as-
sium. In this form salt appears to be non-toxic, and it serves the
body without producing any detrimental side-effects. Common table salt is sodium chloride, in its purified state, in
the absence of any other nutrients as are normally found in food. Its use as a seasoning to foods extends back to the origin of
recorded history, though it was first used only at the tables of
the upper classes. In the Middle Ages its use had spread to most
of the European population, and about 150 years ago it was
manufactured and distributed on a large scale for the first time
in America. Today the substance is used in all nations by all sec-
tions of the earth's civilized population. The average individual
in the United States consumes from lo to 15 grams of salt each
day. Our discussion here concerns the effects of the pure crystalline
product, common table salt. Until a recent era no such discussion
would have been possible, for salt was regarded as essential for
health, without evidence, and investigations which might lead to
other viewpoints had not been made. Today the old viewpoints concerning salt have been proven false in almost every particular,
and medicine has established a new basis for its conclusions on
the subject. However, many of the professional workers in medi-
cine and the other healing arts are yet unaware of present knowl-
edge concerning salt, and the layman is without opinion or he
accepts the unscientific doctrines of the past. Of first consideration is the question: Is salt necessary for the
support of animal life and human life, and a condition of health
associated therewith? Popular conception has long decreed an
affirmative answer. Wild animals are said to make use of salt licks
at frequent intervals. Domestic animals are said to have a desire
for salt, and the substance is provided for many of them. Primi-
tive races are thought to utilize salt at every opportunity. With-
out salt, it is believed, animal and human life must necessarily
suffer, and possibly perish. I
But is this true? In the wild animal kingdom there is very sel-
dom any consumption of salt. The story of salt licks seem to be
as old as history itself, but it has little basis in fact. Salt licks and
outcroppings do exist, but they are not at all prevalent. Men who
have been active the greater portion of their lives as hunters, fish-
ermen, and trappers report that they have never seen a salt lick. It is doubtful that many wild animals see or use them either. In some areas inhabited by wild animals there are absolutely
no salt licks to be found. The deer is one of the few animals
that has been seen at outcroppings of salt. However, many
deer live in regions where no salt exists, and upon capture they
refuse all salt that is offered them. Most other wild animals also
refuse salt when first offered, though a long period of captivity
with salt feeding may alter the animals7 desire for the substance. Among domesticated animals salt is being used and has long
been used, though not because of any expressed animal craving
or because farmers have found it necessary for the animals' health. t The animals do seem to crave salt after they have used it for a
time, but this is not true of the first feedings. The basic purpose
of using the salt is to increase the animals7 weight more rapidly,
which it does very satisfactorily. However, the abnormal increase DANGERS IN MODERN FOODS COMMON SALT
in weight seems to decrease their resistance to disease, and some
ailments among farm animals have been traced to their provisions
of salt. Upon removing these provisions, health tends to improve. When the earth's primitive races were discovered and visited
by Europeans, a few racial groups were found to use moderate to
heavy amounts of salt, but the majority used no salt whatsoever. Some had no knowledge of its existence; others, who lived near
the sea, had easy access to the product, but they did not use it
with their food or in any other way. Dr. Benjamin Rush made a study of American Indian life at the
close of the eighteenth century, and though he found the primi-
tive Indians to be very healthy, he reported that he could not
"find that the Indians used any salt in their diet till they were
instructed to do so by Europeans17 In 1864 Dr. Hoffman wrote
of his experiences with the Indians of the Western plains. Of
these people he reported that "anything they could taste salt in
they would invariably refuse:' and he remarked that even when
hungry they would abstain from foods that had been salted. Yet
he commented upon their magnificent state of health and pointed
out that a "more athletic, hearty, stout and robust class of men
cannot be found in the world than these very Indians:' He stated
that many "of them are over six feet high, others of medium size,
and they will endure more hardship, stand more fatigue, have
better lungs, suffer less from sickness, live longer, on a general
average, than the white race, who have all conveniences17
Many primitive racial groups of the present era, who yet adhere
to the native dietary customs, abstain from salt. Some of the
more primitive Indian groups of Alaska and northern Canada
not only do not use salt but they undertake the most heroic
measures to remove it from commercially prepared salted meat. They soak it overnight in water, then add fresh water and boil
it an hour, later remove the water, then add fresh water and cook
it again, simply to get a salt-free food. The arctic traveler, Vilh-
jalmur Stefansson, has pointed out that the primitive Eskimos
dislike salt and will never use it. On the South Sea Islands many
semi-isolated Polynesian and Melanesian groups get no salt except
I: 8 I that which remains on the fish they consume. In central Africa
, salt is completely unknown by some of the primitive groups. Even in China salt has been a rare item of diet. One has only to
go beyond the bounds of civilization to find that salt is neither
regarded as necessary nor desirable. It should be clear that salt is not essential for the support of
animal or human life. In nature its use is the exception rather
than the general rule. A more important question, however, is
still unanswered: Does the use of salt seriously interfere with
health and cause physical harm? Judging from the superior physi-
cal condition of both wild animals and primitive races living with-
out salt one might suspect that it does, but before drawing any
conclusions therefrom it is necessary to consider more definite
and practical information on the subject, as well as the theoretical
