Alternative Health Therapies
Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:13 PM
The material in this book is intended to provide review of natural therapies, If any of the treatments described herein are used, they should be undertaken only under the guidance of a licensed health care practitioner. The authors, editor and publisher assume no responsibility for any adverse outcomes which derive from your use of any of these treatments in a program of self-care or under the care of a licensed practitioner. Copyright 1993,by Health World, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 93-092758 ISBN: 0-9624780-0-8 Publishers Cataloging In Publication Data Pati, Abhay Kumar, editor The Best of Health World Includes Index I. Title
6/19/07 11:34:13 PM
Dedication
This book is dedicated to all the authors and artists who have contributed their articles and drawings on different health sciences to Health World and its predecessor, the International Journal of Holistic Health and Medicine, over the past 11 years. I also dedicate it to my grandfather, the late Pandit Jadunath Satpathy, who encouraged me to study an integrated system of medicineboth Ayurvedic and Westernin my native India.
In Appreciation
Laurence E. Badgley, M.D.,who encouraged me to put together my 11years work into a book format. Dr. Badgley, a graduate of the Yale University Medical School, and I have been working together for a decade. The author of Healing AIDS Naturally and Choose to Live, Dr. Badgley has a great interest in holistic medicine. Don Douglas, for editing and designing this book (as well as my magazines). Jordan Douglas, for his cover illustration. Jim Douglas for assistance with proof reading. Dr.Charles F. Brush for his support and encouragement. Richard Teich and Francia Friendlich of Aquarian Age Computers for their continuous support of my magazine publishing venture, and particularly of this special project. Pat Lawson, Nutritional Consultant, for her continuing support and encouragement. Ronney Sengupta of Scenic World, San Francisco, for his help with my travel needs and friendship over the last 15 years. I am also thankful to Mssrs. Ed Stewart, Sr. and jr., of Pos-T-VactTM Inc., Dodge City, Kansas, for their help and consideration.
6/19/07 11:34:13 PM
Foreword
I have been involved in publishing health magazines for the past 11 years and my publications have been well circulated throughout the U.S.A. and in various parts of the world. Basically, I am trained as a medical doctor, having studied both Western medicine and the Ayurvedic system of traditional Indian medicine. After finishing my degree, I was posted in a health center in Orissa State. My aim was to educate people on alternative health. Since coming to the U.S.A. I have engaged in this education through publishing alternative health journals. As holistic health /nutrition concepts and alternative medical practices are gaining recognition and popularity all over the world, I thought to combine all of the best articles into a book and title it, The Best of Health World. In this book readers can find information on ayurveda, homeopathy, acupuncture, Chinese medicine, chiropractic, herbs, naturopathy, nutrition, health food, sports medicine, exercise and other health sciences. The Best of Health World is meant to be a guidebook for consumers, health professionals and students of holistic health, medicine, and nutrition. It is published for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional health care. Readers with health problems are advised to consult the health care professional of their choice. In the interest of condensation, we sacrificed the references and bibliographies from the articles reprinted here. Readers interested in further study may find them in the back issues of Health World magazine, which are available for $3.00 each from the publisher. To obtain the latest information on these subjects on a continuing basis, may I suggest subscribing to Health World magazine which is published bimonthly for $12 per year. Dr. Kumar Pati, Publisher
6/19/07 11:34:13 PM
ConTenTs
Ayurveda for Health
by Kumar Pati, Publisher ...................................................15
The Theory and Practice of Homeopathy, Part I The Theory and Practice of Homeopathy, Part II The Theory and Practice of Homeopathy, Part III The Theory and Practice of Homeopathy, Part IV Treating a sore Throat Homeopathy Principles and Practice of Classical Chinese Acupuncture
By Richard L. Crews, M.D .................................................53 By Stephen Cummings, F.N.P. and Dana Ullman ..........60
6/19/07 11:34:13 PM
Classical Chinese Herbology: Its Five elements and the Yin-Yang energy Theory
Allergies: Faulty Digestion and Immune system overload? The other side of Aerobics How to stop smoking Food and Fitness
By Laurence E. Badgley, M.D. ...........................................80 By Mark Schillinger, D.C. ..................................................83 By Albert Fields, M.D. ........................................................86 By Richard L. Kozlenko, D.P.M. and Richard L. Crews, M.D. ...............................................89
6/19/07 11:34:13 PM
silymarin Complex for Liver Disorders Acupuncture and Chinese Herbalism nutritional Therapy for Chronic epstein - Barr Virus not All Acidophilus are Alike
By Katherine Huntington and Steven Levine, Ph.D ...................................................125 By Keith W. Sehnert, M.D. ...............................................128
The Magic Is In You ! Toward Achieving successful Weight Control Intrinsic Herbal Healing: An Interview with Michael Tierra
6/19/07 11:34:13 PM
By Zane R. Gard, M.D., F.A.A.F.P.; Erma Jean Brown, BSN, PHN; and Giovanna DeSanti-Medina............152 By Zane Baranowski .........................................................156
An Ancient Tree for the Aging: on Reducing senility and Depression Immune system An Interview with Keith sehnert, M.D. nutrients for the Immune system strengthen Your Immune system
By Dr. Kumar Pati, Publisher ..........................................165 By Phillip W. Zimmerman, Ph.D ....................................171 By Michael L. Culbert, D.Sc. ............................................175
6/19/07 11:34:13 PM
By Jeanne Rose...................................................................214 By Gerald R. Faloona, Ph.D. and Stephen A. Levine, Ph.D. ..........................................216
Botanical Medicine: An Interview with Michael T. Murray, n.D. Acidophilus and Candidiasis An Interview with Betty Kamen, Ph.D.
6/19/07 11:34:14 PM
The Ancient science of Acupuncture enters the Computer Age Chlorella - A Living supplement
superfood enlivening natures Intelligence The Great Yeast Controversy skin scavengers and Aging
6/19/07 11:34:14 PM
nutritional Value of Green Barley Leaves Formaldehyde and the Immune system Milk Thistle seed and Liver Therapy Hypertension and natural Remedies
By Pat Lawson, Nutritional Consultant .........................273 By Jack D. Thrasher, Ph.D. and Alan Broughton, M.D. ...............................................276 By Paul Bergner, Medical Herbologist ...........................280 By Paul Bergner, Medical Biologist ................................284
6/19/07 11:34:14 PM
By Stephen D. Jennings, M.S. ..........................................310 Kenneth R. Daub, D.C., and Carl B. Turner, M.D. Interviewed by Dr. Kumar Pati, Publisher ....................315
Ayurveda, Mankinds oldest Medical science How to Choose a natural shampoo and Conditioner nutrients and Bone Health
By Rebecca James ..................................................................329 By Alan R. Gaby, M.D., and Jonathan V. Wright, M.D. ....332
6/19/07 11:34:14 PM
By Philip W. Zimmerman, Ph.D......................................368 By Luke Bucci, Ph.D. ........................................................371 By Paul Bergner, Medical Herbologist ...........................374
Nutrition to Overcome Sleep Difficulties Calcium for Arthritis and Bone Disease
Ginkgo Biloba for the Health Problems of the Aged Whiplash and its Treatment through Chiropractic
6/19/07 11:34:14 PM
By Betty Kamen, Ph.D. .....................................................396 By Richard Kozlenko, D.P.M., M.P.H., Ph.D. ................399
Goldenseal-natures Answer to Infection Gymnema sylvestre: A Vedic Wonder Drug for Diabetes Remedies for Cholesterol Problems Herbs for the Immune system
By Vivek Shanbhag, M.D. (Ayurveda) ...........................403 By Laurence Badgley, M.D. ..............................................407 By Laura Paris, O.M.D., L.Ac. .........................................409
6/19/07 11:34:14 PM
6/19/07 11:34:14 PM
He states that four primary objects of human life are: Dharma to perform religious rites Artha to acquire wealth Kama to satisfy worldly desire Moksa to attain salvation Ayur stands for the combination of body, sense organs, mind and soul. The body is composed of five basic elements (pancha mahabhuta), which interact with the sense organs and produce the objects of the sense organs. elements Earth Water Fire Air Ether sense organs Nose Tongue Eye Skin Ear objects of sense organs Smell Taste Vision Touch Sound
When the above-mentioned senses, along with mind (satta) and soul (the bearer of knowledge), combine with virtue of invisible past actions, we find the manifestation of life. Pancha mahabhuta (the five basic elements), form three basic elements in the body that govern the psychological, chemical and physiological activities of the body. These three elements must be maintained in perfect balance to insure health and well-being, as any imbalance will produce various forms of sickness. Air Fire Water + + + Ether Water Earth = = = Air (vata) Fire (Pitta) Water (Kapha)
These three basic elements (tridosa) regularize the normal condition of the human body and are the basis of the physiology, pathology and therapy of ayurvedic medicine. Each element controls specific bodily functions and produces various psychic activities. According to ayurveda, the five basic elements are also found in the food we eat. The six types of tastes we experience when we eat or drink are produced by the predominance of one or more of these elements. Earth Earth + + Water Fire = = Sweet Sour
6/19/07 11:34:14 PM
+ + + +
= = = =
In the human body these five basic elements are explained in terms of the three tridosa, plus seven constituents of the body (saptadhatu), plus excreta (mala). In drugs they represent the taste (rasa), qualities (guna), potency (virya), and post-digestion and metabolism (vipaka) of a substance. The six tastes can either aggravate or alleviate aggravation of the tridosa. Pungent, sour & salty aggravate Fire. Sweet, sour & salty aggravate Water. Pungent, bitter & astringent aggravate Air. Sweet, sour & salty alleviate aggravated Air. Astringent, sweet & bitter alleviate aggravated Fire. Pungent, bitter & astringent alleviate aggravated Water. After digestion, food is converted into a pure portion and a remaining portion which is excreted. From the pure portion, eight different constituents of the body are produced: food juice, blood, flesh, fat, bone, bone marrow, and semen. The eighth constituent is an ephemeral end product of spermatic fluid called Oja, the supreme essence of the tissue elements. The digested product goes to the constituents of the body (tissue elements) through various channels, thus providing them with nutrition. It takes seven days for food juice to become blood, and one month for the digested product to be transformed into semen. The Charak Samhita puts special emphasis on the fact that health is the result of consumption of wholesome food. But then again, wholesome food is also the cause of diseases if not properly balanced as to content and amount. Charak writes: Life is just food transformed into life. The basic purpose of ayurveda is to help a normal healthy person maintain the balance of the basic elements in the body through proper diet, medicine and regimen of life. The specific quantity of food taken is an important facet in the science of dietetics. The quantity of an edible depends on the individual, the power of digestion, mental moods and feelings plus seasonal changes. When taken in accordance with these rules, diet and drinks whose color, smell, taste, and touch are pleasing to the senses are conducive to well-being and actually represent the very life of the living being. Food provides fuel for the fire of digestion, promotes mental as well as physical strength, strength of tissue elements, and complexion. The amount of food intake should not disturb the equilibrium of the seven
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 17
6/19/07 11:34:14 PM
constituents of the body and the three basic elements. Since light articles of food have a predominance of air and fire, they stimulate the appetite. Heavy articles have a predominance of earth and water and tend to suppress the appetite. element Quality Air Slow Cold Greasy Motile Rough,Dry Cold Hot Acid Fluid Bodily Function Controls the cell and tissue motility. Motor, sensory activity, respiration. Generates energy, Governs temperature, digestion, thirst, hunger. Controls growth developement, strength and sexual energy in the body. Psychic Activity Energetic Activation
Fire
Water
The change of season has an effect on the balance of the three elements, so one must modify dietary intake to adjust the balance and maintain good health. AIR becomes aggravated during the end of the summer months. It is also thrown out of balance by the intake of dried fruit, pungent, bitter or astringent foods, excessive worry, fear, cold and suppression of manifested natural urges. When food is eaten before the previous meal is digested, one tends to remain awake during the night. It also causes one to speak in loud voice. Balance can be returned by the use of oils, drinks, diet, regimen and medicines. One would eat foods that are unctuous, hot, stable, aphrodisiac, strength-promoting, saline, sweet, and sour. Foods should be solid or semisolid and neither too fatty nor too dry. Exposure to the sun, baths, massages, enemas, as well as inhalation therapy and sleep are also beneficial for correcting this air imbalance. FIRE becomes aggravated during the autumn. Excessive intake of pungent, sour, alcoholic preparations, saline, and hot foods also aggravate it. Too much sun or fire as well as intake of dried vegetables and lack of a regimented time for meals adversely affects fire. When fire is out of balance, one tends to display anger and to suffer from indigestion. Wind, shade, evening time, water and moon rays tend to produce relief, as does the intake of bitter, sweet, astringent, and cold foods plus purgation. Especially beneficial are various preparations of milk, sugar cane juice and
18 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:14 PM
honey, unpolished brown rice, mung pulse, oil and meat of organic birds. WATER becomes aggravated during the spring. The winters cold has caused the body to store kapha (water) and the increasing heat of the sun results in the body becoming warmer, giving rise to many diseases. Sleeping during the daytime, the intake of sweet, acid saline, sour and cold foods, fish, meat, sugar cane and milk products can cause imbalance in water and should be avoided. Exercise, remaining awake, putting pressure on various parts of the body, exposure to heat and sun rays, emetic therapy, errhine therapy, and spitting therapy alleviate water aggravation, as does the intake of rough, alkaline, astringent, bitter and pungent foods. Especially beneficial are barley, mung beans, eggplant, lemon leaves, meat soup and a variety of vegetable soups which contain bitter taste. During the summer, one should avoid excessive physical exercise as well as hot and dry foods. Cold rooms are beneficial, as are open parks and swimming in pools, lakes and rivers. Sweet, liquid and cold foods mixed with clarified butter should be taken. Boiled milk drunk at bedtime helps to produce a peaceful sleep. During the winter, food juice (rasa) dries up. The use of oleaginous foods is beneficial. Food should not be taken cold, and baths should be taken in tepid water followed by massaging the body with oil. The approach of ayurvedic medicine is based on the experience of thousands of years of practice. It relates constitutional strength and susceptibility to disease to a tridosa analysis of nutrition, digestion and other physiological functions. Ayurveda provides a coherent and systematic approach to understanding the human condition. It is highly effective in diagnosis and treatment of disease.
6/19/07 11:34:14 PM
According to ayurveda, many diseases are the result of functional or anatomic disorders of internal organs, particularly the gastrointestinal tract, liver, pancreas, endocrine glands, and nervous system. On the other hand, certain inflammatory processes due to infection may result in hepatic, digestive, and other visceral disturbances. Internal disorders may occasionally constitute concomitant expressions of some underlying systemic disease. For the management of some diseases, pancharakarma the five elimination therapies is indicated in ayurvedic medical texts. Ayurvedic classics mention emetic, purgative, nostril, enema, and bloodletting as permanently eradicating diseases with no chance for relapse. These systemic and scientific procedures were mostly practiced up to the fourth century A.D., but with the advancement of drug therapyin ayurvedic medicine, these practices declined. Today, they are not widely practiced in northern India, however a few ayurvedic medical hospitals in southern India extensively apply all five elimination therapies. For proper treatment of disease, ayurveda attempts to determine the exact nature of the malady with reference to the three basic elements (air, fire, and water), the seven tissue (food juice blood, flesh, fat, bone, bone marrow, and semen). The following factors are considered: 1. nidana the cause of the disease. 2. Purvarupa the premonitory signs and symptoms that manifest before the appearance of the disease. 3. Rupa symptomology. Rupa describes the actual signs and symptoms of the disease. 4. Upasaya exploratory therapy. Some of the drugs, diets and regimens by acting directly against the cause of the disease, the disease itself, or by producing such effects indirectly are called upasaya. Upsaya is a diagnostic aid for diseases that are otherwise difficult in diagnosis. 5. samprapti the full extent of the disease. Samprapti dscribes the mode of the disease manifestation.
20 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:15 PM
Examination of Patients
To ascertain the exact nature of the disease, the ayurvedic physician for the most part depends on eight types of examination; 1. pulse, 2.urine, 3. stool, 4. tongue, 5. voice, 6.skin, 7. eyes, and, 8. general physical features. The physical examination is conducted in view of the fundamental principles of ayurveda, which include tridosa (three basic elements), the five elements theory, and seven tissue elements theory.
Lightening Therapy
Lightening therapy includes five elimination techniques which will be discussed in detail:
Excretion of vitiated tridosa (air, fire, and water), malas (excreta), through the mouth is known as emetic (vamana) therapy. In this process, vomiting is induced. In ayurveda, the alimentary canals (maha-shrotas) chif dosas are the stomach (amasaya), the small intestine (pachyamanashaya), and the colon (pakawashaya) for water (kapha). Fire (pitta), and air (vata), respectively. Hence, the nearest natural physiological modes for their expulsion or elimination are respectively emetic, purgative, and enema. According to ayurveda, an emetic drug is a substance that is hot, sharp, spreading, and penetrative; hence, an emetic collects the kapha dosa (vitiated water) from the stomach and the paragastric region and expels it through the mouth by the process of antiperistalsis. Antiperistalsis means the expelling movement of the intestine. The following diseases are amenable to emetic measures: poisoning, indigestion, fever, diarrhea, chronic adenitis, elephantiasis, obesity, asthma, chronic cough, cold, nausea, polyuria; ear, nose and throat complaints. The following conditions are contraindicated to emetics: pregnancy, use on delicate and weak persons, malnutrition, hyperacidity, exhaustion, infancy, old age.
Madhuka decoction of Glycyrrhia glabera linn (climbing lily) sadapuspa Calotropis gigantean r. (swallow wart) Tagara Valeriana wallichi (East India rosebay; Neros crown) Pitali piper longum linn (long pepper) stringavera Zingeber officianale (ginger) Water mixed with milk, alkali preparations, and salt.
6/19/07 11:34:15 PM
The process elimination of dosha (excretas and vitiated air, fire, and water) from the anus is known as purgative or laxative therapy and should be administered after oleation and fomentation therapies. While emetic therapy is antiperistalsis, purgative therapy helps peristalsis. Again, water-dominant diseases are amenable to emesis, but fire-dominant diseases require purgation. The following disorders are emenable to purgative therapy: cjrpmoc fever; bleeding from the ear, nose, or throat; ascitis, fistula, piles, helminthiasis (parasites0, skin diseases, and some genitor-urinary tract disorders. The following conditions are contraindicated for purgation; acute fever, diarrhea, weak digestion, alcoholism, chronic constipation, tuberculosis, general debility, pregnancy and malnutrition.
Danti Balio spermum (axillare Blume) saptala Acacia concinna (shikakai) Aswagandha Withania somnifara (winter cherry) sidhu fermented liquor from a mixture of thickened cane juice and dark brown crude sugar sura fermented liquor from barley Haritaki Terminalia chibula (chebulic myrobalan) Udasvit a mixture of water and buttermilk in equal quantity used as a laxative.
Enema therapy has an important place among the five elimination therapies. As emetic therapy is for ridding the system of vitiated water in the body that has mainly accumulated in the gastric region via the mouth and vitiated fire in the small intestine is expelled by purgation, similarly, accumulated vitiated air is expelled by enema. Basti includes elimination via anal or urinary expulsion. Enema is safe for children and elders, obese or lean persons. It is useful for rejuvenation and for treating sterility. The process and procedure of enemas as prescribed in the ancient ayurvedic medical texts are as follows: 1. Apply oil to the anal region and to the rectal tube. 2. Allow air to be expelled from the tube before insertion. 3. Insert rectal tube gently. 4. Retain residual liquid in enema bag to ensure no air bubbles enter the bowels. 5. Lift legs three times to ensure an upward spread of fluid.
22 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:15 PM
6. 7.
Allow patient to rest after evacuation. Give patient a small amount of easily digestible rice with butter.
An unctuous enema is composed of fats, vegetable or animal. Oils may be obtained from sesame, which is the most important kind of oil according to Ayurvedic medicine.
Yastimadhu Glacyrrhiza glabra linn (climbing lily) Kharjura - Acacia catechu wild (catechu) seeds of Puskara Nelubmo nucifera gacrtn (logus) Bacha Acorus calamus linn (sweet flag) Khokali Acalypha indica linn (Indian Acaypha)
The use of drugs or medicated oil by route of the nostrils is known as nasya. This therapeutic measure is especially indicated for the treatment of diseases of the head. According to ayurveda, the nasal cavity needs oil. Nostril therapy is indicated for the following complaints: itching or certain swelling in the neck region, nasal catarrh, certain loss of voice and taste, and epilepsy. It is contraindicated for patients below seven years and above 80 years of age.
Pipali Piper longnum linn (long pepper) Leaves of Lasuna Allium sativum linn (Garlic leek) Marica Piper nigrum linn (black pepper)
The process of taking blood from the body is known as raktamokshona in ayurvedic medicine. The main objective of the procedure is to remove blood (rakta dhatu) when it becomes vitiated by tridosa (air, fire and water). Blood-letting is performed to manage diseases caused by blood (rakta) and pitta (Fire). In ayurvedic surgery, venesection (siraveda) has supreme importance. Raktamokshona is mainly classified in two types: 1) blood- letting performed by metal instruments and 2) with non-metal instruments, such as with cow horn or ivory needles. In ancient India, physicians bled patients suffering from abscesses, enlarged spleens, and inflammation of various internal organs, by applying leeches, cupping and suction, and by scarification (cutting
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 23
6/19/07 11:34:15 PM
superficial veins). Application of leeches was the safest method of blood-letting and caused no pain. The area to which leeches were applied was abraded by rubbing it with a mixture of dust and cow dung. Leeches were sprinkled with water containing mustard seeds and turmeric powder as a preservative and kept in a basin full of water so that they remained fresh and vigorous. The patient was kept with the legs in a drawn up or contracted posture, resting the elbows on the knee joints with thumbs closed in fists that were paced near the neck for better circulation. A cloth bandage was tied around the patients arms and back in such a way as to raise the veins in the region above the bandage. The patient was asked to hold periodic deep breaths while the surgeon operated. Blood-letting was contraindicated for infants, the elderly, those who are impotent, parched, fatigued, emaciated, or starved; likewise for persons of timed or cowardly disposition; and for patients being treated with purgatives, emetics, or enemas. Several procedures were used to arrest hemorrhages: 1. Sandhana contraction of the wound by astringent such as decoctions of chebulic myrobolan. 2. Skandana thickening of the blood by application of severe cold. 3. Pachana dissecting and drying the wound with ashes. 4. Dahana cauterizing the veins to make them shrink. Lightening therapy is thought to be successful when the normal elimination of flatus (gas), urine, and feces is restored; when the body feels light; when the throat and mouth become cleared; when perspiration and taste reappear; when hunger and thirst return; and when the mind recovers its sense of ease. Pain in the joints, body aches, cough, oral parching, loss of hunger, anorexia, thirst, weak hearing and sight, confusion, frequent eructation, fainting, loss of body temperature and strength are the consequences of overdone lightening therapy. The difference in the variation of tridosa (air, fire, and water), medical drugs, location, time, strength, diet, condition of the body, mental situation and age should be considered while administering these therapies. Elimination therapy extracts vitiated air, fire, and water, eradicates diseases, restores normal strength and rejuvenates.
SUMMARY
Ayurveda provides rational means for the treatment of many internal diseases which are considered to be obstinate and incurable in other systems of medicine. Ayurveda places a great deal of emphasis on the maintenance of positive health for normal and healthy persons by following prescribed regimens during day, night, and different seasons. It thus is both a disease
24 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:15 PM
prevention and a cure. According to ayurveda, humans are exposed to disease because of many internal and external factors. Recognizing the existence of viruses and bacteria, ayurveda acknowledges that the individual must ensure health by proper maintenance.
6/19/07 11:34:15 PM
When the above-mentioned senses, along with mind (satta) and soul (the bearer of knowledge). Combine with virtue of invisible past actions, we find the manifestation of life. Pancha mahabhuta (the five basic elements), form three basic elements in the body that govern the psychological, chemical and physiological activities of the body. These three elements must be maintained in perfect balance to insure health and well-being, as any imbalance will produce various forms of sickness. Air + Ether = Air(Vata) Fire + Water + Fire (Pitta) Water + Earth + Water(Kapha) These three basic elements (tridosha) regularize the normal condition of the human body and are the basis of the physiology, pathology and therapy of ayurvedic medicine. Ayurveda teaches that man is a microcosm a universe within himself, He is a child of the cosmic forces in the external environment, the macrocosm. His individual existence is indivisible from the cosmic manifes26 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:15 PM
tation. Ayurveda views health and dis-ease in holistic terms, taking into consideration the inherent relationship of spirit,consciousness, energy, and matter. Ayurveda helps the healthy person to maintain health, and the diseased person to regain health. It is a medical-metaphysical healing lifescience, the mother of all healing arts. Practice of ayurveda leads to increased happiness, health and progress in ones daily existence. Through the teachings of ayurveda, all persons can learn how to heal themselves. This concept is basic to Ayurvedic science the power of the individual in self-healing. The classic ayurvedic texts state that all substances found in nature have medicinal value when used in the proper manner. The purpose of these remedies is not to suppress the effects of the illness, as is often the case in Western medicine, but rather to bring unbalanced factors in the body into harmony, thereby eliminating the cause of the disease. Thus, ayurvedic remedies help to eradicate the disease itself, not just the symptoms of illness. Ayurveda is a very practical science, and the advice that follows on simple treatments of minor ailments, utilizing herbs commonly found in the kitchen, provides straightforward and effective aids.
The kitchen can become a domestic clinic. You can use your kitchen and its resources to create herbal cures that will heal your family and yourself. The following are the commonly available natural substances that may be worked with in the home.
Alfalfa.
This herb has and astringent and slightly bitter taste. It has antivata and anti-kapha properties, and is also anti-inflammatory. It is very effective in cleansing toxins from the large intestine. Alfalfa is a natural pain reliever and can be used to treat such diseases as sciatica. Alfalfa tea can be taken at bedtime for arthritis, rheumatism, colitis, ulcers, and anemia.
Aloe vera.
This common herb is universally available. It is a general tonic for the liver, the organ that aids digestion and neutralizes toxins. Its effects are anti-pitta, anti-vata and anti-kapha, so it never aggravates any humor in the body. Aloe vera helps to balance vata, pitta, and kapha in the body. The fresh gel of Aloe vera is useful for women who have muscle spasms during menstruation. For this discomfort, one or two teaspoons of the gel should be taken with a pinch of black pepper powder. Two teaspoons three
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 27
6/19/07 11:34:15 PM
times a day may be used as a general tonic. Aloe vera is a blood purifier, and this action is good for the liver, gallbladder and stomach. It is also helpful in cases of ulcers and colitis, and it relieves inflammation. One can also apply Aloe vera gel directly to the outer eyelid for conjunctivitis. Aloe vera can be used in vaginitis or cervicitis. A douche of two tablespoons of the gel in one quart of warm water can be made, and two pinches of turmeric added to the solution. This douche should be used every other day for four days. Its local action is marvelous. Aloe vera has a cooling property; however, it does not aggravate kapha because its action causes expectoration. It can relieve cold, cough and congestion and is also a mild laxative. Aloe vera can be used externalljy for burns, cuts or traumatie wounds. Apply it with turmeric, which helps the healing process. Local application is also useful for vaginal herpes. For the symptomatic relief of herpes, mix two tablespoons of gel with two pinches of turmeric and apply locally every night at bedtime for one week.
Asafoetida.
This aromatic substance, which a is a gum extract from a tree, is a stimulant. It also relieves spasms. It is a good expectorant and natural laxative. It can be used in cooking: a pinch of asafetida with lentils helps digestion. It enkindles agni (fire), removes toxins and relieves pain. It also relieves gas in the large intestine. If there is pain in the ear, a little asafetida wrapped in a piece of cotton can be placed in the ear. Its aromatic vapor will relieve the pain.
Baking soda.
Used in cooking garbanzo or black beans, baking soda makes them lighter and facilitates the cooking process. It is also an antacid. A pinchful with one cup of warm water and the juice of one-half lemon relieves acidity, gas and indigestion. Half a cup of baking soda in the bath helps circulation and makes the skin soft. Baking soda relieves skin infection, hives and rash and maintains the health and hygiene of the skin.
Calamus root.
This herb is hot and penetrating and is used as an expectorant. It is also and emetic. Calamus root has many medicinal properties. As a powder, it can be taken into the nose like snuff to relieve sinus congestion, common cold or sinus headache. It may create sneezing, which will cleanse the respiratory tract.
28 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:15 PM
According to ayurveda, calamus is anticonvulsive. It is used for epileptic seizures. It acts on the higher cerebral functions and brain tissue to help expand and bring clarity to the consciousness. Calamus root is the best antidote for marijuana. Marijuana is toxic to the liver and the brain cells; however, if one smokes a pinch of calamus root powder with the marijuana, this herb will completely neutralize the toxic side effects of the drug. In cact, the side effects of all psyschedelics are neutralized by calamus root. To aid the intelligence of a growing child, take a calamus root stick, heat a golden wire and insert it into the center of the root along the axis. Then rub this preparation on a rough stone with mothers milk. Give the child one-half to one teaspoon of this remedy. It will also protect the child from kapha disorders. Calamus root is also used to improve the memory. Take a pinch of the powdered root with one-fourth to one-half teaspoon of honey in the morning and evening. If one drinks two to three glasses of calamus root Tea, it will cause vomiting. This action is therapeutic for chronic cough and asthma. Calamus root is also a bronchodi- Lator and acts as a chest decongestant. The medicated oil of calamus root can be used For nasal administration and also externally massages for Kapha and vata disorders. Massaging with this oil will relax tense and sore muscles and create a feeling of freshness. Calamus root helps circulation and provides nutrition for the muscle tissue.
Cardamom.
Cardamom is aromatic, stimulating and refreshing. It also kindles digestive fire. It refreshes the mind and is a heart stimulant. Cardamom is slightly astringent, sweet and a little pungent. It should only be used in small quantities in tea or on vegetables. Cardamon strengthens the heart and lungs. It also relieves gas. It is a pain reliever, and it sharpens the mind, opens the breathing and freshens the breath.
6/19/07 11:34:16 PM
Castor oil.
This substance is a laxative that is safe enough to use even in treating small babies. (To treat an infant, the mother should dip her little finger into the oil and let the baby suck on it.) For chronic constipation, one tablespoon of castor oil should be taken with a cup of ginger tea. This tonic will neutralize toxins and relieve gas and constipation. Castor oil is also an antirheumatic herb, because it is a natural pain reliever and laxative. The tea of the castor root is used in many vata disorders, such as arthritis, sciatica, chronic backache, and muscle spasms. The tea is also a decongestant, antiarthritic and Anti-inflammatory substance. It is also effective in the treatment of gout.
Cayenne pepper.
This spice is pungent and hot. It is a domestic herb which is used in cooking. It kindles digestive fire, and is a good appetizer. It enhances circulation and causes sweating. Cayenne helps to evacuate the bowels and destroys worms and parasites. It is good for colds, cough and congestion. Cayenne has a cleansing action upon the large intestine and sweat glands. It can be used internally by placing the cayenne in 00 capsules. Two capsules two to three times a day helps to break down blood clots. It is good for vata and kapha, but not for pitta. Cayenne helps to reduce the heaviness of the food, and makes it light, palatable and absorbable. Hence it should be used with meat, lentils and cheese.
Cinnamon.
This herb is aromatic and is a stimulant with antiseptic and refreshing properties. The taste is slightly pungent and astringent. The action on the body is hot. Cinnamon is a good detoxifying herb. It creates freshness and strengthens and energizes the tissues. Cinnamon also acts as a pain reliever. It relieves kapha and vata disorders and can also be used in pitta ailments if taken in small quantities. However, if it is taken in excess, it will disrupt pitta. Cinnamon enkindles agni, promotes digestion and has a natural cleansing action. It also stimulates sweating. It is good for the relief of colds, congestion and cough. Cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and clove are used together as a tea to relieve cough and congestion and to promote digestion. Cinnamon should be taken in small quantities, one pinch at a time.
6/19/07 11:34:16 PM
Cloves.
This is another aromatic herbal substance. It is hot, pungent, oily, and sharp. Therefore, it aggravates pitta. Cloves will help to control kapha and vata. Cloves can be used in the powdered form with vegetables and fruits. Powdered cloves can also be taken as a tea. Adding a pinch of powdered cloves to ginger tea will relieve kapha and vata. Cloves are a natural pain reliever. The oil of cloves is used to relieve toothache. For this treatment, a small piece of cotton is dipped into the oil and inserted into the cavity of the tooth. Cloves will alleviate cough, congestion, cold, and sinus problems. A few drops of clove oil can be added to boiling water, and the fumes can then be a inhaled as a decongestant. This will relieve nasal obstruction and allow one to breathe properly again. Chewing a piece of clove with rock candy helps to alleviate dry cough. (Rock candy is used so that pitta will not be aggravated, since clove is hot and will crate a burning sensation on the tongue.)
Coriander.
There are two types of coriander. One is the fresh greens of the plant; these are called cilantro. The other is the dry seed, which is coriander. This is an aromatic and stimulating substance that aids digestion. It also has a cooling property. Coriander is a natural diuretic, and it may be taken when one feels a burning sensation while passing urine. For this treatment, a tea of the seeds should be made. Pour hot water over a strainer containing one teaspoon of coriander seed. Leave the strainer in the water to make an infusion. This tea makes the urine more alkaline. It is also useful for gas, indigestion, nausea, and vomiting. Fresh coriander, or cilantro, is used in cooking. If it is added to vegetables that increase vata, such as black beans, it will inhibit the formation of gas in the intestines. These leaves also improve the taste of food and aid digestion. Fresh coriander juice has anti-pitta properties and is used for rash, hives or dermatitis. It can be applied as a pulp to the skin to relieve the burning sensation. It also helps to purify the blood.
Cumin.
This herb is aromatic and slightly bitter and pungent. It helps digestion and improves the taste of food. It also aids te secretion of digestive juices. Roasted cumin powder is effectively used in intestinal disorders such as diarrhea or dysentery. For such ailments, a pinch of cumin powder is taken with freshly prepared buttermilk. Cumin also relieves pain and cramps in the belly. It is very effective for
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 31
6/19/07 11:34:16 PM
Flax seeds.
These act as laxative, expectorant, and decongestant. For these uses, flax seeds can be taken in the form of tea. If one cup of this tea is taken at night, a nice bowel movement will be experienced in the morning. It will also aid the drainage of mucus through the feces. This simple domestic herb can also alleviate the problems of constipation, distention and discomfort in the abdominal region. Flax seeds give energy and also help in relieving asthma and chronic cough.
Garlic.
This herb contains oil, is aromatic and is hot, bitter and pungent, Garlic relieves aggravated vata and alleviates gas. It is good for digestion and absorption. It is also a good rejuvenating herb. Many spiritual people say that garlic is rajas (inhibits spiritual growth) and should not be taken by spiritual practitioners. Garlic does stimulate sexual energy and is therefore not recommended for those who practice celibacy. Apart from its spiritual contraindications, garlic is very effective vata disorders. It can be eaten during the rainy season and in the winter to keep the body warm. It also relieves pain in the joints. However, garlic is not good for people of pitta constitution because of its hot and pungent attributes. This herb is antireheumatic and may be used for dry cough or congestion. It is very effective for sinus headaches, pain or tingling in the ear. In treating ear problems, three to four drops of garlic oil are placed in the ear, or the ear is filled with this oil at night and sealed with cotton. The next morning, the pain will have disappeared. Garlic will also relieve toothache. Sensitive teeth or receding gums may be massaged with garlic oil. Fresh garlic may be used for cooking. It makes the food more palatable and easier to absorb, and it kindles agni. Also, fresh garlic is anti-vata and anti-kapha.
Ghee.
Ghee is a product made from raw, unsalted butter. It is an excellent appetizer, which kindles agni. It helps digestion because it stimulates the secretion of digestive juices, and enhances the flavor of foods. Also, ghee helps to enhance intelligence, understanding, memory and ojas. It relieves constipation if taken with warm milk. Ghee, when used with various herbs, carries their medicinal properties to the tissues. Ghee medicated with licorice, valamus root or gotu kola is used extensively as a treatment in ayurveda. Ghee relieves chronic fever, anemia and blood disorders and is useful for
32 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:16 PM
detoxification. It does not increase cholesterol as do many other oils, and it has anti-vata, anti-pitta and anti-kapha properties, so it aids in the balancing of the tri-dosha. Ghee helps the healing of wounds and alleviates peptic ulcer and colitis. It is good generally for the eyes, nose and skin.
Ginger.
This herb is used fresh and dried. Both forms of the herb are aromatic and pungent. Ginger is a stimulant and carminative. Fresh ginger contains more water and is milder, the powdered form is stronger and has more penetrating action. Fresh ginger tea is good for pitta and vata people. Dry ginger, being highly concentrated and strong, is good for kapha people. Ginger causes sweating, enkindles agni, neutralizes toxins, and helps digestion, absorption and assimilation of food. Ginger alleviates inflammation of the throat, the common cold, congestion, and sinus problems. A tea of ginger powder mixed with hot water can be taken with honey. Grated fresh ginger with a little garlic can be eaten to counteract low agni. This concoction will kindle agni so that the appetite returns. A pinchful of salt added to one-half teaspoon of grated fresh ginger also acts as an excellent appetizer. Ginger is the best domestic remedy for kapha problems, such as cough, runny nose, congestion, and throat irritation. If one has a headache, a paste of one-half teaspoon of ginger powder, mixed with water and heated may be applied to the forehead. This paste will create a slight burning sensation but will not burn the skin, and it will relieve the headache. Ginger can also be used as a spice in cooking. It is especially good to use in cold weather. Ginger makes food lighter and easier to digest. It will aid in cleansing the intestines and will promote healthy bowel movements. Ginger can also be applied externally to painful joints and muscles. It is effective in relieving pain, helps the circulation and causes stagnated energy in the body to be released so that pain subsides. If the body aches, a ginger bath is recommended. Grated ginger is placed in a piece of cloth and tied to the hot water tap, so that when filling the tub, the hot water will run through the ginger. This ginger water relieves pain, refreshes and relaxes.
Gotu kola.
The leaf of the gotu kola herb looks like the two hemispheres of the brain. Gotu kola acts upon the brain tissue. It is a very effective aid for developing memory and intelligence. It stimulates
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 33
6/19/07 11:34:16 PM
the brain tissue, thereby expanding understanding, comprehension and appreciation. Gotu kola relieves stress and calms the mind. In Sanskrit, it is called brahmi (Brahma means Cosmic Consciousness). This herb will help the flow of energy in the brain between the right and left hemispheres. Gotu kola is also a decongestant and is used to alleviate sinus problems. To cleanse out mucus, it can be used in the powder form: one-fourth teaspoon with honey should be taken morning and evening. Gotu kolas action, however, is upon the mind and the consciousness. One can take it in the form of a tea-- one cup at bedtime -- to promote sound sleep and peaceful, alert awakening.
Honey.
This substance creates heat in the body, so that acts to reduce vata and kapha. Its taste is sweet and astringent. Honey is good for healing internal and external ulcers. Like ghee, honey carries the medicinal properties of herbs to the bodily tissues and is, therefore, used as a medium for many substances. Honey is an excellent blood purifier and is also good for the eyes and teeth. It alleviates cold, cough and congestion. Honey used to dress an external wound will help the healing process. Honey and water together energize the body and help to flush the kidneys. Honey reduces fat if taken in moderation. Honey should not be cooked because cooking alters its ties, making it incompatible with the body. Heated honey can clog the digestive tract and create toxins.
Licorice.
This substance is sweet and slightly stringent. It is a natural expectorant. Licorice cleans the mouth, promotes salivation and increases secretions in the gastrointestinal tract . Chewing on a licorice stick will clean the mouth and cleanse the teeth, arresting tooth decay. Licorice also has germicidal action. It is used to alleviate cough, cold and congestion. For this purpose, it is taken as a tea to aid in expectoration. Licorice is also an emetic. Two to three glasses of strong licorice tea will cause nausea and vomiting, which helps to remove excess mucus accumulated in the stomach. This excess mucus will also create congestion in the chest. Licorice is a very effective antidote for peptic ulcers and gastritis. For treating these ailments, one teaspoon or less of licorice powder is used to make one cup of tea. Licorice can be made into a medicated oil or medicated ghee and given internally. This medicinal is used for diabetes, bronchitis, tonsillitis, cold, and repeated attacks of asthma. Licorice ghee can be used externally on wounds. Septic or nonhealing
34 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:16 PM
wounds can be healed by application of licorice ghee. If one takes licorice ghee regularly (one-half teaspoon every day), it helps to relieve the inflammation of peptic ulcers. Licorice is also a very effective antidote for inflammation of gallbladder. The tea, taken after meals, aids digestion and relieves constipation.
Mustard.
Mustard is very pungent, hot, sharp, penetrating, and oily. The seed is used as a domestic spice. It kindles agni and neutralizes toxins. However, mustard must be used with care beacuse it also aggravates pitta. Mustard acts as an analgesic, and it reduces muscular pain. It is a carminative and also relieves congestion. Mustard powder mixed with water can be used as a poultice. It should not be applied directly to the skin or blistering may be occur. The paste should be applied to a cloth and the cloth placed next to the skin for relief of painful joints or pain in the chest. Mustard can be used as a fomentation to relieve muscle spasms. Mustard seeds may also be tied in a small cloth and placed in hot water. Then the hands and feet may be immersed in the water for joint pain or muscle soreness. The medicinal effects of the mustard seeds seeds mixed with the water relax the muscles. Mustard is used in cooking and frying. Sesame oil may be heated in a pan and then when the oil is hot, about two pinches of mustard seeds may be fried with onion, garlic and vegetables. The vegetables and then become very light and easy to digest. Mustard may be used for indigestion, distention of the abdomen or discomfort because of improper digestion.
Nutmeg.
This herb is aromatic and stimulating. It is used to improve the taste of teas and milk. When taken with milk, it serves as a tonic for the heart and brain. It is also used to alleviate sexual debility. Nutmeg can be used for lack of control over urination, general weakness, diarrhea, gas, dull aching pain in the abdomen, loss of appetite, and liver and spleen disorders. Nutmeg is a relaxant, and it induces natural sleep, so it may be used for insomnia. This herb should be taken sparingly and only by adults because of its strong action. It is very good for vata and kapha people. For people of pitta constitution, nutmeg may be used in smaller doses.
Onion.
The onion is a strong irritant and is pungent and aromatic. Its action is hot when taken internally. The fumes contain ammonia, and are an irritant to the eyes and cause the nose and eyes to run. Onions stimulate the senses,
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 35
6/19/07 11:34:16 PM
so if one feels faint or dizzy, and onion broken into pieces and inhaled will bring relief. Onions help the digestion and stimulate sexual energy. They are rajas food and are not recommended to those who practice celibracy as a spiritual discipline. Cooked onions are sweet and less pungent. If they are applied as a poultice to a skin boil, the boil will burst. High fever may be relieved by applying a grated, raw onion wrapped in a piece of cloth to either the forehead or abdomen. This same application will stop convulsions resulting from fever. Onions will relieve acute epileptic seizures if applied as a nasal inhalant or as eye drops. Onions also help to reduce cholesterol in the body and are a good heart tonic; the action of onions helps reduce the heart rate. One-half cup of fresh onion juice with two teaspoons of honey, if taken internally, relieves asthma, cough, cold spasms, nausea, and vomiting. It will also destroy intestinal worms. A grated onion with one-half teaspoon of turmeric and one half teaspoon of curry powder will relieve pain in the joints, if applied as a paste to the affected area.
Papper (black).
This spice is pungent and hot and is a stimulant that helps to kindly agni. It increases the secretion of digestive juices and improves the taste of food. It is used to alleviate constipation, dry piles, gas and loss of appetite. This herb may also be taken with a pinch of honey to combat worms in the large intestine. Black pepper helps to relieve swelling. As an antidote to hives, a pinch of black pepper powder with ghee may be applied externally. Black pepper is hot and pungent, but if mixed with ghee, it relieves pitta disorders such as dermatitis and hives.
Salt.
Many people use sea salt simply to improve the taste of food; however, it also has medicinal properties. Salt contains water and is a byproduct of the sea. It aggravates kapha and pitta because it contains water and fire. Salt relieves gas and distention of the abdomen. It cleans the mouth, stimulates secretions in the digestive canal and aids digestion. Excess intake of salt will disturb kapha and pitta. Only small amounts should be used in cooking. Salt can be used to relieve swelling. The salt should be heated in a pan and placed in a cloth bag. It can then be applied externally to relieve swelling. Salt is also a natural pain reliever and may be used externally in the same way as a local application for pain. It helps to increase drainage, so one can put a few drops of a concentrated salt solution into the nose to cleanse kapha and relieve nasal blockage.
36 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:17 PM
Turmeric.
This herb is aromatic and stimulant. It is bitter, slightly pungent and a good blood purifier. It is a tonic that helps digestion and relieves congestion. It has a soothing action on respiratory disease such as cough and asthma. It is antiarthritic and acts as a natural antibacterial. Turmeric may be added to high protein food to help the digestion and prevent the formation of gas. It is effectively used to maintain the flora of the large intestine. Turmeric can also be used as a gargle. Use two pinches of turmeric and two pinches of salt in one glass of hot water to relieve inflammation of the tonsils and congestion in the throat. Turmeric also has anti-inflammatory properties for an abrasion, bruise or traumatic swelling, turmeric paste may be applied locally. Take one-half teaspoon of turmeric and add sufficient water to make a paste with a little pinch of salt, and apply to the area. Pain, swelling, and inflammation will disappear. For the treatment of diabetes, turmeric is also useful. Take four to five 00 capsules after each meal to help bring the blood sugar level to normal.
Yellow dock.
This herb is a famous native of America. It has anti-pitta properties. It is a laxative, purifies the blood and is also anti-inflammatory. Hence, it can be used for arthritis symptoms and alleviates pain, tenderness and redness. It is also used as a tea for rash, dermatitis, bleeding piles, and inflammatory eruptions on the neck, back and armpitis. Because of its antitoxic property, yellow dock purifies the blood and clams out-of-balance pitta. The root of this herb is useful for external application to ulcers, skin infection and poorly healed abrasions.
6/19/07 11:34:17 PM
What is Homeopathy?
Homeopathy is a distinct, comprehensive and deep healing system orginally developed by Samuel Hahnemann about 200 years ago. It uses small doses of specially prepared (potentized) remedies to set the bodys systems back in order to stimulate a persons own energies toward a natural healing process. It is entirely distinct both in theory and in practice form other healing systems -- most notably from ordinary or main-stream (allopathic) medicine, but also form acupuncture, chiropractics, naturopathy, etc. although some homeopathy often finds its way into these other fields of practice. Homeopathy is comprehensive. It deals potentially with all of human ills. It can be used curatively whenever the individuals basic biological strength (vital force) is strong enough to overcome the illness, and paliatively to provide prolongation of life and engancement of energy and well-being when the illness is incurable. Homeopathy is deep in that it can trigger and guide healing reaction even to very subtle, severe or all-encompassing mental or physical illness- often when other healing systems have failed. Many people discover homeopathy when they an illness-perhaps chronic arthritis or other pain, or fatigue or depression or just a common cold-which other treatments cannot deal with which homeopathy dramatically relieves.
38 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:17 PM
Homeopathy also has the advantages that it is inexpensive (the only expense is the homeopaths time and training- the remedies themselves cost practically nothing). Homeopathy is non-toxic, although side-effects which relfect the bodys own healing process-- such as fever, rash, discharge, etc -- may occur. It is also non-intrusive; the remedies are carried on tiny sugar granules which are dissolved in water or in the mouth, or swallowed.
Readings in Homeopathy
There are two books which are essential for this course of study: Kent, James Tyler, Repertory of the Homeopathic Materia Media -- the basic repetory or catalog of symptoms and which remedies are related to them, and, Kent, James Tyler, Lectures on Homeopathic Materia Media- the best summary of the different remedies and their symptoms, patterns, images. There is no need to get an additional repertory; however it is very useful to have one or several additional materia medicas because each author described the remedys effects and subtleties in slightly different ways, and for a particular patient one authors description may clearly fit while anothers may not quite gel. See the biblography at the end of this article for further readings. On the subject of philosophy and theory, several books are very useful: Vithoulkas, George, The Science of Homeopathy -- a modern textbook, Hahnemann, Samuel, Organon of Medicine -- the great final symmary classic of the founder of homeopathys 60 or more years of clinical and experimental experience, and Kent, James Tyler, Lectures on Homeopathic Philosophy.
Underlying Concepts
Health is seen as freedom and creativity. On the mental plane, which is the deepest aspect of our functions around which all else revolves, we are concerned with having accurate information, effective memory, workable or consistent concepts, clarity of data processing, a sound sense of purpose and goals (including a clear basis of spiritual or metaphysical grounding and connection). This is not the level of passion, but of accuracy, clarity, and connection. Freedom on this level means freedom from error and confusion. Creativity means access to tools and goals, and impetus in the cognitive and spiritual sphere. On the emotional plane, the next level of our functions, health means freedom of the passions-access to the right variety of feelings of a whole and wholesome human experience. Health on the emotional level also means freedom from passions. Clearly one can be limited or distressed if plagued by uncontrollable feelings -- anxiety, depression or even more positive feelings of manic joyfulness or sexual stimulation, etc. -- if they drive one to inappropriate and destructive actions or expressions. Creativity means the experience
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 39
6/19/07 11:34:17 PM
of newness, evolution, enhancement in loving connections with others and enthusiasm in ones life pursuits. On the third and most superficial level, the physical plane, health means freedom from pain and physical limitation - smooth, effective, comfortable functioning in interface with the physical environment. Symptoms are essentially limitations of freedom. Disease means a complex or combination of symptoms that occur together. The concept of constitution is a very important one in homeopathy -- it is the groundwork or underlying context and process of the individual. At the core of our constitution is our genetic endowment manifested as our ongoing psychology, physiology and biochemistry as modified by our environment past and present. Chronic disease influence, learned behavior and thought patterns, nutritional factors, etc. become important in the imbalances and weaknesses in our constitution. Cure is the removal of symptoms, and also of treatments. (When ongoing or recurrent treatment is needed, this is considered palliation not cure.) The vital force is the inner, organizing, generating strength of the individual. We look at the individual as a whole -- rather than some of symptoms or body systems -- and we are concerned with the strength and organization of the vital force which directs that whole life on the mental, emotional and physical planes. We shall consider later a specific series of factors one can use to assess an individuals vital force -- his or her age, level of disease, family history and so on. That will, in an operational way, enrich the concept of vital force. Let it suffice for now to say that is it is the deepest source of life energy. The reason for assessing the vital force as clearly as we can is that it gives us an idea of how long or short (weeks or years), stormy or easy the individual can be cured, or only palliated. In a culture at least unaccepting if not hostile to homeopathy and where mistakes or manifestations of limitations are hard to tolerate, an assessment of the vital force may help one decide whether to undertake the treatment of a particular patient at all. Suppression as another very important concept which we will consider in greater detail, and which will be discussed in the case material and readings on philosophy. Suppression revolves around the concept that the individual is an integrated whole and the observation that when symptoms are treated piecemeal rather than treating the individual as a whole one is quite likely to see the disease displaced or suppressed to a deeper level. For example, eczema is successfully treated (that is suppressed) by cortisone, and the patient develops asthma instead -- not the concern of the dermatologist who has been successful in removing the eczema, although the patient as a whole is feeling worse . Subsequently, when the asthma is suppressed or anxious (on the emotional level) or confused and paranoid (on the mental leval). Mainstream or tradional (allopathic) medicine is usually suppressive. This
40 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:17 PM
is less important if the individuals vital force is strong and can overcome the disease process anyway. It is also usully unnoticed because allopathic physicians are not trained to think holistically and to recognize suppression when it occurs. They do not have the experience and concepts (herings Law of Cure, which we will study in detail later) to anticipate, observe, and explain the suppression process.
Homeopathy is based on a fundamental observation in healing process -- an observation has apparently been made many times in different eras and cultures. Hippocrates is the first known source of it in our cultural heritage. Hahnemann rediscovered it and developed it into the elaborate healing system he called Homeopathy. This observation is that like cures like (in Latin, similia similibus curentur). One illness can be cured by another illness which can cause similar symptoms. It is as if the body maintains the first illness because it has not gotten the message or signal as to how to organize its energies to heal the disease. In homeopathy, the symptoms of the illness are matched to those known to be associated with the specific remedy -- that is, with symptoms the remedy could cause in higher or toxic doses. The remedy in some way provides a signal to the body; it stimulates a reoganization and redirection of the vital force toward the symptoms that need to be cured. In summery, the patient has an illness; we observe the symptoms; we seek out and prescribe a remedy which could cause similar symptoms; the patient is cured. Like cures like. Hahnemann experimented with smaller and smaller doses of the remedies, and discovered they could be given in extremely small amounts. In fact, if they are agitated violently during each of a series of dilutions, their physiologically stimulating or signaling properties actually seem to increase as they are made more dilute. It is this single aspect of homeopathy -- the process of making a remedy even more effective by making it more dilute (with violent agitation or succussion) -- that has baffled the tens of thousands who have observed it, and antagonized and alienated the well-meaning, logical-minded people who have heard of it without observing it. It seems logically impossible that someting could become stronger or more effective as it becomes more dilute (if it is also succussed at each stage), and yet it is the daily iffefutable observation of the hundreds of sane and sensible people that remedies diluted (with succussion) even far beyond the point where there is any single molecule of the original materials present to retain and even have increased capacity to trigger a highly specific healing action. Homeopaths use this phenomenon daily in a repeatable, predictable way, those who have not had direct experience with it often scoff and debunk it. Homeopaths use the smallest dose that will stimulate the healing reaction. And they usually use a single remedy (matching it carefully to fit all or
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 41
6/19/07 11:34:17 PM
the most important of the patients symptoms) in order to have the most clear control and knowledge of the response that is predicted. Multiple, or even two remedies become unimaginably complex in their potential interactions and net effect. Important principles in Homeopathy are the minimum dose, and the single remedy. Pontentization of the remedies involves three processes: serial dilution, succussion and trituration. Trituration essentially means a long, arduous, fine grinding process of the remedy with lactose (milk sugar). This is especially used when the basic remedy is not soluble in water or ethanol, for example with remedies prepared from gold (Aurum) or silver (Argentum). One part of the starting material is ground with nine parts of fresh lactose, again for an hour. Finally for a third time one part of this 1:100 mixture is mixed with nine parts of lactose and ground together for a third hour. This mixture is -- as you can imagine -- a very fine powder which is part of the starting material (perhaps gold or silver) with 999 parts of lactose. This mixture can then be dissolved in water or alcohol, and the potentization process continued by serial dilutions (each time one to ten) with vigorous mixing by impact (succussion) approximately 40 to 100 times at each dilution. Potency levels are designed by x (for example, 12x or 30x) if they have been diluted 1:10 at each stage. A 12x potency has been diluted 12 times, and therefore has one part of the original material to each 1,000,000,000,000 parts of the carrier or solvent (lactose, water, ethanol). The higher potencies are prepared by steps of 1:100 dilution, and are designated c or simply with no letter desgnation. For example, a 200 potency has been diluted one part of the original material to 100 to the 200th power (or 10 followed by 400 zeros) of the solvent / carrier. In designating still higher potencies, m is used to designate 1,000. Thus a Impotency would be 1,000c; a cm would be 100,000c; an mm would be 1,000,000c. This is extremely dilute, and well beyond the point where there is to single molecule of the original material present. This point is passed roughly at the dilution of one part to 10 followed by 25 zeros (25xpotency). Yet these dilutions, and far higher levels of potentization, are found to be powerfully effective in clinical use.
6/19/07 11:34:17 PM
There are three ways the range of action of symptoms covered by a homeopathic remedy are determined: toxicities, cured symptoms, and provings. As discussed in Part I of this article, a remedy will cure symptoms it will cause-like cures like. This is especially and dramatically true when remedies are used in potency, that is, after being potentized by trituration (crushing, grinding), dilution, and succussion (impact shaking).
Toxicities
Many of the remedies are derived from well-known poisons, such as arsenic (Arsenicum), poison oak (Rhus toxicodendron), and poison hemlock (Conium). Materials that are toxic in the crude or nonpotentized form have a known range of toxic symptoms from accidental poisonings, suicide attempts, etc. For example, Plato described the death of Socrates by poisoning with hemlock (Conium) in Phaedo. ...He walked about until, as he said, his legs began to fail, and then he lay on his back... and the man who gave him poison now and then looked at his feet and legs; and after a while he pressed his foot hard, and asked him if he could feel; and he said, No; and then his leg, and so upwards and upwards and showed us that he was cold and stiff. Similarly, Boericke, in his Materia Medica, described the action of Conium as: Extremities -- Heavy, weary paralyzed... fingers and toes numb.
Provings
Administering a remedy to healthy people and carefully reporting any symptoms they experience is proving a remedy. Most people will not respond to a random remedy at all, but in a large enough group and with repeated doses a few people who are sensitive will develop transient symptoms.
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 43
6/19/07 11:34:17 PM
For example in James T. Kents Materia Medica, he reported a small proving experiment on Cenchris-Contortix (pp. 404-414) in which five people took the remedy at 6x, 30x, and 10m potencies and reported symptoms they noticed.
The potentized remedies are in some ways very durable and in some ways quite fragile. Potency can be maintained for many decades in closed (e.g., corked glass) containers in a cool environment, protected from excessive light. During storage before administration, the remedies must not be exposed to temperatures above 115-1200F (46-490C), to strong light (e.g., direct sunlight), to X-rays (e.g., airport security check), or to odors in the air (they should not be opened in a room with any detectable odor of smoke, incense, cleaning materials, perfumes, etc.). During administration, the patient should wear neither perfume or fragrant oils, nor have significant mouth or body odor. If any of these are present, the small sugar globules that carry the remedy can be mixed in water and drunk, which seems to get the remedy past the odor barrier. The patient should also not eat or drink anything except water for about 15 minutes before and after receiving the remedy.
Cured Symptoms
Symptoms cured after administration of remedy give further data on the scope of action. For example, in the August 1976 issue of Homeopatherapy, George Vithoulkas described a case treated with the remedy Calcarea arsenicosa (calcium arsenate). In addition to many known symptoms of this remedy that were also relieved: craving for the smell of napthalene, fainting at the sight of blood, involuntary movements of the eyelids, and compulsion to count things while waiting. These are offered for reconfirmation -- that is, if symptoms are noticed to be cured by this remedy a few more times, they may be added to the Repertory as suggestively related to the remedys scope of action. The problem of antidoting the remedies after they have begun to take effect is also significant. Again, in many ways remedies are durable -- or rather, the natural healing process they trigger or stimulate will evolve without interruption in the face of may obstacles -- depending on the strength and specific susceptibility of the vital force. There are four antidoting, or disordering, stimuli that arise frequently enough to be worth reviewing with the patient before prescribing a remedy: 1. Caffein, especially coffee. Tea, chocolate, soft drinks, etc., seem to be acceptable in moderation, but coffee often reverses the action of the remedy. Decaffeinated coffee, instant or freeze-dried, can be consumed in moderation, but for unknown reasons decaffeinated
6/19/07 11:34:17 PM
beans that one grinds oneself seem to be disruptive. 2. Camphor. Often the ingredient of topical muscle-strain ointments (e.g., Vicks Vapo Rub, Tiger Balm), stimulating oils and inhalants, lip balm and lipstick, cough lozenges, etc., contain camphor . Patients should read product labels and refrain from using these products during treatment. Symptom-suppressive medication. Anything that treats symptoms locally, rather than wholly, or that suppresses the bodys natural defense (symptom forming) reactions should be avoided. Corticosteroids, such as cortisone, which are used on skin rashes, are an example of symptom-suppressive medication. The patient should be cautioned against using any form of treatment, including other homeopathic remedies such as Cell Salts, while under constitutional homeopathic treatment. Dental drilling and filling. With or without Novocain, many types of dental work often antidote, or counteract, the homeopathically stimulated healing process. Teeth cleaning and routine checks are not disruptive. While one does not want to advise the patient to decline necessary medical, surgical, or dental care, it is advisable to postpone non-urgent treatments and to consider the symptoms being treated in light of Herings Law of Cure and the expected evolution of the healing process.
3.
4.
Constantine Hering was a homeopath who practiced in the United States about 100 years ago. He was an astute observer and a thorough cataloger of symptoms. He was said to have traveled to South America to gather the poison of the lance-headed viper, or bushmaster snake, and was bitten by one. Hering urgently admonished his wife to write down everything I say, every symptom, as he lapsed from agony to unconsciousness -- thus providing the first clear and thorough (though unfortunate) record of the toxic symptoms of the remedy, Lachesis (the poison of the pit viper). In observing shifts of symptoms as patients responded to homeopathic remedies, Hering noted four principles, which I have short-handed for mnemonic purposes, as: upside-down, inside-out, backwards, and unimportant. 1. Upside-down. When the body is involved in a natural healing process (whether triggered by homeopathy, acupuncture, a deep spiritual experience, a deep therapeutic dietary change, etc.), symptoms tend to move down the body, from head to feet, if the process is in a healing direction. For example, a rash may move from the fact to the chest, then to the abdomen, then things -- with the upper parts clearing as
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 45
6/19/07 11:34:17 PM
it goes. Muscle cramps or joint pains may move from the shoulders to the hips, then legs. If symptoms move in the other direction, it suggests the illness is being suppressed, the disease is getting worse. 2. Inside-out. Symptoms tend to move from te deeper parts of the body towards the surface when involved in the natural healing process. In the course of a deep cure as mental, emotional, and deep physical symptoms clear, the individual may develop a skin rash; eruptions on the mucous membranes of the nose, mouth, vagina, etc., or a discharge -- runny nose, diarrhea, or opening of an infected area. It is as if the body were casting the disease outward. Such symptoms of evolution towards health need to be allowed to occur naturally and not be suppressed by local treatments or systemic suppressive agents. Backwards. Old symptoms that have been suppressed or incompletely cured may return -- and in the reverse order of their original occurrence. In one case, a patient experienced the brief recurrence of urinary retention, which for weeks prior to treatment had been a problem. Subsequently, the patient experienced a painful throb in the abdomen which occured at the beginning of the disease, and a few weeks following treatment, developed a sore throat as had not been experienced for three years, but had happened frequently and severely in childhood. Unimportant. During the course of the natural healing process symptoms tend to move from more to less vital organs orbody systems. For example, as a depression clears, a patient may develop heart palpitations, which subsequently clear as the patient develops digestive disorders, etc. Brain and emotional functions are more central, more vital than heart palpitations, which are more vital than digestive disorders. If these symptoms are allowed to evolve without suppression, the patient will continue to move toward cure.
3.
4.
Homeopathy Cast-Taking
During the intake interview, in a comfortable, nondistracting environment, the client should be seated in full view of the interviewer. This arrangement allows the client and interviewer to interact easily without disturbing the flow of the interview. The client can indicate a physical location, (for example, the thigh or abdomen), and the interviewer can easily examine a rash or feel a lump. Seated face-to-face, the interviewer can easily note information and turn pages without contortion or distraction. Notes should definitely be taken by the interviewer. Should the client question this or raise objections -- which is rare -- the interviewer can gently inquire about the concerns and perhaps explain that the symptoms and feel46 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:18 PM
ings the client reports are too important to be trusted to memory and that the notes are kept confidential. On the interview sheet at the top of the page, the interviewer notes the clients name, address, age, height, weight (and preferred weight) and comments about the general appearance, behavior, and personality style. Brief comments on parents health, family and social background, current job and social-life satisfaction can also be noted here. The interview should be conducted in a nondirective way, with questions such as, How can I help you? or What brings you here? The patient is thus allowed a full range to express personal concerns in his or her own way. Patiently giving just enough warmth and reassurance to encourage the client to continue freely, the interviewers questions of clarification and inquiries for more details are at first very general. For example, Tell me more about the anxiety. Later, the inquiries can become more specific: What time of day to you feel most anxious? Finally, the interviewer can focus on specific, important symptom modifiers, such as, Do you notice feeling more or less anxious after you eat? As the client talks, the interviewer generally notes each symptom on the left-hand side of the note paper, working down the page, skipping a line or two between each pair of symptoms. This allows room toward the right side of the page, and on alternate lines, for modifying details as the client mentions them later or as specifially requested later. It is important to write the clients words -- to capture living images, specific phrases or descriptions exactly. These quotes become very important when studying the case and trying to recall the essence of the clients experience behind the description of symptoms should be illustrated with a specific example or two in the clients words. There may be a significant difference, for example, among, I thought of killing the cat and I wanted to kill the cat and I was afraid I might kill the cat. Before the interview ends, the interviewer has carefully inquired about each of the major mental and emotional areas -- lapses of attention, memory, or consciousness; angry feelings; fearfulness; sensitivity or irritability; sadness or weeping; etc. -- and about important modalities -- preferences for warm or cold, open air or indoors, wet or dry weather, activity, exercise, and other strong likes and dislikes or symptom-modifying factors. Food preferences and aversions, thirst, sleep patterns and positions, sweating, cleanliness, and other applicable modalities may have been discussed. A paragraph within the notes should be allotted to sexual feelings and patterns. The first two articles of this series have dealt with a general introduction to homeopathy, definitions of terms and case-taking. Future articles will discuss the evaluation of symptoms and the process of determining remedies.
6/19/07 11:34:18 PM
During the case-taking interview, there are three factors we pay particular attention to because of their significance later when we are studying the case and trying to decide on the most appropriate remedy:
The intensity or severity or importance of the symptom for the individual is weighed in choosing the remedy. Therefore, if the patient becomes vehement, enthusiastic, tearful or places greater emphasis on a particular symptom than on some others, we want to note that. The clarity with which a symptom is communicated, the precisencess of the patients observations and description is significant. The spontaneity with which a symptom is offered or reported is also important. Whether the patient mentioned the symptom without being asked, or with considerable questioning indicates the symptoms relative weight in the case. This is one reason we start the interview with general questions, and only gradually move to more specific ones. Thus we might start the interview with What brings you here, later ask How do you sleep, later still Do you sleep through the night, and What wakes you? If the patient responded to the first question with Terrible insomnia, Doctor, I wake every morning as 3 a.m. coughing -- no phlegm but terrible knife-like pains, that would be intense, clear and spontaneous -- and we would already know the remedy (Kali carbonicum). During the interview we underline symptoms with one, two or three lines if they are presented with intensity, clarity and spontaneity. It is not one line for each, but an overall estimation of the weight and sureness of the symptom to the patient.
Later when we are studying the case, we use several factors to determine how important a particular symptom is. I use the mnemonic PRICED to recall these factors -- the value of a symptom is how its PRICED.
48 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:18 PM
stands for peculiar; how rare, unusual, unexpected is the symptom? We expect someone who is chilly to feel better in a warm room perhaps, but Pulnatilla patients are typically chilly yet feel better cool, and out of doors. Sore joints should, it would seem, be better at rest, yet a Rhus tox arthritis feels better moving the sore limbs. R- recent; symptoms which have come on more recently (or if comparable intensity, etc.) weigh more heavily in the choice of the remedy. Iintensity; the more severe or intense the symptom, the more important. C- clear; this refers to how clearly and precisely we can translate the patients report into the language (rubrics). E- enduring; persistent, and long patterns of symptoms are important. D- deep; this refers to whether the symptom is on the mental, emotional or physical plane, and also to whether it is a general symptom that refers to the patient as a whole (I am chilly), to several areas (My hands and feet get cold easily), or a local part (My nose gets cold). One hierachy of depth George Vithoulkas has suggested is: Mental Sex Emotional Sleep Physical, General
P-
Local
Patterns of appetite, food desires and aversions are often quite deep, and considered general physical symptoms.
There are six parameters we use to assess the vital force. These six are easily remembered by the mnemonic FORCES F -freedoms; as we review the case, how free or limited is this individual in general -- to be loving, joyful, creative, active, effective in life? This can be to a certain extent independent of the diagnosis or severity of the symptoms -- one can be paralyzed from the neck down and live a very full, creative, loving, active life (as does Ken Keyes, Jr. who developed the Living Love program, has written several books, including Handbook to Higher Consciousness, and continues a vigorous schedule of teaching). O- Old; the age of the patient both at the time of treatment and at the time of onset of the illness reflects the strength of the vital force. This needs to be taken in the context of the severity of the illness, however. A childs vital force tends to be very strong -- however, a psychotic child, one who has already developed severe symptoms on the deepest level, is reflecting a very weak vital force. R- relatives; the family history is important -- early deaths, severe and chronic diseases in blood relatives tends to suggest that the vital force is weak.
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 49
6/19/07 11:34:18 PM
CE-
S-
center of gravity; that is, is the bulk or main weight of the symptoms on the mental, emotional or physical planes? emergencies; how the individual tolerates and responds to the unavoidable stress of life -- death of a parent, change of job or home accident, loss of money, etc. Does the person respond passionately or with despair, prolonged preoccupation, bitterness, physical symptoms, etc.? As Hamlet says, To be, or not to be: that is the question: whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take arms against a sea of troubles, and by opposing end them? sensitivities; this is the individuals idiosyncratic or over-reaction to stimuli which are not obserable stresses for most people -- allergies, pollutants, side effects of medication, proving symptoms of remedies,etc.
The first thing we do in studying a case is to assess the vital force. We may use each of the six factors mentioned, and perhaps decide on a number rating from 1 (at deaths door - most severely ill) to 10 (ecstasy -- freedom from any limitations) for each factor. Obiviously this cannot be done with a high level of precision; however, thinking through eachof these factors clearly gives us a better idea of how weak or strong the individuals vital force is, and therefore how quick or prolonged, easy or stormy their path to cure will -- and in fact whether we should be attempting a cure at all, or rather paliation -- or even declining to treat (because of the allopathic cultural milieu).
