tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29591047896412148222024-03-12T19:18:11.405-07:00arun sahu's blogarun sahu's bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12515125446771023997noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2959104789641214822.post-70319884710450537992007-03-13T04:37:00.000-07:002007-03-13T04:39:00.881-07:00Nature CureContents<br />Foreword<br />Preface<br />Acknowledgements<br />PART I<br />NATURE CURE AND NATURAL METHODS<br />OF TREATMENT<br />Principles And Practice Of Nature Cure 1.<br />Fasting - The Master Remedy 2.<br />Therapeutic Baths 3.<br />Curative Powers Of Earth 4.<br />Exercise In Health And Disease 5.<br />Therapeutic Value Of Massage 6.<br />Yoga Therapy 7.<br />Healing Power Of Colours 8.<br />Sleep : Restorative Of Tired Body And<br />Mind<br />9.<br />PART II<br />HEALTH THROUGH NUTRITION<br />Optimum Nutrition For Vigour And<br />Vitality<br />10.<br />Miracles Of Alkalizing Diet 11.<br />Vitamins And Their Importance In<br />Health And Disease<br />12.<br />Minerals And Their Importance In<br />Nutrition.<br />13.<br />Amazing Power Of Amino Acids 14.<br />Secrets Of Food Combining 15.<br />Health Promotion The Vegetarian Way 16.<br />Importance Of Dietary Fibre 17.<br />Lecithin - An Amazing Youth Element 18.<br />Role Of Enzymes In Nutrition. 19.<br />Raw Juice Therapy 20.<br />Sprouts For Optimum Nutrition 21.<br />PART III<br />Gall-Bladder Disorders 49.<br />Gastritis 50.<br />Glaucoma 51.<br />Gout 52.<br />Headaches And Migraine 53.<br />Heart Disease 54.<br />High Blood Cholesterol 55.<br />High Blood Pressure 56.<br />Hydrocele 57.<br />Hypoglycemia 58.<br />Indigestion 59.<br />Influenza 60.<br />Insomnia 61.<br />Jaundice 62.<br />Kidney Stones 63.<br />Leucoderma 64.<br />Neuritis 65.<br />Nepthritis 66.<br />Obesity 67.<br />Peptic Ulcer 68.<br />Piles 69.<br />Premature Greying Of Hair 70.<br />Prostate Disorders 71.<br />Psoriasis 72.<br />Pyorrhoea 73.<br />Rheumatism 74.<br />Sexual Impotence 75.<br />Sinusitis 76.<br />Stress 77.<br />Thinness 78.<br />Tonsillitis 79.<br />Tuberculosis 80.<br />Varicose Veins 81.<br />A Complete Handbook of Nature Cure<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/index.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:11:19 PM]<br />DISEASES AND THEIR NATURAL<br />TREATMENT<br />Acne 22.<br />Alcoholism 23.<br />Allergies 24.<br />Anaemia 25.<br />Appendicitis 26.<br />Arterriosclerosis 27.<br />Arthritis 28.<br />Asthama 29.<br />Backache 30.<br />Bronchitis 31.<br />Cancer 32.<br />Cataract 33.<br />Cirrhosis Of The Liver 34.<br />Colitis 35.<br />Common Cold 36.<br />Conjunctivitis 37.<br />Constipation 38.<br />Dandruff 39.<br />Defective Vision 40.<br />Depression 41.<br />Diabetes 42.<br />Diarrhoea 43.<br />Dysentery 44.<br />Eczema 45.<br />Epilepsy 46.<br />Falling Of Hair 47.<br />Fatigue 48.<br />Venereal Diseases 82.<br />PART IV<br />WOMEN’S PROBLEMS<br />Menstrual Disorders 83.<br />Pre-menstrual Syndrome 84.<br />Menopausal Problems 85.<br />Childbirth The Natural Way 86.<br />Habitual Abortion 87.<br />Female Sterility 88.<br />Leucorrhoea 89.<br />Inflammation Of The Uterus 90.<br />Prolapse Of The Uterus 91.<br />Vaginitis 92.<br />Pruritus Vulvae 93.<br />Hysteria 94.<br />Goitre 95.<br />PART V<br />OTHER DISEASES<br />Cholera 96.<br />Dermatitis 97.<br />Hiatus Hernia 98.<br />Intestinal Worms 99.<br />Malaria 100.<br />Whooping Cough 101.<br />Halitosis 102.<br />Measles 103.<br />Mumps 104.<br />Pleurisy 105.<br />Pneumonia 106.<br />Sore Throat 107.<br />Cystitis 108.<br />A COMPLETE HANDBOOK OF<br />NATURE CURE<br />A Complete Handbook of Nature Cure<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/index.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:11:19 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Foreword<br />For people who advocate and recognise the latent healing power of nature like my esteemed<br />friend and fellow practitioner, Shri H.K. Bakhru, naturopathy is a way of life. It is a distinct<br />philosophy and science which strengthens the age-old faith in the correction of bodily disorders<br />and restoration and main- tenance of health through elements freely available in nature. It brings<br />home the basic fact that healing is brought about by the inherent curative powers of the body.<br />The simplicity of this method should not deter individuals from its use. The final complete healing<br />will come from within. In short, the naturopath lends intelligent assistance and interprets nature’s<br />laws for the patient.<br />Shri H.K. Bakhru who has contributed numerous articles to leading newspapers and magazines<br />on various ailments and their cure through dietetics and nature cure treatments, has already to<br />his credit the authorship of three books on nature cure : ‘Health the Natural Way’, ‘Diet Cure for<br />Common Ail- ments’ and ‘ Foods That Heal ’. All three have been well received by the public.<br />A news item appear in newspapers recently about a famous French folk singer, Rike Zarai, who<br />had never practised naturopathy but her faith, based on her personal experience, turned her into<br />an authority on herbs and nature cure. At the Height of her career as a singer, Rika met with an<br />accident, when her car went off the road, due to poor visibility on account of fog and she was<br />taken from the wreckage with four broken vertebrae, one of which was pulverised. The attending<br />doctors indicated that she might not be able to walk again without crutches.<br />To make matters worse, she had a calcium deficiency. On the brink of suicide, she appealed for<br />help to an eminent homeopath. Clay compresses were smuggled into the hospital and she<br />applied them regularly to her back. Her surgeon was outraged when she attributed her<br />remarkable recovery not to his skill but to the clay. With the zeal of a convert, she applied herself<br />to the wider study of natural medicine.<br />She has authored two books, titled ‘ma Medicine Naturelle’ and ‘ her secrets Naturelles ‘. As<br />many as 2,80,000 copies of the first book were sold. Both the books have challenged the realms<br />of Medical world.<br />For Shri H.K. Bakhru’s new book titled ‘ A Complete Hand-book of Nature Cure.’ is complete<br />guide to naturopahy. This book offers a way which, if followed, will provide renewed energy,<br />increased vitality and greater satisfaction that comes from living a full and useful life.<br />The author has advocated that the right food could work wonders and has tremendous curative<br />power. Nutrition is the major problem of human life. This book can also be appropriately titled ‘<br />Return to Nature ‘. The aim of naturopathy is to invigorate and stimulate the body’s homeostatic<br />mechanism, to restore health structure and function. One can enjoy perfect health by proper<br />regulation of eating, drinking, breathing, bathing, dressing, working, thinking, and other social<br />activities on a normal and natural basis.<br />I wish the author Shri H.K. Bakhru all success for the publication of this book.<br />Marine Drive Dr. P.K. Bolar, N.D. (Lon.),<br />Churchgate Executive Director,<br />Bombay 400 020 Indian Institute of Drugless Therapy.<br />[index]<br />Foreword<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/foreword.htm [5/19/1999 9:11:31 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Preface<br />Nature cures, not the physician - Hippocrates<br />What, you may ask, is a public relations man doing writing a book on nature cure ? The answer<br />is simple : good health ought to be everybody’s concern, not solely the medical profession’s<br />business. More importantly, in my own case, I suffered immen- sely, for many years, largely due<br />to the shortcomings of the modern medical system. In my despair, I earnestly began my study of<br />natural methods of treatment and cure of disease, as also the ways and means of maintaining<br />good health. Putting the time-tested nature cure methods into practice proved so beneficial in my<br />own case, that I took to studying their application for several other diseases as well. What began<br />as mere jottings was gradually expanded into full-length articles on the subject " Cure Without<br />Drugs ", several of which were published in "The Economic Times. " The readers’ response to<br />the series was overwhelming and several of them suggested that the articles be complied in<br />book form, to benefit more people. "Health the Natural Way " was the result. This book as well<br />as my second book titled " Diet Cure For Common Ailments " published three years laters, was<br />well received by the press and the public. This fact coupled with the immense popularity of my<br />articles on health, nutrition and nature cure being published in several leading newspapers and<br />magazines, have prompted me to write a comprehensive book on nature cure under the present<br />title for the benefit of the general public.<br />Experience, they say, is the most convincing teacher, and I would like to begin with details of my<br />own case history as a means of indicating the major health problems that nature cure can<br />overcome. While doing my intermediate arts, at the age of 16, I contracted two serious illness -<br />pleurisy and typhoid fever - simultaneously. Having run their course for about 45 days, both<br />ailments left me so debilitated that I had to dis- continue my studies for one year, on medical<br />advice.<br />My recovery was gradually but not complete, as I developed heartburn and breathing problems.<br />At 28 came the worst crisis, when I suffered a stroke in the early hours of an extremely hot day<br />in May after acute heartburn throughout the night. The stroke made the left side of my body<br />extremely heavy and weak, and the attending physician referred my case to a well- known<br />neurosurgeon, suspecting a brain tumour. For nearly two months I lay helpless in the special<br />ward of a reputed hospital, undergoing several tests and at the same time observing around me<br />frequent deaths following unsuccessful brain surgery. Finally, having twice failed to inject air<br />through the spinal cord for taking X-rays of the brain, the specialist decided to make holes in my<br />skull for that purpose and even operate if necessary. Fortunately for me, the specialist had to<br />attend a medical conference elsewhere and, therefore, instructed his assistant to try the<br />newly-introduced method of cerebral angiography, which involved injecting dye through an<br />exposed vein in the neck to enable X-raying of veins in the brain. When these X-rays did not<br />reveal anything abnormal, I was allowed to go, but not before the harrowing experience had left<br />me a complete nervous wreck.<br />However, that was not the end of it. I underwent a barium meal examination which indicated "<br />Chronic doudenitis, may be chronic duodenal ulcer." The numerous drugs prescribed for the<br />treatment of this ailment and the continuing weakness and heaviness of my left side made my<br />condition worse still. I endured this for three years, until the pain and heaviness of the left side<br />was miraculously cured by an astrologer : But nothing could rid me of the heartburn, abdominal<br />pain and occasional severe stomach upsets, which continued to necessiate the use of several<br />drugs. Investigations, from time to time, confirmed the diagnosis of duodenitis or chronic<br />duodenal ulcer. A barium meal examination , done when I was 39, revealed hiatus hernia with<br />peptic oesophegal ulcers.<br />To add to all of this, at 45, an eminent heart specialist declared me a heart patient, following a<br />check-up due to pain on the left side of my chest. The heavy drugging, dieting etc. that ensued<br />Preface<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/preface.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:11:38 PM]<br />completely ruined my health and resulted in insomnia and a weight loss of 15 kg. Consulting<br />another eminent heart specialist two years later, I was informed that there was no evidence<br />whatsoever of heart trouble, but he confirmed the presence of hiatus hernia and stomach<br />trouble. God alone knows which diagnosis was correct : Then came a host of diseases in rapid<br />succession - spondylosis, myalgia, backache and prostate enlargement, in treating all of which<br />the modern medical system failed to give me any relief, despite taking huge quantities of drugs,<br />especially painkillers, antacid tablets and tranquillisers.<br />All this time, I was aware of the natural methods of treatment which I had studied from the age of<br />30 and a few of which I had practised occassionally. I , however, dared not adopt them<br />wholeheartedly because of my heavy dependence on drugs. Rather late in the day, at the age of<br />55, I made a determined bid to do away with all drugs and take recourse to natural methods. I<br />began collecting and studying a greater deal of data on the subject and also consulted<br />naturopaths. I made drastic changes in my diet and lifestyle and started rigidly observing the<br />laws of nature. I was rewarded sooner than expected so much so, that for one who narrowly<br />escaped death at the age of 28, when my son was a year old, I can proudly say that today, at<br />64, when I have a nine-year-old grandson, I feel healthier, thanks mainly to my taking recourse<br />to nature cure methods. Of course, I do not claim that I have cured all my ailments. But I do<br />maintain that I have been able to control them substantially and have obtained a lot of relief<br />without resorting to drugs. This, I feel, is no mean achievement. I am certain that my own<br />success in controlling several dreaded disabilities will serve as inspiration to those readers who<br />are suffering from various ailments and hold out the hope of their deriving real benefits from the<br />natural methods of treatment outlined in this book.<br />23, New Bombay Railwaymen’s H.K. BAKHRU<br />Co.-Op. Housing Society,<br />Sector 2, Vashi, New Bombay<br />Pin 400 703.<br />[index]<br />Preface<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/preface.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:11:38 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Acknowledgements<br />My sincere gratitude to Dr. P.K. Bolar, an eminent naturopath and Executive Director, Indian<br />Institute of Drugless Therapy, Churchgate, Bombay, for his foreword. I am also grateful to my<br />wife, Draupadi, for her painstaking efforts in going through the typescript of the book and carry<br />out corrections of typographical errors - a task which I possiblly could not undertake due to sharp<br />deterioration in my eyesight on account of degeneration of retina of both the eyes.<br />[index]<br />Acknowledgement<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/ack.htm [5/19/1999 9:11:50 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Principles and Practice of Nature Cure<br />Nature Cures, not the Physician.<br />- Hippocrates<br />Nature cure is a constructive method of treatment which aims at removing the basic cause of<br />disease through the rational use of the elements freely available in nature. It is not only a system<br />of healing, but also a way of life, in tune with the internal vital forces or natural elements<br />comprising the human body. It is a complete revolution in the art and science of living.<br />Although the term ‘ naturopathy’ is of relatively recent origin, the philosophical basis and several<br />of the methods of nature cure treatments are ancient. It was practised in ancient Egypt, Greece<br />and Rome. Hippocrates, the father of medicine ( 460-357 B.C.) strongly advocated it. India, it<br />appears, was much further advanced in older days in natural healing system than other<br />countries of the world. There are references in India’s ancient sacred books about the extensive<br />use of nature’s excellent healing agents such as air, earth, water and sun. The Great Baths of<br />the Indus Valley civilisation as discovered at Mohenjodaro in old Sind testifies to the use of water<br />for curative purposes in ancient India.<br />The modern methods of nature cure originated in Germany in 1822, when Vincent Priessnitz<br />established the first hydropathic establishment there. With his great success in water cure, the<br />idea of drugless healing spread throughout the civilised world and many medical practitioners<br />throughout the civilised world and many medical practitioners from America and other countries<br />became his enthusiastic students and disciples. These students subsequently enlarged and<br />developed the various methods of natural healing in their own way. The whole mass of<br />knowledge was later collected under one name, Naturopathy. The credit for the name<br />Naturopathy goes to Dr. Benedict Lust ( 1872 - 1945), and hence he is called the Father of<br />Naturopathy.<br />Nature cure is based on the realisation that man is born healthy and strong and that he can stay<br />as such as living in accordance with the laws of nature. Even if born with some inherited<br />affliction, the individual can eliminate it by putting to the best use the natural agents of healing.<br />Fresh air, sunshine, a proper diet, exercise, scientific relaxation, constructive thinking and the<br />right mental attitude, along with prayer and meditation all play their part in keeping a sound mind<br />in a sound body.<br />Nature cure believes that disease is an abnormal condition of the body resulting from the<br />violation of the natural laws. Every such violation has repercussions on the human system in the<br />shape of lowered vitality, irregularities of the blood and lymph and the accumulation of waste<br />matter and toxins. Thus, through a faulty diet it is not the digestive system alone which is<br />adversely affected. When toxins accumulate, other organs such as the bowels, kidneys, skin and<br />lungs are overworked and cannot get rid of these harmful substances as quickly as they are<br />produced.<br />Besides this, mental and emotional disturbances cause imbalances of the vital electric field<br />within which cell metabolism takes place, producing toxins. When the soil of this electric filed is<br />undisturbed, disease-causing germs can live in it without multiplying or producing toxins. It is<br />only when it is disturbed or when the blood is polluted with toxic waste that the germs multiply<br />and become harmful.<br />Basic Principles<br />The whole philosophy and practice of nature cure is built on three basic principles. These<br />principles are based on the conclu sions reached from over a century of effective naturopathic<br />treatment of diseases in Germany, America and Great Britain. They have been tested and<br />proved over and over again by the results obtained.<br />Principles and Practice of Nature Cure<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap1.htm (1 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:12:11 PM]<br />The first and most basic principle of nature cure is that all forms of disease are due to the same<br />cause, namely, the accumulations of waste materials and bodily refuse in the system. These<br />waste materials in the healthy individual are removed from the system through the organs of<br />elimination. But in the diseased person, they are steadily piling up in the body through years of<br />faulty habits of living such as wrong feeding, improper care of the body and habits contributing to<br />enervation and nervous exhaustion such as worry, overwork and excesses of all kinds. It follows<br />from this basic principle that the only way to cure disease is to employ methods which will<br />enable the system to throw off these toxic accumulations. All natural treatments are actually<br />directed towards this end.<br />The second basic principle of nature cure is that all acute diseases such as fevers, colds,<br />inflammations, digestive disturbances and skin eruptions are nothing more than self-initiated<br />efforts on the part of the body to throw off the accumulated waste materials and that all chronic<br />diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, rheumatism, asthma, kidney disorders, are the results<br />of continued suppression of the acute diseases through harmful methods such as drugs,<br />vaccines, narcotics and gland extracts.<br />The third principle of nature cure is that the body contains an eleborate healing mechanism<br />which has the power to bring about a return to normal condition of health, provided right<br />methods are employed to enable it to do so. In other words, the power to cure disease lies within<br />the body itself and not in the hands of the doctor.<br />Nature Cure vs Modern System<br />The modern medical system treats the symptoms and suppresses the disease but does little to<br />ascertain the real cause. Toxic drugs which may suppress or relieve some ailments usually have<br />harmful side-effects. Drugs usually hinder the self-healing efforts of the body and make recovery<br />more difficult. According to the late Sir William Osler, an eminent physician and surgeon, when<br />drugs are used, the patient has to recover twice - once from the illness, and once from the drug.<br />Drugs cannot cure diseases; disease continues. It is only its pattern that changes. Drugs also<br />produce dietary deficiencies by destroying nutrients, using them up, and preventing their<br />absorption. Moreover, the toxicity they produce occurs at a time when the body is least capable<br />of coping with it. The power to restore health thus lies not in drugs,but in nature.<br />The approach of modern system is more on combative lines after the disease has set in,<br />whereas nature cure system lays greater emphasis on preventive method and adopts measures<br />to attain and maintain health and prevent disease. The modern medical system treats each<br />disease as a separate entity, requiring specific drug for its cure, whereas the nature cure system<br />treats the organism as a whole and seeks to restore harmony to the whole of the patient’s being.<br />Methods of Nature Cure<br />The nature cure system aims at the readjustment of the human system from abnormal to normal<br />conditions and functions, and adopts methods of cure which are in conformity with the<br />constructive principles of nature. Such methods remove from the system the accumulation of<br />toxic matter and poisons without in any way injuring the vital organs of the body. They also<br />stimulate the organs of elimination and purification to better functioning.<br />To cure disease, the first and foremost requirement is to regulate the diet. To get rid of<br />accumulated toxins and restore the equilibrium of the system, it is desirable to completely<br />exclude acid-forming foods, including proteins, starches and fats, for a week or more and to<br />confine the diet to fresh fruits which will disinfect the stomach and alimentary canal. If the body is<br />overloaded with morbid matter, as in acute disease, a complete fast for a few days may be<br />necessary for the elimination of toxins. Fruit juice may, however, be taken during a fast. A simple<br />rule is : do not eat when you are sick, stick to a light diet of fresh fruits. Wait for the return of the<br />usual healthy appetite. Loss of appetite is Nature’s warning that no burden should be placed on<br />the digestive organs. Alkaline foods such as raw vegetables and sprouted whole grain cereals<br />may be added after a week of a fruits-only diet.<br />Another important factor in the cure of diseases by natural methods is to stimulate the vitality of<br />the body. This can be achieved by using water in various ways and at varying temperatures in<br />the form of packs or baths. The application of cold water, especially to the abdomen, the seat of<br />most diseases, and to the sexual organs, through a cold sitting ( hip) bath immediately lowers<br />body heat and stimulates the nervous system. In the form of wet packs, hydrotherapy offers a<br />Principles and Practice of Nature Cure<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap1.htm (2 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:12:11 PM]<br />simple natural method of abating fevers and reducing pain and inflammation without any harmful<br />side-effects. Warm water applications, on the other hand, are relaxing.<br />Other natural methods useful in the cure of diseases are air and sunbaths, exercise and<br />massage. Air and sunbaths revive dead skin and help maintain it in a normal condition. Exercise,<br />especially yogic asanas,promotes inner health and harmony and helps eliminate all tension :<br />physical, mental and emotional. Massage tones up the nervous system and quickens blood<br />circulation and the metabolic process.<br />Thus a well-balanced diet, sufficient physical exercise, the observation of the other laws of<br />well-being such as fresh air, plenty of sunlight, pure drinking water,scrupulous cleanliness,<br />adequate rest and right mental attitude can ensure proper health and prevent disease.<br />[index]<br />Principles and Practice of Nature Cure<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap1.htm (3 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:12:11 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Fasting - The Master Remedy<br />Fasting refers to complete abstinence from food for a short or long period for a specific purpose.<br />The word is derived from the old English, ‘feastan’ which means to fast, observe, be strict.<br />Fasting is nature’s oldest, most effective and yet least expensive method of treating disease. It is<br />recognised as the cornerstone of natural healing. Dr. Arnold Eheret, the originator of the<br />muscusless diet healing system, describes it as " nature’s only universal and omnipotent remedy<br />of healing" and "nature’s only fundamental law of all healing and curing. "<br />The practice of fasting is one of the most ancient customs. It is followed in almost every religion.<br />The Mohammedan, the Buddhists, the Hindus and many others have their periods of strict<br />fasting. The saints of medieval times laid great stress on this method.<br />Fasting indisease was advocated by the school of natural philosopher, Asclepiades, more than<br />two thousand years ago. Throughout medical history, it has been regarded as one of the most<br />dependable curative methods. Hippocrates, Galen, Paracelsus and many other great authorities<br />on medicine prescribed it. Many noted modern physicians have successfully employed this<br />system of healing in the treatment of numerous diseases.<br />The common cause of all diseases is the accumulation of waste and poisonous matter in the<br />body which results from overeating. The majority of persons eat too much and follow sedentary<br />occupations which do not permit sufficient and proper exercise for utilisation of this large quantity<br />of food. This surplus overburdens the digestive and assimulative organs and clogs up the<br />system with impurities or poisons. Digestion and elimination become slow and the functional<br />activity of the whole system gets deranged.<br />The onset of disease is merely the process of ridding the system of these impurities. Every<br />disease can be healed by only one remedy - by doing just the opposite of what causes it, that is,<br />by reducing the food intake or fasting.<br />By depriving the body of food for a time ,the organs of elimination such as the bowels, kidneys,<br />skin and lungs are given opportunity to expel, unhampered, the overload of accumulated waste<br />from the system. Thus, fasting is merely the process of purification and an effective and quick<br />method of cure. It assists nature in her continuous effort to expel foreign matter and disease<br />producing waste from the body, thereby correcting the faults of improper diet and wrong living. It<br />also leads to regeneration of the blood as well as the repair and regeneration of the various<br />tissues of the body.<br />Duration<br />The duration of the fast depends upon the age of the patient, the nature of the disease and the<br />amount and type of drugs previously used. The duration is important, because long periods of<br />fasting can be dangerous if undertaken without competent professional guidance. It is, therefore,<br />advisable to undertake a series of short fasts of two to three days and gradually increase the<br />duration of each succeeding fast by a day or so. The period, however, should not exceed a week<br />of total fasting at a time. This will enable the chronically sick body to gradually and slowly<br />eliminate toxic waste matter without seriously affecting the natural functioning of the body. A<br />correct mode of living and a balanced diet after the fast will restore vigour and vitality to the<br />individual.<br />Fasting is highly beneficial in practically all kinds of stomach and intestinal disorders and in<br />serious conditions of the kidneys and liver. It is a miracle cure for eczema and other skin<br />diseases and offers the only hope of permanent cure in many cases. The various nervous<br />disorders also respond favourably to this mode of treatment.<br />Fasting should, however, not be restored to in every illness. In cases of diabetes, advanced<br />stages of tuberculosis, and extreme cases of neurasthenia, long fasts will be harmful. IN most<br />cases, however , no harm will accrue to fasting patients, provided they take rest, and are under<br />proper professional care.<br />Fasting - The Master Remedy<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap2.htm (1 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:12:34 PM]<br />Methods<br />The best, safest and most effective method of fasting is juice fasting. Although the old classic<br />form of fasting was a pure water fast, most ofthe leading authorities on fasting today agree that<br />juice fasting is far superior to a water fast. According to Dr. Rangar Berg, the world -famous<br />authority on nutrition, "During fasting the body burns up and excretes huge amounts of<br />accumulated wastes. We can help this cleansing process by drinking alkaline juice instead of<br />water while fasting ... Elimina tion of uric acid and other inorganic acids will be accelerated. And<br />sugars in juices will strengthen the heart ... juice fasting is, therefore, the best form of fasting. "<br />Vitamins, minerals, enzymes and trace elements in fresh, raw vegetable and fruit juices are<br />extremely beneficial in normalising all the body processes. They supply essential elements for<br />the body’s own healing activity and cell renegeration and thus speeding the recovery. All juices<br />should be prepared from fresh fruit immediately before drinking. Canned or frozen juices should<br />not be used.<br />A precautionary measure which must be observed in all cases of fasting is the complete<br />emptying of the bowels at the beginning of the fast by enema so that the patient is not bothered<br />by gas or decomposing matter formed from the excrements remaining in the body. Enemas<br />should be administered at least every alternate day during the fasting period. The patient should<br />get as much fresh air as possible and should drink plain lukewarm water when thirsty. Fresh<br />juices may be diluted with pure water. The total liquid intake should be approximately six to eight<br />glasses.<br />A lot of energy is spent during the fast in the process of eliminating accumulated poisons and<br />toxic waste materials. It is, therfore, of utmost importance that the patients gets as much<br />physical rest and mental relaxation as possible during the fast. IN cases of fasts in which fruit<br />juices are taken, especially when fresh grapes, oranges or grapefruit are used exclusively, the<br />toxic wastes enter the blood -stream rapidly, resulting in an overload of toxic matter, which<br />affects normal bodily functions. This often results in dizzy spells, followed by diarrhoea and<br />vomiting. If this physical reaction persists, it is advisable to discontinue the fast and take cooked<br />vegetables containing adequate roughage such as spinach and beets until the body functioning<br />returns to normal.<br />The overweight person finds it much easier to go without food. Loss of weight causes no fear<br />and the patient’s attitude makes fasting almost a pleasure. The first day’s hunger pangs are<br />perhaps the most difficult to bear. The craving for food will, however, gradually decrease as the<br />fast progresses. Seriously sick persons have no desire for food and fasting comes naturally to<br />them. The simples rule is to stop eating until the appetite returns or until one feels completely<br />well.<br />Only very simple exercises like short walks may be undertaken during the fast. A warm water or<br />neutral bath may be taken during the period. Cold baths are not advisable. Sun and air baths<br />should be taken daily. Fasting sometimes produces a state of sleeplessness which can be<br />overcome by a warm tub bath, hot water bottles at the feet and by drinking one or two glasses of<br />hot water.<br />Benefits<br />There are several benefit of fasting. During a long fast, the body feeds upon its reserves. Being<br />deprived of needed nutrients, particularly of protein and fats, it will burn and digest its own<br />tissues by the process of autolysis or self-digestion. But it will not do so indistriminately. The<br />body will first decompose and burn those cells and tissues which are diseased, damaged, aged<br />or dead. The essential tissues and vital organs, the glands, the nervous system and the brain<br />are not damaged or digested in fasting. Here lies the secret of the effectiveness of fasting as a<br />curative and rejuvenative method. During fasting, the building of new and healthy cells are<br />speeded up by the amino acids released from the diseased cells. The capacity of the eliminative<br />organs, that is, lungs, liver, kidneys and the skin is greatly increased as they are relieved of the<br />usual burden of digesting food and eliminating the resultant wastes. They are, therefore, able to<br />quickly expel old accumulated wastes and toxins.<br />Fasting affords a physiological rest to the digestive, assimilative and protective organs. As a<br />result, the digestion of food and the utilisation of nutrients is greatly improved after fasting. The<br />fast also exerts a normalising, stablising and rejuvenating effect on all the vital physiological,<br />nervous and mental functions.<br />Fasting - The Master Remedy<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap2.htm (2 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:12:34 PM]<br />Breaking of Fast<br />The success of the fast depends largely on hos it is broken. This is the most significant phase.<br />The main rules for breaking the fast are : do not overeat, eat slowly and chew your food<br />thoroughly ; and take several days for the gradual change to the normal diet. If the transition to<br />eating solid foods is carefully planned, there will be no discomfort or damage. The patient should<br />also continue to take rest during the transition period. The right food after a fast is as important<br />and decisive for proper results as the fast itself.<br />[index]<br />Fasting - The Master Remedy<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap2.htm (3 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:12:34 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Therapeutic Baths<br />Water has been used as a valuable therapeutic agent since time immemorial. In all major<br />ancient civilizations, bathing was considered an important measure for the maintenance of<br />health and prevention of disease. It was also valued for its remedial properties. The ancient<br />Vedic literature in India contains numerous references to the efficacy of water in the treatment of<br />disease.<br />In modern times, the therapeutic value of water was popularised by Vincent Priessnitz, Father<br />Sebastian Kneipp, Louis Kuhne and other European water-cure pioneers. They raised water<br />cure to an institutional level and employed it successfully for the treatment of almost every<br />known disease. There are numerous spas and "Bads" in most European countries where<br />therapeutic baths are used as a major healing agent.<br />Water exerts beneficial effects on the human system. It equalises circulation, boosts muscular<br />tone and aids digestion and nutrition. It also tones up the activity of perspiratory gland and in the<br />process eliminates the damaged cells and toxic matter from the system.<br />The common water temperature chart is : cold 100C to 180C, neutral 320C to 360C and hot 400C<br />to 450C. Above 450C, water loses its therapeutic value and is destructive.<br />The main methods of water treatment which can be employed in the healing of various diseases<br />in a do-it-yourself manner are described below.<br />ENEMA<br />Also known as rectal irrigation, an enema involves the injection of fluid into the rectum. In nature<br />cure treatment, only lukewarm water is used for cleaning the bowels. The patient is made to lie<br />on his left side extending his left leg and bending the right leg slightly. The enema nozzle,<br />lubricated with oil or vaseline, is inserted in the rectum. The enema can containing the lukewarm<br />water is then slowly raised and water is allowed to enter into the rectum. Generally, one to two<br />litres of water is injected. The patient may either lie down on his back or walk a little while<br />retaining the water. After five to 10 minutes, the water can be ejected along with the<br />accumulated morbid matter.<br />A warm water enema helps to clean the rectum of accumulated faecal matter. This is not only<br />the safest system for cleaning the bowels, but also improves the peristaltic movement of the<br />bowels and thereby relieves constipation. A cold water enema is helpful in inflammatory<br />conditions of the colon, especially in cases of dysentery, diarrhoea, ulcerative colitis,<br />haemorrhoids and fever. A hot water enema is beneficial in relieving irritation due to<br />inflammation of the rectum and painfull haemorrhoids. It also benefits women in leucorrhoea.<br />COLD COMPRESS<br />This is a local application using a cloth which has been wrung out in cold water. The cloth should<br />be folded into a broad strip and dipped in cold water or ice water. The compress is generally<br />applied to the head,neck, chest, abdomen and back. The cold compress is an effective means of<br />controlling inflammatory conditions of the liver, spleen, stomach, kidneys, intestines, lungs,<br />brain, pelvic organs and so on. It is also advantageous in cases of fever and heart disease. The<br />cold compress soothes dermities and inflammations of external portions of the eye. When the<br />eyeball is affected, the cold compress should follow a short fomentation.<br />HEATING COMPRESS<br />This is a cold compress covered in such a manner as to bring warmth. A heating compress<br />consists of three or four folds of linen cloth wrung out in cold water which is then covered<br />completely with dry flannel or blanket to prevent the circulation of air and help accumulation of<br />body heat. It is sometimes applied for several hours. The duration of the application is<br />Therapeutic Baths<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap3.htm (1 of 5) [5/19/1999 9:12:47 PM]<br />determined by the extent and location of the surface involved, the nature and thickness of the<br />coverings and the water temperature. After removing the compress , the area should be rubbed<br />with a wet cloth and then dried with a towel. A heating compress can be applied to the throat,<br />chest, abdomen, and joints. A throat compress relieves sore throat, hoarseness, tonsillitis,<br />pharyngitis and laryngitis. An abdominal compress helps those suffering from gastritis,<br />hyperacidity, indigestion, jaundice, constipation, diarrhoea, dysentery and other ailments relating<br />to the abdominal organs. The chest compress also known as chest pack, relieves cold,<br />bronchitis, pleurisy, pneumonia, fever, cough and so on, while the joints compress is helpful for<br />inflamed joints, rheumatism, rheumatic fever and sprains.<br />HIP BATHS<br />The hip bath is one of the most useful forms of hydrotherapy. As the name suggests, this mode<br />of treatment involves only the hips and the abdominal region below the navel. A special type of<br />tub is used for the purpose. The tub is filled with water in such a way that it covers the hips and<br />reaches upto the navel when the patient sits in it. Generally, four to six gallons of water are<br />required. If the special tub is not available, a common tub may be used. A support may be<br />placed under one edge to elevate it by two or three inches. Hip bath is given in cold, hot, neutral<br />or alternate temperatures.<br />COLD HIP BATH<br />The water temperature should be 100C to 180C. The duration of the bath is usually 10 minutes ,<br />but in specific conditions it may vary from one minute to 30 minutes. If the patient feels cold or is<br />very weak, a hot foot immersion should be given with the cold hip bath.<br />The patient should rub the abdomen briskly from the navel downwards and across the body with<br />a moderately coarse wet cloth. The legs, feet and upper part of the body should remain<br />completely dry during and after the bath. The patient should undertake moderate exercise like<br />yogasanas, after the cold hip bath, to warm the body.<br />A cold hip bath is a routine treatment in most diseases. It relieves constipation, indigestion,<br />obesity and helps the eliminative organs to function properly. It is also helpful in uterine<br />problems like irregular menstruation, chronic uterine infections, pelvic inflammation, piles,<br />hepatic congestion, chronic congestion of the prostate gland, seminal weakness, impotency,<br />sterility, uterine and ovarian displacements, dilation of the stomach and colon, diarrhoea,<br />dysentery, hemorrhage of the bladder and so on. The cold hip bath should not be employed in<br />acute inflammations of the pelvic and abdominal organs, ovaries and in painful contractions of<br />the bladder, rectum or vagina.<br />HOT HIP BATH<br />This bath is generally taken for eight to 10 minutes at a water temperature of 400C to 450C. The<br />bath should start at 400C. The temperature should be gradually increased to 450C. NO friction<br />should be applied to the abdomen. Before entering the tub,the patient should drink one glass of<br />cold water. A cold compress should be placed on the head. A hot hip bath helps to relieve<br />painful menstruation, pain in the pelvic organs, painful urination, inflamed rectum or bladder and<br />painful piles. It also benefits enlarged prostatic gland, painful contractions or spasm of the<br />bladder, sciatica, neuralgia of the ovaries and bladder. A cold shower bath should be taken<br />immediately after the hot hip bath.<br />Care should be taken to prevent the patient from catching a chill after the bath. The bath should<br />be terminated if the patient feels giddy or complains of excessive pain.<br />NEUTRAL HIP BATH<br />The temperature of the water should be 320C to 360C. Here too, friction to the abdomen should<br />be avoided. This bath is generally taken for 20 minutes to an hour. The neutral hip bath helps to<br />relieve all acute and sub-acute inflammatory conditions such as acute catarrh of the bladder and<br />urethra and subacute inflammations in the uterus, ovaries and tubes. It also relieves neuralgia of<br />the fallopian tubes or testicles, painful spasms of the vagina and prorates of the anus and vulva.<br />Besides, it is a sedative treatment for erotomanis in both sexes.<br />ALTERNATE HIP BATH<br />Therapeutic Baths<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap3.htm (2 of 5) [5/19/1999 9:12:47 PM]<br />This is also known as revulsive hip bath. The temperature in the hot tub should be 400C to 450C<br />and in the cold tub 100C to 180C. The patient should alternately sit in the hot tub for five minutes<br />and then in the cold tub for three minutes. The duration of the bath is generally 10 to 20 minutes.<br />The head and neck should be kept cold with a cold compress. The treatment should end with a<br />dash of cold water to the hips.<br />This bath relieves chronic inflammatory conditions of the pelvic viscera such as salpingitis,<br />ovaritis, cellulitis and various neuralgias of the genito-urinary organs, sciatica and lumbago.<br />SPINAL BATH<br />The spinal bath is another important form of hydrotherapic treatment. This bath provides a<br />soothing effect to the spinal column and thereby influences the central nervous system. It is<br />given in a specially designed tub with its back raised so as to provide proper support to the<br />head. The bath can be administered at cold, neutral and hot temperatures. The water level in the<br />tub should be an inch and a half to two inches and the patient should lie in it for three to 10<br />minutes.<br />The cold spinal bath relieves irritation, fatigue, hypertension and excitement. It is beneficial in<br />almost all nervous disorders such as hysteria, fits, mental disorders, loss of memory and<br />tension. The neutral spinal bath is a soothing and sedative treatment, especially for the highly<br />strung and irritable patient. It is the ideal treatment for insomnia and also relieves tension of the<br />vertebral column. The duration of this bath is 20 to 30 minutes. The hot spinal bath, on the other<br />hand, helps to stimulate the nervous, especially when they are in a depressed state. It also<br />relieves vertebral pain in spondylitis and muscular backache. It relieves sciatic pain and<br />gastrointestinal disturbances of gastric origin.<br />FULL WET SHEET PACK<br />This is a procedure in which the whole body is wrapped in a wet sheet, which in turn is wrapped<br />in a dry blanket for regulating evaporation. The blanket should be spread on the bed with its<br />edges hanging over the edge of the bed. The upper end should be about eight inches from the<br />head of the bed. Then spread a linen sheet wrung out in cold water over the blanket so that its<br />end is slightly below the upper end of the blanket. The patient should lie on the bedsheet with his<br />shoulders about three inches below the upper age. The wet sheet should be weekly wrapped<br />round the body of the patient, drawn in, tightly tucked between the legs and also between the<br />body and the arms. The sheet should be folded over the shoulders and across the neck. Now<br />the blanket should be drawn tightly around the body and tucked in along the side in a similar<br />manner, pulling it tightly. The ends should be doubled up at the feet. A turkish towel should be<br />placed below the chin to protect the face and neck from coming into contact with the blanket and<br />to exclude outside air more effectively. The head should be covered with a wet cloth so that the<br />sculp remains cold. The feet should be kept warm during the entire treatment. If the patient’s feet<br />are cold, place hot water bottles near them to hasten reaction. The pack is administered for half<br />an hour to one hour till the patient begins to perspire profusely. He may be given cold or hot<br />water to drink.<br />This pack is useful in cases of fever especially in typhoid and continued fevers, and benefits<br />those suffering from insomnia, epilepsy and infantile convulsions. It is useful in relieving chronic<br />cold and bronchitis and helps in the treatment of rheumatism and obesity.<br />HOT FOOT BATHS<br />In this method, the patient should keep his or her legs in a tub or bucket filled with hot water at a<br />temperature of 400C to 450C. Before taking this bath, a glass of water should be taken and the<br />body should be covered with a blanket so that no heat or vapour escapes from the foot bath.<br />The head should be protected with a cold compress. The duration of the bath is generally from 5<br />to 20 minutes. The patient should take a cold shower immediately after the bath.<br />The hot foot bath stimulates the involuntary muscles of the uterus, intestines, bladder and other<br />pelvic and abdominal organs. It also relieves sprains and ankle joint pains, headaches caused<br />by cerebral congestion and colds. In women, it helps restore menstruation , if suspended, by<br />increasing supply of blood especially to the uterus and ovaries.<br />COLD FOOT BATH<br />Therapeutic Baths<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap3.htm (3 of 5) [5/19/1999 9:12:47 PM]<br />Three to four inches of cold water at a temperature of 7.20C to 12.70C should be placed in a<br />small tub or bucket. The feet should be completely immersed in the water for one to five<br />minutes. Friction should be continuously applied to the feet during the bath, either by an<br />attendant or by the patient by rubbing one foot against the other.<br />A cold foot bath, taken for one or two minutes,relieves cerebral congestion and uterine<br />hemorrhage. It also helps in the treatment of sprains, strains and inflamed bunions when taken<br />for longer periods. It should not be taken in cases of inflammatory conditions of the<br />genito-urinary organs, liver and kidneys.<br />STEAM BATH<br />Steam bath is one of the most important time-tested water treatments which induces perspiration<br />in a most natural way. The patient, clad in minimum loin cloth or underwear, is made to sit on a<br />stool inside a specially designed cabinet. Before entering the cabinet, the patient should drink<br />one or two glasses of cold water and protect the head with a cold towel. The duration of the<br />steam bath is generally 10 to 20 minutes or until perspiration takes place. A cold shower should<br />be taken immediately after the bath.<br />Very weak patients, pregnant women, cardiac patients and those suffering from high blood<br />pressure should avoid this bath. If the patient feels giddy or uneasy during the steam bath, he or<br />she should be immediately taken out and given a glasss of cold water and the face washed with<br />cold water.<br />The steam bath helps to eliminate morbid matter from the surface of the skin. It also improves<br />circulation of the blood and tissue activity. It relieves rheumatism, gout, uric acid problems, and<br />obesity. The steam bath is helpful in all forms of chronic toxemias. It also relieves neuralgias,<br />chronic nephritis, infections, tetanus and migraine.<br />IMMERSION BATHS<br />This is also known as full bath. It is administered in a bath tub which should be properly fitted<br />with hot and cold water connections. The bath can be taken at cold, neutral, hot, graduated and<br />alternate temperatures.<br />COLD IMMERSION BATH<br />This may be taken for four seconds to 20 minutes at a temperature ranging from 100C to 23.80C.<br />Before entering the bath, cold water should be poured on the patient’s head, chest and neck and<br />the head should be protected with a cold moist towel. During the bath, the patient should<br />vigorously rub his or her body. After the bath the body should be quickly dried and wrapped up in<br />a blanket. If the climate is favourable, moderate exercise should be undertaken.<br />This bath helps to bring down fever. It also improves the skin when taken for five to 15 seconds<br />after a prolonged hot bath, by exhilarating circulation and stimulating the nervous system.<br />This bath should not be given to young children or very elderly persons, nor be taken in cases of<br />acute inflammation of some internal organs such as acute peritonitis, gastritis, enteritis and<br />inflammatory conditions of uterus and ovaries.<br />GRADUATED BATH<br />The patient should enter the bath at a temperature of 310C. The water temperature should be<br />lowered gradually at the rate of 10C per minute until it reaches 250C. The bath should continue<br />until the patient starts shivering. The graduated bath is intended to avoid nervous shock by<br />sudden plunge into the cold water. This bath is often administered every three hours in cases of<br />fever.<br />It effectively brings down the temperature except in malarial fever. Besides, it also produces a<br />general tonic effect, increases vital resistances and energises the heart.<br />NEUTRAL IMMERSION BATH<br />This bath can be given from 15 to 60 minutes at a temperature ranging from 260C to 280C. It can<br />be given for long duration, without any ill-effects, as the water temperature is akin to the body<br />temperature. The neutral bath diminishes the pulse rate without modifying respiration.<br />This treatment is the best sedative. Since the neutral bath excites activity of both the skin and<br />the kidneys, it is recommended in cases relating to these organs. It is also beneficial for cases of<br />Therapeutic Baths<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap3.htm (4 of 5) [5/19/1999 9:12:47 PM]<br />organic diseases of the brain and spinal cord, including chronic inflammatory conditions such as<br />meningitis, rheumatism and arthritis.<br />A neutral immersion bath taken for 30 to 60 minutes is highly beneficial in general dropsy, due to<br />cardiac or renal diseases. It also helps those suffering from multiple neuritis, alcoholism and<br />other narcotic habits, chronic diarrhoea, peritonitis and chronic affections of the abdomen. In<br />such cases the bath may be given daily for 15 to 30 minutes. This bath is also useful in the<br />toxemic conditions caused by dyspepsia and pruritus. The neutral bath should not be prescribed<br />in certain cases of eczema and other forms of skin diseases where water aggravates the<br />symptoms, nor in cases of extreme cardiac weakness.<br />HOT IMMERSION BATH<br />This bath can be taken from two to 15 minutes at a temperature from 36.60C to 400C. Generally<br />this bath is started at 370C and the temperature is then gradually raised to the required level by<br />adding hot water. Before entering the bath, the patient should drink cold water and also wet the<br />head, neck and shoulders with cold water. A cold compress should be applied throughout the<br />treatment. This bath can be advantageously employed in dropsy when there is excessive loss of<br />tone of the heart and blood. This bath also relieves capillary bronchitis and bronchial pneumonia<br />in children. It relieves congestation of the lungs and activates the blood vessels of the skin<br />muscles. The bath should be terminated as soon as the skin becomes red.<br />In pneumonia and suppressed menstruation, the bath should be administered at 37.70C to 400C<br />for about 30 to 45 minutes. This bath should be given when the menstruation is due and may be<br />repeated for two to three days in succession. In dysmenorrhoea, this bath should be given at<br />380C to 44.40C for 15 minutes.<br />In chronic bronchitis a very hot bath taken for 5 to 7 minutes should be accompanied with<br />rubbing and friction. This relieves congestion of the mucous membrane and provides immediate<br />relief After the bath, oil should be applied to the skin if necessary.<br />The hot bath is a valuable treatment in chronic rheumatism and obesity. It gives immediate relief<br />when there is pain due to stones in the gall bladder and the kidneys. The hot bath should not be<br />taken in cases of organic diseases of the brain or spinal cord, nor in cases of cardiac weakness<br />and cardiac hypertrophy.<br />EPSOM SALT BATH<br />The immersion bath tub should be filled with about 135 litres of hot water at 400C. One to 1 1/2<br />kg. of Epsom salt should be dissolved in this water. The patient should drink a glass of cold<br />water, cover the head with a cold towel and then lie down in the tub, completely immersing the<br />trunk, thighs and legs for 15 to 20 minutes. The best time to take this bath is just before retiring<br />to bed. This is useful in cases of sciatica, lumbago, rheumatism, diabetes, neuritis, cold and<br />catarrh, kidney disorders and other uric acid and skin affections.<br />Precaution<br />Certain precautions are necessary while taking these therapeutic baths. Full baths should be<br />avoided within three hours after a meal and one hour before it. Local baths like the hip bath and<br />foot bath may, however, be taken two hours after a meal. Clean and pure water must be used<br />for baths and water once used should not be used again. While taking baths, temperature and<br />duration should be strictly observed to obtain the desired effects. A thermometer should always<br />be used to measure the temperature of the body. Women should not take any of the baths<br />during menstruation. They can take only hip baths during pregnancy till the completion of the<br />third month.<br />[index]<br />Therapeutic Baths<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap3.htm (5 of 5) [5/19/1999 9:12:47 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Curative Powers of Earth<br />Earth was used extensively for remedial purposes in ancient times as well as the middle ages.<br />IN modern times, it again came into prominence as a valuable therapeutic agent in the last<br />century through the indefatigable efforts of Emanuel Felke, a German-born Lutheran minister<br />who was nicknamed the "Clay Pastor."<br />Felke found that the forces of earth have remarkable effects upon the human body, especially<br />during the night. These effects are described as refreshing, invigorating and vitalising. Felke<br />believed that for wounds and skin diseases, application of clay or moistened earth was the only<br />true natural bondage. The body is thus repaired with the element from which it is assumed to be<br />made.<br />Adolf Just ( 1838 - 1936) , one of the pioneers of nature cure in modern times, believed that all<br />diseases, but especially the serious nervous troubles of our age, would lose their terrors, if only<br />sleeping or lying on the earth at night became customary in the curing of diseases. According to<br />him, by sleeping on the ground, " the entire body is aroused from its lethargy to a new<br />manifestation of vital energy, so that it can now effectively remove old morbid matter and<br />masses of old faces from the intestines, and receive a sensation of new health, new life and new<br />unthought -of vigour and strength. "<br />Going barefooted all day long, except when it is very cold, is also regarded as a valuable step<br />towards achieving good health and true happiness. Men can draw vital energy and strength out<br />of the earth through their feet. Jesus Christ also attached a great deal of importance to the<br />practice of going barefooted. He himself was barefooted and commanded his disciples likewise.<br />It is advisable to go entirely barefooted as often as possible, especially on the bare ground but in<br />rooms with painted floors it is better to wear chappals, since the painted floor affects the body<br />adversely if one walks on it with bare soles.<br />The American Indians lay great stress on earth treatment.<br />They believe that healing power is strong in leaves and herbs, powerful in the air, but very<br />powerful indeed in the earth. They have a custom to bury sufferers from all kinds of disease in<br />the earth upto their necks, leave them there for some hours, and then remove them. They<br />believe that many of them are cured. Presumably the body draws unto itself the healing minerals<br />and some of the earth’s magnetism.<br />MUD PACKS<br />The nature cure practitioners at present are making increasing use of moistened earth in the<br />treatment of diseases. The use of mud packs has been found highly beneficial and effective in<br />the treatment of chronic inflammation caused by internal diseases, bruises, sprains, boils and<br />wounds. This mode of treatment is normally adopted in conjunction with a proper scheme of<br />dietary and other natural therapies.<br />The advantage of mud treatment is that it is able to retain moisture and coolness for longer<br />periods than cold water packs or compresses. The cold moisture in the mud packs relaxes the<br />pores of the skin, draws the blood into the surface, relieves inner congestion and pain, promotes<br />heat radiation and elimination of morbid matter.<br />A mud pack isprepared with clay obtained from about ten cms. below the surface of the earth,<br />after ensuring that it does not contain any impurities such as compost or pebbles. The clay is<br />then made into a smooth paste with warm water. This is allowed to cool and then spread on a<br />strip of cloth, the size of which may vary according to requirements. The dimensions of the pack<br />meant for application on the abdomen are generally 20 cms. X 10 cm.X 2.5 cm. for adults.<br />Mud packs have been found to be a valuable treatment of diseases relating to general weakness<br />or nervous disorders. It can also bring down fever and is beneficial in the treatment of scarlet<br />fever, measles and influenza. The mud pack is prescribed for swellings, eye and ear troubles,<br />gout, rheumatism, stomach troubles, kidney and liver malfunctions, diptheria, neuralgia, sexual<br />Curative Powers of Earth<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap4.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:12:54 PM]<br />disorders, headache, toothache and general aches and pains. The mud bandage, after being<br />placed on the body, should be covered with flannel or other protective material. The pack is<br />applied for 10 to 30 minutes.<br />As the abdomen is the seat of most diseases, mud pack applied to this part of the body can cure<br />many disorders including all forms of indigestion affecting the stomach and bowels. It is most<br />effective in decreasing the external heat and breaking up the morbid matter. It also aids the<br />inactivity of labour pains and for this purpose, the pack may be renewed every hour or two.<br />The mud pack is also helpful as an alternate treatment. The area under treatment is first given<br />fomentation for five to 10 minutes until it is well heated. Mud is then applied directly to the skin<br />for five to 15 minutes, depending upon the reaction required.<br />Hot and cold applications are useful in relieving chronic pains, intestinal cramps and lumbago.<br />Alternate application helps to relieve discomfort caused by flatulence and intestinal obstructions.<br />It is also helpful in amoebiasis, colitis, enteritis and other inflammatory conditions of bacterial<br />origin.<br />MUD BATH<br />Mud or clay bath is another mode of treatment. It is applied in the same way as packs, but only<br />on a larger scale on the entire body. In this, mud or clay is first ground and sifted to remove all<br />impurities, and then made into a smooth paste mixed with hot water. The paste is then spread<br />on a sheet which in turn is wrapped round the body. One or two blankets are then wrapped over<br />this, depending on the temperature of the room and that of the pack. A mud bath is followed with<br />a cleansing warm water bath and a short cold shower.<br />The mud bath is found to tone up the skin by increasing the circulation and energising the skin<br />tissues. Frequent mud baths help to improve the complexion, clear spots and patches on the<br />skin following skin disorders or due to smallpox. It is very beneficial in the treatment of skin<br />diseases like psoriasis, leucoderma and every leprosy.<br />This bath is also valuable in getting relief from rheumatic pain or pain in the joints caused by<br />injuries. The duration of the bath should be from 30 minutes to one hour. Care should also be<br />taken to avoid the patient catching a chill during the bath. Mud applications also form a vital part<br />of natural beauty treatment.<br />[index]<br />Curative Powers of Earth<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap4.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:12:54 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Exercise in Health and Disease<br />A world famous physical educationist, Eugene Sandow, has very aptly said, " Life is movement,<br />stagnation is death. " Physical exercise is essential for the maintenance of normal condition of<br />life. Lack of natural exercise is one of the chief causes of weakness and ill-health.<br />In recent years, the need for exercise has been recognised even in sickness. Physio and<br />occupational therapy are now standard procedures in medicine to restore the use of muscles<br />and nerves that have been injured by disease or by accident. Patients with organic ailments are<br />now advised to stay in bed for the minimum period considered necessary.<br />Exercise and Activity<br />For corrective living, it is essential to differentiate between exercise and activity. While both are<br />important as they are involved in vital physical movement, they vary in degree and benefits.<br />Both employ the body in voluntary movement. Activity uses the body to a limited degree and<br />generally to achieve a specific purpose. Exercise employs the body over the widest possible<br />range of movement for the particular purpose of maintaining or acquiring muscle tone and<br />control with maximum joint flexibility.<br />Activity requires less physical effort and often less conscious effort once the routine has been<br />established. Exercise demands considerable physical effort and is more beneficial as mental<br />concentration is simultaneously employed.<br />Benefits<br />Systematic physical exercise has many benefits. The more important benefits are mentioned<br />below :<br />Regular exercise taken properly can achieve the increased use of food by the body,<br />which contributes to health and fitness. The basal metabolic rate and habitual body<br />temperature will slowly rise during several weeks of physical exercise, if the programme is<br />not too hard. The healthy person usually has abundant body heat and a warm radiant<br />glow.<br />i.<br />Regular progressive physical exercise can bring about the balance of automatic, or<br />involuntary , nervous system. The tone of the vagus nerve, one of the nerves that control<br />sensation and motion, is strengthened. This accounts for stronger pulse waves, higher<br />metabolism and better circulation.<br />ii.<br />Exercise can prevent or reduce gravitational ptosis or sag, as it is commonly called.<br />Ptosis results from uneven flow of blood in the feet, legs and lower abdomen.<br />iii.<br />Improved capillary action in the working of muscular and brain tissue results from<br />exercise carried to the point of real endurance. This permits greater blood flow and gives<br />the muscles, including the heart, more resistance to fatigue.<br />Massage, heat and moderate exercise are relatively ineffective in producing additional<br />capillary action as compared with vigorous exercise.<br />iv.<br />The full use of the lungs in vigorous exercise can reduce or prevent lung congestion due<br />to lymph accumulation.<br />v.<br />Gas and intra-intestinal accumulations can be reduced by exercise that acts to knead and<br />squeeze or vibrate the intraintestinal mass.<br />vi.<br />Better respiratory reserve is developed by persistent exercise. This ensures better breath<br />holding, especially after a standard exercise. With greater respiratory reserves, exercise<br />become easier.<br />vii.<br />Improvement in tone and function of veins can be accomplished by repetitiously viii.<br />Exercise in Health and Disease<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap5.htm (1 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:13:13 PM]<br />squeezing and draining the blood out of them and then allowing them to fill.<br />Sweating in exercise aids kidneys by helping to eliminate the waste matter from the body. ix.<br />Consistent exercise leads to improvement in quality of blood. Studies have shown<br />improved haemoglobin levels, relatively greater alkalinity, improved total protein content<br />and a grater red cell count.<br />x.<br />Systemic exercise promotes physical strength and mental vigour and strengthens will power and<br />self control leading to harmonious development of the whole system.<br />Exercise promotes longevity<br />Medical researchers at Harvard and Standford Universities who studied the habits and health of<br />17,000 middle-aged and older men, reported the first scientific evidence that even modest<br />exercise helps prolong life. Dr. Ralph S. Paffenberger, the visiting professor of epidemology at<br />the Harvard School of Pubic Health, who is the principal author of the report said, " We have<br />found a direct relationship between the level of physical activity and the length of life in the<br />college men we have studied. " He added," This is the first good evidence that people who are<br />active and fit have a longer life span than those who are not. "<br />A strong connection between a hard and a healthy hard has also been convincingly<br />demonstrated in the same study. The study showed that the less active persons ran a three<br />times higher risk of suffering a fatal heart attack than did those who worked the hardest. Review<br />of fatal heart attacks revealed that the less active men were also three times more likely to die<br />unexpectedly and rapidly within an hour after the attack.<br />A parallel research report from doctors in Dulles also concluded, after a study of the lives and<br />habits of 6,000 men and women, that the physically fit were less likely to develop hypertension.<br />Dr. Steven N. Blair who headed the research group said, " We followed the physical health and<br />habits of these people for an average of four-and-a-half years and the data showed that the<br />lackof physical fitness leads to hypertension. "<br />Exercise increases calorie output. The body fat can be reduced by regular exercise. It is<br />therefore, useful for weight reduction in conjunction with restricted food intake. According to a<br />study by Dr. Peter Wood of Stanford University Medical School, author of ‘ California Diet and<br />Exercise Programme ‘, very active people eat about 600 more calories daily than their sedentary<br />counterparts but weight about 20 per cent less. Upto 15 hours after vigorous exercise, the body<br />continues to burn calories at a higher rate than it would have without exercise. Moderate<br />physical exercise has been found to be accompanied by less obesity and lower cholesterol<br />levels.<br />Regular exercise plays an important role in the fight against stress. It provides recreation and<br />mental relaxation besides keeping the body physically and mentally fit. It is nature’s best<br />tranquilliser.<br />Chronic fatigue caused by poor circulation can be remedied by undertaking some exercise on a<br />daily basis. It helps relieve tension and induces sleep. Moderate physical exercise at the end of<br />a try day can bring a degree of freshness and renewed energy.<br />Exercise also plays an important role in the treatment of depression. According to Dr. Robert<br />Brown, a clinical associate professor at the University of Virgina School of Medicine, " Exercise<br />produces chemical and psychological changes that improves your mental health. It changes the<br />levels of hormones in blood and may elevate your beta-endorphins (mood-affecting brain<br />chemicals). Exercise also gives a feeling of accomplishment and thereby reduces the sense of<br />helplessness. "<br />Methods of Exercise<br />Several systems of exercise have been developed over the years, the most popular among them<br />being the Swedish system and yoga asanas, the later having been practised from ancient times<br />in India. Whichever system you choose to adopt, the exercises should be performed<br />systematically, regularly and under proper guidance.<br />To be really useful, exercise should be taken in such a manner as to bring into action all the<br />muscles of the body in a natural way. Walking is one such exercise. It is, however, so gentle in<br />character that one must walk several kilometers in a brisk manner to constitute a fair amount of<br />Exercise in Health and Disease<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap5.htm (2 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:13:13 PM]<br />exercise. Other forms of good exercise are swimming, cycling, horse-riding, tennis, etc.<br />Precautions<br />Vigirous exercise of any kind should not be taken for an hour and a half after eating, nor<br />immediately before meals. Weak patients and those suffering from serious diseases like cancer,<br />heart trouble, tuberculosis and asthama should not undertake vigious exercise except under the<br />supervision of a competent physician. If exercising makes you tired, stop immediately . The<br />purpose of exercise should be to make you feel refreshed and relaxed and not tired.<br />The most important rule about the fitness plan is to start with very light exercise and to increase<br />the effort in gradual and easy stages. The sense of well-being will begin almost immediately.<br />One can start off with a brisk walk for 15 to 20 minutes. A comfortable sense of tiredness should<br />be the aim. It is valueless and possibly harmful to become exhausted or seriously short of<br />breath. Perhaps, one should aim at activities which need about two-thirds of one’s maximum<br />ability. One way to assess is to count your own pulse rate.<br />Counting of pulse is quite easy. Feel the pulse on your left wrist with the middle three fingers of<br />your right hand. Press just firmly enough to feel the beat easily. Now count the number of beats<br />in 15 seconds, with the help of a watch with clear second hand and calculate your rate by<br />multiplying by four. At rest heart beats 70 to 80 times a minute. This rate increases during<br />exercise. Really vigorous can produce rates as high as 200 beats per minute or more.<br />Reasonable aim is to exercise at about two-thirds of maximum capacity. It follows that heart rate<br />should be about 130 per minute during and just after exercise. Always avoid over-exertion and<br />never allow your pulse go above 190 per minute minus your age.<br />[index]<br />Exercise in Health and Disease<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap5.htm (3 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:13:13 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Therapeutic Value of Massage<br />Massage is an excellent form of passive exercise. The word is derived from the Greek word<br />‘massier’ which means to knead. It involves the scientific manipulation of the soft tissues of the<br />body. If correctly done on a bare body, it can be highly stimulating and invigorating.<br />As far back as 400 B.C. , the great Hippocrates, the father of medicine, employed massage and<br />manipulation in healing his patients. Since then it has been used as a mode of treatment for<br />many ailments and it has restored many a sufferer to health and vigour.<br />Benefits<br />The general massage, dealing with all parts of the body, is highly beneficial in many ways. It<br />tones up the nervous system, influences respiration and quickens the elimination of poisons and<br />waste material from the body through the various eliminative organs such as the lungs, skin,<br />kidneys and bowels. It also boosts blood circulation and metabolic processes. A massage<br />removes facial wrinkles , helps to fill out hollow cheeks and neck and eases stiffness, sore<br />muscles and numbness.<br />Various movements<br />There are five fundamental modes of manipulation in massage and these are : effleurage<br />(stroking), friction ( rubbing), petrissage ( kneading), tapotment (percussion) and vibration<br />(shaking or trembling).<br />1. Effleurage :<br />This involves sliding with the hands, using long even strokes over the surface of the body.<br />Effleurage is performed in five ways, namely stroking with (I) palms of two hands; (ii) the palm of<br />one hand; (iii) the knuckles; (iv) the ball of the thumb and (v) the finger tips. Effleurage increases<br />blood circulation and soothes the nervous system. It also warms and relaxes. It is very helpful in<br />atrophied condition of the skin.<br />2. Friction :<br />The movements, which are circular in nature are performed with the help of the thumb and tips<br />of fingers or the palm of the hand towards the joints or around the joints. Fric- tion limbers up<br />joints, tendons, and muscles and facilitates the removal of deposits by breaking them. It also<br />helps in reducing swelling after nerve inflammation.<br />3. Petrissage :<br />This is the process of kneading, pressing and rolling of the tissues and is performed with one or<br />both hands, with two thumbs or with thumbs and fingers. One should apply heavy pressure for<br />deep kneading and light pressure for superficial kneading. Petrissage is a treatment of the<br />muscles. It increases nutrition, strengthens muscles, relieves intestinal congestion and helps<br />elimination of the poisons. It boosts long activity and cellular respiration, eliminates fatigue<br />poisons and tones up nerve endings.<br />4. Tapotement :<br />This involves hacking, tapping, clapping and beating and is achieved by striking the body rapidly.<br />Short and quick blows are generally given from the wrist. Tapotement helps in atrophied<br />condition of the muscles. It increases blood supply, soothes nerves and strengthens muscles.<br />5. Vibrations :<br />This is achieved by rapidly shaking the pressing movements by use of the hand or fingers onthe<br />body. Vibrating hand should move constantly. This is beneficial in neuritis and neuralgia after the<br />inflammatory stage is over. It stimulates circulation, glandular activity and nervous plexuses. It<br />Therapeutic Value of Massage<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap6.htm (1 of 4) [5/19/1999 9:13:22 PM]<br />also helps in bowel movement.<br />Another form of massage helpful in most elements is the vibratory massage. This can be done<br />by trained persons only. The vibratory muscles is more efficiently administered by a special,<br />electrically operated machine.<br />Material for Massage<br />Cotton seed oil is most commonly used for massaging, but butter is used for filling out cheeks<br />and the neck and also for breast enlargement. If the patient is averse to oil, talcum powder may<br />be used. Oil should not be used by persons with excessive body hair. General body massage<br />may be done for 40 to 45 minutes and local body massage for 10 to 15 minutes.<br />The oil should be washed off completely after massage.<br />Therapeutic Uses<br />Massage can be used with advantage as a method of treatment for many common ailments. The<br />various forms of massage and their usefulness in various diseases are described here in brief.<br />Massage of the Joints :<br />Stiff and swollen joints can be cured by massage combined with mechanical movements.<br />Massage is, however, not recommended in serious inflammatory cases of the joints and in<br />tubercular joints. It should also be avoided in infectious diseases like diphtheria and gonorrhoea<br />which cause formation of pus as massage may spread the pus to the entire system. Sprains and<br />bruises can be cured by massage. In these cases, affected parts should first be bathed with hot<br />water for 15 to 30 minutes. Next the massage should be done for a few minutes. Gentle stroking<br />and kneading is recommended on and around the injured tissues. Fractures can also be treated<br />through massage.<br />This form of massage is of great help in atrophy of the muscles which usually follows if the<br />muscles are not used for any length of time. This condition may also be brought about by<br />injuries, diseases of the joints, inflammation of the muscles and nerves, and by too long use of<br />cats, bandages and splints.<br />A human being carries one -half of the weight of his body in the form of muscular tissues.<br />One-fourth of the blood supply circulates in the muscles. When one gets a good massage<br />treatment, the muscles get regenerated and are then capable of holding half of the blood supply.<br />Massage thus provides additional nourishment to feed the muscular tissues, helping them to<br />grow strong. Tapping, striking, and vibrating help the muscle to develop its contractile power.<br />Muscle massage is brought by first effleurage, kneading, followed by tapotement. Later, active<br />and passive movements are given.<br />Massage is employed for eliminatng muscle contraction and for breaking of adhesions. A little<br />moderate kneading, and percussion cause muscles to contract and become stronger. Deep<br />circular kneading and vibration loosens the muscles. Kneading under and round the muscles<br />breaks up adhesions.<br />Massaging the nerves :<br />Massage benefits many nerve problems. In case of acute inflammation of the nerves, massage<br />should be done carefully. Light and gentle stroking are recommended. Deep pressure should not<br />be used on swollen nerves for it will increase the inflammation. All that is needed is just a gentle<br />tapotement or beating of the nerve.<br />Nerve compression is recommended for soothing nerves. Grasp the limb with both hands, and<br />create firm pressure around and down the arm. Start with the shoulder and proceed down to the<br />wrist. As you leave the grip, bring the hands down a little and make another pressure. As a<br />result, blood circulation will increase. Spinal nerve compression is extremely beneficial. It is done<br />by the palm of the hand. Vibration of the fingers stimulate it. Sleeplessness can be cured by long<br />slow and gentle stroking down the spine and entire back.<br />Abdominal Massage :<br />This form of massage is beneficial in constipation. It stimulates the peristalsis of the small<br />intestines, tones up the muscles of the abdomen walls and mechanically eliminates the contents<br />of both large and small intestines. Abdominal massage should not be done in general, femoral,<br />inguinal and umbilical hernia, inflammation of the uterus, bladder, ovaries and fallopian tubes,<br />Therapeutic Value of Massage<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap6.htm (2 of 4) [5/19/1999 9:13:22 PM]<br />kidney stones, bladder or gall bladder, ulcers of the stomach and intestines, and pregnancy.<br />Abdominal massage should not be done after a heavy meal, but after two hours or so. The<br />bladder should be emptied before the massage. The patient is made to lie on his back with his<br />knees drawn up. This enable the abdomen wall to relax. The masseur should stand at the right<br />side of the patient and use his finger tips for friction round the umbilical region from right to left.<br />He should likewise alternatively knead the walls and roll with both hands, making deep and firm<br />pressure. He should knead with the hand and finger tips and keep clear of any wound or tender<br />places. He should later take up massaging of the larger intestines.<br />The manipulation of the large intestine should begin on the right side. Keep it going upwards and<br />across the transverse colon and move right down on the left side to the signoid flexure and<br />rectum. Circular kneading should be done with the help of the three middle fingers. At the same<br />time press into the contents of the abdomen, following the course of the larger colon with a<br />crawling motion. Keep kneading by means of a few circular movements in one spot with the help<br />of finger tips. Keep moving the fingers a little further along. Knead repeatedly. Use knuckles of<br />the hand to make deep pressure along the large colon, moving the hands along after each<br />pressure.<br />Once the kneading of the abdomen isover, follow up by tapotement with both hands cupped or<br />use the knuckles of the hand. Vibration may also be employed. The patient could also be asked<br />to do some gymnastic exercises for strengthening the walls of the abdomen. Since blood<br />pressure increases during abdominal manipulation, patients with hypertension should avoid<br />abdominal massage. Massage should also be avoided in cases where there has been recent<br />bleeding in the lungs, the stomach or the brain.<br />Chest Massage :<br />Chest massage is helpful in many ways. It strengthens the chest muscles, increases circulation<br />and tones up the nervous system of chest, heart and lungs. It is especially recommended in<br />weakness of the lungs,palpitation and organic heart disorders. Bust and mammary glands can<br />be developed by proper massage.<br />The patient is made to lie on the back with the arms at the sides. The masseur starts<br />manipulating the chest by means of strokes with both hands on each side of the breast bone. A<br />circular motion is formed by the movement made up and down, moving down the chest. Next the<br />muscle kneading is done by picking up the skin and muscles with both hands. Treatment is<br />given to both sides of the chest likewise. Circular kneading is next done by placing one hand on<br />each side of the breast bone and making the circular motion outward towards the side.<br />Tapotement follows by hacking and slapping.<br />Massage of Back :<br />The purpose of the massage of the back is to stimulate the nerves and circulation for treating<br />backache, rheumatic afflictions of the back muscles, and for soothing the nervous system.<br />The patient is made to lie down with the arms at the sides. The masseur effleurages the back<br />from the shoulders downwards using both hands on each side of the spine. Stroking is done<br />from the sacrum upward. Friction follows with each hand at the sides of the spine going down<br />slowly. Next, kneading by muscle picking is done with squeezing. Alternate rapid pushing and<br />pulling movement of the hands sliding down the spine. Circular kneading should also be done.<br />The treatment should end by slapping, hacking and cupping on each side of the spine. Gentle<br />stroking and light kneading of the back is relieving and soothing. Percussion and vibration result<br />into stimulating experience. Vibration of the end of spine benefits the sacral nerves and pelvic<br />organs. It is recommended in constipation, hemorrhoids, weakness and congestion of the<br />bladder and sexual organs.<br />Massage of the Throat :<br />This helps to overcome headache, sore throat and catarrh of the throat. The patient is made to<br />throw his head back. The masseur places palms of both hands on sides of neck with thumbs<br />under the chin, and fingers under the ears. A downward stroke is next made towards the chest<br />over the jugular veins. Do not exert heavily on the jugular veins.<br />Repeat several times.<br />Therapeutic Value of Massage<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap6.htm (3 of 4) [5/19/1999 9:13:22 PM]<br />[index]<br />Therapeutic Value of Massage<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap6.htm (4 of 4) [5/19/1999 9:13:22 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Yoga Therapy<br />The Yoga Therapy or ‘ yoga-chikitsa’ refers to the treatment of diseases by means of yogic<br />exercises which may be physical or mental or both. It is a specialised form of yogic culture. This<br />mode of treatment has been practised in India from very ancient times. Many references to yoga<br />have been made in the Upanishads. It was, however, Maharishi Patanjali who in about the first<br />century B.C. gave a systematic account of the traditional yogic teaching.<br />The term ‘ Yoga’ is derived from the Sanskrit root ‘yug’ which means "to join" . It signifies union<br />between the individual soul (jivatma) and the universal soul (parmatma). It aims at obtaining<br />relief from pain and suffering. Basically, human evolution takes place on three different planes,<br />namely physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga is a means of attaining perfect health by maintaining<br />harmony and achieving optimum functioning on all three levels through complete self-control.<br />Yogic kriyas, asanas and pranayama constitute the physical basis ofyoga. The practice of kriyas<br />and asanas leads to excellent circulation. It also energises and stimulates major endocrine<br />glands of the body. Yogic exercises promote inner health and harmony, and their regular<br />practice helps prevent and cure many common ailments. They also help eliminate tensions, be<br />they physical, mental or emotional.<br />Pranayama slows down the ageing process. In ordinary respiration, one breathes roughly 15<br />times a minute, taking in approximately 20 cubic inches of air. In pranayama the breathing rate is<br />slowed down to once or twice a minute and the breath inhaled is deep and full, taking nearly 100<br />cubic inches of air.<br />All yogic exercises should be performed on a clean mat, a carpet or a blanket covered with a<br />cotton sheet. Clothing should be light and loose-fitting to allow free movement of the limbs. The<br />mind should be kept off all disturbances and tensions. Regularity and punctuality in practicising<br />yogic exercises is essential. Generally, 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. is the ideal time for yoga practices.<br />Yoga asanas and pranayama should be practised only after mastering the techniques with the<br />help of a competent teacher. Asanas should always be practiced on an empty stomach.<br />Shavasana should be practiced for a brief period before starting the rest of the exercises as this<br />will create the right mental condition. Asanas should be performed at a leisurely slow-motion<br />pace, maintaining poise and balance.<br />Herein are described certain yogic kriyas, asanas and pranayama which have specific<br />therapeutic values and are highly beneficial in the maintenance of health and the healing of<br />diseases.<br />Kriyas<br />A disease-free system should be the starting ground for yogasanas and pranayama. There are<br />six specific cleansing techniques, known as Shat Kriyas, which eliminate impurities and help<br />cure many ailments. Of these, the following four can be practised safely.<br />Jalaneti :<br />Most diseases of the nose and thraot are caused by the accumulation of impurities in the<br />nasal passage. Jalaneti is a process of cleansing the air passage of the nostrils and the<br />throat by washing them with tepid saline water. Take a clean jalaneti pot. Put half a<br />teaspoonful of salt in the pot and fill it with lukewarm drinking water. Stand up and tilt your<br />head slightly to the right. Insert the nozzle of the pot in the left nostril and let the water<br />flow into it. Inhale and exhale through the mouth, allowing the water to flow out through<br />the right nostril. Reverse this process by tilting your head to the left and letting the water<br />flow from the right to the left nostril.<br />Jalaneti should be practised only in the morning. It will relieve sore throat, cold, cough,<br />sinusitis, migraine, headache and cases of inflammation of the nasal membranes. It<br />keeps the head cool and improves vision.<br />1.<br />Yoga Therapy<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap7.htm (1 of 8) [5/19/1999 9:13:37 PM]<br />Vamana Dhouti or Kunjal :<br />This is a process of cleansing the interior of the stomach. Drink four to six glasses of tepid<br />water, with a little salt added to it, early in the morning on an empty stomach. Then stand<br />up, bend forward, insert the middle and index fingers of the right hand into the mouth until<br />they touch the uvulva. Tickle it until you feel a vomiting sensation. The saline water thus<br />ejected will bring up bile and other toxic matter with it. Repeat the process till all the water<br />is vomitted out. This should be done once a week or as and when necessary.<br />It is beneficial for cleansing the stomach in cases of excessive bile, constipation, and<br />gastric troubles. Persons suffering from hyperacidity should perform kunjal with unsalted<br />water. It gives relief from headaches, nervous weakness, chronic cold, cough and<br />asthma. It should not be practised by those suffering from high blood pressure, ulcers and<br />heart trouble.<br />2.<br />Kapalbhati :<br />Kapala means ‘skull’ and bhati means ‘shine’. This is a respiratory exercise for the<br />abdomen and diaphragm. The channels inside the nose and other parts of the respiratory<br />system are purified by this exercise. In the process, the brain is also cleared.<br />Sit in a comfortable position, preferably in padmasana. Exercise the diaphragm by<br />exhaling suddenly and quickly through both nostrils, producing a hissing sound. Inhaling<br />will be automotive and passive. The air should be exhaled from the lungs with a sudden,<br />vigorous inward stroke of the front abdominal muscles. The abdominal stroke should be<br />complete and the breath should be expelled fully. While inhaling, no willful expansion is<br />necessary and the abdominal muscles should be relaxed. This exercise should be done<br />in three phases, each consisting of 20 to 30 strokes a minute. A little rest can be taken in<br />between . Throughout, the throacic muscles should be kept contracted.<br />Kapalbhati enables the inhalation of a good amount of oxygen which purifies the blood<br />and strengthens the nerve and brain centres. This kriya provides relief in many lung,<br />throat and chest diseases like chronic bronchitis, asthma, pleurisy and tuberculosis.<br />3.<br />Trataka :<br />In yoga, four exercises have been prescribed for strengthening weak eye muscles,<br />relieving eye strain and curing of eye disease. They are known as ‘ Trataka ‘ ,which in<br />sanskrit means ‘ Winkles gaze at a particular point." or looking at an object with<br />awareness. The four tratakas are : Dakshinay jatru trataka in which, with face forwards,<br />the eyes are fixed on the tip of the right shoulder ; Vamajatru trataka, in which the eyes<br />are fixed on the tip of the left shoulder ; Namikagra trataka, in which the eyes are<br />focussed on the tip of the nose, and Bhrumadhya trataka, in which the eyes are focussed<br />on the space between the eyebrows. These exercises should be practiced from a<br />meditative position like padmasana or vajrasana. The gaze should be maintained for as<br />long as you are comfortable, gradually increasing the period from 10 to 20 and then to 30<br />seconds. The eyes should be closed and rested after each exercise. Persons with acute<br />myopia should perform the tratakas wit h their eyes closed.<br />4.<br />Asanas<br />Shavasana ( Dead body pose ) :<br />Lie flat on your back, feet comfortably part, arms and hands extended about six inches<br />from the body, palms upwards and fingers half-folded. Close your eyes. Begin by<br />consciously and gradually relaxing every part and each muscle of the body ; feet, legs,<br />calves, knees, thighs, abdomen, hips, back, hands, arms, chest,shoulders, neck, head<br />and face. Relax yourself completely feeling as if your whole body is lifeless. Now<br />concentrate your mind on breathing rhythmically as slowly and effortlessly as possible.<br />This creates a state of complete relaxation. Remain motionless in this position,<br />relinquishing all responsibilities and worries for 10 to 15 minutes. Discontinue the exercise<br />when your legs grow numb.<br />This asana helps bring down high blood pressure, and relieves the mind, particularly for<br />those who are engaged in excessive mental activity. This exercise should be done both at<br />the beginning and at the end of the daily round of yogic asanas. During a fast, shavasana<br />soothes the nervous system.<br />1.<br />Yoga Therapy<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap7.htm (2 of 8) [5/19/1999 9:13:37 PM]<br />Padmasana ( Lotus pose ) :<br />Sit erect and stretch your legs out in front of you. Bend one leg to place the foot on the<br />thigh of the other, the sole facing upwards. Similarly, bend the other leg too, so that the<br />heels are opposite each other and placed in such a way that they press down on the<br />other side of the groin. Keep your neck, head and spine straight. Place your palms one<br />upon the other, both turned upward and cupped, and rest them on the upturned heels a<br />little below the navel.<br />Padmasana is a good pose for doing pranayama and meditation. It helps in the treatment<br />of many heart and lung diseases and digestive disorders. It also calms and refreshes the<br />mind.<br />2.<br />Yogamudra :<br />Sit erect in padmasana. Fold your hands behind your back, holding your left wrist with the<br />right hand. Take a deep breath. While exhaling, bend forward slowly keeping your hands<br />on your back. Bring your face downwards until your nose and forehead touch the floor.<br />While inhaling , slowly rise back to the upright position. The practice of this asana tones<br />up the nervous system, builds up powerful abdominal muscles and strengthens the pelvic<br />organs. It helps pep up digestion, boosts the appetite and removes constipation. It tones<br />up and relaxes the nerves of the head and face. It also strengthens the sex glands.<br />3.<br />Vajrasana ( Pelvic pose ) :<br />Sit erect and stretch out your legs. Fold your legs back, placing the feet on the sides of<br />the buttocks with the soles facing back and upwards. Rest your buttocks on the floor<br />between your heels. The toes of both feet should touch. Now, place your hands on your<br />knees and keep the spine, neck and head straight. Vajrasana can be performed even<br />after meals. It improves the digestion and is beneficial in cases of dyspepsia,<br />constipation, colitis, seminal weakness and stiffness of the legs. It strengthens the hips,<br />thighs, knees, calves, ankles and toes.<br />4.<br />Shirshasana ( Topsyturvy pose ) :<br />Shirsha means ‘ head ‘ . In this asana, one stands on one’s head. Kneel on the ground,<br />interlocking the fingers of both hands. Place the ‘ fingerlock ‘ on the ground in front of you,<br />keeping the elbows apart. Support your head on the fingerlock. Start raising your knees<br />one at a time, to chest level. Then raise your feet slowly so that the calf muscles touch the<br />thighs. Breathe normally. This is the first stage which should be done perfectly as the<br />balance of the final posture depends mainly on this stage. Next, raise your knees first and<br />then slowly raise the feet so that the whole body is straight, like a pillar. This is the final<br />pose. Return to the original position by reversing the order, step by step. This asana<br />should not be done jerkily. The important factor in shirshasana is mastering the balance,<br />which comes through gradual practice. For proper balance, elbows should be placed<br />firmly on the ground, alongside the fingerlock. Initially the asana should be done for 60<br />seconds only. The duration may be gradually increased by a further 10 seconds each<br />week.<br />Regular practice of shirshasana will benefit the nervous, circulatory, respiratory, digestive,<br />excretory and endocrine systems. This asana helps cases of dyspepsia, seminal<br />weakness, varicose veins, arteriosclerosis, jaundice, renal colic and congested liver.<br />Those suffering from oozing from the ears, iritis, high blood pressure or a weak heart<br />should not practice this asana.<br />5.<br />Viparitakarani ( Inverted action pose ) :<br />Lie flat on your back, with your feet together and arms by your side. Press your palms<br />down, raising your legs to a perpendicular position without bending the knees. Your palms<br />should touch the waist. Then straighten your legs. The trunk should not make a right<br />angle with the ground but simply an upward slanting position. The chest should not press<br />against the chin but be kept a little away. To return to the ground, bring your legs down<br />slowly, evenly balancing your weight.<br />Through this asana, the muscles of the neck become stronger and blood circulation is<br />improved. The functioning of the cervical nerves, ganglia and the thyroid also gets<br />improved.<br />6.<br />Yoga Therapy<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap7.htm (3 of 8) [5/19/1999 9:13:37 PM]<br />Sarvagasana ( Shoulder stand pose ) :<br />In Sanskrit ‘sarva’ means whole and ‘anga’ means limb. Almost all parts of the body are<br />involved in and benefit from this asana. Lie flat on your back with your arms by the side,<br />palms turned down. Bring your legs up slowly to a 90 o angle and then raise the rest of<br />the body by pushing the legs up and resting their raise the rest of the body by pushing the<br />legs up and resting their weight on the arms. Fix your chin in jugular notch, and use your<br />arms and hands to support the body at the hip region. The weight of the body should rest<br />on your head, back and shoulders, your arms being used merely for balance. The trunk<br />and legs should be in a straight line. The body, legs , hips and trunk should be kept as<br />vertical as possible. Focus your eyes on your big toes. Press your chin against your<br />chest. Hold the pose for one to three minutes. Return to the starting position slowly<br />reversing the procedure.<br />Sarvangasana helps relieve bronchitis, dyspepsia, varicose veins and peps up the<br />digestion. It stimulates the thyroid and para-thyroid glands, influences the bran, heart and<br />lungs. It helps lymphatic juices to circulate in the brain and strengthens the mind. This<br />asana should not be done by those suffering Viparitkarani from high blood pressure, heart<br />disease and eye trouble.<br />7.<br />Matsyasana (Fish pose ) :<br />Sit in padmasana. Bend backwards and lie flat on your back without raising your knees.<br />Press your palms beneath the shoulder. Push the hip backwards thus making a bridge<br />-like arch with the spine. Then making hooks of your forefingers, grasp your toes without<br />crossing your arms. Maintain this pose and breathe rhythmically and comfortably.<br />Reverse the order and return gradually to the starting position of Padamasana.<br />Matsyasana is beneficial in the treatment of acidity, constipation, diabetes, asthma,<br />bronchitis and other lung disorders.<br />8.<br />Uttanapadasana ( Left-lifting pose) :<br />Lie on your back with leg and arms straight, feet together, palms facing downwards, on<br />the floor close to the body. Raise your legs above two feet from the floor without bending<br />your knees. Maintain this pose for some time. Then, lower your legs slowly without<br />bending the knees. This asana is helpful for those suffering from constipation. It<br />strengthens the abdominal muscles and intestinal organs.<br />9.<br />Halasana ( Plough pose ) :<br />Lie flat on your back with legs and feet together, arms by your side with fists closed near<br />your thigh keeping your legs straight, slowly raise them to angles of 300, 600 and 900,<br />pausing slightly at each point. Gradually, raise your legs above your head without bending<br />your knees and then move them behind until they touch the floor. Stretch your legs as far<br />as possible so that your chin presses tightly against the chest while your arms remain on<br />the floor as in the original position. Hold the pose from between 10 seconds to three<br />minutes, breathing normally. To return to the starting position slowly reverse the<br />procedure.<br />This asana relieves tension in the back, neck, and legs and is beneficial in the treatment<br />of lumbago, spinal rigidity and rheumatism, myalgia, arthritis, sciatics and asthma.<br />10.<br />Bhujangasana ( Cobra pose ) :<br />Lie on your stomach with your legs straight and feet together, toes pointing backwards.<br />Rest your forehead and nose on the ground. Place your palms below the shoulders and<br />your arms by the side of the chest. Inhale and slowly raise your head, neck, chest and<br />upper abdomen from the navel up. Bend your spine back and arch your back as far as<br />you can looking upwards. Maintain this position and hold your breathe for a few seconds.<br />Exhale, and slowly return to the original position.<br />This asana has great therapeutic value in the treatment of diseases like cervical<br />spondylitis, bronchitis, asthma and eosinophillia. It removes weakness of the abdomen<br />and tones up the reproductive system in women. It exercises the vertebrae, back muscles<br />and the spine.<br />11.<br />Shalabhasana ( Locust pose ) :<br />Lie flat on your stomach, with your legs stretched out straight, feet together, chin and<br />12.<br />Yoga Therapy<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap7.htm (4 of 8) [5/19/1999 9:13:37 PM]<br />nose resting on the ground, looking straight ahead. Move your arms under the body,<br />keeping them straight, fold your hands into fists and place them close to the thighs. Now,<br />raise your legs up keeping them straight together and stretching them as far back as<br />possible without bending your knees and toes. Hold this position for a few seconds and<br />repeat four or five times.<br />This asana helps in the treatment of arthirits, rheumatism and low backache. The whole<br />body is strengthened by this asana especially the waist, chest, back and neck. Persons<br />suffering from high blood pressure or heart disease should not practice this asana.<br />Dhanurasana ( Bow pose ) :<br />Lie on your stomach with your chin resting on the ground, arms extended alongside the<br />body with the legs straight. Bend your legs back towards the hips, bring them forward and<br />grasp your ankles. Inhale and raise your thighs, chest and head at the same time. Keep<br />your hands straight. The weight of the body should rest mainly on the navel region.<br />Therefore, arch your spine as much as possible. Exhale and return slowly to the starting<br />position, by reversing the procedure.<br />Dhanurasana provides good exercise for the arms, shoulders, legs, ankles, back and<br />neck. It also strengthens the spine. It relieves flatulence and constipation and improves<br />the functioning of the pancreas and the intestines. It should not be done by those with a<br />weak heart, high blood pressure and ulcers of the stomach and bowels.<br />13.<br />Makarasana ( Crocodile pose ) :<br />Lie flat on your abdomen. Spread your legs, with heels pointing towards each other. Bring<br />your left hand under the right shoulder and grasp it. Grasp the left shoulder with your right<br />hand, keeping the elbows together, one upon the other on the ground. Your face should<br />be between your crossed hands. Relax and breathe normally for two or three minutes.<br />Then gradually go back to the sitting position.<br />This asana completely relaxes both the body and the mind and also rests the muscles. It<br />is beneficial in the treatment of hypertension, heart disease and mental disorders.<br />14.<br />Vakrasana :<br />Sit erect and stretch legs out. Raise your right knee until your foot rests by the side of the<br />left knee. Place your right hand behind your back without twisting the trunk too much.<br />Then bring your left arm from in front of you over the right knee. Place your left palm on<br />the ground near the heel of your right foot. Push your knee as far as to the left arm. Twist<br />your trunk to the right as much as possible. Turn your face to the right over the right<br />shoulder. Release and repeat on the left side.<br />This asana tones up the spinal and abdominal muscles and nerves and activates the<br />kidneys, intestines, stomach, adrenaline and gonad glands. It relieves cases of<br />constipation and dyspepsia.<br />15.<br />Ardhamatsyendrasana :<br />This is the half position of Matsyendrasana, which is named after the great sage<br />Matsyendra. Sit erect on the ground, stretching your legs in front of you. Insert your left<br />heel in the perineum, keeping the left thigh straight. Place your right foot flat on the floor,<br />crossing the left knee. Pass your left arm over the right knee and grasp the big toe of your<br />right foot. Grasp your left thigh from the rear with your right hand. Turn your head, neck,<br />shoulders and trunk to the right bringing your chin in line with the right shoulder. Maintain<br />this position for a few seconds, gradually increasing the duration to 2 minutes. Repeat the<br />same process on the other side for the same duration.<br />This asana exercises the vertebrae and keeps them in good shape. It helps the liver,<br />spleen, bladder, pancreas, intestines and other abdominal organs, and also stretches and<br />strengthens the spinal nerves. This asana is beneficial in the treatment of obesity,<br />dyspepsia, asthma and diabetes.<br />16.<br />Paschimottanasana (Posterior stretching pose ) :<br />Sit erect.<br />Stretch your legs out in front of you, keeping them close to each other. Bend your trunk<br />and head forward from the waist without bending your knees and grasp the big toes with<br />your rest your forehead on your knees. With practice, the tense muscles become supple<br />17.<br />Yoga Therapy<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap7.htm (5 of 8) [5/19/1999 9:13:37 PM]<br />enough for this exercise. Old persons and persons whose spine is still should do this<br />asana slowly in the initial stages. The final pose need be maintained only for a few<br />seconds. Return to the starting position gradually.<br />Paschimottanasana is a good stretching exercise in which the posterior muscles get<br />stretched and relaxed. It relieves sciatica, muscular rheumatism of the back, backache,<br />lumbago and asthmatic attacks. It is also valuable in constipation, dyspepdis and other<br />abdominal disorders.<br />Gomukhasana ( Cow-face pose ) :<br />Sit erect on the floor, with your legs outstretched. Fold your leg back. Place your left foot<br />under the right hip. Similarly, fold back the right leg and cross your right foot over your left<br />thigh. Place your right heel against the left hip. Both soles should face backwards, one<br />over the other. Now interlock your hands behind your back. See to it that if your right leg<br />is over the left, then your right elbow should face upward and the left elbow downward.<br />This position is reversed when the leg position is changed. Hold the pose for 30 seconds<br />and then repeat the procedure reversing the process. The practice of gomukhasana will<br />strengthen the muscles of the upper arm, shoulder, chest, back, waist and thigh. It is<br />beneficial in the treatment of seminal weakness, piles, urethral disorders and kidney<br />troubles. It also relieves varicose veins and sciatica.<br />18.<br />Pavanmuktasana ( Gas-releasing pose ) :<br />Lie flat on your back, hands by your side. Fold your legs back, placing your feet flat on the<br />floor ; make a fingerlock with your hands and place them a little below the knees. Bring<br />your thighs up near your chest. Exhale and raise your head and shoulders and bring your<br />nose between your knees. This is the final position. Maintain this pose for a few seconds<br />and repeat three to five times. Reverse the procedure to get back to the original position.<br />This asana strengthens the abdomineal muscles and internal abdominal organs like the<br />liver, spleen, pancreas and stomach.<br />It helps release excessive gas from the abdomen and relieves flatulence. Persons<br />suffering from constipation should do this exercise in the morning after drinking lukewarm<br />water to help proper evacuation of the bowels.<br />19.<br />Chakrasana ( Lateral bending pose ) :<br />Stand straight with your feet and toes together and arms by your sides, palms facing and<br />touching the thighs. Raise one arm laterally above the head with the palm inwards up to<br />shoulder level and palm upwards when the arm rises above the level of your head. Then,<br />bend your trunk and head sideways with the raised arm touching the ear, and sliding the<br />palm of the other hand downwards towards the knee. Keep your knees and elbows<br />straight throughout. Maintain the final pose for a few seconds. Then gradually bring your<br />hand back to the normal position. Repeat the exercise on the other side.<br />This asana induces maximum stretching of the lateral muscles of the body, especially the<br />abdomen. It strengthens the knees, arms and shoulders and increases lung capacity.<br />20.<br />Trikonasana ( Triangle pose ) :<br />Stand erect, with your legs apart. Stretch your arms up to shoulder level. Bend your trunk<br />forwards and twist to the left, looking upwards and keeping your left arm raised at an<br />angle of 900. Place your right palm on your left foot without bending the knees. Maintain<br />this pose for a few seconds. Then straighten up and return to the normal position. Repeat<br />the procedure on the other side.<br />Trikosana is an all-round stretching exercise. It keeps the spinal column flexible and<br />reduces the fat on the lateral sides of the body. Besides, it stimulates the adrenal glands<br />and tones up the abdominal and pelvic organs.