Finding Good Medicine in Orange County
Vision Magazine
By Shayna Lapides

I have literally been a drug experiment over the years with a variety of doctors. I cannot even begin to list the drugs that were prescribed for me. There were several dozen different combinations. It’s a wonder I have survived. I did take most of them until I could not tolerate the extreme side effects of drunkenness, migraines, digestive problems, weight gain, and multiple other symptoms.

I have, after about 25 years of searching for the right health care provider, been privileged to find Dr. Alex Strande in Irvine. He used to be a part of dispensing harsh chemicals to many until he wised up. He has a Ph.D. in the naturopathic approach to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Fibromyalgia. He is a Naturopath and a Master of Reiki, both holistic and very safe methods of successfully determining and addressing nearly every disease or disorder.

I personally have been struggling for most of my life with a genetic imbalance of the nervous system that affects how the brain reacts to stress. It is commonly called Bipolar Disorder. It used to be called Manic Depressive Syndrome. It is a very complicated disease that is difficult and sometimes impossible to treat successfully with traditional medicines. I avoided all meds for the first 20 years or so of my life, seeing what damage was caused by my father’s use of strong antidepressants and narcotics. He too was diagnosed with this same disorder, which is understood to be passed on genetically. I opted for more natural methods of treatment. I tried yoga, Tai chi, mediation, drinks, flower tinctures and many different diets. Some of these had successfully results. However, whenever an extremely stressful situation would come up, I would often go into an episode that put my system out of control. Most people could not tolerate the extreme mood fluctuations, including myself. I have lost many jobs and boyfriends and suffered financial loss as a result of these episodes. I would go in and out of psychotherapy and drug treatment to find little solace. I spent many years alone as a result due to other people not being able to tolerate my extreme highs and lows. I considered suicide on a number of occasions, but never really acted on this.

I am now very pleased to say that after a mere three weeks with Dr. Strande and his natural remedies and compassionate understanding of the human psyche and the physical body, I have seen drastic changes for the better. I was having extreme insomnia, not being able to stay asleep for more than 2-4 hours. I am now sleeping 7-9 hours without waking up but maybe once to go to bathroom and able to get right back to sleep. I was also losing a lot of weight ( 45 pounds in about 5 months). My weight has now stabilized and I have put on about 10 pounds in one month. Dr. Strande has given my a variety of herbal liquids in high concentration that makes a little fruit and water cocktail 3 times a day plus some powdered amino acids and mineral capsules and liquids and oil concentrates.

He is also addressing the multiple symptoms of perimenopause that I have had for about a year ( hot flashes, cold sweats, extreme anxiety, crying spells, not to mentions lack of sex drive). All of these symptoms are fading away in a very short time.
I think Dr. Strande is a true healer. He doesn’t want to keep patients drugged and visiting him for long periods. He has a 30-day plan to get people off traditional drugs and healthy again. I have been out of work on a full-time basis for close to one year. I am now talking to people about work again and finishing personal creative projects I had previously lost interest in.

Being bipolar is a blessing and a curse at the same time. Most bipolar people are extremely intelligent. Beethoven and Van Gogh, Dick Cavett, Patti Duke Astin, Robin Williams, Abe Lincoln and best-selling author Marianne Williamson are among a few who suffered with this disorder. There are many more not so famous creative spirits who deal daily with the symptoms of this neurological imbalance. It is a chemical imbalance of the brain and the way the neurons do their dance.

Many bipolar people have opted for suicide, as it is very painful to be alienated by most family members, friends, and employers. It is a very treatable mental disease with the correct and I emphasize correct combinations of herbs and minerals for the brain. Diet also pays a very important role. The use of white sugar, white flour and even wheat flour as well as caffeine drinks and alcohol wreck havoc to our sensitive systems. I was addicted to sugar and wheat products and used to binge on chocolate for years not knowing these were causing many of my symptoms, and I found out I am actually allergic to these products.

Getting well is a joint project with your self and your health care provider. I am grateful to have net Dr. Stranded and will continue to take his advice. Getting well and healthy is a daily commitment. I hope you will consider his natural and alternative approach to staying well without harmful chemicals.

Dr. Strande can be contacted at his office Simply Healing near John Wayne Airport at (949) 553-1882. The address is 2192 Martin Street, Suite 280, Irvine, CA 92612 near Campus and MacArthur Blvd. His office hours are 9-6, Monday thru Thursday. Give yourself a new year’s gift of health and well-being. Tell him Shayna sent you.

Submitted by Shayna Lapides
January 7, 2001 Shayna Punim Publishing