Ишемическая болезнь сердца-Ischemic heart disease

Zinc is one of the most important minerals in our diet and has antioxidant properties. Two hundred enzyme reactions in the body require zinc, some being the production of protein and tissue. This is why it is such an important mineral for growth and healing.

It is important for healing wounds and skin disorders such as acne and herpes, formation of the bones, the health of the immune system, slowing down the aging process, the sexual development of adolescents and the sexual function of men.

Men can lose up to 1 mg of zinc each time they ejaculate. Zinc may help prevent the enlargement of the prostate gland as it is believed to regulate the metabolism of testosterone.

It is also now thought a zinc deficiency may contribute to anorexia nervosa.

There is a deficiency of zinc in Australian soils and so there is a need to both eat foods which are high in zinc and to supplement the diet with zinc up to 15 mg a day. Signs of a deficiency include: white spots under the nails; skin disorders such as acne; slow healing of wounds; retarded growth and slow sexual development in children, loss of appetite, confused sense of taste, smell and sight; low resistance to infections indicating poor immune response and low sex drive which could lead to prostate problems in later life for men.

Diabetics excrete zinc excessively. Alcohol inhibits the absorption of zinc from the gut and alcoholics always have a zinc deficiency. Vegetarians are also prone to zinc deficiency as a result of a high roughage diet and poor absorption of the mineral from the gut.

Zinc is found in eggs, liver, oysters, beef, chicken, fish, wheat, rice, legumes, corn, Brazil nuts, sesame seeds and pumpkin seeds.

*83\69\2*

One major difference between sadness and depression is that the latter is often accompanied by changes in biological functioning. These biological changes are among the most reliable tell-tale signs of depression, and when doctors and therapists look for depression they carefully inquire about changes in sleeping, eating, weight and sex drive. You should certainly pay special attention to these important behavioural functions in evaluating whether you are depressed and, if so, how severely depressed you are.

In depression, sleep is often disrupted. Some depressed people have trouble falling asleep; others toss and turn or wake during the night; and early morning waking, often with difficulty returning to sleep, is very common. Sleep doesn’t seem to have its usual renewing properties and people are often left feeling tired during the day and desperate at night for sleep that stubbornly refuses to arrive. Some depressed patients sleep too much, at times for hours each day more than is normal for them and yet, once again, find that no matter how much they sleep, they still don’t end up feeling refreshed.

These two patterns of sleep disruption – insomnia and oversleeping — may signal two distinct types of depression, one representing a state of hypervigilant overarousal and the other a state of torpid underarousal. These patterns may reflect exaggerations of different types of response to stress.

When people (or animals, for that matter) are stressed, a part of the brain known as the hypothalamus activates a stress-response system, which results in release of certain hormones from the adrenal glands, particularly Cortisol. In addition, the fight-and-flight part of the nervous system, known as the sympathetic nervous system, is activated. These changes result in arousal and vigilance, qualities that are necessary for combating stress, and are associated with decreases in sleep and appetite. The type of depression associated with decreased sleep and appetite and weight loss may represent an exaggeration of these arousal responses. Evidence to support this theory is found in the form of elevated Cortisol levels in the circulation and other signs of overactivity of the stress-responsive hormonal system in these depressed patients.

The heightened arousal and vigilance that are part of our normal response to stress should be time-limited in order to be most effective. Ideally, such responses should kick in following a stressful situation, such as the loss of a loved one, a physical challenge or an important deadline, and taper off when the stress has been successfully handled or resolved. In depression, the stress response may be triggered either by a definable stress or by some unknown factor, but whatever its original trigger it then takes on a life of its own, persisting long after the stress is over. Consider, for example, a person susceptible to depression who is told that he has lost a large sum of money on the stockmarket, whereupon he plummets into a deep depression. If that same person is told a week later that his stockbroker has made a mistake and that he has actually made a lot of money instead of losing it, will his depression immediately disappear? Probably not. Such is the nature of depression that once it gets going, it can continue indefinitely. As you can imagine, this wears the system out and the person is left feeling exhausted and depleted.

The second type of depression – the one associated with oversleeping, overeating and weight gain – may represent an exaggeration of the energy-conserving responses seen frequently in animals. The hibernating bear, for example, goes into a state of low activity and torpor designed to conserve its energy and resources. Such shutting down of bodily activities enables the bear to make it through a winter of severe weather and scarce food. Most people with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), many of whom compare themselves to hibernating bears, experience this second type of depression and tend to oversleep, as well as overeat and gain weight, during their winter depressions.

Withdrawal and seclusion often occur in animals as a response to stress or injury as part of the recovery process. An injured lion, for example, will retreat to its lair until its wounds have healed before venturing back out into the savannahs and exposing itself to the dangers of the wild. An infant monkey separated from its mother initially goes into a state where it cries out pitifully, which was termed the stage of protest by John Bowlby, a pioneer in the area of separation and loss. Later the infant goes into another state that Bowlby called detachment, where it withdraws from contact with other animals. It has been suggested that these stages are ways by which the animal adapts to the loss of its mother. Initially, it makes noises, which would have the function of attracting the attention of the mother, who might not be far away. After a while, however, if the mother has not responded, the infant goes into a state of withdrawal at this point and waits until another parental figure might chance to come along. In the course of evolution, it has probably proven far more adaptive for the infant not to carry on crying, which might attract a predator, and instead to go into this detached state. There is a final stage that has been described in such separated infant monkeys – a stage of reattachment, whereby the infant will reattach to such a new parental figure that might arrive on the scene. Over the millennia, certain adaptive behavioural changes to injury and loss have evolved so as to maximize the chance of survival. It has been suggested that some of the behavioural and physical symptoms of depression may represent disturbances of the normal biological systems responsible for mediating such adaptive responses.

When an animal is stressed, the emphasis is on survival, as well it should be. Having sex is the last thing that will be on that animal’s mind. And so it is that with the depressed person, the sex drive diminishes and may shut off completely. Every aspect of sexual functioning may be affected – arousal, enjoyment of sex and the capacity to function. Needless to say, this does not much help the self-esteem of the depressed person, which is already at a very low ebb.