<br />21.<br />Pranayama<br />Prana means ‘ vital force ‘ and Ayama means ‘ control ‘ in Sanskrit. Thus Pranayama<br />means the control of the vital force through concentration and regulated breathing. By<br />means of controlled breathing that is, inhaling and exhaling by holding the breath for a<br />fixed time and changing the rhythm of inspiration and expiration, it is possible to influence<br />the life-force in the body. Pranayama is the process by which such conscious control is<br />achieved through controlled and rhythmical breathing . Pranayama purifies the channels<br />22.<br />Yoga Therapy<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap7.htm (6 of 8) [5/19/1999 9:13:37 PM]<br />along which the life stream of ‘prana’ flows in the body and prevents various disorders. It<br />increases one’s resistance to respiratory diseases.<br />The best position in which to practice pranayama is the padmasana or lotus pose. If for<br />some reason that position is difficult to adopt, it can be done while sitting in any<br />comfortable pose. The important thing is to keep the back, neck and head in a straight<br />line. The body should be in its natural relaxed condition and this can be achieved by<br />resting a few minutes in shavasan. If necessary, use your right finger and thumb on either<br />side of the nose to control the right and left nostrils during inhalation and exhalation. In<br />practicising pranayama, a ratio of two to one should be maintained throughout, that is, the<br />exhalation time should be double that required for inhalation. For instance, if inhalation<br />takes 5 seconds, exhalation should take 10 seconds. Both inhalation and exhalation<br />should be smooth and quiet. Some varieties of pranayama beneficial in the treatment of<br />common ailments are as follows :<br />Anuloma -viloma :<br />This is also known as Nadishuddhi pranayama. Sit in any comfortable meditative pose,<br />keeping your head,neck and spine erect. Rest your left hand on your left knee. Close your<br />right nostril by pressing the tip of your right thumb against it. Breathe out slowly through<br />the left nostril. Inhale slowly and deeply through the left nostril, keeping the right nostril<br />closed. Close your left nostril with the little finger and ring finger of your right hand and<br />exhale through the right nostril. Then inhale through the right nostril, keeping the left<br />nostril closed and, lastly, exhale through the left nostril, keeping the right nostril closed.<br />This completes one round ofanuloma-viloma. Repeat the entire process. Inhaling and<br />exhaling should be done very slowly, without making any sound.<br />This pranayama is a process of purification. It strengthens the lungs and calms the<br />nerves. It helps cure cough and cold, insomnia, chronic headache and asthama.<br />1.<br />Ujjayi :<br />Sit in any comfortable meditative pose. Inhale slowly, deeply and steadily through both<br />nostrils with a low uniform sound through the glottis. Hold your breathe for a second or<br />two after inhaling and then exhale noisily only through the left nostril, keeping the right<br />nostril closed. Do this as often as required. This pranayama clears the nasal passage and<br />helps the functioning of the thyroid gland and benefits respiratory disorders, especially<br />bronchitis and asthama. Persons suffering from high blood pressure should not practice<br />ujjayi.<br />2.<br />Bhastrika :<br />‘Bhastrika’ means ‘bellows.’ It is performed by instant and quick expirations of breath.<br />There are many varieties of bhastrika. The simplest technique is as follows : Sit in<br />padmasana. Do 20 strokes of kapalbhati. Inhale and exhale rapidly, making a puffing<br />sound. This is a good exercise for abdominal viscera and lungs.<br />3.<br />Sheetali :<br />Sit in padamasana or any other comfortable posture. Stick your tongue out about an<br />inche from the lips, rolled up at the sides to form a channel like a bird’s beak. Suck in air<br />through the channel. After a full inhalation, slowly close your mouth, hold your breath and<br />exhale slowly through both nostrils. This completes the exercise. Repeat as required. This<br />pranayama cools the body and mind, activates the liver and bile and has beneficial effects<br />on the circulation and body temperature.<br />4.<br />Sitkari :<br />IN sitkari a sound is produced while inhaling by opening the mouth a little, placing the tip<br />of the tongue against the lower front teeth and then sucking the air in slowly. After holding<br />your breath, exhale through both nostrils. This exercise helps to control thirst, hunger and<br />laziness.<br />5.<br />Suryabhedan :<br />‘Surya-nadi ‘ is the right nostril and ‘ ChandraNadi’ is the left nostril. In this pranayama,<br />one always uses the right nostril for inhalation. Sit in padmasan or any other suitable<br />posture. Keep your head, neck and back straight. Inhale through the right nostril. Hold<br />6.<br />Yoga Therapy<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap7.htm (7 of 8) [5/19/1999 9:13:37 PM]<br />your breath and then exhale through the left nostril. Hold your breath and then exhale<br />through the left nostril. Repeat as often as required. This pranayama increases gastric<br />juices and helps digestion. It also fortifies the nervous system and clears the sinuses.<br />Bhramari :<br />In this pranayama, the buzzing sound of a bee is produced and hence it is called<br />bhramari. Keep your mouth closed while inhaling. Exhale through both nostrils, producing<br />the humming sound of a bee. This pranayama affects the ears, nose, eyes and mouth<br />and makes the complexion glow. It also helps those suffering from insomnia.<br />7.<br />[index]<br />Yoga Therapy<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap7.htm (8 of 8) [5/19/1999 9:13:37 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Healing Power of Colours<br />Chromotherapy is a method of treatment of diseases by colour. It is best used as a supportive<br />therapy along with other natural methods of preserving health such as correct diet, adequate<br />rest and relaxation, exercise, yogic asanas and so on.<br />According to practitioners of chromotherapy, the cause of any disease can be traced to the lack<br />of a particular colour in the human system. Colour therapy is a technique of restoring imbalance<br />by means of applying coloured light to the body. It was a popular method of cure even in ancient<br />times. Some 2,500 years ago, Pythagoras applied colour light therapeutically and ‘colour halls’<br />were used for healing in ancient Egypt, China and India.<br />The pioneer of modern colour therapy was Niels Finsen of Denmark. Following the discovery, in<br />1877, of the bactericidal action of solar ultra-violet energy,Finsen studied the possibility of<br />assisting the healing of wounds with visible light. He subse- quently used red light to inhibit the<br />formation of smallpox scars and, in 1896, founded a Light Institute ( now the Finsen Institute of<br />Copenhagen) for the phototreatment of tuberculosis. In 1932, Gerrard and Hessay, two<br />Californian psychologists, scientifically established that blue light had a calming effect and red a<br />stimulating power on human beings.<br />Blue and red colours are considered at the two extremes with yellow representing the midpoint.<br />These are also the three principal colours in a rainbow. A patient is first subjected to an<br />examination to ascertain which colour he lacks. The deficiency is determined by observing the<br />colour of the eyeballs, nails, urine and excrement. In cases of the lack of red the eyes and nails<br />will be bluish, and the urine and excrement white or bluish. If there is a deficiency of the blue<br />colour, the eyes and nails will be reddish and urine and excrement yellowish or red.<br />Every substance on earth contains colour. Even the rays cast on earth by celestial bodies<br />contain colour in the form of white light. The rays of the sun contain seven different colours -<br />violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange and red. These are natural colours which are highly<br />beneficial to the maintenance of health and for healing diseases.<br />According to Dr. Babbit, a well-known authority on chromotherapy, "sunlight is the principal<br />curative agent in nature’s laboratory and where light cannot enter, disease does. Chlorosis,<br />anaemia, leukaemia, emaciation, muscular debility, degeneration of heart and liver, dropsical<br />effusion, softening of bones,nervous excitability, physical deformity, stunted growth and<br />consumption are the result of excluding oneself from the beneficial effects of sunlight. "<br />Sunlight plays an important role in the recovery from chronic diseases. Judicious use of sunlight<br />can be part of the curing process in almost every affliction. The rays of the sun improve digestion<br />and nutrition, quicken blood and lymph circulation and increase the elimination of impurities<br />through the skin.<br />The action and effect of various colours on the body and their healing qualities are as follows :<br />Red :<br />Symbolic of heat, fire and anger. It is a stimulating and energising colour. It stimulates arterial<br />blood and brings warmth to cool extremities. Used as a general tonic, it is very valuable in the<br />treatment of diseases like low blood pressure, rheumatism, paralysis, anaemia and advanced<br />cases of tuber- culosis.<br />Orange :<br />Symbolic of prosperity and pride, orange is useful for stimulating blood supply and energising<br />the nerves. It is beneficial in the treatment of kidney and gall stones, hernia and appendicitis. It is<br />also used to stimulate the milk producing action of breasts after childbirth.<br />Violet :<br />Violet is beneficial in the treatment of nervous and emotional disturbances, arthritis, acute cases<br />Healing Power of Colours<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap8.htm (1 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:14:44 PM]<br />of consumption and insomnia.<br />Yellow :<br />Associated with joy and happiness, yellow is laxative and diuretic. It is a stimulant to the brain,<br />the liver and the spleen. It is also effective in the treatment of diabetes, indigestion, kidney and<br />liver disorders, constipation, eye and throat infections, syphillis and impotence.<br />Purple :<br />Purple or indigo combines the blood-warming red and the cooling antiseptic blue. It is an<br />excellent stimulant without being an irritant. It is beneficial in the treatment of advanced stages of<br />constipation, hydrocle , leucorrhoea, many disorders of the stomach and womb , cataract ,<br />migraine and skin disorders. It exerts a soothing effect on the eyes, ears and the nervous<br />system.<br />Green :<br />Made up of the blue and yellow, green is regarded as a colour of harmony. It is a mild sedative.<br />It is useful in the treatment of nervous conditions, hay fever, ulcers, influenza, malaria , colds,<br />sexual disorders and cancer. It preserves and strengthens eyesight. Being highly medicinal and<br />depressive, it is of great help in the treatment of inflammatory conditions.<br />Blue :<br />Cool, soothing and sedative, blue alleviates pain, reducing bleeding and heals burns. It is<br />beneficial in the treatment of dysentery, colic, asthma, respiratory disorders, high blood pressure<br />and skin aberrations. IN a study at the New England State Hospital in the United States, 25<br />members of staff with normal blood pressure were bathed in blue light for half an hour. It<br />resulted in universal fall in blood pressure. The blood pressure rose when red light was applied.<br />Methods of Treatment<br />There are two methods of treating diseases by colour :<br />By the application of light through different coloured glasses ; and i.<br />By external or internal use of colour-charged water. In the first method , sheets of glass,<br />30 cms. X 36 cms. of the required colours are needed. These are placed at the window<br />frames or any other convenient place in such a way that the sun’s rays can pass through<br />them and fall directly on the patient’s body. The usual duration of the colour treatment is<br />30 minutes. In case of local application, a pane of glass can be placed in front of the<br />diseased part so that the light passing through the glass falls on the afflicted area. At<br />night lanterns can be used for the purpose. A single lantern can have glass panes of four<br />different colours and the required colour can be focussed on the patient or the affected<br />parts.<br />In the second method, coloured bottles are needed. These bottles should be cleaned and<br />filled up to three-fourths level with fresh well water, distilled water or rain water. The<br />bottles should be corked and then placed in bright sunlight for three to four hours. After<br />this exposure, the water is said to acquire medicinal properties and this colour-charged<br />water can be used both internally and for external applications. Wounds and ulcers can<br />be washed with this water and it can also be used to massage the affected parts or<br />applied as compress on them. For internal use, an adult can take 30 ml. of<br />colour-charged water as a single dose. The dose can be repeated as required.<br />ii.<br />Diet<br />A correct and balanced diet is essential during the treatment of diseases through<br />chromotherapy. The patients should take food items with analogous colouring. The various<br />colours contained in different food items are :<br />Red : Beets, radish, red cabbage, tomatoes, watercress, most red-skinned fruits,red berries and<br />water melon.<br />Healing Power of Colours<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap8.htm (2 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:14:44 PM]<br />Orange : Orange-skinned vegetables and fruits such as carrot, orange, apricot, mango, peach<br />and pappaya.<br />Violet : Egg plant, berries, black carrot and purple grapes.<br />Yellow : Lime and lemon, sweet lime, grapes, pumpkin, melon, banana, mango, yellow apple<br />and guava.<br />Purple : Foods having both blue and violet colouring.<br />Green : Most of the green vegetables and fruits such as gourds, spinach, plantain, lettuce, pea,<br />green mango, gooseberry, pears, beans , etc.<br />Blue : Blue plum, blue beans, blue grapes, etc.<br />Contraindications<br />There are some important contraindications to colour treatment which should be borne in mind<br />while adopting this mode of cure. For instance, the red colour would be injurious in a naturally<br />inflammatory condition of the system, and in case of persons with feverish and excitable<br />temperament. If the red light is employed for too long and frequently, it may produce dangerous<br />fevers. The danger can be obviated by using the red light for a few minutes at a time or by<br />placing a wet bandage over the head.<br />Similarly, yellow should not be used when the nerves are very active or irritable. Yellow or<br />orange reddish tones may prove injurious in fevers, acute inflammations, delirium, diarrhoea,<br />neuralgia, palpitation of the heart and any condition of over- excitement.<br />In cases of paralysis, chronic rheumatism, gout, consumption and in all cold, pale and dormant<br />conditions of the system, blue, indigo and violet may prove too cooling and constricting and<br />should be avoided.<br />[index]<br />Healing Power of Colours<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap8.htm (3 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:14:44 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Sleep : Restorative of Tired Body and Mind<br />Sleep is one of nature’s greatest inventions and blessings of life. It is a periodic rest of the body<br />which is absolutely essential for its efficient functioning. It has been called " most cheering<br />restorative of tired bodies. "<br />Sleep is the indispensable condition to the recuperation of energy. We go to bed fatigued and<br />get up refreshed. Sleep repairs the wear and tear of the body and mind incurred during waking<br />hours. Nothing is so restorative to the nerves as sound and uninterrupted sleep. Sleep is thus a<br />vital element in a total way of life. It is a basic need in man’s mental as well as physical life.<br />During sleep most of the functions of the body are carried on at the lowest level possible in<br />health. Heat production is from 10 to 15 per cent below the basal level. The mechanism<br />regulating the body temperature are less sensitive than in the waking state and are depressed<br />by 0.5 to 1.0 degree F. The rate of the heart is reduced by 10 to 30 beats per minute and a<br />decline in blood pressure of about 20 mm occurs in quiet restful sleep. The urine volume is<br />considerably reduced, but its concentration in solids is increased. The tone of all the skeletal<br />muscles is lessened. The eyes are usually rolled upward and the pupils constricted.<br />Loss of sleep exerts seriously detrimental effects upon the nervous system. Long periods of<br />wakefulness may cause profound psychological changes such as loss of memory, irritability,<br />hallucination and even schizophrenic manifestations. During the last World War, prisoners in<br />Nazi concentration camps who kept awake for days by strong lights and blaring wireless sets,<br />collapsed.<br />Sleep versus rest<br />For correct living, it is essential to differential between sleep and rest. At rest the body is<br />disturbed by all exterior noises ; but in sleep it is screened from them by partial loss of<br />consciousness and also by what is called " dream protection. " One useful purpose of the dream<br />is to convert outside noises that might awake the sleeping person, into fantasies that do not<br />disturb him.<br />During rest the limbs are normal, but in sleep they swell. Blood flows from the brain, distends the<br />arteries, and makes the limbs bigger. IN sleep more muscles are relaxed than in rest, though the<br />sleeping person changes his position about 35 times in one night, without knowing it. Many<br />organs which work during rest suspend their activities in sleep. Thus the recouping value of<br />sleep is much more than that of rest or simple lying down.<br />Theories of sleep<br />Many theories of sleep have been advanced to explain the temporary loss of consciousness<br />which we know as sleep. The oldest theory is that sleep is induced by a reduction in the blood<br />supply to the brain or at least to conscious centres. This is known as ischemic theory. Even the<br />ancient Greek physicians were aware that the carotid artery was in a way concerned with the<br />onset of sleep. The name itself expresses this belief. The Greek word ‘ Karotides’ for carotid<br />arteries is derived from karoo which means ‘put to sleep.’ In modern times, the drowsiness after<br />a meal, presumably due to the diversion of blood from the brain to the digestive organs, is cited<br />in support of the ischemic theory.<br />Another important theory about sleep is the chemical theory. As a result of experiments in the<br />metabolism of sleeping subjects, it is considered that the fatigue inducing sleep may be a mild<br />form of blood poisoning or toxaemia. This " poisoning" is believed to be brought on by the<br />expenditure of energy during the waking hours.<br />According to this theory, every contraction of a muscle and every impulse passing through the<br />brain or the nerves breaks down a certain amount of tissue. The debris from broken down tissue<br />is then thrown into the bloodstream. In the waking state, much of the waste from broken down<br />tissue is got rid of through the natural eliminating processes of lungs, kidneys, bowels and skin.<br />Sleep : Restorative of Tired Body and Mind<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap9.htm (1 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:14:51 PM]<br />But there comes a saturation point when there is such an accumulation of waste that it cannot<br />be disposed of by these processes and it then invades the grey matter of the brain. In such an<br />eventuality, mental and physical altertness are impaired. It is nature’s warning that the waste<br />product must be reduced to replenish the lost energy. So we get tired and the urge to get sleep<br />becomes irresistible.<br />During sleep, the cells and tissues that break down to produce toxic waste become less active<br />and the production of toxic waste is vastly reduced. Simultaneously, constructive activities take<br />place within the body during sleep, which rebuild the broken down tissue.<br />Another theory places a sleeping centre in the hypothalamus. Many of the bodily changes in<br />sleep such as constriction of pupils, reduced frequency of heart beat, increased gastric tone and<br />secretion are manifestations of the activity of hypothalamus nuclei, especially parasympathetic<br />centres. Perhaps some of the sleeping pills affect this centre in the brain.<br />Although the various theories have certain amount of experimental evidence to support them,<br />none has really solved what is the most mysterious process in our lives. All we know is that<br />sleep substitutes constructive measures for the destructive processes of our waking hours. We<br />cannot live without sleep.<br />Duration<br />Another mystery about sleep is that no two persons need the same amount of sleep. Dr.<br />Nathaniel Kleitman, Associate Professor of Physiology at the University of Chicago, who<br />conducted years of extensive experiments at the University’s "Sleeping Laboratory" says that<br />there is no more a normal duration of sleep than there is normal height and weight. A study of 25<br />subjects spread over thousands of nights showed that the average amount of sleep needed to<br />feel well rested is seven-and-a-half hours, though individuals varied from six to nine hours.<br />According to Dr. Demmis Williams, a noted authority on sleep, the amount of sleep needed for<br />an individual’s well-being, is determined by what he feels he needs, not by what other people,<br />including the doctor, think is reasonable.<br />On the whole, women sleep from 45 minutes to one hour more than men. The amount of sleep<br />required varies at different ages as follows :<br />New Born : 18 to 20 hours<br />Growing children :10 to 12 hours<br />Adults : 6 to 9 hours<br />Aged persons : 5 to 7 hours<br />The depth of ordinary restful sleep fluctuates throughout the sleep. In most adults, sleep<br />deepens through the first hour, after which it lightens rather sharply and then more gradually<br />until morning or until the usual time of wakening. IN growing children, however , sleep deepens a<br />second time for a little while. According to Dr. Lindlahr, a famous naturopath, two hours before<br />and two hours after midnight are the most valuable for sleep of all the twenty-four hours of the<br />day. In these four hours, mental and physical vigour are at their lowest ebb and sleep is<br />soundest and most natural.<br />It is believed that three-quarters of our sleep consists of whatis called ‘ slow wave sleep.’ The<br />restorative processes occur during this time. The remaining quarter is taken by what is called<br />‘rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.’ It is also called paradosical or dreaming sleep and it comes<br />in episodes of about 20 minutes duration about five times in a night. It involves dreaming,<br />irregular heart rates, raised blood pressure and erection of the penis. It is in this phase of sleep<br />that normal healthy young men may have wet dreams. Both forms of sleep are considered<br />equally important, being normal sleeping rhythms.<br />Sleeping positions<br />There are many theories about good and bad sleeping positions. Practically everyone changes<br />positions several times during sleep. Hence how one starts out is of no consequence. It is a<br />good thing we do turn about in our beds. If we did not, we would awake in the morning stiff,<br />having maintained the same position all night. For proper sleep, however, one should not sleep<br />on one’s back but on the side with one or both legs brought well up and the head and the<br />shoulder slightly forward.<br />Sleep : Restorative of Tired Body and Mind<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap9.htm (2 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:14:51 PM]<br />Sleeping pills are no remedy for sleeplessness. They are habit-forming and become less<br />effective when taken continuously. They lower the I.Q. dull the brain and can prove fatal if taken<br />in excess or before or after alcohol. The side-effect of sleeping pills include indigestion, skin<br />rashes, lowered resistance to infection, circulatory and respiratory problems, poor appetite, high<br />blood pressure,kidney and liver problems and mental confusion.<br />Sleeping well is an art. It needs a perfect blend of healthy habits and control of mind. A clean<br />body and mind, relaxed mood, physical exercises, and perfect dietary control are some of the<br />basic sleep-inducing methods.<br />Unpleasant situatins at bed time such as arguments, quarrels, watching a horror movie, listening<br />to loud music which would create anxiety, fear, excitement and worries should be avoided. Such<br />situations stimulate the cerebral cortex and tend to keep one awake.<br />The sleeping place should be well ventilated, with balanced temperature and free from noises.<br />The bed should be neither too hard nor too soft, but comfortable. The pillow should not be too<br />hard or too high. The bed clothes should be loose-fitting and light coloured. Another important<br />rule is not to have heavy food shortly before bed time.<br />[index]<br />Sleep : Restorative of Tired Body and Mind<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap9.htm (3 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:14:51 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Optimum Nutrition for Vigour and Vitality<br />Your food shall be your medicine.<br />- Hippocrates<br />Diet plays a vital role in the maintenance of good health and in the prevention and cure of<br />disease. In the words of Sir Robert McCarrison, one of the best known nutritionists, ‘The right<br />kind of food is the most important single factor in the promotion of health ; and the wrong kind of<br />food is the most important single factor in the promotion of disease. "<br />The human body builds up and maintains healthy cells, tissues, glands and organs only with the<br />help of various nutrients. The body cannot perform any of its functions, be they metabolic,<br />hormonal, mental, physical or chemical, without specific nutrients. The food which provides<br />these nutrients is thus one of the most essential factors in building and maintaining health.<br />Nutrition, which depends on food, is also of utmost importance in the cure of disease. The<br />primary cause of disease is a weakened organism or lowered resistance in the body, arising<br />from the adoption of a faulty nutritional pattern. There is an elaborate healing mechanism within<br />the body but it can perform its function only if it is abundantly supplied with all the essential<br />nutritional factors.<br />It is believed that at least 45 chemical components and elements are needed by human cells.<br />Each of these 45 substances, called essential nutrients, must be present in adequate diets. The<br />list of these nutrients, include oxygen and water. The other 43 essential nutrients are classified<br />into five main groups, namely carbohydrates, fats, proteins, minerals and vitamins. All 45 of<br />these nutrients are vitally important and they work together. Therefore, the absence of any of<br />them will result in disease and eventually in death.<br />Research has shown that almost all varieties of disease can be produced by an under-supply of<br />various nutrients. These nutritional deficiencies occur on account of various factors, including the<br />intense processsing and refining of foods, the time lag between the harvesting and consumption<br />of vegetables and fruits, the chemicals used in bleaching, flavouring, colouring and preserving<br />foods and the chemical fertilisers, fungicides insecticides and sprays used for treating the soil.<br />Therefore, as a first principle of nutrition, one should insist upn whole meal flour and whole meal<br />bread and avoid the white stuff.<br />Research has also shown that diseases produced by combinatins of deficiencies can be<br />corrected when all the nutrients are supplied, provided irreparable damage has not been done. A<br />well-balanced and correct diet is thus of utmost importance for the maintenance of good health<br />and the healing of diseases. Such a diet, obviously should be made up of foods, which in<br />combination would supply all the essential nutrients.<br />It has been found that a diet which contains liberal quantities of (I) seeds, nuts, and grains , (ii)<br />vegetables and (iii) fruits, would provide adequate amounts of all the essential nutrients. These<br />foods have, therefore, been aptly called basic food groups and the diet contains these food<br />groups as optimum diet for vigour and vitality. It is described, in brief, below :<br />(I) Seeds , nuts and grains :<br />These are the most important and the most potent of all foods and contain all the important<br />nutrients needed for human growth. They contain the germ, the reproductive power which is of<br />vital importance for the lives of human beings and their health. Millet, wheat, oats, barley, brown<br />rice, beans and peas are all highly valuable in building health. Wheat, mung beans, alfalfa seeds<br />and soya beans make excellent sprouts. Sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, almonds, peanuts<br />and soya beans contain complete proteins of high biological value.<br />Seeds, nuts and grains are also excellent natural sources of essential unsaturated fatty acids<br />necessary for health. They are also good sources of lecithin and most of the B vitamins . They<br />are the best natural sources of vitamin C, which is perhaps the most important vitamin for the<br />Optimum Nutrition for Vigour and Vitality<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap10.htm (1 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:15:08 PM]<br />preservation of health and prevention of premature ageing. Besides, they are rich sources of<br />minerals and supply necessary bulk in the diet. They also contain auxones, the natural<br />substance that play an important role in the rejuvenation of cells and prevention of premature<br />ageing.<br />(ii) Vegetables :<br />They are extremely rich source of minerals, enzymes and vitamins. Faulty cooking and<br />prolonged careless storage, however, destroy these valuable nutrients. Most of the vegetables<br />are, therefore, best consumed in their natural raw state in the form of salads.<br />There are different kinds of vegetables. They may be edible roots, stems, leaves, fruits and<br />seeds. Each group contributes to the diet in its own way. Fleshy roots have energy value and<br />good sources of vitamin B . Seeds are relatively high in carbohydrates and proteins and yellow<br />ones are rich in vitamin A. Leaves, stems and fruits are excellent sources of minerals, vitamins,<br />water and roughage.<br />To prevent loss of nutrients in vegetables, it would be advisable to steam or boil vegetables in<br />their juices on a slow fire and the water or cooking liquid should not be drained off. No vegetable<br />should be peeled unless it is so old that the peel is tough and unpalatable. In most root<br />vegetables, the largest amount of mineral is directly under the skin and these are lost if<br />vegetables are peeled. Soaking of vegetables should also be avoided if taste and nutritive value<br />are tobe preserved.<br />(iii) Fruits :<br />Like vegetables, fruits are an excellent source of minerals, vitamins and enzymes. They are<br />easily digested and exercise a cleansing effect on the blood and digestive tract. They contain<br />high alkaline properties, a high percentage of water and a low percentage of proteins and fats.<br />Their organic acid and high sugar content have immediate refreshing effects. Apart from<br />seasonable fresh fruits, dry fruits, such as raisins, prunesand figs are also beneficial.<br />Fruits are at their best when eaten in the raw and ripe states. In cooking, the loose portions of<br />the nutrient salts and carbohydrates. They are most beneficial when taken as a separate meal<br />by themselves, preferably for breakfast in the morning. If it becomes necessary to take fruits with<br />regular food, they should form a larger proportion of the meals. Fruits, however, make better<br />combination with milk than with meals. It is also desirable to take one kind of fruit at a time. For<br />the maintenance of good health, atleast one pound of uncooked fruits should form part of the<br />daily diet. In case of sickness, it will be advisable to take fruits in the form of juices.<br />The three basic health-building foods mentioned above should be supplemented with certain<br />special foods such as milk, vegetable oils and honey. Milk is an excellent food. It is considered<br />as " Nature’s most nearly perfect food." The best way to take milk is in its soured form - that is,<br />yogurt and cottage cheese. Soured milk is superior to sweet milk as it is in a predigested form<br />and more easily assimilated. Milk helps maintain a healthy intestinal flora and prevents intestinal<br />putrefaction and constipation.<br />High quality unrefined oils should be added to the diet. They are rich in unsaturated fatty acids,<br />vitamin C and F and lecithin. The average daily amount should not exceed two tablespoons .<br />Honey too is an ideal food. It helps increase calcium retention in the system, prevents nutritional<br />anaemia besides being beneficial in kidney and liver disorders, colds, poor circulation and<br />complexion problems. It is one of the nature’s finest energy-giving food.<br />A diet of the three basic food groups, supplemented with the special foods, mentioned above,<br />will ensure a complete and adequate supply of all the vital nutrients needed for health, vitality<br />and prevention of diseases. It is not necessary to include animal protein like egg, fish or meat in<br />this basic diet, as animal protein, especially meat, always has a detrimental effect on the healing<br />process. A high animal protein is harmful to health and may cause many of our common<br />ailments.<br />Daily Menu<br />Based on what has been stated above, the daily menu of a health-building and vitalising diet<br />should be on the following lines :<br />Optimum Nutrition for Vigour and Vitality<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap10.htm (2 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:15:08 PM]<br />Upon arising :- A glass of lukewarm water mixed with the juice of a half a lemon and a<br />teaspoon of honey, or a glass of freshly squeezed juice of any available seasonable fruit such as<br />apple, pineapple, orange, sweet lime and grapes.<br />Breakfast :- Fresh fruits such as apple, orange, banana, grapes, or any available seasonal<br />fruits, a cup of butter-milk or unpasteurised milk and a handful of raw nuts or a couple of<br />tablespoons of sunflower and pumpkin seeds.<br />Mid-morning snack : One apple or a banana or any other fruit.<br />Lunch : A bowl of freshly prepared steamed vegetables using salt, vegetable oil and butter for<br />seasoning, one or two slices of whole grain bread or chappatis and a glass of butter-milk.<br />Mid-afternoon : A glass of fresh fruit or vegetable juice or any available fruit.<br />Dinner : A large bowl of fresh salad made up of green vegetables, such as tomatoes, carrot,<br />cabbage, cucumber, red beet and onion with lime juice dressing, any available sprouts such as<br />alfalfa seeds, and mung beans , a warm vegetable course, if desired, one tablespoon of fresh<br />butter, cottage cheese or a glass of butter-milk.<br />The above menu is a general outline around which an individual diet can be built. It can be<br />modified and changed to adopt to specific requirements and conditions. The menu for lunch and<br />dinner is interchangeable.<br />Do not drink liquids with meals. The water should be taken half an hour before meals or an hour<br />after meals. Milk, buttermilk, and vegetable soups are foods and can be taken with meals.<br />[index]<br />Optimum Nutrition for Vigour and Vitality<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap10.htm (3 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:15:08 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Miracles of Alkalizing Diet<br />The human body is composed of various organs and parts, which are made up of tissues and<br />cells. These tissues and cells are composed of 16 chemical elements.<br />The balance or equilibrium of these chemical elements in the body is an essential factor in the<br />maintenance of health and healing of disease. The acid-alkaline balance plays a vital role in this<br />balanced body chemistry. All foods, after digestion and absorption leave either an acid or<br />alkaline ash in the body depending on their mineral composition. The normal body chemistry is<br />approximately 20 per cent acid and 80 per cent alkaline. This is the acid-alkaline balance.<br />In normal health, the reaction of the blood is alkaline and that is essential for our physical and<br />mental well-being. The preponderence of alkalis in the blood is due to the fact that the products<br />of the vital combustions taking place in the body are mostly acid in character. Carbohydrates<br />and fats form about nine-tenths of the normal fuel of the body. IN normal health, this great mass<br />of material is converted into carbon dioxide gas and water. Half of the remaining one-tenth fuel is<br />also con- verted into the same gas and water. This huge amount of acid is transported by the<br />blood to the various points of discharge, mainly the lungs. By virtue of alkalinity, the blood is able<br />to transport the acid from the tissues to the discharge points.<br />Acidosis<br />Whenever the alkalinity of the blood is reduced, even slightly, its ability to transport the carbon<br />dioxide gets reduced. This results in the accumulation of acid in the tissues. This condition is<br />known as acidosis or hypo-alkalinity of the blood. Its symptoms are hunger, indigestion, burning<br />sensation and pain in the pharynx, nausea, vomiting, headache, various nervous disorders and<br />drowsiness. Acidosis is the breeding ground for most diseases. Nepthritis or Bright’s disease,<br />rheumatism, premature old age, arteriosclerosis, high blood pressure, skin disorders and various<br />degenerative diseases are traceable to this condition. It seriously interferes with the functions of<br />the glands and organs of the body. It also lowers the vitality of the system, thereby increasing<br />the danger of infectious diseases.<br />The main cause of acidosis or hypo-alkalinity of the blood is faulty diet, in which too many acid<br />forming foods have been consumed. In the normal process of metabolism or converting the food<br />into energy by the body,. various acids are formed in the system and in addition, other acids are<br />introduced in food. Whenever there is substantial increase in the formation of acids in the<br />system and these acids are not properly eliminated through the lungs, the kidneys and the<br />bowels , the alkalinity of the blood is reduced, resulting in acidosis.<br />Other causes of acidosis are depletion of alkali reserve due to diarrhoea, dysentery, cholera etc.,<br />accumulation of carbon dioxide in asphyxia and anoxia as in circulatory and pulmonary diseases<br />and accumulation of acetone bodies resulting from starvation, vomiting and diabetes millitus.<br />Acidosis can be prevented by maintaining a proper ratio between acid and alkaline foods in the<br />diet. Certain foods leave alkaline ash and help in maintaining the alkalinity of the food, while<br />others leave highly acid ash and lower the alkali reserve of the blood and tissue fluids to a very<br />large extent. Eggs do the same but less strongly than meats. Cereals of all kinds, including all<br />sorts of breads are also acid-forming foods , though much less than meats. All fruits, with<br />exceptions like plums and prunes and all green and root vegetables are highly alkaline foods<br />and help to alkalinize the blood and other tissue fluids.<br />Thus , our daily diet should consist of four-fifth of alkaline-forming foods such as juicy fruits,<br />tubers, legumes, ripe fruits, leafy and root vegetables and one fifty of acid-forming foods<br />containing concentrated proteins and starches such as meat, fish, bread and cereals. Eating<br />sensibly in this manner will ensure the necessary alkalinity of the food which will keep the body<br />in perfect health.<br />Whenever a person has acidosis, the higher the ratio of alkaline forming foods in his diet, the<br />quicker will be the recovery. Acids are neutralised by alkalies. It is, therefore, imperative that<br />Miracles of Alkalizing Diet<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap11.htm (1 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:15:19 PM]<br />persons suffering from various ailments are given adequate alkaline ash foods to offset the<br />effects of acid-forming foods and leave a safe margin of alkalinity.<br />The most agreeable and convenient means of alkalizing the blood are citrus fruits and fruit<br />juices. The alkalizing value of citrus fruits are due to large percentage of alkaline salts, mainly<br />potash, which they contain. Each pint of orange juice contains 12 grains of potassium, one of the<br />most potent of alkalis. Lemon juice contains nine grains of the alkali to the pint and grape seven<br />grains.<br />Diet in Disease<br />In the diet during disease, breakfast may consist of fresh fruits, lunch may comprise raw<br />vegetables with acid and sub-acid fruits, and for dinner raw and cooked vegetables, or light<br />starchy vegetables like beet, carrot, cauliflower, egg-plant and squashes may be taken. Sweet<br />fruits may be added to this diet after seven days.<br />Foods are classified as acid-producing or alkaline-producing depending on their reaction on the<br />urine. Calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium present in foods contribute to the alkaline<br />effect, while sulphur, phosphorous and chlorine contribute to the acidic effect. Depending on the<br />pre-dominating constituents in a particular food, it is classified as acid-forming or<br />alkaline-forming.<br />The effect of food stuffs upon the alkalinity of the blood depends upon their residue which they<br />leave behind after undergoing oxidation in the body. It is an error to presume that because a<br />food tastes acid, it has an acidic reaction in the blood. For instance, fruits and vegetables have<br />organic acids in combination with soda and potash in the form of acid salts. When the acids are<br />burnt or utilised in the body, the alkaline soda or potash is left behind. Hence the effect of the<br />natural fruit acids is to increase the alkalinity of the blood rather than reduce it.<br />Based on the above observations, the following charts show the common foods with acid and<br />alkaline ash :<br />A - Foods Leaving An Acid Ash<br />(One-Fifth Class)<br />Barley Eggs<br />Bananas (unripe) Grain Foods<br />Beans Lentils<br />Bread Meats<br />Cereals Nuts except almonds<br />Cakes Oatmeal<br />Chicken Peas<br />Confections Rice<br />Corn Sugar<br />Chorolate Sea Foods<br />Coffee Tea<br />B - Foods Leaving An Alkaline Ash<br />( Four-fifths class )<br />Almonds Melons<br />Apples Milk<br />Apricots Onions<br />Banana (ripe) Oranges<br />Beets Parsley<br />Cabbage Peaches<br />Carrots Pears<br />Cauliflower Pineapple<br />Celery Potatoes<br />Coconuts Pumpkins<br />Cottage Cheese Radishes<br />Cucumbers Raisins<br />Dates Spinach<br />Miracles of Alkalizing Diet<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap11.htm (2 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:15:19 PM]<br />Figs ( Fresh and Dry) Soyabeans<br />Grapes Tomatoes<br />Lemons Turnips<br />Lettuce<br />[index]<br />Miracles of Alkalizing Diet<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap11.htm (3 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:15:19 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Vitamins and their Importance in Health and Disease<br />The word ‘ Vitamine’ meaning a vital amine was proposed by a Polish Researcher, Dr. Cacimir<br />Funk, in 1911 to designate a new food substance which cured beri-beri. Other terms were<br />proposed as new factors were discovered. But the word vitamin , with the final ‘e’ dropped, met<br />with popular favour.<br />Vitamins are potent organic compounds which are found in small concentrations in foods. They<br />perform specific and vital functions in the body chemistry. They are like electric sparks which<br />help to run human motors. Except for a few exceptions, they cannot be manufactured or<br />synthesized by the organism and their absence or improper absorption results in specific<br />deficiency disease. It is not possible to sustain life without all the essential vitamins. In their<br />natural state they are found in minute quantities in organic foods. WE must obtain them from<br />these foods or in dietary supplements.<br />Vitamins, which are of several kinds, differ from each other in physiological function, in chemical<br />structure and in their distribution in food. They are broadly divided into two categories, namely,<br />fat-soluble and water-soluble. Vitamins A, D, E and K are all soluble in fat and fat solvents and<br />are therefore, known as fat-soluble. They are not easily lost by ordinary cooking methods and<br />they can be stored in the body to some extent, mostly in the liver. They are measured in<br />international units. Vitamin B Complex and C are water soluble. They are dissolved easily in<br />cooking water. A portion of these vitamins may actually be destroyed by heating.<br />They cannot be stored in body and hence they have to be taken daily in foods. Any extra<br />quantity taken in any one day is eliminated as waste. Their values are given in milligrams and<br />micrograms, whichever is appropriate.<br />Vitamins, used therapeutically, can be of immense help in fighting disease and speeding<br />recovery. They can be used in two ways, namely, correcting deficiencies and treating disease in<br />place of drugs. Latest researches indicate that many vitamins taken in large doses far above the<br />actual nutritional needs, can have a miraculous healing effect in a wide range of common<br />complaints and illnesses. Vitamin therapy has a distinct advantage over drug therapy. While<br />drugs are always toxic and have many undesirable side effects, vitamins , as a rule are non-toxic<br />and safe.<br />The various functions of common vitamins, their deficiency symptoms, natural sources, daily<br />requirements and their therapeutic uses are discussed in brief as follows :<br />Vitamin A<br />Known as anti-opathalmic, vitamin A is essential for growth and vitality. It builds up resistance to<br />respiratory and other infections and works mainly on the eyes, lungs, stomach and intestines. It<br />prevents eye diseases and plays a vital role in nourishing the skin and hair. It helps to prevent<br />premature ageing and senillity, increases life expectancy and extends youthfulness. The main<br />sources of this vitamin are fish liver oil, liver, whole milk, curds, pure ghee, butter, cheese, cream<br />and egg yolk, green leafy and certain yellow root vegetables such as spinach, lettuce, turnip,<br />beets, carrot, cabbage and tomato and ripe fruits such as prunes, mangoes,pappaya, apricots,<br />peaches, almonds and other dry fruits. A prolonged deficinecy of vitamin A may result in<br />inflammation of the eyes, poor vision frequent colds, night blindness and increased susceptibility<br />to infections, lack of appetite and vigour, defective teeth and gums and skin disorders.<br />The recommended daily allowance of vitamin A is 5,000 international units for adults and 2,600<br />to 4,000 international units for children. When taken in large therapeutic doses, which are<br />usually 25,000 to 50,000 units a day, it is highly beneficial in the treatment of head and chest<br />colds, sinus trouble, influenza and other infectious diseases . It is also valuable in curing night<br />blindness and other eye diseases as well as many stubborn skin disorders. This vitamin can be<br />given upto 1,00,000 units a day for a limited period of four weeks under doctor’s supervision.<br />In a recent year-long study, huge doses of vitamin A given twice a year reduced death by about<br />Vitamins and their Importance in Health and Disease<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap12.htm (1 of 4) [5/19/1999 9:15:35 PM]<br />30 per cent among Indonesian children. This has raised the hope in the fight against a significant<br />cause of childhood mortality in developing countries.<br />B COMPLEX VITAMINS<br />There are a large variety of vitamins in the B group, the more important being B1 or thiamine, B2<br />or riboflavin, B3 or niacin or nicotinic acid, B6 or pyridoxine, B9 or folic acid, B12 and B5 or<br />pantothenic acid. B vitamins are synergistic. They are more potent together than when used<br />seperately.<br />THIAMINE<br />Known as anti-beberi, anti-neuritic and anti-ageing vitamin, thiamine plays an important role in<br />the normal functioning of the nervous system, the regulation of carbohydrates and good<br />digestion. It protects heart muscle, stimulates brain action and helps prevent constipation. It has<br />a mild diuretic effect. Valuable sources of this vitamin are wheat germ, yeast, the outer layer of<br />whole grains, cereals, pulses,nuts, peas, legumes, dark green leafy vegetables, milk ,<br />egg,banana and apple. The deficiency of thiamine can cause serious impairment of the digestive<br />system and chronic constipation, loss of weight, diabetes, mental depression, nervous<br />exhaustion and weakness of the heart.<br />The recommended daily allowance for this vitamin is about two milligrams for adults and 1.2 mg.<br />for children. The need for this vitamin increases during illness, stress and surgery as well as<br />during pregnancy and lactation. When taken in a large quantity, say upto 50 mg. , it is beneficial<br />in the treatment of digestive disorders, neuritis and other nervous troubles as well as mental<br />depression. For best results, all other vitamins of B group should be administered<br />simultaneously. Prolonged ingestion of large doses of any one of the isolated B complex<br />vitamins may result in high urinary losses of other B-vitamins and lead to deficiencies of these<br />vitamins.<br />RIBOFLAVIN<br />Vitamin B2 or riboflavin, also known as vitamin G, is essential for growth and general health as<br />also for healthy eyes, skin, nails and hair. It helps eliminate sore mouth, lips and tongue. It also<br />functions with other substances to metabolis carbohydrates, fats, and protein. The main sources<br />of this vitamin are green leafy vegetables, milk, cheese, wheat germ, egg, almonds, sunflower,<br />seeds, citrus fruits and tomatoes. Its deficiency can cause a burning sensation in the legs, lips<br />and tongue, oily skin, premature wrinkles on face and arm and eczema.<br />The recommended daily allowance for this vitamin is 1.6 to 2.6 mg. for adults and 0.6 to one mg<br />for children. Its use in larger quantities, say from 25 to 50 mg. is beneficial in the treatment of<br />nutritional cataracts and other eye ailments, digestive disturbances, nervous depression, general<br />debility, and certain types of high blood pressure.<br />NIACIN<br />Vitamin B3 or niacin or nicotinic acid is essential for proper circulation, healthy functioning of the<br />nervous system and proper protein and carbohydrate metabolism. It is essential for synthesis of<br />sex hormones, cartisone, thyroxin and insulin. It is contained in liver, fish, poultry, peanut, whole<br />wheat,green leafy vegetables, dates, figs, prunes and tomato. A deficiency can lead to skin<br />eruptions, frequent stools, mental depression, insomnia, chronic headaches, digestives<br />disorders and anaemia.<br />The recommended daily allowance is 12 to 20 mg. for adults and 4.8 to 12 mg. for children.<br />Large doses of this vitamin say upto 100 mg. with each meal, preferably together with other B<br />group vitamins, affords relief in case of migraine and high blood pressure caused by<br />nervousness, high cholesterol and arteriosclerosis.<br />PYRIDOXINE<br />Vitamin B 6 or pyridoxine is actually a group of substance - pyridoxine, pyridoxinal and<br />pyridoxamine - that are closely related and function together. It helps in the absorption of fats<br />and proteins, prevents nervous and skin disorders and protects against degenerative diseases.<br />The main sources of this vitamin are yeast, wheat, bran, wheat germ, pulses, cereals, banana,<br />walnuts, soyabeans , milk, egg, liver, meat and fresh vegetables. Deficiency can lead to<br />dermatitis, conjuctivitis, anaemia, depression, skin disorders, nervousness, insomnia, migraine<br />Vitamins and their Importance in Health and Disease<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap12.htm (2 of 4) [5/19/1999 9:15:35 PM]<br />headaches and heart diseases.<br />The recommended daily requirement is 2.0 mg. for adults and 0.2 mg. for children. This vitamin<br />used therapeuticlly from 100 to 150 mg. daily can relieve painful jonts and the discomforts of<br />pregnancy and pre-menstrual symptoms. Vitamin B6 is now the most intensively studied of all<br />vitamins. Researches are on the threshold of a number of promising developments involving<br />treatments of various ailments with this vitamin. They include hyperactivity in children, asthma,<br />arthritis, kidney stones, blood clots in heart attack victims and nervous disorders.<br />FOLIC ACID<br />Vitamin B9 or folic acid, along with vitamin B12 is necessary for the formation of red blood cells.<br />It is essential for the growth and division of all body cells for healing processes. It aids protein<br />metabolism and helps prevent premature greying. Valuable sources of this vitamin are deep<br />green leafy vegetables such as spinach, lettuce, brewers yeast, mushrooms , nuts,peanuts and<br />liver. A deficiency can result in certain types of anaemia, serious skin disorders, loss of hair,<br />impaired circulation, fatigue and mental depression.<br />The minimum daily requirement of this vitamin is 0.4 mg. To correct anaemia and deficiencies 5<br />mg or more are needed daily. Some authorities believe that folic acid is contraindicated in<br />leukemia and cancer.<br />PANTOTHENIC ACID<br />Vitamin B5 or pantothenic acid helps in cell building, main- taining normal growth and<br />development of the central nervous system. It stimulates the adrenal glands and increases the<br />production of cortisone and other adrenal hormones. It is essential for conversion of fatty and<br />sugar to energy. It also helps guard against most physical and mental stresses and toxins and<br />increases vitality. The main sources of this vitamin are whole grain bread and cereals, green<br />vegetables,peas , beans, peanuts and egg yolk. It can be synthesised in the body by intestinal<br />bacteria. A deficiency can cause chronic fatigue, hypoglycemia, greying and loss of hair, mental<br />depression, stomach disorders , blood and skin disorders.<br />The minimum daily requirement of this vitamin has not been established, but is estimated to be<br />between 30 and 50 mg a day. The usual therapeutic doses are 50 to 200 mg. In some studies,<br />1,000 mg or more were given daily for six moths without side effects. It is useful in the treatment<br />of insomnia, low blood pressure and hypoglycemia or low blood sugar.<br />VITAMIN B12<br />Vitamin B12 or cobolamin, commonly known as "red vitamin" , is the only vitamin that contains<br />essential mineral elements. It is essential for proper functioning of the central nervous system,<br />production and regeneration of red blood cells and proper utilisation of fat, carbohydrates and<br />protein for body building. It also improves concentration, memory and balance. Valuable sources<br />of this vitamin are kidney, liver, meat, milk, eggs, bananas and peanuts. Its deficiency can lead<br />to certain types of anaemia , poor appetite and loss of energy and mental disorders.<br />The recommended daily allowance of this vitamin is 3 mcg. Taken in large therapeutic doses<br />from 50 to 100 mcg., it is beneficial in the treatment of lack of concentration, fatigue, depression,<br />insomnia and poor memory.<br />VITAMIN C<br />Vitamin C or ascorbic acid is essential for normal growth and the maintenance of practically all<br />the body tissues, especially those of the joints, bones, teeth, and gums. It protects one against<br />infections and acts as a harmless antibiotic. It promotes healing and serves as protection against<br />all forms of stress and harmful effects of toxic chemicals. It helps prevent and cure the common<br />cold. It also helps in decreasing blood cholesterol. This vitamin is found in citrus fruits, berries,<br />green and leafy vegetables, tomatoes, potatoes, sprouted bengal and green grams, A deficiency<br />can cause scurvy marked by weakness, anaemia, bleeding gums and painful and swollen parts,<br />slow healing of sores and wounds, premature ageing and lowered resistance to all infections.<br />The recommended daily allowance is 50 to 75 mg. for adults and 30 to 50 mg. for children.<br />Smokers and older persons have greater need for vitamin C. It is used therapeutically in huge<br />doses from 100 to 10,000mg. a day. It prevents and cures colds and infections effectively,<br />neutralises various toxins in the system, speeds healing processes in virtually all cases of ill<br />Vitamins and their Importance in Health and Disease<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap12.htm (3 of 4) [5/19/1999 9:15:35 PM]<br />health, increases sexual vitality and prevents premature ageing. According to Dr. Linus Pauling,<br />a world famous chemist and nutrition expert, " because vitamin C is one of the least toxic<br />vitamins, it is very safe to use in high doses. " Your body will take exactly what it needs and<br />excrete any excess naturally."<br />VITAMIN D<br />Vitamin D is necessary for proper bone and teeth formation and for the healthy functioning of the<br />thyroid gland. It assists in the assimilation of calcium, phosphorus and other minerals from the<br />digestive tract. This vitamin is found in the rays of the sun, fish,milk, eggs, butter and sprouted<br />seeds. A deficiency can cause gross deformation of bones and severe tooth decay.<br />The recommended daily allowance of this vitamin for both adults and children is 400 to 500<br />international units. Therepeutically, upto 4,000 to 5,000 units a day for adult or half of this for<br />children, is a safe dose, if taken for not longer than one month. It is beneficial in the treatment of<br />muscular fatigue, constipation and nervousness. It can be toxic if taken in excessive doses,<br />especially for children. Signs of toxicity are unusual thirst, sore eyes, itching skin, vomiting,<br />diarrhoea, urinary urgency, abnormal calcium deposits in blood vessel walls, liver, lungs, kidneys<br />and stomach.<br />VITAMIN E<br />Vitamin E is essential for normal reproductory functions, fertility and physical vigour. It prevents<br />unsaturated fatty acids, sex hormones and fat soluble vitamins from being destroyed in the body<br />by oxygen. It dilutes blood vessels and improves circulation. It is essential for the prevention of<br />heart diseases, asthma, arthritis, and many other conditions. It is available in wheat or cereals<br />germ, whole grain products, green leafy vegetables, milk, eggs, all whole, raw or sprouted seeds<br />and nuts. Its deficiency can lead to sterility in men and repeated abortions in women,<br />degenerative developments in the coronary system, strokes and heart disease.<br />The official estimated requirement of this vitamin is 15 international units. Expert nutritionist<br />estimate the actual requirement at 100 to 200 I.U. a day. The therapeutic doses are from 200 to<br />2400 I.U. daily. It is beneficial in the treatment of various forms of paralysis, diseases of the<br />muscles, artheriosclerosic heart disease by diluting blood vessels. It prevents formation of scars<br />in burns and post-operation healing. It protects against many environmental poisons in air, water<br />and food. It also has a dramatic effect on the reproductive organs and prevents miscarriage,<br />increases male and female fertility and helps to restore male potency.<br />VITAMIN K<br />Vitamin K is necessary for the proper clotting of blood, prevention of bleeding and normal liver<br />functions. It aids in reducing excessive menstrual flow. This vitamin is contained in egg yolk,<br />cow’s milk, yogurt, alfalfa, green and leafy vegetables, spinach, cauliflower, cabbage and<br />tomato. Its deficiency can lead to sufficient bile salts in the intestines, colitis, lowered vitality and<br />premature ageing.<br />[index]<br />Vitamins and their Importance in Health and Disease<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap12.htm (4 of 4) [5/19/1999 9:15:35 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Minerals and Their Importance in Nutrition<br />The term ‘ mineals ‘ refers to elements in their simple inorganic form. In nutrition they are<br />commonly referred to as mineral elements or inorganic nutrients.<br />Minerals are vital to health. Like vitamins and amino acids, minerals are essential for regulating<br />and building the trillions of living cells which make up the body. Body cells receive the essential<br />food elements through the blood stream. They must, therefore, be properly nourished with an<br />adequate supply of all the essential minerals for the efficient functioning of the body.<br />Minerals help maintain the volume of water necessary to life processes in the body. They help<br />draw chemical substances into and out of the cells and they keep the blood and tissue fluid from<br />becoming either too acidic or too alkaline. The importance of minerals, like vitamins, is illustrated<br />by the fact that there are over 50,000 enzymes in the body which direct growth and energy and<br />each enzyme has minerals and vitamins associated with it. Each of the essential food minerals<br />does a specific job in the body and some of them do extra work, in teams, to keep body cells<br />healthy. The mineral elements which are needed by the body in substantial amounts are<br />calcium, phosphorous, iron, sulphur, magnesium, sodium, potassium and chlorine. In addition<br />the body needs minute (trace) amounts of iodine, copper, cobalt, manganese, zinc, seleminum,<br />silicon, flourine and some others.<br />CALCIUM<br />The human body needs calcium more than any other mineral. A man weighing 70 kg. contains<br />one kg. of calcium. About 99 per cent of the quantity in the body is used for building strong<br />bonesand teeth and the remaining one per cent is used by the blood, muscles and nerves.<br />Calcium performs many important functions. Without this mineral , the contractions of the heart<br />would be faulty, the muscles would not contract properly to make the limbs move and blood<br />would not clot. Calcium stimulates enzymes in the digestive process and coordinates the<br />functions of all other minerals in the body. Calcium is found in milk and milk products, whole<br />wheat, leafy vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, and cabbage , carrots, watercress, oranges,<br />lemons, almonds, figs and walnuts. A daily intake of about 0.4 to 0.6 grams of calcium is<br />considered desirable for an adult. The requirement is larger for growing children and pregnant<br />and lactating women. Deficiency may cause porous and fragile bones, tooth decay, heart<br />palpitations, muscle cramps, insomnia and irritability.<br />A large increase in the dietary supply of calcium is needed in tetany and when the bones are<br />decalcified due to poor calcium absorption, as in rickets, oesteomalacia and the malabsorption<br />syndrome. Liberal quantity of calcium is also necessary when excessive calcium has been lost<br />from the body as in hyperparathyroidism or chronic renal disease.<br />PHOSPHORUS<br />It combines with calcium to create the calcium-phorphorus balance necessary for the growth of<br />bones and teeth and in the formation of nerve cells. This mineral is also essential for the<br />assimilation of carbohydrates and fats. It is a stimulant to the nerves and brain.<br />Phosphorous is found in abundance in cereals, pulses, nuts, egg yolk, fruit juices, milk and<br />legumes. Usually about one gram of phosphorous is considered necessary in the daily diet.<br />A phosphorous deficiency may bring about loss of weight, retarded growth, reduced sexual<br />powers and general weakness. It may result in poor mineralisation of bones, deficient nerve and<br />brain function.<br />While taking calcium in therapeutic doses for calcium deficiency conditions or for treating<br />ailments, it is advisable to take the calcium supplement in which phosphorous has been added<br />in the correct proportions. This is necessary as calcium cannot achieve its objectives unless<br />phosphorous is present in a proper balance.<br />Minerals and Their Importance in Nutrition<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap13.htm (1 of 6) [5/19/1999 9:15:56 PM]<br />IRON<br />Iron is an important mineral which enters into the vital activity of the blood and glands. Iron exists<br />chiefly as haemoglobin in the blood. It distributes the oxygen inhaled into the lungs to all the<br />cells. It is the master mineral which creates warms, vitality and stamina. It is required for the<br />healthy complexion and for building up resistance in the body.<br />The chief sources of iron are grapes, raisins, spinach, all green vegetables, whole grain, cereals,<br />dried beans, dark coloured fruits, beets, dates, liver and egg yolk. The Indian Council of Medical<br />Research has recommended an allowance of 20 to 30 mg. of iron in a balanced diet for an adult.<br />Iron deficiency is generally caused by severe blood loss,malnutrition , infecttions and by<br />excessive use of drugs and chemicals. Deficiency of dietary iron may cause nutritional-anaemia,<br />lowered resistance to disease, a general run down condition, pale complexion, shortness of<br />breath on manual exertion and loss of interest in sex.<br />Iron is the classic remedy for anaemia. However, there are several forms of anaemia, and iron<br />deficiency anaemia is only one. If one is taking iron pills due to insufficient intake of iron in the<br />normal diet, one should also take atleast 40 mg. of folic acid or folate every day, alongwith 10 to<br />25 mg. of vitamin B12. Both these vitamins are essential in building healthy blood cells.<br />SULPHUR<br />All living matter contains some sulphur ; this element is therefore essential for life. The greater<br />part of the sulphur in the human body is present in the two sulphur-containing amino acids,<br />methionine and cysteine, or in the double form of the latter cystine. The main purpose of sulphur<br />is to dissolve waste materials. It helps to eject some of the waste and poisons from the system.<br />It helps keep the skin clear of blemishes and makes hair glossy. It is also valuable in rheumatic<br />conditions.<br />The main sulphur-containing foods are radishes, carrots, cabbage,cheese, dried beans, fish and<br />eggs. There is no recommended dietary allowance. But a diet sufficient in protein will generally<br />be adequate in sulphur. Deficiency of sulphur may cause eczema and imperfect development of<br />hair and nails.<br />Sulphur creams and ointments have been remarkably successful in treating a variety of skin<br />problems.<br />MAGNESIUM<br />All human tissues contain small amounts of magnesium. The Adult human body contains about<br />25 gms. of this mineral. The greater part of this amount is present in bones in combination with<br />phosphate and carbonate. Bone ashes contain less than one per cent magnesium. About<br />one-fifty of the total magnesium in the body is present in the soft tissues, where it is mainly<br />bound to protein. Next to potassium, magnesium is the predominant metallic action in living<br />cells. The bones seem to provide a reserve supply of this mineral in case of shortage elsewhere<br />in the body.<br />Biochemists call magnesium the " cool, alkaline, refreshing, sleep-promoting mineral".<br />Magnesium helps one keep calm and cool during the sweltering summer months. It aids in<br />keeping nerves relaxed and normally balanced. It is necessary for all muscular activity. This<br />mineral is in activator for most of the enzyme system involving carbohydrate, fat and protein in<br />energy-producing reactions. It is involved in the production of lecithin which prevents building up<br />of cholesterol and consequent atheros-clerosis. Magnesium promotes a healthier cardiovascular<br />system and aids in fighting depression. It helps prevent calcium deposits in kidneys and<br />gallstones and also brings relief from indigestion.<br />Magnesium is widely distributed in foods. It is a part of the chlorophyll in green vegetables. Other<br />good sources of this mineral are nuts, soyabeans, alfalfa, apples, figs, lemons, peaches,<br />almonds, whole grains, brown rice, sunflower seeds and sesame seeds. The recommended<br />dietary allowances for magnesium are 350 mg. per day for adult man, 300 mg. for women and<br />450 me. during pregnancy and lactation. Deficiency can lead to kidney damage and kidney<br />stones, muscle cramps, arteriosclerosis, heart attack, epileptic seizures, nervous irritability,<br />marked depression and confusion, impaired protein metabolism and premature wrinkles.<br />Chronic alcoholics often show a low plasma magnesium concentration and a high urinary output.<br />They may, therefore, require magnesium therapy especially in an acute attack of delirium<br />tremens. Magnesium has also proved useful in bladder and urinary problems and in epileptic<br />Minerals and Their Importance in Nutrition<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap13.htm (2 of 6) [5/19/1999 9:15:56 PM]<br />seizure. This mineral together with vitamin B6 or pyridoxine has also been found effective in the<br />prevention and treatment of kidney stones. Magnesium can be taken in therapeutic doses upto<br />700 mg. a day.<br />SODIUM<br />Sodium Chloride , the chemical name for common salt, contains 39 per cent of sodium, an<br />element which never occurs in free form in nature. It is found in an associated form with many<br />minerals especially in plentiful amounts with chlorine. The body of a healthy person weighing<br />about 65 kg. contains 256 g. of sodium chloride. Of this the major part, just over half, is in the<br />extra-cellular fluid. About 96 g. is in bone and less than 32 g. in the cells.<br />Sodium is the most abundant : chemical in the extra-cellular fluid of the body. It acts with other<br />electrolytes, especially potassium, in the intracellular fluid, to regulate the osmotic pressure and<br />maintain a proper water balance within the body. It is a major factor in maintaining acid-base<br />equilibrium, in transmitting nerve impulses, and in relaxing muscles. It is also required for<br />glucose absorption and for the transport of other nutrients across cell membranes. Sodium can<br />help prevent catarrh. It promotes a clear brain, resulting in a better disposi tion and less mental<br />fatigue. Because of its influence on calcium, sodium can also help dissolve any stones forming<br />within the body. It is also essential for the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach and<br />plays a part in many other glandular secretions.<br />There is some natural salt in every food we eat. Vegetable foods rich in sodium are celery,<br />cucumbers, watermelon, lemons, oranges, grapefruit, beet-tops, cabbage, lettuce, corn, lady’s<br />fingers, apple, berries, pears, squash, pumpkin, peaches, lentils, almonds and walnuts. Animal<br />food sources include shell fish, lean beef, kidney, bacon and cheese. The sodium chloride<br />requirements for persons living in the tropics have been estimated at 10 to 15 g. per day for<br />adults who are engaged in light work and 15 to 20 g. for those engaged in hard work. The<br />requirements of children are from five to 10 g. and those for adolescent boys and girls from 10 to<br />25 g.<br />Both deficiency and excess of salt may produce adverse effects o the human body. Deficiencies<br />of sodium are, however, rare and may be caused by excessive sweating, prolonged use of<br />diuretics, or chronic diarrhoea. Deficiency may lead to nausea, muscular weakness, heat<br />exhaustion, mental apathy and respiratory failure. Over-supply of sodium is a more common<br />problem because of overuse of dietary sodium chloride or common salt. Too much sodium may<br />lead to water retention, high blood pressure, stomach ulcers, stomach cancer, harden- ing of<br />arteries and heart disease.<br />In case of mild deficiency of sodium chloride, taking a teaspoon of common salt in one half litre<br />of water or any fruit juice quickly restores the health. In severe conditions, however,<br />administration of sodium chloride in the form of normal saline by intravenous drip may be<br />restored to. The adverse effects of excessive use of sodium chloride can be rectified by avoiding<br />the use of common salt.<br />POTASSIUM<br />Potassium is essential to the life of every cell of a living being and is among the most generously<br />and widely distributed of all the tissue minerals. It is found principally in the intracellular fluid<br />where it plays an important role as a catalyst in energy metabolsim and in the synthesis of<br />glycogen and protein. The average adult human body contains 120 g. as potassium and 245 g.<br />as potassium chloride. Out of this body potassium, 117 g. is found in the cells and 3 g. in the<br />extracellular compartment.<br />Potassium is important as an alkalizing agent in keeping a proper acid-alkaline balance in the<br />blood and tissues. It is essential for muscle contraction and therefore, important for proper heart<br />function. It promotes the secretion of hormones and helps the kidneys in detoxification of blood.<br />Potassium prevents female disorders by stimulating the endocrine hormone production. It is<br />involved in the proper functioning of the nervous system and helps overcome fatigue. It also aids<br />in clear thinking by sending oxygen to the brain and assists in reducing blood pressure.<br />Potassium is widely distributed in foods. All vegetables, especially green, leafy vegetables,<br />grapes, oranges, lemons, raisins, whole grains, lentils, sunflower seeds, nuts, milk, cottage<br />cheese and butter milk are rich sources. Potatoes, especial potato peelings, and bananas are<br />especially good sources. Potassium requirements have not been established but on intake of 0.8<br />Minerals and Their Importance in Nutrition<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap13.htm (3 of 6) [5/19/1999 9:15:56 PM]<br />to 1.3 g. per day is estimated as approximately the minimum need. Potassium deficiency may<br />occur during gastrotestinal disturbances with severe vomiting and diarrhoea, diabetic acidosis<br />and potassium-losing nephritis. It causes undue nervous and body tiredness, palpitation of the<br />heart, cloudiness of the mind, nervous shaking of the hands and feet, great sensitivity of the<br />nerves to cold, and excessive perspiration of the feet and hands.<br />In simple cases of potassium deficiency, drinking plenty of tender coconut water daily , can<br />make up for it. It is advisable to consume plenty of figs, apricots, prunes, almonds and tomatoes<br />during the use of oral diuretics. Potassium-rich foods should be restricted during acute renal<br />failure and Addison’s disease.<br />CHLORINE<br />In the human body, chlorine is liberated by the interaction of common salt, taken along with food,<br />and hydrochloric acid liberated in the stomach during the process of digestion. It is essential for<br />the proper distribution of carbon dixoxide and the maintenance of osmotic pressure in the<br />tissues.<br />This food element is necessary for the manufacture of glandular hormone secretions. It prevents<br />the building of excessive fat and auto-intoxication. Chlorine regulates the blood’s alkaline -acid<br />balance and works with Potassium in a compound form. It aids in the cleaning out of body waste<br />by helping the liver to function.<br />Chlorine is found in cheese and other milk products, green leafy vegetables, tomatoes, all<br />berries, rice, radishes, lentils, coconuts and egg yolk. No dietary allowance has been<br />established, but an average intake of daily salt will ensure adequate quantity of chlorine.<br />Deficiency of this mineral can cause loss of hair and teeth.<br />IODINE<br />The chief store-house of iodine in the body is the thyroid gland. The essential thyroxine, which is<br />secreted by this gland, is made by the circulating iodine. Thyroxine is a wonder chemical which<br />controls the basic metabolism and oxygen consumption of tissues. It increases the heart rate as<br />well as urinary calcium excretion. Iodine regulates the rate of energy production and body weight<br />and promotes proper growth. It improves mental alacrity and promotes healthy hair, nails, skin<br />and teeth.<br />The best dietary sources of iodine are kelp and other seaweeds. Other good sources are turnip<br />greens, garlic, watercress, pineapples, pears, artichokes, citrus fruits, egg yolk and seafoods<br />and fish liver oils. The recommended dietary allowances are 130 mcg. per day for adult males<br />and 100 mcg. per day for adult females. An increase to 125 mcg. per day during pregnancy and<br />to 150 mcg. per day during lactation has been recommended. Deficiency can cause goitre and<br />enlargement of the thyroid glands.<br />Small doses of iodine are of great value in the prevention of goitre in areas where it is endemic<br />and are of value in treatments, at least in the early stages. Larger doses have a temporary value<br />in the preparation of patients with hyperthyroidism for surgical operation.<br />COPPER<br />There are approximately 75 to 150 mg. of copper in the adult human body. Newborn infants<br />have higher concentrations than adults. Liver, brain, kidney, heart, and hair contain relatively<br />high concentration. Average serum copper levels are higher in adult females than in males.<br />Serum copper levels also increase significantly in women both during pregnancy and when<br />taking oral contraceptives.<br />This mineral helps in the conversion of iron into haemoglobin. It stimulates the growth of red<br />blood cells. It is also an integral part of certain digestive enzymes. It makes the amino acid<br />tyrosine usable, enabling it to work as the pigmenting factor for hair and skin. It is also essential<br />for the utilisation of vitamin C. Copper is found in most foods containing iron, especially in<br />almonds, dried beans, peas, lentils, whole wheat, prunes and egg yolk. The recommended<br />dietary allowance has not been established but 2 mg. is considered adequate for adults. A<br />copper deficiency may result in bodily weakness, digestive disturbances and impaired<br />respiration.<br />COBALT<br />Minerals and Their Importance in Nutrition<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap13.htm (4 of 6) [5/19/1999 9:15:56 PM]<br />Cobalt is a component of vitamin B12, a nutritional factor necessary for the formation of red<br />blood cells. Recent research in vitamin B12 has shown that its pink colour is attributed to the<br />presence of cobalt in it. The presence of this mineral in foods helps the synthesis of<br />haemoglobin and the absorption of food- iron. The best dietary sources of cobalt are meat,<br />kidney and liver. All green leafy vegetables contain some amount of this mineral. No daily<br />allowance has been set. Only a very small amount upto 8 mcg. is considered necessary.<br />MANGANESE<br />The human body contains 30 to 35 mg. of manganese, widely distributed throughout the tissues.<br />It is found in the liver , pancreas, kidney, pituitary glands.<br />This mineral helps nourish the nerves and brain and aids in the coordination of nerve impulses<br />and muscular actions. It helps eliminate fatigue and reduces nervous irritability. Manganese is<br />found in citrus fruits, the outer covering of nuts, grains, in the green leaves of edible plants, fish<br />and raw egg yolk. No official daily allowance of manganese has been established, but 2.5 to 7<br />mg. is generally accepted to be the average adult requirement. A deficiency of this mineral can<br />lead to dizziness, poor elasticity in the muscles, confused thinking and poor memory.<br />ZINC<br />There are about two grams of zinc in the body where it is highly concentrated in the hair, skin,<br />eyes, nails and testes. It is a constituent of many enzymes involved in mertabolism.<br />Zinc is a precious mineral. Our need for this mineral is small but its role in growth and well-being<br />is enormous, starting before birth. It is needed for healthy skin and hair, proper healing of<br />wounds, successful pregnancies and male virility. It plays a vital role in guarding against<br />diseases and infection. It is needed to transport vitamin A to the retina. There are 156 enzymes<br />that require zinc for their functioning. It has long been known that growth and sexual maturity<br />depend on zinc.<br />The main dietary sources of zinc are milk, liver, beans, meat, whole grains, nuts, and seeds. The<br />recommended dietary allowance of zinc is 15 mg. daily. Deficiency can result in weight loss, skin<br />diseases, loss of hair, poor appetite, diarrhoea and frequent infection. Those suffering from<br />rheumatoid arthritis may have a zinc deficinecy. Heavy drinks lose a lot of zinc in their urine.<br />SELENIUM<br />Selenium and vitamin E are synergistic and the two together are stronger than the sum of the<br />equal parts. Selenium slows down ageing and hardening of tissues through oxidation. Males<br />seem to have a greater need for this mineral. Nearly half of the total supply in the body is<br />concentrated in the testicles and in the seminal ducts adjacent to the prostate gland.<br />Salemium is useful in keeping youthful elasticity in tissues. It alleviates hot flushes and<br />menopausal distress. It also helps in the prevention and treatment of dandruff. This mineral is<br />found in Brewer’s yeast, garlic,onions, tomatoes, eggs, milk and sea food. There is no official<br />dietary allowance for salemium but, 50 to 100 mcg. is considered adequate. Deficiency of this<br />mineral can cause premature loss of stamina.<br />SILICON<br />This is known as the " beauty mineral " as it is essential for the growth of skin, hair shafts, nails<br />and other outer coverings of the body. It also makes the eyes bright and assists in hardening the<br />enamel of the teeth. It is beneficial in all healing process and protects body against many<br />diseases such as tuberculosis, irritations in mucous membranes and skin disorders.<br />Silicon is found in apples, cherries, grapes, asparagus, beets, onions, almonds, honey, peanuts<br />and the juices of the green leaves of most other vegetables. No official dietary allowance has<br />been established for this mineral. Deficiency can lead to soft brittle nails, ageing symptoms of<br />skin such as wrinkles, thinning or loss of hair, poor bone development, insomnia, osteoporosis.<br />FLUORINE<br />Fluorine is the element that prevents diseases from decaying the body. It is a germicide, and<br />acts as an antidote to poison, sickness and disease. There is a strong affinity between calcium<br />and fluorine. These two elements , when combined, work particularly in the outer parts of bones.<br />They are found in the enamel of the teeth and the shiny, highly polished bone surface. Fluorine<br />is found in goat’s milk, cauliflower, watercress, garlic, beets, cabbage, spinach and pistachio<br />Minerals and Their Importance in Nutrition<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap13.htm (5 of 6) [5/19/1999 9:15:56 PM]<br />nuts.<br />Minerals thus play an important role in every bodily function and are present in every human cell.<br />Although the amount needed may be small, without even the trace of the mineral , dysfunction is<br />bound to occur at some level in the body. A zinc deficiency may show up in ridged fingernails<br />with white spots. Lack of sulphur can cause lack-lustre hair and dull-looking skin. Less obvious<br />deficiencies may surface as fatigue, irritability, loss of memory ,nervousness, depression and<br />weakness. Minerals also interact with vitamins. Magnesium, for instance, must be present in the<br />body for utilisation of B-complex, C and E vitamins. Sulphur also works with the B-complex<br />vitamins. The body needs all the trace minerals in proper balance. Coffee, tea, alcohol, excess<br />salt and many drugs can rope the body of minerals or make them ineffective. Industrial<br />pollutants cause toxic minerals to enter the body. Minerals at toxic levels also have the effect of<br />destroying the usefulness of other vitamins and minerals. Exercise improves the activity of<br />certain vitamins and minerals while stress and fatigue work against them.<br />A well-balanced diet provides as abundance of minerals and vitamins. In refining cereals, grains<br />and sugar, we have robbed them of their natural vitamins and minerals. The dietary sources of<br />these nutrients are whole grains, cereals, bran and germ. It is the bran and germ which are<br />removed in processing. To obtain a balance of nutrients, it is , therefore, necessary to avoid<br />refined and processed foods but an intake of adequate green leafy vegetables which are an<br />excellent source of many nutrients should be ensured.<br />[index]<br />Minerals and Their Importance in Nutrition<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap13.htm (6 of 6) [5/19/1999 9:15:56 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Amazing Power of Amino Acids<br />In 1838, a Dutch chemist, G.J. Mulder, described a certain organic material as "unqestionably<br />the most important of all known substances in the organic kingdom. Without it, no life appears<br />possible on our planet. Through its means the chief phenomena of life are produced. " This<br />complex nitrogen-bearing substance was called protein from the Greek word meaning " take the<br />first place." Protein in now a group name signifying the principal nitrogenous constituents of the<br />protoplasm of all plant and animal tissues.<br />Proteins are extremely complex organic compounds of the elements carbon, hydrogen, oxygen,<br />nitrogen, and,with some exceptions, sulphur. Most proteins also contain phosphorous, and some<br />specialised proteins contain iron, iodine, copper and other inorganic elements. The presence of<br />nitrogen distinguishes proteins from carbohydrates and fats.<br />Proteins are thus vital substances, which form important constituent of muscles, tissues, and the<br />blood. Proteins supply the building material for the body and make good the wear and tear of<br />tissues. Several substances concerned with vital life processes such as enzymes, which help in<br />digestion of food, are chiefly protein in nature.<br />There are several varieties of protein. Each type contains a specific number of "building blocks "<br />known as amino-acids. Before they can be absorbed by the body, all proteins must first be<br />broken down into amino-acids. When food stuffs are ingested, the nutrients and amino-acids do<br />not immediately diffuse into all the different tissues. There are a series of biochemical reactions<br />in the digestive tract which collect these proteins, break them down and then utilise them as<br />needed. Any interference with the normal digestive process causes in-complete protein digestion<br />resulting in gas, bloating etc.<br />There are about 22 amino acids needed for the normal functioning of the body. The body can<br />manufacture many amino acids if it has no adequate nitrogen source, but it cannot produce<br />certain others in sufficient amounts to meet its needs. The amino acids that the body cannot<br />synthesis is in adequate amounts are called essential or indispensable because they must be<br />supplied by the diet in proper proportions and amounts to meet the requirements for<br />maintenance of growth of tNon-essential or dispensable amino acids are those thatissue. the<br />body can synthesize in sufficient amounts to meet its needs if the total amount of nitrogen<br />supplied by protein is adequate. The essential and non-essential amino acids are listed in table<br />A.<br />TABLE A<br />Classification of Amino Acids with respect to their essentiality<br />Essential Nonessential<br />Histidine* Alanine<br />Isoleucine Arginine<br />Leucine Asparagine<br />Lysine Aspartic acid<br />Methionine Cysteine<br />Phenylalanine Cystine<br />Theronine Glutamic acid<br />Trypophan Glutamine<br />Valine Glycine<br />Hydroxyproline<br />Proline<br />Serine<br />Tyrosine<br />Amazing Power of Amino Acids<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap14.htm (1 of 5) [5/19/1999 9:16:13 PM]<br />*Histidine is required for infants but its essentiality for adults has not been clearly established.<br />It will be seen from this statement that nine amino acids are essential for maintenance of<br />nitrogen equilibrium in human bodies. The estimated requirements of essential amino acids for<br />infants, children and adults are given in Table B. Men in the older age group appear to differ in<br />their requirements. Studies seem to suggest an increase need for methionine and lysine for<br />them. Infants and children have proportionally greater demands for essential amino acids than<br />adults. In addition, infants require histidine as an essential amino acid.<br />TABLE B<br />Estimated Amino Acid requirements of man *<br />Requirement (mg./kg of<br />body weight/ day)<br />Amino acid pattern<br />for high<br />quality proteins.<br />-mg/g of proteins**<br />Infant Child Adult<br />AMINO ACID (3-6 Mths) (10-12 Yrs)<br />Histidine 33 ? ? 17<br />Isoleucine 80 28 12 42<br />Leucine 128 42 16 70<br />Lysine 97 44 12 51<br />Total sulphur containing aminoacids 45 22 10 26<br />Total aroma-tic amino acids 132 22 16 73<br />Threonine 63 28 8 35<br />Tryptophan 19 4 3 11<br />Valine 89 25 14 48<br />* From Food and Nutrition Board, National Research Council : Improvement of Protein Nutrient.<br />Washington, D.C. , National Academy of Sciences, 1973.<br />** 2 g. per kg. of body weight per day of protein of the quality listed in column 4 would meet the<br />amino acids needs of the infant.<br />Factors in addition to the age, sex and physiological condition of an individual influence the<br />requirements for specific amino acids. If total protein intake is low, small surpluses of certain<br />amino acids can increase the need for others. The non-essential amino acids in protein also<br />affect the quality of protein. For example, the amount of sulphur - containing essential amino<br />acid methionine required may be somewhat reduced if cystine, a sulphur-containing nonessential<br />amino acid,is supplied in the diet. Likewise, the presence in the diet of tyrosine, a<br />non-essential amino acid similar in structure to phenylalanine, may reduce the requirement for<br />phenylalanine.<br />Much research has been done on amino acids in recent times and this has paved the way for<br />dramatic treatment and cure of different problems by their judicious use. They are now dubbed<br />as " the nutrients of the 80’s" and "medical foods".<br />The various functions of the essential and frequently investigated non-essential amino acids,<br />their deficiency symptoms and their therapeutic uses are discussed below :<br />TRYPTOPHAN<br />Of all the essential amino acids , tryptophan is the one that is most investigated by nutrition<br />researchers. It is essential to blood clotting, digestive juices and the optic system. It induces<br />sleep and quietens the nervous system. It wards off signs of premature old age - cataracts of the<br />eyes, baldness, deterioration of sex glands and malformation of teeth enamel. It is also<br />necessary to the female reproductive organs and for proper utilisation of vitamin A by the body.<br />Major sources of this amino acids are nuts, and most vegetables. Lack of tryptophan causes<br />symptoms similar to those of vitamin A deficiency.<br />A number of scientists feel that it can be used as a safe and effective food remedy for insomnia<br />Amazing Power of Amino Acids<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap14.htm (2 of 5) [5/19/1999 9:16:13 PM]<br />and pain. Under experimental conditions, tryptophan in doses of one gram or more has been<br />shown to be most effective for persons who suffer from mild insomnia and for those who take a<br />long time to fall asleep. Tryptophan may also be a natural painkiller. Researches at Temple<br />University in Philadelphia have indicated that it worked without causing the side effects<br />associated with other anesthesia or analgesics.<br />Tryptophan as a food medicine should be taken between meals with a low protein food such as<br />fruit juice or bread . One to three grams a day seems to be the range favoured by most<br />researchers.<br />METHIONINE<br />This is a vital sulphur -bearing compound which helps dissolve cholesterol and assimilates fat. It<br />is required by haemoglobin, the pancreas , the lymph and the spleen. It is necessary to maintain<br />normal body weight and also helps maintain the proper nitrogen balance in the body. Rich<br />sources of methionine are Brazil nut, Hazal nut, and other nuts. It is also found in Brussel<br />sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, pineapples and apples. Its deficiency can lead to chronic<br />rheumatic fever in children, hardening of the liver (cirrhosis) and nephritis of the kidneys. Studies<br />show that methionine and chorine prevent tumours and proliferation.<br />LYSINE<br />Lysine inhibits viruses. Its use along with vitamin C, zinc and vitamin A helps eliminate virus<br />infections. Vitamin C protects this amino acid while in the body so that lysine plus vitamin C has<br />a much stronger anti-virus effect than if either is used seperately. Lysine also influences the<br />female reproductive cycle. Lack of adequate lysine in the diet may cause headaches, dizziness,<br />nausea and incipient anaemia. The main sources of this amino acid are most kinds of nuts,<br />seeds, vegetables and sub-acid fruits. Lysine upsets in the body have also been associated with<br />pneumonia, nephrosis and acidosis as well as malnutrition and rickets in children.<br />It is considered a natural remedy for cold, sores, shingles and genital herpes. In a study<br />published in 1983, a group of researchers polled over 1,500 people whose daily intake of lysine<br />was over 900 mg. 88 per cent said that lysine seemed to reduce the severity of their attacks of<br />herpes virus and accelerated the healing time. These results have, however, been disputes by<br />some scientists.<br />VALINE<br />Valine is an essential body growth factor, particularly for mammary glands and ovaries. Valine is<br />directly linked with the nervous system. It is essential for the prevention of nervous and digestive<br />disorders. Major sources are almonds, apples and most vegetables. Lack of this amino acid<br />makes a person sensitive to touch and sound.<br />ISOLEUCINE<br />This amino acid is essential for maintaining the nitrogen balance vital to all body functions. It<br />also regulates metabolism of the thymus, spleen and pituitary glands. Rich sources are<br />sunflower seeds, all nuts, except cashew nuts, avacados and olives.<br />LEUCINE<br />It is the compliment of isoleucine, with a similar chemical composition although in different<br />arrangement. Its functions and sources are also similar.<br />PHENYLALANINE<br />This is essential to the production of hormone adrenalie ; to the production of the thyroid<br />secretion and the hair and skin pigment, melanin. It is effective in weight control because of its<br />effect on the thyroid. Its use before meals suppresses the appetite substantially. Patients taking<br />half a teaspoon of the powder 30 minutes before each meal, lose from a quarter to half a pound<br />a day. It is alsoessential for the efficient functioning of kidneys and bladder. Major source are<br />nuts, seeds, carrots, parsley and tomatoes. An important recently discovered therapeutic use of<br />phenylalanine is its ability to overcome most conditions of lethargy through stimulation of<br />adrenaline.<br />THREONINE<br />Amazing Power of Amino Acids<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap14.htm (3 of 5) [5/19/1999 9:16:13 PM]<br />This amino acid is found in various types of milk and is a major constituent in cow’s milk. Other<br />sources are nuts, seeds, carrots and green vegetables. Without threonine, a child’s development<br />will be incomplete and there will be malfunctioning of the brain. This amino acid has a powerful<br />anti-convulsive effect.<br />HISTIDINE<br />This helps tissue growth and repair. It is active in producing normal blood supply. It is also vital<br />to the formation of glycogen in the liver. It is found in the root vegetables and all green<br />vegetables. Studies indicate that the free form of histidine in the blood is low in cases of<br />rheumatoid arthritis and if taken orally, may possibly depress the symptoms of this ailment. Oral<br />histidine has , however, a tendency to stimulate hydrochloric acid secretion in the stomach and<br />persons who are susceptible to an overabundance of acid and also those who have ulcers<br />should avoid taking pure histidine. Orthopaedic and joint pains are caused by lack of histidine.<br />ARGININE<br />This is called the " fatherhood " amino acid as it comprises 80 per cent of all male reproductive<br />cells. It is essential for normal growth. Serious lack of this amino acid reduces the sex instinct<br />causing impotence. It is found in most vegetables, especially, green and root vegetables.<br />CYSTINE<br />It provides resistance by building up white-cell activity. It is an indispensable amino acid. It is one<br />of the mainstays of health as it is essential for the proper formation of skin and helps one<br />recover from surgery. It promotes the formation of carolene which helps hair growth. It is used in<br />the treatment of skin diseases, for low white blood-cells counts and for some cases of anaemia.<br />TYROSINE<br />This can be called an anti-stress amino acid. Dr. Richard Wurtman who recently conducted<br />experiments on the use of this amino acid says : " Supplemented tyrosine may be useful<br />therapeutically in persons exposed chronically to stress. "<br />Tyrosine is also beneficial for depression, nervousness, irritability and despondency. Research<br />has established this amino acid to be effective in the management and control of depression in<br />conjunction with glutamine, tryptophan, niacin and vitamin B6. It is also helpful in the treatment<br />of allergies and high blood pressure.<br />Although individual nee may vary, Dr. Wurtman considers 100 mg. per kilogram of body weight<br />per day an optional dose. This works out to about 5.4 grams of tyrosine a day for a person<br />weighing 120 pounds. The supplement may be divided into three separate doses each day.<br />When tyrosine is taken, a supplement of valine, another essential amino acid should not be<br />taken as valine may block tyrosine’s entry to the brain.<br />GLUTAMINE<br />This little known non-essential amino acid known as " sobriety nutrient " . It is considered<br />beneficial in the treatment of alcoholism. According to Roger J. Williams , a world-known<br />nutritionist, glutamine reduces the usually irresistible craving for alcohol that recovering drinkers<br />almost inevitably encounter.<br />CYSTEINE<br />There is some evidence that cysteine ( not to be confused with cystine) has certain therapeutic<br />value as a nutritional supplement. Dr. H. Ghadimi, chairman of the nutrition committee at Nassau<br />country, ( New York) medical centre uses cysteine supplements to treat his patients suffering<br />from obesity. He considers that there is link between obesity and over-production of insulin and<br />that cysteine supplements taken along with vitamin C at the end of the meals somehow<br />neutralises some of the excess insulin, which is responsible for fat production. He regards this<br />amino acid as ‘ anti-cancer and anti-ageing’ and claims that like vitamin C, cysteine protects the<br />body from damage by oxidants.<br />When one or more of the essential amino acids are left out of the diet, symptoms similar to those<br />of vitamin deficiencies may be experienced such as low blood pressure, anaemia, poor muscle<br />tone, slow heaing of wounds, loss of weight, poor resistance to infections and bloodshot eyes.<br />Children who do not get the required amounts of amino acids in their daily diet suffer from<br />Amazing Power of Amino Acids<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap14.htm (4 of 5) [5/19/1999 9:16:13 PM]<br />stunted growth and permanent damage to the glands. On the other hand, those getting the full<br />quota of amino acids in their diet will be rewarded with vigor, vitality and long life. The best food<br />proteins with all the essential amino acids are found in almonds, cheese and eggs.<br />Amino acids are being increasingly and successfully used in the treatment of several diseases,<br />such as stomach ulcers, burns, kidney diseases and liver diseases. It has also been observed<br />that the diseases of old age can be largely prevented if elderly persons obtain the proper food<br />supplements of amino acids , vitamins and minerals. Amino acids are needed at every stage<br />from infancy to old age - to repair worn out tissues and to create new ones.<br />[index]<br />Amazing Power of Amino Acids<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap14.htm (5 of 5) [5/19/1999 9:16:13 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Secrets of Food Combining<br />The observance of rules of food combining is neither faddish nor eccentric. It is a simple,<br />scientifically -based system of selecting foods, from among different types, which are<br />compatible. This facilitates easy and efficient digestion and ensures after-meal comfort.<br />Digestion is not merely chemical or physical process, but also a physiological one. When food<br />enters the body, it undergoes several changes before it is broken down into its constituent parts<br />and assimilated. But no food can be assimilated by the system and used by various organs<br />unless it has first been digested and then absorbed in the digestive system known as alimentary<br />canal, while the residue, unfit for absorption is eliminated from the system.<br />The chemical part of digestion is accomplished by a series of juices and their enzymes. The<br />juices alternate between alkalies and acids, and their character is determined by the requirement<br />of the enzymes they contain. These enzymes remain active in suitable media of well defined<br />acid-alkaline ranges and are destroyed in unsuitable media.<br />For instance, the salivary amylase ( ptyalin ) or starch-splitting enzyme of the mouth is active<br />only in an alkaline media and is destroyed by a mild acid. The gastric enzyme, pepsin, which<br />initiates protein digestion, is active only in the acid medium and is destroyed by alkalies.<br />A noteworthy feature of the digestive secretions is that the body suits its fluid and enzymes to<br />the character of the food eaten. There are, however, severe limitations in this process. It is<br />possible to suit the juices to a particular food, however, complex it may be, but not to a variety of<br />foods taken together. It is the combining of many varieties and incompatible foods at a meal that<br />causes 90 per cent of digestive disorders.<br />There is a marked tendency to gastro-intestinal fermentation with certain combinations of foods.<br />There is no fermentation and digestion will be much more satisfactory when the foods<br />comprising a meal are of the same type. This generally means eating similar foods at one time in<br />order to accomplish the most complete digestion.<br />The most important rule for combining foods is to avoid mixing protein and carbohydrate<br />concentrated foods. Although every food contains some protein , those regarded as protein<br />concentrated foods demand the longest digestive time. They are held in the stomach for some<br />hours until the gastric juices has performed its task. This may vary from two-and-a-half to six<br />hours, depending upon the complexity of the protein in the food. If a protein food is mixed with<br />starch-concentrated or sugar-concentrated foods, it will usually result in fermentation. This may<br />lead to indigestion and gas in the stomach.<br />Animal-food proteins, such as meats, fish and cheese, require very high concentration of<br />hydrochloric acid. Their gastric digestin will be greatly inhibited by carbohydrate fermentation in<br />the stomach. This will produce more gas and increased discomfort. Eating meat, potatoes, bread<br />and sweets should, therefore, be especially avoided.<br />Protein foods are best digested when eaten with fresh vegetable salad. Primary protein foods<br />such as nuts, seeds and soyabeans also combine very well with acid fruits like oranges,<br />pineapples, grapefruit and lemons, and fairly well with sub-acid fruits, like grapes, pears, apples,<br />berries, apricots and peaches. These vegetables and fruits are rich natural sources of vitamin C<br />which aids protein digestion.<br />The second important rule for food combining is to avoid mixing proteins and fats at the same<br />meal. Fat in foods inhibits the secretion of gastric juice through the small wall. Thus when<br />fat-concentrated foods are taken with protein foods, gastric catabolism will decrease by the<br />degree of liquid concentration in the stomach. Fat will remain undigested in the stomach until<br />gastric juices complete their work on the complex protein molecule.<br />Although all primary protein foods contain high concentration of fat, such lipids will be held in<br />suspension, awaiting catabolism in the intestine , without impeding gastric action. Free fats like<br />oil, butter, and milk tend to coat the gastric mucoa, thereby inhibiting its effort to secrete gastric<br />juice. Fat surrounding fried foods is also regarded as free fat and it interferes with gastric<br />Secrets of Food Combining<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap15.htm (1 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:16:23 PM]<br />catabolism.<br />Another important rule for food combining is to avoid mixing carbohydrates and acid fruits in the<br />same meal. The starch-splitting enzyme ptyalin in the saliva plays an important role as the food<br />is chewed. It converts the complex starch molecules into simpler sugars. Ptyalin requires a<br />neutral or slightly alkaline medium for proper functioning and this is the normal condition of the<br />saliva in the mouth. However, when acid foods are taken, the action of ptyalin is halted. It is,<br />therefore, necessary to avoid acid fruits in the same meal as sweet fruits or starches. Thus<br />tomatoes should not be eaten with starches especially potatoes or bread.<br />Refined sugar products are also acidic, both in the mouth and in the bloodstream. The acidifying<br />of the saliva by sucrose is one of the main causes of tooth decay. It can also cause severe<br />damage to the digestion.<br />Food combining is designed to facilitate easier digestion. The chart in Table I, represents<br />diagramatically food combining rules in an easy-to-follow method. Accompanying this chart are<br />the lists of food in their correct classification.<br />In a nutshell, starches, fats, green vegetables and sugars may be eaten together as they require<br />either an alkaline or neutral medium for their digestion. Similarly, proteins, green vegetables and<br />acid fruits may be eaten together as they require an acid or neutral medium for their digestion.<br />But starches and proteins, fats and proteins and starches and acid fruits should not be eaten<br />together as a general rule, if the best results are required from the ingestion of the food eaten.<br />This in brief is the whole basis for successful food combination.<br />An important point to remember about meals is that the smaller the number of courses they<br />consist of, the better it will be. They should approximate to a one-course meal as much as<br />possible. Simple meals in every way are more conducive to health, than more elaborate ones,<br />no matter how well they may be combined.<br />A meal consisting of proteins,carbohydrates and fats may remain in the stomach for six to seven<br />hours before the stomach is emptied. If carbohydrates are eaten without proteins, they remain in<br />the stomach for a relatively short period. A fruit meal remains in the stomach for even shorter<br />time. It is advisable to eat these different foods at different meals - a fruit meal, a starch meal<br />and a protein meal. The ideal practice is a fruit meal for breakfast, a starch meal with salad and<br />non- starchy vegetables for lunch, and a protein meal with a salad and non-starchy vegetables<br />for dinner.<br />Table I<br />Food Combining Chart<br />Food Groups Proteins Fats StarchesVegetablesSweet FruitsSub-acid FruitsAcid Fruits<br />Proteins Good Poor Poor Good Poor Fair Good<br />Fats Poor Good Fair Good Fair Fair Fair<br />Starches Poor Good Good Fair Fair Poor<br />Vegetables Good Good Good Good Poor Poor Poor<br />Sweet Fruits Poor Fair Poor Good Good Poor<br />Sub-acid Fruits Fair Fair Poor Good Good Good<br />Acid Fruits Good Poor Poor Poor Good Good<br />Proteins : Nuts, seeds, soyabeans, cheese, eggs, poultry* meat*, fish*, yogurt.<br />Fats : Oils, olive, butter, margarine.<br />Starches : Whole cereals, peas, beans, lentils.<br />Vegetables : Leafy green vegetables, sprouted seeds, cabbage cauliflower,brocoli, green peas,<br />celery, tomatoes, onions.<br />Sweet Fruits : Bananas, fits, custard apples, all-dried fruits, dates.<br />Sub-acid-fruits : Grapes, pears, apples, peaches, apricots, plums, fruits guavas, raspberries.<br />Acid fruits : Grapefruit, lemons, oranges, limes, pineapple, strawberries.<br />Secrets of Food Combining<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap15.htm (2 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:16:23 PM]<br />* Not recommended for good nutrition.<br />[index]<br />Secrets of Food Combining<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap15.htm (3 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:16:23 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Health Promotion the Vegetarian Way<br />The word " Vegetarian " was coined by the Vegetarian Society of the United Kingdom in about<br />1847. The word does not come from vegetable as is generally assumed : It is a derivation of the<br />Latin word ‘ vegetari ‘ which means to enliven.<br />The practice of vegetarianism, however, goes far back in history. Many noted philosophers and<br />religious teachers urged their followers to avoid a flesh diet. Brahminism, Jainism,<br />Zoraostrianism and Buddhism acknowledged the sacredness of life and the need to live without<br />causing suffering ; so did many of the early Christians.<br />There are various types of vegetarians. " Vagans "are the strictest vegetarians who eat only<br />plant foods and exclude all animal by-products such as eggs, milk, cheese, curd, butter, ghee<br />and even honey. There are " lacto vegetarians " who eat plant foods as well as dairy products<br />and " lacto-avo vegetarians " who eat eggs besides plant foods and dairy products. There are<br />even fish-eating vegetarians. The common factor among them is that they do not eat the flesh of<br />warm- blooded animals.