observations involved. Salt seems to have a deleterious effect on the process of diges-
I tion. This was explained as early as 1900 by Linossier, who showed
that the amount of salt consumed at any ordinary meal retarded
protein digestion as much as would a reduction of 40 to 50 per
cent in the amount of pepsin (the digestive ferment necessary to
digest proteins). A further explanation for the digestive impair-
ment may be that, in disguising the flavor of foods, salt hinders
the exact adaption of the digestive juices to the particular food
being eaten. ~;ke other purified minerals, salt has a tendency to raise the
osmotic pressure of the body and interfere with the passage of
solvent through the membrane lining of the blood vessels. As
the tissues are adapted to a specific osmotic pressure at all times,
any factor which tends to raise it above normal, is attracted to
the kidneys for elimination through a process which physiologists
define as "selective excretion17 Large amounts of salt are thus
attracted to the kidneys for elimination. As the kidney tissue
itself appears to be particularly sensitive to salt, in the course of
time it may undergo some damage. Even in the early stages the
normal excretion of water by the kidney cells may be partly in-
hibited. In the latter stages there is occasionally the development COMMON SALT DANGERS IN MODERN FOODS
1
of Bright's disease. Some physicians recognize that salt is a
I
I I significant factor in producing this ailment, and hence they
usually recommend a salt-free diet for all patients so afflicted. As the kidney function becomes impaired through the use of
salt, elimination of the salt is also impaired and some of the
material must then be stored in the body, until it can be elimi-
nated at a more favorable opportunity. As a part of the body's
regulatory apparatus, the body stores toxins and unuseable mate-
rials in its comparatively inactive tissues, such as bone, cartilage, 1
and connective tissue. These tissues, particularly the subcutane-
ous connective tissues, become the site for salt deposits when
~ the substance can no longer be eliminated. The salt is diluted
I
I with the water, the water serving to hold the salt in solution and
thus protect the tissues as much as possible from irritation. By
being held in the subcutaneous tissues the salt is kept from cir-
culation and hence from damaging the more vital parts of the
body. We thus find the development of edema - a water-logging
of the tissues -which serves a physiological need and acts as a
defense mechanism. The primary cause of edema in such cases
I is the excessive amount of salt in the


 the morning, drain the water and rinse the almonds. Place them in the Vitamix blender with two cups of spring water per
pound of almonds. You may add one to two dates to the mixture, taking
care to de-pit them. Blend the mixture on high speed until it’s smooth. (I blend them for at least two minutes.) Place your nut milk bag over
a wide-mouth container. Gradually pour the blended almond mixture ST ARVING TO HEAL IN SIBERIA | 23
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from the Vitamix into the nut milk bag. Squeeze the bag so that the
almond milk comes out cleanly into the wide-mouth container. I like to
use glass Ball jars. Add desired spices, such as cardamom, vanilla, cinna -
mon, or nutmeg. Drop in a few grains of Himalayan sea salt if desired. Cover the wide-mouth container with a lid and shake the almond milk
with the added spices. Consume within a few days. Dr. Filonov’s Russian Compote “Exit Juice”
The cooks at Dr. Filonov’s center in Altai don’t use measuring cups. The best way to make compote is to size up your pot. I encourage
you to use a small pot the first time, and add two chopped apples,
or two chopped pears, and either a few dried apricots or a handful
of blueberries and raisins. These fruits work best. Then fill up your
pot with spring water. If you have two cups of cut fruit, perhaps aim
to add four cups of water. Cover the mixture, bring it to a boil, and
then turn the temperature down to let it simmer for thirty minutes
or longer. You can even let it simmer on very low heat for a couple of
hours, as they do in Siberia. Only consume the compote juice, and
make sure that it’s served hot. This nutritious liquid is essential for
rebuilding glycogen stores during exits from extended fasts. I find
that a little goes a long way, but the Russian patients say, “The more
Kompot, the better!”
Miche’s Chopped Broom Salad
In your hand-held vegetable chopper, add the following: one half cup
of coarsely chopped red cabbage, one half cup of coarsely chopped
fennel, one half cup of coarsely chopped greens (such as kale, spin -
ach, cilantro, arugula, etc. ), one medium beet, three tablespoons of ST ARVING TO HEAL IN SIBERIA | 24
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parsley, and one half of a peeled and deseeded lemon. Optionally, you
can add one half of an avocado. Tightly close the cap on the vegetable
chopper, and pull the cord at least twenty times to chop the vegeta -
bles until they are very finely grated. Enjoy plain if you’re on the first
days of your exit from fasting. Take care to therapeutically chew even
though the salad is finely chopped. If you have passed the critical
early exit period, then you may add a few grains of Himalayan pink
sea salt, a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil, or a tablespoon of tahini
to the chopper before you begin pulling the string. That way, they will
be nicely blended into your broom salad. Enjoy as often as you wish! Variations: Include any vegetables from the sample grocery list to this
mixture that you may be craving. The body may have a certain request
that you may wish to honor. Garnish: You may wish to chop half of an avocado to place on top
of your salad before you consume it. Miche’s Million-Dollar Sunlight Foods Salad
During my lengthy raw vegan period, I invited my cousins for dinner
one night. They were used to dining in Michelin-starred establishments
throughout the globe, and they said, “Michelle, you could make a mil -
lion dollars with this salad!” This salad is the staple of my diet, along
with my broom salad, and it changes according to the seasonal organic
vegetables I find at my local farmers’ markets. Chop:
3 tbsp. raw cabbage
1 head of fennel
1 cup of sprouts (broccoli sprouts are my favorite, but alfalfa
or any other sprouts will work)ST ARVING TO HEAL IN SIBERIA | 25
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½ cup dandelion greens (if available in the spring)