So we see that in depression there may be an exaggeration of some of our very useful responses to the stresses and challenges that life deals us. When these responses – such as hypervigilance or excessive withdrawal – go too far, they hinder rather than help our ability to adapt. They continue for much too long and we are unable to turn them off by an act of will.

If your sleeping, eating, weight control and interest in sex are disturbed and this has been going on for more than a few weeks, consider the possibility that you may be suffering from depression.

*56\75\2*

How to heat a home according to sound, ecologic principles is a topic beyond the scope of this book (see «Suggested Reading»). However, certain basic guidelines can be given to those responsible for this area of domestic life. First, it is a good idea to have a heating engineer recheck the efficiency and safety of the heating system periodically. This will minimize undetected leaks or breaks in the system and save money, as well as trips to the doctor.

If a chemically susceptible person has a gas-fired heating system, he has to consider changing it, or changing houses, regardless of the immediate cost. The reason is that it is difficult for a susceptible person to remain in anything resembling good health if he is subjected to the fumes of such a system.

An oil-fired heating system may also present a danger, since the fumes of the oil and its combustion products can often make their way into the living quarters of the house. If the oil is accidentally spilled, it is almost impossible ever to remove it, and fumes and odors will continue to contaminate the vicinity of the burner and beyond.

The ideal solution is to remove the heating unit from the house and locate it in a separate area or building of its own, so that only the hot water pipes enter the house. Installing electric heat, with or without solar heat, is another alternative.

For those in apartment houses who have a choice, it is best to live as far from the boiler room as possible. Steam or hot water radiators, on floors other than the ground level, are fairly good ecologically. It is a good idea to clean the radiators periodically and to give them an especially thorough cleaning in the fall before the heat is turned on.

*107\110\2*

Not long ago, a Bulgarian political refugee in London died three days after a mysterious stranger jabbed him in the leg with a sharpened umbrella tip. Autopsy revealed a minute hollow pellet deep in his wound that, it was believed, contained a fatal poison.

From the nature of his slow death, it was determined that this substance was ricin, an intensely toxic substance (more poisonous than snake venom) present in the castor oil bean. It is not present in castor oil but remains in the bean «cake» after the oil has been extracted. The cake can be rendered safe for human consumption by cooking and is used as staple food in several parts of the world, including Mexico.

Mexicans and Caribbean islanders employ the attractive looking castor oil bean to make necklaces and other jewelry for the tourist trade. According to Toxicology, there have been serious reactions and deaths when people have eaten one of these beans or have merely crushed one in their fingers and subsequently put their fingers in their mouths. Ricin causes drastic purging with bloody diarrhea, shivering, fever, violent vomiting, and shock. Even a minute trace in a scratch can be fatal. So, when shopping abroad for trinkets, avoid buying castor oil bean jewelry.

*185\143\2*

Signs and symptoms

Heat rash consists of hundreds of tiny pinhead eruptions, each surrounding a skin pore. These eruptions may look like small pink or red bumps or like tiny water blisters. They are moderately itchy and may show scratch marks. If you look at the rash with a magnifying glass in good light, each dot of heat rash can be seen at the mouth of a pore from a sweat gland.

The rash usually appears on the cheeks, neck, or shoulders, in skin creases, and in the nappy area. It frequently appears if the child has been wearing a wet bathing suit. Hot humid conditions, perspiration, and overdressing are further clues that the rash is heat rash.

Home care

Infants and children are safest from heat rash in an air-conditioned environment. Keep a child with heat rash as cool as possible. Cool baths, or baby powder or corn flour applied lightly with a powder puff, help ease the condition. If the heat rash is on your baby’s face, rest the child’s face on an absorbent pad in the crib. During warm weather, using prickly heat powders may give some relief.

Precautions

• Be careful with powder. If a baby inhales a large amount of powder, inflammation of the lungs can occur.

• Detergents and bleaches in clothing and bed linens may aggravate heat rash.

• Bubble baths, water softeners, and oily lotions should be avoided.

• Do not overdress the child. The clothing that’s appropriate to the weather for you is also appropriate for the baby.

Medical treatment

A doctor’s treatment is not necessary. Heat rash can be adequately and safely treated at home.

*102/84/5*

It seems like we’ll do anything for kicks. Careen down rocky mountain trails on a bicycle? You bet. Strap skis to our feet and get dragged behind a boat? Sounds like a blast. Surprisingly (and fortunately), as reckless and dangerous as the activities we call sport may sound, they don’t often kill us. More often, they just beat the crap out of us.

Plenty of weekend warriors are injured in sports like basketball, bicycling, football, and Softball. They’re rarely deadly, but collectively, they report astronomical injury rates, which is where the trouble really lies. We hardly have to tell you that, even if injuries don’t kill you, they can sure take their toll on your body over time. And serious injuries, such as those to the head, neck, or back, can cause permanent debilitating problems like brain damage and paralysis.

«That’s why we encourage people to take just a few minor precautions during their recreational activities,» says Dr. Jeffrey Sacks of the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.

By following a few basic rules, you can put your safest foot forward next time you step out to play.

Put the beer on ice. Alcohol is an enormous factor in recreational injuries, Dr. Sacks says. So don’t be stupid. «When you’re drowning from a waterskiing incident because you’re drunk, that’s no accident. That’s preventable. Save the beer for afterward,» says Dr. Sacks.

Get in gear. «Some men always seem surprised by their concussions, as if you can’t bruise your brain playing backyard football,» Dr. Sacks says. «A helmet is the best protection you can get for riskier activities, especially football, biking, and other wheel sports like inline skating.»

Take charge. We have a whole industry devoted to «adventure travel» where people do relatively risky activities rather safely, says Dr. Alton Thygerson of Brigham Young University and the National Safety Council’s First-Aid Institute. «That’s because the folks in charge know what they’re doing. You can help prevent being another accident statistic by learning the fundamentals of an activity before you start, especially ones that involve some risk like water sports or mountain biking.»

