30 Days of PH: Alternative Therapies

Written by Jen Cueva |

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Day 12 of 30 Days of PH⁣⁣⠀⁣⁣ Topic: Alternative therapies⁣⁣⠀⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⠀⁣⁣ My name is Dana, I’m from Slovakia. I’m 41 and was diagnosed with Pulmonary Hypertension in August 2018. The even bigger shock came when they informed me that I also suffer from Mitral Valve Regurgitation, which is a contraindication for me to get any PH medicine. When they discharged me from the hospital last year saying “there is not much we can do,'' I thought I was going to die very soon. ⁣⁣⠀⁣⁣ ⁣⁣I made drastic lifestyle changes and started to read about alternative healing. I became vegan and I started to exercise slowly, but regularly. Changing my eating habits was surprisingly easy. The most difficult was to change the mind. Positive emotions are the most important for healing. But how can you think positively when you are scared and in pain?⁣⁣⠀⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⠀⁣⁣ I tried energy healing, meditation, sound healing, qi gong, EFT, yoga and more. These days you don’t need to go to expensive sessions. You can pick up a book and learn about any of these techniques yourself. I am also regularly posting on my account learnings, tips, and links for anyone interested to follow. ⁣⁣⠀⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⠀⁣⁣ But healing can be a very personal experience. Different people have different needs, so you need to find what feels the best for you. For me, it was meditation. In the end, all the techniques are leading to the same, to decrease stress, make us feel good and relaxed. When we meditate, for example, we move into the so-called Delta brain wave state and this frequency is doing amazing things to our bodies. It switches on genes, makes stem cells grow, and creates positive neurochemicals that are regenerating our cells and helping our body to heal. ⁣⁣⠀⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⠀⁣⁣ The mind really matters and there is already much scientific proof. The placebo effect is well known for years as well as stories of spontaneous remissions, which the current medicine is unable to explain.⁣⁣⠀⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⠀⁣⁣ After a year, I feel much better and my Mitral Valve surprisingly improved so much, the doctors now agreed to finally put me on PH medication. They were mentioning a miracle as they don’t understand how the valve could improve without any treatment.⁣..

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Jen Cueva avatar Jen Cueva

About the Author

Jen Cueva lives in sunny San Diego, California, with her husband and daughter. A former nurse, her life took an unexpected turn in 2005 when she was diagnosed with group 1 pulmonary hypertension (PH). That experience reshaped her purpose, transforming her journey into one of advocacy, connection, and hope. As Manager of Partnership Relations on the Bionews Advocacy team, Jen collaborates with rare disease communities to build bridges and strengthen support systems for patients and caregivers. She also serves as a forum moderator for *Pulmonary Hypertension News*, where she writes a biweekly column exploring the emotional landscape of living with PH, from resilience and gratitude to the quiet power of community. Whether she’s sharing stories that uplift or offering words that remind others they’re not alone, Jen finds meaning in helping people feel informed, empowered, and seen. When she’s not writing or advocating, you’ll likely find her at the beach, on a coffee date, or simply enjoying the laid-back San Diego sunshine. Together, we PHight stronger.

Tags

Alternative medicine Coping methods Daily living Pulmonary arterial hypertension Self-care


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