We now go through the raw case and make a list of all the symptoms, with underlining to indicate the intensity, clarity and spontaneity of each symptom as we noted it when talking to the patient. Then we rewrite the list of symptoms in order of their overall importance, using the PRICED factors. In general we put mental symptoms first, then emotional, then general physical symptoms, sex, sleep and locals -- moving some symptoms ahead of others if they are particularly peculiar, intense, etc. Precisely how to evaluate symptoms is a matter of experienced judgment -always notice when you have the chance how experienced homeopath rates the symptoms in a case moving toward selection of the remedy.
Next we search through the Repertory of rubrics (symptom listings) which might fit this patient. At this state we want to find as many rubrics as possible (one of our goals, of course, is to use this change to increase our familiarity with the Repertory). We write down every rubric we find, whether big (many
50 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:18 PM
remedies) or small (one or a few remedies), precise (perhaps the patients own words) or vaguely suggestive.
Next we write down all the remedies listed for each of the rubrics we have finally decided to use -- and each remedy with a reflection of its rating in the Repertory. In typing, I use all caps for the bold listing (highest or 3s) remedies, initial cap for the italics listing (second or 2s) remedies, and all small letters for the plain type (lowest or 1s) remedies. When copying by hand you might underline twice for the bold (3s), once for the italics (2s) and no underlining for the plain type (1s). We then extract from this list of carefully selected rubrics, each with a list of remedies after it, the remedies that seem to come up most regularly and with highest rating. We might give each remedy an intensity rating- by adding up the total number of intensity points - 3 for each bold type listing, 2 for each italic listing and 1 for each plain type listing. We might also give each remedy a frequency listing - the number of times it is listed. For example, suppose we decide on three rubrics for a case, and list them with their remedies: Anxiety, closing eyes on (p.6): calc CARB-V Mag-m Generalities, food, fish, shell, agg (p. 1363 -- meaning the patients condition in general is aggravated by eating shell fish): carb-v Lyc Urt-u Stomach, desires, eggs, boiled, soft (p.-485): Calc ol-an (Of course three rubrics is usually not enough, and these rubrics are too small to be safe, but this is just for a convenient example.) The six remedies mentioned would get the following ratings (total intensity / frequency): Calc = 3/2 carb-v=4/2 lyc=2/1 mag-m=2/1 ol-an=1/1 urt-u =2/1
The next step would be to read about these remedies in Materia Medicas, and see if we could find a description that fits the patient otherwise and fully. If not -- and this is a very important step -- we backtrack, look for better rubrics, remedies that had a lower rating -- or if still in the dark, we may go back and take the whole case again looking for missed symptoms or clearer interpretations that may lead us, through more applicable rubrics, to the right remedy.
6/19/07 11:34:18 PM
We then go through this list of rubrics and pick out the ones that best reflect this particular patients distress. We tend to eliminate rubrics that are too big (too many remedies to be useful--and also suggestive that the symptom is too common to be useful) and too small (a slight error in interview, noting or interpreting the symptom or rubric might set us off the track if we use rubrics with only a single or two or three remedics). We want to strip our choices down to at most six or eight rubrics that really fit the deepest and most characteristic aspects of the case precisely. Using too many rubrics means we are not being precise and individualizing enough. If we repertorize from a large number of rubrics we will only turn up the polycrests, the great remedies of broad scope such as Sulphur and Calcium carbonate. We will miss finding the smaller and less fully proved remedies that may ofter be needed.
6/19/07 11:34:18 PM
Trying to learn a remedy, remember its scope, patterns, symptoms, can be confusing and overwhelming. When first studying materia medica, we turn to the write-up of a remedy in Kents Lectures, or Boericke, Nash or elsewhere, and are confronted by what appears to be an endless parade of odds and ends of little symptoms which that remedy can cure. The experience seems something like attempting to memorize the telephone book, or at best -- if we can instill some human interest and color into it -- like trying to remember the details of the Sears-Roebuck Catalog. Somewhere between one and twenty minutes into this experience, the student begins to suspect again strongly that he or she has chosen the wrong field -- homeopathy must obviously be left to the compulsive geniuses. Like anything, from tying ones shoes to conversing in Tibetan, studying the remedies gets easier the more one does it. However, there are also certain ideas and approaches that can make it quickly a more comfortable and meaningful task. For one thing, to approach the subject backwards, whenever we find a remedy works, it sticks in our memory and we can use that chance to build a richer familiarity with the remedy. When we feel our own nausea fade magically away after a dose of Pulsatilla or Tabacum, we can use that experience to fix the remedy in our mind -- and take a few minutes to study the remedy to flush it out when it has made an impression on us. Similarly, when we see a friend with the flu perk up emotionally or have his or her congestion clear after a few pellets of Bryonia or Gelsemium, we have a beautiful chance to study that remedy when there is a special emotional charge on it -- a shame to miss that chance. More broadly, the images and patterns of homeopathic remedies are all around us -- we see someone startle from the slam of a door, notice that his or her nose is peeling, that they on the heavy side, they say they cannot tolerate milk, or we hear a friend describe a conversation with her landlord who was argumentative, irritable, contentious or was gentle, yieldGuide To Alternative Health Therapies - 53
6/19/07 11:34:18 PM
ing; or a movie actress with heavy hips, furrowed brow whose nostrils flair. We can let our curiosity be tickled and try to pursue to those remedy images, use those experiences to help study materia medica. We also try to get to know the remedies as friends, without such an introduction. How can we approach studying a remedy without going into confusion and overwhelm? 1. First we note its name -- or more importantly, names-- and its source and a bit of history. It is important to know at the start with a remedy, that Merc sol and Merc viv (Mercurius solibilis and Mercurius vivus) are considered identical, but very different from Merc cor and Merc cyan; or that Calc is Calcaria is Calc carb is Calcaria carbonica is Calc ost is Calcaria ostrearum -- all the same remedy; or to untangle Alum, Alumn, Alumina, Alumen. That just takes a minute or two, and is an important place to start. A little notice of its source and history also help give a sense or color, familiarity: an herb used by some Native Americans, the white middle layer of an oyster shell, a pure metal, pus from a particular disease, etc. Perhaps the remedy was used by Hahnemann himself, perhaps a snake that nearly killed Hering, perhaps the first remedy that Kent dared to use in potency, seeing an infant dying of foul diarrhea. It helps the remedy come alive. Next we look for the essence or central theme or overall pattern of the remedy. We try not to drown in the specifics, but to see what Kent and Nash and others have generalized about. The essence of a remedy appears only with long familiarity -- and unfortunately often almost slips the notice of the experienced homeopaths who could help us most, because what is familiar seems obvious, goes without saying. This is the Aunt Emma principle -- the fellow questioned by a pedantic philosopher who said, No, I cant define my Aunt Emma, but I sure as Hell can recognize her. When we know someone, or a remedy, very well, we can recognize them by the way they move, a shadow, a glimpse, an aroma. When we start to study a remedy, we try to see what broad patterns, principles, essence our teachers have highlighted. We also look for areas of emphasis in the remedy, and try to get a sense of its scope of action. Most of the remedies we will study early are the great polycrests, drugs with very broad ranges of action. They have symptoms in every system of the body, in every sphere of life. These remedies (Sulphur, Calcaria, Lycopodium, etc.) can have skin symptoms of many different kinds, varied mental symptoms, digestive, muscular, etc. Smaller remedies (Podophyllum, Ambra grisea, Chelidonium, etc.) may be similar to the big remedies in some particular area -- bowel or mental symptoms, for example -- but have
2.
3.
6/19/07 11:34:18 PM
4.
much more limited range of action. So the question is, how big, broad, deep is the remedy; what are the limits or breadth of its scope, range? This is another important orienting idea about it - whether it is a mayor / governor type or a street sweeper, a corporation president or a pencil salesperson in its power and range of symptoms. We next consider if there are symptoms which almost always occur with this remedy -- or more likely, which never appear with this remedy. For example, Arsenicum patients are characteristically bothered by cold - we would not prescribe Arsenicum for someone who tolerates cold comfortably. (Do you see how I have stated that symptom two ways -- one as a positive feature [usually bothered by cold] and then as an excluding feature [never for someone who tolerates cold easily.] No symptom always appears with a remedy, but most remedies have symptoms which exclude or contradict their use.) We look for symptoms which are strongly characteristic of the remedy we are studying, and the more peculiar or unusual the symptom the better. Thus for example, many remedies have irritability, aloofness, thirst; but few have morning diarrhea getting the patient out of bed, which is a strong characteristic of Sulphur. We highlight for ourselves symptoms of this particular remedy which are strong, characteristic, peculiar. We also want to get a profile of the mentals, the generals and the modalities of the particular remedy we are studying. Mental / emotional symptoms are the deepest levels of distress, and ones in which the remedy must match. Generalities or generals are symptom patterns which apply to several areas of the body - burning pains on the head, at the anus, some joints, etc.; or bleeding tendency from the gums, rectum; easy bruising, etc. Modalities are changes or conditions that make symptoms better or worse: Arsenicum patients have burning pains ( a general), better from heat (a modality -- quite general and somewhat peculiar, that something which feels burning should feel better warmed); Bryonia is characteristically worse from motion -- wherever symptoms occur, they are most likely to be worsended by movement; Mercury patients are not relieved by the discharge or flow -- have excess saliva but are thirsty, loose bowels with urgency not relieved by the movement, fever not relieved by sweating which is copious - a curious generality, and modality of a sort. We may want to note what other remedies are related or similar in some regards to the one we are studying. What are we likely to confuse with it? Which other remedies should we consider when we see some of their strong symptoms? Last and certain least (if at all) we read through the raft of symptoms covered by the remedy in various body areas, not trying to remember it at all, but to see the patterns we have noticed earlier, and help fix
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 55
5.
6.
7.
6/19/07 11:34:18 PM
Get the name or names of the remedy clearly -- untangled from similar names - and a bit of history, source... its more interesting that way. Look for the essence, central theme as several experienced Homeopaths have described it. Note the size of the remedy -- is it a great polycrest, or one of small scope? What is its major area of effect? Look for strong symptoms - ones which almost always occur with the remedy, or never occur with it. Get a profile of the mental and emotional state associated with the remedy; and generals; and modalities. Take note of related or similar remedies -- ones that might be confused with it, or should be compared with it. Read through all the symptoms it covers -- not to remember them, but to get some initial exposure and to look for the patterns you have studied above. Finally, think about the remedy, talk about it, look for it, and take a moment to look back over it whenever it comes up in a case.
In homeopathy the remedy is chosen on the basis of symptoms - the report of the patient -- much more than on signs the practitioner observes or laboratory data, or even information from the physical examination. Each of us has an extremely complex and sophisticated set of biodetectors, not just for pain, temperature, taste, position, vibration, sight, sound and similar gross physical data, but also for inner, mostly unconscious observations on blood pressure, nutrient and metabolite supply and balance, and a host of self-regulating feedback mechanisms that constantly adjust body systms and functions, and feed data into the higher computer areas of the brain when things are particularly out of whack or higher levels of response are in order. These higher levels of data may come to consciousness as hunger (and specific nutrient hungers), chilliness, thirst (and for specific beverages), fatigue (requiring various kinds of rest, change of position, sleep etc.), or anxiety, depression etc. Homeopathys dependence on symptoms is not a limitation, but a recognition of the extreme sensitivity and specificity which is possible in defining disease states when an individuals own self-detection and reporting mechanisms are properly used. This requires careful inquiry on the part of the homeopath to assist the patient in defining and describing self-observations. It provides an interesting and expanding experience for the patient, who learns to observe bodily and mental states much more closely while also experiencing that those observations and concerns are the most valid and crucial kind
56 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:19 PM
of information. The term, modalities, is used to refer to any state or process that changes a symptom. On experiencing any particular sensation... it is useful, indeed necessary, in order to determine the exact character of the symptom, to assume various positions while it lasts, and to observe whether, by moving the part affected, by walking in the room or the open air, by standing, sitting, or lying the symptom is increased, diminished or removed, and whether it returns again assuming the position in which it was first observed, - whether it is altered by eating or drinking, or by any other condition, or by speaking, coughing, sneezing or any other action of the body, and at the same time to note at what time of the day or night it usually occurs in the most marked manner, whereby what is peculiar and characteristic of each symptom will become apparent. The exact character of the symptom also needs to be described carefully, precisely. For purposes of translating into the terms and groupings of the repertory, it is useful to note that Kent uses nine major categories of kinds of pain. Although there is some variation, depending on whether we are discussing pain of the abdomen, head, arm, etc. the categories are (in order of decreasing attention given to them in repertory): 1. stitching (sticking, piercing, shooting, biting, darting, lancinating) 2. tearing (lacerating, rending) 3. pressing (bursting) 4. drawing (pulling) 5. sore (bruised, tender to touch) 6. cramping (gripping pinching) 7. burning 8. cutting 9. boring (digging)
The mental symptoms reflect the deepest level of ones personality. Finding a remedy that matches the mental state is particularly important. In Kents Repertory the first selection is Mind, the symptom headings or rubrics for cognitive and emotional state. This section deserves special study. There are several situations which several rubrics may reflect almost the same mental state. It is a good idea to cross-reference these by writing the page numbers of related rubrics in the margin. First there is no heading under guild. We use three other rubrics to reflect this: Remove -- a gnawing distress from a sense of guilt for past wrongs
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 57
6/19/07 11:34:19 PM
Anxiety, of conscience (as if guilty of a crime) Reproaches himself Second, there are several rubrics which may be applicable to feelings of depression, grief, etc.: Despair, -- loss of hope (for confidence) Anguish -- extreme pain or distress of...mind..syn see SORROW Grief -- poignant sorrow for an immediate cause Sadness (sorrowful, mental depression, despondency) -- sense of loss or of guilt and remorse Morose (sullen) -- sullen, gloomy disposition Closely related to this would also be:Weeping, tearful mood And also the suicide rubrics: Loathing of life Death, desires Suicidal disposition Weary of life (see ennui, loathing, etc.) And also: Ennui -- weariness and dissatisfaction Indifference (apathy) Third, note the two rubrics related to anxiety and fear. While anxiety is technically of unknown cause, and more diffuse, whereas fear is of a known cause, more specific, Kent does NOT follow this separation strictly, and we generally need to review both of these rubrics. Anxiety (apprehension)
Fear
The area of fearfulness related to health involves three rubrics and is very difficult to untangle. The three rubrics are: Anxiety about health -- George Vithoulkas says this is the anxious hypochondriac. Anxiety, hypochondriacal -- This, he says, describes someone whose attention is endlessly focused on find details about the body (e.g., dry patches of skin, easily breaking nails) but with little manifest anxiety.
6/19/07 11:34:19 PM
lusions are more transient, less fixed and, like imaginations, are known or suspected by the individual to be false, illusory. However Kent does NOT make these distinctions, but lumps them all under the single rubric -- with many sub-headings. Finally, it is worth noting by cross reference the two rubrics:
Excitement, excitable
6/19/07 11:34:19 PM
Sore Throats
A sore throat may be the sign of a viral or bacterial infection, but just as commonly it results from a post-nasal drip or simply from dryness of the throat resulting from open-mouth breathing or artificially heated air. Most sore throats, even when they result from infections, are self- limited symptoms that the body can heal on its own. Still, you can support and enhance the bodys own defenses in order to speed the healing process by using a correctly chosen homeopathic medicine and good health practices. Learning how to prescribe the correct, individually chosen homeopathic medicine will enable you to
60 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:19 PM
treat yourself or family member successfully and allow you to reduce your reliance on antibiotics and other conventional drugs. Before we discuss how to treat your sore throat with homeopathic medicines, you must first know when your condition is serious enough to warrant medical care.
if there is a severe sore throat with very difficult swallowing, or there is much drooling or difficult breathing. if there is swelling of the region around the tonsils so that the area is bulging or pushing the uvula to one side. if a sore throat is accompanied by fever and red rash that feels like sandpaper. if a child has a significant sore throat, or a sore throat with fever, for more that a day or two. Adults can safely wait a few days longer. if there is a white or yellowish material on the tonsils or throat. if a person who previously had rheumatic fever gets a sore throat.
Homeopathic Medicines
The person with a sore throat should get a dose of a 6th or 30th potency of the homeopathic medicine you select every six to eight hours for about two days. Stop as soon as improvement is definite. Since all the medicines listed below cover swollen lymph nodes and scarlet fever rash, these symptoms are not repeated in each remedy description. BeLLADonnA (deadly nightshade) is the first medicine to think of for a person with a sore throat. If the pain has come on suddenly, particularly if it is accompanied by fever and flushing of the skin, belladonna will likely be the medicine during the first 24hours. The throat is very red and may be quite swollen, but little or no pus is evident. The tongue may have a strawberry appearance as in scarlet fever. The throat pain is worse from swallowing, especially liquids, and there may be an aversion to drinking. The throat pains are exacerbated from turning the head or other bodily motion and from trying to expectorate mucous from the throat. There may also be a great sense of dryness in the throat. Ther person may have a flushed red face and delated eyes. He or she may also experience a high fever, a throbbing from frontal headache, or a dry cough. Mentally, people who need belladonna tend to be dazed or delirious. AConITe (monkshood) should also be considered if there is sudden onset or sore throat and high fever. The condition may have begun after exposure
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 61
6/19/07 11:34:19 PM
to cold or drafts. Distinct from people who need belladonna who do not tend to be thirsty and who may be actually averse to liquids, people who need aconite are generally thirsty. Also, aconite people will not have a flushed face as those who need belladonna, but one cheek may redden while the other is pale. And in contrast to belladonnas dilated pupils, the aconite persons pupils are contracted. The characteristic mental symptoms of people who need aconite are anguished restlessness and panicky fear. They are physically and mentally restless and may toss about without relief. ARsenICUM (arsenic) should be considered for those with sore throats when the general symptoms of the medicines are evident: chilliness even with the fever, thirst, and restlessness with fatigue. Most typically, the throat pain is burning in character. Warm drinks relieve the pain, while swallowing, cold drinks or exposure to the cold make it worse. RHUs ToX (posion ivy), like arsenicum, is a possible choice when the person has a painful throat made better by warm drinks and warmth in general. The pain in the throat often begins after straining the throat while speaking or singing, or after exposure to cold, wet weather. It is usually worse in the morning. Sometimes the pain is worst when first swallowing and then decreases with later swallowing. The Rhus tox patient is very restless, but is less tired and more achy than the arsenicum patient. In fact, he may feel best while moving about. He may be anxious, irritable and weepy. LYCoPoDIUM (club moss) sore throats are typically worse on the right side of the throat, or begin on the right side and spread to the left. The pain may be relieved by either warm or cold drinks, while being in cold air may make it worse. There may be pain extending up into the ears. In general, the illness doesnt begin particularly suddenly, and usually the patient isnt terribly sick. Typically, he or she wants fresh air. The symptoms in general, sometimes including the sore throat, may be worse in the late afternoon, classically between four and eight p.m. MeRCURIUs (mercury) may be indicated when accompanied by fever and weakness. The throat is red and swollen, and pus or other white or yellow material may be seen on the tonsils or walls of the throat. The mercurius patient can be sensitive in general to both heat and cold. Becoming cold will aggravate the throat pain, but a warm bed may also make it worse. Liquids of any temperature arent known to influence the symptoms particularly. The sore throat tends to be more painful at night. A classic mercurius symptom is a tendency to salivate and drool during a sore throat. The pillow may be wet or more frequent swallowing may be noticeable. The tongue often looks or feels swollen or puffy, and at times the tongue takes the
62 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:19 PM
imprint of the teeth. The breath may smell bad. There may be cold symptoms with thick greenish or yellow mucus draining from the nose. HePAR sULPH (sulphur burned with oyster shells) is similar to mercurius in the severity of the infection. Pus has formed and the throat and the tonsils are very swollen. Often the person will say he feels something stuck in the throat like a splinter (lachesis and apis may also have this symptom, though less characteristically). The person is irritable and easily angered. Chilliness is a predominant symptom, and both the general condition and the sore throat are definitly aggravated by exposure to cold. Warm drinks and warmth in general soothe the sore throat. The pain may extend to the ears. LACHesIs (venom of the bushmaster snake) is particularly useful for those with swollen painful throats worse on the left side, or beginning there and spreading to the right. The pain is made worse by drinking especially warm drinks (sometimes cold drinks may bring some relief), but solid foods are harder to swallow than liquids . Usually the symptoms are made worse by warmth in general, and the pain is often worse in the morning, especially on waking, and during the day. Touch of the throat, even by clothing around the neck, may cause pain or a choking sensation. A sensation of swelling in the throat may be a strong symptom (hepar, Rhus tox and sulphur). APIs (bee venom) may be the medicine when the pain of a sore throat is stinging in character, particularly if the pain is made better by cold drinks and worse by warm ones. The throat, tonsils and tongue are swollen with a characteristic appearance as though they were filled with water. The pain is burning or stinging and there is generally an absence of thirst. PHYToLACCA (poke-root) should be considered when there is much aching of the body along with fever, and when the sore throat is worse from warm drinks. The appearance of the throat may be dark red or even purplish or bluish and the glands swollen. The pain may shoot up to the ears, particularly when swallowing. People who need phytolacca tend to have an incessant desire to swallow, despite the fact that it is painful to do so. They are cold and like to be covered, but they still may feel chlly. Their bodily aches may cause them to be restless, but these pains are worse from motion. One rare but distinctive symptom of phytolacca is an acute pain at the base of the tongue when it is protruded. sULPHUR (sulphur) should be considered when a sore throat lingers or when the indicated medicine is not working, as long as some of the sulphur general and particular symptoms match the persons. There is much burning pain, dryness of the mucous membranes, diminished appetite, and increased thirst. Despite their burning pains, they are better from warm drinks. The pain in the
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 63
6/19/07 11:34:19 PM
throat can also be stitching, pressing or cutting. They may also experience a sensation of a lump, splinter or hair in the throat. The general symptoms of sulphur -- particularly, discomfort from warmth, general lethargy and offensive breath, sweat and discharges -- are important in determining when to use it.
2)
3)
4)
5)
6/19/07 11:34:19 PM
but the symptoms have returned more than once, such recurrent symptoms require professional care. 6) Antidoting of the Medicines. Various substance can antidote homeopathic medicines, interfering with or reversing their beneficial effects. The two most common substances are coffee and camphorated products (Ben Gay, Vicks, Heet, Tiger Balm, Noxema, and some lip balms and other cosmetics). Other substances that sometimes act as an antidote to the medicines include mentholated products, mint, and aromatic herbs. Avoid all of these substances while using homeopathic medicines.
6/19/07 11:34:19 PM
Introduction
Acupuncture is the oldest bioenergetic system, having a 5,000 year history. It is mentioned in the Suchi Veda (an art of piercing with a needle) of Indian Ayurvedic medicine, and in the Nei Ching of China. It has been practiced in Europe for 200 years and in North America since 1970.
Chinese cosmology is an ancient Chinese way of expressing what is known in the West as the theory of relativity. To begin with, Chi, time / energy, has the property of Yang (dynamism), and Li, space, has the property of Yin (passivity). Natural laws are properties of Chi. Tao, or causeless order, is the expression of the operation of natural laws. In Western thought, time is considered the fourth dimension --energy (Chi) which occupies a threedimensional space (Li). External factors are the conditions of change. Internal factors are the bases of change. External factors (e.g., space) become operational through the internal factors (e.g., time). This is known as Tai Chi (Grand Ultimate dynamic infinite space; space-time continuum). The Tridosha (Three Degenerations) of Ayurvedic medicine indigenous to India, and the Three Original Energies or indigenous Chinise medicine are the one and the same, although the terminologies used are different.
Table of Equivalents
sanskrit Kapha Pitta Vayu
Chinese
6/19/07 11:34:20 PM
To maintain a state of health, the three degenerations or the three original energies must be in harmonious balance or state of homeostasis in the individual. The ancient Hindus and the ancient Chinese anticipated the World Health Organizations 1948 definition of health as a state of physical Organisations 1948 definition of health as a state of physical, mental and social well-bring, in the absence of diseases and infirmities.
According to Georges Lakhovsky (1869-1942), a biological cell is capable of emitting and receiving electromagnetic waves of 10-100Hz, or cycles per second. This has been photographed as an aura by Kirilian photography. The ancient Hindus called this Prana, the ancient Chinese called this Chi Hua, Russian parapsychologists call this bioplasma, and Western parapsychologists call this psychoenergy. Symbolically speaking, the Five Phases of Chinese Humoral Theory are as follows: 1. Metal (quality of mind or psyche, hence the iron-willed): Psychic stimulus in the form of a nerve impulse is transmitted through the neural network permeating the body of the patient. 2. Earth (minerals): Earth contains essential minerals to maintain the well-being of the individual, e.g., trace elements. Wood (vitamins): The plant kingdom to which wood belongs contains vitamins to maintain the well-being of the individual. Fire (hormones): Based on the partly correct statement that fat burns in the fire of carbohydrate though the agency of the hormone insulin, which insures the proper utilization of carbohydrates by pituitary gland and the adrenal gland. Water (enzymes): Cells must have proper hydration for intracellular enzymes to function properly in a cellular metabolism necessary for maintain the well-being of the individual. Hence, water symbolizes essential enzymes. Biochemical process going on in the organism, with their zenith and nadir, are regulated by inborn biological clocks (genes) and orchestrated by a biological masterclock in the pineal gland.
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 67
3.
4.
5.
6/19/07 11:34:20 PM
Another way of looking at the Five Phases of the Chinese Humoral Theory is that it is the ancient Chinese way of stating the Law of Conservation of Energy -- energy cannot be created nor destroyed, but it can be transformed from one form to another.
Pulse Diagnosis
Pulsology is based on examining six pulses in each wrist and distinguishing between 27 possible qualities in each wrist simultaneously. The quality of pulse is determined by six different pressures (light, med. light, medium, slightly heavy, med. heavy, and heavy pressure), applied on the radial pulse. Rate and rhythm of heart, and the resistance of the viscosity of the tissues to be overcome by the circulation of blood, will depend on the state of health and / or nature of the disease entity and anatomical location of the tissues affilicted. This explains the qualitative and quantitative differences between the pulse in the left and right wrists, respectively. Pulsology and Western diagnostic methodlogy are in agreement 70 percent of the time. Glossoscopy (tongue diagnosis) is based on the principle that the state of health and /or nature of disease is reflected by macrosocpic changes on the tongue. The inherent difficulty in pulsology is subjectivity. To overcome this, the following variants of classical Chinese acupuncture have been developed to ensure objectivity.
There are 14 channels which transmit direct electric currnet from one acupuncture point to the next. The direction of flow of direct electric current anteriorly is from head to foot, secondary to the influence of blood flow through the large arteries (magnetogydrodynamic principle). The direction of flow of direct electric current posteriorly is from foot to head, again secondary to the influence of flow of blood through Governing Vessel Channel and Conception Vessel Channel is from foot to head since the inferior vena cava is larger than the aorta. The cells in channels consistently have ten times more sodium and potassium (which make good electrolytes), compared to cells outside of channels. Insoluble structural proteins behave as semiconductors. The combination of both properties makes channels excellent conductors of direct electric current. These currents originate from the cortex of the brain. According to Ralph Alan Dale, Ed.D., Ph.D., the Micro-acupuncture systems (feet, hands, scalp, back [Yu System], abdomen [Mu System], iris tongue ears, face, nose [Hirata micro-acupuncture systems, Japanese], arms, face, legs, neck, head, back, and abdomen) replicate the classical body macroacupuncture system. This stand to reason, since the skin and the nervous systems come from the
68 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:20 PM
same embryonic layer, the ectoderm. Most likely, the gene involved is preprogrammed before conception (a genotype), so that in the developing fetus the micro-acupuncture systems completely replicate complement each other. Robert O. Becker, M.D., Department of Orthopedics, Upstate Medical Centre, Syracuse, New York, has described the effect of needling. A current of injury is converted by the body into a nerve impulse, which is a flow of electrons through Schwann and supporting cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems. The body also transmits electric current booster amplifiers along the circuit. The following anatomical structures make up the acupuncture points which lay 3-4 mm beneath the skin surface. 1. 2. 3. Motor points, where motor nerves enter skeletal muscles and small blood vessels (small hollows). Great density of motor nerve terminal neurofibrils and small blood vessels. Dense clusters of encapsulated autonomic mechanoreceptor sites containing Pacinian, Meissner, Golgi-Mazzoni corpuscles or Krause end organs and small blood vessels. extraordinary acupuncture points outside of channel system: autochthonous plexuses and small blood vessels.
4.
According to Robert O. Becker, the correct nerve reflex model may be compared to a computer married to a telephone exchange. The subcortical layer of the cerebrum serves as the computer, the thalamus as the telephone exchange, the A-D myelinated nerves as the telephone system. To evoke a desired acupuncture effect in the patient, one must use a combination of acupuncture points, in effect dialing the correct exchange.
Acupuncture Analgesia
Acupuncture analgesia is curing pain by needling. Acupuncture anesthesia is the prevention of pain by needling. According to Roger Guillemin, M.D., (Nobel Prize winner in medicine and physiology in 1977) at Salk Institute, La Jolla, California, there are three nervous system, and the endocrine nervous system, and the endocrine nervous system is divided into two parts - neuroendocrine (brain hormones) and peripheral (hormones found elsewhere in the body including the tradional endocrine system ). Endocrine glands and the nervous system also come from the same embryonic layer, the ectoderm.
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 69
6/19/07 11:34:20 PM
Using the Gate Control Theory of pain control, a nerve impluse from an acupuncture point is transmitted through afferent A-D myelinated nerve fiber to the subcortical layer of the cerebrum. From there it goes to the thalamus, and from the thalamus to the pituitary gland. Beta-lipotropin, stored in the anterior pituitary gland, is acted upon by the enzyme proenkephalinase to release enkephalins and proendorphinase to release endorphins. Enkephalin is transmitted through efferent A-D myelinated nerve fibers, entering neurons in the posterior horn of the spinal cord in the substantia gelatinosa. There it acts as a neuromodulator to block the release of substance P caused by nerve impulses transmitted from the area being operated on through afferent C unmyelinated nerves, effectively keeping pain messages from reaching pain receiving cells in the posterior horn of the spinal cord. Engorphin is transmitted through efferent A-D myelinated nerve fibers to interneurons in the medulla oblongata, medial thalamus, and cerebral cortex of the brain, where it acts as a neuromodulator to block the release of substance P caused by nerve impulses transmitted from the operated area through afferent C unmyelinated nerves. Thus, no pain message reaches pain receiving cells in the medulla oblongata, medial thalamus, and cerebral cortex. The blocking by endorphins are interneuron connections of the vagus nerve at the brain stem blocks vagovagal reflex. When acupuncture anesthesia is ended, enzyme enkephalinase destroys enkephalins; endorphinase destroys endorphins; and enzyme substance P-ase destroys substance P. These interneuron area are the gate control. According to Ronald Melzack, two canadian psychiatrists in 1942 discovered memory banks in pain receiving cells. If memory banks in pain receiving cells can remember the original pain, even though the patient is now healed from injury, there is chronic pain. The underlying mechanisms of phantom dental causalgia and of phantom limb causalgia are the same. If we succeed in producing amnesia in the memory bank of pain receiving cells with acupuncture analgesia, then the chronic pain will disappear. Using the corresponding acupuncture points in the ears, one can cure phantom dental causalgia and phantom limb causalgia. T.E.N.S. (Transcutaneous Electrical Neural Stimulation) uses high frequency electrical stimulation to stimulate release of serotonin to produce analgesia. Acupuncture (current of injury), electro-acupuncture, acupressure (piezoelectric effect), aquapuncture (piezoelectric effect), moxibustion (thermoelectric effect), laser acupuncture (photoelectric effect), sono-acupuncture (sonoelectric effect), magneto-acupuncture (mangeto-electric effect), cryo-acupuncture (cryo-electric effect), balneo-acupuncture (thermoelectric effect) -- all use low frequency electrical stimulation to stimulate release of enkephalins and endorphins in the system to produce analgesia.
6/19/07 11:34:20 PM
Channel Codes
Lung Channel (Lu) Large Intestine channel (LI) Stomach Channel (St.) Spleen Channel (Sp) Heart Channel (Ht) Small Intestine Channel (SI) Bladder Channel (BI) Kidney Channel (Ki) Pericardium Channel (Pc) Triple Warmer Channel (TW) Gallbladder Channel (GB) Liver Channel (Lv) Conception Vessel Channel (CV) Governing vessel Channel (GV)
Practice
The Advantages of acupuncture therapy are: 1. Simple, convenient, and economical 2. Easy to learn and utilize 3. Wide range of diseases cured 4. Effective and safe According to Arndt-Reith-Schultz law: weak stimulus tonifies life processes in the protoplasm, moderate stimulus sedates, moderately strong stimulus impedes it, and very strong stimulus destroys it. As a rule of thumb in acupuncture, if you want to produce tonification in the patient, leave acupuncture needles in for five minutes. If you want to produce sedation in the patient, leave needles in for 15 minutes.
Case 1:
An obese 24 year - old female patient came in for acupuncture for weight control.
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 71
6/19/07 11:34:20 PM
Procedure:
1. 2. 3.
Free diet. Press needles were put in stomach point in ears x 1 month. Acupunctures were put in body on following acupuncture points for 15 minutes - St 36, Sp 9, St 28, CV 9, CV 12. Tap press needles gently for three minutes just before eating. This stimulates the release of neurohormone from neocortex of brain which suppresses appetite centre. Press needles are changed once a month x 3, to stimulate the growth of a gristle. At end of three months, tap gristle for three minutes just before eating to suppress appetite centre just behind the hypothalamus. Gristle lasts for two years. During that timespan, the patient should develop good eating habits. Patient is expected to lose anywhere from one pound a week to one pound every other day. Treatment is effective in 80 percent of cases.
Instructions:
1. 2.
Case 2:
52 -year-old male patient with COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) came for acupuncture to quit smoking. He had been smoking three packs of cigarettes daily since age 16, and was advised by his physician to quit for obvious health reasons.
Procedure:
1. 2. 3. 4. 1. 2.
Intradermal needles were put in lung point of ears x 1 month Acupuncture needles were put in his body on the following acupuncture points 15 minutes - Sp6, St 36, Lu7. Yoga breathing exercises. Toothpicks Tap intradermal needles for 3 minutes each time tempted to smoke. Endorphins from anterior pituitary gland go to Locus Caerolus to suppress desire to smoke. At the same time, do yoga breathing exercise (inhale slowly through nostrils while counting to six, hold breath for a count of three, and exhale through pursed lips for a count of six) x 10. Enriches blood stream with oxygen and helps suppress the desire to smoke. Put a toothpick in mouth each time a cigarette is desired. At end of one month remove intradermal needles from ears. Treatment is effective in 70 percent of cases.
Instructions
3.
6/19/07 11:34:20 PM
Case3:
A 31 year - old female patient comes for acupuncture treatment for chronic headache which she has suffered for as long as she can remember. Orthodox medical treatment has been unsuccessful.
Procedure:
Instructions:
Acupuncture needles are put in body on the following points for 15 minutes - LI 4, Extraordinary eye point 2 (1 finger breadth from temporal end of eyebrow-feel grove on tractation), B1 10 At end of 15 minutes, remove acupuncture needles and replace with acu-aids (band-aids with small stainless steel ball bearing attached-piezoelectric effect). Keep acu-aids on as long as possible. Stimulates continuous release of endorphins from anterious pituitary gland in system to block substance P from getting to pain receiving cells in brain. Treatments is effective in 90 percent of cases.
Lastly, according to the Le Chatelier Principle or Law of the Cursedness of Nature, all nature is divided into two groups: 1. 2. Group of stable equilibrium -- those who follow the general rule, e.g., patients who respond favorably to acupuncture and moxibusion. Group of unstable equilibrium -- those who are exceptions to the general rule, e.g. patients who respond unfavorably to acupuncture and moxibustion.
The Le Chatelier Principle guarantees that no form of treatment modality in this world will ever become a medical panacea.
6/19/07 11:34:20 PM
- The Tao of Self-Healing (Internal Exercise) - The Tao of Healing Diet and Nutrition - Classical Chinese herbology - The Tao of Sexology - Taoist Astrology - Time / Space I Ching - Taoist Healing Arts - Immortal Meditation and Taoist Philosophy The underlying basis of the Taoist Sciences, including the Five Element Theory, the Yin/Yang theory and the Meridian Energy Theory, is applicable to all living processes and beings. This is also the practical basis for understanding these other commonly known systems from the Chinese culture. Chinese Medicine (acupuncture, herbs, acupressure) Chinese martial arts (Tai-Chi Chuan) Taoist philosophy (Tao Teh Ching; Hua Hu Ching) The recently popularized Taoist system of exercise called the Internal Exercises (Nei Kung). When the term Chinese Medicine is used, therefore, it is most accurate if
74 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:20 PM
it is taken in the broad context of being one inseparable part of the entire Taoist system of health and longevity. The focus of this article will be the aspect of Taoist medicine dealing with the use of herbs for preventing illness, for healing diseases, and for increasing longevity.
The study of herbal medicine includes these five parts: 1. Cosmology: Yin/ Yang and Meridian Energy Theory and their relationship to medicine. 2. Pathology of Cause: A Complete description of the destructive influences and causes of disease. 3. Air, Wind & Water diseases and food, water and blood poisoning. 4. Diagnosis: Facial reading, pulse analysis, stomach palpation, spinal diagnosis, symptom analysis. 5. The study of herbs: their energy, nutritive and medical characteristics and uses; and how to combine them for healing and prevention. Chinese Herbology: schematic of Interacting elements Element Explanation and Use in Herbal Medicine Cosmology: Five Element theory provides explanation of interaction between organs and systems of the body. Yin/Yang energy and meridian theory provides explanation for energetic description of body and flow of vital energy in the organs. Pathology of Cause: Etiology provides information as to how illness was developed, and what lifestyle, nutrition and exercise factors will have to be altered to prevent further illness from occuring. This is the basis of Taoist preventive medicine. Herbal Therapy: Provides complete method of treatment of existing illness and a method of preventation of future illness through herbal formulas. Diagnosis: Provides methods for determining precisely the nature of the illness, what organs and body systems are involved, and the severity. This information and analysis, combined with the knowledge of herbal combinations, allows specific treatment. Categories of Disease (Air, Water and Blood) Provides information which allows for classification of disease into a category. When the category is known, the method of treatment (including daily nutrition, lifestyle, and recommendation for herbal formula) becomes possible. Affected organs and body systems are delineated according to category.
6/19/07 11:34:20 PM
Herbal Formulas: The method of treatment, which can be preventive or healing in nature. Provides nutrition, energy and varied medicinal properties, to heal, re-energize and balance the organs and energy systems of the body.
The Five Element Theory is basic to all aspects of the Chinese sciences, including medicine. While it can be said that this theory is the basis of the Taoist philosophy, it is much more than that. At the practical level, it can be used to understand and explain the workings of the internal organs of the human body. Thus, no explanation of Chinese medicine or healing is complete without an understanding of this aspect of the science. Literally translated, the Five Elements - Water, Wood, Fire, Earth and Metal - are called the Five Great Performers. Their interaction describes the movement of natural processes in the universe (macrocosm). Within a human being (microcosm) they describe the inter-relatedness of all the internal organ systems of the body. At the microcosmic level, each element has an internal organ and bowel to which corresponds and, in a general sense, share some of its characteristic actions. - Water corresponds to kidneys and bladder. - Wood corresponds to liver and gall bladder. - Fire corresponds to heart and small intestines. - Earth corresponds to spleen-pancreas and stomach. - Metal corresponds to lungs and large intestines.
Two cycles of interaction of the five elements are described. The primary relationship called the Generating cycle is yang and increasing in nature. It describes the order by which elements flow one into another in a cycle of increasing energy. As we can see from the following diagram, Wood generates Fire, Fire generates Earth, and so on around the cycle. Fire Of course, no process can continue to build earth wood and increase without becoming excessive. Thus, there is a second yin or decreasing cycle, called the Controlling cycle, which balances the first. This cycle, in conjunction with its opMetal Water posites, shows the nature of interaction of the elements of the universe so that there exists balance between all of the Five Great Performers. For example, one can see that wood generates fire. If more fire is wanted, one simply adds more fuel (wood). However, to add fuel endlessly would
76 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:21 PM
cause an enormous fire which is out of control, as in the case of forest fires, etc. To control a fire one can use water. Thus, water is the element of control of fire through the controlling cycle. Water acts as a controller or destroyer of fire. This kind of analysis pertains to the other relationships within the five element cycles.
At the microcosmic level, these relationships exists within and between the internal organs of the body. If the energy of the kidney (water) small Heart Intestine is too weak in relation to the energy of the heart (fire), one result can be Liver spleen stomach Pericardium Pancreat an overactive or Gall endocrine overworked heart. Bladder Glands This condition may contribute to heart disease. This cycle can be seen in the life example of a perKidneys son who consumes too much alcohol. Lungs Large Excessive consumpBladder Intestine tion of alcohol weakens the kidneys and Control also affects the liver Generation and heart.
2.
3.
6/19/07 11:34:21 PM
erate the heart (fire), leaving it further weakened with the inevitale heart disease of the alcoholic. The cycles of generation and control of the five element groups can be used to explain energetically the relationship of excessive alcohol consumption to the impaired function of the kidneys and liver and concurrent heart diseases. According to Taoist medicine, these kinds of interactions occur between all the organ groups. Another easily seen example exists in an over-acid stomach. Much of what is called heartburn is a hyperactive stomach which produces excessive acid. From the cycle of control we can see that the liver (wood) controls the spleen / pancreas and its associate bowel, the stomach (earth). The condition of over-acidity of the stomach occurs when the liver is weakened (from various factors of diet and lifestyle) and loses its ability to control the stomach. Working out of control, the stomach then becomes overactive, producing more acid than is necessary. This will result in an ulcer, if it is not corrected. From the Taoist view, antacid pills to reduce the acidity only eliminate the symptom of excessive acidity. Correcting the cause can only be accomplished by strengthening the liver, which will serve to balance the relationship between the two organ groups.
Macrocosmic Energy
According to Taoist Cosmology the undifferentiated energy of the universe manifests itself in two bipolar qualities which are named Yin and Yang. On the macrocosmic level these terms refer to the two-sided nature of all observable phenomena of nature. Yin is that which is internal, contracting, deep, solidified, dark, cold, negative, unmoving and so on. Examples are the dark of night, cold as in ice, the earth, negatively charged energy and the feminine nature. Yang characterizes the quality of light, expanding, moving, hot, nonsolidified, active, positive, external and so on. Examples are the light and the masculine nature. All phenomena of nature have this two-sided quality. Where good exists the opposite or evil also exists. This is the dual nature of the observable and unobservable universe.
Microcosmic Energy
The dual aspect of life exists at the microcosmic level in human beings. Yin in the human being manifests in the form of the innermost organs: the heart, liver, kidneys, lungs and spleen-pancreas. The nature of these organs is internal and their function is to store, accumulate, regulate. The Yin aspect of personality is characterized by the negative, darker and quiet nature of mankind. Yang internal organs are the bowels; the small intestines, gall bladder,
78 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:21 PM
bladder, large intestines and stomach. Each is the balancing counterpart of the Yin organs listed above. Their function is more active and their role is to transform, move, absorb and eliminate. The Yang aspect of personality in human beings is characterized by the positive, aggressive, active, masculine nature of man. The unification of the dual nature of the universe and of man is symbolized by the well known. Yin-Yang symbol. The balance and harmony of Yin and Yang becomes a unity - One. In man, this is the unification of spirit (Yang) and body (Yin), the uniting of heaven and earth.
Of course, Yin and Yang indicate the dual possibilities of all aspects of man and both energies exist within each human being. The Chinese science of acupuncture is the healing method utilizing externally applied needles at certain locations on the energy pathways of the body (meridians) to balance the Yin and Yang energies in the body. According to Chinese Energy Theory, disease can only exist in a body in which the balance between these two polar energies is disturbed. Yin diseases are those generally characterized by energy depletion and are deeper, more serious, longer-term and degenerative in nature. Yang diseases are those which are feberish, superficial, short-term and characterized by a condition of excessive energy in the body. The road to health begins by balancing these two energies in the body. Acupuncture uses needles to accomplish the herbal therapy uses herbs to accomplish the sought-after energy balance. Real health is said to be a balance of the Yin and Yang energies of the five organs and the six bowels of the body.
Bowel (Yang) Gall Bladder Small Intestines Stomach Large Intestine Bladder
*The sixth bowel is the heart consider (pericardium) Yin and Yang indicate the dual possibilities of all aspects of man
6/19/07 11:34:21 PM
Allergies:
6/19/07 11:34:21 PM
digestive enzyme activity, short chains of amino acids (peptides) are absorbed and function as allergens, false kinins and false neurotransmitters. Constant high tide of these chemicals overloads the immune system, which also strains under the burden of toxic metals, Candida albicans toxins, recurrent germ infections and indiscriminate antibiotic use. Improper nutritional intake fails to supply the correct chemical machinery (i.e. digestive enzymes, hormones, and neurotransmitters). A later phase in the evolution of allergic problems is the bodys intolerance to the natural antigens in common foods. The bodys protective systems can be likened to a barrel which has a reserve when it is empty. When the barrel is filled to overflow the reserve is used up and the allergic reaction spills over. There are many things the holistic physician can do to strengthen the clients body defenses against allergies. The front line digestive system can be measured with a heidelberg capsule and based on the findings natural alkali, natural hydrochloric acid or natural digestive enzymes can be supplemented at mealtime in order to balance the digestive process. A balanced digestive system and proper nutrition result in the proper balance of amino acids (the building blocks of protein) delivered to the tissues where they are synthesized into enzymes, hormones, neurotransmitters and other body chemicals. Natural antioxidants like superoxide dismutase (S.O.D.) might be taken in order to combat free radical damage occurring in the intestinal lining and this might protect against undigested molecules which slip through inflamed intestine wall to become alergens inside the body. Foods should be rotated with the seasons and common antigens like wheat, milk, egg and corn, which are pervasive year around in a supermarket society, can be taken less regularly so as to give the immune system a periodic rest from constant exposure to these molecules. The RAST blood test is often used to measure antibody levels against food antigens and to provide guidelines for use of these foods. Amino acid levels in blood and urine can provide valuable information about chemical pathways in the body which are imbalanced. Certain of these pathways relate to food allergies, and by knowing the blockages the holistic physician can recommend specific vitamins, minerals and amino acids to overcome the blockages. Amino acid levels can be measured with a high pressure liquid chromatography test. In the highly allergic individual temporary replacement of food proteins with the correct amount and balance of free form amino acids can give the digestive system and immune system a rest. Histamine release from the mast cell can be inhibited by natural methods. Magnesium blocks intracellular movement of calcium and magnesium is deficient in the diet of average American. Magnesium can be taken as the aspartic acid chelate and in natural hard water. A natural bioflavonoid plant extract called quercition inhibits histamine release and can be ingested. Adrenaline which is inducted by stress can be lessened by biofeedback and meditation techniques. Phosphorous is found in high amounts in yellow cheese, red wine
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 81
6/19/07 11:34:21 PM
and meats and is ingested in too great amount by the average person. The immune system can be strengthened by natural energies such as sunlight. Homeopathy uses herbs and minerals and is theorized to strengthen the vital force of the body by interacting with the immune system. Heavy metal toxicity can be monitored by hair analysis. Synthetic chemicals should be avoided but this comes increasingly difficult as 3000 new chemicals are added each year to the 100,000 already in the environment; including the hundreds of food additives of which the average American eats five pounds per year. Nutritional supplements are an intelligent way to deal with life in an artificial world. Pantothenic acid, vitamins C, B-6, and E are all important in an antiallergy program and the holistic physician can give a guide to their use . Essential fatty acids are important to balance body chemistry and Candida albicans can be detected with a blood test and treated. Allergies will become an increasing problem as life becomes more unnatural but things can be done to avoid the problem. Life flourishes in harmonic fields. Create harmonic fields around you and you will flourish. Let there be freedom of health care for all !
6/19/07 11:34:21 PM
3) 4)
6/19/07 11:34:21 PM
buildup of lactic acid, which is a by-product of muscle metabolism. Gentle stretching, following the workout, relaxes the muscles and contributes to improved muscle tone. For example, if a horse is put away in a comfortable stall immediately after being exercised, it will become crippled with stiffness and pain, it must first be walked for ten minutes or more to bring its temperature down to normal, before returning to a state of comparative inactivity. The same principle applies with people. 5) Evaluation. After the workout, visually see yourself as if watching an instant replay in your mind, performing your workout. Critique your performance; then change the negative aspects of your workout and enhance the positive. This allows you to (re)set realistic goals.
These five steps should be preceded by a comprehensive physical examination. Discovering any predisposing physical or mental factors that may lead to unnecessary injuries is a truly preventative approach. Chiropractors are specialists working with the musclo-skeletal system, and are most qualified to perform this type of evaluation. However, a properly trained medical doctor, trained in respect to sports injury, can provide this service. The evaluation should include: heart and lung exam, blood pressure check, range of motion of the joints of the spine and extremities, muscle testing to uncover weak muscle groups, and specific orthopedic and neurological tests. Most injuries occurring in aerobic classes are of the sprain / strain variety. When muscles and ligaments are overstretched or torn, the joints under this soft tissue may become misaligned. This accounts for the continuing pain and instability in the particular area. I have found the most effective treatment to be a combination of chiropractic adjustments and physiotherapy modalities (hot/cold packs, ultrasound, electro-muscle stimulator, diathermy, etc.) At the proper phase of healing, a rehabilitative program of resistance exercises must be implemented. (If the weakened muscles or ligaments are not strengthened, re-injury is very likely to occur). In addition, I share with patients simple, effective relaxation and concentration techniques designed to increase their physical and mental agility. In Marin County, California, a widely acclaimed technique called nonimpact aerobics has been created by Debbie and Carlos Bender-Rojas, better known as the Bod Squad. The Bod Squad eliminates traditional aerobic activities such as jogging and jumping, in favor of gently stretching circular movements. Constant up and down movements are jarring to the body and can actually injure it, says Debbie. Carlos adds, Our workout is based on sweeping fluid movements, rather than bouncy spine-ratting ones. Their work is a synthesis of martial arts, modern dance, and yoga. From
84 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:21 PM
this approach, one achieves all the benefits of a cardiovascular workout but without the shock to joints and muscular structure that so often is occasioned by impact motions such as jogging or jumping up and down. Their book and video tape will soon be released. Remember to follow the Five Steps to a safer workout so that the next time you stop exercising, it is to head for the showers, not the sidelines!
Aerobic Benefits
1) 2)
Healthier heart and lungs: this increases the ability of the cardiovascular system to utilize oxygen. Safer and faster weight loss: the bodys ability to burn fat for energy is enhanced. Also, the rate at which the body burns calories (metabolic rate) is increased. Reduction of stress: adrenalin (the fight-or-flight chemical) is broken down faster, thus shortening stress reactions. Stronger musculo-skeletal system: promotion of firmer tone and denser bones will result in better posture. Psychological relaxation: enables the brain to release endorphins which reduce anxiety and enhance a feeling of wellness. Improved circulation: this will prevent arteries from becoming blocked by the conditions known as atherosclerosis or arteriosclerosis, which are today so prevalent as the years pile up !
3) 4) 5) 6)
6/19/07 11:34:22 PM
6/19/07 11:34:22 PM
compelling reason - if you smoke, your children will be more likely to. Therefore, you should break the chain of this deadly habit. Switching to low tar / low nicotine cigarettes is not sufficient.
Know the pain of quitting is brief. While some can stop smoking without agony, others have real withdrawal symptoms based on the body having become accustomed to nicotine. You may feel irritable, have headaches or muscle cramps, sleep poorly and crave cigarettes. These usually last no longer than a week, as nicotine is being eliminated from the body. Cold turkey is best. If possible, quit smoking all at once. If you try to taper off, each cigarette reminds you of the satisfying feelings, perpetuates the bodys dependence and prolongs withdrawal symptoms. Cutting down may make it harder to part with smoking. Get rid of all your cigarettes. Clean out every ashtray in your home, office, and car. Discard all matches, and make a gift of your lighter if you cant bring your self to discard it. Take deep breaths whenever the urge to smoke hits. Hold your breath for ten seconds, then release it slowly. Taking deep, rhythmic breaths is not unlike smoking --except that you inhale clean air, not poisonous gases. Exercise to help relieve tension. Climb stairs rather than take the elevator. Park the car a block or two from your destination, and walk the rest of the way. Take a brief stroll around the neighborhood after meals, rather then taking a cigarette. This added exercise will have an additional benefit -- youll lose a couple of pounds a month. Practice touching your toes, jog in place, do jumping jacks. Think of any negative image you associate with smoking when you are tempted to reach for a cigarette. Select your worst memory connected with the habit -- the time you burned a hole in your best suit. Remember when you were left completely breathless after running for a bus that was pulling away. Then think of the positive aspects of quitting: youll be able to run farther, your singing voice will improve. Reward yourself with oral substitutes for cigarettes. Some good, healthful examples are sugarless gum, lemon drops, pumpkin or sunflower seeds, apple slices, carrot sticks and unbuttered popcorn. Eat three meals a day. This habit, which many middle-aged people neglect, maintains blood sugar levels -- and it curbs the urge to smoke. Avoid sugarladen foods and spicy items, which can trigger a desire for cigarettes. Scramble up your day to change habits connected with smoking. Drive a different route to work, and eat lunch in a new place. Leave the scene of an urge. At home, avoid your smoking chair after dinner. Reach for gum, rather than a cigarette, when you answer the phone.
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 87
6/19/07 11:34:22 PM
Purge your body of nicotine. Drink liquids --lots of them. Water (6-8 glasses a day), herbal teas, fruit juices and caffeine-free soft drinks all fit the bill. Pass up coffee, caffeinated soft drinks, and alcohol -- all of which can increase your urge to smoke. Keep your hands -- and mind busy. Work on a crossword puzzle. Knit, crochet, or do needlepoint. Balance your checkbook, shampoo the dog, weed the garden. Spend your time with friends who dont smoke. Visit places where smoking is prohibited -- a library, theater, department store, or museum. Always watch movies from the no smoking section. Travel in the no smoking sections of trains and planes. Brush your teeth several times every day to get rid of smokers breath. Go public with your plans to quit. Ask your family and friends to help keep you from backsliding. Encourage them to chide you. Ask family and co-workers not to smoke around you. Spend the money you save by not smoking. Make a three-minute, longdistance phone call to your non-smoker friends or parents. Play three games of Pac-Man. Play three favorite songs on a juke box Treat your body and soul with kindness. Indulge in a bath, massage, or a nap. Listen to your favorite music. Appreciate the fact that you dont need a cigarette to have a good time. If you want treatment to help you, see an acupuncturist. Acupuncture stimulates production of endorphine and other neuropeptide hormones that are helpful in pain reduction, stopping smoking and controlling drug abuse.
6/19/07 11:34:22 PM
Although there are many valid therapeutic indications, it is of great importance that the ingestion of drugs is not taken for granted. One should be aware of the positive as well as the negative aspects of drug consumption. A startling statistic of great concern to the medical community is the growing number of hospital admissions due solely to drug interactions. Obviously, drugs can be a double-edged sword which have the potential of helping or hurting. It is imperative that one is aware of the fact that drugs are potent chemicals having varying degrees of biochemical activity in the body. Drugs also interact chemically with other drugs, nutrients and the foods eaten. Alcohol, aspirin, antacids and other over the counter drugs can have crucial interactions with each other as well as with medications taken therapeutically. Please do not under-estimate these interactions. There are no harmless drugs, but one can learn to use them more safely. Discuss this subject with your doctor, pharmacist, position control center or medical school. Excellent references are books one and two of Joe Graedons Peoples Pharmacy.
The following should be considered before taking drugs for any reason:
1. 2. Nutrient-drug interactions. That is the effect of a drug on an essential nutrient. Food-drug interactions. That is the effect of naturally occurring food substances that react chemically with a drug either to inactivate it, alter its activity to make it less effective or convert it into a more potent and even dangerous form. Drug-drug interactions . Drugs can combine with each other if you take them close together, possibly resulting in in-activation or in dangerous, even fatal combinations.
3.
6/19/07 11:34:22 PM
PABA (Para Skin protection Amino Benzoic Acid) Vitamin A resistance respiratoratory infections; proper liver thyroid, bone & teeth production, important in night vision. proper blood clotting
Vitamin K
alcohol, sulfa drugs, oral contraceptives, estrogen alcohol, estrogens, 1-DOPA tuberculosis medication, blood pressure medication oral contraceptives alcohol, estrogen, barbiturates, dilantin, oral hypoglycemics, colchicine, mysoline, questran, potassium chloride. alcohol, caffeine, sulfa drugs, barbiturates, estrogen alcohol, alsufidine, dilantin, mysoline aspirin, methotextrate alcohol, estrogen sulfa drug questran, mineral antibiotics, mineral oil, mysoline, anticoagulants, questran
Vitamin D
Vitamin E
Vitamin C
antioxidant, proper immune system, strong connective tissue bones, teeth, nervous system
Calcium
bones, teeth, metabolism proper metabolism, nerves proper energy enzymes, immunes system, hemoglobin
Potassium
proper water balance, nerve & dilantin, mysoline, questran, muscle conduction, proper heart mineral oil rhythms nerve function, general metabolism aids in growth, vision and metabolism oral contraceptives/ estrogens, mineral oil questran smoking, aspirin oral contraceptive /estrogen
Vitamin B-1 (thiamine) Vitamin B-2 (riboflavin) Vitamin B-3 (niacin) Vitamin B-6
synthesis of hormones, healthy antacids, tetracycline nervous system, healthy digestion and metabolism proper metabolism of protein & antacids
6/19/07 11:34:22 PM
(pyrodoxine) fat, natural diruretic, important in nucleic acid production for cells Vitamin B-12 proper red blood cell (Cobalamin) production, healthy nervous system, proper metabolism Vitamin B5 Wound healing, supports (pantothenic immune system, fights fatigue acid) Folic Acid alcohol, long-term tetracycline
proper red blood cell production natural licorice, digitalis, colchicine, diuretics, excess laxative use, cortisone.
Beware of the positive as well as the negative aspects of drug ingestion. Remember more drugs taken are the greater the risk for potentially dangerous drug interactions and nutritional imbalances. The following section lists some common drugs and the nutrients affected by them adversely: Drugs That Rise Blood sugar Reading (Hyperglycemic) cortisone caffeine dilantin nicotine nicotinic acid oral estrogens & contraceptive chloropromazine (tranquilizers) diuretics (if thiazides) Drugs That Lower Blood sugar Reading (Hypoglycemic) alcohol antituberculosis medication benemid salicylates sulfa oral hypoglycemics for diabetes marijuana MAO inhibitors
6/19/07 11:34:22 PM
It should be stated from the outset that traditional medicine is not a single entity . It is essentially pluralistic and covers whole range of social manifestations from the highly systematized and long-established Chinese and Ayurvedic forms of medicine to the herbalist medicine of Western Africa and the shamans found in numerous cultures, as well as a wide range of religious practices such as the Zar cult in Ethiopia and the Sudan, the Aladura sects of West Africa, the Pentecostal churches and the syncretic religions such as the Umbanda movement in the Sao Paulo province of Brazil. Indeed these
92 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:22 PM
manifestations cover such a wide range that it may be wondered how it was ever possible to speak of traditional medicine in the singular and to make judgments and statements in regard to it as though it could be fitted into a heat compartment. This tendency probably reflects the rigid boundaries within which Western medicine is confined. One of the most striking features of traditional medicine, however, is precisely that it touches on many domains other than medicine proper. In many cultures the healer is of one and the same time a religious leader in touch with the ancestors and the sprit world and a doctor who concerns himself with the sick and disabled. He takes part in the reaching of important decisions, gives advice on marriage and the bearing and rearing of children, and intervenes in legal disputes. His psychotherapeutic activities are therefore built on a solid foundation and form part of a whole set of social functions, unlike Western psychotherapy, which is highly specialized and practiced in isolation. Consequently the healer is readily able to persuade the community to play an active part in curing the patient. In fact in some cases such participation is a crucial part of the treatment. The Nemdu doctors, for example, will look after a patient for several weeks and then bring their treatment to a climax in a cathartic ritual involving the whole village in which the patients symptoms are transmitted first to other villagers (who develop all the symptoms) and then to the spirits. The community thus shares the sufferings of the patient, who is again admitted into its midst. The illness belongs to everybody. This practice recalls the methods of Zuni medicine described by Ruth Benedict (1949) except that in the latter the patient is integrated into a society whose members have already experienced sufferings. The first general conclusions that emerge are that traditional psychotherapy is carried out within a wide range of social functions that the community readily takes part in the healing process and that the individual concerned is not necessarily labeled as a patient.
Sociocultural Context
All traditional types of psychotherapy must obviously reflect local beliefs regarding mans nature, and in many cultures this means that the close links between individuals, their ancestors, and the spirit world play a prominent role in treatment. Healing is based on the establishment and maintenance of satisfactory relationships between these different elements - the present, the past, and the spirit world. The patient therefore does not consider the illness as something to be cured or controlled but as something to be understood and acknowledged. As Colombo (1973) has written, it is no longer a matter of explaining the mechanisms in order to control them but of understanding a significance, a meaning. The question is not how but why things happen. To understand the meaning of the illness or of the symptoms introduces a further dimension into the relationship between the patient and those round him,
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 93
6/19/07 11:34:22 PM
between the patient and those treating him. This concept goes much further than the psychoanalytical theory of symptoms as symbolic representations. Psychoanalysis, like the rest of modern medicine, is centered on the concept of a failure of certain mechanisms within the individual. To the psychoanalyst these mechanisms are inherent in the patients personality, which its turn reflects his history and in particular his childhood. For the traditional healer, on the other hand, the symptoms are manifestations of a conflict between the patient and other individuals dead or alive, spirits and the no-material forces that pervade society. His first task is to grasp the social meaning of the symptoms. By a process of divination or more direct communication with the spirits he is able to conclude, for example, You have broken the taboos of your family and thus offended the spirits who protect your ancestors; that is why you are ill. The patient and his relatives must therefore try to understand the illness. It is the meaning of the message of the illness which is feared, not the patient himself. However disturbed he may be the patient is not excluded or rejected. He is listened to and considered as a human being in the full sense. The illness is everybodys business; the family and the community are just as concerned as the victim who carries the message. Consequently the second general conclusion is that in many cultures mental or physical illness represents a disturbance of the relationship between the individual, his ancestral spirits, and society. Before reconciliation can be brought about it is essential to determine which laws have been transgressed. This is a matter of public rather than private concern.
Most observers have been struck by the personal style of healers and its contribution to treatment. Their dress, their sense of timing, their calm and authoritative air, and their personal qualities are often striking. Their social status is one of importance. They are therefore respected and heeded and they inspire confidence. The place where treatment is carried out is very important. Two common patterns exist. Treatment may take place in the patients home or part of the village or else a special shrine may be used. In the Sudan several of these shrines have developed into therapeutic villages, where patients may stay for weeks or even months. Treatment is rarely given in private. Some members of the family at least are present and often the participation of the community plays a crucial role. Treatment is often given for prophylactic purposes. Field, who studied the shrines of local deities in Ghana, found that often people come to seek the protection and blessing of the gods for a whole year and make an offering of a sheep. When they have met the priest from the shrine they decide to
94 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:22 PM
have recourse to him later on if any misfortune should happen. Many Asian techniques of relaxation and meditation such as Yoga, Zen, and Morita are commonly practiced to obtain a feeling of well-being but remain of help in case of illness. In many cultures there are several types of healers. Among the Yoruba, for example, can be found the onishegum or herbalist, the babalawo or diviner, and priests of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church. Their functions overlap to a small extent, but in most cases families choose the type of healer suited to their problem.
Traditional medicine is not a single entity. The fact that it is often considered as such shows up the narrowness and over specialization of modern Western medicine. There is nothing called psychotherapy in traditional medicine, although techniques like Yoga and Zen are fairly similar to it. The use of close, intense personal relationship is typical in traditional medicine. These relationships, which can last anywhere from several days to several weeks, are reinforced by body contact between healer and patient. Active participation by the family and community is a crucial part of treatment. Traditional medicine relies heavily on dancing and other rituals. Plants and other substances may be used as active pharmacological agents as well as for symbolic purposes. The effectiveness of the healer depends on his behavior and social status. The illness has a concrete meaning for the patient and those around him . The healer must penetrate the meaning of the message transmitted by the illness before trying to treat the symptoms.
Meditation and relaxation are widely used, particularly in Asia, but these methods have become popular in Western countries (Vahia et al., 1966; Neki, 1975; Woolfolk 1975). The healer functions as guide until the initiate becomes able to mediate on his own. The subject first begins by relaxing his voluntary muscles through the adoption of certain postures. He then learns to control his involuntary nervous system, to begin with by respiration. Finally through mental exercises he enters into meditation on some object of love or admiration. This technique induces a wide range of physiological changes. Body Contact. Many healers touch or hold their patients during healing. Sometimes they carry out massage, often applying a substance
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 95
2.
6/19/07 11:34:23 PM
to the body, but it is equally common for them to caress or support the patients body. 3. Induction of Trances. This practice is particularly common in Africa, the Caribbean, and South America (Goodman et al., 1974). It is almost always a group activity, during which the participants dance or sway to the beat of drums. After one or two hours of increasingly rapid movements the patient falls into a trance. He may speak in a strange voice or a strange language. Finally he falls to the ground and enters into a deep sleep . It is frequently at this stage that the prescribed rituals are carried out. Dancing is often part of the treatment, even when it is not used to induce a trance. It is a means of symbolizing transactions (Atiwiya, 1971). The themes and melodies of the dance celebrate the origins of the patients family and make it possible to invoke his ancestral spirits. The healer sometimes orders special masks or ornaments to be worn. Rituals. Traditional medicine involves a very wide variety of rituals. These rituals may include the wearing of a special dress (e.g. the wearing of masks or dressing in the clothes of the opposite sex), the sacrifice of animals (such as sheep, goats or chickens), prayers or incantations and sessions of self-flagellation. Their purpose is to enable the great mysteries of life to be acted out and expressed in real terms. During a short moment pregnant with meaning the patient may really feel birth or death, separation or reunion, the giving of life or the infliction of death. Herbal Remedies. In many cases medicinal herbs used by healers are often psychoactive agents, as in the case of the Rauwolfia alkaloids used both in Ayurvedic medicine and in Africa (Prince, 1960). Medicinal plants can also be used essentially and deliberately as placebos (MacLean, 1965). Whether this is so or not, herbs are never given prematurely or without adequate preparation and explanation . The use of herbs is often explicitly symbolic. For example, they may enable the patient to incorporate in his body a beneficial and powerful force when they are administered by mouth or on the other hand to let an evil force escape from the body when they are applied to particular parts of the body when the patient complaints of localized symptoms.
4.
5.
6.
It is difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of and the results obtained by, traditional forms of psychotherapy. In the first place it is difficult to define the objectives of therapy in the various cultures. Moreover, it has already
96 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:23 PM
been pointed out that for the healers and their patients there is not distinction between illness and other forms of misfortune. It is not merely a medical question, therefore, but a social and cultural one. Form the point of view of social effectiveness it can be said that: a. b. Healers are well accepted; they are welcoming and accessible. In many countries modern physicians do not possess these qualities. Short-term effects are almost always striking. Acute psychoses are calmed, family disputes resolved, and hysterical phenomena disappear. Healers play an effective part in a whole range of social, psychiatric, and other crises. More particular emphasis may be placed on their capacity for treating the acute reactive psychoses known as bouffees delirantes by French-speaking psychiatrists in Africa, as transitory psychosis of periodic psychosis by English-speaking psychiatrists, and as acute schizophrenic reactions elsewhere. There is a strong impression that the healers methods are more effective than the techniques of modern psychiatry in this type of illness. There have already been several descriptions of the disappearance of physical and mental symptoms after the intervention of curanderos in South America. The long-term effects are more difficult to evaluate. There is not doubt that healers in West Africa play an important part in rehabilitating and reintegrating chronic patients. In Laos and Thailand there are Buddhist priests who treat patients dependent of drugs such as opium. They carry out a form of long-term social and pragmatic psychotherapy. The role of traditional healers in the treatment of mental disorder is a controversial subject, because even though most of these healers are capable and conscientious practitioners, there are also some who are unscrupulous either in the methods they use or in the self seeking nature of their motivation. This applies in particular to those who examine their motivation. This applies in particular to those who examine their patients hurriedly and prescribe a single and expensive form of treatment.
c.
d.