*111/36/5*

The discussion of the side-effects of treatments in this section should not be seen as alarmist propaganda. It is important that this point be appreciated because, unfortunately, such techniques are used in some types of sales drives. The purpose of describing these effects in the following discussion is that they have a very important role in medicine. Discussion of; any therapy without including the side-effects involved is completely invalid. There is another reason. This is that one of the parameters which must be used in comparing the value of any therapy with any other is that of the side-effects. p r instance, if two treatments are equal in their effectiveness for treating a particular condition but one of them exhibited undesirable side effects, then the one which did not would obviously be a better treatment, even though it was, overall, no more effective.

As this book will be connected primarily with rheumatoid and osteoarthritis it will be appropriate to reserve the discussion mainly to these two conditions.

Salicylate therapy

Starting with rheumatoid arthritis, it is probably true to say that the most universally preferred therapy by practicing clinicians is salycilate therapy. Put into simpler terms this usually means aspirin, although other forms of the compound are used. An example of another form is sodium salicylate.

Aspirin is the name given to a compound known chemically as acetyl salicylic acid which is now produced by synthetic means. It did, however, originate in the bark of trees, and before methods for synthesizing it were devised, extracts from the bark of the willow tree were, used in the treatment of rheumatic diseases.

Using acetyl salicylic acid as an example of salicylate therapy, it will be convenient to refer to it in the name of aspirin. There are some variations in effect of the various salicylates but this discussion will be of too general a nature to consider these.

Generally speaking, aspirin shows three beneficial effects: it is an anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic and an analgaesic agent. It is almost certainly the drug in widest use in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and has been used in this way since the beginning of this century. With its anti-inflammatory and analgaesic action it eases pain in two ways. One is by direct pain-relieving action on the central nervous system; the other is by reducing inflammation and thus relieving the pain created at the inflammatory site. It is possible that the anti-pyretic (heat or temperature lowering property) may only be applicable in fever conditions. The effects of salicylate therapy tend to be felt quickly, bringing rapid relief. The duration of relief, however, may not be more than a few hours, thus necessitating repeat doses at frequent intervals.

Side-effects of salicylates

Taking a brief look now at the negative side of this particular therapy (the side-effects) it will be found that regular consumption of salicylates, even in small doses, may induce gastric problems. The most common and the most serious problem is gastric hemorrhage and ulceration. A lot of research has been carried out on this topic and it is believed that factors other than the straight consumption of salicylate can influence the degree of severity of this type of damage) For instance it would be fairly obvious to most people that the taking of aspirin on an empty stomach would be more likely to cause gastric upset and damage than if taken ink conjunction with a meal. However, the degree to which stress, such as tiredness, emotion, or perhaps exposure to adverse climatic conditions, may have an adverse effect is not known. The fact that stress conditions, in conjunction with aspirin, can lead to a marked increase in the severity of gastric damage compared with aspirin alone has been demonstrated in laboratory tests on animals.

If large doses of salicylates are being consumed, then in addition to bleeding and ulceration, effects such as nausea, dizziness, kidney problems and partial deafness can occur.

It must be remembered that people differ considerably in their reactions and responses to pain and to drugs, etc. Thus, there is no hard and fast rule as to the effect that a particular person might anticipate from a given amount of drug. As will already have been realized, apart from many external factors, it also depends very much on the individual and the situation involved.

*8/48/5*

A repeat laparoscopy, also sometimes known as a second-look laparoscopy, is performed some time after a diagnostic laparoscopy in order to monitor the progression of your endometriosis. It is most commonly performed for one of the following reasons:

• following a course of hormonal treatment

• continued infertility following surgery

• recurrence of symptoms

• persistence of symptoms following an apparently normal laparoscopy.

Following hormonal treatment

A repeat laparoscopy at the end of a course of hormonal treatment enables your gynecologist to see exactly how effectively the treatment has eradicated your endometriosis. The location and size of your implants and cysts can be charted and compared to the chart that was made during the laparoscopy performed before your hormonal treatment began.

If the repeat laparoscopy showed that the treatment had eradicated your endometriosis then nothing further needs to be done for the time being. If it showed that the treatment had only been partially effective then it might be worthwhile considering a continuation of the same treatment. If it showed that the treatment had been ineffective you will need to consider some other form of treatment.

Infertility

If you have had surgery in order to improve your chances of conceiving, a repeat laparoscopy may be recommended if you have not conceived within six to twelve months of the surgery. In this situation the laparoscopy will be performed to determine whether or not any adhesions have developed that may be reducing your chances of pregnancy.

Recurrence

A repeat laparoscopy is advisable if you have a recurrence of your symptoms following a period of remission, particularly if you are contemplating any treatment. You really need to know that the symptoms are due to endometriosis and not some other condition. In addition, it is advisable not to undertake any hormonal treatment unless you know that you definitely have endometriosis.

Normal laparoscopy

A repeat laparoscopy may be advisable if you have had persistence or worsening of symptoms that may be due to endometriosis, despite the fact that you have previously had an apparently normal diagnostic laparoscopy. It is now recognized that, in the past, a proportion of women with endometriosis were incorrectly diagnosed as not having endometriosis because their gynecologists did not recognize their atypical implants or because they had microscopic endometriosis.

*27/41/5*

One of the most fascinating avenues of biochemical research over the past few years led to the discovery that the body manufactures its own natural painkillers. These substances became known as endorphins, from endo (meaning «arising from within») and morphine. Evidence suggests that endorphins play a direct role in regulating appetite and affect other functions such as pain relief, memory-even blood pressure.

Like a lock that accepts only a certain key, cells of the central nervous system have receptors that accept and respond only to particular endorphins. For example, it appears that one receptor involved in stimulating appetite (called the «kappa» receptor) is designed to work only with the substance known as dynorphin. Dynorphin molecules fit into the kappa receptors. Nerve impulses then travel to the hypothalamus, which interprets and relays them as hunger cues. Appetite is thus stimulated, particularly for sweet-tasting foods.

