – Elbow Exercise.
6. Bilateral Isokinematic – Fingers Exercise.
7. Bilateral Isokinematic – Wrist Up-down Exercise.
8. Bilateral Isokinematic Relaxation Procedures.

Dear friends

If you are visiting this blog for the first time, a warm welcome.

To all you wonderful people who are regulars here, it is nice to be back. I’m right now waiting to catch a flight to visit one of my patients. I’m sitting here in the lounge feeling nice and good because of some recent development.

Old Lady in Singapore Walks Again After Being Immobile for 12 Months!

One of the many reasons that convinced me to write for NurtureYourOwn is because of Vivienne, also one of the co-writers of this blog. For the last few months, I was helping with her mother’s recovery as the old lady was paralysed after a spinal surgery in July 2007. Unlike some 75-year old women who would simply give up due to old age and failing health, Vivienne’s mother yearned to walk again. Her wishes were simple. She just wanted to do simple things on her own … like walking to the bathroom without the wheelchair, able to walk a few steps to the kitchen to fetch a cup of waters, etc. Things that we took for granted. Things that physically-challenged folks see as a luxury.

After treating her for 3 months from 18 April 2008, the old lady recently rewarded me on 25 July by standing up and walked 10 paces with a walking frame. She did it with much difficulty and effort on her part, and it was really heart warming to see her walk out from her room. She couldn’t walk for the past 12 months. And, she only managed to stand in June, yet in July, she could walk. Since helping myself to recover and walk from paralysis in 2003, seeing miracles is a major joy of my work in treating the impossibles or incurables. I knew what it is like being paralysed and I like to help people like Vivienne’s mother.

If you know of anyone who is paralyzed for less than 12 months – from any kind of physical injury, nerve compression, cauda equina syndrome, stroke and unsuccessful surgery, feel free to contact me for evaluation. I will not promise the impossible. I only treat patients whom I have at least 80% confidence to heal.

Recently my mind is very busy with 3 cases which their respective specialists used the term “incurable”. One is Motor Neuron Disease and another is Poly Myositis, both are degenerative nerve disorder. The last case is a young 15-year old patient with scoliosis of 68% deviation where surgery is indicated necessary.

There’s Hope for a Malaysian Medical Doctor who was said to be incurable with Poly Myositis

The patient with Poly Myositis (a nerve disorder where the muscles waste away, and she is slowly but definitely losing her ability to walk) is a lady OB GYN Specialist based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Her husband is also a medical doctor, a Gastroenterology Specialist. They both made my day when they said that every medical doctor should have a wellness specialist like me to take care of their health.

I only treated the Poly Myositis patient for 2 sessions on 13 July and 14th July 2008.She rewarded me with a wide beaming smile, as she realized that there might be hope for her condition after exhausting all medical options for the past 3 years. As a doctor herself, she was deeply disappointed and frustrated when her doctors told her hers was an “incurable disease”. All these years, She helped and is continuing to support and give life to other and yet no one was able to help her when her own life is withering.

By 15 October 2008, I will be able to share with you all whether, I am successful in preventing further deterioration with her condition and be able to give her a permanent solution to her Poly Myositis.

My 14-year old Patient has grown taller despite severe scoliosis

The 68% scoliosis 14 years old boy has grown taller on 26 July 2008, since starting treatment less than 30 days ago on 5 July 2008. Wow. Cool. His father said if I can improve his son’s deviation to 48% within a year, that will be a miracle. Because most of the doctors they talked to, said its “impossible”. I want to make “impossible” becomes “possible”. Not just for fun, though it will be fun seeing the little boy became healthier and taller with each passing day. Definitely not due to pride or ego but it is fulfilling to see a boy grows into a man.

All the above 3 cases … I do not use invasive drugs nor surgeries. I don’t just use one treatment protocols, I used several, For those who are keen to know the modalities I used, please check out my earlier post by clicking here.

Now, I got a new case on knee. That prompted me thinking, “Is knee pain/degeneration really irreversible and knee replacement surgery the only option?

As I mentioned in my previous posting I have great respect for Mainstream Western Medicine, and I belief that future high quality patient care lies in Integrative Medicine.

However, I am often baffle when, after management of knee pain for many years, the patient is finally told that they will need a knee replacement surgery. Patients who managed to see me and I am able to reverse the surgery in most cases that I take on.