6/19/07 11:34:23 PM
6/19/07 11:34:23 PM
allergic symptoms result. It is interesting to note that cortisone preparations, which are commonly prescribed for allergies, are suppressors of the IS . Proper nutrition protects the IS from free-radical damage. One of the most exciting theories in medicine today is the free radical theory of disease. As oxygen is used in the body, certain high energy by-products are naturally produced and can damage body tissues if they arent neutralized within seconds. Many of the vitamins like B-6, C, E, A and niacinamide have the critical job of mopping up free radicals and cooling them off. Tissues which are depleted of vitamins experience free radical damage, and a weakened IS, allergies, and cancer can be the resule. Viral disease, like herpes and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) are becoming epidemic. A theory which fits the data is that these infections: one, take hold in persons whose IS has already weakened them; two the infections weaken the IS; which, three, allows parasites to invade the intestine and cause improper absorption of key nutrients; which, four, further weakens the IS. A vicious cycle is set up, which might be broken by proper nutrition applied at steps one and three. Indeed, in Africa and Haiti, AIDS is rampant among the nutritionally malnourished and afficts one female for every 2.5 infected males. Many of the American homosexuals with AIDS have lived life in the fast lane where recurrent infections, heavy antibiotic use, drugs, alcohol and processed fast foods are common. Most humans harbor a fungus called Candida albicans and a parasite called Pneumocystis carinii (PC). A healthy IS keeps these organisms under control. In AIDS patients, these organisms grow out of bounds and PC can be fatal. In AIDS patients, a type of cancer called Kaposis sarcoma is also common. It is interesting to note that PC is common in malnourished African children and was prevalent in European children during the food shortages of WWII. Other nutritional factors contribute to a weakened IS. The 20 to 40 year olds who are affiliated with AIDS and herpes grew up in an era of junk food and a relative absence of breast feeding (which is thought to strengthen the IS). Indeed, studies in laboratory animals have shown that the children and grandchildren of malnourished mothers have weakened ISs even though both these children have free access to food! The mother of many persons 20 to 40 years old were the first generation to be offered the chemicalized and processed foods which evolved in the U.S. in the first part of this century. When you make changes in your nutritional habits, common sense and moderation are important. Too much of certain vitamins and minerals are just as harmful as too little. The best source of these substances are organic fresh fruits and vegetables. Foods which have been processed or which contain artificial colorings, dyes and preservatives are to be avoided. The regulatory agencies allow 3000 different chemicals to be added to foods, and the averGuide To Alternative Health Therapies - 99
6/19/07 11:34:23 PM
age American eats a few pounds of these chemicals each year. Synthetic plant hormones and growth regulators exist as residues in food and are known to cause cancer. Many apples are grown with these materials and this explains their all-the-same-size condition in the markets. High-fiber foods are to be sought out, for the fiber is thought to soak up harmful substances in the food and in the intestine. Irradiated foods are to be avoided because the radiation changes the chemical structure of the food and creates harmful chemical forms. Remember that your body produces five million white blood cells every few minutes throughout life. These white blood cells are made from the nutrients in the food you eat. Junk in, Junk out, as the saying goes! Infections are not the result of evil germs which just happen to catch us because of bad luck. Germs are everywhere at all times. A polluted body creates the right soil for germs to grow and multiply. Prevent infections with proper nutrition. Preventive Medicine is the most powerful form of medicine. As Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine stated around 500 B.C., Let thy medicine thy food and thy food by thy medicine. Freedom of Health Care for All ! Scientific studies have firmly demonstrated how certain vitamins and minerals support the Immune system. Vitamin A: protects the internal linings of the body. When they are weakened, these rembrances become portals of entry for germs Humans with cancer have diminished stores of vitamin A. a decrease in this vitamin is related to increased susceptiblity to cancer causing viruses laboratory animals and possibly also in humans. B-6 is a free-radical scavenger. is a proven anti-carcinogen and free-radical scavengers, which enhances the activity of white blood cells to gobble up germs. is an anti-carcinogen and free-radical scavenger, which works along with selenium to protect the fats of the body from free-radical damage. is diminished in people who have cancer and in animals who get lung, breast, colon, ovary, blood, and liver cancer. Selenium is part of glutathione peroxidase, a powerful free-radical scavenger in the body. is diminished in many AIDS patients and person with
Vitamin B-6:
Vitamin C:
Vitamin E:
Selenium:
Iron:
6/19/07 11:34:23 PM
infections, e.g., herpes. Zinc: in too-small or too-great amounts it can suppress the IS. Our bodies do not store this important trace mineral. White spots on the nails can reflect its deficiency. a deficiency is related to diminished antibody production. This trace mineral is deficient in most Americans diets as a result of modern food growing and processing techniques. are not created in the body, but have to be eaten. Elevated cholesterol and obesity both weaken the immune system as do fats which have been oxidized by the cooking process.
Magnesium:
6/19/07 11:34:23 PM
6/19/07 11:34:23 PM
an excess and imbalance of milk in the diet. These problems, that are thought (by some people) to be caused by milk, are often described as a milk sensitivity, allergy, or intolerance. Milk intolerance does exist as a specific lactose intolerance and this will be discussed later. However, most dairy intolerance / sensitivity is not due to the real food, milk, but a reaction to the additives and extra ingredients (salt, yellow dye, aluminum, sugar emulsifiers, etc) added to cheeses, ice cream and other milk foods. Most research into milk intolerance / sensitivity overlooks this aspect. Of course, a reaction to artificial milk or milk substitutes has nothing to do with the real milk made by nature. Creme, (substitue for for real cream) for example, is not made of milk at all ! Allergies (mucus causing) are a prime example of an excess or an imbalance of milk in the diet. The calcium-to-phosphorus-to-magnesium ratios are the first problems that occur with excess milk and relative deficiencies of green vegetable and whole gains. Three glasses of milk without the balance of at least two green vegetables spells calcium-to-magnesium ratio problems. When these minerals are thrown off, the osmotic pressure and cell permeability. Calcium decreases cellwall permeability and thus prevents harmful substance like allergens and viruses from entering the cell. Milk is a high protein food. Most allergens are of a protein nature. Balancing the vegetables, fruits and grains will deter the allergies from milk. The vegetables and fruits contain the exogenous enzymes and enzyme precusors required to digest protein. Protein also requires the carbohydrates and water for digestion and assimilation that comes from fruits and vegetables. The vitamin C content of milk is very low, and thre has been sufficient discussion on vitamin Cs beneficial action on allergies. Pasteurized milk seems to have special problems. The heating will change the molecular structure and enzyme activity to a certain degree that still needs to be thoroughly examined. The fortification with vitamin D poses a unique question. A person that is eating a diet imbalanced with excess mik could be seriously disrupting the vitamin-A-to-vitamin-D relationship. Vitamin A has been successfully used for allergies. Lactose intolerance seems to be the major elusive problem directly attributed to milk drinking. Lactose is the sugar in milk, also known as milk sugar. The enzyme, lactase, is needed for lactose digestion. When this enzyme is lacking, lactose is not absorbed, but passes through the intestines and is attacked by bacteria in the colon causing bloat, flatulence, cramps, and diarrhea. Recent studies have shown the possibility of a genetic etiology for lactose intolerance. People of the Near and Far East and Africa have a high degree of intolerance. A lactose tolerance test, similar to the glucose tolerance test, is available. There are various degrees of intolerance. However, Dr. Michael C. Latham of Cornell University has concluded from his studies that lactoseGuide To Alternative Health Therapies - 103
6/19/07 11:34:23 PM
intolerant people can drink sufficient quantities of milk to supply useful proteins and vitamins without symptoms. Lactose intolerance may be explainable and may have different treatment than milk abstention. Malnutrition can cause lactose intolerance. Indequate intake of protein and B vitamins can hinder the enzyme production in the intestines causing low lactase. Disease of the intestines, and antibiotic therapy that affects the intestinal bacteria, can have the same effect. It is interesting to note, that cultural groups with a high degree of intolerance often process milk to reduce lactose (yogurt / cheese). These are also sources of lactobacillus acidophilus, the favorable flora in the colon that synthesizes vitamins and other nutrients. The acidophilus bacteria lives on lactose and produces an enzyme which converts lactose to lactic acid. Lactic acid suppresses the growth of the gas forming and putrefactive bacteria. If the acidophilus will reduce the lactose content of milk in the making of yogurt, then, this same process should occur in the gut and result in higher lactose tolerance. Therefore, milk contains nutrients essential to health, that requires the complementary nutrients an Lactobacillus that a varied balanced, and unprocessed diet will provide.
Calcium Sources
The following list gives the equivalent quantities of various food to replace one cup of milk. (One cup is equal to 8 oz.)
1-1/2 cup cottage cheese 2 x 1 cube cheddar cheese(or any natural unprocessed) 1 cup ice cream 1 cup icemilk 1/4 cup of dry milk 1 cup of buttermilk 1 cup yogurt (not sugar sweetened) Use natural sweeteners if needed: tupelo honey (raw), molasses (raw), fruit bits, fruits juice, homemade applesauce, etc. Miscellaneous; one cup of milk equals (by calcium content based on U.S. Department of Agriculture Handbook No.8) 1 pound clams 1 cup oysters 1 pound scallops 2 medium lobsters 3 oz saradines 6 oz. salmon 12 oz. shrimp 11 oz crab 2 T kelp
6/19/07 11:34:23 PM
Vegan Vegetarians
The following list of calcium equivalents to a cup of milk are given to exemplify the need for a concentrated calcium source, that milk products provide. Foods are chosen for their high quantity of calcium and relatively low proportion of phosphorus and magnesium to calcium. Vegetables and fruits not included require such a high quantity, that they become impractical with respect to an overall balanced nutritional formula. Examples are four oranges or six cups of carrots are equivalent to one cup of milk. One serving from the meat group or meat-substitute group (protein) should be added for each serving of the following list.One cup of milk is equal to the following vegetable and fruit sources. 2 cups broccoli 1 cup dandelion greens 2 cups kale 1/2 cup Brazil nuts 2 cups mustard greens 2 T. molasses (blackstrap,3rd extract) 3/4 cup lambsquarter 1 cup turnip greens 1 cup soy milk (fortified; B-2 Calcium) 3/4 cup collards 3/4 cup almonds
6/19/07 11:34:23 PM
The nutritional profile of chlorella is impressive. Vitamins B-1, B-2, B-3, B-6, C, E, pantothenic acid, folic acid, biotin, PABA and inositol are present: over 125 mcg of B-12 and over 55,000 IU of vitamin A per 100 grams, along with 221 mg of calcium, 315 mg magnesium, 130mg iron, 71mg zinc, 0.4 mg iodine and 895 mg phosphorus. And there is more !
Chlorophyll is effective in detoxifying the liver and bloodstream, cleansing the intestines and feeding the friendly bowel flora. Iron in ones food is more easily absorbed from the intestine in the presence of chlorophyll. Indeed, when in Taiwan recently I was told that cases of arsenic poisoning from contaminated well water had been successfully detoxified with chlorella, which contains about two percent chlorophyll.
106 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:24 PM
An experiment was conducted by the Japanese fleet during a three-month cruise, in which 458 sailors were given two grams of chlorella tablets daily, while 513 sailors (serving as controls) were not given any. The cruise was in very hot tropical weather, and all the men worked hard. During the threemonth voyage, 903 colds were reported among the 513 controls, but only 571 in the chlorella group (41 percent fewer colds). Average weight loss for controls was 3.31 lbs, and for the chlorella group 1.5 lbs. Further research has shown that there is a substance in chlorella which appears to increase production of interferon, a chemical in the body which protects cells from harmful viruses. At Kyushu University Medical College in Japan, chlorella was given to five patients with wounds that refused to heal under conventional treatment (including antibiotics). In three cases, wounds healed in less than a month on chlorella, while two of the more stubborn cases required about two months to heal. Effective treatment of peptic ulcers by using chlorella is well established in Japan, as well as treatment of duodenal ulcers and gastritis. Treatment typically consists of taking chlorella along with prescribed medication to hasten healing. X-rays are used to verify complete healing. For example, 76years old Sajiro Narita was hospitalized for three months with duodenal ulcers; he went home, then suffered a relapse the following year. This time, he took chlorella along with his ulcer medication, and his symptoms disappeared. Medical examination confirmed complete healing. Chlorella has been used in treating hypertension, diabetes, hypoglycemia, asthma, constipation, and elevated cholesterol levels. Recent research indicates that certain substances in chlorella stimulated the natural immune system to protect the body from infections and even from cancer. in the 1950s, Dr. Fujimaki, of the Peoples Scientific Research Center in Tokyo, separated a substance from a hot water extract of chlorella by electrophoresis, which was later named Chlorella Growth Factor (CGF). This extract was found to be rich in nucleic factors, which explains some of the earlier research findings about chlorella. For example, experiments with young rats, rabbits, chickens and pigs showed that by adding five percent to 10 percent to chlorella to their regular food brought dramatic increases in weight gain and size, ranging from 10 percent to 47 percent more than the control groups. When two grams daily of chlorella was given to groups of healthy boys and girls aged 10 years in Tokyo, for a total of 112 days, it was found that the bodies taking chlorella had increased in height by one inch and in weight by 2.3 lbs, while a similar group of boys who did not take chlorella had grown only 0.6 inches in height and 1.6lbs in weight. The girls who took chlorella regularly gained an average of 4.2 lbs while the controls, who took no chlorella, gained only 2.7lbs; and both groups of girls had gained an average of
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 107
6/19/07 11:34:24 PM
0.9 inches in height. The above experiments showed that chlorella increased the rate of growth both in young animals and children. This sheds light on why chlorella works to stimulate healing, for the same substances and process that promote growth in young animals and children also promote repair of damaged tissue in mature animals and humans. Apparently, one or more of the components is CGF promote both growth and tissue repair. (The processes of detoxification and immune system stimulation associated with chlorella are not part of the tissue repair possible.) When we realize that CGF is primarily made up of nucleic material from the chlorella cells, the findings of Dr. Benjamin Frank, in his research on the aging process, help us to understand what is taking place. Dr. Frank believes that the loss of energy and the physical deterioration associated with aging are due to the increasing breakdown of nucleic factors (DNA, RNA) that are needed for healthy cell functioning. When he put his patients on a diet rich in DNA and RNA foods, he expected to see improvements in energy levels and well-being, as the nucleic components were made available for repair and replacement of cellular nucleic acids. (DNA and RNA in all living things are made up of the same basic chemical building blocks.) He found that not only did his patients gain more youthful appearance and energy, but health problems connected with aging -- such as arthritis, emphysema, heart disease, deteriorating vision, memory loss, and depression - simply disappeared in many of them. Dr. Frank recommended using high RNA foods such as canned or fresh sardines, salmon, other seafood; legumes, wheat germ and green leafy vegetables. Canned sardines had been found to be the food highest in RNA at 590 mg RNA per 100grams. Now, however, research by Dr. Minchinori of Japan has reported levels of 10 percent RNA and three percent DNA in chlorella -which means that is 17 times higher in RNA than canned sardines. It is interesting to note the overlapping of diseases that have responded to Dr. Franks diet rich in RNA but without chlorella, and those that have responded to regular dietary supplements of chlorella and CGF. This would appear to be more than just coindence. Of course, we find that nucleic acids arent everything. They need to be taken together with a balanced nutritional regimen. It is important that they be used together with the proper enzymes, peptides, sufficient vitamin B-12, and other vitamins and minerals. One disadvantage of chlorella in the past has been its limited digestibility due to a tough outer wall, which had reduced the availability of nutrients for assimilation to around 40percent. More recently, a patented process for breaking down the cell was has increased its digestibility to 80 percent, thus doubling the good we can get out of it. Many who have reported overcoming of chronic disease have taken both
108 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:24 PM
chlorella tablets and liquid CGF daily. The liquid CGF contains the nucleic factors in a more concentrate form. Keep in mind that the fast pace of modern life, high stress, poor diet, junk foods, drugs, smoking, alcohol abuse, pollution and various negative lifestyle factors hasten the breakdown of our DNA, RNA and immune systems, creating a greater vulnerability to disease and breakdown. We are capable of breaking down the body faster than it can be built up even with nutritious foods and powerful food supplements such as chlorella. We must learn to live wisely, even though it is not always possible to slow down as much as we should. I think it is interesting that chlorella, the jewel of the East, has been developed largely by Japan, one of the most technologically advanced countries on our planet, at a time when we need such a supplement more than any other time in history. Chlorella detoxifies, improves bowel function, stimulates the immune system, enhance tissue repair, guards cellular integrity and promotes longevity -- without undesirable side effects. What more could we ask?
6/19/07 11:34:24 PM
Cancer Prevention:
6/19/07 11:34:24 PM
carotene and other carotenoids. Algae need to have lots of beta-carotene in order to combat the abundance of free radicals caused by the intense sunlight that strikes these water regions. Each alga cell is a complete unit of life. It is possible that humans, like whales, can obtain most of their nutrition by eating these tiny units of life. The evidence is impressive, and the composition of a popular food algae called spirulina is as follows:
71% Protein (all nine of the essential amino acids are present in the correct proportions) 17% Carbohydrate 7% Fat
Biotin Pantothenate Inositol B-6 B-2 Calcium Iron Magnesium Zinc
Vitamins
Minerals:
6/19/07 11:34:24 PM
a years supply of spirilina, which he took regularly in the amounts of 20 grams per day. It should be noted that spirulina has a low fat content of seven percent. The Standard American Diet (SAD) is overloaded with 40 percent fats. Numerous scientific studies have demonstrated the relationship of excess fat to the development of cancer Cancer occurs in AIDS patients. The American Cancer Society recommends lowering fat in the diet. Attention should be given to the fact that the spirulina analysis failed to detect pesticide residues at the parts-per-million level. I am sure that the same cannot be said for supermarket vegetables. The mineral content of spirulina is optimum. Remember that each tiny alga cell has bout the same variety and range of minerals as your own cells. But there is an added benefit of algae minerals. Inside the alga cell, each mineral is organically bound (chelated) to a natural cell molecule. Minerals in a chelated form are most easily absorbed from the intestine into the body, so it makes good sense to make them. The analysis of spirulina shows that many vitamins are found in spirulina. For example, weight for weight, the amount of B-12 is two and one half times the B-12 found in liver. Also, spirulina and other algae contain copious amounts of chlorophyll. Chlorophyll, the lifeblood of plants, exhibits amazing healing, regenerative properties in the human body. Chlorophyll molecules are shaped like human blood hemoglobin. Finally, we come to the dynamite information that natural algae chemicals can help to protect the body against cancer. As you will note in the analysis of spirulina, there are a series of pigment cartenoids found in spirulina as well as in other algae, like dunaliella. Recently, at Harvard Medical and Dental Schools, studies have been organized to demonstrative the effect of carotenoids on cancer growth in humans and animals. A study performed at the oral pathology department showed that beta-carotene caused animal cancers to regress and disappear. The effect occurred when the carotene was injected into the cancer, but it also occurred if the carotene was injected into another part of the body. Further analysis of the effect demonstrated that the beta-carotene caused the white blood cells called macrophages to produce more of their alpha-necrosis factor, which is involved in the destruction of cancer tissue. Remember that macrophages are front-line warriors of the immune system. Alpha-necrosis factor is a cell hormone produced by macrophages, and this hormone is instrumental in the necrosis of cancer tissue. Necrosis comes from the Latin word root for death. Necrosis means that a tissue degenerates, dies, breaks down, and is cleared out of the body. Another startling discovery in the Harvard study was that the inducement of alpha-necrosis factor was even greater if a mixed group of natural carotenoids, which is extracted from spirulina and dunaliella algae, was used
112 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:24 PM
instead of the synthetic beta carotene. The natural carotenoids outperformed the synthetic ones Furthermore, the study showed that there were no toxic effects from the carotenoids. In the study, the cancer tissue cells were killed and the normal cells were left alone. However, it was proved in the Harvard study that it is not vitamin A which tiggers the macrophage function, but the synergistic (working together) effect of the combined vegetable complexes. This confirms the results of the population studies quoted by the National Research Council in their recommendation to eat more vegetables and to rely on the natural vegetables rather than on synthetic supplements. The Harvard study was not based on some lucky hit-and-miss experiment. It was planned around information previously discovered. In the 1960s, a longterm study of 20,000 men at the Westinghouse Corporation demonstrated a decreased incidence of cancer among men who consumed higher amounts of beta-carotene containing vegetables. Because of the data, the Harvard medical scientists began to look at beta-carotene as an anti-cancer agent. Over a year ago, a few thousand medical doctors nationwide entered into a study of the effects of a daily pill of vitamin beta-carotene as a cancer preventative. Some of the doctors are taking real beta-carotene and some are taking a placebo. The study is still going on. The beta-carotene data has been impressive and even the conservative American Cancer Society has recommended the increased amounts of beta carotene-containing food be eaten as a cancer preventive. The minimal daily recommended (government panel) dosage of vitamin A, which is made from beta-carotene, is 10,000 IU. The average American diet contains less than 10,000 IU of beta-carotene per day. Since beta-carotene is a cancer preventative, it is important for you to learn how to optimize your intake of this important substance. In my medical practice with ARC / AIDS patients, I have recommended one to three tablets per day of a carotenoid supplement. Each tablet contains 25,000 IU of beta-carotene and other natural carotenoids. 75,000 IU of betacarotene taken daily is well within a safe range. This level will saturate the body tissues with beta-carotene, and the body in its wisdom will know just the right amount to assimilate in order to make the vitamin A that it needs. The excess beta-carotene will be spilled off into the urine and easily excreted. Some peoples skin develops slightly yellow-orange tint with this level of beta-carotene use. If this color is a problem, them only one or two tablets of 25,000Iu each can be used instead. In fact, this latter level of usage might be a good maintenance dosage for the average person who is well . But those persons who are sick and who need to maximize their input can take the 75,000IU of beta-carotene each day. The discussion in the last paragraph concerned the use of highly concentrated natural beta-carotene and related pigments in tablet form which can be taken as a food supplement. The tablets do not provide the protein, vitamins and minerals described in the analysis of spirulina given in the beginning of
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 113
6/19/07 11:34:24 PM
this article. In order to obtain these substances, raw spirulina must be eaten. This supplement is available as spirulina powder. The amount of spirulina, which might be taken each day is as follows: Start with 1/4 teaspoon each day and add 1/4 teaspoon every day until three teaspoons are being taken each day. The remainder of your protein can be obtained from vegetables, nuts, beans, and seeds. Approximately one pound should supply your daily three teaspoonfuls for one and a half months. It is best to use spirulina powder as a supplement and not as a total protein replacement. However, for someone who is without appetite for any food, an attempt to take in seven teaspoonfuls (23gm) each day could be an effective and safe way to obtain that persons full protein needs. Spirulina powder can be mixed with orange, apple, or carrot juice, or in salads, guacamole or dressings and dips. In this article, you have learned how to use a natural plant substance which scientists are discovering has the ability to enhance the immune system of animals to function better when there is cancer in the body. The cell-mediated part of the immune system is turned on by these natural carotenoids. Scientists have demonstrated that natural carotenoids are more effective than synthetic beta-carotenes. Once again, humans have discovered that nature is the better scientist.
10gm protein, heaping tablespoon (3 teaspoons=1tablespoon) 3 times the amount of protein found in soybeans 5 times the amount of protein found in beef, eggs, or poultry 10 times the amount of protein found in rice
6/19/07 11:34:24 PM
The common milk thistle, contains some of the most potent liver -protecting substances known. The concentration of these components is higher in the fruit. Silybums effect of preventing liver destruction derives from its ability to inhibit those factors that are responsible for the damage. Liver destruction occurs primarily as a result of certain toxins producing or acting as free radicals; highly reactive compounds that damage other molecules. Silybum components
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 115
6/19/07 11:34:25 PM
prevent free radical damage by acting an antioxidants. These components are many times more potent in antioxidant activity that vitamin E is. Another way in which the liver can be damaged is by the action of leukotrienes. These compounds are produced by the transfer of oxygen to a polyunsatured fatty acid. This reaction is catalyzed by the enzyme lipoxygenase. Silybum components inhibit this enzyme, thereby inhibiting the formation of damaging leukotrienes. Perhaps the most interesting effect of silybum components on the liver is their ability to stimulate protein synthesis. The result is an increase in the production of new liver cells to replace the damaged old ones.
The protective effects of silybum against liver damage have been demonstrated in a number of experimental and clinical studies. Experimental liver damage in animals is produced by such diverse toxicants as carbon tetrachloride, galactosamine and praseodymium nitrate. Silymarin, a complex of three compounds isolated from Silybum marianum, has been shown to protect against liver damage by all of these agents. Perhaps the most impressive of silybums protective effects is in protection against severe poisoning of Amanita phalloides, the death cup or toadstool mushroom. Interestingly enough, silybum has a long folk history of treating death cup ingestion. Ingestion of Amanita phalloides or its toxins causes severe poisoning and a death rate of approximately 30 percent. In the animal experiments, if silymarin was administered before amanita toxin poisoning, it was 100 percent effective in preventing the toxicity of the mushroom. Even if the silymarin was given 10 minutes after the amanita toxin, it was able to completely counteract the toxic effects. If given within 24 hours, silymarin will prevent death and greatly reduce the amount of damage to the liver. In human studies, silymarin has been shown to have significant positive effects in treating several liver diseases, including cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis . In summary, concentrated Silybum marianum extract offers significant protection against liver damage: one, by preventing free radical damage; two, by preventing formation of damaging leukotrienes; and three by stimulating the production of new liver cells.
The artichoke has a long folk history in treating many liver diseases. Recent evidence supports this long-time use. The active ingredient in artichoke is cynarin. This compound is found in highest concentrations in the leaves. Like silymarin, cynara extract has also demonstrated significant liver-protecting and regenerating effects. It also possesses choleretic effect, promoting the outflow of bile from the liver to the gallbladder. This is very important
116 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:25 PM
property. If the bile is not being transported adequately to the gallbladder, the liver has an increased risk of being damaged. Choleretics are very useful in the treatment of hepatitis and other liver diseases via this decongesting effect. Choleretics typically lower cholesterol levels via their ability to decrease the synthesis of cholesterol in the liver. Consistent with its choleretic effect, cynara extract has been shown to lower blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels in both human and animal studies.
In a controlled trial, two groups of 30 patients having elevated serum cholesterol and triglycerides were given either cynarin (500mg. per day) or a placebo. Cynarin proved to induce a significant reduction of these elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels. In addition, the patients also displayed a reduction in body weight. This effect was probably a result of cynarins diuretic activity.
Caffeic Acid
It appears cynarin, the active component in artichoke leaves extracts is not the true active substance. Since cynarin can be broken down into caffeic acid in the gastrointestinal tract, it is conceivable that the true active component is caffeic acid. This compound has demonstrated a significant liver-protecting effect as well as choleretic activity. Cynara Extract has also demonstrated significant liver-protecting and regenerating effects.
Curcumin is the yellow pigment of turmeric. Curcumin shares some of the same effects on the liver as silymarin and cynarin. It has demonstrated similar liver protection activity to silymarin. Curcumin is believed to also be converted to a choleretic compound, perhaps even caffeic acid. Curcumins documented choleretic effects support its historical use in treating liver and gallbladder disorders. Like cynara extracts, curcumin has also been shown to lower cholesterol levels.
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 117
6/19/07 11:34:25 PM
Silymarin is reported to be of great benefit to patients with the common skin condition, psoriasis. Its efficacy is probably related to two factors: its improvement of liver function and inhibition of the synthesis of inflammatory leukotrienes. The link between the liver and psoriasis stems from one of the livers basic tasks: filtering the blood. Psoriasis has been shown to be linked to high levels of circulating endotoxins. These toxins are found in the cell walls of intestinal bacteria. The liver is responsible for filtering these bacterial endotoxins along with other microbial byproducts. If the liver is overwhelmed by an increased number of these endotoxins, or if there is a decrease in the livers functional ability to filter endotoxins, the psoriasis gets much worse. A diet low in fiber is associated with increased levels of the type of bacteria that produce endotoxins another factor in psoriasis is excessive production of leukotrienes. These compounds are produced when oxygen reacts with polyunsaturated fatty acids. This reaction is catalyzed by the enzyme lipoxygenase. Silymarin has been shown to reduce leukotriene formation by inhibiting lipoxygenase. Silymarins effect in psoriasis is a prime example of how improving liver function can resolve a minor chronic condition. Treatment of psoriasis with liver disorders should be under the direct supervision of a physician. Silymarin complex may be used as an adjunct to other therapy. The best results are obtained when the capsules are taken three or four times per day with meals. They may be taken until the condition improves or for long-term preventative support.
6/19/07 11:34:25 PM
6/19/07 11:34:25 PM
element Yang organ Yin organ Exter Orifice Associated sense Affects Fluid emitted Body odor Temperament sound Injurious Weather season Direction Color Carbohydrate Beneficial Meat Created Flavor Flavor Like Which enters And nourishes Its effect
Wood Gall Bladder Liver Eyes Sight Nails Tears Rancid Depressed Shout Wind Spring East Green Wheat Chicken Sour Vinegar Liver Heart Astringent Gather Sour Muscles & Flesh
Associated Characteristics: Tongue Mouth Nose Ears Speech Taste Smell Hearing Color Lips Body Hair Head hair Sweat Saliva Mucous Urine Scorched Fragrant Fleshy Putrid Erratic Obsessive Anguish Fear Laugh Sing Weep Groan Heat Humid Dry Cold Summer Midsumr Autumn Winter South Center West North Red Yellow White Black Millet Rye Rice Beans Mutton Beef Horse Pork Bitter Sweet Hot Salt Btr Melon Sugar Ginger Salt Heart Spleen Lungs Kidney Lungs Liver Kidney Spleen Dry, Harmonize, Disperse, Soften, Strengthen Calm Expel Drain Dietary excess of Bitter Sweet *Pungent Salty Causes Injury to Skin Bones Nails Mind Body Hair Head Hair Muscles Complexion Avoid in Diseases Bones Lungs Blood Is Counteracted By Pungent* Salty Sour Bitter Sweet Which Counteracts Sweet Pungent* Salty Sour Bitter *Pungent includes hot aromatic flavors
Syndromes may be differentiated by a number of methods. I am most accustomed to the eight principles of exterior, interior, cold, heat, deficiency, excess, yin and yang. This makes it possible for me to solve even the most complex problems.
She has had bronchitis since the age of two, and bronchial asthma since she was eight. Her first major asthma attack in 1985, brought her to my clinic with panting shallow breath, high temperature, red eyes and face, top half of her body was hot, cold feet, chills and a headache.
6/19/07 11:34:26 PM
When lung qi doesnt descend downward freely, coughing, excess phlegm, shortness of breath, rapid pulse, and bluish tongue color result. An herbal tea made from citrus, licorice, pinella, ginger, and black date, was given to nourish the body, dispel and eliminate excess phlegm. Sour foods must predominate when the lungs are sick, to strengthen and supplement them. When her lungs were well again, pungent food helped to expel any remaining phlegm, completing drainage. Breathing exercises are important, and will remove any lingering perverse energy, which can interfere with health. Cold injures the lungs, so she must keep herself and her environment warm. This program must be followed to assure complete recovery. Acupuncture was given daily during the acute stage, then slowly decreased until weekly tonification was no longer needed, three months later. After a further ten months of monthly treatments combined with diet and exercise her bronchitis resolved itself permanently.
Chinese Diagnosis:
Function Fortify Tonify Balance Immuneenhancing Conception Vessel 17 Shanzhong Bronchial asthma Conception Vessel 21 Xuanji Bronchial asthma Case 2. stomach Ulcer Woman, 55 years old.
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 121
6/19/07 11:34:26 PM
She had intermittent gastritis for 25 years, which has recently been diagnosed as a duodenal ulcer. Always has pain when her stomach is empty which is worse at night, as it disturbs her sleep. The pain is also aggravated by certain foods, getting upset, overwork, tiredness, and stress in general.
Chinese Diagnosis:
Qi of the stomach and small intestine is disturbed, causing high acidity. Western Diagnosis: exhaustion has weakened diagnostic functions. Dietary improvements are essential. Eating must be done at a slow, relaxed pace, and all meals should be small and regular. Any food which can cause pain must be totally avoided, so must alcohol, red meat, coffee, tea, milk, tomato, capsicum, citrus fruits, and all foods rich in fat or sugar. A diet rich in soothing foods such as all whole grains, vegetables eaten steamed, in soup, or taken as freshly squeezed juice; fresh non-citrus fruit, cultured milk products, tofu, fish and a little chicken. All food should be neither hot nor cold in temperature. The above recommendations are essential to strengthen and replenish digestive functions. Acupuncture for Acute symptoms. Chinese Name Zusanli Hegu Quchi Neiguan Xingjian Zhongwan
Acupuncture Point Stomach 36 Large Intestine 4 Large Intestine 11 Pericardium 6 Liver 2 Conception Vessel
The herbal pills Po Chai were also taken daily. After two weeks, the pain had decreased, and after six weeks, she was sleeping soundly again. Medical tests done nine months later showed that the ulcer had healed and she is still symptom-free more than two years later. Case 3. Tennis elbow with Back Pain Woman, 45 years old. A health-conscious professional nurse who had prior recurring back pain, took up playing tennis three years ago. She developed a sore elbow which was ignored until it started to affect her work. She now has pain in her elbow, which radiates from her shoulder to her wrist, which is worse when she works long hours.
Current Understanding: joint nourishment imbalanced Chinese Name Hegu Function Pain Relief
6/19/07 11:34:26 PM
Chinese Diagnosis:
Block or obstruction of circulating qi and blood hindered by wind, cold or damp. Although her diet was basically very good, because she drank fruit juice in quantity and snacked on dried fruit for energy, excess fruit sugar was damaging her joints. A diet low in all sugars, with more sour foods and little bitter food, was recommended. Herbal teas were substituted for fruit juice, such as celery seed, hops, horsetail and angelica tea. As she improved, other unsweetened herbal teas were added. Moxa was used while the acupuncture needles were in, followed by massage on the painful area with rosemary-juniper cream, which was also used for home self-massage. Treatment was twice weekly for six weeks, then weekly for three months, after which monthly treatments kept her arm and back symptom-free. After one year, regular treatments were no longer required as she continued a correctly balanced diet, and drank herbal tea. Case 4. Headaches Business Executive, age 38. He has had severe occipital headaches since 33 years of age, which now occur several times a week. His hair is graying and thinning. Diminished libido, lumbar pain, joints creak, feels the pain.
Acupuncture Point Extra 1 Large Intestine 4 Stomach 36 Conception Vessel 4 Conception vessel 6 Gall Bladder 14 Gall Bladder 40
Current Understanding: stress and overwork have taxed the whole body and hormonal system. Acupuncture for Acute symptoms.
Chinese name Yintang Hegu Zusanli Guanyuan Gihai Yangdai Qiuxu
Function Relaxation Headache General Health Glandular Tone Strengthens Headache Lumbar Pain
Chinese Diagnosis:
Deficient kidney qi, which maintains our vitality of life and control of the reproductive organs. Emotional turmoil has caused qi stagnation. The Chinese believe that headaches are caused by an incorrect diet which contains too much fatty food and sugar. This problem is common in the high pressure is comGuide To Alternative Health Therapies - 123
6/19/07 11:34:26 PM
mon in the high pressure executive lifestyle. A simple and balanced diet was recommended. I also suggested that he schedule time for relaxation and regular exercise. I felt this would greatly assist him in getting results from his regular acupuncture treatment. Ginseng root, and Fo-ti-Tieng root tea were taken daily. Acupuncture twice weekly for one month, then weekly for several months until headaches stopped completely. Monthly maintenance treatments kept him symptom- free permanently.
6/19/07 11:34:27 PM
A Typical Story
At first, Karen was relieved: she finally had a diagnosis. After months of being told that her unrelenting flu symptoms were all in her head, Karen finally went to see a doctor who tested her for Chronic Epstein-Barr Virus Syndrome. The results were positive. Karens relief was short-lived, however. The doctor explained that the Chronic Epstein-Barr Virus Syndrome (CEBV) had only recently been recognized by medical science. As of yet, there is no cure. Must physicians who are interested enough in CEBV to test for the virus can then only alleviate their patients symptoms with painkillers and antidepressants. Youll just have to learn to live with it, Karen was told.
Karen and other CEBV patients are unwitting pioneers in the research on this newly discovered illness. The first medical papers describing CEBV were published in late 1984 and early 1985. In these articles, three separate teams of researchers described the chronic viral syndrome. In each study, patients reporting chronic illness, weakness and fatigue, fever, arches and pains, depression, sore throats, enlarged lymph nodes and allergies were tested for a variety of antibodies to different components of the Epstein-Barr Virus - the virus that causes mononucleosis. All three teams found that their patients had certain antibodies that arent found in healthy people or found in those with infectious mononucleosis, or even in those who have had mono and have recovered. CEBV, they concluded, is a distinct illness, medically distinguishable from acute mononucleosis . In fact, some patients with CEBV reported that their health problems began after a bout with infectious mononucleosis. Many others are unaware of ever having been infected.
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 125
6/19/07 11:34:27 PM
Soon after the illness was initially described, researchers reported that CEBV could cause mental as well as physical symptoms. Dr. Samuel Katz of the Duke University Medical School reported that adolescents and young adults with CEBV are often misdiagnosed as psychoneurotic. Psychometric testing has shown that some CEBV patients show cerebral dysfunctions, scoring poorly on tests of memory, conceptual functions and fine motor control.
Treating CEBV
The severity of CEBV symptoms varies among those with the illness . Some are minimally affected, while others are incapacitated by fatigue, depression and continual flu-like symptoms. Doctors have tried a variety of treatments to reverse these symptoms, including the antiviral drug acyclovir, and more general immunostimulation approaches such as intravenous gammaglobulin. Although some patients may benefit, the results are most often disappointing and most physicians resort to prescribing antidepressants and / or analgesics in order to rectify the nagging aches and pains and depression that occur. There has been little to offer to reverse the horrible fatigue states that typify CEBV syndrome.
Recent evidence offers hope to Karen and other CEBV sufferers. Initial tribals indicate that a novel immunostimulant referred to as organic germanium chelate (bi carboxy ethyl sesquioxide of germanium) is effective in treating CEBV. Physicians now report exciting findings: that the fatigue states can be rapidly reversed in many cases. Other symptoms such as flu-like aches and pains also respond dramatically. Germanium is a naturally occurring element. A number of previous articles in Health World have introduced the research of Dr. Kazuhiko Asai and his development of the organic germanium compound and his clinical research. As presented in previous articles the compound has broad-spectrum value for those with environmental illness, acts as an oxygen-enhancer, is especially valuable in circulatory diseases and immunodepressive disorders. It appears to have rather broadspectrum antiviral properties. Dr. Asai has emphasized its function as an oxygen catalyst. All our cells require oxygen for metabolism and it appears that literally all degenerative diseases lead to eventual oxygen deficit. Oxygen is particularly important for the immune system, so it is not surprising that germanium has been established as a powerful immunostimulant. For example, the phagocytes, the white blood cells that eat up foreign attackers, are highly oxygen-dependent. Usually, the phagocytes are in an inactive or dormant state. When signaled into action against the invader, the phagocytes use large amounts of oxygen to transform themselves into their
126 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:27 PM
active, defensive form. They then use more oxygen atoms as missiles to defeat the invading organisms. Thus, by increasing oxygen in the body, germanium enhances phagocytic function. In fact, Japanese research teams have established that germanium enhances many aspects of immune function. It increases the activity of other white blood cells, such as macrophages and killer T-cells, and augments immunoglobulin function. Of particular interest to CEBV patients are findings which have established that germanium has strong antiviral properties. . In one experiment, mice were infected with lethal doses of the influenza virus. All the control mice died. But 90 percent of the mice that were treated with sufficient quantities of germanium immediately after injection with the flu virus survived. In another experiment, intravenous injection of germanium before injection with the flu virus significantly reduced the gravity of the resulting illness. Researchers believe that germaniums antiviral properties are a result of germaniums interferoninducing activity. Administration of germanium has been shown to have a dose-dependent effect on interferon levels in humans as well as in experimental animals. This is a very exciting finding for CEBV patients because it is believed that the pathways involved in the regulation of interferon synthesis are abnormal in CEBV patients. These results indicate that, unlike treatments that alleviate only the symptoms of CEBV, Dr Asais organic germanium can actually reverse the immune system damage in CEBV patients! Preliminary clinical results with germanium have borne out the promise of these experimental findings. CEBV patients treated with germanium report feeling less fatigue fairly soon after commencement of treatment, as do patients with other chronic viruses. One physician who has tried a number of nutritional treatments with his CEBV patients told of a patient with severe chronic viral symptoms who reported feeling 90 percent improved after two weeks of germanium therapy. This was not a controlled study, the physician cautioned. Wed tried a number of other things - B-12 shots and other vitamins - so I cant really be sure it was the germanium. But it seemed that, when we added the germanium, thats when he really turned the corner.
6/19/07 11:34:27 PM
2.
3. 4.
5.
6/19/07 11:34:27 PM
6.
7. 8.
9.
Natural Antibiotic: DDS-1 Lactobacillus acidophilus is known to produce acidophilin, a natural antibiotic. Acidophilin has been shown to posses (in vitro) a wide range of antimicrobial activity against many foodborne pathogens. Over 20 pathogens have been shown to be inhibited by the acidophilin produced by DDS acidophilus. Antiviral Effects : acidophilus can inactivate different viruses. Inhibition of Candida Albicans: Inhibition of Candida albicans (yeast infection) is possible with supplementation of DDS-1 acidophilus and this has been confirmed with many supplementation of DDS-1 acidophilus and this has been confirmed with many clinical and University studies. Anticarcinogenic Effects: Studies at Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research and University of Nebraska show that DDS-1 acidophilus possesses great potential as an antitumor agent.
Medical experts recognize that millions of people today are suffering from chronic candidiasis (yeast infection). Dr. C. Orian Truss, the worlds leading candidiasis authority, Dr. William G. Crook, author of Yeast Connection and Dr. Keith W. Sehnert have explained how devastating candida has become since we as a society have overused antibiotics, steroids and birth control pills. At the recent Health Federation Meeting in Chicago, Dr. Sehnert shed light on another cause of many symptoms found in candidiasis. When the normal balance of beneficial bacteria is disturbed by antibiotics, stress, and faulty nutritional habits, there may be an overgrowth of yeast. This yeast overgrowth displaces the beneficial Lactobacillus acidophilus, removing its beneficial fermentation in the bowel which produces folic acid, niacin, riboflavin, B-12, B-6 and pantothenic acid. It also disturbs their ability help digest the proteins in our food. When these functions are disturbed, there is greater likelihood for candidiasis, cancer, and various diseases of the bowel. Changes in the cardiovascular system such as elevated cholesterol level may also occur. In vitro (laboratory) studies show that certain members of the Lactobacillus family, especially the DDS strain, also have antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial properties which can significantly enhance and individuals healther status. When Drs. Sehnert and Taylor treat candidiasis, they recommend yeastkilling medication, a low sugar and yeast -free diet, a vitamin/mineral supplement and DDS-1 Acidophilus. DDS-1 Acidophilus is used by many doctors because of its superiority over others and its consistently good results.
6/19/07 11:34:27 PM
6/19/07 11:34:27 PM
Nutrition has the power to heal because it affects the complex chemical reactions which are the physical basis of life. We experience health when all of those chemical reactions occur at the right time and place. If reactions misfire, so to speak, we begin to feel ill at ease, or diseased. If enough of them misfire, we die. Whatever causes body chemistry to misfire may therefore cause disease. Bacteria cause disease, for example, by secreting toxins that interrupt the bodys chemistry. Botulism toxin (the worlds most potent toxin) keeps the brain from releasing a critical messenger-chemical called acetylcholine. Tetanus toxin cramps muscles by blocking chemicals that normally turn off the nerve impulses to muscles when we dont need them anymore. Diptheria toxin keeps the body from producing certain important proteins. From observations like these came the metaphor or analogy that illness is a battle in which the body is under siege: attacked by enemies from the outside; enemies like bacteria that interrupt the bodys chemistry and destroy its control of itself. As surely and directly as baceria does, nutrition affects body chemistry by providing its raw materials. When our foods lack the raw materials necessary for the bodys chemical processes, these processes begin to misfire, and we begin to weaken. There is no siege by outside forces here, however. For the most part, we impose our nutritional weaknesses upon ourselves. For years, although medical scientists understood nutrition as a principle, they didnt accept it is a general cause of disease -- the body-under-siege metaphor was too strong. Today, however, the successors of those original doubters believe that lack of nutrition causes more than half of the illnesses in industrial societies like our own. In recent years, nutritions new prominence has taken it well beyond the simple notion of the four basic food groups. We buy no more than a few dozen food plants in the grocery store. Nature, in contrast, can provide us with many thousands more. Might there not be plants among these thousands that offer us more nutrition than we find in the produce department? Pursuing that
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 131
6/19/07 11:34:28 PM
question, scientists have discovered a number of new and highly beneficial food sources. Perhaps none offers us so much as Evening Primrose Oil. The evening primrose plant has a tall main stem that bears large and fragrant yellow flowers. The flowers bloom between six and seven in the evening, only to wither and die the next day. The oil comes, not from the flowers, but from seeds so tiny that 10,000 of them yield barely a gram of oil. The oil is a rich source of nutrients, of which two seem particularly important: linoleic acid (LA) and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) Linoleic acid and gamma-linolenic acid are fatty acids. Few things sound less appealing; we are found of neither fat nor acid. We cant live without fatty acids; however; they are no less critical to our health than their more famous cousins, vitamins and minerals. The body uses linoleic acid to make gamma-linolenic acid. In a rather precise scientific sense, therefore, LA is an essential fatty acid, while GLA is nonessential. That precise scientific definition of essential can be misleading, however, because it creates the illusion that we somehow dont need nonessential nutrients like GLA. From a scientific point of view, to say that nutrient is essential means simply that the body cant make it, while a nonessential nutrient is one that the body is able to make. In this limited sense, then, LA is essential, while GLA, which the body makes from LA, is not. Both, however, are critical to our health. Fatty acids apply the raw-material principle that we mentioned earlier. This raw-material principle was discovered more or less accidentally by a Dutch physician named Christian Eijkman. One day in 1896, while Eijkman was in the East Indies doing research with chickens, he ran out of whole rice. He fed the chickens polished rice instead. They promptly got sick with a disease that looked like the human disease beriberi. Polished rice is simply polished rice without the hull. Why did chickens get sick just because they stopped eating rice hulls? Eijkman wondered. Provoked by Eijkmans observation, scientists searched for and discovered the answer. The rice hull contains a substance that we now call thiamine, or vitamin B-1. The lack of vitamin B-1 was making the chickens sick. This was no attack by an outside invader, but a simple nutrient missing from food. Over the years, scientists have come to understand how a missing nutrient can make us sick. Vitamin B-1 illustrates the principle. Vitamin B-1 helps form a more complex chemical - an enzyme - that carries carbon dioxide away from our cells. Without vitamin B-1, the body cannot make that enzyme, the carbon dioxide builds up, and out cells start to shut down. When the symptoms get bad enough, we call the condition beriberi. But we begin to weaken long before the symptoms become so obvious that we decide to give the condition a name. We begin to weaken the moment when our body wants to make the enzyme, but cant because it lacks the vitamin B-1 to make it with. This theme
132 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:28 PM
is played out in countless variations throughout the body. Fatty acids are one such variation on the nutritional theme. Like vitamin B-1, they allow the body to make critical active chemicals. If fatty acids are missing, the active chemicals that they might otherwise have made remain unformed, their duties undone, and we become weakened. If the weakness becomes obvious, we give it a name. But as with beriberi, we begin to be weakened well before we can name the result. We become weakened the moment the body needs a fatty acid and cant find one.
There is no single missing-fatty-acid disease that we can name as clearly as we name beriberi. Fatty acids are general in their effect, and their absence may cause a number of disease conditions. For examples, just as vitamin B-1 helps form the chemical that carries carbon dioxide from cells, fatty acids help form a category of chemicals called prostaglandin. Organs make prostaglandins from their stores of fatty acids. These prostaglandins help regulate the chemical processes that define the organs function. Prostaglandins last only a second or less, so organs must make them constantly by drawing on their fatty acid supply. Fatty acids also help form cell membranes that pass chemicals in and out of the cells. They help the body maintain its constant temperature and play a role in nerve function. Just as the presence of fatty acids enables these and other functions to perform well, so can their absence cause them to break down. These body forms prostaglandins through cascades of chemical transformations that start with fatty acids. In the case of a particularly important class of prostaglandinis called prostaglandin E-1, the cascade starts with linoletic acid, the fatty acid that forms 70 percent of the oil of Evening Premrose. The cascade from linoletic acid to prostaglandin E1 passes through four major steps. Linoleic acid, being an essential fatty acid must come from our food. If it is missing in our diet, the cascade stops, and whatever body processes the prostaglandins might have regulated go unregulated, weakening our body. Evening Primrose Oil gives us ample LA to feed the cascade. Surprisingly, however, linoletic acid is not Evening Primrose Oils main nutritional benefit. Evening Primrose Oils main benefit is that it provides gamma-linolenic acid, or GLA. Evening Primrose Oil is nine percent GLA.
The nine percent GLA in Evening Primrose Oil apparently overcomes the problem of blockage in the transformation from LA to matter how much LA we get in our diet, the cascade stops anyway. Curiously, LA itself blocks the creation of GLA, not when it comes from Evening Primrose Oil, but when
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 133
6/19/07 11:34:28 PM
it comes from commercially processed unsaturated vegetable oils of the sort that most of us use every day. LA has two forms, called Cis and Trans. Cis is the natural form, the form found in Evening Primrose Oil and unprocessed vegetable oils. When vegetable oils are from the Cis form to Trans form, which is useless in the body. In fact, Trans-form fatty acids are worse than useless; they interfere with those first metaboic steps of the prostaglandin cascade that transform LA into GLA . Other factors interfere with that transformation as well, including too much cholesterol, the adrenalin released during stress, alcohol, diabetes, and atopy an inherited susceptibility to certain diseases such as eczema, asthma, and allergic rhinitis. As a result even though we may have ample LA in the diet most of us apparently end up with too little GLA; the prostaglandin cascade works less efficiently that it should and we end up less healthy than we might otherwise be. Evening Primrose Oil overcomes the problem by bypassing that first transformation step. It gives us GLA directly, and the prostaglandin cascade continues, despite the blocking factors listed in the last paragraph. The cascade forms the prostaglandins, the prostaglandins do their regulating, and our bodily process sharpen their performance which we experience as better health.
The wide range of Evening Primrose Oils effects apparently comes from the critical role that prostaglandins play in so many of our body processes. More that 300 research studies, most of them highly controlled, double-blind experiments published in major journals like Britains Lancet, have studied Evening Primrose Oils effect on such diverse conditions as eczema, PMS, alcoholism, dry eye syndrome, hyperactivity, and diabetes. Evening Primrose Oil is an example of the health care trend that is moving us away from the body-under-siege metaphor of disease to an emphasis on nutrition. Unlike many nutritional products, Evening Primrose Oil is well-researched, and its effects easily explained.
6/19/07 11:34:28 PM
The Key to Identifying and Removing Psychological Roadblocks Toward Achieving Successful Weight Control BY JAMes MCCLeRnAn, PH.D.
As the title of one well-known book declares, diets dont work. Then why, in the face of overwhelming odds, (more than a 90 percent failure rate for long-term success), do so many people buy into the new diets that appear almost daily in the media? (Forty million Americans will start a new diet this year!) Its a search for magic. There just has to be something that will work. There must be some magic out there that will make me lose weight. Well, there is something that will work. And there is some magic. Only the magic isnt out there. The magic is inside each one of us. The magic is our ability to learn to understand ourselves and why we do what we do, and then to make changes in our attitudes and behavior that will result in weight loss. Reducing diets are harmful to your percentage of body fat and your psychological well-being; they are a waste of time and can be expensive; and in and of themselves they cannot be responsible for keeping you thin for life. No matter what kind of reducing diet you go ON, eventually you will have to go OFF. And then what? If you havent learned anything about yourself and why you eat inappropriately, youve going to be back to square one.
If youre not happy with yourself and your present circumstances, you have three choices: stay the way you are and stay unhappy; learn to be happy with the problems of being overweight; make the effort to change. If you choose the third option, other questions arise. What kind of changes do you want to make? And where do you start? One step at a time, you can begin to make changes in the way you eat, your level of physical exercise and your emotional relationship to food.
Diet
Changes in your diet are easy to suggest. I firmly believe that a vegetarian diet, consisting primarily of whole grain products, seeds, vegetables, fruits, and some nuts is the most healthful diet and the one most likely to help you achieve and maintain a normal weight. Some people might want to include some dairy products or limited amounts of fish or poultry, but if you feel these additions are necessary, be aware of that fat content. Drink plenty of pure water and avoid sugar and an excess of fats. Eliminate salt, caffeine and alcohol.
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 135
6/19/07 11:34:28 PM
If youre used to eating a lot of animal protein, dont switch to a total vegetarian diet tomorrow. Gradually is the key. Eventually you will learn to be satisfied with new or different foods, and finally you will learn to prefere them.
Exercise
An increase in physical activity is crucial to your weight loss program. But, as you have been cautioned many times before, safety first. Check with your doctor before beginning any type of exercise program-- especially if you are over 35 and have been inactive or if you have physical symptoms or a family history of heart problems. Start out slowly and do things right. Learn about proper warm-up and cool-down periods. Your clothing and equipment should be appropriate for the circumstances. Be consistent. Make exercise as much as part of your life as brushing your teeth. Use gradualism and variety to avoid burnout.
The trick -- the magic -- is learning how to reprogram yourself to actually prefer a health - promoting lifestyle that will inevitably result in proper body weight. To get started, begin to think of yourself as a whole person -- not just a person and belief system or spirit. All these facets of your being are in continuous interaction. Once you see yourself as a whole person and have accepted the fact of your own self-worth and your ability to make positive changes, your next step is to get beyond procrastination and motivate yourself to begin making those changes. Contrary to poplar belief, procrastination is not usually the result of laziness. Many of the procrastinators I have worked with have been highly organized perfectionists with tremendous supplies of will power to avoid, rationalize, and put off logical choices. The exact cause of procrastination is difficult to understand, because it is an emotional rather than an intellectual problem. However, the cause most often a fear. Maybe youre afraid of failure. If you dont try, you dont fail. On the other hand, you might be afraid of success, or maybe you dont think you deserve to be thin. Perhaps youre afraidof the other changes in your life that will occur if youre thin. Bring your fears out into the open, face them, and deal with them on your own initiative. Go slowly so you dont feel overwhelmed. In overcoming procrastination it is vital to keep the action going once youve started. You must be sincere and realistic in your efforts and to be willing to take some risks. Remind yourself that your self-image and behavior is learned and it can be learned anew. Give yourself credit for the things you like about yourself and dont feel guilty about nurturing yourself.
136 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:28 PM
How many times have you said, Id be thin if only I could get motivated? Where will your motivation to lose weight come from? If it is an inspirational video tape, it is unlikely to last. Learning to motivate yourself from within assures that motivation can be there for you at all times, with or without your video. The first step on the path to self motivation is desire. The next step is to open yourself to the possibilities of fulfilling this desire. Once you see some possibilities, turn your focus inward and begin to take a good look at yourself. Evaluate your beliefs. Determine your values and priorities. When youve defined your beliefs about life and your value priorities, youll find you are more ready to accept your freedom to make changes within yourself.
Sometimes even the most apparently loving and supportive family or friends can consciously or unconsciously undermine your efforts to lose weight. For example, your spouse might complain about your weight, but when it comes right down to it, he or she might be afraid that if you become more attractive you will decide to leave. Or maybe its the lack of a relationship that contributes to your overeating. Food can be avoided dealing with love relationships. You can tell yourself that its understandable that nobody would want you when youre fat, so why risk losing weight and finding out that nobody wants you anyway? You feel safe with the fat to protect you from possible rejection. In summary, the key to losing weight is change. Its that simple and its that difficult. Change is frightening. And it sounds like a lot of work. But if you equate change with growth, and focus on becoming the person you want to be rather than dwelling on what you are leaving behind, you will find that change is what makes life exciting and fulfilling. The choice is your. The magic is in you.
There are many tools that can help you in your efforts to change. Here are just a few: Behavioral techniques can work, but make sure you are aware of the conditioning process (the system of rewards and punishment) involved and that you choose to use it. Gimmicks such as eating from a small plate can be used in the same way.
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 137
6/19/07 11:34:28 PM
self talk, i.e. affirmation. It is not what happens or what may happen that gets us going, but rather what we tell ourselves about it. Imagery. The mind has a very powerful effect on the body. Use that power. Try closing your eyes and imagine sucking on a freshly cut juicy lemon and youll get a small sample of the instant mind/body reaction. Individual or group therapy can be helpful, especially at the beginning of your weight loss effort. stress management. Its important to recognize the role stress plays in obesity and to learn how to identify symptoms of stress. Learn how to recognize when stress becomes distress. You can learn how to manage stress through exercise, rest, proper nutrition, and various calming activities and relaxation techniques.
6/19/07 11:34:28 PM
6/19/07 11:34:28 PM
MT: Actually, though I know what you mean, I consider my approach to be traditional and conventional medicine, whereas allopathic medicine, which has developed as a part of industrial technology over the last 100 years or so, is strictly speaking, unconventional. Nevertheless, what I do is primarily treat the cause rather that the symptoms of disease using natural foods, herbs, acupuncture and some spiritual counseling and direction as needed; in that way the body heals itself. Another unique aspect of my work is the integration of Western, Chinese and Ayurvedic systems of diagnosis, and treatments using herbs from around the world, which I call Planetary Herbalism. In this way I do not feet confined to any particular system of treatment or to the use solely of imported herbs from the opposite side of the planet. KP: You place much importance on diet, along with the prescription of various herbal treatments. Why is this? MT: Traditionally, herbs are classified energetically in terms of their having heating or cooling properties, as are foods. This means that they have the primary effect of either raising the overall body metabolism or lowering it. In order for herbs to prove their effectiveness, in most cases the diet must follow the same therapeutic principle, for instance, a glass of orange or lemon juice, having a cooling energetic property, could very easily antidote the tonic effects of an herb such as ginseng which is warming. KP: Many people are concerned about Candidiasis, which is the proliferation of yeast, and Candida albicans which arises from the too frequent use of antibiotics. What are you views on this disease? MT: I dont feel that so-called Candidiasis is a disease but rather it is a complex of symptoms that arises out of a general metabolic imbalance. Usually the metabolism is too low, giving rise to fluid retention, poor digestion, low energy and weakened immune system. The presence of yeast overgrowth is superficial statement of the problem. Just killing off the yeast -- whether it is with an herb such as the Brazilian Pau dArco or the use of a Western drug such as Nystatin - is a very cursory and superficial approach to treatment. It is, however, the one most people would like to choose. Unfortunately, this approach is frequently ineffective; it treats the disease rather than the patient and often leaves the patient in a worse state. My approach is to use a balanced diet, attending to proper methods of preparation, selection of foods, the use of herbs such as my ginseng complex formula called Tai Chi, taken to raise the energy and immune level of the body; symptomatically using Hinga Shlak after meals to improve digestion and eliminate gas; occasional use of the Triphala
140 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:28 PM
formula to clean out the digestive tract and improve assimilation and elimination; and, of course, cleaning and opening the liver with the Hepato Pure liver formula. Of course every patient is unique and may require an individual dietary and herbal program, but this is the approach I have found to be successful for most, and various Planetary formulas can be given simultaneously according to individual needs and indication. KP: Suppose a woman is suffering from discomfort associated with the menstrual cycle, what herbal approach do you recommend? MT: Most conditions associated wit menstrual problems in women arise out of a problem with the liver. In most cases I find either Womans Treasure or Womans Comfort formulas to be very effective when taken on a daily basis throughout the month. These contain herbs such as Dang Quai (Angelica sinensis) which is considered like ginseng for women, a near panacea for all gynecological imbalances it helps build the blood, promotes good circulation throughout the pelvic and reproductive organs and also helps to open the circulation in the liver. These formulas also contain the North American Helonias root called False Unicorn Rool. This is likewise a treasured tonic used by Native American women to regulate menses, restore strength, prevent miscarriage and even to promote fertility. Still another powerful gynecological herb comes to us from Europe and is called Chaste Berry (Agnus Castus), used since classical times by women with great effectiveness to regulate female hormones. There are many other herbs in these two formulas but these three are among the most important. If after a couple of months there is no response, or the response is not sufficient, I would add HepatoPure to open the liver. I have seen phenomental results when HepatoPure and Woman Treasure are combined. Generally course of treatment should be at least three months. KP: Why do you choose to integrate Western, Chinese and Ayurvedic herbs together? Many believe that these various approaches may be incompatible with each other. What is your opinion of this? MT: I began with learning to use herbs native to the mountains of Northern California. While these should have been enough, if the people and more especially the disease were also native to the region; but experience has proven that in many cases the local herbs were not enough for th diseases and conditions that those in our community. I was pressed to study the systems of herbal medicine in the Chinese and Ayurvedic traditions, which provide an integrated system
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 141
6/19/07 11:34:28 PM
of herbal diagnosis and treatment. Their knowledge of the action and preparation of herbs is far more evolved and precise than our Western herbal tradition. I did not want to abandon the use of our native herbs; for in many cases they have proven superior to the Eastern herbs. So I have sought to discover the unity of the healing truths in all of these systems and to begin the process of evaluating and classifying our North Americal herbs energetically to conform to the diagnostic models used by the East Indians and Chinese for thousands of years. This is what I call Planetary Herbalism which is the title of my next book. KP: I understand that you have been able to help people with terminal cancers? MT: I do not necessarily treat the cancer but rather the whole person, trying to reinstate balanced metabolism with wholesome foods and herbs. I specifically recommend that cancer patients take a very large amount of kelp, up to 10 to 20 kelp tablets three times a day. This is because kelp or seaweed has the ability to dissolve and eliminate tumors and hard lumps anywhere on the body. It works ! I suggested they use the Planetary River of Life and The Complete Pau dArco Program formulas and a special tea that consists of over 15 different herbs. I also recommend that they follow the macrobiotic diet rather strictly at first. Two patients called me long distance so that I never was able to see them; they were too far advanced in their illness to make the trip to Santa Cruz and consult with me directly. The results in these patients was a remission of the cancer symptoms and a resurgence of health. In one case of a woman undergoing chemotherapy, I worked together with her oncologist, using such as Chinese Astragalus root to strengthen the immune system. They were amazed at how fast her immune system bounced back after each chemo-treatment. At the end of her course of chemo-treatments, the doctors were surprised to find that her cancer apparently was in complete remission. KP: What would you recommend in the treatment of AIDS? MT: Most AIDS patients are so emotionally upset with their condition that it is difficult to get them to settle into an approach that places trust more in themselves than in some external medical authority. Recently I had one case where a friend of a terminally diagnosed AIDS patient called me and said the doctors had no other treatment to offer his friend, who was totally emaciated, could no longer eat, digest food or get out of bed. It was only a matter of days or weeks that he could continue in this condition. I suggested he use Planetary formulas, River of life and The Com142 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:29 PM
plete Pau dArco Program along with the Immune Force which has the most powerful Chinese herb for the immune system, Astragalus membranicus. I also recommended he take the Tai Chi ginseng comples, making it into a soup stock by boiling four to six tabelts in water and using the stock to make soup, cook grains, and so forth. In addition I gave him the Energetics yin (two tablets) and Energetics Yang (one tablet) as part of his program. This is because I believe that people with a severely depleted immune system are lacking in both yin and yang energy, but need more good quality yin to restore their condition. It was reported to me recently that this individual with medically diagnosed terminal AIDS condition responded within three days to the herbs. He can now eat food, has good energy, drives himself around town, and his blood is gradually being restored to a normal condition. Neither he nor any members of his family had previously believed in herbal medicine. It was out of desperation and the faith of his friend who called me, that he followed my advice. I am still following this case by phone and mail but so far the results have been incredible. I was told by his friend that another man with a similarly advanced AIDS condition was given a new experimental drug and died within a couple of months. KP: As a well known herbalist, do you feel that the American public is becoming more interested in herbs? MT: The herbal industry is the fastest growing branch of the health food industry. It is not yet as important as the vitamin market, but it is growing by large increments. I believe it is because more people are attracted to a more natural life style, eating more wholesome foods, pure water and so forth. Vitamins are a useful tool for some, but they are associated with the scientific industrial technology since most of them are chemically derived. Most of the people I meet who are attracted to herbs have become distrustful of the tenets and philosophy of a system of knowledge that sells itself to the cause of the wholesale destruction of humanity and nature. I am not anti-science but I do resent its arrogant stance in the face of proven, historical empirical data about the value of herbal medicine. Herbs still are the primary medicine for the health needs of the majority of the worlds population. I resent the refusal of medical science to look at the obvious causes of sickness and disease in our world and to speak out against issues relating to environmental pollution, weakening of the immune system and so forth. I am also critical of new age fads and of excesses in the natural health movement with no traditional basis . In order to test the viability of a dietary regime, it must be evaluated over several generations. For this reason I am always re-evaluating my methods against the traditional Native American and Oriental teaching.
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 143
6/19/07 11:34:29 PM
The artery wall is not a simple structure, but instead is composed of four distinct layers. Arteriosclerosis occurs primarily within the innermost layers, those next to the flowing blood. Initially, elevated blood cholesterol levels will lead to movement of cholesterol protein complexes (predominantly lowdensity lipoproteins) from the blood into the artery wall. Chronically elevated serum cholesterol culminates in the formation of fibrous plaque within the artery. As the fatty plaques grow in size, ulcerations of the inner layer of the artery wall promotes blood clot formation.... which may be fatal. Elevated blood cholesterol is the most consistent factor associated with this disease process. Elevated blood cholesterol is most often produced by consuming a diet rich in saturated fat, cholesterol, and fiber depleted vegetable foods. However, before eliminating all fat and cholesterol from the diet, one
144 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:29 PM
Fatty acids are an essential part of all membrane systems within body cells. Dietary fat must provide the essential fatty acids (linoletic and alphalinolenic acids). Also, the much-maligned saturated fat is an excellent sources of energy. Unfortunately, too much fat promotes cholesterol synthesis. And although some cholesterol is needed for good health, an excess in the blood is prelude to arteriosclerosis.
Cholesterol Requirements.
Small amounts of cholesterol are utilized by the adrenal and sex glands for steroid hormone synthesis. Cholesterol (along with fatty acids) is also an integral part of cell membrane systems. However, when blood cholesterol levels exceed tissue needs, artery walls serve as a cholesterol sink, with cholesterol deposition and plaque formation. Accumulation of cholesterol in artery walls may be prevented if dietary control is practiced. Superfluous quantities of cholesterol must be eliminated through the gastrointestinal tract and the feces.
Cholesterol Elimination.
Cholesterol is an essential component of bile, and it is a precursor to the bile acids. Both cholesterol and bile acids are found in the bile secretions of the liver. During the normal digestive process, bile secretions pass from the liver to the small intestine. Once in the intestine bile acids may either be reabsorbed by the liver or passed out of the body with the feces. When bile acids are passed with the feces one is in fact, excreting cholesterol from the body, since bile acids are made from cholesterol. The passage of cholesterol and bile acids through the bowel is facilitated by the presence of fiber-containing vegetable foods in the diet. When blood cholesterol levels are high, dietary fiber will draw excess cholesterol from the body.
The use of whole foods, containing all of their natural fiber ontent, is of paramount importance. Refined white flour is grossly inferior to whole grain flour. Refinement of cereal grain results in loss of most of the original B-vitamins, vitamin E, essential fatty acids, and minerals in addition to the loss fiber. Dietary fiber adds bulk to the feces and helps to regulate the rate of passage of fecal material (including cholesterol and bile acids) through the
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 145
6/19/07 11:34:29 PM
gastrointestinal tract. Certain components of plant fibers have been found to bind bile acids (and possibly cholesterol) and faciliate their excretion. Additionally, short-chain fatty acids, formed during bacterial fermentation of plant fibers in the gut, are absorbed into the blood. These short-chain fatty acids have been found to inhibit cholesterol synthesis in body tissues. Decreased cholesterol synthesis, combined with fiber-induced cholesterol loss, act in tandem; thus producing the well-documented serum cholesterollowering effect of dietary plant fibers. The beneficial effect of a moderate diet which is low in saturated fat and cholesterol, but high in complex carbohydrates and full-fiber foods, is evident, the liver must pull cholesterol from the bloodstream in order to resynthesize and replace bile acids lost through the feces. An individual need not adapt to a strict vegetarian diet to achieve a cholesterol-lowering effect, but consumption of animal foods should be intermittent and limited. Diets must be tailored according to the levels of cholesterol found in the blood. In fact, an occasional meal containing either hamburger, filet of fish, or cheese pizza has many nutritional merits. Total abstinence from animal foods may predispose a person to other health problems. Indeed, optimal human function may require some dietary cholesterol. Fatty animal products must be used judiciously, however, as over-consumption will lead to cholesterol accumulation in the blood and artery walls.
Fossil records indicate that prehistoric human beings consumed a wide variety of wild plant foods and significant quantities of relatively low-fat animal flesh as part of their diet. With the advent of agriculture, bread (more generally cereal grain foods) became the staff of life. More recently, modern animal domestication has produced oversized carcasses loaded with saturated fat, and since the turn of the century, consumption of whole grain products in the industrialized nations of the world has declined. Very quickly, the character of the ancient human diet has been obliterated by fatty and over-processed, fiber-depleted foods. Concurrent with this trend, there has been an increased incidence of arteriosclerosis, along with diabetes, obesity, hypertension, cancer, and other degenerative diseases. Some less industrialized cultures still consume whole grains and other naturally occurring plant foods as a large percentage of their diet, and many of them are relatively devoid of the previously mentioned disease. Reduction of arteriosclerosis in a society must begin with each member of that culture. When blood cholesterol levels are high, dietary modification is the cornerstone to decreasing ones risk of developing arteriosclerosis. The
146 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:29 PM
cholesterol-lowering diet is rich in whole foods which are high in complex carbohydrates and fiber, and low in saturated fat and cholesterol. Sample meals containing these types of foods are illustrated in Table 1. Arteriosclerosis is a disease which has become the leading cause of death in the United states, and in many instances, poor dietary habits are directly involved. This rise in the incidence of arteriosclerosis could be a classic example of the work of Mother Nature, as groups of people who consume high-fat, low-fiber diets are eliminated from the population. Indeed, it appears as if the future of arteriosclerosis is dependent upon the lifestyles and dietary habits which we choose.
Table 1: Meals Which Lower Serum Cholesterol Sample 1: Very Low Cholesterol
Breakfast: Pancakes prepared from homemade batter consisting of whole wheat flour, rolled oats, tofu, raisins, currants; a scoop of ice cream on top and fresh fruit sandwiched in between. Lunch: Sandwiches prepared from whole grain bread, alfalfa sprouts, nut butter and tomato. An apple to go. Dinner: Whole wheat-soy spaghetti, prepared with a red tomato sauce, containing chopped vegetables. A dash of Parmesan cheese on top. Steamed broccoli.
Breakfast: Oatmeal with milk and chopped strawberries. Whole-grain toast and butter. Grapefruit. Lunch: Sandwiches prepared with whole-grain bread, thin slice of cheddar cheese, ham, mustard, and sprouts.
Dinner: Baked fillet of fish with garlic and mushrooms. Tossed salad with a vegetable oil. Baked potato with chives. Steamed summer squash.