Scientists soon found that rats given morphine (which increases endorphin activity) and allowed to choose from among the macronutrients tended to increase their fat intake while ignoring the carbohydrates. The investigators then administered drugs known to block the opiate receptors. Doing so, they found, tended to suppress eating. They found the same effect in humans. They then theorized that use of opiate blockers (also known as opiate antagonists) suppresses appetite by producing feelings of fullness or satiety.

But what triggers the release of endorphins in the first place? Further experiments found that food deprivation or stress can play a role. In other words, if you are under stress-pressure at work or school, for example-your body secretes endorphins to control the damage. Some of those endorphins ease any physical pain you might be feeling, while others work to stimulate your appetite, especially for sweet foods. You may respond to these signals from your hypothalamus by gobbling down a slice of pie, for example.

But why should eating sugar help relieve stress? Why doesn’t lettuce (to pick a food at random) have the same effect?

As it turns out, the very act of eating sugar stimulates the opiate-releasing process even further. Not only does sugar make the body release more endorphins, it also enhances the ability of the receptor to bind with the substance-like oiling a lock to make a key work better. Thus, eating sweet foods does indeed relieve stress, producing feelings of relaxation and contentment by enhancing the amount of natural painkillers floating around inside the body.

You might have spotted the flaw in this otherwise tidy little system. Here’s the problem: When a person is under stress, the body releases endorphins that stimulate the appetite for sweet foods. The person then eats a candy bar. The sugar in turn stimulates further secretion of endorphins, triggering greater appetite and leading to more consumption of sweets. Where does the cycle end?

As you might have suspected, it may not end. Theory has it that some people with bulimia might be caught up in the vicious cycle represented by the opiate-receptor feedback loop.

A bulimic will typically skip meals in the belief that doing so will keep her weight under control. But skipping meals only defers appetite; it doesn’t eliminate it. Eventually the urge to eat becomes overpowering, leading to a binge. Food deprivation itself can trigger the release of endorphins, which in turn stimulate appetite. Thus a bulimic who deprives herself of meals causes her body to produce a powerful natural appetite stimulant.

Many a patient reports that her binges occur in times of stress. Research has shown that stress also cranks up the endorphin system. Finally, when a binge leads to consumption of high-sugar items-ice cream, cookies, candy-even more opiates are released, stimulating appetite even further, and the vicious cycle kicks into high gear. For many, the only thing that disrupts this process is a drastic measure: self-induced vomiting.

*42/35/5*

Having discovered the secret of calorie-burning chores, Kay Black has never had a trimmer figure—or a cleaner, more organized house.

When Kay, age 55, recalls how she started losing weight, she laughs, «It was an accident.» Not that she didn’t wantto lose weight. Sure, she was carrying an unwanted 60 pounds on her frame; and of course she was tired of being mistaken for her daughter’s grandmother. But she simply couldn’t find the motivation to exercise.

Then Kay decided to organize her family’s books—all 5,400 of them—by cataloging them on her new computer. «I teach college geography, so I do a lot of reading,» she explains. «Besides, my family just loves books.» Each night, she’d carry several armloads upstairs, type up the data, and tote the books back downstairs. She’d stretch for 15 to 20 minutes to prevent next-day stiffness, then take a hot bath. By the time the project was complete, she had lost 5 pounds!

Kay decided that this was too easy not to continue. «Nothing breeds success like success,» she says. She stripped and repainted her daughter’s room and rearranged the attic. She shoveled snow in the winter and turned her garden into a «gym» in the summer. She took up walking, too, usually getting a 40- to 50-minute workout 5 days a week.

These days, Kay is a svelte 112 pounds, down from her heaviest of 172 pounds. Her family’s book collection is as organized as ever. And her house is so tidy that she’s even prepared for unexpected guests.

*96\89\8*

The stress phobic must snap out of his or her depression before progress can be made in dealing with fears of confrontation, rejection and failure. All the affirmations, especially those for happiness, success and self-respect, should be repeated over and over again every day. This affirmation, too, should be a part of the stress phobic’s daily regimen:

All things are now working together for health, happiness, success and love in my life. Each morning is the start of an exciting new day, a fresh new look at the world. Every day brings more opportunities for me to assert myself and make my world a wonderful place to be.

To help build confidence in their ability to deal with the stresses of everyday life, I often give this affirmation to my stress-phobic patients:

I am a confident and extremely capable person. People really respect and like me. I have interesting, worthwhile and challenging goals. I am a success!

*144\80\8*

The Walking President

President Harry Truman had a regimen of brisk walking. He walked at the Army pace: 110 steps per minute. Reporters would often follow, throwing questions at him as they huffed and puffed along. They used to complain that he was walking too fast for them, even though they were younger than he was. When he came back to Washington for a visit he was in his 70′s: the reporters who were following him on his walk still had difficulty keeping up with him.

The Formula for Success

Twenty five minutes of nonstop, brisk walking, four days a week, will boost your immune system, strengthen your heart and lungs, lower cholesterol levels, raise your HDL (good) cholesterol, tone your leg muscles, help control your weight and fight high blood pressure.

But 25 minutes a day, four days a week, isn’t enough brisk walking to burn 2,000 calories a week. That’s why it’s very important to combine your regular brisk-walking sessions with lots of spontaneous brisk walks to the store, around the neighborhood, up and down stairs, visiting your nearby friends and so on. Look for ways to add steps each day.

Walking Relieves Back Pain

Walking is actually good for your lower back. Standing up or walking is easier on your back than sitting down; the mechanical load is less. Most of my patients with lower-back pain report that regular walking helps relieve the pain. Furthermore, it helps reduce the distress and frustration that is caused by the pain.

Sometimes I have my lower-back-problem patients begin by walking slowly and gently, or walking only on soft, grassy surfaces. But soon, most of them are able and eager to walk briskly and get all the other benefits of this simple but very effective aerobic exercise.