1 endive
1 cup lacinato kale
1–3 tbsp. of fresh herbs (preferably cilantro, since it has
potent chelation properties and helps expel heavy metals
from the body)
You may have to make this in batches in the chopper and then toss the
ingredients chopped into a large salad bowl. Mix all the ingredients
together in the salad bowl, then add the following ingredients, which
should be hand-cut, not chopped in the vegetable chopper:
1 avocado chopped in cubes
2 tbsp. sundried tomatoes
½ cup (or more if you like) of artichoke hearts (I prefer the
marinated buffalo artichokes from Whole Foods)
2 tbsp. Kalamata olives (raw if possible)
3 tbsp. raw, organic, non-GMO hemp seeds
T oss with Miche’s Salad Dressing, and top with Brad’s cheddar raw
veggie chips. Miche’s Salad Dressing
Mix the following (which makes one serving; adjust quantities for more)
with a whisk:
2 tbsp. raw, organic tahini
3 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
Juice of 1 lemonST ARVING TO HEAL IN SIBERIA | 26
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Dash of Himalayan sea salt
T ouch of cayenne pepper or turmeric powder (if desired)
Blend to your desired consistency, and toss with Miche’s salad. Raw Carrot Avocado Ginger Soup
Chop one cup of carrots, and blend in the Vitamix with one avocado,
one clove of garlic, one tablespoon of ginger juice (juiced in juicer),
one tablespoon of lemon juice, and a dash of Himalayan pink sea salt. If you are at least five days out of your dry fast, you may add a touch
of cayenne pepper or a touch of cumin and coriander powder to make
it curried soup. Blend with at least one cup of hot water, or add more
if you like a watery soup. This nutritious soup serves one person. Fennel Gazpacho
In the Vitamix, blend one entire bulb of fennel with one clove of garlic,
one avocado, and half of a cucumber. You might also add one half cup
of cherry tomatoes if lectins and nightshade vegetables and fruits do
not aggravate your digestive system. Add one cup of water and lemon
juice, if desired. Blend until smooth, and garnish with fresh herbs—
cilantro or parsley would be nice choices. Miche’s Garlic Broccoli Soup
This is a warm, cooked, nourishing soup for the winter or for a heart -
ier meal. Steam two cups of broccoli for five minutes until it is cooked al
dente. Pour both the broccoli and the water in which it was steamed ST ARVING TO HEAL IN SIBERIA | 27
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into the Vitamix. Add one cup of cilantro, one to three cloves of garlic,
the juice of one lemon, and a dash of sea salt. Blend until smooth (at
least two minutes). Enjoy warm! Dr. Filonov’s Fish Soup
Dr. Filonov finds fish soup to be a nourishing, healing meal to be enjoyed
during the up-building phase of the exit. His wife, Valentina, and his
cook Tania make exceptional versions of this soup. Wash and chop two
carrots, two stalks of celery, one potato, one leek, and one cup of dill. Add these to a medium-sized soup pot with one tablespoon of extra vir -
gin olive oil, two bay leaves, and a dash of Himalayan sea salt. T urn the
heat to medium for three to five minutes, and stir the ingredients with
a wooden spoon until the olive oil is coating the vegetables and they are
starting to soften. Add one quart of spring water and one to two pounds
of cod with the skin removed. It will break apart into pieces. Bring the
soup to a boil for one minute, and then turn the heat to medium low
so that the soup can simmer until the vegetables are soft and the fish is
cooked. Do not overcook; the vegetables and fish should preserve their
vitality. Enjoy this nourishing soup from Siberia. Frozen Coconut Cream with Cardamom
Even Dad, the Ben & Jerry’s aficionado, lights up with delight when I
take a package of frozen coconut meat out of the freezer. This is a win
that is sugar-free and has antimicrobial properties in the coconut. Allow one package of frozen meat from Exotic Superfoods to semi-
thaw until there are still some frozen chunks but it is pliable. Add it to
the Vitamix along with one half to one cup of either coconut water or
coconut milk. Season with your favorite spices. Mine are one teaspoon ST ARVING TO HEAL IN SIBERIA | 28
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of cardamom, one teaspoon of vanilla, and one pitted date (optional). Cinnamon and nutmeg are also delicious choices. If you are feeling
decadent, you may even add two tablespoons of raw c


result, he carne to the writer's laboratory and discussed the ques
tion of whether or not the electro-metric timing of ovulation
could be used in connection with artificial insemina tion. More
over, because the reports indicated that electro-metric records
suggested relationship between the developing ovaries and its
follicle, he further questioned whether or not they might not be
used to detect cancer. The result was a rewarding and very fruit
ful association over a number of years. Starting with the assumption that the electro-metric peaks
occurring during the menstrual cycle of normal women indicated
ovulation, Dr. Langman decided to use the technique as a means
of determining when best to employ artificial insemination. As
a result, he was equipped with the necessary technical apparatus,
including the electrode, the high input impedance amplifier and
the G. E. photoelectric recorder. Since Dr. Langman had had indifferent success in a series of
ten cases, using other timing procedures, artificial insemination
53 THE FE MALE FIELD
was attempted in those instances when the electro-metric shift
indicated that ovulation had recently occurred. To his and our
delight, the average of successes was considera bly higher using
the electro-metric technique than that employed by other
methods of timing ovulation. It seemed clear, however, that Dr. Langman's main interest
was not only in the timing of ovulation, but also in the problem
of malignancy in the generative tract in women. Fortunately, through a grant, and with the cooperation of the
Bellevue Hospital Gynaecological Service, more than a hundred
patients were examined electro-metrically. The records were
kept carefully and a marked voltage gradient between cervix of
the uterus and a reference electrode on the ventral abdominal
wall often appeared on the recording galvanometer. After a sufficient number of tests had been run to make sure
we were dealing with a valid finding, Dr. Langman and his
assistant examined something in the neighbourhood of one
thousand patients. These patients were on the wards of the