Reduction of arteriosclerosis through dietary modification may be accomplished by following three general recommendations: 1. 2. Limit intake of animal foods (animal foods are high in fat and cholesterol). Do not overeat, and avoid eating fiber-depleted flour and sugar products. Omit fried foods.
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 147
6/19/07 11:34:29 PM
3.
Base the diet upon whole grain foods such as pastas, hot cakes, cereals, bread etc. Supplement this with generous quantities of fruits and vegetables.
Fat and Cholesterol Content of Common Foods (Values in 100 grams, edible portion)
Item Bacon, fried Beef, hamburger Lamb, leg Pork, ham Bologna, beef Chicken, roasted Liver, chicken Duck, roasted Goose, roasted Turkey, roasted Crabmeat Herring Lobster Oyster Shrimp Salmon, Atlantic Cod, broiled Halibut, steamed Sole, steamed Butter Cheese, cheddar Cheese, cottage Cream, whipped Milk, whole Milk, low-fat Yogurt, plain Ice cream, vanilla Egg, whole Fat (grams) 52 21 16 27 28 13 66 28 22 10 21 11 9 2 1 13 5 7 8 81 33 5 37 3 1 3 11 11 Cholesterol (milligrams) 100 70 70 70 56 76 30 84 91 82 25 85 200 200 125 70 60 60 60 219 105 15 137 14 4 13 45 550
6/19/07 11:34:29 PM
6/19/07 11:34:29 PM
evening primrose oil. The evening primrose plant is found in the eastern United States and has a yellow flower, which blooms and dies in one night. The American Indians used evening primrose seed formedicinal purpose to treat wounds and asthma. Early American settlers recognized the value of the seed and its oil and exported it to England, where it became known as the Kings Cure-All. Other sources of EFA I are black currant oil (15 percent), borage oil (12 percent), and rapeseed oil. A good amount of these oils to take is 80-160 mg per day divided among the the meals. Remember that in order to obtain EFA I, it is not necessary to take all of these oils, only one of them. A popular trade brand of evening primrose oil is Efamol. EFA III is found in the oils of coldwater fish (cod, herring salmon, mackerel, menhaden, trout, sardines, bluefish, albacore tuna, shark etc.) and in cold weather vegetables and nuts (linseed and walnut). EFA III is also found in a product called MaxEFA, a fish oil which can be taken in the amount of three to six gm per day divided among the meals. Cod liver oil is one of the most concentrated sources of EFA III; a teaspoonful each day is adequate. But be aware that some providers of cod liver oil put extra vitamins; these additives are to be avoided. Of course, the best source of EFA III oils are the fish themselves, and two or three fish meals per week is adequate. However, the amount of EFA III varies in different fish. A 4 oz. serving of Chinook Salmon contains 3.6gm of EFA III, but the same amount of cod contains 0.3 gm per day for extended periods without evident harm. Eskimos consume an average of 13gm. of EFA III per day, and coastal Japanese consume about six gm. per day. In the United States the daily intake of EFA III is about 0.02 gm per day ! Other food fats are not essential. These are the saturated and unsaturated (polyunsaturated) fats. Our bodies, in their wisdom, know how to mix and match these oils and obtain just the right combinations through in-body manufacturing process. We need to consume some of these fats for but consumption of too much relates to poor health. Unfortunately, in the United States most people eat too much of these fats. For example, one large hamburger has about the same amount of fat found in eight pats of butter. Most lean cuts of meat are more than 50 percent fat, which is hidden amongst the redness. Margarine, corn oil, and safflower oil are polyunsaturated fats. These oils contain small amounts of EFAS. They are often called processed oils because they are extracted from the seed by a process which uses heat. Processed oils are not the best fats to use because they have been damaged by heat, and peroxidized forms have been created. Yet small amounts of polyunsaturated fats are useful in the body, and the best form to take is one which has not been heated during the oil extraction process. Virgin olive oil (obtained by a cold pressed extraction process) is a good oil to use. In countries where olive oil is commonly used, there is a reduced incidence of heart and artery disease. One or two teaspoons full each day of a polyunsaturated oil is an adequate amount. The oils can be taken in foods or salad dressings.
150 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:29 PM
The importance of EFAs in the body is unquestioned. Large deposits of EFA I are found in the immune system. Studies have shown that food EFA Is reduce cancer. Other studies have shown that excess fats of the polyunsaturated kind, found in processed vegetable, corn and margarine oils, actually enhance the cancer process. Alcohol intake interferes with the bodys generation of PG I from EFA I, and diminished PG I has been related to the depression observed in persons who abuse alcohol. As you continue your study of nutrition for its ability to strengthen your immune system, keep in mind what was stated by Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, almost 2,000 years ago, Let thy food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food.
6/19/07 11:34:30 PM
Certainly the unusual childhood leukemia that ravaged the body of the little boy from Woburn, Mass., for nine years of his 14-years life span --and the cluster of similar health problems in this old industrial town-- sheds at least some light oil the magnitude of the toxic problem. He died before his time, and while many continue to discount the dangers, there is no justification for public complacency and inaction. Though many contend that there is inconclusive evidence to support a link between chemical exposure and specific diseases, there are far more whose quest for truth has divulged more than perhaps this country is ready to hear. The three authors of this article, as active practitioners of medicine, have each experienced personal tragedy involving chemical exposure. It was very frustrating to be told repeatedly that nothing could be done to remove the fatstored Dioxin, which had leaked into their water supply following a spill in the town where they lived. Even more frightening was the realization that their teenage daughter was dying as a result of the contamination. Even as medical professionals, they were helpless in their attempts to stop the progression of alarming symptoms. Their uncompromising search for answers, and years of research, finally unveiled the work of L.R. Hubbard and the ability to remove fat-stored drugs and chemicals. Utilization of heat stress for removal of poisons from the body dates back to ancient times. This practice is still carried on by Indian, Oriental and European cultures today. The authors of this article have created an institute, Human Environmental Medicine, Inc., to educate the public to the dangers inherent in our modern environment. Having expounded this concept, H.E.M., Inc., specializes in the treatment of the environmentally hypersensitive patient and currently administers the medically-managed Bio-Toxic Reduction Program or BTR Program. This is a comprehensive outpatient treatment approach, designed to lower the bodys overall internal toxic load (drugs, viruses, environmental contaminants, as well as other toxins). Through a variety of non-invasive detoxification modalities, such as sauna therapy, nutritional detoxification, and other supportive physical therapy procedures, toxic residues can be significantly reduced from the body. A 67-year-old woman from Santa Maria who was referred for evaluation, is a prime example of the need for early detection and treatment. Cirrhosis of the liver was first noted in 1979 by her surgeon, who believed her condition was chemically induced due to extensive exposure to pesticides. She had been
152 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:30 PM
living in an area which was highly contaminated. Shortly after surgery she moved to Santa Maria, near the Casmalia Dump. This patients blood work showed significant evidence of chemical toxicity (i.e., elevated liver enzymes and high levels of Toluene 55.5 p.p.b., Xylene 178 p.o.b. as well as several other toxic agents.) However, due to her already compromised immune system and weakened physical condition at the time of the initial H.E.M. Inc. examination, it was impossible to consider the BTR program. She died two months later. As environmental health risks increase, there is a growing need to educate the public regarding effective methods of treatment -- before it is too late. In order to create public awareness and continue documenting the viability of this program, the Foundation For Environmental Health Research (F.E.H.R.) has been established in San Diego as a non-profit, tax-exempt organization. Funding will enable further research on the application of the BTR Program for treatment of Agent Orange victims; drug and alcohol rehabilitation; behavioral and learning disorders; as well as other conditions associated with chemical exposure. Current research clearly demonstrates that toxins are cumulative when stored in the fatty tissue and can linger indefinitely. Upon physical or emotional stress, drug and chemical residue can be released back into the bloodstream, contaminating virtually every body tissue (including the brain). Depending upon which cell, nerves, organs or other body tissues are affected a multitude of seemingly unrelated symptoms can be elicited, ranging from headaches, depression, mental confusion, fatigue and flu-like a chronic exposure long after the original exposure has ceased. This may also explain why many individuals remain in an addictive (or hypersensitive) state following extensive rehabilitation programs. Often the metabolized drugs and chemical byproducts are more toxic than the parent compound. Many environmentally persistent agents have half lives in excess of twenty years. Therefore cumulative health effects may surface years after exposure. Consideration must also be given to harmful interactive effects of drugs and chemicals coexisting within the body. Most environmental contaminants are fat soluble; thus they have an affinity for body lipids or fatty tissue. The body uses metabolic systems particularly the liver, to convert fat-soluble substances into water-soluble chemicals to facilitate excretion. The BTR Program enhances this process by mobilizing poisons from body storage sites into general circulation, where they are then transported out of the body through various excretory pathways, such as perspiration. The basic program consists of a precisely circulated intake of supplements specific oils and fluids, in conjunction with exercise and combined physical therapy modalities including sauna therapy. As the toxins recirculate into the bloodstream during detoxification the patient may re-experience a wide range of symptoms or manifestations, which reflect the initial exposure, though usually with less intensity. while undergoing detoxification, patients have reported experiencing, the effects
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 153
6/19/07 11:34:30 PM
of surgical anesthetics administered as long as 25 years earlier, often exuding distinct chemical odors. Such manifestations may last anywhere from a few moments to several weeks intermittently; however, they usually subside by the end of the program. Complications (occurring in less than three percent of the cases) were managed without for observation only. By comparison, there is a 70 percent chance of complications without qualified medical supervision. Medical management is necessary to ensure that toxins are flushed out of the system and not redeposited. A recent study on 200 participants of the sauna therapy, revealed blood chemistry changes consistent with the detoxification process. Laboratory findings included elevated liver enzymes as well as decreased glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. Manifestations ranged from sunburn to seizure activity. The most commonly observed symptoms were fatigue, headaches, chloracne, and heightened chemical sensitivity. Many cases reported an absence of chemical sensitivity following the program. (Repeated exposures may bring back various degrees of sensitivity; there is no license to be lax.) The program is not a cure for any specific disease or condition; however, patients often experience general health improvements upon completion, such as increased mental clarity, restored energy levels, fewer allergies, improved sleeping patterns, and lowered blood pressure. There has been demonstrable evidence of restored liver and immune function as well. The most promising long range benefit of the program may be the aversion of future cancers and birth defects associated with known carcinogens and mutagens stored in the body . The efficacy of the BTR Program can best be defined in terms of preand post-program chemical analysis, which have consistently documented significant reductions and in most cases, total elimination of detectable toxins. In reviewing the effectiveness of the program, patients were asked to subjectively rate their recovery from 0-100 percent improvement. The average rate of improvement among 25 randomly selected patients was 79.6 percent. Pat Connolly, Curator and Executive Director of the PricePottenger Nutrition Foundation in San Diego recently described her experience with the BTR Program as follows, The BTR Program has been more helpful to me than anything I have tried and I am truly returning to the health and capabilities I had 20 years ago. Everyday is exciting watching the other patients improve . I think it is the most helpful and dramatic measure one can take to begin to restore the damaged immune system, reduce our toxic burden and come back to life. This offers so much more than anything we have heard of or tried. For me it is working and I see previously hopeless toxin exposed patients coming to life again. Sources of contamination may include household and /or industrial pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, solvents, cleaners, etc. Through serum chemical analysis, toxic residue in as little as one part per billion can now be detected. This level of precision can be compared to pinpointing a grain of
154 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:30 PM
sand in a large of precision can be compound to pinpointing a grain of sand in a large swimming pool. Commonly screened chemicals include DDT, Chlordane, Dieldrin, Styrene, TCE, as well as PCBS. In cases where the parent compound may have escaped detection, chemical metabolites are often present. Chlordane and other organophosphates can only be detected in recent exposures; therefore, it is difficult to obtain actual serum levels. Recently developed Isocyanate and Formaldehyde Antibody Tests also provide additional documentation of immune system damage. Once a new disease (without imminent mortality) is discovered, it often takes medicine about 50 years to accept it and provide a generally accepted treatment protocol. The increasing numbers of people who presently show signs of environmental intolerance simply cannot wait that long. While billions of dollars are spent on cleaning of the toxic build-up in the air, water, and on land attention should also be focused on cleaning up the toxic build-up in the human body. The good news is that today something can be done about the immediate problem of body pollution. The key comes in the D.A.R.E. Detection and early diagnosis; Acceptance by the patient that the symptoms are real and usually treatable; Rehabilitation and resources involving a combination of medical, social, peer and familial support, and education regarding proper nutrition, avoidance of exposure to toxins, and the use of non-toxic or less-toxic alternatives. The focus of the BTR Program is to create a situation where the patient can regain a sense of independence, overcome the feelings of helplessness which frequently plague the chronically ill or chemically injured, and to help the patient resume the role of a functioning member of society through improved health. The truth is that less than two percent of the 65,000 chemicals currently in use today have been adequately tested for human safety. We are all at risk to some degree. The possibility of reducing the risk is encouraging. In the past four years over 250 patients, ranging from ages five to 86, have successfully completed the BTR program. The truth is, there is hope for those who recognize the problem and institute proper therapy for removal of harmful substances from the body. A review of our extensive compilation of case histories, and careful examination of the evidence can do no less than shock the senses . One can almost taste the bitterness of a national health crisis that shows no mercy to age, sex, color or character. For the little boy from Woburn, Mass, and the lady from Santa Maria, Calif, the toxic time bomb took its toll. But the BTR Program gave Dr. Cards daughter a second chance. She is now a full-time college student with a promising career ahead of her. To downplay the threats of our toxic world only endangers the generations to come, who will inherit the uncertainties of our future, unless we have something BeTeR to offer today.
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 155
6/19/07 11:34:30 PM
Surviving Radiation
6/19/07 11:34:30 PM
Since free radicals are created through a process called oxidation, the substances or nutrients which protect us from them are called antioxidants. Some of these antioxidants are actually produced by body cells, because some free radicals are created through normal cellular functions. The most common and clearly the most important, are a family of enzymes including super oxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GP), methione reductase, and catalase. These antioxidant enzymes are our front line defense against free radicals. Normally we produce enough of these enzymes to stay healthy. The problem lies in environmental pollutants, especially radiation, which create the situation wherein our bodies have more free radicals than enzymes to remove them. Luckily, certain plants contain large enough amounts of antioxidant enzymes to help us keep this vital balance and not fall prey to free radicals from any source. When looking for these enzymes in health food stores, or from your doctor of nutrition, do not accept anything that lacks any of these guidelines: 1. 2. 3. The product must be a whole food to contain a complete enzyme complex. The product must be enteric coated to protect enzymes from digestive processes in the stomach. (These are cellular enzymes, not digestive ones.) The product must contain several million units of activity per dose to be of any benefit. (The average activity of most is only 2,000 units, so look closely at the label.)
The long-term danger of nuclear radiation fallout is the radioactive isotope. Isotopes find homes in our environment and bodies, releasing radioactivity and generating free radicals as they decay. Different isotopes have different decaying properties, or different life expectancies. The unit of measure is called a half-life, which means that its radioactivity decreases by 50 percent in a certain time span during its life cycle. For example, iodine 131, the most common isotope, has a half life to eight days and concentrates itself in the thyroid gland. Iodine 131 decays quickly, but this means it releases heavy doses of radioactivity. Other common isotopes, such as strontium 90 and cesium 137, concentrate in bone and muscle tissue, with half-lives of 30 years ! Antioxidant in bone and muscle tissue with half-lives of 30 years ! Antioxidant enzymes are quite effective at removing the free radicals generated by these isotopes, but do little to rid the body of the actual isotope itself. For this powerful chelating agents are necessary. There is an incredible story about a hospital in Japan, Which fed its patients a standard macrobiotic diet of miso, brown rice, and sea vegetables. During
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 157
6/19/07 11:34:30 PM
the Hiroshima bomb of 1945, every single patient of this hospital survived, while 8000 people in the surrounding city died. Research was done on the contents of the foods in their diets and it was found that sea vegetables (like kelp and dulse, which contain sodium alginate) are very effective at chelating radioactive isotopes and removing them from the body. Sodium alginate has also been shown to remove free-radical-producing heavy metals as well. Kelp also contains iodine, which is a major nutrient for the thyroid gland. If the thyroid is low in iodine and then exposed to radioactive iodine it will absorb it. If the thyroid has adequate iodine it will not absorb more and the radioactive form will pass out of the body. Miso contains zybicolin, which has properties similar to sodium alginate. All of these foods, including the antioxidant enzymes are available in health food stores. Take responsibility for yourself and be protected. Conclusion Generally speaking, any supplements or food which strengthen your immune system will make you more resistant to low-level radiation. Your body will be able to respond better and eliminate more efficiently. Many of the substances which strengthen immunity are also considered to be antioxidants. The following is a list of foods and nutrients that build immunity and should be considered for any nuclear age nutritional program: 1. Antioxidant enzymes such as super oxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, methione reductase, and catalase. These are the most efficient removes of free radicals known. There is much confusion around this subject, so be sure to follow the guidelines listed earlier. 2. Miso and sea vegetables Such as kelp, dulse and nori contain zybicolin, sodium alginate, and iodine which are powerful removers of radioactive isotopes from the body. Clay, such as bentonite, is also known to absorb isotopes for easy detoxification. Some vitamin companies have formulas which combine many of these together. 3. Green foods such as wheat grass, barley grass, chlorella, and spirulina are very high in chlorophyll, and contain most every nutrient known to science. These foods make multivitamins look silly in nutrient content comparisons. 4. Friendly bacteria such as bifidus and / or acidophilus help maintain a healthy intestinal environment crucial to a strong immune system. 5. Herbs have been used to build immunity for over 5,000 recorded years. The favorites of most herbalists include Echinacea, goldenseal, astragalus, ginseng, and pau darco. 6. Vitamins A, C, and e as well as the minerals selenium and zinc, have numerous antioxidant qualities, many of which help the body produce the antioxidant enzymes. However, they also have qualities independent of the enzyme functions. Try to get these nutrients from food.
6/19/07 11:34:30 PM
6/19/07 11:34:30 PM
of individual herbs, as well as the right combination and coordination of the usage of groups of herbs. While this ideal at first sounds complicated and mysterious, it adds a great deals of clarity and simplicity to our usage of herbs. It makes herbal medicine more easy to understand and apply in an appropriate way, even for the layman. For example, understanding an herb like cayenne pepper as hot and dry, strongly increasing fire, goes much further to clarifying its use as a stimulant than knowing its chemical components. Similarly, classifying an herb like goldenseal as bitter, cold, dry and light helps us understand its detoxifying, fever-reducing and weight-reducing properties. This elemental and energetic model affords us new insight into the usage of herbs. Applying this model to western herbs can increase our understanding of their uses . In the book based on this Ayurvedic approach, The Yoga of Herbs, which I coauthored, the great majority of western herbs have been explained in such an energetic manner. Learning this energetic language we will, on the other hand, also possess the key to understanding the eastern systems of medicine. Through it we can discover how to use their main herbs, many of which are own becoming available in this country. Some typical powerful Ayurvedic combinations include herbs already widely used in the West, such as aloe, gotu kola, and calamus. Aloe is bitter, astringent, sweet and cold. It cleanses the blood, detoxifies the liver, is laxative emmenagogue, and revitalizes the female reproductive system. It is good for most affictions of excess fire. Gotu kola is bitter and cool. It cleanses the blood, promotes urination, nourishes the kidneys, relieves stress and strengthens the adrenals. It cools clears and calms the mind, while expanding awareness; it controls excess fire and water while harmonizing the air element. Calamus is pungent, bitter and warm. It eliminates phlegm, clears the lungs and nasal passages and improves the flow of gastric juices. It opens the channels, clears the mind, sharpens the senses and improves intelligence. It reduces both excess water and air. Other herbs commonly used in India are now becoming available in the West, like ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) or shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) or haritaki (Terminalia chebula). Ashwagandha is bitter, astringent, sweet and warm. It strengthens the muscles and bones, increases weight, builds, vital energy and aids in rejuvenation. It strengthens the reproductive system, particularly of the male counter the aging process. It calms the mind and is good for most disorders of excess air. Shatavari is sweet and cool. It increases vital fluids, promotes tissue growth, nourishes the mucous membranes and counters acidity. It tonifies the female reproductive system. It reduces fire and air. Haritaki is predominantly astringent and slightly warm. It is tonic, expectorant and laxative and is particularly good in reducing excess air. It is a famous herb of both the god Shiva and of the medicine Buddha. Haritaki is mainly used in the compound Triphala, which is recognized by many as the
160 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:30 PM
most effective colon tonic. Triphala is a laxative which restores the function of the colon and does not breed dependency. It relieves menstrual cramping pain and restores digestive function. It calms and strengthens the nerves and also aids in rejuvenation. In all substances, in all life, are the same basic laws, qualities and properties, represented symbolically by the elements, through which all aspects of life can be harmonized. This is the Science of Life at the heart of Ayurveda, which, when applied to herbs, gives us one of the most universal and objective systems for using them.
6/19/07 11:34:31 PM
In a large open trial involving 112 geriatric patients with chronic cerebral insufficiency, GBE, at 120mg per day, displayed a statistically significant regression of the major cerebral vascular insufficiency symptoms. These symptoms includes: short term memory loss, vertigo, headache, ringing in the ears, lack of vigilance, and depression.
162 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:31 PM
Symptoms of decreased cerebral blood flow are extremely common in the senior population due to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The significant regression of these symptoms offered by ginkgo biloba suggests that vascular insufficiency may be the major causative factor accounting for age-related cerebral disorders. It appears that the improved cerebral blood flow from ginkgo biloba provides an increase in oxygen and glucose supplied to the brain. This offers relief from the presumed side effects of aging and may offer significant protection against development of these symptoms.
Ginkgo biloba extract has been shown in clinical studies to increase the rate at which information is transmitted at the nerve cell level. In Hindmarch and Subhans double-blind study, the time of reaction even in healthy young women performing a memory test was significantly improved after administration of GBE. In another double-blind clinical study, ginkgo biloba extract was shown to produce restoration of vigilance to approximately normal levels together with improved mental performance, in elderly patients. The findings at the behavioral level correlate with improvements in EEG tracings. The patients with a more unfavorable initial situation (as measure in resting EEG activity) displayed the greatest improvement. The conclusion of the study was: The results show that chronic GBE medication has a positive effect in geriatric subjects with deterioration of mental performance and vigilance. This effect is reflected at the behavioral level. Ginkgo biloba extract may be of great benefit in many cases of senility, including Alzheimers disease. GBE has been shown to normalize the muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in the hippocampus of aged animals and to increase cholinergic transmission.
Gingko biloba extract has a significant scavenging effect on free radicals. This factor, combined with its vasodilator ability and its ability to increase metabolic processes during decreased blood supply suggest that GBE may have clinical efficacy in cases of obliterative arterial disease and other causes of arterial insufficiency. In a double-blind randomized clinical trial, two groups of patients with peripheral arterial insufficiency of the leg were studied. One group was given GBE, while the other was given a placebo. Ginkgo biloba extract demonstrated superior results. Measurements of pain-free walking distance and maximum walking distance increased dramatically. Plethysmographic and doppler ultrasound measurements (after exercise) were also increased, reflecting and increased blood flow through the affected limb.
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 163
6/19/07 11:34:31 PM
The significance of the above findings on improved blood flow is considerable. Currently, muscular rehabilitation and elimination of risk factors (smoking, overweight condition, etc.) are the basis for medical treatment of patients suffering from peripheral arterial insufficiency. The beneficial effect of such therapy on walking tolerance has not been related to an improved perfusion of the limb, and over time results are limited. Therefore, muscular rehabilitation and the elimination of risk factors are not sufficient. However, the above study showed ginkgo biloba extract actually improved the flow of blood in the limb and thereby improved walked comfort; this indicates that it is the supplement of choice in cases of peripheral arterial insufficiency. That also includes other peripheral arterial insufficiency. That also includes other peripheral vascular disorders, such as diabetic peripheral vascular disease, Raynauds syndrome, acrocyanosis, and postphlebitis syndrome.
SUMMARY
Ginkgo biloba extract offers effective treatments for signs and symptoms of arterial insufficiency. This is confirmed by clinical studies in cases of cerebral arterial insufficiency and peripheral arterial insufficiency. GBE may lessen many common complaints of the geriatric population, such as dizziness, ringing in the ears, depression, short-team memory loss, and intermittent claudication (cramping in the legs caused by poor circulation). By improving neural transmission, ginkgo biloba extract may also improve mental functions in elderly patients displaying signs of senility. This extract may offer significant protective action against development of Alzheimers Disease and strokes. Further studies may indicate that GBE is of benefit as a vasodilator in cases of angina, as an inotropic agent in congestive heart failure, and as a mood-elevating substance in depression.
Dosage
The standard dose of GBE is 40mg, three times a day. There have not been any reports of significant adverse reactions at this level of dosage, nor in patients ingesting as much as 600mg in one dose. Mild adverse reactions, though quite rare, have been reported; these include gastrointestinal upset and headache.
6/19/07 11:34:31 PM
Immune System
6/19/07 11:34:31 PM
complaints as fatigue, frequent infections, or loss of stamina. Patients come to me saying, Doctor, Im tired all the time, or, I catch every cold that comes along, or, I just dont have the energy I used to have. This is often the first or earliest clue to immune deficiency. KP: Is there any connection between symptoms of candidiasis and those of immune deficiency? KS: There is a connection between candidiasis and immune suppression. Research by Stephen Witkin at Cornell University Medical College suggests that immune deficiency is caused by defects in cellular immunity. His article in Infections in Medicine (May/June 1985) reports that candida alters auto-antibody formation. It is often associated with antibiotic-induced changes in the microbial content of the gut. The antibiotics kill the Good Guys as well as the bad ones in the body. If there is a defect in the cellular part of the immune system of an individual, then overgrowth of candida can occur. When that happens, they develop what I refer to as The Candidiasis Syndrome (TCS). Before I go on, your readers should understand the cell wars that are part of the immune system. There are two parts to these wars: cellular and humoral response. Most of us understand the cellular parts when white cells, called macrophages, gobble up the enemy like Pac-Man does in the video game. The humoral part which is really that remarkable information network I described earlier, produces protein messages and messengers with fancy names like lymphokine interleukin -I (IL-I) and B-cell growth factor (BCCF). These chemicals trigger immune responses that cause confusion both for the everyday reader and for many doctors. The best article Ive ever read about the immune response is not in a medical journal but in National Geographic (June 1986). For those who want to know more, I recommend reading that article, which is entitled The Wars Within. KP: Does ones daily diet affect the immune system? KS: Yes, your nutrition plays a significant role in determining the function of your immune system. There is a whole array of immune-modulating nutrients that include vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin B-12, betacarotene, folic acid, zinc, copper, manganese, gammalinoleic acid, arginine and lysine. Essential fatty acids (EFA) such as Omega 3 and 6 are also important. In the case of TCS (candidiasis), excessive sugar and junk food play a significant role in causing the candida to get a foothold and grow like dandelions following a spring rain. HW: If immune deficiency occurs, what are the nutritional means to rebuild the
166 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:31 PM
immune system? KS: In my protocol at Trinity Health Care in Minneapolis, I start by putting patients a low-sugar, yeast-free diet. They must avoid sugar both in sweetened foods and simple carbohydrates. During the first two weeks I also ask them to avoid fruits, a common source of sugar. I also recommend supplements. KP: What type of vitamin / mineral supplementation do you use for restoring immune function? KS: Although I stay away from recommending specific brands of vitamin/mineral supplements, these are my daily recommendations: vitamin C, 1000 to 3000 mg; calcium 1000 mg; magnesium, 1500 mg; multiple vitamin/mineral, two to four tabs/caps. KP: What herbs are of benefit for immune restoration (garlic, echinacea, etc.)? KS: I do not make routine recommendations regarding such herbs, although some of my patients report benefit from them. Variables such as origin or source, and different processing methods, may greatly affect the potency and effectiveness of such products. KP: Many articles have been written over the years on the role of Lactobacillus acidophilus in colon and vaginal health. Please describe this supplement and how it works in the body. KS: My continuing clinical experience with these Good Guys indicates that they play an important role in the digestive system, particularly in the colon. It is also of value to the mucous lining of the vagina. The product I recommend is Acidophilus DDS-1, produced by U.A.S. Laboratories. I choose it for my patients because it is not only more potent but less expensive than many products on the market. It is used to restore the normal balance of microbial flora in the gut when there has been a disturbance in the balance caused by unnecessary antibiotics, stress, unhealthy lifestyles and faulty eating habits. KP: Is Lactobacillus acidophlus an important factor in immune system wellness? If so, then what is the suggested dosage for it? And will larger dosages be more effective for immune system support? KS: I dont think anyone knows for sure how Lactobacillus affects the immune system, but since homeostasis (normal balance) in general enhances immunity, products such as DDS-I help to restore equilibrium; they definitely play a role. I recommend two capsules per day,
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 167
6/19/07 11:34:31 PM
one before breakfast and one before the evening meal. In response to your question about larger doses being more effective, I dont believe more is better in this situation. However, I do occasionally recommend larger doses in cases of diarrhea, advising four capsules each day until the diarrhea subsides. It works surprisingly well for this common problem, whether it is caused by viral or bacterial infection. KP: Is candidiasis strictly a womans problem? KS: No, about 25 percent of my patients are male, and five percent are young children. KP: Does stress affect the immune system? KS: There is absolutely no doubt that stress affects ones immunity. Prolonged stress makes us all become unglued. That applies not only to ones immune system, but also to ones ability to cope with everyday problems. Recommended reading for all persons affected with the stress of modern life is my national best seller. Stress / Unstress (Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis, 1981). KP: A much publicized and extremely feared subject is AIDS. Please describe this condition, and comment on treatment and recovery. KS: AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is caused by a virulent and puzzling virus, so small that 230 million of them can fit on the head of a pin. It relentlessly destroys the immune system, until other agents normally held in check, such as fungi, bacteria and protozoa, overwhelm the victims defenses and death occurs. The AIDS virus is sexually transimitted; and as the U.S. Surgeon General and others have repeatedly warned, sexual promiscurity has created this epidemic. There is no known treatment for AIDS, and effective immunization is at least ten years away. Safe sex, healthy bodies and strong immune systems are required. KP: One authority reported that AIDS patients had large growths of candida in the body. Do you think this is closely connected to the disease of AIDS? KS: Specialists at AIDS treatment centers have reported that the majority of their patients have an overgrowth of candida. Most such patients die of overwhelming fungus / yeast and bacterial infestions. They commonly develop a rare cancer, Kaposis sarcoma. Eventually they succumb to malfunctioning of their immune system and they usually die of pneumonia.
168 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:31 PM
KP: Then would you also say that there is a definite link between candidiasis and AIDS? KS: In the simplest answer possible, yes. KP: If Lactobacillus acidophilus is important in the treatment of candidiasis to reimplant beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract and help prevent the yeast from growing, would it also be important in the treatment of AIDS? KS: Im sorry, but I really have not had any experience in the use of Lactobacillus acidophilus in the treatment of AIDS -- and I dont know of anybody who has tried it. AIDS is too complex, both in origin and treatment, to answer with quick 1-2-3 bits advice. There is, however, a common bond which suggests it could help, because there are preconditions that frequently exists, prior to the development of AIDS; and we do know that frequently exist, prior to the development of AIDS; and we do know that lactobacillus acidophilus is very helpful for some of these; for example, to build up the resistance of the body to a candida invasion. The common bond in AIDS cases -- with the exception of patients who received the virus from blood transfusions -- is that before any individuals develop AIDS, they have almost always compromised their immune system by abuse of alcohol, drugs or chemicals, and by smoking cigarettes or pot. They have poor eating habits; have been involved with multiple use of antibiotics for treatment of sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes and other genito-urinary infections, and have experienced constant stress related to the homosexual gay lifestyles which is obtained in many of our communities. KP: Are there any other comments you would like to make? KS: As I state firmly in the booklet, The Candidiasis Syndrome: Old Problem / New Mystery, although the claims and labels look the same (for Lactobacillus products), the fact is, they are not the same. The D Acidophilus is my choice because of its stability, potency and lower cost. It does not contain corn, soy, or dairy products such as whey, nor any preservatives. KP: Are there other benefits from the use of Lactobacillus acidophilus for people who dont have the Candidiasis syndrome? KS: Yes, there are several benefits for people who do not have that problem. These include such things as:
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 169
6/19/07 11:34:31 PM
1.
Lactose deficiency. Some persons, particularly African Americans, persons whose ancestors came from the Mediterranean area (such as Italians, Greeks, Egyptians, Moroccans) and some others who have no apparent genetic linkage, suffer from an inability to digest lactose (milk sugar). DDS -Acidophilus produces lactose enzyme and assists in the digestion of milk. Diarrhea or Travelers Trots. Because DDS Acidophilus has antibacterial and antiviral effects, it is helpful in treating these maladies. Common virginities. This female complaint, whether alone or in combination with TCS, can be relieved by douches that contain Lactobacillus -or by merely inserting the capsule into vagina at bedtime. Constipation. Experienced by many people, especially older people, can often be helped. DDS-1 taken twice daily, in combination with other adjuncts such as increased water intake and exercises often gives relief. Dietary supplementation. Lactobacilli have been used in food preparation throughout the ages by nearly all peoples -- whether in the form of yogurt, kefir, yogurt cheese; and today the frozen yogurt and yogurt ice cream are becoming very popular. Research over the years has shown that Acidophilus benefits people by helping to produce B-vitamins (folic acid, niacin, riboflavin, B-12, B-6 and pantothenic acid). Also, with its anticholesteremic and antilipidemic effects it aids in the predigestion of proteins and the formation of amino acids. These combined benefits will greatly assist in preventing immune deficiencies, and will thus help to protect against illness.
2. 3.
4.
5.
6/19/07 11:34:32 PM
6/19/07 11:34:32 PM
immune system? We come to a forest of suggestions here so it is wise to identify the major trees before we begin to discuss the minor details. In strengthening the immune system many rare, exotic and unusual herbs, plants, nutrients and remedies have been proposed. It is important first to evaluate substances of known nutritional benefit which the body requires for its normal functioning- what is, nutrients known to be essential in human nutrition, such as the follows: Vitamin C is chief among nutrients that have been suggested for strengthening the immune system. Not only is this essential for building up the general health, but it has an added benefit in that larger doses do not suppress the immune system. Occasionally the larger doses many produce undesired side effects, such as diarrhea and stomach upset. Such side effects can usually be moderated by using buffered vitamin C (calcium or sodium ascorbate). Exactly how much vitamin C is needed to strengthen the immune system remains a matter of considerable dispute among nutritional experts. Anywhere from one gram to thirty grams daily has been recommended. It would seem prodent to utilize the smaller dose, unless a physician or competent nutritionist indicates otherwise. Vitamin A has long been recognized as playing an important part in maintaining a strong immune system. An overdose of this nutrient can cause difficulties, and individuals should not use more that 25,000 IU without the specific supervision of a physician. Beta-carotene, which is converted by the body into vitamin A, is thought to have some additional positive immune factors not found in vitamin A itself. There is also less chance of any overdose by taking this precursor form. Betacarotene, however, may not benefit those who have diabetes and anorexic people, who have difficulty in converting this nutrient into the active form in the body. Additionally, people who have impaired immune systems sometimes find it difficult to utilize beta-carotene effectively. Some nutritionists therefore recommend using a combination of vitamin A and beta-carotene to obtain benefit of both nutrients. zinc is recognized as an element that strengthens the immune system. 1. Most nutritionists favor organic forms of zinc (zinc gluconate, or zinc chelate) over the inorganic form (zinc sulfate). 2. Dosage of zinc is important. Any dose of elemental zinc above 50mg daily may prove to be negative, as it deprives the body of an essential element, copper. 3. Certain substances diminish the amount of zinc in the body. The
172 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:32 PM
common antidiarrheal element, bismuth, serves to lessen zinc in the system, and those who propose to take large doses of bismuth should consult with a physician to determine how much zinc should be taken. selenium is another important adjunct to the immune system. The dosage is from 50mcg to 200mcg daily. Several considerations with selenium are: 1. Most leading nutritionists prefer the organic form of selenium, which is derived from yeast. 2. Those who are allergic to yeast can utilize the natural selenium from oceanic plants (seaweed, etc.) 3. It is important not to exceed the indicated dosage, since selenium in high dosage can pose a health hazard. Iron is an essential element, lack of which definitely impairs the bodys blood-manufacturing ability. There is some evidence that this element, if present in amounts greater than needed, may impair the immune system. It would therefore seem wise to use it in moderate amounts. Most products on the market do not contain excessive iron (in the normal dose); and some companies have made iron-free formulations available for cases when excess iron is suspected. Other essential vitamins and minerals may play some part in maintaining the strength of the immune system, although firm evidence is not yet available in this area. It would seem wise to ascertain that deficiencies do not exist. This can be done either through making sure that dietary sources are supplying at least the minimum requirements of all essential factors, or by vitamin supplementation using a comprehensive once-daily multi-vitamin and mineral formula. Having covered the major essential vitamins and minerals, what assessment can be made with respect to the many nonessential factors that are frequently used? Most of them will do no harm, if taken as directed. At the same time, these products are recommended on a general basis. Several items demand special attention in this regard: Ginseng is used in some countries as a major booster for the immune system. Ginseng is reported to contain the element germanium, which carries oxygen to the tissues. Among several common substances which contain germanium, the most useful and easily available is garlic, which can be used either in its natural state, or in a prepared dietary supplement form, such as garlic oil or tablets. While garlic appears to be a safe food substance, the same cannot always be said for ginseng, since an overdose of ginseng can cause over-stimulation of certain organs or glands in sensitive individuals. Standards are hard to come by here; therefore it would seem wise to use this sometimes
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 173
6/19/07 11:34:32 PM
potent extract only under professional guidance. Herbs and Herbal extracts, many of which are being promoted as beneficial to the immune system. Some of these are being called adaptogens, which means that they can aid the system in adapting to various conditions of stress and strain. Most of these herbs present two major problems, however. They generally lack solid research as to their method of action, appropriate dosage, and possible side effects. Furthermore, standardization of dosage is quite hard to come by in their herbal field. There is almost no way of knowing just how the herbal products of Company A relate to those of Company B. Even more problematical, it often can happen that one batch of a certain herb product will not produce the same results as another batch produced by the same company, since a perfect uniformity is difficult to achieve with herbs. For these reasons, good results in this area are often hard to duplicate. It is to be hoped that current attempts to set standards for herbs will bear fruit, and herbal remedies will be more reliable than at present. The immune system is a complicated and, to some extent, still uncharted area. As well as nutrition, there are other important factors not dealt with in this article: exercise, the proper amount of rest, a healthy psychological state, and life style also play a part in its functioning. As more information is gathered in regard to the bodys defense mechanisms, we can rest assured that nutrition will remain a key factor in this vital area.
6/19/07 11:34:32 PM
2.
3. 4.
6/19/07 11:34:32 PM
tients the T-8 cells remained abnormally high. The general program followed has been designed to enhance the immune system, together with the use of oxidative therapy, live-cell therapy, and antiviral drugs. Some of the vitamins and enzymes used tend to have antiviral properties as well. Efforts were made to detoxify, and to diagnose the presence of parasites in the gastrointestinal tract -- a problem frequently encountered in ARC and AIDS. Live-cell therapy, consisting of the intramuscular or subcutaneous administration of cellular suspension from embryonic or fetal animal tissues, usually of endocrine organs, was used on an individualized basis, often involving thymus extracts. Based upon the experience with these 25 patients, it is felt that such treatment has produced very encouraging results; though no claims are made that all cases can be similarly improved, for many diverse factors enter into each case. Also it often happens that when the individuals level of health has been improved and the person departs from the clinic, he returns to the same lifestyle that had occasioned the weakness in system in the first place. Understandably, this will lead to a return of the illness if all the restorative measures are discontinued. Thus, while the effects of both types of treatment have been definitely beneficial and have produced marked improvement in the general physical condition of the patients, at this point no guarantee can be advanced that such improvement will be long standing.
6/19/07 11:34:32 PM
6/19/07 11:34:32 PM
gery. Except for a few mumbled words, he was near comatose for several weeks. Within two days of ingesting a homeopathic remedy, he became alert and communicative. Mr. T. is in his 30s and has AIDS-related complex (A.R.C.). He has been treated with homeopathic remedies for 18 months. Over this time, his weight and energy have greatly improved. unlike the usual A.R.C. patient, his T-cells (white blood cells, which the AIDS virus destroys) increased and have become more normal. In fact, many believe that homeopathy works by stimulating the immune system. In any epidemic, homeopaths hope to discover a few out of the thousands of remedies which will benefit the sick. For example, when an epidemic struck Napoleons troops, Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, the discover of homeopathy, chose three remedies which cured the troops and saved the campaign. My own research suggests that certain remedies (mercuris, badiaga, cyclosporine, syphillinum, and typhoid) seem to fit the picture of symptoms seen in ARC and AIDS sufferers. In my clinic, I have noted that most AIDS patients seem to have had syphilis. Syphilis has been commonly found at autopsy in AIDS patients - even those who were negative for a syphilis screening during life. Many homeopaths consider immunizations to be injurious to the vital force and homeopathic treatment. I learned this less dramatically when a patient who was in remission from chronic severe constipation suddenly lost all homeopathic benefit within two days of a tetanus immunization. Homeopathy is highly respected and officially recognized in most countries, but not in the United States. In certain of these United States homeopaths are prosecuted by medical licensing boards, which are dominated by allopathic doctors who toe the American Medical Associations Line. This is a shameful, hypocritical situation in a society, which ostensibly espouses democracy and individual freedoms. Clearly, we do not have freedom of health care in the United States. Rather, we have a health care system, which operates under the iron-fisted control of a politically powerful trade monopoly. The situation will only change by popular demand, for there are too few homeopaths to make a political impact. Dont YOU think that it is time for a bit of good old American trust busting?
6/19/07 11:34:32 PM
6/19/07 11:34:32 PM
potent activator of macrophages, which are responsible for destroying bacteria, viruses, fungi, and tumor cells. Plants rich in berberine have been used in the Orient for 3,000 years to combat gastrointestinal infections and diarrhea, and recently Western researchers have confirmed the effectiveness of the use of berberine derived from the common berberry bush, yet goldenseal has a much higher content of this powerful agent. C. Mistletoe (Viscum album): Mistletoes are evergreen parasitic plants, which grow on branches of trees and shrubs. Common in Europe and America, viscum album grows on a number of host plants. Preparations containing viscum album have been used for cancer therapy in Europe since 1921, and have demonstrated remarkable power to enhance immune functions. It is thought that this may be largely due to the protein components, which increase the function of the thymus gland. Proliferation of cortical thymocytes, following administration of viscum album, is far greater than that produced by any other known substance. Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra): This herb has been widely used all over the world for thousands of years for infections of the respiratory tract (bronchitis, pharyngitis, and pneumonia, etc.) and modern scientific research has shown that its major components induce interferon production. This gives significant antiviral power, since interferons stimulate the synthesis of proteins that prevent viral infections . Licorice has power to inhibit the growth of various viruses, including Herpes simplex, type 1. Licorice even counteracts the suppression of immunity due to
180 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:33 PM
stress or cortisone. Further, in scientific tests licorice extracts have displayed antibiotic activity against Staph, Strep, and Candida albicans.
SUMMARY
This combination of herbs offers a uniquely effective approach to infections. Their ability to stimulate the bodys own natural defense mechanisms is what makes them effective for treating both viral and bacterial infections.
6/19/07 11:34:33 PM
What is Supernutrition?
Certainly no one should take very high doses of any nutrient without the supervision of a physician. This is especially true of nutrients that are stored in the tissues and not excreted in the urine, such as vitamins A and E, and selenium . It should be remembered that the RDA amounts shown on the labels represent the amounts recommended for ordinary daily use in normal average circumstances. Consumption of larger quantities would represent supernutrition and, while for certain purposes it has been found very beneficial, it can very easily be overdone and could thus be hazardous. Therefore, it should be undertaken only under the guidance of a person who
182 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:33 PM
Researchers have studied the relationship between the consumption of vitamin A and the incidence of cancer. These studies have shown that vitamin A, in larger that usual amounts, can protect against the development of cancer, and that people who consume high levels of the A vitamin are less likely to develop cancer and tumors. It even appears that vitamin A can protect against chemical carcinogens. A Japanese study of over 7,000 people (via census questions) disclosed that people who regularly ate vegetables having high levels of beta -carotene (which is a form of vitamin A that is present in many vegetables) had a greatly decreased risk of acquiring cancers of the lungs, colon, stomach, prostate, etc. Its effectiveness in protecting against lung cancer even in heavy cigarette smokers prompted scientists to suggest that people who work with carcinogenic compounds be given extra vitamin A. The immunostimulative effect of vitamin A was also demonstrated in a study of patients scheduled for surgery. One group was given mega doses of the vitamin (300,000 to 450,000 IUs) prior to the surgery; the others were not. The former group showed increased T-cell activity following the surgery, while blood samples from the second group showed the usual post surgical immunosuppression. Two conclusions were deduced from this study: one, that prophylactic administration of vitamin A can facilitate healing and recovery, and two that treatment with vitamin A can prevent the suppression of immune function that is often associated with surgery. No indications of vitamin A toxicity were found in any members of that test group, despite the large doses administered... this should alleviate fears about mega dosage, at least for a short period.
Vitamin C:
Results of various studies have supported the theory that large doses of vitamin C will enhance immune functioning. Some researchers have found that it also tends to protect against carcinogens, and certain physicians have been experimenting to ascertain what the most desirable dosage should be. The body tends to excrete whatever amount of C it does not need, whenever a larger quantity is ingested; therefore, there is no risk of toxicity from a high dosage. One benefit from administration of vitamin C is that it encourages production of the antiviral protein, interferon. It also enhances humoral aspects of immune function, including antibody and complement levels. At the same time, it increases the effectiveness of phagocytic white blood cells; and in one instance a patient was given daily doses of 200 milligrams of this vitamin-Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 183
6/19/07 11:34:33 PM
Vitamin E:
This is another nutrient that will enhance immunity when taken is quantities somewhat higher than are generally recommended. Like vitamin C, it can help to prevent formation of cancers and protects against carcinogenic substances. These qualities have been demonstrated in animal studies. Doses of vitamin E some two to ten times greater than the minimal requirements have been shown to enhance resistance to infection and increase antibody responses. Only one researcher has reported contradictory findings.
Selenium:
Selenium is a mineral super nutrient, which is toxic in high doses, but researchers are finding that carefully controlled dosage of selenium can protect against cancer and enhance immunity. Moderate excesses of selenium have been shown to have immunostimulative effects, including increased protection against pathogens, and heightened antibody responses.
Dimethylglycine:
This is an amino acid (DMG), which has been found effective in building super immunity. Studies made on groups of patents with diabetes and sicklecell anemia, as well as some healthy people, showed that DMG brought about enhanced the immune functions of even the healthy subjects; it also enhanced humoral immunity, and increased the antibody responses in all three groups. Further studies will follow.
Organic Germanium:
Also known as bis-beta-carboxyethyl germanium sesquioxide organic germanium is a naturally occurring compound of the element, germanium. It is found in such beneficial plants as aloe, garlic, comfrey, and ginseng. Even the miraculous healing waters of Lourdes are high in germanium! Much research with regard to organic germanium has been accomplished in Japan, where clinicians have found that it has reduced the size of advanced tumors and has definitely prolonged life in cancer patients. Remarkable results were achieved with germanium applied to mice which had tumors, when they were injected with white blood cells taken from mice that had been treated with organic germanium: the death rate among the cancerous mice dropped by over fifty percent. Germanium also has potent antiviral properties. Chronic symptoms of viral infection have been totally eliminated in patients who had failed to respond to any other treatment. Again, in experiments with mice that had been infected with influenza virus, treatment with germanium was shown
184 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:33 PM
to increase the usual survival rate by over fifty percent. There is further evidence to show that intravenous injections of germanium, prior to being infected with the flu virus, significantly reduced the severity of the illness and enabled quicker recovery.
6/19/07 11:34:33 PM
The immune system is our bodys police and armed forces. It cleans up damaged cell parts, cancerous cells, and toxic chemicals. The immune system also monitors the body for foreign microbial invaders -- viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites etc. and proceeds to destroy any such invaders with many different weapons. Having briefly outlined some major aspects of the immune system, we can now focus on the powers of the immunostimulant nutrients. Beta-carotene is a nontoxic plant source precursor of vitamin A which the body can convert to real vitamin A as needed. Vitamin A opposes the thymusand-lymph-shrinking action of cortisone, a major stress hormone. Vitamin A is necessary for healthy mucous cells, and for their ability to secrete germ-killing enzymes. Beta-carotene and vitamin A oppose cancer induction by carcinogens. Vitamin A enhances macrophage activity. Vitamin A increase nonspecific resistance to infection even in nondeficient animals given excess A. Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant which prevents fat and cell- mem186 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:33 PM
brane rancidity. Excess E increases antibody response to germs to two to three times the norm, and there is no antibody response at all in seriously E-deficient animals. E increases T-helper cell activity. VitaminE is involved in T-lymphocytes stimulation of B-cells to make antibodies. Experimental animals given excess E increase their resistance to infection and exhibit a four-fold increase in survival rate. Vitamin C (ascorbate) is concentrated by white blood cells to levels 50 to 100 times the blood levels of C. High-dose vitamin C increases interferon production, a key biochemical the body uses to fight viruses and cancer. Ascorbate reduces post-blood transfusion hepatitis. Vitamin C is a potent stimulator of T-effector cell activity, and raises the phagocytic index (how many germs a phagocyte can ingest and kill before dying of indigestion in the line of duty). C works inside white cell to infection sites and makes bacteria and viruses more susceptible to phagocytic attack. Vitamin C is an antioxidant which helps T-effector cells produce the toxic free radial chemicals they use to kill germs, and helps these same cells avoid damage from the back flow of the very free radicals they use to kill germs. Vitamin B-6 is essential in converting GLA into the key immunoregulatory prostaglandin PGE-1. B-6 is critical for antibody formation. Combined B-6 and pantothenic acid (B-5) deficiency causes complete loss of antibody response. B-6 increases thymus gland hormone functions. B-6 and B-5 deficiency causes severe thymus / lymphoid atrophy. B-6 deficiency also reduces phagocytic activity. Folic acid (folate) deficiency seriously impairs antibody production. Folate deficiency impairs lymphocyte function in humans. Gross and Newberne claim that folate deficiency is one of the most common nutritional deficiencies in our industrialized world, and thus large segments of the population may have lowered resistance to certain viral, fungal, parasitic, and bacterial infections. Gamma Linoleic Acid (GLA) is the precursor of PGE-1, a key regulator of T-lymphocyte function. GLA can in theory be made from linoleic acid, common in vegetable oils. In practice, however, B-6, B-3, C, zinc, magnesium and A deficiencies may block this conversion, as can excess trans-fatty acids (from hydrogenate vegetable oils and margarine), high fat diet, many viruses, diabetes, radiation, aging excess and candida. Evening Primrose oil, black current seed oil, and borage oil are the main available sources of pre-formed GLA. Magnesium is required for activation of the alternative pathway of the complement system (blood proteins that help destroy germs). Magnesium is necessary for phagocytes to ingest germs. Thymus atrophy may occur with magnesium deficiency, as well as significant reduction in antibody levels.
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 187
6/19/07 11:34:33 PM
Iron deficiency causes decreased numbers of T and B lymphocytes. Iron deficiency reduces the ability of macrophages to kill and digest microbes. Even slight excess of iron, however, favors bacterial and yeast growth, so those plagued with serious bacterial or yeast infections might be prudent to temporarily halt iron supplementation (especially high doses of iron). The abnormality in cellular immune function (phagocytes) in the candida syndrome may be to long-standing iron deficiency. Zinc is a synergist with A in preventing thymus and lymph atrophy from stress, injury, surgery, aging, radiation and chronic infection. Zinc deficiency causes severe depression of antibody production and causes severe depletion of both T-and B-lymphocyte populations. Zinc deficiency impairs PGE-1 synthesis from GLA. Selenium is a powerful antioxidant and key partner / synergist with vitamin E. It is essential for a key enzyme, glutathione peroxidase, which detoxifies hydrogen peroxide that leaks into the tissues from the antimicrobial activity of phagocytes. Selenium stimulates increased antibody response to germ infections, as much as a 30-fold increased antibody response to germ infections, as much as a 30-fold increase in some experiments. A recent study showed that people in the lowest tenth of blood selemium levels have a sixtimes higher incidence of cancer than those in the top tenth. Organic germanim (Ge-132) increases the activity of gammainterferon, a key body-produced immunostimulant. In both healthy human volunteers and cancer and rheumatoid arthritis patients, Ge-132 normalized T- and B-lymphocyte function, NK (natural killer) cell proliferation, and antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity, and numbers of antibody forming cells. Coenzyme Q 10 (CoQ10) increases the phagoctyic activity of macrophages, and boosts the number of phagocytes in response to experimentally-induced infection. CoQ 10 prolonged survival time of mice infected with various germs. CoQ 10 increases level of IgG antibodies. CoQ 10 improves cellular energy metabolism - the billions of immune cells require massive energy for their constant production, surveillance, and germ and cancer cell-killing activities. Cysteine is a sulfur amino acid, often scarce in low protein and vegetarian diets. Cysteine is necessary to produce glutathione, a major detoxifying chemical used by the liver and lymphoctyes to neutralize chemical and germ poisons. cysteine is a powerful detoxifier of alcohol and tobacco smoke, both potent immune suppressors and disease susceptibility factors . It is a thymus-protecting antioxidant that protects phagocytes from self-poisoning as they kill germs with hydrogen peroxide.
Egg Lecithin.
Another valuable booster for the immune system is egg lecitin. In Israel recently, researchers at the Weizmann Institute experimented with the 7:2:1
188 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:34 PM
form of egg lecithin, administered to elderly people with weakened immune function. 7:2:1 means that its components are roughly 70 percent fats (neutral lipids), 20 percent phosphatidyl choline (PG), and 10 percent phosphatidyl ethanolamine (PE). Immune function was found to be improved significantly. Again, research has found that many people with AIDS have gained relief on taking 7:2:1 egg lecithin for a couple of months, although long-term prognosis for this nutritional supplement is not yet clarified. How it works is not yet fully understood, but it is thought that it increase the fluidity of cell membranes. Elderly people and people with AIDS both have a rigidity of their cell membranes, and those membranes need to be fluid enough to do their jobs. Egg lecithin in a 7:2:1 ratio has been shown to increase membrane fluidity. It is also being researched for effectiveness against other lipid-coated viruses, like Cytomegalo virus (CMV), herpes and chronic Eppstein-Bar virus (CEBV). This review has only scratched the surface of immunonutritional research. Hopefully, however, it will have made the point that we need not be at the mercy of germs, or of the medical establishment -- we can empower our already genetically powerful immune system to ward off whatever germs we may be subjected to.
Digestion of bacteria, molds and parasites by acid and enzymes in the stomach. The skin, and mucous-lined epithelial cells which line the nose, mouth, throat, lungs, stomach and intestines, provide physical barriers to keep germs out of the body. Healthy mucous cells secrete enzymes which dissolve microbes landing on their surfaces. Phalocytes are white blood cells capable of ingesting chemical and cellular debris as well as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Macrophages are a special type of phagocyte inhabiting the lymphoid tissues: tonsils, lymph nodes, lung cells, liver, sinus cell, spleen and bone marrow. They can ingest many different germs and toxins. B-Lymphocytes are cells that can transform upon exposure to invading microbes to become factories for various germ-specific antibodies. Antibodies and complement factors, often called humoral immunity, are blood -borne proteins made by B-cells that act guided missiles which are attracted to the specific germs the antibodies have been manufactured to destroy. The thymus gland, the brain of the immune system, matures and activates many type of T-lymphocytes, and also secretes hormones (thymosin, and thymopoietin) which control many immune functions. The thymus gland frequently atrophies due to stress, cortisone, chronic infection surgery, aging and multi-nutrient deficiencies.
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 189
6/19/07 11:34:34 PM
T-helper lymphocytes help direct B-cells as to which antibodies to make. T-effector cells help to kill germs. T-suppressor cells help prevent allergic or autoimmune overreactions, and turn off the killer branch of the immune system after it has successfully destroyed invading microbes.
6/19/07 11:34:34 PM
Cardiovascular Nutrition:
6/19/07 11:34:34 PM
following: 1. Cardiovascular nutrition may be employed as a tonal technique, to prepare your cells, tissues, organs, and body parts to accept IV chelation therapy. Cardiovascular nutrition finds application as an adjunctive treatment, along with IV chelation therapy; and, in fact, the protocol of the physicians administering chelation treatment calls for cardiovascular nutrients to be prescribed for the patient. Cardiovascular nutrition is advised as a maintenance program between your regularly scheduled series of booster chelation injections. For people who are unable to undertake IV chelation therapy because of time factors, cost, invalidism, or having no such facility close enough, cardiovascular nutrition may be taken until the IV treatment is accessible. By far the most frequent and desirable reason to take these pills, powders, or liquids as cardiovascular nutrients is for presentation of disease symptoms and to maintain good health.
2.
3.
4.
5.
The first step in dealing with hardening of the arteries is prevention. By its very nature this implies taking steps before the condition becomes troublesome. This means: improving the diet to eliminate refined sugars and overly fat foods; getting sufficient daily exercise to stimulate circulation and create a self-chelating effect with lactic acid generated in the muscles; avoiding stress as much as possible; and most important to ingest vitamins, minerals, protomorphogens, enzymes, amino acids and other food supplements which help to prevent arterial clogging and hold off continuing destruction of the bodys cells by free-radical pathology.
6/19/07 11:34:34 PM
Chromium:
The primary role of chromium is to maintain glucose tolerance; that is normal levels of blood sugar (glucose) which is the basic fuel for the entire body. Chromium deficiency in animals leads to symptoms virtually identical to diabetes: glucose intolerance, high blood fats, poor wound healing, and atherosclerosis. Supplementary chromium is associated with improvements of the risk factors of maturity, onset diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Many nutritional scientists believe that optimum chromium intake could prevent or at least retard the onset of the major form of diabetes. Chromium is also effective for treating reactive hypoglycemia.
Compounding the problem of low levels of dietary chromium intake, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that candy, soft drinks, and other foods high in sugar lead to a deficiency of chromium that increases the risk of heart disease and diabetes. Furthermore, the human system does not absorb chromium very readily. Only about one-half of one percent of inorganic chromium, such as chromic chloride (often used in nutritional supplements) is absorbed. Tests show that the chromium in brewers yeast is 20 to 50 times better absorbed. This increased activity is attributed to a special chromiumcontaining molecule called the glucose tolerance factor (GTF). Although brewers yeast is the richest source of nutritional chromium, it normally contains only one or two parts per million of chromium. For supplemental use, special high-chromium yeast provides high-potency, biologically-formed chromium containing GTF.
6/19/07 11:34:34 PM
GTF stimulates the synthesis of glycogen, the storage form of glucose. Gycogen in the muscles and liver provides a readily available energy reserve. Essential in everyday life, but especially important to high performance athletes, GTF promotes the production of protein in skeletal muscles and acts to conserve muscle protein during prolonged exertion.
In many experiments with animals and humans, chromium from brewers yeast has substantially lowered LDL cholesterol (low density lipoprotein) while increasing the protective High Density Lipoprotein. This reduces artery-blocking fats, allowing a greater flow of blood to carry glucose and energy to every muscle. Chromium is also necessary for the development of brain neurotransmitters, which are required for many different functions including mental alertness and sound sleep. Insulin also stimulates the brains satiety center while promoting the synthesis of hunger-suppressant neuro-transmitters. This helps to keep off fat, while aiding in development of firm muscles. Several researchers have attempted to synthesize GTF with nicotinic acid and other compounds. None has been successful, and the exact structure of GTF has not been identified. Until that riddle is solved, the best source for the many health benefit of natural chromium in food form is high-chromium brewers yeast.
Value 2.27 2.21 2.16 2.09 2.03 1.97 1.95 1.92 1.86 1.77 1.77 1.75 1.59 2.35
6/19/07 11:34:34 PM
Other Uses:
In foods: The leaves can be used as a flavoring in stews and soups, and the flowers are used for flavoring the finest sherries and for decorating foods. To protect animals from fleas: Dry chamomile flowers, and mix them with penny royal or rue. Cedar shavings may be added. Sew the mixture into a pillow sac and place in your pets bed. Cranky and teething babies, or those who wont eat, or who spit up,
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 195
6/19/07 11:34:34 PM
often will profit from a camomile tea laced with peppermint leaves and a pinch of hops flowers. (Be careful that the tea, which must be made with boiling water, is allowed to cool to body temperature before giving it to the baby to drink !) For beauty: Chamomile has quite a reputation as a beautifier. It is used as a hair rinse, and as a facial steam to loosen blackheads, refine pores, and counter oily skin.
Press open and dry the white daisies. When filling a glass jar with your sweet-scented flower mix, display the chamomile flowers against the glass as decorative touches. In the garden it protects other plants from various insects and diseases. In fact, chamomile tea (when cooled) can be used as a plant spray to prevent or cure a number of plant diseases -- especially one called damping off. An old English herbal states: Nothing contributes so much to the health of a garden as number of chamomile plants dispersed about it. Often, if a plant is drooping and apparently dying, it will recover if you place an herb of chamomile near it. If you wish to make it welcome in your garden, it can be grown readily from seeds; or you can get several plants and increase them by runners or root division. Then place chamomile plants at distances of 100 feet. They will soon multiply. Chamomile is a friend to all, and seems often to accomplish whatever is asked of it. One night I drank several cups of the tea, hoping for a sound sleep. Next day, I learned that during the night the local dogs had made a great deal of noise and commotion - but I had slept right through it and was not in the least disturbed !
Use only the flowers, fresh or dried. Toss a handful into a cup and boiling water. Allow to steep (covered) for no more then three to four minutes. Strain and enjoy.
Dip a piece of soft cloth into a hot or cold infusion of camomile; squeeze it to remove surplus wetness, and place it over the affected part. Apply to swellings, sore muscles and painful joints.
Beauty Recipes
Hair Rinse: Rub the above tea (or infusion) into the scalp daily; or use it
196 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:34 PM
as a rinse, and leave it to dry on the hair after shampooing. It will stimulate hair growth, and will preserve the color of blonde hair, making it brighter. setting Lotion: Use this for hair that quickly loses its set and becomes limp or stringy. Mix the strained juice of a lemon with one teaspoon of alcohol (you can use vodka, or brandy, whatever), and two teaspoons of the chamomile infusion (made very strong) to set blonde hair . For dark hair, use rosemary instead of the chamomile -- unless it is desired to lighten the color of the hair by the bleaching action of the chamomile. For Inflamed or Puffy Eyes: Pour one cup of boiling water over two chamomile tea bags. As soon as it has cooled to a comfortable temperature, place the two tea bags over your eyes for ten minutes while relaxing. Hand Rinse: To soothe rough or chapped hands, make an infusion by pouring 2-1 /2 cups of boiling water over two heaped-up tablespoonfuls of chamomile flowers (fresh or dried). After cooling, dip your hands into this solution for a minute or two. Do not throw away the liquid, but keep it in a glass jar for further use as may be needed.
6/19/07 11:34:34 PM
6/19/07 11:34:35 PM
a prophylactic for exhaustion. It can increase work capacity and / or help to create joie be vivre. Wild Siberian ginseng has been a favorite of Soviet deep sea divers, mine and mountain rescuers, climbers, explorers, soldiers and factory workers exposed to difficult conditions; but its application by Russian athletes and cosmonauts created a new awareness of its energy giving attributes. It works by accelerating the restorative process following intensive activity, and increasing your bodys resistance to unfavorable external influences. Because it increases endurance, the athlete is able to extend training without harm. Not everyone is an athlete, but everyone can benefit from reaching a higher level of effectiveness in their motor activity. Siberian ginseng increases stamina and performance, yet does not have the side effects of other known stimulants. And the wild variety is reported to be even less toxic than cultivated strains. Studies show that ginseng improves ones ability to solve problems, to concentrate, and to be accurate as well as fast. The more tired and weary, or the greater the stress, the more noticeable is its effect. The Russians have done studies with severely stressed animals, demonstrating that those treated with Siberian ginseng prior to the stress exposure do not show the usual indications of stress. Scientists measured the stress hormones secreted from adrenal glands, and discovered that less hormone was released. Furthermore, it was found that the adrenal glands in ginsengtreated animals have greater hormone-manufacturing capacity. These studies were repeated at the University of California at Los Angeles, with the same results. Researchers concluded that when stress occurs, ginseng encourages a faster response of stress hormone and a more rapid return to normal. Other studies show a pronounced increase in survival rate of animals subjected to a variety of physical and biological stresses. Again, a primary action on stress resistance was demonstrated. In other experiments, Siberian ginseng was shown to protect against radiation, to reduce the concentration of sugar in the urine of diabetic animals, and to assist in the healing of wounds. When taken along with other nutrient supplements, it has been reported to have the unique ability to enhance assimilation of the supplements. The Chinese never regarded ginseng as curative, but rather as adjustive-- because it is able to keep your body in line despite environmental influences. A drug stimulant affects behavior in most situations; but ginseng acts predominantly when you are faced with a challenge. Thousands of ginseng studies have been done in recent years, so that science now understands its adaptogenic features: why it helps to improve the ability of healthy people to deal with stressful situations, how it increases resistance, and what factors
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 199
6/19/07 11:34:35 PM
Increases physical endurance under stress Protects against reduced cellular oxygen Protects against radiation exposure Protects against microbial infection Potentates sexual function Helps prevent tumor metastasis (spread of malignancy) Favors normalization of neurotransmitter metabolism
Siberian Ginseng is a Classic Adaptogen Adaptogens help to normalize body functions indirectly,
are nontoxic have no marked pharmacologic effects, are nonspecific in their results, enhance ability to cope with stress: physical, emotional and biochemical do not require prescriptions, are easy to use by the average person, are less costly than most drugs, are not habit forming, regulate; are held in abeyance when protective challenge ceases.
When you eat food, you never obtain only one vitamin or mineral or amino acid. Ginseng has a wide assortment of all these substances. Healthy people know that there cannot and must not be a sharp division between food and medicine. The use of wild Siberian ginseng appears to be justified as a measure of improving health. Acquire wellness from the wild earth plant, Siberian Ginseng !
6/19/07 11:34:35 PM
6/19/07 11:34:35 PM
d. e. f.
may be prescription drugs such as tranquilizers, phenobarbital, etc., or even common over-the-counter pain remedies such as Tylenol. Drugs often form toxic combinations with alcohol. Women who are pregnant. Alcohol can damage the unborn baby. Individuals who are prone to depression. A depressive person often turns to alcohol for a sense of well-being. Heavy smokers. Those who drink and smoke excessively are adding two massive strains to the body. Individuals in this class are at a great risk of developing cancers of the mouth, throat and esophagus.
Nutritionists have known for many years that large consumption of alcoholic beverages will place extra burdens on the system. Various nutrients have been used to aid in overcoming alcoholic addiction, as well as to lesson the damage done by alcohol. There are several nutrients which have recently received special attention in this area. Many nutritionists and physicians suggest that people who use alcohol, even in moderate amounts, should consider supplementing their diet with these special nutrients.
Vitamin B-1:
Vitamin B-1 (thiamin) is probably the single most important nutritional factor required by those who drink alcohol; and abuse can lead to a severe deficiency of this essential element. This in turn can cause many negative psychological and physical changes in the body. Confusion, memory impairment and a form of psychosis (Korsakoffs psychosis) are not uncommon. In cases where the damage has not reached an irreversible state. The proper use of thiamin, under a physicians care, can often reverse these degenerative changes. The suggestion has been made by some physicians, health professionals and social workers, to fortify alcoholic beverages with vitamin B-1. Due to opposition from various quarters, this simple proposal (witch would probably save thousands of drinkers from almost total disability) has been shelved. Those individuals who drink would be well advised to supplement their diets with thiamin (vitamin B-1).
Folic Acid:
Another vitamin which often is in short supply among drinkers is folic acid. This essential B-complex factor plays several roles in the body. When it is in short supply, the possibility of folic acid anemia is great. Even individuals who eat food rich in good sources of this vitamin, such as oranges, asparagus, broccoli, and liver may require extra supplementation. Folic acid is available without prescription in doses up to 800 mcg. It
202 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:35 PM
would seem prudent for those who are unable to reduce their drinking to use such supplements.
Pyridoxine:
Another B-complex factor which is often lacking in alcoholics is vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine). This is involved in the utilization of amino acids in the body. The inefficient use of amino acids in the system can increase the chance of a shortage of vital neurotransmitters. This in turn can lead to depression which increases the desire for the temporary sense of well-being brought about by alcohol. Supplementation with vitamin B-6 seems to have a place in this picture. We have already indicated the need for several of the B-complex vitamins. Good nutritional thinking calls for a multi B-complex to make certain that an imbalance of these factors is not being created.
Vitamin A:
Those who drink are often deficient in the essential fat-soluble vitamin A. When drinkers increase the strain on their system by using various medications, the loss of vitamin A is even greater. Vitamin A is stored in the liver and acts to protect the body against many illnesses. Considering these facts, all those who are drinkers are well advised to make sure that they are not lacking in vitamin A. In addition to being available in such vegetables as carrots, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and broccoli, vitamin A and beta-carotene are available as food supplements.