*102\80\8*

Is the deficit of a vitamin or two all that harmful? After all, you never hear of anyone in this country dying from a lack of vitamin C or iron. Death certificates rarely state that the cause of death was nutrient deficiency. But as a physician I can tell you that many illnesses and deaths are caused by, or related to, nutrient imbalances. It may be lack of certain vitamins and minerals, or it may be excess fat, cholesterol or sugar that’s the culprit. A shortage or excess of even one nutrient can knock your immune system off balance. While your immune system totters, you’re more susceptible to disease. I’ve treated thousands of patients whose problems were related to a nutrient-starved immune system.

*59\80\8*

Our «doctor within» is also forced to deal with the multitude of environmental pollutants that abound in our chemical world. When I taught a class in Physical Diagnosis to a group of medical students, I used to paraphrase Hippocrates: «When you go to patients’ houses, you should ask them what sort of pains they have, what brought them on, how many days they have been ill, are their bowels working and what sort of food do they eat?» Today we have to ask an additional question: What toxins (poisons) are you exposed to in your home and workplace? We live in an environment saturated with man-made chemicals, many of them very dangerous to our health. They’re in our food, our air, our water, our homes, our clothes, our cars, our offices.

I see more and more people who are complaining of vague symptoms and recurrent illnesses that can be traced to the chemical poisoning of our immune system. Laboratory test results often show high levels of pesticides, solvents and other toxic chemicals in patients. Lead, mercury, chloroform, DDT, DDE and many other substances have a depressing effect upon the «doctor within.» Quite often the symptoms—fatigue, loss of energy, forgetfulness, personality changes, depression—give us only general clues as to the identity of the culprit.

How much is too much? When it comes to chemical poisoning of the body, we just don’t know. New chemical compounds are being introduced at a fast and furious pace. If scientists were to start conducting the rigorous tests they should have been doing all along, they would probably never catch up with all the new chemicals.

*15\80\8*

Medical science is never exact, for a variety of reasons. For a start everyone is different, both in the genes that make them what they are, and in the environmental conditions that shape them from birth. Those environmental conditions include childhood and adult illnesses, standard of nutrition, type of work, nature of relationships with other people, past medical treatments and present living conditions. A collection of patients also differ in their age and sex, two very important factors in health and illness. Their response to treatment is bound to differ for these reasons alone.

A second major factor is the imprecise nature of diagnosis. Names may be given to diseases – ‘rheumatoid arthritis’, for example, or ‘migraine’ – but this does not mean that they are single, .clearly defined conditions, in the way that infectious diseases such as measles or cholera are. Doctors suspect that, although the symptoms look similar, there are a multitude of different disorders sheltering under such umbrella terms. One of the ways in which medicine advances is by-recognizing different subgroups within such diseases, and giving new names to the symptoms shown by those subgroups – ‘classical migraine’ and ‘common migraine’, for example. But in many diseases, there are no obvious subgroups, even though it is clear that the patients are not all the same. This is particularly true in food intolerance.

To overcome these problems in medical trials, it is important to study as large a group of patients as possible. Because the patients suffering from a disease can be so diverse, a new treatment may only be effective for, say, 10 percent of them. A study that only includes 20 patients should, in a perfect world, include two patients who will respond. But when numbers are this small, die laws of chance dictate that there could easily be no patients of this type in the group. So a group of 100 patients may be needed to give a convincing result -but such large-scale trials are costly and difficult to organize.

*103\180\8*

This experience provides a strong argument in favour of changing over to whole cereals, including whole wheat and whole rye. It is incomprehensible how students who have seen films or experiments showing what happens to pigeons when they are fed on refined rice can continue to eat the very food that is responsible for such devastating results. They seem blind and thoughtless in the face of the evidence. Why spend time and effort in tireless research if the findings continue to be ignored by the consumer? Is it not strange that the consumer often prefers to take the consequences and become sick, rather than make a change in his diet?

Remember that natural rice, also known as unpolished, whole or brown rice, contains nine and a half times more minerals than the polished, refined kind. It is these minerals that are of vital importance to us. Observations have shown that whole rice contains substances that keep the blood vessels elastic for much longer and it is for this reason that Asians seldom suffer from hardening of the arteries and high blood pressure.

Whole or brown rice should be prepared in the same way as refined rice, only do not pour away the rice water. The rice should be soaked in as much water as it is able to absorb and cooked in as little water as it requires to soften without the grains sticking together. Then the nutritional elements will not be wasted or lost. Brown rice can be served in a number of ways, and many Chinese and Middle Eastern recipes are excellent for this purpose.

*910/28/1*

In my discussion on wheat and wholegrain bread I highlight the merits of wholegrain products and how the various cereals grown in different parts of the earth are a useful source of food that does not perish easily. It was only a few decades ago when researchers discovered that wheat germ is, in fact, an excellent remedy; this equally applies, of course, to wheat germ oil. Since more and more people are rejecting the use of chemical medicines, physicians, naturopaths and physiotherapists are ever more compelled to turn their attention to remedies that are made from basic materials as nature provides them. Many competent and skilled researchers have been studying the oils contained in cereal germs, and have found that the remedial effects of wheat germ oil are remarkable.

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Some time later I learned about the regenerative and curative effects of hot water treatments as used in Japan. The temperature of their baths surpasses that of blood temperature, and it is interesting to note that rheumatism and cancer are seldom heard of where these hot water baths are taken regularly. Some researchers even claim that swollen tissue can be rehabilitated if the water is kept 2-3 degrees Celsius above normal body temperature (39-40°G102-104oF). And when the temperature is raised 4-5 degrees higher, that is, up to 41-42°C (105.8-107.6°F), tumours are changed and in time dissolved, according to these researchers.