For those of you who are concerned about whether you will have a knee problem when you are in your sixties, should see me for an evaluation if you are above 35 yrs now. An examination now will show whether you will be a prospect for knee replacement surgery 20-25 years later.

Ok got to go board my flight now. We’ll catch up again. Contact me if you like.

Warmest Regards
Doctor Bob Koh

Read related post from/about Dr Bob Koh:

Doctor Who Cheated Death Devotes Entire Life to Healing Without Invasive Drugs/Surgeries

Alternative Treatment Stopped Cancer Cells from Growing Under 2 Weeks!

Hair Analysis Results Prove Cancerous Cells Turn Benign in 2 weeks!

An Open Letter to Doctors from Dr Bob Koh

Welcome Our Latest Writer, Dr Bob Koh

It’s the finicky elusive well-sought-after & the highly-priced Flaxseed SPROUT.
(I am sorry, the much celebrated flaxseed OIL or flaxseed POWDER don’t cut it.)

Want to know why?

1. Eczema is an allergic reaction & the omega 3 essential fatty acids (EFA) in flaxseed SPROUTS help by tuning up the immune response, ‘scavenge’ some of the allergens from the blood, brings suppleness and a youthful appearance to the skin & grow healthy cell membranes.

2. Though we do get enough EFA from our regular diet from all the unsaturated oils that we consume. BUT they are all PREDOMINANTLY of Omega 6 type. Now that is a grave imbalance because we need much more of our EFA to be of Omega 3 type. The current omega 6 to omega 3 ratio in our diet ranges from 10:1 to 20:1 or worse. Ideally it should be between 1:1 to 4:1. Now isn’t that a big gap?

And to make things worse, the excess omega 6 competes with whatever little omega 3 we do have in our diet. So even lesser of the omega 3 EFA that we eat actually gets through our guts.

3. That isn’t the end of the story – almost all of this unsaturated oils (with all the omega 3 or 6) are consumed AFTER cooking. Now cooking is an oxidative process which oxidizes most if not all of the (weaker) carbon double bonds which make the oil unsaturated. In other words what we are left with after cooking is not actually oil but some other chemical (oxidized oil) which our body has no use for. It produces cholesterol plaque & other problems… but that’s a different story.

4. Flaxseed is one of the richest natural sources of omega 3 EFAs – better than even fish/ cod liver oil which is usually concentrated with heavy metal poisons. As a matter of fact he FDA recommends limiting consumption of certain fishes (ex. tuna, swordfish etc) due to high levels of toxic contaminants such as mercury, dioxin, PCBs and chlordane.

5. It is totally vegetarian – which means it’s holistically healthier (Well, if you are still harbouring any doubts about that then do sign up for my mailing list; I’ll settle that for you in due course – once and for all).

But then what’s wrong with flax-seed powder?

Simply because it has lots of enzyme-inhibitors (just like any other raw seed) which heavily interfere with it’s digestion once ingested.

Well, what about flax-seed oil then?

Again, None of the oils are easy to digest because the extreme heat used while extracting them denatures the fatty acids & destroys some of the nutrients needed to digest them properly. It also converts some of the oil components into free radicals. And cold pressed flax-seed oil will have their anti-enzymes intact – which will not let your enzymes digest the oil properly. If it is not even organic certified then it has pesticides, hexane (or an alternative petroleum based solvent) & possibly other additives. This has been proven in nutritive research.

All oils are best assimilated in their native state ie as part of their native source food. This makes available whatever other nutrients (cofactors, vitamins, minerals etc) we need to metabolize them inside our cells. This whole family of accessory nutrients are present in the right ratio in the ‘living foods’ alongwith the oil. (raw unsprouted seeds are not fully alive – they are hibernating. A sprout is vigorously alive).

Does that leave us with just one option?

Unless you can get hold of Chia seeds to sprout. It’s best to SPROUT them (flaxseeds or Chia) regularly for a certain specific duration (as prescribed) so that the enzyme-inhibitors are gotten rid of. And then eat them raw – sprinkled over salad or something like that. By that time the growing sprout will be be all-rich with the exact other nutrients & enzymes NEEDED to completely process & assimilate the OMEGA 3 EFA in them.

And btw, they are fully ORGANIC (as long as you grow them following my process) & most economical & effective as compared to all other alternatives.