Selenium:
Studies have indicated that individuals who abuse alcohol are often deficient in the vital mineral, selenium. Whether this deficiency is due to poor diet or to some action of alcohol on the body remains to be determined. In any case, supplementation of the diet with moderate doses of selenium (up to 200 mcg daily) seems indicated so as to give the body the vital protective functions of this mineral. Selenium aids the system in utilization of vitamin E, helps protect the heart muscle and reduces the risk of various forms of cancer. (Note: Those allergic to selenium derived from yeast can use oceanic sources of this nutrient.) Nutritionists utilize certain nutrients called Lipotropic factors, such as Choline and Inositol, in order to keep the liver healthy. These nutrients can be especially useful for those who drink. The lipotropic factors can be taken individually or combined with lecthin. Exact dosage should be determined by the health practitioner. Drinkers often skip meals and tend to consume a diet deficient in variGuide To Alternative Health Therapies - 203
6/19/07 11:34:35 PM
ous essential factors. For this reason, many nutritionists recommend good multivitamin and mineral supplements. As has been indicated, many cases of alcoholism show an underlying depressive state. It is known that amino acids may be in short supply in alcoholics. Based on these facts the use of the amino acid tyrosine, which has a positive effect on many cases of depression, may be of value. Some recent research has indicated that moderate drinking may play a positive role in protecting the body against heart attacks. Based on these findings, proposals have been made to utilize alcohol in prevention of heart disease. That approach does not seem to be indicated for the following reasons: 1. 2. 3. 4. The danger exists that considerable percentage of those who are advised to take alcohol for medicinal purposes may develop into alcoholics. The possibility always exists for damage to the liver, even with moderate consumption. There are other nutritional methods which better serves to protect the health of the heart. Heart patients are often on medications which may interact.
Drinking leads to an immense amount of sickness, accidents, divorces and other problems. We should all attempt to help control the plague of alcoholism in our society. The nutritional guidelines outlined in this article are not meant as a crutch to encourage drinkers, but rather as a life-preserver to help them from sinking deeper into their sea of troubles. some Drugs Which interact With Alcohol Tranquilizers, e.g., Barbiturates, Valium, etc. Pain Killers, e.g., Codeine, etc. Antihistamines: oTC Pain Remedies, e.g., Aspirin, Tylenol, Ibuprofen (Motrin) some Cold Products, e.g., Dextromethoraphan
6/19/07 11:34:35 PM
Has beneficial effect on arteriosclerosis: The compound ajoene prevents platelets from sticking to, and thereby clogging, arterial walls. It also inhibits clumping of lymphocytes. It is thought that lymphocyte clumping encourages spread of the HIV virus from cell to cell within the body. Normalizes blood fat profiles, with decrease in cholesterol and
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 205
2.
6/19/07 11:34:35 PM
increase in the protective lipid called HDL. 3. Lowers high blood pressure: In many countries, including Japan and Australia, the agency equivalent to our FDA recognizes garlic for this purpose.
As early as 86 A.D., Greek physicians observed the effectiveness of garlic for cleansing the arteries. Arterial disease and blockaes (strokes and heart attacks) are currently very prevalent in the United States; each year they kill more people than cancer. Old-time surgeons had a saying, Where there is a good blood flow, the tissues remain healthy. It is widely known that there is a lesser incidence of arterial disease in countries where garlic is popular, as in Spain and Italy. 4. Antimicrobial action: Increases resistance against bacterial infections and this has been proven in regard to the following germs:
Staphylococcus (Staph.); Streptococcus (Strep); Vibrio Choleras (Cholera); B. Typhosus (Typhus); B. Diphtheria (Diphtheria); B. Enteritides (Dysentery).
In some studies, garlic was even demonstrated to be effective against becteria which were resistant to certain antibiotics. 5. Antifungal action: Garlic combats the following fungi: Candida albicans; Microsporum; Epidermophyton; and Tricophyton. Both in the body and in the laboratory, garlic has been demonstrated as being more potent than many antifungal drugs (including nystain). In a major Chinese hospital, garlic therapy has been effectively used for treatment of cryptococcal meningitis (which is one of the infections connected with AIDS). Unlike many synthetic drugs, natural garlic extracts can cross the blood-brain barrier and enter into brain tissue. 6. Anticancer effects: Garlic extracts have been shown to have antitumor effects in animals, and against leukemia. Recently, a study was published which reported an investigation of the juices pressed from ten vegetables for their ability to protect rats against cancer-causing chemical agents. Garlic was not tested, but its cousin, Onion, was used. Five vegetables were found to provide protection; they suppressed damage to the chromosomes of the rats cells. The reports stated: the data suggests that some vegetables, such as onion, suppress chemically induced cancer. The mechanism by which onion juice accomplishes this is thought to be by means of antioxidant effects. Onion (like garlic) contains
6/19/07 11:34:36 PM
7.
glutathione, a sulphur-containing compound, which is a powerful free-radical scavenger. Flavones, such as quercetin, are also found in onions and are known to have antitumor activity. A Chinese epidemiological report shows that a population in the habit of consuming approximately 20gm of raw garlic per day per person sustained a tenfold decrease in the rate of stomach cancer, as compared to another nearby population where garlic was not used. The anticancer properties of garlic are probably due to its activity against free radicals. Recently an American investigator, in a controlled and blinded study, has demonstrated that the ingestion of raw garlic for three weeks enhanced natural killer (NK) cell activity by 135 percent and Kyolic garlic increased for ARC / AIDS patients, because NK cells are known to increase in response to viral invasion of the body. Antiparasitic: Garlic is active against the intestinal parasites giardia and cryptosporidia. These are common ancillary problems in AIDS patients. Garlic has been used throughout history for intestinal worms. Antiviral: Influenza has been inhibited in animals by garlic preparations. The Russians are known to send shipments of garlic into areas with flu epidemics. Garlic appears to inhibit clumping of lymphocytes. Lymphocyte clumping, which occurs in AIDS patients, allows viruses to pass from one lymphocyte to the other, as the viruses pass around the body. neutralizes synthetic chemicals in food: Many of the sulfur-containing chemicals in garlic are free-radical scavengers, and these chemicals protect a person from the free-radical damage caused by certain food additives. Taking garlic as medicine is very easy. Fresh cloves grown organically are best. The heat of cooking destroys some of the medically active properties, so it is best taken either fresh, or as an essential oil which has been prepared without heating. 2.5gm. of raw garlic and 30gm. of raw onion will provide the same medicinal activity as 5mg of the essential oil of garlic. A good dose of raw garlic is about 0.75 gm/kg. of body weight (2.2lbs=1kg; 2.5gm =1 ounce). This works out to about 2-1/2 ounces of raw garlic cloves for a person weighing 180pounds. Use raw garlic with vegetables, soup, meat, salads, or blended with parsley, honey, tomatoes, or apple cider vinegar. Mix it into mashed cooked grains or potato; or mix it into avocado and spread the mix on bread. Garlic sald oil can be prepared by crushing garlic into cold pressed (virgin) olive oil and letting it sit in a warm place for three days. The oil, which now contains the medicinal materials of the garlic, is then strained off and stored in the refrigerator. Fox those who wish to avoid the odor of garlic on their breath, there
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 207
8.
9.
6/19/07 11:34:36 PM
are excellent preparations which come in capsule form and are readily obtainable from all health food stores.
6/19/07 11:34:36 PM
Planetary Herbology is my modest attempt at integration of the herbal wisdom of various world cultures, especially the techniques and knowledge of both Oriental and Western traditions in our global village. Information is available to us, cross culturally, as it never has been before. Secrets of speGuide To Alternative Health Therapies - 209
6/19/07 11:34:36 PM
cial healing passed down within a family, from generation to generation, are now becoming subjects of study and practical availability. This is especially true of Indias Ayurvedic medical system, imbued with mystical thought and philosophy, and Chinese herbal medicine, steeped in Taoist mysticism. Now, both of these traditions are available to us in the West, as well as the science of our own indigenous herbs. Planetary Herbology tries to take a further step toward universality by combining the best herbs from different herbal traditions: Native North American, South American, European, Chinese, and East Indian -- to provide more effective herbal formulas and put the potential of self-healing back into our hands. The herbs are carefully balanced by using the scientific knowledge of the West, wedded to the time-honored precepts and intuitive reasoning of the East. The process of coordinating concepts between cultures is a fascinating endeavor that requires much understanding and patience. This is because people have culturally developed their own ways of communication, which often differ considerably, so that the same ideas may be expressed in different terms. The approach of Western medicine has been in the direction of the purely physiological and material, based upon a molecular and linear mode of creation. The ancient Eastern traditions, and the Native American and other ethnic cultures, based their healing concepts on a nonlinear integrated model, requiring a ultimately merge into each other, offering us a new paradigm in human thought and values.
The classical systems of Chinese, Ayurvedic and Hippocratic medicine have a track record of centuries of effectiveness. They utilize medicines that are comparatively mild and noninvasive, which work with the innate healing capacity of the individual to resolve problems, rather than merely to suppress symptoms. They strive to achieve the first rule of Hippocratic medicine, which says, Do no harm. Such approaches, based on the concept of holism, view disease as a state of imbalance involving all aspects of ones physical and psychological being; and they hold that true healing occurs as the correct balance is restored. The key distinction is that Western medicine tends toward a more mechanistic orientation, trying to resolve specific symptoms of disease; whereas Eastern medicine includes an energetic aspect, seeing life as greater than the sum of its parts. When Eastern and Western viewpoints are considered together herbs can be seen from a broader perspective. The basic way of herbs is to serve as special foods that aid the normal organic functioning of the nervous, circulatory, digestive and eliminative systems. Secondly, they help to supply rich sources of highly assimilable nutrients for normal growth and development
210 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:36 PM
of the body-mind complex. Last, but not least, certain tonic herbs are known to have adaptogenic properties, sustaining the bodys resistance to aging and stress and promoting youthful vitality and longevity. Taken regularly, they can help us to withstand the fundamental stress of a competitive, overpopulated society. Thus, the major value of the traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic systems of medicine is their holistic approach: seeing how a substance exerts an overall effect on the whole person, physically and mentally. For this approach to be effective in self-healing, it must be linked to a broad-based general classification of herbs and foods into their energetic characteristics. Traditional ethnic systems all have tended towards such an approach, because it provides simple, direct, sensory evidence of potential therapeutic effects.
Planetary herbology borrows the Yin/Yang classification system from Chinese medicine. Yin denotes cooling/negative qualities; Yang denotes heating/positive qualities. The Yin/Yang perspective lies in perceiving the effects of various herbs on the general metabolism of the body-mind as a whole. Yang (positive/heating) refers not only to the temperature of an herb, per se, but also to its way of raising the overall metabolic level of the body. Each yang herb, whether cayenne pepper, ginger root, or ginseng, does this in its own unique way. Conversely, yin (negative/cooling) substances like comfrey, melons and plantation all tend to lower metabolism, but each in a somewhat different manner. Furthermore, there are foods and herbs, such as rice and licorice, that are considered neutral and more balanced because they dont unduly affect the raising or lowering process to a noticeable degree. How does one evaluate whether an herb or food tends to be more yin, or more yang? The diagram shown here helps us to organize the most important qualities which are generally used to process this information. In this way, a whole other level beyond biochemistry can be considered in evaluating the bodys needs. For example, it may not be enough to simply say that one needs more protein in ones diet, because there is warming (yang) protein in the form of red meat, and also cooling (yin) protein in the form of milk and soy products. In fact, many of the so-called allergic reactions to specific foods and drugs are actually energy imbalances being expressed. Rather, foods and herbs should be taken according to the basic rule of traditional herbal systems: a. b. Yin (cool-natured) medicines, foods and herbs are given for Yangwarm conditions; and Yang (warm-natured) medicines, foods and herbs are given for Yincool conditions.
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 211
6/19/07 11:34:36 PM
This important concept cannot be overstressed. It is also a key unifying principle of Planetary herbology. Physical constitutions and diseases are also classified according to yang/ positive/heating versus yin/negative / cooling aspects. An extreme yang constitution is characterized by a thick, heavyset body frame, wide or oval shaped face, an aggressive outgoing manner, quick responses, loud voice, ruddy complexion, extreme appetite, greater thirst, etc. An extreme yin constitution is characterized by a lighter, small-featured body frame, elongated face and features, more timid, introspective, slower responses, soft-spoken voice, pale complexion, small appetite, little thirst, etc. Yang diseases are acute and characteristically faster to develop (and to go away); they exhibit extremes of high temperature, sharp pains, skin diseases, red signs of bruising, bleeding, strong body odor, thick heavy discharges that are colored yellow or red, with fast strong pulse. Yin diseases tend to be chronic and degenerative and slower to develop--also, slower to clear up; they exhibit lower temperatures, aching pains, internal diseases, pale or bluish discoloration, etc.
6/19/07 11:34:36 PM
YAnG General: Hyper, warm, Warm in hands & feet Build: Stocky energy Level: High energy, scattered Musculature: Tense, stiff, inflexible Complexion: Ruddy, red color Tongue: Reddish tongue Urine: Yellowish, dark sprit / emotion: Extroverted, moody Voiced: Loud-voiced
6/19/07 11:34:36 PM
You can put some oils into your bath for their pleasing effect on the skin; or you can pour a little oil on top of an enamel vessel that is filled with boiling water and, using a towel over your head to contain the upward flow of steam, inhale the medicated steam (this is often very helpful for coughs and colds). But one of the best ways is to use an aromatic diffuser made for the purpose of volatilizing oils; and this is also one of the most economical methods. The diffuser will break up the drops of oil into a fine mist; the tiny microparaticles will then remain suspended in the air for several hours and will continue their antiseptic and deodorant action.
6/19/07 11:34:36 PM
Geranium oil is considered to be a cellular stimulant and is helpful for oily inflamed skin. Jasmine and orange blossom are regarded as rejuvenating for the skin, and especially effective for women. Jasmine is also somewhat aphrodisiacal; it is a lovely scent to diffuse through the room when you have romantic company. The same may be said for rose and / or rose geranium. In fact, the perfume known as Attar of Roses has been traditionally used throughout the Middle East and in Persia to enhance feminine beauty and attractiveness. French perfumers rely greatly on the delightful oil of bergamot (which is also used to enhance the flavor of tea). Orange blossom and lemon verbena are good for the complexion; also, if diffused in the air before retiring, these oils will help you to sleep; they are useful in cases of insomnia, and are conducive to pleasant dreams. One thing that is important: they must be natural oils extracted from the plants --not synthetic perfumes.
6/19/07 11:34:36 PM
6/19/07 11:34:36 PM
Herpes virdae are extremely sophisticated in their ability to persist in humans. As a result, Herpes simplex genitalis occurs and reoccurs, and chronic Epstein-Barr disease may develop even 20 years after a bout with infectious mononucleosis; apparently the virus was there all along. A persistent virus may be incorporated in host DNA, or may remain extra chromosomal. It may be replicating or not. The infected host may have continuing symptoms, or may be symptom-free. The virus may or may not shed in-host secretions, either continuously or intermittently. It is recognized that the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) readily infects B-lymphocytes and can survive in a nonproductive (nonreplicating) extra chromosomal state. However, these latently infected cells may be continually removed by virus specific cytotoxic T-cells. In the current working model of the carrier state, infected B-lymphocytes are continually being produced by EBV infection at a peripheral site-- specifically, phangeal epithelium where a chronic replicating Epstein-Barr virus exist. The virus/host balance is usually stable in a given individual in terms of the extent of EBV replication, the number of EBV-infected B cells, and the host immune factors, such as antibody levels and EBV specific cytotoxic T-cells. The delicate virus-host balance in the carrier state can be disturbed by any combination of factors that may unbalance or suppress the immune system of the host. In those persistent infections that involve a nonproducing phase, a trigger mechanism is necessary to induce the host cell to commence virus replication. Such triggers may include fever, corticosteroids, immunosuppressive drugs, ultraviolet light, temperature changes, and localized trauma. The actual mechanisms of reactivation at the cell level are largely unknown but the triggers are all to some extent immunosuppressive. In EBV infections, in which there is probably a continuous low grade replication, similar triggers can increase replication with consequent cell damage, more virus shedding, and an infection which is no longer subclinical. Immunosuppression can also open the door to any number of other infectious agents; but a persistent herpes virus, even in a carrier state with minimal replication, is opportunistically primed to be reactivated. Herpes reactivation is frequently associated with periods of physical or emotional stress, and is a common occurrence in cancer patients and transplant patients in whom nonspecific cellular immunity is deficient and host interferon-responsiveness is diminished.
6/19/07 11:34:37 PM
6/19/07 11:34:37 PM
contained compounds isolated from plants. JK: But are whole plants as effective as the isolated drug? MM: Actually, research is demonstrating that extracts from whole plants often have a greater benefit that the isolated active constituent. This has been widely recognized in other parts of the world; but in the U.S. the isolated active constituent of a plant is usually thought to have the greatest therapeutic effect. Now, as our knowledge of botaniclal medicine is increased, that myth is gradually being eroded. For example, look at the pharmacology of Uva ursi, or bearberry -- a small evergreen shrub found in Europe and in the northern U.S. Its major active ingredient is arbutin. At one time, that was marketed as a diuretic and urinary tract antiseptic. However, the effectiveness of arbutin alone is less than that of the total plant. When arbutin is given alone, bacteria in the intestine break down much of the arbutin before it is absorbed. If the whole plant, tea, or crude extract is given there are components that prevent this break down or arbutin. The net effect is an increase in the amount of arbutin that is absorbed. The activity of arbutin as an antibiotic in the urinary tract is also enhanced by other components of Uva ursi. Again, this suggests another reason why the whole plant is of more value than the isolate compound. Uva ursi is just one example among many where the extract from the whole plant is more effective than any single component. JK: What exactly are herbal extracts? MM: An extract is a concentrated form of the herb, obtained by mixing the crude herb with an appropriate solvent and then removing the solvent from the product. For example, when an herbal tea bag is steeped in hot water, the water serves as a solvent to remove some of the medicinal properties from the herb. If the water were removed, by a process of drying, then you would have an extract. If all the water is removed, the extract can be presented as a powder; or if some of the water is preserved, you will have a concentrated liquid extract. While teas are often good sources of medicinal compounds, they are relatively weak in action compared to tinctures, fluid concentrated extracts, and solid extracts. Tinctures are usually made by using alcohol as the solvent--although other substances may be used. The herb is soaked in the alcohol solution for a speicified time, according to the herb. This may be for hours, or days, while certain herbs are soaked for even longer periods. The solutions is then pressed out, yielding a tincture of that herb. Fluid extracts are more concentrated than tinctures. They are often concentrated by distilling away some of the alcohol, typically by
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 219
6/19/07 11:34:37 PM
methods that do not require elevated temperatures. Fluid extracts are approximately five to ten times more potent than tinctures. A solid extract is produced by even further concentration: the solvent will have been completely removed. The dry solid extract can then be ground into coarse granules, or into a fine powder that can be encapsulated. Solid extracts can be from four to 100 times more potent than fluid extracts, and 20 to 500 times stronger than a tincture. Typically, one gram of a solid extracts can be from four to 100 times more potent than fluid extracts, and 20 to 500 times stronger than a tincture. Typically, one gram of a solid extract is equivalent to four ml. (1/7th of an ounce) of a fluid extract, or to 40ml. (almost 1 oz) of a tincture. JK: Are solid extracts always more potent than tinctures or fluid extracts? MM: Not necessarily. The final extract is only as good as the starting material. By using a high quality herb, one that is high in active principles, one may obtain a more potent tincture or fluid extract -- as compared to a solid extract obtained from a herb of lower quality. JK: What is the solution to this problem? How does one insure a high quality extract? MM: Standardization is the answer to both of these questions. Botanicals can be analyzed to make sure that they contain active components that meet an acceptable standardized level. Accurate dosages and recommendations can then be given. This form of standardization is generally accepted in Europe, and is beginning to gain recognition in the United States. The standardized solid extract offers significant advantages over the dried herb, or freeze-dried herb, or a tincture or fluid extract --for several reasons including: increased shelf life, reduced microbial contamination; also the fact that it is alcohol-free, and there can be greater quality control. JK: What are some of the botanical extracts that you are particularly excited about? MM: There are many to choose from; but if I had to choose three, I would say; Silybum marianum, Gingko biloba, and Coleus forskohlii. JK: Could you briefly describe some of their properties? MM: Silybum marianum, the common milk thistle, contains one of the
220 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:37 PM
most potent liver-protecting substances known. It is an antioxidant specifically for the liver, and stimulates liver cell regeneration. It also has a liver decongesting effect, due to its ability to increase the flow of bile and fat to and from the liver. In human studies, positive effects in treating many types of liver disease have been achieved with standardized milk thistle extracts containing 70 percent. The ailments included cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis, fatty infiltration of the liver due to chemicals and alcohol, and cholangitis. In all of these instances, the therapeutic effect of milk thistle extract has been fully confirmed by clinical and laboratory data. Silymarin is especially effective in the treatment and prevention of toxic chemical or alcohol-induced hepatic damage. As to Gingko biloba, this is the worlds oldest living tree species. Extracts from its leaves offer effective treatment for the signs and symptoms of insufficient blood flow to the brain; it can therefore be helpful for many people in their later years, when the blood flow to the brain often becomes depleted, resulting in early senility, poor memory, dizziness, etc. Clinical studies have confirmed that the extract of gingko leaves can be very effective in relieving these distressing symptoms of aging. Short-term memory loss will often become much improved by use of the friendly Gingko biloba, which increases the blood and oxygen supply to the brain. In addition, the Gingko biloba extract will definitely improve mental functions. It often will assist in cases of hearing loss, and may even be helpful in impaired vision when these conditions are being caused by defective circulation. I think it may even offer significant protective action against development of Alzheimers disease, and strokes... though this still needs to be researched. The plant known as Coleus forskohlii has been used since the most ancient times, in Hindu and Ayurvedic medicine. It is the source of forskolin, which is an amazing compound of unique biological importance. While most studies have been done using this isolated component, it is believed that other constituents of the plant would serve to enhance the biological activity of forskolin, and to facilitate its absorption. The coleus herb has traditionally been used to treat such disorders as: heart diseases, abdominal colic, respiratory problems, painful urination, and even insomnia and convulsions; so it has a wide range of usefulness. JK`: One final question, Dr. Murray: What is it about botanical medicine that most excites you? MM: The thing that excite me most is the infinite process of understanding that exists in the study of botanical medicine. I cannot begin to explain the tremendous feelings of wonder, awe, and even amazement that swell inside me, when I glean new comprehension of how a simple little plant can work inside the body to bring harmony. It is
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 221
6/19/07 11:34:37 PM
not just an appreciation of botanical it is much greater than that : it is a reenforcement of the miraculous perfection that exists in nature, and a realization that is our duty to learn how to understand and utilize nature as medicine.
6/19/07 11:34:37 PM
6/19/07 11:34:37 PM
KP: Do we have plenty of friendly bacteria in our intestines to serve all of these purposes? BK: Unfortunately, many of us do not have lactobacillus acidophilus in our gut in adequate numbers most of the time. KP: If nature intended them to be present, what causes the reduction in the numbers of Lactobacillus acidophilus? BK: Among the reasons for reduced quantities of Lactobacillus acidophilus are: poor eating habits, excessive use of antibiotics and other drugs, and toxins in the food we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe. KP: How, then can we maintain a sufficient quantity of Lactobacillus acidophilus bacteria in our system? BK: By supplementing our diet intelligently with such cultured products as buttermilk, acidophilus milk, yogurt, and other acidophilus products. Nearly every civilization has consumed cultured milk of one type or another and these products have been and still are of extreme importance in the nutrition of people throughout the world. KP: Do you recommend that one should take acidophilus produces daily? BK: Yes, I believe everyone could benefit by taking acidophilus capsules, tablets, or powder on a daily basis in order to assure its adequate presence in your gut. KP: How does acidophilus work for us? BK: Acidophilus works by producing lactic acid, hydrogen peroxide, enzymes, antibiotic-like substances and as yet unidentified materials. It inhibits pathogenic organisms and produces B vitamin in the system. KP: Why do some people vary acidophilus products with them when traveling to countries where food and water is likely to be unsafe? BK: Acidophilus can help to detoxify foreign harmful substances in food and water. The flora actually bind some of these unwanted metabolites, causing them to be excreted. And acidophilus also has an antibacterial effect. So people who make a habit of taking acidophilus during trips suffer less from digestive disorders than those not taking such preventive measures. KP: What are some guidelines for selecting acidophilus products? How can we know the differences among the many in the marketplace? BK: The products are not all the same. Labeling doesnt always mean what is says. A product must contain the correct strain and correct concentration of viable bacteria.
224 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:37 PM
KP: How would you know the correct strain and concentration? BK: You should read the reports of research done at reputable universities and research institutes. You will easily find out which company has the best product. KP: Many companies claim to have the best. And they put out nice literature. BK: Again! You have to know what the company is selling, not who is selling the product. Many big companies sell acidophilus products made by other companies. If a company cannot supply well-researched and proved statements about their products, you should not buy those products. Bigger companies are not necessarily better. So read the literature carefully, with an awareness that many companies make references to previously published research papers which are not connected with their acidophilus products. KP: How can you understand the advertisements? BK: Read them carefully. If any nutritional or therapeutic claims are made, ask the company for research reports to support the claims. Large companies have big budgets for advertisements and promotions. Small companies cannot compete in this respect. But some of the smaller companies produce excellent products. Do not be influenced by gimmicks. Ask for the facts. KP: What is your opinion of combination acidophilus products? BK: Watch these acidophilus products. If one bacterium is good, two antagonistic toward each other, it is not advisable to buy a combination acidophilus product --unless that combination has been proved to be safe and effective. Some companies use combination acidophilus as a selling gimmick. KP: How can you know the potency or concentration of acidophilus products? BK: The potency is expressed as the number of live organisms per gram, capsule or tablet. More appropriately, it is expressed as CFU (Colony Forming Units) per gram. KP: Some companies claim that their products have two billion, or four or five billion counts. What is your comment on these counts? BK: In this case, more is better: the higher the count, or potency so mutch the better. This number game, however, is being used as a sales scheme. Many companies use several organisms to show higher counts, and thats not good. As explained, one organism may be anGuide To Alternative Health Therapies - 225
6/19/07 11:34:37 PM
tagonistic to another. A single strain product with a reasonable count (say, one or two billion per gram), is often better than combination products with higher counts. KP: Some companies are showing assay reports on acidophilus products. How should these be evaluated? BK: Craveat emplor! Most of the time these companies indicate higher counts than others, and here again it may be a sales ploy. In any laboratory study, you have to compare apples to apples and specific guidelines must be followed if accurate results are to be obtained. For example: 1. Sampling must be done uniformly. All acidophilus products to be tested must be sampled at the time of manufacture, and then shipped and stored under uniform conditions. 2. All products must be single strains for valid comparisons. 3. The laboratory method used must be a valid method specific to acidophilus. 4. The analyst (microbiologist) must start assaying all samples on the same day under identical conditions and procedures. Some companies do not follow these guidelines, and may show a higher count for their products only. KP: How important is the storage and care of acidophilus? BK: Acidophilus products contain live bacteria which can die at high temperatures. It is a good idea to keep acidophilus products under refrigeration at about 40 degrees Fahrenheit, but do not freeze. Many acidophilus products can stand normal shipping at ordinary temperatures. You can take some with you in a car or on a plane, but try to keep it in a cool dry place while traveling. KP: When is the time and manner in which to take acidophilus? BK: Take it on an empty stomach, preferably one hour before a meal. Dont take it at the same time as other products. This especially applies to antibiotics because antibiotics are destructive to acidophilus. If you are on a course of antibiotics, however, it is advisable to take acidophilus to restore the proper balance of microflora by rebuilding the lactobacillus acidophilus in your gut. If this is not done, people often become victims of Candidiasis- the result of the destruction of friendly bacteria by the antibiotics. This allows the unfriendly bacteria to gain in numbers. It is essential to maintain a proper balance.
6/19/07 11:34:37 PM
KP: Some companies sell non-dairy acidophilus. What advantage does it have over other acidophilus? BK: Non-dairy acidophilus is highly recommended for persons who are allergic to milk and milk products. Also, the non-dairy type has been shown to be more effective for the relief of candidiasis. KP: What form of acidophilus do you take? BK: I generally use the non-dairy type and prefer DDS acidophilus, by UAS Labs, for my family because of its stability and potency. KP: Does the average traditional physician recognize the importance of acidophilus? BK: At an international symposium on nutrition and the intestinal flora, the physicians themselves stated that a whole generation of medical doctors and scientists are very much unaware of the importance of the intestinal flora. They went on to say that many diseases may be influenced, not by the presence of a pathogenic agent, but rather by absence of the normal intestinal flora. We should begin to ask not what organism is giving a disease, but what organism is lacking. And isnt that a new way of asking an old question! Like so many other solutions, the answer is so obvious and so simple: supplementation with Lactobacillus acidophilus.
6/19/07 11:34:38 PM
Inside each neuron there are hundreds of little structures called mitochondria. These are the power plants of the cells. Fuel is burned in these power plants to produce the crucial ATP energy, on which the brain depends for its very life. While most other organs and tissues of the human body can burn either fat or sugar as their fuel, the brain can only utilize sugar (under normal, non-fasting conditions). This creates certain problems for the brain. Sugar cannot be stored in its cells, so the brain is dependent on a constant delivery of this fuel by the blood that circulates throughout its blood vessels.
228 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:38 PM
The brain cells typically use 50 percent of all the sugar (glucose) in the blood. In order for the brain to claim this disproportionately large amount of blood sugar, the bloodstream must be relatively free of insulin --the hormone which lowers blood sugar. When there is little or no insulin in the bloodstream, most organs and tissues (muscles, heart, liver, fat, cells etc.) will ignore sugar passing through them. Instead, they will burn fat as their energy fuel in the absence of circulating insulin, thereby leaving most of the blood sugar for the brain.
The modern high-sugar, low-fiber processed and junk food diet tends to stimulate frequent insulin release into the bloodstream. There is surprisingly little sugar in the blood of a healthy non-diabetic person; in fact, the entire blood circulation of the human body normally contains less than one teaspoon of sugar! When we consume high-sugar soft drinks, candy, doughnuts, dried fruits, etc. we may be flooding our bodies with ten to twenty teaspoons (or more!) of rapidly absorbed sugar. A portion of our brain, called the hypothalamus, is constantly monitoring blood sugar, it sends a message to the pancreas to squirt some insulin into the blood in order to lower the level to normal. This is essential, for excessive blood sugar levels can cause many problems -- even death. The insulin signals all body cells to grab sugar from the blood; so now the heart, lungs, liver, fat cells, muscles, etc. (which all together weigh 50 times as much as the brain) are competing with the brain for blood sugar. So, ironically the way to get to get adequate sugar (glucose) fuel to the brain is to avoid simple sugar foods such as soft drinks, candy, sweet pastries, jellies and jams, etc. in the diet; because these are the foods that most powerfully trigger insulin release.
Foods that will provide a superior supply of sugar for the brain to use are the complex carbohydrates: whole grains, vegetables, beans and pears, nuts and seeds. These are a much more desirable source of sugar, and far more beneficial to the brain. They are natures timed-release sugar capsules ! Complex carbohydrate foods contain sugar in the form of special starches; chains of sugar molecules, stitched together like beads on a string. These require a longer time to digest than simple sugar foods, so the sugar they provide will trickle into the bloodstream slowly. This provides a gentle rise in the level of blood sugar, thus avoiding the necessity for the brain to trigger a blast of insulin. This, in turn, leaves the brain free to take all the sugar it needs, without competition from the other organs.
6/19/07 11:34:38 PM
In order to burn the sugar in the mitochondria power plants, neurons also need adequate oxygen, B vitamins, minerals, and coenzymes such as CoQ10, and lipoic acid. The brain typically uses 20 percent of all inhaled oxygen, so it requires constant delivery of oxygen through the bloodstream. This also creates problems for the brain, for several reasons. Neuroscientists have discovered that as we age, the blood vessels supplying the brain tend to clog up, due to arteriosclerosis. This will gradually reduce the brains oxygen supply. Some forms of senility are known to be caused by this lessening of oxygen delivery to the brain. Of course, the oxygen in our blood is derived from breathing. However, due to combination of stress, sedentary living, smoking, and lung damage caused by polluted urban air, most people have less that optimal oxygen intake when they breathe. Brisk walking is an excellent oxygen tonic for the brain, since it promotes deeper breathing along with a stimulus to the circulation. Recent research has shown that as much as 1/6th of the oxygen we inhale combines wastefully with other substances in our blood, forming toxic free radicals. Once oxygen has combined with fats to create these damaging free radicals, it is no longer available to burn sugar either in the brain or other cells. Nature has created the antioxidant nutrients (vitamin C and E, beta carotene, zinc, manganese and selenium, cysteine and glutathione) to prevent these toxic and wasteful oxygen combinations. Yet dietary surveys routinely show that most Americans consume diets low in the antioxidant nutrients, even by RDA standards. Brain cells are especially prone to accumulate a form of cellular garbage called lipofuscin. Aging neurons may have 20 percent of their volume usurped by the age pigment. Lipofuscin a by-product of fats in the brain damaged by oxygen, because the fats were inadequately antioxidant protected. Excessive lipofuscin deposits can damage and even kill neurons.
For the brain cells to produce their massive ATP energy needs by burning sugar with oxygen in the mitochondria, various enzyme spark plugs are required. Most brain ATP energy is produced through two interlocking metabolic cycles: the glycolitic and Krebs cycles. The enzyme spark plugs in these cycles make use of the vitamin B-1, B-2, B-3, B-5; as well as Biotin, the minerals magnesium, manganese, iron and copper, and the co-enzymes lipolic acid and coQ10. As Linus Pauling first pointed out, in an article in Science magazine in 1968, the brain is at a disadvantage in acquiring the high levels of vitamins and minerals it needs. This is due to the presence in the brain of a unique protective barrier called the brain-blood barrier (BBB).
6/19/07 11:34:38 PM
Neurons are some of the most toxin-sensitive cells in our bodies. They are the only major cells that never reproduce . For instance, the cells lining our intestinal tract reproduce new generations every two or three days; and red blood cells are replaced after four months, while skin cells are constantly being renewed. Even bone cells reproduce within two to five years. But this total number of our brain cells is fixed shortly after birth, and the same original brain cells travel with us as long as we live though some may deteriorate or die along the way due to trauma, malnutrition or nutrient deficiency. While neurons never reproduce, and because the brain regulates every aspect of our lives, nature has created a special two-part barrier to protect these precious brain cells from toxins--metabolic wastes, drugs, bacterial poisons, etc. However, as Linus Pauling first pointed out, this BBB serves mainly to protect against water-soluble toxins. Ironically most major brain nutrients (Bvitamins, vitamin C, various minerals and amino acids) are also water-soluble. Thus, the BBB makes it difficult for the brain to grab the large nutrient share it requires from the bloodstream. Pauling noted that a blood level of various nutrients which may be adequate to deliver them to other organs and tissues may not always be high enough to enable a sufficient amount to pass though the blood-brain barrier. It is relevant here to note that scientific studies of mild nutrient deficiency states typically show that various mental or mood abnormalities are often the earliest detectable signs of nutrient deficiencies. For example, apathy, depression, paranoia, anxiety, irritability, memory loss etc. Pauling therefore suggests that it may be prudent to increase our intake of vitamins B and C, plus magnesium, beyond RDA levels, with the aim that the higher blood levels of these nutrients may increase their penetration of the barrier (BBB) and improve the function of the brain cells.
Neutrotransmitters
Though the brain is often thought of as an electrical computer, this is only a partial truth. Each one of the brains billions of neurons it, in effect, a microcomputer. Inside each neuron, nerve impulses are conducted electrically. However, when information is exchanged from one neuron to another, the brain uses chemicals called neurotransmitters to facilitate the necessary communications between the cells, to enable them to talk to each other. Scientists have discovered about 60 neurotransmitters; but it appears that much of the communication between brain cells is conducted by means of about ten of them... we may call these the major conductors. Dopamine is essential for sexual arousal and for initiating the coordinating movement. Adrenalin and noradrenalin are mood-elevating, promoting activity and alertness.
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 231
6/19/07 11:34:38 PM
Acetylcholine is essential for memory; it also helps in controlling movement. serotonin induces sleep, and forms a calming counterbalance for adrenalin and noradrenalin. GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter which helps us to avoid chronic anxiety and to concentrate our mental focus. Glycine is another inhibitory neurotransmitter which helps to prevent epilepsy. Histamine is involved with sensory integration in the thalamus region of the brain. Except for acetylcholine (which is made from pantothenic acid and choline), all the major neurotransmitters are made from amino acids which are produced from dietary protein. One of the dangers of a prolonged lowprotein diet is that it may not provide enough protein to make sufficient; neurotransmitters for the brain to function effectively. An inadequate supply of amino acids in the diet can result in lathargy, apathy, insomnia and depression -- conditions which may become very serve, depending on the degree of the deficiency. Synthesis of the major neurotransmitters also requires vitamins B-1, B-3, B-5, B-6 folic acid, vitamin C, oxygen, and iron as coenzymes.
Until the pioneering work of Fernstorm and Wurtman of MIT in the 1970s, it had been assumed that the levels of brain neurotransmitters were controlled by the brain itself, independent of dietary intake of various aminos . Wurtman showed that brain neurotransmitter levels can be significantly influenced by a single meal. A meal rich in protein will tend to encourage high adrenalin/noradrenalin levels, with consequent high levels of alertness and assertiveness. On the other hand, a meal high in simple sugars and low in protein will usually increase the level of serotonin in the brain, leading to a relaxed, sleepy state. Alan Gelenberg, a psychiatrist in Boston, has had success in treating some forms of depression (especially the stress burnout / overload variety) with small supplements of tyrosine the amino precursor of noradrenalin, adrenalin and dopamine. And Richard Wurtman at MIT has shown that dietary choline levels; it has been shown to improve the volunteer students scores in memory tests. Glutamine is important as the precusor for GABA, which helps us with intense focal concentration. Glutamine also helps the brain to dispose of waste ammonia, which is a by-product of protein breakdown, and it is irritating to the brain even at low levels.
6/19/07 11:34:38 PM
The soybean is native to southwest Africa. Cultivation first became widespread in eastern Asia, especially China and Japan. Recorded use in Chinese cultures dates back to around 1,000 B.C. In recent centuries, soybeans have been a staple food in many geographic areas, especially where animal protein is deficient. This legume has a higher protein content than most members of the plant kingdom. Additionally, whole soybeans contain a wealth of vitamins and minerals, dietary fiber, an assortment of complex carbohydrates, as well as a relatively large amount of vitamin E and the essential fatty acids, linoleic and alpha-linolenic acid. Today, the soybean is still a staple food item in the predominantly vegetarian diets of Chinese, Japanese, and Indonesian peoples. In the U.S., soybeans rank in a class with wheat and corn as a major crop. Soybean growing regions are concentrated in the Midwest and lower Mississippi valley. About 75 percent of the total world soybean crop is grown in this country. A majority of the harvest is exported, and a significant fraction is incorporated into animal feeds. Oriental cultures traditionally use soybeans in a relatively unrefined state. However, in the U.S., soybeans are predominantly used in a different manner. The beans may be highly refined, and subfractions of the original bean are often reconstructed into fabricated food items.
Soybean Products
WHoLe BeAns: Fresh or dried soybeans should never be eaten in the uncooked state. Antinutritional factors (i.e., trypsin inhibitor,) hemaglutinin,
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 233
6/19/07 11:34:38 PM
growth inhibitors, and others) must be deactivated by heat, before consumption. Moderate, moist heat (steaming or boiling for several minutes) is sufficient to destroy these toxic compounds. Inclusion of whole, cooked soybeans in ones meal plan represents the most efficient method of obtaining full benefit from their nutritional potential. Additionally, a few soybean products represent nutritionally-comparable substitutes for their animal food counterparts. FLoUR: The first step in the production of soy flour consists of the grinding of cracked and dehulled soybeans. This, in its true form is soy flour. Further processing may or may not occur . Often, oil is extracted using physical and chemical techniques. Crude oil is refined and added back to the defatted flour, achieving a desired fat content. Soy flour does not possess the vicoelastic properties of wheat flour, therefore, it cannot be used as a sole source of flour in leavened, baked goods. However, it may be used very successfully in combination with wheat flour. Soy flour has the potential to become a major factor in minimizing the world hunger problem. When soy flour is combined with a whole grain food product, the net usable protein is increased considerably. The amino acid profile of soybeans is a complement to that of whole grains. PRoTeIn PRoDUCTs: Protein isolates result when the non-protein subfraction of defatted, soy flour is removed through chemical and physical processes. Crude protein may be refined into powders and added to beverages; thus raising their protein level. Often the soy protein isolates are spun into fibers, producing textured vegetable protein (TVP). Analogs of bacon, beef, chicken, fish and others have been successfully from TVP. soY MILK: In its true form, soy milk is produced when hydrated soybeans are ground in boiling water, and particulate matter is removed. Fresh, frozen, and dried forms are available. Soymilk is also the base of many infant formulas, especially used if an allergy to cows milk is involved. A variety of soy drinks are created when soy protein isolates or powders are mixed into a variety of solutions. These beverages may have a high protein content, but do not possess the nutritional balance of whole soy milk. soY CHeese (ToFU): Produced in a manner which is similar to the precipitation of cheese from animal milk. It is a concentrated source of protein, essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals; and it is excellent when combined with foods high in complex carbohydrates and fiber. Tofu is the major soybean food used in Japan.
234 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:38 PM
FeRMenTeD PRoDUCTs: Fermented soy products are produced traditionally in oriental cultures. In one process, fungal cultures are added to boiled soybeans, controlled fermentation lasts for a short period of time and a soy cake known as tempeh is created. Tempeh is native to Indonesia. Miso is a fermented soybean paste that is common in Japan . Cooked soybeans are mixed with a form of soy sauce (containing grain) and salt. Microbial cultures affect fermentation lasting up to two years. Alternately, white or sweet miso is fermented for only about one week. Soy sauce is the result of a two-step process involving a one year fermentation, with the addition of salt and sometimes wheat flour. The sauce is the liquid portion of the end product; most of the fibrous sediment is removed. Discretion is advised when choosing and using fermented soy products. They usually contain a lot of salt, and artificially-fermented and chemically derived imitations are available. True, fermented soybean products are tasteful, and they may have somewhat of a tonic effect upon digestive organs. However, microbial fermentation process create compounds which are not found in native soybeans. Some of these substances have been found mutagenic and carcinogenic (in significant doses) in laboratory experiments, possibly offering a partial explanation for the elevated rates of gastric cancer found in some Oriental populations. Fermented soy products should not be used as part of any therapeutic diet for those who show a tendency towards hypertension.
soYBeAn oIL: Oil is separated from ground soybeans via physical and /or chemical operations. Crude oil contains a significant amount of dark, sedimentary matter. The crude oils are usually subjected to refining and cleaning techniques; designed to remove impurities. Soy oil contains a relatively large amount of vitamin E, and of the essential fatty acids, linoleic and alphalinolenic acid. Refined soy oils are often integrated into salad dressing, baked goods and others. When used in moderation, food products containing unhydrogeneated soy oil represent a good source of these nutrients in the diet. However, hydrogenated soybean oil is one of the most abundantly used items by the food industry today. It is found in breads, baked goods, candies, shortenings, margarines, salad dressings, frozen foods, canned foods and others. During the hydrogenation process oil is placed in a large tank. Pressure and temperature are raised, and hydrogen gas is circulated through the oil. The linoleic and linolenic acid fraction of the oil congregates at the surface of a metal catalyst. Hydrogen gas attaches to the areas of unsaturated fatty acids where double bonds occur.
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 235
- Of Special Interest -
6/19/07 11:34:38 PM
Addition of hydrogen to essential fatty acids results in alteration of their normal biological activity. When ingested, absorbed, and incorporated into cellular membrane systems, normal metabolic activities are adversely affected. In particular, the presence of hydrogenated fatty acids in membranes is associated with alterations in membrane permeability and prostaglandin synthesis. These metabolic imbalances may occur at the roots of certain types of cancer progressions.
With the exception of hydrogenated soybean oil, soybeans and most soybean products are of high nutritional potential in any well-balanced dietary regime. However, certain soy foods represent a concentrated, fiber-depleted form of the original soybean, as nature produced it. When incorporating these products into ones dietary plan, good judgment is recommended. Fiber-depleted soy foods may occupy a niche in the menu when generous quantities of whole plant foods are also present. Current research indicates that populations which consume a diet rich in fiber-depleted foods are at an increased risk for many degenerative diseases; including heart disease, diabetes and certain forms of cancer. Dietary fiber, as occurs naturally in food, acts as normalizing agent throughout the alimentary tract. It also represents a source of nutrients that are not yet termed essential by the administrative government. The manufacture and use of soy oil is a paradox. Soy oil plays a large role in this nations economy, representing the largest single source of consumable food fat in the world. In recent years, increased use of soy oil (especially hydrogenated oil) in the United States has paralled an increased rate of cancer development. Hydrogenated soybean oil has been introduced into the food chain rather recently. Its precise influence upon biological systems is not exactly clear at present. In future years, hydrogeneated oils may prove to be responsible for metabolic imbalances within body cells, contributing to the development of cancer.
6/19/07 11:34:38 PM
The recipe was said to have been given to a great sage named Chyavana by the physicians to the gods! Chyavana was one of the founders of the healing sciGuide To Alternative Health Therapies - 237
6/19/07 11:34:39 PM
ence of Ayurveda, which means knowledge of life, or the science of longevity. When Chyavana was a very old man, the king gave him his young daughter, Sukanya, in marriage. With her help he got the physicians to the gods to give him the secrets of rejuvenation. Chyavana recovered his lost youth and was able to have a long and happy marriage with the princess Sukanya. With this kind of reputation, plus a totally unique flavor, ChyavanPrash has become the favorite tonic in India. Many people take it regularly. Some prepare it at home; but it is readily obtained at Ayurvedic pharmacies. Modern research methods are now being used to evaluate the effects of ancient Ayurvedic formulas such as ChyavanPrash. This research has often validated the Ayurvedic theory behind the formulas, as well as identifying their actions in Western terms. In Ayurveda, ChyavanPrash is the most important of the Rasayanas. Rasayanas are special combinations of fruits and herbs designed to open the mind, spirit and senses; strengthen and cleanse the body; and fortify the immune system. In fact, the name Rasayana means food that keeps old age and disease away.
This unique tonic provides nutrients and tonification to the nervous, endocrine and reproductive systems. It can also assist in weight control, whether one may be underweight or overweight, by balancing the metabolic processes. ChyavanPrash is given to people recovering from chronic lung conditions, such as pneumonia or tuberculosis, to help build strength back up and support the respiratory precess. However it is most often used as a general tonic to help maintain excellent health.
Ayurveda views our bodies as being organized into two interactive systems. The first is a set of three body energies, or Doshas, that must be kept in balance. They are: the air or movement principle; the fire or metabolism principle; and the water or structure principle. The second system is the seven constructing elements of the body, or Dhatus. They are: plasma; blood cells and tissues; muscles; fat; bones; bone marrow and nerve tissue; and the reproductive fluids. The body stays healthy if these Dhatus are strong and healthy; the defense system of the body remains powerful and diseases cannot invade the body. ChyavanPrash is specifically designed to nourish the seven Dhatus and balance the three Doshas, or body energies. It does this both directly, by providing the proper nutrients, and indirectly, by tonifying the digestive, respiratory, and glandular systems. In the next issue we will explain in more detail how the ingredients act on the Dhatus and Doshas. We will also look at how the
238 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:39 PM
Rasayana fruit and herb combinations, including ChyavanPrash, fit into the science of Ayurveda as a whole. Pregnant women, and people with certain affictions gastric ulcers, acidic urine, watery stools excess stomach gas, or nocturnal discharge problems should consult with an Ayurvedic physician before taking ChyavanPrash since it may not be appropriate to take it alone under these circumstances; rather it should be combined with other Ayurvedic remedies.
It is recommended that one take ChyavanPrash twice daily with a cup of scalded cows or goats milk. People on a milk free diet can eat it with warm water or herb tea or a grain beverage. Adults start with 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon and work up to one 3 teaspoons per serving. Children should take 1/2 teaspoon or less per serving. The milk may be taken at same time, to soften the flavors, or up to fifteen minutes after taking the ChyavanPrash. Milk balances the spiciness, and caries the nutrients through the body. Goats milk is more easily digested and less mucus forming than cows milk, and is the ideal companion for ChyanvanPrash. To get the most value from ChyanvanPrash, the diet should emphasize fruits, vegetables and whole grains, also seafood poultry and dairy products if you are not sensitive to them. One should avoid pungent, spicy and acidic foods as well as processed foods like white flour and sugar. With regular use of ChyavanPrash, even in the modern age you can enjoy good health and long life, following the ancient path of Ayurveda.
6/19/07 11:34:39 PM
6/19/07 11:34:39 PM
this are co-enzyme Q10, and the mineral germanium.) Other substances help to chelate chemicals and heavy metals out of the blood before they have a chance to reach the cells and generate free radicals. (Examples here would be the sulphur amino acids glutathione, methionine and cysteine.) These amino acids then go on to team up with trace minerals, such as selenium and zinc, becoming major enzymes which are able to directly remove free radicals. (Examples; glutathione peridoxase and methionine reductase.) Many of the vitamins considered as antioxidants, such as A, C, and E do some of their work by protecting the antioxidant enzymes from being deactivated. The antioxidant system employed by our bodies is dynamic array of different types of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and enzymes, all working together to protect the cells. The actual way in which free radicals damage our cells is amazingly simple. A cell is made up of many molecules, which together from the cell; they all carry out different tasks, being somewhat independent and specialized. Free radicals cause chemical bonds to form between molecules that properly should be independent. This is called cross-linking. The result is to reduce the flexibility of the cell by not allowing those molecules to move independently. This process is particularly evident in two areas: the inner nucleus where the RNA/DNA is located, and the outer cell membrane. The inner nucleus of a cell consists of RNA / DNA. This may be called the brain of the cell, from which the cell gets its orders. If the RNA / DNA in a cell has free-radical cross-linkage, it will be unable to give correct orders to the cell. This is very evident in the cells reproductive capabilities. A cell with much cross-linkage in its RNA/DNA will produce mutations of itself (which become apparent in any form of cancer). The outer cell membrane consists of lipids (fatty acids) and protein. The lipid part of the cell membrane is very susceptible to free radical damage in the form of cross-linage. The process is called lipid peroxidation, commonly referred to as rancidity. The process of turning the lipid portion of the cell membrane rancid greatly reduces the membrane flexibility. This is dangerous to the cell, for all metabolic traffic into and out of the cell is then disrupted. That means that the cell will have a difficult time getting the nutrients it needs, as well as in releasing the wastes that it doesnt need. One of the classes of fatty acids that the cell can use to build its cell membranes is called omega-3; another is omega-6. These fatty acids are principal ingredients in several popular food supplements, such as fish oils, flaxseed oil, and primrose oil. A very exciting new product for building cell membranes, especially for preserving their flexibility, is being made from egg yolk. The phospholipids found in these egg yolk extracts can have a profound effect in rebuilding the integrity of the cell membrane. Latest clinical studies are revealing that strong, flexible cell membranes are much more resistant to viral invasion than free-radical weakened ones. For this reason most of the attention given
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 241
6/19/07 11:34:39 PM
to this product tends to be centered around slowing down the spreading of viral disease. For these lipid fatty acid products to perform their functions; it is vitally important to ensure that excess free radical activity is eliminated. Free radicals can actually ruin these delicate fatty acid products, before they have a chance to rebuild a membrane of perform any of their other important functions. The two major steps in building cell membrane integrity are, first to remove the free radical insult; and then to supply the body with the fatty acids it needs to rebuild the cells. The best way to remove excess free radicals is by building our antioxidant enzyme supplements. Whole food antioxidant enzymes are currently available from the many types of sprouts that have been studied extensively by veterinarians and nutritional medical doctors, for more than ten years. The free radical scavenging ability of these whole food antioxidant enzymes is unmatched in any other antioxidant product available. With the onset of high-potency antioxidant enzymes and special fatty acid products, cellular health, and resultant longevity, can be a reality even in our polluted environment.
6/19/07 11:34:39 PM
Acupuncture Effectiveness:
In 1972, I was invited to join a medical research group at the Pain Management Clinic of the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). The purpose of the study was to learn whether or not acupuncture was an effective modality for the management of pain and diseases in selected domesticated animals (dogs and horses). The beauty of this study was that it eliminated the placebo effect because there was no way for an animal to correlate the insertion of an acupuncture needle with its physical problems. The results of that study showed that the use of acupuncture was significantly effective for the treatment of arthritis and other types of lameness and pain in both large and small animals.
I continued my studies of the science of Acupuncture using the traditional techniques. Later a new approach was developed in the West employing a device which was given the name of Electro-Acuscope. This is an extremely efficient electrical stimulator which decreases the time needed for a treatment while actually increasing its efficacy.
6/19/07 11:34:39 PM
What is AcuData?
The demands for my consulting time were increasing due to the growing interest in acupuncture therapy, so in 1984 I decided to design a tool for acupuncture practice which would simplify the science and bring the effective use of acupuncture within the reach of any practitioner. That tool is now completed and takes the form of a computer program called AcuData. It is a data base for the IBM-PC and compatibles which has combined the contents of dozens of acupuncture texts. With this electronic tool the practitioner can enter the name of any one of over 600 diseases, or any part of the human body, and AcuData will instantly provide a list of points which would be appropriate for treatment. For example, if one needs to treat an elbow, AcuData will list 50 different descriptions for elbow problems ranging from arthritis and closest to the problem under review, press a key and AcuData will then display a list of points which would be suitable for treating it. Another key, when pressed will provide an acupuncture chart including the precise location of those special points.
A major feature of Chinese medicine is the art of pulse diagnosis. A good Chinese physician may take into account as many as 26 distinctions about the patients pulse at each of 12 different locations. In arriving at a precise diagnosis, color of the skin and tongue and the type of tongue coating, as well as the odor of breath and sweat are also keenly evaluated. While very accurate for the purposes of Chinese diagnosis, learning to use this system is a very complex procedure which takes many years . The AcuData system is designed to be used by even a novice. You dont need to be a Chinese physician or a computer expert -- you only need to have an IBM compatible computer available. It is an extremely simple matter to insert the AcuData program and is based on the Japanese research of Drs. Nakatane and Akabane. It uses a series of readings from the patient and translate them into a specific prescription for points to be used in treating the patient. In Japan, Drs. Nakatane and Akabane have been working on the projects of applying electronic technology to the science of Oriental Diagnosis. In particular they have developed systems of diagnosis which measure the bodys energy using simple resistance measuring devices. With each of these two systems, the entire body is evaluated by taking measurements at 12 points on each side of the body. Using the AcuData-Diagnosis Computer Program, the test points are displayed on the screen to show exact locations to monitor and this facilitates the evaluation procedure. As soon as the readings are complete, AcuData correlates the state of meridian balance and displays a bar graph showing the energy relationships between the meridians on the
244 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:39 PM
left side of the screen and gives a list of the points that will balance the body on the right side of the screen. As each point is treated, the new readings can be entered and meridian balance will be immediately reevaluated. Every step of the way, you have the option to save the current set of readings so that comparisons can be made at a later date. According to the traditional theory of acupuncture, the energy of the body (Qi, which the Chinese pronounce chee and the Japanese pronounce key) travels through the body on a 24-hour schedule. The Qi peaks in each of the 12 meridians for a two-hour period each day; this is known as circadian can be felt following travel by jet planes. When you travel faster than the movement Qi in your body, the Qi is out-of-phase when you land, and this produces the strange weariness that is universally recognized as jetlag. Whenever the body is in any state of disease, the Qi in the meridians is unbalanced. Classical acupuncture provides methods to restore those rhythms to their correct functioning, thus bringing everything back into balance. AcuData-Diagnosis effectively reports as to whether the ebbs and peaks of energy are occurring in the correct pattern. It will also tell you which meridians should be high or low at any particular moment.
Treatment by AcuData
When it comes time of treatment, AcuData-Diagnosis prescribes a set of treatment points and tells whether they should be stimulated or sedated. The LaserSimTM Acupressure Light Pen can be used for either stimulation or sedation. It is a small hand-held device which produces noncoherent light pulsing at 288 Hz at 600 nonometers wavelength. At that frequency, the initial effect is stimulation for 15 seconds and after approximately 60 seconds the effect changes to sedation. Thus, by use of this one small, noninvasive portable device, one is able to create any desired effect of a particular point. The entire treatment usually takes about ten minutes. The method of diagnosis and treatment is totally individualized to the patient. The patients condition can change from hour to hour, as well as day to day. When the condition has been corrected, and meridian balance and equilibrium has been achieved, balance can be maintained by periodic review sessions. AcuData-Diagnosis closely parallels the prime objectives of Chinese Medicine. Traditionally, the Chinese people would visit their acupuncture physicians to have their meridians kept in balance. If the proper balance was maintained, the person would be in good health. The doctor was paid to maintain the individuals good health rather than cure a disease. Like Chinese Medicine, AcuData-Diagnosis prescribes points based upon the energy balance of the patient at the moment of treatment.
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 245
6/19/07 11:34:39 PM
AcuData-Formula and AcuData-Diagnosis are the Western and Eastern counterparts of one another. While Oriental medicine is designed to maintain health, Western medicine is primarily designed to manage clinical disease. AcuData-Formula parallels Western medicine in that the points to treat are chosen based upon either a Western diagnosis or the part of the body effected. The combination of the two programs, AcuData-Formula and AcuDataDiagnosis, comprise a complete integrated Eastern and Western Acupuncture system. This allows you to treat symptoms by classical formulas and maintain health by modern meridian energy balancing techniques.
6/19/07 11:34:40 PM
Chlorella is a very tiny single - cell algae, only three to eight microns in size. It is found growing naturally in waters where the temperature and other conditions are suitable. In a unique multiplication process, each chlorella cell divides into four new cells, every 17 to 20 hours; so the chlorella cells can produce new populations at the rate of two to three generations every 24 hours! Thus it is very prolific and one source will supply the needs of many people. Actually, this algae is one of the oldest life forms on earth. Chlorella fossils have been identified by scientists and estimated as over 2-1/2 billion years old. During the last 30 years, scientists have been turning considerable attention to the study of algae in their search for new types of food for the worlds increasing population. The cultivation of algae for marketing on a large scale has acquired a developing importance in many countries where its virtues are gradually becoming recognized. Algae are rich in vitamins and contain high-value proteins. Their fat and protein contents can be modified by adjusting the conditions of cultivation. As is frequently the case with advances in health care, initially the massproduced algae were tested in connection with veterinary medicine. In 1977, an extract was given to young pigs, and it was found that it had a growthpromoting effect. In 1978, a study was published showing an improvement in the sexual and breeding functions of animals; and another study demonstrated improved health in pigs growth for meat when they were given some chlorella
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 247
6/19/07 11:34:40 PM
in their food. It was also successfully used on a young stallion that had a spinal problem, for which previous treatment had been unsuccessful. The structure of chlorella is very similar to that of most human cells. It contains a broad complex of amino acids, comparable to the amino acids in your blood. Chlorella is a highly evolved plant compared to other algae such as spirulina, which has no nucleus. Nucleic acids control reproduction of new cells, cell division, cell growth and the production of energy. Chlorella has a large amount of nucleic acids. It also is one of the richest sources of chlorophyll. In Japan, where it is widely used, it is considered a high energy whole food.
Effects of Chlorella
Usually, the sicker people are when they start to take chlorella, the more dramatic is the change for the better... and this change can take many forms, depending upon the nature of the sickness. It inhibits reduction in the count of leukocytes (white blood cells, which protect against infections), and it also improves the pH balance. One physician tried chlorella for patients with incurable wounds and found it effective in improving granular tissue. Because chlorella contains large amounts of proteins of high quality, and other substances which promote growth, it assists greatly in cases where the tissues have been damaged (as in wounds, etc) and promotes quicker healing. Studies have shown that it will reduce symptoms of gastric pain, heartburn, belching, and the nausea that is experienced in cases of gastric or duodenal ulcers. Chlorella is good for vegetarians because of its iron and B-12 content. Two amino acids which are in short supply in most plant foods are: methioine and lysine. When a test group of prisoners were given chlorella as a supplement, it was found that their levels of lysine and methionine (which usually decline when people are incarcerated) had risen sharply. In one interesting experiment, a physician used a milk substitute with chlorella as the only protein source for babies who had eczema. It worked well, because chlorella has a better composition of proteins than soy, and is capable of promoting growth. The eczema improved after one week, and had vanished by the tenth day of this regime. When the chlorella was discontinued, the eczema tended to return. All nutrient activity takes place in the cells. Lack of a single nutrient that is an essential part of any process in a cell can serve to destroy its function, to a greater or lesser degree. When this occurs, first a few cells are lost, then many cells; and if the situation continues, whole areas of tissues will be affected. It is then that we have a recognizable disease. Not unlike a musical note, a single nutrient has no great significance. Only the complete arrangement of notes is meaningful. Chlorella contains the
248 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:40 PM
whole complex of a living cell, whether human or animal. Here is an example of its sunergy: Vitamin A, which is important for the synthesis of RNA. Vitamin A facilitates the absorption of RNA in the liver, having a high content of beta-carotene. DNA, the genetic code, depends on zinc B-12.
In women approaching menopause, estrogen therapy is now common practice, even if there are no symptoms of bone loss. Aquatic foods (such as chlorella) assist in the natural production of estrogen in the body. When you take estrogen, you have to be constantly monitored by a doctor. The doctor is in control; you give up responsibility for your own health and well being. But when you take chlorella, YOU are in control; and hopefully you will stimulate your own estrogen functions-- without the side effects of administered estrogen.
SUMMARY:
Remember that chlorella is a plant -- a very remarkable plant that contains everything required to maintain life. If any one thing qualifies for the description of a whole food, chlorella is at the top of the list. It is nutrient dense; it is raw; it contains nucleic acids (the basic elements in cell development), along with beta-carotene, which is the safest form of vitamin A; and polyunsaturated fatty acids, other vitamins, plus minerals are present in chlorella in significant quantities. Even at low doses, chlorella provides the essential vitamin and energy supply in a percentage that outdoes all other foods. The vitamins and their composition in chlorella algae are important not only because they refurbish the cells with needed nutrients but also because they have further curative effects. The use of chlorella, based on our present knowledge, has very promising prospects -- not only as a new source of a raw, whole food, but also for helping us to discover relationship between health and disease. Remember, people dont suddenly become fragile. The fragility starts many years back. What you eat, every day of your life, affects the length and quality of your entire life.
6/19/07 11:34:40 PM
The primary author of this article, Dr. W. Kuhnau, has had some 30 years of experience with live-cell therapy, having treated approximately 20,000 patients with this technique. Using a safe, well-tested therapeutic approach, he has not found any toxic, reactions. At the Americal Biologics-Mexico S.A. Medical Center, and at the Brad250 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:40 PM
ford Research Institute-Mexico, live-cell therapy has been employed either as primary or adjunctive therapy on thousands of patients with various types of complaints, during the past ten years... commencing in late 1979. The material used was embryonic tissue from calves, and it has been found to be remarkably successful for numerous difficult conditions, ranging from childhood retardation problems to multiple sclerosis, and even in cases of advanced cancer. Among the many impressive results seen at the Mexican facilities has been the normalization of liver enzyme values (in an organ that had been diseased by infection in 1950) by a single injection of material from shark liver, as well as dramatic responses in a wide range of childhood and infantile dysfunctions. Cellular injections are usually given as a part, either central or adjunctive, of what the B.R.I. calls individualized, integrated metabolic programs... which usually call for vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids, and various antioxidant and oxidative substances. Live-cell therapy works because embryonic cells from unborn animals (such as embryonic calves in the second or third month of pregnancy) are immunologically inactive and thus are not rejected as non-self by the immune system of the person receiving the injection. The effect of this therapy is to harmonize hormones: balance the intricate hormone-producing and feedback mechanisms of the endocrine system.
Historical Background
The idea of using animal and even human tissue for rejuvenation and for treatment of disease is as old as mankind. The most ancient finding in this area was in China, close to Beijing, where skulls from 1.5 million years B.C. were found, which slow clearly that the brains of the deceased were eaten by their descendants -- probably for religious reasons. There have also been reports from ancient India and Egypt concerning the use of placenta for rejuvenation in the second India and Egypt concerning the use of placenta for rejuvenation in the second millennium B.C., and also from Thailand. However, the most important support for the concept came from the famous medieval Swiss physician, Paracelsus, who maintained that heart heals heart, kidney heals kidney, liver heals liver, etc. In the late 19th century, Dr. Alexis Crroll cultivated heart cells from chickens, and found that when two hearts with different beats were joined, they beat in unison. In 1912, Kuttner of Germany published his research showing why entire organs should not be transplanted (as many were attempting to do) because a transplanted organ with no connection to blood vessels destroys itself through the process of autolysis. Kuttner recommended that the organ be cut into small pieces, ground in a mortar, and mixed in a solution before being injected into a patient. He called this procedure injection transplantation. Unfortunately
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 251
6/19/07 11:34:40 PM
Dr. Kuttners work was not recognized or accepted until many years later, when other journals published similar reports. Continuing with scientific investigation in this field, German researchers Landsberger and Lettre injected cellular material from radioactive rats into the bodies of other animals. Tracing it with a Geiger counter, they found that the material was brought through hostal macrophages to the tissues where it is needed; that is, liver cells go to the liver, heart cells go to the heart, etc. Later, Gibson from Mount Sinai Hospital in New York injected embryonic cells from the brains of normal mice into the brains of hereditarily infertile mice -- rendering them fertile. American Nobel Prize winner Guillemain determined the average daily production of the hormone ACTH in a culture of pituitary cells. He then added embryonic cells from the hypothalamus glands of other species, and found that this caused two to three times as much ACTH to be produced. In Rochester, New York, Gash transplanted embryonic cells into the brains of monkeys, which were still alive and healthy six and 12 months later. These cells apparently stimulated the growth of new nerve communications and glia cells. Dr. Gash was able to discover the source of this activity, and he called the substance neural growth factor. Rutenstroth of Germany implanted an extract from Peyers patches, and found that new liver tissue was produced in the host. He also found that embryonic liver tissue was produced in the host. He also found that embryonic liver cells, regardless of the species from which they were taken, were able to stimulate the growth of new liver tissue in a host. He called this the liver growth hepatopoetic factor. The procedure has become fairly well known since Dr. Rutenstroths original work, and other researchers have proven that regardless of the species from which they have come, the cells are able to stimulate growth in certain organs. Throughout the 20th century, many hundreds of European physicians empirically recognized the value of cellular or live-cell therapy; but only recently has the biochemical nature of the process been explicated -- by the Bradford Research Institute (Bradform, Allen, Culber: The Biochemical Basis of Live-Cell Therapy, Bradford Foundation, 1986.) While the regenerative aspects of live-cell therapy caused the Niehans approach to become confused with the quest for eternal youth and rejuvenation (and, indeed, cellular therapy does promote regeneration and tends to slow down the aging process while stimulating natural vitality), nevertheless, it is our observation that this form of therapy has a major role to play in the management of innumerable diseases and must be a leading component in the medicine of the future.
6/19/07 11:34:40 PM
At a time when there is virtually universal panic over the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and its presumed etiological agent, the human retrovirus HIV-1, the logic of preferring animal material to human tissue becomes apparent. We have yet to see any cases of animal-derived disease, including transfer of bovine leukemia virus (BLV), in eight years work in Mexico. In fact, the live-cell experience in Mexico has clearly shown the relevance of this form of treatment, not only in the dermatological and musculoneural disorders for which it has already been shown effective in Europe, but also in cancer and immune system modulation. Patients response to the administration of cells in solution may be almost immediate -- as in one case at American Biologics -- Mexico, when a formerly nonverbal sufferer form Alzheimers disease suddenly started to talk, a day after receiving the cellular infection! However, the full effects of a course of injections do not usually begin to manifest themselves for somewhere between one and months.
Conclusion
Live-cell therapy intelligently applied can be seen as a safe, effective, and essentially non-toxic therapy, with an ever-increasing role in managing the chronic, systemic metabolic dysfunctions which currently plague the civilized world.
6/19/07 11:34:40 PM
What is Ayurveda?
Ayurveda is the collective term for a very ancient science of the prevention of illness and the preservation of good health, which was brought out through many centuries by the wise men of India. Among other things, it employs a wide range of minerals and herbs -- leaves, bark, roots, flowers and seeds -- that are native to the fabled land of India. With the coming of Western medicine, and its proliferation in that country, the Ayurvedic traditions tended to be cast aside as interest turned to the newer approaches. However, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, founder of the Transcendental Meditation program, became actively interested in preserving the Ayurvedic system, which focuses primarily on prevention of disease. The ultimate goal is to produce perfect health: that
254 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:40 PM
state in which both body and mind live in happiness 24 hours a day. Maharishi Ayurveda advises using several therapeutic approaches to achieve this state, including yoga exercises, special diets, and healing music. Amrit Kalash is highly recommended as the supreme value of Maharishi Ayurveda pressed into form. People who have availed themselves of it have experienced greater mental clarity, and in general a greater sense of well being -- aside from the remarkable cures that have been seen in certain cases.
Researches at Ohio State University College of Medicine have found that Amrit Kalash binds with at least five important immune and endocrine system receptors, including imipramine (a natural antidepressant). Early evidence suggests that Amrit Kalash has positive effects on cancer, allergies, nerve damage, and many other problems. Reports of its beneficial results have stimulated a barrage of research at a number of institutions in the U.S. and Canada, including the National Cancer Institute, MIT and UCLA. It is believed that Amrit Kalash acts like computer software to correct defects in the bodys underlying intelligence. When properly chosen and combined, the intelligence in herbs can perfectly match the functioning of a perfectly healthy body, so that it stimulates the bodys own inner intelligence, explains Tim Jones, executive vice president of Maharishi AyurVeda Products international. Intelligence here means the knowledge inherent in each part of the body to perform its job. DNA, for example, tells the entire body how to construct and maintain itself. Its message in turn carried on the RNA molecule to the cells and tissues, and to every part and organ of the body. If anywhere along the line there is a sluggishness or breakdown, problems arise. Or, if the immune system is not functioning well, it may allow low-level chronic infections, such as the case of a woman who had a lesion for five years that had not responded to treatment by antibiotics, but was healed in three week when she started to use Amrit Kalash. Jay Glaser, M.D. who has conducted research at the Institute for Ayurvedic Studies, comments that Amrit Kalash acts like a tuning fork... Anything unhealthy or out of balance is spontaneously thrown out or corrected. Then, when the balance is restored, disease cannot penetrate. A pilot study made with a group of 17 AIDS patients showed that in them the Amrit Kalash increased their white blood cells, which are the bodys disease fighters. A Michigan chiropractor, Dr. Frank Kinshow, states: Patients definitely respond better to therapy - apparently it is because the body has more power to heal itself, And Helen Thomas, D.C. in California, changes in patients who take Amrit Kalash; its the most exciting thing I have seen since I have been in practice as a doctor.