<br />Meat seems to have assumed an exaggerated importance nutritionally. It is generally mistakenly<br />believed that nutritional deficiences , especially of proteins and vitamin B12 and poor health may<br />result if animal foods are eliminated. Studies however, have indicated to health problems or<br />deficiency diseases for those on a vegetarian diet.<br />Of the 22 amino acids -the essential components of proteins - needed by the body for its normal<br />functioning, only nine need be supplied by the diet as the body synthesies the remaining 13. The<br />body can use 100 per cent of this protein if all ten amino acids are in ideal proportions. If,<br />however, one or more of the essential amino acids are present in less than the ideal amount, the<br />value of the entire protein is reduced in the same proportions. On a quality rating scale of 1 to<br />100, egg protein is 95, milk is 82, meat and poultry are 67, fish 80, grains are between 50 to 70<br />and legumes, nuts and seeds are between 40 and 60.<br />The so-called protein deficiency in a vegetarian diet is in fact more imaginary than real as the<br />contribution of the protein value of the green vegetables has been ignored and the true protein<br />requirement is less than that assumed. Green vegetable protein is as high in quality as milk<br />protein and thus makes a very valuable contribution to the vegetarian’s protein nutrition. The<br />high quality of protein balances the lower quality of other vegetarian proteins such as nuts and<br />beans. The recommended daily allowance of 70 value proteins is 44 grams per day for women<br />and 56 for men. Researchers have now discovered that the actual protein requirement is much<br />less, being 15 grams per day of 100 value protein or 21.5 grams of 70 value protein or 30 grams<br />of 50 value protein. A wholesome vegetarian diet can, therefore, easily meet the body’s protein<br />needs.<br />Moreover, it is possible to combine two low-value plant proteins to get a protein of higher quality.<br />Thus , wheat which has a deficiency in the amino-acid lysine but an abundance of sulphur<br />containing amino-acids can be combined with beans which have the opposite enrichment<br />combination. Taken together, they complement each other to form a complete protein.<br />As regards the adequacy of B12 nutrition, laco-avo vegetarians and lacto-vegetarians should not<br />feel concerned on this score, as the B12 needs can be easily supplied by dairy products and<br />eggs. A quarter litre of milk or 100 grams of cheese or 1 egg per day will supply the<br />recommended daily allowance. This vitamin once eaten is stored in the liver. Vagans, however,<br />do not get this vitamin in their food, yet reliable scientific studies have found no evidence of B12<br />deficiency diseases. It is therefore, presumed that this vitamin can be synthesised in the body.<br />Auto-Intoxication<br />Most diseases of the human body are caused by auto-intoxication or self-poisoning. The flesh of<br />animals increases the burden of the organs of elimination and overloads the system with animal<br />waste matter and poisons. Chemical analysis has proved that uric acid and other uremic poisons<br />Health Promotion the Vegetarian Way<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap16.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:16:33 PM]<br />contained in the animal body are almost identical to caffeine, there and nicotine, the poisonous<br />stimulating principles of coffee, tea and tobacco. This explains why meat stimulates the animal<br />passions and creates a craving for liquor, tobacco and other stronger stimulants. Excessive uric<br />acid resulting from meat-eating also causes diseases such as rheumatism, Bright’s disease,<br />kidney stones, gout and gall stones. Meat proteins cause putrefaction twice as rapidly as do<br />vegetable proteins. The morbid matter of the dead animal body is foreign and uncongenial to the<br />excretory organs of man. It is much harder for them to eliminate the waste matter of an animal<br />carcass than that of the human body. Moreover, the formation of ptomains or corpse poisons<br />begins immediately after the death of the animal and meat and poultry are usually kept in cold<br />storage for many days and even months before they reach the kitchen.<br />Another powerful influence tends to poison the flesh of slaughtered animals. As is well known,<br />emotions of worry, fear and anger actually poison blood and tissues. Imagine the excitable<br />condition of animals after many days of travel, closely packed in shaking vehicles - hungry,<br />thirsty, scared enroute to the slaughter -houses. Many die even before the end of their journey.<br />Others are driven half dead with fear and exhaustion to the slaughter pans, their instinctive fear<br />of death augmented by the sight and odour of the blood shambles.<br />Flesh is often a carrier of disease germs. Diseases of many kinds are on the increase in the<br />animals, making flesh foods more and more unsafe. People are continually eating flesh that may<br />contain tuberculosis and cancerous germs. Often animals are taken to the market and sold for<br />food when they are so diseased that their owners do not wish to keep them any longer. And<br />some of the processes of fattening them to increase their weight and consequently their market<br />value , produce disease. Shut away from light and pure air, breathing the atmosphere of filthy<br />stables, perhaps fattening on decaying foods, the entire body now becomes contaminated with<br />foul matter.<br />Benefits of Vegetarianism<br />A vegetarian diet can have many nutritional benefits, if it is rich in fruits and vegetables, and<br />contains moderate amounts of seeds, nuts, whole grains and legumes. One of the main benefits<br />of a proper vegetarian diet is its low caloric content in relation to the bulk supplied, which helps<br />maintain ideal weight.<br />Another benefit of the vegetarian diet is the much lower intake of fat, if dairy products, seeds and<br />nuts are eaten sparingly. This accounts for lower serium cholesterol levels found in vegetarians,<br />which considerably reduces the risk of developing heart diseases and breast and colon cancer.<br />A third nutritional advantage of the vegetarian diet is its high fibre content. Fibre, being<br />indigestible, increases the bulk of the faces, keeps them soft and makes them easy to expel.<br />One study has indicated that lacto-avo vegetarians consume twice as much and vagans four<br />times as much fibre as non-vegetarians. High fibre intake has been associated with decreased<br />risks of diseases of the colon, appendicits, cancer of the colon and rectum, hiatus hernia, piles<br />and varicose veins.<br />McCarrison, one of the greatest aurhoties on food, has outlined a perfect diet. According to him,<br />" a perfectly constituted diet is one in which the principal ingredients are milk, milk products, any<br />whole cereal grain or mixture of cereal grains, green leafy vegetables and fruits. These are the<br />protective foods. They make good the defects of other constituents of the diet, protect the body<br />against infection and disease of various kinds, and their use in sufficient quantity ensures<br />physical efficiency. "<br />Vegetarianism is thus a system based on scientific principles and has proved adequate for the<br />best nutrition free from the poisons and bacteria of diseased animals. It is the best diet for man’s<br />optimum, physical, mental and spiritual development.<br />[index]<br />Health Promotion the Vegetarian Way<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap16.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:16:33 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Importance of Dietary Fibre<br />Fibre forms the skeletal system of plants. Without it no plant or tree would be able to stand<br />upright. Dietary fibre, the roughage of yesteryears, consists of those parts of the plant foods that<br />cannot be digested by enzymes or other digestive secretions in the ailmentary canal.<br />Dietary fibre plays an important role in the maintenance of health and prevention of diseases.<br />There is sufficient evidence to suggest that an artificial depletion of fibre as in case of refined<br />cereals and sugar has over the last 100 years contributed to several degenerative diseases.<br />Recent studies in this area indicate that sufficient intake of fibre-rich diet may help prevent<br />obesity, colon cancer, heart disease, gallstones, irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulosis and<br />diabetic conditions.<br />Studies have also established that dietary fibre is a collection of elements with a variety of<br />functions rather than a single substance with single function as was assumed earlier. This new<br />insight into the true nature of fibre has given the lie to old beliefs that bran is synonymous with<br />fibre, that all fibre is fibrous or stringy and that all fibre tastes the same.<br />Physiological effects<br />Fibre in the diet promotes more frequent bowel movements and softer stools having increased<br />weight. The softness of stools is largely due to the presence of emulsified gas which is produced<br />by the bacterial action on the fibre. A high fibre intake results in greater efficiency in the<br />peristaltic movement of the colon. This helps in relieving the constipation which is the main<br />cause of several acute and chronic diseases.<br />Recent studies suggest that increasing the dietary fibre intake may be beneficial for patients with<br />irritated bowel syndrome who have diarrhoea and rapid colonic transit, as well as to those who<br />have constipation and slow transit. The high fibre diet, like bran, thus regulates the condition<br />inside the colon so as to avoid both extremes - constipation and diarrhoea.<br />Investigations have shown that several potential carcinogens are produced in the faeces. Their<br />production is related to the acidity of the gut content. The greater the acidity in the bowel<br />content, the less is the production of these carcinogens. The breaking down of the fibre by<br />bacteria renders the faeces more acidic. This reduces the amount of possible carcinogenic<br />substances. Fibre also reduces the possibility of formation of harmful toxins in the large intestine<br />by reducing the intestinal transit time of the food contents.<br />Dietary fibre increases the bacteria in the large intestines which require nitrogen for their growth.<br />This in turn reduces the chances of cancerous changes in cells by reducing the amount of<br />ammonia in the large bowel. Fibre reduces the absorption of cholesterol in the diet. It also slows<br />down the rate of absorption of sugars from the food in the digestive system. Certain types of<br />fibre increase the viscosity of the food content. This increased viscosity indirectly reduces the<br />need for insulin secreted by the pancreas. Thus a fibre-rich diet can help in diabetes mollitus<br />Sources of Fibre<br />The most significant food sources of fibre are unprocessed wheat bran, whole cereals such as<br />wheat, rice, barley, rye, millets ; legumes such as potato, carrots, beet , turnip and sweet potato ;<br />fruits like mango and guava and leafy vegetables such as cabbage, lettuce and celery. The<br />percentage of fibre content per 100 gms. of some foods are : bran 10.5-13.5, whole grain<br />cereals 1.0-2.0, nuts 2.0-5.0, legumes 1.5-1.7, vegetables 0.5-1.5, fresh fruits 0.5-1.5, and dried<br />fruits 1.0-3.0. The foods which are completely devoid of fibre are meat, fish , eggs, milk, cheese,<br />fats and sugars.<br />Bran, the outer coverings of grains, is one of the richest sources of dietary fibre. And it contains<br />several types of fibre including cellulose, hermicellulose and pectin. Wheat and corn bran are<br />highly beneficial in relieving constipation. Experiments show that oat bran can reduce cholesterol<br />levels substantially. Corn bran is considered more versatile. It relieves constipation and also<br />Importance of Dietary Fibre<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap17.htm (1 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:17:03 PM]<br />lowers LDL cholesterol, which is one of the more harmful kinds. Besides being rich in fibre, bran<br />has a real food value being rich in time, iron and vitamins and containing a considerable amount<br />of protein.<br />Dr.Dennis P. Burkitt, a noted British physician remarks, " Grain roughages, such as rich bran<br />and wheat bran, are an essential part of a healthy diet, and a preventive against diseases like<br />piles, constipation, bowel cancer, varicose veins and even coronary thrombosis. " Dr. Burkitt<br />worked for many years in Africa and found after a series of observations that rural Africans who<br />eat bulk of fibrous foods rarely suffer from any of these diseases.<br />Legumes have high fibre content. Much of this fibre is water- soluble, which makes legumes<br />likely agents for lowering cholesterol. Soyabeans, besides this, can also help control glucose<br />levels.<br />The types of fibre contained in vegetables and fruits contribute greatly towards good health. The<br />vegetables with the biggest fibre ratings include sweet corn, carrots, potatoes, parsnips and<br />peas. And among the high ranking fruits are raspberries, pears, strawberries and guavas.<br />Types of Fibres<br />There are six classes of fibre. They are cellulose, hemicellouse, pectin, gums, mucilages and<br />legnin. They differ in physical properties and chemical interactions in the gut, though all except<br />legnin are poly-saceharides. The facts known so far about these forms of fibre as a result of<br />various studies are discussed below.<br />Cellulose : It is the most prevalent fibre. It is fibrous and softens the stool. It abounds in fruits,<br />vegetables, bran, whole-meal bread and beans. It is also present in nuts and seeds. It increases<br />the bulk of intestinal waste and eases it quickly through the colon. Investigations indicate that<br />these actions may dilute and flush cancer-causing toxins out of the intestinal tract. They also<br />suggest that cellulose may help level out glucose in the blood and curb weight gain.<br />Hermicellulose : It is usually present wherever cellulose is and shares some of its traits. Like<br />cellulose, it helps relieve con- stipation, waters down carcinogens in the bowel and aids in<br />weight reduction. Both cellulose and hemicellulose undergo some bacterial breakdown in the<br />large intestine and this produces gas.<br />Pectin : This form of fibre is highly beneficial in reducing serum cholesterol levels. It, however,<br />does not have influence on the stool and does nothing to prevent constipation. Researchs are<br />being conducted to ascertain if pectin can help eliminate bile acids through the intestinal tract<br />thereby preventing gallstones and colon cancer. It is found in apples, grapes, berries, citrus<br />fruits, guava, raw papaya and bran.<br />Gums and Mucilages : They are the sticky fibres found in dried beans, oat bran and oatmeal.<br />Investigations have shown that they are useful in the dietary control of diabetes and cholesterol.<br />Legnin : The main function of legnin is to escort bile acid and cholesterol out of the intestines.<br />There is some evidence that it may prevent the formation of gallstones. It is contained in cereals,<br />bran, whole meal flour, raspberries, strawberries, cab- bage, spinach, parsley and tomatoes.<br />The best way to increase fibre content in the diet is to increase the constipation of wholemeal<br />bread, brown rice, peas beans, lentils, root vegetables and sugar -containing fruits, such as<br />dates, apples, pears and bananas. The intake of sugar, refined cereals, meat, eggs and dairy<br />products should be reduced. Candies, pastries, cakes which are rich in both sugar and fat,<br />should be taken sparingly. White processed bread should be completely eliminated from the<br />diet.<br />Requirement :<br />There are divergent views as to the requirement of dietary fibre for good health. There is no<br />recommended daily dietary allowance for it and hardly any data about optimum amounts. Some<br />Africans known for lower incidence of degenerative diseases take about 150 grams of fibre a<br />day. In Europe and North America, where there is a high incidence of such diseases, people<br />take 25 grams or less a day. Dr. John H. Cummings, a noted fibre expert in England, considers<br />Importance of Dietary Fibre<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap17.htm (2 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:17:03 PM]<br />that a fibre intake of 30 grams ( about one ounce ) per day is sufficient for good health.<br />Excessive consumption of fibre, especially bran, should however, be avoided. Due to its content<br />of crude fibre, bran is relatively harsh and it may irritate the delicate functioning of the digestive<br />system, especially in the sick and the weak. Excessive use of fibre may also result in loss of<br />valuable minerals like calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium from the body through<br />excretion due to quick passage of food from the intestine.<br />[index]<br />Importance of Dietary Fibre<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap17.htm (3 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:17:03 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Lecithin - An Amazing Youth Element<br />Lecithin is the most abundant of the phospholipids. It is a fatty food substance, which serves as<br />a structural material for every cell in the body. It is an essential constituent of the human brain<br />and nervous system. It forms 30 per cent of the dry weight of the brain and 17 per cent of the<br />nervous system.<br />Lecithin is also an important component of the endocrine glands and the muscles of the heart<br />and kidneys. It makes up 73 per cent of the total liver fat. Nervous, mental or glandular<br />overactivity can consume lecithin faster than its replacement. This may render a person irritable<br />and exhausted. It is, therefore, of utmost importance to add lecithin to the diet, if the body’s own<br />supply decreases as in old age or working under stress.<br />Rich Sources<br />Lecithin is derived from the Greek Word, likithos, meaning egg yolk. Egg yolk is a rich source of<br />lecithin, and also a rich source of cholesterol. This combination makes it possible for the lecithin<br />to emulsify the cholesterol. Vegetable oils, whole grain cereals, soyabeans, liver and milk are<br />other rich sources of lecithin. The cells of the body are also capable of synthesizing it as needed,<br />if several of the B vitamins are present. Since these B vitamins are generally removed when<br />grains are refined, people who eat exclusively white flour products are lacking them.<br />Benefits<br />The action of lecithin on the heart is the most important of all its proved benefits. It achieved its<br />popularity initially in this area. Cholesterol is a fatty substance that tends to collect in the walls of<br />the arteries and veins, thus narrowing them. This may eventually lead to a fatal blood clot.<br />Scientific studies have shown that lecithin has the ability to break up cholesterol into small<br />particles which can be easily handled by the system. With sufficient intake of lecithin, cholesterol<br />cannot build up against the walls of the arteries and veins.<br />Like cholesterol, lecithin is continuously produced in the liver, passes into the intestine with bile<br />and is absorbed in the blood. It helps in the transportation of fats. It also helps the cells to<br />remove fats and cholesterol from the blood and to utilise them. It increases the production of bile<br />acids made from cholesterol, thereby reducing the amount in the blood. It will thus be seen that<br />cholesterol can cause trouble only if lecithin is lacking in the system.<br />All atheroscleroses or changs in the arterial walls are characterised by an increased of the blood<br />cholesterol and a decrease in lecithin. It has been shown that experimental heart disease,<br />produced by feeding cholesterol, could be prevented merely by giving a small quantity of lecithin.<br />Atherosclerosis has been produced in various species of animals by increasing the blood<br />cholesterol or decreasing the lecithin.<br />In normal health, when a diet high in fat is taken, there is tremendous increase in the production<br />of lecithin. This helps in changing the fat in the blood from large particles to smaller and smaller<br />ones. In case of atherosclerosis, however, the lecithin in the blood remains very low regardless<br />of the quantity of fat entering the blood. The result is that, the fat particles remain too large to be<br />able to pass through the arterial walls. A more serious situation can develop if there is lack of<br />lecithin in cells also.<br />Besides reducing the cholesterol level in the blood, there is mounting scientific evidence to<br />suggest several other benefits from lecithin. It has been suggested that its intake in sufficient<br />amounts can help rebuild those cells and organs which need it. Lecithin helps to maintain their<br />health once they are repaired. It may mean that a deficiency of lecithin in the diet may be one of<br />the causes of ageing and that its use may be beneficial in retar- ding the ageing process.<br />Edward R. Hewith in his book, The Years Between 75 and 90 says, " with older people the fats<br />remain high in the blood for from five to seven hours and in some cases as long as 20 hours,<br />thus giving the fats more time to become located in the tissues. If lecithin is given to older people<br />Lecithin - An Amazing Youth Element<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap18.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:17:13 PM]<br />before a fatty meal, it has been found that the fats in the blood return to normal in a short time, in<br />the same way they do in younger people."<br />In some cases, the cosmetic effect of lecithin does as much for the mental outlook of persons as<br />it does for their physical well-being. It has been found to eliminate the yellow or yellow- brown<br />plaques on the skin or around the eyes caused by fatty deposits. It is a natural tranquilliser which<br />is beneficial in ner- vous exhaustion. It can produce great alertness in elderly people.<br />Some studies have indicated that lecithin increases the gamma globulin in the blood. This helps<br />fight infection. It provides an increased immunity against pneumonia. It has also been found to<br />lower blood pressure in some people. IN combination with vitamin E, it has proved helpful in<br />lowering the requirements of insulin in diabetics. It has also proved valuable in the treatment of<br />certain skin ailments, including acne, eczema and psoriasis.<br />Lecithin has been suggested as a sexual aid. It was used in Germany 30 years ago as a<br />restorative of sexual powers, for glandular exhaustion and nervous and mental disorders.<br />Seminal fluid is rich in lecithin. Because of its loss from the body, its need for men is regarded as<br />specially great. Its use is also considered valuable in minimising pre-menstrual and menopausal<br />tension.<br />Dr. N.A. Ferri, an eminent physician remarks - "Lecithin has a versatile function in life. It is an<br />extremely important factor in the digestion and oxidation of fats, thus creating more muscle and<br />glandular activity, resulting in greater body exertion and less fat accumulations. Lecithin is<br />essential not only for tissue integrity of the nervous and glandular system in all living cells, but<br />has been regarded as also the most effective generator and regenerator of great physical,<br />mental and glandular activity. Shattered nerves, depleted brain power, waning activity of vital<br />glands, find in lecithin, especially in the cellular structure of the nervous system and endocrine<br />glands a source of dynamic energy."<br />The best way to increase lecithin is to eat the same amount of fat as usual, but reduce animal fat<br />except that from fish. Oil may be used for cooking, seasoning and salad dressing. All<br />hydrogenated fats such as margarines, cooking fats, hydrogenated peanut butter and processed<br />cheese should be avoided as also foods prepared with them.<br />[index]<br />Lecithin - An Amazing Youth Element<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap18.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:17:13 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Role of Enzymes in Nutrition<br />Enzymes are chemical substances produced in the living organism. They are marvellous organic<br />catalysts which are essential to life as they control all the chemical reactions that take place in a<br />living system. Enzymes are part of all living cells, including those of plants and animals.<br />The term enzyme, which literally means in yeast’, was coined following the demonstration of<br />catalytic properties of yeast and yeast juices. Although enzymes are produced in the living cell,<br />they are not dependent upon the vital processes of the cell and work outside the cell. Certain<br />enzymes of yeast, for instance, when expressed from the yeast cells are capable of exerting<br />their usual effect, that is, the conversion of sugar to alcohol.<br />A striking feature of enzymes is that while they enter into chemical reaction, they remain intact in<br />the process. They however, act with maximum efficiency at a certain temperature. Lowering the<br />temperature below or raising it above this level slows the reaction. A high degree of heat, that is<br />above 60 o C, permanently destroys their action.<br />It has been estimated that there are over 20,000 enzymes in the human body. This estimate is<br />based on the number of bodily processes that seem to require action. However, so far only<br />about 1,000 enzymes have been identified. But their great role in nutrition and other living<br />processes has been firmly established. They are protein molecules made up of chains of amino<br />acids. They play a vital role and work more efficiently than any reagent concocted by chemists.<br />Thus for instance, a chemist can separate proteins into their component amino acids by boiling<br />them at 166 o C for over 18 hours in a strong solution of hydrochloric acid, but the enzymes of<br />the small intestines can do so in less than three hours at body temperature in a neutral medium.<br />A feature which distinguishes enzymes from inorganic catalysts is that they are absolutely<br />specific in their actions. This means that a particular enzyme can cause reactions involving only<br />a particular type of substance or a group of closely related substances. The substance on which<br />the enzyme acts is known as "substrate". The specificity of an enzyme is, however, related to<br />the formation of the enzyme-substrate complex which requires that the appropriate groupings of<br />both substrate and enzyme should be in correct relative position. The substrate must fit the<br />enzyme like a key fits its lock.<br />Enzymes which are used in the cells which make them are called intracellular enzymes.<br />Enzymes which are produced in cells which secrete them to other parts of the body are known<br />as extracellular enzymes. Digestive juices are an example of the latter type.<br />Nomenclature<br />There are few enzymes whose names have been established by long usage such as ptyalin,<br />pepsin, trypsin and erepsin. Apart from these, enzymes are usually named by adding the<br />suffixes to the main part of the name of the substrate upon which they act. Thus amylases act<br />upon starch (amylum), lac- tase acts upon lactose, lipases act upon lipids, maltase acts upon<br />maltose and protesses act upon lipids, maltase acts upon maltose and protesses act upon<br />proteins. There are, however, several enzymes which act upon many substances in different<br />ways. These enzymes are named by their functions rather than substrates. Thus, an enzyme<br />which causes deaminations is called a deaminase and oxidising enzyme an oxidase.<br />Some enzymes work efficiently only if some other specific substance is present in addition to<br />substrate. This other substance is known as an "activator" or a "conenzyme" . "Acti- vators" are<br />usually inorganic ions. They increase the activity of a complete enzyme and may take part in the<br />formation of the enzyme-substrate complex. Many of the conenzymes are related to vitamins.<br />This explains why vitamin deficiencies profoundly alter metabolism. Thus, for instance, thiamine,<br />as thiamine pyrophosphate, functions as a conenzyme in at least 14 enzymes systems.<br />Conenzymes, like enzymes, are being continuously regenerated in the cells.<br />Enzymes play a decisive role in the digestion of food as they are responsible for the chemical<br />changes which the food undergoes during digestion. The chemical changes comprise the<br />Role of Enzymes in Nutrition<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap19.htm (1 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:17:21 PM]<br />breaking up of the large molecules of carbohydrates, fats and proteins into smaller ones or<br />conversion of complex substances into simple ones which can be absorbed by the intestines.<br />They also control the numerous reactions by which these simple substances are utilized in the<br />body for building up new tissues and producing energy. The enzymes themselves are not<br />broken down or changed in the process. They remain as powerful at the end of a reaction as<br />they were at the beginning. Moreover, very small amounts can convert large amounts of<br />material. They are thus true catalysts.<br />The process of digestion begins in the mouth. The saliva in the moth, besides helping to<br />masticate the food, carries an enzyme called ptyalin which begins the chemical action of<br />digestion. It initiates the catabolism (breakdown) of carbohydrates by converting starches into<br />simple sugars. This explains the need for thorough mastication of starchy food in the mouth. If<br />this is not done the ptyalin cannot carry out its functions as it is active in an alkaline, neutral or<br />slightly acid medium and is inactivated by the highly acid gastric juices in the stomach.<br />Although enzymatic action starts while food is being chewed, digestion moves into high gear<br />only when the chewed food has passed the esophagus and reached the stomach. While the<br />physical action of peristalsis churns and kneads solid food into a semi-solid amorphous mixture<br />called chyme, this mixture undergoes chemical changes initiated by gastric juices secreted by<br />the walls of the stomach. These juices include mucus for lubricating the stomach, hydrochloric<br />acid and gastric juice. The enzyme or active principle of the gastric juice is pepsin. This enzyme<br />in combination with hydrochloric acid starts the breakdown of proteins into absorbable amino<br />acids called polypeptides. An additional enzyme, rennin, plays an important role in the stomach<br />of the infant. It curdles milk and allows the pepsin to work upon it. The gastric juice has no effect<br />upon starches or fats.<br />When the chyme leaves the stomach and enters the small intestine through the pylorus - the<br />lower escape valve, it still contains much food which is in the form of raw material not yet ready<br />for absorption in the body. Digestion is completed inside the small intestine by several juices.<br />From liver comes a liquid called bile which converts fat globules into a smooth emulsion.<br />The pancreas contributes various enzymes which continue the breakdown of proteins, help to<br />divide starch into sugars and work with bile in digesting fats. The small intestine itself secretes<br />enzymes from its inner wall to complete the reactions. When all the enzymes have done their<br />work, the food is digested and rendered fit for absorption by the system.The following table<br />briefly summarises the chemical digestion of carbohydrates, fats and proteins by various<br />enzymes :<br />Source of Enzyme Enzyme Substrate Products<br />Mouth Salivary<br />glands<br />Salivary amylase (ptyalin) Starch Dextrins and maltose<br />Stomach Gastric protease<br />Gastric mucosa pepsin Proteins Polypeptides<br />rennin casein insoluble casein<br />Gastric lipase Short chain &<br />medium chain<br />triglycerides<br />Fatty acids and<br />glycerol<br />Small intestine Pancreatic Proteases, trypsin<br />chymotrypsin<br />carboxypeptidases<br />Proteins and<br />polypeptides<br />Smaller -polypeptides<br />& amino acids<br />Panocreatic lipase (steapsin) Fats Mono and<br />diglycerides, fatty<br />acids and glycerol<br />Pancreatic amylase<br />(amylopsin)<br />Amylose &<br />amylopectin<br />Maltose, maltotriose &<br />a-limit dextrins<br />Intestinal mucosa<br />Brushborder<br />Intestinal peptidases<br />aminopeptideses dipeptideses<br />Polypeptides<br />Dipeptides<br />Smaller polypeptides<br />& amino acids<br />Intestinal saccharidases<br />a-dextrinase (isomaltase)<br />a-limit dextrins Glucose<br />Sucrase Sucrase Glucose & fructose<br />Maltase Maltose Glucose(2 molecules)<br />Role of Enzymes in Nutrition<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap19.htm (2 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:17:21 PM]<br />Lactase Lactose Glucose & galactose<br />Enzymes form part of the food we eat. Raw foods contain enzymes in abundance ; cooking,<br />pasteurising, pickling, smoking and other processings denature enzymes. It is, therefore,<br />essential to include in our diet, substantial amount of raw foods in the form of fruits, raw salads<br />and sprouts. Studies have revealed that the body without sufficient raw materials from raw<br />foods, may tire and produce fewer enzymes year after year. This may lead to wearing out of<br />body processes and consequent worn-out looks.<br />[index]<br />Role of Enzymes in Nutrition<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap19.htm (3 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:17:21 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Raw Juice Therapy<br />Raw juice therapy is a method of treatment of disease through an exclusive diet of juices of fruits<br />and vegetables. It is also known as juice fasting. It is the most effective way to restore health<br />and rejuvenate the body.<br />During raw juice therapy, the eliminative and cleansing capacity of the organs of elimination,<br />namely lungs, liver, kidneys and the skin, is greatly increased and masses of accumulated<br />metabolic waste and toxins are quickly eliminated. It affords a physiological rest to the digestive<br />and assimilative organs. After the juice fasting or raw juice therapy, the digestion of food and the<br />utilisation of nutrients is vastly improved.<br />An exclusive diet of raw juices of fruits and vegetables results in much faster recovery from<br />diseases and more effective cleansing and regeneration of the tissues than the fasting on pure<br />water. Dr. Ragnar Berg, a world-renowned authority on nutriton and biochemistry observes :<br />"During fasting the body burns up and excretes huge amounts of accumulated wastes. We can<br />help this cleansing process by drinking alkaline juices instead of water while fasting. I have<br />supervised many fasts and made extensive examinations and tests of fasting patients, and I am<br />convinced that drinking alkali-forming fruit and vegetable juices, instead of water, during fasting<br />will increase the healing effect of fasting. Elimination of uric acid and other inorganic acids will be<br />accelerated. And sugars in juices will strengthen the heart. Juice fasting is, therefore, the best<br />form of fasting. "<br />As juices are extracted from plants and fruits, they process definite medicinal properties. Specific<br />juices are beneficial in specific conditions. Besides specific medicinal virtues, raw fruit and<br />vegetable juices have an extraordinary revitalising and rejuvenative effect on all the organs,<br />glands and functions of the body.<br />Favourable Effects<br />The favourable effect of raw juices in the treatment of disease is attributed to the following facts :<br />Raw juices of fruits and vegetables are extremely rich in vitamins, minerals, trace<br />elements, enzymes and natural sugars. They exercise beneficial effect in normalising all<br />the body functions. They supply needed elements for the body’s own healing activity and<br />cell regeneration, thereby speeding the recovery.<br />1.<br />The juices extracted from raw fruits and vegetables require no digestion and almost all<br />their vital nutrients are assimilated directly in the bloodstream.<br />2.<br />Raw juices are extremely rich in alkaline elements. This is highly beneficial in normalising<br />acid-alkaline balance in the blood and tissues as there is over-acidity in most conditions<br />of ill-health.<br />3.<br />Generous amounts of easily assimilable organic minerals in raw juices especially calcium,<br />potassium and silicon help in restoring biochemical and mineral balance in the tissues<br />and cells, thereby preventing premature ageing of cells and disease.<br />4.<br />Raw juices contain certain natural medicines, vegetal hormones and antibiotics. For<br />instance, string beans are said to contain insulin-like substance. Certain hormones<br />needed by the pancreas to produce insulin are present in cucumber and onion juices.<br />Fresh juices of garlic , onions, radish and tomatoes contain antibiotic substances.<br />5.<br />Precautions<br />Certain precautions are, however, necessary in adopting an exclusive diet of raw juices. Firstly,<br />all juices should be made fresh immediately before drinking. Canned and frozen juices should<br />not be used. It will be advisable that one should have one’s own juicer for extracting fresh juices.<br />Secondly, only fresh ripe fruits and vegetables, preferably organically grown, should be used for<br />Raw Juice Therapy<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap20.htm (1 of 4) [5/19/1999 9:17:31 PM]<br />extraction of juices. Thirdly, only as much juice as needed for immediate consumption should be<br />extracted. Raw juices oxidise rapidly and lose their medicinal value in storage, even under<br />refrigeration. Fourthly, the quality of the juices has a distinct bearing on the results obtained. In<br />case of incomplete extraction of juices, their effective power is proportionately reduced due to<br />the absence of the vitamins and enzymes which are left behind in fibre and the pulp. Finally, if<br />juices are too sweat they should be diluted in water on 50 : 50 basis or mixed with other less<br />sweet juices. This is especially important in some specific conditions such as diabetes,<br />hypoglycemia, arthritis and high blood pressure.<br />Fruit and vegetable juices may be divided into six main types. These are : (i) Juices from sweet<br />fruits such as prunes and grapes. (ii) Juices from sub-acid fruits like apple, plum, pear, peach,<br />apricot and cherry, (iii) Juices from acid fruits like orange, lemon, grapefruit, strawberry and<br />pineapple. (iv) Juices from vegetable fruits, namely, tomato and cucumber. (v) Juices from green<br />leafy vegetables like cabbage, celery, lettuce, spinach, parsley and watercress. (vi) Juices from<br />root vegetables like beetroot, carrot, onion, potato and radish.<br />Generally speaking, fruit juices stir up toxins and acids in the body, thereby stimulating the<br />eliminative processes. Vegetable juices, on the other hand, soothe the jaded nerves and work in<br />a much milder manner. They carry away toxic matter in a gentle way. Owing to their differing<br />actions fruit and vegetable juices should not be used at the same time or mixed together.<br />It is desirable to use juices individually. In any case not more than three juices should be used in<br />any one mixture. The following broad rules apply when using mixtures of juices :<br />Juices from sweet fruits may be combined with juices of sub-acid fruits, but not with those<br />of acid fruits, vegetable fruits or vegetables.<br />1.<br />Juices from sub-acid fruits may be combined with juices of sweet fruits, or acid fruits, but<br />not with other juices.<br />2.<br />Juices from acid fruits may be combined with those of sub-acid fruits or vegetable fruits,<br />but not with other juices.<br />3.<br />Juices from vegetable fruits may be combined with those of acid fruits or of green leafy<br />vegetables, but not with other juices.<br />4.<br />Juices from green leafy vegetables may be combined with those of vegetable fruits or of<br />the root vegetable, but not with other juices.<br />5.<br />Juices from root vegetables may be combined with those of green leafy vegetables, but<br />not with other juices.<br />A proper selection of juices in treating a particular ailment is very essential. Thus, for<br />instance, juices of carrot, cucumber, cabbage and other vegetables are very valuable in<br />asthma, arthritis and skin disease, but juices of orange and mosambi aggravate their<br />symptoms by increasing the amount of mucus.<br />6.<br />Treatment of Diseases<br />Some common ailments and fruit and vegetable juices found beneficial in their treatment are<br />mentioned below :<br />Acidity : Grapes, orange, mosambi, carrot and spinach.<br />Acne : Grapes, pear, plum, tomato, cucumber, carrot, potato and spinach.<br />Allergies : Apricot, grapes, carrot, beet and spinach.<br />Arteriosclerosis : Grapefruit, pineapple, lemon, celery, carrot, lettuce, and spinach.<br />Anaemia : Apricot, prune, strawberry, red grape, beet, celery, carrot and spinach.<br />Arthritis : Sour cherry, pineapple, sour apple, lemon, grapefruit, cucumber, beet, carrot, lettuce<br />and spinach.<br />Asthma : Apricot, lemon, pineapple, peach, carrot, radish and celery.<br />Raw Juice Therapy<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap20.htm (2 of 4) [5/19/1999 9:17:31 PM]<br />Bronchitis : Apricot, lemon, pineapple, peach, tomato, carrot, onion and spinach.<br />Bladder Ailments : Apple, apricot, lemon, cucumber, carrot, celery, parsley and watercress.<br />Colds : Lemon, orange, grapefruit, pineapple, carrot, onion, celery and spinach.<br />Constipation : Apple, pear, grapes, lemon, carrot, beet, spinach and watercress.<br />Colitis : Apple, apricot, pear, peach, pineapple, papaya, carrot, beet, cucumber and spinach.<br />Diabetes : Citrus fruits, carrot, celery, lettuce and spinach.<br />Diarrhoea : Papaya, lemon, pineapple, carrot and celery.<br />Eczema : Red grapes,carrot, spinach, cucumber and beet.<br />Epilepsy : Red grapes, figs, carrot, celery and spinach.<br />Eye Disorders : Apricot ,tomato, carrot, celery, parsley and spinach.<br />Gout : Red sour cherries, pineapple, tomato, cucumber, beet, carrot, celery and spinach.<br />Halitosis : Apple, grapefruit, lemon, pineapple, tomato, carrot, celery and spinach.<br />Headache : Grapes, lemon, carrot, lettuce and spinach.<br />Heart Disease : Red grapes, lemon, cucumber, carrot, beet and spinach.<br />High blood pressure : Grapes, orange, cucumber, carrot and beet.<br />Influenza : Apricot, orange, lemon , grapefruit, pineapple, carrot, onion and spinach.<br />Insomnia : Apple, grapes, lemon, lettuce , carrot and celery.<br />Jaundice : Lemon, grapes, pear, carrot, celery, spinach, beet and cucumber.<br />Kidney Disorders : Apple, orange, lemon, cucumber, cucumber,carrot, celery, parsley and<br />beet.<br />Liver ailments : Lemon, papaya, grapes, carrot, tomato, beet and cucumber.<br />Menstrual Disorders :Grapes, prunes, cherry, spinach, lettuce turnips and beet.<br />Menopausal Symptoms : Fruits and Vegetables in season.<br />Neuritis : Orange, pineapple, apple, carrot and beet.<br />Obesity : Lemon, grapefruit, orange, cherry, pineapple, papaya, tomato, beet, cabbage, lettuce,<br />spinach and carrot.<br />Piles : Lemon, orange, papaya, pineapple, carrot, spinach, turnip and watercress.<br />Prostate Troubles : All fruit juices in season, carrot, asparagus, lettuce and spinach.<br />Psoriasis : Grapes, carrot, beet, and cucumber.<br />Rheumatism : Grapes, orange, lemon, grapefruit, tomato, cucumber, beet, carrot and spinach.<br />Stomach Ulcers : Apricot, grapes, cabbage and carrot.<br />Sinus Trouble : Apricot, lemon, tomato, carrot, onion and radish.<br />Raw Juice Therapy<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap20.htm (3 of 4) [5/19/1999 9:17:31 PM]<br />Sore Throat : Apricot, grapes, lemon, pineapple, prune, tomato, carrot and parsley.<br />Tonsilitis : Apricot, lemon, orange, grapefruit, pineapple, carrot, spinach and radish.<br />Varicose Veins : Grapes, orange, plum, tomato, beetroot carrot and watercress.<br />When on a raw juice therapy, the prescribed juice should be drunk every three hours. One can<br />thus take juices five to six times a day. A glass of water mixed with lemon juice and 20 to 30<br />grams of honey may be taken first thing in the morning on arising. Thereafter, the prescribed<br />juice may be taken at three-hourly intervals. The quantity of juice on each occasion may be 250<br />ml on the first day. This quantity may be increased by 50 ml each succeeding day till one takes<br />600 ml on each occasion. The juice diet can be continued for 30 to 40 days without any<br />ill-effects. The patient should take adequate rest during the raw juice therapy.<br />Raw juices act as a cleansing agent and start eliminating toxins and morbid matter from the<br />system immediately. This often results in symptoms such as pain in the abdomen, diarrhoea,<br />loss of weight, headache, fever, weakness, sleeplessness and bad breath. These reactions,<br />which are part of the cleansing process, should not be suppressed by the use of drugs. They will<br />cease when the body is able to expel all toxins.<br />After the raw juice therapy, the return to normal balanced diet should be gradual, and in stages.<br />In the beginning, two juice meals may be replaced by milk and fruits. Then gradually juice meals<br />may be substituted by a balanced-diet.<br />[index]<br />Raw Juice Therapy<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap20.htm (4 of 4) [5/19/1999 9:17:31 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Sprouts for Optimum Nutrition<br />Sprouts are considered as wonder foods. They rank as the freshest and most nutritious of all<br />vegetables available to the human diet. By a process of natural transmutation, sprouted food<br />acquires vastly improved digestibility and nutritional qualities when compared to non-sprouted<br />embryo from which it derives.<br />Sprouted foods have been part of the diet of many ancient races for thousands of years. Even to<br />this day, the Chinese retain their fame for delicious mung beansprouts`. Sprouts provide all the<br />essential vitamins and minerals. They should form a vital component of our diet. Sprouting<br />requires no constant care but only an occasional sprinkling of water.<br />All edible grains, seeds and legumes can be sprouted. Generally the following are used for<br />sprouting :<br />Grains : Wheat, maize, ragi, bajra and barley. i.<br />Seeds : Alfalfa seeds, radish seeds, fenugreek seeds, carrot seeds, coriander seeds,<br />pumpkin seeds and muskmelon seeds.<br />ii.<br />Legumes : Mung, Bengal gram, groundnut and peas. iii.<br />Alfalfa, as the name in Arabic signifies, is the king of all sprouts. Grown as a plant, its roots are<br />known to burrow as much as 12 meters into the subsoil to bring up valuable trace minerals of<br />which manganese is especially important to health and digestion ; it is a vital component of<br />human insulin. Apart from minerals, alfalfa is also a rich source of vitamins A,B,C,E and K and<br />amino acids. Sesame seeds are another good source of nourishment. They contain all the<br />essential amino acids in their 20 per cent protein content and higher concentration of calcium<br />than does milk. They are high in letichin, unsaturated fats, vitamin E and vitamin B complex,<br />besides other live nutrients.<br />How to Sprout<br />As a first step, a good variety of seeds should be used for sprouting. It should be ensured that<br />the seeds, legumes or grains are of the sproutable type. Soyabeans do not sprout well as they<br />often become sour. Wheat has to be grown in soil. It is advisable to use seeds which are not<br />chemically treated as this slows down the germination rate. The seeds should be washed<br />thoroughly and then soaked overnight in a jar of pure water. The jar should be covered with<br />cheesecloth or wire screening. The duration of soaking will depend upon the size of the seed.<br />Small seeds are soaked for five hours, medium size for eight hours and beans and grains for 10<br />to 12 hours.<br />On the following morning, the seeds should be rinsed and the water drained off. Not more than<br />one-fourth of the jar should be filled with the seeds for sprouting. Soaking makes the seeds,<br />grains or legumes fatty, pulpy and full of water. It should, therefore, be ensured that the jar has<br />enough room for the seeds to expand during sprouting. They will expand about eight times their<br />original size. The jar should be kept at a place which is exposed neither to chill nor hot winds. It<br />should also be ensured that the mouth of the jar is not completely covered so as to allow air in.<br />The seeds should be rinsed and water drained off three times every day till they are ready to eat.<br />The seeds will germinate and become sprouts in two or three days from commencement of<br />soaking, depending on temperature and humidity. Care should always be taken to ensure that<br />sprouts do not lie in water. They should be kept well drained to prevent souring. Sprouts are at<br />their optimum level of flavour and tenderness when tiny green leaves appear at the tips. Their<br />nutritional value is also optimum. To retain their freshness and nutritional value, they should be<br />placed in a refrigerator, if they cannot be consumed immediately after reaching suitable maturity.<br />Sprouts can be kept for several days in this way.<br />Sprouts for Optimum Nutrition<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap21.htm (1 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:17:40 PM]<br />Some caution is necessary in sprouting. Soaking for a longer period than required makes the<br />seeds rot or ferment. The main factors for germination are water, air, heat and darkness. There<br />may be poor germination or no germination at all if any of these factors are not present such as<br />insufficient water, or too much water, lack of sufficient heat, lack of fresh air, either too cold or<br />too hot surroundings and too much light.<br />Benefits<br />There is an amazing increase in nutrients in sprouted foods when compared to their dried<br />embryo. In the process of sprouting, the vitamins, minerals and protein increase substantially<br />with corresponding decrease in calories and carbohydrate content. These comparisons are<br />based on an equivalent water content in the foods measured. Analysis of dried seeds, grains<br />and legumes shows a very low water content. But this increases upto tenfold when the same<br />food is converted into sprouts. For accurate comparison each must be brought to a common<br />denomination of equal water content to assess the exact change brought in nutritional value.<br />Sprouted mung beans, for instance, have a 8.3 increase of water content over dried beans.<br />Hence the nutritional value of sprouted and dried mung beans can be compared by multiplying<br />the analysed nutrients of sprouted mung beans by the factor of 8.3. Based on this criterion, the<br />changes found in sprouted mung beans when compared with the figures for the beans in the<br />dried state are as follows :<br />Energy content - calories Decrease 15 per cent.<br />Total carbohydrate content Decrease 15 per cent<br />Protein availability Increase 30 per cent<br />Calcium content Increase 34 per cent<br />Potassium content Increase 80 per cent<br />Sodium content Increase 690 per cent<br />Iron content Increase 40 per cent<br />Phosphorous content Increase 56 per cent<br />Vitamin A content Increase 285 per cent<br />Thiamine or Vitamin B1 content Increase 208 per cent<br />Riboflavin or Vitamin B2 content Increase 515 per cent<br />Niacin or Vitamin B3 content Increase 256 per cent<br />Ascorbic acid or Vitamin C content An infinite increase<br />The increase in protein availability is of great significance. It is a valuable indicator of the<br />enhanced nutritional value of a food when sprouted. The simultaneous reduction in carbohydrate<br />content indicates that many carbohydrate molecules are broken down during sprouting to allow<br />an absorption of atmospheric nitrogen and reforming into amino-acids. The resultant protein is<br />the most easily digestible of all proteins available in foods.<br />The remarkable increase in sodium content supports the view that sprouted foods offer<br />nutritional qualities. Sodium is essential to the digestive process within the gastro-intestinal tract<br />and also to the elimination of carbon dioxide. Together with the remarkable increase in vitamins,<br />sodium materially contributes to the easy digestibility of sprouts.<br />Dried seeds, grains and legumes do not contain discernible traces of ascorbic acid, yet when<br />sprouted, they reveal quite significant quantities which are important in the body’s ability to<br />metabolise proteins. The infinite increase in ascorbic acid derives from their absorption of<br />atmospheric elements during growth.<br />Sprouts have several other benefits. They supply food in predigested form, that is, the food<br />which has already been acted upon by the enzymes and made to digest easily. During<br />sprouting, much of the starch is broken down into simple sugars such as glucose and sucrose by<br />the action of the enzyme ‘amylase’. Proteins are converted into amino acids and amides. Fats<br />and oils are converted into more simple fatty acids by the action of the enzyme lipase.<br />During sprouting, the beans lose their objectionable gas producing quality. Research has shown<br />that oligosaccharides are responsible for gas formation. For maintenance of health, some<br />amount of gas production is necessary but it should be within safe limits. As the process of<br />germination ends and sprouting begins, the percentage of oligosaccharides is reduced by 90.<br />Sprouts contain a lot of fibre and water and, therefore, are helpful in overcoming constipation.<br />Sprouts are an extremely inexpensive method of obtaining a concentration of vitamins, minerals<br />Sprouts for Optimum Nutrition<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap21.htm (2 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:17:40 PM]<br />and enzymes. They have in them all the constituent nutrients of fruits and vegetables and are<br />‘live’ foods. Eating sprouts is the safest and best way of getting the advantage of both fruits and<br />vegetables without contamination and harmful insecticides.<br />It should, however, be ensured that seeds and dried beans are purchased from a store where<br />they are fresh, unsprayed and packaged as food. Seeds that are packaged for planting purposes<br />may contain mercury compounds or other toxic chemicals.<br />[index]<br />Sprouts for Optimum Nutrition<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap21.htm (3 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:17:40 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Acne<br />Acne is perhaps the most common chronic skin disease. It is an inflammatory condition of the<br />sebaceous ( that is fat or grease) glands and hair follicles usually found on the face, the neck,<br />chest and shoulders. Nearly eight out of ten young people between the ages of 12 and 24 suffer<br />from some degree of acne. It is closely related to the disturbance in the hormones experienced<br />at puberty.<br />The majority of patients recover between the ages 20 and 30 years. But it is still common in men<br />over 30 years. In women, it rarely lasts beyond the early thirties and is normally worse before<br />each menstrual period. The diseases causes a great deal of embarrassment at an age when<br />people tend to be sensitive about personal appearance.<br />The skin, covering the entire body, is a marvellous and intricate mechanism. It serves three main<br />purposes ; namely, protection of the inner organism, regulation of body temperature and<br />elimination of cell waste and systemic refuse. The skin is directly connected with and intimately<br />bound up with the working of the whole system. All skin diseases, including acne, are the<br />outcome of malfunctioning of the body as a whole.<br />Symptoms<br />Acne is characterized by the presence of comedones or blackheads, pimples, small superficial<br />sebaceous cysts and scars. There are over half a dozen forms of acne. All of them are<br />concerned with sebaceous glands or the glands connected with hair follicles. The most common<br />form of acne is blackheads. The areas chiefly affected are the forehead, temples, cheeks, and<br />chin, the chest and back. In rare cases, almost the entire body may be covered with black heads<br />with extensive scarring.<br />Causes<br />All forms of acne have their origin in wrong feeding habits, such as irregular hours of eating,<br />improper food, excess of starches and sugar, excess of fatty foods. Chronic constipation is<br />another major cause of acne. If the bowels do not move properly, waste matter is not eliminated<br />as quickly as it should be and the bloodstream becomes surcharged with toxic matter. The extra<br />efforts of the skin to eliminate excess waste result in acne and other forms of skin disease. Yet<br />another important cause of acne is a devitalised condition of the skin resulting from unhygienic<br />living habits. Other causes of the disorder are excessive use of tea, coffee, alcohol or tobacco,<br />strenuous studies, masturbation and sedentary habits which lead to indigestion and general<br />debility.<br />Treatment<br />The treatment of acne by the administration of salve or ointment does not serve any purpose.<br />They only suppress the action of the sebaceous glands temporarily. In nature cure, the main<br />emphasis is on diet and certain water applications. To begin with the patient should resort to all<br />-fruit diet for about a week. IN this regimen, there should be three meals a day, consisting of<br />fresh juicy fruits, such as apples, pears, grapes, grape-fruit, pineapple and peaches. Citrus fruits,<br />bananas, dried, stewed or tinned fruits should not be taken. Unsweetened lemon or plain water,<br />either hot or cold, should be drunk and nothing else. During this period, warm -water enema<br />should be taken daily to cleanse the bowels and all other measures adopted to eradicate<br />constipation.<br />After a week of all fruit diet, the patient can gradually adopt a well-balanced diet. Emphasis<br />should be on raw foods, especially fresh fruits and vegetables, sprouted seeds, raw nuts and<br />whole grain cereals, especially millet and brown rice. Further shorter periods on the all-fruits for<br />three days, or so may be necessary at a monthly interval till the condition of the skin improves.<br />Strict attention to diet is essential for recovery. Starchy, protein and fatty foods, should be<br />Acne<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap22.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:17:56 PM]<br />restricted. Meats, sugar, strong tea or coffee, condiments, pickles, refined and processed foods<br />should all be avoided, as also soft drinks, candies, ice cream and products made with sugar and<br />white flour.<br />Two vitamins, namely, niacin and vitamin A have been used successfully to treat acne. The<br />vitamin therapy which may comprise a niacin, 100 mg. three times daily and vitamin A in large<br />doses upto 1,50,000 units per day should not exceed one month. Vitamin E is also vitally<br />important to prevent scarring from acne and in removing old scars.<br />Another effective remedy in the realm of nutrition that seems to offer new promise of help for<br />acne is zinc. It has shown dramatic results in some cases. Zinc should be taken in therapeutic<br />doses of 50 mg. three times a day. After noticeable improvement it can be gradually reduced.<br />Local Treatment<br />As regards local treatment, hot fomentation should be applied to open up the pores and squeeze<br />the waste matter. Then rinse with cold water. Sun and air baths by exposing the whole body to<br />sun and air are highly beneficial. The healing packs made of grated cucumber, oatmeal cooked<br />in milk, and cooked, creamed carrots used externally, have been found to be effective.<br />The orange peel is valuable in the treatment of acne. The peel, pounded well with water on a<br />piece of stone, should be applied to the affected areas. The lemon has also proved beneficial in<br />removing pimples and acne . It should be applied regularly.<br />A teaspoonful of coriander juice, mixed with a pinch of turmeric powder, is another effective<br />home remedy for pimples and blackheads. The mixture should be applied to the face after<br />thoroughly washing it, every night before retiring.<br />The juice of raw potatoes has also proved very valuable in clearing skin blemishes. This<br />cleansing results from high content of potassium sulphur, phosphorous and chlorine in the<br />potato. These elements are, however, of value only when the potato is raw as in this state they<br />are composed of live organic atoms.<br />A hot Epsom-salt bath twice a week will be highly beneficial in all cases of acne. This bath is<br />prepared by adding one and a half kg. of Epsom -salt to 50 litres of water having a temperature<br />of about 100 o F. The patient should remain in the bath from 25 to 35minutes till he perspires<br />freely. After the bath the patient should cool off gradually.<br />[index]<br />Acne<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap22.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:17:56 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Alcoholism<br />Alcoholism refers to addiction to alcohol. It is a chronic disorder, in which a person is unable to<br />refrain from frequent and excess consumption of alcohol for physical or psychological reasons.<br />The World Health Organization (WHO) has listed alcoholism as one of the three most deadly<br />killer diseases of the 20th century.<br />Alcoholism is also one of the serious social problems. It often brings poverty and certain amount<br />of crime and results in material unhappiness and broken homes. It also leads to numerous traffic<br />accidents.<br />Alcohol is not a product found in nature. It results from decomposition and as such belongs to a<br />family of poisons. Ethyl alcohol, the main intoxicating ingredient in wine, beer and distilled liquor<br />is a toxic drug which depresses the brain and nervous system. Alcohol cannot be called a food<br />for it enters the alimentary canal and is not changed or digested in any way. It is quickly<br />absorbed in the bloodstream and then travels to every part of the body, adversely affecting vital<br />organs like brain and liver.<br />Symptoms<br />According to the WHO, "Alcoholics are those excessive drinkers whose dependence on alcohol<br />has attained such a degree that it shows a noticeable mental disturbance or interference with<br />their bodily or mental health, their interpersonal relations and their smooth social and economic<br />functions, or who show the prodormal signs of such development. "<br />Alcoholics have a puffy face with bloodshot eyes, a hoarse voice and a rapid pulse. They are<br />suspicious, irritable and over- emotional. Vomiting, delirium, impaired judgement and disturbed<br />sleep are some of the other symptoms.<br />The chronic alcoholic, who would rather drink than eat, fails to get enough vitamins. The few<br />vitamins acquired by him are drained out of his system in the process of burning the alcohol in<br />his body. Vitamin deficiency can lead to delirium tremors, convulsions, nutritious, disorders of<br />the eyes and impaired memory. Excessive drinking often causes premature greying of hair due<br />to vitamin deficiency. Chronic alcoholism results in a depletion of minerals in the body,<br />particularly magnesium. Its lack produces symptoms like tremor of the hands, feet and tongue,<br />convulsions ,mental clouding and perspiration.<br />Excessive drinking imposes a strain on the liver. It gradually destroys its functions and often<br />causes cirrhosis of the liver. It leads to disorders of the stomach and bowels. It can cause brain<br />damage as brain cells are often affected by it. Alcohol also affects the heart which becomes<br />weak and flabby.<br />Causes<br />Alcoholism results from intemperate drinking. Sometimes it sneaks upon a person comparatively<br />rapidly; other times, years may pass before a person becomes a full-fledged alcoholic. A<br />weak-minded person consoles himself by taking to drugs or alcohol. In doing so he simply tries<br />to escape the situation rather than face it boldly.<br />A person generally takes to drinking as a means to enliven social life, to overcome anxiety or to<br />induce sleep. He becomes an alcoholic if he gets dependent on alcohol physically and<br />psychologically. He resorts to heavy drinking because of his maladaptive way of dealing with<br />life’s stresses.<br />Treatment<br />The chronic alcoholic first of all must make a firm resolve to stop drinking. He should abstain<br />from alcohol all at once for the habit cannot be got rid of in gradual stages.<br />The most effective way to treat alcoholism is to build the body’s nutritional integrity soaps to<br />prevent craving for stimulants like drinks. The patients should be put on a cleansing juice fast for<br />Alcoholism<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap23.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:18:04 PM]<br />at least ten days in the beginning. During this period, he should have juice of an orange every<br />two hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The juice may be diluted with warm water, if desired. If orange<br />juice does not agree, vegetable juices may be taken. Each day while fasting, bowels should be<br />cleansed of effete and poisonous matter thrown off by the self-cleansing process set up by the<br />body. This can be achieved by warm water enema.<br />During the juice fast, the patient will usually feel no craving for alcohol. This will give a good 10<br />day start towards breaking the drinking habit and would help remove not only the physical<br />dependence but also the psychological factors. After the initial fast on juices, the optimum diet of<br />vital nutrients is essential. Such a diet should consist of whole grains, cereals, nuts, seeds and<br />sprouts, fresh fruits and vegetables.<br />It is advisable that in the beginning of the treatment, the patient is given a suitable substitute to<br />relieve the craving if and when such a craving occurs. The best substitute drink for alcohol is a<br />glass of fresh fruit juice, sweetened with honey, if desired. In the alternative, wholesome candy<br />may be taken. The patient should always have easily available juices, candy, or other snacks to<br />be taken between meals if he feels a craving for a stimulant.<br />All refined foods such as sugar, white rice, macaroni products and white flour and meat should<br />be avoided. The patient should eat several small meals a day in preference to two or three large<br />ones and avoid strong condiments such as pepper, mustard, and chilli. He should not smoke as<br />this will only increase his desire for alcohol.<br />Apples are considered valuable in the treatment of alcoholism as their use removes intoxication<br />and reduces the craving for wine and other intoxicating liquors. The raw celery juice is also<br />considered helpful. It has a sobering effect and is an antidote to alcohol.<br />In addition to proper nutrition, plenty of rest and outdoor exercises are necessary. The healthy<br />condition of the appetite centre, which controls the craving for alcohol is improved by exercise.<br />Yogic asans for general health such as padmasan, vajrasan, vakrasan, paschimotanasan,<br />yogamudra, bhuajangasan, halasan and shalabhasana and yogic kriyas like jalneti, kunjal and<br />simple Pranayamas like kapalbhati , anuloma-viloma, shitali and sitkari will be beneficial.<br />Copious drinking of water, hot fomentations on the stomach and abdomen with a wet girdle pack<br />between applications are also effective water treatment for alcoholism.<br />And finally, it will be advisable to follow the ten commandments to prevent alcoholism, offered by<br />psychiatrist Dr. William B. Terhune. These are :<br />never drink when you ‘ need one’;<br />sip slowly ;<br />space your drinks, taking a second drink 30 minutes after<br />the first and a third an hour after the second ;<br />dilute your alcohol;<br />keep an accurate and truthful record of the amount and<br />number of drinks you take ;<br />never conceal the amount of alcohol you drink ;<br />do not drink on an empty stomach ;<br />stop drinking on ‘signal ‘ ( signals are lunch, dinner, fatigue, sex stimulation, boredom, frustration<br />and bedtime);<br />make it a rule never to take a drink to escape discomfort - either physical or mental ; and<br />never, never take a drink in the morning thinking it will cure a hangover.<br />[index]<br />Alcoholism<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap23.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:18:04 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Allergies<br />An ‘allergy’ can be described as sensitiveness of the body to a substance which does not<br />normally affect other persons. There are innumerable substances in the environment which can<br />cause mild to violent reactions in many people. These reactions range from true allergies due to<br />intolerance of certain foods and substances, to those resulting from pollution.<br />Allergic reactions may occur within a few minutes of the patient coming in contact with the<br />allergen, or they may be delayed for several hours or even several days. Almost any part of the<br />body can be affected by allergies. The portion of the body which is affected is called a shock<br />organ. Common sites are the nose and eyes, the skin, chest, intestines and ears.<br />Allergic reactions are caused by a wide range of substances and conditions. These include<br />pollen, dust, cosmetics and animal hair ; poisonous plants, serums, vaccines and drugs ;<br />physical agents such as heat, cold and sunlight ; as well as a variety of foods. Among the<br />numerous allergens in the food department, the more common ones are oranges, milk, eggs,<br />wheat, fish, chocolates, cabbage, potatoes, tomatoes and strawberries.<br />Symptoms<br />The symptoms of allergy are as varied as the substances causing the reaction. These include<br />recurring headache, migraine, dizziness, irritability, nervousness, depression, neuralgia,<br />sneezing, conjunctivitis, diabetes, eczema, heart-burn, hay fever, indigestion, constipation,<br />diarrhoea, gastric ulcer, asthma, overweight, high blood pressure, chest pain, heart attacks, a<br />stuffy or runny nose, shortness of breath, swelling of the face and eyes, etc. The same food can<br />cause different symptoms in different people. Many allergies are multiple and may be caused by<br />multiple allergens.<br />Causes<br />Allergy is an indication of lowered resistance and internal disharmony caused by dietetic errors<br />and faulty style of living. It is believed that the major cause of allergy is feeding babies such<br />foods as cereals, meat, corns, whole milk, etc. before they reach the age of 10 to 12 months.<br />These foods cause allergic reactions as babies lack the proper enzymes needed for their<br />digestion before that age. Babies should be breast-fed for at least eight months as this is<br />nature’s way of providing all the required nutrients during this period.<br />Another important cause of allergy is today’s processed foods loaded with numerous chemical<br />additives, many of which cause powerful reactions. An allergic condition can result from diet<br />imbalances. There can be a breakdown in the body’s ability to handle sugar due to excessive<br />intake of refined sugar and consequent blood sugar irregularities, or mineral and vitamin<br />imbalances due to defective dietary patterns.<br />Emotional and psychological stress can also lead to allergies. According to Dr. Hans Salye, the<br />world’s premier researcher on stress, allergic symptoms are often nothing more than body’s<br />reaction to stress. A person can through chronic stress, become sensitive to common foods or<br />commonplace substances like petrol fumes.<br />Treatment<br />There are various ways to tackle many of the allergic disturbances. First, the sources must be<br />identified. This is a difficult but not impossible task. Second, once the sources are discovered,<br />they should be avoided. Third, and most important, general health and resistance should be built<br />up to establish immunity to them.<br />There are two methods to detect disturbing foods. The first method is the trial -and- error<br />elimination diet. This automatically eliminates many hazards and foods. Keep to organic,<br />untreated, unprocessed foods as far as possible and you will eliminate another set of hazards<br />such as pesticides, various sprays and other poisons.<br />Allergies<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap24.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:18:14 PM]<br />After having eliminated as many disturbing factors as possible, a self-search should be carried<br />out to ascertain any suspicious symptoms from foods. It is advisable to try an eliminary diet,<br />excluding suspected foods for two weeks until the cause is detected. Occasionally, by changing<br />the brand or the type, you can find a food substitute that does not upset you.<br />Another way to detect the cause of allergy is by Dr. Coca’s "pulse test." The method is as follows<br />: Check your pulse before a meal. Then limiting that meal to one food only, wit for half an hour<br />after eating and take your pulse again. A slight increase is considered normal, even up to 16<br />extra beats. If your pulse does not rise above 84, you may be allergy-free. But if your pulse rises<br />beyond that point, and remains high an hour after the meal, you have found your food allergy.<br />The best way, however, to prevent or overcome allergies is to strengthen the overall physical<br />resistance so as not to fall an easy prey to every allergen that comes along. To start with, the<br />patient should fast on fresh fruit juices for four or five days. Repeated short juice fasts are likely<br />to result in better tolerance to previous allergies. After the fruit juice fast, the patient can take a<br />mono diet of vegetables or fruits such as carrots, grapes or apples, for one week. After that one<br />more food is added to the mono diet. A week later the third food is added and so on. After four<br />weeks, the protein foods can be introduced, one at a time. In case an allergic reaction to a newly<br />introduced food is noticed, it should be discontinued and a new food tried. In this way all real<br />allergens can be eventually eliminated from the diet.<br />The body requires a large alkaline reserve for its daily activity. The many emergencies of acid<br />formation through the day from wrong foods, fatigue, mental stress and lack of sleep can be met<br />by the competency of the alkaline reserves. Boosting the normal body reserve of alkalines by<br />liberal use of alkaline- forming foods is essential for those suffering from allergies.<br />The foods which should be excluded from the diet are tea, coffee, chocolate, cola drinks,<br />alcohol, sugar, sweets and foods containing sugar, refined cereals, meats, fish, chicken,<br />tobacco, milk, cheese, butter, smoked, salted, pickled foods and foods containing any chemical<br />additives, preservatives and flavouring. These foods cause either toxic accumulations or<br />over-stimulation of adrenal glands or strain on pancreatic enzymes production or disturb the<br />blood sugar balance.<br />For preventive purposes, the entire C complex vitamins - known as the bioflavonoids, are<br />recommended. They gradually strengthen cell permeability to help immunise the body from<br />various allergies, especially hay fever. Often the addition B5 , or pantothenic acid brings great<br />relief to allergy sufferers. Multiple allergies may result from poor adrenal gland functioning. In<br />such cases liberal amounts of pantothenic acids help cure them, although the recovery will take<br />several weeks. An adequate intake of vitamin E is also beneficial as this vitamin possesses<br />effective anti-allergic properties, as some studies have shown.<br />An exciting remedy for allergy has been discovered by an Indian physician, Dr. Hement Pathak.<br />He found that the use of five drops of castor oil in a little juice or water taken on an empty<br />stomach in the morning, is highly beneficial for allergies in the intestinal tract, skin and nasal<br />passages. Dr. Pathak, who is an expert in Chinese medicine, has reported numerous cases of<br />allergic protection by this method. For allergic conditions in which an element of stress is<br />present, it is essential to employ such methods as relaxation, exercise, meditation and mind<br />control. These methods will reduce or remove stress and thereby contribute towards the<br />treatment of allergies. Yogic asanas like yogamudra ardhmatsyendrasana, sarvangasana,<br />shavasana and anuloma-viloma , pranayama are also beneficial.<br />[index]<br />Allergies<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap24.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:18:14 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Anaemia<br />Anaemia, which means " lacking in blood ", is among the most common diseases affecting<br />human beings. It denotes a shortage of rich red blood cells and colouring matter and usually<br />results from consumption of refined foods.<br />The blood flowing in our veins and arteries is really living tissue. Nearly half of it consists of red<br />blood cells which carry oxygen to the tissues. Approximately one trillion ( 10,000 million ) new<br />blood cells are formed in the bone marrow daily. The raw materials required in the production of<br />these cells are iron, proteins, and vitamins, especially folic acid and B12.<br />The red colouring matter, called haemoglobin is a protein which is composed of an organic<br />iron-compound called "heme". The globin is a sulphur -bearing protein which makes up 96 per<br />cent of the molecule. The formation of haemoglobin thus depends on adequate dietary supplies<br />of iron and protein. Red cells have a lifespan of approximately 120 days and are destroyed and<br />replaced daily. Each person should have 100 per cent haemoglobin or about 15 grams to 100 cc<br />of blood, and a blood count of five million red cells per millimeter. A drop in the hemoglobin<br />content results in anaemia and a consequent decreased ability of the blood to carry oxygen to<br />the tissues.<br />Symptoms<br />A haggard look, with lines of strain, premature wrinkles, grayish skin, and dull and tired looking<br />eyes are the main symptoms of anaemia. Other symptoms include poor memory, weakness,<br />dizziness, fatigue, lack of energy, shortness of breath on exertion, slow healing of wounds,<br />headaches, mental depression, pale fingers, lips and ear lobes. The patient usually complaints<br />of weakness, easy fatigue, lack of energy and dizziness.<br />Causes<br />There are two principal causes of anaemia. It can result from reduced or low formation of red<br />blood cells either due to defects in the bone marrow or an inadequate intake of iron vitamins,<br />and protein. Heavy loss of blood due to injury, bleeding piles and heavy menstruation may also<br />cause anaemia. A lack of digestive acid of hydrochloric acid needed for digestion of iron and<br />proteins may also result in anaemia. Emotional strain, anxiety and worry usually interfere with<br />the manufacture of hydrochloric acid in the body. Anaemia can also be caused by a variety of<br />drugs which destroy vitamin E or by others which inactivate the nutrients needed in building<br />blood cells. Chronic diseases such as tuberculosis, when accompanied by hemorrhage, may<br />also result in anaemia.<br />Other little-known causes of anaemia are intestinal parasites or worms. Hookworm, pinworms,<br />round worms and tapeworms feed on the blood supply as well as on the vitamins. Twenty-five<br />hookworms can consume fifteen grams of blood every 24 hours; a tapeworm can cause acute<br />shortage of vitamin B12. Symptoms of intestinal worms are itching at the rectum, restlessness at<br />night with bad dreams, diarrhoea, foul breath, dark circles under the eyes and a constant desire<br />for food. Garlic can help get rid of some types of intestinal parasites. Fresh papaya and grated<br />raw carrot are also effective. After successful treatment for intestinal worms, perfect cleanliness<br />should be observed to prevent recurrence.<br />The Cure<br />Anaemia is much more easily prevented than corrected. A liberal intake of iron in the formative<br />years can go a long way in preventing iron-deficiency anaemia.<br />Diet is of the utmost importance in the treatment of anaemia. Almost every nutrient is needed for<br />the production of red blood cells, haemoglobin and the enzymes, required for their synthesis.<br />Refined food like white bread, polished rice, sugar, and desserts rope the body of the much<br />-needed iron. Iron should always be taken in its natural organic form as the use of inorganic can<br />Anaemia<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap25.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:18:22 PM]<br />prove hazardous, destroying the protective vitamins and unsaturated fatty acids, causing serious<br />liver damage and even miscarriage and delayed or premature births. The common foods rich in<br />natural organic iron are wheat and wheat grain cereals, brown rice and rice polishings, green<br />leafy vegetables, cabbage, carrot, celery, beets, tomatoes, spinach ; fruits like apples,<br />berries,cherries, grapes, raisins, figs, dates, peaches and eggs. It has been proved that a<br />generous intake of iron alone will not help in the regeneration of haemoglobin. The supplies of<br />protein, too, should be adequate. The diet should, therefore, be adequate in proteins of high<br />biological value such as those found in milk, cheese and egg. Copper is also essential for the<br />utilisation of iron in the building of haemoglobin.<br />Vitamin B12 is a must for preventing or curing anaemia. This vitamin is usually found in animal<br />protein and especially in organic meats like kidney and liver. A heavy meat diet is often<br />associated with a high haemoglobin and high red cell count, but it has its disadvantages. One<br />cause of anaemia is intestinal putrefaction, which is primarily brought on by a high meat diet.<br />Moreover, all meats are becoming increasingly dangerous due to widespread diseases in the<br />animal kingdom. There are, however, other equally good alternative sources of vitamin B12 such<br />as dairy products , like milk, eggs and cheese, peanuts. Wheat germ and soyabeans also<br />contain some B12. Vegetarians should include sizeable amounts of milk, milk products and eggs<br />in their diet.<br />For prevention of anaemia, it is essential to take the entire B-complex range which includes B12,<br />as well as the natural foods mentioned above. Eating lacto-avo products, which are complete<br />proteins, and which also contain vitamin B12 is good insurance against the disease. Brewer’s<br />yeast is a good source of complete protein.<br />A liberal intake of ascorbic acid is necessary to facilitate absorption of iron. At least two helpings<br />of citrus fruits and other ascorbic acid rich foods should be taken daily.<br />Mention must be made of beets which are extremely important in curing anaemia. Beet juice<br />contains potassium, phosphorous, calcium, sulphur, iodine, iron, copper, carbohydrates, protein,<br />fat, vitamins, B1, B2, niacin B6, C and vitamin P. With its high iron content, beet juice<br />regenerates and reactivates the red blood cells, supplies the body with fresh oxygen and helps<br />the normal function of vesicular breathing.<br />Water Treatment<br />A cold water bath is among the most valuable curative measures in anaemia. The patient should<br />be given carefully graduated cold baths twice daily. Cold friction, hot epsom salt bath for five to<br />10 minutes once a week and an occassional cabinet steam bath are also recommended. Full<br />sun baths are especially beneficial as sunlight stimulates the production of red cells.<br />There are other important factors which are helpful in curing anaemia. Deep breathing and light<br />exercise like walking and simple yoga asanas should be undertaken to tone up the system.<br />Sarvangasana paschomittanasana, uttanpadasana and shavasana are recommended. Massage<br />also helps to keep the blood level high.<br />[index]<br />Anaemia<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap25.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:18:22 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Appendicitis<br />Appendicitis is the most common of all serious intestinal disorders. It refers to an inflammation of<br />the vermiform appendix. It presents itself in acute and chronic forms and affects both the sexes<br />equally. This disease now accounts for about half the acute abdominal emergencies occurring<br />between the ages of 10 to 30 . It is more frequent in developed countries than underdeveloped<br />countries.<br />The appendix is a small tube located at the end of the caecum, the first part of the large<br />intestine. It is called vermiform appendix as it resembles a worm. It is usually eight to ten cm.<br />long. Its structure is made of the same tough fibrous outer covering as protects the entire<br />alimentary canal. There is a layer of muscular tissue under the outer covering and further a layer<br />of lymphoid tissue. The function of the appendix, which is performed by this lymphoid tissue, is<br />to neutralise the irritating waste material generated in the body or the organic poisons introduced<br />through the skin or membranes.<br />Symptoms<br />Appendicitis usually begins with a sudden pain in the centre of the abdomen, which gradually<br />shifts to the lower right side. The pain may be preceded by general discomfort in the abdomen,<br />indigestion, diarrhoea or constipation. The patient usually has a mild fever varying from 100 o to<br />102 o F. Nausea is common, and the patient may vomit once or twice. The muscles of the right<br />side of the abdomen become tense and rigid. The patient draws some comfort by drawing up the<br />right leg. The pain increases on the right side on pressing the left side of the abdomen.<br />Coughing and sneezing makes the pain worse.<br />If the inflammation continues to increase, the appendix may rupture and discharge its pus into<br />the abdominal cavity. This may result in a serious state known as peritonitis. The temperature<br />rises and the patient becomes pale and cold. This condition may call for urgent operation.<br />In the chronic state of appendicitis, the patient may suffer from recurrent pain in the right lower<br />abdomen with constipation, loss of appetite and mild nausea.<br />Causes<br />Appendicitis is caused by a toxic bowel condition. An excessive amount of poisonous waste<br />material is accumulated in the calcium. As a result, the appendix is irritated and over-worked and<br />becomes inflammed. It is an attempt on the part of nature to localise and "burn up" the toxins.<br />This condition is brought about by wrong feeding habits and enervation of the system.<br />Inflammation of the bowel lining, due to the habitual use of apparent drugs, is a potent<br />predisposing factor in the development of appendicitis. Further inflammation and infection comes<br />from certain germs which are usually present in the intestinal tract.<br />Treatment<br />The patient should be put to bed immediately at the first symptoms of severe pain, vomiting and<br />fever. Rest is of utmost importance in the treatment of this disease. The patient should resort to<br />fasting which is the only real cure for appendicitis. Absolutely no food should be given. Nothing<br />except water should enter the system. Low enemias, containing about one pint (1/2 litre) of<br />warm water should be administered everyday for the first three days to cleanse the lower bowel.<br />Hot compresses may be placed over the painful area several times daily. Abdominal packs,<br />made of a strip of wet sheet covered by a dry flannel cloth bound tightly around the abdomen,<br />should be applied continuously until all acute symptoms subside.<br />When the acute symptoms subside by about the third day, the patient should be given a full<br />enema containing about 1 1/2 litre of warm water and this should be repeated daily until the<br />inflammation and pain have subsided. The patient can be given fruit juices from the third day<br />onwards. This simple treatment sensibly applied will overcome an appendicitis attack.<br />Appendicitis<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap26.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:18:39 PM]<br />After spending three days on fruit juices, the patient may adopt an all-fruit diet for a further four<br />or five days. During this period, he should have three meals a day each meal of fresh juicy fruits.<br />Thereafter, he should adopt a well-balanced diet based on three food groups namely, (i) seed,<br />nuts and grains, (ii) vegetables and (iii) fruits.<br />In case of chronic appendicitis, a short fast should be followed by a full milk diet for two or three<br />weeks. In this regimen, a glass of milk should be taken every two hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on<br />the first day, a glass every hour and a half the next day and a glass every hour the third day.<br />Then the quantity of milk should be gradually increased so as to take a glass every half an hour,<br />if such a quantity can be tolerated comfortably. After the full milk diet, the patient should<br />gradually embark upon a well- balanced diet, with emphasis on fresh fruits and green leafy<br />vegetables.<br />Certain vegetable juices, especially carrot juice, in combination with the juices of beets and<br />cucumbers, have been found valuable in the treatment of appendicitis. Regular use of tea made<br />from fenugreek seeds has also proved helpful in preventing the appendix from becoming a<br />dumping ground for excess mucous and intestinal waste.<br />The patient of appendicitis should adopt all measures to eradicate constipation., if it is habitual.<br />Much relief can be obtained by the application of hot fomentation and abdominal packs every<br />morning and night. An abdominal massage is also beneficial. Once the waste matter in the<br />calcium has moved into the colon and thence eliminated, the irritation and inflammation in the<br />appendix will subside and surgical removal of the appendix will not be necessary. The surgical<br />operation should be resorted to only in rare cases, when the appendix has become abscessed.<br />[index]<br />Appendicitis<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap26.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:18:39 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Arteriosclerosis<br />Arteriosclerosis is one of the most common diseases of the blood vessels. It refers to a<br />thickening of the walls of the arteries due to the presence of calcium or lime. It has become a<br />common ailment in modern times, accounting for much of the disability and high death rate<br />among older people.<br />Arteriosclerosis is usually preceded by artherosclerosis, a kind of degeneration or softening of<br />the inner lining of the blood vessels walls. The most risky places for such degeneration are the<br />coronary vessels of the heart and the arteries leading to the brain. Arteriosclerosis results in the<br />loss of elasticity of the blood vessels, with a narrowing of the smaller arteries, which interferes<br />with the free circulation of the blood. These changes may gradually extend to capillaries and<br />veins.<br />Arteriosclerosis is more frequent in men than women, especially in the younger age-group. It has<br />been estimated that 40 per cent of all men over 40 years have a significant degree of obstruction<br />of their coronary arteries and this can lead to heart attack at any time.<br />Symptoms<br />The symptoms of arteriosclerosis vary with arteries involved. Signs of inadequate blood supply<br />generally appear first in the legs. There may be numbness and coldness in the feet and cramps<br />and pains in the legs even after light exercise. If the coronary arteries are involved, the patient<br />may have sharp pains, characteristic of angina pectoris. When arteries leading to the brain are<br />involved, the vessel may burst,causing haemorrhage in the brain tissues. A cerebral vascular<br />stroke, with partial or complete paralysis of one side of the body may result, if there is blockage<br />with a blood clot. It may also lead to loss of memory and a confused state of mind in elderly<br />people. If arteries leading to the kidneys are involved, the patient may suffer from high blood<br />pressure and kidney disorders.<br />Causes<br />The most important cause of arteriosclerosis is excessive intake of white sugar, refined foods<br />and high fat diet, rich in cholesterol. A sedentary life and excesses of all kinds are the major<br />contributing causes. Hardening of the arteries may also be caused by other diseases such as<br />high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, rheumatism, Bright’s disease, malaria, syphillis.<br />Emotional stress also plays an important part, and heart attacks are more common during the<br />periods of mental and emotional disturbances, particularly in those engaged in sedentary<br />occupations. Heredity also plays its role and this disease runs in families.<br />Treatment<br />If the causes of arteriosclerosis are known, remedial action should be taken promptly to remove<br />them. To begin with the patient should resort to a short juice fast for five to seven days. All<br />available fresh, raw vegetables and fruit juices in season may be taken. Grape-fruit juice,<br />pineapple juice, lemon juice and juices of green vegetables are especially beneficial. A warm<br />water enema should be used daily to cleanse the bowels during the period of fasting.<br />After the juice fast, the patient should take optimum diet made up from three basic food groups,<br />namely (i) seeds, nuts and grains, (ii) vegetables and, (iii) fruits, with emphasis on raw foods.<br />Plenty of raw and sprouted seeds and nuts should be used. Cold pressed vegetable oils,<br />particularly safflower oil, flax seed oil and olive oil should be used regularly.<br />Further, shorter fasts on juices may be undertaken at intervals of three months or so, depending<br />on the progress being made.<br />The patient should take several small meals instead of a few large ones. He should avoid all<br />hydrogenated fats and an excess of saturated fats, such as butter, cream, ghee and animal fat.<br />He should also avoid meat, salt and all refined and processed foods, condiments, sauces,<br />Arteriosclerosis<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap27.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:18:52 PM]<br />pickles , strong tea, coffee, white sugar, white flour and all products made from them. Foods<br />cooked in aluminum and copper utensils should not be taken as toxic metals entering the body<br />are known to be deposited on the walls of the aorta and the arteries. Smoking, if habitual, should<br />be given up as smoking constricts the arteries and aggravates the condition.<br />Recent investigations have shown that garlic and onions have a preventive effect on the<br />development of arteriosclerosis. Vitamin C has also proved beneficial as it helps in the<br />conversion of cholesterol into bile acids.<br />One of the most effective home remedies for arteriosclerosis is the lemon peel. It is believed to<br />be one of the richest known sources of vitamin P. It strengthens the entire arterial system.<br />Shredded lemon peel may be added to soups and stews, or sprinkled over salads. To make a<br />medicine, the peel of one or two lemons may be cut up finely, covered with warm water and<br />allowed to stand for about 12 hours. A teaspoonful may be taken every three hours, or<br />immediately before or after a meal.<br />Parsley is another effective home remedy for arteriosclerosis. It contains elements which help to<br />maintain the blood vessels, particularly the capillaries and arterial system in a healthy condition.<br />It may be taken as a beverage by stimmering it gently in the water for a few minutes and<br />partaking several times daily.<br />The beet juice has also proved valuable in arteriosclerosis. It is an excellent solvent for inorganic<br />calcium deposit. Juices of carrot and spinach are also beneficial. These juices can be taken<br />individually or in combination. Formula proportions found helpful when used in combination are<br />carrot 300 m.l. and spinach 200 m.l. to prepare 500 m.l. of juice.<br />The patient should undertake plenty of outdoor exercise and eliminate all mental stress and<br />worries. Prolonged neutral immersion baths at bed time on alternate days is beneficial. This bath<br />is administered in a bath tub which should be properly fitted with hot and cold water connection.<br />The bath-tub should be fitted with water at a temperature ranging from 92 o to 98 o F and the<br />patient should lie in it for an hour or so. The head should be kept cold with a cold compress.<br />[index]<br />Arteriosclerosis<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap27.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:18:52 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Arthritis<br />The word ‘arthritis’ means ‘inflammation of joints’. It comes from two Greek words, athron<br />meaning joints and its meaning inflammation. It is a chronic disease process. In the early stages,<br />the whole body is usually involved and one or two joints may become completely deformed,<br />leaving the patient handicapped and somewhat weakened.<br />Arthritis assumes various forms, the most frequent being osteroarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.<br />Inflammation is the main feature of arthritis, which is a reaction of the joint tissues to some form<br />of damage or injury.<br />Oesteroarthritis<br />Osteroarthritis is a degenerative joint disease which usually occurs in the older age-group. It<br />results from structural changes in the articular cartilage in the joints, usually those which are<br />weight-bearing such as the spine and knees.<br />The chief symptoms of oesteroarthritis are pain and stiffness in the joints. The pain usually<br />increases after exercise. Other symptoms include watery eyes, dry neck, leg cramps, allergies,<br />arterisclerosis, impairment in the functioning of the gall-bladder and liver disturbances. The<br />possible causes include malnutrition, continuous physical stress, obesity, glandular insufficiency,<br />calcium deficiency and shortage of hydrochloric acid.<br />Rheumatoid Arthritis<br />Rheumatoid arthritis is a serious disease which affects not only the joints of the fingers, writs,<br />hips, knees and feet but also the muscles, tendons and other tissues of the body. The disease is<br />due to an inflammatory process of the synovium or lining of the joints accompanied by swelling<br />and eventual deformity.<br />Rheumatoid arthritis is often called the " cooked food disease" . It usually develops gradually<br />over several months with persistent pain and stiffness in one or more joints. Ulti- mately the<br />whole body is affected. Symptoms include anaemia, colitis, constipation, gall-bladder<br />disturbances, low blood pressure, deformed hands and feet. The condition may be caused by<br />hormonal imbalance, physical and emotional stress, infection, severe fright, shock and injury.<br />Hereditary factors may also be responsible for the onset of this disease.<br />Treatment<br />The diet of the arthritis patient should be planned along alkaline lines and should include fruits<br />and vegetables for protection and proteins and carbohydrates for energy. It may consist of a<br />couple of fresh raw vegetables in the form of a salad and atleast two cooked vegetables.<br />Cabbage, carrot, celery, cucumber, endive, lettuce, onion, radishes, tomatoes and watercress<br />may be used for a raw salad. The cooked vegetables may include asparagus, beets, cauliflower,<br />cabbage, carrots, celery, brinjal, mushroom, onions, peas, beans, spinach, tomatoes, squash<br />and turnips.<br />In severe cases, it will be advisable to put the patient on raw vegetables juice therapy for about a<br />week. Green juice, extracted from any green leafy vegetable, mixed with carrot, celery and red<br />beet juice, is specific for arthritis. The alkaline action of raw juices dissolves the accumulation of<br />deposits around the joints and in other tissues. Fresh pineapple is also valuable as the enzyme<br />in fresh pineapple juice, bromelain reduces swelling and inflammation inosteoarthritis and<br />rheumatoid arthritis. Repeated juice fasts are recommended at intervals of every two months.<br />The raw potato juice therapy is considered one of the most successful biological treatment for<br />rheumatic and arthritic conditions. It has been used in folk medicine for centuries. The old<br />method of preparing potato juice was to cut the potato into thin slices, without peeling the skin,<br />and place them overnight in a large glass filled with cold water. The water should be drunk in the<br />morning on an empty stomach. Fresh juice can also be extracted from potatoes and drunk<br />Arthritis<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap28.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:19:05 PM]<br />diluted with water on 50 : 50 basis, first thing in the morning.<br />Black gingerly seeds, soaked overnight in water, have been found to be effective in preventing<br />frequent joint pains. The water in which the seeds are soaked should also be taken along with<br />the seeds the first thing in the morning. Drinking water kept overnight in a copper container also<br />serves the same purpose. This water has traces of copper which helps strengthen the muscular<br />system. For the same reason wearing a copper ring or bracelet will also help.<br />Warm coconut oil or mustard oil, mixed with camphor, should be massaged in case of stiff and<br />aching joints. It will increase blood supply and reduce inflammation and stiffness on account of<br />gentle warmth produced while massaging. Camphorrated oil is an ancient rebefacient used for<br />the purpose.<br />The time has also been used as a home remedy for arthritis since long. The citric acid found in<br />lime is solvent of the uric acid which is the primary cause of arthritis. Other remedies found<br />useful in relieving pains in the joints include green-gram soup mixed with crushed garlic cloves<br />and a teaspoonful of powdered fenugreek seeds in warm water taken everyday.<br />Sea bathing is considered beneficial in the treatment of arthritis. The natural iodine in the sea<br />water is said to relieve arthritis pain. As is well-known, iodine regulates the acid-alkaline balance<br />in the blood and tissues, helps to repair and regenerate worn out tissues and nourishes the<br />skeletal structure. It enters into the thyroid gland’s secretion. The hormone uses this iodine to<br />nullify germs in the bloodstream and to create a self- cleansing of internal toxemia.<br />If sea bathing is not possible, the patient should relax for 30 minutes every night in a tub of warm<br />water in which a cupful of sea salt has been mixed. The minerals in the sea salt, especially<br />iodine, can be absorbed through the skin pores. This will help correct an internal imbalance.<br />The body should be kept warm at all times. Joints should not be bandaged tightly as this limits<br />movement and interferes with the free circulation of blood. There should be plenty of indirect<br />ventilation in the bedroom. Rest is of greatest importance to arthritis, who should not overdo<br />their work, exercise or recreation activities.<br />Constipation should be avoided as it poisons the system and adds to the irritation and<br />inflammation of the joints. Light exercises such as walking, hiking and swimming are beneficial.<br />Maintaining a normal body weight is also an important factor in preventing arthritis. Obesity<br />places excess stress on weight-bearing joints and interferes with the smooth functioning of<br />tendons, ligaments and muscles.<br />The yogic asanas helpful in curing arthritis are trikonasana, bhujangasana, shalabhasana,<br />naukasana, vakrasana and shavasana. Arthritis patients should practice these asanas regularly.<br />Yogic kriyas like jalneti and kapalbhati and pranayamas such as anulomaviloma, ujjai and<br />bhrameri are also beneficial.<br />The patient should be given a lukewarm enema for a few days to cleanse the bowels. Neutral<br />immersion baths, hot foot baths, ultrasonic diathermy and exposure of the affected parts to<br />infra-red rays, a knee pack applied for an hour every night, stream baths and a massage once a<br />week are beneficial in the treatment of arthritis. All general cold water treatments, such as cold<br />baths and cold sprays, should be avoided.<br />[index]<br />Arthritis<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap28.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:19:05 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Asthma<br />Asthma is an ancient Greek word meaning " panting or short- drawn breath." It is the most<br />troublesome of the respiratory diseases. The asthma patient gets frequent attacks of<br />breathlessness in between which he is completely normal.<br />Symptoms<br />Patients suffering from asthma appear to be gasping for breath. Actually, they have more trouble<br />exhaling than inhaling because the air passages of the small bronchi become clogged and<br />constricted with mucus, thus making it difficult for the patient to breathe out. All asthmatics have<br />more difficulty at night, especially during sleep.<br />The onset of asthma is either gradual or abrupt. Sudden onsets are often preceded by a spell of<br />coughing which may be associated with itching of the chin, the back of the neck or chest. When<br />the onset is gradual, the attack is usually brought on by respiratory infection. A severe attack<br />causes an increase in heartbeat and respiratory rates and the patient feels restless and fatigued.<br />There may be coughing, tightness inthe chest, profuse sweating and vomiting. There may also<br />be abdominal pain, especially if coughing is severe. Foggy weather aggravates the symptoms.<br />An asthmatic attack begins when the bronchial tubes in the lungs become constricted. The tubes<br />having become narrow, the inhaled air becomes trapped in the tiny air sacs at the end of the<br />tubes, making the release of breath difficult. The wheezing sound identified with asthma is<br />produced by the air being pushed through the narrowed bronchi.<br />Causes<br />Mainly bronchial in its symptoms, asthma is caused by a variety of factors. For many it is an<br />allergic condition resulting from the reaction of the system to the weather, food, drugs, perfumes<br />and other irritants which vary with different individuals. Allergies to dust are the most common.<br />Some persons are sensitive to the various forms of dust like cotton dust, wheat dust and paper<br />dust, some pollens, animal hair, fungi and insects, especially cockroaches. Foods which<br />generally cause allergic reactions are wheat, eggs, milk, chocolates, beans, potato, pork and<br />beef.<br />For others, asthma may result from the abnormal body chemistry involving the system’s<br />enzymes or a defect in muscular action within the lungs. Quite often, however, asthma is<br />precipitated by a combination of allergic and non- allergic factors including emotional tension, air<br />pollution, infections and hereditary factors. It has been estimated that when both parents have<br />asthma or hay fever, in 75 to 100 per cent cases, the offspring also has allergic reactions.<br />Treatment<br />Modern medical system has not been able to find a cure for this crippling disease. Drugs and<br />vaccines have only limited value in alleviating symptoms. Most of these are habit forming and<br />the dose has to be increased from time to time to give the same amount of relief. The frequent<br />introduction of drugs in the system, while giving only temporary relief, tends to make asthma<br />chronic and incurable. Allergy - which is the immediate cause of asthma - itself is an indication of<br />lowered resistance and internal disharmony caused by faulty eating and bad habits. This is the<br />root cause and the real cure lies in a return to nature.<br />The natural way to treat asthma consists of stimulating the functioning of slack excretory organs,<br />adopting appropriate diet patterns to eliminate morbid matter and reconstruct the body, and<br />practicing yogasanas, yogic kriyas and pranayamas to permit proper assimilation of food and to<br />strengthen the lungs, digestive system and circulatory organs.<br />The patient should be given an enema to clean the colon and prevent auto-intoxication.<br />Mud-packs applied to the abdomen will relieve the fermentation caused by undigested food and<br />will promote intestinal peristalsis. Wet packs should be applied to the chest to relieve the<br />Asthma<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap29.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:19:16 PM]<br />congestion of the lungs and strengthen them. The patient should be made to perspire through<br />steam bath, hot foot bath, hot hip bath and sun bath.<br />This will stimulate the skin and relieve congested lungs.<br />The patient should fast for a few days on lemon juice with honey and thereafter resort to a fruit<br />juice diet to nourish the system and eliminate the toxins. Gradually, solid foods can be included.<br />The patient should, however, avoid the common dietic errors. Ideally, his diet should contain a<br />limited quantity of carbohydrates, fats and proteins which are acid-forming foods, and a liberal<br />quantity of alkaline foods consisting of fresh fruits, green vegetables and germinated gram.<br />Foods which tend to produce phelgm such as rice, sugar, lentils and curds as also fried and<br />other difficult- to- digest foods should be avoided. Breakfast may consist of prunes, orange or<br />berries or a few black raisins with honey. Lunch and dinner should consist of a salad of raw<br />vegetables such as cucumber, lettuce, tomato, carrot and beets, one or two lightly cooked green<br />vegetables and wheat bread. The last meal should preferably be taken before sunset or at least<br />two hours before going to bed.<br />Asthamtics should always eat less than their capacity. They should eat slowly, chewing their<br />food properly. They should drink eight to 10 glasses of water a day, but should avoid taking<br />water or any liquid with meals. Spices, chillies and pickles, too much tea and coffee should also<br />be avoided.<br />Asthma, particularly when the attack is severe, tends to destroy the appetite. IN such cases, do<br />not force the patient to eat. He should be kept on fast till the attack is over. He should, however,<br />take a cup of warm water every two hours. An enema taken at that time will be very beneficial.