Hey, but did I tell you that flaxseeds (& Chia) are some of the most difficult sprouts to grow? Well, given the upside potential if you succeed with it, I am sure you will still give it a fair try or alternatively let me get you up to speed in no time; Guaranteed!

Now, before you go – please eat them ONLY IN MODERATION because just like many other common foods – they may harm you if taken in excess (I have mentioned the exact daily quantity in my package).

Wait! Wait!! One last thing. There are a few other good (natural, vegetarian, organic, cheap, actually digestible) sources of Omega 3 EFA as well – more about them in my package.

I generally don’t recommend any supplements if you can lay your hands on the natural foods with a li’l more extra effort. The benefits comparatively far outshine the initial ‘trouble’. You gotta try it to know.

Flax away that eczema!

The weight-loss conundrum
A heart patient’s prescription (& your’s too…)
The BIGGEST deterrent to Strokes (& many other chronic maladies)
Is this how YOUR blood looks like?
Sprouts for body-building?

“If I’d known I was gonna live this long. I’d have taken better care of myself.”

by Eubie Blake (At Age 100), 1883-1983, American Song Writer, Composer

For people who’s keen to know why organic food is great for our body. Read what Mike Selvon got to say:

Organic food health benefits are debated more than ever. With people demanding to buy organic food more, researchers are tying to find the benefits and risks of eating organically.

Sometimes researchers have said that the organic food health benefits are really nonexistent, while with other studies, multiple benefits have been found. By researching organic foods, a person can find the real story about organic food health benefits.

Organic food health benefits may begin with the debate of the nutrition level of certified organic food versus regularly grown food. Depending on what information is read, different information is given.

According to the research on organic food that the New York Times did in 2003, their report was that “recent preliminary evidence suggests that the levels of certain nutrients, especially vitamin C, some minerals and some polyphenols — naturally occurring antioxidants that may help bolster the immune system — are higher in organically grown crops.”

This comment alone reinforces such food health benefits that a person can gain by eating fresh organic food.

Outside organic growing, many farmers, in order to have their plants grow larger and more bountiful, add pesticides and toxins. Such food health benefits stem from the lack of these toxins and pesticides.

Pesticides have been linked to making people ill, and can cause a person to avoid fresh vegetables that are needed for an overall healthy diet. Toxins in the body can cause problems such as headaches and tremors.

Because organic food health benefits help reduce the risk of these undesirable benefits, natural and organic food should be definitely taken into consideration when choosing foods.

One particular such food health benefit occurs when the additives that are found in almost all foods are not used. Organic food production prohibits the use of food additives such as preservatives, artificial sweeteners, and hydrogenated fat.

This in itself is excellent for all people but especially children. The less artificial sweeteners that children can be exposed to the better according to most doctors.

Organic food health benefits are numerous. Debates rage as to what exact benefits organically grown food can offer the public. Some claim that the nutrient levels are higher, others say they are the same.

But one thing is for sure. Organically grown food offers little to no pesticides, and this can help everyone be healthier. No matter whether studies are right in linking certain ailments to pesticides or not, even children can gain from such food health benefits.

Because of the lack of artificial ingredients, children can be healthier and happier. This fact alone is enough to make anyone start enjoying fresh organic food.

Additional Reading: Organic Food Gardening Beginners’ Manual

“The concept of total wellness recognizes that our every thought, word, and behavior affects our greater health and well-being. And we, in turn, are affected not only emotionally but also physically and spiritually.”

– Greg Anderson, American Author of ”The 22 Non-Negotiable Laws of Wellness”

Having eczema on the body is bad enough. Can you imagine having it on the face and especially around the fragile and sensitive eye area.

Eczema eyes is a condition where a person develops eczema around their eyes. This can be both uncomfortable and embarrassing. So, if you have eczema eyes, you would probably like to find a way to clear them up.

According to health reporter cum writer, Janet Simpson, the ordinary aloe vera can be a great ailment.

How?

The most obvious way is to apply Aloe Vera gel to your eczema eyes as the plant is an excellent moisturizing agent. It also reduces pain and itching into the bargain.

The not so obvious way is to consume Aloe Vera, that is taking it internally.

Why? Janet said:

Drinking Aloe Vera juice is a great way to help your eczema eyes heal. It may seem like an indirect approach. After all, gel is a good moisturizer and pain reliever, but Aloe Vera juice can do things that gel cannot.