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 255
6/19/07 11:34:40 PM
The use of whole plants in its composition is believed to be one of the secrets for the effectiveness of Amrit Kalash and its sister preparations. According to Dr. Deepak Chopra (formerly Chief of Staff at the New England Memorial Hospital), the reason we see so many side effects in Western medicine is because only the active ingredient of a plant is used. This is like extracting the intelligence and leaving the wisdom behind, he says. In Ayurveda, on the contrary, so highly are the special constituents of plants regarded that details are specifically given as to when and how the herbs should be gathered in order to fully preserve their qualities. The herbs in Maharishi Amrit Kalash are mixed according to stringent ancient procedures which are said to be as important as the herbs themselves. The result is a supplement which contains what Ayurveda regard as the supreme value of food: i.e., an eminently digestible super food which nourishes, strengthens and balances both body and mind at the deepest levels, and this seems to influence the brain chemistry for happiness. Dr. Chopra says that if you can take only one supplement, it should be Maharishi Amrit Kalash. Jacquenline Schmidt concures. She says: The bliss just hasnt stopped.
6/19/07 11:34:41 PM
Is there a resolution to this matter? Perhaps a folk story will cast some light on this matter. It is told that two people involved in a dispute came before a famous sage. To the first mans story, he responded, You are right. His wife, who was listening to both discussions, asked him, How can they both be right, if they are telling two different stories? To this he responded, You know what? You are right too ! So, too, in the present situation. It is possible that certain individuals will benefit greatly from using nutritional yeasts. Others however, because of allergy or the Candida problem should avoid all forms of yeast. Having covered this aspect of the yeast question, let us discuss some of the yeasts available in the nutritional field. Among the major classes we find:
Each of these types of yeast has certain strong and weak points. Brewers Yeast, as the name indicates, is a by-product of the brewing industry. The fermenting process which starts with carbohydrates (grains, potatoes, etc.) and turns them into alcoholic beverages (beer, vodka, etc.) results in the production of large quantities of residual yeast, biologically of the strain Saccharomyces ceresiae. Some of the major benefits of this yeast are: It contains the improvement antioxidant mineral, selenium. Also present are ample amounts of the mineral chromium, in the form of
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 257
6/19/07 11:34:41 PM
GTF complex (Glucose Tolerance Factor) which aids the body in the assimilation of carbohydrates. Moderate amounts of the B Complex factors, vitamin B-1, vitamin B-2, vitamin B-3 and folic acid are present. High-quality protein, which contains all the essential amino acids form a part of this nutrient. Nucleic acids, which some nutritionists feel may aid in cell repair, are found. Varying amounts of the element boron are available which recent research indicates may play an important part in keeping the bones healthy. Among the drawbacks to brewers yeast (over and above the factors mentioned at the start of this article) are: one, a relatively high sodium content, which can create a problem for those on sodium-free diets; and, two generally poor palatability, even though this product is usually debittered. This leads to the introduction of various flavors, which may in themselves present problems to allergic and sensitive individuals. Vegetarians should check for the presence of animal flavoring. Related to brewers yeast is bakers yeast, which is used in baking The nutritional content of this substance is similar to that of brewers yeast. Primary yeast is biologically similar to brewers yeast, but it is not a byproduct. It is a food, grown on molasses. A bewildering array of potencies are available under the heading of Primary Yeast. (Consumers who insist on only natural vitamins are well advised to check with manufacturers offering high potency food yeasts to determine if the yeast has been boosted by the addition of synthetic vitamins during processing). Some of the advantages of this type of yeast are: 1. 2. 3. It is usually quite high in chromium and zinc. Food yeast generally has less sodium than brewers yeast. The product is grown as a food, and has a much more pleasing taste than its by-product cousin, brewers yeast. However, here too, flavors may be used.
The major drawbacks to food yeast are its low content of the important minerals calcium, magnesium and iron. Torula yeast, biologically known as Candida utilis, is of a different strain
258 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:41 PM
than the yeasts discussed above. Indeed, if live torula yeast get into the brewing process it may spoil the product being produced. Torula yeast is a primary food yeast, which is grown on wood chips. Among the positive aspects of this product are: It is lowest in sodium of all the common types of yeast. Torula yeast is high in the essential minerals, iron, calcium and manganese. 3. Being relatively new in human nutrition, this form of yeast may prove less allergic to certain individuals. (This fact should be tested by an allergist, and not on the basis of personal experimentation.) This is based on the principle that, in general, recently introduced foods tend to produce less allergic reactions than those that have been around for thousands of years. Allergic reactions like other traits, are often passed down to future generations. When dealing with newly introduced foods, sensitivities may not yet have had time to set in. The main shortcoming of torula yeast is its extremely low content of selenium and chromium. As has been indicated, a wide different of opinion exists in regard to the use of nutritional yeasts, yet there are areas on which most nutritionists agree. The following are some generally agreed-upon principles. 1. 2. 3. Allergic individuals, and those with yeast infections should not use yeasts. Most of the factors of value in yeast can be obtained from other nonyeast sources. Even proponents of yeast agree that there is little nutritional logic in adding small amounts of yeast to such nutritional products as vitamin C and acidophilus. They are often used by those with candida. The amount of yeast present is not sufficient to do much good, but it can cause difficulties in some people. 1. 2.
The great yeast controversy shows that nutrition is not a closed science, and honest researchers and physicians can reach different conclusions. Each individual must make his or her own decision based on their personal makeup, needs, professional advice, sudy and intuition.
6/19/07 11:34:41 PM
Signs of Age
Attacking cell membranes, free radicals make the thin cellular film of oil-like lipids rigid and impermeable. This can mean damage to the cell, if it attracts too many free-floating scavengers, since one of the principal jobs of the membrane is to take in nutrients needed for cell functions and to release toxins created by those functions. If the wall is rigid and not able to be penetrated, it can no longer give and take material (a process called respiration). The cell then builds up toxic waste and starves. One type of toxic waste is made as the cell tries to fight off the free radicals to which it is playing host. This waste is a fatty pigmented material, held within skin cells; it known as lipofuscin. Accumulating gradually, it impairs normal cell functions and in time will bring the repair and reproduction processes of the cell virtually to a standstill. It deactivates enzymes and antioxidants, causes a decrease in manufacturer of the connective tissue needed to support healthy new cells. Lipofuscin doesnt seem to damage skin cells directly. Rather, the harm is done when these tiny granules of toxic waste build up and take over the available space within the cell. Sometimes they are found to have taken over as much as 50 percent of the inside of the cell, leaving very little room for the other cellular components needed to maintain the life of the cell and its functions. The cell eventually chokes to death, because cell respiration is no longer able to take place.
260 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:41 PM
Cells containing large amounts of this pigmented toxin appear as dark patches on the skin. Some call them age marks or liver spots. They are not necessarily due to a liver problem; but they are directly related to the aging cycle. The brown spots are signs that your skin cells are slowly being choked to death.
Wrinkles and sagging of the skin (loss of skin elasticity) are two of the most common signs of aging. Both result from free-radical damage to the connective tissue in the inner layer of the skin. Connective tissue comes in two forms: collagen and elastin. Both are microscopic threads of protein coursing through the live supportive layer of the skin called the dermis. Collagen gives form, structure and support to the skin, elastin, as its name implies, controls its elasticity. Together they form a network of fibers deep within your skin, designed to absorb any minor impact received and allow the skin to bounce back unharmed. But when free radicals attach to the connective tissues they hook the tiny fibers of collagen and elastin together. This process, known as cross-linking, prevents the fibers from moving freely, they can no longer bounce back easily, and wrinkling results. Also, immune protection offered by the skin is reduced. We get sick more easily.
1. 2.
Antioxidants are present to give the orphaned free radicals a harmless place to call home. enzymes help to repair the damage wrought by the free floating scavengers not claimed by the antioxidants.
Antioxidants work by offering themselves as a resting place to free radicals, instead of letting them attach to your inner skin structure, or other vital body parts. Some antioxidant molecules, such as vitamins A, C and E can play host to many free radicals before they are sloughed off by your body. The best antioxidants are in the vitamin and tracemineral families. Some of them actually work better and are more effective when applied to the surface of the skin than when taken internally; and you can safely look for antioxidants in cosmetic creams, lotions, oils and gels. These skin care products should be applied at night, for best results.
Free radicals can also work their way into the material coding DNA strands within each cell of your body, mangling the genetic messages needed to reproduce a cell in the exact image of its parent. When this message is changed,
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 261
6/19/07 11:34:41 PM
parts of the cell disappear, or may be constructed differently from the earlier generation. Cell mutations leading to diseases such as cancer can result, as well as other signs of aging that are caused by defective cell structure.
Research has shown that assault by the ultraviolet rays of the sun is a frequent cause of free radical-damage to the skin. Some authorities state that the sun is responsible for 90 percent of all the aging that occurs in skin cells. Sunscreen lotions can be applied daily on major sun-exposed skin areas. The word daily is important in locales where you are likely to encounter strong sunshine. Use a moisture bonding sunscreen with sun protection factor (SPF) of 6,10,16 or 26 depending on how radily your skin reacts to sunlight. Vitamins are also important, and when selecting vitamin skin creams you should be sure to get a cream with the antioxidant types . Check the ingredient listings for tocopherol or for d-tocopherol acetate (antioxidant form of vitamin E), and for retinyl palmitate or beta-carotene (antioxidant forms of vitamin A), and for ascorbyl palmitate (antioxidant form of vitamin C). You might also want to look for the trace mineral, selenium and the amino acid cysteine. Certain enzymes also can act as antioxidants; but their primary role is to repair the damage wrought by free radicals, and their action tends to be somewhat slower before it becomes noticeable. However, in the normal course of events, your body produces the correct amount of enzymes needed to counteract the damage caused by free radicals. Principal cell-menders are super oxide dismutase (SOD) and glutatione peroxidase... these are made naturally within your body. Cosmetic chemists are presently experimenting to render them effective if applied directly to the skin. Another antioxidant currently being investigated in Brazil, Japan and the United States is found in the Suma herb. This root, found in the rain forests of Brazil contains a potent antioxidant mineral known as organic germanium, which appears to be very effective in supporting the bodys immune functions; it also assists with the cellular processing of oxygen. It seems possible that this root extract may prove very helpful in preserving the skin from cell damage caused by free radicals.
6/19/07 11:34:41 PM
6/19/07 11:34:41 PM
for the quercetin available in nutritional supplements. Quercetin is one of the most heavily researched individual bioflavonoids with 30 years of investigation into its function and uses. This research suggests that quercetin may be unusually effective in preventing tissue release of histamine in response to allergens. Histamine seems to be the primary culprit in so-called allergy attacks that are triggered by pollens, animal hairs, molds, house dust, etc. in susceptible people. It is the histamine, whose release into the bloodstream is triggered by breathing, swallowing or skin contacting allergens, which generates the classic symptoms of allergies: the swollen, runny nose, excessive mucous discharge and sneezing, itchy eyes, feeling spacedout, etc. Histamine is stored in mast cells, which line many blood vessels, and basophils (a type of white blood cell which circulates in the blood). When an allergy sufferer ingests a substance to which he or she is allergic, such as ragweed pollen or cat hair, the body produces billions of molecules of the allergic antibody, IgE, in response to the invading allergen. As these IgE molecules circulate through the blood they cause the mast cells and basophils to become leaky and to discharge their storage load of histamine into the bloodstream. Now the histamine makes the blood vessels leaky; surrounding tissues swell with fluid leaked from the leaky blood vessels and this in turn causes the whole array of allergy symptoms. Fortunately for us, Quercetin has a strong affinity for mast cells and basophils. It tends to strengthen and stabilize their cell membranes, so that the IgE allergic antibodies released in response to an ingested allergen dont rupture the mast cells/basophils and cause them to dump their allergy-symptom-causing load of histamine into the surrounding blood and tissue. It is hard to overestimate the importance of quercetins mast cell/basophilstabilizing action, because of two facts basic to the lives of allergy sufferers: 1. To have allergies, you must have IgE antibodies -- and this is genetically determined. Allergy specialists estimate 7-20 percent of the population have inherited the IgE antibody. And if you have this genetic make-up, youre stuck with it you cant change it, anymore than you can change who your biological parents were. Many of the most common triggers of allergy reactions; pollen, mold, house dust, chemicals -- like auto and diesel exhaust, etc. -- are virtually inescapable. Thus, the normal allergy equation runs: IgE genetics +allergen exposure = hitamine release = allergy symptoms. But in many cases Quercetin is able to change this to: IgE genetics + allergen exposure + Quercetin = no histamine release = no (or only minor) allergy symptoms!
2.
6/19/07 11:34:41 PM
implicated in allergy and asthma attacks. LTs are formed and released into blood and lungs when the body processes a fatty acid-arachidonic acid (common in meat, dairy, shellfish and peanut products) through the lipoxy genase biochemical pathway in response to ingested allergens. LTs seem especially involved (along with histamine) in causing the lung constriction and breathing difficulties of asthma. Quercetin seems to suppress the two enzymes (phospholipase A2 and lipoxygenase) necessary to generate the allergen-inducted, asthma triggering LTs . And if no LTs are formed, then even though the usual trigger for an asthma attack, such as grass pollen, animal hair, sulfites, etc. is present no asthma will occur. Quercetin has been subjected to numerous toxicity studies in animals. Studies with rats and rabbits lasting up to two years and containing Quercetin at levels up to 10 percent of total diet, have failed to demonstrate any apparent carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, or negative side effects. Although the so-called Ames test using a mutant bacterial strain has suggested Quercetin might be mutagenic, noted nutritionist Brain Leibovitz contests the relevance of this finding, since many antioxidant nutrients known to be antimutagenic in animals and humans, such as Gluthathione, vitamin C, and Rutin have also been labelled mutagenic by this same test. Quercetin is barely soluble in water, however, and may not be will absorbed without biochemical help. Bromelain is a natural protein-digesting enzyme complex that has been used to increase absorption of other biological compounds, including antibiotics, and it seems to promote better absorption of Quercetin. Also, Bromelain taken on an empty stomach may be absorbed intact into the bloodstream, and has been shown to inhibit fibrin and bradykinin, two other compounds having some role in promoting the swelling of tissues in sprains, bruises, and allergies. Vitamin C has been shown to posses antihistamine activity, in numerous studies dating as far back as 1937, and so is usefully combined with Quercetin. Also, C is known to help strengthen the integrity of capillary walls, so they areless likely to become leaky in response to allergen-released histamine. However, many people report mild stomach irritation and upset with the acid form of vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid). Therefore a more non-acidic form of C would be safest to combine with Quercetin, especially for those desiring to take Quercetin, C and Bromelatin on an empty stomach for quicker and more thorough absorption. Since Bromelain seems to be activated by Magnesium, Magnesium Ascorbate would seem the most desirable form of non-acidic C to combine with Quercetin and Bromelain. One author has found daily totals of 1,0003,000 mg of Quercetin combined with 600-1800 mg. C and 300-900 mg. high-grade (i.e., 2000 GDU/gm--most potent available) Bromelain, divided into 3-6 doses per day, to be extremely effective in reducing or eliminating his own extreme allergic and asthmatic reactions to pollens cat hair and auto exhaust.
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 265
6/19/07 11:34:41 PM
There are medicinal approaches to this problem, some of which involve use of hormones as well as other prescription drugs. But many people have been asking whether there may be some helpful nutritional approach that would prevent or alleviate the condition. The following steps are worthy of consideration. 1. Since the discomfort experienced is largely caused by a tendency to water retention at that time (caused by glandular interaction) it is usually advisable to reduce the amount of salt in ones food. Salt (sodium) is considered to be a key factor in the retention of fluids in the body. Supplementation of the diet with magnesium and calcium. Some researchers have found that women suffering PMT (PMS) have a deficiency of magnesium in their system. This mineral works in conjunction with calcium. Should one wish to take these minerals in supplement forms, 800mg. of calcium and 400mg. of (elemental) magnesium daily is a generally recommended dose; however, the dose required may vary with different individuals. Good food sources of magnesium are nuts: Brazil nuts, cashew nuts, etc., and seeds such as sesame, wheat bran, and whole grain barley. Good sources of calcium are dairy foods (milk, cheese, yogurt, etc.) leafy green vegetables and again sesame seeds. Vitamin B-6, also known as pyridoxine, is generally considered to be a safe, natural diuretic. The dose usually recommended is 100mg. three times a day. It should be taken well in advance of menstrual onset--usually starting ten days before the cycle. When taking B-6 in large doses, however, it is considered wise to take at least one strong
Premenstrual Tension:
2.
3.
6/19/07 11:34:42 PM
B-complex tablet daily, in order to maintain a proper bodily balance; but one need not take as much of the other B-complex factors. The use or magnesium along with vitamin B-6 is often recommended. The above nutritional steps have been helpful to many women who had been suffering with PMT. Since these approaches are usually safe, it would surely appear to be worth trying them with the consent of your physician, before entering into a regimen of using much stronger prescription drugs.
Prenatal Nutrition
The importance of good prenatal nutrition is being increasingly recognized. It is acknowledged that the mental and physical health of the newborn baby is greatly affected by the dietary habits of the expectant mother during her pregnancy, and also by the foods she ingests while nursing the infant. Pregnancy is an exciting developmental phase of a womans life, and certainly it is desirable to make it is pleasant as possible; but certain restrictions should be observed. It is widely known that an excessive intake of alcohol, nicotine, or drugs, whether by prescription or otherwise, may be harmful to the baby. A further caution for expectant mothers is in regard to caffeine, although the effects of caffeine are not so clear. It should be remembered that caffeine comes not only from coffee, but also from nonherbal tea, cola drinks, and certain nonprescription medications. Even certain items purchased in health food stores (such as Gotu-Cola, Zoom, etc.) may contain high amounts of caffeine, or caffeine-like substances. A sensible limit in this regard would appear to be one or two cups of coffee (or its equivalent )per day. A healthy, balanced diet is surely the cornerstone upon which any expectant mother should prepare to build the physical and mental health of her future child. Sufficient fiber in the diet can aid in regularity and help to prevent constipation, which is often a problem in pregnancy. In fact, it is often wise to increase the amount of fiber moderately to avoid possible digestive problems. Adequate liquid intake is also important in this area. Insofar as specific supplementation is concerned, the major areas that require special attention are: multivitamin, folic acid, calcium, iron, vitamin C and bioflavonoids. This list does not mean that there may not be some other vitamin/mineral deficiencies in specific cases; it is therefore considered prudent to take a daily dosage of a good prenatal vitamin combination Folic acid, sometimes called folate, is often in short supply in the expectant mother. Many physicians prescribe one milligram of folic acid a day for a pregnant woman; at this strength, it is a prescription item. However, 8/10 of a milligram (which is 800 micrograms) of folic acid is available without prescription as a nutritional supplement, and this is almost the same amount and it is usually just as effective. Thus it is not necessary to seek a prescription to obtain the slightly greater amount of folic acid, since the difference is
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 267
6/19/07 11:34:42 PM
imperceptible and is generally not significant. Calcium is indeed the most vital mineral in pregnancy. Some nutritionists feel that use of various forms of calcium (e.g., calcium lactate in the morning and calcium gluconate in the evening) may enhance absorption of this mineral. Excellent dietary sources of calcium are: certain vegetables (broccoli, chick peas, and turnips, etc) and of course the dairy foods -- milk, cheese, yogurt, and cottage cheese. For those who do not like dairy foods, per se, many times these can be added into other foods. Delicious cream soups can be made with milk; yogurt dressings can be great with salads -- just try thin-sliced cucumbers, dribbled with yogurt and sprinkled with fine-cut chives; or place a spoonful of (plain) yogurt on top of a dark-colored soup, as the Russians do with the soup that they call borscht. Frozen yogurt, of the fruit flavored variety, can be used for delicious desserts; and for many people yogurt is more easily digested than certain other forms of dairy sources of calcium -- for example, sea food (shell-fish and sardines are particularly rich in calcium). Approximately one to two grams of elemental calcium a day seems to be an indicated dosage. However, with regard to calcium phosphate, it should be noted that the phosphate content has been known to cause leg cramps in some pregnant women, thus it should be used with caution in pregnancy. Most prenatal formulas contain a sufficient amount of iron to prevent any deficiency . The recommended dose is from 18 to 60 milligriams daily. Many nutritionists frown upon the use of iron in the from of ferrous gluconate have been found less irritating for many individuals. Sometimes iron supplements may be constipating. This may be overcome by lowering the dose, or by changing the type of iron supplement. Or, if the iron supplement is not well tolerated, the addition of a serving of stewed prunes to ones breakfast, or the drinking of a glass of prune juice daily, will provide a good source of dietary iron, and has the advantage of contributing a gentle laxative effect. Vitamin C is very essential in pregnancy. Sometimes the mild buffered form, ascorbate, is preferable. Suggested dose is 100 milligrams a day, or more. Many nutritionists feel that the citrus bioflavonoids (which are found in nature associated with foods rich in vitamin C) are of great aid where capillary fragility and similar conditions are a problem. The author formerly worked with an obstetrician who reported that he had successfully used bioflavonoids for many women who had difficulty in carrying children to term. The usual dose of bioflavonoids is up to one gram a day. Unfortunately, the use of bioflavonoids has not been accepted by the general medical community, but experience has shown that they can be very beneficial.
6/19/07 11:34:42 PM
This regimen is also usually of value to lactating women and to those in the postnatal period, as they often need extra nutritional support. There are many controversial areas in the field of pregnancy and nutrition. At one time, many physicians kept women on program of extreme weight control. Nowadays, few obstetricians take an extreme view in this area, though exact guidelines are hard to come by. The use of vitamin A is also an area of controversy. High doses should not be used in pregnancy. The question of salt restriction (or, of how much salt to permit is also an area that needs clarification. It would seem that moderation is the wise course. Carrying a normal, healthy child to term is the matter of paramount importance, and anything that assists in this area deserves our support. Proper application of the principles of nutrition can be a tremendous aid, and these should be studied and applied to the fullest extent.
6/19/07 11:34:42 PM
6/19/07 11:34:42 PM
the problem and suggest a plan of treatment appropriate to the condition. The practitioner looks at a medical condition not as an isolated symptom or complaint, but as part of the whole picture, and seeks to find the total conformation of the illness. For example, a headache in one part of the head has one meaning, while in another region of the head it might signify something quite different. A skin problem on the abdomen or groin may mean Water Toxin and Stagnation, while one that appears the same but is on the neck or face connotes Fire and Wind. So in PMS we look to discover the particular imbalance that is responsible and seek to correct it. Before we discuss the TCM view of PMS, it is useful to draw a distinction between PMS and dysmenorrhea, which refers to the somewhat different problem of painful menstruation alone, without accompanying emotional and systemic complaints. We hope to address that problem and its treatment by Traditional Chinese Medicine in a subsequent article. Remember that a listing of possible symptoms presented in an article cannot speak for the experience of every woman. In actual practice there is a wide variety of symptoms and combinations of symptoms. In the following descriptions, look to find what is most true for you. In TCM we consider mild abdominal or low back pain to be fairly normal before, during or after the period. In this article, we are concerned with symptoms that are more severe, and yet extremely common. For the majority of women they are a matter of emotional and/or physical disharmony, which may be avoidable or curable. (Note: In these descriptions, certain words are capitalized to distinguish them as terms which have special meaning in TCM. For example, the Liver in TCM refers to a factor which is not exactly congruent with the liver as we generally understand it; it includes functions which in Western physiology would most probably be considered as belonging to the adrenals and thyroid as well as the liver.) Chinese doctors distinguish not one, but three types of PMS. They are: 1. Liver Qi obstruction 2. Spleen and Kedney Yang Deficiency 3. Blood Deficiency and irregular liver Excess
1. In liver Qi obstruction, the principal symptom is that the breasts are tender and painful. The chest and ribs may feel swollen and tender also. The patient is irritable, and may feel angry or frustrated. There may be dizziness, headache, insomnia, lack of appetite, or diarrhea. The pulse is wiry. The tongue is normal. The principal formula that we use in this situation is Chai Hu Shu Gan
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 271
6/19/07 11:34:42 PM
San. It contains Radix Bupleuri, Fructus Aurantii, Radix Ligustici Wallichi, and other herbs to move and regulate the Blood and Qi. If the Liver Qi obstruction is producing Fire and rising (headaches, dry or bitter mouth, and a slight fever during the period), we may add Fructus Lycii and other herbs to calm the Liver and clear the Heat. When the Spleen is Weak with Excessive Liver Qi, there will be abdominal cramping and diarrhea. In this case, we use Tong, Xie Yao Feng to strengthen the Spleen and calm the Liver Wind. 2. Many women suffer from water retention and adema affecting the face, eyelids, and arms or legs around their period. PMS with these symptoms prevailing will usually be diagnosed as Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency. There may also be diarrhea during the period, and bloating. The lower back and legs may be weak and sore. The tongue is white. The pulse is Deep or deep and weak. We use Gen Gu Tang or Shen Ling Bai Zhu Tang to warm the kidney and tonify the spleen. 3. The characteristic symptoms of Blood Deficiency with Liver Excess are irritability, sleeplessness, often body aches and headaches, and dizziness, or vertigo. The tongue is light pink or light red. The pulse is wiry and thready or wiry thready and fast. We use Chi Ju Di Huang Tang to nourish the blood and calm the liver. Ingredients may be added to aid relaxation sleep. These formulas have been proven over many generations and will prove effective in many cases of PMS. However, this article is not meant to function as a self-help manual. Although many of these herbal formulas can be used without harm, for effective diagnosis and treatment it is important to consult an acupuncturist or herbalist with training and experience in Chinese medicine. With proper treatment, many patients will find their problem alleviated from within a few days to two to three months.
6/19/07 11:34:42 PM
BY PAT LAWson,
It is difficult for our body to take minerals directly from the earth and use them to benefit our body nutritionally. Plant life transforms these elements to a biochemical state for our use. Green leaves of barley concentrate provides a higher quantity and better balance than other raw foods valued for their nutrient qualities. As a comparison, it contains five times the iron of an equivalent weight of spinach; it is much richer in calcium than cows milk. As compared with wheat, it has 37 times the calcium, 25 times the potassium, and more than twice the magnesium. Its potassium content works to balance the sodium is salt which can produce a diuretic effect. Many people have reported a lowering of elevated blood pressure after taking it for a while. Especially noteworthy are its high amounts of the antioxidants; beta-carotene, 13 times that of carrots; 65 times as much vitamin C as apples and seven times more than oranges; high amounts of vitamin E, as well as a full range of B-complex. vitamins and minerals ignite enzymes.
Every function of the body requires enzymes. Green leaves of barley contain several hundred types, correspondent to those found in cells. They have the ability to promote an internal reaction with the cells, without themselves being changed. Among the enzymes plentifully provided is the very imporGuide To Alternative Health Therapies - 273
6/19/07 11:34:42 PM
tant super scavenger enzyme: Super-Oxide Dismutase (SOD), which is a cell protector. SOD has gained worldwide attention with regard to its antiaging significance and its anticarcinogenic activity. It destroys free radicals which will attach to and damage any molecule in your body.
Contrary to general belief, plants are high in protein content. Some proteins are very difficult for the body to break down and assimilate. Polypeptides, referred to as lightweight protein molecules, can be very easy for the body to assimilate. Green Leaves of Barley is rich in those lightweight proteins, thereby rendering it a stronger source of protein than milk and meat.
Dr. Richard Willstatter, a German chemist, determined in 1913 that the chlorophyll molecule closely resembles hemoglobin, the red substance in blood that carries oxygen to the cells. Hemoglobin is composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen atoms, grouped around a single atom of iron. Chlorophyll has the same elements; however, with chlorophyll the center is magnesium. Dr. Yosihide Hagiwara, a Japanese physician, reseacher and scientist, writes: I venture to maintain that the green blood of grasses can become red blood in man. Extensive laboratory investigation has shown that both cell vitality and renewal are clearly increased by the presence of chlorophyll. It has powerful anti-inflammatory, deodorizing and germicidal effects. It helps to neutralize and toxins, as it provides life-giving materials for the body.
An important characteristic of barley juice is its alkalinity. The ideal ratio, according to Dr. Ragnar Berg, the worlds foremost authority on the relationship between the acid-alkaline ratio, is about four to one: 80 percent alkaline to 20 percent acid. Known as the king of alkaline foods, the essence of barley has alkalinity of 66.4; compare this to the most popular alkaline food, spinach, which has a alkalinity of 39.6. Over-acidity in body tissue is associated with arthritis and rheumatic disease. However, when the proper ratio is maintained, the body has a strong resistance against disease. To summarize the character of green leaves of barley: The powdered concentrate is a simple, convenient fast food, balanced and superchanged with nutrition, energy, and healing power. Its power is derived from its completeness, wholeness, aliveness and balance. The barley grass is grown in an environment meticulously kept free from pesticides, chemicals and preservatives. Only kelp (uniquely rich in iodine,
274 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:42 PM
to invigorate the bodys own production of thyroid hormones) and brown rice (rich in vitamins and minerals that act as natural preservatives) have been a added. At about 22 cents per serving, it is a cost-effective way to balance our diets with live food. Many enthusiastic users will readily attest to its healing power. For further information, contract Pat Lawson at 3493 Augusta Drive, Ijamsville, MD 21754.
6/19/07 11:34:42 PM
Formaldehyde is a single-carbon organic compound, containing two atoms of hydrogen and one of oxygen. To some extent it occurs naturally in the body as an essential building block of DNA, RNA and methionine. It is also involved in the production of respiratory carbon dioxide. In industry, formaldehyde is very useful because of a highly reactive bond
276 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:42 PM
between the carbon and oxygen atoms; i.e., the carbonyl group. The oxygen atom of the carbonyl group has a net negative charge and readily binds to any structure that has a net positive charge. Formaldehyde very easily undergoes chemical reactions like self-polymerization in making commercial products and resins. If you awakened this morning and did the following ordinary things- used the bathroom, ate some food from a paper container, and read the newspaper --you probably sat upon, consumed and handled formaldehyde -emitting products. Many things that we constantly use in our modern lifestyles contain formaldehyde, and it can take a gaseous form which may be emitted from objects of daily use. The most common item is particle board, made with ureaformaldehyde resin as a glue. It is the major source of what we shall refer to as indoor formaldehyde. This wood-based product is used a great deal in modern buildings for subflooring, shelving and room dividers. Once installed, it continues to release formaldehyde into the life of the product. Partcle board is made by mixing small wood chips with urea and formaldehyde, producing a slurry. The two chemicals combine to make ureaformaldehyde, producing a slurry. The two chemicals combine to make ureaformaldehyde (UF), a resin glue, which dries and enables the wood chips to be formed into sheets that can be cut and used in the same way as wooden boards to make all sorts of shelving and inexpensive furniture, or even walls. The finished product is about six percent formaldehyde by dry weight. Unreacted formaldehyde and UF resin are trapped in the micropores of the particle board. However, UF is unstable at room temperature, so it gradually breaks down to free formaldehyde, which is slowly given off as a gas over a period of many years. Other souces of free formaldehyde gas in indoor air are: medium density fiberboard, plywood, luan paneling, foam insulation made with UF (known in the trade as UFFI), certain kinds of draperies, some types of carpeting, and some paints. In addition, it is often present in tobacco smoke.
In the early 1980s, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission attempted to ban the use of UFFI as a home insulator; however, pressures by industry succeeded in countering that attempt and the ban was lifted by federal court action. Nevertheless, consumers should be wary of UFFI. Improper installation, resulting from the omission of some ten critical steps may lead to serious health problems for people occupying structures that are insulated with UFFI. In 1980, the U.S. Committee on Formaldehyde (National Academy of Sciences) reviewed evidence regarding the adverse health effects of formaldehyde. Its findings indicated that there is no known threshold to the irritating effects
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 277
6/19/07 11:34:43 PM
on humans. The Committee recommended that levels of indoor formaldehyde be kept as low as possible, and since that time four different Federal agencies have published regulatory controls.
Today, formaldehyde tends to permeate our indoor environment since it is used in so many modern household and office products. It is also found in the outside air of cities, and it is a component of smog. It has even been detected in Antarctica at a level of 0.01 ppm, while in a number of cities a level of 0.02 ppm has been found. Due to its increasingly wide use for many industrial purposes, and since it is a component of smog, it may be said that the air of most large cities today is constantly contaminated by formaldehyde. However, researchers have found that the levels of concentration indoors are often several times higher than on the outside, mainly because of its presence in the building materials and furnishings, and the tendency to restrict the ingress of fresh air by having windows that cannot be opened. Formaldehyde is least concentrated in conventionally built homes, where natural woods are used (not factory -made sheets, masquerading as wood), although there may be some furniture which contains formaldehyde resins either in foam cushioning, or in a panel at the back of a chest of drawers, or in the carpeting. The general level of formaldehyde gas in the indoor atmosphere is far higher in modern apartments and condominiums, where a lot of factory - produced materials are employed for speedy construction. Where ventilation is disregarded the level of formaldehyde indoors becomes much higher. Temperature and humidity levels can also affect the release of formaldehyde gas, and concentrations are likely to be highest in warm, humid environments. In February 1985, HUD issued a regulation requiring manufacturers to display Health notice warnings with regard to formaldehyde in all newly manufactured mobile homes. (This was not retroactive, however, to cover the many such homes produced prior to that date). It was specifically stated that elderly persons and young children, as well as anyone with a history of asthma, allergies or lung problems, may be at greater risk. In 1987, the Environmental Protection Agency issued its report on the health hazards of formaldehyde, warning that it is a potential carcinogen (a causative agent in cancer). To this date in 1988, however, the EPA has not attempted to institute any controls over the allowable air concentrations of formaldehyde, nor as to its use in construction materials. OSHA issued a regulation, effective February 1988, on permissible occupational exposure to formaldehyde, reducing the limits from three ppm to one ppm average over an eight-hour period. The new standard was established
278 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:43 PM
because scientific evidence indicated significant health risks, including lung and skin irritation, asthma, certain types of cancer, and leukemia, associated with high formaldehyde pollution of the air. A sign was required to be posted in plants using formaldehyde products to caution employees. OSHAs regulations require health monitoring of employees, as well as measurement of air concentrations of formaldehyde in manufacturing plants; however no such precautions are prescribed for homes or offices. Yet countless numbers of people are today exposed to industrial levels of formaldehyde either in offices or even in their homes, without any warming or medical surveillance.
6/19/07 11:34:43 PM
6/19/07 11:34:43 PM
obstructions of the liver. General wrote that it was good to expel melancholy and its related diseases; melancholy diseases, in the medicine of the Middle Ages, were related to the liver. Milk thistle was also used during the Eclectic medical movement in the U.S. and is part of the naturopathic medical tradition here. In 1949, German medical researchers noted that milk thistle would protect livers from carbon tetrachloride poisoning, and they had isolated in 1968, and found to be a group of three related compounds collectively named silymarin. Numerous animal studies have shown silymarin protect the livers of experimental animals from damage from a wide variety of toxins. Animal tests are commonly carried out using poisons that cause liver damage resembling various human liver diseases. Silymarin prevented damage, or increased survival rate and recovery time in animals with liver damage resembling hepatitis, cirrhosis, and radiation damage, and damage caused by free radicals, heavy metals and mushroom toxins. Numerous clinical studies have been done with humans. A few typical research results are presented below. HePATITIs: In 77 patients with acute viral hepatitis, 42 were treated with placebo and 35 with silymarin. Recovery time for the placebo group averaged 43 days and for the silymarin group 29days. ALCoHoLIC CIRRHosIs: In a well-controlled double-blind study of 96 cases of alcoholic hepatic cirrhosis, 49 patients were treated with placebo, and 47 with silymarin. After a five-year period there were only five deaths (10.6 percent) in the silymarin group, and 14 deaths (28.5percent) in the control group. MUsHRooM PoIsonInG: A group of sixty patients with severe amanta mushroom poisoning were treated with injections of one of the three components of silymarin. All survived, when the normal death rate would have been 30-40 percent. FATTY DeGeneRATIon: In a group of 88 patients with toxic-metabolic liver damage due to alcohol abuse or diabetes mellitus, lab indicators for liver enzymes tended to revert to normal. Ninety-one abnormal test results fell to only 37 (59 percent improvement) after treatment with silymarin. PHARMACeUTICAL DRUGs: In a study of 66 patients taking dugs with toxic side effects to the liver, liver function tests gave a total of 71 abnormal results. Fifty-two of these (73 percent) responded to silymarin treatment, the great majority of them returning to normal ranges.
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 281
6/19/07 11:34:43 PM
AnesTHesIA: In 61 patients receiving anesthesia, which often causes temporary liver disorders, none of the 29 patients receiving silymarin showed lab results indicating liver damage. oCCUPATIonAL ToXIns: Studies showed that silymarin could rapidly cure workers producing pesticides who had disturbed liver function; other studies showed that in 40 patients with poisoning by silicon dioxide, the effect could be completely antagonized by silymarin. Silymarin has also been found effective in heavy metal poisoning. The only side effect noted for silymarin in the scientific literature has been a mild laxative effect in some people. The mode of action of silymarin is extremely simple, considering its wide range of effectiveness. It alters the structure of the outer membrane of liver cells in a way not yet understood, and prevents poisons from entering the cells. It also stimulates the growth of new liver cells. Finally, it acts as a free-radical scavenger, neutralizing damaging substances in much the same manner as vitamins C and E, but with much greater power. Its potent effect on the liver comes from its mode of excretion. More than 90 percent of the silymarin that is absorbed through the intestine concentrates in the liver. From there is excreted into the intestine with the bile, and then as much as 50 percent is reabsorbed through the intestine. Virtually none is found in the bloodstream. It is thus repeatedly recycled through the liver, concentrating its beneficial effect there. Silymarin does not interfere with the normal liver mechanisms for toxin or drug breakdown, so it will not interfere with the effectiveness or dosages of pharmaceutical drugs. Even though there are no side effects reported in the research, some patients in practice report liver symptoms such as irritability, headache or mild gastrointestinal upset, especially in the first few days or week of taking it. It is best to start with a low dose and work up slowly. A course of treatment should last at least one of three months to judge its effect. Some practitioners have found silybum clinically useful even when there was no clear indication of liver disease. In one case, a patient with a four-year history of fatigue, depression, food allergy and candidiasis, who had been treated with homeopathy, herbs, diet nutrition, stress management, exercise therapy, and other lifestyle modifications, with only mixed results after three years, showed a dramatic improvement after 30 days on silybum extract. The patient had an old history of alcoholism (15 years previously) and exposure to pesticides, but showed no clinical findings of liver disease. Considering the widespread toxicity of the environment, and the importance of the liver to all other systems in the body, silybum could be considered as a tonic in other persistent chronic disorders. Silymarin should also be considered in
282 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:43 PM
cases of psoriasis. Milk thistle can be used in various forms. Commercial solid extracts of silymarin are available both to practitioners and through health food stores. These products are, for the most part, 70 percent silymarin. Naturopathic and eclectic physicians used the alcohol tincture successfully in liver disease long before the Europeans began their research, and tinctures are currently available as well. Good alcohol extracts are made with 95 percent alcohol; silymarin is virtually insoluble in water. A note of caution on using the tincture with liver disease: alcohol itself is a liver toxin, and is contraindicated in alcoholism. The patient can pour boiling water over the tincture drops in the bottom of a cup and drive off the alcohol. The seeds, which resemble sunflower seeds, can be eaten as a food. The seed coat can be irritating to the digestive tract, however. If the seeds are first toasted, this property is diminished. The seeds can then be ground in a seed grinder and taken by the teaspoonful of food twice a day. Although milk thistle seed has been extensively researched, it is typical of many botanical medicines in that it cannot be fairly called a drug in the modern sense of the word; it has been consumed as a food and a tonic medicine by traditional people since antiquity.
6/19/07 11:34:43 PM
GARLIC
Garlic (Allium sativa) is perhaps the most significantly researched botanical medicine for hypertension. Fresh garlic in dietary amounts has been found in a double blind study to be as effective as the pharmaceutical drug cholestyramine in lowering serum cholesterol levels. In one study done among three groups of vegetarians in India, with nearly identical diets, except for the amounts of onion and garlic, the group consuming no onions or garlic had serum cholesterol 30 percent higher and triglyceride levels more than double
284 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:43 PM
those in a group which consumed 50 grams of garlic and 600 grams of onions a week. In another study, patients with high cholesterol were given a dose of a water extract equivalent to 10 grams of fresh garlic a day for two months. Their cholesterol levels were reduced by an average of 28.5 percent. Other studies performed in Europe, India, Libya, Japan, the U.S.S.R., and Canada have verified garlics cholesterol-lowering effect. And the most popular garlic product in the U.S. market is Kyolic. Even though most of the recent research into garlic has been on the lowering of cholesterol levels, thus lowering blood pressure indirectly, garlic is also known to lower blood pressure directly. As long ago as 1948, investigators found that some patients had a reduction of 20 mmHg or more after only a week of garlic treatment. In another study, garlic was shown to reduce systolic pressure by 20-30 mmHg and diastolic pressure by 10-20 mmHg. Another study on both rabbits and humans taking garlic showed a rapid and prolonged decrease in blood pressure. The mechanism of garlics action in lowering blood pressure is assumed to be threefold: 1. 2. 3. by lowering serum lipids. by expanding the vessel walls by inhibiting platelet aggregation, (the tendency of blood cells to stick together). The substance methyl allyl trisulfide is presumed to be the factor expanding the vessel walls, and ajoene to inhibit platelet aggregation.
VALERIAN ROOT
Valerian Root has been extensively studied scientifically, especially in Germany and the Soviet Union. It has strong hypotensive and sedative properties. It became widely accepted in European medical circles after World War I, when it was found effective in treating shell shocked war veterans. EEG monitoring of brain waves has shown valerian to act on the higher brain centers; its functional effect is to suppress and regulate the autonomic nervous system. Valerian is useful when hypertension is aggravated by stress and tension. It has no significant side effects, even at very high doses. Sometimes people will feel a hangover. This indicates that the dose is too high; reducing
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 285
6/19/07 11:34:43 PM
the dose does not generally reduce the benefits, but will eliminate the hangover. Some practitioners find valerian unpredictable; it may have an unexpected mild stimulant effect. This effect is probably due to using an old or poor quality preparation.
HAWTHORN
Hawthorn berries and flowers (Crataegus oxycantha) are considered an excellent heart tonic. An extract of its flavonoids, sold under the name Crataegon, has been used by the conventional medical establishment in Europe as a heart medicine for years. Its healing properties are attributed to its ability to increase blood supply to the heart by dilating the coronary blood vessels, and its ability to improve the metabolic processes within the heart muscle. Hawthorn has a complete absence of side effects. One medical herbalist prepared an extract of hawthorn in a pint of brandy that was to last a patient a month in small daily doses, but the patient drank the whole bottle the first night, and had no ill effects. There are no contraindications for the use of hawthorn, but it may potentiate the action of digitalis patients on heart medications should keep their physicians informed of their program, so that medication can be adjusted if necessary. Hawthorn regulates blood pressure by correcting defects of the heart. Numerous other botanical medicines are available for the treatment of blood pressure. These are emphasized here because they are commonly available, are inexpensive, and have no toxicity. They may easily be introduced into the regular diet or taken as simple food supplements.
COMBINATION
6/19/07 11:34:44 PM
should consult a qualified practitioner trained in nutritional medicine. They should introduce garlic into their diets on a regular basis. In addition, herbal combinations can be tailored to the individual needs. A good basic formula, using fluid extracts is as follows: two parts hawthorn (berries or flowers) two parts valerian Root two parts dandelion (leaf or whole plant) one part cayenne In this formula, dandelion is included as an alterative -- a long term rebuilder and tonifier. It also is tonic to the liver, which is important to fat and cholesterol metabolism. It is a mild diuretic in this dosage; it also has very high potassium content, a factor important for people with hypertension. Cayenne is included as a synergist, to facilitate the action of the other plants. If there is much spasm or tension, two parts of black cohosh (Cimicifuga race-mosa) or cramp bark (Viburnum supp.) may be added. If there is much nervous tension and stress, two parts skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) may be added.
6/19/07 11:34:44 PM
4.
5.
6/19/07 11:34:45 PM
recommendations of an expert, based on the patients total nutritional profile. 6. Many nutrients, herbs and similar substances have been proposed for rheumatoid arthritis. Further study is needed on such substances as octacosanol, devils claw, alfalfa, and so on, to determine if they may be of any value. It is essential to allow a substantial trial period of weeks or months.
A special point must be made on behalf of those taking large doses of aspirin for arthritis. Great care must be taken to prevent this drug from irritating the stomach lining. As aspirin depletes the bodys store of vitamin C, intake must be increased when aspirin is being ingested. The nutritional approach can be used in conjunction with other methods in the area of arthritis.
6/19/07 11:34:45 PM
VATA
The skinny computer whiz who complains about cold feet is probably Vata predominant. Vata is expressed through the nervous system, through movement in the body and the element air. When Vata is in balance, Vata types have vivacious dispositions and alert minds which quickly grasp new information -- and quickly forget. Like their minds, their bodies also move quickly. Generally thin, even angular, they do not like cold weather. Excessive light, cold, and dryness in environment or foods will cause viatiation (aggravation to the point of imbalance) as will undue movement (travel, physical or mental activity, and so forth), When out of balance, Vata individuals are prone to be restless, forgetful, anxious, and have difficulty sleeping. They are prone to constipation, arthritis and nervous disorders.
PITTA
The individual who gets enthusiastic about organizing projects and getting things done, perhaps expressing some impatience in the process, is probably Pitta. The fires of digestion and metabolism are Pitta, and those
290 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:45 PM
who are Pitta-predominant display fiery qualities, even to the extent that they are likely to have reddish hair and complexion. The first to turn the air conditioner on in the summer, they dislike too much sun, preferring cooler, more moderate weather. Pittas have a strong digestion and may be in agony if dinner is late. They do well at public speaking, and often have charismatic personalities. When in balance, Pittas are enterprising, time-conscious, and strongly idealistic. Out of balance Pitta is prone to be irritable and critical (a boss with a Pitta imbalance can be a real terror) and over time may develop cardiovascular and other problems generally associated with the hard-driving Type A personalities, including digestive problems, inflammations, and ulcers.
KAPHA
The most unhurried person you know is likely to be Kapha predominant. Kapha is associated with the easier-going Type B personalities; is related to physical structure and density, and identifies with the elements earth and water. Predominantly Kapha individuals usually have strong, attractive, well-built bodies, with greater strength and endurance than the other two types. Large tranquil eyes, dark plentiful hair, and natural beauty are marks of Kapha. Slow to become excited or irritated, in balance they display a calm, steady personality and an affectionate and forgiving nature. They learn more slowly than the other types, but they forget more slowly also. Of the three types, Kapha generally needs the most sleep, and sleeps heaviest. When out of balance, the Kapha individual has a tendency to be lethargic, to gain weight easily, and develop problems with high cholesterol and water retention. Asthma and congestion are also Kapha disorders. The Institute for Ayurvedic Studies and other researchers have found significant correlations between the different psycho-physiological types and these classical descriptions.
Practical Applications
The thrust of Maharishi AyurVeda, says Deepak Chopra, M.D. president of the Maharishi Ayur-veda Association of America and author of the book, Quantum Healing, is to achieve and maintain a high degree of balance and integration in the body so that the disease process cannot gain a foothold. Knowledge of ones individual body type, is like having an owners manual which provides information about ones own individual body. Needs in diet, exercise, hygiene, daily routines, seasonal protections, even behavior are different for each type, as these all affect our balance because they increase or diminish the qualities of Vata, Pitta, of Kapha in our system for good or ill. Regularly eating the wrong type of food overloads the system and causes imbalance, as when a predominantly Pitta person consistently eats Pitta (hot,
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 291
6/19/07 11:34:45 PM
spicy, sour) foods. The Pitta qualities will become excessive-- out of balance -- and will eventually cause Pitta disorders, such as irritability and ulcers. Favoring cooler, sweeter foods begins to offset the Pitta tendencies, creating a better balance. By understanding the particular needs of ones own body type, such simple remedies can be applied to maintain or restore balance and to produce a significant increase in comfort and health. Body typing also provides the physician with a tool for highly individualized diagnosis and treatment. Western medicine asks what kind of disease the patient is suffering from. Ayurveda asks what kind of patient is suffering from the disease, says Dr. Rothenberg, national co-director of the U.S. Maharishi AyurVeda Medical Centers. If a patient has heart problems, for instance, western medicine prescribes treatment for the heart. The Ayur-Vedic physician, on the other hand, treats the whole person. By understanding the doshas and their source, he knows where to look for the mental, emotional, and lifestyle imbalances which have created the problem. For instance, the heart patient may have an imbalance in Pitta -- the dosha closely associated with perfectionist Type A personalities known to be candidates for heart disease. By identifying the predominant doshas, the physician can then treat the disease with specific recommendations for diet, herbs, and any of different natural strategies, including techniques which work on the level of earlier stages of health or disease, the mind and emotions. We want to treat disease by removing its root cause, so we first must locate the root, says Dr. Brain Rees, medical director of Maharishi AyurVeda medical Center in Pacific Palasades, California. In eating disorders such as overweight, for example, Western medicine prescribes drugs and so forth, completely relying on methods which have not been very effective. Ayur-Veda gives us detailed understanding of what is needed. Often its just a matter of determining the pakriti and providing patient education about how to take care of his or her particular body type. To give an example, he tells about one of his patients, a predominantly Vata woman, who complained of anxiety, gas, cramps, and other discomforts. Upon questioning, she disclosed that in the interest of keeping her cardiovascular system in good health she followed current western advice of eating mostly raw foods and exercising strenuously -- she was running 10 miles a day, in fact. According to Maharishi Ayur-Veda, Vata is aggravated by raw foods and strenuous excercise, and this aggravation is expressed by symptoms of anxiety and gas. A more appropriate diet and level of exercise was prescribed, and the problems cleared up quickly. Generalized western advice about diet and exercise to prevent heart disease is based on the needs of the heavier Kapha types, those who do have a tendency to high cholesterol and who do benefit from raw foods and
292 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:45 PM
strenuous exercise, Dr. Rees says, but its not what is needed for everyone. With Ayur-Veda, individual differences are not mysteries.
The Institute for Ayurvedic Studies and other researchers have significant correlations between different psycho-physiological types and their classical 6,000 -year old descriptions. --Pitta scored heavily on the Jenkins Activity Survey for Type A behavior, with Kaphas high on Type B. A higher incidence of cholesterol and triglycerides was found in the blood of the Kapha types (oiliness is a given characteristic of Kapha), and a lower incidence in the other two types, especially vata, for whom a diet high in oils has been recommended for 60 centuries. A study on brain waves found a high amplitude, low-frequency EEG for Kaphas, indicating a slow, relaxed type of functioning. In keeping with what one would expect to find in more excitable natures, lower amplitude EEG was found in Vata types. White blood cell counts, hematocrit with catecholamine levels, receptor function, and several other parameters varied in the three types.
--
--
Classical Ayurveda says that the different doshas have different emotional experience. While no one is ready to draw final conclusions, researchers nonetheless found different neurotransmitters elevated in the three types. Vata types had elevated acetylcholine, pitta types had elevated catecholamines, and kapha types had elevated histaine.
VATA
---------
6/19/07 11:34:45 PM
pacifying foods Vatas do best if they do not overexercise --shorter amounts are sufficient Favor: food that is sweet, sour, salty, heavy, oily, and hot Avoid: pungent, bitter, astringent, light, dry, cold --
PITTA
--
Moderate build, tendency toward reddish complexion and hair, moles and freckles -Performs in medium speed -Medium time for learning, medium length of memory -Tendency toward irritability and temper -Enterprising and sharp in character -Comfortable sleep pattern -- Sharp hunger and digestion, cant skip meals -- Tendency to heartburn, peptic ulcers, inflammations, excessive body heat, weak digestion Favor: food that is sweet, bitter, astringent, cold, heavy, oily Avoid: pungent, sour, salty, hot spicy foods; too much sun
KAPHA
--
Solid, heavier build; hair is long and plentiful and tends to be darker, smooth oily skin -Slow, methodical in activity; slow to grasp information, but longer retention -Slow to become excited or irritated: tranquil, steady personality -Sleep is heavy and long -Slow digestion, mild hunger -Excessive weight, laziness, dullness, nasal congestion, problems of water retention and high concentrations of fat -Spring is hardest on kaphas. Take extra care to stay on kapha pacifying diet. Favor drier foods and conditions. -Benefit from arduous exercise Favor: food that is pungent, bitter, astringent, light, dry, hot Avoid: sweet, sour, salt, heavy, oily, cold
6/19/07 11:34:45 PM
The double life of skin is well known. Skin, the bodys largest physical organ, is also a pliable canvas on which your emotions are painted for all the world to see. When you are under stress of any kind, your body produces physical changes which create usually obvious sometimes subtle changes in your complexion. In response to the fight-or-flight syndrome the body increases adrenaline which courses through your veins and puts you in the optimal state to fight what threatens you, or to quickly flee from harm. Hormones are released from your endocrine glands causing an increase in heartbeat, respiration, blood sugar and perspiration. Waste removal is slowed, as is your digestion. Neither of these last two body functions are needed to save your life in the face of impending doom, so both processes are slowed or halted altogether. Poisons build up in your system unable to be released, the toxins floating through your stressed body are routed to secondary, storage areas until the danger is past. And the largest area of secondary toxin storage is, you guessed it, the skin. Stockpiling toxins in the dermis and epidermis creates havoc in an otherwise beautiful complexion. As these unwanted, but unshed, poisons multiply they lessen the flow of blood to your skin, choking off the source of vital skin nutrients. You will notice a decrease in the moisture of delicate skin cells. Your skin will seem much drier. Fine lines and flaking skin cells can become a daily issue, then prematurely aged skin is right around the corner. And your skin may become more sensitive to sunlight.
6/19/07 11:34:45 PM
Today, because stress is one of the most common traits of the human condition, we are learning to function well in its presence. Such positive methods of stress control as balancing your diet, mediation, massage, reflexology, biofeedback, self-hypnosis and changing your attitude are helping to take away the sting of stress as a lifemate. But what can be done when stress causes your skin to become drier, more sensitive to sunlight, aged in its appearance and more sensitive in general? First, change your cleansing routine to a richer, creamier facial cleanser, like the soothing, natural glycerin soap-in-a-jar kind. Keep away from super fatted soaps -- bar soaps with a lot of oil added to them. Even though theyre designed to keep your skin moist, they really only succeed in confusing the issue, by not cleaning well and thus leaving a layer of residue-trapping bacteria that can cause more irritation -- which is exactly what your stressed skin doesnt need! Switching to a richer moisture cream or lotion is the second step towards a more powerful moisture-building, moisture-bonding system of skin care. Look for natural oils that are super-skin compatible. A good one is canola oil. Its a monoglyceride -- meaning it is stable in both heat and light -- which will keep treating your skin long after you put it on. Speaking of light, theres one thing you cant avoid when outdoors, and that is sunlight. Every skin should wear a good sunscreen on a daily basis, but stressed skin is even more susceptible to dryness from the suns burning and aging rays. Look for sunscreens with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 6,10, 16 or 26 depending upon your known sensitivity to sunlight -- and how much sun you plan on getting that day. While no sunscreen is completely nutural (because the sunscreen itself must be on the FDAs list of approved ingredients to be called a sunscreen, and this list does not include any natural sunscreens) you can find some good sunscreens in the cosmetic section of your local health food store. Since youll be wearing these sunscreens in place of your daily moisturizer, youll also want some extra moisture bonded into your skin cells. Be sure to look for sunscreens that not only have moisture in them but will retain it in and on your skin, even if you swim or shower. Often sunscreens wash away in water. Look for ones that have longevity, that will bond with your skin for more than a few hours. So your skin will look great for life !
Prolonged stress is also a big contributor to one of the bodys worst enemies: free radicals. These microsized skin scavengers are wildly roaming cast-offs of molecu296 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:45 PM
lar debris created when your body uses oxygen. Free radicals are needed for such life functions as energy production, oxygen absorption, immunity factors, nerve impulse transmission, hormone synthesis and muscular contractions. Yet, although they are created during these processes -- and play a vital role in their function -- free radicals end up as unstable, negatively charged ions, no longer needed by your body when the metabolic cycle is completed. So they are cast off by the molecules of which they were once a part. Set free, these tiny scavengers roam the terrain of your skin and other internal landscapes looking for a place to call home. Theyre attracted mainly to cell walls, connective tissues and DNA. Stress increases free-radical castoffs. Then your body is under increased stress just trying to deactivate the free-radical rise. Its a vicious cycle. One that can cause a lot of problems to your skin, such as premature aging. While free radicals are the most likely cause of aging, they do more damage by weaking havoc with your skins immune system. Once thought to be the sole responsibility of the blood, scientists have recently discovered that your skin plays a primary part in the immunity process. Your skin helps to keep you safe from the world outside. Inside each layer of your skin lives one of the most thorough detective agencies the world has ever known. It protects you from viruses and bacteria small enough to penetrate the porous structure of your outer covering. And it searches out and destroys cancer cells as they form within your body. Members of this dermal detective agency are called Langerhans cells. Once thought by skin care professionals to be a thin layer of epidermal cells located about halfway into the dead layer of your skin, recent findings in the medical community prove the Langerhans cells are free agents. Working their way into every area of your skin, Langerhans cells seize invading bacteria while signaling cells within the blood to destroy the enemy. T-cells and B-cells, the bloods own daring duo of protection, arrive on the scene to kill off invaders, and will demolish cancer cells as they are formed. Researchers once assumed that these cells were visitors to the bodys surface. But science now knows that certain blood cells connected with the immune function are made just for the purpose of working within the dermis and epidermis. T-cells and B-cells found in the skin are specialized versions of the same type of blood cells roaming through your veins and arteries. Theyre all made in the usual blood-producing areas of your body, but some of these immune cells are targeted just for your skin alone. After formation, these micro-defenders migrate to your bodys surface where they stake out their territory at the front lines of the immunity war. An indication of the vital role your skin plays in the immune process is the fact that about as many T-cells and b-cells are housed your skin as are found in your entire bloodstream! Front line defense appears to be crucial to
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 297
6/19/07 11:34:45 PM
our well being. Free radicals latch on to your cells of defense: Langerhans cells, T-cells and B-cells. Inhibited by free radicals, each group of cells is less able to identify and destroy dangerous invaders and potential cancers. Another problem arises when, under stress, these defender cells identify harmless materials as threats to your health. This is what happens in cases of allergy. Increased frequency in allergic reactions, or a variety of skin allergies, may indicate that your skins immune function is not working up to par.
One way of giving support to your skins immune abilities is to lower free radical levels when they are on the rise, especially when your body is under stress. There are ingredients that can penetrate into skin layers, giving the little ionic orphans a harmless place to call home so they no longer need to latch onto your own cells. These ingredients are called antioxidants because they work against side effects created when your body uses oxygen. Antioxidants work by offering themselves up as a resting place for free radicals instead of letting the tiny age-makers attach themselves to your vital skin structures or other body parts. Some antioxidant molecules, such as vitamins A, C and E, can play host to as many as fifty free radicals before they are all sloughs body. The best antioxidants are in the vitamin family. Many of these are small molecules that find their way easily into your skin when applied to its surface. Their small size makes them able to work quickly in underlying tissue. When taken internally, these free radical hosts are zapped into action inside your body and used up before finding their way to your skin. A rich night cream is the perfect vehicle for antioxidants to be carried into your skin, because nighttime is when your skin needs the most help. Antioxidant vitamins are vital in the evening while your body sleeps and skin works overtime replacing faulty tissue and making new cells. This is the time when age-fighting ingredients are most importance to protect young skin cells as they are formed. Many vitamins are now used in cosmetics, and youll want to get the ones packed with antioxidant power. Check your ingredient listing for vitamins A, C and E. Youll find antioxidants help new cells to get a good start in life. Your skin will have a new look of vitality, glowing with renewed health. Another antioxidant currently being used in night creams is found in the Suma herb. Not a vitamin at all, this root, taken from trees grown in the jungles of Brazil contains a potent antioxidant mineral known as organic germanium. Organic germanium is a known antioxidant; it is also believed to be ef298 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:46 PM
fective in supporting immune functions (including your skin) and assist with cellular processing of oxygen. Plus, Suma has a high quantity of allantion, a drug-like soother that calms your skin down if you have signs of irritation or a sensitive complexion due to stress. Research under way in Brazil, Japan and the United States may show that this native root from the jungles is an effective answer to the stressors in our modern world. Not so easy to find are the causes of stress. As modern lifes constant companion, you must learn to live with its presence. Having a good, antistress skin care routine based on effective ingredients is one way to face stress--and win !
6/19/07 11:34:46 PM
6/19/07 11:34:46 PM
schools of homeopathy, a medical researcher has demonstrated in controlled experiments that homeopathic remedies inhibit viral activity in living tissue (Singh, L. British Homeopathic J., July 1985). The orthodox academic research community is beginning to stumble upon the homeopathic effect. At UCLA, Dr. Zighelboim, Assistant Professor of Immunology, has found that as few as 10 molecules of tumor necrosis factor can stimulate white blood cells (presented at the National Center for Homeopathy Conference, San Mateo, CA, April 1988). his experiments are well within the homeopathic remedy range. Tumor necrosis factor is one of a myriad of hormone-like chemicals that our immune system cells use to communicate with one another during the healing battle, as the body mends from invading cancer cells. Medical literature clearly records the ability of the body to heal itself from infections, viral diseases, and even cancer. Homeopathy holds the promise of stimulating this natural healing effect. Historically, homeopaths have helped cancer patients (Patterson, John, Cancer --Its Nature, London, 1866); yet government regulations outlaw this medical approach! Funding of medical sciences in the United States has been rigidly controlled by organized medicine. The biological models recognized by organized medicine receive research funding, but alternative models are forced outside the regulatory process. This is tragic, because the orthodox model or biochemical mechanisms and synthetic chemical interventions have pitifully failed in the war against AIDS. The situation is ironic, because recent studies in both Germany and the United States have discovered that a majority of officially authorized medicines are without any proven benefits. Yet, since the early 1900s, many double-blind studies have demonstrated the medical benefits of homeopathy. Perhaps it is time to let the citizens of the United States have free access to whatever therapies they desire -- just like the tens of millions of people in other countries who regularly use the gentle and natural cures offered by homeopathy.
6/19/07 11:34:46 PM
6/19/07 11:34:46 PM
Acidophilus is also an incredible cure for indigestion and flatulence, and it generally brings about an improvement in unpleasant abdominal sensations. The positive effect on bowel physiology makes acidophilus a star in the supplement arena. Among the hundreds of varieties of flora in our system, acidophilus figures most importantly. Unlike many other bacteria strains, it has the ability to pass through the stomach and small intestine without being inactivated. Acidophilus has been the most effective remedy for teenagers with acne. Drugs attack symptom; acidophilus helps to cure them. Its powerful detoxifying action helps to clear the skin of all impurities. The motility of the gastrointestinal tract is modified by the aging process. Diminution in mucous secretion, and muscular atrophy of the small and large intestine are also known to occur in later years. In addition, age-related changes in the nervous system, which mostly begin to appear in the seventh decade, may have an effect on bowel motility. Acidophilus comes to the rescue, and erases or lessens the symptoms caused by these changes. Some researchers believe that Crohns disease may be influenced, not by the presence of a pathogenic microbial agent, but rather by absence of a normal intestinal flora. So you see that acidophilus can be helpful for healthy people, from early years to old age; and it is indeed essential in many disease states. To add to the advantages, acidophilus contains enhanced levels of bioavailable nutrients. Our knowledge of intestinal micro flora is still rather primitive. We do know that the whole system is complex and interactive. But the important fact is that acidophilus is health-promoting, and it is one of the few food supplements in the market place.
6/19/07 11:34:46 PM
Most nutritionists advise that one should derive omega-3-fatty acids from the actual meat of the whole fish. However, for many people this is not feasible... perhaps because of an individual sensitivity to fish protein, or maybe fresh fish is not readily available and it is too expensive, or they lack adequate cooking facilities, or have a dislike for fish as food. For such people, a high grade of omega-3 in the form of an extract or capsule will have an appropriate role.
The more unsaturated a fatty acid, the more prone it is to oxidize in the presence of oxygen and heat. Fatty acid conversions to other less desirable molecular configurations may minimize the effectiveness of the fatty acid -or it may even be transformed into harmful substances. There is increasing scientific evidence that the cooking of any flesh product accelerates fatty acid oxidation. Fish oils are one of the most unsaturated forms of fat, and are thus par304 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:46 PM
ticularly prone to this change. A well-manufactured fish oil extract (done without the presence of light, oxygen and excessive heat) may in fact have the omega-3-fatty acid in a more beneficial and less altered form than is possible with well-cooked fish. However, the key word is well-manufactured. Some manufacturers may not observe the quality control that is needed in order to create a high-grade product. Therefore, choose your product and company carefully.
Therapeutic Applications
At this time, omega-3-fatty acid in marine lipids is classified as a food product. However, it is really a rather potent pharmacological product. Classifying any new product as a drug requires FDA approval. FDA protocol and standards are far more demanding for drugs than for food products. The most sensible strategy in preventive health is to follow a high fiber, low-fat diet, with exercise, stress management, and non-smoking program. The role of fish oil in this basic prevention approach should be viewed as a relatively minor contribution, except if a specific condition exists in which it may serve a definitely therapeutic role.
6/19/07 11:34:46 PM
Subcutaneous tissue is located just below the surface of the skin. It binds the skin loosely to underlying tissue or bones. In contains fat cells, which vary in size and number from person to person. In women, the uppermost subcutaneous tissue consists of comparatively large standing fat-cell chambers which are separated by radial and arching dividing walls of connective tissue anchored to the overlying connective tissue of the skin. In men, the uppermost part of the subcutaneous tissue is thinner and has a network of criss-crossing connective tissue walls. In addition, the corium (connective tissue structure between the dermis and the subcutaneous tissue) is thicker than it is in women. The thighs are the prime area of cellulite development. Here, the subcutaneous tissue is composed of three layers of fat, with two planes of connective tissue between them. However, the basic construction of the subcutaneous tissue differs in men and women. This difference in the basic construction accounts for infrequent cellulite deposits in men. As women age, the corium (which is already thinner in women than in men) becomes thinner and looser, allowing the fat cells to migrate into this area. in addition, connective tissue walls between the fat-cells also become thinner; this allows the fat-cell chambers to enlarge considerably. Thus, the breaking down or thinning of connective tissue structures is a major contributor to the development of cellulite and is responsible for the granular or buckshot feel of the cellulite deposits.
Stage Zero is when the skin of the thighs and buttocks is smooth, and when it is pinched (the pinch test) it folds without pitting or bulging. This is
306 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:46 PM
the normal condition for most men and for very slim or athletic women. stage 1: When the skin surface is smooth in repose --but if the pinch test is applied some pitting, bulging or other deformity of the skin surfaces can be observed (the so-called mattress phenomenon). This is normal for most females, but in a men it is a sign of deficiency of male sex hormones (androgens.) stage 2: The skin surface is smooth while the patient is lying down, but when standing there is some pitting, bulging or sagging of the affected parts. This is very common in women who are obese, and particularly when then are past forty years of age. stage 3 When the mattress phenomenon is very apparent in both lying and standing positions. It often develops after menopause, and may be observed in severely obese women at earlier ages.
A Sensible Approach
The best approach to cellulite is prevention. However, since the number and size of your fat cells are largely determined by the nutrition of your mother while developing the fetus in the womb, many people have an uphill battle right from the start. The main step in prevention is to preserve a normal body weight by means of a sensible diet supported by healthful exercise. Weight reduction and increased exercise can also be employed to overcome a cellulite problem. Rapid loss of weight, in individuals whose skin and connective tissues are already undergoing changes from aging, will often make the mattress phenomenon more apparent (this can be very ugly). Massage can be very beneficial, even self-administered massage with the hand or brush. Massage improves circulation of the blood and lymph fluids. The direction of the massage should always be from the periphery toward the heart. There are many cosmetic formulas and herbal preparations on the market that claim to be effective in curing cellulite, but most of these have no scientific basis demonstrating their effectiveness. Lengthy double-blind studies conducted have shown them to be no more effective than placebos. However, treatment of cellulite with herbs is effective if done properly.
Comprehensive treatment of cellulite by herbs involves both oral and topical administration of herbal compounds which contribute to the strengthening of the connective tissues, since their breakdown is a principal cause of the cellulite condition. The following formulas can be helpful:
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 307
6/19/07 11:34:46 PM
oral Formula: Centella asiatica extract (70 percent triterpenic acid content), 30mg. Escin, from Aeculus hippocastanum, 10mg., and Ruscus aculeatus extract (10 percent ruscogenin) 100mg. Topical Application: A formula composed of Cola vera (cola) extract, Fucus vesiculostis (bladderwrack) extract, and Rosmarinic acid, with cholesterol /escin complex. Apply to skin daily. Several herbs discussed below are of value in cellulite and also beneficial for varicose veins.
One of the reported miracle elixirs of life, gotu kola is currently arousing much interest. Several studies have shown that it exerts a balanced action on the metabolism, and has the ability to enhance connective tissue integrity by stimulating glycosaminoglycan synthesis without promoting excessive collagen synthesis or cell growth. The net result is the development of normal connective tissue. An extract of Centella, containing 70 percent triterpenic acids (asiatic acid, madecassic acid, and asiatoside) has demostrated impressive clinical results when given orally to patients with cellulite, venous insufficiency of the lower limbs, and varicose veins. Its effect in cellulite seems related to its ability to enhance the structure of connective tissue and reduce sclerosis (hardening), while its action in venous insufficiency and varicose veins is a combination of its effect on connective tissue and its ability to improve blood flow.
