Dear friends,

Thank you for visiting our CBT web site. I hope that you find it to be informative and helpful.

I thought that you might like to know the entire story about why I have a great deal of empathy for people who have allergies and other chronic health problems –- and an overwhelming passion to help them.

I enjoyed almost perfect health until 1985, when my health mysteriously began to deteriorate. I developed a chronic cough, fatigue and sinusitis. As time went by, I also developed numerous allergies and sensitivities, a chronic viral lung infection, many bacterial infections, asthma, and eventually candida. Unknown to me at the time, my rapid decline in health was being caused by a toxic chemical leak under my office. Unfortunately, this situation was not discovered until about 5 years later, which allowed my health problems to become very chronic and resistive to treatment.

I have been on practically every possible inhaler and prescription medication for these problems. I have been to the emergency room literally dozens of times and I have spent many days in the hospital. I endured 3 less-than-successful sinus operations. I quit breathing while in the recovery room after my last sinus operation, and spent 2 days being intubated in intensive care while on massive doses of corticosteroids.

Many of my evenings were spent sleeping on a recliner, waking up every couple hours to cough violently and use my inhaler or nebulizer. I would also frequently use a nebulizer during my lunch break at work just to help me make it through the rest of the day seeing patients. I would cough uncontrollably for at least an hour every day, which would often result in a hiatal hernia or severe headaches. I used one inhaler so often it soon became ineffective and even made my asthma worse! I tried steroid nasal sprays for my sinusitis, but they only gave me nosebleeds.

I was fearful to go anywhere if it was not within close proximity of an emergency room. During the winter months I would basically become a shut-in because the cold air would aggravate my asthma. When I traveled by plane, I was always fearful that I would have an uncontrollable asthma attack in the middle of the flight. I traveled to some of the best medical and alternative clinics in the country but experienced very little improvement. I would leave their offices with bags of prescription drugs or natural products that provided only minimal symptomatic relief. I became a coffee and tea addict, because these hot, caffeinated beverages were so helpful in clearing my congestion, helping me to breathe and boosting my energy level.

I also attended dozens of different seminars, always hoping and praying that some new technique or nutritional supplement would be the “miracle cure” for my health problems --- but it never happened. However, I would always walk away from these seminars with some information that was beneficial in the care of my patients. The cumulative ideas and concepts I obtained at those seminars were also helpful in the development of CBT.

In 1999, after a divorce, some mutual friends introduced me to an incredible woman named Lisa, and 2 years later we were married. Although I am still not totally well, I am about 75 percent better than I used to be -- thanks to some of the techniques that I was inspired to develop, and the amazing support of my wife. I’m hoping that my remaining health challenge won’t always be my proverbial “thorn in the flesh”. But even if it is, I’m OK with that.

I believe that God has allowed me to go through all of this pain and suffering so that I might have a deep level of compassion and empathy for those who have similar problems –- and also to help keep my pride at a manageable level! I am totally amazed and humbled to have been blessed with the CBT technique.

Wishing you the very best of health,

Tony Smith, DC