One of my now most special clients had an interesting story.   She was extremely nervous, and had constant pain in her chest that had been diagnosed as an "inflamed esophagus".  Everything she ate "just sat there and burned".  Even at night she had to sleep sitting up.  the medication she had been given for this didn't help and caused her body to break out in a constantly itching rash.  She was extremely stressed out due to the pain, the drug reaction, to job upheavals, getting up three times a night to relieve herself, and to ease her back from having to sleep sitting up due to the chest pain.
    In desperation she went to her dermatologist about the rash.   The dermatologist said she had mite bites.  she had her entire house exterminated, to no avail.  She was still itching madly and the pain in the esophagus was intense. She was afraid to take any more medication for fear of further reactions.
    Next was an allergist.  He gave her more cortisone, seldane, which she told him didn't work because she had already been given that by her first doctor.  The doctor added Benadryl and said to try it again.   She was still itching.  Between scratches she also offered that she knew she had to lose at least 15 pounds.
    I did forewarn her, scratching myself, that the natural remedies worked considerably more slowly than drugs, but at that point she felt she had nothing to lose.  She began drinking 3 cups of Pau D'arco tea a day which amongst other things is a soothing anti-inflammatory.  She took cramp bark and red raspberry leaf tea in capsules, two times a day, and the homeopathic Antimonium Tartrate to loosen her cough.  I also suggested she eliminate all tomato products, sugar, and dairy products (except yogurt) from her diet.
    After 1 week the rash was gone.  After 2 weeks the cough was gone.  She slept lying down, and all the way through the night.   She had no more esophageal burning, felt calmer, and had taken herself off all medication (under physician supervision).  And, oh, she had shed 8 pounds and was still going strong.  We were having a wonderful time working together and have become very fond of each other.
    A couple of weeks later she saw her physician for her regular physical and he commented on how well she looked.  She told him of our work in regard to her diet and he commented that he supposed it could have been food allergies.  When she told him about the herbs he shouted, "I forbid you to take herbs, they can be toxic and you could have a bad reaction".  She is now looking for another physician.  I can't imagine why?