<br />Honey is considered highly beneficial in the treatment of asthma. It is said that if a jug of honey<br />is held under the nose of an asthma patient and he inhales the air that comes into contact with<br />the honey, he starts breathing easier and deeper. The effect lasts for about an hour or so. This is<br />because honey contains a mixture of ‘higher’ alcohols and ethereal oils and the vapors given off<br />by them are soothing and beneficial to the asthma patient. Honey usually brings relief whether<br />the air flowing over it is inhaled or whether it is eaten or taken either in milk or water. It thins out<br />accumulated mucous and helps its elimination from the respiratory passages. It also tones up<br />the pulmonary parenchyma and thereby prevents the production of mucous in future. Some<br />authorities recommend one year old honey for respiratory disease.<br />Another effective remedy for asthma is garlic. The patient should be given daily garlic cloves<br />boiled in thirty gms of milk as a cure for early stage of asthma. Steaming ginger tea with minced<br />garlic cloves in it, can also help to keep the problem under control and should be taken both in<br />the morning and evening. Turmeric is also regarded as an effective remedy for bronchial<br />asthma. The patient should be given a teaspoonful of turmeric powder with a glass of milk two or<br />three times daily. It acts best when taken on an empty stomach.<br />During the attack, mustard oil mixed with little camphor should be massaged over the back of<br />the chest. This will loosen up phelgm and ease breathing. The patient should also inhale steam<br />from the boiling water with caraway seeds, known as ajwain in the vernacular. It will dilate the<br />bronchial passage.<br />The patient should also follow the other laws of nature. Air sun and water are great healing<br />agents. Regular fasting once a week, an occasional enema, breathing exercises, fresh air, dry<br />climate, light exercises and a correct posture go a long way in treating the disease.<br />The patient should perform yogic kriyas such as jalneti, vamandhouti and yogic asanas such as<br />ekpaduttanasana, yogamudra, sarvangasana, padmasana, bhujangasana, dhanurasana,<br />vakrasana, ardh-matsyendrasan, shalabhasan, paschimottanasana and shavasana.<br />Pranayamas like kapalbhati, anuloma-viloma, ujjayi, surbyabhedana and bhramari are also<br />highly beneficial.<br />The patient should avoid dusty places, exposure to cold, foods to which he is sensitive, mental<br />worries and tensions. Asthmatic should be made to feel that they are not sick, and with slight<br />adjustments, can live a full life.<br />[index]<br />Asthma<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap29.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:19:16 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Backache<br />Backache, one of the most common ailments, is widely prevalent these days due to sedentary<br />living habits and hazardous work patterns. The psychological conditions associated with<br />emotional stress, which bring about spasm of the muscles, may also cause backache. As the<br />back bears the weight of the entire body it gives way when it has to carry an extra load in the<br />case of persons who are overweight.<br />The back, a complex structure of muscles, bone and elastic tissue, is known as the life-bone of<br />the body. The spine is made of 24 blocks of bone piled one on top of the other. Sandwiched<br />between these bony blocks are cushions of cartilage and elastic tissues called intervertebral<br />discs. The vertebral discs act as shock absorbers for the back. Mobility would be impossible<br />without discs.<br />Sometimes these cushions rupture and the pulp protrudes a little. The process is erroneously<br />called a ‘slipped’ disc. If the cushion disappears entirely, the result is known as a degenerated<br />disc. In slipped-disc trouble, the nerve is affected in such a way that the pain radiates down the<br />thigh and leg. If the disc ‘slips’ in the neck area, it causes numbness and pain radiates to the<br />arms.<br />Disc trouble does not occur suddenly but builds up over a long time. The backbone forms a<br />protective arch over the vertebrae and spinal cord and protects the spinal nerves that are<br />interwoven through the spinal column. There is a close relationship between the bones, discs,<br />joint muscles and nerves in the back and the slightest problem or injury to the back or neck area<br />can have disastrous effects.<br />Symptoms<br />In most cases of backache, the pain is usually felt either in the middle of the back or lower down.<br />It may spread to both sides of the waist and the hips. With acute pain, the patient is unable to<br />move and is bedridden.<br />About 90 per cent of backache patients suffer from what is called cervical or lumber spondylosis.<br />It is a degenerative disorder in which the vertebralbone or the intervertebral disc becomes soft<br />and loses shape. As a result of this, the spine loses its flexibility.<br />Causes<br />The main causes of backache and spondylosis are muscular tension, joint strain, poor posture<br />and incorrect nutrition resulting from dietetic errors and lack of exercise. Acute or chronic<br />illnesses like kidney or prostate problems, female disorders, influenza and arthritis, may also<br />lead to backache. Other causes include stress and strain resulting from sitting for a long time,<br />improper lifting of weight, high heels and emotional problems which may cause painful muscle<br />cramping.<br />Poor posture results from soft chairs and coaches, which facilitates slouching and sitting<br />incorrectly. Shoes with high heels place a tremendous strain on the back and other muscles of<br />the body. Sleeping on too soft a mattress which results in an improper back and neck posture,<br />can cause tension, headaches and pain in the upper and lower back.<br />Another major cause of back problems and tense muscles is lack of exercise. Modern<br />conveniences have made officework easier. The easy life can lead to obesity which puts a great<br />strain on the back. When muscles are not exercised and remain weak, the chances of injury to<br />them is increased manifold.<br />Treatment<br />Drugs prescribed to relieve pain or relax muscles in backache disorders do not cure common<br />back problems. These can become habit forming and may actually perpetuate the disease in<br />case of excessive intake.<br />Backache<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap30.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:19:25 PM]<br />Certain safety measures , especially, for people in sedentary occupation, are necessary to<br />relieve and prevent backache. The most important of these is exercise which improves the<br />supply of nutrients to spinal discs, thereby delaying the process of deterioration that comes with<br />age and eventually affects everybody. Safe exercises include walking, swimming and bicycling.<br />The latter should be done keeping the back upright. Controlling one’s weight is another<br />important step towards relieving backache as excess weight greatly increases the stress on soft<br />back tissues.<br />Those with sedentary occupations should take a break to stand up every hour. Soft cushioned<br />seats should be avoided and position should be changed as often as possible. Persons with<br />back problems should sleep on a firm mattress on their sides with knees bent at right angles to<br />the torso. They should take care never to bend from the waist down to lift any object but instead<br />should swat close to the object, bending the knees but keeping the back straight, and then stand<br />up slowly.<br />Neck tension arising from long hours at the desk or behind the wheel of the car can be relieved<br />by certain neck exercises. These include rotating the head clockwise and anticlockwise, allowing<br />the head to drop forward and backward as far as possible and turning the head to the right and<br />left as far as possible several times. These exercises help to loosen up contracted neck muscles<br />which may restrict the blood supply to the head.<br />The diet of those suffering from backache should consist of a salad of raw vegetables such as<br />tomato, carrot, cabbage, cucumber, radish, lettuce and at least two steamed or lightly cooked<br />vegetables such as cauliflower, cabbage, carrot, spinach and plenty of fruits, all except bananas.<br />The patients should have four meals daily. They may take fruits and milk during breakfast,<br />steamed vegetables and whole wheat chapatis during lunch, fresh fruits or fruit juice in the<br />evening and a bowl of raw salad and sprouts during dinner.<br />The patients should avoid fatty, spicy, and fried foods, curd, sweetmeats, sugar, condiments as<br />well as tea and coffee. Those who smoke and take tobacco in any form should give them up<br />completely.<br />Proteins and vitamin C are necessary for the development of a healthy bone metrix. Vitamin D,<br />calcium, phosphorous and the essential trace minerals are essential for healthy bones. Foods<br />that have been processed for storage to avoid spoiling have few nutrients and should be<br />eliminated from the diet. Vitamin C has proved helpful in relieving low-back pain and averting<br />spinal disc operations.<br />Hot fomentations, alternate sponging or application of radiant heat to the back will also give<br />immediate relief. Yogic asanas which are beneficial in the treatment of backache are<br />bhujangasana, shalabhasana, halasana, uttanpadasana and shavasana.<br />The back can be strengthened through proper nutrition, exercise and relaxation and in the<br />process general health will also improve.<br />[index]<br />Backache<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap30.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:19:25 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Bronchitis<br />Bronchitis refers to an inflammation of the mucous membrane lining the bronchi and bronchial<br />tube within the chest. It is a breathing disorder affecting the expiratory function. In most cases,<br />some infection also occurs in the nose and throat. It is a disease endemic to cold, damp<br />climates, but may occur anywhere.<br />Bronchitis may be acute or chronic. In chronic cases, the disease is of long duration. It is more<br />serious than the acute type as permanent changes may have occurred in the lungs, thereby<br />interfering with their normal movements. Chronic bronchitis is more frequent in males than in<br />females and mortality rate is also higher in males.<br />Symptoms<br />In most cases of bronchitis, the larynx, trachea and bronchial tubes are acutely inflamed. The<br />tissues are swollen due to irritation. Large quantities of mucus are secreted and poured into the<br />windpipe to protect the inflamed mucous membrane. The phelgm, when expelled is found to be<br />viscid and purulent. There is usually a higher fever, some difficulty in breathing and a deep chest<br />cough. Other symptoms are hoarseness and pain in the chest and loss of appetite. Breathing<br />trouble continues till the inflammation subsides and mucous is removed.<br />Causes<br />The chief cause of bronchitis is wrong feeding habits. The habitual use of refined foods such as<br />white sugar, refined cereals and white-flour products results in the accumulation of morbid<br />matter in the system and collection of toxic waste in the bronchial tube. Another important cause<br />of this disease is smoking. Excessive smoking irritates the bronchial tubes and lowers their<br />resistance so that they become vulnerable to germs breathed in from the atmosphere. Other<br />causes of bronchitis are living or working in stuffy atmosphere, use of drugs to suppress earlier<br />diseases and hereditary factors. Changes in weather and environment are common factors for<br />the onset of the disease.<br />Treatment<br />In acute cases of bronchitis , the patient should fast on orange juice and water till the acute<br />symptoms subside. The procedure is to take the juice of an orange in a glass of warm water<br />every two hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thereafter, the patient should adopt an all-fruit diet for two<br />or three days. In case of chronic bronchitis, the patient can begin with an all- fruit diet for five to<br />seven days, taking each day three meals of fresh juicy fruits. After the all-fruit diet, the patient<br />should follow a well-balanced diet of seeds, nuts and grains, vegetables and fruits. For drinks,<br />unsweetened lemon water or cold or hot plain water may betaken. The patient should avoid<br />meats, sugar, tea, coffee, condiments, pickles, refined and processed foods, soft-drinks,<br />candies, ice-cream and products made from sugar and white flour.<br />One of the most effective remedy for bronchitis is the use of turmeric powder. A teaspoonful of<br />this powder should be administered with a glass of milk two or three times daily. It acts best<br />when taken on an empty stomach.<br />Another effective remedy for bronchitis is a mixture of dried ginger powder, pepper and long<br />pepper taken in equal quantities three times a day. It may be licked with honey or infused with<br />one’s daily tea. The powder of these three ingredients have antipyretic qualities and are effective<br />in dealing with fever accompanied by bronchitis. They also tone up the metabolism of the<br />patient.<br />The onion has been used as a food remedy for centuries in bronchitis. It is said to possess<br />expectorant properties . It liquefies phelgm and prevents its further formation. One teaspoon of<br />raw onion juice, the first thing in the morning will be highly beneficial in such cases.<br />A simple hot poultice of linseed should be applied over the front and back of the chest. It will<br />Bronchitis<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap31.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:19:33 PM]<br />greatly relieve pain. Poultices act by diluting the vessels of the surface and thereby reducing the<br />blood pressure. The heat of the poultics acts as a cardiac stimulant. A poultics should be applied<br />neatly and carefully and should be often renewed, so that it does not hamper respiration.<br />Turpentine may be rubbed over the chest with fomentation for the same object.<br />A hot Epsom-salts bath every night or every other night will be highly beneficial during the acute<br />stages of the attack. This bath is prepared by dissolving three lbs. of Epsom-salts to 60 litres of<br />water having a temperature of 100 o F. The patient should remain immersed in the bath for<br />about 20 minutes. In case of chronic bronchitis, this bath may be taken twice a week. Hot towels<br />wrung out and applied over the upper chest are also helpful. After applying three hot towels in<br />turn for two or three minutes each , one should always finish off with a cold towel. A cold pack<br />should also be applied to the upper chest several times daily in acute conditions. The procedure<br />is to wring out some linen material in cold water, wrap two or three times round the affected part<br />and cover it with some flannel. The pack can remain for about an hour at a time.<br />Fresh air and outdoor exercises are also essential to the treatment of bronchitis and the patient<br />should take a good walk everyday. He should also perform yogic kriyas such as jalneti and<br />vamandhouti and yogic asanas such as ekpaduttansana, yogamudra, bhujangasana,<br />shalabhasana, padmasana and shavasana. Simple pranayamas like kapalbhatti,<br />anuloma-viloma, ujjai and bhramari are also highly beneficial.<br />[index]<br />Bronchitis<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap31.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:19:33 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />CANCER<br />The word ‘cancer ‘ comes from the latin "carcinoma" meaning crab. It is the most dreaded<br />disease and refers to all malignant tumours caused by the abnormal growth of a body cell or a<br />group of cells . It is today the second largest killer in the world, next only to heart ailments. The<br />term covers more than 200 diseases.<br />The majority of cancers occur in the age group 50-60. Sex does not affect the incidence of the<br />disease. It, however, affects the site of growth. In men, cancer is usually found in the intestines,<br />the prostate and the lungs. In women, it occurs mostly in the breast tissues, uterus, gall-bladder<br />and thyroid.<br />Symptoms<br />The symptoms of cancer vary according to the site of the growth. The American Cancer Society<br />has prescribed seven signs or danger signals in general which may indicate the presence of<br />cancer. These are : a sore that does not heal ; change in bowel or bladder habits ; unusual<br />bleeding or discharge ; thickening or lump in breast or elsewhere ; indigestion or difficulty in<br />swallowing ; obvious change in a wart or a mole, and a persistent and nagging cough or<br />hoarseness. Other symptoms may include unexplained loss of weight , particularly in older<br />people, a change in skin colour and changes in the menstrual periods, especially bleeding<br />between periods.<br />Causes<br />The prime cause of cancer is not known. Certain cancer- causing substances, known as<br />carcinogens, however, increase the chances of getting the disease. About 80 per cent of<br />cancers are caused by environmental factors . Forty per cent of male cancers in India are linked<br />with tobacco, a known cancer- causing agent. The consumption of pan, bettlenut, tobacco and<br />slaked lime has been linked with lung and throat cancers. Heavy consumption of alcoholic drinks<br />can cause oesophagal, stomach and liver cancers. Occupational exposure to industrial<br />pollutants such as asbestos, nickel, tar, soot and high doses of X-rays can lead to skin and lung<br />cancers and leukemia. Other factors contributing to cancer are vital infections, trauma, hormone<br />imbalance and malnutrition. Many well-known biologists and naturopaths, however, believe that<br />a faulty diet is the root cause of cancer. Investigations indicate that the cancer incidence is in<br />direct proportion to the amount of animal protein, particularly meat, in the diet. Dr. Willard J.<br />Visek, a renowned research scientist explained recently a link between excessive meat-eating<br />and cancer. According to him, the villain is ammonia, the carcinogenic by-product of meat<br />digestion.<br />Treatment<br />The effective treatment of cancer consists of a complete change in diet, besides total elimination<br />of all environmental sources of carcinogens, such as smoking and carcinogenic chemicals in air<br />, water and food. There has recently been a surge of popular interest in the concept that diet is<br />not just a minor, but rather a major factor in both the development and the prevention of cancer.<br />The disease can be prevented and even treated by dietary programmes that include ‘natural<br />foods ‘ and the use of megavitamin supplements.<br />As a first step, the patient should cleanse the system by thoroughly relieving constipation and<br />making all the organs of elimination - the skin, lungs, liver, kidneys and bowels - active. Enemas<br />should be used to cleanse the colon. For the first four or five days, the patient should take only<br />juicy fruits like oranges, grapefruits, lemons, apples, peaches, pears, pineapples and tomatoes.<br />Vegetable juices are also useful, especially carrot juice.<br />After a few days of an exclusive fruit diet, the patient may be given a nourishing alkaline-based<br />diet. It should consist of 100 per cent natural foods, with emphasis on raw fruits and vegetables,<br />CANCER<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap32.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:19:40 PM]<br />particularly carrots , green leafy vegetables, cabbage, onion, garlic , cucumber, asparagus,<br />beets and tomatoes. A minimum requirement of high quality protein, mostly from vegetable<br />sources such as almonds, millet, sesame seeds, sprouted seeds and grains, may be added to<br />the diet.<br />Dr. Ann Wigmore of Boston, U.S.A., the well-known naturopath and a pioneer in the field of living<br />food nutrition, has been testing the effect of a drink made of fresh wheatgrass in the treatment of<br />leukemia. She claims to have cured several cases of this disease by this method. Dr. Wigmore<br />points out that by furnishing the body with live minerals, vitamins, trace elements and chlorophyll<br />through wheatgrass juice, it may be able to repair itself.<br />Johanna Brandt, the author of the book ‘ The Grape Cure ‘ has advocated an exclusive grape<br />diet for the treatment of cancer. She discovered this mode of cure in 1925, while experimenting<br />on herself by fasting and dieting alternately in the course of her nine-year battle with cancer. She<br />claimed to have cured herself by this mode of treatment. She recommends a fast for two or three<br />days so as to prepare the system for the change of diet.<br />After the short fast, the patient should have a grape meat every two hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.<br />This should be followed for a week or two even a month or two, in chronic cases of long<br />standing. The patient should begin the grape cure with a small quantity of 30, 60, to 90 grams<br />per meal, gradually increasing this to double the quantity. In course of time, about 250 grams<br />may safely be taken as a meal.<br />Recent researches have shown that certain vitamins can be successfully employed in the fight<br />against cancer and that they can increase the life expectancy of some terminal cancer patients.<br />According to recent Swedish studies vitamin C in large doses can be an effective prophylactic<br />agent against cancer. Noted Japanese scientist, Dr. Fukunir Morishige, and his colleagues who<br />have been examining the healing potential of vitamin C for the last 30 years, have recently found<br />that a mixture of vitamin C and copper compound has lethal effects on cancer.<br />According to several studies, vitamin A exerts an inhibiting effect on carcinogenesis. It is one of<br />the most important aids to the body’s defence system to fight and prevent cancer. Dr. Leonida<br />Santamaria and his colleagues at the University of Pavia in Italy have uncovered preliminary<br />evidence suggesting that beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A may actually inhibit skin cancer<br />by helping the body thwart the cancer-causing process known as oxidation.<br />Recent studies from all over the world suggest that a liberal use of green and yellow vegetables<br />and fruits can prevent cancer. The 20-years old, ongoing Japanese study found that people who<br />ate green and yellow vegetables every day had a decreased risk of developing lung, stomach<br />and other cancers. A Harvard University study of more than 1,200 elderly Massachusetts<br />residents found that those who reported the highest consumption of carrots, squash, tomatoes,<br />salads or leafy green vegetables, dried fruits, fresh strawberries or melon had a decreased risk<br />of cancer.<br />The other useful measures are plenty of rest, complete freedom from worries and mental stress<br />and plenty of fresh, pure air.<br />[index]<br />CANCER<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap32.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:19:40 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Cataract<br />Cataract is among the most common eye diseases. The term actually means a waterfall, and<br />refers to the opacity of the crystalline lens of the eye on the assumption that the condition is<br />caused by the humour of the brain falling over the pupil.<br />The crystalline lens, through which light travels into the interior of the eye, is situated just behind<br />the iris, or coloured portion of the eye. In cataract, this lens becomes opaque, hence seriously<br />hampering the entrance of light into the eye. Blindness ensues when no light rays can premeate<br />the opacity of the lens. According to the modern medical system, a surgical operation to remove<br />the lens or a major portion of it is the only way to get rid of the disease. The patient is provided<br />with suitable glasses after the operation to enable him to see well enough to carry on his normal<br />duties.<br />Symptoms<br />The first sign of cataract is blurred vision. The patient finds it difficult to see things in focus. As<br />the cataract progresses, the patient may get double vision or spots or both. There is a gradual<br />increase in blindness. At first, vision in twilight may be better than in full daylight since light is<br />admitted round the more widely-dilated pupil in the dark. In the advance stage, objects and<br />persons may appear merely blobs of light. In the final stage, there is a grayish -white<br />discolouration in the pupil.<br />Causes<br />Cataract is often found in association with other defects of the eye. There are four factors which<br />contribute to the loss of transparency of the lens. These are stagnation of the fluid current in the<br />lens resulting from blood condition ; deterioration in the nutrition of the lens which diminishes the<br />vitality and resistence of the delicate lens fibres ; deposits between the lens fibres of acids and<br />salts which have an irritating effect on the lens tissues and exert an increasing pressure on its<br />delicate fibres, clouding whole lens in the absence of appropriate measures.<br />As in the case of most diseases, poisons in the blood stream due to dietetic errors and a faulty<br />style of living is the real cause of cataract. The toxic matter in the blood stream spreads<br />throughout the body to find shelter in any available weak spot. It strikes the lens if that part has<br />become weak through strain, excessive use of the eyes and local irritation. The condition<br />becomes worse with the passage of time and then a cataract starts developing. Other causes of<br />cataract are stress and strain, excessive intake of alcoholic drinks,sugar,salt, smoking, certain<br />physical ailments such as gastro-intestinal or gall- bladder disturbance, diabetes, vitamin<br />deficiencies, especially of vitamin C , fatty acid intolerance, ageing, radiation and side- effects of<br />drugs prescribed for other diseases.<br />Some specialists believe that the most important cause of many cataract is poor nutrition. This<br />may be true even in case of the type of cataract commonly called senile or ageing cataract. The<br />cause may be a lifetime of malnutrition. Dr. Morgan Raiford, an opthalmologist who has studied<br />cataracts for many years, considers faulty nutrition to be a basic factor in cataract. He has found<br />from experience that prevention of cataract is initiated by improving nutrition.<br />Treatment<br />Cataract is one of the most stubborn conditions to deal with, if it has become deep-seated,<br />nothing short of a surgical operation will help in overcoming the trouble. If, however, the cataract<br />is in the early stages, there are good chances of getting over the ailment by natural means. Even<br />advanced cases can be prevented from becoming worse.<br />A thorough course of cleansing the system of the toxic matter is essential. To start with, it will be<br />beneficial to undergo a fast for three to four days on orange juice and water. A warm water<br />enema may be taken during this period. After this initial fast, a diet of very restricted nature<br />Cataract<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap33.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:19:48 PM]<br />should be followed for two weeks. In this regimen, breakfast may consist of oranges or grapes or<br />any other juicy fruit in season. Raw vegetable salads in season, with olive oil and lemon juice<br />dressing, and soaked raisins, figs or dates should be taken during lunch. Evening meals may<br />consist of vegetable such as spinach, fenugreek, drum sticks, cabbage, cauliflower , carrot,<br />turnips, steamed in their own juices, and a few nuts or some fruits, such as apples, pears and<br />grapes. Potatoes should not be taken. No bread or any other food should be added to this diet.<br />After two weeks on this diet, the cataract patient may start on a fuller diet on the following lines :<br />Breakfast : Any fresh fruits in season, except bananas.<br />Lunch : A large mixed raw vegetable salad with wholemeal bread or chapatis and butter.<br />Dinner : Two or three steamed vegetables, other than potatoes, with nuts and fresh fruit.<br />The short fast followed by a restricted diet should be repeated after three months of the<br />commencement of the treatment and again three months later, if necessary. The bowels should<br />be cleansed daily with a warm water enema during the fast, and afterwards as necessary.<br />The patient should avoid white bread, sugar, cream, refined cereals, rice, boiled potatoes,<br />puddings and pies, strong tea or coffee, alcoholic beverages, condiments, pickles, sauces or<br />other so-called aids to digestion.<br />There is increasing evidence to show that in several cases cataracts have actually been<br />reversed by proper nutritional treatment. However, the time needed for such treatment may<br />extend from six months to three years. Adelle Davis, one of America’s best-known nutritionists,<br />has pointed out that animals develop cataracts if deprived of pantotehnic acid and amino acid,<br />tryptophane and vitamin B6 needed for tryptophane assimilation. She states that the diet of the<br />cataract patient should be high in B2, B6, as well as whole B-complex, panto thenic acid, vitamin<br />C, D, E and other nutrients.<br />The aniseed is considered a useful remedy for cataract. The patient should take about six grams<br />of aniseed daily in the morning and evening. Equal weights of aniseed and coriander powder<br />and mixed with brown sugar is also beneficial in the treatment of this disease and the mixture<br />should be taken in doses of 12 grams in the morning and evening. Another valuable remedy for<br />cataract is to grind seven kernels of almonds and half a gram of pepper together in water, and<br />then drink the mixture after sifting and sweetening the mixture with sugar candy. It helps the<br />eyes to regain their vigour.<br />Simultaneous with the dietary treatment, the patient should adopt various methods of relaxing<br />and strengthening the eyes. These include moving the eyes gently up and down, from side to<br />side and in a circle, clock-wise and anti-clockwise; rotating the neck in circles and semi-circles<br />and briskly moving the shoulders clock-wise and anti-clockwise. The patient should also resort to<br />palming which is highly beneficial in removing strain and relaxing the eyes and its surrounding<br />tissues. The procedure has been outlined in chapter 40 on defective vision.<br />The epsom salt bath is highly beneficial and should be taken twice a week. The patient should<br />remain in the bath from 25 to 35 minutes till he perspires freely. After the bath the patient should<br />cool off gradually. Closed eyes should also be bathed at least twice daily with hot water<br />containing epsom salt - a tablespoonful of salt to a large cupful of hot water.<br />In cases where the cataract has been caused by stress, an antistress diet rich in protein, vitamin<br />B,C, E, pantothenic acid and nutrients is essential to overcome the trouble. If a cataract has<br />already developed, the diet will help prevent its occurrence in the other type.<br />Fresh air and gentle outdoor exercises, such as walking, are other essentials to the treatment.<br />Exposure to heat and bright light should be avoided as far as possible.<br />[index]<br />Cataract<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap33.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:19:48 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Cirrhosis of the Liver<br />Cirrhosis of the liver refers to all forms of liver disease characterised by a significant loss of cells.<br />It is one of the most serious hepatic diseases. The liver gradually contracts in size and becomes<br />hard and leathery.<br />The liver is one of the most important glandular organs in the body. It is located high up on the<br />right side of the abdomen just under the diaphragm. It is a vast chemical laboratory which<br />performs many important functions. It produces bile, cholesterol, lecithin, blood albumin vital to<br />the removal of tissue wastes prothrombin essential to the clotting of blood and numerous<br />enzymes. It inactivates hormones no longer needed, synthesises many amino acids used in<br />building tissues and breaks proteins into sugar and fat when required for energy. It stores<br />vitamins and minerals. It also destroys harmful substances and detoxifies drugs, poisons,<br />chemicals and toxins from bacterial infections. Liver damage interferes with all of these<br />functions.<br />In cirrhosis of the liver, although regenerative activity continues, the progressive loss of liver<br />cells exceeds cell replace- ment. There is also progressive distortion of the vascular system<br />which interferes with the portal blood flow through the liver. The progressive degeneration of<br />liver structure and function may ultimately lead to hepatic failure and death.<br />Symptoms<br />In the early stages of the diseases, there may be nothing more than frequent attacks of gas and<br />indigestion, with occasional nausea and vomiting. There may be some abdominal pain and loss<br />of weight. In the advanced stage, the patient develops a low grade fever. He has a foul breath,<br />jaundiced skin and distended veins in the abdomen. Reddish hair like markings, resembling<br />small spiders, may appear on the face, neck, arms and trunk. The abdomen becomes bloated<br />and swollen, the mind gets clouded and there may be considerable bleeding from the stomach.<br />Causes<br />Excessive use of alcohol over a long period is the most potent cause of cirrhosis of the liver. It<br />has been estimated that one out of 12 chronic alcoholics in the United States develops cirrhosis.<br />The disease can progress to end-stage of hepatic failure if the person does not abstain from<br />alcohol. Cirrhosis appears to be related to the duration of alcohol intake and the quantity<br />consumed daily. Recent researches indicate that the average duration of alcohol intake to<br />produce cirrhosis is 10 years and the dose is estimated to be in excess of 500 ml of alcohol<br />daily.<br />Poor nutrition can be another causative factor in the development of cirrhosis and a chronic<br />alcoholic usually suffers from severe malnutrition as he seldom eats. Other causes of cirrhosis<br />are excessive intake of highly seasoned food, habitual taking of quinine for a prolonged period in<br />tropical climate, and drug treatments for syphillis, fever and other diseases. It may also result<br />from a highly toxic condition of the system in general. In fact, anything which continually<br />overburdens the liver cells and leads to their final breakdown can be a contributing cause of<br />cirrhosis.<br />Treatment<br />The patient should be kept in bed. He must abstain completely from alcohol in any form. He<br />should undergo an initial liver cleaning programme with a juice fast for seven days. Freshly<br />extracted juices from red beets, lemon, papaya and grapes may be taken during this period. This<br />may be followed by the fruit and milk diet for two to three weeks.<br />In this regimen, the patient should have three meals a day, each of fresh juicy fruits and milk.<br />The fruits may include apples, pears, grapes, grape fruit, oranges, pineapples and peaches. One<br />litre of milk may be taken on the first day. It should be increased by 250 ml. daily upto two to two<br />Cirrhosis of the Liver<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap34.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:20:01 PM]<br />and a half litres a day. The milk should be fresh and unboiled, but may be slightly warmed if<br />desired. It should be sipped very slowly.<br />After the fruit and milk diet, the patient may gradually embark upon a well-balanced diet of three<br />basic food groups, namely (i) seeds, nuts and grains, (ii) vegetables and (iii) fruits, with<br />emphasis on raw organically grown foods. An adequate high quality protein diet is necessary in<br />cirrhosis. The best complete proteins for liver patients are obtained from raw goat ‘s milk,<br />home-made raw cottage cheese, sprouted seeds and grains and raw nuts, especially almonds.<br />Vegetables such as beets, squashes, bitter gourd, egg-plant, tomato, carrot, radishes and<br />papaya are useful in this condition. All fats and oils should be excluded from the diet for several<br />weeks.<br />The patient should avoid all refined, processed and canned foods,sugar in any form, spices and<br />condiments, strong tea and coffee, fried foods,all preparations cooked in ghee, oil or butter and<br />all meats rich in fat. The use of salt should be restricted. The patient should also avoid all<br />chemical additives in food and poisons in air, water and environment.<br />Warm water enema should be used during the treatment to cleanse the bowels. If constipation is<br />habitual, all steps should be taken for its eradication. Application of alternate compress to liver<br />area followed by general wet sheet rub will be beneficial. The morning dry friction and breathing<br />and other exercises should form a regular daily feature of the treatment.<br />[index]<br />Cirrhosis of the Liver<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap34.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:20:01 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Colitis<br />Colitis is an inflammation of the colon or large intestine. There are two types of colitis : mucus<br />and ulceratie. Mucus colitis is a common disorder of the large bowel, producing discomfort and<br />irregular bowel habits. Chronic ulcerative colitis is a severe prolonged inflammation of the colon<br />or large bowel in which ulcers form on the walls of the colon, resulting in the passing of blood<br />stools with pus and mucus. Both forms of colitis are the results of prolonged irritation of the<br />delicate membrane which lines the walls of the colon.<br />Normally, it is the function of the colon to store waste material until most of the fluids have been<br />removed to enable well-formed soft stools, consisting of non-absorbable food materials to be<br />passed. Persons who suffer from an irritable colon have irregular and erratic contractions which<br />are specially noticeable on the left side.<br />Symptoms<br />Chronic ulcerative colitis usually begins in the lower part of the bowels and spreads upwards.<br />The first symptom of the trouble is an increased urgency to move the bowel, followed by<br />cramping pains in the abdomen and bloody mucus in the stools. As the disease spreads<br />upwards, the stools become watery and more frequent and are characterised by rectal straining.<br />All this loss of blood and fluid from the bowels results in weakness, fever, nausea, vomiting, loss<br />of appetite and anaemia.<br />The patient may develop a bloated feeling because the gas is not absorbed or expelled<br />normally. Some patients suffer from constipation alternating with period of loose bowel<br />movements. Still others may suffer from a persistent diarrhoea for years together. The patient is<br />usually malnourished and may be severely underweight. He may suffer from frequent insomnia.<br />Ulcerative colitis in its severe form may also lead to nutritional problems. The improper<br />assimilation of the ingested foods due to inflammatory conditions may cause deficiency<br />diseases. This may gradually result in nervous irritability, exhaustion and depression. In very<br />severe cases, the patient may even develop suicidal tendencies.<br />Causes<br />The main cause of colitis is chronic constipation and the use of purgatives. Constipation causes<br />an accumulation of the hard faecal matter which is never properly evacuated. Purgatives used<br />as a ‘cure’ only increase irritation. Often, colitis is caused by a poorly digested roughage,<br />especially of cereals and carbohydrates, which causes bowel irritation. The disease may also<br />result from an allergic sensitivity to certain foods especially milk, wheat and eggs. Often, the<br />intake of antibiotics may upset the bacterial flora in the intestines and interfere with proper<br />digestion.<br />Severe stress may also produce ulcerative colitis. During any form of severe stress, outpouring<br />of adrenal hormones causes such destruction of body protein that at times parts of the walls<br />lining the intestines are literally eaten away. Such stress also depletes the body of pantothenic<br />acid. Experiments on animals have shown that they can develop ulcerative colitis when they are<br />kept on diets deficient in pantothenic acid.<br />Treatment<br />The usual treatment of colitis with suppressive drugs is based on the assumption that colitis is<br />due to germ infection, which it is not. The suppressive drugs drive back into the system the toxic<br />matter in the colon which nature is endeavouring to eliminate in the form of mucus. They<br />suppress the symptoms temporarily, without removing the cause. In such cases, the symptoms<br />recur and colitis becomes chronic. Plain warm water or warm water with a little olive oil used as<br />a wash-out is the only method of softening and removing the accumulations of hardened matter<br />sticking to the walls of the colon.<br />Colitis<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap35.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:20:32 PM]<br />Diet plays an important part in the treatment of colitis. It is advisable to observe a juice fast for<br />five days or so in most cases of ulcerative colitis. The juices may be diluted with a little boiled<br />water. Papaya juice, raw cabbage and carrot juices will be especially beneficial. Citrus juices<br />should be avoided. The bowel should be cleansed daily with a warm water enema.<br />After the juice fast, the patient should gradually adopt a diet of small, frequent meals of soft<br />cooked or steamed vegetables, rice, dalia (coarsely broken wheat), well ripened fruits like<br />banana and papaya, yogurt and home-made cottage cheese. Sprouted seeds and grains, whole<br />meal bread and raw vegetables may be added gradually to this diet after about 10 days. All food<br />must be eaten slowly and chewed thoroughly.<br />Foods which should be excluded from the diet are white sugar, white bread and white flour<br />products, highly seasoned foods, highly salted foods,strong tea, coffee and alcoholic beverages<br />and foods cooked in aluminium pans.<br />Ripe bananas are highly beneficial in the treatment of ulcerative colitis, being bland, smooth,<br />easily digested and slightly laxative. They relieve acute symptoms and promote the healing<br />process.<br />An effective remedy for ulcerative colitis is the use of butter- milk. It is the residual milk left after<br />the fat has been removed from yogurt by churning. Buttermilk enema twice a week is also<br />soothing and helps in re-installing a healthy flora in the colon.<br />Another valuable remedy for colitis is tender coconut water, it is soothing to the soft mucosa of<br />the colon. Cooked apple also aids the healing of ulcerative conditions because of its ample<br />concentration of iron and phosphorous.<br />The patient should have a bowel movement at the same time each day and spend 10 to 15<br />minutes in the endeavour. Straining at stools should be avoided. Drinking two glasses of water<br />the first thing in the morning will stimulate a normal bowel movement. An enema may be used if<br />no bowel movement occurs.<br />Complete bed rest and plenty of liquids are very important. The patient should eliminate all<br />causes of tension, adjust to his disability and face his discomfort with patience.<br />[index]<br />Colitis<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap35.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:20:32 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />The Common Cold<br />The common cold, also known as "acute coryza," is an inflammation of the upper respiratory<br />tract and is caused by infection with virus. It occurs more often than all other diseases. A person<br />suffers from this disease three times in a year on an average. A cold usually lasts from three to<br />ten days. The patient feels miserable for the first three days or so.<br />Symptoms<br />The first signs of a cold are a feeling of soreness of the throat and congestion of the nasal<br />passage. Although the disease normally begins in the nose and throat, it affects all parts of the<br />body. Its usual symptoms are a running nose, sneezing, a rise in temperature, headache, sore<br />throat, chill, aches and pains in the body and loss of appetite. The skin around the nostrils may<br />become sore.<br />Causes<br />The common cold results from exposure to a virus. Its inten- sity however, depends upon the<br />state of health of the person and by environmental factors. Lowered vitality, allergic disorders of<br />the nose and throat, chilling of the body, lack of sleep, depression, fatigue and factors such as<br />sudden changes in temperature, dust and other irritating inhalations are important contributory<br />causes for the development of a cold.<br />The real cause of a cold, however, is the toxic condition of the body brought about by wrong<br />feeding habits such as an excessive intake of starch, carbohydrates, proteins and other<br />acid-forming foods. A cold is, therefore, nature’s simplest way of expelling toxic waste from the<br />human system. The duration of the cold will depend on the amount of poisons accumulated in<br />the body and the rapidity with which they are expelled.<br />Treatment<br />To treat a cold by means of customary suppressive drugs like aspirin and codeline only paves<br />the way for future trouble of a more serious nature. For such a treatment puts a sudden stop to<br />the eliminative process then taking place and forces the toxic matter back into the tissues again.<br />Moreover, drugs have no effect on the duration of the cold. It has been aptly said that a cold can<br />be cured in a week by taking medicines,otherwise it will subside in seven days.<br />The only real treatment for colds is a proper diet. The best way to begin the treatment is to put<br />the patient on a fast for two days. Nothing should be taken during this period except warm water<br />mixed with lemon juice and honey or fruit juice and hot water. A liquid diet of fruit juice inlarge<br />amounts is necessary to neutralise the acid condition of the blood and hot drinks are needed to<br />help clear the kidneys. Pineapple juice in particular is highly beneficial. A warm water enema<br />should be used daily to cleanse the bowels during this period.<br />The short juice fast may be followed by an exclusive fresh fruit diet for three days. IN this<br />regimen, the patient should have three meals a day of fresh juicy fruits such as apples,pears,<br />grapes, grapefruit, oranges, pineapple, peaches, melon or any other juicy fruit in season.<br />Bananas, dried or stewed or tinned fruits, should not be taken. No other foodstuff should be<br />added to the diet as otherwise the whole value of the treatment is lost.<br />After the exclusive fruit diet, the patient should gradually embark upon a well-balanced diet of<br />three basic food groups, namely (i) seeds, nuts and grains (ii) vegetables and (iii) fruits. It is<br />advisable to avoid meat, fish, eggs, cheese and starchy foods for a few days.<br />The patient should strengthen the system as a whole by taking a diet which supplies all the<br />vitamins and minerals the body needs. Vitamin C, however, heads the list of these nutrients. It<br />protects one against infection and acts as a harmless antibiotics. It is found in citrus fruits,green<br />leafy vegetables, sprouted Bengal and green grams.<br />According to Dr. Linus Pauling, a noble prize-winning scientist, the regular use of this vitamin in<br />The Common Cold<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap36.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:21:04 PM]<br />the optimum daily amount will prevent the common cold and if a cold has already appeared,<br />large doses of this vitamin will relieve the symptoms and shorten its duration. He estimates that<br />one to two grams or 100 mg. to 200 mg. per day is approximately the optimum amount of this<br />vitamin. His advice is to swallow one or two 500 mg. tablets of vitamin C at the appearance of<br />first sign of the cold and continue the treatment by taking an additional tablet every hour.<br />Lime is the most important among the many home remedies for common cold. It is highly<br />beneficial in all types of cold and fevers. It should be taken well diluted. Vitamin C-rich lime juice<br />increases resistance, decreases toxicity and reduces the duration of the illness. Lime juice<br />should be diluted in a glass of warm water, and a teaspoonful of honey should be added to it. It<br />forms an ideal remedy for a cold and dry cough.<br />Garlic soup is an ancient remedy to reduce the severity of cold. Garlic contains antiseptic and<br />antispasmodic properties besides several other medicinal virtues. The volatile oil in garlic flushes<br />out the system of all toxins and thus helps bring down fever. Garlic oil combined with onion juice,<br />diluted with water and drunk several times a day, has also been found in several studies to be<br />extremely effective in the treatment of the common cold.<br />Ginger is also an excellent food remedy for colds and coughs. Ginger should be cut into small<br />pieces and boiled in a cup of water ; it should then be strained and half a teaspoon of sugar<br />added to it. It should be drunk while it is still hot, in case of colds. Ginger tea, prepared by adding<br />a few pieces of ginger into boiled water before adding tea leaves, is also an effective remedy for<br />colds and for fevers resulting from cold.<br />Turmeric, with its antiseptic properties, is an effective remedy for cold and throat irritations. Half<br />a teaspoonful of fresh turmeric powder mixed in 30 grams of warm milk is a useful prescription<br />for these conditions. Turmeric powder should be put into a hot ladle. Milk should then be poured<br />in it and boiled over a slow fire. In case of a running cold, smoke from the burning turmeric<br />should be inhaled. It will increase the discharge from the nose and will bring quicker relief.<br />Water Treatment<br />A hot water bath, if it can be taken without undue exposure, is recommended as it helps relieve<br />much of the congestion in the chest and nasal membranes. Hot packs or fomentations are<br />excellent for treating chest and head colds. Steam bath, hot foot bath and hot hip bath are also<br />beneficial as they stimulate perspiration. Steam inhalation will help relieve the congestion of the<br />nasal tissues. Gargling with hot water mixed with salt is beneficial for a sore throat. Cold chest<br />packs should be applied two or three times a day as they will relieve congestion of lungs and<br />help in eliminating the accumulated mucus.<br />Other useful measures in the treatment of common cold are mild sunbath, fresh air and deep<br />breathing, brisk walks, sound sleep, adjustment of one’s clothes and habits to the requirements<br />of the season, so as to nullify the effect of weather fluctuations.<br />Yogasanas like bhujangasana, shalabhasana, dhanurasana, and yogamudra in vajrasana, yogic<br />kriyas such as jalneti and vamandhouti and pranayamas such as kapalbhati, anuloma- viloma<br />and suryabhedana are beneficial in the treatment of the common cold.<br />[index]<br />The Common Cold<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap36.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:21:04 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Conjunctivitis<br />Conjunctivitis refers to the inflammation of the conjunctiva, the thin transparent membrane<br />covering the front of the eye. It is also known as " sore eyes" and is a very common form of eye<br />trouble. It spreads from person to person through direct contract. Overcrowding, dirty<br />surroundings and unhealthy living conditions can cause epidemics of this ailment.<br />Symptoms<br />The eyeball and under side of the eyelids become inflamed. At first, the eyes are red, dry and<br />burning. Later, there may be a watery secretion. IN more serious cases, there is pus formation.<br />During sleep, this material dries, making the eye-lashes stick together.<br />Causes<br />Medical science believes that conjunctivitis results from bacterial infection, viruses or eye-strain.<br />Prolonged work under artificial light and excessive use of the eyes in one way or the other no<br />doubt contributes towards the disease. But its real cause can be traced to a catarrh a condition<br />of the system resulting from general toxaemia due to dietetic errors and faulty style of living .<br />The patient generally suffers from colds or other ailments indicative of a general catarrhal<br />condition.<br />The Cure<br />The treatment of conjunctivitis through salves and ointments does not cure the disease. To be<br />effective, treatment must be constitutional. A thorough cleansing of the system and adoption of<br />natural laws in diet and general living alone can help eliminate conjunctivitis.<br />The best way to commence the treatment is to adopt an exclusive fresh fruit diet for about seven<br />days. The diet may consist of fresh juicy fruits in season such as apple, orange, pears, grapes,<br />pineapple and grapefruit. Banana should, however, not be taken. No other foodstuff should be<br />added to this diet.<br />Those who have a serious trouble should undertake a juice fast for three or four days. The<br />procedure is to take the juice of an orange, in a glass of warm water, if desired, every two hours<br />from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nothing else should be taken as otherwise the value of the fast will be lost.<br />If orange juice disagrees, carrot juice may be taken. A warm water enema should be taken daily<br />during the period of fasting.<br />The short juice fast may be followed by an all-fruit diet for further seven days. Thereafter, the<br />patient may adopt a general diet scheme on the following lines :-<br />Breakfast : Any fresh fruits in season, except bananas.<br />Lunch : Large mixed raw vegetable salad with whole meat bread or chapatis and butter.<br />Dinner : Two or three steamed vegetables, other than potatoes, with nuts and fresh fruit.<br />The patient should avoid an excessive intake of starchy and sugary foods in the form of white<br />bread, refined cereals, potatoes, puddings, pies, pastry, sugar, jams and confectionery, which<br />cause the general catarrhal condition as well as conjunctivitis. He should also avoid the intake of<br />excessive quantities of meat and other protein and fatty foods, strong tea and coffee, too much<br />salt, condiments and sauces. Raw juices of certain vegetables, especially carrots, and spinach,<br />have been found valuable in the treatment of conjunctivitis. The combined juices of these two<br />vegetables have proved very effective. 200 ml. of spinach juice should be mixed with 300 ml. of<br />carrot juice in this combination.<br />Vitamin A and B2 have also been found valuable in the treatment of conjunctivitis. The patient<br />should take liberal quantities of natural foods rich in these two vitamins. Valuable sources of<br />Conjunctivitis<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap37.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:21:17 PM]<br />vitamin A are : whole milk, curds, butter, carrots, pumpkin, green leafy vegetables, tomatoes,<br />mangoes and papaya. Foods rich in vitamin B2 are green leafy vegetables, milk, almonds, citrus<br />fruits, bananas and tomatoes.<br />As regards local treatment to the eyes themselves, a cold foment renders almost immediate<br />relief by chasing away an overactive local blood supply. The procedure is as follows :<br />Fold a small hand towel. Saturate it with cold water. Squeeze out excess water and mould<br />toweling gently over both eyes. Cover it with a piece of warm cloth to retain the temperature.<br />Repeat the process as soon as the foment gets warmed. Carry out the procedure for one hour.<br />After terminating the wet pack, treatment cover the eyes with a dry towel. Lie back and relax.<br />The damaged eye tissues will quickly return to normal. The treatment should be repeated every<br />night for a week, even though the problem may clear up with the first treatment itself.<br />Eye exercises<br />The eye muscle exercises outlined in chapter 33 on cataract and palming outlined in chapter 40<br />on defective vision are also beneficial in the treatment of conjunctivitis.<br />[index]<br />Conjunctivitis<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap37.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:21:17 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Constipation<br />Constipation is a common disturbance of the digestive tract, in this condition, the bowels do not<br />move regularly, or are not completely emptied when they move.<br />Constipation is the chief cause of many diseases as such a condition produces toxins which find<br />their way into the blood stream and are carried to all parts of the body. This results in weakening<br />of the vital organs and lowering of the resistance of the entire system. Appendicitis, rheumatism,<br />arthritis, high blood pressure, cataract and cancer are only a few of the diseases in which<br />chronic constipation is an important predisposing factor.<br />The number of motions required for normal health varies from person to person. Most people<br />have one motion a day, some have two a day, while others have one every other day. However,<br />for comfort and health, at least one clear bowel movement a day is essential and considered<br />normal.<br />Symptoms<br />The most common symptoms of constipation are infrequency, irregularity or difficulty of<br />elimination due to hard faecal matter. Among the other symptoms are a coated tongue, foul<br />breath, loss of appetite, headache, dizziness, dark circles under the eyes, depression, nausea,<br />pimples on the face, ulcer in the mouth, constant fullness in the abdomen, diarrhoea alternating<br />with constipation, varicose veins, pain in the lumber region, acidity, heart burn, and insomnia.<br />Causes<br />The most important causes for chronic constipation are wrong diet and a faulty style of living. All<br />foods in their natural state contain a good percentage of ‘ropughage’ which is most essential in<br />preserving natural balance of foods and also in helping peristalsis - the natural rhythmic action<br />by means of which the food is passed down the alimentary canal. Much of the food we eat today<br />is very deficient in natural bulk or roughage and this results in chronic constipation.<br />Intake of refined and rich food lacking in vitamins and minerals, insufficient intake of water,<br />consumption of meat in large quantities, excessive use of strong tea and coffee, insufficient<br />chewing, overeating and wrong combination of foods, irregular habits of eating and drinking may<br />all contribute to poor bowel function. Other causes include faulty and irregular habit of<br />defeacation, frequent use of purgatives, weakness of abdominal muscles due to sedentary<br />habits, lack of physical activity and emotional stress and strain.<br />Diseases such as tumours or growths, a sluggish liver, colitis, spastic condition of the intestine,<br />hyperacidity, diseases of the rectum and colon, bad teeth, uterine diseases, diabetes, use of<br />certain drugs for treating other ailments, abnormal condition of the lower spine and enlargement<br />of the prostate glands can also cause chronic constipation.<br />Treatment<br />The most important factor in curing constipation is a natural and simple diet. This should consist<br />of unrefined food such as whole grain celerals, bran, honey, molasses, and lentills; green and<br />leafy vegetables, especially spinach, french beans, tomatoes, lettuce, onion, cabbage,<br />cauliflower, brussels, sprouts, celery, turnip, pumpkin, peas, beets, asparagus, carrot; fresh<br />fruits, especially pears, grapes, figs, papayas, mangoes, grapefruit, gooseberries, guava and<br />oranges ; dry fruits such as figs, raisins, apricots and dates ; milk products in the form of butter,<br />ghee and cream.<br />The diet alone is not enough. Food should be properly chewed-each morsel for at least 15 times.<br />Hurried meals and meals at odd times should be avoided. Sugar and sugary foods should be<br />strictly avoided because sugar steals B vitamins from the body, without which the intestines<br />cannot function normally. Foods which constipate are all products made of white flour, rice,<br />bread, pulses, cakes, pastries, biscuits, cheese, fleshy foods, preserves, white sugar and<br />Constipation<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap38.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:21:46 PM]<br />hard-boiled eggs.<br />Regular drinking of water is beneficial not only for constipation but also for cleaning the system,<br />diluting the blood and washing out poisons. Normally six to eight glasses of water should be<br />taken daily as it is essential for digesting and dissolving food nutrients so that they can be<br />absorbed and utilised by the body. Water should, however, not be taken with meals as it dilutes<br />the gastric juices essential for proper digestion. Water should be taken either half an hour before<br />or an hour after meals.<br />Generally all fruits, except banana and jack fruit, are beneficial in the treatment of constipation.<br />Certain fruits are however, more effective. Bael fruit is regarded as best of all laxatives. It cleans<br />and tones up the intestines. Its regular use for two or three months throws out even the old<br />accumulated faecal matter. Though generally used to check diarrhoea, bael contains both<br />laxative and constipative properties. It hardens the stools when they are loose and serves as a<br />laxative when the bowels are constipated. It should be preferably used in its original form and<br />before dinner. About 60 grams of the fruit will suffice for an adult.<br />Pears are regarded the next best fruit beneficial in the treatment of constipation. Patients<br />suffering from chronic constipation should better adopt an exclusive diet of this fruit or its juice<br />for few days, but in ordinary cases a medium-sized pear taken after dinner or with breakfast will<br />have the desired effect. The same is true of guava which, when eaten with seeds, gives<br />roughage to the diet and helps in the normal evacuation of the bowels.<br />Grapes have also proved highly beneficial in overcoming constipation. The combination of the<br />properties of the cellulose, sugar and organic acid in grapes make them a laxative food. Their<br />field of action is not limited to clearing the bowels only. They also tone up the stomach and<br />intestines and relieve the most chronic constipation. One should take atleast 350 grams of<br />grapes daily to achieve the desired results. When fresh grapes are not available, raisins soaked<br />in water can be used. Raisins should be soaked in a tumblerful of drinking water for 24 to 48<br />hours. This would swell them to the original size of the grapes. The raisins should be eaten early<br />in the morning. The water in which raisins are soaked should be drunk along with the soaked<br />raisins.<br />Drinking hot water with sour lime juice and half a teaspoon of salt is also an effective remedy for<br />constipation. Drinking water which has been kept overnight in a copper vessel, the first thing in<br />the morning will bring good results. Linseed is extremely useful in difficult cases of constipation.<br />A teaspoon of linseed swallowed with water before each meal provides both bulk and lubrication.<br />In all ordinary cases of constipation, an exclusive fruit diet for about seven days would be the<br />best way to begin the treatment. For long-standing and stubborn cases, it should be advisable to<br />have a short fast for four or five days. This will drive out the packed contents of the bowels,<br />eliminate toxins and purify the blood stream. Weak patients may take orange juice during the<br />period of fasting. After the all-fruit diet or the short fast, as the case may be, the patient should<br />gradually embark upon a balanced diet comprising adequate raw foods, ripe fruits and whole<br />grain cereals. It some cases, further short periods on fruits or short fasts may be necessary at<br />intervals of two months or so,depending on the progress being made. The bowels should be<br />cleansed daily through a warm water enema for a few days at the commencement of the<br />treatment.<br />A cold friction bath taken daily in the morning can help cure constipation. An alternate hot and<br />cold hit bath taken before retiring to bed is also beneficial. Abdominal exercise and manual or<br />mechanical vibratory massage have a refreshing and stimulating effect in many cases.<br />Toning up the muscles also helps in the treatment of constipation. Fresh air, outdoor games,<br />walking, swimming, gardening and exercise play an important role in strengthening and<br />activating the muscles, thereby preventing constipation .<br />Certain yogic asanas also help to bring relief from constipation as they strengthen the abdominal<br />and pelvic muscles and stimulate the peristalic action of the bowels. These asanas are<br />:bhujansana, shalabhasana, yogamudra, dhanurasana, halasana, paschimotanasana.<br />Pranayamas such as anuloma-viloma and bhastrika and jalaneti kriys are also helpful.<br />[index]<br />Constipation<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap38.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:21:46 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Dandruff<br />Dandruff refers to the flaking scalp which falls like a snow flakes and settles on one’s brows,<br />shoulders and clothes, but assumes an unpleasant , irritating condition associated with bacteria,<br />in the case of excessive formation of scales on the scalp. These scales are formed from the<br />horny layer of the skin.<br />Symptoms<br />The scaliness increases whenever the hair is brushed or rubbed. It may also appear as lumps or<br />crusts on the scalp. Often there is itching as well, and the scalp may become red from<br />scratching.<br />Causes<br />The main causes of dandruff are : impairment of general health, toxic condition of the system<br />brought on mainly by wrong feeding, constipation and lowered vitality due to infectious diseases.<br />Other factors contributing to dandruff are emotional tension, harsh shampoos, exposure to cold<br />and general exhaustion.<br />Treatment<br />Numerous medicated shampoos are available in the market for the treatment of dandruff. Most<br />of these, however, in the process of curing the disorder, cause irreparable damage to the hair<br />roots because of the synthetic ingredients contained in them. The treatment of dandruff has to<br />be constitutional, if a permanent cure is desired.<br />The foremost consideration in the treatment of this disorder is to keep the hair and scalp clean<br />so as to minimise the accumulation of dead cells. The hair should be brushed daily to improve<br />the circulation and remove any flakiness. The most effective way to brush the hair is to bend<br />forward from the waist with the head down towards the ground, and brush from the nape of the<br />neck towards the top of the head. Short or shoulder-length hair can be brushed right from the<br />roots to the ends in one stroke. In the case of long hair, two strokes would be best to avoid<br />stretching the hair.<br />The scalp should also be thoroughly massaged every day, using one’s finger tips and working<br />systematically over the head. This should be done just before or after brushing the hair. Like<br />brushing, this stimulators the circulation, dislodges dirt and dandruff and encourages hair<br />growth. For a proper massage, spread your fingers fanwise and slip them through the hair. With<br />your thumb pressed behind your ears, press down on your scalp with your fingertips. Now rotate<br />your fingers so that they move the scalp over the bony structure of the head. You will feel your<br />skin move and the scalp tingle. Move up an inch at a time until you have covered the whole<br />head. It is a very simple procedure, and takes only a few minutes to perform.<br />Several home remedies have been found useful in the treatment of dandruff. The use of<br />fenugreek (methi) seeds is one such remedy. Two tablespoons of fenugreek seeds should be<br />soaked overnight in water. The softer seeds should be ground into a fine paste in the morning.<br />This paste should be applied all over the scalp and left for half-an hour. The hair should then be<br />washed thoroughly with soap nut (ritha) solution or shikakai.<br />The use of a teaspoon of fresh lime juice for the last rinse, while washing hair, is equally<br />beneficial. This not only leaves the hair glowing but also removes stickiness and prevents<br />dandruff. Washing the hair twice a week with green gram powder in curd is another useful<br />prescription.<br />Dandruff can be removed by massaging one’s hair or half-an- hour with curd which has been<br />kept in the open for three days, or with a few drops of lime juice mixed with amla juice every<br />night, before going to bed. Another measure which helps to counteract dandruff is to dilute cider<br />vinegar with an equal quantity of water and dab this on to the hair with cotton wool in between<br />Dandruff<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap39.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:21:55 PM]<br />shampooing. Cider vinegar added to the final rinsing water after shampooing also helps to<br />disperse dandruff.<br />Diet plays an important role in the treatment of dandruff. To begin with, the patient should resort<br />to all-fruit diet for about five days. In this regimen, there should be three meals a day, consisting<br />of fresh, juicy fruits, such as apples, pears, grapes, grapefruit, pineapple and peaches. Citrus<br />fruits, bananas, dried, strewed or tinned fruits should not be taken. Only unsweetened lemon or<br />plain water, either hot or cold, should be drunk. During this period, a warm water enema should<br />be taken daily to cleanse the bowels and all other measures adopted to eradicate constipation.<br />After the all-fruit diet, the patient can gradually adopt a well- balanced diet. Emphasis should be<br />on raw foods, especially fresh fruits and vegetables ; sprouted seeds, raw nuts and whole grain<br />cereals, particularly millet and brown rice. Further short periods on the all-fruits diet for three<br />days or so may be necesssary at a monthly interval, till the skin’s condition improves.<br />Strict attention to diet is essential for recovery. Starchy, protein, and fatty foods should be<br />restricted. Meats, sugar, strong tea or coffee, condiments, pickles, refined and processed foods -<br />all these should be avoided, as also soft drinks, candies, ice cream and products made with<br />sugar and white flour.<br />Exposure of the head to the rays of the sun is also a useful measure in the treatment of dandruff.<br />Simultaneously, an attempt should be made to keep the body in good health. This also helps<br />clear dandruff.<br />[index]<br />Dandruff<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap39.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:21:55 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Defective Vision<br />Defective vision is a common problem nowadays. The main reasons for eye defects are reading<br />in bad light (either too dim or excessively bright ), excessive reading, reading in moving<br />trains,buses or cars, watching too much television, seeing too many films, and eating artificial<br />food. The popular belief that the use of spectacles can rectify all cases of defective vision is<br />based on the assumption that such defects are caused by permanent changes in the eyes. This<br />assumption is not correct as defective vision results from functional derangements which can be<br />rectified by simple natural methods of treatment.<br />Persons who are prescribed glasses are told that they should avoid taking them off because of<br />the danger of eye strain and that they should always look straight through the centre of the lens.<br />So, when looking in other directions they do not move their eye balls and eye muscles as is<br />natural, but instead move head up and down or sideways. Thus, constant use of glasses throws<br />the whole natural process of vision out of gear and causes ‘parking’ of the eyes. Gradually, the<br />muscles of the eyes degenerate through non-use. Moreover, the use of glasses results in a<br />reduction of blinking which is a movement intended to assist and preserve eye sight. Wearing<br />glasses for many years results in stiff, dull-looking eyes without any sparkle.<br />Causes<br />The three chief causes of defective vision are mental strain, wrong diet and improper blood and<br />nerve supply.<br />Mental strain : Dr. W.H. Bates, the founder of revolutionary methods of eye treatment,<br />considers mental strain to be the cause of all defects of vision, which puts corresponding<br />physical strain on the eyes , their muscles and nerves. In his opinion the lesser defects<br />are mainly due to mental strain owing to over work, fear, anxiety, etc. In pursuance of this<br />theory, Dr. Bates has concentrated his efforts on methods of treatment which will remove<br />the condition of mental strain.<br />i.<br />Wrong Feeding : The eye is a part of the body and as such must share in any condition<br />affecting the system. Most of the diseases affecting the eyes are symptoms of a general<br />toxemic condition of the body due mainly to excessive starch, sugar and protein ingestion.<br />The muscles and blood vessels surrounding the eyes share in the clogging process<br />taking place over the body due to improper metabolism caused by an imbalanced and<br />too-concentrated diet.<br />ii.<br />Improper blood and nerve supply : The eyes need to be properly supplied with blood<br />and nerve force for proper vision. Any factor capable of interfering either with the blood<br />vessels or with the nerves of the eyes could cause defective vision. The muscles covering<br />the upper portion of the spine at the back of the neck are the main seat of the mechanical<br />interference with the blood and nerve supply to the eyes.<br />iii.<br />The Cure<br />Eye exercise : The following exercises will loosen the strained and contracted muscles<br />surrounding the eyes :<br />Keep your head still and relaxed. Gently move the eyes up and down six times. Repeat<br />the same movement twice or thrice at two-second intervals The eyes should move slowly<br />and regularly as far down as possible and then as far up as possible.<br />i.<br />Move the eyes from side to side as far as possible, without any force or effort six times.<br />Repeat two or three times.<br />ii.<br />Hold the index finger of your right hand about eight inches in front of the eyes, then look iii.<br />Defective Vision<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap40.htm (1 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:22:05 PM]<br />from the finger to any other large object ten or more feet away - the door or window will<br />do. Look from one to the other ten times. Do this exercise fairly rapidly.<br />Move the eyes up gently and slowly in a circle, then move them low in the reverse<br />direction . Do this four times in all. Rest for a second and repeat the movements two or<br />three times, using minimum efforts. All eye muscle exercises should be performed while<br />seated in a comfortable position.<br />iv.<br />Neck Exercises : Rotate the neck.<br />in circles and semi circles. .<br />move the shoulders clockwise and anti-clockwise brisky, drawing them up as far as<br />possible several times,<br />b.<br />allow the head to draw forward and backward as far as possible, c.<br />Turn the head to the right and left as far as possible several times. These exercises help<br />to loosen up contracted neck muscles which may restrict blood supply to the head.<br />d.<br />Sun gazing : Sit on a bench facing the sun with your eyes closed and gently sway sideways<br />several times for 18 minutes. Open the eyes and blink about ten times at the sun and look at<br />some greenery. This helps shortsight and is good for inflamed eyes.<br />Splashing : Splash plain, cold water several times on closed eyes. Rub the closed lids briskly<br />for a minute with a clean towel. This cools the eyes and boosts blood supply.<br />Palming : Sit comfortably in an armchair or on a settee and relax with your eyes closed. Cover<br />your eyes with your palsm, right palm over the right eye and left over the left eye. Do not,<br />however, press down on the eyes. With your eyes completely covered in this manner, allow your<br />elbows to drop to your knees, which should be fairly close together. With your eyes closed thus,<br />try to imagine blackness, which grows blacker and blacker. Palming reduces strain and relaxes<br />the eyes and its surrounding tissues.<br />Swinging : Stand with your feet 12 inches apart, hands held loosely at the sides, the whole<br />body and mind relaxed. Gently sway your body from side to side, slowly, steadily, with the heels<br />rising alternatively but not the rest of the foot. Imagine you are the pendulum of the clock, and<br />move just as slowly. Swinging should be done in front of a window or a picture. You will see the<br />object moving in the opposite direction of your swing. This must be noted and encouraged.<br />When you face one endof the window or object, blink once. This exercise has a very beneficial<br />effect upon the eyes and nervous system.<br />Diet<br />Natural, uncooked foods are the best diet. These include fresh fruits, such as oranges, apples,<br />grapes,peaches, plums, cherries ; green vegetable like lettuce, cabbage, spinach, turnip tops ;<br />root vegetables like potatoes, turnips, carrot, onions and beetroots ; nuts, dried fruits and dairy<br />products.<br />Cereals are also necessary , but they should only be consumed sparingly. Genuine wholemeal<br />bread is the best and most suitable. Nans, cakes, pastries, white sugar, white bread,<br />confectionary, tea, coffee, etc., together with meat, fish, or eggs, soon play havoc with the<br />digestion and the body.<br />The value of vitamin A for improving vision must be stressed. The intake of sufficient quantities<br />of this vitamin is essential as a safeguard against or treatment of defective vision or eye disease<br />of any kind. The best sources of this vitamin are cod liver oil, raw spinach, turnip tops, cream,<br />cheese, butter, egg yolk, tomatoes, lettuce, carrot, cabbage, soya beans, green peas, wheat<br />germ,fresh milk, oranges and dates.<br />Yogic exercises :<br />The four yogic exercises prescribed for strengthening the optic nerve known as ‘trataka’ as<br />explained in chapter 7 on yoga therapy should be practised daily. Certain yogasanas such as<br />bhujangasana, shalabhasana, yogamudra, paschimottan asana and kriyas like jalneti are also<br />Defective Vision<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap40.htm (2 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:22:05 PM]<br />beneficial for the eyes.<br />[index]<br />Defective Vision<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap40.htm (3 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:22:05 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Depression<br />Depression is the most prevalent of all the emotional disorders. This may vary from feelings of<br />slight sadness to utter misery and dejection. It brings together a variety of physical and<br />psychological symptoms which together constitute a syndrome.<br />Depression is the most unpleasant experience a person can endure. It is far more difficult to<br />cope with than a physical ailment. The growing complexities of modern life and the resultant<br />crisis, as well as mental stress and strain in day to day living, usually leads to this disorder. It<br />also arises out of the monotony and drudgery of a daily routine, without any meaningful variation<br />in urban life. Suicide is the major risk in extreme cases of depression.<br />Symptoms<br />It is not always easy to diagnose depression clinically. The most striking symptoms of<br />depression are feelings of acute sense of loss and inexplicable sadness, loss of energy and loss<br />of interest. The patient usually feels tired and lacks interest in the world around him. Sleep<br />disturbance is frequent. Usually the patient wakes up depressed at 4 or 5 in the morning and is<br />unable to return to sleep. Other disturbed sleep patterns are difficulty in getting off to sleep on<br />going to bed at night, nightmares and repeated waking from midnight onwards.<br />The patient often suffers from guilt, oppressive feelings and self-absorption. Other symptoms of<br />depression are : loss of appetite, gidiness, itching, nausea, agitation, irritability, impotence or<br />frigidity, constipation, aches and pains all over the body, lack of concentration and lack of power<br />of decision. Some persons may lose interest in eating and suffer from rapid loss of weight while<br />others may resort to frequent eating and as a result gain in weight.<br />Cases of severe depression may be characterized by low body temperature, low blood pressure,<br />hot flushes and shivering.<br />The external manifestations represent a cry for help from the tormented mind of the depressed<br />persons. The severely depressed patient feels worthless and is finally convinced that he himself<br />is responsible for his undoing and his present state of hopeless despair.<br />Causes<br />Depleted functioning of the adrenal glands is one of the main causes of mental depression.<br />Irregular diet habits cause digestive problems and lead to the assimilation of fats. An excess of<br />carbohydrates like cereals, white sugar, coffee, tea, chocolates and comparatively less<br />quantities of vegetables and fruits in the diet may result in indigestion. Due to indigestion, gases<br />are produced in the digestive tract, causing compression over the diaphragm in the region of the<br />heart and lungs. This in turn, reduces the supply of oxygen to the tissues, which raises the<br />carbon dioxide level, causing general depression.<br />The excessive and indiscriminate use of drugs also leads to faulty assimilation of vitamins and<br />minerals by the body and ultimately causes depression. The use of aspirin leads to deficiencies<br />of vitamin C and antacids can cause deficiencies of calcium and vitamin B. Diabetes, low blood<br />sugar (hypoglycaemia) and weakness of the liver resulting from the use of refined or processed<br />foods, fried foods and an excessive intake of fats may also lead to depression.<br />The Cure<br />The modern medical system treats depression with anti- depression drugs which provide<br />temporary relief but have harmful side-effects and do not remove the causes or prevent its<br />recurrence. The harmful side-effects include gross liver damage, hypersensitivity, insomnia,<br />hallucinations, a confused state, convulsions, a fall in blood pressure which brings on headaches<br />and dizziness , blurred vision, difficulty in inhaling and urine retention. The plan of action for<br />self-treatment of depression consists of regulating the diet, exercise, scientific relaxation and<br />meditation.<br />Depression<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap41.htm (1 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:22:20 PM]<br />Diet has a profound effect on the mental health of a person. Even a single nutritional deficiency<br />can cause depression in susceptible people. Dr. Pricilla, associate clinical professor at the<br />University of California, prescribes nutritional therapy to build up brain chemicals, such as<br />serotonin and norepinephrine, that affect mood and are often lacking in depressed people. She<br />recommends eating foods rich in B vitamins, such as whole grains, green vegetables, eggs and<br />fish.<br />The diet of persons suffering from depression should completely exclude tea, coffee, alcohol,<br />chocolate and cola, all white flour products,sugar, food colourings, chemical additives, white rice<br />and strong condiments. The diet should be restricted to three meals. Fruits can be taken in the<br />morning for breakfast with milk and a handful of nuts and seeds. Lunch may consist of steamed<br />vegetables, whole wheat chappatis and a glass of butter-milk. For dinner, green vegetable salad<br />and all available sprouts such as alfalfa seeds, mung, cottage cheese or a glass of butter-milk<br />would be ideal.<br />Activity and Exercise<br />The depressive mood can be overcome by activity. Those who are depressive will forget their<br />misery by doing something. They should turn away from themselves and consider others. At<br />home they can take to decorating, repairing or constructing something new. The pleasure of<br />achievement overcomes the distress of misery.<br />Exercise also plays an important role in the treatment of depression. It not only keep the body<br />physically and mentally fit but also provides recreation and mental relaxation. It is nature’ best<br />tranquiliser. According to Dr. Robert Brown, a clinical associate professor at the University of<br />Virginia School of Medicine, " Exercise produces chemical and psychological changes that<br />improves your mental health. It changes the levels of hormones in blood and may elevate your<br />beta-endorphins( mood-affecting brain chemicals). Exercise may also improve the function of the<br />autonomic nervous system."<br />Exercise also gives a feeling of accomplishment and thus reduces the sense of helplessness.<br />Some form of active exercise, must be undertaken each day at a regular hour. To be really<br />useful, exercise should be taken in such a manner as to bring into action all the muscles of the<br />body in a natural way. Walking is one such exercise. It is , however, so gentle in character that<br />one must walk several kilometers in a brisk manner to constitute a fair amount of exercise. Yogic<br />asanas such as vakrasana, bhujangasana, shalabhasana, halasana, paschimottanasana,<br />sarvangasana and shavasana and pranayamas like kapalbhati, anuloma-viloma and bhastrika<br />are highly beneficial in the treatment of depression.<br />Relaxation and Meditation<br />The patient must gain control over his nervous system and channelise his mental and emotional<br />activities into restful harmonius vibrations. This can be achieved by ensuring sufficient rest and<br />sleep under right conditions. He must also learn the art of scientific relaxation and meditation<br />which will go a long way in curing depression.<br />Relaxation enables the muscles to work more efficiently and eliminates fatigue by promoting<br />venous blood circulation throughout the body. The best method of relaxation is to practice<br />shavasana or the ‘ded pose.’ The procedure for this asana has been outlined in chapter 7 on<br />yoga therapy.<br />Meditation involves training the mind to remain fixed on a certain external or internal location. All<br />the mental faculties should be directed, without cessation, towards the object of meditation. It<br />can be achieved by constant practice. It will be advisable to meditate on God or Atman as one<br />becomes imbued with the quality of the object on which one meditates.<br />Meditation will help create an amount of balance in the nervous system. This would enable the<br />glands to return to a correct state of hormonal balance and thereby overcome the feeling of<br />depression. Regularity of time, place and practice are very important in meditation. Regularity<br />conditions the mind to slowing down its activities with a minimum delay. The most effective times<br />are early dawn and dusk, when the atmosphere is serene and peaceful.<br />A neutral immersion bath for one hour daily is also helpful in the treatment of depression. This<br />bath is administered in a bath tub which should be properly fitted with hot and cold water<br />connections. The patient should lie in the tub after filling it with water at a temperature ranging<br />from 92 o to 98 o F. The head should be kept cold with a cold compress.<br />Depression<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap41.htm (2 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:22:20 PM]<br />[index]<br />Depression<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap41.htm (3 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:22:20 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Diabetes<br />Diabetes mellitus is a nutritional disorders, characterized by an abnormally elevated level of<br />blood glucose and by the excretion of the excess glucose in the urine. It results from an absolute<br />or relative lack of insulin which leads to abnormalities in carbohydrate metabolism as well as in<br />the metabolism of protein and fat.<br />Diabetes is a disease known to the medical world since time immemorial. Its incidence is ,<br />however, much higher at present than ever in the past. This is especially true in case of more<br />advanced countries of the world due to widespread affluence and more generous food supply.<br />The most commonly-used screening tests are the determination of the fasting blood glucose<br />level and the two-hour postprandial, that is after a meal. The normal fasting blood sugar content<br />is 80 to 120 mg. per 100 ml. of blood and this can go up to a level of 180 mg. per 100 ml. of<br />blood two hours after meals. Anything above these norms can be termed diabetic levels.<br />Diabetes occurs in all age groups, from young infants to the elderly. The greatest incidence<br />occurs in middle or older aged persons. It is estimated that 80 to 85 per cent of all individuals<br />with diabetes mellitus are 45 years of age or older.<br />Symptoms<br />The word diabetes is derived from the Greek word meaning "to siphon to pass through", and<br />mellitus comes from the Latin word "honey". Thus two characteristic symptoms, namely, copious<br />urination and glucose in the urine give the name to the disease. The normal volume of urine<br />passed daily is about one and a half litres. The urine is of a pale colour, has an acidic reaction<br />and sweetish odour. The quantity of sugar present in it varies from one-and-quarter decigram to<br />two and-a-half grams the total per day in many cases reaching as much as one kg in 15 litres of<br />urine.<br />A diabetic feels hungry and thirsty most of the time, does not put on weight, though he eats<br />every now and then, and gets tired easily, both physically and mentally. He looks pale, may<br />suffer from anaemia, constipation, intense itching around the genital organs, palpitations and<br />general weakness. He feels drowsy and has a lower sex urge than a normal person.<br />Causes<br />Diabetes has been described by most biological doctors as a "prosperity" disease, primarily<br />caused by systematic overeating and consequent obesity. Not only the overeating of sugar and<br />refined carbohydrate but also of proteins and fats, which are transformed into sugar if taken in<br />excess, is harmful and may result in diabetes. Too much food taxes the pancreas and eventually<br />paralyses its normal activity. It has been estimated that the incidence of diabetes is four times<br />higher in persons of moderate obesity and 30 times higher in persons of severe obesity.<br />Grief, worry and anxiety also have a deep influence on the metabolism and may cause sugar to<br />appear in the urine. The disease may be associated with some other grave organic disorders<br />like cancer, tuberculosis and cerebral disease. Heredity is also a major factor in the development<br />of the disease. It has been rightly said, " Heredity is like a cannon and obesity pulls the trigger."<br />Treatment<br />Any successful method of diabetes treatment should aim at removal of the actual cause of the<br />disease and building up of the whole health-level of the patient. Diet plays a vital role in such a<br />treatment. The primary dietary consideration for a diabetic patient is that he should be a strict<br />lacto-vegetarian and take a low-calorie, low-fat, alkaline diet of high quality natural foods. Fruits,<br />nuts and vegetables, whole meal bread and dairy products form a good diet for the diabetic.<br />These foods are best eaten in as dry a condition as possible to ensure thorough salivation<br />during the first part of the process of digestion.<br />Cooked starchy foods should be avoided as in the process of cooking the cellulose envelops of<br />Diabetes<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap42.htm (1 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:22:27 PM]<br />the starch granules burst and consequently, the starch is far too easily absorbed in the system.<br />The excess absorbed has to be got rid of by the kidneys and appears as sugar in the urine. With<br />raw starchy foods, however, the saliva and digestive juices in the small intestine regulate the<br />quantities required to be changed into sugar for the body’s needs. The unused and undigested<br />portion of raw starchy foods does not become injurious to the system, as it does not readily<br />ferment.<br />The diabetic should not be afraid to eat fresh fruits and vegetables which contain sugar and<br />starch. Fresh fruits contain sugar fructose, which does not need insulin for its metabolism and is<br />well tolerated by diabetics. Fats and oils should be taken sparingly, for they are apt to lower the<br />tolerance for proteins and starches. Emphasis should be on raw foods as they stimulate and<br />increase insulin production. For protein, home- made cottage cheese, various forms of soured<br />milks and nuts are best. The patient should avoid overeating and take four or five small meals a<br />day rather than three large ones.<br />The following diet should serve as a guideline.<br />Upon arising : A glass of lukewarm water with freshly squeezed lemon juice.<br />Breakfast : Any fresh fruit with the exception of bananas, soaked prunes, a small quantity of<br />whole meal bread with butter and fresh milk.<br />Lunch : Steamed or lightly cooked green vegetables such as cauliflower, cabbage, tomatoes,<br />spinach, turnip, asparagus and mushrooms, two or three whole wheat chapatis according to<br />appetite and a glass of butter-milk or curd.<br />Mid-afternoon : A glass of fresh fruit or vegetable juice.<br />Dinner : A large bowl of salad made up of all the raw vegetables in season. The salad may be<br />followed by a hot course, if desired, and fresh home-made cottage cheese.<br />Bedtime Snack : A glass of fresh milk.<br />Flesh foods find no place in this regimen, for they increase the toxaemic condition underlying the<br />diabetic state and reduce the sugar tolerance. On the other hand, a non-stimulating vegetarian<br />diet, especially one made up of raw foods, promotes and increases sugar tolerance.<br />Celery, cucumbers, string beans, onion and garlic are especiallybeneficial. String bean pod tea<br />is an excellent natural substitute for insulin and highly beneficial in diabetes. The skin of the<br />pods of green beans are extremely rich in silica and certain hormone substances which are<br />closely related to insulin. One cup of string bean tea is equal to one unit of insulin. Cucumbers<br />contain a hormone needed by the cells of the pancreas for producing insulin. Onion and garlic<br />have proved beneficial in reducing blood sugar in diabetes.<br />Recent scientific investigations have established that bitter gourd (karela) is highly beneficial in<br />the treatment of diabetes. It contains an insulin-like principle, known as plant-insulin which has<br />been found effective in lowering the blood and urine sugar levels. It should, therefore, be<br />included liberally in the diet of the diabetic. For better results, the diabetic should take the juice<br />of about 4 or 5 fruits every morning on an empty stomach. The seeds of bitter gourd can be<br />added to food in a powdered form. Diabetics can also use bitter gourd in the form of decoction<br />by boiling the pieces in water or in the form of dry powder.<br />Another effective home remedy is jambul fruit known as jamun in the vernacular. It is regarded in<br />traditional medicine as a specific against diabetes because of its effect on the pancreas. The<br />fruits as such, the seeds and fruit juice are all useful in the treatment of this disease. The seeds<br />contain a glucoside ‘jamboline’ which is believed to have power to check the pathological<br />conversion of starch into sugar in cases of increased production of glucose. They should be<br />dried and powdered. This powder should be taken mixed in milk , curd or water.<br />The patient should avoid tea, coffee and cocoa because of their adverse influence on the<br />digestive tract. Other foods which should be avoided are white bread, white flour products, sugar<br />tinned fruits, sweets, chocolates, pastries, pies, puddings, refined cereals and alcoholic drinks.<br />The most important nutrient in the treatment of diabetes is manganese which is vital in the<br />production of natural insulin. It is found in citrus fruits, in the outer covering of nuts, grains and in<br />Diabetes<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap42.htm (2 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:22:27 PM]<br />the green leaves of edible plants. Other nutrients of special value are zinc, B complex vitamins<br />and poly-unsaturated fatty acids.<br />Exercise is also an important factor in the treatment of diabetes. Light games, jogging and<br />swimming are recommended. Yogic asanas such as bhujangasana, shalabhasana,<br />dhanurasana, paschimottanasana, sarvangasna, halasana, ardha-matsyendrasana and<br />shavasana, yogic krisyas like jalneti and kunajl and pranayamas such as kapalbhati,<br />anuloma-viloma and ujjai are highly beneficial.<br />Hydrotherapy and colonic irrigations form a very important part of treatment. The colon should<br />be thoroughly cleansed every second day or so, until the bowel discharge assumes normal<br />characteristics. Bathing in cold water greatly increases the circulation and enhances the capacity<br />of the muscles to utilise sugar.<br />The diabetic patient should eliminate minor worries from his daily life. He must endeavor to be<br />more easy-going and should not get unduly worked up by the stress and strain of life.<br />[index]<br />Diabetes<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap42.htm (3 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:22:27 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Diarrhoea<br />Diarrhoea refers to the frequent passage of loose or watery unformed stools. As a rough guide it<br />can be said that three or four loose or watery stools a day can be considered as diarrhoea. The<br />disease may be acute or chronic. Commonly known as "loose motion", it is perhaps the most<br />common disease in India.<br />The intestine normally gets more than 10 litres of liquid per day which comes from the diet and<br />from secretion of the stomach, liver, pancreas and intestines. In the case of diarrhoea, water is<br />either not absorbed or is secreted in excess by the organs of the body. It is then sent to the<br />colon where water- holding capacity is limited. Thus the urge to defecate comes quite often.<br />Causes<br />There are many and varied causes of diarrhoea. The chief causes are overeating or eating of<br />wrong foods, putrefaction in intestinal tract, fermentation caused by incomplete carbohydrate<br />digestion, nervous irritability, use of antibiotic drugs and excessive intake of laxatives. Other<br />causes include parasites , germs, virus, bacteria or a poison which has entered into the body<br />through food, water or air ; allergies to certain substances or even common foods such as milk,<br />wheat, eggs and sea foods and emotional strain or stress in adults and fright in children.<br />Diarrhoea may be a prominent feature of organic disease affecting the small or large intestine<br />such as the sprue syndrome, malignant disease and ulcerative colitis. It may also result from<br />operations on the gastro-intestinal tract. Diarrhoea may alternate with constipation. This may<br />result from the irritation of the mucous membrane by impacted hard faeces.<br />Diarrhoea for prolonged periods can lead to certain complications. These may include<br />weakening, due to loss of vitamins like A, D, E and K and other nutrients as food is<br />rushed through the body without giving the nutrients a chance of being absorbed.<br />i.<br />dehydration, due to loss of body fluids and washing out of minerals from the body and<br />nervous conditions.<br />ii.<br />Treatment<br />In severe cases of diarrhoea, it is advisable to observe a complete fast for two days to provide<br />rest for the gastro-intestinal tract. Hot water only may be taken during the period to compensate<br />for the loss of fluids. Juices of fruits may be taken after the acute symptoms are over. After the<br />condition improves, meals can be enlarged gradually to include cooked vegetables, whole rice,<br />spoured milks. Raw foods should be taken only after the patient completely recovers.<br />An effective remedy for diarrhoea is the use of buttermilk. It is the residual milk left after the fat<br />has been removed from yogurt by churning. It helps overcome harmful intestinal flora and<br />re-establish the benign or friendly flora. The acid in the buttermilk also fights germs and bacteria.<br />It may be taken and mixed with a pinch of salt three or four times a day controlling diarrhoea.<br />Carrot soup is another effective home remedy for diarrhoea. It supplies water to combat<br />dehydration, replenishes sodium, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, sulphur and magnesium,<br />supplies pectin and coats the intestine to allay inflammation. It checks the growth of harmful<br />intestinal bacteria and prevents vomiting. One pound of carrot may be cooked in five ounces of<br />water until it is soft. The pulp should be strained and boiled water added to make a quart.<br />Three-quarter tablespoon of salt may be mixed. This soup should be given in small amounts to<br />the patient every half an hour.<br />The pomegranate has proved beneficial in the treatment of diarrhoea on account of its astringent<br />properties. If the patient develops weakness due to profuse and continuous purging, he should<br />be given repeatedly about 50 ml. of pomegranate juice to drink. This will control the diarrhoea.<br />Mango seeds are also valuable in diarrhoea. The seeds should be collected during the mango<br />season, dried in the shade and powdered and kept stored for use as medicine when required. It<br />should be given in doses of about one and a half gram to two grams with or without honey.<br />Diarrhoea<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap43.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:22:53 PM]<br />Turmeric has proved another effective home remedy for diarrhoea. It is a very useful intestinal<br />antiseptic. It is also a gastric stimulant and a tonic. Turmeric rhizome, its juice or dry powder are<br />all very helpful in curing chronic diarrhea. In the form of dry powder, it may be taken in buttermilk<br />or plain water.<br />In case of diarrhoea caused by indigestion, dry or fresh ginger is very useful. A piece of dry<br />ginger is powdered along with a crystal or rock salt. A quarter teaspoonful of this powder should<br />be taken with a small piece of jugglery. It will bring quick relief as ginger, being carminative, aids<br />digestion by stimulating the gastrointestinal tract.<br />Starchy liquids such as arrowroot water , barley water, rice gruel and coconut water are highly<br />beneficial in the treatment of diarrhoea. They not only replace the fluid lost but also bind the<br />stools. Other home remedies include bananas and garlic. Bananas contain pectin and<br />encourage the growth of beneficial bacteria. Garlic is a powerful, effective and harmless<br />antibiotic. It aids digestion and routs parasites.<br />The best water treatment for diarrhoea are the abdominal compress ( at 60 o F) renewed every<br />15 to 20 minutes and cold hip bath ( 40 o - 50 o F). If the patient is in pain, abdominal<br />fomentations for 15 minutes should be administered every two hours.<br />[index]<br />Diarrhoea<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap43.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:22:53 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Dysentery<br />Dysentery is a serious condition affecting the large intestine. It is characterised by inflammation<br />and ulceration of the bowel, a colic pain in the region of the abdomen and passing of liquid or<br />semi-formed stones with mucus and blood.<br />The pathological condition of dysentery is caused by two organisms, protozoa and bacilli. The<br />former is generally known as amoebic dysentery and later as bacillary dysentery. An attack of<br />amoebic dysentery is milder in comparison with bacillary dysentery. But while bacillary dysentery<br />can respond quickly to treatment, amoebic dysentery does not leave the patient easily, unless<br />he is careful.<br />Dysentery is prevalent allover the world except in very cold countries. Places where insanity<br />conditions prevail are particularly affected. The disease strikes both sexes equally. Similarly, no<br />age is immune, though children are more prone.<br />Symptoms<br />Desentery may be acute and chronic. The acute form is characterised by pain in the abdomen,<br />diarrhoea and dysenteric motions. Yellowish white mucus and sometimes only blood from the<br />intestinal ulcers passes with stools. The evacuations are preceded by pain and tenesmus. The<br />patient feels a constant desire to evacuate, although there may be nothing to throw off except a<br />little mucus and blood There is a feeling of pain in the rectum and along the large intestine. With<br />the advance of the disease the quantity of mucus and blood increases. Occassionally casts or<br />shreds of skinline mucous membrane, from small fragments to 12 inches or so long and an inch<br />wide , are seen to pass out with motions. Sometimes pus is also thrown out with motions and<br />often the smell of the stools becomes very foetid. All the digestive processes are upset and<br />secretions are changed or stopped. The saliva becomes acid instead of being alkaline and the<br />gastric juice itself may become alkaline. The stomach loses power to digest and absorb food.<br />The bacilli create toxins and the foetid matters formed also augment further manufacture of<br />toxins and consequent absorption in blood.<br />Chronic cases are after-effects of acute attacks. The patient does not recover completely. Stool<br />remains putrid and may contain blood, while diarrhoea and constipation may alternate, and<br />general health is disturbed. In severe cases, the temperature may rise to 104 - 105 o F. It may<br />occasionally become subnormal also.<br />Causes<br />The cause of dysentery, according to modern medical system, is germ infection. The germs,<br />which are supposed to cause dysentery only develop in colon as a result of putrefaction there of<br />excessive quantities of animal protein food, fried substance, over-spices foods and hard to<br />digest fatty substances. The real cause of dysentery is thus dietary indiscretion and eating of<br />excessive amounts of flesh food in hot weather or tropical climate unsuited to the digestion of<br />such foods. Other causes include debility, fatigue, chill, lowered vitality, intestinal disorders and<br />overcrowding under insanitary conditions.<br />Treatment<br />The treatment of dysentery should aim at removing the offending and toxic matter from the<br />intestines and for alleviating painful symptoms, stopping the virulence of the bacteria and<br />promoting healing of the ulcer.<br />Fasting is the only correct remedy for dysentery to bring with. The patient should fast as long as<br />acute symptoms are present. During the period of fasting, only orange juice and water should be<br />taken. In the alternative, the patient should subsist on buttermilk till the acute symptoms are<br />over. Butter- milk combats offending bacteria and helps establishment of helpful<br />micro-organisms in the intestines.<br />Dysentery<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap44.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:23:10 PM]<br />The patient may be given small doses of castor oil in the form of emulsion. This acts as a mild<br />aperient and facilitates quicker removal of offensive matter, minimises the strain during motion<br />and also acts as a lubricant to the ulcerated surfaces. IN addition to administration of castor oil,<br />the mechanical removal of accumulated poisonous matter should be attempted by giving very<br />low pressure enema, admitting as much water as the patient can tolerate. This can be done<br />twice or thrice daily. The patient should take complete bed rest as movement induces pain and<br />aggravates distressing symptoms. A hot water bag may be applied over the abdomen.<br />After the acute symptoms are over, the patient may be allowed rice, curd, fresh ripe fruits,<br />especially bael, banana and pomegranate and skimmed milk. Solid foods should be introduced<br />very carefully and gradually according to the pace of recovery. Flesh foods of all kinds should be<br />avoided in future as far as possible. Other foods which should be avoided are tea, coffee, white<br />sugar and white flour and products made from them as well as alcohol in all forms. Foods which<br />have a detoxifying and cleansing effect upon the intestines on their passage, through, such as<br />fruits and vegetables, are most essential to a future dietary.<br />Among specific food remedies, bael fruit is, perhaps , the most efficacious in the treatment of<br />dysentery of both the varieties. Pulp of the fruit mixed with jaggery should be given thrice daily.<br />To deal with a chronic case of dysentery, unripe bael fruit is roasted over the fire and the pulp is<br />mixed with water. Large quantities of the infusion so made should be administered with jaggery.<br />The pulp of the unripe fruit mixed with an equal quantity of dried ginger can also be given with<br />butter milk.<br />The use of pomegranate rind is another effective remedy for dysentery. About 60 grams of therin<br />should be boiled in 250 grams of milk. It should be removed from the fire when one third of the<br />milk has evaporated. It should be administered to the patient in three equal doses at suitable<br />intervals. It will relieve the disease very soon.<br />Lemon juice is very effective in dealing with ordinary cases of dysentery. A few lemons, peels<br />and sliced, should be added to 250 ml. of water and boiled for a few minutes. The strained<br />infusion should be administered thrice daily.<br />Other remedies considered useful in the treatment of dysentery are the use of small pieces of<br />onions mixed with curd and equal parts of the tender leaves of the peepal tree, coriander leaves<br />and sugar chewed slowly.<br />[index]<br />Dysentery<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap44.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:23:10 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Eczema<br />The term ‘eczema’ is derived from a Greek word meaning ‘to boil.’ It refers to an inflammation of<br />the skin which results in the formation of vesicls or pulstules. It is the most common and most<br />troublesome of all skin diseases.<br />Eczema is essentially a constitutional disease, resulting from a toxic condition of the system.<br />The disease covers a wide variety of forms, the majority of them being of a chronic variety.<br />Symptoms<br />Eczema in its acute form is indicated by redness and swelling of the skin, the formation of<br />minute vesicles and severe heat. If the vesicles rupture, a raw, moist surface is formed. From<br />this, a colourless discharge oozes, which forms skin crusts when it accumulates. The disease is<br />usually worst at night when the heat of the body is retained by the bed-clothes.<br />The skin itches at all stages. IN the wet stage, it may become infected with bacteria. The healing<br />of the condition is affected by scratching in response tothe irritation. Scratching not only spreads<br />infection but also lengthens the stage of dryness and scaling.