Escin is a compound isolated from the seeds of the horsechestnut. It has an anti-inflammatory action and is effective against edema (swelling caused by fluid retention); it also strengthens capillary walls, thus reducing, capillary permeability. It also has venotonic capacity; i.e., it strengthens the walls of the veins and thus has a beneficial effect on varicosities. In patients who have cellulite or varicose veins, escin can be given orally, or an escin-cholesterol complex can be applied to the skin of the affected areas, i.e., topically. The topical formula is excellent for the relief of major bruises, due to the ability of escin to overcome capillary fragility and swelling.
This is a subshrub of the lily family which grows in the Mediterranean region. The rhizome from butchers broom has a long history of use in treating venous disorders such as hemorhoids and varicose veins. The active ingre308 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:46 PM
dients are ruscogenins. These have demonstrated a wide range of actions, including anti-inflammatory activity and vasoconstrictor effect. Extracts of butchers broom are used in Europe, both internally and externally.
This is a seaweed that has a high iodine content which stimulates thyroid function; it has been used in treatment of obesity ever since the 17th century. It is also used in toiletries and cosmetics for its soothing, softening and toning effects. Extracts of bladderwrack are used topically for cellulite, and while its effects have not yet been scientifically confirmed, its general action of soothing, softening and toning is certainly beneficial.
Cola is rich source of caffeine and related compounds, and these tend to potentiate the effect of the compounds that stimulate the breakdown of fat (lipolysis). Topical administration is preferable to oral administration in treating cellulite, as it will have more localized effect.
SUMMARY
The comprehensive herbal treatment of cellulite involves both oral and topical administration of botanical medicines which posses the ability to enhance connective tissue structures. The breaking down or thinning of connective tissue structures is a major contributor to the development of cellulite; hence it is important to strengthen these tissues.
6/19/07 11:34:47 PM
The proper method of extraction and processing of any specially supplement is essential if the full therapeutic benefit is to be derived. It takes research, and costs money, to supply a quality product. One should be wary of supplements whose efficacy is not backed up by analysis from an independent laboratory.
310 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:47 PM
Hard-training athletes should forget about the recommended daily allowance established by the National Research Council: those amounts are far too low for high-performance needs and they relate only to the basic levels for sustaining good health. They have no application to your needs as a competing athlete. Protein forms the building material necessary for all of our biological functions. It is present in virtually every organ of your body, and essential for growth, development and repair of all body tissues. Protein is needed also to produce vital hormones (the biochemical regulators) and enzymes (intracellular activators). Proteins also help to form antibodies, the main-line defenders of your immune system. How much protein do you need? a good rule of thumb is: Consume seven to ten grams of complete protein every day, for every pound of your body weight. However, your specific needs will depend on your level of activity. The over consumption of protein can cause some undesirable effects, one of which is overproduction of a highly toxic ammonia called urea. Urea places a heavy burden on the kidneys and liver, since they have the burden of removing it from the system. In fact, the body cannot handle too much protein; it becomes overloaded.
Amino Acids
Amino acid supplementation, properly applied, has proven to be as effective and certainly much safer than anabolic steroids for building muscle and strength. The amino acids are the building blocks of protein. They are in two groups: essential and nonessential. Those not manufactured by the body are termed essential and need to be supplied from external sources, i.e., from the foods you eat. The so-called nonessential amino acids (which are really absolutely essential) can be manufactured within your body. It is vital that the aminos be in correct proportion; the body is a delicate balance of interacting chemical reactions. Vital imbalances can occur if some unwanted aminos are included at the wrong moment with a happy combination of aminos; then there is no longer synergy. Therefore, the guidance of an expert is desirable.
Anabolic Alternatives:
The amino acids of most interest to athletes are those that stimulate release of a substance called Human Growth Hormone (HGH). This is a polypeptide hormone stored in the pituitary gland. It is also called somatotropic hormone, or STH. Its release can be stimulated by certain amino acids. The body, with the acid of certain amino acids such as L-arginine, L-ornithine, L-tyrosine, Ltryptophan, and glycine, in various combinations taken at different times of
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 311
6/19/07 11:34:47 PM
the day, can be stimulated to release HGH. HGH induces anabolic conditions in the body, producing many effects of anabolic steroids, but without their serious side effects.
Thirty-five percent of your muscles are made up of the amino acids leucine, isoleucine, and valine. These essential amino acids are known as the branched chan (BCAA) because of their molecular configuration. Of all the amino acids metabolized in your liver, nearly 70 percent are BCAAs. They assist in synthesizing other amino acids needed for the building of muscle tissues. They contribute greatly to energy production for muscular work and the natural anabolic process within your muscles.
Supplementation with gamma oryzanol is superior to the exxcts of anabolic steroids for building and maintaining muscle tissue, as has been proven by actual studies --yet it has no side effects. Gamma-O (also known as ferulic acid) is a white powdery substance extracted from rice bran; though it has been known for over 30 years, it is only lately become available in supplement form. It is an antioxidant and a useful anticarcinogen. Its lipotropic properties normalize serum cholesterol, and as an antistress factor it serves to reduce stress reaction by increasing the norepinephrine (NE) in the brain. It thus provides many ancillary health benefits, while stimulating production of somatotropin (HGH) from the pituitary gland.
Cernitine:
L-carnitine is another fine energy producer. It sends fats (long chain fatty acids) into the mitochondria (the power plants of the cells), where they are burned for metabolic fuel. Carnitine aces as a mine-induction system, to create energy. The 1982 World Soccer Champions from Italy attributed their success largely to supplementary use of carnitine.
Methyl Donors:
This is a group of nutrients that increase the efficiency of oxygen transportation throughout the body, by a process known as transmethylation. Methyl donors are vital to oxygenation, and use alternative pathways to produce cellular energy. Sarcosine and dimethylgycine (DMG), a component of B-15, serve to release energy. Others, such as betaine, choline and methionine, provide methyl groups for the synthesis of creatine in the muscles, which creates a reservoir of high energy. ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is the intracellular jet fuel that powers the energy needs of virtually all life forms on earth. For athletes, it is the stuff
312 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:47 PM
that powers muscle contractions, commands nerve tissue activity, and swiftly directs muscle repair. Rendering it directly available as a supplement is the current subject of much research. Inosine penetrates the cell walls of both skeletal and cardiac muscle, and promotes manufacture of ATP within the body. Many athletes have stated that by its use they greatly increased their strength; however, some nutrition authorities warn against its use, and further investigation may be advisable.
Oxygen Boosters:
Octacosanol, a long-chain primary alcohol, is the active ingredient in wheat germ oil that is responsible for increasing endurance and stamina. Cytochrome-C is a compound made up of a number of amino acids and iron, which has the ability to increase muscle performance and endurance. It allows muscles to use oxygen more efficiency, thus improving energy levels. CoQ enzyme, or Q-10 (also called Ubiquinone): This can be synthesized in the body, but can also be taken as a supplement. Its activity influences the flow of oxygen in the cells, thereby supplying the biochemical spark that cycates energy. It is a valuable ingredient for success in sports performance, as it improves cardiovascular performance. Germanium (bis-carboxyethyl germanium sesquioxide) is a mineral element which has strikingly beneficial results as an enhancer of our natural immune defenses. It also enhances the more efficient utilization of oxygen by activating the mitochondria, and contributes to cardiovascular fitness. Germanium is found in many plants -- all of which are renowned for having special health-giving properties. These include: garlic, ginseng, aloe, comfrey, and especially chlorella, the algae known as the gem of the Orient, which is now becoming readily available in the U.S. as a supplement.
Herbal Dynamics:
Many herbs are now being used as enhancers of sports performance. Some of them are: Oriental ginseng, Siberian ginseng, Brazillian ginseng (also known as Suma), Fo-ti-Tieng (or Shou Wu Pain), Ma Huang, Pau dArco, Gotu Kola, Eleutherococcus, Radix Astragulus, Dong Quai (female ginseng), Comfrey, White Willow Bark Bark, Licorice, Alfalfa, and Marigold. Herbs supply valuable plant hormones which have adaptogenic properties and aid human metabolism. They tonify the system, stimulating the natural processes of the body to superior function.
6/19/07 11:34:47 PM
Best Protein sources over 20% Protein & under 20% Fat Soybeans, Split Peas, Lentils, Kidney Beans, Wheat Germ Lima Beans, Black-eyed Peas, Black Beans, Navy Beans. Best Carbohydrate sources under 5% Fat & over 70% Carbohydrate Brown Rice, Whole Barley Whole Buckwheat, Wild Rice Whole Rye, Foxtail Millet Whole Corn, Pearl Millet, Whole Wheat, Rolled Oats.
6/19/07 11:34:47 PM
While attending The Northern California Health Food Convention, Dr. Pati met and talked with Dr. Daub on their interests in healing with natural therapies. The following interview was held more recently when Dr. Turner was present. Ienneth R. Daub, D.C. and Carl B. Turner, M.D., are co directors of the Vascular Associates Clinic Network, which is developing clinics all across America that deal specifically with the problems of hardening of the arteries (arteriosclerosis, atherosclerosis). Now that people in the U.S. are living longer, it has become one of the most common diseases in the nation. Dr. Pati: Dr. Daub, can you tell us how this project got started? Dr. Daub: It is the result of a simple evolution, beginning in 1976 when I read about Dr. Robert Barnes, of the university of Iowa, and his work with Doppler Ultrasound. He was using ultrasound as a non-invasive method to detect early signs of arterial insufficiency. As a chiropractic physician, I have always been interested in preventive medicine, and natural methods of healing. The idea of being able to examine a patients arterial system without pain or potential damage appealed to me. Quite by coincidence, I also read about the work of a German medical doctor who was successfully treating circulatory disease with mineral orotates and enzymes. This increased my interest. Ill just try to cover the highlights of all that has occurred since 1976. A medical center involved in Intravenous Chelation Therapy invited me to head a newly formed Department of Vascular Diagnosis. At that time, I.V. Chelation was a most controversial therapy for hardening of the arteries. It has now gained some measure of acceptance. I spent two years at the Center, and became proficient in conducting vascular studies and interpreting the graphs. The next step in the evolution of VRP came when I opened my own clinic near Chicago, where for three years we treated hundreds of people, of al ages, who had varying degrees of arterial insufficiency. The success rate was phenomenal, and I began to get inquiries from doctors all over the country concerning the Vascular Rehabilitation Program. As a result, the Vascular Associated International Corporation was formed.
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 315
6/19/07 11:34:47 PM
By this time, I needed assistance. It was no simple task to find a doctor willing to put his neck in the noose with me. After all, I was defying the current medical drug therapy with my approach; and two physicians who initially had the courage to associate with me were soon intimidated by authorities of their local Medical Association, so they are no longer with our program. However, I met Dr. Carl Turner in 1984. Ill let him tell you what he thinks of our work. Dr. P: Dr. Turner, tell us exactly how and why a medical doctor would get involved with such a controversial method of treatment. Also, why would you choose to associate yourself with a chiropractic physician? Dr. Turner: First, let me make the point in regard to chiropractic and other disciplines. It is very unfortunate that in this country we allopathic physicians (M.D.s) have constantly sought to discredit all other disciplines. Optimal health demands a wholistic approach to the individual, and this justifies an integration of medical approaches. I am involved in Dr. Daubs program because I am convinced that our emphasis in health care should be preventive, rather than curative. Dr. P: How would you describe our present health care delivery system? Dr. T: Unfortunately, despite advocating that people should have an annual physical examination and routine preventive screening, (i. e., pap smear, mammogram, and a stool specimen for colon cancer, etc.), it still remains true that most people do not do so until they have experienced some type of catastrophe: a stroke, heart attack, or bleeding suggestive of cancer. Dr. P: The incidence of heart attack, in particular, has risen greatly in the past 40 years. What is your view on this? Dr. T: A combination of factors such as lifestyle, diet, and heredity has led to these statistics. However, if we are going to reverse the trend, we must expand on program like Dr. Daubs Vascular Rehabilitation Program. Dr. P: Please contrast this Vascular Rehabilitation Program with the approaches of most orthodox health practitioners. Dr.T: In the orthodox setting, there is an assumption that an individual is healthy who does not have overt clinical symptoms and/or diagnostic findings, such as an abnormal EKG. In our VRP, we ask ques316 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:47 PM
tions about conditions which often precede overt clinical symptoms. For example, cold hands or feet; numbness or tingling in arms, legs, hands, or feet; slow wound healing, etc. When these symptoms are present, we assume there is vascular insufficiency (i.e., hardening of the arteries) despite an apparently normal EKG -- even, sometimes, with a normal physical examination. Dr. P: What other differences exist between your Vascular Rehabilitation Program and orthodox therapies? Dr. T: As our name suggests, we are particularly interested in rehabilitating the vascular system. Not merely in using drugs (pharmaceuticals) to reduce the risk catastrophe, but in actually reversing the damage to the blood vessels. We feel that an adequate diagnosis can be made with noninvasive procedures like Doppler Ultrasound and plethysmography, as opposed to catheterization. We are also convinced that many patients do not require angioplasty, endarterectomy, or bypass, since correction can be achieved with a corrective nutritional supplementation. Dr. P: Dr. Daub, can you tell us more specifically what is contained in your nutritional program? Dr. D: There are several areas that we address, in regard to vascular problems. First, we use anti-inflammatory agents to help in the control of vessel wall damage and clotting. Second, we use a combination of antioxidants to help normalize cellular activity, especially in the area of fluid exchange. This is important in helping the body to get rid of stored toxins, such as free radicals. Next, we use a combination of very active proteolytic enzymes, in an attempt to provide digestive materials in an exogenous form to assist the pancreas in defending the body from invasive forces. Last, but certainly not least, we use a combination of raw glandulars to support the bodys immune system. Dr. P: Dr. Daub, do you manufacture your own formulas, or simply purchase supplements that are already available? Dr. D: No, We are not in the supplement business, and are not manufacturers. We train physicians and clinics in the proper techniques to be used to nutritionally support and care for the vascular system. Those mentioned include Doppler Ultrasound, and a proper diet, supplemented by formulas.
6/19/07 11:34:47 PM
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
6/19/07 11:34:47 PM
normalization of T-4 counts, with improved overall energy and some weight gain, in addition to a decrease in clinical signs and symptoms. Some of these are now at a three-year level. 7. One of the earliest KS patients went through a full course of treatment twice during 4-1/2years, and died only after he had returned to chemotherapy and heavy antibiotics following a relapse. Currently, at least six full-blown AIDS cases are stable. In two ARC-level cases, and one AIDS-level case, HIV-virus can no longer be cultured from the blood. All three patients are not only stable, but working, and feeling well. Yet the three cases were all diagnosed with HIV (from blood) in 1988. In one AIDS-level patient, immunoblastic lymphoma vanished within a month of beginning treatment; he now remains stable. In one AIDS-level patient, cryptococcal meningitis has disappeared completely. One full-blown AIDS patient (primarily PCP pneumonia) survived for 21months on a mixed BRI and orthodox protocol. During this time, he was able to take oral AZT for a full year without need for blood transfusions; he worked a normal shift, but ultimately relapsed for a third time following use of aerosol pentamidine and several other drugs. At one point during his BRI therapy, a case of walking pneumonia which he suffered was corrected in three days with infusions of Dioxychlor and vitamin C. We have seen rapid, but sometimes transient, destruction of KS lesions, applying Dioxychlor topically. In one ARC patient, the T-4 cell count doubled in a week, and tripled within a month, while the overall symptoms subsided. In several patients T-4 cells normalized, but the T-4; T-8 ratio remains low because the T-8s remain high, suggestive of a protective or other benign effect from elevated T-8 cells, with no signs of immune dysfunction. Despite these relatively encouraging results the BRI protocols do not claim cure, nor can we predict how long the seemingly stabilized patients will remain stable.
8. 9.
16.
6/19/07 11:34:47 PM
The advance to overt pathology in immune-compromised or HIV- positive patients can be halted or slowed. The advance to worse pathology in ARC-level patients is halted or slowed by this treatment. Improved longevity and quality of life are observed even in full-blown AIDS cases. The advance of the disease has been slowed in several instances. We believe that a substantial number of HIV positive, ARC-level, earlyAIDS patients can survive with ordinarily good health for an unquantifiable period of time, and most of them are likely to remain in a state of reasonably good health as long as they take adequate dietary, exercise and lifestyle precautions. AIDS/ARC should not be seen as inevitably fatal. Results in improvement of these conditions are likely to be better, the earlier this kind of intervention is commenced.
A Note on Dioxychlor
BRI worldwide research on oxidology (the study of reactive oxygen toxic species in health and disease) led BRI to the consideration of the synthetic compound chlorine dioxide as the foremost among oxidative agents. It is essentially free of the metabolically damaging side effects of the natural exogenous oxidative agent, hydrogen peroxide, and of the major natural exogenous oxidative agent, ozone, so that it does not initiate the potentially disruptive free-radical cascade or other biological side effects of these species. Chlorine dioxides primary benefit is the release of atomic oxygen, a natural way to directly inhibit or destroy viruses, bacteria and fungi without producing significant toxic effects along the way. In view research has demonstrated the efficacy of this compound against HIV, EBV, CMV, hepatitis, polio, and other pathological organisms and structures.
Patient Follow-up:
AIDS/ARC patients are monitored following their release from the ten day program, usually by telephone or letter. We are interested in ongoing T-cell tests and/or any viral assays (antigen P-24, PCR, etc.) that are indicative of viral inhibition. AIDS/ARC patients are usually asked to return occasionally for booster live-cell injections, or for occasional drips of Dioxychlor. The length of time they will need to continue on oral drugs (ribavirin) has not yet been established, although they will be asked to adhere to a program of host-defense-enhancing supplements and dietary constraints for the foreseeable future.
6/19/07 11:34:48 PM
Method of Action
Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) comes from the trees leaves and has shown pharmacologic action on different parts of the circulatory and nervous systems. In clinical trials, patients with chronic cerebral arterial insufficiency and peripheral arterial insufficiency have responded favorably to GBE. GBE has been shown to improve some aspects of nerve functioning (neural transmission); it may also be effective in some cases of senility (i.e. Alzheimers disease).
In a large open trial involving 112 geriatric patients with chronic cerebral vascular insufficiency, those given GBE displayed a statistically significant regression of major symptoms of cerebral vascular insufficiency, including; short-term memory loss, vertigo, headache ringing in the ears, lack of vigilance and depression. These symptoms of decreased cerebral blood flow are extremely common in the geriatric population owing to the presence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The extremely significant regression of these symptoms offered by Ginkgo biloba extract suggests that vascular insufficiency may indeed be the major causative factor accounting for these so-called age-related cerebral disorders versus a true degenerative process.
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 321
6/19/07 11:34:48 PM
Ginkgo biloba extract has been shown in vitro experiments to increase the rate at which information is transmitted to nerve cells. However, this has also been demonstrated in clinical studies. In a double-blind placebo-controlled study, the reaction time of healthy young women performing a memory test was found to have improved significantly after administration of GBE. In a separate double-blind study GBE was shown to induce a restoration of vigilance toward normal levels, and improved mental performance, in elderly patients. Further corroboration of these results come from EEG tracings and behavioral observations.
Ginkgo biloba extract has a demonstrated free-radical scavenging effect. This, combined with its effects on blood vessels and its ability to increase metabolic processes during decreased blood supply, suggests that it may have efficacy in arterial insufficiency. In a double-blind randomized clinical trial of GBE versus placebo, in two parallel groups of patients with peripheral arterial insufficiency of the leg, GBE was shown to be superior to placebo. Both plethysmographic and doppler ultrasound measurements (after exercise) showed increased blood flow through the affected limb in addition to more pain-free walking distance and maximum walking distance. Muscular rehabilitation combined with the elimination of selected risk factors (i.e. cigarette smoking, weight reduction) remains the standard treatment for people with peripheral arterial insufficiency. However, the beneficial effects of such therapy on walking tolerance has not been shown to be related to improved perfusion of the limb, with results being limited over time, suggesting some are actually placebo responses. Therefore, muscular rehabilitation and reduction of risk factors seems unsatisfactory alone. The clinical demonstration the GBE improved limb blood flow, together with improved walking tolerance indicates that Ginkgo biloba extract may be the botanical supplement of choice in peripheral arterial insufficiency. Obviously other applications related to this condition warranting GBE, would be the peripheral vascular disorders such as diabetic perpheral vascular disease; Raynauds disease (vascular disorder); acrocyanosis (mottled, uneven, blue or red discoloration of the skin with profuse sweating and coldness of digits); and post phlebitis syndrome (vein inflammation).
6/19/07 11:34:48 PM
6/19/07 11:34:48 PM
and again, we can overwork and exhaust our white blood cells, which are the active part of the immune system. The white blood cells need protein to work effectively. But they cannot avail themselves of protein when it is not digested and assimilated property. So it becomes a vicious circle. Therefore, when we ingest sugar over and over, we weaken our immune system and other body tissues. When these are weak, we are not able to fend off foreign invaders, so we become susceptible to degenerative disease as well as to infections. What type of infectious disease we may contract will depend on what bacteria or viruses may happen to be in the environment; and the type of degenerative disease we will develop may depend on some weakness in our genetic blue print. Many of us create our own disease by upsetting our own body chemistry. When we stop doing to our body what we did to make it sick, and take steps to correct the imbalance, the body will heal itself. It is that simple. Of course, sugar is not the only food that will upset the correct body chemistry. Alcohol, caffeine and over processed foods are just a few of the other culprits. In my book Lick The Sugar Habit, I discuss these other foods; but sugar is certainly the major offender for the greatest number of people.
Start reading the labels on processed foods, and you will be amazed to learn how much sugar there is in them! Instead of eating these processed foods, go back tot he caveman diet, to the basic foods what we evolved with. Those are the foods that we have the enzymes to digest. Be sure to eat plenty of leafy vegetables, root vegetables, beans, small amounts of varied proteins, grains, and fruit. These are foods that do not upset our body chemistry and they are readily digestible.
The key to health is a body that is homeostasis. If your body is not in homeostasis, it is giving you signals. You may have symptoms such as headaches, runny eyes or nose, itchy throat or ears, joint pains, high blood pressure and/or high cholesterol count. You may experience fatigue, and fall asleep after meals. You may even find you need nine hours of sleep each night. You may be troubled with skin problems, boils, canker sores, frequent infections, yeast problems, or any degenerative disease. Look to your lifestyle to find what is causing these symptoms. One of the first things to do is to eliminate sugar from your diet, as much as may be possible. Eliminating sugar will definitely help to bring your body back to homeostasis and will result in an improved state of health.
6/19/07 11:34:48 PM
Ayurvedas Origins
In spite of its great age, ayurveda is relatively new to the Western world. Believed to have produced high levels of health in Indias golden age, the indigenous form of this ancient traditional medical system was repressed by successive waves of invaders. By this century, with many essential aspects disregarded or forgotten, it was assumed by modern standards to be merely folk medicine. Practice was limited almost exclusively to village drugs to treat
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 325
6/19/07 11:34:48 PM
the surface symptoms of disease. But underlying anything which has survived 60 centuries, hard facts must exist. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, founder of the Transcendental Meditation program, gathered 200 leading vaidyas (ayurvedic physicians) and scholars to clear up thousands of years of confusion. These included three advisors to the government of the India, Dr. V.M. Dwivedi, the leading authority in rasayana (herbal formulation), Dr. B.D. Triguna, expert on ayurvedas major diagnostic technique (pulse diagnosis) and president of the All-India Ayurvedic Congress (Ayurvedas equivalent to the AMA), and Dr. Balraj Maharishi, believed to be the worlds foremost authority on the identification and use of medicinal plants. This group pieced together the fragments of ayurveda and put them into a systematic package understandable to Westerners. Now called Maharishi Ayur-Veda to identify its authenticity, it is believed to be the true essence of this ancient science. The result is so comprehensive and appealing that in the last three years 600 U.S. physicians have become members of the American Association of Ayurvedic medicine, with 100 of them fully trained in Maharishi Ayur-Veda diagnostic technique and practices. It is a complete science of health, said Jay Glazer, M.D., director of the Maharishi Ayur-Veda residential care center in Lancaster, Massachusetts. Nothing falls outside its scope. The ancient texts include etiology, pathogensis, symptomatology, diagnosis, treatment and prevention, with emphasis on prevention. Along with descriptions of pharmaceutical processes are outlines of the proper steps to be taken in manufacturing natural medicines, their correct application and dosage, and their pharmacological action, even the times to collect herbs and plants for maximum potency. Sophisticated purification procedures, personal hygiene and advice for health-promoting conduct are specified. The role of the mind in health or sickness is viewed as having primary importance. Maharishi Ayur-Veda physicians use quantum physics to explain how it works. According to physics, matter and energy emerge from an unmanifested field. Subtle vibrations create subatomic particles, which create atoms, which create the variety of molecules and successive layers that form all things in creation, including humans. Ayurveda, which described this process more than 60 centuries ago that if imbalances occur at these deep lavels, the whole system is thrown off, with layer after layer being affected until finally disease emerges as the surface symptom of the inner problem. Western medicine so far has largely been the treatment of symptoms, the end result of imbalance. Ayurveda looks for and treats the source. It is impossible not to recognize the clinical value of Maharishi AyurVeda, once the eye and intellect have been trained to appreciate the many additional insights which Ayurvedic diagnostic techniques give to the phy326 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:48 PM
sician, reports Evans Fiakpui, M.D., and obstetrician-gynecologist at the University of Chicago and Hyde Park Hospitals. Maharishi Ayurveda lets me pick up on (health problems) earlier and anticipate potential obstetrical or surgical complications. Physically the approach is to stimulate the bodys natural intelligence -its knowledge of how to heal itself - using what Maharishi calls the principle of complementarity. Herbs, minerals, color, smells, sounds, and many other vehicles exist that perfectly match specific aspects of our physiology, says Dr. Deepak Chopra, endocrinologist and president of the Maharishi Ayurveda Association of America, former chief of staff of New England Memorial hospital, and author of several books including Creating health--Beyond Prevention, Toward Perfection, and The Quantum Mechanical Body. Knowledge of precisely which vehicle to use to stimulate normal functioning is one of Maharishi Ayur-Vedas fortes. Because the treatments are natural and appropriate, side effects are eliminated. Furthermore, as the bodys heating abilities relieve the patient of layers of imbalance, side benefits are actually produced as the strain placed on other areas is released. The most essential aspect of health or sickness is believed to be the mental aspect --consciousness. Whatever one thinks or feels is translated instantly into chemical changes in the neurophysiology, Dr. Chopra says. Any imbalance in mind, emotion or body is actually a problem of imbalance in the sequence of vibration, when creation emerges from the (unified field). Repetition of the same types of thoughts and feelings produces lasting changes, for good health or bad, in the deepest levels of the physiology. Transcendental Meditation is highly recommended for stress management and to purify and improve consciousness, so that improved mental and emotional functioning eliminates repetition of mistakes.
Does It Work?
Ive seen some remarkable recoveries, says Stokes Dickens, M.D. head of the Sleep Disorder Center at the University of Iowa Hospital. I witnessed one incident, says Dr. John Douillard, a chiropractor who spent 10 months studying Maharishi Ayur-Veda in India, where Dr. Raju (a noted vaidya) treated a young boy who had a serious case of rabies. Everyone was panicking, and some other doctors were yelling that he should be rushed to the hospital, that he was in critical condition. Dr. Raju gave him an herbal treatment, and the next day the boy was fine. Gerg Sharp, a health professional in St. Louis who has incorporated Maharishi Ayur-Veda into his practice, gives the example of a 60 year old woman who had seen numerous doctors with a severe case of asthma. The last doctor put her on a diet which according to ayurveda was exactly wrong.
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 327
6/19/07 11:34:48 PM
She got worse, and by the time I saw her she could barely breathe. I put her on a diet ayurveda recommended as suitable for her body type and condition, and now she is virtually symptom-free. Besides finding general improvement in the health and well-being of patients who undergo ayurvedic treatments, research has shown that Maharishi Ayur-Veda improves resistance to stress and relieves stress-related complaints, reduces the major cardiovascular risk factors, and improves the factors most closely related to longevity. Martha Blackmore doesnt know a lot about the scientific reasons, but the changes are obvious to her. I am much happier because I am much healthier, she says, reporting her experiences in taking Maharishi Ayur-Veda treatments and following its advice for self-care. I feel that if I can do this for the rest of my life, then I am not afraid of old age-- I will just continue to get better and better. Ayurveda puts health care back into the hands of the individual, Dr. Chopra says. In future issues of Health World you can find out how to recognize your Ayur-Vedic body type, choose foods most suitable to keep you in balance, learn exercises that are strain-free, and other healthcare tips from Maharishi Ayur-Veda.
6/19/07 11:34:48 PM
Whats In a Shampoo?
Shampoo is at the very heart of your healthy hair routine. A good shampoo should be gentle enough to use every day; yet it should clean your hair and scalp of all unwanted dirt, styling sprays and gels, and grime from smog, smoke, and whatever else is floating through the air. But, unless your hair is ultra-oily, too-frequent shampooing can lead to a condition of dryness that is undesirable which is simply the result of being too clean ! So squeaky-cleanliness may not be the ultimate test of suitability. Another mistake may be in looking for a rich lather that foams up as you wash. Not all shampoos need gobs of lather to clean your hair. Judge this with some discretion: even the richest lathering shampoos will not foam, if the water coming out of your tap is hard-- if it has too much mineral content. If you live in an area where the water supplied is heavy in minerals, you should either get a water softener, or give your hair a rinse containing apple cider vinegar after shampooing, to remove all residue.
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 329
6/19/07 11:34:48 PM
Soaps of any sort tend to leave a dulling film on your hair that even the softest water does not remove, and this is true even of Castile soap. So soap is best avoided if you want to promote the beauty of your hair. However, you can use certain soap substitutes, such as sodium laureth sulfate, cocamidoproyl betaine, palm kernelamide DFA, and coconut diethylnolamide. All of these are derived from coconuts and they contain ingredients that clean your hair gently.
Oil glands resting in your scalp secrete natural oils to make your hair glossy and to keep your scalp pliant and flake-free. Too often, however, those oil glands may not produce enough oil-- or other factors make take over. Long hair is especially vulnerable, since it is harder for the natural scalp oils to reach the ends, resulting in splitting ends and sometimes even in the condition known as the frizzies. Hair conditioners are basically the key to keeping your hair manageable and looking its best. After shampooing, hair has a negative electrical charge running through each strand. The drier the climate, the more electricity. One strand then acts to repel the next. What results is a head full of independent fibers, a condition often described as the fly-aways. A really good conditioner will give your hair a positive charge that will return it to manageability. Like skin moisturizers, a good conditioner will bind in moisture and softening even the most unruly hair. It will also help to remove tangles, making the hair much easier to style. When looking for a good conditioner, scan the label for the most effective ingredients: balsama and stearalkonium chloride to detangle, keratin protein for strengthening, collagen protein and panthenol to bind in moisture.
When you have found a shampoo and conditioner that seem just right, dont stick to them too rigidly! Surprised? Hair can get two or three good shampoos and conditioners, and alternate them every week or so. This can help to keep your hair vital and alive.
Perfect Solutions
When choosing your hair care routine, youll get the best results when your shampoo and conditioner share the same active ingredients. Heres a guide: ALoe VeRA: Great for all types of hair, especially normal to oily. Its high zinc content is highly compatible with the hairs zinc-based structure. It also has an
330 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:49 PM
astringent action, tightening scalp pores that secrete excess oil and smoothing the hair to a lustrous shine. AMIno ACIDs: Your body relies on 22 amino acids to build proteins -- and your hair is made of proteins. Amino acids also act to keep the hair pliant, soft and super manageable. BIoTIn: A member of the B-vitamin family, biotin is helpful in solving such common problems as falling hair, dry itchy scalp, and hair damage such as split ends. CoLLAGen PRoTeIn: Unlike keratin protein (see below), collagen protein makes hair more pliant by binding essential moisture to the hairs inner structure. DeX-PAnTHenoL: This extra-strength form of pantothenol, the pro-vitamin of B-6, is one of the strongest moisture binders for hair care. It is excellent for hair that is super-dry, or damaged from perms, colorants or other special treatments. GInKGo BILoBA : The powerful nutrients in the leaves of this tree will fight free radicals and stimulate your scalp to produce thicker, shinier, healthier hair. JoJoBA oIL: This is great for both oily and dry hair! The secret is its deepdown cleansing action that keeps dandruff, itching and hair loss at bay. KeRATIn PRoTeIn: Once regarded as just a coating for hair, todays keratin proteins actually penetrate each hair strand, resulting in thicker, shinier hair, It also helps to repair split ends. TeA TRee oIL: From the melaleuca tree, also called Aussie Gold, this is another oil that is equally beneficial for oily, normal, or dry hair. It helps to make the hair extra-clean and extra-moist. Also, an antifungal component of Tea Tree Oil is effective against itchy, flaking scalp.
6/19/07 11:34:49 PM
The current approach to osteoporosis focuses primarily on estrogen therapy with calcium supplements. Estrogen does show down the deterioration of the bone structure; but fractures still occur in women who have been treated with estrogen. The benefits of estrogen must also be weighed against its risks, particularly an increased incidence of cancer of the uterus. Calcium supplements can play an important role. However, a large percentage of osteoporotic women do not respond to calcium therapy, so it is becoming increasingly clear that calcium alone is not enough.
It is sometimes forgotten that bone is more than just a collection of calcium crystals. Bone is active, living tissue, continually remodeling itself and constantly participating in a wide range of biochemical reactions. Like any living tissue, bone has diverse nutritional needs. Failure to meet those needs may reduce the strength of bone tissue. The typical Western diet, with its high proportion of white flour, refined
332 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:49 PM
sugar, fat, and canned foods, contains far less of certain vitamins and minerals than the diets consumed by our ancestors. Furthermore, the requirements for certain nutrients may be increased by genetic factors or by metabolic changes that occur at menopause. Inadequate intake of any one of these nutrients could play a role in the development of osteoporosis. Multiple deficiencies over a prolonged period may have an even greater significance. This possibility is supported by the work of Dr. Albanse, who found that adding all known micronutrients to a calcium supplement reduced bone loss to a significantly greater degree than calcium along, and presented an exhibit demonstrating this fact to the American Medical Association at Atlanta, Georgia in January, 1981, entitled Effects of Calcium and Micronutrients on Pre- and Post -Menopausal Women. Some of the nutrients are discussed below.
Vitamin K
This is known primarily for its effect on blood clotting. However, it is also necessary to synthesize osteocalcin, a unique protein found in large amounts in bone. Osteocalcin forms the protein matrix which attracts calcium to crystallization sites. Vitamin K is thus essential for bone formation. It is generally assumed that vitamin K deficiency is uncommon. However, in sixteen patients with osteoporosis, blood levels of vitamin K were only 35 percent of those shown by healthy people of similar age. The deficiency is therefore more common than was formerly believed. It may result from insufficient consumption of vegetables, or from frequent use of antibiotics (which can destroy vitamin-K-producing bacteria in the intestines.) The importance of vitamin K for bones has been confirmed in both human and animal studies. Rats fed a diet deficient in vitamin k had increased urinary calcium excretion. In another experiment, vitamin K supplementation accelerated healing of fractures in rabbits - even though they were already receiving adequate levels in their regular diet. The evidence suggests that when accelerated bone formation is desirable (as in osteoporosis or after a fracture), a greater amount of vitamin K is required.
Vitamin D:
Vitamin D is required for intestinal calcium absorption. Reduced vitamin D levels are commonly found in elderly persons, particularly women. Factors that lower vitamin D levels include reduced exposure to sunlight, decreased dietary intake, and poor absorption. This vitamin should be supplemented when dietary intake and sunlight are inadequate.
6/19/07 11:34:49 PM
Magnesium:
Magnesium activates the enzyme, alkaline phosphatase, which is involved in calcification processes. It also enhances the effects of vitamin D, by converting it to its biologically active form. Body content and bone concentrations of magnesium were found to be below normal in 16 of 19 osteoporotic women, and those with low magnesium levels had abnormal crystal formation in their bones (a factor which might increase the risk of fractures). The three women with normal magnesium status had normal crystal formation. The typical American diet is often low in magnesium. Dietary surveys have shown that most American women consume less than two-thirds of the RDA for this mineral.
Manganese:
Manganese is required for bone mineralization, also for synthesis of the connective tissue in bone and cartiliage. Rats fed a manganese-deficient diet developed smaller bones, less density of bone, and had less resistance to fractures than those fed adequate amounts of manganese. It is interesting to note (in view of the prevalence of white bread in the U.S.) that at least half of the original amount of manganese just disappears when whole grains are replaced by refined flour. A special interest in the relationship between manganese and osteoporosis was developed when a famous baseball player, who experienced poor healing after several fractures, was found to have unexplained osteoporosis. Examination of his blood showed no detectable manganese, and definite deficiencies of other essential minerals. After supplementing his diet with these minerals for six weeks, he was able to return to baseball. Those observations led to a study of osteoporotic women, in whom the manganese blood levels were found to be only 25 percent of those in the control group.
Folic Acid:
The importance of folic acid for bone health seems related to its role in homocysteine metabolism. Methionine, an essential amino acid, is converted in the body to homocysteine, a potentially toxic compound which appears to promote osteoporosis. Prior to menopause, women are very efficient at detoxifying homocysteins; but at menopause this efficiency lessens and homocysteine can accumulate in the blood. Studies have shown that the buildup of homocysteine can be partly prevented by supplementation with folic acid. It seems very probable, therefore, that the bone loss that frequently follows menopause is related to an increased requirement for folic acid.
334 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:49 PM
Folic acid deficiency is relatively common; it occurs in some 22 percent of individuals around 65 years of age. Tobacco smoking, alcohol, and oral contraceptives all tend to promote folic acid deficiency.
Vitamin B-6:
Diets deficient in vitamin B-6 produced osteoporosis in rats, and biochemical evidence of B-6 deficiency was found in more than half of a group of normal volunteer women. Dietary surveys indicate that B-6 intake by American women is frequently less than the RDA specification. Vitamin B-6 appears to increase the strength of connective tissue in bone, and helps to detoxify homocysteine.
Boron:
Previously thought to be essential only for plants, boron now appears to be important in human nutrition. Post-menopausal women were fed a standard diet which supplied about 0.25 mg. of boron per day. Supplementing this diet with boron to three mg/day reduced their urinary excertion of calcium by 44 percent and markedly increased serum concentrations of the estrogenic hormone, 178-estradiol. The levels of 178-estradiol in boron-supplemented women were the same as in women who received estrogen therapy. This increase in hormone concentration may be important, since 178-estradiol is the most biologically active form of naturally occurring human estrogen. Toxicity studies with animals have shown a comfortable margin of safety for boron. No adverse effects were seen in dogs and rats fed regularly with 350 ppm of boron--which corresponds of approximately 117 mg per day in humans. Furthermore, in certain parts of the world where the diet contains as much as 41mg of boron per day, no problems have been reported.
Strontium:
Strontium occurs in relatively large concentrations in bones and teeth, where is it thought to replace a portion of the calcium in hydroxyapatite crystals. Awareness of the nutritional importance of strontium has been somewhat overshadowed by the fear of radioactive strontium, a component of nuclear fallout which accumulates in bones. Non-radioactive strontium occurs naturally in food, however, and is quite safe, even in very large doses. Increased strontium intake is associated with reduced incidence of dental cavities, and a slower rate of bone breakdown. Large doses of strontium given to persons with osteoporosis resulted in markedly reduced bone pain, and appeared to improve their X-ray findings.
6/19/07 11:34:49 PM
Silicon
Silicon strengthens the connective tissues matrix of bone, by cross-linking collagen strands. Animals fed a silicon-deficient diet had bones that were abnormally developed and unusually thin. As with other nutrients, marginal deficiencies of silicon could result from over comsumption of refined foods.
Zinc
Zinc is essential for normal bone formation and for tissue repair. Zinc levels were found to be low in the serum and bone of elderly patients who had osteoporosis. In general, the typical American diet is low in zinc. In one scientific survey, it was found that approximately 68 percent of adults in this country were in the habit of consuming less than two-thirds of the RDA (recommended daily allowance) of zinc!
Copper:
Rats that were fed a diet deficient in copper developed reduced bone mineral content, and reduced bone strength. Copper is a cofactor for the enzyme lysyl oxidase, which strengthnens connective tissue by cross-linking collagen strands. Since a typical American diet contains only about 50 percent of the RDA (two mg/day) for copper, deficiency of this trace mineral may be quite common.
Osteoporosis can result from vitamin-C deficiency. Although the disease known as scurvy (which derives from a severe deficiency of this vitamin) is rare in the United States, mild deficiencies are common. Laboratory evidence of C deficiency was found in 20 percent of elderly women, even though they were consuming more than the RDA of 60 mg/day.
Individuals with osteoporosis often fail to absorb adequate calcium. A frequent cause of calcium malabsorption is low stomach acid (hypochlorydra) which is a common condition in women over the age of 50. Recent studies suggest that calcium citrate is more easily absorbed into the system, however, even by persons who do not produce very much stomach acid. Vitamin C is also important for proper calcium absorption.
6/19/07 11:34:49 PM
6/19/07 11:34:49 PM
standardized for ginsenoside content. Ginsenosides are the most important active ingredients in ginseng. Not only should they be present in high concentration, but they must be in the proper ratio. High quality extracts are produced from the roots of plants of 17 to 18 percent and have the proper ratio of ginsenosides to ensure optimum beneficial effects.
In recent years ginseng has been reported to have numerous and varied effects in humans and in laboratory animals. These include: general stimulatory effects during stress; delaying the alarm-phase reaction to stress; increasing mental and physical capacity for work; improving endocrine system function; reducing radiation sickness; enhancing protein synthesis and cell reproduction; improving blood sugar control; enhancing protein synthesis and cell reproduction; enhancement of the immune system; lowering of serum cholesterol, and protecting the liver from toxic chemicals.
Ginseng is an Adaptogen
An adaptogen was defined in 1957 by a Russian pharmacologist as a substance that: one, must be innocuous and cause only minimal disorders in normal functions of an organism; two, must have a non-specific action -- that is, it should increase resistance to adverse influences by a wide range of physical, chemical and biochemical factors; and three tends to have a normalizing action, irrespective of the direction of the pathologic state. In other words, an adaptogen is beneficial for many different conditions rather than for any specific aliment; it helps you to feel better, no matter what your complaint is. According to tradition, ginseng does posses this kind of tonic, antistress action; so the term adaptogen is appropriate.
Ginseng has been shown to enhance ones ability to cope with various stressors, both physical and mental. Presumably this may be the result of delaying the alarm phase (fight-or-flight reaction) response in Selyes classic stress model. Ginseng promotes the release of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and associated pituitary substances (betalipoprotein, endorphins, enkephalins, etc.). These substances are probably responsible for much of the anti-fatigue and anti-stress to increase mental activity during stress. From a functional perspective, there is good evidence that ginseng has a balancing effect or adaptogenic action on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis by adjusting the metabolic and functional control systems. This greatly assists the body in responding to the challenge of stress.
6/19/07 11:34:50 PM
Effects on Reproduction
Though it is claimed to be a sexual rejuvenator, studies of humans supporting this belief are scant, almost nonexistent. However, ginseng has been shown to promote growth of the tests and increase sperm levels in rabbits, to accelerate the growth of the ovary and enhance ovulation in frogs, to stimulate egg-laying in hens, to increase gonadal weight in rats, and to increase sexual activity and mating behavior in male rats. These authentic results of animal studies would seem to support the historic belief in ginseng as an aid to fertility and virility, but further research among humans is needed.
Ginseng possesses the ability to enhance both antibody and cell-mediated immunity, including an ability to enhance natural killer cell activity and productions of interferon. In experimental studies, ginseng has been shown to prevent viral infections.
Cholesterol-lowering Effects
Ginseng administered to human subjects has been shown to reduce total serum cholesterol, triglycerides and non-esterified fatty acid levels, while raising serum HDL cholesterol levels. Platelet adhesiveness was decreased. The mechanism of action appears to be through accelerated degradation, conversion, and excretion of cholesterol and triglyceride. It appears that ginseng may offer some protection against atherosclerosis, further supporting its use as a general tonic.
Obviously, any adaptogen must impact the liver, since the liver plays a central role in metabolic and detoxifying reactions. Ginseng affects the liver in several ways. It promotes the Kupffer cells, and since these are responsible for filtering out much of the toxins and debris from the portal circulation, any increase in their activity has profound effects.
Since protein synthesis is often reduced in elderly people, ginseng appears to be ideal as a tonic for geriatric individuals.
It has been shown that ginseng offers some protection against harmful radiation and actually hastens recovery from radiation sickness. In view of the ever-increasing environmental radiation contamination, ginseng may indeed by an appropriate preventive measure against radiation exposure.
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 339
6/19/07 11:34:50 PM
SUMMARY
The health-promoting effects of Panax Ginseng are numerous and varied. It is perhaps best used as a general tonic, especially for people who are feeble or debilitated, and indeed it may be useful whenever fatigue is apparent. Athletes especially may derive benefit in this respect. Due to its effect on the bodys control mechanisms, it may prove especially effective in restoration of normal adrenal function, and in prevention of adrenal exhaustion associated with corticosteroid administration or chronic stress.
Dosage:
The dosage recommended should reflect the ginsenoside content. Eighteen mg of ginsenosides (calculated as Rg I), one to three times daily, is usually suitable. If an extract containing 18 percent ginsenosides is used, the dosage would be 100mg, one to three times daily. If the extract contains only five percent ginsenosides, the dosage would be 350mg, one to three times daily. Some people are sensitive to overuse of ginseng, and some are more sensitive than others. The first signs of an overuse reaction are generally a tendency to irritability and insomnia. If these symptoms appear, either reduce the individuals dosage, or discontinue the use of ginseng.
6/19/07 11:34:50 PM
6/19/07 11:34:50 PM
It moistens the Yin, the fluids, of the body. It is useful in anemia, irregular menstruation, and for symptoms of deficient kidneys--such as backache, night sweats, dizziness, and certain urinary problems. The herb is seldom used alone, however, it is frequently used in formulas for tonifying the blood or strengthening the Kidney Yin. The Six Ingredients Formula Headed by Rx. Rehmannia is the preferred formula for strengthening the Kidney Yin. Shu Di Huang is also an important ingredient in the mixture known as Eight Pearls, also known as Eight Treasures Formula. (See the last section for the ingredients and application). Huang Chi or Bay Chi (Cantonese: Bak Kay), Rx. Astragali, is one of the most useful herbs in the Chinese formulary. It tonifies the Chi and raises the Yang. It is used for protecting the body from wind and External Evils (bacteria, viruses, the elements). It is excellent for treating long-term weakness and many kinds of energy deficiency. In Chinese families, is often taken by cooking it into stew with Gou Qi Zi (Gay Jee; Fr. Lycii) and Long Yan Rou (long An Yok; arillus Longanae) to tonity both blood and Chi. It is a key ingredient in many famous formulas. We will discuss one of them later. Dang Gui (Cantonese: Dong Kwai; Rx. Angelica Sinensis) is termed the saint of herbs for tonifying the Yin. It treats a vast array of symptoms connected with blood deficiencies and gynecological problems. It tonifies the blood, relieves menstrual pain; helps reduce recovery time after labor. There are many ways to take Dang Gui. A favorite with Chinese families is to cook 1/4 oz. (7 or 8gm.) Dang Gui and 4-5 slices of fresh ginger with two lamb shanks (lamb is considered to be good for the blood) slowly for two hours, and serve as a soup; this is an excellent blood restorative. Use it once or twice weekly for anemia, general tiredness, or menstrual pain. For stronger tonification of both Chi and blood, we turn to a formula contains three of the four herbs we have been discussing. The eight pearls formula is a very useful and versatile combination. It is the leading formula for many types of gynecological disharmonies, and also tonifies Chi and blood deficiencies. It may be appropriate for you if you are tired, if your face and hair lack luster, if your arms and legs feel tired, or if you feel you dont want to do much. For most people it is a good general tonic. However, do not take it if you have an adverse effect, known to the Chinese as locking the burglar within the house. The reason the Eight Pearls Formula works so well for many conditions is that it is more than the sum of its parts. It is actually composed of two distinct formulas: the Four Gentlemen Decoction previously mentioned, and Four Substances Formula. Eight Pearls is a combination of these two. In Chinese medicine they say that when the Chi leads, the blood will follow. By strengthening the Chi, the blood is nourished as well. In Eight Pearls there are four ingredients to tonify the Chi and four to tonify and vitalize the blood. We have already mentioned the herbs that are in the Four Gentlemen
342 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:50 PM
Decoction. Led by the Ginseng, these herbs tonify and harmonize the Center: the Chi of digestion and assimilation. They reduce unnecessary wetness, so that the organs can function unimpeded. Circulation is improved, as is the oxygenation of the blood. Four Substances contain Shu Di, Dang Gui, and two other herbs that we have not mentioned earlier, they are Chuan Xiong (Chuen Gong, Rx. Ligustici wallichii) and Bai Shao (Bak Chuk; Rx. Paeoniae alba). Both of these and Dang Gui Assist the principal herb (Shu Di) in tonifying and regulating the blood, and in removing stagnation. Together, the eight herbs function with synergistic efficiency, so that the full potential of each is available; it makes for a mighty whole. And if we add Bay Chi to our Eight Pearls Formula, and also add Rou Gui (Yok Gwai; Cortex Cinnamoni) we have a new and powerful recipe for Chi and blood deficiency with added symptoms of coldness in the body. This is now called Ten Complete Maximum Tonification Formula. All of us need an energy boost at times, and it makes sense to avail ourselves of the many excellent natural products in the Chinese herbal formulas. In using Chinese herbs for energy and tonification, we cannot completely separate them from the cultural and medical framework in which they were developed. But the more you know about how they work, the better they can serve you, whatever may be your needs.
6/19/07 11:34:50 PM
6/19/07 11:34:50 PM
(six capsules) every day for three weeks. The third group used no garlic and served as controls. At the end of three weeks, researchers took blood samples from each volunteer and used the blood on tumor cells in a laboratory culture; they wanted to see how active each volunteers natural killer cells were against the tumor cells. The natural killer cells of those who ate raw garlic killed 139 percent more tumor cells than the natural killer cells of those who did not eat garlic. The natural killer cells of those who took garlic capsules killed 159 percent more tumor cells than the natural killer cells of those who did not eat garlic. Incidentally, the Florida team believes that heat or cooking may destroy some of the important constituents of garlic, so they chose to use commercial garlic preparation that is not processed with heat. Many researchers believe that stress is a major causative --or at least a contributing --factor in the development of cancer. Could garlic possibly help the human body to cope with the effects of stress? This question interested a number of Japanese researchers.
Dr. Toru Fuwa and his associates in Japan have done a number of studies testing the effects of garlic alone, and garlic in combination with other substances (ginseng, various vitamins) on laboratory mice, which were in groups subjected to different types of stress. They published three papers reporting a remarkable difference in the stress-endurance found, between the control groups of mice (which had been given their regular food) and the test groups that had garlic added to their normal diet. All of the mice subjected to the stressful conditions suffered extreme fatigue, loss of motor coordination, and loss of appetite; but the groups that had garlic with their food were able to recover far more quickly and returned to normal strength in a much shorter time. They were able to function much more efficiently than those which did not have any garlic. Kyolic was the form of garlic that was used for these tests. Quite a different groups of researchers tested garlic on a group of rats that were then set to swimming to the point of exhaustion, to determine whether garlic could boost endurance. Different groups of rats were given varying amounts of garlic in different forms for seven days prior to the endurance tests, and the control rats received just their regular diet plus saline. There were ten rats in each group. The control rats swam for 480 seconds (eight minutes) before becoming exhausted; but the rats that were given garlic juice swam for 516 second (8.6minutes) and those that were given garlic oil were able to swim for 840 seconds (14minutes). A further experiment was then tried on the very same rats: they were
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 345
6/19/07 11:34:50 PM
injected with isoproterenol, a drug that is damaging to the heart muscle. They were then returned to the water, and the length of time they were able to swim was again measured. Those that had been on regular food plus saline (the controls) were then only able to swim for 78 seconds. But the rats that had received garlic oil at one mg/day swarm for 560 seconds. This demonstrates and astonishing improvement in endurance which derived from a regular daily supplement of garlic!
One of the important functions of the liver is that of detox, or separating out undesirable items so as to keep the blood pure. There are many things to which we may unwittingly be subjected, in this modern way; but with the aid of garlic the detoxifying action of the liver can be stimulated to cope with even severe poisons, such as carbon tetrachloride (a powerful cleansing agent, the fumes of which are highly poisonous if it is used in an enclosed space), and mercury from dental amalgams. Besides regulating sugars and metabolizing lipids and proteins, the liver detoxifies alcohol, drugs and many other toxic chemicals. Tests have shown that garlic is very helpful in this essential action of the liver Dr. Kagawas study showed that oral feeding of garlic extract, even six hours after contract by carbon tetrachloride, was effective to protect test mice from liver damage.
Three clinical studies were conducted by Japanese investigators, showing the effects on psychosomatic complaints. More than a thousand patients at two Japanese university hospitals were given two ml. of garlic extract every day, for four weeks. At the end of the month it was found that 50 to 80 percent of those patients were suffering less from fatigue, depression and anxiety. Another study involved patients with gynecological malignancies who underwent radiotherapy and / or chemotherapy. Patients who took two capsules of garlic a day for 30 to 270 days had reduced side effects from the radiotherapy and chemotherapy and 67 percent of the women reported that they felt no side effects at all!
6/19/07 11:34:50 PM
Catnip has been known for its intoxicating effects on cats since the time of the ancients. Its use as a gentle but effective medicinal tea has also survived since ancient times. Catnips association with cats is a significant reminder of its gentleness. It is so gentle in action that it is safe for babies and young children. Catnip is also useful in menstrual complaints, being well suited to conditions of nervous agitation with delayed menstruation in feeble women. Hervey Felter, M.D. wrote of this medicine in 1922, if less ridiculed and more used, in place of far less safe remedies, catnip tea would be found a very useful medicine for women and children. Catnip should not, however, be used during pregnancy. The same propGuide To Alternative Health Therapies - 347
6/19/07 11:34:51 PM
erties that make it valuable for delayed menstruation could incline towards miscarriage in pregnancy. Catnip is, in fact, used by traditional midwives to help expel the placenta after birth, demonstrating the nature of its action very well. The best form is in a warm tea, taken as desired.
Feverfew has likewise been used since the time of the ancients specifically for headache and inflammation. It is particularly effective for migraine headache and for the pain or arthritis. Feverfew emerged from folklore into the realm of science over the last four years as British scientists sought to test the traditional claims for its efficacy. A popular movement among arthritis and migraine suffers grew up in the 1970s around the use of feverfew in Britain. Scientists eventually not only proved that feverfew was effective, they isolated likely chemical constituents that help it work. In double-blind studies they showed that it reduced the incidence and severity of migraine headaches. Notably, they found that it had virtually no side effects. It has been rumored to sometimes cause mouth ulceration but the study showed that the placebo, dried cabbage leaves, caused ulceration more often than did feverfew. The mechanisms suggested for feverfews action support its traditional use for arthritis pain as well. Feverfews constituents appear to inhibit substances called prostaglandins which are key participants in the inflammatory process. The effectiveness of feverfew can vary widely between products, if you use a dried or freeze-dried product, and it does not work, try switching
348 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:51 PM
brands. Feverfew is best taken fresh if possible, two to four leaves a day.
Burdocks chief virtue is to neutralize and eliminate poisons in the system. It has affinity for the organs of elimination - the liver, kidney, and the skin. Burdock is best suited for long term regular use in chronic diseases, especially those of the skin. In several cases of acne, repeated herbal treatments failed until burdock was included or increased in the formula. (two to four cups of burdock root tea a day cleared acne in two cases). Its action is usually slow, but it can occasionally act dramatically. In one case a man with chronic periodic skin eruptions on his hands had taken burdock tea, mixed with liver herbs, for two days; he went running and broke out with severe rash on his back. Twenty minutes later the rash, an eliminative reaction stimulated by the burdock, was gone, and so were the eruptions on his hands. Burdock has also been found clinically effective for chronic boils, psoriasis, eczema, and skin ulcers. It has overlapping properties that make it useful in formulas for arthritis. It is a mild cholagogue, improving liver function and digestion. It is also a mild diuretic, helping to flush the system. Burdock combines well with other alternatives, and with liver herbs in general. Burdock may be taken in almost any form, as a tea, tincture, or herbal capsule.
Marshmallow is a mucilaginous herb, used primarily for its soothing and cooling qualities. It is useful whenever there are inflamed mucous membranes in intestinal, upper respiratory and urinary tract inflammations. It also has a high polysaccharide content, and may have immune-stimulating properties. Dried marshmallow root contains up to 35 percent mucilage, a slimy soothing substance, and 38 percent starch. For sore throat, make a strong tea of marshmallow root and hot water; this extracts both the mucilage and the starch, appropriate for a soothing gargle. The mucilage alone can be extracted with cold water (the starch is only soluble in hot water); leave the chopped dried root in cold water overnight to extract the mucilage. Marshmallow tea may be consumed as a beverage, as much as desired, with no ill effects. It combines well with peppermint of spearmint as a beverage tea for mild stomach complaints. It is also an excellent addition to any formula for the digestive tract, the lungs and upper respiratory tract, and the genitourinary system.
6/19/07 11:34:51 PM
Horsetail is valued as an herb for the genitourinary system, having mild diuretic and astringent properties. As a nutritive herb, it is rich in trace minerals, especially silica. It has an extensive root network, well known to farmers or gardeners who try to till horsetail inhabited ground. This root network enables horsetail to absorb high concentration of minerals from the soil. This point was well demonstrated when a polish physiologist burned a large crop of horsetail and unexpectedly recovered a visible amount of gold from the ashes! Horsetail ash is in fact, used medicinally for its mineral content. It has a special affinity for silica. Plants harvested in the late spring and early summer contain six percent silica, and also significant amounts of calcium and cobalt. Horsetail has special benefit for pain and inflammation in the genitourinary system, including the kidneys, bladder, and prostate. Its varied properties overlap to suit it ideally to such conditions. First, it is astringent, helping to dry and soothe inflamed tissues. It also has a mild diuretic effect due to saponins, which do not irritate the kidneys. And because the effects are mild, it will not aggravate kidney conditions. Finally, ten percent of the silica is in the form of silicic acid. Administration of silicic acid gives a temporary rise in the number of white blood cells, helping to
350 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:52 PM
increase the non-specific resistance to infection. Horsetails diuretic and nutrient properties overlap to make it useful for problems with bones, joints and connective tissues. Rudolf Weiss, M.D., a renowned German expert in botanical medicine, suggests that the best use of this plant may be in arthritis. For kidney inflammations, horsetail should be combined with soothing herbs like marshmallow or comfrey. Dose: One to two heaping teaspoons per cup of water. Pour hot water over the leaves, and let sit overnight. Take three cups daily.
Red clover, like burdock, acts slowly to restore normal balance to a disordered metabolism. It is suitable for self medication for those with chronic diseases and faulty elimination. It has special affinity for the lungs and upper respiratory tract, and is useful in coughs. Clover is a traditional remedy used in the treatment of cancer. Eclectic physicians did not consider it a cancer cure or an anti-tumor agent, but noted that it would slow the growth of tumors and slow the recurrence of cancers that it would slow the growth of tumors and slow the recurrence of cancers that had been removed surgically. This action reflects its overall alternative function, strengthening the kidneys, stimulating a sluggish liver and gallbladder, and assisting the bodys own blood purification mechanisms. This purifying function makes clover valuable in a wide array of diseases and conditions where the system is clogged. Red clover combines well with other nutritive herbs, such as nettles or alfalfa, with other alterative herbs, and with herbs for lung problems. It is best taken as a tea, with a pint to a quart of boiling water poured over an ounce of the herb, letting it cool overnight. A cup a day is a good substitute for coffee.
Alfalfa is another nutritive and tonic herb which also has mild diuretic properties. It is excellent for use as a beverage tea, and will help to resolve mild problems with appetite, bowels, urinary system and stomach inflammation. Alfalfa is used in Chinese medicine as an ulcer remedy. Like many other nutritive herbs, alfalfa has an unusual root system. It competes for soil minerals with other plants by stending root deep into the subsoil. Although commonly reaching only 12-18 inches above the ground, alfalfa roots have been found to penetrate as deep as 40 feet into the soil. Alfalfa contains protein, calcium, phosphorus, iron, potassium, choline, sodium, silicon, magnesium and vitamins A, D, B-6, K and flavonoids. In one medical case earlier in this century, a woman with chronic exhaustion, constipation indigestion, intestinal bloating, edema and poor color was preGuide To Alternative Health Therapies - 351
6/19/07 11:34:52 PM
scribed nothing more than alfalfa tea to drink. She recovered completely in three weeks. Alfalfa may be taken as a beverage tea, or taken by the tablespoon, stirred into a glass of water, once or twice a day.
Comfrey, like marshmallow, has soothing an cooling properties. It can be used interchangeably with marshmallow in the conditions mentioned above. It is more specific than marshmallow for wound healing, whether internal or external. Comfrey contains a constituent, allantion, which has been found to stimulate the growth of cells. For this reason, comfrey is ideal for ulcers or intestinal irritation. It both soothes the inflamed tissues and promotes healing. Comfrey may not be suitable for long term use. It contains minute amounts of alkaloid substances which have been found to cause liver cancer when given in large quantities to rats. Whether the data applies to humans is debatable, but comfrey is not suitable as a general beverage tea, and should not be taken on a daily basis for long periods of time. It is more appropriate for use during periods of active inflammation, and for wound healing. It is traditionally used after sprains and broken bones; various case studies bear out its ability to enhance the healing of broken bones. For broken bones, it should not be taken longer than six weeks.
6/19/07 11:34:52 PM
6/19/07 11:34:52 PM
fever, cough, and intestinal problems. Hookworms cause anemia, abdominal pain, diarrhea, apathy, malnutrition, and even under-development in children. Whipworms cause abdominal pain and diarrhea. The fecal matter from a single tapeworm can make humans ill. The worms may become so numerous as to cause intestinal obstruction as well as gas and intestinal distress. Tapeworm eggs in the liver can be mistaken for cancer and chemotherapy may be administered. The chemo will kill the eggs, but may also harm the patient. Bloodflukes make lesions in the lungs and cause hemorrhages under the skin. They are often found in AIDS patients, Protozoa, such as amoeba, do not suck blood as the hookworm and other do, but these creatures cause arthritis-like pains or leukemia-like symptoms, and generally weaken the entire system. Giardia lamblia, a protozoan parasite resembling the single-celled amoeba, is the most prevalent parasite in the U.S. today and is considered the number one cause of water borne disease in the country. Giardia cause diarrhea, weakness weight loss, abdominal cramps, nausea, bleching, and fever. The tiny parasites can coat the inside lining of the small intestine and prevent the lining from absorbing nutrients from food. The multitude of different symptoms caused by parasites can be baffling to many doctors, who receive little training in diagnosing and treating parasitic infections. Unless people have major symptoms, doctors often misdiagnose cases as bacterial infections, but unfortunately antibiotics have no effect on most parasites. Colon cleansing (colonics) can go a long way toward eliminating parasites and accumulated, impacted wastes in the large intestine. These wastes can be caused by eating the wrong kinds of foods, drinking too little liquid, lack of exercise, improper combination of foods, emotional distress, and weak muscle tone of the colon. Removal of these wastes by colon cleansing, whereby the colon is flushed with filtered water through a series of fills and releases, results in a renewed sense of health, vitality, and energy in the individuals entire system. But to remove all the parasites which may be living in the colon, it is essential to embark upon an effective parasite elimination program, in conjunction with colon cleansings. Parasites can be destroyed harmlessly without injury to the body and without dangerous drugs, by ingesting an intestinal cleanser called 6-N-1, along with the following colon complements: castor oil capsules, K-min, and black walnut tincture. The colon complements included in the program, K-min and black walnut tincture, are the real parasite killers. K-min is a balance of mined elements that will, by ionization, rip worms apart. Parasites rarely pass out of the body whole (and antibiotics have no effect on them), so K-min was
354 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:52 PM
devised to rip them up. Black walnut tincture, an herbal fluid, is very effective against parasites that may make their way into the blood stream and to other organs of the body. Finally, there is the first ingredient of the program whose explanation has been saved for last: good old-fashioned castor oil. Castor oil is not a mineral oil; it is the oil of the castor plant bean and it has been known as a potent laxative for centuries. Castor oil lubricates the walls of the colon and helps loosen the hardened, impacted waste materials. Thanks to modern science, you can now take this cathartic and intestinal-wall lubricant without the unpleasant taste by ingesting frozen castor oil capsules. The frozen capsules pass through the small intestine and do not dissolve until they reach the colon, where they do the most good. The program is a safe, non toxic, natural and effective method of removing parasites from the body. In conjunction with the program, it is also highly advisable to have regular colon cleansings to assist in the removal of live and dead parasites and accumulated colon wastes. (If colon cleansings are not available, several enemas a week are essential.) Completing the program will not necessarily be a piece of cake. Do not expect pleasure, although many people will enjoy relief. Work and dedication are required, but the rewards may be greater than you think. The results of the parasite elimination program and colon cleansings can include elimination of painful and uncomfortable symptoms, a stronger immune system, a greater sense of vitality and well-being, cleaner thinking and improved memory, and an increased zest for life. Remember, the old adage, Health, wealth and happiness always begin with health!
The eight-week Parasite Elimination Program includes three kinds of capsules and one liquid, and doses are taken twice a day. Complete written instructions accompany every order; simply follow the directions for your weight when taking these products. When you awake in the morning, take the castor oil capsules; follow them ten minutes later with 6-N-1 capsules, K-min, and black walnut tincture. People usually take the 6-N-1 herbs in capsule form, but you can also break open the capsule to obtain the herbal powders. Most importantly, be sure to drink plenty of good water. I highly recommend drinking purified water, rather than tap water which usually contains chlorine, undesirable bacteria, chemicals, and many other impurities. The eight-week Parasite Elimination Program for people who weigh less than 175 pounds cost $125.00 -less than $16.00 a week. Bigger people (over 175 pounds) need more products, so their cost is $150.00 for the complete program.
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 355
6/19/07 11:34:52 PM
Ingredients in 6-N-1 cleanser are natural and serve specific purposes: Bentonite picks up 12 times its weight in positively charged toxic material from the colon wall for expulsion. Wheat Grass increases the functions of the heart, vascular system, intestines, uterus, and lungs. Whole Apple Fiber contains many vitamins, minerals, protein, pectin, and lipids. Citrus Pectin and Plantago Avato capture putrefactive bacteria for expulsion. Herbs such as gentian, goldenseal, buckthorn, rhubarb root, Cascara sagrada, and Aloe vera, which detoxify, pull not mucous, act as a diuretic, flush the liver, improve bile production, and increases intestinal peristalsis (the muscle movement that motivates the digestive tract). Lactobacillus acidophilus reinforces the production of friendly bacteria in the colon, aiding in digestion and reducing the overgrowth of the harmful fungus Candida.
6/19/07 11:34:52 PM
The life force, Qi, (pronounced Chi in China and Ki in Japan) is the vital energy which created the body originally and continues to keep it alive and functioning properly. As such Qi carries the perfect knowledge to repair the body should any damage or disease occur. Disease manifests, and fails to cure itself, when this life force becomes weakened to such an extent that it can no longer heal. This shows as an imbalance in the energy currents called meridians (the pathways through which the Qi passes). Ancient masters traced the pathways and located points along them at which life energy communicates with the surface of the body. Modern science has been able to measure the electrical charge at these points, thus corroborating the locations of the life energy channels mapped by the ancients. These are the points that are used for traditional acupuncture, moxibustion and hand treatment. The ancients also developed a system for determining the quality and mobility of life energy in each person. This system, which involved palpation of the six pulses on each wrist, is still used in Oriental medical diagnosis. By means of the pulse diagnosis, the skilled practitioner knows which channels of life energy are weak, or perhaps over-strong and can also monitor the effects of treatment as it progresses. When introducing an herb we will also use abdominal palpation and check the tongue quality.
Any health problem or illness may be treated by acupuncture. In some cases where life energy has deteriorated too far to effect a cure, the disease can still be arrested and pain alleviated, so that techniques in Oriental lead a reasonably normal life. Although there are techniques in Oriental medicine for healing all conditions, there are some problems which can be dealt with more quickly by Western medicine. In such cases your acupuncturist will recommended that you contract a Western doctor. Though some complaints can be alleviated very rapidly by means of acupuncture, many conditions have taken years to develop and can only be
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 357
6/19/07 11:34:52 PM
relieved with steady, slow treatment. As in any form of healing, the patient must be fully determined to get well and to change the habits or attitudes which have been undermining his or her health. Oriental medicine is an educational process in which the patient becomes more sensitive to his or body and more aware of what to do to maintain physical and mental well-being (i.e., diet, exercise, rest, etc.)
Some of the most featured news about acupuncture in the West has publicized its ability to relieve chronic and acute pain. Although it is indeed effective in such situations, acupuncture and Oriental medicine are more than pain-killing techniques. The nervous systems relay pain signals due to physical trauma; but pain is often a signal from the body that energy is not flowing smoothly, due to stress, improper diet, emotional strain, etc. When the current of life energy is balanced through acupuncture, the nerves, muscles, bones, blood vessels and organs are revitalized and the condition which created the pain sensation is relieved.
Is Acupuncture Painful?
Acupuncture needles are very fine and flexible, about the diameter of a thick hair. Insertion by a skilled practitioner usually will be completely painless; in most cases needless are inserted just below the surface of the skin. There are certain techniques used in Oriental medicine which can be painful, because it is painful to mobilize energy that has been stagnating. But acupuncture bears no resemblance to the feeling of getting an injection. The main source of pain from injections is the hollow needle -- plus the fact that the medication is being forced into the tissue by pressure. But acupuncture needles are used solely to attract or disperse energy along the meridians, not to inject anything.