hospital and were subject to a variety of syndromes. They in
cluded fibromas, as well as the usual run of pathological events
in the generative tract of these women. In those that showed a
marked change in the voltage gradient between the cervix and
the ventral abdominal wall, careful watch was kept through sub
sequent laparotomy. There were a hundred and two cases where there was a sig
nificant shift in the voltage gradient, suggesting malignancy. Surgical con�rmation was found in ninety-�ve of the hundred
and two cases. The actual position of the malignancy varied all the way from
the fundus, to the tubes and to the ovarian tissue itself. It is
interesting to note that the electro-metric evidence of sharp volt
age change occurred in malignancies found not only in the im
mediate vicinity of the cervix but also through all the rest of
the generative tract, including the ovary itself. Thus we had an
astonishingly high percentage of successful identification of
r:J.alignancy in the generative tract, confirmed by biopsy. The fact tha t malignancy in the ovarian tissue was recognized
electro -metrically, and confirmed by biopsy-even though the
54 THE FEMALE FIELD
malignant tissue was several centimet res distant from the active
electrode in contact with the cervix-is in line with the dista nt
readings of the EKe and EEe. The order of magnitude of these
changes in voltage gradient was such that the possibility of
changing pH of the generative tract could be ruled out. Surprisingly enough, these findings were never picked up in
the literature and have not been extended further or repeated
under other conditions. This probably is because it is difficult for
people to recognize that these changes represent changes in the
�eld of the system; and, therefore-as in the case of the EKe and
the EEe-the active electrode need not be in direct contact with
the tissue which is showing the greatest changes in voltage
gradient. It took over thirty years before the EKe was perfected to the
point where it could become a useful adjunct in the clinician's
office. By that time the empirical results were so clear-cut that
the value of the electro-cardiogram could not be questioned. The
explanation of EKe, however, has never been really unravelled
satisfactorily. The fact that the electrodes do not have to be in
contact with the heart, that the change is exceedingly rapid and
cannot be explained by electro-phoresis or any of the other simple
answers to the transmission of changes of voltage gradient, was
finally ignored because of the value of the empirical results. Similarly, in the case of the electrical ovulation changes and
the malignancy changes in the generative tract of women, it is
not necessary for the electrode to be in direct contact with the
tissue showing the great change. But the voltage-change is trans
mitted over a distance promptly and in such a form that at
present the only successful explanation is that the electro
metric characters of tissue, in general, and of the generative
tract, in particular, are transmitted by the primary electro
dynamic field. 6
The results reported above suggested that the relationship be
tween ovulation and menstruation was not on quite such a firm
55 THE FE MALE FIELD
foundation as had been generally assumed. There can be no ques
tion that the chemistry of the endocrines is an important factor
in these activities of the generative tract. Primarily, however,
the chemistry provides the energy necessary for these activities,
and it has been almost entirely overlooked that the chemistry
involved in any physiological process must, necessarily, have
direction. The source of this direction can be assumed safely to be the
result of the activity of the nervous system and there is plenty
of evidence in the literature to suggest that in the hypothalamic
region of the brain there are nuclear masses whic h are concerned
primarily with the onset of ovulation, its completion and, also,
that another set of neural mechanisms has equal control over the
menstrual cycle. While experiments on ovulation in humans were going on,
parallel studies were carried out on experimental animals. With
the co-operation of the distinguished gynaecologist, Dr. Luther
Musselman, also Dr. Dorothy Barton, Dr. John Boling, and Dr.
Vincent Gott, and numerous patient and cooperative subjects,
studies were carried out on rats, in particular, on rabbits, cats,
and so on. Various stages in the oestrous cycle in animals were
found to have electro-metric correlates which are valuable indi
cators of the kind of physiological processes which are going on
during menstruation, and during the whole cycle of oestrous
phenomena. In addition to the original findings on the rabbit,
Dr. Gott, in particular, extended them to the ovulation phenom
ena in monkeys. As a result of the very generous cooperation of Dr. Gertrude
Van Wagenen. it was possible for Dr. Gott to study the ovulation
problem in a group of Rhesus females. Five animals, for a total of
twelve menstrual cycles, were studied. It was found that in ten
out of twelve cycles there was a significant and consistent peak
of negative voltage that was higher than any other peak in the
cycle and. because of its distinctive pattern, may be distinguished
from any other peaks in the cycle. This distinctive peak occurred
in every cycle between the eleventh and fourteenth day, and this
is the period in which most of the ovulations are known to occur. It is believed that this distinctive and reproducible peak is the
56 THE FEMALE FIELD
electrical concomitant of ovulation. Possibly the two cycles without a significant peak, between
the eleventh and fourteenth days, are anovulatory cycles which
are fairly common in the monkey. Bi-weekly or weekly records
of the abdominal vaginal potential difference were made in two
monkeys from the date of conception until delivery six months
later. In other animals, records were taken from the second
month of pregnancy to the date of delivery. The records tend to level out somewhat as pregnancy pro
ceeds, so that by the third month the graph is almost a horizontal
line. The cervix remains negative after the second week of preg
nancy until the beginning of the third month, except for rare
instances when it becomes positive. By the third month, the
voltage has dropped to near the zero line where it hovers until
delivery. Despite these characteristics which differentiate pregnancy
from the menstrual cycle, there are no significan t and consistent
changes during the first month of pregnancy that might permit
