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Edgar Cayce's Scleroderma Treatment: Case Studies
Summary
A 13 year old girl suffering from scleroderma with morphea (lesions on the skin) achieved reduction of symptoms within one month of starting a therapy recommended by Edgar Cayce and continued gradual improvement during a three year follow-up period.
Margie was a 13 year old girl who first came to the A.R.E. Clinic in October, 1980, with a diagnosis of scleroderma with morphea. Previous treatment by a dermatologist and family physician failed to provide results. Margie's parents were alarmed by the poor prognosis given for this progressively debilitating illness--an 80% chance of death within ten years--and were anxious to find help for their daughter.
In May, 1979, Margie's mother noticed a tiny spot on the skin overlying her upper breastbone. As it looked like ringworm, they applied some anti-fungal ointment and promptly forgot about it. In August, it was still present and had enlarged. Their family physician discovered a similar lesion on her back and agreed that it was fungal in origin. She did not respond to the medication he prescribed. Her hands became very sore, swollen, cracked, and bleeding.
In September, he referred her to a dermatologist who biopsied the lesion on her back and diagnosed morphea. He told them "it wasn't leprosy and it wasn't cancer, but it wasn't something you'd want for Christmas either." He gave her a dry skin cream for her hands and recommended vitamin E to slow down the morphea. Margie began to feel sick, fatigued, and complained of headaches and backaches often. Both hands and feet became affected.
The mother began reading all she could about morphea, and discovered that it is a disorder of connective tissue leading to fibrosis that involves the skin and a variety of internal organs, most notably the gastrointestinal tract, lungs, heart, and kidneys. There are many theories about its cause, but it is not yet well understood. The disease in the majority of patients is characterized by a prolonged, relentless course of progressive skin and/or organ involvement. Death ensues from cardiac, kidney, or lung involvement.
She read Adelle Davis' books on nutrition and made changes in Margie's diet. Junk foods were eliminated. Breakfast was a "pep-up drink" consisting of milk, brewer's yeast, dessicated liver, and wheat germ. The swelling and discomfort in her hands and feet resolved, but Margie continued to feel quite ill.
In October, 1980, they brought Margie to Dr. Gladys McGarey at the A.R.E. Clinic. Dr. Gladys found skin lesions on her chest, back, shoulder, hip, chest, cheek, and hand. The biopsy site on her back had not healed, but was an open weeping sore. The diagnosis of morphea was again confirmed by biopsy.
Margie's father is a minister. Wanting them to be fully informed about the Cayce material, Dr. Gladys had them read There is a River. The mother's comment then was, "I don't understand about reincarnation, but if this program will help, I'll do everything I can to help Margie get well."
They began the scleroderma program derived from the Cayce readings, using the scleroderma workbook developed by the Clinic. They followed the diet recommended especially for scleroderma, rubbed castor oil on the skin lesions every day, used Atomidine--one drop in half a glass of water every other day--abdominal castor oil packs six days a week followed by a back massage, and a full body massage on the seventh day. (The massage oil was equal parts of castor oil, peanut oil, and olive oil.) They had planned to use the Cayce wet cell battery one month later. She participated in ten sessions of biofeedback training to learn how to use autogenic exercises for deep relaxation and visualization of her lesions healing.
When she returned in one month, she was much better. Her back ached less, her joints felt better, and the lesions on her cheek and hand (the last two to arrive) had disappeared. Because she had responded so well, the wet cell was not used.
School was quite stressful and tiring for Margie. She stopped participating in physical education, but instead worked to help children in kindergarten through fourth grade. Her parents worked with her and the school in limiting her homework and ensuring her plenty of scheduled and unscheduled time.
As the youngest of eight children, the only child still at home, and the daughter of the church mimister, Margie was used to receiving much special attention and held the attitude that this treatment was her right. She had great faith in the Lord's healing power and decided that she would be healed "Zingo, the spots are all gone, and I'm well!" when she was asked. It was difficult for her when this instant healing did not occur. She didn't want to "have to mess with the diet" which she battled at first. She sneaked candy bars at school and complained much about the diet and castor oil packs. Finally, her mother told her, "I am doing all I can possibly do. I can't make you well, Margie. You are going to have to cooperate. It's your body and your aches." Some time later, Margie told her mother, "I've been praying about it. I'm sorry about my attitude. I'm not going to complain any more." A few months later she also shared, "I've made up my mind that even if I don't get well, I'm going to enjoy living."