<br />Causes<br />Allergies play an important part in causing eczema. Some women get eczema on their hands<br />due to an allergy to soap or detergents used to wash clothes or dishes. Some persons develop it<br />around the fingers when they wear rings because of allergy to metals. Researchers at the<br />University of Texas Health Science Centre at San Antonio, in a recent study of children with<br />atropic eczema, found that 75 per cent were allergic to a number of foods. The most common<br />triggers for sensitive persons are eggs, peanuts, chocolate, wheat, cow’s milk, chicken and<br />potato.<br />The real cause of eczema however is the failure of the human system to excrete the poisons<br />from the various orifices of the body. Waste matter is excreted from the rectum through stools,<br />from the bladder through urine, from the lungs through breath and from the pores of the skin<br />through sweat. Sometime the pores of the skin are overworked as waste matter is not properly<br />eliminated from the other orifices. If the pores are not given the chance to perform their normal<br />function, the sweat will be full of morbid matter and this gives rise to skin diseases like eczema,<br />acne, boils and other eruptions.<br />Other causes include faulty metabolism, constipation, nutritional deficiencies and stress brought<br />about by nagging spouses, jealousy, frustration and a host of other emotions. Suppressive drug<br />treatment of the formal disease is also a most potent subsidiary causative factor in many cases.<br />The Cure<br />Skin applications to cure eczema may give temporary relief. If the exudation is suppressed,<br />some other more serious disease may develop. The best way to deal with eczema is to cleanse<br />the blood stream and the body.<br />The treatment should start with a fast on orange juice and water from five to days, depending on<br />the severity and duration of the trouble. Juice fasting will help eliminate toxic waste from the<br />body and lead to substantial improvement. In some cases, the condition may worsen in the<br />beginning of the fast due to the increased elimination of waste matter through the skin. But as<br />fasting continues, improvement will manifest itself.<br />Fruits, salt free, raw or steamed vegetables with whole meal bread or chappatis may be taken<br />after the juice fast. Carrot and musk melon are particularly beneficial. Coconut oil may be used<br />instead of ghee. After a few days, curd and milk may be added to the diet. The patients may<br />thereafter gradually embark upon a well-balanced diet of three basic food groups, namely<br />(i) seeds, nutsand grains (ii) vegetables and (iii) fruits. The large proportion of the diet should<br />consist of raw foods. Seeds and beans such as alfalfa, mung and soyabeans can be sprouted.<br />Eczema<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap45.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:23:19 PM]<br />This diet may be supplemented with cold-pressed vegetable oils, honey and yeast. Juice fasting<br />may be repeated at intervals of two months or so, depending on the progress being made, in<br />chronic and more difficult cases of eczema, patient should fast atleast once a week till he is<br />cured.<br />The patient should avoid tea, coffee, alcoholic beverages and all condiments and highly<br />flavoured dishes. He should also avoid sugar, white flour products, denatured cereals like<br />polished rice, and pearled barley and tinned or bottled foods. He should eat only pure and<br />wholesome foods.<br />Raw vegetable juices, especially carrot juice in combination with spinach juice, have proved<br />highly beneficial in the treatment of eczema. The formula proportions considered helpful in this<br />combination are carrot 300 ml. and spinach 200 ml. to make 500 ml. or half a litre of juice.<br />The patient should get as much fresh air as possible. Restrictive clothing should not be worn.<br />Two or three litres of water should be taken daily and the patient must bath twice or thrice a day.<br />The skin, with the exception of the parts affected with eczema, should be vigorously rubbed with<br />the palms of the hands before taking the bath.<br />Coconut oil may be applied to the portions with eczema. It will help the skin to stay soft. Walking<br />or jogging should be resorted to in order to inactivate the bowels. Sun bathing is also beneficial<br />as it kills the harmful bacteria and should be resorted to early in the morning, in the first light of<br />dawn. A light mudpack should be applied over the sites of the eczema is also helpful. The pack<br />should be applied for an hour at a time and should be repeated twice or thrice a day .<br />Water Treatment<br />In cases of acute eczema, cold compress or cold wet fomentations are beneficial. The affected<br />part should be wrapped with a thick soft cloth. The cloth should be moistened with cold water (<br />55 o - 60 o F) every 15 to 30 minutes for two hours at a time. The bandage should be left intact,<br />keeping the cloth cold. There may be intensification of itching or pain initially but this will soon<br />subside. A cold compress may be applied twice daily for a week or so.<br />[index]<br />Eczema<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap45.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:23:19 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Epilepsy<br />Epilepsy refers to a chronic condition in which repeated fits or attacks of unconsciousness occur<br />with or without confusions. It is a serious disorder of a central nervous system. It occurs in both<br />children and adults. Most attacks, however, occur in childhood and in early adult life. Attack<br />rates show a progressive decline in frequency with age.<br />Epilepsy is a very ancient disease which afflicted some of the world’s greatest personalities,<br />including Napoleon, Alexander and Julius Ceasar. Theactual word " epilepsy" comes from the<br />Greek word which means " to seize upon". The ancient people believed that evilspirits entered<br />the body of the person afflicted, seized upon his soul and threw his body into convulsions. The<br />Greeks believed that the gods induced this disease. The early Christians blamed the devil for<br />convulsions.<br />One of the main problems that a person with epilepsy has to face is continual uncertainty about<br />whether or not he or she will have an attack on any particular occasion. Patients may find<br />themselves increasingly inhibited from engaging in social events because of the understandable<br />fear that they might embarrass themselves by having another attack. Such people also<br />encounter difficulties in employments and other relationships.<br />Symptoms<br />Epilepsy is recognised by recurrent sudden attacks at irregular intervals. The patients twitch<br />convulsively and fall unconscious to the ground during these attacks which cause tremendous<br />nervous unheavel. There are two main types of epilepsy known as petit mal and grand mal.<br />Each follows its own specific pattern.<br />In petit mal, which is a less serious form of epilepsy,an attack comes and goes within a few<br />seconds. The patient has a momentary loss of consciousness, with no convulsions except<br />sometimes a slight rifidity, or there may be slight attack of convulsions such as a jerk, or<br />movement of the eyes, head trunk or extremities, with no perceptible loss of consciousness. The<br />patient may not fall. He may suddenly stop what he is doing and then resume it when the attack<br />is over, without even being aware of what has happened. Petit mal attacks may occur at any<br />time in life but are most frequent in children.<br />The attack in case of grand mal comes with a dramatic effect. There are violent contractions of<br />the arms, legs and body, accompanied by a sudden loss of consciousness. Before the onset of<br />an attack, some patients have a warning or aura in the form of strange sensations such as a<br />current of air or a stream of water flowing over a body, noises, odours and flashes of light. IN a<br />typical attack,. the patient cries out, falls to the ground loses consciousness and develops<br />convulsions. With the convulsions may come foaming at the mouth, twitching of the muscles,<br />biting of the tongue, distorted fixation of limbs, rotation of the head and deviation of the eyes.<br />The patient may lose control of his urine and faeces. The attack may last several minutes and is<br />usually followed by a deep sleep. On waking up, he may remember nothing of what happened to<br />him.<br />People who suffer from epilepsy are not abnormal in any other way. They usually know that fits<br />can be triggered off by particular stimuli. Between epileptic attacks, their brain functions<br />normally.<br />Causes<br />Epilepsy denotes electrical malfunctioning within the brain due to damage of brain cells or some<br />inherited abnormality. There are many causes of epilepsy. Digestive disturbances, intestinal<br />toxaemia and a strained nervous condition are very often the main cause of petit mal. Grand mal<br />usually results from hereditary influences, serious shock or injury to the brain or nervous system.<br />Meningitis, typhoid, and other diseases attendant with prolonged high temperature can also lead<br />to grand mal.<br />Epilepsy<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap46.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:23:40 PM]<br />Epilepsy may be caused by several other factors. It may result from allergic reactions to certain<br />food substances, especially some particular form of protein which is the main constituent of<br />meat. Circulatory disorders such as hardening of arteries leading to the brain may also cause<br />epileptic seizures. This type is rare and occurs only in very aged people. Chronic alcoholism,<br />lead poisoning, cocaine and other such habits can also lead to this disease. Other causes of<br />epileptic seizure include mental conflict, deficient mineral assimilation, particularly of magnesium<br />and calcium and wrong vitamin metabolism. According to some researchers, hypoglycemia or<br />low blood sugar is also involved in most cases of epilepsy.<br />Treatment<br />In the natural form of treatment, the sufferer from epilepsy has to follow a rigorous regimen<br />consisting of a strict dietary, complete relaxation and optimum exercise in the open air. He must<br />adhere to a simple and correct natural life. He must assume a cheerful, optimistic attitude,<br />refrain from mental and physical overwork and worry.<br />The most important aspect of the treatment is the diet. To begin with, the patient should be<br />placed on an exclusive fruit diet for first few days. During this period he should have three meals<br />a day of fresh juicy fruits such as oranges, apples, grapes, grapefruit, peaches, pears, pineapple<br />and melon. Thereafter, he may gradually adopt a well balanced diet of three basic food groups<br />viz. (i) seeds, nuts and grains, (ii) vegetables and (iii) fruits with emphasis on sprouted seeds<br />such as alfalfa seeds and mung beans, raw vegetables and fruits. The diet should include a<br />moderate amount of raw milk preferably goat’s milk and milk products such as raw butter and<br />homemade cottage cheese.<br />The diet should eliminate completely all animal proteins, except milk, as they not only lack in<br />magnesium,but also rob the body of its own magnesium storage as well as of vitamin B6. Both<br />these substances are needed in large amounts by epileptics. The best food sources of<br />magnesium are raw nuts, seeds, soyabeans , green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale,<br />beet-tops etc. The patient should avoid all refined foods, fried and greasy food, sugar and<br />products made with it, strong tea, coffee, alcoholic beverages, condiments and pickles.<br />The patient should avoid over eating and take frequent small meals rather than a few large ones.<br />He should not eat large meals before going to bed.<br />Mud packs on the abdomen twice daily help remove toxaemic conditions of the intestines and<br />thereby hasten removal of epileptic conditions. The application of alternate hot and cold<br />compresses to the base of the brain, that is at the back of the head will be beneficial. The<br />procedure is to dip the feet in a bucket of hot water and apply first a hot towel and then a cold<br />one to the base of the brain. The alternate hot and cold towels should be kept for two or three<br />minutes about four times. The process shall be repeated twice every day. Full Epsom-salt bath,<br />twice a week are also beneficial.<br />If the sufferer from epilepsy has taken strong drugs for many years, he should not leave off<br />entirely all at once. The dosage may be cut to half to begin with and then gradually reduced<br />further until it can be left off completely.<br />An epileptic should strictly observe all the natural laws of good health and build and maintain the<br />highest level of general health. He should remain active mentally but avoid all severe mental and<br />physical stress. And above all, he should avoid excitements of all kinds.<br />[index]<br />Epilepsy<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap46.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:23:40 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Falling of Hair<br />Loss of hair at a very tender age has become a common disorder these days. It causes a great<br />deal of concern to persons affected by loss of hair, especially Indian women who regard good<br />hair growth with thick long hair as a sign of beauty.<br />Hair is formed in minute pockets in the skin, called follicles. An upgrowth at the base of the folic,<br />called the papilla, actually produces hair ; when a special group of cells turn amino acids into<br />keratin, a type of protein of which hair is made. The rate of production of these protein " building<br />blocks." determines hair growth. The average growth rate is about 1.2 cm per month , growing<br />faster on women between the ages 15 and 30.<br />Causes<br />The most important cause of loss of hair is inadequate nutrition. Even a partial lack of almost<br />any nutrient may cause hair to fall. Persons lacking vitamin B6 lose their hair and those deficient<br />in folic acid often become completely bald. But the hair grows normally after the liberal intake of<br />these vitamins.<br />Another important cause of falling of hair is stress such as worry, anxiety and sudden shock.<br />Stress leads to a severe tension in the skin of the scalp. This adversely affects the supply of<br />essential nutrition required for the healthy growth of the hair. General debility, syphilis, chronic<br />cold, influenza and anaemia, also gives rise to this disorder. It makes the roots of the hair weak,<br />resulting in the falling of hair. Unclean condition of the scalp can also cause loss of hair. It<br />weakens the hair roots by blocking the pores with the collected dirt. Heredity is another<br />predisposing factor which may cause hair to fall.<br />Treatment<br />The healthy condition of the hair depends, to a very large extent , on the intake of sufficient<br />amounts of essential nutrients in the daily diet. Hair is made of protein and adequate protein is<br />necessary for luxuriant hair. Women require 60 grams, men 80 to 90, adolescent boys and girls<br />80 to 100 grams of protein. It is supplied by milk, buttermilk, yogurt,soyabean, eggs, cheese,<br />meat and fish. A lack of vitamin A may cause the hair to be caurse and ugly. A deficiency of<br />some of the B vitamins, of iron, copper and iodine may cause hair disorders like falling of hair<br />and premature greying.<br />Lack of inositol causes loss of hair. Any person having trouble with his or her hair should eat<br />foods rich in inositol such as yeast, liver and molasses. Research has, however, shown that<br />women have a low requirement of inositol. Although this vitamin may help to stimulate the<br />growth of a woman’s hair, its lack is probably not a major cause of slow growth . Women are<br />generally deficient in iodine and vitamin B1, either of which can slow down circulation to the<br />scalp to such an extent that hair may fall out and new hair grow in very slowly. Women who keep<br />their diets adequate in iodine, the B vitamins and iron have a better growth of hair.<br />According to Adelle Davis, a world famous nutritionist, "increasing the intake of protein,<br />particularly of liver, wheat germ and yeast, and supplementing the diet with a teaspoon of<br />inositol daily usually stops a man’s hair from falling, and I have seen three or four persons<br />whose hair became thick after these improvements were made. "<br />Persons with a tendency to lose hair should thus take a well balanced and correct diet, made up<br />of foods which in combination should supply all the essential nutrients. It has been found that a<br />diet which contains liberal quantities of ( i) seeds, nuts and grains, ( ii) vegetables and (iii) fruits<br />would provide adequate amounts of all the essential nutrients. Each food group should roughly<br />form the bulk of one of the three principal meals. These foods should , however, be<br />supplemented with certain special foods such as milk, vegetable oils, honey, wheat germ, yeast<br />and liver.<br />Falling of Hair<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap47.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:23:56 PM]<br />Home Remedies<br />Several home remedies have been found useful in the prevention and treatment of the loss of<br />the hair. The most effective among these remedies is a vigorous rubbing of the scalp with fingers<br />after washing the hair with cold water. The scalp should be rubbed vigorously till it starts to tingle<br />with the heat. It will activate the sebaceous glands and energise the circulation of blood in the<br />affected area, making the hair grow healthy.<br />Amla oil, prepared by boiling dry pieces of amla in coconut oil, is considered a valuable hair tonic<br />for enriching hair growth. A mixture of equal quantity of fresh amla juice and lime juice used as a<br />shampoo stimulates hair growth and prevents hair loss.<br />Lettuce ( salad-ka-patta) is useful in preventing hair loss through deficiencies. A mixture of<br />lettuce and spinach juice is said to help the growth of hair if it is drunk to the extent of half a litre<br />a day. The juice of alfalfa ( lecerne) in combination with carrot and lettuce juice, taken daily also<br />helps the growth of hair to a remarkable extent. The combination of these juices is rich in<br />elements which are particularly useful for the growth of hair. While preparing alfalfa juice, the<br />leaves of the plant only may be used when it can be obtained fresh.<br />Daily application of refined coconut oil mixed with limewater and lime juice on the hair, prevents<br />loss of hair and lengthens them. Application of the juice of green coriander leaves on the head is<br />also considered beneficial. Amaranth, known as chaulai-ka-saag in the vernacular, is another<br />valuable remedy. Application of its fresh leaf-juice helps the growth of the hair and keeps them<br />soft.<br />Mustard oil, boiled with henna leaves, is useful in healthy growth of hair. About 250 grams of<br />mustard oil should be boiled in tinned basin. A little quantity of henna leaves should be gradually<br />put in this oil till about 60 grams of these leaves are thus burnt in the oil. The oil should then be<br />filtered through a cloth and stored well in a bottle. A regular massage of the head with this oil will<br />produce abundant hair.<br />Another effective home remedy for loss of hair is the application of coconut milk all over the<br />scalp and massaging it into the hair loss. It will nourish the hair and promote hair growth. The<br />coconut milk is prepared by grinding the coconut shavings and squeezing it well.<br />Washing the hair with a paste of cooked black gram dal, (urad dal) and fenugreek ( methi)<br />lengthens the hair. A fine paste made from pigeon pea or red gram ( arhar dal ) can also be<br />applied regularly with beneficial results on bald patches. Regular use of castor oil as hair oil<br />helps the luxuriant growth of the hair.<br />Certain home remedies have also been found useful in case of patchy loss of hair. The seeds of<br />lime and black pepper seeds, ground to get a fine paste, is one of the valuable remedies. This<br />paste applied on the patches, has mildly irritant action. This increases blood circulation in the<br />affected area and stimulates hair growth. The paste should be applied twice a day for a few<br />weeks.<br />Another useful remedy for patchy loss of hair is the paste of liquorice (mulethi) made by grinding<br />the pieces in milk with a pinch of saffron. This paste should be applied over the bald patches in<br />the night before going to bed.<br />[index]<br />Falling of Hair<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap47.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:23:56 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Fatigue<br />Fatigue refers to a feeling of tiredness or weariness. It can be temporary or chronic. Almost<br />every person has to work overtime on certain occasions, sacrificing rest and sleep, which may<br />cause temporary fatigue. This condition can be remedied by adequate rest. Chronic or<br />continuous fatigue is, however, a serious problem which requires a comprehensive plan of<br />treatment.<br />Chronic fatigue can result from a variety of factors. A specific character trait, compulsiveness,<br />can lead to continuous fatigue. Many persons constantly feel that they cannot take rest until they<br />finish everything that needs to be done at one time. These persons are usually perfectionists,<br />tense and cannot relax unless they complete the whole job, no matter how tired they may be.<br />Causes<br />The chief cause of fatigue is lowered vitality or lack of energy due to wrong feeding habits.<br />Fatigue is an indication that the cells of the body are not getting sufficient live atoms in the food<br />to furnish them with a constant flow of needed energy. The habitual use of refined foods such as<br />white sugar, refined cereals and white four products as well as processed, tinned and preserved<br />foods have a very bad effect on the system in general. Foods ‘denatured’ in this way are<br />deprived, to a very great extent, of their invaluable vitamins and minerals. Such foods lead to<br />nervousness, tiredness, obesity and a host of other complaints prevalent today.<br />Certain physical conditions can cause fatigue. Anaemia is a very common ailment leading to<br />tiredness. It is known as ‘tired blood’ disturbance. In anaemia, very little oxygen reaches the<br />tissues with the result energy cannot be produced normally. This causes constant tiredness and<br />mental depression. Anaemia usually results from deficiencies of iron and vitamin B12.<br />Sometime deficiencies of vitamin B6 and folic acid are also involved.<br />Insomnia or lack of sleep can be a cause of torturing fatigue. Sleep induced by sleeping pills and<br />other drugs does not banish fatigue. Intestinal parasites can also lead to fatigue as they rob the<br />body of good nourishment and gorge themselves on rich red blood. Other ailments which can<br />cause fatigue are low blood pressure, low blood sugar, any kind of infection in the body, liver<br />damage, a sluggish thyroid and allergy in foods and drugs caused by additives including artificial<br />flavours, colours and preservatives.<br />Mental tension is one of the major causes of fatigue. A person who is tense and cannot relax<br />has all the muscles of his body more or less contracted. This leads to needless waste of<br />unusually large amounts of energy. Food is continuously burnt, lactic acid accumulates more<br />rapidly than it can be carried to liver for conversion to body starch. Persons who are high-strung,<br />nervous and irritable usually suffer from this type of fatigue.<br />Treatment<br />Nutritional measures are most vital in the treatment of fatigue. Studies reveal that people who<br />eat small mid-meals suffer less from fatigue and nervousness, think more clearly and are more<br />efficient than those who eat only three meals daily. These mid-meals should consist of fresh or<br />dried fruits, fresh fruit or vegetable juices, raw vegetables or small sandwich of whole grain<br />bread. The mid-meal should be small and less food should be consumed at regular meals. They<br />should be taken at specified time such as 11 a.m. , 4 p.m. and before retiring to bed.<br />The patient should eat health foods which supply energy to the body. Charles De Coti Marsh of<br />London in his book ‘Prescription for Energy’ prescribes foods to relieve fatigue and gain energy.<br />He says, " Regenerating must begin with foods..... They must be taken in their natural state.<br />These cereals are corn seeds, wheat seeds, rye seeds, maize seeds, barley seeds and oat<br />seeds. They must be freshly milled. In uncooked cereals, we do have one perfect food for<br />perfect health which contains essential vitamins and energy creators." In addition to cereal<br />seeds, Marsh recommends fresh raw nuts taken directly from the shell and root vegetables. He<br />Fatigue<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap48.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:24:07 PM]<br />says, "Any seed or root vegetable that will grow again will renew human vitality."<br />The patient should take an optimum diet made up of (i) seeds, nuts and grains, (ii) vegetables,<br />and (iii) fruits. Roughly, each food group should supply the bulk of one of the three meals.<br />Sprouting is an excellent way to eat seeds, beans and grains in raw form. Sprouting increases<br />the nutritional value of foods and many new vitamins are created or multiplied in seeds during<br />sprouting. The patient should supplement the three health-building food groups with special<br />protective foods such as milk, high quality cold-pressed unrefined vegetable oil and honey.<br />The patient should also take natural vitamin and mineral supplements as an effective assurance<br />against nutritional deficiencies, as such deficiencies have been found to be a factor in fatigue.<br />Lack of pantothenic acid, B vitamin in particular, leads to extreme fatigue as deficiency of this<br />vitamin is associated with exhaustion of the adrenal glands.<br />In fact the entire B-complex protect nerves and increases energy by helping to nourish and<br />regulate glands. The vegetarian foods rich in vitamin B are wheat and other whole grain cereals,<br />green leafy vegetables, rice polishing, milk, nuts, banana, yeast, pulses and peas.<br />Minerals are also important. Potassium is especially needed for protection against fatigue. Raw<br />green vegetables are rich in this mineral. Calcium is essential for relaxation and is beneficial in<br />cases of insomnia and tension both of which can lead to fatigue. Sodium and zinc are also<br />beneficial in the treatment of fatigue.<br />Raw vegetable juices, especially carrot juice, taken seperately or in combination with juices of<br />beets and cucumbers, is highly valuable in overcoming fatigue. The formula proportions<br />considered helpful in the combination juice of 500 ml. are carrot 300 ml. and beet and cucumber<br />100 ml. each.<br />The patient should avoid depending for an energy lift, on crutches such as taking aspirin,<br />tranquilizers and other drugs, drinking coffee or alcohol, smoking , eating some sugar or sweets.<br />They give only a temporary boost and this is soon followed by a downward plunge of energy,<br />leaving a person worse than before.<br />[index]<br />Fatigue<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap48.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:24:07 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Gall-Bladder Disorders<br />The gall-bladder is a pear-shaped organ, 10 cm. long and three to five cm. wide,attached to the<br />under-surface of the liver on the right side. The main function of the gall-bladder is to store the<br />bile secreted by the liver. Bile is an excretion composed mainly of bile salts and acids, colour<br />pigments and cholesterol. Bile assists in the digestion and absorption of fats and the absorption<br />of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K, minerals and calcium.<br />The gall-bladder is usually full and relaxed between meals. During the process of digestion,<br />when food reaches the duodenum, the hormone cholecystokinin begins to be produced in the<br />internal mucosa. When this hormone reaches the gall- bladder through the bloodstream, it<br />causes the gall-bladder to contract, thereby releasing the bile concentrate into the duodenum via<br />a common duct.<br />The main problems which afflict the gall-bladder are an inflammatory condition known as<br />cholecystitis and gall-stones. Gall-stones are usually caused by disturbances in the composition<br />of the bile. A change in the ratio of cholesterol and bile salts may result in the formation of<br />deposits. At the start, these may be in the form of fine gravel. But these fine particle constitute<br />the nucleus for further deposits, ultimately leading to the formation of larger stones. An irritation<br />of the lining of the gall- bladder due to inflammation may also led to the formation of particles.<br />The incidence of gall-stones is higher in females than males, particularly in those who are<br />obese.<br />Symptoms<br />Indigestion, gas, a feeling of fullness after meals, constipation, nausea and disturbed vision are<br />the usual symptoms of gall-bladder disorders. Other symptoms are intolerance to fats, dizzines,<br />jaundice,anaemia, acne and other lesions. Varicose veins, haemorrhoids and breakdown of<br />capillaries are also disorders associated with gall-bladder troubles.<br />Causes<br />The main causes of gall-bladder disorders are digestive disturbances due to a regular excessive<br />intake of fats and carbo-hydrates in the diet. They can also be brought on by disturbances of the<br />liver and gall-bladder. Meals rich in fats may cause an attack of gall-bladder pain or gall-stone<br />colic. Often the disorder is caused by a diet rich in refined carbohydrates such as white flour and<br />white sugar. Poor health, hereditary factors, stress, spinal displacements, bad posture and<br />muscular tension may also cause gall-bladder disorders.<br />Types of gall stones<br />There are three types of gall-stones, depending on the cause of their formation. These are :<br />cholesterol stones caused by a change in the ratio of cholesterol to bile salts ; pigment stones<br />(composed of bile pigment) caused by the destruction of red blood cells due to certain blood<br />diseases, and mixed stones consisting of layers of cholesterol, calcium and bile pigment<br />(bilirubin) resulting from stagnation of the bile flow.<br />The Cure<br />Surgery becomes necessary if the gall-stones are very large or in cases in which they have been<br />present for long. Smaller gall-stones can, however, cleared through nature cure methods. Diet is<br />the basic factor in the treatment of gall bladder disorders. In cases of acute gall-bladder<br />inflammation, the patient should fast for two or three days, until the acute condition clears.<br />Nothing but water should be taken during the fast. After the fast, the patient should take carrot,<br />beet, grapefruit, lemon and grape juice for a few days. Ensure that the diet contains an adequate<br />amount of lacto-vegetarian, consisting of raw and cooked vegetables, vegetable juices, and a<br />moderate amount of fruit and seeds. Yogurt, cottage cheese and a tablespoon of olive oil twice a<br />day should also be taken. Oil serves as a stimulant for the production of bile and lipase, the fat<br />Gall-Bladder Disorders<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap49.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:24:32 PM]<br />digesting enzymes. All meats, eggs, animal fats and processed and denatured fats as well as<br />fried foods should be avoided. The diet should also exclude refined carbohydrates, especially<br />sugar, sugar products, alcohol, soft drinks, cakes, puddings, ice-cream , coffee and citrus fruits.<br />The patient should eat small meals at frequent intervals, rather than three large meals. The<br />following is the suggested menu for those suffering from gall-bladder disorders :<br />On rising : A glass of warm water mixed with lemon juice and honey or fresh fruit juice,<br />Breakfast : Fresh fruit, one or two slices of whole meal toast and a cup of skimmed powder<br />milk.<br />Mid morning : Fresh fruit juice.<br />Lunch : Vegetable soup, a large salad consisting of vegetables in season with dressing of<br />lemon or vegetable oil. Fresh fruit for dessert, if desired.<br />Dinner : Vegetable oil, one or two lightly cooked vegetables, baked potato, brown rice or whole<br />wheat chappati and a glass of buttermilk.<br />Water Treatment :<br />Regular applications of hot and cold fomentations to the abdomen improve the circulation of the<br />liver and gall-bladder. They also induce concentrations of the gall-bladder, thereby improving the<br />flow of bile. A cold hip bath improves the general abdominal tone. The pain of gall-stone colic<br />can be relieved by the application of hot packs or fomentation to the upper abdominal area. A<br />warm water enema at body temperature will help eliminate faecal accumulations if the patient is<br />constipated.<br />Exercise is essential as physical inactivity can lead to lazy gall-bladder type indigestion which<br />may ultimately result in the formation of stones. Yogic asanas which are beneficial in toning up<br />the liver and gall-bladder are : sarvangasana, paschimottanasana, shalabhasana, dhanurasana<br />and bhujangasana.<br />[index]<br />Gall-Bladder Disorders<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap49.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:24:32 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Gastritis<br />Gastritis is an inflammation of the lining of the stomach. It is a troublesome condition which may<br />lead to many complications including ulcers if not treated in time. Constipation aggravates the<br />condition more than any other disorder.<br />The inflammatory lesions may be either acute erosive gastritis or chronic atrophic gastritis. The<br />latter type has been found to be present in half the patients suffering from severe iron deficiency<br />anaemia.<br />Symptoms<br />The main symptoms of gastritis are loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, headache and dizziness.<br />There is also pain and a feeling of discomfort in the region of the stomach. In more chronic<br />cases, there is a feeling of fullness in the abdomen, especially after meals. The patient<br />complains of heartburn. Prolonged illness often results in the loss of weight, anaemia and<br />occassional haemorrhage from the stomach. There may be an outpouring of mucus and a<br />reduction in the secretion of hydrochloric acid during acute attacks and also in most cases of<br />chronic gastritis.<br />Causes<br />The most frequent cause of gastritis is a dietetic indiscretion such as habitual overeating, eating<br />of badly combined or improperly cooked foods, excessive intake of strong tea, coffee or<br />alcoholic drinks, habitual use of large quantities of condiments, sauces, etc. It may sometimes<br />follow certain diseases such as measles, diptheria, influenza, virus pneumonia, etc. Most often it<br />also results from worry, anxiety, grief and prolonged tension. Use of certain drugs, strong acids<br />and caustic substances may also give rise to gastritis.<br />Treatment<br />The patient should undertake a fast in both acute and chronic cases of gastritis. In acute cases,<br />the patient will usually recover after a short fast of two or three days. In chronic condition, the<br />fast may have to be continued for a longer period of seven days or so. In the alternative, short<br />fasts may be repeated at an interval of one or two months, depending on the progress being<br />made.<br />The fast may be conducted on fruit juices. By fasting, the intake of irritants is at once effectively<br />stopped, the stomach is rested and the toxic condition, causing the inflammation, is allowed to<br />subside. Elimination is increased by fasting and the excess of toxic matter accumulated in the<br />system is thrown out.<br />After the acute symptoms subside, the patient should adopt an all-fruit diet for further three days.<br />Juicy fruits such as apple, pear, grapes, grapefruit, orange, pineapple, peach and melon may be<br />taken during this period at five-hourly intervals. The patient can thereafter gradually embark<br />upon a well-balanced diet of three basic food groups, namely : (i) seeds, nuts and grains, (ii)<br />vegetables, and (iii) fruits on the following lines :<br />Upon arising : A glass of lukewarm water with freshly squeezed lemon and spoonful of honey.<br />Breakfast : Fresh fruits , such as apples, orange, banana, grapes, grapefruit or any available<br />berries, a handful of raw nuts and a glass of milk.<br />Mid-morning snack : One apple, banana, or any other fruit.<br />Lunch : Steamed vegetables, two or three slices of whole meal bread or whole wheat chappatis,<br />according to the appetite and a glass of butter milk.<br />Gastritis<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap50.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:24:44 PM]<br />Mid-afternoon : A glass of fresh fruit or vegetable juice or sugarcane juice.<br />Dinner : A large bowl of fresh salad of green vegetables such as tomatoes,carrots, red beets,<br />cabbage, cucumber with dressing of lemon juice and cold-pressed vegetable oil, all available<br />sprouts such as alfalfa seeds mung beans, fresh butter and fresh home-made cottage cheese.<br />Bed time snacks : A glass of fresh milk or one apple.<br />The patient should avoid the use of alcohol, nicotine, spices, and condiments, flesh foods,<br />chillies, sour things, pickles, strong tea and coffee. He should also avoid sweets, pastries, rich<br />cakes and aerated waters. Curds and cottage cheese should be used freely.<br />Carrot juice in combination with the juice of spinach is considered highly beneficial in the<br />treatment of gastritis. 200 ml. of spinach juice should be mixed with 300 ml. of carrot juice in this<br />combination. Too many different foods should not be mixed at the same meal. Meals should be<br />taken at least two hours before going to bed at night. Eight to 10 glasses of water should be<br />taken daily but water should not be taken with meals as it dilutes the digestive juices and delays<br />digestion. And above all, haste should be avoided while eating and meals should be served in a<br />pleasing and relaxed atmosphere.<br />Coconut water is an excellent food remedy for gastritis. It gives the stomach necessary rest and<br />provides vitamins and minerals. The stomach will be greatly helped in returning to its normal<br />condition if nothing except coconut water is given during the first 24 hours.<br />Rice gruel is another effective remedy in acute cases of gastritis. In chronic cases where the<br />flow of gastric juice is meagre, such foods as require prolonged vigorous mastication will be<br />beneficial as this induces a greater flow of gastric juices.<br />From the commencement of the treatment , a warm water enema should be used daily, for about<br />a week, to cleanse the bowels. If constipation is habitual, all steps should be taken for its<br />eradication. The patient should be given daily a dry friction and sponge bath. Application of heat,<br />through hot compressor or hot water bottle twice in the day either on an empty stomach or two<br />hours after meals , should also prove beneficial.<br />The patient should not undertake any hard physical and mental work. He should , however,<br />undertake breathing and other light exercises like walking, swimming, and golf. He should avoid<br />worries and mental tension.<br />[index]<br />Gastritis<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap50.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:24:44 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Glaucoma<br />Glaucoma is a serious eye condition characterised by an increase of pressure within the eye<br />ball, called intraocular pressure. It is similar to high blood pressure in the body. The condition is<br />therefore, also known as hypertension of the eye.<br />A certain amount of intraocular pressure is considered necessary, but too much can cause<br />damage to the eye and may result in vision loss. Glaucoma is the major cause of blindness<br />among adults today. One out of every eight blind persons is a victim of glaucoma. Far sighted<br />persons are more prone to develop this disease than near sighted ones.<br />Symptoms<br />The first symptom of glaucoma is the appearance of halos or coloured rings round distant<br />objects, when seen at night. In this condition, the iris is usually pushed forward, and the patient<br />often complains of constant pain in the region of the brow, near the temples and the cheeks.<br />Headaches are not uncommon. There is gradual impairment of vision as glaucoma develops,<br />and this may ultimately result in blindness if proper steps are not taken to deal with the disease<br />in the early stages.<br />Causes<br />Medical science regards severe eye-strain or prolonged working under bad lighting conditions as<br />the chief causes of glaucoma. But, in reality, the root cause of glaucoma is a highly toxic<br />condition of the system due to dietetic errors, a faulty life style and the prolonged use of<br />suppressive drugs for the treatment of other diseases. Eye-strain is only a contributory factor.<br />Glaucoma is also caused by prolonged stress and is usually a reaction of adrenal exhaustion.<br />The inability of the adrenal glands to produce aldosterone results in excessive loss of salt from<br />the body and a consequent accumulation of fluid in the tissues. In the region of the eyes, the<br />excess fluid causes the eye ball to harden losing its softness and resilience. Glaucoma has also<br />been associated with giddiness, sinus conditions, allergies, diabetes, hypoglycemia,<br />arteriosclerosis and an imbalance of the autonomic nervous system.<br />Treatment<br />The modern medical treatment for glaucoma is through surgery which relieves the internal<br />pressure in the eye due to excess fluid. This, however, does not remove the cause of the<br />presence of the excess fluid. Consequently, even after the operation, there is no guarantee<br />whatsoever that the trouble will not recur, or that it will not affect the other eye. The natural<br />treatment for glaucoma is same as that for any other condition associated with high toxicity and<br />is directed towards preserving whatever sight remains. If treated in the early stages, the results<br />are encouraging. Though cases of advanced glaucoma may be beyond a cure, even so certain<br />nutritional and other biological approaches can prove effective in controlling the condition and<br />preserving the remaining sight.<br />Certain foodstuff should be scrupulously avoided by patients suffering from glaucoma. Coffee in<br />particular, should be completely avoided because of its high caffeine content. Caffeine causes<br />stimulation of vasoconstrictors, elevating blood pressure and increasing blood flow to the eye.<br />Bear and tobacco, which can cause constriction of blood vessels, should also be avoided. Tea<br />should be taken only in moderation. The patient should not take excessive fluids, whether it is<br />juice, milk or water at any time. He may drink small amounts several times with at least one hour<br />intervals.<br />The diet of the patient suffering from glaucoma should be based on three basic food<br />groups,namely, seeds, nuts and grains ; vegetables and fruit, with emphasis on raw vitamin<br />C-rich foods, fresh fruits and vegetables. The breakfast may consist of oranges or grapes or any<br />other juicy fruits in season and a handful of raw nuts or seeds. A raw vegetable salad with olive<br />Glaucoma<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap51.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:24:58 PM]<br />oil and lemon juice dressing, two or three whole wheat chappatis and a glass of buttermilk may<br />be taken for lunch. The dinner may comprise of steamed vegetables, butter and cottage cheese.<br />Certain nutrients have been found helpful in the treatment of glaucoma. It has been found that<br />the glaucoma patients are usually deficient in vitamins A, B,C, protein ,calcium and other<br />minerals. Nutrients such as calcium and B complex have proved beneficial in relieving the<br />intraocular condition. Many practitioners believe that intraocular pressure in glaucoma can be<br />lowered by vitamin C therapy. Dr. Michele Virno and his colleagues reported recently at a<br />meeting of the Roman Opthalmological Society in Rome, Italy, that the average person weighing<br />150 pounds be given 7000 mg. of ascorbic acid, five daily, acquired acceptable intraocular<br />pressure within 45 days. Symptoms such as mild stomach discomfort and diarrhoea from the<br />large doses of vitamin C were temporary and soon disappeared. It has also been suggested that<br />some calcium should always be taken with each dose of ascorbic acid to minimise any side<br />effects of the large dose.<br />The patient should undertake various methods of relaxing and strengthening the eyes. He<br />should avoid emotional stress and cultivate a tranquil, restful life style. He should also avoid<br />prolonged straining of the eyes such as occurs during excessive T.V. or movie watching and<br />excessive reading. The use of sun glasses should be avoided.<br />[index]<br />Glaucoma<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap51.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:24:58 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Gout<br />Gout refers to a certain form of inflammation of the joints and swellings of a recurrent type.<br />Although chronic in character, it breaks in acute attacks. It is a disease of the wealthy and chiefly<br />affects middle-aged men. Women, after menopause, are also sometimes affected by this<br />disease.<br />Gout was known to the physicians of ancient Greece and Rome. The classical description was<br />written in 1663 by Sydenham, himself a life-long sufferer , who clearly differentiated it from other<br />joint disorders. It was recognised in the 18th century that large enjoyable meals and the<br />consumption of alcoholic drinks were often the prelude to an attack of gout. This disease<br />affected many famous men in history, including Alexander the Great, Luther, Newton, Milton, Dr.<br />Johnson, Franklin and Louis XIV.<br />Symptoms<br />An attack of gout is usually accompanied by acute pain in the big toe, which becomes tender,<br />hot and swollen in a few hours. Usually, it is almost impossible to put any weight on the affected<br />foot during the acute stage of the disease. It may also similarly affect other joints such as the<br />knees, and the wrists, and sometimes more than one joint may be affected at a time. The attack<br />usually occurs at midnight or in the early hours of the morning, when the patient is suddenly<br />awakened. The acute attack generally lasts for a week or so. During this period the patient may<br />run a slight fever, and feel disinclined to eat. His general health generally remains unaffected.<br />The attack may occur again after several weeks or months. The interval becomes shorter if the<br />disease is not treated properly. The joint generally becomes damaged by arthritis. This is chronic<br />gout, in which chalky lumps of uric acid crystals remain in the joint and also form under the skin.<br />Another serious complication of gout is kidney stones containing uric acid, causing severe colic<br />pains in the stomach.<br />In some cases the kidneys become damaged and do not function properly. This is a serious<br />condition as the poisonous waste products which are normally removed by the kidneys<br />accumulate in the blood.<br />Causes<br />The chief cause of gout is the formation of uric acid crystals in the joints, skin and kidneys. Uric<br />acid is an end product of the body’s chemical processes. Those affected by gout have a higher<br />level of uric acid than the normal, due either to the formation of increased or reduced amounts of<br />acid being passed out by the kidneys in the urine. This uric acid usually remains dissolved in the<br />blood. But when the blood becomes too full of it, the uric acid forms needle-shaped crystals in<br />the joints which bring about attacks of gout.<br />Heredity is an important factor in causing this disease and certain races are prone to gout. Other<br />causes include excessive intake of alcoholic drinks, regular eating of foods rich in protein and<br />carbohydrates and lack of proper exercise. Stress is also regarded as an important cause of<br />gout. During the alarm reaction, millions of body cells are destroyed and large quantities of uric<br />acid freed from these cells enter the tissues after being neutralised by sodium.<br />Treatment<br />For an acute attack, there is no better remedy than a fast. The patient should undertake a fast<br />for five to seven days on orange juice and water. Sometimes the condition may worsen in the<br />early stages of fasting when uric acid, dissolved by juices, is thrown into the bloodstream for<br />elimination. This usually clears up if fasting is continued. In severe cases, it is advisable to<br />undertake a series of short fasts for three days or so rather than one long fast. A warm water<br />enema should be used daily during the period of fasting to cleanse the bowels.<br />After the acute symptoms of gout have subsided, the patient may adopt an all-fruit diet for a<br />Gout<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap52.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:25:08 PM]<br />furter three or four days. In this regimen, he should have three meals a day of juicy fruits such as<br />grapes, apples, pears, peaches, oranges and pineapple. After the all-fruit diet, the patient may<br />gradually embark upon the following diet :<br />Breakfast : Fruits such as oranges, apples, figs, apricot, mangoes, whole wheat bread or dalia<br />and milk or butter-milk.<br />Lunch : Steamed vegetables such as lettuce, beets, celery, water-cress, turnips,squash,<br />carrots, tomatoes, cabbage and potatoes, chappatis of whole wheat flour, cottage cheese and<br />butter-milk.<br />Dinner : Sprouts such as alfalfa and mung beans, a good-sized salad of raw vegetables such as<br />carrots, cabbage, tomatoes, whole wheat bread and butter.<br />The patient should avoid all purine and uric acid producing foods such as all meats, eggs, and<br />fish. Glandular meats are especially harmful. He should also avoid all intoxicating liquors, tea,<br />coffee, sugar, white flour and its products and all canned and processed foods. Spices and salts<br />should be used as little as possible.<br />The cherry, sweet or sour, is considered an effective remedy for gout. This was discovered by<br />Ludwig W. Blan Ph.D. some 35 years ago. Himself a gout sufferer, Blan Ph.D. some cherries to<br />be miraculously effective in his own case and published his own experience in a medical journal.<br />Subsequently, many people with gout used this simple therapy with great success. To start with,<br />the patient should consume about 15 to 25 cherries a day. Thereafter, about 10 cherries a day<br />will keep the ailment under control. While fresh cherries are best, canned cherries can also be<br />used with success.<br />Foods high in potassium such as potatoes, bananas, leafy green vegetables, beans and raw<br />vegetable juices are protective against gout. Carrot juice in combination with juices of beet and<br />cucumber, is especially valuable. 100 ml. each of beet and cucumber juices should be mixed in<br />300 ml. of carrot juice to make 500 ml. of combined juice.<br />The juice of French or string beans has also proved effective in the treatment of gout. About 150<br />ml. of this juice should be taken by the patient suffering from this disease. Raw potato juice and<br />fresh pineapple juices are also beneficial.<br />The feet should be bathed in Epsom salt foot bath twice daily. Half a pound to one pound of salt<br />may be added to a foot bath of hot water. Full Empsom salt baths should also be taken three<br />times a week. The baths may be reduced to two per week later. Cold packs at night, applied to<br />the affected joints, will be beneficial. Fresh air and outdoor exercise are also essential. The<br />patient should eliminate as much stress from his life as possible.<br />[index]<br />Gout<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap52.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:25:08 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Headaches and Migraine<br />Headaches afflict almost everyone at some time or the other. Most headaches are functional,<br />caused by temporary upsets and are not related to any organic changes in the brain. A<br />headache is often nature’s warning that something is wrong somewhere in the body. The actual<br />pain, however, arises from irritation to nerve endings in the shoulder, neck and scalp muscles<br />and also in the smooth muscles encircling the blood vessels which serve these areas.<br />There are several types of headaches, with as many ways of treating them. Taking an aspirin or<br />tranquiliser may provide temporary relief but it does not remove the cause. Moreover, the<br />frequent use of pain-relievers causes nervous debility, weakens the heart and brings on other<br />complications.<br />The common causes of headaches are allergy, emotional reasons, eyestrain, high blood<br />pressure, hangover, infection, low blood sugar , nutritional deficiency, tension, the presence of<br />poisons and toxins in the body, and migraine. Allergies, an often unsuspected cause of<br />headache, vary in different individuals. The foods to which some people are allergic and which<br />can trigger headaches are milk and milk products, chocolates, chicken liver, alcohol and strong<br />cheese. Sneezing and diarrhoea are further indications of an allergy .<br />Intense emotions often cause headaches. Many people who outwardly appear to have a<br />pleasant disposition may actually be simmering about a job, or may bear resentment towards a<br />person or something. This hidden hostility may manifest itself as headache. It is important,<br />therefore, that negative feelings should not be bottled up, but should find some safe means of<br />expressions.<br />Eye-strain is a common cause of headache. IN such cases, an eye specialist should be<br />consulted and proper treatment taken. Simple eye exercises such as moving the eyes up and<br />down and from side to side, palming, rotating the head, with neck outstretched, forward and<br />backward three times, then thrice clockwise and thrice anti-clockwise , can relieve eye-strain.<br />High blood pressure can cause pounding headaches. The headache usually starts at the back of<br />the head on getting up in the morning. A safe method of treatment for this is to immerse your<br />legs to calf-level in a tub of hot water for 15 to 20 minutes. This draws the blood away from the<br />head and down to the feet, giving relief from the headache.<br />Many people get a severe headache after consuming alcohol in excess. Alcohol causes the<br />blood vessels to swell, resulting in a painful headache. The best treatment for this is to avoid<br />excessive consumption of alcohol. A hangover headache can be avoided by taking a vitamin B-1<br />( thiamine) tablet with the drink.<br />Headaches may occur if there is an infection, such as a cold, virus and fever . Here, it is the<br />infection that should be tackled. Vitamin C therapy is the best all round method. For a cold, high<br />doses of vitamin C should be taken at hourly intervals with the appearance of the first symptoms<br />like a sore throat, runny nose, etc. Vitamin C has worked miracles, and is considered a natural<br />antibiotic.<br />Low blood sugar is one of the causes of irritability and headache. Sugar is not a cure for low<br />blood sugar, though it may raise the blood sugar temporarily and make one feel better for a<br />while. Low blood sugar is the result of an abused pancreas which over stimulates the production<br />of insulin in the body. It can be controlled by eating smaller meals at short intervals rather than<br />the standard three large meals daily. The intake of carbohydrates should be cut down to the<br />minimum and coffee should be eliminated as it over stimulates the pancreas.<br />A lack of iron, resulting in anaemia, is a common cause of headache. The headache sometimes<br />appears before the onset of anaemia, due to a chronic iron deficiency. Brewer’s yeast is an<br />excellent source of iron and anaemia can easily be prevented by taking a few teaspoons daily.<br />Headache can also be brought on due to the deficiency of B vitamins , namely pantothenic acid,<br />B-1 (thiamine) , B-12 and B-6 ( pyridoxine) and can be cured by taking these vitamins.<br />When taking any of the B-vitamin factors seperately, it is absolutely essential to add the entire<br />Headaches and Migraine<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap53.htm (1 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:25:24 PM]<br />B-complex range to one’s diet in some form such as Brewer’s yeats, liver,wheat germ, etc.,<br />otherwise too much of one factor can throw the other factors into imbalance, resulting in other<br />problems. Actually, the entire B complex group itself serves as protection against headaches,<br />including migraine.<br />Tension headaches are probably the most common of all, and are caused by emotional conflicts<br />which result in stress. Stress causes the muscles of the shoulder, neck and scalp to tense<br />unconsciously. Persons who are irritable, tense and lose their temper quickly usually get this<br />type of headache. It increases gradually and passes off with the release of tension. One should<br />try to relieve the stress which produces the headache.<br />Poisons and toxins admitted into the body through food, beverages and water, as well as<br />through breathing, polluted air, can cause any number of disturbances. A headache may be the<br />first warning that a poison has entered the body. Additives in foods and in many cases,<br />cosmetics, skin and hair products are also serious offenders in bringing on headaches. IN<br />addition, there are toxic air contaminants which are too numerous to mention.<br />Migraine Headache<br />Migraine is an ancient and formidable malady. It bothered such distinguished persons as Caesar<br />and Freud. It has assumed alarming proportions under modern conditions of living and is now<br />believed to afflict about 10 per cent of the world’s population.<br />Migraine can be defined as a paroxysmal affection, accompanied by severe headache, generally<br />on one side of the head and associated with disorders of the digestion, the liver and the vision. It<br />usually occurs when a person is under great mental tension or has suddenly got over that state.<br />Migraine is also known as "sick headache" because nausea and vomiting occasionally<br />accompany the excruciating pain which lasts for as long as three days. Migraine usually gives<br />warning before it strikes : black spots or a brilliant zig-zag line appears before the eyes or the<br />patient has blurring of vision or has part of his vision blanked out. When the headache occurs,<br />the patient may feel tingling, numbness, or weakness in an arm or leg.<br />Migraine sufferers have what is known as a "migrainous personality ". They are compulsive<br />workers and perfectionists, who feel that they have to do everything right away. When they<br />complete a task, they are suddenly laid down from a state of temporary tension to a feeling of<br />utmost relief. Then comes the migraine. It is a purely physiological process. The head and neck<br />muscles, reacting to continuous stress, become overworked. The tightened muscles squeeze<br />the arteries and reduce blood flow. When a person relaxes suddenly, the constricted muscles<br />expand, stretching the walls of the blood-vessel. With every heart beat, the blood being pushed<br />through this vessels expands them further and causes incredible pain.<br />When a headache strikes, one should stay on one’s feet in the daytime and do simple chores<br />which do not require too much concentration or walk, move around and get some fresh air.<br />The best remedy to prevent headaches is to build up physical resistance through proper<br />nutrition, exercise and constructive thinking. As a first step, the patient should undertake a short<br />fast. During the fast, citrus fruit juices, diluted with water may be taken six times daily. By taking<br />the load of digestion, the patient will at once save nervous energy which can be utilised for more<br />important purposes. The blood and lymph will also be relieved of a great burden. After a short<br />fast, the diet should be fixed in such a way as to put the least possible strain on the digestion.<br />Breakfast should consist of fruits, both fresh and dried. Lunch should consist largely of protein<br />foods. Starchy foods such as whole wheat bread, cereals, rice or potatoes should be taken at<br />dinner along with raw salads. Spices, tomatoes, sour buttermilk and oily foodstuffs should be<br />avoided. Drinking a glass of water ( warm water in winter and cool water in summer) mixed with<br />a teaspoonful of honey the first thing in the morning, is also a good remedy.<br />Water Treatment<br />There are certain water applications which help relieve headaches. Copious drinking of water<br />can help , as do the cleansing enema with water temperature at 98.6 o F, the hot foot bath, a<br />cold throat pack, frequent applications of towels wrung out from very hot water to the back of the<br />neck, a cold compress at 40 o to 60o F applied to the head and face or an alternate spinal<br />compress. Hot fomentations over the abdominal region just before retiring relieve headaches<br />due to stomach and liver upsets.<br />Yogic kriyas like jalneti and kunjal, pranayamas like anuloma-viloma, shitali and sitkari and<br />Headaches and Migraine<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap53.htm (2 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:25:24 PM]<br />asanas such as uttanapadasana, sarvangasana, paschimottanasana, halasana and shavasana<br />are useful in the treatment of headaches.<br />[index]<br />Headaches and Migraine<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap53.htm (3 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:25:24 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Heart Disease<br />The term coronary heart disease covers a group of clinical syndromes arising particularly from<br />failure of the coronary arteries to supply sufficient blood to the heart. They include angina<br />peactoris, coronary thrombosis or heart attack and sudden death without infarction.<br />There has been a marked increase in the incidence of heart disease in recent years. Heart<br />attacks have become the number one killer in Western countries. They rank third in India, after<br />tuberculosis and infections. The disease affects people of all ages and both sexes, although it is<br />more common in men than in women, especially among those aged 40-60 years.<br />The heart, the most vital organ in the body, is a muscle about the size of a clenched fist. It starts<br />working even before birth inside the womb. Weighing less than 350 grms, it pumps about 4,300<br />gallons of blood per day through the body and supplies oxygen and nourishment to all the<br />organs. It beats 1,00,000 times a day, continuously pumping the blood through more than<br />60,000 miles of tiny blood vessels. The heart, in turn, needs blood for its nourishment which is<br />supplied by coronary arteries Coronary arteries are so called because they are arranged rather<br />like a crown or carona. In case of strain, etc., the heart needs more blood and the arteries, under<br />normal conditions, adjust themselves to the increased flow.<br />In the event of narrowing or hardening of the arteries on account of their getting plugged with<br />fatty substances, the flow of blood is restricted. The heart then does not get sufficient oxygen.<br />This condition is known as ischaemia of the heart or angina pectoris. In this condition , exercise<br />or excitement provokes severe chest pain and so it limits the patient’s physical activity. It serves<br />as a warning to slow down and prompt preventive measures will prevent a heart attack.<br />If the narrowed arteries get blocked due to a clot or thrombus inside them, causing death of that<br />portion of the heart which depends upon the choked arteries, it is called a heart attack or<br />coronary thrombosis. It may lead to death or heal, leaving a scar. Patients with healed lesions<br />may be severely disabled or may be able to resume normal life with restrictions in their physical<br />activities.<br />Symptoms<br />A common symptom of heart disease is shortness of breath which is caused by the blood being<br />deprived of the proper amount of oxygen. Another common symptom is chest pain or pain down<br />either arm. Other symptoms are palpitation, fainting, emotional instability, cold hands and feet,<br />frequent perspiration and fatigue. All these symptoms may be caused by many other disorders.<br />Appropriate tests and studies are, therefore, essential to establish the true nature of these<br />symptoms.<br />Causes<br />The basic causes of heart diseases are wrong dietary habits, faulty style of living and various<br />stresses. The famous Framingham Heart Study of the National Heart and Lung Institute<br />identified seven major risk factors in coronary heart disease. These are : (i) elevated blood levels<br />of cholesterol, triglycerides and other fatty substances ( ii) elevated blood pressure (iii) elevated<br />blood uric acid levels (mainly caused by high protein diet), (iv) certain metabolic disorders,<br />notably diabetes, (v) obesity, (vi) smoking, and (vii) lack of physical exercise. Each or a<br />combination of these risk factors can contribute to heart disease. Most of them are of dietary<br />origin. These risk factors can be controlled by changing one’s life style and readjusting the diet.<br />Constant worry and tension stimulates the adrenal glands to produce more adrenaline and<br />cartisons. This also contributes to constricted arteries, high blood pressure and increased work<br />for the heart.<br />Treatment<br />The fundamental conditioning factor in all heart diseases is the diet. A corrective diet designed to<br />Heart Disease<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap54.htm (1 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:25:58 PM]<br />alter body chemistry and improve the quality of general nutritional intake can, in many cases,<br />reverse the degenerative changes which have occurred in the heart and blood vessels.<br />The diet should be lacto-vegetarian, low in sodium and calories. It should consist of high quality,<br />natural organic foods, with emphasis on whole grains, seeds, fresh fruits and vegetables. Foods<br />which should be eliminated are all white flour products, sweets, chocolates, canned foods in<br />syrup, soft drinks, squashes, all hard fats of animal origin such as butter, cream and fatty meats.<br />Salt and sugar should be reduced substantially. The patient should also avoid tea, coffee,<br />alcohol and tobacco.<br />The essential fatty acids which reduce serum cholesterol levels and minimise the risk of<br />arteriosclerosis can be obtained from sunflower seed oil, corn oil or safflower oil. Several studies<br />have indicated that garlic can reduce the cholesterol level in persons whose body normally<br />cannot regulate the cholesterol fractions. Other important cholesterol lowering foods are alfalfa<br />and yogurt. Lecithin helps prevent fatty deposits in arteries. Best food sources are unrefined,<br />raw, crude vegetable oils, seeds and grains.<br />Fruits and vegetables in general are highly beneficial in the treatment of heart disease. Seasonal<br />fruits are quite effective heart tonics. Apples especially contain heart stimulating properties and<br />the patients suffering from the weakness of heart should make liberal use of apples and apple<br />jams. Fresh grapes, pineapples, oranges,custard apples, pomegranaes and coconut water also<br />tone up the heart. Grapes are effective in heart pain and palpitation of the heart and the disease<br />can be rapidly controlled if the patient adopts an exclusive grapes diet for few days. Grape juice,<br />especially will be valuable when one is actually suffering from a heart attack.<br />Indian gooseberry or amla is considered an effective home remedy for heart disease. It tones up<br />the functions of all the organs of the body and builds up health by destroying the heterogeneous<br />elements and renewing lost energy.<br />Another excellent home remedy for heart disease is onions. They are useful in normalising the<br />percentage of blood cholesterol by oxidising excess cholesterol. One teaspoon of raw onion<br />juice first thing in the morning will be highly beneficial in such cases.<br />Honey has marvellous properties to prevent all sorts of heart disease. It tones up the heart and<br />improves the circulation. It is also effective in cardiac pain and palpitation of the heart. One<br />tablespoonful daily after food is sufficient to prevent all sorts of heart troubles.<br />Patients with heart disease should increase their intake of foods rich in vitamin E, as this vitamin<br />promotes the functioning of the heart by improving oxygeneration of the cells. It also improves<br />the circulation and muscle strength. Many whole meal products and green vegetables,<br />particularly outer leaves of cabbage are good sources of vitamin E. The vitamin B group is<br />important for heart and circulatory disorders. The best sources of vitamin B are whole grains.<br />Vitamin C is also essential as it protects against spontaneous breaches in capillary walls which<br />can lead to heart attacks. It also guards against high blood cholesterol. The stress of anger, fear,<br />disappointment and similar emotions can raise blood fat and cholesterol levels immediately but<br />this reaction to stress can do little harm if the diet is adequate in vitamin C and pantothenic acid.<br />The richest sources of vitamin C are citrus fruits.<br />The following is the suggested diet for persons suffering from hypertension or some disorder of<br />the heart :<br />On rising : Warm water with lemon juice and honey or fresh fruit juice of apple,grapes, orange,<br />pineapple.<br />Breakfast : Fresh fruit such as apples, grapes, pears, peaches, pineapple, orange, melons, one<br />or two slices whole meal toast, yogurt, skimmed milk or soya milk.<br />Mid-morning : Fresh fruitjuice or coconut water.<br />Lunch : Combination salad of vegetables such as lettuce, cabbage, endive, carrots, cucumber,<br />beetroot, tomato, onion and garlic. One or two slices of whole meal bread or chappatis, curd,<br />fresh grapes and other fruits in season.<br />Mid-afternoon : One or two wholemeal biscuits and fruit juice.<br />Dinner : Fresh fruit or vegetable juice or soup, two lightly cooked vegetables, one or two whole<br />Heart Disease<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap54.htm (2 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:25:58 PM]<br />wheat tappets.<br />The patient should also pay attention to other laws of nature for health building such as taking<br />moderate exercise, getting proper rest and sleep, adopting the right mental attitude and getting<br />fresh air and drinking pure water.<br />Water Treatment<br />The use of an ice bag on the spinal area between the second and tenth thoracic vertebrae for 30<br />minutes three times a week, a hot compress applied to the left side of the neck for 30 minutes<br />every alternate day and massage of the abdomen and upper back muscles are water treatments<br />which are beneficial in cases of heart disease.<br />Hot foot and hand baths are excellent for relieving the pain of angina pectoris. To this may be<br />added hot packs on the chest over the heart for one minute and a cold pack applied alternately<br />for five minutes.<br />Asanas such as shavasana, vajrasana, and gomukhasna, yogic kriyas like jalneti and<br />pranayamas such as shitali, sitkari and bhramari are also helpful in providing relief to heart<br />patients.<br />[index]<br />Heart Disease<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap54.htm (3 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:25:58 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />High Blood Cholesterol<br />Cholesterol, a yellowish fatty substance, is one of the essential ingredients of the body. Although<br />it is essential to life, it has a bad reputation, being a major villain in heart disease. Every person<br />with a high blood cholesterol is regarded as a potential candidate for heart attack, a stroke or<br />high blood pressure.<br />Cholesterol is a building block of the outer membrane of cells. It is the principal ingredient in the<br />digestive juice bile, in the fatty sheaths that insulate nerves and in sex hormones, namely,<br />estrogen and androgen. It performs several functions such as transportation of fat, providing<br />defense mechanism, protecting red blood cells and muscular membrane of the body.<br />Most of the cholesterol found in the body is produced in the liver. However, about 20 to 30<br />percent generally comes from the foods we eat. Some cholesterol is also secreted into the<br />intestinal tract in bile and becomes mixed with the dietary cholesterol. The percentage of<br />ingested cholesterol absorbed seemed to average 40 to 50 percent of the intake. The body<br />excretes extra cholesterol from the system through bowels and kidneys.<br />The amount of cholesterol is measured in milligrams per 100 millimeters of blood. Normal level<br />of cholesterol varies between 150- 250 mg. per 100 ml. Persons with atherosclerosis have<br />uniformly high blood cholesterol usually above 250 mg. per 100 ml.<br />In blood, cholesterol is bound to certain proteins - lipoproteins which have an affinity for blood<br />fats, known as lipids. There are two main types of lipoproteins : a low density one (LDL) and a<br />high density one (HDL). The low density lipoprotein is the one which is considered harmful and<br />is associated with cholesterol deposits in blood vessels. The higher the ratio of LDL to the total<br />cholesterol, the greater the risk of arterial damage and heart disease. The HDL on the other<br />hand plays a salutary role by helping remove cholesterol from circulation and thereby reduce the<br />risk of heart disease.<br />Cholesterol has been the subject of extensive study by researchers since 1769, when French<br />chemist, Polutier de La Salle purified the soapy-looking yellowish substance. The results of the<br />most comprehensive research study, commissioned by the National Heart and Lung Institute of<br />the U.S.A. were announced about four years ago. The 10-year study, considered most elaborate<br />and most expensive research project in medical history, indicates that heart disease is directly<br />linked to the level of cholesterol in the blood and that lowering cholesterol significantly reduces<br />the incidence of heart attacks. It has been estimated that for every one per cent reduction in<br />cholesterol, there is a decrease in the risk of heart attack by two per cent.<br />Causes<br />Hyperchjolsterolaemia or increase in cholestrol is mainly a digestive problem caused by rich<br />foods such as fried foods, excessive consumption of milk and its products like ghee,butter and<br />cream,white flour, sugar, cakes, pastries, biscuits, cheese, ice cream as well as non-vegetarian<br />foods like meat, fish and eggs. Other causes of increase in cholesterol are irregularity in habits,<br />smoking and drinking alcohol.<br />Stress has been found to be a major cause of increased level of cholesterol. Adrenaline and<br />cortison are both released in the body under stress. This, in turn, produces a fat metabolising<br />reaction. Adrenal glands of executive type aggressive persons produce more adrenaline than<br />the easy going men. Consequently they suffer six to eight times more heart attacks than the<br />relaxed men.<br />The Cure<br />To reduce the risk of heart disease, it is essential to lower the level of LDL and increase the level<br />of HDL. This can be achieved by improving the diet and changing the life style. Diet is the most<br />important factor. As a first step, foods rich in cholesterol and saturated fats, which lead to<br />increase in LDL level, should be reduced to the minimum. Cholesterol -rich foods are eggs,<br />High Blood Cholesterol<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap55.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:26:08 PM]<br />organ meats and most cheese, butter, bacon, beef, whole milk, virtually all foods of animal origin<br />as well as two vegetable oils, namely coconut and palm, are high in saturated fats and these<br />should be replaced by polyunsaturated fats such as corn, safflower, sobayeans and sesame oils<br />which tend to lower the level of LDL. There are monosaturated fats such as olive and peanut oils<br />which have more or less neutral effect on the LDL level.<br />The American Heart Association recommends that men should restrict themselves to 300 mg. of<br />cholesterol a day and women to 275 mg. It also prescribes that fat should not make up more<br />than 30 per cent of the diet and not more than one third of this should be saturated. The<br />Association, however, urges a somewhat strict regimen for those who already have elevated<br />levels of cholesterol.<br />The amount of fibre in the diet also influences the cholesterol levels and LDL cholesterol can be<br />lowered by taking diets rich in fibres. The most significant sources of dietary fibre are<br />unprocessed wheat bran, whole cereals such as wheat , rice, barley, rye; legumes such as<br />potato, carrot, beet and turnips; fruits like mango and guava and green vegetables such as<br />cabbage, lady’s finger, lettuce and celery. Oat bran is especially beneficial in lowering LDL<br />cholesterol.<br />Lecithin, also a fatty food substance and the most abundant of the phospholipids, is highly<br />beneficial in case of increase in cholesterol level. It has the ability to break up cholesterol into<br />small particles which can be easily handled by the system. With sufficient intake of lecithin,<br />cholesterol cannot build up against the walls of the arteries and veins. It also increases the<br />production of bile acids made from cholesterol, thereby reducing its amount in the blood. Egg<br />yolk, vegetable oils, whole grain cereals, soyabeans and unpasteurised milk are rich sources of<br />lecithin. The cells of the body are also capable of synthesizing it as needed, if several of the B<br />vitamins are present.<br />Diets high in vitamin B6, cholin and inositol supplied by wheat germ, yeast, or B vitamins<br />extracted from bran have been particularly effective in reducing blood cholesterol. Sometimes<br />vitamin E elevates blood lecithin and reduces cholesterol presumably by preventing the essential<br />fatty acids from being destroyed by oxygen.<br />Persons with high blood cholesterol level should drink at least eight to 10 glasses of water every<br />day as regular drinking of water stimulates the excretory activity of the skin and kidneys. This in<br />turn facilitates elimination of excessive cholesterol from the system. Regularly drinking of<br />coriander (dhania) water also helps lower blood cholesterol as it is a good diuretic and<br />stimulates the kidneys. It is prepared by boiling dry seeds of coriander and straining the<br />decoction after cooling.<br />Regular exercise also plays an important role in lowering LDL cholesterol and in raising the level<br />of protective HDL. It also promotes circulation and helps maintain the blood flow to every part of<br />the body. Jogging or brisk walking, swimming, bicycling and playing badminton are excellent<br />forms of exercise.<br />Yogasnas are highly beneficial as they help increase perspiratory activity and stimulate<br />sebaceous glands to effectively secrete accumulated or excess cholesterol from the muscular<br />tissue. Asanas like ardhamatsyaendrasana, shalabhasana, padmasanaand vajrasana are useful<br />in lowering blood cholesterol by increasing systemic activity.<br />Hydrotherapy can be successfully employed in reducing excess cholesterol. Cold hip baths for<br />10 minutes taken twice every day have proved beneficial. Steam baths are also helpful except in<br />patients suffering from hypertension and other circulatory disorders. Mud packs, applied over the<br />abdomen improve digestion and assimilation. They improve the functioning of the liver and other<br />digestive organs and activate kidneys and the intestines to promote better excretion.<br />[index]<br />High Blood Cholesterol<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap55.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:26:08 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />High Blood Pressure<br />High blood pressure or hypertension - to give it the correct medical term - is regarded as the<br />silent killer. It is a disease of the modern age. The fast pace of life and the mental and physical<br />pressures caused by the industrial and metropolitan environments give rise to psychological<br />tensions. Worry and mental tension increases the adrenaline in the blood stream and this, in<br />turn, causes the pressure of the blood to rise.<br />The blood which circulates through the arteries within the body supplies every cell with<br />nourishment and oxygen. The force exert by the heart as it pumps the blood into the large<br />arteries creates a pressure within them and this is called blood pressure. A certain level of blood<br />pressure is thus essential to keep the blood circulating in the body. But when the pressure<br />becomes too high, it results in hypertension which is caused by spasm or narrowing of the small<br />blood vessels, known as capillaries, throughout the body. This narrowing puts more stress on<br />the heart to pump blood through the blood vessels. Hence, the pressure of the blood to get<br />through rises in proportion to the pressure on the heart.<br />The blood pressure is measured with the instrument called sphygmomanometer in millimeters of<br />mercury. The highest pressure reached during each heart beat is called systolic pressure and<br />the lowest between the two beats is known as diastolic pressure. The first gives the pressure of<br />the contraction of the heart as it pushes the blood on its journey through the body and indicates<br />the activity of the heart. The second represents the pressure present in the artery when the heart<br />is relaxed and shows the condition of the blood vessels. The blood pressure level considered<br />normal is 120/70, but may go up to 140 /90 and still be normal. Within this range, the lower the<br />reading, the better. Blood pressure between 140/90 and 160/95 is considered border line area.<br />From 160/96 to 180/114 , it is classed as moderate hypertension, while 180/115 and upward is<br />considered severe. A raised diastolic pressure is considered more serious than the raised<br />systolic pressure as it has a serious long-term effect. The higher the pressure the greater the<br />danger it causes to the wall.<br />Symptoms<br />Mild and moderate hypertension may not produce any symptoms for years. The first symptoms<br />may appear in the form of pain toward the back of the head and neck on waking in the morning,<br />which soon disappears. Some of the other usual symptoms of hypertension are dizziness, aches<br />and pains in the arms, shoulder region, leg, back, etc., palpitations, pain in the heart region,<br />frequent urination, nervous tension and fatigue, crossness, emotional upset, tiredness and<br />wakefulness.<br />A person suffering from high blood pressure cannot do any serious work, feels tired and out of<br />sorts all the time. He may experience difficulty in breathing and suffer from dyspepsia.<br />Hypertension, if not eliminated, may cause heart attacks or strokes or other disability conditions<br />such as detachment of the terina.<br />Causes<br />The most important causes of hypertension are stress and a faulty style of living. People who<br />are usually tense suffer from high blood pressure, especially when under stress. If the stress<br />continues for a longperiod, the pressure may become permanently raised and may not become<br />even after removal of the stress. An irregular life style, smoking and an excessive intake of<br />intoxicants, tea, coffee, cola drinks, refined foods, destroy the natural pace of life. The expulsion<br />of waste and poisonous matter from the body is prevented and the arteries and the veins<br />become slack. hardening of the arteries , obesity, diabetes and severe constipation also lead to<br />hypertension. Other causes of high blood pressure are excessive intake of pain killers, common<br />table salt, food allergies and eating a high fat, low fibre diet, processed foods deficient in<br />essential nutrients.<br />High Blood Pressure<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap56.htm (1 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:26:26 PM]<br />The kidneys play an important role in controlling blood pressure through secretion of rennin, a<br />natural chemical. If increased rennin is secreted by the kidneys, more salts are retained in the<br />body, which leads to an increase in the volume of circulating blood and consequently to an<br />increase in the blood pressure. Repeated infections and inflammation in the kidneys can also<br />give rise to hypertension.<br />The Cure<br />The modern medical treatment of high blood pressure is highly unscientific as it brings down the<br />pressure by drugs without making any effort to remove the underlying causes. Drugs may<br />temporarily reduce blood pressure,but they do not cure the condition and are harmful in the<br />ultimate analysis. All drugs against hypertension without exception, are toxic and have<br />distressing side effects. The safest way to cure hypertension is to remove the real cause. The<br />natural way of dealing with it is to eliminate the poisons from the system which cause it. Persons<br />with high blood pressure should always follow a well-balanced routine of proper diet, exercise<br />and rest. Diet is of primary importance. Meat and eggs cause the blood pressure to rise more<br />than any other food. The pressure is lowered and blood clotting diminished by partaking of a<br />higher fruit content, lower protein and non-flesh diet. A natural diet consisting of fresh fruits and<br />vegetables, instead of a traditional diet, is helpful in getting rid of the poisons from the body. A<br />hypertension patient should start the process of healing by living on an exclusive fruit-diet for<br />atleast a week, and take fruits at five-hourly intervals thrice in the day. Oranges, apples, pears,<br />mangoes, guava, pineapples, raspberry, water-melon are the best diet in such cases. Bananas<br />and jack fruit should not be taken. Milk may be taken after a week of ‘fruits only’ diet. The milk<br />should be fresh and should be boiled only once. The patient can be permitted cereals in his food<br />after two weeks.<br />Vegetables are also good for the patient of hypertension. They should preferably be taken raw. If<br />they are cooked, it should be ensured that their natural juices are not burnt in the process of<br />cooking. Vegetables like cucumber, carrot, tomatoes, onion, radish, cabbage and spinach are<br />best taken in their raw form. They may be cut into small pieces and sprinkled with a little salt and<br />the juice of a lemon added to them so as to make them more palatable.<br />Garlic is regarded as one of the most effective remedies to lower blood pressure. The pressure<br />and tension are reduced because it has the power to ease the spasms of the small arteries.<br />Garlic also slows the pulse and modifies the heart rhythm besides relieving the symptoms of<br />dizziness, numbness, shortness of breath and the formation of gas within the digestive tract. The<br />average dosage should be two to three capsules a day to make a dent in the blood pressure.<br />Indian gooseberry (amla) is another effective food remedy for high blood pressure. A<br />tablespoonful each of fresh amla juice and honey mixed together should be taken every morning<br />in this condition. Lemon is also regarded as a valuable food to control high blood pressure. It is a<br />rich source of vitamin P which is found both in the juice and peel of the fruit. This vitamin is<br />essential for preventing capillary fragility.<br />Watermelon is another valuable safeguard against high blood pressure. It was proved in recent<br />experiments that a substance extracted from watermelon seeds has a definite action in dilating<br />the blood vessels, which results in lowering the blood pressure.<br />Recent studies have revealed an important link between dietary calcium and potassium and<br />hypertension. Researchers have found that people who take potassium-rich diets have a low<br />incidence of hypertension even if they do not control their salt-intake. They have also found that<br />people with hypertension do not seem to get much calcium in the form of dairy products. The<br />two essential nutrients seem to help the body throw off excess sodium and are involved in<br />important functions which control the working of the vascular system. Potassium is found in<br />abundance in fruits and vegetables and calcium in dairy products.<br />Exercise plays an important role in curing hypertension. Walking is an excellent form of exercise.<br />It helps to relieve tension, builds up the muscles and aids in the circulation of blood. As the blood<br />pressure shows signs of abating, more exercise like bicycling, swimming, jogging should be<br />taken. Yogic asanas such as surya namaskar, makrasana,matsyasana, vajrasana,<br />ardhapadmasana, pavan-muktasana, shavasana and simple pranayama like anuloma-viloma<br />and abdominal breathing are beneficial. All asanas should, however, be discontinued except<br />shavasana if the blood pressure is above 200 milimeters.<br />High Blood Pressure<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap56.htm (2 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:26:26 PM]<br />Water Treatment<br />Prolonged neutral bath daily for an hour or so at 90 o to 95 o will be beneficial. Cold compress<br />should be kept on the head during this bath. Other water treatments include hot foot or leg bath<br />for 10 minutes, hot compress over the heart replacing it as bath cools down.<br />Persons suffering from hypertension must ensure at least eight hours of restful sleep, because<br />proper rest is an important aspect of the treatment. Most important of all, the patient must avoid<br />over-straining, worries, tension, anger and haste. He must try to be cheerful and develop a<br />contented mind. The natural treatment may take sometime but it is the safest and best way to<br />get rid of this disease.<br />[index]<br />High Blood Pressure<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap56.htm (3 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:26:26 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Hydrocele<br />Hydrocele is a common condition of men in which there is accumulation of fluid in the tunica<br />vaginalis, the sac which surrounds the testicle. It may occur at any age, but old men are usually<br />more prone to the condition.<br />The testicles are the major sex glands in the male. Each gland is composed of myriads of coiled<br />tubes in which the sperm cells are produced. It is the function of these cells to fertilize the ovum<br />during sexual intercourse.<br />Symptoms<br />The main symptom of hydrocele is painless, smooth and elastic enlargement of the scrotum. In<br />some cases swelling is so much as to cause a great deal of inconvenience interfering greatly<br />with walking. Consequently it may produce a great deal of pressure upon the testicles and the<br />spermatic vessels causing a detrimental effect upon the generative system. The hydrocele is<br />translucent. If a bright light is placed upon it in the dark the whole swelling lights up If the<br />swelling become painful, it usually denotes that it has become infected.<br />Causes<br />The apparent cause of hydrocele may be a knock or a strain but toxic condition of the system is<br />usually at the root of the matter. This systemic toxicity results from wrong dietary habits, general<br />wrong living and suppressive medical treatment of former diseases. Sexual excess and abuse is<br />also an important factor in some cases, through the degeneration of the sex organism which<br />follows. Sometimes gonorrhoel infection, obstruction of the abdominal vein, tuberculosis and<br />dropsy may be the cause of this condition.<br />Hydrocele sometimes exists at birth. In this case swelling is seen when the infant is an upright<br />position and disappears when the infant is laid upon its back. Hydrocele usually disappears by<br />itself in infants.<br />Treatment<br />Tapping is the method usually resorted to for removal of the fluid in hydrocele. This, however,<br />does not remove the cause of the trouble but only its effects. The correct way in which the<br />condition can be really dealt with successfully is through constitutional treatment. Such a<br />treatment should aim at removing the underlying toxicity of the system which is at the root of the<br />trouble.<br />The sufferer from hydrocele should begin with an exclusive fresh fruit diet for seven to ten days.<br />In this regimen, he should have three meals a day of fresh juicy fruits, such as apples, pears,<br />grapes, grape-fruit, oranges, pineapple, peaches, melon or any other juicy fruit in season but no<br />bananas or dried, stewed or tinned fruit, and no other foodstuff whatever. For drinks, lemon<br />water unsweetened or water either hot or cold may be taken.<br />During this period the bowels should be cleansed daily with a warm water enema. If constipation<br />is habitual, all steps should be taken for its eradication.. After all all-fruit diet the patient may<br />adopt the following regimen :<br />Breakfast : Fresh fruit as obtainable, or grated raw carrot or other raw salad-stuff, prunes or<br />other dried fruits, if desired, and a cup of milk.<br />Lunch : Steamed vegetables, as obtainable, with either a poached or scrambled egg or a<br />vegetarian savory. Stewed fruit or a baked apple may be taken for dessert.<br />Dinner : A good-sized raw salad, of any suitable vegetable as obtainable, with whole wheat<br />bread and butter, and prunes or other dried fruits as dessert.<br />Hydrocele<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap57.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:26:37 PM]<br />Further short periods on the all-fruit diet should be undertaken at monthly intervals as required,<br />for two or three consecutive days each time. The diet factor is of the utmost importance and<br />fruits and salads must form the main basis of the future dietary . Alcohol, strong tea, coffee<br />condiments, pickles and sauces should be avoided. Smoking, where habitual, should be given<br />up.<br />Water Treatment<br />Treatment through water is extremely beneficial in curing hydrocele. Cold hip baths twice daily in<br />the morning and the evening, for 10 minutes each time, are specially valuable. For a cold hip<br />bath, an ordinary tub may be used. It should be filled with cold water. The patient should sit in<br />the tub, keeping the legs outside.<br />A hot Epsom-salts bath is also very useful in the treatment of hydrocele and should be taken<br />once or twice weekly, where possible. This bath is prepared as outlined in chapter 3 on<br />Therapeutic Baths.<br />Every effort should be made to build up the general health level to the highest degree. Fresh air<br />and outdoor exercise are essential to the success of this treatment. Sun and air bathing, where<br />possible, should be undertaken. All habits, and practices tending to lower the tone of the body<br />should be studiously avoided ; strain should be avoided as far as possible. The wearing of a<br />suspensory bandage is often useful.<br />Unless the condition persists for a long time, the foregoing treatment should soon begin to show<br />its beneficial effects, and the whole general health-level of the sufferer will be greatly enhanced<br />at the same time.<br />[index]<br />Hydrocele<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap57.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:26:37 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Hypoglycemia<br />Hypoglycemia or blood sugar is a disorder of blood sugar metabolism which may result in<br />diabetes in later life. It is a condition in which the pancreas produces too much insulin, causing<br />the blood sugar to drop.<br />Hypoglycemia sometimes occurs in healthy people some hours after a meal rich in<br />carbohydrates, especially following muscular exertion. It is frequently found in the first few days<br />of life, especially among premature infants.<br />Hypoglycemia is a serious disorder as the brain cannot function properly when the blood sugar<br />level is too low. Like all other organs of the body, the brain receive its fuel from the diet. But it<br />can use only the sugar produced by the body from carbohydrates. Unlike many of the body<br />tissues, it cannot store its fuel. Therefore, it must get a constant supply of sugar through the<br />bloodstream. Mental disturbances caused by subnormal blood sugar levels can seriously affect<br />a person’s life.<br />Symptoms<br />A craving for sweets and starches in excessive amount between meals is the first sign of low<br />blood sugar level . When the blood sugar level falls much below normal, symptoms such as<br />nervousness, irritability, fatigue, depression, disturbed vision and headache appear. Other<br />symptoms are sweating, trembling, numbness, absent-mindedness, dizziness, palpitation of the<br />heart and some sexual disturbances. Most hypoglycemia patients feel hungry and eat frequently<br />to get over the feeling of weakness and emotional irritability. They feel tense if they have to go<br />without food for several hours.<br />Causes<br />Hypoglycemia is usually caused by an excessive intake of refined carbohydrates and sugar<br />foods. These substances cause the pancreas, the adrenal gland and the liver to lose their ability<br />to handle the sugar properly. Other causes of low blood sugar are a tumour, disturbed<br />functioning of the liver, pituitary gland or adrenal glands. Stress intensifies this condition as it<br />weakens the adrenal glands and starts a faulty pattern of glucose intolerance.<br />The Cure<br />The high animal protein diet generally prescribed for hypoglycemia is not suitable for this<br />disorder. It may help control the condition temporarily, but it is harmful in many other respects<br />and may result in other diseases like heart trouble,arteries, kidney problems and cancer.<br />The ideal diet for hypoglycemia should be based on three basic food groups,namely grains,<br />seeds and nuts, vegetable oils. Seeds, nuts and grains should be the main constituents of the<br />diet. Seeds and nuts should be taken in their raw form. Grains, in the form of cereals,should be<br />cooked. Cooked grains are digested slowly and release sugar into the blood gradually six to<br />eight hours after meals. This will keep the blood sugar level normal and constant for a long<br />period.<br />Persons suffering from low blood sugar should take six to eight small meals a day instead of two<br />or three large ones. Eating raw nuts and seeds such as pumpkin or sunflower seeds or drinking<br />milk, butter milk or fruit juices between meals will be highly beneficial. All refined and processed<br />foods , white sugar, white flour and their by-products should be completely eliminated from the<br />diet. Coffee, alcohol and soft drinks should also be avoided. The consumption of salt should be<br />reduced as an excessive intake of salt causes loss of blood potassium, which causes blood<br />sugar to drop. The following is the menu suggested for hypoglycemia.<br />On rising : Fresh fruits such as apples,peaches, melons, berries, avocado or a glass of fresh<br />fruit juice.<br />Hypoglycemia<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap58.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:26:46 PM]<br />Breakfast : Nuts, seeds, fruit, cottage cheese and buttermilk.<br />Mid-morning : Fruit, fruit juice or tomato juice.<br />Lunch : Cooked cereals and milk.<br />Mid-afternoon : A glass of fruit or vegetable juice or a snack consisting of nuts.<br />Dinner : Vegetable salad with a cooked vegetable from among those allowed, one or two slices<br />of whole wheat bread,cottage cheese and butter milk.<br />On retiring : A glass of milk or buttermilk.<br />Vegetables which can be taken in hypoglycemia are asparagus, beets, carrots, cucumbers,<br />egg-plants, peas, radishes, tomatoes, spinach, kale, lettuce, beans, baked potatoes. Fruits<br />which can be taken are apples, apricots, berries, peaches, and pineapples. Consumption of<br />citrus fruits should be limited.<br />Foods rich in vitamin C , E and B-complex are highly beneficial in the treatment of low blood<br />sugar. Vitamins C and B increase tolerance to sugar and carbohydrates and help normalise<br />sugar metabolism. Pantothenic acid, and vitamin B6 help to build up adrenals which are<br />generally exhausted in persons with hypoglycemia. Vitamin E improves glycogen storage in the<br />muscles and tissues. The patient should take vitamin C in large doses from 2,000 to 5,000 mg.;<br />B6 50 mg. and vitamin E upto 1,600 lu daily.<br />Proper rest is essential for those suffering from low blood sugar. A tranquil mind is of utmost<br />importance in this condition. Nervous strain and anxiety should be relieved by simple methods of<br />meditation and relaxation. Yogasanas like vakrasana, bhujasana, halasana, sarbagasana and<br />shavasana and pranayama like kapalbhati and anuloma-viloma will be beneficial. A prolonged<br />neutral immersion bath is also helpful in relieving mental tension.<br />[index]<br />Hypoglycemia<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap58.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:26:46 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Indigestion<br />Indigestion or dyspepsia is one of the most common ailments today and is caused by dietetic<br />errors. It is a condition of the stomach in which digestive juices are incorrectly secreted, resulting<br />in discomfort.<br />The alimentary canal and the process of digestion begin at the mouth. The stomach, which is the<br />most abused organ of the body, looks like a pear-shaped pouch. It forms part of the digestive<br />tract which is a tube coiled in loops nearly 28 feet in length. It varies in size and position<br />depending on how much food it contains. An overloaded stomach tends to prevent the<br />diaphragm from functioning properly. It may also press on the heart.<br />Symptoms<br />Abdominal pain, a feeling of undue fullness after eating, heartburn, loss of appetite , nausea or<br />vomiting and excessive wind or gas are the usual symptoms of indigestion. Other symptoms<br />include a bad taste in the mouth, coated tongue, foul breath and pain in the upper abdomen.<br />Causes<br />The feelings of discomfort and distress in the abdomen are often caused by overeating, eating<br />too rapidly or not chewing properly. Overeating or eating frequently produces a feverish state in<br />the system and overtaxes the digestive organs. It produces excessive acid and causes the<br />gastric mucus membrane to become congested. Hyperacidity is usually the result. Overeating<br />makes the work of stomach, liver, kidneys and bowels harder. When this food putrifies, its<br />poisons are absorbed back into the blood and consequently, the whole system is poisoned.<br />Many people gulp their food due to stress or hurry. When food is swallowed in large chunks, the<br />stomach has to work harder and more hydrocholoride is secreted. Eating too fast also causes<br />one to swallow air. These bad habits force some of the digestive fluids into the esophagus,<br />causing burning , a stinging sensation or a sour taste, giving an illusion of stomach acid.<br />Certain foods, especially if they are not properly cooked, cause indigestion. Some people react<br />unfavourable to certain foods like beans, cabbage, onions, cucumber, radishes and seafood.<br />Fried foods as well as rich and spicy foods often cause abdominal discomfort and gas, and<br />aggravate the existing condition. Excessive smoking and intake of alcohol can also cause<br />stomach upsets. Constipation may interfere with the normal flow of ingested matter through the<br />gastro-intestinal tract, resulting in gas and abdominal pain. Drinking too much water with meals,<br />insomnia, emotions such as jealousy, fear and anger and lack of exercise are among the other<br />causes of indigestion.<br />The Cure<br />The only effective treatment for indigestion is a thorough cleansing of the digestive tract;<br />adoption of a sensible diet and a change in the style of living. The best way to commence the<br />treatment is to adopt an all-fruit diet for about five days. After the all-fruit diet, the patient may<br />take to a restricted diet of easily digestible foods, consisting of lightly cooked vegetables, juicy<br />fruits and buttermilk for about 10 days. He may thereafter gradually embark upon a<br />well-balanced diet.<br />The use of fruits in general is beneficial in the treatment of indigestion. They flush out the<br />undigested food reside and accumulated faeces and re-establish health to perfect order. Being<br />rich in water, they clean body mechanisms thoroughly. The best among the fruits in dyspepsia is<br />lemon. Its juice reaches the stomach and attacks the bacteria, inhabiting the formation of acids.<br />Lemon juice removes indigestion by dislodging this acid and other harmful substances from the<br />stomach, thereby strengthening and prompting a healthy appetite.<br />The orange is another effective food remedy in chronic indigestion. It gives rest to the digestive<br />organs and supplies nutrition in a most easily assimilable form. It also stimulates the flow of<br />Indigestion<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap59.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:27:04 PM]<br />digestive juices thereby improving digestion and increasing appetite. It creates suitable<br />conditions for the development of friendly bacteria in the intestines.<br />Another fruit useful in indigestion is grapes. They are a light food which removes indigestion and<br />irritation of the stomach in a short time and relieves heat. Pineapple is also valuable. It acts as a<br />tonic in dyspepsia and relieves much of the digestives disorders of dyspeptics. Half a glass of<br />pineapple juice should be taken after a meal in this condition.<br />The sufferer from indigestion must always follow the under-mentioned rules regarding eating :<br />Never eat and drink together. Water or other liquids should be taken half an hour before<br />and one hour after a meal. Milk, buttermilk and vegetables soups are, however, foods and<br />can be taken with meals.<br />i.<br />Never hurry through a meal. Eat very slowly and chew your food as thoroughly as<br />possible.<br />ii.<br />Never eat to a full stomach. Always leave the table with a feeling that you could eat more. iii.<br />Never sit down to a meal, feeling worried, tired, excited or in a bad temper as such<br />feelings temporarily paralyze the manufacture of digestive juices including hydrochloride.<br />iv.<br />Do not eat if appetite is lacking. Miss a meal or two, if necessary, until real appetite<br />returns.<br />v.<br />Never boil vegetables, always steam them. vi.<br />Do not mix too many foods at the same meal. Never eat raw vegetables and raw fruits<br />together as they require a different set of enzymes. Take protein and starchy foods<br />separate as far as possible.<br />vii.<br />Yogic asanas such as ardh-matsyasana, srvangasana, uttanpadasana, pavnmuktasana,<br />vajrasana, yogamudra, bhujangasana, shalabhasana, and shavasana, kriyas like jalneti and<br />kunjal, and pranayamas like kapalbhati, anuloma-viloma, and ujjai are highly beneficial in the<br />treatment of indigestion. Light exercises such as walking, golf and swimming also help digestion.<br />Water Treatment<br />A daily enema should be administered to cleanse toxic bowel waste. Other beneficial water<br />treatments include wet girdle pack applied at night, application of ice bags over the stomach half<br />an hour after meals, a daily cold friction bath and alternate hot and cold hip baths at night.<br />Massaging of the abdomen also helps.<br />[index]<br />Indigestion<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap59.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:27:04 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Influenza<br />Influenza, also known as flu, is the clinical condition that results from infection with influenza<br />viruses. The main effects of the influenza viruses are on the upper respiratory tract, the nose<br />and throat, with possible spread and involvement of the lungs and bronchi.<br />The disease is highly contagious and it has potential to cause wide spread epidemics affecting<br />sizeable portion of a population at any time. Although it is more common during winter it may<br />strike at any time. It affects people of all ages.<br />Symptoms<br />Influenza strikes suddenly. It usually begins with a chill, fever, headache and severe muscular<br />pains. The patient feels miserable and weak. There is an inflammation in the nose and throat,<br />which may spread down the windpipe to the lungs, resulting in a sore throat, cough, running of<br />the nose and eyes. In milder case of influenza the temperature rises to 102 o F and lasts for two<br />or three days. In severe cases, it may go upto 104 o F and last for four or five days. The<br />consequent weakness and fatigue may continue for several weeks. This may be followed by a<br />deep chest cough due to irritation in the windpipe.<br />Causes<br />Influenza is what is known as germ disease. It is, however, not caused primarily by the action of<br />the germs as is generally believed, but develops due to a toxic and run-down condition of the<br />system of the affected person. This condition is brought about by dietetic errors and a faulty style<br />of living such as worry, over work, lack of proper exercise , living in stuffy rooms and keeping<br />late hours. No disease germs can find lodgment and become active in the system of a person<br />who is perfectly healthy in the true sense of the term. Influenza is passed on with ease from one<br />affected person to an other especially to those who are also in an equally low vital stage. That is<br />how an epidemic starts.<br />Treatment<br />Influenza , like all other acute diseases, is a natural attempt at self-cleansing and if rightly<br />treated in a natural way, immense good can ensue so far as the future health of the patient is<br />concerned. In the acute stage of influenza, a patient should abstain from all solid foods and only<br />drink fruit and vegetable juices diluted with water, 50 - 50 for first three to five days, depending<br />on the severity of the disease. The juice fast should be continued till the temperature comes<br />down to normal. The warm water enema should be taken daily during this period to cleanse the<br />bowels.