the detection of pregnancy a few days after conception. These results, together with the findings of Dr. John Boling
in the oestrous cycle of the rat, make it quite clear that electro
metrics of the field characteristics of the living organism can
provide useful information about the whole physiology of the
generative tract. Since all of these experiments stemmed from the basic assump
tion that the living organism possesses an electro-dynam ic field
as a whole, with constituent and subsidiary parts or local fields,
which are specific components of the living system, the well
controlled experimental findings confirmed the general validity
of the primary assumption. Any individual component of the whole system has, of course,
its own characteristic field which is a part of the field of the


-wrong. He’ s not even into make-wrong. He’ s, “Here’ s where we are at and let’ s see how we can improve
from there,” so that everyone benefits. Well, that is a very advanced
spiritual concept, that everyone benefits and with an idea of integrity and
fairness and equality; and the same time, everything legal and cooperative. So a lot can be learned, and therefore I think it’ s a worthy enterprise. The negatives, of course, in current society are rather obvious to anybody
who’ s spiritually sophisticated at all. They hardly need calibration. Then we
calibrated a lot of the great criminals, famous criminals of ancient times to
find out... In other words, we’re trying to get a topography of the
evolution of mankind over recorded time. Where is Jack the Ripper? He’ s at
70. Where’ s Bin Laden? He’ s at 70. Where is a dinosaur? A dinosaur is at
70. The instinct of the dinosaur and the instinct of this person are the same. Jack the Ripper dismembers and rips to death its prey. I mean, it’ s almost
identical; it’ s almost like a dinosaur spirit got into a human body, you know
what I’m saying? I begin to wonder—is there a crossover? So anyway, it’s
an interesting work in that we are trying to develop a topography, a dif ferent
dimension of understanding human consciousness and its expression as
society, from Heinrich Himmler in World War II to Vicente Fox in today’ s
world. We did a lot of movie stars, famous singers, songs, and find out what
their general range [is], and then there are exceptions. Louis Armstrong,
way up in the 500s. The capacity to be loving at all times and in all places
apparently was the characteristic. So, it’ s just interesting, because you learn things because you see
everything in a dif ferent dimension now. And as you see the calibration, you
get, “Oh, I see. I get... oh, yeah, I see.” It’ s like you get greater depth
spiritually in comprehending the totality of human evolution, which in the
net ef fect is to develop a compassion for it, as almost an experiment of
creation. It’ s almost as though the evolution of life on this planet is almost
an experiment—to see where, if you let it loose without any guidance or
controls, what does it do? It ends up as a mollusk at the bottom of the sea
that creates 40 enzymes at one time. And it also creates saints—the same
life, but is it the same life ener gy or a dif ferent one, you know what I’m
saying? That leads to rather profound questions. The Karmic Shift of MankindWho was responsible for the massive shift in 1986? I’ve never fully
investigated it. I just assumed that the collective positive karma of mankind
had crested at that level. It happened to be at the time of the Harmonic
Conver gence. It happened to be at the time when Gorbachev pretty much
pulled the blocks out from underneath the Russian USSR, atheistic empire. It was also the time of other major events which were concomitant. You see,
when you go beyond causality, then you see that, let’ s say, a positionality
here can radiate forth in the world of manifestation in multiple ways
without one thing here necessarily being the cause  of this. In other words, a
positionality which surfaces in this way, it doesn’ t mean that the dissolution
of monolithic Communism was caused  by anything outside of itself, but it
occurred at the same time. There is undoubtedly more to the story. We’ll ask
it in a general way. First of all, I know there’ s more to the story. “There’ s
more to the story: resist” (T rue). Thank you. My own feeling was that it
came from higher dimensions as a result of the consequence of positive
accumulated karma of mankind. “That’ s correct: resist” (T rue). Well, we
won’ t go into the details of it. It would be as though the collective karma of
mankind as a whole had reached the point where it had crossed that
collective. Perhaps the last great finale of negativity was really World War II, in
which the negativity, satanic ener gy, was massive. That caused almost a
shock, but then, into the shock came that which was really more Luciferic
in that it was seeking power rather than destruction—in the form of
Communism and the USSR, which was really seeking power although it
took expression as cruelty, and Stalin really was responsible for more
deaths than Hitler. Nevertheless, it more or less ran its course. And of
course, it was Gorbachev—if you calibrate Gorbachev’ s heart chakra, it’ s
extremely high—so Gorbachev pulled the correct stops out, and the thing
collapsed of itself without a shot. Gorbachev did not fire a shot. So, the
West with all of its brave talk about “the war against Communism”—it was
not the war against Communism that defeated Communism. It was the
stops were pulled out by Gorbachev. Let’ s see what Gorbachev’ s heart is at. “We have permission: resist” (T rue). “Gorbachev’ s heart is over 540: resist”
(True); “560” (Not true); “550” (T rue). Wow. So, those people like Gandhi and Mandela and Gorbachev, people
who changed all political history, their power came from a heart chakra at
550 and over. That is encouraging, because then it means increasing one’ sown capacity of lovingness has the capacity to undo the negativity of the
world. In fact, it has the capacity to collapse whole empires. That which
collapsed the USSR was the radiance of the heart chakra of one man. However, that one man also represented something else that we write
about, and that is when we talk about attractor ener gy fields. We say that
each of these ener gy fields has an attractor pattern behind it. That brought
us to describing what we call “critical factor analysis,” one of the values of
kinesiology. Many interacting systems are so complex, they are not capable
of comprehension by the human intellect, nor by an assisted computer. A
computer is limited to the Newtonian paradigm. It cannot be programmed