Margie has continue to improve. The skin lesions (which were numb and silvery white with purple rings arround them) now appear only moderately discolored and are completely loose and moveable, with full feeling in all of them. The improvement in appearance has been documented with photographs.
Her fingers are completely mobile. She plays the piano very well. The family has learned to talk more about their feelings. Their support has solidified and grown. Margie has become more tolerant of others when they seem unpleasant--thinking "maybe they don't feel well, or something is bothering them." She takes pains to find out.
Although she is still on homebound schooling, she looks to the future, and her ambition is to become a nurse.
This case report was prepared in January, 1984, by Gladys McGarey, M.D., and Harvey Grady, Director of Research for the A.R.E. Clinic.
Summary
A 22 year old woman with scleroderma achieved significant relief from symptoms after five months of treatment with the Cayce therapies and continued gradual improvement during a 16 month follow-up.
Background
Terri was a 22 year old single woman when she came to the A.R.E. Clinic's Temple Beautiful Program in February, 1982. She arrived as the result of a scleroderma diagnosis elicited through clinical history and laboratory findings taken in her home town.
Terri had been living with a friend and had quit her job two weeks prior to her arrival at the Clinic. She had been an accomplished horsewoman who did competitive calf roping. Her condition made these activities too painful to continue, which was frightening to her. She feared becoming a cripple.
Terri first sought medical attention after experiencing two to three years of progressively worsening Raynaud's phenomena (a disease state mainly limited to the fingers and toes in which the blood vessels become constricted, usually from cold weather or emotional stimulus, resulting in intermittent pallor and blueing of the affected digits). Terri was also experiencing arthralgias (joint aches), particularly of the elbows and left knee, and sclerotic (thickening) changes of the upper extremities to the level of the mid-forearm and of the dorsum of the foot. Also noted at this time was decreased range of motion in the neck and in the shoulders.
Past medical history revealed hypothyroidism, indigestion, and tendencies toward depression as related by Terri. She was on no medications when seen at the clinic.
A physical exam performed at the Clinic revealed cold, sweaty, hands and feet, with hands that were also swollen and blue. The skin was thickened over the dorsum of the foot and the upper extremity. The shoulders were tight, demonstrating restricted motion.
Lab tests (which included a urinalysis, a complete blood count, and a SMAC (biochemical blood screen)) were within normal limits, with the exception of a low thyoid profile and elevated liver enzymes.
A therapy program was developed for Terri which consisted of daily exercise; dream work; attitude changes; prayer and meditation; the scleroderma diet; visualization; castor oil packs of the hands and feet every night; castor oil packs to the abdomen five nights a week; epsom salt baths once a week; glycothymoline in water used as a gargle; massage and hot baths; beef juice; enemas once a week; one drop of Atomidine in half a glass of water for six days a week; and 1500 mg a day of vitamin C.
ETA therapy was utilized four times, with Terri expressing a sense of relaxation of her body and "warmth" creeping back into her chilled extremities. A loosening of the constrictions in her throat, hands, and feet was also experienced. Pain was relieved during those sessions. Biofeedback training helped her learn how to relax and increase blood flow into her arms and legs, even during emotional stress.
She began to realize that she was a compulsive achiever, driving herself always to accomplish more. This realization reduced her drive to achieve to more reasonable levels. Terri followed her treatment program persistently and consistently, amazing her parents with her ability to care for herself. Her mother commented, "She is a different person."
When Terri left the Clinic to return to her home state after several weeks of treatment, she was experiencing more warmth in her extremities. She followed her treatment program well and at a five month check-up stated that her hands and feet were responding wonderfully. She was now able to reach around behind her back, a feat she had previously been unable to accomplish. The restriction in her throat had become quite minimal, and she proudly announced her ability to sing again. In addition to maintaining employment, she began to ride horses again, as the skin on her legs and hands improved. Terri rode in a rodeo 15 months after treatment began, feeling that she was physically almost as fit--and much wiser--than before her illness.
This case report was prepared by Harvey Grady in June, 1983.
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