There are certain acupuncture points which have been used to treat these problems, but the same point will not work for all people. Correct diagnosis by an experienced practitioner is the surest way to work with conditions. When life energy in the body is balanced and flowing smoothly, people often lose their desire to smoke and overeat, as these cravings are often just symptoms of the imbalances that existed before the treatment. Sometimes, acupuncture in combination with carefully prescribed herbs will better effect the desired change.
6/19/07 11:34:53 PM
Some patients feel progressively better after each treatment. Some illnesses dull the senses so that the full severity of the symptoms is no longer clearly felt. As the life force returns, sensitivity also returns, so a patient may temporarily feel worse. This passes in a short time, however. Other illnesses are of a complicated nature. It is possible for symptoms to return that were present years ago, as treatment progresses. This is because the course of the sickness is being reversed. Oriental medicine described this process symbolically as having several conditions, one on top of the other, like sheets of paper. The top condition may be taken off, exposing the one beneath. They must all be removed or overcome, one at a time, and this will often recreate the symptoms temporarily while healing is taking place. When the last is removed the healing is complete.
The duration of a disease, the amount of deterioration and the constitution of each patient must be taken into account when determining the number of treatments necessary. Most chronic conditions require a minimum of 10 treatments to alleviate symptoms and balance the energy, to the extent that symptoms are not likely to recur.
6/19/07 11:34:53 PM
The Chinese have long treasured ephedra for allergy, asthma, hay fever, colds and inflammatory conditions. In fact, the medicinal use of epheda can be traced back to over 5,000 years ago. Its use in modern medicine began in 1923 with the discovery of the alkaloid compound ephedrine. Synthetic manufacture of ephedrine began very shortly thereafter (1927).
Effects
Ephedras action is similar to epinephrin or adrenaline. It differs from epinephrine in that it can be given orally, it has a much longer duration of action, it has a more pronounced effect on the central nervous system, and it is much less potent. Ephedra stimulates the circulatory system, increasing the force of contraction and output of the heart. It also increases blood pressure and the amount of blood flow to the brain.
360 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:53 PM
Ephedra acts on bronchial smooth muscles to promote relaxation during asthmatic attacks. Synthetic ephedrine and another ephedra compound, pseudoephedrine, are still widely used in prescription and over-the-counter medications for the treatment of asthma, emphysema, hay fever, and nasal congestion.
Weight Loss
Ephedrine has also been shown to reduce weight gain in-experimental and clinical studies. It appears to do this by increasing the metabolic rate of adipose (fat) tissue and by decreasing appetite. Its action, however, can be greatly enhanced when it is used in combination with compounds that are contained in other herbs such as Cola nitida and Camellia sinensis.
Today, the cola nut is mainly used in the manufacture of non-alcoholic beverages (colas). Although cola nut contains a variety of compounds, its caffeine component has received the most attention. Cola nuts contain approximately 3.5 percent caffeine and less than one percent theobromine, a compound related to caffeine. Although caffeine has undergone much criticism lately, it offers significant benefit when used in moderation.
Effects
Due to its mild stimulatory action, cola nuts are used in West Africa to sustain people during long journeys or long hours of work. It is an amazing fact that almost every culture in the world has some plant that is used in this capacity. Guarana and cola leaves are used by the natives of South America; coffee was originally used by East Africans and later by other cultures; tea is used by the Asian cultures; that is the stimulant in Arabia; etc. Our society has adopted coffee as its herbal
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 361
6/19/07 11:34:53 PM
stimulant. Many of the ill effects of coffee noted in population studies are not directly attributed to its caffeine level. Most notably is its association with pancreatic cancer. Rather than caffeine alone being the culprit, it is much more likely that the detrimental substances are products of the roasting process. These types of roasted hydrocarbons are known to be potent carcinogens. In support of this, decaffeinated coffee has been equally implicated in causing pancreatic cancer.
The use of tea is extremely complex. Green tea is quite rich in flavonoid compounds which have very potent antioxidant and antiallergenic activity. Green tea also contains caffeine and other related compounds. One cup of tea typically contains 50mg of caffeine. Theophylline, a compound of tea. It is used as a prescription drug in the treatment of asthma.
Ephedra / Cola/Camellia
Combinations ephedra /cola/camellia mixtures can be used as a gene stimulant, and as an aid in allergies, asthma, hay fever, nasal congestion, and weight loss. The combination of the plants potentiates the action of ephedrine and other ephedra compounds. This is most apparent in weight loss studies in animals. In one study, when ephedrine was used alone, it resulted in losses of 14 percent in body weight and 42 percent in body fat. When it was used in combination with caffeine or theophylline, the amount of loss increased to 25 percent in body weight and 75 percent in body fat. In contrast, when either caffeine or theophylline were used alone, there was no significant loss in body weight. The reason for the decrease in body weight is an increased metabolic rate and fat cell breakdown promoted by ephedrine and enhanced by caffeine and theophylline. Human studies have also demonstrated that ephedrine combined with caffeine and theophyfline is twice as effective as ephedrine alone in increasing the metabolic rate of obese individuals. Significant weight loss can result when such combinations are used.
6/19/07 11:34:53 PM
6/19/07 11:34:53 PM
balance of nature; that under normal conditions, things work together in a state of harmony and balance. In medicine, this translates into the idea that health is equivalent to a state of balance. Ill health, physical or mental discomfort, stem from imbalance. It is the job of the practitioner to discover where the imbalance is, the nature of it, and how to correct it. In Chinese medicine, we concern ourselves with energy and relationship more than with anatomy and physiology. Even though we speak of the spleen or liver, it is more a description of certain special functions, rather than of the physical organ. When we say, for example, that a person has a deficient spleen, that does not necessarily mean that they have a failure of the organ. It means only that the function of that organ is low. In Chinese medicine, for example, the Spleen is largely responsible for the proper functioning of the digestive system. Disturbances in digestion and elimination such as intestinal gas, stomach noises, and incomplete elimination are often attributed to Spleen Qi Deficiency. The concept of Qi is an important one in traditional Chinese Medicine; it is usually defined as energy or function. According to the Essentials of Chinese Acupuncture, Generally Speaking, the word Qi connotes both substance and function. For instance, waste Qi and Qi from essence of food are material Qi; the Qi of the Heart, liver, spleen, Kidney and Stomach are functional Qi. Substance and function are closely related and cannot be entirely separated. This is because each function must be based on a certain substance, while a [particular] substance will demonstrate a corresponding function. In his excellent book. The Web That has no Weaver, Ted Kaptchuk says, the idea of Qi is fundamental to Chinese medicinal thinking, yet no one English word or phrase can adequately capture its meaning. We can say that everything in the universe, organic and inorganic, is composed of and defined by its Qi. But Qi is not some primordial, immutable material, not is it merely vital energy, although the word is occasionally so translated. Chinese thought does not distinguish between matter and energy, but we can perhaps think of Qi as matter on the verge of becoming energy, or energy at the point of materializing. Constipation can be divided into two distinct types: acute and chronic. Two principle types of acute constipation are Dry Heat Collecting Inward and Cold Obstructing the Qi. Dry Heat Collecting Inward, also known as Drying Up of the Large Intestine (simply known as Heat constipation ) is characterized by difficulty in moving the bowels, hard, dry stool, bad breath, high fever, mouth and body may feel hot, abdomen distended and painful, and urine scanty and dark. This is an acute constipation associated with endogenous heat in the body, usually fever due to bacterial or viral illness, commonly flu, measles,
364 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:54 PM
cholecystitis, and other infectious illnesses. Treating constipation in these circumstances requires a combination of herbs to both reduce fever and move the bowels to help evacuation and Drain Heat. In traditional Chinese medicine, we often use evacuation to help cure a high fever.
These are strong purgative formulas that are used only under conditions of high fever and severe Heat constipation. We give them here solely for illustrative purposes. They should only be used under the care of your acupuncturist or herbalist, who can best determine what formula is right for you. Cold obstructing the Qi (aka Cold constipation) is an acute form of constipation that occurs when a person has been exposed to cold living or working conditions or is constitutionally cold by nature and develops a cold syndrome as they grow older. Symptoms include abdominal pain or discomfort, desire for warmth and sleep, clear voluminous urine, cold limbs. It can occur in many Western and sleep, clear voluminous urine, cold limbs. It can occur in many Western diagnosed diseases: hernia, sciatica, arthritis, irritable colon and upper respiratory infections. Herbal treatment for Cold constipation will depend, like all Chinese herbal treatments, on the constitution of the patient. Many people with Cold-related here the basic formulas used in this complex, but I advise using them only under the guidance of your own doctor or herbalist. It is safer to experiment with formulas for chronic or Deficiency conditions, though consulting your herbalist will produce the surest results.
Stagnant Qi constipation is characterized by painful abdominal distension, gas, belching, desire to relieve oneself without being able to have a bowel movement. This is also commonly called gassy constipation. It is often associated with emotional disturbances and poor or irregular eating habits. For the most part, Stagnant Qi situations are not acute, they are often seen in conditions in which a Deficiency situation has gone on for a long time uncorrected and has become an Excess situation. They are seen as conditions in which constipation can alternate with diarrhea.
The remaining two conditions often occur together. Nevertheless it is important to distinguish which is predominant and therefore needs to be the main focus of treatment. Deficient Qi constipation happens when there is insufficient Qi in the body or particular organ (Spleen, Large Intestine) to move the bowels normally. Persons with this problem are usually tired and dont want to move much, their face is bright and pale, respiration is shallow,
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 365
6/19/07 11:34:54 PM
and the voice is low and soft. They may be of any age but are generally people who are sedentary. They may be invalids or suffering from the exigencies of aging. Bowel movements are usually not dry and there may occasionally be alternating mild diarrhea and constipation. To treat constipation in Qi deficient people, it is necessary to tonify the Deficiency as well as relieve the constipation. Jian Pi Wan is a formula available as a patent formula which is good for both symptoms of food stagnation and Deficiency constipation. You may also try: Si Jun Zi Tang for tonification; Liu Jun Zi Tang if you have phlegm in the stomach or a greasy tongue coat. Blood Deficiency constipation is characterized by dizziness, palpitations, pale face and lips, dry lusterless hair, and scanty menses. It can occur as a chronic situation in young people (women are more often prone to suffer from this) or as a result of aging, anemia, or hemorrhaging. It is often seen in older people where the blood is simply not nourishing the stomach or intestines sufficiently to permit a smooth bowel movement. These are emollient or moistening formulas. Stools are usually dry. There may be frequent urination. Ma zi Ren Wan for Blood Deficiency with Heat Symptoms Run Change Wan for the anemic or elderly person, Ji Chuan Jian for the anemic person with lower back pain or weakness, or elderly. Please use care in the use of all of these formulas. They are truly medicines, so please use them only with expert guidance. It is important to know, however, that these remedies exist. They just might help you or someone you care for.
6/19/07 11:34:54 PM
Characteristics of Constipation
Pattern Dry heat Collecting Inward Stagnant Qi Signs Constipation, dry stool; bad breath; distended abdomen; scanty, dark urine constipation, distended chest and flanks; no appetite; belching; unproductive desire to defecate constipation; vertigo; palpitations; face, lips and nails are lusterless white Tongue Pulse red material; slippery and thin yellow full moss thin, greasy moss wiry and deep
Deficient Blood
Cold Obstruc- constipation; slight ting the Qi abdominal discomfort; pressure and warmth relieve pain; clear, copious urine; cold limbs Deficient Qi constipation; fatigue; spontaneous sweating; patient becomes more tired after defecation; stool is not dry.
empty
Da Cheng Qi Tang Xiao Cheng Qi Tang Huang Long Tang Da Huang Fu Zi Tang Wen Pi Tang Shi Xiao Wan Mu Xiang Bing Lang Wan Jian Pi Wan Si Jun Zi Tang Liu Jun Zi Tang Ma Zi Ren Wan Run Change Wan Ji Chuan Jian
Drastic Purgative Decoction Less Drastic Purgative Decoction Yellow Dragon Decoction Decoction of Rhubarb and Aconite The Spleen Warming Decoction Losing the Smile Pills Pills of Saussurea and Areca Seed Strengthen the Spleen Pills Four Gentlemen Decoction Six Gentlemen Decoction The Linum Seed Pills The Emollient Pills The Blood Replenishing Decoction
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 367
6/19/07 11:34:54 PM
The nutritional / holistic approach to the problem of sleep disorders views the entire individual in his setting the attempts to set up a program which will lead to normal, helpful, undrugged sleep, from which a person will awake refreshed and ready for a new days activity. Let us review the holistic approach to sleep disorders at various stages of life. Infants: Simple common sense factors are sometimes overlooked in the case of the sleepless infant.Is the bedroom quiet? The parent should check items such as excessive light, air conditioners, noisy radiators, or noise from nearby rooms. Are the bedclothes comfortable and not too tightly fitted? Is the mattress, cab or carriage conducive to sleep? Has the child used up the sleep quota during daytime hours? When all these factors have been ruled out, food sensitivity is the major cause of sleeplessness in infants. Change of diet often solves what can be a vexing problem for parents. Those who are interested, can refer their pediatricians to an article in Pediatrics, 76(6): 880-84,1985 in which it was found that the removal and replacement of cows milk was able to control infant insomnia. Since no studies have been made with regard to specific nutrients,
368 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:54 PM
none of these can be suggested for infants at this time. Perhaps in the not too distant future, some innovative holistic pediatricians will come up with guidelines and dosages of the nutrients which have been suggested for adult insomnia. Children: Young children with sleep disorders should be treated basically with the methods mentioned above for infants. A great offender here is the omnipresent television, especially when children are exposed to horror and violence. An hour spent by parents with their children in pleasant activity at night may save the parent from the bother of dealing with a sleepless child, as well as providing a mutually rewarding experience. Adults: The first question which an alert practitioner should ask the individual complaining of insomnia is: How much caffeine did you consume today? This may come not only from coffee, tea and carbonated beverages, but from various OTC and prescription drugs as well. Caffeine is probably the greatest culprit in the theft of much sleep. Avoiding caffeine during the evening hours will not always prevent this problem. While a morning cup of coffee is usually not a major problem, caffeine taken from lunch time on can be active in the system until the late evening hours. In addition to caffeine, a wide variety of drugs, OTC and prescription, may be involved in excessive wakefulness. Often, the replacement of these drugs, sometimes by holistic nutrients, can solve with insomnia? The most important nutrient in the area of helping one get a restful nights sleep is the amino acid, L-tryptophan. The dose of important nutrients is from one to three 500-mg tablets, approximately one hour before retiring. Older individuals tend to require the higher dose. Several factors are more important in regard to this amino acid. It is essential that one use a tablet made by a manufacturer who makes certain that the tablets take several hours to dissolve, they will be of no benefit to the individual seeking to overcome insomnia. It is even possible that tablets of this type which pass further down the digestive tract (past the stomach) may even cause potential health problems. It is preferable to take the L-tryptophan with either juice or water-or with carbohydrate foods--rather than protein-type foods. The reason for this is that proteins are rich in amino acids. In order to obtain the specific sleep-inducing properties of L-tryptophan, it should be the sole amino acid available in the system. It is wise to take the L-tryptophan along with vitamin B-6. This vitamin adds to the efficiency of the amino acid and aids the body in properly eliminating all by products of the L-tryptophan. What other nutrients are recommended in addition to L-tryptophan? Many people find that calcium helps in inducing sleep. This is undoubtedly the reason why milk has traditionally been regarded as being useful in
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 369
6/19/07 11:34:54 PM
this area. The usual dose of elemental calcium is 500mg at bedtime. The mineral magnesium may also be so some assistance taken along with calcium. The usual dose is one-half of the amount of calcium. In certain individuals, the B-complex factor inositol (sometimes called the poor mans tranquilizer) has proven helpful as a natural calming agent in preparing for sleep. The usual dose of inositol is 650mg before bedtime. Recent studies have found that low levels of the minerals copper and iron in the system may hinder proper sleep patterns. Supplementation with mild doses of these essential minerals may be indicated if other methods do not prove useful. For those individuals who have no difficulty in falling asleep but tend to wake up at night and are unable to resume sleeping, the B-complex factor, niacinamide 500mg taken before bedtime may be helpful. The greatest benefit of the nutritional approach is that all of the items mentioned in this article are generally without negative effects. Insomnia poses a highly annoying problem for many individuals. While not a major health crisis, it can often be debilitating. A person is often left worn out, and unable to carry out his or her tasks with a normal amount of energy. We are fortunate that the nutritional approach is often beneficial in this area. [Ed. note: This article was first published in 1989, prior to L-tryptophans removal from the market in the U.S.A.]
6/19/07 11:34:54 PM
Natural Bodybuilding
BY LUKe BUCCI, PH.D.
Bodybuilding has become a passion for tens of thousands of Americans. Unfortunately, the appearance of large, rippling muscles is often an illusion concealing drug-induced dehydration, elevated cholesterol levels, impotence, infertility, and other harmful side effects of anabolic steroids, diuretics, antiestrogens, and other abused drugs. This article will examine how to succeed at body building the heavy way without using drugs.
The Plan
Workouts, diet, rest and supplements are the four corners of a healthy, drug-free bodybuilding plan. If these four conditions are optimized, then one can be as successful as his or her genetics allow. Everyone is different, and what is outlined here may or may not be perfect for an individual. Each person must experiment with subtle changes that make the plan work. This article represents a summary of information from two successful, drug free, male bodybuilders who have never used anabolic steroids. There experience has been gained over years of hard work. Both have placed in the top three of their weight categories in state and regional meets, and are competing in national contests this year [1989].
Workouts
This is the most important and most variable part of the plan. There are a multitude of books and muscle magazines which present how to workout in great details. This article will give some basic information on what has worked for drug-free bodybuilders. The main idea is intensity -- make the muscle give 100 percent. Exercise each muscle group twice per week (four or more times for calves and abdominals). For each body part, one workout per week should be heavy the other light, using different exercise for each workout. The weakest muscle group, or the group that needs the most development, should be worked first. Only two or three muscle groups should be exercised each workout. By changing which days of the week are workout days, which muscle groups are being worked, which exercises are used, what weights and repetitions are lifted, one can have an almost infinite variety of possible combinations. This is important to develop the muscles in a full, symmetrical manner as well as prevent mental burnout.
6/19/07 11:34:54 PM
Diet
Drug-free bodybuilders must carefully control their food intake. Binges at fast-food joints are dietary suicide! The general idea is to eat a lot of lowfat, low-salt foods. This means around ten percent of total calories are from fat (around 20-40 grams per day). Protein-rich foods are eaten earlier in the day. Carbohydrate-rich food care consumed later in the day. Five or six small meals per day (or three meals plus two or three snacks) are ideal. Instead of salt, use various spices and/or lemon juice for flavorings.
Snacks
Fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables are preferred over canned foods. Whole grains are always preferred over refined grains. Snacks between meals can be added to augment caloric intake when bulking is desired. These snacks can be drinks of all-in-one mixtures, protein powders, or carbohydrate powders mixed in juice. If desired, amino acid supplements may be consumed between meals. The table above gives an example of one drug-free bodybuilders daily diet. This individual weighed 240 pounds and consumed 3000-3500 calories per day. Each person must adjust total calories to produce lean muscle mass formation without excess body fat accumulation. Nutritional analysis by a nutritional consultant or registered dietician should be considered, because it is surprising to find how different real and perceived food intakes are.
Rest
Adequate sleep is important to allow muscles to recovery to full strength and function. In addition to sleep, over-training must be avoided. It is common to find bodybuilders who stop growing and developing, even though they work out more heavily than be fore. If a plateau is reached, consider taking some rest days. This is especially important for drug-free bodybuilders. Again, each person must find his/her need for rest by experience.
372 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:54 PM
Included in this category are mind training techniques, relaxation exercises, hypnosis and other mental exercises that in some people have made a tremendous favorable impact.
Supplements
Nutritional supplements should not be treated like drugs, but rather, as part of diet. Use of nutritional supplements to aid bodybuilding is often very confusing. There are many products, many claims, but little hard science to justify the theoretical benefits that all supplements possess. To make a long story short, only a synopsis of supplement use from our two drug-free bodybuilders will be given. Both used a free-form, amino acid mixture containing 24 individual amino acids, taken between meals. Both ingested multiple vitamin/mineral packs, FRAC (ferulic acid), and gamma oryzanol. One used an antioxidant mixture, arginine / ornithine and L-carnitine. While use of nutritional supplements for athletes is not encouraged by some experts, dietary analysis of bodybuilders diets commonly finds deficiencies of minerals - especially calcium, magnesium, zinc and chromium. These deficiencies can be easily rectified by a multiple vitamin / mineral supplement. however, most supplements used by body builders are nonessential nutrients (such as FRAC). It is these nonessential nutrients they probably have the largest effect on drug-free bodybuilders, as documented by several studies our research group has conducted.
Conclusion
By controlling workouts, diet, rest and supplement use, drug-free bodybuilders are successfully competing in major contests. It is not easy, and requires a total commitment to a natural bodybuilding lifestyle. On the other hand, drug-free bodybuilders are truly healthy, and can expect to continue competing for many years without the nagging injuries and side effects associated with drug use. It is hoped that the examples set by the two bodybuilders mentioned in this article will be followed by others.
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 373
6/19/07 11:34:54 PM
Friendly Bacteria
BY PAUL BeRGneR,
Medical Herbologist
There are more bacteria in the human body than there are cells, and most of them play vital roles in maintaining a healthy life. Friendly bacteria normally reside in the mouth, the digestive tract, the vagina, and on the skin. The vast majority of bacteria are not harmful. Out of more than 500 identified kinds of anaerobic (living without oxygen) bacteria, only a few are found to cause infections. Bacteria in the gut provide essential bodily functions; we would die without them! Intestinal bacteria aid in digestion and synthesize vitamin K, vitamin B-12, thiamine, and riboflavin. Bacterial vitamin K production is especially important, because dietary vitamin K is normally not sufficient to maintain adequate blood coagulation. Also, friendly colon bacteria keep potentially dangerous bacteria in check, and counteract the formation of cancer-causing substances in the colon. The bacterial populations in the various parts of the body are called flora by scientists, reminiscent of the word flowers. Colonies of bacteria in the body are like gardens, providing an essential function, with a few weeds which occasionally get out of hand.
The friendly bacteria coexist in large colonies in the intestine, overwhelming pathogenic bacteria and other organisms, or holding them in check. The friendly bacteria control dangerous bacteria in several ways: Their secretions maintain a level of acidity in which pathogenic bacteria and other organisms cannot thrive, or in which their enzymes become inactive. Their components or secretions directly attack other bacteria. For instance, Lactobacillus acidophilus has an antibiotic component acidophyllin, which, in experiments, caused a 50 percent inhibition in growth of 27 different types of bacteria, 10 of which are common pathogens. By thriving and being present in large numbers, the friendly bacteria monopolize food supplies to prevent growth of other bacteria. Bacteria can become a problem when there is a wound or other break in the mucous membranes, or when the immune system becomes deficient. Then pathogenic bacteria can cause infection normally countered by a healthy immune system. Bacteria can also become a problem when the ecological balance of the flora is upset.
6/19/07 11:34:55 PM
Poor diet.
The standard American diet, with high fat, refined carbohydrates, hormore treated animal products, and low fiber promotes imbalances of colonic bacteria.
Medical drugs, including antibiotics, cortisone, hormones and birth control pills.
Long term antibiotic use is especially hazardous to the normal intestinal balance of bacteria. Side effects can be nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, colitis and Candida infection. These factors tend to kill off the flowers and encourage the growth of the weeds in the intestinal garden. One result can be an overgrowth of yeast, known as Candida albicans. Candida is normally held in check by the lactic bacteria listed above. Some authors speculate that Candida overgrowth is an epidemic in our society, and it is responsible for a wide variety of problems, including low energy, multiple allergies, environmental sensitivities, and mental and emotional problems. Others acknowledge that Candida can be a problem, but caution against indiscriminate diagnosis of Candida infection, mainly because there is no definitive diagnostic test.
Imbalanced flora in the various regions of the body have also been implicated in allergies, colon cancer, chronic constipation, diarrhea, oral herpes, vaginal yeast infection, high estrogen levels, irritable bowel syndrome, and infection. In one study of a group of children suffering from symptoms of food allergies, all the children showed evidence of deficiencies of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria combined with pathogenic bacteria overgrowth.
When the flora are imbalanced, supplements of friendly bacteria can help restore the proper ecology. For instance, in clinical experiments, 305 of 356 cases of chronic constipation responded to bacterial supplementation. Other studies have also shown effectiveness for constipation. Bacterial supplementation can also be more effective than anti-diarrhea drugs in controlling diarrhea. Earlier studies also showed 15 to 21 cases of irritable colon and diverticulosis responded to Lactobacillus supplementation. There are two considerations when choosing bacterial supplements. They should be in a form with a coating to protect the bacteria from the acids in the upper digestive tract, and the bacteria must be alive. Two main methods are used to ensure that bacteria are still alive in a supplement: some are refrigerated to preserve the bacteria, and others have coatings to keep the bacteria alive at room temperature.
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 375
6/19/07 11:34:55 PM
Beside the more common oral form, friendly bacteria treatments for infection may be administered directly into the vagina. Some Lactobacillus products are designed specifically for this. Naturopathic physicians also recommend administration of a yogurt douche for some forms of infection. Women should consult a physician before self-treating a vaginal complaint. In one study, 444 women with trichomonas bacterial infections were treated with an acidophilus preparation. One year later, 427 of these were followed up, and 92.5 percent were free of symptoms. These results are significant because vaginal infection is not normally a self-limiting disease; it tends to be chronic.
6/19/07 11:34:55 PM
Q: A:
Q.
6/19/07 11:34:55 PM
A:
All three stress hormones are known to cause significant urinary losses of magnesium. Magnesium is one of the key nutrients that naturally promote restful sleep. Magnesium is essential both to calm down brain cells into a resting state and to deeply relax the skeletal muscles. When the brain is even mildly magnesium deficient, nerve cells remain in a hyperexcitable state. Muscles cannot relax without adequate magnesium. Partially contracted muscles send signals to the brain, keeping the brain awake and alert. This, by the way, is why its important to keep a person moving if youre trying to keep them from falling asleep. Therefore, is magnesium one of the key sleep-related nutrients? The amino acid L-Tryptophan is vastly overrated as the sleep nutrient, that title should belong to magnesium instead. Ive worked with clients on the edge of serious sleep deprivation psychosis who had already tried L-Tryptophan on their own. In many cases their extreme sleep problems were ended the very first night they took supplementary magnesium. Dietary surveys show that most Americans only get about 60-70 percent of the RDA of magnesium. In addition, there are many factors known to seriously increase urinary magnesium losses. These include excess sugar consumption, excess coffee drinking, high alcohol intake, high-phosphate soft drink consumption, and excessive animal protein. Weve unfortunately just described the American way of life. What is L-Tryptophans role in sleep induction? L-Tryptophan is indeed the precursor from which the brain makes serotonin. And serotonin is the neurotransmitter which has been shown to be used by the brains sleep-inducing system called the reticular activatina system (RAS). However, L-Tryptophan requires adequate vitamin B-3 and B-6 levels in the brain to be successfully converted into serotonin. Furthermore, L-Tryptophan can easily be degraded into metabolites toxic to the nerves and liver if a person ingests high levels of it without insuring B-3 and B-6 intakes of at least 25mg per day. Even if your brain successfully creates serotonin from ingesting L-Tryptophan, a magnesium-deficient brain will be unable to successfully implement the sleep signals that the RAS is transmitting to the brain. L-Tryptophan is necessary but not sufficient to ensure good sleep. Since stress is the major cause of sleep disorders and stress almost always causes magnesium deficiency, L-Tryptophan will often not be sufficient by itself to promote restful sleep.
Q. A:
Q. A:
6/19/07 11:34:55 PM
Q.
Many people use alcohol to sedate themselves. What is the biochemical basis for this and is there a safer way to exploit this biochemical connection? GABA (Gamma Antino Butyric Acid) is known to be the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the human brain. GABA-neurons tend to sedate and shut down the anxious, overactive brain. The sedatives Valium and Librium, as well as alcohol, all serve to turn on the sedative GABA neurons. A more non-toxic route to activating the GABA nerves is simply to take supplementary GABA since this is the neurotransmitter thats meant to active these brain-calming neurons anyway.
A:
[Ed. note: This article was first printed in 1989, before L-Tryptophan was removed from store shelves in the U.S.A.]
6/19/07 11:34:55 PM
6/19/07 11:34:55 PM
Without adequate amounts of raw foods, the need for plant enzymes to aid digestion becomes very important. Plant enzymes referred to are protease for protein, amylase for carbohydrates, lipase for fats and cellulose for fiber. These enzymes work at the very pH and temperature of the human body, unlike other plant enzymes such as bromelain and animal enzymes (e.g. pancreatin) which are at peak activity at a pH and temperature range outside that of the body. Of the one percent of calcium in the blood, half is protein-bound and half is ionized. If you are deficient in protein because you cant digest it and are also deficient in hydrogen ions (hypochlorohydria) you cannot carry calcium and are a candidate for arthritis and bone loss. Many people are calcium deficient even though they take calcium supplements. I have seen this in doing 24-hour urinalyses. They cannot absorb or utilize their supplements either because of the form of the supplements or because of other nutrient deficiencies. People stuff themselves with isolated vitamins and minerals but what most of them are really deficient in are enzymes, the special proteins that do the work of the body. Vitamins and minerals cannot work without them. Over 3,000 enzymes have been identified. They help you digest, breathe, walk, think, detoxify and they even affect behavior. Without enzymes, nothing works. If you take isolated vitamins and minerals and eat a dead, enzyme-deficient diet, you are not creating the proper environment for the vitamins to work. Ultraviolet light (from the sun) is also important in calcium metabolism. It converts skin oil to vitamin D which transports calcium from the stomach into the blood. Essential fatty acids are vital in the transport of calcium from the blood to the tissues. What if you have vitamin D but not enough essential fatty acids? Your blood calcium will increase at the expense of the tissue calcium level because theres no essential fatty acids to transport it to the tissues. If your skin itches or you get either hives/welts or cold (and canker) sores when you go out in the sun, you have tissue calcium starvation and on essential fatty acid deficiency. Does calcium prevent osteoporosis? Yes and no. Its true that adequate blood levels of calcium are essential in preventing osteoporosis because if the blood calcium is low, parathyroid hormone is called forth to pull calcium from bones and teeth to maintain adequate blood levels off calcium. But this is only part of the picture. If you want to get a graphic picture of how osteoporosis occurs, watch the film, The Pottenger Cats, and you will never forget what you see. Dr. Francis Pottenger studied a diet of raw meat and milk versus cooked meat and milk in thousands of cats over many years and made a profound discovery. Both raw meat and raw (unpasteurized) milk gave the same results.
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 381
6/19/07 11:34:55 PM
With the raw food, the cats survived, and had healthy, well-formed offspring with no structural abnormalities or dental decay. Their bones showed an average 12 to 17 percent calcium content. The first generation of cooked food cats showed impaired sense of coordination, lethargy, decreased libido, dental deterioration with tooth/gum abscesses, and developed arthritis. In the second generation, structural abnormalities appeared in the skeleton and the average percent calcium fell to 10 percent In the third generation, the average percent calcium fell to three percent and the cats displayed very fragile bones with multiple fractures and severe skeletal deformities. Third generation cats became infertile and the cats who did reproduce, produced stillborn and deformed offspring. It took four generations of a raw food diet before the animals regained their health and original structure. The estrogen question. It has been claimed that estrogen prevents osteoporosis and the lack of estrogen causes it. Probably the strongest argument for the use of estrogen to prevent osteoporosis is that it causes decreased excretion of calcium in the urine. I believe that Dr. Ray Peat is correct when he says that estrogens effect in decreasing urinary calcium is merely a toxic effect of estrogen. Why do we assume that its going into the bone just because its not coming out in the urine? Dr. Peat further states that estrogen via its stimulation of prolactin (acting through the pituitary) may promote osteoporosis as does cortisone. On the other hand, natural (not synthetic) progesterone inhibits prolactin and may therefore inhibit osteoporosis. There is a natural form of progesterone available (isolated from yams) which you can get in a health food store or from a health practitioner. Since bone loss coincides with decreased progester one and thyroid hormone, its essential to have adequate supplies of these. There are dietary excesses which increase calcium excretion and therefore stimulate loss of calcium from bone: Excess protein (especially red meat), sugar, coffee, alcohol, salt and junk food diets (which are deficient in many trace minerals and other factors listed above as bone nutrients). Add certain drugs such as cortisone, dilantin, birth control pills and certain chemicals such as fluoride.
Eat a natural whole food diet with as many foods in their natural raw state as possible. For example, nature never intended for use, cooked (pasteurized) dairy products. If you eat dairy products, consume them in their raw state. Did you know that raw butter contains an unidentified substance which protects you from arthritis? Eating high enzyme (raw) foods and whole (unprocessed) foods will increase your likelihood of getting all the nutrients required for healthy bones --just like the Pottenger cats ! Why drink cooked (canned, frozen, etc.) apple juice when you can eat a fresh whole (raw) apple?
382 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:55 PM
Eliminate processed, canned foods as much as possible. Especially avoid white sugar, white flour, margarine (hydrogenated oils, vegetable shortening) and low-fiber foods (e.g. processed foods). Those are not really foods. They do not nourish the body. Rather, they create severe nutritional deficiencies which lead to diseases such as arthritis, cancer, diabetes, heart disease and so on. Take plant enzymes (protease, analase, lipase and cellulase described previously) to increase digestion of cooked foods. Nature never intended us to take her fruits, vegetables, and daity products and fill them up with pesticides, cook them, filter them, bottle and can them, etc. People who eat dead foods have larger pancreases and higher white blood cell counts than those who include living, raw (high enzyme) foods in their diet. You can find plant enzymes in health food stores and from health practitioners. Until you can optimize your digestion, be aware of foods which can cause problems. It is estimated, for example that seven out of ten arthritics are intolerant of the nightshade family of foods which include tomatoes, green pepper, eggplant and potatoes. However, I believe that most food allergies could be eliminated by proper digestion, assimilation and absorption of the food using plant enzymes.
6/19/07 11:34:55 PM
Ginkgo Biloba
6/19/07 11:34:55 PM
Research shows that Ginkgo leaf extracts widen the blood vessels and increase circulation, mostly in the deeper lying medium and small arteries. The speed of blood flow in the capillaries is also increased. This makes it good for circulatory disturbances of almost any sort. In addition, Ginkgo flavonoids are a powerful antioxidant, giving the extracts free radical scavenging properties. They are thus effective in combating and reversing the aging of cell membranes in the brain. These properties make Ginkgo leaf a panacea for old age disorders, such as senility, dizziness, weakness of the mental facilities, inability to concentrate, depression and fatigue, and poor circulation in the limbs. It is useful for weakness of hearing and vision in the elderly, if the cause is from reduced blood flow. It is useful as well in circulatory problems associated with diabetes, and with varicosities and hemorrhoids. Ginkgo has been studied extensively clinically in Europe. In one clinical study of 166 elderly patients with senility, significant improvement was found in the group taking Ginkgo after about three months. Thirty six patients with inflamed arteries in their lower limbs were treated with Ginkgo for six months. Their pain decreased, and they could walk longer and for greater distances. One hundred three patients with tinnitus --ringing or other sounds in their ears -- participated in a study, and experienced significant relief. Notably, the ringing decreased in every patient receiving Ginkgo extract, regardless of the cause of the ringing. Eight healthy subjects took a battery of tests for short term memory, and at certain dose levels, significant memory improvement was noted. In one clinical case at the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon, Ginkgo appeared to prevent deterioration in an elderly patient with Alzheimers disease. This use had been suggested by French researchers. Ginkgo is easily digested, and constituents enter the blood stream freely. It is therefore effective by mouth. Its half-life in the blood is about three hours, so a dose of three times per day is optimal for maintaining blood levels. A course of treatment to realize its effect may last three to six months.
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 385
6/19/07 11:34:56 PM
Side-effects are sometimes experienced with Ginkgo extracts. These include a mild digestive upset or a mild headache. These can sometimes be eliminated by taking the supplements with meals. The concentrated extracts used in Europe, where 50 pounds of leaf is used to make a single pound of the medicine, have virtually no side effects (less than two percent). The preferred form in Europe and Japan is the concentrated powdered extract. There are certain advantages to this sort of preparation. The active ingredients in the Ginkgo leaf can vary in amount and activity according to the time of year the leaves are harvested. The optimal time is in the fall as the leaves turn color. Because Ginkgo is a slow-acting medicine, it is vital to have a standardized dose. If the dose were too low, a lack of action after a few months could lead to the erroneous conclusion that the medicine had no use for a patient. Most of the research in Europe was done with the solid extract form. Ginkgo has been reported in anecdotal cases to be clinically effective by practitioners in the U.S. in the form of an alcohol tincture as well. It may also be made into a tea. Ginkgo is available in both solid extract and tincture form in North America through natural food stores and through alternative health care practitioners.
6/19/07 11:34:56 PM
Mechanism of Whiplash:
The word whiplash is one we are all familiar with. This term comes from the fact that the mid-back (thoracic spine) is held still by the rib cage and acts as the handle of the whip. Specifically, when ones car is struck by another from behind the impact causes an involuntary thrust of the head and neck backwards (hyperextension), while the rest of the body continues to move forward with the momentum of the car because its supported by the front seat. The driver of the car automatically applies the brakes to stop the car. The rapid deceleration of the car, as well as the elastic recoil quality of the soft tissue in the neck area, throws the head and neck violently forward into hyperflexion. Thus, the drivers body continues to move forward, pushed by the back of the seat, while the head and neck snap backward. A car weighing 3,500 pounds traveling at a speed of 10 miles per hour creates a force of 35 tons. After your car has absorbed the initial shock, over one ton of force may remain to be exerted on your body at the moment of impact. As a result of the hyperextension / hyperflextion reaction, chemical and structural changes occur in the bony spine and soft tissue (muscles, ligaments and intervertebral discs). Muscles and ligaments in the neck stretch and / or tear resulting in strains or sprains. This causes swelling and sometimes hermorrhaging within the muscles. If the neck vertebrae compress, the discs between the vertebrae can protrude or even rapture, and the joints which connect the
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 387
6/19/07 11:34:56 PM
bones can jam against one another (capsulitis). Disc protrusion and capsulitis will cause nerve roots to become irritated by the excessive pressure.
Whiplash Symptoms:
Its important to remember whiplash is just a descriptive term. It is not a diagnostic term, i.e., the symptoms people experience from whiplash are varied, even though the mechanism of the whiplash is similar for everyone (see Whiplash Detection Questionnaire). The most common symptoms are: headache, neck pain, numbness in arms and hands, nausea/ vomiting, low back pain, blurred vision, insomnia, tinnitus, poor concentration and fatigue. Most of these symptoms result from constrictions or irritations of the nerves and blood vessels. The muscles, skin and organs that these vessels nourish literally lose their energy source. The symptoms are a result of this. Its imperative that these symptoms be examined and treated by a competent health care practitioner before complications arise. Soft tissue and spinal degeneration can occur even with a minimum of symptomology. Untreated inflamed soft tissue can lead to fibrosis or hardening of muscles and ligaments. Fibrosis causes loss of range of motion in the joints and painful pressure points in the muscles. Changes in the bony structure of the spine are easily evidenced by x-ray analysis. Following a whiplash, the normal cervical curvature is lost, forming straight neck or even reverse curve. This is due to the enormous force exerted by the muscles pulling on the neck vertebrae. When a vertebrae is moved out of alignment this will produce irritation on the nerves. Chiropractic physicians have long recognized this phenomena and call it subluxation (misalignment). The most common complication of this condition is osteoarthritis. Calcium deposits are sent into the disc space, joint space of the individual vertebrae. This is the strategy the body uses to prevent further damage to the neck by inhibiting neck movement.
Obviously, whiplash is a condition that is to be taken seriously even when no symptoms are present. Approximately fifty percent of the neck and mid back complaints treated by chiropractors can be traced to a previous car accident that was undiagnosed, misdiagnosed, or mistreated. Chiropractors are specialists in structural and spinal disorders. They are most, qualified to perform a comprehensive examination to determine the extent of injury. In the acute stage of injury, treatments should be directed towards reduction of nerve and muscle irritation as well as pain. In our clinic this is achieved by using gentle manipulations to separate the joint capsules compressed together. A variety of physiotherapy modalities are employed: ice and / or heat packs; ultra sound and electro-muscle stimulator; massage therapy. A cervical collar may be needed to prevent the patient from
388 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:56 PM
overusing the inflamed neck muscles. Anti-inflammatory supplements such as vitamins A, C and E; the minerals calcium and magnesium; and herbs such as valerian and passionflower can help to reduce neck pain. After a short period, as pain reduction is achieved, treatments are geared towards restoring range of motion and correcting structural abnormalities. This is achieved by specific spinal adjustments and corrective rehabilitative stretches and exercises. A special cervical pillow is used at home, by the patient to promote the return of the cervical curve. I would like to conclude this article by restating the importance of receiving health care immediately after a car accident. Consider this: if your automobile was involved in the accident you would make sure it was mechanically sound before driving it again, or would have a mechanic check and correct any broken parts or misalignments. Give the same consideration to your body! In case of an accident, have a comprehensive examination by a qualified doctor who can make sure there has been no permanent damage to your spine or spinal nerves.
6/19/07 11:34:56 PM
6/19/07 11:34:56 PM
especially important to avoid getting on a stressful treadmill, in which the individual constantly undergoes stressful situation one after another, without any break or interlude. Everyone should review his/her own schedule of activity and attempt to monitor and control stressful situations from getting out of hand. As has been indicated, the proper use of nutrition can be a distinct benefit in the attempt to lead a happy and productive life. In addition, the spiritual, social, intellectual and physical resources of the individual must all be mobilized aid in dealing with the problem of stress.
6/19/07 11:34:56 PM
6/19/07 11:34:56 PM
Euphrasia eyebright
This remedy is considered to have the reverse picture of allium cepa: burning tears and a non acrid nasal discharge. Oftentimes the hayfever suffering will develop conjunctivitis. The eyes are very sensitive to light and you prefer to remain indoors in a poorly lit room. To be taken 6x, 12x or 5c four to six pellets three to four times.
Indications: sneezing with nasal burning. Unlike Allium Cepa, this person feels better with hot compresses on the sides of their nose, any by breathing into a warm humidifier. The Arsenium hayfever sufferer will be restless, tired and might wake during the night in great, distress. These people will often have cold hands and / or feet. Oftentimes, they will not only have allergies to dust and mold but also be highly sensitive to cats. They will frequently have food allergies to milk, wheat and sugar. They should avoid coffee because they are already too high strung. It is probably the chief irritating discharge remedy for children. To be taken 5c, 7c or 12x four to six pellets two to four times daily.
Indications: Watery discharge which burns the upper lip and inside of the nose. There is a feeling that the nose is stopped up even though there is a flowing nasal discharge. This person has lost the sense of smell and is oftentimes deficient in the mineral zinc. They may also be experiencing a tickling feeling in the throat.
6/19/07 11:34:56 PM
Indications: This person is much worse while in a stuffy room and, like the Nux Vomica, will feel a lot better in the cool, open air. The nasal passage is congested and dry at night with non-irritating discharge during the day. This person is often pale, with light complexion, blond or light brown hair, blue eyes and good natured, except while suffering with hayfever. It is probably the chief non-irritating discharge remedy for childrens hayfever.
Indications: Spasmodic sneezing with a lot of nasal discharge and peculiar itching of the nose and soft palate. There is a desire to scratch the upper palate. You will be driven crazy by the smell of flowers. Sabadilla is a common remedy for small children with hayfever and pin worms. Trying one of the above remedies in low potencies (6x, 12x or 5c) will often help you alleviate the symptoms of hayfever. After taking the appropriate remedy you should begin to feel better. It is at this point of feeling better that you should stop taking the remedy. If things begin to slip and your symptoms return you may begin the remedy again. It is important to consider your diet when faced with hayfever. If you have environmental allergies there is a good chance you will be allergic to a few foods. When beginning self treatment to try to avoid these offending foods.
In Chinese medicine it is believed that hayfever sufferers have an imbalance in what the Chinese call the Metal element or the organs of the Lung and Large intestine. There are certain herbs and supplements which may be added to the homeopathic regime to make for a more effective program. These should be taken at least one hour away from the remedies.
394 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:56 PM
One of the first supplements to consider is pantothenic acid vitamin B-5, 100-200mg. daily between meals. In acute conditions one may increase this to 300-500mg. 2-3x daily between meals for a few days. This nutrient is effective in indirectly strengthening the adrenal gland which is intimately involved with the immune response. Licorice root, an herb which also has a strengthening affect on the adrenal gland, may be taken one dropper two times daily. If you have high blood pressure or tend to retain water this herb is not a good idea for you. Hayfever will often respond to vitamin C mineral ascorbate with bioflavonoids, 500mg. two to three times daily between meals. The bioflavonoids are particularly nice because they have an anti-inflammatory effect on the sinus cavity. Calcium, in the form of citrate or aspartate, is an important nutrient for the hayfever sufferer and should be added to the hayfever regime. Chinese herbs such as paeonia, pueraia and coix are all calcium containing herbs. Perhaps the most well known herb for hayfever is Ma Huang or Ephedra. This herb contains ephedrine, a stimulant which helps to clear the acute symptoms of hayfever. One must be cautioned not to take Ma Huang for anything other that acute symptoms, for over time it can create nervousness and possible insomnia. The sensitive individual, such as the Nux Vomica or Arsenicum Album, mentioned above, should not take any Ma Huang containing products past 3p.m. In beginning any self treatment it is always comforting to know that the number 10 multiplied by itself 28 times equals the approximate number of atoms in our body. Ninety-eight percent of these atoms are replaced annually. Over a five year period, we can develop a new body with entirely new cells. In effect, with care, we can literally be a new person rid of hayfever.
6/19/07 11:34:56 PM
6/19/07 11:34:57 PM
against cancer. Deficiency can cause poor growth, major anemias, spinal cord degeneration, night blindness, blindness, dry skin, faulty tooth development, gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, inflamed tongue, disturbed metabolism, allergies, appetite loss, itching/burning eyes, loss of taste and smell, and eye styes. The need for this nutrient is increased if you are diabetic, use oral contraceptives, or are under stress, happen to be either pregnant or approaching senior citizen status, indulge in alcohol, or have arthritis, bronchitis, or cystitis. Adequate beta-carotene in the diet should supply the vitamin A you need, but vitamin A deficiency is not unique to third world countries -- it is commonplace in the United States. According to a survey by the United States Department of Health, Education and Welfare, about 60 percent of women and 50 percent of men have intakes below the standard set for good nutrition. The standard used in this study is even less that the RDA. Postmortem research has indicated reduced liver reserves of vitamin A in a significant number of people, reflecting the prevalence of a marginal vitamin A deficiency, too much vitamin A has not been reported to be a problem of any magnitude in any population in the world. In fact, from 1850 through 1978, there were 195 reports of a total of only 579 cases of people suffering symptoms from too much vitamin A! The good news is that although vitamin A may be toxic in large amounts, beta-carotene is not. The only side-effect noted where large doses are ingested is yellowing skin, which is not dangerous and disappears when levels are reduced. One reason beta-carotene is not toxic may be because the amount converted decreases as the amount in the, diet increases, so that even massive doses of beta carotene will not convert to the degree that hypervitaminosis A (too much vitamin A) will occur --unless massive amounts of preformed vitamin A are also taken. Unlike vitamin A, the amounts of beta-carotene in your blood and fat tissue are directly related to the amounts ingested over the preceding few weeks. Beta-carotene demonstrates several positive effects uncommon to vitamin A. For example, it has been shown to be more effective than vitamin A in wound-healing and for the formation of healthy skin cells. It may even reduce the toxic effect of vitamin A overdose! Beta-carotene has shown to have an effect as an anti-cancer nutrient-a discovery made by the Japanese more than twenty years ago. Since then, many studies validated the fact that people who eat vegetables rich in betacarotene are only about half as likely to develop or die from cancer as those whose intake of beta-carotene is low. How does beta-carotene work? Some of what follows is theory, much is already fact. Beta-carotene is known to be a powerful antioxidant--that is, it can circumvent chemical reactions in your body that have been linked to cancer advancement. He know that it can block toxic byproducts that are especially
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 397
6/19/07 11:34:57 PM
damaging to your skin and lungs. (These byproducts are promoted by smoking, exposure to the sun, and environmental pollutants). Beta-carotene is a potent immunostimulator. It increases the number of T-helper lymphocytes and increases certain macrophage which effectively kill cancer cells. So move over carrots in North America, yellow-green vegetables in Japan, and dark green leafy vegetables in China. The buriti fruit is coming our way. But until it does, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reports that taking 15 milligrams of beta-carotene daily can achieve a substantial protective blood response, and that with this dosage no skin discoloration or other toxicities are observed. Positive effects can be seen after two months, and blood concentrations can be further increased with several months of additional treatment, with the increase plateauing after four months. Males Pregnant Children
Foods Rich In Beta-carotene Vegetables asparagus (green); broccoli; carrots; collards; kale; pumpkins; lettuce (butter head, loose-leaf, romaine); red peppers; rutabaga; spinach; squash (winter), sweet potatoes / yams; tomatoes Fruits apricots; cantaloupe; cherries (sour); nectarines; papayas peaches; prune; plums
6/19/07 11:34:57 PM
6/19/07 11:34:57 PM
and heart disease. However, in the mega-dose amounts often recommended by physicians some side effects exist . Here are some of the less desirable effects: -- Acid Rejection Syndrome. This is probably the major problem for efficient absorption of vitamin C. It occurs when the acidic vitamin C enters the more alkaline environment of the lower digestive tract rejection of the vitamin C (ascorbic acid) by the tissues of the lower digestive tract often causes much reactions as gas, diarrhea, and lower bowel discomfort. -- Increase in production and excretion of oxalic acid. Though it has not been conclusively proven, some scientists feel that this can increase the incidence of kidney stones in susceptible persons. -- Relatively rapid dissipation of vitamin C from inside the white blood cells (WBC). Intracellular WBC levels of ascorbic acid have a significant relationship to the immune systems response to disease. In an attempt to counter these problems, vitamin C preparations began to include minerals such as sodium, calcium, zinc, or magnesium in the form of an ascorbate or citrate. This minimized bowel discomfort and enhanced absorption. However, the clearance rate (how fast the vitamin C leaves the tissues) still necessitated large doses to maintain therapeutic levels of vitamin C in serum and tissues. The objective of using any therapeutic agent is, of course, to get the maximum results with the last amounts. A new compound of vitamin C, which appears to answer all of the above concerns, has been awarded a patent. Marketed under the name of Ester-C Calcium Ascorbate, it enables a larger amount of vitamin C to remain within the tissues, even though the dosage required is smaller. The body wastes only one-third as much vitamin C; additionally, four times as much vitamin C is sent to the tissues as compared with ordinary ascorbic acid. The new compounds neutral 7.0pH (same as distilled water) alleviates the acid-rejection syndrome, reducing body wastage of vitamin C to one-third that of ordinary ascorbic acid, and sending four times as much vitamin C to body tissues. Furthermore, the body forms less oxalate with this compound than it does either with ascorbic acid (plain) or with the mineral ascorbates. Easter-C Polyascorbate is a complex mixture which contains metabolities of vitamin C, thus accelerating both absorption and tissue retention. About 80 percent of Easter-C (by weight) is vitamin C ascorbate, and dehydro ascorbate is what vitamin C is converted to, in your body, for maximum bioavailability.
6/19/07 11:34:57 PM
6/19/07 11:34:57 PM
Candida albicans, prevents the overgrowth of yeast that is a common side effect in antibiotic use. Anti-Parasitic Activity: Berberine has shown significant success in the treatment of parasitic infections in several clinical studies. It has been found effective against diarrheas caused by E. coli, Shigella dysentereies, Salmonella paratyphi B., Klebsiella, Giardia lamblia, and Vibro Cholerac. Berberine has also demonstrated activity against Entamoeba histolytica, the causative organism in amebiasis. It would thus appear that goldenseal may be effective in the majority of common parasitic gastrointestinal infections. For those planning to travel to an underdeveloped country or an area of poor water quality sanitation, the use of goldenseal at the recommended dose for chronic administration one week prior to, during and after visiting, may be useful. Immune system enhancing activity: Berberine has been shown to increase the blood supply to the spleen. This improved blood supply may promote optimal activity of the spleen by increasing the release of compounds, such as tuftsin, that potentiate immune function. Berberine has also been shown to activate macrophages, via both enhanced priming and triggering. This, coupled with its ability to inhibit tumon formation suggests that berberine possesses some anti-cancer activity.
SUMMARY
Goldenseal can be useful in a wide variety of conditions, particularly those infectious conditions involving the tissues lining the gastrointestinal, respiratory, arid genito-urinary tract. Dosage: The dose of goldenseal should reflect its alkaloid content, therefore it is advised that standardized extracts be utilized. The dose for a goldenseal root extract standardized for an eight percent alkaloid content would be 4001,000mg. three times per day for chronic administration.
6/19/07 11:34:57 PM
In ayurveda, Gymnema sylvestre has been described as an anti-periodic, stomachic and diuretic. The first century A.D. pioneer ayurvedic surgeon, Sushruta, described G. sylvestre as a destroyer of glycosuria (Madhumeha in Sanskrit) and other urinary disorders. The Ayurvedic pharmacologists obGuide To Alternative Health Therapies - 403
6/19/07 11:34:58 PM
served that by chewing some leaves of Gymnema sylvestre, the taste of sweet foods is suppressed (i.e., they no longer taste sweet and become absolutely tasteless). The plant was named Gurmar meaning destroyer of sugar. Further, it was clinically observed that regular use of the roots and leaves over a period of three to four months helped in reducing glycosuria. In most parts of India, this plant is being used either singly or in combination with other ayurvedic drugs as a successful remedy against diabetes mellitus. Besides diabetes, it is also used to treat various other medical problems.
Uses of Gymnema
In Glycosuria, the dried leaves are used in daily doses of three to four grams for a period of three months or more. For a snake bite, treatment consists of dusting the wound with the powder of the root. A paste of root powder is prepared in water and applied to the wound. Decoction of roots is used for oral administration. Fever is treated with an oral administration on of a half to one ounce decoction (one part in 10) of leaves. For swollen glands, the treatment is an external application of triturated leaves mixed with castor oil.
Studies conducted earlier in this century revealed that Gymnema leaves, when chewed, deaden the sense of taste of sweets and of the bitterness of bitter substances such as quinine. This effect lasts for one to two hours; it does not affect pungent, saline, astringent or acidic tastes. Studies conducted in India as early as 1930 showed that the leaves cause hypoglycemia in experimental animals which sets in soof after oral or intravenous administration. This state of hypoglycemia was explained on the assumption that the drug indirectly stimulates the insulin secretion of the pancreas, as it has no direct action on the carbohydrate metabolism. Mhaskar & Cams, 1930, suggested that the leaves stimulate the heart and circulatory system, increase urine secretion and activate the uterus.
Locate of Activity
Recent pharmacological and clinical studies have shown that Gymnema sylvestre acts on two sites --first, the taste buds in the oral cavity and second, the absorptive surface of the intestines. The structure of the taste buds that detect sugar in the mouth is similar to the structure of the tissue that absorbs sugar in the intestine. The important active ingredient of Gymnema sylvestre is an organic acid called gymnemic acid. The gymnemic acid is made up of molecules whose atom arrangement is similar to that of glucose molecules. These molecules fill the receptor locations on the taste buds for a temporary period of one to two hours, thereby preventing the taste buds from being activated by any sugar molecules present
404 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:58 PM
in the food. Similarly, the glucose-like molecules in the gymnemic acid fill the receptor locations on the absorptive external layers of the intestine, thereby preventing the intestine from absorbing the sugar molecules.
Practical Uses
The benefits of Gymnema sylvestre appear to be two-fold. First, it suppresses the taste of sweet foods. This will suppress the desire to eat sweet foods. Nevertheless, it has to be remembered that tis effect is temporary (i.e. for one to two hours only) therefore some nutrition experts suggest that Gymnema sylvestre may be taken before any social activity where you may be tempted to eat sweet foods. Second, it significantly reduces the metabolic effects of sugar by preventing the intestines from absorbing the sugar molecules during the process of digestion. Because there is change in the absorption of sugar, there is consequent change in the blood sugar level. Another important observation is that Gymnema sylvestre suppresses the taste of artificial sweeteners like saccharin and cyclamate.
Treatment of Diabetes
Recent trials under experimental and clinical conditions have shown significant results in the treatment of diabetes. It is remarkable that unlike insulin or oral hypoglycemic sulphonylurea compounds, the hypoglycemic effects of Gymnema sylvestre are seen in only small percentage of the diabetic patients. This is so because the mechanisms of the diabetic syndrome vary with different patients. In recent years, the IDDM (insulin dependent diabetes mellitus) has been observed to have entirely different pathophysiology and clinical course than the NIDDm (non-insulin-dependent diabetes millitils). The studies have suggested that Gymnema sylvestre may be useful in specific types of NIDDM.
Safety of Gymnema sylvestre is well demonstrated by the fact that, it has been safely and successfully used for more than 2000 years in treatment of various conditions. Research conducted in Indian universities has shown that it does not have toxic effects. According to a study published in Journal of Ethnopharmacoloy (18:1986:143-46) Gymnema extract can significantly increase pancreatic and liver functions. There is also scientific evidence to show that pancreatic function is not adversely affected, because it only reduces the requirement for insulin.
SUMMARY
By virtue of its non-toxic nature and sweetness suppression activity, Gymnema sylvestre can play a very significant role in the treatment of various
Guide To Alternative Health Therapies - 405
6/19/07 11:34:58 PM
conditions caused by excessive sugar intake. More commonly seen conditions are diabetes, obesity, hypoglycemia, allergies, anemia and osteoporosis. The combination of Gymnema sylvestre with other drugs and therapies can make the treatment more effective.
6/19/07 11:34:58 PM
Cholesterol
Cholesterol is naturally produced in the human body. It plays an important role in general health. The health problems occur when the level of cholesterol is too high and there are imbalances in the ratio between the HDL (High Density Lipoprotein) and the LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein) cholesterol. Dietary fibers like wheat bran, oat bran and psyllium husks have been clinically proven to help in maintaining proper levels of (LDL) and (HDL) cholesterol.
6/19/07 11:34:58 PM
Oat Bran
For centruries the people of Scotland have attributed their excellent health to oat porridge. Recently, health experts have rediscovered the benefits of oat bran which has four times the water solubility compared to wheat bran. Due to the popularity of oats, they can now be found in many different forms. Oats are being incorporated into breads, muffins, cookies and other baked goods. Instant oatmeal is one very popular way to get oats in your diet.
Psyllium Husk
Plantago psyllium (botanical name) is also remarkable for its ability to counter cholesterol problems. For centuries, people in India, Iran, China, and some parts of Europe, have been using the psyllium husks for its general health benefits. During the past 10years, this natural dietary fiber has been achieving increased recognition in the United States and Japan. The parts of the plant used for medicinal purposes are the seeds and the husks. The active components are glycosides (a plant substance that produces a sugar and other substances when combined with oxygen), mucilage (a gelatinous substance that contains proteins and polysaccharides), vitamin B-1, oils and choline. Psylliums other valuable properties aid in healing problems of the gastrointestinal tract such as diarrhea, gastric ulcer and hemorrhoids. It is both diuretic and anti-inflammatory. It is also effective in cases of chronic constipation and for troublesome coughs. The nature of psyllium requires that the powdered seeds and husk be taken with a considerable quantity of water. The psyllium powder is highly absorbent and plenty of fluid is necessary to achieve the full benefit of this versatile herb. If insufficient liquid is used it may create an obstruction in the digestive tract. A teaspoon of powdered psyllium should be accompanied by a full glass of water, or fruit juice. Two teaspoons of the powder will require two glasses of fluid. This will allow the psylium to achieve its proper bulk for best results. It may be wise to commence by taking a small amount (one teaspoon, along with a glass of water), by way of testing the effect of the psyllium powder, before going on to two spoonfuls and doubling the fluid intake. Both oat bran and psyllium are readily available in health food stores and are inexpensive. Additionally, oats are an excellent food which is frequently neglected in the United States and this wonderful grain deserves wider acceptance.
6/19/07 11:34:58 PM
Echinacea
Botanical: Echinacea angustifolia Common name: Purple Cone Flower At the top of the list of immune-enhancing herbs is Ecinacea, a perennial herb native to the Midwest. The properties the herb takes credit for include: Wound healing and anti-inflammatory--Immunostimulatory Antiviral - Antibacterial --Anti-neoplastic Does this mean that Echinacea can help combat the common cold? Yes, and more. The anti-inflammatory properties go to work fast with injuries and open wounds. Native American healers have been using Echinacea locally as an antiseptic for snake bites and animal bites for many years. The antibacterial property also comes to the rescue with such injuries. The root extracts of Echinacea have been shown to possess interferon like activity and specific antiviral activity against influenza, herpes and certain types of cancer. Known effects include antitumor activity. Inulin, Echinaceas major component, enhances the bodys T- cell activation and immunostimulatory activity. Often, Echinacea is used as a blood purifier, internally cleansGuide To Alternative Health Therapies - 409
6/19/07 11:34:58 PM
ing bad blood and generally battling the attacks of pollution, viruses and enemy bacteria.
Bacterial and viral attacks -- Infections of any kind Septicaemia, boils, acne -- Cystitis Respiratory infections: laryngitis, tonsillitis Catarrhal conditions of the nose and sinus As a mouth wash treatment of pyorrhoea and gingivitis Externally: septic sores and cuts
Goldenseal
Botanical: Hydrastis canadensis Common Name: Goldenseal, Yellow Root Goldenseal is a perennial herb native to eastern North America and is cultivated in Oregon and Washington. It is a knotty yellow root from which arises a single leaf on an erect, hairy stem. Chemically, goldenseal is composed of alkaloids such as hydrastine, berberine, berbastine, and canadine to mention a few. Goldenseal is best known of its action in soothing inflammatory conditions of the respiratory, digestive and genitourinary tracts caused by allergy or infection. It acts as a tonic for the mucous membranes. Certain Indian tribes used goldenseal for disorders of the eyes and skin.
Gastritis, septic ulceration, colitis --appetite stimulant All catarrhal states especially upper respiratory tract Uterine conditions such as menorrhagia and hemorrhage Eczema, ringworm, pruritus (itching), earache, and conjunctivitis An excellent aid during childbirth because it stimulates the involuntary muscles of the uterus. Cautions: Do not take goldenseal if you are pregnant or plan a pregnancy in the near future. If you suffer from chronic gastrointestinal disease, consult your doctor before using goldenseal. Goldenseal has been rated slightly dangerous, particularly in children and persons over 55 and should not be taken in large quantities for extended periods of time.
410 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:59 PM
Garlic
Botanical: Allium sativum Common Name: Garlic Garlic is a member of the lily family. It is a perennial plant that is cultivated around the world. Garlic has been used throughout history for the treatment of a variety of conditions. Its use predates written history. Sanskrit documents record the use of garlic 5,000 years ago and the Chinese have been using it for at least, 3,000 years. Egyptians used garlic for conditions such as hypertension, headache, bites, worms and tumors. Hypocrites and Aristotle cited many therapeutic uses for garlic including coughs, toothache, earache, dandruff, hypertension, atherosclerosis, hysteria, diarrhea and dysentery, vaginitis, and many other conditions.
Antimicrobal - Antibacterial - Antifungal - Antihelminthic Antiviral --Antihypertensive cardiovascular effect Antitumor (especially uterine tumors) --Anti-inflammatory
These properties take garlic high on the list as a healing herb to include in our daily diet. It has often been used in treatment of diabetes mellitus and has been shown to have significant hypoglycemic action. For ear infections, a drop or two of garlic oil, or the oil in which garlic cloves have been fried has been a popular and effective folk remedy. Hypocrites prescribed eating garlic as treatment for uterine tumors, and from epidemiological information it appears there is a direct relationship between garlic and cancer, cancer incidence being lowest where garlic consumption is the highest.
Chronic bronchitis - Respiratory catarrh Recurrent colds and influenza --Whooping cough, bronchial asthma Infections, digestive and respiratory -Reducing blood pressure Reducing blood cholesterol - Microbial infections of digestive tract Externally: ringworm and threadworm
Cautions: Garlic is for the most part non-toxic at the dosages commonly used. For some there may be an allergic contact dermatitis or irritation of the digesGuide To Alternative Health Therapies - 411
6/19/07 11:34:59 PM
Radix Astagalus
Botanical: Astragalus membranaceus Common Name: Milk-vetch Root Chinese Name: Huang Qi Astragalus is one of the most popular energy tonics used in the Orient. It is a perennial herb found growing in northern China. The dried roots are used, the quality of the herb being judged by the size of the root, the sweetness of taste and the deep yellow coloring found in the center of the root. In America, Astragalus is getting a lot of attention for its ability to enhance the immune system and is one of the leading herbs being studied by the American Cancer Society. Research has positively shown that Astragalus is invaluable in strengthening the immune system of cancer patients. Cancer patients receiving chemotherapy or radiation are shown to recover faster and for longer if supplemented with Astragalus during treatment. Certain herbal tonic formulas containing Astragalus as the main ingredient are gaining a lot of attention in the treatment of immune system depression (chronic fatigue syndrome, Epstein-Barr syndrome, wasting diseases; pneumonia, tuberculosis, emphysema; general weakness and chronic infection.)
Energy tonic, increasing overall energy, strengthening a weakened patient, and increasing resistance to disease. Improving digestion, thereby enhancing production of blood and circulating nutrients. Strengthening immune system --increase interferon and white blood cell activity; decrease T-suppressor cell activity. Malabsorption syndrome: lack of appetite, diarrhea, and fatigue. Prolapse organs (uterus, stomach) and uterine bleeding Chronic nephritis with edema and proteinuria (promotes urination and removes edema) Abscesses and cysts (promotes drainage) Excessive sweating, pneumonia, tuberculosis Chronic viral infection, chronic cough, chronic immune systemdepression, chronic ulcer. Cautions: Radix Astragalus is a very safe herb that can be used on a regular
412 - Guide To Alternative Health Therapies
6/19/07 11:34:59 PM
Common Name: Chinese Angelica Root Chinese Name: Tang Kuai Tang Kuai is highly used in the orient and is generally known as an excellent blood tonic, beneficial to men and women alike. It is a root grown mostly in the southwestern part of China, and the larger and sweeter the taste, the better the quality. Tang Kuai has been shown to be excellent in treatment of most female disorders ranging from amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, uterine tumors, and the discomfort sometimes experienced in menopause. The function of Tang Kuai is to nourish the blood and invigorate the blood circulation. Tang Kuai is known to contain vitamin B 12, nicotinic acid, vitamin E and sucrose.
Antibacterial - Anti-inflammatory--Blood tonic Protects liver (decreases liver glycogen) Cardiovascular tonic (coronary heart disease, thrombophlebitis, constrictive arteritis) Action on uterus (both excite and inhibit contraction on the uterus)
Anemia, pernicious anema - menstrual disorders Weakness, debilitation and recovery from illness Cardiovascular disease, lowers blood cholesterol, lowers blood pressure, slows pulse rate, relaxes cardiac muscle. Constipation of the elderly Bacterial conditions; Bacillus dysenteriae and Staphylococcus. Stabilization of blood sugar Treatment of pain in injuries or arthritis. Cautions: Do not use Tang Kuai if there is abdominal swelling or diarrhea. Consult your physician, as always, if you are pregnant before talking any herbs. There are many excellent herbs available which enhance the immune system but have not been detailed in this article. Other immune stimulating herbs include Ginseng, Codonopsis, Atractylodes and Suma. More, and more individuals are taking responsibility for preventive medicine and their own health care. A good way to start is with the diet lifestyle and herbs that enhance your immune system.
6/19/07 11:34:59 PM
6/19/07 11:34:59 PM
In Switzerland, the oil is being used in hospitals to control infections; and in France it is employed in mainstream medicine. What are the special advantages of Tea Tree Oil, that make it so widely useful? -It is entirely natural; it does not need any artificial additives for effectiveness. -It is non-caustic; and, despite its disinfectant strength, it does not irritate the skin. -It does not harm cell tissues. -It is a natural solvent, with marked cleansing properties. -It produces no significant side-effects. -It is notably effective against fungi. -It possesses a nearly perfect pH factor. -It is noticeably effective in the presence of organic detritus. -It has been found effective in some viral complaints (though there is no scientific research yet available on this). -It has exceptional penetrating power. -- It is mildly anesthetic. -It is aromatic. -It is relatively inexpensive. -Research and testing data from many prestigious testing institutions spans 50 years. Is it any wonder that Tea Tree Oil has become known as the medicine chest in a bottle? It responds so well to such maladies as: cuts, burns, sunburn, boils, rashes, ringworm, impetigo, ulcers, canker sores, athletes foot, vaginal infections, throat infections, cold sores, infected gums, bad breath --and in the form of an inhalant, for bronchial and sinus infections. It has proven effective, both in intro and in vivo, for Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichea coli, Tricophyta and Streptococcus, and in vitro against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris, Pneumococcus, Gonococcus, Meningococcus, Diphtheric bacteritium, and Aspergillus niger. The space age lifestyle is in a tune with swing toward natural solutions for the common problems which elevate our stress levels on a daily basis. Tea Tree Oil products provide an effective answer for most of our minor maladies. But is wise to check the labels before purchasing, and buy only products that are 100 percent pure Tea Tree Oil of the highest grade. High pricing doesnt always meal the best product, and yet very low pricing can sometimes mean the oil is adulterated or inferior, and this grade would not possess the best therapeutic properties.
6/19/07 11:34:59 PM