for the nonlinear, by definition. Consequently, it can only mimic the
intellect; it cannot mimic human intelligence. In any case, some situations
are so enormously complex, they are beyond comprehension. This is a
problem run into by big governments historically. The complexity of
running a Roman Empire was staggering and, in the end, it just fell of
inertia. All the soldiers just married the local girls and settled down and quit
the army, and that was the end of the Roman Empire. No army could defeat
the Roman Empire. It was the most formidable army the world has ever
seen. It was unconquerable. And the Roman legions ruled all of Europe and
the Mediterranean for a thousand years; it was [an] army invincible that
ruled for a thousand years, and what brought it down—the kiss of a lovely
woman. The soldiers all around Hadrian’ s Wall and all over the place met
the local girls, fell in love with them and got married, and said, “The hell
with it,” and went to farming, and that was the end of the Roman legions. In any complex situation, there is what I call “the critical factor.” In a
giant clockworks, if you know where to touch the giant clockworks, you
can stop the entire clockworks by knowing precisely; the clockworks is so
complex that even a master watchmaker can’ t figure it out. The same with
an engineer. You see a locomotive running down the track with a hundred
cars behind it—there’ s an enormous amount of force. But if you know
where to touch the control in the cab, the engineer ’s cab, if you know where
to touch it, you can stop the whole freight train. And so, if correctly
positioned, then, knowing which of the pick-up sticks to pull out, the whole
thing collapses; but you have to know which one. Gorbachev was there and
Mandela was there. Each one was in a certain position. They also had a
certain amount of power, because each one of them calibrates around 550. In all of them, the power emanates from the heart. So the power of Love,then, is transformational. As we saw with the birth of Christ, it jumped the
calibration level of mankind 40 points, just the physicality being here, and it
jumped another 40 points when His teachings began to cross the Roman
Empire, and it totally changed Europe—the future of Europe and Western
civilization—for all time. So, an Avatar is one whose teachings and birth and presence
recontextualized the significance of all of life, for all of mankind,
throughout thousands of years. That’ s who we call an “A vatar.” It’s not the
same as like the Avatar Used Book Company that you see running around
town. Avatar —I always get a


	unsolicited	advice. But	he	persisted. He	asked. And	once
you	do	that	with	me,	expect	opinions. “Well,	what	I’ve	learned,”	I	told	him,	“is	that	when	a	woman	is	working,
she’s	in	a	masculine	mode. But	that	same	mode	that	works	so	well	at	work
needs	to	transition	to	a	feminine	mode	if	she	wants	to	be	as	successful	at	love
as	she	is	at	work.”	Again,	I’ve	researched	this. “Go	on	…	,”	he	said. “So	it	probably	seems	great	to	you	now,	that	you	and	your	wife	will	be	able
to	just	walk	the	little	path	from	your	office	to	your	kitchen	and	keep	the	same
conversation	going	while	you’re	preparing	dinner	that	you	were	having	at	the
office.”
“Is	that	bad?”	he	asked. “No,	it’s	not	bad,”	I	said,	“except	possibly	for	your	marriage. You’ve	taken
the	psychic	gestalt	of	a	business	partnership	and	literally	given	it	the	run	of
your	house. And	in	time,	that	will	include	your	bedroom.”
“Whoa,”	he	said. Men	get	very	alert	when	the	subject	turns	to	sex. “So	I
shouldn’t	work	with	my	wife?”
“I	didn’t	say	that!”	I	responded. “But	I	do	know	this:	If	this	kind	of	thinking
makes	sense	to	you—if	you	feel	that	you	and	your	wife	want	to	protect	the
erotic	quality	of	your	marriage	from	encroachment	by	a	business	mentality—
then	I	would	suggest	you	take	30	minutes	apart	from	each	other	between
office	hours	and	evening	hours. She	needs	at	least	that	much	time	to	switchpsychically	into	another	mode. Meditation,	walking,	soft	music,	candles,
bubble	baths,	whatever	her	soul	craves	as	a	balm	to	her	nervous	system—such
time	should	be	ritualistically	built	into	your	lifestyle,	or	you’re	going	to	start
finding	that	a	businesswoman	has	shown	up	in	your	bed	where	an	erotic
goddess	used	to	be.”
Weeks	later	I	received	a	thank-you	note	from	him. And	after	that,	one	from
his	wife…	. *
Romantic	love	is	a	force	of	nature. Like	an	ancient	goddess,	it	likes	to
receive	gifts. It	must	be	honored,	respected,	protected,	and	cherished. Otherwise,	it	simply	leaves. Dear	God,
Please	make	me
a	master	at	love. Reveal	to	me	its	mysteries,
and	give	to	me	its	magic. And	may	I	never	use	its	power
for	any	purposes
but	the	ones	You	intend. Amen
___________________________________________
A
FRIEND	TOLD	ME	HER	DAUGHTER
	was	getting	married	at	the	age	of	40. “That’s	great!”	I	said. “Is	she	madly	in	love?”
“Well,	I	don’t	know	if	it’s
like
	that	at	40,”	she	responded. I	thought	to	myself,
But	why	not? Real	passion	doesn’t	emerge	from	the
body	but	from	consciousness. Should	the	age	of	the	body	determine	the	heat
of	the	soul? Love	itself	doesn’t	diminish	as	we	age;	what	diminishes	too	often
is	how	willing	we	are	to	stand	up	and	meet	it. We	love	fiercely	and	fearlessly
when	we’re	young,	until	we	learn	what	there	is	to	be	afraid	of. And	then	we
start	to	load	layer	upon	layer	of	unprocessed	hurt	onto	more	and	more
relationships,	to	the	point	that	our	bitterness	and	fear	have	all	but	capped	our
capacity	for	all-out	bliss. The	age	of	our	cells	has	absolutely	nothing	to	do	with	our	ability	tomagnetize	or	hold	on	to	love. Midlife	is	not	the	time	to	say,	“Oh	well,	I’ll	just
settle	for	something	comfortable	now,”	and	simplistically	conclude	that	the
years	of	heat	are	behind	us. That	heat	was	not	a	function	of	our	age. It	might
move	around	from	chakra	from	chakra,	but	heat	will	always	be	heat. Love	doesn’t	lose	its	edge	and	become	boring	as	you	get	older	unless
you
do. If	anything,	age	makes	you	more	able	to	appreciate	things	in	others	that
you	used	to	be	unable	to	see	because	you	were	so	busy	looking	at	yourself. Until	you	inhabit	the	entirety	of	your	being,	you	keep	seeking	your
completion	in	someone	else. And	that	will	never	work,	of	course. Romance
isn’t	here	to	complete	your	universe	but	to	expand	it. Yet	it’s	pretty	difficult	to
appreciate	that	concept	until	the	notion	of	an	expanded	universe	is	attractive
to	you. John	Mayer	sings	a	song	called	“Your	Body	Is	a	Wonderland.”	What’s
really	cool	is	when	you	can	add,	“And	so	is	your	mind,	and	your	heart,	and
your	soul.”