For instance, Aloe Vera juice can help to naturally cleanse your system. It can remove toxins brought about by external pollution sources, as well as poor eating habits. If your internal system is healthier, your skin will be too, including your eczema eyes.

Aloe Vera juice also has ingredients in it which strengthen the elastin and collagen in your skin. Those are what give your skin its smooth, yet stretchy texture. By strengthening them, you can avoid signs of aging, such as wrinkles and also cure skin conditions, like eczema eyes.

Also Yulia Berry also written about Aloe – Your Miracle Doctor. Interestingly, she mentioned that Organized medicine and pharmacology have not embraced Aloe, because it cannot be patented and its usage threatens literally hundreds of prescription and non-prescription drugs

There are a host of other reasons why Aloe Vera juice is good for you. So, if you’ve tried everything else, or if you simply prefer to take a hollistic approach to medicine, try Aloe Vera juice. It is good for you and can help you to fix your eczema eyes and avoid irritation, discomfort and embarrassing situations.

Additional Reading on Experts’ Views on Eczema

• Eczema Free Forever by Rachel Anderson
• Beat Eczema Now by Susan Clark
• Eczema Diet Secrets by Evelyn Lim
• Cure Child Eczema byAudrey Lynn

Additional Reading on “Homemade Eczema Treatment” by Vivienne Quek

• Homemade Eczema Treatment (10) Milk
• Homemade Eczema Treatment (9) Almond Oil with Vitamin E
• Homemade Eczema with Oolong Tea
• Homemade Eczema Treatment 8: Cure Eczema Eyes with Aloe Vera
• Homemade Eczema Treatment (7): Butter
• Homemade Eczema Treatment (6): Mango Peels
• Homemade Eczema Treatment (5) – Wheatgrass
• Homemade Eczema Treatment (4) – Watermelon & Coconut Oil
• Homemade Eczema Treatment (3) – Crisco
• Homemade Eczema Treatment (2) – Ice Therapy
• Homemade Eczema Treatment (1) – Oatmeal

“Health is the thing that makes you feel that now is the best time of the year.”

– Franklin P. Adams 1881-1960, American Journalist, Humorist

Have not been writing here for quite a while and I have received some emails from well-meaning friends querying on my whereabout.

I am working on two very serious cases right now.

One of them is a 50 years plus woman who has a rare disease called Motor Neuron Disorder. All the neurologists she had seen said her condition was incurable! When I first saw her, she already lost half her speech capability and she couldn’t even lift up her hands.

The other tough case involves a 14-year old student with a serious scoliosis of 68 degrees deviation. There is no solution in western medicine except surgery, which may have other side effects and has risks.

My sons asked me to retire because I do not need to practice to earn a living any more. However, healing people and seeing them recovering is such an immense joy that I’m willing to put in my time and efforts. Especially when the cases are challenging. The more challenging, the more I can contribute and serve.

The two categories of patients that I will treat are

• those where I have more than 80% chance of success, and
• on cases where mainstream western-trained doctors said they are incurable.

I have treated many conditions such as Endometriosis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), successfully where doctors in mainstream medicine has no solution for.

Why am I so passionate about healing the sick and incurable?

Let me share my personal story … You are most welcome to share with me on your views on how I can serve humanity and mankind even better.

Since the 1970s, I have been a wellness and health consultant focusing on diet and proper food preparations, as many people unintentionally but inevitably eat their way to sickness and disease.

… because I had about 6 months to live back in December 1989

Can you imagine my shock and surprise, when I developed a serious case of acute hepatitis, ( my SGOT/GPT was in the 3000s) on Dec 1989. My doctor told me and my alarmed family that I could be in a state of coma at any time, and I most probably have only 6 months to live. Even if I survived the ordeal, I would have extreme high risk for liver cirrhosis, liver cancer etc. (more…)

Not all fats are fat for our skin. In fact, I have mentioned that there’s 5 Healthy Fats to Combat Eczema. Still, some of the foods we eat is down right bad for us. Junk foods and highly processed foods for instance. Certain oils are also detrimental to ourskin health if eaten in excess and should be avoided at all cost. Cooked and/or processed oil should be avoided like the plague. Whenever oil is cooked, trans-fatty acids are created and these are one of the most destructive elements of a cooked diet.