It is possible that these claims are somewhat exaggerated; nevertheless, experience has shown that ‘baths of increasing temperature’ make a positive contribution in the treatment of tumours, especially when the effect is heightened by the use of appropriate herbs. Many a malignant ailment can be prevented by their use, and the prevention of frightening diseases such as cancer has become a great necessity in our time. The Nature Doctor has already given some good advice regarding the prevention of cancer and here we add the further recommendation that you take a prolonged bath or Schlenz bath once a week. Its prophylactic effect can help to maintain your health. However, you should not simply be satisfied with knowing these things without acting upon the knowledge. That would be of little use to you. You should rouse yourself and apply the recommended treatment on a regular basis.

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Some of the cress varieties used for food are garden cress {Lepidium sativum), watercress {Nasturtium officinale), nasturtium {Tropaeo-lum majus) and alpine cress {Hutchinsia alpina). In all, about 90 different varieties are known in the temperate zones of the earth. Some are used for flavouring, and most of them have a medicinal effect, although varying in strength.

According to recent research, cress (like horseradish) contains a kind of penicillin and is a great help in improving mouth and intestinal bacteria. Having a modest content of iodine, cress is a dietary remedy for thyroid problems. It is recommended as a remedy for scrofula, and when taken regularly it will reduce an inherent tendency to skin eruptions. At the same time cress is good for kidney problems; in particular, it helps to prevent the formation of kidney stones.

Cress on its own makes a wholesome salad, but it should also be added to other salads. In fact, it is very important that we avail ourselves of its medicinal values by eating it regularly. If you are in the habit of preparing vegetable juices daily for the sake of their vitamins, always add a little cress. The popular seasoning salt Trocomare contains various cresses among its ingredients which largely account for its fine aroma and taste.

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Homoeopathic Aconitum and Belladonna should be in everyone’s medicine chest, for they are more frequently used than any other remedy for first aid. However, we do not recommend Aconitum tincture as it is dangerous, even though some doctors prescribe it for neuralgia caused by a cold, for gout and for rheumatism. There are other, safer remedies available that are just as effective. Aconitum is a mydriatic, that is, it dilates the pupil if it is put in the eye. Belladonna has the same property due to its atropine content. To achieve the best results, Aconitum should be given in the fourth decimal potency (4x), for stronger persons perhaps in the third (3x); five drops in a glass of water taken at hourly intervals will be enough.

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The postnatal examination, usually at six weeks, is considered by the most practical as a sort of MOT test (the obligatory government safety check on the mechanical workings of one’s car), to ensure that all parts are working properly again. Others may consider it as the secular equivalent of the Churching of Women – the Anglican ceremony of thanksgiving for having safely survived the perils of childbirth and the recognition that the woman is now ready to be received back into the community. Likewise, it may be seen as a ‘rite of passage’, the moment when she returns from the process of childbearing to ordinary life (Raphael-Leff, 1991).

In the past, couples were advised against resuming intercourse until this six week postnatal check by the doctor, although there were always a few rebels who broke the rule. The doctor was looked to as the authority who would proclaim the woman as ready to resume normal life. To a large extent, this is still the case. Some women like to feel that intercourse is prohibited until after the postnatal visit, for it is easier to refuse for good medical reasons rather than because she does not want it. For her partner, too, it may be easier to accept the sense of exclusion if it is felt to be for medical reasons. Although it is easy to give permission for intercourse, perhaps the woman who feels strongly that it is prohibited should be allowed to quote medical authority if she wants to do so.

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Mr Â., now in his early 40s, used to have a wild time in the evenings after his rock concerts. Now he is a vigorous homemaker/house parent and his wife is the main wage earner. ‘I did not really like the nymphomaniacs, and after a bit I got to saying no.’ ‘Why?’ ‘It seemed that they all wanted babies, underneath. And even if you were using condoms they were pretending, and hoping to themselves that it was for real. They were lonely really. I did not want kids, but even without that risk they were behaving like babies themselves. Within a few days you couldn’t shake them off.’ ‘And you didn’t want to have to cope with that?’ the doctor asked, pausing before he continued. ‘Children are very important to you now.’ Mr. B. thought and replied, ‘I wish I could have them myself.’ As the doctor left, Mr. B. said, ‘We have been talking about another child, but perhaps it is too late now.’

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It is fairly common knowledge that abortions carried out early are relatively easy and carry few risks. Yet a small but steady stream of women present in the mid-trimester requesting abortion. Mid-trimester abortions carry greater physical risk and the woman is more likely to suffer psychological consequences, although this may depend on the method used. A dilation and evacuation under general anaesthetic causes less psychological trauma than a prostaglandin induction (Kaltreider, Goldsmith and Margoles, 1979). For the staff involved, mid-trimester abortions are messy and distasteful. Many NHS clinics refuse to see women over 12 weeks’ gestation. Yet this small proportion of women probably require greater skills in surgical technique and counselling, and more emotional support. ‘Why did she leave it so late?’ is the commonly asked question, carrying the undertone that it was somehow the woman’s fault, therefore sparing the health worker any responsibility for helping her.

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The doctor who can tolerate a certain amount of aggressive behaviour, recognizing it as a defence against pain and uncertainty, has much to offer the young patient, who is able to test out new ideas with an adult who is not the parent. Such a role may be more difficult for the family doctor, who has often been felt to be a kind of ‘super-parent’, called in by the real parents at times of illness when they are unable to manage alone. Younger patients often say, ‘I’ve known him all my life, he’s like a father: I can’t talk to him about sex.’ The importance of an alternative source of advice, where the young person can come and go as she (or he) wishes cannot be stressed too highly.

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Conflict is not the only emotion that gets projected into those who are trying to help. The apathy and fatalism that such families generate can also overtake the professional worker. It may then be decided that nothing can be done, apart from dream about some kind of Utopian solution and, like the family itself, the worker may lurch from crisis to crisis. Debts accumulate, electricity and gas are cut off, children do not attend school and may be neglected or abused. Against this background, talk about contraception can be seen by the woman in a negative way as if it is being advocated in order to control rather than to empower her. Where the emphasis is on trying to change social conditions the subject of contraception can be overlooked, yet the failure to raise the issue and give a realistic appraisal of risks and benefits actually denies people freedom of choice.