You	can’t	see	the	true	wonderland	in	another	person	until	you’ve	explored
the	one	inside	yourself. That	starts	happening	at	a	certain	age,	whether	you
wish	it	to	or	not. And	it	changes	you. Accumulated	experience	of	the	world
both	breaks	your	heart	and	opens	it. I	remember	lying	in	the	dark	one	night
right	after	a	school	shooting,	when	my	grief	for	the	victims’	families	felt	like
more	than	I	could	bear. I	turned	to	my	love	and,	for	just	one	moment,	felt	an
exquisite	understanding	of	the	profound	juxtaposition	of	pain	and	pleasure
that	lies	at	the	heart	of	the	human	experience. I	loved	in	a	different	way	before
I	understood	suffering. Age	wears	you	down,	but	as	it	does,	it	softens	you	as
well. I	knew	in	that	moment	that	there	are	no	guarantees. There	is	no	certain
bulwark	against	human	suffering. Neither	this	relationship,	nor	any	other
circumstance,	can	possibly	protect	me	against	the	potential	for	heartbreak;
whatever	valleys	are	my	fate	will	occur	no	matter	what. But	there	is,	when	we
are	open	to	the	experience,	the	glorious	beauty	of	an	appreciated	now. When
we	no	longer	take	the	good	in	life	for	granted,	we	have	a	humility	and
gratitude	that	more	than	compensate	for	what	no	longer	remains	of	our
innocence. Innocence	leaves,	but	love	remains. There	is	nothing	to	do	with
this	but	receive	its	truth. I	opened	my	arms	and	I	drank	him	in. B
EYOND	OBVIOUS	PROPRIETIES
,	I
DON’T	THINK	IT	SHOULD	MATTER
	how	old	your	lover	is	any
more	than	it	should	matter	how	old	your	doctor,	teacher,	or	car-insurance
salesperson	is. What	matters	is	the	soul	growth	that	brings	two	hearts
together. Every	relationship	has	a	natural	arc,	a	time	that’s	perfect	for	the
lessons	that	the	relationship	is	here	to	teach	us. Some	are	long	and	some	are
short. Love	will	never	bow	to	time	because	love	is	real	and	time	is	not. Amoment	of	true	love	is	more	important	to	some	of	us	than	decades	of
domestic	timeshare. Love	is	an	adventure	of	the	soul,	whether	as	a	love	affair	that	is	short	but
intense,	or	as	a	marriage	that	lasts	until	death	do	us	part. In	the	words	of	Ram
Dass,	we


 qUickly suppressed that we do not even
realize it was there.As the years go by, we have accu
mulated energy of this fear. The energy behind this
fear increases in pressure, and when it reaches a cer
tain point, it is as though a needle has reached a red
line on the dial, and the pressure of this fearfulness
now begins to express itself. It spills out and over into 274 HEALING AND RECOVERY
our experience and begins to color it. If we do not
examine it, we think that this fear is coming from the
world, and we blame the world for it.We think that it
is a fearful experience happening out there. Little do
we realize that it is merely our own fearfulness that is
being projected out into the world. Then we own this source of the fear, which is our
own accumulated fearfulness. We start to welcome it
and look forward to the opportunity to allow this
fearfulness to run out.The basic release from fear is by
surrender at great depth.The sensations and the inner
experience of fear itself remain the same, no matter
what we think we fear. If somebody holds a shotgun
to our heart and says, "Give me all your money," what
are we going to experience? We are going to experi
ence the dry mouth, weakness in the knees, and that
old, familiar flip-floppy feeling in the stomach. If an
enemy tank rolls up to our house, knocks it over,
rotates the gun barrel, and points it right at our fore
head, what are we going to experience? The same
thing happens if somebody holds a mouse over our
head.We are going to experience a dry mouth, queasi
ness in our stomach, cramps in our intestines, and that
shaky feeling in our muscles. All we ever have to handle is those sensations, and
with experiencing this technique, we will learn that
all we ever have to handle is what we are experienc
ing within consciousness itself, whether it is localized
within the body or elsewhere. After meditation and
working with this technique, we will notice that this
experience is actually happening in a general and dif
fuse everywhereness. The phenomena of the queasy WORRY, FEAR, AND ANXIETY 275
muscles, the flip-flop in the stomach, and the dry
mouth are being experienced in a vague, diffuse
everywhereness. We just allow the experience to be
present without resisting it. Because we are focused
on that, the fear begins to diminish because we are no
longer paying attention to the thoughts. The thoughts
themselves are engendering further fear. Ifwe are very busy with this technique of just let
ting go of resisting the fear, we are now focused on
the energy field itself. Behind this fearfulness is an
energy, and we are letting go of resisting the progres
sive release and discharge of that energy. By doing
this, we lose the fear of fear. It is no longer an awe
some terror that awakens us in the middle of the
night. It is nothing but an inner emotional experi
ence, the sensations of which can be easily handled. We can ask ourselves, "Truly, can I handle a dry
mouth? Of course, I can." Another technique to eliminate the negative emo
tions is to let go oftheir associated mental images that
attract and amplify associated emotions. Just refuse
the image and cancel the temptation to indulge in it. While doing research and experimenting with this
particular technique, I had an experience that demon
strates one of the principles being described. I had
had a lifetime fear ofheights which was so severe that
when I went to visit the Grand Canyon for the first
time, I literally could not walk within one hundred
feet of the edge. It created that panicky feeling even
when I saw somebody else get near the edge. I was
using this technique whenever I could and enjoying
the progress I was making with it, but I had never got276 HEALING AND RECOVERY
ten around to working on my fear of heights. I had
been working on fear from all its other origins within
my experience. The next time I went back to the
Grand Canyon about two years later, much to my
amazement, I could walk up to within about twenty
feet of the edge before the tight feeling occurred in
the stomach again. I continued to utilize this tech
nique over the next year or two and again went back
to revisit the Canyon. Much to my surprise, I could
