Diagnosed with as symptomatic with HD in 1994 Antoinette knows the fear and how hard it is to get through some days. Here are some of the things that work for her. You might find something that could help you.

To help her sleep she uses three drops of essential oil of chamomile on her pillow each night. The smell of chamomile relaxes her and wakes up with no groggy side effects. The essential oil of orange blossoms will work just as well.

After crying for days upon learning she was symptomatic, she thought it was time to try some St John’s Wort tea that a friend had recommended as an anti-depressant. She brewed a cup, and after 20 minutes the panic had lifted and she could breathe again and she knew she could cope.

Antoinette carries tension in her shoulders and back. A massage takes the knots out so she can function more fully.

Her daughter says not to forget humour. Humour is very serious business and you must make it your duty to laugh at least once a day. And do not to forget the dog. It has been proven that they are good for our health. Simply stroking a dog will reduce your blood pressure. Not to mention what happiness when you look deep into those loving eyes. Taking it for a walk helps to give you much of the exercise you need.

One of her cousins suggested Ginkgo Biloba, a Chinese herb thought to oxygenate the brain. After taking it for 3 months she felt brighter, and more alert, more focused and much easier to find words.

There is always a moment in the day when she does not know what When she start getting edgy she pick up her Chinese medicine balls. They are two beautifully lacquered, weighted balls that just fit into the hand. Holding them both in one hand, the idea is to move one around the other. It is difficult, but it is so soothing and after a few minutes her hands feel less clumsy, stronger and fingers even feel nimble.

A friend suggested that she go with her to Qi Gong classes. Qi Gong is the Chinese philosophy, movement and breathing system, out of which grew Tai Chi and the various schools of martial arts.

Traditional Chinese Medicine

The holistic Traditional Chinese Medicine, TCM, has kept the Chinese people well for over 5000 years. Shen Nung, the father of Chinese Medicine, theorised that the body had an energy force running throughout it known as Qi (roughly pronounced Chee). The Qi consists of all essential life activities which include the spiritual, emotional, mental and the physical aspects of life A person's health is influenced by the flow of Qi in the body,in combination with the universal forces of Yin and Yang .

Traditional Chinese Medicine includes Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine, diet, Tui Na and Qi Gong.

Practitioners are known either as Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner, Chinese Medicine Practitioner or Oriental Medicine Practitioner. Today they are trained in New Zealand, but draw on the knowledge of traditional Chinese medical history, philosophy, pathology and theory during clinical practice to classify a patient's condition. Then makes a diagnosis in the context of TCM, and formulate a treatment.

Links: http://www.ccnm.ac.nz/courses/herbalmain.htm The home page for the Canterbury College of Natural Medicine ‘Ancient wisdom: Modern medicine’ is a very full, concise description of the vast knowledge and lore that is TCM

http://www.acupuncture.co.nz/ The NZ School of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine has schools in Auckland and Wellington offering these courses:

National Diploma of Acupuncture Acupuncture is a complete medical system in its own right that is used to diagnose and treat illness, prevent disease and improve wellbeing. It is effective for physical, psychological and emotional problems. Acupuncture, due to its proven effectiveness, is still being used

Diploma of Chinese Herbal Medicine provides students with sound theoretical and practical knowledge to enable effective practice of traditional herbal medicine.

Diploma of Tuina-Qigong
Tuina is massage, which is an effective, non-invasive, hands-on therapy, to adjust many soft-tissue and structural problems. Qigong is treatment by using Qigong energy techniques. Students learn to gather and distribute qi and recommend qigong exercises to selected patients.

Deer velvet has been prescribed in TCM as a tonic for energy, stress, fatigue, arthritis and to boost the immune response system, blood, liver and vital organs. Nowdays NZ is an important source of deer velvet.

Acupuncture.com is a very full and informative website in the USA

Rem's Tai Chi pages lists reasons for doing Tai Chi, from spiritual to self-defence. He emphasises the need to have a qualified teacher.