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Blue – The Colour of Calmness, Serenity and Inspiration

Serenity, coolness, calm, truth and peace embody the essence of the colour blue. Blue helps to stimulate the intuition, aids with communication and enhances creativity. Blue gently calms the body, brings peace of mind, relaxation and is calmly sedating. It is a contracting colour and is therefore great in easing overexcited states. Blue is a ‘major healing colour’. It is also often used in classrooms, to calm down aggressive and hyperactive children.

Physically, blue is able to decrease blood pressure, lower heart rate, decrease respiration and enable people living in hot and humid climates to feel cooler. Blue is great for throat problems, itching, headaches, back problems, inflammatory disorders, rheumatism, measles, excess bleeding, spasms and stings. It is believed to speed up the healing of burns, help fight infections and improve metabolism.

Blue is also one of the best colours for insomnia and shock.

Avoid Blue

Do not use too much blue if you are suffering from cold conditions, gout, paralysis, muscle contractions, low blood pressure, fatigue or depression.

Natural Sources of Blue

Clear blue sky, waterfalls, lakes, flowers, blueberries, ocean, water in all forms, blue Ulysses butterflies and blue birds.

Green -The Colour of Love, Harmony and Renewal

Green is known as the ‘balancer’ as it is believed to help neutralize disharmony of malignant cancerous cells, making it one of the most healing colours for cancer. It relieves tension and is calming, soothing and relaxing to the body and mind. It is able to balance the heart both physically and emotionally. Soothing greens stimulate feelings of empathy, growth, balance, harmony and love. A great overall body tonic -green stimulates without over-stimulation.

Green gently stimulates the pituitary, aids depression, anxiety, nervous exhaustion and contains disinfectant qualities. Using green is very beneficial in the treatment of shock, illness, fatigue, cancer and negative emotions.

Avoid Green

Do not use green if you are suffering from anaemia or chronic exhaustion.

Natural Sources of Green

Trees, leaves, rolling green fields, grass, mountains, honeydew melon, green vegetables, green plants, seaweed, chlorophyll, green apples, green birds and butterflies.

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Dynamic healing exercises

These dynamic exercises combine movement and breathe control. Concentrate on the feelings of inner energy and work through the different levels of awareness in your body. Many people find it difficult to sustain any negative emotional states, such as aggression, anger and nervousness, while breathing out. So during times of stress or challenge, concentrate on your exhalations. The following dynamic exercises are designed to encourage healing on all levels of existence.

Smiling to the World!

This is a beautiful exercise that can be performed anywhere, at any time of the day. It only takes a few minutes and will leave you with a lively and dynamic feeling throughout your body. Concentrate on smiling! Smile at the world — just look around and smile! Smile at the birds, the trees, the grass; at everything surrounding your aura. As you do this, vigorously shake your hand, arms, legs, hips, legs and feet. Allow yourself a few seconds relaxation in between each shake. But continue to smile, and breathe slowly and gently.

This simple exercise can be done standing, sitting or lying down. Repeat as many times as desired! It uplifts the body and mind and brings about a peaceful, yet energetic state.

Humming Bee

Sit in a comfortable position with your back completely straight, yet relaxed. Close your eyes and place your index fingers in your ears. Block out all sounds. Breathe in gently and slowly, through the nose. Hold your breath for a count of three. Keep your lips gently together, yet slightly parted in the middle. As you breathe out through the mouth, let your lips relax and vibrate as you make the humming sound of a bee. Feel your lips vibrate and listen to the sound of a bee emanate through your mind. Repeat as many times as you like.

This exercise releases built up anxiety and tension, and enables you to laugh at yourself and those around you.

Vibrating Hum

This is a simple exercise. People naturally hum when they are contented and happy, totally absorbed and at one with the situation. Mothers hum to their children to calm them down and place them in a state of deep relaxation. Try humming to yourself.

With your lips closed, begin humming ‘mmmmmmm’. You can continue to do this for a few minutes, then change the sound to ‘mmmmmaaaah’ or ‘mmmmmmmeeeeh’ or ‘mmmmmmmoooo’. If you feel like dancing or swaying to your humming sounds, don’t hesitate. Feel the healing vibrations through your body and mind.

Silence Exercise

Have you ever immersed yourself in real silence? In this noise-polluted world of appliances humming, trucks roaring, planes soaring and heavy machinery, it is becoming more difficult to find the silence. Yet it is still possible.

Try to find at least five minutes of silence every day. You may find this a challenge at first. Silence is refreshing, relaxing and universally healing. Episodes of silence will reinvigorate your soul and give your body a chance to repair damage and heal.

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Burdock Root (Arcticum Lappa)

Burdock root, also known as bardana, hardock, lappa, thorny burr or beggar’s buttons, is an ancient herb which has been widely used throughout Europe as a common vegetable, and also as a cleansing remedy. Burdock wine was an ancient folk brew popularly used for indigestion and blood purification. Burdock rids the body of long term toxic material and is an antidote for acute poisoning. It cleanses the lymphatic system, blood, liver and kidneys.

If regularly used, burdock may help to prevent tumours, as it neutralizes poisons in the body and is a great accessory treatment for cancer. It has been used extensively by natural healers as a treatment for skin cancer. Burdock contains inulin, the major ingredient found in other powerful immune-stimulatory herbs such as echinacea and dandelion. One of its major functions is to act as an immune system stimulant by promoting chemotaxis of neutrophils and monocytes. Its rich berberine contact is also believed to suppress some forms of cancer cells.

Burdock root is a major ingredient in the famous ‘cancer herbal formula – Essiac’ rediscovered by a French nurse, Jene Caisse. It also has good anti-bacterial properties, is beneficial in restoring gallbladder and liver function and alleviates pain.

What is the best way to use burdock?

• Infusion – put 1 teaspoon of burdock root into 1 cup of boiling water, bring to the boil and let

this sit for 10 minutes. Drink 2 to 3 cups per day.