<br />After fever subsides the patient may adopt an all-fruit diet for two or three days. In this regimen,<br />the patient should take three meals a day of fresh juicy fruits such as apples, pears, grapes,<br />oranges, pineapple, peaches and melons at five-hourly intervals. Bananas or dried, stewed or<br />tinned fruits however, should not be taken. No other food stuff should be added to the fruit<br />meals, otherwise the value of the treatment will be lost. This may be followed by a further two or<br />three days on fruits and milk diet. Thereafter, the patient may adopt a well-balanced diet of three<br />basic food groups namely, (i) seeds, nuts and grains, (ii) vegetables, and (iii) fruits.<br />Spices and condiments , and pickles, which make food more palatal and lead to overeating,<br />must be avoided. Lemon juice may be used in salad dressing. Alcohol, tobacco, strong tea and<br />coffee, highly seasoned meats, over-boiled milk, pulses, potato, rice, cheese, refined,<br />processed, stale and tinned foods should all be avoided.<br />Certain remedies have been found highly beneficial in the treatment of influenza. The most<br />important of these is the use of long pepper. Half a teaspoonful of the powder of the long pepper<br />with two teaspoonfuls of honey and half a teaspoonful of juice of ginger should be taken thrice a<br />day. This will help greatly if taken in initial stages of the disease. It is especially useful in<br />Influenza<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap60.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:27:19 PM]<br />avoiding complications which follow the onset of the disease, namely, the involvement of the<br />larynx and bronchial tube.<br />Another excellent remedy for influenza is the green leaves of basil or tulsi plant. About one gram<br />of these leaves should be boiled along with some ginger n half a litre ofwater till about half the<br />water is left. This decoction should be taken as tea. It gives immediate relief.<br />Garlic and turmeric are other effective food medicines for influenza. Garlic is useful as a general<br />antiseptic and should be given as much as the patient can bear. Garlic juice may also be sucked<br />up the nose. A teaspoonful of turmeric powder should be mixed in a cup of warm milk and taken<br />three times in the day. It will prevent complications arising from influenza and also activate the<br />liver which becomes sluggish during the attack.<br />[index]<br />Influenza<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap60.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:27:19 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Insomnia<br />Insomnia or sleeplessness has assumed alarming proportions in present times, especially<br />among the upper classes in urban areas. This is evident from the wide range of medication for<br />this condition prescribed by physicians and sold by chemists. Instances of persons taking an<br />overdose of sleeping pills with fatal results are quite frequent. Insomnia deprives a person of<br />mental rest and thereby interferes with his activities in the daytime. It constitutes a severe health<br />hazard when it becomes a habit.<br />Sleep is a periodic state of rest for the body which is absolutely essential for its efficient<br />functioning. Sleep gives relief from tension, rests the brain and body and a person wakes up in<br />the morning fresh and relaxed after sleep. The amount of sleep, however, varies within very<br />wide limits from individual to individual. Normally, seven to eight hours of sleep every night is<br />adequate for most people. Some, however, do well with four to five hours because their sleep is<br />deeper and more refreshing.<br />Insomnia is common among the elderly for a variety of reasons. The sleep of the elderly is often<br />punctuated by brief periods of wakefulness during the night. IN such cases it is the quality rather<br />than the quantity which is most affected. With age, there is gradual reduction of periods of deep<br />sleep. The older person, therefore, gets roused easier. Sleep requirements also diminish with<br />ageing. From nine hours of sleep per night at the age of 12 the average sleep needs decrease to<br />eight hours at the age of 20 , seven hours at 40 , six and half hours at 60 and six hours at 80.<br />Symptoms<br />The signs of pathological insomnia are dramatic changes in the duration and quality of sleep,<br />persistent changes in sleep patterns, lapses of memory and lack of concentration during the day.<br />Other symptoms are emotional instability, loss of coordination, confusion and a lingering feeling<br />of indifference.<br />Causes<br />The most common cause of sleeplessness is mental tension brought about by anxiety, worries,<br />overwork and overexcitement. Suppressed feelings of resentment, anger and bitterness may<br />also cause insominia. Constipation, dyspepsia, over-eating at night, excessive intake of tea or<br />coffee and going to bed hungry are among the other causes. Smoking is another unsuspected<br />cause of insomnia as it irritates the nervous system, especially the nerves of the digestive<br />system. Often, worrying about falling asleep is enough to keep one awake.<br />The Cure<br />Sleeping pills are no remedy for sleeplessness. They are habit forming and become less<br />effective when taken continuously. They lower the I.Q., dull the brain and can prove fatal if taken<br />in excess or before or after alcohol. The side-effects of sleeping pills include indigestion, skin<br />rashes, lowered resistance to infection, circulatory and respiratory problems, poor appetite, high<br />blood pressure, kidney and liver problems and mental confusion.<br />To overcome the problem, one should adhere to a regular sleeping schedule, going to bed at a<br />fixed time each night and getting up at a fixed time each morning. Early to bed and early to rise<br />is a good rule. Two hours of sleep before midnight are more beneficial than four after. It is sheer<br />folly for students, at examination times, to keep awake till long after midnight, drinking one cup of<br />tea after another, as that is only apt to cause blackness and inability to concentrate in the<br />examination hall.<br />Research has shown that people with chronic insomnia almost invariably marked deficiencies of<br />such key nutrients as B-complex vitamins, and vitamin C and D as also calcium,magnesium,<br />manganese, potassium and zinc. The sleep mechanism is unable to function efficiently unless<br />each of these nutrients is present in adequate amounts in the diet.<br />Insomnia<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap61.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:27:31 PM]<br />A balanced diet with simple modifications in the eating pattern will go a long way in the treatment<br />and cure of insominia. Such a diet should exclude white flour products, sugar and its products,<br />tea ,coffee, chocolate, cola drinks, alcohol, fatty foods, fried foods, foods containing additives,<br />that is chemicals for preserving, colouring and flavouring, excessive use of salt and strong<br />condiments.<br />In the modified eating pattern, breakfast should consist of fresh and dried fruits, whole cereals,<br />seeds and yogurt. Of the two main meals, one should consist of a large mixed salad and the<br />other should be protein-based. A cup of milk sweetened with honey at bedtime is helpful as the<br />amino-acid tryptophan contained in milk induces sleep.<br />Sleep is often elusive. Any attempt to force it only drives it further away. It is better to divert the<br />mind with soft music or light reading. While going to bed, visualise a blank black wall occupying<br />the entire field of vision. Turn your thoughts to light and cheerful matters. Use light bed clothes<br />and relax. Do not lie on your back, put on your side with one or both knees brought well up and<br />the head and shoulders slightly forward. During the night, the position of the arms and legs<br />should be changed frequently and a healthy sleeper usually shifts from one side to the other<br />several times in the course of the night.<br />Controlled breathing is also a great help in inducing sleep. The method is to lie on your side in<br />bed, and then take three deep breaths expanding the abdomen completely. Then hold your<br />brath as long as you can. Next, take three more breaths and repeat the breath-holding. While<br />you hold your breath, carbon dioxide accumulates in the body and induces natural sleep.<br />Regular, active exercising during the day and mild exercise at bedtime enhances the quantity<br />and the quality of sleep. Exercise stimulates the elimination of lactic acid from the body which<br />correlates with stress and muscular tension. Regular exercise also produces hormonal changes<br />which are beneficial to the body and to the sleep pattern. Walking, jogging, skipping, swimming<br />are all ideal exercises. Vigorous exercise should, however, be avoided at night as this can be<br />over-stimulating.<br />Yogasanas<br />Yoga helps a majority of cases of insomnia in two ways. Firstly, yoga treatment helps tone up<br />the glandular, respiratory and nervous system. Secondly, yoga also gives physical and mental<br />relaxation as a safety value for one’s disturbing problems. The traditional yogasanas which are<br />effective for insomnia patients are shirsana, sarvangasana, paschimottanasana,<br />uttanasan,viparitakarni and shavasana.<br />Hydrotherapy is also effective in treatment of insomnia. Application of hot packs to the spine<br />before retiring, hot fomentation to the spine , hot foot bath or an alternate hot and cold foot bath<br />at bedtime are all time-tested methods. The cold hip bath with the feet in hot water and the<br />prolonged neutral immersion bath (92 o to 96 o F) at bed time, when one’s nerves are usually<br />irritable, are also effective measures.<br />Along with the various measures for the treatment of insomnia, all efforts should be made to<br />eliminate as many stress factors as possible. The steps in this direction should include regular<br />practice of any relaxation method or meditation technique, cultivating the art of doing things<br />slowly (particularly activities like eating, walking and talking) limiting the working day to nine to<br />ten hours and five and a half days weekly, cultivating a creative hobby and spending some time<br />daily on this, avoiding working against unrealistic targets and completing one task before starting<br />another.<br />[index]<br />Insomnia<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap61.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:27:31 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Jaundice<br />Jaundice is the most common of all liver disorders resulting from an obstruction in the bile duct,<br />or the loss of function of the bile-producing liver cells. There are several forms of jaundice but all<br />of them are marked by yellow discoloration of the skin and the whites of the eyes.<br />The liver, located under the diaphragm just above the stomach, is a vast chemical laboratory<br />which performs many important functions. It inactivates hormones no longer needed,<br />synthesizes many amino acids used in building tissues, and breaks proteins into sugar and far<br />when required for energy. It produces lecithin, cholesterol, bile and blood albumin, vital to the<br />removal of tissue wastes. It also stores vitamins and minerals.<br />Bile is a vital digestive fluid which is essential for proper nutrition. It exercises a most favourable<br />influence on the general processes of digestion. It also prevents decaying changes in food. If the<br />bile is prevented from entering the intestines there is an increase in gases and other products.<br />Normally the production of bile and its flow is constant.<br />Symptoms<br />The symptoms of jaundice are extreme weakness, headache, fever, loss of appetite, undue<br />fatigue, severe constipation,nausea and yellow coloration of the eyes, tongue, skin and urine.<br />The patient may also feel a dull pain in liver region.<br />Causes<br />Jaundice is indicative of the malfunctioning of the liver. It may be caused by an obstruction of the<br />bile ducts which discharge bile salts and pigment into the intestine. The bile then gets mixed with<br />blood and this gives a yellow pigmentation to the skin. The obstruction of the bile ducts could be<br />due to gall stones or inflammation of the liver, known as hepatitis, caused by a virus. In the later<br />case, the virus spreads and may lead to epidemics owing to over-crowding , dirty surroundings,<br />insanitary conditions and contamination of food and water. Other causes of jaundice are<br />pernicious anaemia and certain disease affecting the liver such as typhoid, malaria, yellow fever<br />and tuberculosis.<br />The Cure<br />The simple form of jaundice can be cured rapidly by diet therapy and exercises. Recovery will ,<br />however, be slow in serious cases which have been caused by obstruction or pressure in the<br />bile ducts. The patient should rest until the acute symptoms of the disease subside.<br />The patient should be put on a fruit juice fast for a week. The juice of lemon, grapes, pear,<br />carrot, beet, and sugarcane can be taken. A hot enema should be taken daily during the fast to<br />ensure regular bowel elimination, thereby preventing the absorption of decomposed, poisonous<br />material into the blood stream. The fruit juice fast may be discontinued after the severity of the<br />disease is over and a simple diet may be resumed on the following lines :<br />On rising : A glass of warm water mixed with two teaspoons of lime juice.<br />Breakfast : One fresh juicy fruit such as apple, papaya,grapes, berries and mangoes . One cup<br />wheat dalia or one slice of whole wheat bread with a little butter.<br />Mid-morning : Orange juice.<br />Lunch : Two small chappatis of whole wheat flour, a cup of strained vegetable soup, a steamed<br />leafy vegetable such as spinach, fenugreek or carrot and a glass of buttermilk.<br />Mid-afternoon : Orange juice or coconut water.<br />Jaundice<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap62.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:27:59 PM]<br />Dinner : Two whole wheat chappatis with a little ghee or butter, baked. Baked potato and one<br />other leafy vegetable like spinach and fenugreek, a glass of hot milk with honey if desired.<br />All fats like ghee,butter, cream and oils must be avoided for at least two weeks,and after that<br />their consumption should be kept down to the minimum. Digestive disturbances must be<br />avoided. No food with a tendency to ferment or putrefy in the lower intestines like pulses,<br />legumes,etc. should be included in diet.<br />The juice of bitter luffa (karvi torai) is regarded as an effective (home) remedy for jaundice. It is<br />obtained by pounding and squeezing through cloth. The juice should be placed on the palm of<br />the hand and drawn upthrough the nostrils. This will cause a profuse overflow of the yellow<br />coloured fluid through the nostrils. The toxic matter having been evacuated in a considerable<br />quantity, the patient will feel relieved. It is, however, a strong medicine and may cause in the<br />patients will delicate nature, side effects like giddiness, migraine and at times high fever for a<br />short duration. Its use should, therefore, be avoided by such patients.<br />If the green juice of bitter luffa is not available, it can best be substituted by two or three drops of<br />the fluid obtained by soaking its dry crusts overnight in water. This produces an identical effect.<br />Seeds of bitter luffa which are easily available can also be used for the same purpose after<br />rubbing in water.<br />Another valuable food remedy for jaundice is the green leaves of radish. The leaves should be<br />pounded and their juices extracted through cloth. One pound of this juice daily is sufficient for an<br />adult patient. It should be strained through a clean piece of muslin cloth before use. It provides<br />immediate relief. It induces a healthy appetite and proper evacuation of bowels, and this results<br />in gradual decrease of the trouble. In most casse a complete cure can be ensured within eight or<br />ten days.<br />Water Treatment<br />Drinking a lot of water with lemon juice will protect the damaged liver cells. Alternate hot and<br />cold compresses should be applied to the abdomen. Maintain the hot compress for one minute<br />at 120 o F. Alternate with a cold compress at 60 o F for few minutes. The treatment may be<br />continued for an hour or 10 repetitions. The procedure should be repeated at five-hourly<br />intervals. A hot immersion bath at 104 o F for 10 minutes daily will be helpful in relieving the<br />itching which sometimes accompanies jaundice and in the elimination of the bile pigment from<br />the system through the skin and kidneys. Cold friction twice a day will be beneficial for general<br />tone-up. Certain asanas such as uthanpadasana, bhujangasana, viparitkarani and shavasana,<br />and anuloma-viloma, pranayama will be helpful in the treatment of jaundice.<br />The jaundice patient can overcome the condition quite easily and build up his sickliver until it<br />again functions normally with the above regime. With reasonable care in the diet and life style,<br />and regular, moderate exercise and frequent exposure to sunshine and fresh air, a recurrence of<br />liver trouble can be prevented.<br />[index]<br />Jaundice<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap62.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:27:59 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Kidney Stones<br />The formation of stones in the kidneys or urinary tract is a fairly common disorder. The stones<br />are formed from the chemicals usually found in the urine such as uric acid, phosphorous,<br />calcium and oxalic acid. They may vary in consistency from grit, sand and gravel-like<br />obstructions to the size of the bird’s eggs.<br />Stones may form and grow because the concentration of a particular substance in a urine<br />exceeds its solubility. This disorder occurs more frequently in middle age, with men being<br />afflicted more often than women.<br />The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs, lying below the waist on either side of the spinal<br />column on the back wall of the abdomen. They are soft, reddish brown in colour, and, on an<br />average, measure 10 cm. in length, 6 cm. in width and is 2.5 cm. thick at its centre. They are<br />filtering plants for purifying the blood, removing water and salts from it which are passed into the<br />bladder as urine.<br />Symptoms<br />Kidney stones usually cause severe pain in their attempt to pass down the ureter on their way to<br />the bladder. The pain is first felt in the side and thereafter in the groin and thighs. Other<br />symptoms of kidney stones are a desire to urinate frequently, painful urination , scanty urination,<br />nausea, vomiting, sweating, chills and shocks. The patient may also pass blood with the urine.<br />Sometimes, large stones may remain in the kidneys without causing any trouble and these are<br />known as silent stones.<br />Causes<br />The formation of stones in the kidneys is the result of defects in the general metabolism. They<br />usually occur when the urine becomes highly concentrated due to heavy perspiration or<br />insufficient intake of fluids. They are aggravated by a sedentary lifestyle. The other causes are<br />wrong diet, excess intake of acid-forming foods, white flour and sugar products, meat, tea,<br />coffee, condiments and spices, rich foods and overeating. Lack of vitamin A and an excessive<br />intake of vitamin B may also lead to formation of stones.<br />Types of Stones<br />Chemically, urinary stones are of two categories, namely, primary stones and secondary stones.<br />Primary stones are ordinarily not due to infection and are formed in acidic urine. They usually<br />result from alcoholism, sedentary life, constipation and excessive intake of nitrogeneous or<br />purine-rich foods. Secondary stones are due to local infection and are formed in alkaline urine.<br />Most kidney stones are composed either of calcium oxalate or phosphate, the latter being most<br />common in the presence of infection. About 90 per cent of all stones contain calcium as the chief<br />constituent. More than half of these are mixtures of calcium , ammonia, and magnesium,<br />phosphates and carbonates, while the remainder contain oxalate. Uric acid and cystine stones<br />represent about four percent and one per cent respectively of the total incidence of stones.<br />Treatment<br />A majority of patients suffering from kidney stones can be treated successfully by proper dietary<br />regulations. These regulations will also prevent a recurrence of the symptoms. Only a few cases<br />require surgery.<br />The patient should avoid foods which irritate the kidneys, to control acidity or alkalinity of the<br />urine and to ensure adequate intake of fluids to prevent the urine from becoming concentrated.<br />The foods considered irritants to the kidneys are alcoholic beverages, condiments, pickles,<br />certain vegetables like cucumbers, raddishes, tomatoes, spinach, rhubarb, water-cress and<br />those with strong aroma such as asparagus, onions, beans,cabbage and cauliflower, meat,<br />gravies and carbonated waters.<br />Kidney Stones<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap63.htm (1 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:28:08 PM]<br />In calcium phosphate stones, over -secretion of parathyroid hormone causes loss of calcium<br />from the bones resulting in a high blood level of calcium with increased excretion of calcium in<br />the urine. An abnormally high intake of milk, alkalies or vitamin D may also result in the<br />formation of calcium phosphate stones.<br />For controlling the formation of calcium phosphate stones, a moderately low calcium and<br />phosphorous diet should be taken The intake of calcium and phosphates should be restricted to<br />minimal levels consistent with maintaining nutritional adequacy.<br />The maintenance level of calcium is 680 mg. and of phosphorous 1000 mg. In this diet, milk<br />should constitute the main source of calcium and curd or cottage cheese, lentils and groundnuts<br />should form the main sources of phosphorous. Foods which should be avoided are whole wheat<br />flour, Bengal gram, peas, soyabeans, beets, spinach, cauliflower, turnips, carrots, almonds and<br />coconuts.<br />When stones are composed of calcium and magnesium phosphates and carbonates, the diet<br />should be so regulated as to maintain acidic urine. Insuch a diet, only half a litre of milk, two<br />servings of fruits and two servings of vegetables ( 200 grams) should be taken. The vegetables<br />may consist of asparagus, fresh green peas, squash,pumpkins, turnips, cauliflower, cabbage<br />and tomatoes. For fruits, watermelon, grapes, peaches, pears, pineapple, papayas and guavas<br />may be taken.<br />On the other hand the urine should be kept alkaline if oxalate and uric acid stones are being<br />formed. In this diet, fruits and vegetables should be liberally used and acid-forming foods should<br />be kept to the minimum necessary for satisfactory nutrition. When the stones contain oxalate,<br />foods with high oxalic acid content should be avoided. These foods include almonds, beetroots,<br />brinjal, brown bread, cabbage, cherry, chocolate, French Beans, potatoes, radish, spinach and<br />soyabeans.<br />Uric stones occur in patients who have an increased uric acid in the blood and increased uric<br />acid exertion in the urine. Since uric acid is an end product of purine metabolism, foods with a<br />high purine content such as sweet bread, liver and kidney should be avoided.<br />Kidney beans, also known as French beans or common beans, are regarded as a very effective<br />remedy for kidney problems, including kidney stones. It was Dr. Ramm of Germany, who first<br />discovered the value of kidney beans as a medicine for kidney and bladder troubles. He<br />employed it for over 25 years with beneficial results. The method prescribed by him to prepare<br />the medicine is to remove the beans inside the pods, then slice the pods and put about 60 mg. in<br />four litres of hot water, boiling slowly for four hours. This liquid should be strained through fine<br />muslin and then allowed to cool for about eight hours. Thereafter, the fluid should be poured<br />through another piece of muslin without stirring.<br />According to Dr. Ramm, a glassful of this decoction should be given to the patient every two<br />hours through the day for one day, and thereafter it may be taken several times a week. Dr.<br />Ramm also says that this decoction will not work if it is more than 24 hours old. The pods can be<br />kept for longer periods but once they are boiled, the therapeutic factor disappears after one day.<br />The basil, known as tulsi inthe vernacular, has a strengthening effect on the kidneys. In case of<br />kidney stones, basil juice and honey should betaken for six months. It has been found that the<br />stones can be expelled from the urinary tract with this treatment. The celery is also a valuable<br />food for those who are prone to stone formation in the kidneys or the gall bladder. Its regular use<br />prevents future tone formation.<br />Research has shown the remarkable therapeutic success of vitamin B6 or pyridoxine in the<br />treatment of kidney stones. This treatment has to be continued for several months for obtaining<br />a permanent cure.<br />The patient should take a low protein diet, restricting protein to one gram per kg. of food. A<br />liberal intake of fluid upto 3,000 ml. or more daily is essential to prevent the production of urine<br />at the concentration level where the salts precipitate out.<br />The patient should be given a large hot enema, followed by a hot bath with a temperature of 100<br />o F, gradually increased to 112 o F. The head should be kept cold with cold application. Hot<br />fomentation applied across the back in the region of the kidneys will relieve the pain. Certain<br />yogasanas such as pavan-muktasana, uttanpadasana, bhujangasana, dhanursana and<br />halasana are also highly beneficial as they stimulate the kidneys.<br />[index]<br />Kidney Stones<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap63.htm (2 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:28:08 PM]<br />Kidney Stones<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap63.htm (3 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:28:08 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Leucoderma<br />Lecucoderma, also known as vitiligo, is a distressing skin condition. The word literally means ‘<br />white skin’. There isa gradual loss of pigment melanin from the skin layers which results in white<br />patches. These patches look ugly, especially in persons with dark complexions.<br />The condition does not cause any organic harm. It , however, brings about great psychological<br />tension to the patient who is more embarassed than the victim of any pain or discomfort. The<br />condition thus, besides being a medical problem, also becomes a social stigma.<br />Leucoderma is a fairly common disorder and it affects one per cent or more of the world’s<br />population. The incidence is a little higher in India. The disorder can occur at any age in either<br />sex in normal skin. It is, however, more common in women than men. The most affected areas<br />are the hands, the neck, the back and the wrist in that order.<br />Symptoms<br />The problem usually starts with a small white spot and later on it develops into patches. These<br />patches are pale in the beginning but become whiter and whiter as time passes due to loss of<br />pigment. As spots enlarge, they merge into each other and, in course of time, form a very broad<br />patch. In some cases, most of the skin of the body may be covered with white patches.<br />Causes<br />Many wrong beliefs are prevalent about the causes of leucoderma. It is not caused by eating fish<br />and drinking milk at the same time, as is generally believed because even vegetarians suffer<br />from this disorder. Other food combinations such as pumpkin and milk, onion and milk as<br />possible causes of leucoderma also have no basis.<br />Leucoderma is not caused by any germs ; nor is it due bad blood. It is neither infectious nor<br />contagious. It cannot be transmitted from one person to another by physical contact.<br />The main causes of leucoderma are excessive mental worry, chronic or acute gastric disorder,<br />impaired hepatic function such as jaundice, worms or other parasites in the alimentary canal,<br />ailments like typhoid which affect the gastrointestinalm tract, defective perspirative mechanism<br />and burn injuries. Often the hormone secreting glands are involved in this disorder. Heredity is<br />also a causative factor and about 30 per cent of patients have a family history of the disorder.<br />Treatment<br />In nature cure, the treatment of leudoderma consists of adoption of constitutional measures to<br />cleanse the system of accumulated toxins. This enables the healing power within the body to<br />assert itself, and produce normalcy. To begin with, the patient should undertake a fast on juices<br />for about a week. IN this regimen, he or she should take fruit or vegetable juices, diluted with<br />water on 50 : 50 basis every two or three hours from 8.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. The bowels should<br />be cleansed daily with warm water during this period.<br />After the juice fast, the patient may adopt a restricted diet consisting of fresh fruits, raw or<br />steamed vegetables and whole meal bread or chappaties. Curd and milk may be added to this<br />diet after a few days. The patient may thereafter gradually embark upon a well-balanced diet of<br />seeds, nuts and grains, vegetables and fruits. The large proportion of the diet should consist of<br />raw foods. Seeds and beans such as alfalfa, mung and soyabeans canbe sprouted. This diet<br />may be supplemented with cold-pressed vegetable oils, honey and yeast. Juice fasting may be<br />repeated at intervals of two months. The patient should avoid tea, coffee, alcoholic beverages<br />and all condiments and highly flavoured dishes. He or she should also avoid sugar, white flour<br />products, denatured cereals like polished rice and pearled barley and tinned or bottled foods.<br />Home Remedies<br />Certain home remedies have been found useful in the treatment of leucoderma. The best known<br />of such remedies is the use of seeds of psoralea, known as babchi in Hindi. Seeds should be<br />Leucoderma<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap64.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:28:25 PM]<br />steeped in the juice of ginger or cow’s urine for three days. The fluids should be renewed every<br />day. The seeds should then be rubbed with hands to remove their husks, dried in the shade<br />andpowdered. One gram of this powder should be taken every day with fresh milk for 40 days<br />continuously. The ground seeds should also be applied to the white spots.<br />Babchi seeds, combined with tamarind seeds, are also useful. Equal quantity of both the seeds<br />should be steeped in water for three to four days. They should then be shelled and dried inthe<br />shade. They should be ground into paste and applied to the white patches for a week. If the<br />application of this paste causes itching or the white spots become red and a fluid being to ooze<br />out, it should be discontinued. If there is no itching or reddening, babchi seeds should be taken<br />also for 40 days.<br />Another useful remedy for leucoderma is red clay found by the river side or on hill slopes. The<br />clay should be mixed in ginger juice and applied over the white spots once a day. The copper<br />containedin the clay seems to bring back skin pigmentation and ginger juice serves as a milk<br />stimulant, facilitating increased blood flow to the spots. Drinking water kept overnight in a copper<br />vessel also helps.<br />A paste made from the seeds of the radish is valuable in treating leucoderma. About 35 grams of<br />these seeds should be powdered in vinegar and applied on the white patches. For better results,<br />seeds should be finely pounded, mixed with a little white arsenic and soaked in vinegar at night.<br />After two hours, when leaves appear, it should be rubbed on the leucoderma patches.<br />The use of turmeric and mustard oil is also considered beneficial in the treatment of leucoderma.<br />About 500 grams of turmeric should be pounded and soaked in eight kgs. of water at night. It<br />should be heated in the morning till only one kg. of water is left. It should then be strained and<br />mixed with 500 grams of mustard oil. This mixture should be heated till only the oil is left. It<br />should be applied on white patches every morning and evening for a few months.<br />[index]<br />Leucoderma<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap64.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:28:25 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Neuritis<br />Neuritis is one of the serious nervous disorders. It refers to an inflammation of the nerves,<br />involving a single nerve or a series of nerves. At times, several different groups of nerves in<br />various parts of the body may be involved. This condition is known as polyneuritis. It is also<br />known as polyneuropathy, for strictly speaking, the condition is not an inflammation, but a<br />change in the state of the nerves resulting in weakness, loss of the reflexes and changes of<br />sensation.<br />Symptoms<br />The main symptoms of neuritis are tingling, burning, and stabbing pains in the affected nerves.<br />IN severe cases, there may be numbness and loss of sensation and paralysis of the nearby<br />muscles. Thus a temporary paralysis of the face may result from changes in the facial nerves on<br />the affected side. During the acute stage of this condition, the patient may not be able to close<br />the eyes due to loss of normal tone and strength by the muscles on the affected side of the face.<br />Neuritis may also be caused by pernicious anaemia, involving the nerves of the spine. The<br />patient with this condition may find it very difficult to walk in the dark.<br />Causes<br />The chief cause of neuritis is chronic acidosis, that is, excessive acid condition of the blood and<br />other body fluids. All the body fluids should be alkaline in their reaction ,but when the acid waste<br />matter is continuously formed in the tissues over a long period due to a faulty diet, it results in<br />acidosis. Wrong habits of living , over work , etc., lower the tone of nervous system and<br />contribute towards neuritis. This disease can also result from a variety of nutritional deficiencies<br />and metabolic disturbances such as faulty calcium metabolism, deficiencies of several B<br />vitamins like B12, B6, B1, pantothenic acid and B2 and general toxaemia.<br />Other causes of neuritis include a blow, a penetrating injury a bad bruise or heavy pressure over<br />a nerve trunk and dislocation and fractures of the bones. Any violent muscular activity or<br />over-extension of the joint as in sprains may injure the nerves and cause neuritis. The condition<br />may also result from certain infections such as tuberculosis, diptheria, tetanus, leprosy and<br />diabetes mellitius, poisoning with insecticides, mercury, lead, arsenic and alcohol.<br />Treatment<br />Treatment of neuritis by painkilling drugs may give temporary relief but it does not remove the<br />trouble effectively. The pain is relieved for the time being at the cost of the health of other parts<br />of the body, especially the heart and the kidneys, and the neuritis remains.<br />The best treatment for neuritis is to ensure that the patient gets optimum nutrition, well<br />assimilated with all the vitamins and other nutrients. The emphasis should be on whole grains,<br />particularly whole wheat,brown rice, raw and sprouted seeds, raw milk, especially in soured<br />form, and home-made cottage cheese.<br />In this regimen, the breakfast may consist of fresh fruits, a handful of raw nuts or a couple of<br />tablespoons of sunflower and pumpkin seeds. Steamed vegetables, whole wheat, chappatis and<br />a glass of butter-milk may be taken for lunch. The dinner may comprise a large bowl of fresh,<br />green, vegetable salad, fresh home made cottage cheese, fresh butter and a glass of butter<br />milk.<br />In severe cases, the patient should be put on a short juice fast for four or five days before being<br />given the optimum diet. Carrot, beet, citrus fruits, apple and pineapple may be used for juices.<br />All vitamins of the B group have proved highly beneficial in the prevention and treatment of<br />neuritis. The disorder has been helped when vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12, and pantothenic acid<br />have been given together, and extreme pain,weakness and numbness in some cases have been<br />relieved within an hour.<br />Neuritis<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap65.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:28:33 PM]<br />The patient should avoid white bread, white sugar,refined cereals, meat, fish, tinned foods, tea,<br />coffee, and condiments which are at the root of the trouble, by continuously flooding the tissues<br />with acid impurities.<br />Certain remedies have been found highly beneficial in the treatment of neuritis. One such<br />remedy is soyabean milk. A cupful of soyabean milk mixed with a teaspoonful of honey should<br />be taken every night in this condition. It tones up the nervous system due to its rich<br />concentration of lecithin, vitamin B1 and glutanic acid. Soyabean milk is prepared by soaking the<br />beans in water for about 12 hours. The skin of the beans is then removed and after a thorough<br />wash, they are turned into a fine paste in a grinding machine. The paste is mixed with water,<br />three times its quantity. The milk should then be boiled on a slow fire, stirring it frequently. After it<br />becomes little cooler, it should be strained through a cheese cloth and sugar added.<br />barley brew is another effective remedy for neuritis. It is prepared by boiling one-quarter cup of<br />all natural pearled barley in two quarters of water. When the water has boiled down to about one<br />quarter, it should be strained carefully. For better results, it should be mixed with butter-milk and<br />lime juice.<br />Raw carrot and spinach have proved valuable in neuritis as both these vegetables are rich in<br />elements, the deficiency of which has led to this disease. The quickest and most effective way in<br />which the body can obtain and assimilate these elements is by drinking daily at least half a litre<br />of the combined raw juices of carrot and spinach.<br />The patient should be given two or three hot Epsom-salt baths weekly. He should remain in the<br />bath for 25 to 30 minutes. The affected parts should also be bathed several times daily in the hot<br />water containing Epsom salt - a table- spoon of salt to a cupful of hot water. The patient should<br />undertake walking and other moderate exercises.<br />[index]<br />Neuritis<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap65.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:28:33 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Nepthritis<br />Nepthritis refers to an inflammation of the kidneys. It is a serious condition and may be either<br />acute or chronic. A synonym for nephthritis is " Bright’s disease, " for Bright (1789-1858)<br />described examples of many different diseases which can be included under the term.<br />This disease most often strikes during childhood or adolescence. It can become progressively<br />worse and result in death, if not treated properly in the initial stages. In the alternative , it may<br />subside into a chronic stage where the patient gets better but not too well.<br />Symptoms<br />The main symptoms of acute nepthritis are pain in the kidneys extending down to the uterus,<br />fever, dull pain in the back and scanty and highly coloured urine. Often the urine may contain<br />blood, albumin and casts consisting of clumps of red and white cells, which come from damaged<br />kidneys. The patient suffers from puffiness in the face and swelling of the feet and ankles.<br />In the chronic stage of nepthritis, which may drag on for many years, the patient passes large<br />amounts of albumin in the urine. Later there may be rise in blood pressure and the patient may<br />develop uraemia. There may be frequent urination, especially during night.<br />Causes<br />Nepthritis usually follows some streptococcus infection of the throat or an attack of scarlet fever<br />or rheumatic fever. The underlying causes of nepthritis are however, the same as for diseases of<br />the kidneys in general, namely wrong dietary habits, excessive drinking, the suppressive medical<br />treatment of former diseases, the habitual use of chemical agents of all kinds for the treatment of<br />indigestion and other stomach disorders and frequent use of aspirin and other painkillers.<br />Nutritional deficiencies can also lead to nepthritis. The disease has been produced in many<br />species of animals by diets deficient in the B vitamin, choline. Animals lacking essential fatty<br />acids and magnesium also develop nephritis. When vitamin B6 and magnesium are under<br />supplied, the kidneys are further damaged by sharp crystals of oxalic acid combined with<br />calcium. Nepthritis also occurs if vitamin E is deficient.<br />Treatment<br />The safest treatment for acute nepthritis is fasting. By means of the fast, the toxins and systemic<br />impurities responsible for setting up of the inflammatory kidney conditions are removed rapidly.<br />The patient should resort to juice fasting for seven to ten days till the acute symptoms subside.<br />Mostly vegetable juices such as carrot, celery and cucumber should be used during this period.<br />A warm water enema should be taken each day while fasting, to cleanse the bowels of the toxic<br />matter being thrown off by the self-cleansing process resulting from the fast.<br />After the juice fast, the patient may adopt an all-fruit diet for four to five days. Juicy fruits such as<br />apples, grapes, oranges, pears, peaches and pineapples should be taken during this period at<br />five-hourly intervals. After the all-fruit diet, the patient may adopt fruits and milk diet. In this<br />regimen, milk, preferably raw goat’s milk , may be added to the fruit diet for further seven days.<br />The patient may thereafter gradually embark upon a well- balanced low protein vegetarian diet,<br />with emphasis on fresh fruits and raw and cooked vegetables.<br />In case of chronic nepthritis a short juice fast for three days may be undertaken. Thereafter, a<br />week or 10 days may be spent on a restricted diet. In this regimen, oranges or orange juice may<br />be taken for breakfast. Lunch may consist of a salad of raw vegetables which are in season, and<br />dinner may consist of one or two vegetables, steamed in their own juices and a few nuts.<br />Thereafter, the patient may gradually adopt a well- balanced low protein vegetarian diet.<br />Further short juice fasts followed by a week on the restricted diet should be undertaken at<br />intervals of two or three months until such time as the kidney condition has shown signs of<br />normalisation.<br />Nepthritis<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap66.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:28:41 PM]<br />The patient should avoid vegetables containing large quantities of oxalic acid such as spinach<br />and rhubarb. Chocolate and cocoa also contain oxalic acid and must not be used. Garlic,<br />asparagus, parsley, watercress, cucumber and celery are excellent vegetables. The best fruits<br />are papaya and bananas. Both have a healing effect on kidneys. A small amount of soured milk<br />and home- made cottage cheese can be included in the diet. All salt should be eliminated from<br />the diet. Five or six small meals should be taken in preference to a few large ones.<br />A glassful of carrot juice mixed with tablespoonful of honey and a teaspoonful of fresh lime juice<br />is a very effective home remedy for nepthritis. It should be taken every day early in the morning<br />before breakfast.<br />Bananas are also valuable in nepthritis because of their low protein and salt content and high<br />carbohydrates content. In this condition , a diet of bananas only should be taken for three or four<br />days, consuming eight to nine bananas a day.<br />Smoking and drinking ,where habitual, must be completely given up. Studies have shown that<br />smoking impairs kidney function. The patient should avoid white bread, sugar, cakes, pastries,<br />puddings, refined cereals, greasy, heavy or fried foods. He should also avoid tea, coffee, all<br />flesh foods, condiments, pickles, and sauces.<br />All measures should be adopted to relieve the kidneys of work by increasing elimination through<br />other channels. Hot Epsom salt bath should be taken every alternate day to induce elimination<br />through the skin as much as possible.<br />Fresh air and outdoor exercises will be of great benefit in all cases of nepthritis and where<br />possible, the patient should have a walk for atleast three kilometers once or twice daily. The<br />sufferer from chronic nepthritis should never exert himself when doing anything . He should<br />avoid all hurry and excitement. He should also avoid late hours.<br />If the above treatment is faithfully carried out, the patient of acute nepthritis should soon be on<br />the way to recovery . Even in advanced cases of chronic nepthritis, the sufferer’s condition<br />should improve with this treatment.<br />[index]<br />Nepthritis<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap66.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:28:41 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Obesity<br />Obesity may be described as a bodily condition characterised by excessive deposition or<br />storage of fat in adipose tissue. It usually results from consumption of food in excess of<br />physiological needs. Obesity is common among people in Western countries and among the<br />higher income groups in India and other developing countries.<br />Obesity can occur at any age in either sex. Its incidence is higher inpersons who consume more<br />food and lead sedentary leaves. Among women, obesity is liable to occur after pregnancy and at<br />menopause. A woman usually gains about 12 kgs. weight during pregnancy. Part of this is an<br />increase in the adipose tissue which serves as a store against the demands of lactation. Many<br />women gain more and retain part of this weight. They become progressively obese with each<br />succeeding child.<br />Obesity is a serious health hazard as the extra fats puts a strain on the heart, kidneys and liver<br />as well as the large weight-bearing joints such as the hips, knees and ankles, which ultimately<br />shortens the life span. It has been truly said, ‘ the longer the belt, the short the life. ‘ Overweight<br />persons are susceptible to several diseases like coronary thrombosis, heart failure, high blood<br />pressure, diabetes, arthritis, gout and liver and gall-bladder disorders.<br />Causes<br />The chief cause of obesity , most often, is overeating - that is, the intake of calories beyond the<br />body’s energy requirement. Some people are habituated to eating too much while others may be<br />in the habit of consuming high-calorie foods. These people gain weight continuously as they fail<br />to adjust their appetite to reduce energy requirements. There has, in recent times, been an<br />increase in awareness of psychological aspects of obesity. Persons who are generally bored ,<br />unhappy, lonely or unloved, those who are discontented with their families, or social or financial<br />standing usually tend to overeat as eating is a pleasure and solace to them.<br />Obesity is sometimes also the result of disturbances of the thyroid or pituitary glands. But<br />glandular disorders account for only about two per cent of the total incidence of obesity. In such<br />persons, the basal metabolism rate is low and they keep gaining weight unless they take a<br />low-calorie diet.<br />Treatment<br />A suitably planned course of dietetic treatment, in conjunction with suitable exercise and other<br />measures for promoting elimination is the only scientific way of dealing with obesity. The chief<br />consideration in this treatment should be the balanced selection of foods which provide the<br />maximum essential nutrients with the least number of calories.<br />To begin with, the patient should undertake a juice fast for seven to ten days. Juices of lemon,<br />grape fruit, orange, pineapple, cabbage, celery, may be taken during this period. Long juice fast<br />upto 40 days can also be undertaken, but only under expert guidance and supervision. In the<br />alternative, short juice fasts should be repeated at regular intervals of two months or so till the<br />desired reduction in weight is achieved.<br />After the juice fast, the patient should spend a further four or five days on an all-fruit diet, taking<br />three meals of fresh juicy fruits such as oranges, grapefruit, pineapple and papaya. Thereafter,<br />he may gradually embark upon a low-calorie well- balanced diet of three basic food groups,<br />namely (i) seeds, nuts and grains , (ii) vegetables and (iii)fruits, with emphasis on raw fruits,<br />vegetables, and fresh juices.<br />The foods which should be drastically curtailed or altogether avoided are high-fat foods such as<br />butter, cheese, chocolates, cream, ice-cream, fat meats, fried foods, and gravies ; high<br />carbohydrated foods like bread, candy, cake, cookies, cereal products, legumes, potatoes,<br />honey, sugar, syrup and rich puddings beverages such as all-fountain drinks and alcoholic<br />drinks.<br />Obesity<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap67.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:28:51 PM]<br />One sure method of reducing weight is by practicising what is known as "Fletcherism". It was<br />discovered in 1898 by Horace Fletcher of the U.S.A.. Fletlcher, at 40, considered himself an old<br />man. He was 50 pounds overweight, contracted flu every six months and constantly complained<br />of indigestion and a tired feeling. After a deep study, he made some important discoveries and<br />prescribed the rules for "Fletcherism" which are as follows :<br />Chew your food to a pulp or milky liquid until it practically swallows itself. 1.<br />Never eat until hungry. 2.<br />Enjoy every bite or morsel, savouring the flavour until it is swallowed. 3.<br />Do not eat when tired, angry, worried, and at meal-time refuse to think or talk about<br />unpleasant subjects.<br />4.<br />Horace Fletcher followed these rules for five months. As a result he lost more than 60 pounds<br />and felt better than he had for 20 years. A weight reducing programme built on Fletcherism<br />works wonders and is worth a trial.<br />Ingestion of honey is an excellent home remedy for obesity. It mobilises the extra deposited fat<br />in the body and puts it into circulation which is utilised as energy for normal functions. One<br />should start with small quantity of about 10 grams to be taken with hot water. The dose can be<br />gradually increased.<br />Fasting on honey -lime juice water is highly beneficial in the treatment of obesity without the loss<br />of energy and appetite. In this mode of treatment, one spoon of fresh honey should be mixed<br />with a juice of half a lime in a glass of lukewarm water and taken at regularly intervals.<br />Another effective remedy for obesity is an exclusive lemon juice diet. On the first day the patient<br />should be given nothing but plenty of water. On the second day juice of three lemons mixed with<br />equal amount of water should be given. One lemon should be subsequently increased each day<br />until the juice of 12 lemons is consumed per day. Then the number of lemons should be<br />decreased in the same order until three lemons are taken in a day. The patient may feel weak<br />and hungry on the first two days, but afterwards the condition will be stabilised by itself.<br />Cabbage is considered to be an effective home remedy for obesity. Recent research has<br />discovered in this vegetable a valuable content called tartroric acid which inhibits the conversion<br />of sugar and other carbohydrates into fat. Hence, it is of great value in weight reduction. A<br />helping of cabbage salad would be the simplest way to stay slim, a painless way of dieting.<br />A hundred grams of cabbage yields only 27 kilo calories of energy while the same quantity of<br />wheat bread will yield about 240 calories. Cabbage is found to possess the maximum biological<br />value with minimum calorific value. Moreover, it gives a lasting feeling of fullness in the stomach<br />and is easily digestible.<br />Along with dietetic treatment, the patient should adopt all other natural methods of reducing<br />weight. Exercise is an important part of weight reduction plan. It helps to use up calories stored<br />in body fat and relieves tension, besides toning up the muscles of the body. Walking is the best<br />exercise to begin with and may be followed by running, swimming, rowing and other outdoor<br />sports.<br />Certain yogi asanas are highly beneficial. Not only do they break up or re-distribute fatty<br />deposits and help slimming, but they also strengthen the flabby areas. Sarvangasana, halasana,<br />bhujangasana, shalabhasana, dhanurasana, chakrasana, naukasana, ardh-matsyendrasana,<br />paschimottanasana, vajrasana, yogamudra and trikonasana are recommended. These asanas<br />work on the glands, improve circulation, strengthen many weak areas and induce deep<br />breathing which helps to melt off excess fat gradually. Yogic kriyas like kunjal and jalneti and<br />pranayamas such as kapalbhati and bhastrika are also helpful in normalising body weight.<br />The patient should also adopt measures which bring on excessive perspiration such as sauna<br />baths, steam bath and heavy massage. They help to reduce weight. Above all, obese persons<br />should make every effort to avoid negative motions such as anxiety, fear, hostility and insecurity<br />and develop a positive outlook on life.<br />[index]<br />Obesity<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap67.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:28:51 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Peptic Ulcer<br />Peptic Ulcer refers to an eroded lesion in the gastric intestinal mucosa. An ulcer may form in any<br />part of the digestive tract which is exposed to acid gastric juice, but is usually found in the<br />stomach and the duodenum. The ulcer located in the stomach is known as gastric ulcer and that<br />located in the duodenum is called a deudenal ulcer. Usually both are grouped together and<br />termed peptic ulcer.<br />Symptoms<br />The most common symptoms of peptic ulcer are sharp and severe pain and discomfort in the<br />upper central abdomen. The pain is commonly described as burning or gnawing in character.<br />Gastric ulcer pain usually occurs an hour after meals, but rarely at night. Duodenal ulcer pan<br />usually occurs between meals when the stomach is empty and is relieved by food, especially<br />milk. It is often described as hunger pain and gets the sufferer out of bed between 2 and 4 a.m.<br />As the disease progresses there is distension of the stomach due to excessive flatulence,<br />besides mental tension, insomnia and a gradual weakening of the body. It may also cause<br />constipation with occasional blood in the stools. If an ulcer bleeds slowly, there is anaemia.<br />Causes<br />Peptic ulcers result from hyperacidity which is a condition caused by an increase in hydrochloric<br />acid in the stomach. This strong acid, secreted by the cells lining the stomach, affects much of<br />the breakdown of food. It can be potentially dangerous and, under certain circumstances, it may<br />eat its way through the lining of the stomach or duodenum producing, first, irritation of the<br />stomach wall and eventually an ulcer.<br />Dietetic indiscretion, like overeating, taking of heavy meals or highly spiced foods, coffee,<br />alcohol and smoking are the main factors contributing to this condition. The ingestion of certain<br />drugs, particularly aspirin, food poisoning, infections like influenza and septicaemia and gout<br />may also cause ulcers. Emotional stress or nervous tension also plays a major role in the<br />formation of ulcers.<br />Treatment<br />Diet is of utmost importance in the treatment of ulcer. The diet should be so arranged as to<br />provide adequate nutrition to afford rest to the disturbed organs, to maintain continuous<br />neutralisation of the gastric acid, to inhibit production of acid and to reduce mechanical and<br />chemical irritation. Milk, cream, butter, fruits, and fresh, raw and boiled vegetables, natural foods<br />and natural vitamin supplements are the best diet for an ulcer patient.<br />The most effective remedy for peptic ulcers is bananas. They are said to contain an unidentified<br />compound called, perhaps jokingly, vitamin U (against ulcers). Bananas neutralises the over<br />acidity of the gastric juices and reduces the irritation of the ulcer by quoting the lining of the<br />stomach. Banana and milk are considered an ideal diet for the patients who are in an advanced<br />state of the disease.<br />Almond milk made from blanched almonds in a blender is very beneficial as it binds the excess<br />of acid in the stomach and supplies high quality proteins. Raw goat’s milk is also highly<br />beneficial. It actually helps to heal peptic ulcer.<br />Cabbage is regarded as another useful home remedy for peptic ulcers. Cabbage is boiled in<br />water. This water is allowed to cool and taken twice daily. The leaves of kalyana murangal tree,<br />which is a variety of drumstick found in South India, have also proved helpful in the healing of<br />the ulcers. The leaves of this tree are ground into a paste and taken mixed with yogurt daily.<br />Raw vegetables juices, particularly carrot and cabbage juices are beneficial in the treatment of<br />the peptic ulcers. Carrot juice may be taken either alone or in combination with spinach or beat<br />and cucumber. The formula proportions in the case of the first combination are 300 ml. of carrots<br />Peptic Ulcer<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap68.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:29:00 PM]<br />and 200 ml. of spinach and in case of the second combination, 300 ml. of carrots and three<br />ounces each of beets and cucumber to make half a litre of juice.<br />The observance of certain rules by an ulcer patient with regard to eating habits are essential. He<br />should never eat when tired or emotionally upset, nor when he is not hungry even if it is meal<br />time, nor when his mouth is dry. He should chew every morsel thoroughly. He should eat only<br />natural foods and take food in as dry a form as possible. Meals must be small and frequent. All<br />foods and drinks which are either too hot or too cold should be avoided.<br />The ulcer patient should drink eight to 10 glasses of water every day. However, he should not<br />drink water during or with meals, but only half an hour before or one hour after he has eaten. He<br />should bathe, preferably in cold water, twice daily. Alternate hot and cold hip baths for 10 to 15<br />minutes and a mud pack applied over the lower abdominal for half an hour daily will help the<br />ulcers to heal. The hip bath or the mud pack should be taken on an empty stomach and should<br />be followed by a walk. In case of haemorrhage in the stomach, a rectal enema should be<br />administered four times daily with water temperature at 110 to 115 o F. In case of abdominal or<br />stomach pain, hot pack should be placed on the abdomen with water temperature at 120 o F. A<br />hot pack should also be placed between the shoulder blades.<br />Daily massages and deep breathing exercises also help. Above all, the patient must try to rid<br />himself of worries and stay cheerful. He should also cultivate regularity in his habit - be it work,<br />exercise or rest. Asanas which are beneficial in the treatment of hyperacidity and ulcers are<br />vajrasana, uttanpadasana, pawanmuktasana, bhujasana, paschimottanasana. Yogic kriyas like<br />jalneti and pranayamas like anuloma-viloma , shitali and sitkari are also beneficial.<br />Hyperacidity does not appear suddenly ; it develops gradually and its cure is also a gradual<br />process. The patient should not lose patience but must continue the regimen suggested ; this<br />will help him get relief from his ailment.<br />[index]<br />Peptic Ulcer<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap68.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:29:00 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Piles<br />Piles or haemorrhoids are among the most common ailments today, especially in the Western<br />world. They are a varicose and often inflammed condition of the veins inside or just outside the<br />rectum. In external piles there is a lot of pain, but not much bleeding. In case of internal piles<br />there is discharge of dark blood. In some cases the veins burst and this results in what is known<br />as bleeding piles.<br />Symptoms<br />Pain at passing stools, slight bleeding in the case of internal trouble and a feeling of soreness<br />and irritation after passing a stool are the usual symptoms of piles. The patient cannot sit<br />comfortably due to itching, discomfort and pain in the rectal region.<br />Causes<br />The primary cause of piles is chronic constipation and other bowel disorders. The pressure<br />applied to pass a stool to evacuate constipated bowls and the congestion caused by<br />constipation ultimately lead to piles. The use of purgatives to relieve constipation, by their<br />irritating and weakening effect on the lining of the rectum, also result in enlargement and<br />inflammation of veins and bleeding of the mucus lining. Piles are more common during<br />pregnancy and in conditions affecting the liver and upper bowel. Prolonged periods of standing<br />or sitting, strenuous work, obesity and general weakness of the tissues of the body are the other<br />contributory causes of piles.<br />Mental tension is also one of the main causes of harmorrioids. Persons who are always in a<br />hurry often strain while passing stools. They rush through defecation instead of making it a<br />relaxed affair. The pressure thus exerted by the anal muscles affect the surrounding tissues. The<br />extra rectal pressure and the resultant congestion of veins ultimately leads to haemorrhoids.<br />There is probably a hereditary factor also involved in the development of piles.<br />Treatment<br />The treatment of the basic cause, namely, chronic constipation, is the only way to get rid of the<br />trouble. To begin with, the whole digestive tract must be given a complete rest for a few days<br />and the intestines thoroughly cleansed. For this purpose the patient should adopt an all-fruit diet<br />for at least seven days. After the all-fruit diet, the patient may adopt a diet of natural foods aimed<br />at securing soft stools.<br />The most important food remedy for piles is dry figs. Three or four figs should be soaked<br />overnight in water after cleansing them thoroughly in hot water. They should be taken the first<br />thing in the morning along with water in which they were soaked. They should also be taken in<br />the evening in a similar manner. This treatment should be continued for three or four weeks. The<br />tiny seeds of the fruit possess an excellent quality of stimulating peristalic movements of<br />intestines. This facilitates easy evacuation of faeces and keeps the alimentary canal clean.<br />The pressure on the anus having thus been relieved, the haemorrhoids also get contracted.<br />Mango seeds are regarded as an effective remedy for bleeding piles. The seeds should be<br />collected during the mango season, dried in the shade and powdered and kept stored for use as<br />medicine. It should be given in doses of about one and a half gram to two grams with or without<br />honey.<br />The jambul fruit is another effective food remedy for bleeding piles. The fruit should be taken<br />with salt every morning for two or three months in its season. The use of the fruit in this manner<br />in every season will effect a radical cure and save the user from bleeding piles during his / her<br />entire life.<br />White radish is considered highly valuable in the treatment of piles. Grated radish mixed with<br />honey may be taken in this condition. This vegetable can also be taken in the form of juice mixed<br />Piles<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap69.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:29:10 PM]<br />with a pinch of salt. It should be given in doses of 60 to 90 ml. in the morning and evening. White<br />radish well ground into a paste in milk can also be beneficial applied over inflammed pile masses<br />to relieve pain and swelling.<br />The patient should drink atleast six to eight glasses of water a day. He should avoid straining to<br />pass a stool. Cold water treatment helps the veins to shrink and tones up their walls. The<br />treatment is done by sitting in a tub filled with cold water for two minutes with knees drawn up to<br />your chin. The water level should cover the hips. This should be done twice a day. Other water<br />treatments beneficial in curing piles include cold perennial douche and cold compress applied to<br />the rectal area for an hour before bed time.<br />A patient with piles must make an all out effort to tone up the entire system. Exercise plays an<br />important corrective role in this condition. Movements which exercise the abdominal muscles will<br />improve circulation in the rectal region and relieve congestion. Outdoor exercises such as<br />walking and swimming are excellent methods of building up general health. Yogic kriyas like<br />jalneti and vamandhouti and asanas such as sarvangasana,viparit karani, halasana,<br />gomukhasana are also useful. Sarvangasana is especially beneficial as it drains stagnant blood<br />from the anus.<br />[index]<br />Piles<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap69.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:29:10 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Premature Greying of Hair<br />The hair has a tendency to lose its natural colour with advancing age. It is therefore natural for<br />the hair to turn grey with age. But premature greying is a morbid condition and it makes even the<br />young look older. This causes a great deal of concern to affected persons, especially women.<br />The hair is an appendage of the skin. It is composed of the same kind of cells as are found in the<br />outer layer of the skin, known as epidermis. It grows from a hair follicle which is a deep recess in<br />the epidermis. The sebaceous glands of the scalp secrete an oily substance called sebum,<br />which is the source of nutrition, lustre and blackness of the hair. The hair cannot be fed<br />externally, for such nourishment as the scalp requires must come to it from the bloodstream.<br />Causes of Greying<br />A faulty diet and mental worries are the two primary causes of premature greying of hair. It is<br />mainly due to the lack of some of the B vitamins, of iron, copper and iodine in the daily diet that<br />this hair disorder is caused at a young age these days. Mental worries produce an extraordinary<br />tension in the skin of the scalp which interferes with the supply of vital nutrition necessary for the<br />health of the hair. Similarly, anxieties, fear, jealousy and failures have adverse effects on the<br />hair. They dry out the scalpular marrow, the vital sap at the root of the hair.<br />Other causes of premature greying of hair are unclean condition of the scalp which weakens the<br />roots of the hair as the pores are blocked by the collected dirt ; washing the hair with hot water<br />and drying them with electric dryers which emit a blast of hot air ; the use of hair dyes in the<br />earlier stages when the hair have just started greying ; diseases like chronic cold, sinusitis,<br />anaemia, chronic constipation ; and the use of factory- made hair oils, which are generally<br />cleaned with acids and some of the acids have a tendency to remain in the oil. Heredity is<br />another predisposing factor which gives rise to this ailment.<br />Treatment<br />Diet is of utmost importance in the prevention and treatment of premature greying of hair and<br />persons suffering from this disorder should take a diet rich in all essential nutrients. The vitamins<br />considered useful in premature greying of hair are pantothenic acid, para-aminobenzoic acid or<br />PABA and inositol. The minimum daily requirement of these vitamins appears to be 10 mg. of<br />pantothenic acid, 100 gm. of para-aminobenzoic acid and 2000 mg. of inositol. To obtain<br />satisfactory results, all three of these vitamins, belonging to B group, should be supplied at one<br />time preferably in a form which gives all B vitamins, such as yeast, wheat germ and liver. The<br />three anti-grey hair vitamins can be produced in the intestinal tract by bacteria. Thus drinking a<br />litre of yogurt daily with a tablespoon of yeast before each meal will be an excellent remedy for<br />the prevention and treatment of premature greying of hair. If one wishes to take tablets of<br />calcium pantothenate and paba, they should be taken in addition to the yeast and yogurt and not<br />as a substitute for them.<br />Gayelord Hauser, one of the best known world nutritionists, in his book ‘The New Diet Does it’,<br />claims that this treatment will restore the grey hair back to its natural colour. He also advises<br />addition of iron and iodine in the form of sea food, to an otherwise adequate diet for obtaining<br />better results. Besides fish, which is the main source of iodine, the requirement of this mineral<br />can be met by adequate intake of carrots, bananas and similar other vegetables and fruits.<br />Carrots are especially useful in furnishing fresh blood and maintaining the health of the hair.<br />Home remedies<br />Certain home remedies have been found useful in the prevention and treatment of premature<br />greying of hair. The foremost among these is the use of Indian gooseberry or amla which is a<br />valuable hair tonic for enriching hair growth and hair pigmentation. The fruit, cut into pieces,<br />should be dried, preferably in the shade. These pieces should be boiled in coconut oil till the<br />Premature Greying of Hair<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap70.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:29:27 PM]<br />solid matter become little charred dust. This darkish oil is very useful in preventing greying.<br />The water in which dried amla pieces are soaked overnight is Indian gooseberry (amla) is<br />considered highly beneficial in the treatment of premature greying of hair. also nourishing to the<br />hair. This water should be used for the last rinse while washing the hair. Massaging the scalp<br />with a teaspoonful of amla juice mixed with a teaspoonful of almond oil or few drops of lime<br />juice, every night has proved beneficial in the prevention and treatment of premature greying of<br />hair.<br />Liberal intake of curry leaves is considered beneficial in preventing premature greying of hair.<br />These have the property to give vitality and strength to hair roots. New hair roots that grow are<br />healthier with normal pigment. The leaves can be used in the form of chutney or these may be<br />squeezed in butter- milk or lassi. When the leaves are boiled in coconut oil, the oil forms an<br />excellent hair tonic to stimulate hair growth and bring back hair pigmentation.<br />The butter made from cow’s milk has the property to prevent premature greying of hair. A small<br />roll may be taken internally and a little quantity may be massaged into the hair root twice a week.<br />Ribbed gourd, known as torai in the vernacular, boiled in coconut oil is another effective remedy<br />for premature greying of hair. Pieces of this vegetable should be dried in the shade. These dried<br />pieces should be soaked in coconut oil and kept aside for three or four days. The oil should then<br />be boiled till the solid is reduced to a blackened residue. Thisoil should be massaged into the<br />scalp. It will help enrich the hair roots and restore pigment to the hair.<br />Hair Dye<br />The paste of henna leaves, boiled in coconut oil to get a darkish oil, can be used as a hair dye to<br />blacken grey hair. The paste itself can be applied to the hair and washed away after a few hours<br />to dye the grey hair. Washing the hair with concentrated tea extract twice a week is also<br />considered useful in colouring grey hair to brown or black.<br />[index]<br />Premature Greying of Hair<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap70.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:29:27 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Prostate Disorders<br />Nearly one-third of all men over 50 years suffer from prostate troubles of one form or another.<br />The percentage rises with age and reaches 75 after the age of 80 years. Prostate and bladder<br />disorders can lead to numerous other ailments such as arthritis, kidney disorders and uremia.<br />The prostate gland is a male gland, comparable in shape and size to a large chestnut. It is<br />reddish brown in appearance. It measures approximately 3.8 cm. in width and about 2.5 cm. in<br />length and weighs approximately 25 grams. It is situated at the base of the urinary bladder and<br />around the commencement of the urethra, the membranous tube for the passage of the urine. It<br />is thus vital in relation to the emptying of the bladder and bears a close relationship to the<br />rectum. The gland plays an important role in normal sexual life and its function is to secrete a<br />fluid which is added to semen during sexual intercourse.<br />Various Disorders<br />There are various types of prostate disorders. Of these the most important are prostatitis or<br />inflammation in the prostate gland and hypertrophy or enlargement of the prostate gland.<br />Prostatitis may be acute or chronic. It is a painful and distressing disorder, but can be cured with<br />proper treatment without any adverse effects.<br />Enlargement of the prostate gland or hypertrophy is the most common complaint affecting the<br />gland. This occurs mostly in men of middle or advanced age. The enlargement develops so<br />gradually over a long period that it often assumes serious proportions before it is detected.<br />Symptoms<br />There are two warning signals to indicate the possibility of prostate disorders. The first is the<br />interface with the passage of urine and the second is the need to void the urine frequently during<br />the night’s sleep. Other symptoms are a dull aching pain in the lower back and pain in the hips,<br />legs and feet. Prostate enlargement affects the glandular system as a whole. The patient<br />experiences all the symptoms of disturbed health such as lack of energy and physical , mental<br />and nervous disturbances.<br />Causes<br />The position of the prostate gland makes it liable to congestion and other disorders. In an erect<br />position, pressure falls on the pelvic region just where the prostate gland is situated. With<br />ageing, the body gets heavier and loses its flexibility which makes the pressure on the pelvis<br />even greater and increases the vulnerability of the prostate gland. Prolonged periods of sitting<br />down, as in certain occupations, also increases the pressure on the pelvic region resulting in<br />congestion of the tissues in and around the prostate gland. With the passage of time, changes<br />such as inflammation or enlargement occur in the gland. Acute prostatis may also result from<br />exposure to cold and chill and from an infectious disease. Chronic prostatis is an after-effect of<br />the acute condition. It may also result from continual irritation of the gland due to excessive<br />sexual excitement.<br />Another important cause of prostate disorders is constipation. In constipation , the faeces<br />becomes hardened and the rectum or lower bowel overloaded. This causes undue pressure on<br />the prostate gland. It also entails a great deal of straining at stools and this adversely affects the<br />prostate gland due to its proximity to the rectum.<br />Treatment<br />To begin with, the patient should forgo all solid foods and subsist on water only for two or three<br />days. The intake of water should be as plentiful as possible. Nothing should be added to the<br />water except a little lemon juice, if desired. The water may be taken cold or hot and it should be<br />taken every hour or so when awake. This will greatly increase the flow of urine.<br />An enema may be taken once a day during fasting to clear the lower bowel of accumulations.<br />Prostate Disorders<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap71.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:29:44 PM]<br />After a thorough cleansing of the bowels, hot and cold applications may be used directly on the<br />prostate gland and its surrounding parts. The heat relieves the tissues and a brief cold<br />immersion tones them up. The patient should take alternate hot and cold hip baths. These are of<br />great value in relieving pain and reducing congestion. The hot bath should be taken first for 10<br />minutes, followed by a cold bath for one minute daily.<br />After the short fast, the patient should adopt an all-fruit diet for three days. The fruits should<br />include apples, pears, oranges, grape-fruit, grapes, sweet limes, mangoes, melons and all other<br />juicy fruits. This will help to clear toxins from the body and will also enable excess fat to be<br />reduced to some extent.<br />The exclusive fruit diet should be followed by a diet, consisting of two meals of fruits and one of<br />cooked vegetables for further seven days. The vegetable meal should be taken in the evening<br />and should consist of all kinds of cooked vegetables, preferably steam cooked. Thereafter, the<br />patient may adopt a well-balanced diet of three basic food groups, namely (i) seeds, nuts and<br />grains, (ii) vegetables and (iii) fruits.<br />The short lemon juice fast followed by an all-fruit diet and a further period on fruits and<br />vegetables may be repeated after two or three months if necessary depending on the progress<br />being made.<br />Pumpkin seeds have been found to be an effective home remedy for prostate problems and<br />many patients have been helped by their use. These seeds are rich in unsaturated fatty acids<br />which are essential to the health of the prostate.<br />Heavy starches,sweet stimulants and highly seasoned foods are entirely forbidden, as they<br />cause direct irritation on the prostate gland and bladder. The diet should also exclude spices,<br />condiments, salt in excess, sauces, red meats, cheese, asparagus, watercress, greasy or fried<br />foods, alcohol, tobacco and too much tea or coffee. The patient should avoid hurried meals and<br />must chew his food thoroughly and slowly. Water should be taken between meals and not at<br />mealtime.<br />The patient should avoid sexual irregularities in eating and drinking, long periods of sitting and<br />vigorous exercise. He should guard against constipation by taking plenty of fruits, bran and nuts.<br />All efforts should be made to tone up the general condition of the body. With a general<br />improvement in health, the condition will be greatly relieved. Surgery should be resorted to only<br />if the condition does not improve even after the dietary treatment and other measures outlined<br />here.<br />[index]<br />Prostate Disorders<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap71.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:29:44 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Psoriasis<br />Psoriasis is one of the most stubborn skin diseases. It is a chronic disease characterised by<br />thick, red, silvery, scaled patches of skin. This disease affects both sexes equally and usually<br />first appears at the age ranging from 15 to 30 years, although it may appear at any age. It is,<br />however, rare in infancy and old age. Psoriasis is not contagious.<br />Symptoms<br />Generally, the skin of the person suffering from psoriasis appears red and irritated and may be<br />covered with bright silvery scales. Sometimes there is also a little itching. Areas usually involved<br />are elbows, knees, the skin behind the ears, trunk and scalp. The disease may also affect the<br />underarm and genital areas. The lesions vary in size from minute papules only just visible, to<br />sheets covering large parts of the body. Quite often, they are discs from 1.5 cm. to several<br />centimeters in size. The lesions of psoriasis are always dry and rarely become infected.<br />Causes<br />The modern medical system has not been able to establish the exact cause of psoriasis. Recent<br />studies have shown that psoriasis involves an abnormality in the mechanism in which the skin<br />grows and replaces itself. This abnormality is related to the metabolism of amino-acids, the<br />protein chemicals which are nature’s basic building blocks for the reproduction of cell tissues.<br />Heredity also plays a role in the development of psoriasis as it tends to occur in families. About<br />30 per cent of the patients have a family history of the disease.<br />The factors that aggravate and precipitate the outbreak of psoriasis are injury to the skin in the<br />form of cuts, burns, minor abrasions, changes in the seasons, physical and emotional stress,<br />infections and use of certain medicines for the treatment of other diseases.<br />Treatment<br />Since psoriasis is a metabolic disease, a cleansing juice fast for about seven days is always<br />desirable in the beginning of the treatment. Carrots, beats, cucumbers and grapes may be used<br />for juices. Juices of citrus fruits should be avoided. The warm water enema should be used daily<br />to cleanse the bowels during the fast. After the juice fast, the patient should adopt the diet of<br />three basic food groups, namely (i) seeds, nuts and grains, (ii) vegetables and (iii) fruits, with<br />emphasis on raw seeds and nuts, especially seasame seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds<br />and plenty of organically grown raw vegetables and fruits.<br />All animal fats, including milk, butter and eggs should be avoided. Refined or processed foods<br />and foods containing hydrogenated fats or white sugar, all condiments, tea and coffee, should<br />also be avoided. After noticeable improvement, goat’s milk, yogurt and home made cottage<br />cheese may be added to the diet. Juice fasts may be repeated after four weeks on diet.<br />Vitamin E therapy has been found effective in the treatment of psoriasis. The patient should use<br />this vitamin in therapeutic doses from 200 to 800 I.U. a day. It will help reduce itching and scabs.<br />Lecithin is considered a remarkable remedy for psoriasis. The patient may take six to nine<br />lecithin capsules a day - two or three capsules before or after each meal. In the form of granules,<br />it may be taken four tablespoonfuls daily for two months. It may thereafter be reduced to two<br />tablespoonfuls.<br />Too frequent baths should be avoided. Soap should not be used. Regular sea water baths and<br />application of sea water externally over the affected parts once a day are beneficial. The hot<br />Epsom salts bath has proved valuable in psoriasis. Three full baths should be taken weekly until<br />the trouble begins to subside. The number of baths thereafter may be reduced to two weekly<br />and finally to one. The affected areas should also be bathed twice in hot water containing Epsom<br />salt. After the bath a little olive oil may be applied. The skin should be kept absolutely clean by<br />daily dry friction or sponge.<br />Psoriasis<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap72.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:29:55 PM]<br />In many cases, psoriasis responds well to sunlight. The affected parts should be frequently<br />exposed to the sun. The daily use of a sunlamp or ultra-violet light are also beneficial.<br />Cabbage leaves have been successfully used in the form of compresses in the treatment of<br />psoriasis. The thickest and greenest outer leaves are most effective for use as compresses.<br />They should be thoroughly washed in warm water and dried with a towel. The leaves should be<br />made flat, soft and smooth by rolling them with a rolling pin after removing the thick veins. They<br />should be warmed and then applied smoothly to the affected part in an overlapping manner. A<br />pad of soft wooden cloth should be put over it. The whole compress should then be secured with<br />an elastic bandage.<br />The use of mud packs in the treatment of psoriasis has also been found highly beneficial. The<br />packs are made by mixing the clay with a little water and applying to the affected areas. After the<br />clay has dried, it is removed and fresh pack applied. Mud packs are eliminative in their action.<br />They absorb and remove the toxins from the deceased areas.<br />The patient should undertake plenty of regular exercise in fresh air, especially exposing the<br />affected parts, and deep breathing exercises. He should avoid all nervous tension and should<br />have adequate rest.<br />[index]<br />Psoriasis<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap72.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:29:55 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Pyorrhoea<br />Pyorrhoea or periodontal disease to give it a proper medical term is a disease of the teeth<br />socket. It is one of the most widely prevalent diseases these days. It affects the membrane<br />surrounding the teeth-root, with loosening of the teeth, pus formation and shrinkage of the gum.<br />This disease is the primary cause for tooth loss among adults.<br />Pyorrhoea affects persons of all ages. About half the adult population over the age of 18 suffer<br />from early stages of this disease. Even children of 5 years or so may have signs of the disease.<br />It progresses with increasing age. Unless treated properly, it may lead to loss of supporting bone<br />of teeth and ultimately to tooth loss.<br />Symptoms<br />The gums become tender and on pressing pus oozes out along the margin of teeth. Pus from<br />the cavities continually finds its way into the stomach. When the disease is far advanced the<br />gum become swollen and the stomach, being dosed with increasing quantities of pus, does not<br />function properly. Sepsis may appear in various forms, digestion is disturbed, liver trouble sets in<br />and the whole system is adversely affected.<br />Causes<br />Pyorrhoea is trigged by bacterial activity. A thin layer of harmful bacteria is continuously building<br />up in our teeth. If it is not removed by tooth- cleansing, especially after meals, it forms an<br />organised mass on the tooth surface in a short time. This is referred to as a "bacterial plaque"<br />when accumulated, bacteria in plaque produce many toxins which irritate the gums, cause them<br />to become inflamed, tender and bleed easily. The bacterial activity is, however, facilitated by the<br />lowered vitality of the system caused by acidosis as a result of wrong feeding habits. The<br />habitual use of white bread, white sugar, refined cereals and much meat, leads to swamping of<br />the blood and tissues with acid waste matter and to the development of the disease in one form<br />or another. Pyorrhoea is one of the many forms this swamping of the system with acid impurities<br />takes.<br />Other factors contributing to the development of pyorrhoea include injury to the gums and<br />supporting structures by physical and chemical irritants in the mouth, wrong brushing, stagnation<br />of food particles and improper use of tooth picks. In many cases, prolong tension and even<br />allergy can lead to this disease. In some cases, the use of the pill and pregnancy can give rise to<br />or aggravates the condition.<br />Treatment<br />Any treatment for pyorrhoea, to be effective, should be constitutional. It should aim at cleansing<br />the blood and tissues of the acid impurities which are at the root ofthe trouble. The extraction of<br />the teeth affected with the disease will not help clear the systemic toxaemia.<br />The patient should begin the treatment with a short juice fast for three to five days. The juice of a<br />fresh orange diluted with water on 50 : 50 basis, should be taken at two-hourly intervals from 8<br />a.m. to 8 p.m. during this period. If the orange juice does not agree, carrot juice may be taken.<br />The bowels should be cleansed daily during this period with a warm water enema. If constipation<br />is habitual, all steps should be taken for its eradication.<br />After the juice fast,the patient should spend a further three to five days on an exclusive fresh fruit<br />diet. IN this regimen, he should have three meals a day, at five-hourly intervals of fresh juicy<br />fruits such as apples, pears, grapes, grape-fruit, oranges, pineapple and melon. If losing much<br />weight on the all-fruit diet, those already under weight may add a glass of milk to each fruit meal.<br />Thereafter the patient may gradually embark upon a balanced diet, with emphasis on fresh fruits,<br />green salads, whole meal bread, properly cooked vegetables, cheese, nuts, and milk.<br />White bread, white sugar and all refined and tinned foods must be completely given up.<br />Pyorrhoea<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap73.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:30:13 PM]<br />Condiments , sauces, alcohol, coffee and strong tea as well as meat and other flesh foods<br />should also be avoided. The patient should also keep away from starchy and sticky foods.<br />The teeth and gum, like other parts of the body require exercise. This can be achieved by eating<br />hard and fibrous foods. Wheat is especially valuable in the prevention and treatment of<br />pyorrhoea. It takes time to eat wheat chappaties and as it is generally taken with other foods, it<br />compels the chewing of other foods also. This not only provides the needed exercise for the<br />teeth and gum but also a great aid to digestion.<br />Chewing unripe guava is an excellent tonic for teeth and gums. It stops the bleeding from gums<br />due its styptic effect and richness in vitamin C. Chewing its tender leaves also helps in curing<br />bleeding from gums and keeps the teeth healthy. A decoction of root-bark can also be beneficial<br />used as mouth- wash for swollen gums.<br />Lemon and lime are also useful in pyorrhoea due to their high vitamin C-content. They<br />strengthen the gums and teeth and are very effective for preventing and curing acute<br />inflammations of the gum margins.<br />Raw spinach juice is another valuable food remedy for the prevention and treatment of<br />pyorrhoea because of its beneficial effect on the teeth and gums. This effect is generally<br />enhanced if the spinach juice is taken in combination with carrot juice. A permanent aid for this<br />affliction has been found in the use of natural raw foods and in drinking an ample quantity of<br />carrot and spinach juice.<br />The daily dry friction and hip bath and the breathing and other exercises should form a part of<br />the morning routine. A hot Epsom-salt bath taken twice weekly will also be beneficial.<br />As regards local treatment, the teeth should be cleansed every morning and night with a little<br />lemon juice squeezed on the toothbrush, after it has been dipped into warm water. Afterwards<br />mouth should be well rinsed with warm water containing lemon juice. The forefinger of the right<br />hand should be rubbed gently over the gums for a minute or two after each brushing.<br />[index]<br />Pyorrhoea<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap73.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:30:13 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Rheumatism<br />The word rheumatism is derived from the Greek word "rheuma" which means a swelling. This<br />disease is recognised as one of the most serious threats to health. It is a crippling disease which<br />causes widespread invalidism, but seldom kills.<br />Rheumatism refers to an acute or chronic illness which is characterised by pain and swelling of<br />the muscles, ligaments and tendons or of the joints. It affects men and women, both young and<br />old. Quite often, this disorder extends to the heart and the values and the lining of this vital order<br />becomes inflamed. It is the most common cause in 80 per cent of the cases of valvular organic<br />diseases of the heart.<br />Rheumatism , perhaps,more than any other disease, although readily diagnosed, is never the<br />same in any two individuals. There are too many variations in the development of this disease.<br />Broadly speaking, however, rheumatism, which may be acute or chronic, can be roughly<br />grouped into two classes. These are muscular rheumatism which affects the muscles and<br />articular rheumatism which affects the joints. The muscular variety is, however, far less common<br />than that affecting the joints. In the acute form, it is often found among children and young<br />people, but in the chronic form, it is generally confined to adults.<br />Symptoms<br />The onset of the acute type of rheumatism is characterised by fever and rapid pulse with intense<br />soreness and pain. In the acute muscular type, the tissues become so sensitive that even the<br />weight of bed clothing aggravates the pain. The liver is found to be swollen. Acute rheumatism is<br />extremely painful but it leaves no permanent defects, if treated properly. It may settle into a<br />chronic state under a wrong mode of treatment.<br />The symptoms of chronic muscular rheumatism are pain and stiffness of the affected muscles.<br />The pain increases when an effort is made to move these muscles. IN cases of chronic articular<br />rheumatism, pain and stiffness are felt in one or more joints of the body, with swelling in most<br />cases. It is not usually fatal but there is a danger of permanent deformity.<br />Causes<br />The chief cause of rheumatism is the poisoning of the blood with acid wastes, which results from<br />imperfect elimination and lowered vitality. Meat, white bread, sugar, and refined cereals, to<br />which modern man is most addicted, leave a large residue of acid toxic wastes in the system.<br />These acid wastes are not neutralised due to absence of sufficient quantities of alkaline mineral<br />salts in the foods eaten. This upsets the acid-alkaline balance in the body and produces the<br />condition described as acidosis.<br />When there is abundant vitality, excess acids are ejected almost before they reach any<br />appreciable concentration in one or the other of the acute cleansing efforts such as colds and<br />fevers. When the vitality is low, the acid wastes are concentrated around the joints and bony<br />structure, where they form the basis of rheumatism. The reason why large quantities of acid<br />wastes piling up in the system are attracted towards body structure for storage is that lime,<br />which is the most prominent constituent of the bony structure, is an alkaline substance. In certain<br />cases, infection from the teeth, tonsils and gall bladder may produce rheuamtism. The disease is<br />aggravated by exposure to cold water.<br />Treatment<br />In the case of acute rheumatism, the patient should be put on a short fast of orange juice and<br />water for three or four days. While fasting, the bowels should be cleansed through a warm water<br />enema. After the juice fast, the patient should be placed on a restricted diet for 14 days. In this<br />regimen, orange or grapefruit may be taken for breakfast , lunch may consist of a raw salad of<br />any vegetables in season, with raisins, prunes, figs or dates ; and for dinner, one or two steamed<br />Rheumatism<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap74.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:30:34 PM]<br />vegetables such as spinach, cabbage, carrots, turnips, cauliflower, etc., and a few nuts or some<br />sweet fruit may be taken. NO bread or potatoes or other starchy food should be taken ;<br />otherwise the effect of the diet will be lost. Thereafter, the patient may gradually commence a<br />well balanaced diet of three basic food groups, namely (i) seeds, nuts and grains (ii)vegetables<br />and (iii) fruits.<br />In case of chronic rheumatism, the patient may be placed on an all-fruit diet for four or five days.<br />In this regimen, he should have three meals a day of fresh, juicy fruits such as apples, grapes,<br />peaches, pears, oranges, pineapples and grapefruit. He may thereafter gradually adopt a<br />well-balanced diet.<br />The patient should take ripe fruits and fresh vegetables in abundance. Lots of buttermilk should<br />be taken. The foods which should be avoided are meat, fish, white bread, sugar, refined cereals,<br />rich, indigestible and highly seasoned foods tea, coffee, alcohol, sauces, pickles and<br />condiments.<br />Raw potato juice is regarded as an excellent food remedy for rheumatism. One or two<br />teaspoonful of the juice pressed out of mashed raw potato should be taken before meals. This<br />will help eliminate an acid condition and relieve rheumatism. In some rural areas in Great Britain,<br />it is a custom for rheumatic suffers to carry a potato in their pockets, in the belief that the potato<br />will absorb in itself some of the acid from the sufferer’s body. The old potato is thrown away and<br />replaced by a new one after a few days.<br />The skin of the potato is also an excellent food remedy for rheumatism. The skin is exceptionally<br />rich in vital mineral salts and the water in which the peelings have been boiled is one of the best<br />medicines for the ailments caused by excess of acid in the system. The potato peelings should<br />be thoroughly washed and boiled for a few minutes. The decoction should then be strained and<br />a glassful of the same should be taken three or four times daily.<br />Celery is another effective food remedy for rheumatism. A fluid extract of the seeds is more<br />powerful than the raw vegetable. This also has a tonic action on the stomach and kidneys. Five<br />to ten drops of this fluid should be taken in hot water before meals. Powdered seeds can be<br />used as a condiment. Lemons are also valuable and the juice of two or three lemons may be<br />taken each day.<br />Other helpful methods in the treatment of rheumatism are application of radiant heat and hot<br />packs to the affected parts, a hot tub bath, cabinet steam bath, dry friction and a sponge bath.<br />Hot Epsom-salt baths are also beneficial and should be taken twice a week for three months in<br />case of chronic rheumatism and once weekly thereafter. The affected parts should also be<br />bathed twice daily in hot water containing Epsom-salt after which some olive oil should be<br />applied. Fresh air,deep breathing and light outdoor exercises are also beneficial. Dampness and<br />cold should be avoided.<br />[index]<br />Rheumatism<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap74.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:30:34 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Sexual Impotence<br />Sex is now regarded as a basic instinct like hunger. Sexual activity, however, demands complete<br />concentration and relaxation. It cannot be performed in haste and tension. Persons who are<br />usually tense and over-occupied are unable to follow these norms. Many persons, therefore,<br />suffer from sexual dysfunctions. The most common male sexual dysfunction is impotence or loss<br />of sexual power.<br />Symptoms<br />Impotence takes three forms. There is primary impotence When the man’s erectile dysfunction is<br />there from the very beginning of sexual activity and he simply cannot have an erection. This is a<br />rare manifestation of the problem. Secondary impotence is the commonest and this implies that<br />the man can normally attain an erection but fails on one or more occasions in between normal<br />activity. The third form is associated with age and is a continuous and serious form with poor<br />prognosis.<br />Causes<br />Since erection is the result of erotic excitement, intact nervous pathways and adequate<br />hormonal functioning, the pathological causes of impotence are numerous. It may occur as a<br />result of psychological illness such as depression, which lowers both sexual drive and erectile<br />function, tiredness, alcohol abuse, the therapeutic use of oestrogens, paralysis of<br />parasympathetic nerves by drugs or permanent damage to them and diabetes. Other causes of<br />impotence are abuse or misuse of the sexual organism over a long period and a devitalised<br />condition of the system in general.<br />However, the main problem of secondary impotence is the apprehension created by failure<br />which generates a good deal of anxiety for the next time round regarding the likelihood of failure.<br />If, in fact, intercourse is attempted again and the same failure results, then a vicious circle is<br />established. Anxiety of failure is established as an anticipatory reflex which in turn impairs the<br />capacity of the penis.<br />Treatment<br />Taking of drugs or so called "remedies" in case of impotence is not only useless but dangerous.<br />Diet is an important factor in these conditions. To begin with, the patient should adopt an<br />exclusive fresh fruit diet from five to seven days. In this regimen, he can have three meals a day,<br />at five hourly intervals, of fresh juicy fruits such as grapes, oranges, apples, pears, peaches,<br />pineapple and melon. The bowels should be cleansed daily during this period with a warm-water<br />enema.<br />After the all-fruit diet, the patient may gradually embark upon a balanced diet of seeds, nuts and<br />grains, vegetables and fruits, with generous use of special rejuvenative foods such as whey,<br />soured milks, particularly made from goat’s milk, millet, garlic, honey, cold-pressed vegetable<br />oils and brewer’s yeast. The patient should avoid smoking,alcohol, tea, coffee and all processed,<br />canned, refined and denatured foods, especially white sugar and white flour and products made<br />from them.<br />Certain foods are considered highly beneficial in the treatment of impotence. The most important<br />of these is garlic. It is a natural and harmless aphrodisiac. According to Dr. Robinson, an<br />eminent sexologist of America ,garlic has a pronounced aphrodisiac effect. It is a tonic for loss of<br />sexual power from any cause and for sexual debility and impotence resulting from sexual<br />over-indulgence and nervous exhaustion.<br />Onion is another important aphrodisiac food. It stands second only to garlic. It increases libido<br />and strengthens the reproductory organs. The white variety of onion, is however, more useful for<br />this purpose.<br />Sexual Impotence<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap75.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:30:43 PM]<br />Carrot is also considered useful in impotence. For better results, carrot should be taken with a<br />half-boiled egg dipped in a tablespoonful of honey once daily for a month or two. This recipe<br />increases sex stamina by releasing sex hormones and strengthens the sexual plexus. It is for<br />this reason that carrot halwa, prepared according to Unani specifications is considered a very<br />effective tonic to improve sexual strength.<br />The lady’s finger is another great tonic for improving sexual vigour. It has been mentioned in<br />ancient Indian literature that the persons who take five to 10 grms of root powder of this<br />vegetable with milk and ‘misri’ daily will never lose sexual vigour.<br />Dried dates, known as chhuhara in the vernacular, is a highly strengthening food. Pounded and<br />mixed with almonds, pistachio nuts and quince seeds, it forms an effective remedy for increasing<br />sexual power.<br />Black raisins are also useful for restoration of sexual vigour. They should be boiled with milk<br />after washing them thoroughly in tepid water. This will make them swollen and sweet. Eating of<br />such raisins should be followed by the use of milk. Starting with 30 grams of raising with 200 ml.<br />of milk, three times daily, the quantity of raising should be gradually increased to 50 grams each<br />time.<br />A vigorous massage all over the body is highly beneficial in the treatment of impotence as it will<br />revive the muscular vigour which is essential for nervous energy. The nerves of the genital<br />organs are controlled by the pelvic region. Hence a cold hip bath for 10 minutes in the morning<br />or evening will be very effective.<br />Every effort should be made to build up the general health level to the highest degree and fresh<br />air and outdoor exercise are essential to the success of the treatment. Yogasanas such as<br />dhanurasana, sarvangasana and halasana are also highly beneficial.<br />The scheme of treatment outlined above will go a long way in restoring sexual vigour, but of<br />course the results achieved will depend upon the age and condition of the sufferer.<br />Longstanding cases will obviously not get such good results from the treatment as comparatively<br />early cases ; and younger men will naturally tend to do better than older men.<br />Where the trouble is of psychological origin, treatment should be just the same , but in these<br />cases advice from a qualified psychotherapist would be desirable. The patient also requires<br />gentle handling by a willing partner.<br />[index]<br />Sexual Impotence<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap75.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:30:43 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Sinusitis<br />Sinusitis refers to an inflammation of the mucous membrane lining the paranasal sinuses. If<br />often follows the common cold, influenza and other general infections. Germs which are usually<br />eliminated from body sometimes find their way into these sinuses or chambers on either side of<br />the nasal passage, leading to sinus trouble.<br />The sinuses consist of cavities or chambers contained in the bones situated in the head and<br />face region. The frontal ,maxillary, ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses are the paranasal sinuses<br />which communicate with the nose. The frontal sinuses lie on the frontal bone directly above the<br />eyes. The maxillary sinuses are located one on each side of the nose under the cheekbone. The<br />ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses are situated behind the nose or either sideof it. These air sinuses<br />lighten the weight of the skull and give resonance to the voice.<br />Symptoms<br />Th symptoms of sinusitis are excessive or constant sneezing, a running nose, blockage of one<br />or both nostrils, headaches and pressure around the head, eyes and face. Sinus headaches are<br />usually felt in the forehead and in the face just below the eyes. The patient may suffer from a low<br />grade fever, lack of appetite, loss of sense of appetite, and toothache. He feels miserable<br />because of difficulty in breathing. The voice is also affected because of the blocked nose.<br />Causes<br />Sinusitis results from the congestion of the sinus passages due to catarrh. It is caused by<br />over-secretion of mucus in the membranes lining the nose, throat and head. This over-secretion<br />is due to irritation caused by toxins in the blood.<br />A faulty diet is thus the real cause of sinus trouble. When a person consumes certain types of<br />foods or drinks regularly, these, in due course, have a conditioning effect on the entire system.<br />As a result,some persons become more sensitive to certain allergens, whose reaction ultimately<br />turns into sinusitis.<br />The Cure<br />Correcting the faulty diet is of utmost importance in the treatment of sinusitis. Patients should<br />take a balanced diet. Most persons with sinus trouble also suffer from acidity. Their diet should,<br />therefore, veer to the alkaline side. The intake of salt should be reduced to the minimum as salt<br />leads to accumulation of water in the tissues and expels calcium from the body.<br />In the acute stage of the disease, when fever is present, the patient should abstain from all solid<br />foods and only drink fresh fruit and vegetable juices diluted with water on a 50 : 50 basis. After<br />fever subsides, he may adopt a low-calorie raw fruit and vegetable diet with plenty of raw juices.<br />After the acute symptoms are over, the patient may gradually embark upon a well-balanced diet<br />of three basic food groups, namely seeds, nuts and grains ; vegetables and fruits. IN persistent<br />chronic conditions, repeated short juice fasts may be undertaken for a week or so at intervals of<br />two months.<br />Those suffering from sinusitis should completely avoid fried and starchy foods, white sugar,<br />white flour, rice, macaroni products, pies, cakes and candies. They should also avoid strong<br />spices, meat and products. Butter and ghee should be used sparingly. Honey should be used for<br />sweetening. All cooked foods should be freshly prepared for each meal. Vegetables should be<br />taken in liberal quantities. All kinds of fruits can be taken with the exception of those belonging to<br />citrus group such as lemon, lime, orange and grapefruit. Milk should be taken in liberal quantities<br />as it contains calcium which has a marked effect in overcoming inflammation of the tissues.<br />A diet rich in vitamin A is the best insurance against cold and sinus trouble. Vitamin A is the<br />"membrane conditioner" as it helps build healthy mucus membranes in the head and throat.<br />Some of the valuable sources of this vitamin are whole milk, curds, egg yolk, pumpkin, carrot,<br />Sinusitis<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap76.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:30:54 PM]<br />leafy vegetables, tomato, oranges, mango and papaya.<br />When the sinus trouble has already developed, relief can be obtained by taking vitamin A in<br />large therapeutic doses of 25,000 I.U. per day. Vitamin C has also proved beneficial in the<br />treatment of sinusitis and the patient should take one gram of this vitamin per day in two<br />therapeutic doses of 500 mg. each.<br />One of the most effective remedies for sinus problems is to eat pungent herbs like garlic and<br />onion which tend to break up mucous congestion all through the respiratory tract. One should<br />begin with small mild doses and increase them gradually. Beneficial results can also be<br />achieved by adding these herbs in moderate amounts to regular meals.<br />Carrot juice used seperately or in combination with juices of beet and cucumber or with spinach<br />juice is highly beneficial in the treatment of sinus trouble. 100 ml. each of beet and cucumber<br />juice or 200 ml. of spinach juice should be mixed with 300 ml. of carrot juice in these<br />combinations.<br />Water Treatment<br />Cold application over the sinus will give great relief ; alternate hot and cold applications will also<br />prove beneficial. Take pans of hot and cold water, bathe the whole face with hot water - as hot<br />as you can bear - and then apply cold water for short duration. Nasal inhalation of steam for five<br />minutes every hour will also give relief.<br />Yogasanas such as viparitkarani, bhujangasana, yogamudra and shavasana, yogic kriyas , such<br />as jalneti and sutraneti and pranayamas like anuloma-viloa and suryabhedan will be beneficial in<br />the treatment of sinus trouble.<br />Plenty of sleep, adequate rest and fresh air are essential in the treatment of sinus trouble.<br />Patients should avoid the use of perfumes and strongly scented hair oil.<br />[index]<br />Sinusitis<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap76.