According to health writer/reporter, Janet Simpson, trans-fatty acids do nothing to improve your eczema or your general good health.

#1 – Trans-fatty acids cause the body to age and degenerate at an alarming rate, especially your skin. They produce damaging free radicals.

#2 – Trans-fatty acids are difficult to digest.

#3 – They interfere with cell respiration and the function of the immune system. A strong, healthy immune system is paramount in your fight against eczema.

#4 – Trans-fatty acids have a tendency to interfere with blood insulin function.

#5 – Trans-fatty acids interfere with the liver detoxification process. They interfere with the liver enzymes and optimal balance is diminished.

#6 – Trans-fatty acids change the fluidity of cell membranes, they make them harder and slowing down their reactions, lowering vitality and making cells membranes weaker.

Eczema causes excruciating itch but even dermatologists discouraged prolonged usage of steroids, so you may want to start your healing process by experimenting some home-made treatments or by checking out Eczema Free Forever by Rachel Anderson or  Janet’s Simpson’s “Cure Your Eczema in 14 Days”.

“The way to keep your health is to eat what you don’t want, drink what you don’t like, and do what you’d rather not.”

by Mark Twain (1835-1910), U.S. humorist, writer, and lecturer.

OK, I haven’t try this out and so I cannot validate that this works. However, according to an unspecified contributer at Home Remedies, she said:

“I … pray for me so that i could get rid of my eczema. The next day somehow a stick of butter had gotten on my table and I thought to myself, this must be a sign. Now my eczema is completely cleared because I rub a stick of butter on my skin everyday!

If you are also suffering from eczema, and didn’t want to consumer or apply excessive steroids, you should check out some more home remedy treatments as well as reading other experts’ views on the subject. Appended below are some informative links: Janet Simpson is a health writer and reporter suffering from eczema while Evelyn Lim talked about her diet secret to combat eczema.

Additional Reading on Experts’ Views on Eczema

• Eczema Free Forever by Rachel Anderson
• Beat Eczema Now by Susan Clark
• Eczema Diet Secrets by Evelyn Lim
• Cure Child Eczema byAudrey Lynn

Additional Reading on “Homemade Eczema Treatment” by Vivienne Quek

• Homemade Eczema Treatment (10) Milk
• Homemade Eczema Treatment (9) Almond Oil with Vitamin E
• Homemade Eczema with Oolong Tea
• Homemade Eczema Treatment 8: Cure Eczema Eyes with Aloe Vera
• Homemade Eczema Treatment (7): Butter
• Homemade Eczema Treatment (6): Mango Peels
• Homemade Eczema Treatment (5) – Wheatgrass
• Homemade Eczema Treatment (4) – Watermelon & Coconut Oil
• Homemade Eczema Treatment (3) – Crisco
• Homemade Eczema Treatment (2) – Ice Therapy
• Homemade Eczema Treatment (1) – Oatmeal

I wish I had read this article by writer cum health reporter, Janet Simpson, many years ago when I first discovered the skin rashes on my legs was eczema. I probably would have freed myself from the excruciating itch and pain. She said these are the first few steps a sufferer should take to make life easier:

1. Stopped eating all dairy products. Some people will find their skin itch even more after taking cheese, milk, yoghurt and cream products.

2. Eat at least one meal that consisted of 65% raw foods. Basically a huge salad that contained bean sprouts, pumpkins seeds, vegetables, salads and a healthy salad dressing. After a short you should feel and see the difference in your skin.

3. Drink at least two large raw vegetable juices every day. This could be organic spinach, carrots, celery, ginger and cucumber. The objective is to cleanse and rejuvenate your body on a regular basis.

4 . Eat a lot more bean sprouts as they contain skin healthy, vital enzymes. They are easy to germinate or you can buy them from any good health store. (Click the link to find out a list of sprouts)

5. Eat healthy fats like Avocados and Flax Seeds amongst other. (Click the link to find out more on healthy fats)

These 2 experts shared their views on eczema. Evelyn Lim even compile an eczema diet book which you might want to refer on top of what Janet Simpson has recommended here.

Additional Reading on Experts’ Views on Eczema

• Eczema Free Forever by Rachel Anderson
• Beat Eczema Now by Susan Clark
• Eczema Diet Secrets by Evelyn Lim
• Cure Child Eczema byAudrey Lynn