• As a poultice on the skin – apply to affected area.

Calamus, Sweet Flag (Acorus calamus)

Calamus is an aquatic plant often referred to as sweet rush, myrtle grass or sweet myrtle. It is a reputable herb that is able to cleanse and purify the entire internal body system. A 50-year-old man reported to his doctor that he cured himself of lung cancer by eating calamus roots and drinking yarrow tea. Calamus roots are believed to heal disorders of the stomach and intestines, even if they prove to be stubborn or malignant in origin.

There have been various reports that calamus, if taken in the incorrect dosages, may lead to duodenal cancer. Caution should be used when taking this herb – always consult with a qualified herbalist first.

What is the best way to use calamus?

• Infusion – this is prepared only as a cold infusion. 1 teaspoon of calamus roots is soaked in

1/4 liter of cold water overnight, lightly warmed in the morning and strained. Before using,

warm the tea in a water bath.

• Fresh juice – fresh roots are cleaned and placed through a juice extractor.

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Iron

Iron is present in every cell in the human body. It is essential in the formation of rich red blood cells. A combination of protein and iron are required for the formation of blood haemoglobin (haemoglobin carries and releases oxygen in body tissues). Iron foods improve protein metabolism and protein is essential in building a strong immune system.

Fresh oxygen is required in combination with iron for oxygen transfer throughout the body. It is required for the formation of myoglobin, which is essential for oxygen distribution to all muscular cells. Iron is needed to burn up waste matter in the body and then to build new cells, making it an essential mineral in cancer prevention and treatment. Low levels of iron within the body often lead to a deficiency of the body’s immune system.

Laxatives cause a severe loss of iron from the body. Drinking tea and coffee limit the body’s absorption of iron. Prolonged bleeding, trauma, surgery, malignant tumours, poor absorption of iron and heavy menstruation may also lead to anemia or iron deficiency.

Good food sources of iron include apricots, clams, liver, oysters, parsley, pine nuts, soy beans, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, wheat germ, yeast, dulse, kelp, sesame seeds, lima beans, meats and spinach.

Lithium

Lithium is a trace mineral which has received a bad reputation over the years and is classified mainly for its use by psychiatrists. It is commonly used in very large doses to treat mania and depressive states. Lithium is toxic and fatal when given in large amounts. However, in small amounts it provides a variety of beneficial functions to the body.

Lithium is able to enhance the body’s immune system and it assists in the prevention of cancer. It is thought to stimulate the production of lymphocytes and depresses the immune systems suppressor T cells. It is also able to prevent heart attacks.

Lithium is a prescription drug, not commonly available as a supplement. Pharmaceutical lithium is sold under the names Lithicarb and Priadel.

Good sources of lithium include sea vegetables, sugar cane, drinking water and some mineral waters.

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Royal Jelly

Nature and its beautiful creatures are a source of amazement and contain all of our answers to create healing remedies. Royal Jelly, the thick white pharyngeal gland secretion of the nurse bees, which is fed to the Queen Bee, is believed to prevent and treat leukemia. The amazing size, fertility and life span of the queen bee is attributed to its dietary food source, royal jelly. It is also believed to prevent other forms of cancer due to its high free radical fatty acid content. Royal jelly is rich in  vitamins, especially vitamin Bl, B3 and B5.

Royal jelly enhances energy levels, relieves body aches and pains, boosts adrenal gland function and prevents fatigue. It has been toted in different cultures around the world as a ‘youth tonic’. There has been some evidence suggesting that royal jelly has anti-tumour activity. More research is presently being conducted in this area.

Sea Vegetables

Sea vegetables are gifts from the ocean, containing abundant vitamins, minerals, polysaccharides and a rich source of iodine. Iodine has a balancing effect on the body’s thyroid gland, increasing general metabolism.

Kelp is a group of seaweeds with a distinct seaweed odour and salty, fishy taste. Kelp is a particularly rich source of iodine. In Japanese studies there has been shown to be a direct correlation between kelp consumption and the prevention of breast cancer. It is believed the fibre content, and particularly the algin content, is largely responsible, as well as through the stimulation of the cancer fighting T-cells thereby strengthening the immune system.

Kelp also helps to protect against heavy metals and ionizing radiation by binding in the intestinal tract and preventing their absorption. Kelp contains compounds that decrease the absorption of radioactive metallic ions like strontium, radioactive strontium 90, lead, mercury, cadmium, and barium. Kelp and other seaweeds are great to incorporate into the diet, to help protect against the toxic effects of radiation treatment, chemotherapy, x-rays and CT scans.

Alginate, a substance found primarily in kelp, pacific brown kelp and bladder-wrack, enhances immune system function by stimulating T-cells. Alginate is able to dilute potent carcinogens in the intestine and binds to bile acids in the small intestine, enhancing their elimination and therefore decreasing the risk of cancer.

The sea plant wakame is known to counteract the toxic effects of nicotine. Wakame may help to prevent lung cancer and other forms of cancer by stopping the growth of tumours and inhibiting chemical carcinogenesis. Wakame is a strong immune system stimulant. Laminara, a high fibre sea plant also seems to play a large role in the prevention of breast cancer.

Studies on the sea plant Dunaliella bardawil found that it may inhibit spontaneous breast cancers. This may be largely due to its high beta-carotene content, antioxidant properties and its ability to stabilize our body chemistry.

Dulse and kelp powders can be used instead of salt and added to most dishes. Dulse leaves can be soaked, and then added to grain dishes, salads and soups. Kombu, wakame and nori can be added to soups. Nori is the dark leafy seaweed used to make sushi. Hijiki and arame should be soaked, then sauteed and simmered. They can be used in grain or vegetable dishes and salads. Kelp, wakame and bladderwrack contain a cancer-fighting mucopolysaccharide, called fucoidan. Fucoidan stimulates the immune system and prevents cancer by retarding the growth of tumours and inhibiting chemical carcinogens.

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