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:30:54 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Stress<br />The term stress has been borrowed by biologists from engineering, where it implies an ability to<br />withstand a defined amount of strain. Dr. Hans Selye, a great medical genius and noted world<br />authority on stress, has described stress as " a state manifested by a specific syndrome which<br />consists of all the non-specifically induced changes within a biological system. "<br />The term implies any condition that harms the body or damages or causes the death of a few or<br />many cells. The body immediately tries to repair the damaged cells but it can do so only if the<br />diet is adequate, providing a generous supply of all the essential nutrients. If, however,<br />rebuilding of cells is not able to keep pace with their destruction, the condition will result in<br />disease. The most common disease associated with stress are heart disease, diabetes,<br />headache and peptic ulcer. Other diseases resulting from stress are ulcerative colitis, chronic<br />dyspepsia, asthma, psoriasis and sexual disorders.<br />Reactions to stress are manifold. No one situation is stressful to all the people all the time. Some<br />of the factors that can produce stress are children or the lack of them, the boss or the<br />subordinate, the traffic ,the telephone or the lackof it, overwork or not enough to do, too much<br />money or too little of it, making decision, a dull routine job, lack of authority and apprehensions<br />about the future.<br />Symptoms<br />The body and the mind react to any stress factor. A large number of physical changes take place<br />at the time of stress induced arousal. The brain and nervous system become intensely active,<br />the pupils of the eye dilate, digestion slows down,muscles become tense, the heart starts<br />pumping blood harder and faster, blood pressure increases , breathing become faster,<br />hormones such as adrenalie are released into the system alongwith glucose from the liver and<br />sweating starts.<br />All these changes take place in a split second under the direction of the nervous system. If the<br />stress factors are immediately removed, no harm accrues and all the changes are reversed.<br />Stress in its earlier and reversible stage leads to poor sleep, bad temper, continual grumbling,<br />longer hours of work with less achievement, domestic conflict with spouse and children,<br />repeated minor sickness, absenteeism and prolonged absence for each spell of sickness,<br />accident proneness, feeling of frustration and persecution by colleagues and complaints of lack<br />of cooperation and increase in alcoholic intake.<br />It is essential that these symptoms are recognised early by the patients or their well-wishers and<br />remedies measures taken to overcome them. If, however, stress is continuous or repeated<br />frequently, a variety of symptoms appear such as dizziness, stiff muscles, headache, vision<br />problems, breathing difficulties, asthma, allergies, palpitation, digestive disorders, blood sugar<br />rregularities, backache, skin disorders, bowel disorders and sexual difficulties<br />Causes<br />Stress may be caused by a variety of factors both outside the body and within. External factors<br />include loud noises, blinding lights, extreme heat or cold, x-rays and other forms of radiation,<br />drugs, chemicals, bacterial and various toxic substances, pain and inadequate nutrition. The<br />factors from within the body include feelings of hate, envy, fear or jealousy.<br />Treatment<br />In dealing with stress, the patient should completely change his life style. He should adopt an<br />optimum diet which should be able to meet the nutritional demands of stress. Such diet should<br />obviously be made of foods which, in combination , would supply all the essential nutrients. It<br />has been found that a diet which contains liberal quantities of (i) seeds, nuts and grains, (ii)<br />vegetables, and (iii) fruits would provide an adequate amount of allthe essential nutrients. Each<br />Stress<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap77.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:31:18 PM]<br />of these food groups should roughly form the bulk of one of the three meals. These three basic<br />health -building foods should be supplemented with certain special foods such as milk,<br />vegetable oils and honey.<br />There are many foods which are helpful in meeting the demands of stress and should be taken<br />regularly by the patient. These are yogurt, blackstrap molasses, seeds, and sprouts. Yogurt is<br />rich in vitamin A, B complex and D. It relieves insomnia, migraine and cramps associated with<br />menstruation. Blackstrap molasses, a by-product of sugar refining process, is rich in iron and B<br />vitamins. It guards against anaemia and is good for heart diseases. Seeds such as alfalfa,<br />sunflower, and pumpkin and sprouts are rich in calcium and quite effective as deterrents of<br />listlessness and anxiety. Steam cooked vegetables are best as boiling causes many vitamins<br />and minerals to be dispelled into the water.<br />The leaves of holy basil, known as tulsi in the vernacular, are highly beneficially the treatment of<br />stress. They are regarded as adaptogen or antistress agents. Recent studies have shown that<br />the leaves protect against stress significantly. It has been suggested that even healthy persons<br />should chew 12 leaves of basil twice a day, morning and evening for preventing stress.<br />Certain nutrients are beneficial in relieving stress. These are vitamins A and B, minerals such as<br />calcium, potassium and magnesium which reduce the feeling of irritability and anxiety. Vitamin A<br />is found in green and yellow vegetables. Some of the valuable sources of vitamin B are<br />cashews, green leafy vegetables, yeast, sprouts and bananas. An element of vitamin B complex,<br />pantothenic acid is especially important in preventing stress. It has a deep effect on the adrenal<br />glands and the immune system and adequate amount of this vitamin along with vitamin A can<br />help prevent many of the changes caused by stress.<br />Potassium deficiencies are associated with breathlessness, fatigue, insomnia and low blood<br />sugar. Potassium is essential for healthy heart muscles. Nuts and unrefined grains are good<br />sources of potassium. Calcium is a natural sedative. Deficiencies can cause fatigue,<br />nervousness and tension. Dairy products, eggs, almonds, and soyabeans are rich sources of<br />calcium. Magnesium is known as nature’s tranquiliser and is associated with the prevention of<br />heart attack. Deficiencices may lead to excitability, irritability, apprehension and emotional<br />disorders. Magnesium is also necessary for absorption of calcium and potassium and is found in<br />many fruits, vegetables, seeds, dates and prunes.<br />There are certain foods which are associated with stress and anxiety and should be scrupulously<br />avoided by patients. These foods are caffeine and many soft drinks, which causes nervousness,<br />irritability and palpitation ; salt which has been associated with heart diseases; cigarettes which<br />cause tension, irritability and sleeplessness and which have been linked with cancer, and<br />alcohol which depletes vitamins of B group consider essential for reducing stress.<br />Regular physical exercise plays an important role in the fight against stress. Exercise not only<br />keeps the body physically and mentally fit, it also provides recreation and mental relaxation. It is<br />nature’s best tranquiliser. One can jog, run, walk or play games, depending upon one’s liking.<br />Walking is the simplest and safest exercise. One should take a brisk walk for 45 minutes or so<br />daily. Yogic asanas, kriyas and simple pranayams , beneficial for maintenance of general health<br />and mental relaxation, can serve as the best shock-absorbers against stress. These include<br />asanas like pavanmuktasana, sarvagasana, halasana, ardhamatsyendrasana, bhujangasana,<br />dhanurasana, yogamudra ,padmasana, trikonasana, kriyas like kunjal and jalneti<br />andpranayamas such as kapal bhati, anuloma- viloam, sitali , sitkari and bhramari.<br />Recreation and rest are equally important and patient should set a definite time for recreational<br />activities. They should also take a holiday at regular intervals. And above all, they should<br />simplify their lifestyles to eliminate unnecessary stress.<br />[index]<br />Stress<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap77.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:31:18 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Thinness<br />Underweight,like over, is a relative terms, being based on the ideal weight for a given height,<br />built and sex. A person can be regarded as moderately underweight if he or she weighs 10 per<br />cent below the ideal body weight and markedly so if 20 per cent below the ideal.<br />Appropriate body weight is among the most important physical attributes and has a deep<br />influence upon the health and personality of an individual. For a healthy body, weight slightly<br />above the average is favorable upto the age of 30 years, as it serves as a good defense<br />measure against certain diseases, especially tuberculosis. Between 30 and 40 years of age, the<br />endeavor should be to maintain the weight at the average level as during this period, many<br />future diseases have their beginning. After the age of 40, it will be advisable to keep the weight<br />slightly below the average, so as to lighten the burden on the heart, kidney and other vital<br />organs.<br />There are two types of thin people. One type is wiry and energetic, who eat heartily but never<br />put on weight. Presumably, they burn up energy due to constant activity. Such persons need not<br />worry as chances are that they do not have any disease as such. The other type of thin persons<br />lack energy and drie, are unable to take normal meals and find that rich food usually makes<br />them sick. Their body lacks fat cells thus providing no storage place for added fat and the<br />calories they consume are probably wasted.<br />Symptoms<br />Underweight due to an inadequate caloric in take is a serious condition, especially in the young.<br />They often feel easily fatigued, have poor physical stamina and lowered resistance to infection.<br />Diseases like tuberculosis, respiratory disorders, pneumonia, circulatory diseases like heart<br />disorders, cerebral haemorrhage, nepthritis, typhoid fever and cancer are quite common among<br />them. The occurrence of the complications of pregnancy in your women may result from<br />malnutrition due to an inadequate energy intake.<br />Causes<br />Thinness may be due to inadequate nutrition or excessive bodily activity or both. Emotional<br />factors or bad habits such as skipped meals, small meals, habitual fasting and inadequate<br />exercise are some of the other causes of thinness. Other factors include inadequate digestion<br />and absorption of food due to a wrong dietary pattern for a particular metabolism; metabolic<br />disturbances such as an overactive thyroid and hereditary tendencies. Disorders such as chronic<br />dyspepsia, chronic diarrhoea presence of parasites like tapeworm in the alimentary canal, liver<br />disorders, diabetes mellitus, insomnia ,constipation, and sexual disorders can also lead to<br />thinness.<br />Treatment<br />Diet play an important role in building up health for gaining weight. Nutrients which help keep the<br />nerves relaxes are of utmost importance as nervousness causes all the muscles to become<br />tense and the energy which goes into the tenseness wastefully uses up a great deal of food.<br />Although all vitamins and minerals are required for a sound health the most important ones are<br />vitamin D and B6, calcium and magnesium. The richest sources of vitamin D are milk, cod liver<br />oil and the rays of the sun. Calcium is also supplied by milk and yogurt. Magnesium can be<br />obtained from green leafy vegetables such as spinach, parsley, turnip, radish and beet tops.<br />These vegetables should preferably be taken in salad former should be lightly cooked.<br />Lack of appetite can result from an inadequate supply of vitamin B, which leads to low<br />production of hydrochloric acid by the stomach. Hydrochloric acid is essential for the digestion of<br />food and absorption of vitamins and minerals into the blood. It is , therefore, necessary that the<br />daily diet should be rich in vitamin B for normal appetite. Proper digestion and absorption of<br />Thinness<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap78.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:31:49 PM]<br />foods and regular elimination. Foods rich in vitamin B are all whole grain cereals, blackstrap<br />molasses, nuts, soyabean, eggs and butter. Vegetable oil is of special value to those wishing to<br />gain weight as it isrich in vitamin E and essential fatty acids .<br />Underweight persons should eat frequent small meals as they tend to feel full quickly. Meals<br />may be divided into six small ones instead of three big ones. These may consist of three smaller<br />meals and three substantial snacks between them. The weight-building quality of a food is<br />measured by the number of calories it contains. To gain weight, the diet should include more<br />calories than are used in daily activities so as to allow the excess to be stored as body fat. The<br />allowance of 500 calories in excess of the daily average needs is estimated to provide for a<br />weight gain of one pound weekly.<br />All refined foods such as products containing white flour and sugar should be avoided,as they<br />destroy health. Excessive intake of refined carbohydrates and fats may help the individual to put<br />on weight but this will be detrimental to general health. The diet should be tilted towards<br />alkaline-forming foods such as fruits and vegetables. Alkaline foods should comprise 80 per cent<br />of the diet. The other 20 per cent should consist of acid forming foods such as cereals, and<br />lentils. Beverages containing caffeine like soft drinks, coffee and tea should be curtailed.<br />Smoking should be given up. Water should not be taken with meals but half an hour before or<br />one hour after meals.<br />Milk Cure<br />An exclusive milk diet for rapid gain of weight has been advocated by some nature cure<br />practitioners. IN the begining of this mode of treatment, the patient should fast for three days on<br />warm water and like juice so as to cleanse the system. Thereafter, he should have a glass of<br />milk every two hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. the first day, a glass every hour and half the next day,<br />and a glass every hour the third day. Then the quantity of milk should be gradually increased so<br />as to take a glass every half an hour from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. If such a quantity can be tolerated<br />fairly comfortably. The milk should be fresh and unboiled , but may be slightly warmed, if<br />desired. It should be sipped very slowly through a straw. The milk should be unpasteurised, if<br />possible.<br />Figs are an excellent food remedy for increasing weight in case of thinness. The high<br />percentage of rapidly assimilable sugar make them a strengthening and fattening food.<br />Regular exercises like walking and dancing, yoga , meditation and massage are also important<br />as they serve as relaxants, reduce stress and induce good sleep. Yogasanas which will be<br />especially helpful are sarvangasana, halasana and matsyasana.<br />A balanced diet together with adequate exercise, rest ,emotional balance and the absence of<br />acute diseases will enable an underweight person to build a healthy body and to put on weight.<br />[index]<br />Thinness<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap78.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:31:49 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Tonsillitis<br />Tonsillitis refer to acute inflammation of the tonsils. It is also known as acute sore throat. Chronic<br />tonsillitis is a term applied to cases inwhich there is enlargement of the tonsils accompanied by<br />repeated attacks of infection.<br />The tonsils are two small lymphoid organs that lie one on each side of the throat. They can be<br />seen just behind the back of the tongue between two folds of membrane running upto the soft<br />palate. Normally, they are about the size of a lima bean but they can become very much larger if<br />severely infected. They are valuable organs of selective elimination and perform a two-fold<br />function. Firstly, they protect the throat against disease germs. Secondly, they serve as<br />barometers for indicating infection elsewhere in the body, when they become sore and swollen.<br />Symptoms<br />The main symptoms of tonsillitis are sore throat, fever, headache, pain in various parts of the<br />body, difficulty in swallowing and general weakness. The tonsils are seen to be inflamed and red<br />when the mouth is opened wide. In many cases, spots of pus exude from them. Externally, the<br />tonsillar lymph glands which lie just behind the angle of the jaw are tender and enlarged. IN<br />several cases there may be pain in the ear.<br />Causes<br />The chief cause of tonsilities is a toxic condition of the system generally and is brought to a head<br />by sudden lowering of vitality resulting from exposure and sudden chill. Tonsils enlarge and get<br />inflamed when the toxins cannot be got rid of through the normal channels of elimination such as<br />the bowels, kidneys and skin. Throat afflictions of this kind is also associated with the result of<br />chronic constipation, when toxin, which should should have been ejected from the system in the<br />normal way, are reabsorbed into the blood-stream.<br />Treatment<br />The treatment of the tonsillitis on the lines of modern medical system by means of painting and<br />spraying is both harmful and suppressive. It does not help to rid the system of the toxins, which<br />are the root of the trouble. In fact it forces these toxins back into the system, which may cause<br />more serious trouble later on. The correct way to treat the disease is to cleanse the system of<br />toxic waste through proper dietary and other natural methods.<br />To begin with, the patient should fast for three to five days by which time serious symptoms<br />would subside. Nothing but water and orange juice should be taken during this time. The bowels<br />should be cleansed daily with a warm water enema during the period of fasting. A cold pack<br />should be applied to the throat at two-hourly interval during the day. The procedure is to wring<br />out some linen material in cold water, wrap it two or three times around the throat and cover it<br />with some flannelling.<br />The throat may be gargled several times daily with neat lemon juice. Gargle made from the<br />fenugreek seeds is very effective in severe cases. To make such a gargle , two tablespoonful of<br />fenugreek seeds should be allowed to simmer for half an hour in a litre of water and then set<br />aside to cool. The entire quantity should be used as a soothing gargle in a day with beneficial<br />results. A hot Epsom -salt bath taken every day or every other day will also be beneficial.<br />After the acute symptoms of tonsillities are over, the patient should adopt an all-fruit diet for<br />further three or four days. In this regimen, three meals of fresh, juicy fruits such as apples,<br />grapes, grapefruit, oranges, pears, pineapple, peaches and melon may be taken. The juice of<br />fresh pineapple is most valuable in all throat afflictions of this kind. After the all-fruit diet the<br />patient may gradually embark upon a well-balanced diet on the following lines :<br />Breakfast : Fresh fruits, or grated raw carrot or any other raw salad, and milk. Prunes or other<br />dried fruits may be added , if desired.<br />Tonsillitis<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap79.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:32:02 PM]<br />Lunch : Steamed vegetables, as obtainable, and whole wheat chappatis. Vegetables likes bitter<br />gourd and fenugreek are specially beneficial.<br />Dinner : A good-sized raw salad of vegetables as obtainable, sprouts seeds as mung beans and<br />alfalfa seeds, wholemeal bread and butter or cottage cheese.<br />Raw vegetable juices are also valuable in the treatment of tonsillitis. Juice of carrot, beet and<br />cucumber taken individually or in combination are especially beneficial. Formula proportion<br />found to be helpful when used in combination are carrot 300 ml., beet 100ml., and cucumber<br />100 ml.<br />The daily dry friction and hip bath as well as breathing and other exercises should all form part of<br />the daily health regimen. A hot Epsom-salts bath once or twice a week can also be taken<br />regularly with beneficial results.<br />Tonsillits canbe successfully treated by the natural methods outlined above. Surgery for the<br />removal of the tonsils is necessary only in very rare cases, when tonsils are seriously diseased,<br />rugged and contain hopelessly incurable pus pockets.<br />[index]<br />Tonsillitis<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap79.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:32:02 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Tuberculosis<br />Tuberculosis or consumption is one of the most dreaded diseases. It is a major health problem<br />in India and often rated the number one killer. Over five lakh people die of this disease every<br />year.<br />Tuberculosis is caused by a tiny germ called tubercle bacillus which is so small that it can be<br />detected only by a microscope. The germ enters into the body through the nose, mouth and<br />windpipe and settles down in the lungs. It multiplies by millions and produces small raised spots<br />called tubercles.<br />Tuberculosis is not hereditary but an infectious or communicable disease. Those suffering from<br />the disease for a considerable time eject living germs while coughing or spitting and when these<br />enter the nose or mouth of healthy persons, they contract the disease. Mouth breathing and<br />kissing as well as contaminated food and water are also responsible for spreading tuberculosis.<br />Symptoms<br />Tuberculosis is of four types, namely of lungs, intestines, bones and glands. Pulmonary<br />tuberculosis or tuberculosis of the lung is by far the most common type of tuberculosis. It tends<br />to consume the body and the patient loses strength, colour and weight. Other symptoms are a<br />raise in temperature especially inthe evening, a persistent cough and hoarseness, difficulty in<br />breathing, pain in the shoulders, indigestion,chest pain, and blood in the sputum.<br />Causes<br />Lowered resistance or devitalisation of the system is the chief cause of this disease. This<br />condition is brought about mainly by mineral starvation of the tissues of the body due to an<br />inadequate diet ; and the chief mineral concerned is calcium. In many ways, therefore<br />tuberculosis is the disease of calcium deficiency. There can be no breakdown of the tissue and<br />no tuberculosis growth where there is adequate supply of organic calcium in the said tissue.<br />Thus an adequate supply of organic calcium in the system together with organic mineral matter<br />is a sure preventive of the development of tuberculosis.<br />Lowered resistance also results from a variety of other factors such as suppression of the<br />disease by drugs and medication, use of stale, devitaminised and acid forming foods, eating<br />wrong combination of food, such as taking fruits with starchy foods at one meal, causing<br />fermentation the stomach ; wasting of energy through excessive loss of semen and living in<br />ill-ventilated houses. Other causes include exposure to cold, loss of sleep, impure air, a<br />sedentary life, overwork, conta- minated milk, use of tobacco in any form, liquor of all kinds, tea,<br />coffee and all harmful drinks. The factors prepare the ground for the growth of germs of various<br />kind, including tubercle baccilus. These germs may be present in the body but are quite<br />harmless for those who are full of vitality and natural resistance.<br />Treatement<br />Tuberculosis is no longer considered incurable if it is tackled in the early stages. An all round<br />scheme of dietetic and vitality building programme along naturallines is the only method to<br />overcome the disease. As a first step, the patient should be put on an exclusive fresh fruit diet<br />for three or four days. He should have three meals a day of fresh, juicy fruits, such as apples,<br />grapes, pears, peaches, oranges, pineapple, melonor any other juicy fruit in season. Bananas,<br />dried or tinned fruits should not be taken. For drinks, unsweetened lemon water or plain water<br />either hot or cold may be taken. If losing such weight on the all-fruit diet, those already under<br />weight may add a glass of milk to each fruit meal.<br />After the all-fruit diet, the patient should adopt a fruit and milk diet. For this diet, the meals are<br />exactly the same as the all-fruit diet, but with milk added to each fruit meal. The patient may<br />begin with a litre of milk the first day and increase by quarter litre daily upto two to two and a half<br />Tuberculosis<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap80.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:32:32 PM]<br />litres according to how the milk agrees. The milk should befresh and unboiled , but may be<br />slightly warmed if desired. It should be sipped very slowly. The fruit and milk diet should be<br />continued for four to six weeks. Thereafter, the following dietary may be adopted :<br />Breakfast : Fresh fruits, as obtainable, and milk. Prunes or other dried fruits may also be taken,<br />if desired.<br />Lunch : Steamed vegetables as available, one or two whole wheat chappatis and a glass of<br />buttermilk.<br />Dinner : A bowl of raw salad of suitable vegetables with wholewheat bread and butter. Stewed<br />fruit or cooked apple may be taken for dessert.<br />At bed time : A glass of milk.<br />The chief therapeutic agent needed for the treatment of tuberculosis is calcium. Milk, being the<br />richest food source for the supply of organic calcium to the body, should be taken liberally. IN<br />the dietary outlined above at least one litre of milk should be taken daily. Further periods on the<br />exclusive fruit diet followed by fruit and milk diet should be adopted at intervals of two or three<br />months depending on the progress. During the first few days of the treatment, the bowels should<br />be cleansed daily with the warm-water enema and afterwards as necessary.<br />The patient shooed avoid all devitalised foods such as white bread, white sugar, refined cereals,<br />puddings and pies, tinned, canned and preserved foods. He should also avoid strong tea, coffee,<br />condiments, pickles, sauces, etc.<br />The custard apple is regarded as an effective food remedy for tuberculosis. It is said to contain<br />the qualities of rejuvenating drugs. The Ayurvedic practitioner prepares a fermented liquor called<br />sitaphalasava from the custard apple in its season for use as medicine in the treatment of<br />tuberculosis. It is prepared by boiling custard apple pulp and seedless raisins in water on slow<br />fire. It is filtered when about one third of water is left. It is then mixed with powdered sugar and<br />candy and also the powder of car- damom, cinnamon and certain other condiments.<br />Indian goosebeary has proved to be an effective remedy for tuberculosis. A tablespoonful each<br />of fresh amla juice and honey mixed together should be taken every morning in this condition. Its<br />regular use will promote vigour and vitality in the body within a few days. Regular use of radish is<br />also beneficial.<br />The patient should take complete rest of both mind and body. Any typeof stress will prevent<br />healing. Fresh air is always important in curing the disease and the patient should spend most of<br />the time in the open air and should sleep in a well-ventilated room. Sunshine is also essential as<br />tuber bacilli are rapidly killed by exposure to sun rays. Other beneficial steps towards curing the<br />disease are avoidance of strain, slow massage, deep breathing and light occupation to ensure<br />mental diversion.<br />Water Treatment<br />Certain water treatments are helpful in cases of tuberculosis. The patient’s vital resistance can<br />be built up by a carefully planned graduated cold bath routine twice a day. The intensity of the<br />cold applications should be gradually increased to achieve satisfactory results. However, care<br />must be taken to keep the patient from catching a chill. A short hot fomentation with alternate<br />short cold application to the chest and back, and in the stomach region or a neutral immersion<br />bath ( water temperature 98 O to 100 o F) for an hour just before retiring at night is also<br />beneficial.<br />Certain yogic practices are beneficial in the treatment of tuberculosis in its early stages. These<br />include asanas like viparitakarani, sarvangasana and shavasana and jalneti kriya and<br />anuloma-viloma pranayama.<br />[index]<br />Tuberculosis<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap80.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:32:32 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Varicose Veins<br />Veins are thin-walled vessels through which the impure blood is carried back to the heart. They<br />usually have valves which regular the flow of blood towards the heart. Varicose veins are a<br />condition in which veins become enlarged, dilated or thickened.<br />Varicose veins can occur in any part of the body but generally appear on the legs. The veins of<br />the legs are the largest in the body and they carry the blood from the lower extremities upwards<br />towards the heart. The direction of circulation in these vessels is largely determined by gravity.<br />Though there are no mechanical obstacles to blood-flow, it is usually the incompetence of the<br />valve which leads to an increase in intravenous pressure.<br />Varicose veins have an unsightly appearance and can be dangerous. A blood clot within a large,<br />greatly dilated vein may breakaway and move toward the heart and lungs, causing serious<br />complications. Varicose veins are about thrice as common as occurrence in women as in men.<br />This disease is rare in rural undeveloped societies.<br />Symptoms<br />The first sign of varicose veins is a swelling along the course of the veins. This may be followed<br />by muscular cramps and a feeling of tiredness in the legs behind he knees. In some cases, the<br />normal flow of blood towards the heart may be reversed when the patient is in an upright<br />position. This results in venous blood collecting in the lower part of the legs and the skin<br />becomes purplish and pigmented, leading to what is known as varicose eczema or varicose<br />ulcers. Both conditions cause severe pain.<br />Causes<br />A varicose condition of the veins results from sluggish circulation due to various factors such as<br />constipation, dietetic errors, lack of exercise and smoking. Standing for long periods and wearing<br />tight clothings can also lead to sluggish circulation. Pregnancy may cause varicose veins due to<br />increased pressure in the pelvis and abdomen, which slows down the flow of blood from the<br />lower extremities to the heart. Women usually suffer from this condition in the early years of<br />child-bearing. Obesity can also cause varicose veins.<br />Treatment<br />For a proper treatment of varicose veins, the patients should, in the beginning, be put on a juice<br />fast for four or five days or on all-fruit diet for 7 to 10 days. A warm water enema should be<br />administered daily during this period to cleanse the bowels and measures should be taken to<br />avoid constipation.<br />After the juice fast or all the fruits- diet ,the patient should adopt restricted diet plan. In this<br />regimen, oranges or orange and lemon juice may be taken for breakfast. The midday meal may<br />consist of a raw salad or any of the vegetables in the season with olive oil and lemon juice<br />dressing. Steamed vegetables such as spinach, cabbage, carrots, turnips, cauliflower and<br />raisins, figs or dates may be taken in the evening. No bread or potatoes or other starchy food<br />should be included in this diet, or otherwise the whole effect of the diet will be lost.<br />After the restricted diet, the patient may gradually embark upon a well-balanced diet with<br />emphasis on grains, seeds, nuts, vegetables and fruits. About 75 per cent of the diet should<br />consist of raw vegetables and fruits. All condiments , alcoholic drinks, coffee, strong tea, white<br />flour products, white sugar, andwhite sugar products should be strictly avoided. A short fast or<br />the all-fruit diet for two or three days may be undertaken every month, depending on the<br />progress.<br />Raw vegetables juices, especially carrot juice in combination with spinach juice, have proved<br />highly beneficial in the treatment of varicose veins. The formula proportion considered helpful in<br />this combination are carrot 300 ml.and spinach 200 ml to prepare 500 ml of juice.<br />Varicose Veins<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap81.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:32:42 PM]<br />Certain nutrients, especially vitamin E and C have also been found effective in the treatment of<br />this disease. The patient should take vitamin C in a therapeutic dose upto 3,000 mg. and Vitamin<br />E in therapeutic doses from 600 to 1200 I.U. daily. This will relieve him of pain and leg cramps<br />associated with varicose veins.<br />The alternate hot and cold hip bath is very valuable and should be taken daily. The affected<br />parts should be sprayed with cold water or cold packs should be applied to them. A mud pack<br />may be applied at night and allowed to remain until morning. A hot Epsom-salt bath is also very<br />valuable and should be taken twice a week.<br />Precautionary Measures :<br />The following precautionary measures will help prevent varicose veins and ease symptoms if the<br />disease has already developed :<br />When on a long plane or train trip get up and walk around every half an hour. If on a long<br />trip by car, stop once in a while and get out to stretch your legs.<br />1.<br />When you are reading or watching television, elevate your feet and rest your legs on a<br />chair or stool.<br />2.<br />Mobility helps general circulation. Walking is beneficial as the movements of leg muscles<br />help push the blood upwards. Swimming or walking in deep water does much the same<br />thing. The great pressure of the water against legs helps move the blood up the veins and<br />protects against stagnation.<br />3.<br />Sleeping with feet raised slightly above the level of the heart helps the blood flow away<br />from ankles. In case of serious troubles with varicose veins, the bed should be raised by<br />placing blocks of six inches height under the posts at the foot. This is, however, not<br />advisable for person with heart trouble.<br />4.<br />If confined to bed, movement of feet and legs should be encouraged to help keep<br />circulation moving youthfully.<br />5.<br />Round garters should never be worn. They cut off the venous circulation, thus raising<br />pressure in the veins and increasing the risk of varicositis.<br />6.<br />Elastic girdles should not be worn continuously , especially when seated for a long time,<br />such as at a desk, or during a plane, train or auto trip. The girdles bunch up and hamper<br />the return flow of blood.<br />7.<br />Pregnant woman should wear elastic stockings and lie down occasionally during the day.<br />Getting up soon after delivery is also helpful in blood circulation.<br />8.<br />These easy-to-follow flex-exercises are beneficial as they ease the cause of varicose veins and<br />thereby relieve the resultant symptoms. Sun bathing and deep breathing exercises are also<br />helpful.<br />Certain inverted yoga postures such as viparitakarni, sarvagasana, and shirshashana are<br />beneficial in the treatment of varicose veins as they drain the blood from the legs and reduce<br />pressure on the veins. They help to relax the muscles and allow the blood freely in and out of the<br />lower extremities. Padmasana, gomukhasana, vajrasana and shalabhasana are also beneficial.<br />[index]<br />Varicose Veins<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap81.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:32:42 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Venereal Diseases<br />There has been an alarming increase in venereal or sexually transmitted diseases ( V.D. or<br />S.T.D.) due to promiscuity and free sex. These diseases are caused by bacteria and germs and<br />canbecome very serious if not treated properly and early. The most common disease in this<br />category are syphilis and gonorrhoea.<br />Syphillis is probably one of the oldest disease of the human race. Sexual contact is the<br />commonest way in which this disease is spread through a community. But many of those who<br />contract the disease are innocent. Little children are sometimes born with this disease. It may<br />also be transmitted from one person to another by kissing or handling infected clothing or other<br />articles.<br />Symptoms and Causes<br />Syphillis usually begins as a small ulcerating type of lesion which may occur anywhere in the<br />body, the most common sites being the penis and vulva or in the vagina. Violent or rough sex<br />behaviour often results in abrasions and thus the virus comes in direct contact with the blood.<br />Gonorrhoea is usually transmitted by sexual contact. An acute inflammation of the male urethra<br />or the vagina of the female due to infection through pus by the gonorrhoea germs is known as<br />gonorrhoea. A person having a high degree of toxaemia and a low vitality may develop this<br />condition with the slightest secretion. A clean blood stream and a high vitality on the other hand<br />may protect one from this disease.<br />The wise plan, however, is to avoid all chances of infection. The common is the sexual act in<br />which one of the partners has this disease. Sometimes it may be contracted through other<br />sources or it may be hereditary.<br />Gonorrhoea is most difficult disease to identify than syphillis. About two-thirds of women with this<br />disease have no symptoms at all or at most very trivial ones which may be passed off as an<br />apparently harmless vaginal discharge. The usual symptom in the male is a discharge from the<br />tip of the penis.<br />If the disease is neglected or improperly treated, it may spoil the entire blood stream which may<br />produce gonorrheal rheumatism and cause affection of the eyes. Proper treatment is therfore,<br />highly important soon after the occurrence of the infection.<br />Treatement<br />Syphillis and gonorrhoea are quite amenable to successful treatment by proper dietary and other<br />natural methods, leaving no ill-effects to mar the future life and happiness of their victims.<br />Suppressive drugs employed by the modern medical system in the treatment simply halts the<br />active manifestations of the disease in the victim’s system for the time being. The<br />disease-poisons and the metallic drugs are still left in the patient’s system and these have a<br />most destructive effect upon the tissues and structures of the body, especially upon the nervous<br />tissues.<br />The only safe way of treating venereal disease is fasting. All cases of syphilis and gonorrhoea<br />can be cured through the agency of the fast. This will not only prevent dreaded after- effects, but<br />will also greatly enhance the wholegeneral health level of the patient by a thorough cleansing of<br />his system. The juice of an orange, in a glass of warm water, may be taken during thisperiod. If<br />orange juice disagrees, vegetable juice may be taken. Each day while fasting, it should be<br />ensured that the bowels are cleansed of the poisonous matter thrown off by the self-cleansing<br />process now set up by the body. This can be achieved through a warm water enema. The fast<br />may be continued from seven to 14 days.<br />After the fast, the patient, may adopt an exclusive fruit diet for further five days. He should<br />thereafter gradually embark upon a balanced diet for three basic food groups as outlined in the<br />treatment for impotence (chapter 75), avoiding all the foods mentioned therein.<br />Venereal Diseases<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap82.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:32:54 PM]<br />Major R. Austin, a doctor in the Royal Army Medical Corps in Great Britain in his book, ‘ Direct<br />Paths to Health’ mentions a case of a syphilis patient aged 27 years who was cured only by<br />dietetic treatment. Dr. Austin narrates the case as under :<br />"Mr. A. , aged twenty-seven, came to me suffering from tertiary syphilis. The classic drugs has<br />been used, but it had not stopped the ravages of the disease. His face and body were covered<br />with rupial eruptions - ulcers covered with a scab-and the odour from his body was most<br />unpleasant.<br />"I prescribed a fourteen-day fast with a saline purge daily, plenty of water and as much strained<br />orange juice diluted with water as he liked to drink during the day. At the end of fourteen days he<br />was allowed two meals a day, one of them consisting of nothing but purely cooked vegetables<br />and some butter, and the other of milk and fresh fruit.<br />"In six weeks from the date of commencing the treatment, all the eruptions had disappeared, as<br />well as the foul odour of the body, and he was feeling remarkably well and has remained so ever<br />since. "<br />Vegetable juices are highly beneficial in the treatment of venereal diseases. Juices which are<br />particularly helpful include those of carrot, cucumber, beet and spinach. The patient may make<br />liberal use of carrot juice either in combination with spinach juice or cucumber or beet.<br />Amaranth (chaulai ka saag) is considered highly beneficial in the treatment of gonorrhoea. About<br />25 gms. of the leaves of this vegetable should be given twice or thrice a day to the patient in this<br />condition.<br />Fresh juice of the flowers of the drumstick is very useful in the treatment of gonorrhoea. For<br />better results, this juice should be given twice daily with tender coconut water. It acts as a<br />diuretic tonic medicine in this disease.<br />A decoction of fresh lady’s fingers has also been found useful in treating gonorrhoea. A cupful of<br />mucilage of lady’s finger is mixed with ripe banana and a glassful of buttermilk. The mixture is a<br />very effective remedy for gonorrhoea. Four capsules of lady’s finger are cut into 2.5 c.m. pieces<br />and are boiled in quarter litre of water for about 15 minutes. After cooling the pieces are<br />squeezed andthe mucilage is extracted and strained through a muslin cloth.<br />In case of syphilis , a ‘T’ pack should be employed for an hour for the local treatment of the initial<br />sore and it should be repeated twice daily. All clothes, sheets and towels , used by the patient<br />should behandled carefully to avoid new sores and to prevent infection to others. It is better to<br />boil all such articles. In case of eruptions on the different parts of the body, a wet sheet pack for<br />an hour is beneficial. It will help bring out all the poisonous substances of the skin by producing<br />more eruptions which will gradually dry up.<br />Application of pelvic packs occasionally for an hour is one of the most effective methods of<br />treatment in case of gonorrhoea. As irritation in the prostate gland and urethra is present in this<br />disease, a hot hip bath for eight minutes has a beneficial effect as it tends to relieve irritation.<br />An occasional steam bath for eight minutes is of outstanding value in both syphilis and<br />gonorrhoea. It will help remove the poisonous substances from the body and enable the kidney<br />to perform its work effectively. An overall massage has also beneficial effects on the entire body.<br />[index]<br />Venereal Diseases<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap82.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:32:54 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Menstrual Disorders<br />The maternal instincts of a woman arise almost entirely from the female hormones within her<br />body. These hormes are produced in a pair of almond-shaped organs, known as the ovaries.<br />They are situated deep within the pelvis, one on each side of the uterus or womb.<br />The two major female hormones are estrogen and pro-gestrone. These hormones give the<br />woman strength and stamina and are largely responsible for the peculiarly feminine shape of her<br />body. The ovaries start producing large quantities of estrogen, the dominant female hormone<br />when a girl reaches about 12 years of age. This enables her to grow rapidly and develop into a<br />normal young woman. The commencement of menstruation at this time heralds the reproductive<br />phase of her life, when she can have children. This phase may last for about 35 years.<br />The menstrual flow is connected with the female function of ovaluation or the passing of the egg<br />cell or ovum from the ovary to the womb ready for fertilisation. It is a provision of nature to<br />cleanse the inner surface of the womb and enable reproduction to take place normally. The flow<br />normally lasts for about four days and has a rhythm of 28 days.<br />The main problem relating to menstrual flow are painful menstruation, stoppage of menstruation<br />and excessive menstruation, besides pre-menstrual tension which is discussed in the next<br />chapter (84). These disorders are quite common, but they are not normal. Healthy women, living<br />according to natural laws and eating diets of natural foods do not suffer from the monthly ordeal.<br />Most menstrual disorders are caused by nutritional deficiencies which lead to deficiency and<br />improper metabolism of the female sex hormones. These disorders are now discussed briefly.<br />Dysmenorrhoea : Painful menstruation or dysmenorrhoea, as it is called in medical parlance, is a<br />very common occurrence these days. This disorder is traceable to a debilitated and toxic<br />condition of the system in general and of the sex organs in particular due to a wrong diet, wrong<br />style of living and nervous exhaustion. The pain may be felt either two or three days before or<br />immediately before or during the flow.<br />Pain starting two or three days before the flow usually shows that the ovaries are not functioning<br />properly. This is a glandular misfunction and a carefully planned natural diet will usually put<br />matters right. For local treatment, hot sip baths on alternate nights for a week before the period<br />is due will be highly beneficial. Between periods, cold hip baths will increase the tone of the<br />ovaries.<br />Pain immediately before the flow commences is indicative of uterine flexion, which means that<br />the position of the womb is abnormal. A professional examination should be arranged to<br />ascertain the position of the womb and corrective exercises undertaken under professional<br />advice. Uterine flexion often occurs in women who are so thin that they have lost internal fat and<br />the ligament, on which the womb is suspended. General treatment along dietetic lines is<br />essential along with corrective exercises.<br />When the pain occurs during menstruation, it usually means that the womb itself is inflammed.<br />This condition can be relieved by proper attention to diet and hot hip baths just before the period<br />is due and cold hip baths between the periods. The hot hip bath is generally taken for eight to<br />ten minutes at a water temperature of 100 o F which can be gradually increased to 120 o F. The<br />cold hip bath should be taken for 10 to 15 minutes at a water temperature of 50 o F to 65 o F.<br />Amenorrhoea or stoppage of menstrual flow : Stoppage of menstruation is natural during<br />pregnancy and at the menopause, but abnormal at any other time. It is true that some women<br />have very infrequent periods but this seems to be peculiar to their particular type and cannot be<br />termed as stoppage. If , however, the periods have been quite regular for a number of years and<br />then suddenly stop or the cycle becomes frequently interrupted, it denotes a debilitated and<br />devitalised condition of the system, especially of the sex organ. Causes contributing towards this<br />condition are anaemia, worry, grief, fright or other serious emotional disturbances, malformation<br />of the womb, tuberculosis, displacement of womb and debility, especially after a serious illness.<br />The treatment for amenorrhoea should be directed towards the rectification of the<br />Menstrual Disorders<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap83.htm (1 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:33:09 PM]<br />disease-condition responsible for causing the trouble in the first place. Along with this, a course<br />of general health-building treatment should also be carried out. If serious emotional disturbance<br />has caused the trouble, an initial period of quietness and rest is essential to the treatment. All<br />excitement, excessive mental strain and study should be avoided for a considerable period.<br />Menorrhoea or excessive menstruation : Profuse menstrual flow is common in certain women<br />and usually denotes a blood deficiency, especially blood calcium. A variety of causes may be<br />responsible for this trouble, but toxic condition of the system is at the root of the matter. It is<br />essential to keep the patient absolutely quiet and confined to bed. The bottom of the bed should<br />be raised 10 cm to 13 cm. IN case of excessive bleeding, a gauze may be inserted in the vagina<br />as a temporary measure.<br />For the first few days the diet should consist only of milk and raw vegetables. No stimulants<br />should be taken as they tend to increase the flow. When the bleeding has stopped, great care<br />should be taken to avoid over exertion or straining the body in any manner. A full nature cure<br />diet should then be adopted using fresh vegetables raw salads twice daily. As a long term<br />measure, what is needed is a scheme of treatment which will thoroughly cleanse the system of<br />toxic material.<br />Treatment<br />The various disorders relating to menstrual flow are indicative of the low level of a woman’s<br />health and a toxic condition of her sex organism, which has been brought about by wrong habits<br />of living, especially wrong dietary habits. These disorders are made more deep-seated and<br />chronic by modern medical efforts to deal with them through the suppressive agency of surgery<br />and drugs. The disorders being systemic in origin, can be tackled only by treating the system as<br />a whole so as to remove the toxicity from the body and build up the general health-level of the<br />sufferer.<br />To undertake such a scheme of all round health-building treatment, the sufferer from menstrual<br />disorders should begin with an all-fruit diet for about five days. In this regimen, the patient should<br />have three meals a day of fresh, juicy fruits, such as apples, pears, grapes, papaya, oranges,<br />pineapple, peaches and melon. No other foodstuff should be taken; otherwise the value of the<br />whole treatment will be lost. However, if there is much weight loss on the all-fruit diet, those<br />already underweight may add a glass of milk to each fruit meal. During this period the bowels<br />should be cleansed daily with a warm water enema.<br />After the all-fruit diet, the sufferer should adopt a well- balanced diet on the following lines :<br />Upon rising : A glass of lukewarm water mixed with the freshly squeezed juice of half a lime<br />and a spoon of honey.<br />Breakfast : Fresh fruits such as apple, orange, grapes, papaya, banana and milk.<br />Lunch : A bowl of freshly prepared steamed vegetable such as carrot , cabbage, cauliflower,<br />swuash, and beans, two or three whole wheat chappatis.<br />Mid-afternoon : A glass of carrot juice or sugarcane juice.<br />Dinner : A large bowl of fresh green vegetable salad using all available vegetable such as<br />carrot, cabbage, cucumber, tomatoes, radish, red beets and onion and mung bean sprouts.<br />Bed-time snack : A glass of fresh milk or an apple.<br />The diet factor is of the utmost importance. Fruits and salads ,nature’s body-cleansing and<br />health-restoring foods, must form the bulk of the future diet alongwith whole grains, nuts and<br />seeds, especially in sprouted forms. Frequent small meals should be taken instead of few large<br />ones to prevent low blood sugar which is common during menstruation. The foods which should<br />be avoided in future are white-flour products, sugar, confectionery, rich cakes, pastries, sweets,<br />refined cereals, flesh foods, rich, heavy, or greasy foods, tinned or preserved foods, strong tea,<br />coffee, pickles, condiments and sauces. Smoking, if habitual, should be given up completely as<br />it aggravates menstrual disorders.<br />A further short period on all -fruit , say two or three consecutive days can be undertaken at<br />Menstrual Disorders<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap83.htm (2 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:33:09 PM]<br />monthly intervals, according to the need of the case. The morning dry friction and cold hip baths<br />should form a regular feature of the treatment. All cold baths should however , be suspended<br />during the menstrual period.<br />Certain remedies have been found useful in menstrual disorders. Cooked banana flower eaten<br />with curd is one of the more important of such remedies. The banana flower appears to increase<br />progesterone hormone and reduce the bleeding.<br />Beet juice has been found very effective for menstrual disorders. It should be used in small<br />quantities of 60 to 90 grams, at a time two or three times a day in these conditions.<br />Coriander seeds are highly beneficial in the treatment of excessive menstruation. Six gramsof<br />these seeds should be boiled in half a litre of water. It should be taken off the fire when only half<br />the water remains. Sugar candy should be added to it and the patient should drink it when it is<br />still warm.<br />Ginger has been useful in menstrual disorders. A piece of fresh ginger should be pounded and<br />boiled in a cupful of water for few minutes. The infection sweetened with sugar should be used<br />thrice daily after meals as a medicine for dysmenorrhoea, and amenorrhoea due to exposure to<br />cold winds and taking cold baths.<br />Sesame seeds are also useful in menstrual disorders. Half a teaspoonful of powder of these<br />seeds taken with hot water twice daily acts excellently in reducing spasmodic pain during<br />menstruation in young unmarried anaemic girls. Its regular use, two days prior to the expected<br />periods, cures scanty menstruation. Warm hip bath containing a handful of bruised sesame<br />seeds should be simultaneously taken alongwith this receipt.<br />Safflower seeds have also been found to be beneficial in the treatment of painful menstruation.<br />A decoction prepared by boiling two teaspoonfulsof powdered seeds in 120 ml. of water should<br />be given as a remedy for this condition. Dried flowers mixed with confection of rose can also be<br />given as a medicine for this purpose.<br />[index]<br />Menstrual Disorders<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap83.htm (3 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:33:09 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Premenstrual Syndrome<br />The premenstrual syndrome (PMS) refers to a variety of symptoms which recur in the same<br />phase of the menstrual cycle. These generally make their appearance two to seven days before<br />the onset of menstruation and are relieved once the menses start.<br />Approximately , 40 per cent of menstruating women suffer from premenstrual tension and it<br />occurs mostly in women over 30 years of age. IN some women, the onset of symptoms seems<br />to coincide with ovulation and may then persist until menstruation commences. IN some rare<br />cases, relief from the premenstrual syndrome may be obtained only with the cessation of the<br />menstrual flow.<br />Symptoms<br />The onset of this syndrome is abrupt, generally with a headache which is often accompanied by<br />vomiting. A general feeling of depression and irritability permeate the entire experience. What is<br />worse, these symptoms intensify progressively, making the last day of the PMS the worst.<br />Tension headaches are common during this period, but in some cases, migraines attacks occur<br />with severe pain and vomiting. The patient suffers from breast tenderness, which is sometimes<br />so severe that it is almost unbearable. There may also be abdominal bloating , accompanied in<br />some cases, by odema of the ankles and hands. Some women resort to dieting to get rid of the<br />abodminal bloating but this only leads to fatigue and depression. Others may experience a<br />craving for sweet foods.<br />Some of the less common symptoms are exacerbation of epilepsy dizziness, back ache, hoarse<br />voice, greasy hair , acne and allergic reactions.<br />Patients suffering from premenstrual tension may show a gain of weight of one kg or more in the<br />latter part of the menstrual cycle due to salt and water retention. The retention of fluid is partly<br />due to ovarian steroids, but there is also an increased output of anti diuretic hormone from the<br />posterior pituitary gland.<br />Diagnosis<br />There is no specific laboratory diagnosis of the premenstrual syndrome. The problem can be<br />diagnosed on the basis of past history showing a clear, recurrent relationship between a stage of<br />the menstrual cycle and the onset of symptoms as well as the coincidence of relief with the start<br />or cessation of menstruation. The patient may maintain a personal diary about her symptoms<br />and feelings during those days. The record should be kept for atleast three cycles.<br />Causes<br />The causes behind the premenstrual syndrome still remain unexplained. Some authorities<br />believe that deficiency of hormone progesterone may result in PMS but this has not yet been<br />satisfactorily proved. Emotional stress can often contribute to the symptoms, and the social<br />relationship of the patient needs to be reviewed.<br />A team of researchers at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore and John Hopkins University School of<br />Medicine, London, through carefully controlled studies concluded that dietary deficiencies<br />particularly that of vitamin E and vitamin B6 or pyridoxine are the most common causes of PMS.<br />Treatment<br />Treatment depends on the severity of the symptoms. Where only mild symptoms are<br />experienced , the problem can be elevated by a change of routine. Extra work and stressful<br />situation should be avoided. Fluids should be moderately restricted and care should be taken not<br />to add extra salt to the food.The patient’s partner and family members should be educated about<br />all the facets of the PMS. The patient should not take any oral contraceptives as these may<br />cause fluid retention and lowering the plasma levels. Hormonal imbalance and infections of the<br />uterus can be helped by a natural diet regimen.<br />Premenstrual Syndrome<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap84.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:33:20 PM]<br />As most women feel tension arising from chronic constipation it is essential to treat this condition<br />first. In constipation, the putrefying faecal matter may be reabsorbed into the bloodstead, and<br />the same blood, if supplied to the brain, will cause gradual enervation. Constipation can be<br />relieved by a lukewarm water enema and liberal intake of seasonal fruits and vegetables and<br />simple fibrous meals.<br />Other treatment for the PMS include regular cold hip baths for 10 to 15 minutes twice a day. This<br />will congestion and inflammation of the uterus and connected organs. Tension will also be<br />dissipated with this treatment. Hot foot baths followed by a cold compress to the lower abdomen<br />and the inner surfaces of the thighs also help to relieve uterine congestion and tension.<br />If the cold hip bath is not practicable, a wet girdle pack applied twice a day on empty stomach is<br />very beneficial for clearing up uterine congestion and improving bowel function.<br />All these statements should be suspended during the menstrual flow.<br />Diet pays a significant role in preventing premenstrual syndrome. The patient should avoid<br />refined carbohydrates, sugars, coffee, tea, tobacco, other stimulants, oily, fried or spicy food and<br />all meats.<br />A regular practice of yogasanas, especially those recommended for strengthening the<br />genito-urinary system will be very useful in overcoming premenstrual syndrome. These asanas<br />are bhujangasana, shalabhasana, vajrasana, paschimotanasana, ardhamatsyendrasana and<br />trikonasana. Other helpful measures are brisk walks and abdominal exercises which are good<br />for strengthening the abdominal muscles and pelvic organs.<br />Great relief can also be obtained by manipulating the tender points gently, on the big as well as<br />other toes of the feet. Manipulation on the middle portion of the leg foot which relates the uterus<br />and vagina will help to correct the disorder of the uterus.<br />Mental poise is an important factor. Negative mental attitudes like fear, worry, anger, jealousy ,<br />tension and inferiority complex should be eliminated by positive thinking, meditation and good<br />company.<br />[index]<br />Premenstrual Syndrome<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap84.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:33:20 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Menopausal Problems<br />The menopause or a woman’s change of life is a perfectly normal event which occurs in the mid<br />or late forties. It signifies the end of the female reproductive period of life which commenced at<br />adolescence in the early teens.<br />There are several misconceptions about menopause. Many women at this time feel that they are<br />growing old and that they are well past their full physical vigour. Other women feel that the<br />menopause brings a cessation of sexual pleasure. These apprehensions are far from true.<br />Menopause may be considered an end to women’s fertility but certainly not to her virility. It does<br />not decrease a woman’s physical capacity or sexual vigour or enjoyment.<br />Symptoms<br />During the menopause, the entire chain of endocrine glands is disturbed, particularly the<br />gonads, thyroid and pituitary. In a really healthy woman, the menopausal change takes place<br />without any unpleasant symptoms. The only sign that the "change " taking place is the cessation<br />of menstrual flow. There are, however, many women who do not enjoy good health due to<br />dietetic errors and a faulty style of living. In these cases, the menopausal change often leads to<br />all kinds of distressing physical, emotional and nervous symptoms and manifestations.<br />Hot flashes, night sweats, nervous tension, menstrual disturbances, insomnia, diminished<br />interest in sex, irritability and depression are the typical symptoms of menopause. Other<br />symptoms are chilly feelings, fatigue, palpitation, dizziness, headaches and numbness. Not<br />every women will get these severe reactions. The severity or otherwise of the symptoms depend<br />on a variety of factors such as general health, previous surgery and radiation. Menopause and<br />its problems are usually over when menstruation stops.<br />Causes<br />The annoying symptoms associated with menopause arise from the fact that the ovaries are no<br />longer producing their normal amount of estrogen, the dominant female hormone. Anything<br />which interferes with the normal functioning of the ovaries may also bring about these<br />symptoms. The same strange feelings may occur if the ovaries are removed by surgery because<br />of disease. This can also result from heavy X-ray therapy or the use of radiation.<br />A lack of normal hormone balance may also result in a severe backache. This is caused by<br />thinning of the bones arising from the low level of estrogen in the bloodstream. Unless properly<br />treated, this may eventually lead to a collapse of one or more of the vertebrae.<br />Treatment<br />Although menopause cannot be avoided, it can be postponed for as long as 10 to 15 years and<br />it can be made a smooth affair when it comes, with a proper nutritional programme, special<br />supplements and the right mental attitude.<br />When a woman is affected by the menopausal change to any marked extent, it is a sure sign<br />that her body is in a toxic condition and in need of a thorough cleansing. For this purpose, she<br />should undergo a course of natural health building treatment.<br />Diet is of utmost importance in such a scheme of treatment. In fact the problems at menopause<br />are often much more severe than that at puberty largely because the diet has been deficient for<br />many years prior to its onset, in many nutrients such as protein, calcium, magnesium, vitamins<br />D, E and pantothenic acid.<br />The diet should be made up from three basic food groups, namely (i) seeds, nuts and grains (ii)<br />vegetables and (iii) fruits. The emphasis should be on vitamin E-rich raw and sprouted seeds<br />and nuts, unpasteurised high quality milk and home-made cottage cheese and an abundance of<br />raw, organically grown fruits and vegetables. Plenty of freshly made juices of fruits and<br />vegetables in season should also be included in this diet.<br />Menopausal Problems<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap85.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:33:34 PM]<br />All processed, refined and denatured foods, such as white sugar, white flour and all articles<br />made with them, should be completely eliminated. Take special supplements such as vitamins<br />C, B6 and pantothenic acid, which have a specific property of stimulating the body’s own<br />production of estrogen or enhancing the effect of the existing estrogen.<br />During menopause, the lack of ovarian hormones can result in a severe calcium deficiency. For<br />this reason, a larger than usual intake of calcium may help greatly. Vitamins D and F are also<br />essential for assimilation of calcium. Any woman having difficulty at this time should supplement<br />her daily diet with 1,000 units of natural vitamin D, 5000 milligrams of magnesium and two grams<br />of calcium daily, which can be supplied by one quart of milk.<br />During the manopause, the need for vitamin E soars 10 to 50 times over that previously<br />required. Hot flashes, night sweats and other symptoms of menopause often disappear when 50<br />to 100 units of vitamin E are taken daily. The symptoms recur quickly if the vitamin is<br />discontinued.<br />Of late, it has become popular to take estrogen to prevent or postpone menopausal symptoms.<br />Although hormone therapy is apparently successful and will, in many cases, help the patient to<br />feel and act younger, it cannot be recommended in all cases because of its carcinogenic effect.<br />If, however, estrogen therapy is undertaken, it should never be administered at the same time as<br />vitamin E therapy. Ingestion of estrogen and vitamin E should be seperated by several hours.<br />Beet juice has been found very useful in menopausal disorders. It should be taken in small<br />quantities of 60 to 90 ml at a time thrice a day. It has proved much more permanently helpful<br />than the degenerative effects of drugs or synthetic hormones.<br />Carrot seeds have also been found valuable in menopausal tension. A teaspoonful of the seeds<br />should be boiled in a glassful of cow’s milk for about 10 minutes and taken daily as a medicine in<br />this condition.<br />Plenty of outdoor exercise, such as walking, joggng, swimming, horse-riding or cycling, is<br />imperative to postpone menopause. Other helpful measures in this direction are avoiding mental<br />and emotional stress and worries, especially worry about growing old, sufficient sleep and<br />relaxation and following all general rules of maintaining a high level of health. The healthier a<br />woman is, the fewer menopausal symptoms she will experience.<br />The menopause can be made a pleasant affair by building bodily health and a sane mental<br />outlook. From puberty to menoapuse , a woman has been somewhat of a slave to her female<br />glands. At specified intervals she was inconvenienced by her menstural periods. She bore<br />children, enduring the pain and discomfort of pregnancy. Menopause relieves her of this<br />bondage to her femininity. She can now experience some of the happiest days of a woman’s life.<br />A whole new life is given to her, if she is wise enough to prepare for it and accept it as such.<br />[index]<br />Menopausal Problems<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap85.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:33:34 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Childbirth the Natural Way<br />Childbirth, in the normal way, should be a purely natural function with very little pain or<br />discomfort to the women concerned. It is so even today that with primitive races. But many<br />civilised women appear to find the bearing of children a task fraught with grave risk and suffering<br />and attended by numerous minor or serious after-effects. This is solely due to wrong dietary<br />habits and a faulty style of living. Really healthy mothers will always have an easy time when<br />pregnant.<br />Pregnancy makes many demands on the prospective mother, the most important being her<br />nutritional needs and those of the unborn child. Studies of nutrition of women during pregnancy<br />shows a definite relationship between the diet of the mother and the condition of the baby at<br />birth. These studies have also shown that some of the complications of the pregnancy such as<br />anaemia, toxemia and premature delivery may result from a diet inadequate in the nutritional<br />needs of the mother and the baby.<br />The process of childbirth becomes painful mainly due to a large foetus in the womb. This results<br />from an excessive intake of denatured foods such as white flour products, white sugar, refined<br />cereals, meat and other flesh foods during pregnancy. Other factors contributing to the suffering<br />of the women include lack of exercise, unhygienic habits of living and restrictive garments.<br />It is quite wrong to assume that the larger the baby at birth, the healthier it will be. The weight<br />ofthe baby should be about three to three and a half kg. at birth. If the weight is more than that,<br />delivery will be painful for the mother. Such a child will also be covered with unnecessary fat and<br />watery tissue, which is really waste matter and an impediment to health.<br />A proper diet during pregnancy is the most important factor for not only having a painless<br />childbirth but also for giving birth to a healthy baby. The idea of " eating for two ", which is so<br />prevalent today, is absurd and it leads to overeating, resulting in an unusually , heavy baby. The<br />diet during pregnancy should consist of natural , vital foods and minimum intake of today’s<br />denatured food products. The unborn child will require an adequate amount of orgnic minerals<br />from its mother for building of bones and tissues and this can be supplied by natural food such<br />as fruits, raw vegetables, whole meal bread, and milk, unnatural foods like white bread, sugar,<br />meat, pudding and pies are very deficient in organic mineral matter and their intake during<br />pregnancy leads to loss and decay of teeth, general debility and other ailments after childbirth.<br />Pregnancy is rendered more difficult in case of habitual constipation. IN the advanced stage, this<br />is aggravated by the pressure of the enlarged uterus on the bowels. This can be avoided by<br />eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables of high fibre content. The expectant mother should<br />drink eight to ten glasses of water. She should not delay going to the lavatory when there is the<br />urge. In severe constipation, a lukewarm water enema may be taken once every week.<br />The diet for expectant mothers should be planned along the following lines by securing a safe<br />and easy child birth and a healthy child :<br />Breakfast : Fresh fruit in season or grated raw carrot, or any other raw salad and milk. Prunes<br />or other dried fruit may also be taken, if desired.<br />Lunch : Steamed vegetables, as obtainable, whole wheat chappatis and a glass of buttermilk.<br />Dinner : A good-sized raw salad of any suitable vegetables, sprouted mung beans, whole wheat<br />bread, butter or cottage cheese and prunes or other dried fruit as dessert.<br />Besides proper diet, the expectant mother should be given daily a dry friction and cold sponge<br />during the first five or six months of pregnancy. A dry friction bath can be taken with a rough dry<br />towel or with a moderately soft bristle brush. If a brush is used, the procedure should be as<br />follows : take the brush in one hand and begin with the face, neck and chest. Then brush one<br />arm, beginning at the wrist and brushing towards the shoulders. Now stoop down and brush one<br />Childbirth the Natural Way<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap86.htm (1 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:33:44 PM]<br />foot, then the ankle and leg. Then do the other foot and leg and next the hips and certain portion<br />of the body. Continue brushing each part until the skin is pink. Use the brush quickly backward<br />and forward on every part of the body. If a towel is used, it should be fairly rough, and the same<br />process should be followed. This bath excites to increased activity all the functional processes<br />lying at or near the surface of the body.<br />The cold sponge is taken as follows: wring out a towel in cold water, and rub the whole body in<br />the manner described for the friction bath. If, during the process of rubbing the towel becomes<br />too dry, it should be wrung out again.<br />The expectant mother should also take breathing and other mild exercises. After the sixth<br />month, tepid water may be used for the sponge. Exercises should either be modified or<br />suspended altogether. A good walk should be taken daily right upto the end of the eighth month<br />and all household duties should be performed in a normal way. This will keep the muscles of the<br />womb and pelvis in good condition and will ensure safe and easy childbirth. The exercise<br />should, however, always be well within the capacity of the prospective mother and all undue<br />strain, worry or excitement should be avoided.<br />Recoupment<br />For the really healthy woman, recoupment after childbirth poses no problem. Women among<br />primitive races are able to rise and go about their duties immediately after delivery. The woman<br />of civilised nations are however, seldom able to do so. In fact it is customary to keep them in bed<br />for a considerable time after child birth. It is usually due to abnormal slowness with which the<br />generative organs assume the former position.<br />As in the case case of pregnancy, diet plays an important role in the recoupment after childbirth.<br />The diet of the mother for the first two days after confinement should consist of only fresh juicy<br />fruits with some warm milk. A salad with thin whole meal bread and butter may be added to the<br />diet the next day. The diet may thereafter be extended gradually until it approaches the pre-natal<br />diet outlined above.<br />The diet should exclude white bread or white flour products, sugar, jam, pastries, puddings, pies,<br />heavy, greasy and fried foods. Strong tea, coffee, alcohol, condiments, pickles, and vinegar<br />should be strictly avoided.<br />It is most essential that the baby nurses at the mother’s breast to stimulate production of milk,<br />especially during the critical period following birth. This is important for a number of reasons. The<br />infant, nursing at the breast, causes the uterus to contract. The contraction of uterus will help<br />expel any portion of the placenta which may still remain following delivery. It will also stop the<br />mother from haemorrhaging. If those mothers who are afraid of losing their figures would try<br />nursing their babies, they would discover their figures actually improve after child birth.<br />Feeding of children<br />During the first forty eight hours immediately after birth, the mother’s breasts generally do not<br />produce milk. This is in accordance with nature’s plan that the infant should fast during this<br />period. He will have no need for food and none should be given. All children after this period<br />should be breast-fed where possible. Breast feeding is the natural and ideal way of feeding the<br />infant. Mother’s milk is pure, fresh and easily digestible. It helps the child to grow. The child<br />should be given four feeds a day at four-hourly intervals but no feeds should be given during the<br />night. If the child wakes up at night only water should be given. Babies should be breast-fed for<br />atleast 8 months as this is nature’s way of providing all the required nutrients during this period.<br />Recent research has shown that the mother’s body is able to react to infections in the child and<br />the bacteria in the baby’s mouth leads to the production of appropriate anti- bodies in the<br />mother’s milk. Breast-fed babies are, therefore, less prone to gastrointestinal and respiratory<br />diseases. If for any reason, it is impossible to breast feed the child, it should be fed on goat’s<br />milk or cow’s milk, diluted with water, with milk sugar added. The child should not be given<br />artificially prepared, patent or tinned milk foods. When a mother can partly feed a child, she<br />should give it two feeds of her own and two bottle feeds or one of her own and three bottle<br />feeds. Those mothers who suffer from diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes, heart trouble,<br />should not breast feed their babies.<br />Where children are entirely breast-fed, they need nothing more than the milk they receive from<br />their mothers. Children on bottle feed, should be given some orange juice daily,in addition to the<br />Childbirth the Natural Way<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap86.htm (2 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:33:44 PM]<br />bottle feeds. NO baby, whether breast- fed or bottle -fed should be given anything except milk<br />and orange juice for the first 10 to 12 months of existence. NO starchy food or anything else<br />should be given during this period. If they are given starchy foods such as bread, or oatmeal<br />before weaning , it will lead to the early development of such child ailments as cough, colds,<br />measles, whooping cough and so on as babies lack the proper enzymes needed for their<br />digestion before that age.<br />At the age of one year, a baby should be given about a litre of milk with fruit juices daily. Never<br />force a baby to take food if it does not want to, and never overfeed. If a baby shows no<br />inclination for food or a certain day, it should be given as much as it wishes for and no more. The<br />assumption that the baby should have a certain amount of food every day have no basis. On the<br />other hand, if the baby does not appear to be satisfied with the quantity of its food and wants<br />more at a feed, it should be given as much as it wants.<br />[index]<br />Childbirth the Natural Way<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap86.htm (3 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:33:44 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Habitual Abortion<br />The term abortion refers to the expulsion of the foetus from the uterus before the complete<br />formation of the placenta. It is also commonly known as miscarriage. This may occur any time<br />before 28 weeks of gestation but is most common during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Once<br />in five to ten pregnancies terminates in this way.<br />When miscarriage occurs repeatedly at a certain period of pregnancy, it is termed " habitual<br />abortion ". It is one of the most perplexing problems of gyanaecology and a major cause of<br />maternal mortality. A woman who has suffered two or more terminations of this sort<br />consecutively is said to be a case of habitual abortion.<br />Symptoms<br />Pains of the same character as labour pains and bleedings are the two main symptoms of<br />possible abortion. Bleeding may lead to the detachment of the ovum from the uterus. It now acts<br />as a foreign body in the uterus which stimulates uterine contraction. This generates a lot of pain<br />and the foetus is thrown out of the body. In later weeks when the foetus is well developed, if it<br />dies in the uterus, it leads to maceration of the body. The abdomen is filled with blood and the<br />skin colour appears red. Sometime after a few more days, the foetus gets dehydrated and the<br />fluid surrounding the foetus gets dried away.<br />Causes<br />One of the most important cause of habitual abortion is a congenital malformation of the uterus.<br />A hysterogram, before the woman becomes pregnant, will be useful in detecting any abormality,<br />so that she is made aware of her case. Deficient functioning of the thyroid is another important<br />cause of habitual abortion.<br />Most cases of habitual abortion, however, result from an inadequate secretion of the female<br />hormone progesterone. This hormone is responsible for the development of the placenta. In the<br />early stage of pregnancy, the gonadotrophin secreted by the cytotrophoblast of the chorion, one<br />of the foetal membranes, stimulates the corpus lotemum to produce more oestrogen and<br />progesterone, both essential female hormones. At a later stage, by about the 12th week of<br />pregnancy, the placenta takes over the production and secretion of the hormones. Any<br />deficiency of these hormones at this stage is detrimental to the growth of the foetus. It is,<br />therefore, during this critical period,when habitual abortion mostly occurs. Lack of progesterone<br />is especially instrumental in expelling the fertilised ovum and it results in an abortion.<br />Another important cause of habitual abortion may be chronic constipation which leads to<br />putrefaction of morbid matter and wastes in the large intestines. This in turn causes<br />auto-intoxication and inflammation of the reproductive organs, which can lead to a miscarriage.<br />Abortion may result from the excessive use of certain drugs. Drugs enter the foetus through the<br />placenta. They may act quite differently on the foetus from the mother. Drugs which have<br />adverse effects on the foetus are called " tera-togenestic drugs " and may include painkillers,<br />antibiotics, tranquillisers and hormones. A high dosage of such drugs may produce contraction<br />in the uterus and induce abortion.<br />Other cause of habitual abortion are excessive physical exercise, mental excitement, sexual<br />intercourse, syphilis infections fibroid tumours, blood incompatibly of husband and wife, systemic<br />disorders in the mother like hypertension, chronic nephritis, diabetes and even her mental<br />condition.<br />Thorough examination of the pregnant woman’s blood, urine, blood pressure and their related<br />parameters help in detecting maternal disorders. Serological tests, for example, prove the<br />presence or absence of syphilis infection. Pelvic examinations help to diagnose uterine<br />displacements , fibroids or ovarian tumours. A hysterogram also helps to detect uterine<br />malfunctions. The exact cause must be ascertained for prescribing correct treatment.<br />Habitual Abortion<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap87.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:33:54 PM]<br />Treatment<br />Conditions such as hormonal imbalance, infections of the uterus and chronic constipation can be<br />remedied by natural methods of treatment . For congenital uterine malformation, however,<br />recourse may have to be taken to surgery.<br />On appearance of the first symptoms of possible abortion, the patient should be put to bed<br />immediately and the bottom end of the bed raised. Cold compresses at 60 o F temperature<br />should be applied continuously to the inner portion of the thighs, the perinium, the vagina and<br />the lumbar region. Compresses should be changed every 15 to 20 minutes. When the compress<br />is removed for renewing, the surface should be rubbed with a warm dry flannel for half a minute<br />or until reddened, before applying the compress again. Simultaneously, a hot application should<br />be made to the feet.<br />A neutral or warm water enema is an effective remedy for a constipated colon which is a major<br />cause for the toxaemic condition of the uterus. This will relieve the bowels and thus reduce any<br />excessive pressure on the uterus and other pelvic organs. A regular cold hip bath for a duration<br />of 10 minutes twice every day is very helpful in relieving congestion and inflammation of the<br />uterus. Wet girdle packs, twice every day, on an empty stomach, also relieve congestion’s and<br />infections in the uterus and other pelvic organs. It is advisable that women with a history of<br />repeated abortions should adopt these techniques before conception and continue them during<br />the first two months of pregnancy.<br />Hormonal imbalances can be set right by practicing yogic exercise. Yogic asanas such as<br />sarvangasana, vajrasana, bhujan-gasana, shalabhsana, dhanurasana, paschimottashana, and<br />trikonasana are especially useful in improving thyroid, pituitary, adrenal and gonaidal endocrine<br />functions and should be practised regularly by women who suffer from imbalances of this sort,<br />upto the first two months of pregnancy.<br />Dietary control is of utmost importance in the prevention of habitual abortion. Pregnant women<br />should avoid refined carbo- hydrates, sugars, non-vegetarian food, coffee and tea. They should<br />also avoid oily and fried foods as such foods lead to constipation, which is very detrimental to<br />pregnancy. Smoking or chewing tobacco and drinking alcohol must be strictly avoided.<br />The pregnant woman’s diet chart should be on the following lines :<br />Breakfast : Fresh fruits and a glass of milk mixed with a teaspoonful of honey.<br />Lunch : Steamed vegetables, boiled rice or whole wheat chappatis and soup or buttermilk.<br />Midafternoon : A glass of fruit juice or a whole fruit.<br />Dinner : Cooked diet similar to the afternoon meal may be taken till the seventh month. After<br />that, fruits, nuts, germinated seeds and sprouts, milk, buttermilk and soups must form her diet<br />because they reduce the workload on the digestive system and thus help avoid indigestion,<br />constipation and related disorders.<br />Indian gooseberry, known as amla in the vernancular, is considered useful in preventing<br />abortion. A teaspoonful of fresh amla juice and honey mixed together should be taken every<br />morning during the period of pregnancy. It will also prevent infections and help in the absorption<br />of iron. A brew made from safflower foliage is also said to prevent abortion.<br />Pregnant women with a history of repeated abortions should take all other precautions<br />necessary to prevent miscarriage. They should avoid sexual intercourse, during early<br />pregnancy. They should go to bed early and rise early and take regular exercise, but avoid<br />fatigue. They should sleep on a hard mattress with their heads low, and remain calm and cool.<br />All these measures will greatly help in correcting the phenomenon of habitual abortion.<br />[index]<br />Habitual Abortion<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap87.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:33:54 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Female Sterility<br />Sterility in case of the female refers to the incapacity to conceive and give birth to a living baby.<br />Sterility or failure to reproduce must be distinguished from frigidity which denotes failure to<br />perform the sex act or performing it imperfectly.<br />It may be relevant to first examine the mechanism of conception. The sperms of the male are<br />injected into the vagina during sexual intercourse. At the very same time an alkaline fluid is<br />secreted from the vaginal walls. The sperms are able to move up the womb and through the<br />fallopian tubes to fertilise the ova or the female egg only when this fluid is present.<br />Two factors are important in ensuring a normal secretion of this fluid. Firstly, there should be an<br />adequate nerve supply to the vagina ducts. This is the reason why very nervous women fail to<br />conceive. The nervous system in such cases must be strengthened by adequate rest, relaxation<br />and a proper diet The second important factor is to ensure that the fluid flowing from the vaginal<br />walls is alkaline. If this is not so, the sperms are destroyed by the acidic fluid, usually present in<br />the vaginal canal and womb. To ensure the necessary alkalinity of the fluid, it is essential to take<br />a predominantly alkaline diet, with a liberal intake of raw vegetables and fruits, and also to<br />eliminate acid-forming foods.<br />Causes<br />Sterility in a female may be due to physical defects, physical debility and functional faults.<br />Physical defects or structural abnormalities of the genitals and reproductive organs may be<br />congenital or accidental and can result from malformation or sagging of the womb, collapse of<br />the fallopian tubes and the rigidity of the hymen.<br />Sterility due to physical debility can result from poor health as a consequence of certain acute or<br />chronic diseases. These diseases may affect not only the physical body but also the genital<br />organs. Complaints like gonorrhea, syphilis and inflammation of the fallopian tubes also come<br />under this category. Chronic anaemia, constipation and leucorrhoea aggravate these conditions.<br />Sterility may also be caused by loss of essential glands or organs of reproduction or a decrease<br />in their functions, brought about by a variety of fators such as surgical injuries, tumour,<br />excessive radiation and lack of normal menstrual cycle. Obesity or emaciation due either to<br />dietetic errors or faulty metabolism are yet other factors which can contribute to female sterility.<br />Psychological factors like emotional stress, tension, mental depression, anxiety and fear may<br />also result in psychosomatic sterility. This conditions generally temporary and can be corrected<br />by psychotherapy.<br />Treatment<br />Structural defects can be ascertained by a thorough physical examination and radiology and can<br />be set right by surgery. Physical debility and the functional faults of organic nature can be cured<br />by simple and effective methods of natural treatment. These methods include hygienic living,<br />optimum nutrition and following all the laws of nature.<br />Fasting is the best remedy for the treatment of disorders resulting from toxins in the system. A<br />short fast of two or three days should be undertaken at regular intervals by women who are<br />unable to bear children. The bowels should be cleansed by a warm water enema during the<br />period of fasting and afterwards when necessary. This will have a beneficial effect not only on<br />the digestive system but also on the surrounding organs of the urinary and genital system.<br />Diet is the most important factor in the treatment of sterility. It should consist of three basic<br />health building food groups namely (i) seeds, nuts and grains, (ii) vegetables and (iii) fruits.<br />These foods should be supplemented with milk, vegetable oils and honey. The best way to take<br />milk is in its soured form, that is curd and cottage cheese. Each food group should roughly form<br />the bulk of one of three meals. About 70 to 80 per cent of the diet should consist of foods in their<br />natural uncooked states, because cooking destroys much of the nutritional values of the most<br />Female Sterility<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap88.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:34:04 PM]<br />foods. Sprouting is an excellent way of consuming seeds, beans and grains in their raw form in<br />the process of sprouting the nutritional value is multiplied, new vitamins are created and the<br />protein quality is improved.<br />The daily menu of a health-building and vitalising diet may be on the following lines :<br />Upon rising : A glass of lukewarm water with a juice of half a lemon and a spoonful of honey.<br />Breakfast : Fresh fruits like apple, orange, banana, grapes and grapefruit and a glass of milk.<br />Lunch: A bowl of steamed vegetables seasoned with vegetable oil or butter and salt, two or<br />three whole wheat chappatis and a glass of buttermilk.<br />Mid-afternoon : A glass of fresh fruit or vegetable juice.<br />Dinner : A large bowl of salad made up of fresh vegetables such as tomatoes, carrots, beetroots<br />and onion, and sprouted moong or bengal gram.<br />Bed-time : A glass of milk or an apple.<br />Excessive fat, spicy foods,strong tea, coffee, white sugar, white flour, refined cereals, flesh foods<br />, greasy or fried foods should all be avoided. Smoking or drinking , where habitual must be<br />completely given up.<br />Certain nutrients, especially vitamin C and E and zinc have been found helpful in some cases of<br />sterility. The woman who is unable to conceive should take daily 1000 mg. of vitamin C, 100 I.U.<br />of vitamin E and 30 mg. of zinc.<br />Certain remedies have also been found useful in the treatment of female sterility where there are<br />no organic defects or congenital deformities. One such remedy is a tender roots of the banyan<br />tree. These roots should be dried in the shade and finally powdered. This powder should be<br />mixed five times their weight with milk and taken at night for three consecutive nights after the<br />monthly periods are over. No other food should be taken with this. It shoud be repeated after the<br />completion of menstrual cycle every month till conception takes place.<br />An infusion of the fresh tender leaves of jambul fruit (jamun) taken with honey or buttermilk, is an<br />excellent remedy for stenility and miscarriage due to ovarian or endometrium functional<br />disorders . The leaves presumably stimulate the secretion of progesterone hormone and help<br />the absorption of vitamin E.<br />The eggplant is also useful in overcoming functional sterility. Cooked tender eggplants, should<br />be eaten with butter-milk everyday for a month or two for this purpose. It increases the capacity<br />to absorb vitamin E and stimulate the secretion of progesterone.<br />Other helpful measures in overcoming female sterility are mud packs and cold water treatment<br />like a hip bath and a wet girdle-pack. These treatments will greatly improve internal circulation in<br />the genital organs and will relieve them of all kinds of inflammation and other abnormalities. Mud<br />packs may be applied to the abdomen and sexual organs.<br />For a hip bath, a common tub may be used. The tub may be filled with sufficient water to cover<br />the hips, when a person sits inside it. The cold hip bath should be taken for 10 minutes at a<br />water temperature of 50 O to 65 o F. For wet girdle pack, a thin underwear wrung in cold water<br />should be worn. Over this, a thick dry cotton or woolen underwear should be worn . All cold<br />treatments should be suspended during menstruation.<br />Certain yogasanas which help tone up the gonads should be practised regularly for overcoming<br />female sterility. These asanas are sarvagasana, matyasana, ardhamatsyendrasana,<br />paschimottanasana, and shalabhasana.<br />All these practices together with clean habits, proper rest and relaxation will go a long way in<br />overcoming female sterility.<br />[index]<br />Female Sterility<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap88.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:34:04 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Leucorrhoea<br />Leucorrhoea, commonly known as whites, refers to a whitish discharge from the female genitals.<br />It is an abnormal condition of the reproductive organs of women. If not treated properly in the<br />initial stages, it may become chronic.<br />Recent investigations have shown that secretions from the uterus and upper part of the vagina<br />flow down and are reabsorbed in the lower parts of the vagina. This is the normal constant flow<br />within the female organs. The whitish discharge is, however, caused by the presence of infection<br />in any of these tissues and a variety of other factors . The condition may continue for weeks or<br />months at a time.<br />Symptoms<br />In addition to the whitish discharge from the vagina, the patient feels weak and tired. She also<br />suffers from pain in the lumbar region and the calves and a dragging sensation in the abdomen.<br />Other symptoms are constipation, frequent headaches and intense itching. In the chronic form,<br />the patient feels irritable and develops black patches under the eyes.<br />Causes<br />Leucorrhoea does not develop suddenly in an acute form. It denotes a devitalised and toxic<br />condition of the system generally. The condition also involves one or many parts of the<br />reproductive organs. Whenever the body is loaded with toxins due to wrong dietary habits and<br />the eliminative organs such as skin, bowels, lungs, and kidneys are unable to eliminate the<br />toxins, the body produces a profuse discharge or elimination through the mucous membrane of<br />the uterus and vagina in the form of leucorrhoea. In the case of advanced, chronic inflammatory<br />conditions of these organs, it leads to discharge with pus, offensive in odour and colour varying<br />from cream to yellow or light green.<br />In young girls, leucorrhoea may occur during the few years before and after the start of the<br />menstrual flow . It may be due to an irritation of the genital organs caused by various factors<br />such as dirt, soiled under garments, intestinal worms and excessive mental stimulation of sex or<br />masturbation. Some excess secretion is normal when the girl reaches puberty, due to<br />overactivity in her sex glands and organs. This usually disappears within a short time.<br />In your women, leucorrhoea may occur during intermenstrual periods, due to thickening of the<br />mucous membrane in the reproductive organs. Such a discharge is associated with painful<br />menstruation and other menstrual disorders.<br />In mature women, a profuse yellowish discharge, associated with burning on urination, may be<br />caused by gonorrhoea. This is a serious infection which should be treated promptly. During the<br />child-bearing years, from adolescence to the mid-forties, the infection may sometimes follow the<br />birth of a child due to damage of the cervix during delivery. This is increased by prolonged<br />ill-health, anxiety, neurosis, sedentary occupation and standing for long periods. If not treated<br />properly, this infection may continue for months or even years and may spread to other areas of<br />the genital tract.<br />Leucorrhoea may also result from a chill. A chill causes inflammation of the womb and vaginal<br />membranes. Other common causes are the displacement of the womb and unhygienic<br />conditions which attract bacteria to the geniral organs.<br />The Cure<br />A total health-building scheme is essential for the removal of the systemic toxicity which is<br />primarily responsible for the disease. Such a scheme should consist of correct dietary habits,<br />proper sleep, exercise, fresh air and sunshine.<br />To begin with, the patient should fast for three or four days on lemon water or fruit juices for the<br />elimination of the morbid matte from the body. During this period the bowel should be cleansed<br />Leucorrhoea<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap89.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:34:19 PM]<br />daily with a warm water enema. In case of habitual constipation, steps should be taken for its<br />eradication.<br />After a short fast, the patient may adopt an all fruit-diet for about a week. In this regimen , she<br />should have three meals a day of fresh juicy fruits such as apples, pears, grapes, grapefruit,<br />oranges, pineapple and peaches. If the patient is suffering from anaemia, or is very much<br />underweight, the diet may consist of fruits and milk. The patient may then gradually embark<br />upon a well-balanced diet consisting of three basic food groups namely (i) seeds, nuts and<br />grains, (ii) fruits and (iii) vegetables.<br />Fresh fruits or fruit juices only should be taken between meals. All forms of white four, white<br />sugar, fried and greasy foods, condiments, preserves, tea and coffee should be avoided.<br />An effective home remedy for leucorrhoea is lady’s finger. A decoction of this vegetable is<br />prepared by boiling of 100 grams of the fresh capsules, cut transversely, in half a litre of water<br />for 20 minutes and then strained sweetened. This decoction, given in doses of two or three<br />ounces frequently, is highly beneficial in all irritable conditions of genito-urinary organs including<br />leucorrhoea.<br />Fenugreek seeds are another excellent home remedy for leucorrhoea. They should be taken<br />internally in the form of tea and also used as a douche. For a douche, the solution should be<br />much stronger than tea. Two tablespoonful of fenugreek seeds should be put in a litre of cold<br />water and allowed to simmer for half an hour over a low flame. It should then be strained and<br />used as a douche.<br />Treatment through water is extremely beneficial in curing leucorrhoea. A cold hip bath twice a<br />day for 10 minutes will help relieve congestion in the pelvic region and facilitate quick elimination<br />of morbid matter. A warm vaginal douche at 30 o to 40 o C is beneficial to general cleansing and<br />elimination of the purulent discharge. The procedure is to fill the douche can with 1 1/2 litre of<br />warm water and hang it at a level of three feet above the body. The patient should lie with the<br />hips slightly raised above the body and a special nozzle applied for this purpose should be oiled<br />and inserted slowly into the vagina. The flow can be regulated by the small value at the nozzle.<br />In severe cases of leucorrhoea, the douche should be done daily.<br />The passive inflammation of the affected organs can be cured by regular hot hip baths at 40 o C<br />for 10 minutes and regular use of wet girdle pack for 90 minutes every night. For a hot hip bath<br />an ordinary bath tub may be used. It should be filled with water at 40 o C. The patient should sit<br />in the tub, keeping the legs outside, after taking a glass of cold water. The head should be<br />covered with a wet cloth. A cold water bath should be taken after this treatment. For the wet<br />girdle pack, a thin cotton underwear and another thick or woolen underwear are required. The<br />thin underwear should be wrung in cold water and worn by the patient. The thick dry underwear<br />should be worn above the wet underwear. If the patient feels chill, she should be covered with a<br />blanket.<br />Yogasanas, especially those which improve muscles of the abdomen and uterus are highly<br />beneficial and should be practised regularly. These asanas are paschimottanasana,<br />sarvagasana, halasana, padmasana, bhujansana, and shalabhasana.<br />The patient should completely relax and should avoid mental tension and worry. Abdominal<br />exercises and walking are also helpful.<br />[index]<br />Leucorrhoea<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap89.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:34:19 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Inflammation of the Uterus<br />The uterus, often called the womb, is the most delicate organ of woman. It is liable to disorders<br />of various kinds. Inflammation of this organ is common occurrence in women. It may be acute or<br />chronic.<br />The uterus is a hollow, pear-shaped muscular organ, situated in a bonny frame called the pelvis.<br />It is seven centimeter long, five cm. in breadth and about 2.5 cm. thick. Its capacity is roughly<br />three cubic centimeters. The lower narrow end of the uterus which opens into the vagina is<br />called the cervix. The upper broad part is called the body of the uterus or the corpus.<br />The inflammation which may affect the lining membrane of the uterus is called endometritis.<br />When it affects the muscular coat and substance of the uterus, it is termed metritis. Endometritis<br />may be confined to the lining membrane of the cervix or neck of the uterus or it may attack the<br />lining membrane of the entire organ. Commonly it is called catarrh of uterus.<br />Symptoms<br />The symptoms of acute endometriosis are slight fever, headache, general debility, loss of<br />appetite, pain in the back and lower part of the abdomen and pelvis, and itching tendency in the<br />vagina. IN chronic endometriosis, symptoms are the same, but not so severe as in the acute<br />form. The only troublesome symptom is the discharge which may be either clear or opaque and<br />yellow. This disease may produce sterility.<br />Chill, fever, rapid pulse and breathing, nausea, local pain and discharge are the symptoms of<br />acute metritis. This is a very rare case, but it may occur after confinement on account of<br />infection. Chronic metritis may occur for many reasons and is probably the most common<br />diseases among women. The symptoms are disorders of menstruation, more or less profuse<br />leucorrhoea, constipation, lack of vitality, weakness in the back and the limbs, pain in the lower<br />portion of the back and a tendency to abortion.<br />Causes<br />Inflammation of the uterus may be caused by sudden chill, or by exposure to cold during<br />menstruation. The disease sometimes occurs because of the medicines applied for the purpose<br />of stimulating the menstrual flow. Other causes are the use of irritants to produce abortion, the<br />use of strong purgatives, the insertion of instruments and preventives, and excessive sexual<br />indulgence. Sometimes bicycle riding, hose back riding and dancing may also cause<br />inflammation of the uterus among weak and underweight women. The displacement of the<br />uterus in any form may also lead to this condition.<br />Treatment<br />If the inflammation is caused by a chill or exposure to cold during menstruation, the patient<br />should start the treatment with a hot leg bath. This may be replaced by hot hip bath after two or<br />three days. In case of pain, hot and cold hip baths will be beneficial. The water should be<br />changed from hot to cold, every two minutes and this should be repeated thrice.<br />As this disease produces the tendency towards constipation, the patient should take an enema<br />once daily with warm water as can be comfortably borne by the patient. It is also advisable to<br />apply alternate compress on the abdomen just before employing enema.<br />In the chronic form the treatment should aim at increasing the general vitality. To begin with, the<br />patient should resort to fasting on orange juice and water for two or three days. The procedure is<br />to take every two hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. the juice of an orange diluted with warm water on<br />50 : 50 basis. If the orange juice does not agree, juices of vegetable such as carrots and<br />cucumber may be taken. A warm water enema may be taken each day while fasting to cleanse<br />the bowels.<br />After the short juice fast, the patient may adopt an all-fruit diet for about two days, taking three<br />Inflammation of the Uterus<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap90.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:34:35 PM]<br />meals a day of fresh juicy fruits such as apples, pears, grapes, grapefruit, orange, pineapple<br />peaches and melon.<br />After the juice fast the patient should follow a well- balanced diet of seeds, nuts, and grains,<br />vegetables and fruits. This diet should be supplemented with milk, yogurt, butter-milk, vegetable<br />oil and honey. A further short juice fast or periods on the all-fruit diet may be necessary at<br />intervals of a month or two, according to the needs of the case. If constipation is habitual, all<br />steps should be taken for its eradication.<br />The foods which should be avoided are : white flour products, sugar, confectionery, rich cakes,<br />pastries, sweets, refined cereals, flesh foods, rich, heavy and greasy foods, tinned or preserved<br />foods, pickles, condiments, and sauces.<br />The patient should also undertake moderate exercise and walking in fresh air as it will help<br />increase general health and vitality. Yogic asanas such as sarvangasana, bhujangasana,<br />uttanasana, and shavasana are also beneficial in the treatment of inflammation of the uterus.<br />No real cure is possible unless the system as a whole is treated. The blood has to be purified,<br />the nerves strengthened and the waste deposits accumulated in the system eliminated before<br />the trouble can be completely overcome.<br />[index]<br />Inflammation of the Uterus<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap90.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:34:35 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Prolapse of the Uterus<br />Prolapse of the uterus refers to the downward displacement of the vagina and uterus. The word<br />prolapse is derived from the latin procidere which means with effect to fall. This disorder is more<br />common in our country than in the western world.<br />The uterus is held in position by adequate ligaments Besides, it has the support of the muscular<br />structures of vagina and all other local tissues and muscles. Due to the laxity of support by<br />muscles, tissue and ligaments, the uterus sags downwards.<br />Symptoms<br />A woman suffering from prolapse of a uterus feels that something is coming down through the<br />vagina. She feels a sense of fullness in the region of the bladder and rectum. Other symptoms<br />include dragging discomfort in the lower abdomen, low backache, heavy menses and milk<br />vaginal discharge. There is also an increase in the frequency of urination and the patient feels<br />difficulty in total emptying of the bladder. There may also be a burning sensation due to infection.<br />The woman may experience difficulty in passing stools and complete evacuation of bowels.<br />These symptoms become more pronounced before and during menstruation. The condition may<br />also result in difficulty in normal sexual intercourse and sometimes sterility.<br />Causes<br />There are several factors which contribute to the displacement of the uterus. These include<br />continuous distension of the intestines with gas or excess food materials, leading to constant<br />downward pressure on the womb, chronic constipation leading to pressure from behind from an<br />over-filled colon, tight clothing especially tight corsets, constant stooping, and a weakened<br />condition of the internal muscles of the abdomen , through lack of exercise and bodily weakness.<br />Some of the other important factors responsible for prolapse of the uterus are prolonged labour,<br />an interference in the delivery by inexpert people, lack of proper rest and diet in post-natal<br />periods, repeated deliveries and manual work. An increased weight of the womb, tumours of the<br />uterus, traction of the uterus and surgical injuries can also lead to this disorder. Menopausal<br />atrophy may also precipitate it.