Roslyn Motter is a children's author and fabulous Wise Woman.  To read our interview with Roslyn click here.

Roslyn is now off on an adventure of a lifetime and she is going to keep us posted as she tries something completely different to improve her health.  We are thrilled to bring you her 'Prelude to the Adventure' and because she is an absolute hoot her story is bound to be enthralling. 

Settle back and join her as she begins the preparations for her journey.....
 

The year 2009 was a particularly stressful year for me.

I am an author and in that year I released my seventh book;
 
was nominated for an award for my first book;
 
had to promote all the books by visiting numerous bookshops for signings and also visit over one hundred schools in four states of Australia;
 
cold called at least one thousand Australian schools;
 
personally packed and posted over one thousand sets of books to schools;
 
and drove tens of thousands of kilometres within four states.

Suffice to say that I was not particularly surprised when a blood pressure test showed that my blood pressure had increased alarmingly and the top line was over 150. Of greater concern to me was the fact that in every subsequent follow up, my blood pressure was substantially different. Sometimes the top line was higher, sometimes remarkably lower. When the top line was lower however, the bottom line was dangerously higher.

Since menopause my thyroid has also become under-active.

Furthermore, over the past few years my cholesterol level has been what is considered to be dangerously high at 9.2 and despite my best efforts to lower it, using herbs and trying to reduce my fat intake, it stayed at exactly that level.

I had hitherto avoided the doctor for fear of being forced to take medication, but I finally relented in October after once again hearing how I was on the verge of certain death. I gave in and took Crestor tablets and miracle of miracles, after six weeks my cholesterol had plunged to about 4.

The doctor was thrilled but I was extremely concerned. How could this be? Although it sounded like a magical cure, my better judgement told me that somehow this was not a good thing.

I have always had a problem with my weight and my addiction to sweet things does not help.

What to do?

Somewhere along the line I heard about Ayurvedic medicine (traditional Indian medicine).  Recently a friend told me that her father who was suffering from a knee problem, had stayed in an Ayurvedic clinic in Kerala, India and after one week had been cured.

My curiosity was piqued. I did a bit of research on the internet and emailed a few clinics that had websites. The quotes that I received were to my mind quite outrageous. They were all quoting figures of up to $US4000 for just two weeks of treatment! I certainly didn’t want to pay this as I knew it wouldn’t cost anything like that to accommodate and treat me.

Then a friend suggested that I approach a travel agency in India that she had previously dealt with. I did, and was most impressed with the quote they gave me. For two weeks at the clinic; a further week with my own personal driver touring Kerala (including a day on a houseboat); and a week in Goa, the total cost including internal airfares was below $Aus4000. This was the cost if I shared a room so I decided to go with my mother.

My mother suffers with fluid in her legs so she was interested to see if the clinic could do anything for her.

To be truthful, I have always had a great fear of India. Despite hearing from some that it is the most wonderful country in the world, documentaries depicting beggars and homeless people have made me feel otherwise.

Should I be vaccinated? Can I trust the food? What about the water?

I decided not to be vaccinated but when I told the doctor I was going to India she immediately raced out of the surgery only to return with two needles which she jabbed into each arm.

Well that settled the matter, but I wasn’t going back for more. She had given me vaccination for hepatitis, polio, tetanus and typhoid. I thought that was enough!

As for malaria, she suggested taking a pill but my reading on the subject indicated that the body finds it very difficult to process these pills and a friend who had previously taken them told me they made her quite sick. I decided that I might take insect repellent instead – especially for my day and night on the waters of Kerala.

I have decided to cease taking my medication a few days prior to leaving for India as I don’t think that I can seriously take their treatment and Western medication at the same time. Also, my thyroid medication has to be refrigerated and I really can’t bear to work out the logistics of that.

We have all heard that the water in India is dodgy and I was further alarmed by stories of how the locals refill bottles of water to sell.

My anxiety sent me on a search for a  water purification device. A camping goods store sold me a device (Steripen) which looks like a fat pen and which when plunged into water activates an ultraviolet light. This apparently kills all waterborne microbes. However, after I had spent over $260 on the device, my dentist scoffed and told me it couldn’t possibly work.  Well, we’ll see.

I am now ready for travel. I have my visa, my Steripen, toilet paper (Indians don’t use toilet paper -  they use water), my insect repellent, my travel insurance and a Punjabi suit (traditional lightweight pants and top).

I will report back on what transpires during the course of my Ayurvedic treatment and on my tour of Kerala and Goa.

Click here for more about Kerala

We know we can hardly wait for the next instalment......