ALTERNATIVE HEALING
ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES TO HEAL THE EFFECTS OF RAPE

Speak Out! Does not endorse any of these therapies and receives no payment to list them, however, many of us have found healing through therapies like Reiki, massage, aromatherapy, reflexology and other treatments, as well as the use of herbal immune boosters.  

VITAMINS

After any violent crime incident, but in particular rape, you will often feel highly stressed, the condition of your hair and skin will deteriorate and you will feel tired and prone to illness. Eat more healthily with lots more fruit and crisply cooked vegetables, add brown rice and millet, and other fibre to your diet and avoid dairy products, sugar, white flour, fats, fried and processed foods.

Boost your vitamin intake. Some guidelines:
B Complex - helps in reproduction of cells (suggests high-stress, yeast-free formula)
B6 - deficiency linked to susceptibility to skin eruptions
Kelp - helps heal damaged tissues
Fatty acids (like evening primrose) - promotes lubrication of the skin
Vitamin E (400IU daily) - relieves itching and dryness
Zinc (not more than 100mg a day) - aids healing and enhances immune function (also great for reducing the time-span and symptoms of a cold)
Vit C - Stress depletes adrenal gland (anti-stress) hormones and this boosts their function
Calcium and Magnesium - Both lost in presence of stress
St Johns Wort - known as 'natural prozac', is anti-stress, anti-anxiety and anti-depressant (but shouldn't be taken on long-term basis because it depletes iron absorption)
Echinacea - not anti-stress as such but if you're stressed your immunity is compromised and you become prone to colds and flu, this boosts immunity and really works if taken when you're feeling low and vulnerable and others around you have colds or if you feel one coming on.
Some of these vitamins be a bit pricey if included as part of day-to-day long term intake (like evening primrose and B complex) but take them for a short-term boost when you're not on good form.
Echinacea and St John's Wort (Hypericum) are available at reasonable cost in tincture form (the best way to take them) from White's Chemist in Plein St, Cape Town who make up their own, and are also cheaper with some other products like Kelp (only about R10 a bottle of tablets) for example.

HERBAL IMMUNE BOOSTERS

There is no proof that these work, although many people swear by them.

*   Sharon Brett, who has multiple sclerosis markets a natural remedy, email: sharon brett llanga@icon.co.za
*   The researcher behind Moducare is:
HYPERLINK - http://www.sun.ac.za/profbouic

Prof Patrick JD Bouic, Head Immunology, Chief Specialist Scientist
Tygerberg Hospital

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