Cataplexy/Narcolepsy and Natural Healing Methods

A member writes:  

I am working with someone who has cataplexy/narcolepsy.   I have seen that  this person has had much trauma in her life.  When it becomes more than she can bear, she removes herself from her body (either she astral projects or goes to her subconscious mind). 

She is very psychic and sees auras and pictures from people.  It is difficult for her to be around more than a few people at a time.  She has little or no control of her emotions or fear responses.  I have begun teaching her to control her mind through breathing, meditation and mental exercises.  She is a very gifted student.  

She has children and they are each presentingvarying degrees of the same symptoms.  There has been much progress in a very short time.    As we have begun eliminating fear and they are learning to control their emotions.     

However, the mom, who has the most severe symptom of cataplexy/narcolepsy, is taking very strong medication.  The neurologists have given her prescription GHB (the date rape drug) to go to sleep at night and then theygive her Aderol, a strong amphetamine, to wake up and stay awake during the day.  

I have seen her on and off the medication and they do lessen thesymptoms and number of episodes.  But they are taking their toll on her mind and spirit.  She has a sincere desire to heal this entirely.

I am asking for any suggestions you might have for oils or herbs that might bridge her building the self control to learning to sleep at night and wake up in the morning that would let her get off the GhB and Aderol.  

I do have a few possibilities to suggest after reading this.

Essential oils that may help her bridge this transition include, 

• Combination of Lavender & bitter orange--inhaled from an inhaler; lavender to relax and decrease anxiety and bitter orange to get her insides moving; restlessness on the outside often indicates internal stagnation, or inner paralysis, which this combination would help.

• Rose and styrax, can gently help to open the mind, and restore the senses to a neutral place.

• Borneol is a Chinese remedy for opening the orifices; helping to clear when we have blocked the senses due to trauma and we no longer choose to see, hear, touch, taste, smell everything that life has to offer. Thyme ct borneol may help greatly to awaken the desire to be alive again, and help dissolve the original trauma that originated the moment of choice to "escape". It should be used intentionally, and not for a long period of time. It could be a wonderful oil for applying to the energy centers or to the body, when the time is right to help release this old traumatic causal pattern. I would suggest blending it with rose and styrax (or whatever spirit guides you to use), to support and balance its effect if using it as a body oil during this type of healing.

There are some other points that are important to add. One is SUPPORT; as you know, this person has not experienced real support in life, and can not let it in. An herbal tonic will help her receive what she can not receive from humans and the world at this time.

It should be formulated to provide both nourishment and support for her spirit to come all the way into the body and live there; she may also need toclear heat and restlessness from all the internal organs--which will help her sleep. See the recipes below.

I found a couple of these recipes from colleagues who have worked with this type of condition. Two are my own recipes from working with people who were prone to seizure like episodes, as a means of leaving their body to control what they experience. In both cases, it manifested as a response to a violent trauma from the past (in one case, repeated violence in the home), which initiated the agreement with this dis-ease.

• To promote restful sleep during transition: Inhaler with lavender, bitter orange, and maybe even one of the other insomnia essential oils, to be used just as she gets into bed, and kept by the bedside to use in the night if she needs it.

• To create a new climate in the digestive system so that she can "digest and metabolize" life's experiences, and the information received through the senses: Eat at least one tablespoon of fermented foods with every meal. She can try any fermented foods from the health food store--miso, Veggie Delight, Sauerkraut, Bubbies pickles. If she is the kind of person who will want to make her own, here is a link to a great website with lots of recipes: http:// nourishedkitchen.com/   She may also explore taking Five-lac or RAW Women's probiotic--not permanently, but just for several months as she makes this transition.

• To nourish and support, provide the body with extra nutrients not available in our foods, and the energetic support to leave her old friends (the drugs): 3 different recipes to try:

◦ Clearing Anxiety and Anchoring Spirit Formula: With 2 quarts of water, simmer these Chinese herbs, 2 teaspoons each of bulk herbs: Poria (Fu Ling); Polygonum multiflori root (He shou wu); Coptis rhizome, Gardenia flower, Pinella rhizome (Ban xia); Polygala; Sweet flag. Simmer for 15 minutes. Strain and add 4 drops of bitter orange or clementine orange (second choice) essential oil and 3 Tablespoons honey after the formula has cooled. Store in refrigerator for up to 10 days. Take 4 oz. daily.

◦ Dissolve Seizure Pattern Formula: Follow the same procedure, using these herbs instead. Skullcap rt. (Scutellaria); Chamomile flowers; Pueraria (Ge gen); Passion flower; Oats; Gotu kola (Centella); and Concentrace minerals-20 drops, added with honey and 2 drops each of lavender, orange, and cassia essential oils.

◦ Another recipe from a colleague for the same condition: Make a decoction of St. Johnswort; Kava kava; Oats or Ge gen; Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcii); Scull cap; Chamomile flowers; Shizandra berries; Vanilla and Bitter orange essential oils. This one can be really helpful if sleep is also disrupted.

◦ And yet another recipe: Bupleurum; Skull cap; Pinella (Ban xia); American ginseng; Oyster shell or coral calcium; Cinnamon bark or twig; Poria (Fu ling); Red jujube dates; Gardenia flower. No essential oils were added to this one.

◦ Each of the above can be used for months at a time, as they are mainly tonic herbs that nourish the organs and systems. Dosage can be around 4 oz. daily. Only use one of these formulas, and if one is working keep using it. If you are not satisfied with the results, try another recipe. I would definitely test her body with muscle testing, or have her hold each herb and get a psychic read on its energy--somehow bring her into the process so she can begin to trust herself and know that she has control and choice over what she is taking in.

I know that this seems like a lot of expense for one's recovery, yet I sincerely believe that she should not try to wean herself off of the drugs without providing all of these pieces and getting them in place before she does it. They will make a huge difference in ease and potential for success!

Another piece of the puzzle to consider, (which I am sure you are already putting in place), is to have her go through a completion process with the drugs she is taking. In my eyes, these drugs (although potentially very damaging!) have become her friends and helpers--probably the only beings that she could rely on to help with these symptoms until she found you, and began to reclaim her health.

She may want to acknowledge all that these friends have done for her, and the service they provided, AND state her choice to move on and take over the responsibility for her health. She can ask for their help through the transition, in knowing how to gradually let them go, what to replace them with, and how quickly or slowly to proceed. This way the drugs have been honored on a spirit level, and there is more likelihood that she will have ease in the process of letting them go.

There was quite a bit more to this story, which has been edited out to protect anonymity. I believe that readers can get a good idea of the situation and SOME of the steps to healing this condition. If other readers have worked with cataplexy/narcolepsy or any similar seizure conditions, please do share your comments.

Many blessings! Kathryn