[Klara]

To Meg,

What a privilege to see you on this forum - I can't remember where I first read your story, but do remember being very moved. I thank you for making your blog available to all of us.

To Farign,

I remember my response to your post, and was hoping someone would help guide you. My first response was there's no point in my saying anything as she (not sure why I always think names I don't know are she's, sorry, are you she or he??) specifically wanted professional help. My second thought was she knew she was eating terribly, and yet says she "can't help it" so what could possibly help, if that's how she wants to continue to eat.

But good for you for persisting to ask, and I hope you take alot of what Meg wrote to heart. You said your problem of not being able to stop eating junk is a separate problem, but it isn't - it's all tied up together. I truly hope you don't wait til it gets much worse before you take your life seriously and do eat the better foods and do ditch that which has been making you feel so ill.

Meg mentioned there are no short cuts - for true health, a regular diet of grains, veggies, beans and other odds and ends (pickles, seeds, condiments, fruit if condition allows it) is the only way to regain health and remain in health.

But there are remedies that might (only might, depending on how badly the body has been mistreated) help ease some of your discomfort. Again, Farign, I am NOT a counselor, a teacher or anything professional - I only pass on this remedy from experience (and even that experience, thank goodness, hasn't happened in a long time) - are you familiar with a kudzu/ume drink??
Take one cup of COLD water (it must be cold) and thoroughly mix in one teaspoon kudzu (also spelt kuzu)- add 1/2 an umeboshi plum or 1/2 tsp. umeboshi paste, add a couple drops of shoyu - it shouldn't be too salty - mix it well and bring to a boil, constantly mixing - it should get thickish - when the color changes, becomes transparent, it's ready, taste and see if you want more umeboshi or more shoyu for it to be pleasant for your tastebuds. Again, not too salty. If you are not familiar with these ingredients, look above in this site for the store (or where it says shop online) - if you live in the States, all these products can be sent to you. If you live elsewhere, try to find them in a healthfood store.

But please please please do not go back to eating your old way - the remedy is not strong enough to deal with that kind of constant battering of the body.

Good luck, and have patience, the healthy food will do it's healing for you.

Klara