<br />Prevention<br />It is easier to prevent prolapse of uterus than cure it after its occurrence. The measures to<br />prevent it should include good antenatal care in pregnancy, proper management and timely<br />intervention during delivery, good postnatal care with proper rest, correct diet and appropriate<br />exercise so as to strengthen the pelvic musculature.<br />Treatment<br />Treatment of displaced womb must consist mainly of a suitable diet and exercise. The diet<br />should be so planned as should aim at building up the internal musculature of the body. Of<br />course, any tendency towards tight lacing, constant stooping, and heavy lifting must be carefully<br />guarded against, once a natural regime is undertaken, as these will automatically tend to hold up<br />the success of the treatment.<br />To begin with the patient should adopt an all-fruit diet for about five days. During this period she<br />should take three meals consisting of juicy fruits such as orange, apple, pineapple, grapes at five<br />hourly intervals. The bowel should be cleansed daily with a warm water enema.<br />After the all-fruit diet , the patient should gradually embark upon a well-balanced diet, based on<br />three basic food groups, namely, (i) seeds, nuts and grains (ii) vegetables and (iii) fruits. The<br />all-fruit diet should be repeated for three days at monthly intervals till the condition improves.<br />Carrots have proved useful in the treatment of prolapse of the uterus. For prolpase of the uterus,<br />pulped carrots should be placed in a muslin bag and inserted in a vagina. This should be kept for<br />some time using fresh carrots every 12 hours. This will heal and strengthen the parts and help<br />Prolapse of the Uterus<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap91.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:34:49 PM]<br />greatly in preventing any further disorders in the female reproductive system.<br />A hot Epsom salts bath is also beneficial in the treatment of prolapse of the uterus and should be<br />undertaken twice a week. This bath is prepared by dissolving one or one and half kg. of<br />Epsom-salt in an ordinary bath of hot water. The patient should remain immersed in the bath<br />from ten to twenty minutes. This bath should be taken just before retiring to bed and care should<br />be exercised not to get chilled afterwards. No soaps should be used with the bath as it will<br />interfere with its beneficial effects. The alternate hot and cold hip bath are also useful and should<br />be undertaken at night on alternate days.<br />Exercise<br />Exercises to strengthen the pelvic musculature are extremely useful in the treatment of prolapse<br />of the uterus. Lying on a couch with the legs raised higher than the rest of the body is very<br />helpful in relieving pain and discomfort from a displaced womb. This should be done from half an<br />hour to an hour two or three times daily. The feet should be raised about eighteen inches by<br />placing cushions under them. When this is not possible the patient can sit on a chair with a feet<br />on another chair. The more this can be done during the day, the better will it be in every way.<br />The patient should also perform other exercises aimed at strengthening the abdominal muscles.<br />These exercises will help greatly in correcting the displacement of the uterus.<br />Women should always take precautions to space out their children so as to prevent repeated<br />successive deliveries. This will allow the genital issues to regain their strength and vitality and<br />thereby prevent prolapse of the uterus.<br />[index]<br />Prolapse of the Uterus<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap91.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:34:49 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Vaginitis<br />Vaginitis can be described as an inflammation of the vagina and vulva. It is a fairly common<br />problem with women. This can be avoided by taking proper treatment in the initial stages itself.<br />But women usually tend to hide this problem.<br />Changes in the activity of the vaginal epithelium and in the vaginal secretion at different ages<br />have a profound influence on the defense against vaginal infection. In the adult, the normal<br />vaginal moisture or secretion consists of mucous and discarded vaginal cells. This discharge<br />generally causes no irritation though the amount secreted and consistency vary. The variance is<br />also due to the periodicity of the menstrual cycle and psychological conditions. Normal healthy<br />women do not suffer from the sensations of the itching, burning, pain or irritation.<br />In unhealthy women and in abnormal conditions, the resident organisms (bacteria) multiply<br />rapidly and produce excessive waste products. It causes tissue irritation in this region leading to<br />itching, swelling, and burning. There is increase in the frequency or discharge of urine which is<br />accompanied with an unpleasant order.<br />Symptoms<br />The symptoms of vaginitis are feeling of heat and fullness in the vagina, a dragging feeling in the<br />groin, increased urinary frequency and vaginal discharge, that is, leucorrhoea. The clear or white<br />secretion becomes purulent and yellow. The severity of leucorrhoea depends upon the degree of<br />bacterial infection.<br />Causes<br />The main causes of vaginitis are irritation of vagina by external factors like cuts, abrasions in this<br />region, constant wearing of tight-fitting clothes and wearing unclean clothes, using dirty or<br />infected water and lack of hygiene.<br />Certain medications and treatments can increase susceptibility to infection. These include the<br />use of antibiotics, hormones and excessive douching. Susceptibility is greater in cases of<br />pregnancy, diabetes and certain psychological conditions as well as during the later half of the<br />menstrual cycle. Irritation from contraceptive devices can also lead to this condition.<br />Unhygienic conditions combined with wrong dietary habits increase toxemia thereby lowering<br />body resistance. According to the nature cure philosophy, whenever the body is loaded with<br />toxins or morbid matter, it tried to eliminate it through the eliminative organs. In women, this<br />elimination is established in the form of profused discharge, that is leucorrhoea, initially, in later<br />stages, the discharge can become offensive in cases of chronic inflammation.<br />Treatment<br />Maintenance of hygienic conditions is the most important factor in the treatment of vaginitis. It is<br />only after disease achieved that morbidity and consequent inflammation and discharge can be<br />prevented.<br />Another important factor is diet. The patient should be made to fast for three or five days.<br />Depending Ponte condition, the fasting period may be extended. During this period, she may<br />take juices of lemon and other sub-acidic fruits. This will give the system an opportunity to divert<br />its vital energies to check inflammation and infection.<br />After the juice fasting, the patient may adopt restricted diet, consisting of raw vegetable salads,<br />fruits and sprouts. This will ensure minimal mucous secretions. This restricted diet should be<br />continued for 10 to 15 days. It will help reduce inflammatory conditions. Boiled vegetables which<br />are easily digestible and wheat chappatis may be added gradually to this diet. Later, rice,dal,<br />vegetable soup or butter milk may be taken for lunch and an uncooked diet for dinner.<br />The patient should avoid coffee, tea and other stimulants as well as sugar, fried and refined<br />foods.<br />Vaginitis<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap92.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:35:01 PM]<br />Hydrotherapy<br />Treatment through water plays an important role in overcoming vaginitis. The patient should be<br />given an enema with lukewarm neem water to cleanse the bowels and prevent the constipation<br />which increases the toxemic condition, inflammation and infection in the genital organs. For<br />general cleansing and elimination of purulent vaginal discharge, neem water vaginal douche at<br />35 o C - 40 o C followed by cold douche will be highly beneficial.<br />In persistent cases, cold vaginal irritation provides relief. This treatment is best administered with<br />a fountain syringe, containing water. The syringe should be placed two or three feet above the<br />patient and water injected into the vagina. The patient should lie upon her back , with hips<br />elevated and water should flow out of the vaginal canal.<br />A decoction of the herb chebulic myrobalan has proved very useful for vaginal irritation and<br />inflammation. It should be used as an external douche to wash the vulvar parts. When there is a<br />thick white discharge, washing the part with decoction made with neem leaves and chebulic<br />myrobalan fruits will greatly help.<br />A moderately prolonged cold hip bath accompanied with a hot foot bath is also helpful. The level<br />of cold water must be 34 inches in height. The patient should sit in the tub in such a manner that<br />legs remain out of the tub. This bath can be given for 20 to 30 minutes.<br />Another mode of treatment considered beneficial is the wet girdle pack for about an hour. For<br />this treatment, a thin cotton underwear and another thick or woolen underwear are required. The<br />thin underwear should be wrung in cold water and worn by the patient. The thick dry underwear<br />should be worn above the wet underwear. If the patient feels chill, she should be covered with a<br />blanket. This treatment helps reduce inflammation.<br />A cold douche on the perennial region for 10 to 15 minutes twice a day helps reduce vaginitis. A<br />mud pack on the abdomen for 10 minutes twice daily also helps reduce inflammation.<br />Chromotherapy can also be used to treat this complaint. Blue light treatment given to the<br />afflicted region for an hour accompanied with vaginal irrigation using green coloured charged<br />water helps reduce the infection.<br />After recovery, it is essential to adopt correct eating habits and hygienic living conditions. Proper<br />rest and exercise are also important.<br />[index]<br />Vaginitis<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap92.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:35:01 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Pruritus Vulvae<br />Pruritus literally means a sensation of itching and vulva is the name given to the entrance to the<br />vagina. It is a symptoms, not a disease in itself. Atleast 10 per cent of women all over the world<br />suffer from this complaint.<br />Pruritus vulvae is generally relieved through scratching in the initial stages. At a later stage, the<br />patient develops a burning sensation in this region. This can intensify to such an extent that<br />women suffering from this complaint prefer to remain indoors and refuse to go out. This problem<br />occurs more during the night. The patient may scratch the area during sleep and wake to find<br />that she has made herself bleed.<br />Causes<br />One of the main causes of pruritus vulvae is purulent and mucopurulent vaginal discharge. Due<br />to this discharge, the vulva region chafes. The resulting tenderness causes pain. Over 80 per<br />cent of these cases occur due to this cause. Prorates without vaginal discharge occurs in 15 to<br />20 per cent of the cases.<br />In some cases prorates vulvae may develop due to the presence of skin diseases not specific to<br />the vulva such as psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis and scabies. Other causes include animal and<br />vegetable parasite infections which tend to cause pruritus public rather than prutitus vulvae,<br />conditions of the urinary track like continence of urine and pyuria. Highly acidic urine sometime<br />causes soreness which subsequently leads to pruritus. Glycosuria and diabetes also contribute<br />to this condition.<br />Pruritus vulvae can result from skin sensitivity to various kinds of soaps, bath salts, deodorants<br />and antiseptics which contain particular phenols and cresols and from certain drugs. These<br />allergies may also be caused by nylons and tight-fitting clothes. In rare cases the disorders may<br />develop as an offshoot of certain major problems like jaundice, uraemia, and other toxic<br />conditions.<br />Many mental disturbances can affect the sexual bias and psychoneurosis results. The skin of the<br />vulva region can also be a site of psychoneurosis, nervous fatigue and rough clotting Sexual<br />frustration and guilt feelings can also lead to pruritus vulvae.<br />Treatments<br />There is always some underlying cause for the onset of purirtus, but scratching soon damages<br />the skin and causes secondary changes which may obscure the primary cause. In addition, the<br />skin may become sensitized to some local application. IN long standing cases, the diagnosis of<br />both the initial cause and the reason for the maintenance of the irritation may become extremely<br />difficult, particularly when more than one factor is involved. Successfully treatment depends on<br />two cardinal principles, namely, to remove any underlying cause and to stop further damage to<br />the skin by scratching or by unsuitable application.<br />The most important factor in the treatment of pruritus vulvae caused by infections through<br />fungus or parasites, is cleanliness. Bowels should be kept clean either through enemas or a<br />natural diet. The patient must wear clean clothes to avoid this problem. After urination, the<br />vagina should be thoroughly washed with plain cold water. IN case of severe pruritus, it is<br />advisable to wash the vulva with neem leaves decoction and apply green light charged coconut<br />oil.<br />Treatments like neem water vaginal douches help kill bacteria and fungus. The affect reaction<br />should be exposed to green coloured light or rays of the sun through green coloured glass for 25<br />to 30 minutes. This will help reduce infections.<br />Purritus vulvae resulting from discharges from the uterus, cervix or vagina causes<br />inflammations. This can be reduced by regular application of mud packs on the lower abdomen,<br />twice or thrice a day. A cold hip bath may also be taken for 10 minutes. An alternate hot and cold<br />Pruritus Vulvae<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap93.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:35:21 PM]<br />hip bath is especially useful in reducing inflammation.<br />In cases of pruritus resulting from diabetes mellitus, glycosuria, uraemia, jaundice and other<br />toxic states, specific diets and treatments for these complaints should be followed before pruritus<br />could be cured.<br />Skin diseases like psoriasis, scabies, fungal infections should be treated through nature cure<br />methods. These include steam baths, mud baths, immersion baths, sun baths, spine baths and<br />chromotherapy.<br />Diet plays an important role in the treatment of pruritus vulvae. Initially the patient should be put<br />on a juice fast for a few days. She should drink fruit and vegetable juices, diluted with water on<br />50 : 50 basis. A warm water enema should be used daily during the period of fasting to cleanse<br />the bowels.<br />Fasting helps relieve the toxic conditions not in just the affected region but also the entire body.<br />Thus inflammation is reduced. The diet after the juice fast could include seasonal fruits, salads,<br />sprouts, vegetables, soups or buttermilk. Cooked food should be included in the diet only much<br />later.<br />The patient should avoid all processed, refined and denatured foods such as white sugar, white<br />flour and all products made from them as well a s coffee, tea, eggs, meat, spicy and oily foods.<br />Alcohol and smoking are to be completely eliminated.<br />A natural mode of life will go a long way in overcoming pruritus vulvae. It will also lead to<br />improvement in health in general.<br />[index]<br />Pruritus Vulvae<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap93.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:35:21 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Hysteria<br />Hysteria is a mental and nervous disorder arising from intense anxiety. It is characterised by a<br />lack of control over acts and emotions and by sudden conclusive seizures and emotional<br />outbursts. It often results from repressed mental conflict.<br />This disorder appears in both sexes, but is far more common in young women of the age group<br />between 14 and 25 years because of their natural sensitivity. In many cases it tends to occur<br />around the period of adolescence and becomes less frequent after the age of 25. It is<br />uncommon after the age of forty-five years.<br />Hysteria is an ancient disorder. The term is derived from the Greek word hystron ,meaning<br />uterus. The diagnosis dates back to ancient Greek medicine, according to which a variety of<br />symptoms was attributed to a wandering of the womb through the body. The recorded history of<br />the diagnosis begin in ancient Egypt with the Kahnus Papyrus dating from about 1900 BC, which<br />enumerates a series of morbid states attributable to displacement of the uterus. In the Middle<br />Ages hysteria was associated with ideas of demoniacal possession, witchcraft and religious<br />fanaticism. Later it came to be solely related to the female sex.<br />Osler, an eminent psychiatrist defines hystria as " a disorder chiefly of young women, in which<br />emotional states control the body, leading to perversion of mental, sensory, motor and secretory<br />functions. "<br />Symptoms<br />A wide range of symptoms are regarded as hysterical The onset of hysterical attacks may be<br />sudden, provoked especially by strong feelings or may be heralded over a period of several<br />hours by prodromal features. The main symptoms include inappropriate elation or sadness,<br />crying without cause, almost conclusive laughter, deep sighing, cramps in the limbs, mild<br />rumblings in the belly and sense of constriction in the throat.<br />The symptoms of hysteria are of two degrees. In the first degree, the patient may feel heaviness<br />in the limbs, more severe cramps, strong feeling of ascending abdominal constriction, continual<br />sightings, difficulty in breathing, construction in the chest, palpitations, feeling of a foreign body<br />lodged in the throat, swelling of the neck and of the jugular veins, suffocation, headache,<br />clenched teeth, generalized and voluntary tensing of muscles of locomotion. The patient remains<br />conscious during paroxysms. The convulsions are usually milder and occur more often during<br />the bending and extending of limbs.<br />In the second degree, additional symptoms, besides the preceding ones, are noticeable and<br />these may include wild and painful cries, incomplete loss of consciousness, enormously swollen<br />neck, violent and tumultuous heart-beats, involuntary locomotor muscle contraction, frightening<br />generalised convulsions, violent movement and frequent spitting. Sometimes the patient jumps<br />about on his / her bed and at other times adopt almost tetanic postures. The attack may last<br />several hours. There may be prompt return of consciousness immediately after the convulsions.<br />The psychical symptoms include a weakness of the will, a craving for love and sympathy and a<br />tendency to emotional instability. Hysterical people tend to react too readily to suggestion and<br />through this suggestibility they are swayed greatly by their surroundings. The morbid<br />exaggerated moods led to impulsive conduct which may often seem irrational. Such people are<br />liable to be much misunderstood and misjudged. At times there may be much<br />absent-mindedness, and loss of memory about events or for definite periods. If this mental<br />dissociation is severe, one may develop hysterical wandering attacks, a state of double<br />consciousness or dual personality.<br />Hysterical trances may last for days or weeks. Here the patient seems to be in a deep sleep, but<br />the muscles are not usually relaxed. In the most severe instance of this, the heart action and<br />breathing may be scarcely apparent that death may be suspected and the person buried alive.<br />Somnambulism or sleep-walking and catalepsy, where limbs remain in any position in which<br />Hysteria<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap94.htm (1 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:35:29 PM]<br />they are placed, are other hysterical states.<br />Causes<br />The most common causes of hysteria are sexual excess, or sexual repression, perverted habits<br />of thought and idleness. Heredity plays an important part in its causation. A nervous family, taint<br />and faulty emotional training, when young, are predisposing causes. The emotional shocks may<br />have been caused by mental or physical factors such as mental strain, stress, fear, worry,<br />depression, traumatism, masturbation and prolonged sickness.<br />Hysteria is an extremely mental phenomenon which may take varying forms. In certain types the<br />disorder may result from some situation to which ne is unable to adapt oneself such as marriage,<br />engagement, position of responsibility, the death of relations or loss of love. Factors involving<br />the sexual life in some way are frequently present.<br />A number of studies have indicated a possible connection between hysterical symptoms and<br />organic brain disease. A patient with epilepsy has often been found to get hysterical attacks.<br />Drug intoxication is another organic brain disease closely associated with hysteria.<br />Treatment<br />Hysteria is curable in nearly all cases. Since the causes of hysteria are both physical and<br />mental, treatment should be directed toward both the body and the mind. Regard for one’s<br />physical welfare is of primary importance. A healthy, well-functioning body is best able to keep<br />the reasoning mind in control of the total organism.<br />The measures on the physical side should include a well- ordered hygienic mode of living, a<br />nutritious and bland diet, adequate mental and physical rest, daily exercise , agreeable,<br />occupation, fresh air, regular hours of eating and sleeping, regulation of the bowels and<br />wholesome companionship with others.<br />On the mental plane, the patient should be taught self-control and educated in positive thinking.<br />Her mind must be , by some means drawn away from herself. Proper sex education should be<br />given immediately, especially as regards sublimation of sexual desire or normal sexual<br />indulgence for the married patient.<br />In most cases of hysteria, it is desirable for the patient to start treatment by adopting an all-fruit<br />diet for several days. She should have fresh juicy fruits such as orange, apple, grapes,<br />grapefruit, papaya and pineapple during this period. The all-fruit diet should be followed by an<br />exclusive milk diet for about a month.<br />Most hysteria patients are considerably run down and the milk diet will help build better blood<br />and nourish the nerves. If the full milk diet is not convenient, a diet of milk and fruits may be<br />adopted. The patient, may, therefore, gradually embark upon a well balanced diet of seeds, nuts<br />and grains. Vegetables and fruits. The patient should avoid alcohol, tea, coffee, tobacco, white<br />sugar and white flour and products made from them.<br />Jambul fruit, known as jamun in the vernacular, is considered an effective home remedy for<br />hysteria. Three kgs. of this fruits and a handful of salt should be put in a jug filled with water. The<br />jug should be kept in the sun for a week. Women suffering from hysteria should take 300 grams<br />of this fruit on an empty stomach and also drink a cup of water from the jug. The day she starts<br />this treatment, three kgs. more of these fruits together with a handful of salt should be put in<br />another jug filled with water, so that when the contents of the first jug are finished, contents of<br />the other may be ready for use. This treatment should be continued for two weeks.<br />Honey is regarded as another effective remedy for hysteria. Two of the main causes of hysteria<br />are irregularity of the menstrual cycle and insanity. Honey is invaluable for both these conditions.<br />It causes good bleeding during the cycle, cleans the uterus, tones up the brain and the uterine<br />musculature and keeps the body temperature at a normal level. It is advisable to use honey<br />regularly and increase the quantity after the first start. It will bring down body temperature thus<br />preventing further fits.<br />Exercise and outdoor games are important in the prevention and cure of hysteria . They take the<br />mind away from one’s self and induce cheerfulness. Yogasanas which are useful in hysteria are<br />bhujangasana, shalbhasana, matsyasana, sarvangasana, dhanurasana, halasana,<br />paschimotanasana, yogamudra and shavasana. Weak patients, who are not able to take much<br />active exercise , may be given massage three or four times a week.<br />Other measures useful in the treatment of hysteria are air and sun baths. They are calming and<br />Hysteria<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap94.htm (2 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:35:29 PM]<br />at the same time invigorating to the nerves. Daily cool baths are also an excellent tonic. Suitable<br />physical activity must be balanced with adequate rest and sleep.<br />In case of hysterical fit, the clothing of the patient should be loosened and her head lowered by<br />laying her out flat at once.<br />She should not be allowed to assume an erect position for sometimes after the fit. She should be<br />slapped gently in the face and mustard plasers applied to the soles of the feet and the wrists. In<br />ordinary cases no further treatment is necessary and the symptoms will soon pass off or cease if<br />the patient is left alone.<br />In a genuine hysterical attack, the most effective means of interrupting the paroxym is the<br />applicatin of cold water in some form to the head and spine. Either the cold water may be poured<br />or cold pack or ice pack may be applied to the hand and back of the neck. If this cannot be done,<br />cold water may be splashed on the face. The patient should be provided with plenty of fresh air<br />and some of her clothing should be removed to facilitate easy breathing and to expose the skin<br />to fresh air.<br />In a violent seizure of hysteria, pressure on the ovaries often checks the attack. The patient<br />should be made to lie on the back and the first forcibly pressed into the iliac region. As soon as<br />possible, a neutral immersion bath at 98 o to 100 o F. may be given and continued until the<br />excited condition subsides. If this is not convenient, a hot foot bath , with cold applications to the<br />head, may be used instead. Following an attack the patient should have rest, quietness,<br />darkness and if possible, sleep until the lost energy has been gradually recovered.<br />[index]<br />Hysteria<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap94.htm (3 of 3) [5/19/1999 9:35:29 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Goiter<br />Goitre is a disease of the thyroid gland. It generally refers to a swelling of the thyroid gland in the<br />neck. The disease can, however, also occur without any swelling of the neck. The thyroid gland<br />is best known for its ductless glands. Through its secretions, it regulates the day to day activities,<br />maintains homeostatis through periods of stress and strain and provides a fine balance to the<br />regulatory systems of the body. No part of the body seems to escape its influence.<br />Women are more prone to this serious disease. It is more common in women who are over<br />worked and who do not get sufficient rest and relaxation. The periods in a woman’s life when<br />she is more likely to be affected by goitre are at puberty, during pregnancy, at menopause or<br />when there is extra physical strain on the body.<br />Symptoms<br />It is difficult to recognise the first symptoms of goitre because they are of a very short duration.<br />They usually appear as emotional upsets and can pass almost unnoticed. These spells of<br />emotional upsets gradually increase in duration, when other symptoms also appear. These<br />include loss of power of concentration, depression and weeping. The patient appears to be very<br />easily irritated. The approach of a nervous breakdown is often suspended.<br />The thyroid gland may swell but this has no relation to the severity of the ailment because many<br />serious cases have practically no visible swelling. There is always a rapid though regular heart<br />beat and any undue excitement increases this to a quick pulsation which may even be conveyed<br />to the thyroid gland. There is, in most cases, a tremor of the hands and a feeling of extreme<br />tiredness, together with a lack of power to make any real muscular effort. The eyes may incline<br />to protrude although this does not appear in all patients.<br />A most alarming symptoms of goitre is the loss of weight which no treatment seems to check,<br />and this can persist till the patient feels extremely weak. All the symptoms appear very gradually<br />and that is why so many women do not complain until the trouble has reached serious<br />proportions.<br />Whenever goitre occurs, it must not be assumed that it is sudden flaring up because disease is<br />not an abrupt derangement of a healthy system nor a sign that there has been a gradual loss of<br />health. In practically every instance a bowel is clogged and there has been a slow poisoning of<br />the entire system over a period of years.<br />Causes<br />Deficiency of iodine in the diet is the most common cause of goitre. The thyroid gland makes use<br />of organic iodine in its secretion and a diet deficient in organic iodine is a predisposing factor<br />towards the appearance of this disease incertain cases, especially if other physical and<br />emotional disturbances are present.<br />People living near the sea rarely contract goitre, because all sea foods are rich in organic iodine.<br />It should, however, be concluded from this that fish and other sea foods are essential to the diet<br />to avoid goitre, or that people who eat plenty of fish are necessarily immune from this disease.<br />IN fact, organic iodine is present in practically all foods which come from the earth as well as<br />from the sea. Goitre gradually affects those who habitually live on denatured, that is cooked and<br />refined foods, and not those who eat much of their food in the raw or uncooked state.<br />Treatment<br />The only real treatment for goitre is cleaning of the system and adopting of a rational dietary<br />thereafter, combined with adequate rest and relaxation. To begin with, juices of fruits such as<br />orange, apple, pineapple and grapes may be taken every two or three hours from 8 a.m. to 8<br />p.m. for five days. The bowels should be cleansed daily with lukewarm water.<br />After the juice fast, the patient may spend a further three days on fruits and milk, taking three<br />Goiter<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap95.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:35:50 PM]<br />meals a day of juicy fruits, such as apple, pineapple, grapes, papaya , with a glass of milk, at five<br />hourly intervals. Thereafter, a balanced diet on the following line may be adopted.<br />Breakfast : Fresh acid foods such as apples, grapefruit, oranges, pears, grapes, a glass of<br />whole milk and a handful of raw nuts.<br />Mid-morning : A glass of fruit or vegetable juice to which a table- spoon of yeast has been<br />added.<br />Lunch : Steamed vegetables, whole wheat chappatis and a glass of buttermilk.<br />Mid-afternoon : A glass of milk or fruit juice.<br />Dinner : Vegetable soup, a large bowl of salad of raw vegetables in season such as lettuce,<br />tomato, cabbage, carrot, turnips and celery, sprouts such as alfalfa seeds and mung beans and<br />home made cottage cheese or nuts.<br />Before retiring : Milk or fruit juice.<br />The patient should take plenty of rest and spend a day in bed every week for the first two<br />months of the treatment. More and more exercise should be taken after the symptoms subside.<br />The appetite of the thyroid patient is usually very large and the weight reduction cannot be<br />prevented for some time. This is because until the heart beat slows down and the tremors stop,<br />there will be incomplete assimilation of the food. But as soon as the balance is restored, weight<br />will slowly increase. To held the absorption of food, a narrow waist compress and, later , a neck<br />compress should be worn for five nights a week.<br />As weight increases, the almost constant hunger will gradually disappear ; on no account should<br />any stimulants be administered to create an appetite.<br />Certain foods and fluids are extremely injurious to the goitre patients and this should be avoided<br />by them. These include white flour products, white sugar, flesh foods, fried or greasy foods,<br />preserves, condiments, tea, coffee and alcohol. No drugs should be taken as they cause<br />irritation in the tissues. Iodine is undoubtedly most helpful in many cases. But it should be<br />introduced in organic form. All foods containing iodine should be taken liberally. These are<br />asparagus, cabbage, carrots, garlic, onion, oats, pineapple, whole rice, tomatoes, watercress,<br />and strawberries.<br />Great care must be taken never to allow the body to become exhausted and any irritation likely<br />to cause emotional upset should be avoided. The cure of goitre is not a speed one and there is<br />often a recurrence of symptoms but these should gradually become less pronounced. Strict<br />adherence to a suitable diet is essential for complete cure.<br />Half the daily intake of food should consist of fresh fruits and vegetables and the starch elements<br />should be confined to whole wheat products and potatoes. Potatoes are the most valuable form<br />of starch. They should preferably be taken in their jackets. The protein foods should be confined<br />to eggs, cheese, peas, beans , lentils and nuts. Milk and all flesh proteins must be avoided. The<br />diet outlines here should be strictly adhered to for a year, and the compresses on the neck and<br />the waist applied for five consecutive nights in a week for two months and discontinued for one<br />month.<br />Water treatments should be taken to increase skin elimination. Application of a sponge to the<br />entire body before retiring and a cold sponge on rising will be very helpful. It is most important<br />that the bowels are kept working efficiently to avoid danger of a toxic condition of the blood<br />arising from that source.<br />All efforts should be made to prevent emotional stress. There may be a light recurrence of this<br />extremely nervous complaint for some time, but the attacks will become less severe and of<br />shorter duration as the treatment progresses. And above all, there must be no lessening of the<br />woman’s efforts to help herself because success can only be attained by assiduous effort.<br />[index]<br />Goiter<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap95.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:35:50 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Cholera<br />Cholera is one of the most severe diseases of the intestines. It is a serious affliction, involving<br />the lower part of the small bowel. It is a waterborne disease and is common during the<br />monsoons. The mortality rate for this disease has been quite high.<br />The disease strikes suddenly and fills the intestinal canal with bacilli which die rapidly and leave<br />the person quickly , alive or dead. It comes as a fell epidemic and creates havoc but subsides<br />quickly in the locality. Those who are susceptible to it are carried away and those who are left<br />alive are immuned to it. Thus after an epidemic in a non-epidemic area, there is no re-visitation<br />in the locality for two or three years.<br />The original home of cholera is Bengal in India. It spread from this country during the 19th<br />century in a series of epidemics along the trade routes. It reached Japan and also Astrakhan, in<br />Russian, in 1817. The disease spread to Moscow in 1826, Berlin in 1831 and London and Paris<br />in 1832. Subsequently, it spread to Canada and several countries in Europe. However, by 1895,<br />cholera had disappeared from Europe.<br />Symptoms<br />Cholera appears in three stages. In the first stage, the patient suffers from mild diarrhoea and<br />vomiting, which worsens rapidly. The motions become watery, containing no feacal matter. The<br />patient feels severe cramps in the muscles of the abdomen and limbs, resulting from lack of<br />salts. The temperature rises but the skin is generally cold and blue and the pulse is weak.<br />Taking water to quench thirst dilutes the body salt still further, and makes the cramps worse.<br />In the second stage of collapse, the body becomes colder, the skin dry, wrinkled and purple.<br />Voice becomes weak and husky while the urine looks dark and formation is less, or altogether<br />absent. It is in this ‘algid’ stage that the patient may die, as early as 24 hours after the onset of<br />the symptoms.<br />In the third stage,recovery follows in favourable cases. All the changes seem to reverse<br />themselves, the fluid loss decreases and there is improvment in the general condition. Even at<br />this stage, a relapse may occur or the patient may sink into a condition resembling typhoid fever.<br />The condition may deteriorate over a period of two or three weeks. During this stage of reaction,<br />the temperature may rise and the patient may be in danger from penumonia.<br />Causes<br />Cholera is caused by a short, curved, rod-shaped germ known as vibrio cholera. This germ<br />produces a powerful poison or endotoxin. It is spread by flies and water contaminated by the<br />germs. The real cause of disease , however, is the toxic and devitalized condition of the system<br />brought about by incorrect feeding habits and faulty style of living. This condition facilitates<br />invasion of cholera germs.<br />Treatment<br />The treatment should in the beginning aim at combating the loss of fluids and salts from the<br />body. To allay thirst, water, soda water or green coconut water should be given for sipping<br />although this may be thrown out by vomiting. Therefore, only small quantities of water should be<br />given repeatedly, as these may remain for sometime within the stomach and stay of every one<br />minutes means some absorption. Ice may be given for sucking. This will reduce internal<br />temperature and restrict the tendency to vomit. Intravenous infusions ofsaline solution should be<br />given to compensate for the loss of fluids and salts from the body. The patient may require five<br />litres or more a day. Care should, however, be taken to avoid waterlogging the patient.<br />Potassium may be added to the infused fluid. Rectal saline may sometimes prove useful for<br />adults. Normally, half a litre of saline , with 30 grams of glucose, should be given per rectum<br />every four hours until urine is passed freely.<br />Cholera<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap96.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:36:09 PM]<br />After the acute stage of cholera is over, the patient may be given green coconut water and<br />barley water in very thin form. When the stools begin to form, he should be given butter-milk. As<br />he progresses towards recovery, rice softened to semi-solid form mixed with curd, may be given.<br />The patient should not be given solid food till he has fully recovered. Liquid and bland foods,<br />which the patient can ingest without endangering a reoccurrence of the malady, are best.<br />Lemon, onion, green chillies, vinegar and mint should be included in the daily diet during an<br />epidemic of cholera.<br />Home Remedies<br />Certain home remedies have been found beneficial in the treatment ofcholera. The foremost<br />among these is the use of lemon ( bara nimbu). The juice ofthis fruit can kill cholera bacilli within<br />a short time. It is also a very effective and reliable preventive food item against cholera during<br />the epidemic. It can be taken in the form of sweetened or salted beverages for this purpose.<br />Taking of lemon with food as daily routine can also prevent cholera.<br />The root bark of guava (amrud) is another valuable remedy. It is rich in tannis and can be<br />successfully employed in the form of concentrated decoction in cholera. It will arrest vomiting<br />and symptoms of diarrhoea.<br />According to Culpepper, an eminent nutritionist for children and young people, nothing is better<br />to purge cholera than the leaves and flowers of peach (arhu). They should be taken in the form<br />of syrup or conserve. The leaves of drumstick (sanjana) tree are also useful in treatment of this<br />disease. A teaspoon of fresh leaf-juice, mixed with honey and a glass of tender coconut water,<br />can be given two or three times as a herbal medicine in the treatment of cholera.<br />Onion is very useful in cholera. About 30 grams of this vegetable and seven black peppers<br />should be finely pounded in a pestle and given to the patient. It allays thirst and restlessness and<br />the patient feels better. The fresh juice of bitter gourd (karela) is another effective medicine in<br />the early stages of cholera.<br />Two teaspoons of this juice, mixed with an equal quantity of white onion juice and a teaspoon of<br />lime juice, should be given Cholera can be controlled only by rigid purification of water supplies<br />and proper disposal of human wastes. In case of the slightest doubt about the contamination of<br />the water, it must be boiled before use, for drinking and cooking purposes. All foodstuffs must be<br />kept covered and vegetables and fruits washed with a solution of potassium permanganate<br />before consumption. Other precautions against this disease include avoiding all uncooked<br />vegetables, thorough washing of hands by all those who handle food, and elimination of all<br />contacts with the disease.<br />[index]<br />Cholera<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap96.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:36:09 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Dermatitits<br />Dermatitis refers to an inflammation of the skin, both external and internal. It is characterised by<br />redness, swelling, heat and pain or itching. Any part of the body may be affected by this disease.<br />The genital areas and the exposed areas such as the eyelids, forearms, face and neck are more<br />prone to it.<br />The cells of the epidermis ( the surface layer of the skin ) are normally protected from damage<br />by the tightly packed squamae of keratin of the horny layer. The elasticity of keratin varies with<br />its water content. This water content can be reduced by evaporation or by removal of the lipid<br />with which it retains moisture. Substances which produce inflammation of the epidermis or<br />dermatitis by mechanical or chemical disruption of the horny layer are called irritants.<br />Degreasing agents like soaps, if used too frequently over a short time, will cause dryness,<br />redness, fissuring and irritation of the skin in almost everyone.<br />Symptoms<br />The appearance of dermatitis varies according to its severity and the stage of its evolution. The<br />first symptom is erythema or redness. This is usually followed by swelling of the skin due to<br />oedema( excessive fluid retention ). Vesicle may appear thereafter .In case of their rupture, their<br />bases exude serum. This condition is known as weeping dermatitis. Later, the serum dries up to<br />form crusts. IN some people the disease seems to come and go without any great change in the<br />skin itself.<br />Causes<br />Chemical substances usually give rise to dermatitis. They may reach the skin from outside or<br />from inside through the blood-stream. About 100 different plants are known to be capable of<br />causing dermatitis in susuceptible persons. The onset is usually acute and begins an hour or two<br />after contact. Dermatitis may be caused by external contact with mineral irritants. This includes<br />most cases of industrial dermatitis which arise on the hands or forearms which actually come in<br />contact with the irritant.<br />Certain drugs applied externally such as atropine, belladona, carbolic acid, iodine, mercury,<br />penicillin, sulphonamides, sulphurs, tars and turpentine sometimes cause dermatitis. Other<br />substances causing this disease include hair dyes, bleaches, skin tonics, nail polish, perfume,<br />wool , silk, nylon, floor-wax and various detergents. Other causes of this disease are indiscretion<br />in diet, deficiency of vitamin A and pantothenic acid , and nervous and emotional stress.<br />Treatment<br />As dermatitis may appear due to varied causes, treatment also varies accordingly. If, however,<br />the trouble is constitutional arising from internal causes, the patient should commence the<br />treatment by adopting an all-fruit diet for at least a week. In this regimen, he should take three<br />meals a day of juicy fruits such as orange, grapes, apple, pineapple and papaya at five hourly<br />intervals.<br />After an exclusive fruit diet, patient may adopt a restricted diet for ten days. In this regimen,<br />breakfast may consist of orange juice or grapefruit. Raw salad, consisting of vegetables<br />available in season, with raisins, figs or dates may be taken for lunch and dinner may consist of<br />steamed vegetables such as spinach, cabbage, carrots, turnips, cauliflower, along with a few<br />nuts or fresh fruit. Mild puddings and desserts such as jellies, jams and pastries, all condiments,<br />spices, white sugar, and white flour and products made from them, tea, coffee and other<br />stimulating drinks should all be avoided.<br />After the restricted diet, the patient should gradually embark upon a well-balanced diet,<br />consisting of seeds, nuts and grains, vegetables and fruits. The emphasis should be on fresh<br />fruits and raw vegetables. IN case of a severe condition, the patient should undertake a fast on<br />Dermatitits<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap97.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:36:19 PM]<br />fruit or vegetable juices for three to five days. This may be followed by a restricted diet for ten to<br />fifteen days. Further fasts and a period on restricted diet at intervals may be adopted after the<br />resumption of a normal diet.<br />The warm water enema should be used daily to cleanse the bowels during the first week of<br />treatment and thereafter as necessary. Epsom-salts baths may be taken two or three times a<br />week. The affected areas may also be bathed twice daily in hot water with Epsom salts. About<br />100 grams of Epsom salts should be added to a bowlful of hot water for this purpose. A little<br />olive oil should be applied after Epsom-salt bathing.<br />The patient should avoid white sugar, refined carbohydrates, tea, coffee, and other denatured<br />foods. He should make liberal use of fruits and vegetable juices. The combined juice from apple,<br />carrot and celery is especially beneficial in the treatment of dermatitis. About 175 ml. each of<br />these juices should be mixed to prepare 525 ml. of combined juice.<br />No medicines of any kind should be used. In case of trouble due to external causes, the most<br />effective treatment consists of applying a mixture of baking soda (bicarbonate of soda ) and olive<br />oil. The alkaline sodium neutralises the poisonous acids formed in the sores and oil keeps the<br />flesh in a softened condition.<br />The patient should undertake moderate physical exercise, preferably simple yoga asanas after<br />the fast is completed and the start of the restricted diet. Exercise is one of the most valuable<br />means for purifying the blood and for preventing toxaemia. The patient should also have<br />adequate physical and mental rest and fresh air. He should avoid exposure to cold, and adopt<br />regular hours of eating sleeping.<br />[index]<br />Dermatitits<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap97.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:36:19 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Hiatus Hernia<br />Hitaus Hernia can be defined as displacement of a portion of the stomach through the opening in<br />the diaphragm through which the oesophagus passes from the chest to the abdominal cavity. IN<br />this disease, a part of the upper wall of the stomach protrudes through the diaphragm at the<br />point where the gullet passes from the chest area to the abdominal area.<br />The diaphragm is a large dome-shaped muscle dividing the chest from the abdominal cavity. It is<br />the muscle concerned with breathing, and it is assisted by the muscles between the ribs during<br />exertion. It has special openings in it to allow for the passage of important blood vessels and for<br />the food channel, the oesophagus. Hiatus hernia occurs at the oesophageal opening.<br />The disease is common after middle age. It is estimated that about half the people above 60<br />years of age suffer from it, although most of them may not have any symptoms. The correct<br />diagnosis of haitus hernia can be arrived at by means of berium meal x-ray test.<br />Symptoms<br />Hiatus hernia is characterised by pain in certain areas. The most common areas are behind the<br />breast bone at the nipple level and lower, at the end of the breast one. Pain may also occur on<br />the left chest and this is often mistaken for angina.<br />Other areas of pain are the base of the throat, right lower ribs and behind the right shoulder<br />blade. The pain increases when the patients stoops with efforts and lies down. Other symptoms<br />of this disease are heart-burn, especially after a meal, a feeling of fullness and bloatedness,<br />flatulence and discomfort on swallowing.<br />Causes<br />The chief cause of the mechanical defect associated with hiatus hernia is faulty diet. The<br />consumption of white flour, refined sugar and products made from them, such as cakes,<br />pastries, biscuits and white bread as well as preservatives, and flavourings devitalise the system<br />and weaken the muscle tone. As a consequence, the muscles become less resilent, and<br />connective and fibrous tissue suffers through poor nourishment, and thus become more prone to<br />decomposition and damage. This ultimately leads to disease like hiatus hernia.<br />Drinks like tea, coffee, alcohol, also affect the mucous lining of the stomach and irritate the<br />digestive tract. These drinks, when taken with meals, encourage fermentation and produce gas.<br />This increases the distension of the stomach, causing pressure against the diaphragm and the<br />oesophageal opening and greatly increasing the risk of hemiation. Other causes of hiatus hernia<br />include sedentary occupations, without sensible exercise, overweight resulting from overeating,<br />smoking, shallow breathing and mental and emotional tensions.<br />Treatment<br />IN the beginning of the treatment, it would be advisable to raise the head end of the bed by<br />placing bricks below the legs of the bed. This will prevent the regurgitation of food during the<br />night. More pillow can also be used for the same purpose.<br />The next important step towards treating hiatus hernia is relaxation. An important measure in<br />this direction is diaphragmatic breathing. The procedure is as follows : lie down with both knees<br />bent and feet close to buttocks. Feel relaxed. Put both the hands lightly on the abdomen and<br />concentrate the attention of this area. Now breathe in, gently pushing the abdominal up under<br />the hands at the same time, until no more air can be inhaled. Then relax, breathing out through<br />the mouth with an audible sighing sound and allow the abdominal wall to sink back. The<br />shoulders and chest should, remain at rest throughout.<br />It is important to be able to relax at any time and thereby prevent building up of physical and<br />mental tensions which may cause actual physical symptoms. The best method for this is practice<br />shavasana, or ‘dead body ‘ pose. The procedure for this Asian has been explained in chapter 7<br />Hiatus Hernia<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap98.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:36:31 PM]<br />on yoga therapy.<br />The patient of hiatus hernia should observe certain precautions in their eating habits. The<br />foremost amongst these is not to take water with meals, but half an hour before or one hour after<br />a meal. This helps the digestive process considerably and reduces the incidence of heart burn.<br />Drinking water with meals increases the overall weight in the stomach, slows down the digestive<br />process by diluting the digestive process and this increases the risk of fermentation and gas<br />formation, which distends the stomach and causes discomfort and pain. Another important factor<br />in the treatment of this disease is to take frequent small meals instead of three large ones.<br />Thorough mastication of foods is also essential, both to break up the food into small particles<br />and to slow down the rate of intake.<br />The diet of the patient should consist of seeds, nuts and whole cereal grains, vegetables and<br />fruits, with emphasis on fresh fruits, raw or lightly cooked vegetables and sprouted seeds. The<br />foods which should be avoided are over-processed foods like white bread and sugar, cakes and<br />biscuits, rice puddings and over cooked vegetables. At least 50 per cent of the diet should<br />consist of fruits and vegetables, and the remaining 50 per cent of protein, carbohydrates and fat.<br />Raw juices extracted from fresh fruits and vegetables are valuable in haitus hernia, and the<br />patient should take these juices half an hour before each meal. Carrot juice is specially<br />beneficial as it has a very restorative effect, and is rich in vitamin A and calcium. It is an alkaline<br />food which soothes the stomach. All juices should be diluted with water on a 50: 50 basis as<br />they are concentrated.<br />The hot drinks should always be allowed to cool a little before taking. Extremes in temperature,<br />in both food and drink should be avoided, drinks should not be taken hurriedly, but sipped<br />slowly. The patient should avoid condiments, pickles, strong tea, coffee, alcoholic beverages<br />and smoking.<br />[index]<br />Hiatus Hernia<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap98.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:36:31 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Intestinal Worms<br />Worms and other intestinal parasites which infest human beings are found in all countries of the<br />world. However, they are more common in tropical and subtropical areas and are widely<br />prevalent during the rainy seasons.<br />Children are more infested with these worms than adults. There are several types of intestinal<br />worms. The most common of these are roundworms, pinworms, threadworms, hookworms,<br />tapeworms and giardia.<br />Symptoms<br />The usual symptoms of intestinal worms are diarrhoea, foul breath, dark circles under the eyes,<br />constant desire for food, restlessness at night with bad dreams, anaemia and headache.<br />Roundworms may give rise to inflammation of the intestine and lungs, nausea, vomiting, loss of<br />weight, fever, nervousness and irritability. Pinworms and thread worms may bring on intense<br />itching in the area around the rectum.<br />Threadworms may cause periodic bouts of diarrhoea alternating with constipation, loss of<br />weight, cough and fever. Hookworms may give rise to anaemia and nutritional disorders. The<br />presence of giardia may result in pain in the calves and weakness in the legs.<br />Causes<br />The eggs of these parasites are introduced into the human system through the medium of food<br />or water, especially undercooked meat. Roundworms may result from dirty fingers and food.<br />Hookworms enter the human body through the skin from infected water. The tapeworms are<br />transmitted into the body through undercooked flesh foods or foods contaminated by dogs.<br />The real cause of intestinal worms, however, is wrong feeding. The eggs of these worms, taken<br />into the human body through food and water can breed in the intestines only if they find there a<br />suitable medium for their propagation. This medium is an intestinal tract clogged with morbid<br />matter and systemic refuse due to wrong feeding habits.<br />Treatment<br />The treatment for intestinal worms should begin with diet. The patient should be kept on an<br />exclusive diet of fresh fruits for five to seven days. Thereafter he may adopt a well-balanced light<br />diet consisting mainly of fruits, vegetables, milk and wholemeal bread. The diet should exclude<br />fatty foods such as butter, cream, and oil, refined foods and all flesh foods. This dietary should<br />be continued till the parasites are completely eliminated.<br />In some cases, depending on the progress being made, the all-fruit diet may have to be<br />repeated at regular intervals. In obstinate cases the patient should resort to short fasts on raw<br />fruit and vegetable juices. This fast has to be of a fairly long duration in case of tapeworms. It<br />would be advisable to carry on this fast treatment under the supervision of a naturopath, or<br />better still, in a nature cure hospital. During the all-fruit diet or fasting period, the bowels should<br />be cleansed daily with the warm water enema.<br />Home Remedies<br />Among the numerous home remedies found beneficial in the treatment of intestinal worms, the<br />use of coconut is most effective. It is an ancient remedy for expelling all kinds of intestinal<br />worms. A tablespoon of the freshly ground coconut should be taken at breakfast followed by a<br />dose of castor oil after three hours. The process may be repeated till the cure is complete.<br />Garlic has been used for expelling intestinal worms from ancient times by the Chinese, Greeks,<br />Romans, Hindus and Babylonians. It is also used by modern biological practitioners for this<br />purpose. Both fresh garlic and its oil are effective. An ancient method of its medication was to<br />place a couple of cloves of fresh garlic in its shoe. As the person walks, it is crushed and the<br />worm-killing garlic oil is absorbed by the skin and carried by blood into the intestines as it<br />Intestinal Worms<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap99.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:36:41 PM]<br />possesses the powerful penetrative force. This method is worth a trial by those who do not like<br />the taste of garlic and cannot eat it.<br />The carrot ( gajar) is valuable in the elimination of threadworms from children as it is offensive to<br />all parasites. A small cup of grated carrot taken every morning, with no other food added to the<br />meal, can clear these worms quickly.<br />The digestive enzyme papain in the milk juice of the unripe papaya (papita) is a powerful<br />anthelmintic for destroying roundworms. A tablespoon of fresh juice and equal quantity of honey<br />should be mixed with three to four tablespoons of hot water and taken as a dose by an adult.<br />This should be followed two hours later by a dose of 30 to 60 ml. of castor oil mixed in 250 - 375<br />ml. of lukewarm milk. This treatment should be repeated for two days, if necessary. For children<br />of 7 to 10 years, half the above doses should be given. For children under three years, a<br />tablespoon is sufficient.<br />Papaya seeds are also useful for this purpose. They are rich in a substance called caricin which<br />is a very effective medicine for expelling roundworms. The alkaloid Carpaine found in the leaves<br />has also the power to destroy or expel intestinal worms. They are given with honey.<br />The bark, both of the root and the stems of pomegranate (anar) tree, is well known for its<br />anthelmintic properties of destroying parasitic worms. The root-bark is , however, preferred as it<br />contains greater quantity of the alkaloid punicine than the stem-bark. This alkaloid is highly toxic<br />to tapeworms. Ninety to 180 ml. of the cold decoction of bark, preferably fresh bark, should be<br />given three times at intervals of one hour to an adult. A purgative should be given after the last<br />dose. The dose for children is 30 to 60 ml. The decoction is used for expelling tapeworms.<br />The seeds of the ripe pumpkin ( kumra) are useful in intestinal worms, especially tapeworms. An<br />infusion, prepared from the seeds after they are peeled and crushed, will kill parasites and help<br />in expelling the tapeworm. It will be necessary to fast for a day and empty the intestines by<br />taking the juice of boiled dry prunes. The next day, three or four tumblers of this pumpkin seed<br />infusion should be taken.<br />[index]<br />Intestinal Worms<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap99.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:36:41 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Malaria<br />Malaria is a serious infectious disease. It is one of the intermittent fevers which have a tendency<br />to return again and again to haunt the sufferer. The word malaria comes from the Italian malaria,<br />meaning bad air as it was once supposed to be caused by bad air. It is one of the most wide<br />spread diseases in the world, especially in tropical and subtropical regions.<br />Symptoms<br />There are three main types of malaria, depending upon the parasite which causes it. These are<br />vivax, falciparum and malaria, commonly called tertian fever, quarter fever and the malignant<br />tertian malaria. The most common symptom of all types of malaria is high fever, which may<br />come every day, on alternate days or every fourth day. The fever is accompanied by chill,<br />headache, shivering and pain in the limbs. The temperature comes down after some time with<br />profuse sweating. One of the main effects of malaria is anemia. Other complications of the<br />disease are kidney failure and dysentery.<br />Causes<br />Malaria is caused by a tiny parasite called plasmodium. The parasites grow in the liver of a<br />person for a few days and then enter the bloodstream where they invade the red blood cells.<br />The disease is spread from a sick person to a healthy one by the female anopheles mosquito.<br />She draws a small quantity of blood containing the parasites, when she bites a person who has<br />malaria. These parasites then pass through several stages of development within the mosquito’s<br />body and finally find their way to its salivary glands. There they lie in wait for an opportunity to<br />enter the bloodstream of the next person. The real cause of malaria, however, as in case of<br />other infectious diseases, is wrong feeding habits and faulty style of living, resulting in the<br />system being clogged with accumulated systemic refuse and morbid matter. It is on this soil that<br />the malaria germs breed. The liberal use of denatured foods of today such as white sugar, white<br />flour and products made from them, as well as tinned foods, strong tea, coffee and alcoholic<br />beverages, lower the vitality of the system and paves the way for the development of malaria.<br />Treatment<br />Diet is of utmost importance in the treatment of malaria. To begin with, the patient should fast on<br />orange juice and water for seven to fifteen days depending on the severity of the fever. The<br />warm water enema should be administered daily during this period to cleanse the bowels. After<br />the fever has subsided, the patient should be placed on an exclusive fresh fruit diet for further<br />three days. In this regimen, he should take three meals a day, at five-hourly intervals, of fresh,<br />juicy fruits, like oranges, grapes, grapefruit, apple, pineapple, mango and papaya. Milk may be<br />added to the fruit-diet after this period and this diet may be continued for a further few days.<br />Thereafter, the patient may gradually embark upon a well-balanced diet of natural foods<br />consisting of seeds, nuts and grains. Vegetables and fruits , with emphasis on fresh fruits and<br />raw vegetables.<br />The patient should avoid strong tea, coffee, refined and processed foods, fried foods,<br />condiments, sauces, pickles, white sugar, white flour, and all products made from them. He<br />should also avoid all meats, alcoholic drinks and smoking.<br />The best way to reduce temperature naturally, during the course of fever, is by means of the<br />cold pack, which can be applied to the whole body. This pack is made by wringing out a sheet or<br />other large square piece of linen material in cold water, wrapping it right round the body and legs<br />of the patient ( twice round would be best ) and then covering completely with a small blanket or<br />similar warm material. This pack should be applied every three hours during the day while<br />temperature is high and kept on for an hour or so . Hot-water bottles may be applied to the feet<br />and also against the sides of the body.<br />Malaria<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap100.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:36:52 PM]<br />Home Remedies<br />Certain home remedies have been found beneficial in the treatment of malaria. One such<br />remedy is the use of grapefruit (chakotra). This substance can be extracted from the fruits by<br />boiling a quarter of the grapefruit and straining its pulp.<br />Lime and lemon are beneficial in the treatment of quarter type of malaria fever. About three<br />grams of lime should be dissolved in about 60 ml. of water and juice of one lemon added to it.<br />This water should be taken before the onset of the fever.<br />Cinnamon(dalchini) is regarded as an effective cure for all types of colds, including malaria. It<br />should be coarsely powdered and boiled in a glass of water with a pinch of pepper powder and<br />honey. This can be used beneficially as a medicine in malaria.<br />Alum ( phitkari) is also useful in malaria. It should be roasted over a hot plate and powdered. It<br />should be taken about four hours before the expected attack and every two hours after it. This<br />will give relief.<br />Preventive Measures<br />The preventive aspect in malaria is as important as the curative one. The best way to protect<br />against malaria is to adopt all measures necessary for preventing mosquito bites. For this<br />purpose, it is essential to maintain cleanliness of surroundings, environmental hygiene and to<br />eradicate stretches of stagnant water. As the mosquito generally perches itself on the walls of<br />the house, after biting a person, it would be advisable to spray the walls with insecticides.<br />The leaves of the holy basil (tulsi) are considered beneficial in the prevention of malaria. An<br />infusion of some leaves can be taken daily for this purpose. The juice of about 11 grams of tulsi<br />leaves mixed with three grams of black pepper, powder, can be taken beneficially in the cold<br />stage of the malarial fever. This will check the severity of the disease.<br />[index]<br />Malaria<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap100.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:36:52 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Whooping Cough<br />Whooping cough or pertussis, as it is called in medical parlance, is a contagious disease. Unlike<br />some other diseases, a new born baby has no immunity to this disease, and can get it any time<br />after birth. It commonly affects infants during the first year of their life, when it is very severe and<br />most of the deaths due to it occur during this period. Many cases occur in children upto 5 years<br />of age. In some cases children upto 12 years may also be affected. The disease may cause<br />serious trouble in the lungs.<br />This highly infectious disease is caused by bacteria. It spreads rapidly from one child to another<br />by droplet-infection. This is especially so during the early catarrhal stage,but once the typical<br />spasmodic bout starts, the infectivity becomes negligible. This disease has a prolonged course<br />of 8 to 10 weeks.<br />Symptoms<br />The disease has a catarrhal and a spasmodic stage. For the first week, the cough is like an<br />ordinary upper respiratory catarrh. At the end of a week, it becomes spasmodic and comes in<br />bouts, initially more often during the night, but later during the day as well. The child goes on<br />coughing. His face becomes red and suffused, the tongue protrudes and the eyes begin to<br />water. At the end of the bout, the child takes a deep breath, and there is a prolonged croaking<br />sound which is called a whoop. This sound is produced by the air entering through a partially<br />closed glottis ( entrance to the larynx). This gives the disease its name. The child brings out a<br />sticky secretion from his nose and mouth and very often vomits. At the end of the bout, the child<br />lies back exhausted. Gradually, over the next three or four weeks, the bouts of cough and their<br />duration become less and disappear in about 8 to 10 weeks from the beginning of the disease.<br />In immunized children, the disease is mild and atypical.<br />Due to the severity of bouts of cough, bleeding can occur into the eyes, from the nose, the lung,<br />and , in rare cases, into the brain, resulting in convulsions. In many young children, lung<br />complications such as collapse of a part of the lung are common because of the thick sticky<br />nature of the secretions blocking the passage of air to a part of the lung. Secondary infection<br />may result in pneumonia. They may be convulsions, and, in rare cases, inflammation of the<br />brain.<br />Causes<br />Whooping cough is caused by the micro-organisms Bordetella pertussis and Bordetella<br />parapertussis. Of these, the first one gives the rise to more severe infections. Whooping cough<br />is also associated with various adinoviruses,para-influenza and respiratory viruses. The actual<br />cause of the disease, however, is wrong feeding of children with refined and deminralised foods<br />and absence of a sufficient quantity of fresh fruits and salad vegetables in their dietary. This<br />results in accumulation of excessive quantities of catarrh and mucus in the child’s system. The<br />disease is an attempt on the part of the nature to throw out this catarrh and mucus. The use of<br />drugs to treat other diseases can also lead to whooping cough.<br />Treatment<br />In the beginning of the treatment, the child should be placed on a fast, on orange juice and water<br />for few days. He should be given the juice of an orange diluted with warm water on 50 : 50 basis.<br />He should not be given milk or anything else. He should be given warm water enema daily<br />during this period to cleanse the bowels. In case of constipation, a mild laxative, preferably<br />castor oil, should be administered. This will also relieve the pain in the abdominal muscles which<br />are usually strained during the paroxysms of coughing. Cold packs should be applied to the<br />throat and upper chest as required. Epsom-salt baths will be beneficial during this period.<br />After the more sever symptoms have cleared, the patient should be placed on an exclusive diet<br />Whooping Cough<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap101.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:37:10 PM]<br />of fresh fruits for a few days. IN this regimen, we should take fresh juicy fruits such as apple,<br />orange, pineapple and papaya. After further recovery, he can adopt a regular well-balanced diet,<br />according to his age. The emphasis should be on fresh fruit, fruit and vegetable juices and milk.<br />When the convalescent stage has been reached, the child should be encouraged to spend as<br />much time as possible out of doors.<br />Home Remedies<br />Certain home remedies have been found beneficial in the treatment of whooping cough. The<br />most effective of these remedies is the use of garlic. The syrup of garlic should be given in the<br />dosage of five drops to a tablespoon two or three times a day for treating this condition. It should<br />be given more often if the coughing spells are frequent and violent.<br />Ginger ( adrak) is another effective remedy for whooping cough. A teaspoon of fresh ginger<br />juice, mixed with a cup of fenugreek ( methi) decoction and honey to taste, is an excellent<br />diaphoretic. It acts as an expectorant in this disease.<br />A syrup prepared by mixing a teaspoon of fresh radish (muli) with equal quantity of honey and a<br />little rock salt, is beneficial in the treatment of this disease. It should be given thrice daily.<br />Almond (badam) oil is valuable in whooping cough. It should be given missed with 10 drops<br />each of fresh white onion juice and ginger juice, daily thrice for a fortnight . It will give relief.<br />[index]<br />Whooping Cough<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap101.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:37:10 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Halitosis<br />Halitosis refers to bad breath which is not only a sing of ill- health but it is also a social stigma. It<br />is common in many people at all times and in all people some of the time. Unfortunately, most<br />people who offend in this respect are completely unaware of their problem and the discomfort<br />they cause to others.<br />Causes<br />The most common cause of halitosis is bad teeth and gum conditions. Dental decay at the roots<br />of the teeth may result in abscesses in the gums with foul-smelling, pus giving an objectionable<br />odour to the breath. Even small holes in the teeth may provide a place where germs can multiply<br />and release foul orders.<br />Other causes of halitosis are any conditions of the nerves, throat, respiratory tract, or stomach<br />which are associated with chronic infection or local upsets of one sort or another, such as<br />chronic tonsillitis, lung diseases like chronic bronchitis and bronchiectasis, chronic gastritis and<br />sinuses which cause a discharge at the back of the throat. Most cases of bad breath., however,<br />are caused by gastro-intestinal disorders, intestinal sluggishness and particularly by chronic<br />constipation. The unpleasant odour results from an exceptionally large amount of waste matter<br />expelled through the lungs. Chewing pan and tobacco and smoking are other causes of bad<br />breath. The diseases like anaemia may also lead to unpleasant breath.<br />Treatment<br />If halitosis is caused by tooth and gum conditions, tonsillitis, sinusitis, smoking or anaemia ,<br />these conditions must be treated. Once they are eliminated the bad breath will disappear.<br />Similarly, bad breath resulting from gastro-intestinal disorders can be successfully treated by<br />correcting these disorders and cleansing the system of morbid matter.<br />The patients suffering from halitosis should take a well-balanced diet consisting of seeds, nuts<br />and grains, vegetables and fruits, with emphasis on raw and cooked vegetables and fruits.<br />In case of constipation, all measures should be adopted for its eradication. The patient should<br />avoid reined carbohydrate foods, such as white sugar,white bread and prdoucts made from them<br />as well as flesh foods and egg. Even whole grain bread should be eaten sparingly.<br />The patient should also avoid over eating of any kind of foods. He should eat six to eight soaked<br />prunes and a few dried and soaked figs with breakfast. He must also drink the water in which<br />these fruits were soaked. He should also take plenty of liquids and drink six to eight glasses of<br />water daily. This will help eliminate bad breath.<br />The teeth should be cleaned regularly twice a day especially before going to bed at night. Metal<br />particles should be removed carefully with toothpicks. In case of decaying teeth and swollen and<br />bleeding gums, a dentist should be consulted. Munching a raw apple or guava after lunch<br />removes most of the trapped particles. The use of twigs of the margosa (neem) tree as<br />toothbrush is the best method of cleaning the teeth.<br />Home Remedies<br />Among the several home remedies for halitosis, the use of fenugreek ( methi) has proved most<br />effective. A tea made from the seeds of the vegetables should be taken regularly for correcting<br />the condition. This tea is prepared by putting a teaspoon of seeds in half a litre of cold water and<br />allowing to simmer for 15 minutes over a low flame. It should then be strained and used as tea.<br />Another effective remedy for bad breath is the use of avocodo (kulu naspati) which is far<br />superior to any mouth lotion or remedies for this condition. It effectively removes intestinal<br />putrefaction or decomposition which is one of the most important causes of bad breath.<br />The unripe guava (amrud) is useful in halitosis. It is rich in tannic, malic, oxalic and phospheric<br />acids as well as calcium, oxalate and manganese. Chewing it is an excellent tonic for the teeth<br />Halitosis<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap102.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:37:23 PM]<br />and gums. It helps cure bleeding from gums due to stypic effect and stops bad breath. Chewing<br />tender leaves of guava tree also stops bleeding from gums and bad breath.<br />Parsley ( prajmoda) is valuable in the treatment of bad breath. Two cups of water should be<br />boiled and several springs of parsley, coarsely chopped, should be stepped in this water<br />alongwith two or three whole cloves or a quarter spoon of ground cloves. This mixture should<br />stirred occasionally while cooling. It should then be strained and used as a mouth wash and<br />gargled several times a day.<br />All fruit and vegetable juices are beneficial in the treatment of halitosis and should be taken<br />liberally by those suffering from this disorder. Juices from fruits like apple, grape-fruit,<br />(chakatora), lemon and pineapple, and vegetables like tomato, carrot and celery are especially<br />beneficial.<br />The person suffering from bad breath should take plenty of exercise as lack of sufficient exercise<br />is one of the main causes of constipation leading to halitosis.<br />[index]<br />Halitosis<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap102.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:37:23 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Measles<br />Measles, a highly infectious disease, is very common in childhood. It is so common at this stage<br />of life that nearly all children everywhere in the world go through this brief period of red spots.<br />The disease appears in epidemic form, often in the winter season.<br />Symptoms<br />The first symptoms which appear during 7 to 14 days after exposure to the virus are<br />feverishness, cold, watering of the eyes and dry cough. Rashes appear on the skin in three to<br />five days after the onset of these symptoms. These rashes, which consist of small rounded spots<br />with reddened skin in between, initially appear on the sides of the face and the neck and then<br />gradually spread all over the body, appearing last on the extremities. Initially pink in colour,<br />these rashes grow darker as time passes.<br />Measles is usually accompanied with slight fever and diarrhoea. In rare cases of great severity,<br />high fever and delirium may occur. Complication which can arise from this disease include<br />pneumonia, bronchitis, and ear abscess. One serious but rare complication is the inflammation<br />of the brain.<br />Causes<br />Measles is one of the most contagious diseases, caused by a virus. The measles virus is so<br />infectious that in cities, children catch this disease before they reach the age of five years.<br />Mothers generally pass their antibodies to their children which immunize them passively. This<br />protection, however, does not last beyond the six months. Measles is easily transmitted in the<br />early stages through the invisible droplets of moisture which are discharged from a patient’s<br />nose or mouth when he coughs or sneezes.<br />The real cause of this disease, like other diseases of childhood, is , however, wrong feed and<br />unhygienic living conditions. Measles is thus a natural healing crisis aimed at cleansing the<br />infant organism of the toxins and deleterious and products resulting from the assimilation of the<br />vast excess of starchy and sugary foods consumed by young children today.<br />The Cure<br />In the beginning of the treatment, the patient should be given juices of fresh fruits like orange<br />and lemon frequently. This is sufficient as the child suffers from lack of appetite during this<br />period. He should be kept in a well ventilated room. As light has a detrimental effect upon the<br />eyes during measles, because of the weakened condition of the external eye tissues, the child<br />should have his eyes shaded or the room should have subdued light.<br />The treatment should aim at bringing down the temperature and eliminating the toxins from the<br />system. This can be achieved by administration of warm water enema every morning,<br />application of mud packs on the abdomen twice a day in the morning and evening and repeated<br />application of chest packs. Lukewarm water baths can be given every day to ease itching.<br />Addition of extracts of neem leaves to this water will prove beneficial.<br />As the condition improves, the child can be placed on an all fruit diet for a further few days.<br />Thereafter he may be allowed to gradually embark upon a well-balanced diet.<br />Home Remedies<br />Certain home remedies have been found beneficial in the treatment of measles. The most<br />valuable amongst these is the use of orange. When the digestive power of the body is seriously<br />hampered, the patient suffers from intense toxaemia and the lack of saliva coats his tongue and<br />often destroys his thrust for water as well as his desire for food. The agreeable flavour of orange<br />juice helps greatly in overcoming these drawbacks. Orange juice is the most ideal liquid food in<br />this disease.<br />The juice of lemon is another remedy. It also makes an effective thirst-quenching drink in<br />Measles<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap103.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:37:37 PM]<br />measles. About 15 to 25 ml. of lemon juice , should be taken diluted with water for this purpose.<br />Turmeric (haldi) is beneficial in the treatment of measles. Raw roots of turmeric should be dried<br />in the sun and ground to a fine powder. This powder, mixed with a few drops of honey and the<br />juice of a few bitter gourd leaves , should be given to the patient suffering from measles.<br />Powdered liquorice (mulethi) has been found valuable in relieving the cough, typical of measles.<br />The child patient should be given this powdered liquorice mixed with honey.<br />The use of barley ( Jau) water has proved beneficial in case of troublesome cough in measles.<br />This water should be taken frequently sweetened with the newly drawn oil of sweet almonds.<br />The seeds of eggplant ( baingan ) are stimulant. According to Dr. Sanyal of Calcutta, intake of<br />half a gram to one gram of these seeds daily for three days will help develop immunity against<br />measles for one year.<br />Children having measles should not be allowed to mixed with others. They should be given<br />complete rest. Hygienic condition along with the above mentioned treatment will lead to speed<br />recovery. Medications should be strictly avoided.<br />[index]<br />Measles<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap103.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:37:37 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Mumps<br />Mumps are the epidemic Parotitis refer to a virus infection of the salivary glands, gonads,and<br />occasionally other parts of the body. It is a contagious disease that occurs most frequently in<br />children and young persons between the ages of five and fifteen years. The disease spreads<br />from children to children in schools. Babies are immune from this disease. Most persons have<br />mumps only once in their lives, but one person in ten may have a second attack.<br />Symptoms<br />The first sign of mumps is swelling and pain. The pain is first felt under one ear with stiffness of<br />the neck and jaw. There is a slight fever which subsides in three or four days. The swelling<br />appears first under one jaw and then extends under the other jaw. The gland becomes tender on<br />pressure. On account of the pressure of the swelling, mastication and swallowing becomes<br />difficult.<br />If the disease occurs after puberty, the testicles may be affected. The ovary may be infected in<br />females. IN males, the gonads are usually swollen. If the disease spreads to the testicles, the<br />swelling and pain are very considerable, there is a high fever, and the patient may become<br />depressed and even a little confused. Mumps can also lead to meningitis ( inflammation of the<br />soft membranes of the brain ) and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain ) with delirium, severe<br />headache and other signs of irritation of the meninges, or it may spread to the pancreas, when<br />the symptoms include pain in the abdomen and loss of appetite. The patient may vomit.<br />Causes<br />Mumps are caused by a virus which attacks the salivary glands of the mouth , particularly the<br />parotid glands located on each side of the face just below and in front of the ear. The infecting<br />organism is a paramyxovirus. After a person is exposed to a case of the mumps, it takes about<br />two weeks for the disease to appear. Dietetic errors are at the root of the trouble.<br />Treatment<br />The patient should be put in bed for several days until the temperature returns to normal. He<br />should be kept on a diet of orange juice diluted with warm water on a 50 : 50 basis for a few<br />days. If the orange juice does not suit, the juices of other fruits such as mosambi, apple,<br />pineapple, grapes, or vegetables like carrot should be given. The warm water enema should be<br />used daily during this period. Hot and cold fomentations should be applied every two hours<br />during the day for about 10 minutes, and should consist of two or three hot applications, followed<br />by a cold one. The mouth should be cleaned with an antiseptic wash.<br />When the child can swallow food comfortably and the swelling has subsided, an all-fruit diet<br />should be adopted for a day or two. Thereafter, he may be allowed to gradually embark upon a<br />well- balanced diet of natural foods, with emphasis on fresh fruits and raw vegetables.<br />Home Remedies<br />Chebulic myroblen ( harad or haritaki ) is one of the most effective remedies for mumps. A thick<br />paste should be made from this herb by rubbing in water and applied over the swelling. It will<br />give relief.<br />The leaves of the peepal tree are another effective home remedy for this disease. The leaves<br />should be smeared with ghee and warmed over a fire. They should then be bandaged over the<br />inflammed part, with beneficial results.<br />The use of the herb Indian aloe ( ghee kunwar or musabhar) is a well known remedy for<br />inflammed and painful part of the body in the indigeneous system of medicine. A piece of a leaf<br />of this herb should be peeled on one side and sprinkled with a little turmeric (haldi) and extract of<br />Indian barberry ( rasaut) and bandaged over the swelling after warming.<br />The seeds of asparagus ( halon) are valuable in mumps. These seeds combined with the seeds<br />Mumps<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap104.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:37:50 PM]<br />of fenugreek ( methi)should be ground together to a consistency of a paste. This paste can be<br />applied beneficially over the swelling.<br />The dry ginger ( adrak ) is considered beneficial in the treatment of mumps. It should be made<br />into a paste and applied over the swollenparts . As the paste dries, the swelling will be reduced<br />and the pain will also subside.<br />The leaves of margosa ( neem ) are also useful in the treatment of mumps. The leaves of this<br />tree and turmeric (haldi) should be made into a paste and applied externally over the affected<br />parts. It will bring good results.<br />[index]<br />Mumps<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap104.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:37:50 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Pleurisy<br />Pleurisy is an inflammation of the pleura, a serous membrane which envelopes the lungs and<br />also lines the inside of the chest. It may be acute or chronic, and mild or severe, the disease<br />may be limited to one side of the chest or it may include both the sides.<br />This disease can attack people of all ages, from children right through to the very elderly. Like<br />any other viral infection, pleurisy can occur in small epidemics.<br />The membranes that cover the lung are called pleura. The outer membrane, known as partial<br />pleura, is applied to the inner wall of the thorax, and the inner membrane, known as the visceral<br />pleura, covers the substance of the lungs. There is a capillary space between the two<br />membranes which is filled with fluid. This fluid enables the lung s to move freely in the chest.<br />The parietal membrane is reflected from the chest wall to cover the upper surface of the<br />diaphragm, and in the midline, it covers the mediastinum, the partition which seperates the two<br />sides of the chest and contains the heart, great vessels and other structures which run through<br />the thorax.<br />Symptoms<br />The onset of pleurisy is generally marked by a sharp and stabbing pain, which may be felt in any<br />part of the chest wall or over the diaphragm. Deep breathing or coughing increases the pain. IN<br />many cases, the diseases begins with a chill, followed by congestion of the pleura and later by<br />fever. The degree of the fever determines the severity of the disease. The inflammation destroys<br />the tissues and chokes the circulation within the tissues. Breathing becomes difficult due to the<br />clogging of the circulation, and by pain and swelling within the chest. Later a liquid effusion<br />escapes from the pleura, filling the open spaces in the chest cavity till the effect of the distension<br />becomes oppressive. After absorption takes place or after the drainage of the effusion, the<br />pressure is lowered, the pain is reduced and the patient feels relieved. It is sometimes dry<br />pleurisy, a form where there is little or no effusion or the effusion may be circumscribed. The<br />effusion may become gangrenous, or become mixed with blood, or be of a dirty brown colour<br />with an offensive odour, leading to much suffering.<br />Causes<br />The most common among the immediate causes of pleurisy is that of ‘catching cold ‘ followed by<br />congestion and swelling of the pleural membrane. It is a disease that is not caused by germs.<br />There will be germs of putrefaction later in the ooze of serum from the tissue . The disease may<br />be a complication of pneumonia, or pneumonia may be a complication of pleurisy. In a few<br />cases , the diseases may also occur in rheumatic fever , uraemia and other conditions.<br />Treatment<br />At the first sign of pleurisy, the patient should observe a complete fast, abstaining from all liquid<br />and solid foods. Nothing should be taken except plain water, hot or cold, as desired. Water may<br />have bad taste, but at least three or four glasses should be taken daily for the first few days. The<br />quantity of water should be gradually increased to five or six or more glasses each day. It would<br />be helpful if during this period of fasting , a full hot enema is also taken once daily.<br />A hot chest pack should be applied two or three times a day allowing it to remain for an hour or<br />so each time. If the fever becomes high, the packs may be changed to cold ones. If, however,<br />the reaction is not prompt and complete, it would be advisable to use the hot packs.<br />Heat is always helpful for relieving the sharp pain associated with pleurisy. This should be<br />applied for half an hour twice daily. The patient should practice deep breathing during this<br />period. Adequate rest and abundance of fresh air are essential.<br />In cases of dry pleurisy, further relief from pain can be obtained by strapping the chest. Heat is<br />not used when the tapping is employed. A neutral immersion bath at 100 F for one hour daily<br />Pleurisy<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap105.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:37:58 PM]<br />has also been found beneficial in the treatment of pleurisy.<br />After the acute symptoms have subsided, the patient may adopt a milk diet. IN this regimen, he<br />should take 250 ml.of milk every two hours on the first day, every 1 1/2 hour on the second day,<br />every hour on the third day and every three-quarters of an hour on the fourth day and onwards.<br />The quantity of milk should not exceed four litres daily. The patient may also take one orange<br />daily along with the milk diet.<br />As soon as the patient has gained slightly in strength, he should undertake moderate exercise<br />as a routine, avoiding fatigue. Air bath, sun bath and dry friction bath are of particular<br />importance. If there is any particular disease, present along with the pleurisy whether as a<br />causative or as a complicating condition, the same should also be given appropriate attention.<br />Chronic pleurisy should be treated in the same manner as to the diet and the application of heat.<br />All efforts should be made to increase the vitality, reduce toaxemia, and restore normal freedom<br />of chest movements. Several short fasts, at regular intervals, followed by milk diet may be<br />necessary depending on the progress for complete recovery.<br />[index]<br />Pleurisy<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap105.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:37:58 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Pneumonia<br />Pneumonia refers to the acute inflammation of the lungs. It is one of the most serious infectious<br />disease. There are basically two types of penumonia, called lobar pneumonia and bronchopneumonia<br />They, however, run into each other and are treated in the same way. The disease<br />becomes more seroious if both the lungs are affected. It is called double pneumonia in common<br />parlance.<br />Symptoms<br />Most cases of pneumonia begin with a cold in the head or throat. The patient generally feels<br />chill, shivering, difficulty in breathing and sharp pain in the chest. This may be followed by a<br />cough with pinkish sputum which may later become brownish. The patient usually suffers from<br />fever and headache. In more serious cases of pneumonia, the sputum may be of rusty colour. In<br />your children, the disease may cause delirum and convulsions. Most patients feel very miserable<br />and sweat profusely. The temperature may rise to 105 o F and pulse may go upto 150 beats per<br />minutes. A common complication of all kinds of pneumonia is pleurisy.<br />Causes<br />Pneumonia is caused by various types of germs such as streptococus, staphyloccus and<br />pneunococcus variety. At times, certain viruses are also responsible for the disease. Other<br />causes of diseases are fungal infection, irritation by worms, inhaling foreign matter, irritant dust<br />or noxious gases and vapours such as ammonia, nitrogen dioxide or cadmium.<br />The real cause of pneumonia , however, is the toxic condition of the body, especially of the lungs<br />and air passages, resulting from wrong feeding and faulty life style. Persons with healthy tissues<br />and strong vital force are unlikely to catch pneumonia. It is only when the system is clogged with<br />the toxic matter and the vitality is low that the germs of pneumonia invade a person.<br />Treatment<br />To begin with, the patient should be kept on a diet of raw juices for five to ten days, depending<br />on the severity of the disease. In this regimen he should take a glass of fruit or vegetable juice<br />diluted with warm water every two or three hours. Fruits such as orange, mosambi, apple,<br />pineapple and grapes and vegetables like carrots, tomatoes may be used for juices.<br />After a diet of raw juices, when the fever subsides, the patient should three or four further days<br />on an exclusive fresh fruit diet, taking three meals a day of juicy fruits such as apple, grapes,<br />pineapple, mangoes, orange, lemon and papaya. Thereafter, he may gradually adopt a<br />well-balanced diet of natural foods consisting of foods , seeds, and grains, vegetables and fruits<br />with emphasis on fresh fruits and raw vegetables. The patients should be given warm warm<br />enema daily to cleanse the bowel during the period of raw juice therapy and all fruit diet and<br />thereafter, when necessary.<br />The patient should avoid strong tea, coffee , refined foods, fried foods, white sugar, white flour<br />and all products made from them, condiments and pickles. He should also avoid all meats as<br />well as alcoholic beverages and smoking.<br />To reduce temperature naturally, during the course of the fever, the procedure outlined in the<br />chapter on malaria may be followed. Sipping of cold water has also been found beneficial in the<br />treatment of pneumonia. The patient should sip cold water at short intervals so long as the fever<br />continues. The cold water is cooling to the feverish blood.<br />Home Remedies<br />Certain home remedies have been found beneficial in the treatment of pneumonia. During the<br />early acute stage of this disease, a herbal tea made from fenugreek seeds will help the body to<br />produce perspiration, dispel toxicity and shorten the period of fever. In can be taken upto four<br />cups daily. The quantity should be reduced as condition improves. To improve flavour, a few<br />Pneumonia<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap106.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:38:10 PM]<br />drops of lemon juice can be used. During this treatment, no other food or nourishment should be<br />taken as fasting and fenugreek will allow the body to correct these respiratory problems in a few<br />days.<br />According to Dr. F.W. Crosman, an eminent physician, garlic is a marvellous remedy for<br />pneumonia, if given in sufficient quantities. This physician used garlic for many years in<br />pneumonia, and said that in no instance did it fail to bring down the temperature as well as the<br />pulse and respiration within 48 hours. Garlic juice can also be applied externally to the chest with<br />beneficial results as it is an irritant and rubefacient.<br />Sesame seeds ( til ) are valuable in pneumonia . An infusion of the seeds, mixed with a<br />tablespoon of linseed,a pinch of common salt and a desert spoon of honey, should be given in<br />the treatment of this disease. This will help remove catarrhal matter and phelgm from the<br />bronchial-tubes.<br />The pain of pneumonia can be relieved by rubbing oil of turpentine over the rib cage and<br />wrapping warmed cotton wool over it.<br />[index]<br />Pneumonia<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap106.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:38:10 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Sore Throat<br />Sore throat refers to the inflammation of the pharynx, or back of the throat. It occurs frequently<br />when a person has a cold or an attack of influenza. This inflammation may also involve the<br />tonsils and adenoids if these have not already been removed. An irritating condition of the throat<br />may range from the harmless to the potentially serious.<br />Symptoms<br />In case of acute sore throat, the patient complains burning and dryness in the throat followed by<br />chills, fever and some hoarseness or laryngitis. The lymph glands along the sides of the neck<br />may become swollen and tender. The back of the throat may become very red and even<br />covered with a greyish-white membrane. The patient may find difficulty in swallowing, especially<br />during the acute stage. There may also be postnasal discharge if the irritation has spread to the<br />nasal passages. The patient with sore throat, caused by ‘ Streptoccal’ germs suffers from high<br />fever and sharp pain with swelling.<br />Causes<br />Sore throat is mainly caused by bacteria or a viral infection. Many different kind of ailments can<br />give rise to this condition. The most common of these ailments are common cold and influenza.<br />Other diseases which can cause sore throat are tonsillitis, mumps, sinusitis, measles, and<br />diphtheria. Even leukemia on rare occasions may lead to sore throat. Other causes of this<br />disease are excessive smoking and talking, frequent use of voice as in certain professions like<br />singing, acting and teaching.<br />Treatment<br />The patient suffering from sore throat should fast on orange juice and water for three to five<br />days, depending on the severity of the condition. He should take orange juice diluted with warm<br />water every two or three hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. during this period. The bowels should be<br />cleansed daily with warm water enema. This should be done twice daily in more serious cases.<br />A wet pack should be applied to the throat at two-hourly intervals during the day, and also one at<br />night. The procedure is to wring out some linen material in cold water, wrap two or three times<br />round the effected part, and cover with some flanner. The throat may be gargled several times<br />with warm water mixed with a little salt. A hot Epsom-salt bath , taken daily during this period,<br />will be highly beneficial.<br />When the more severe symptoms subside,the patient may adopt an all-fruit diet for three or four<br />further days, taking three meals a day of juicy fruits such as orange, apple, pineapple and<br />papaya at five-hourly intervals. Thereafter he may gradually adopt a well-balanced diet, with<br />emphasis on seeds, nuts and grains, raw vegetables and fresh fruits. The daily dry friction and<br />deep breathing and other exercises should form part of the daily health regimen.<br />Home Remedies<br />Certain home remedies have been found to be beneficial in the treatment of sore throat. One<br />such remedy is use of mango ( aam) bark which is very efficacious in sore throat and other<br />throat disorders. Its fluid can be applied locally with beneficial results. It can also be used as a<br />throat gargle. This gargle is treated by mixing 10 ml. of the fluid extract with 125 ml. of water.<br />The herb belleric myrobian ( bahera) is another valuable remedy for sore throat. A mixture of the<br />pulp of the fruit, salt, long pepper (pipli) and honey should be administered in the treatment of<br />this condition. The fried fruit, roasted after covering it with a wheat flour, is also a popular<br />remedy for sore throat.<br />Betel leaves (pan - ka -patta) have proved beneficial in the treatment ofthis disease. The leaves<br />should be applied locally for obtaining relief. The fruit of the betel tree, mixed with honey, can<br />also be taken beneficially to relieve irritating throat cough.<br />Sore Throat<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap107.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:38:22 PM]<br />The bishop’s weed (ajowan) is valuable in treating sore throat. An infusion of the seeds mixed<br />with common salt can be used beneficially as a gargle in acute condition caused by colds. The<br />spice cinnamon (dalchini) is also regarded as an effective remedy for sore throat, resulting from<br />cold. Coarsely powdered and boiled in a glass of water with a pinch of pepper powder and<br />honey, it can be taken as a medicine in the treatment of this condition. The oil of cinnamon,<br />mixed with honey, also gives immense relief. A gargle prepared from fenugreek (methi) seeds<br />has been found very effective remedy for treating sore throat. To prepare this gargle, two<br />tablespoons of fenugreek seeds should be put in a litre of cold water and allowed to simmer for<br />half an hour over a low flame. It should be allowed to cool to a bearable temperature. It should<br />then be strained and entire quantity used as a gargle.<br />The leaves of the holy basil ( tulsi) have also been found beneficial in the treatment of this<br />condition. The water boiled with basil leaves should be taken as a drink and also used as a<br />gargle in sore throat.<br />The patient should avoid rapid changes in temperature like hot sun-shine to air conditioned<br />rooms. He should avoid cold and sore foods which may irritate his throat. To prevent the<br />disease, a person should avoid touching tissues, handkerchief, towels or utensils used by the<br />patients suffering from sore throat.<br />[index]<br />Sore Throat<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap107.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:38:22 PM]<br />NATURE CURE<br />Cystitis<br />The term ‘Cystitis’ refers to ‘inflammation of the bladder’. It is a most common complaint in<br />women. Escherichia coli infections are considered the primary culprit in cystitis. The female<br />anatomy makes it more convenient for e.coli bacteria, which normally inhabit the colon., to travel<br />from the rectum to the vagina, up the urethra and into the bladder. This condition is rarely<br />dangerous but it is generally a forerunner to more serious troubles. The reoccurrence of cystitis<br />may in some cases be associated with kidney troubles.<br />The kidney and bladder are the principal strikers in the urinary system. The kidneys are situated<br />on the back of the abdomen, one on each side of the spine at about the level of the lowest rib.<br />The bladder is situated in the lower abdomen, in the pelvis. The body is relieved of the greater<br />part of the waste matter, resulting from the complex working of the whole body’s vital processes<br />by means of these two organs.<br />Symptoms<br />Cystitis is characterised by symptoms which may cause great discomfort. The patient complains<br />of frequency and burning on urination as well as an almost continual urge to void. There may be<br />a feeling of pain in the pelvis and lower abdomen. The urine may become thick, dark and stingy.<br />It may have an unpleasant smell and may contain blood or pus. The ‘scalding’ sensation on<br />passing urine indicates that the inflammation has spread to the urethra. Some pain in the lower<br />back may also be felt in certain cases. In an acute stage there may be a rise in body<br />temperature. In the chronic form of cystitis, the symptoms are similar but generally less several<br />and without the rise in temperature. The persistence of the chronic form of the disease indicates<br />a process of deterioration, almost invariably due to wrong treatment of the acute form by<br />suppressive drugs.<br />Causes<br />Cystitis may result from infections in other parts adjacent to the bladder such as the kidneys, the<br />urethra, and the vagina. Local irritation and inflammation of the bladder may be caused if urine is<br />retained there for an unduly long time. It may also result from severe constipation.<br />Continual draining of pus and germs from an infected kidney may injure the epithelial lining of<br />the bladder. Trouble may also arise from the presence of a stone in either bladder or kidney.<br />Childbirth injuries and major surgical procedures within the pelvis may also lower the resistance<br />of the bladder-wall and predispose to the development of the cystitis. There is also the problem<br />of new brides who sometimes suffer from so-called honeymoon cystitis. The bladder wall may<br />become swollen and ulcerated so that the bladder cannot hold the normal amount of urine.<br />Germs may then find their way into the bladder and bring about chemical changes in the urine.<br />Calcium or lime may thus be deposited in the walls of the bladder, increasing the patient’s<br />discomfort.<br />Treatment<br />At the onset of acute cystitis, it is essential to withhold all solid food immediately. If there is fever,<br />the patient should fast either on water or tender coconut water for three or four days. If there is<br />no fever, raw vegetable juices, especially carrot juice diluted with water, should be taken every<br />two or three hours. By so doing the biochemical energy needed for digestion and metabolism of<br />food is diverted to the process of eliminating toxins and promoting healing and repair. It is<br />advisable to rest and keep warm at this time.<br />Pain can be relieved by immersing the pelvis in hot water or alternatively by applying heat to the<br />abdomen, using a towel wrung out in hot water, covering it with dry towel to retain warmth. Care<br />should be taken to avoid scalding. A little vegetable oil gently rubbed into the skin , will avoid too<br />much reddening. This treatment may be continued for three or four days, by which time the<br />Cystitis<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap108.htm (1 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:38:39 PM]<br />inflammation should have subsided and the temperature returned to normal.<br />For the next two or three days, only ripe sub-acid fruits may be taken three or four times daily.<br />These fruits may include grapes, pears, peaches,apples, and melon, as available.<br />While the hot compresses are intended to relieve pain, the use of cold water compresses to the<br />abdomen is most valuable, if correctly applied, in relieving pelvic congestion and increasing the<br />activity of the skin. Care should, however, be taken to ensure that compresses do not cause<br />chilling.<br />After the all-fruit diet, the patient may gradually embark upon a well-balanced diet, consisting of<br />seeds, nuts and grains, vegetables and fruits. The patient should avoid refined carbohydrates<br />and salt, both at table and in cooking. Salt disturbs the balance of electrolytes and tends to raise<br />blood pressure, which is frequently already raised in kidney troubles.<br />The prescribed dietary should exclude meat, fish and poultry. They produce uric acid. Most<br />cases of food poisoning and infections, which may lead to gastritis and colitis, are also caused<br />by the flesh foods.<br />In case of chronic cystitis, the patient should commence the treatment of strict adherence to the<br />dietary programme, designed to cleanse the blood and other tissues and at the same time<br />provide a rich source of natural vitamins and minerals in balanced proportions. The patient may<br />adopt the following restricted diet for seven to ten days.<br />Upon arising : A glass of unsweetened apple juice or carrot juice<br />Breakfast : Fresh fruits, selected mainly from apple, pear, grapes, melon, peach and pineapple<br />and a glass of buttermilk, sweetened with a little honey.<br />Mid-morning : Tender coconut water.<br />Lunch : A salad of raw vegetables such as carrot, beetroot and cabbage, mixed with curd and a<br />tablespoon of honey. This may be followed by a ripe apple.<br />Mid-afternoon : One cup of unsweetened grape juice.<br />Dinner : A salad of green leafy vegetables and a fresh fruit, preferably a portion of melon<br />sweetened with a teaspoon of honey.<br />Before retiring : One glass of mixed raw carrot and beetroot juice.<br />After the restricted diet, the patient should gradually embark on a well-balanced diet , consisting<br />of seed, nuts and grains, vegetables and fruits. Even after the recovery from the chronic<br />condition, it will be advisable for the individual to live exclusively on vegetables or on tender<br />coconut water or raw vegetable juices for a day or two, every month. The water treatment and<br />other health building methods should , however, be continued to the greatest extent possible, so<br />that the patient may stay cured.<br />[index]<br />Cystitis<br />http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap108.htm (2 of 2) [5/19/1999 9:38:39 PM]arun sahu's bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12515125446771023997noreply@blogger.com1