walk right up to the very edge. Subsequently, I later
went up in a hot air balloon without any anxiety. I was
so pleased at this demonstration of the principle that
what I had been releasing was the accumulated pres
sure and energy of all that fear from a lifetime. Similar
to a pressure tank, as it released itself, there was less
and less to spill over into life experiences. The letting go of resisting is so effective because
resistance traps us into a certain state of conscious
ness; resistance is within. Fear is a negative energy
that calibrates at 100, and traps us in the field.We can
not get beyond it so we become the victim of our
own fears unless we own that we are the source of
them.As long as we rationalize and say that the source
of fear is 'out there', we cannot overcome it. Once we
begin to own that we are the experiencer, that we are
the one who sets up the way in which we experience
things, then we become the one who is master of the
situation. Our self-esteem becomes affected. We are
no longer the one who is the victim or subject to fear. We are something other than the fear. Fear is nothing
but an experience in consciousness, and we no longer
have to give it reality by labeling it as a fear of someWORRY, FEAR, AND ANXIETY 277
thing, which can be an endless process. Fearfulness is attached to everything in the world
by fearful people. Changing the world will not handle
it.A person can be terribly afraid in a very safe situa
tion and not at all afraid in a situation that is hypothet
ically very dangerous. For example, a person is being
mugged, which is one thing, and then there is the fear
of being mugged, which is something else.The fear of
being mugged is not the same as actually being
mugged. It is quite possible to have very unfortunate
circumstances occur in one's life and not experience
fear at all. In fact, one might even experience that one
is merely the witness of the phenomenon. Such a thing happened to me when I came face to
face with a very large rattlesnake on top of a nearby
mountain. As I was about to step into a cabin, a giant
rattlesnake was coiled up right in front of the door
way, and as I lifted my foot to step over him, his head
snapped back, his tongue flickered out, and he was
poised to strike me. In that instant, there was a flash
of fearful thought, and then the thought that I could
get a club and hit it, or I could run, or I could yell for
help. I did not have a gun, but somebody might shoot
it. All the self-protective thoughts that social con
sciousness had programmed me with were present. Happily, and luckily for me or I would not be
telling about this, I had learned this technique. I
instantly realized that my life frankly depended on my
utilization of it, so I automatically went into this exact
technique. I automatically let go of wanting to do any
thing about the fear, of wanting to handle or change
anything about it. Instead, I went into my inner Self 278 HEALING AND RECOVERY
and just allowed the inner experience to release itself
without any resistance. I welcomed even more of it
because somehow, when we really get into the expe
rience of our own inner consciousness, we see that
our survival depends on this and has all along. I saw
that my survival really depended on the excellence
with which I let go, surrendered to God, and released
and let go of resisting the experience. As I did, the
fearful thoughts. instantly disappeared, and I felt a pro
found state of peace settle on both the snake and me. It was as ifI had become the witness-not the wit
ness confined to this body, but the witness in con
sciousness, which seemed to have no dimension. This
formless dimension was then the experiencer of the
presence of a state of peacefulness. This profound
state was of such power that it prevailed over the
consciousness of both the snake and the personality
of this person telling you about this.The snake looked
at me with interest, probably not having seen a
human being in his whole life, much less a foot away,
and I looked at the rattlesnake with great curiosity
and thought of him as a brother.The two of us were
included in the oneness of this space of our own
beingness together in a state of extreme intimacy. Out
of it came a sort of inner joyfulness, and I felt love for
the snake arise out of the field from which fear had


 with various
undesirable side effects. For instance, one of the most commonly prescribed American drugs
was recently found to boost the risk of excessive acidity in the blood, leading to the formation of
kidney stones. Migraines can be caused by a number of factors. Some are due to dental problems, such as
a poorly aligned bite or muscle imbalance in the jaw. In other cases the cause is a blockage or a
minute dislocation in the spine or the neck, which needs to be corrected by expert chiropractic
treatment. But the overwhelming majority of migraines is caused by allergies or intolerance to
certain foods. The most frequently identified “usual suspects” are cheese, chocolate and citrus
fruits. As a young doctor, Dr. Gerson often suffered from severe debilitating migraines. After
experimenting with various diets, he discovered that his problem was caused by toxic foodstuffs,
mostly salty and heavily spiced meats. In order to heal himself, he developed a salt-free, low fat
vegetarian diet that became the basis of his nutritional protocol; after further refinements and
improvements this gave birth to the Gerson Therapy, used to this day world-wide to heal the vast
majority of chronic degenerative diseases. Many patients who embark on the Gerson program rapidly recover from their long-standing
migraines, and remain pain-free unless they revert to the foods that sparked off their attacks in
the past. Endometriosis
The endometrium is the mucous membrane lining the uterus. During the fertile years of a
woman this lining is shed every month, if the secreted ovum is not fertilized and implanted in
the tissue. When the organism or the hormone system is malfunctioning, the endometrium can
spread to various sites throughout the pelvic area, including the abdominal wall. As the condition
worsens and the menstrual cycle does not get regulated, endometrial tissue may spread throughout
the body, becoming a malignancy “resembling metastatic pelvic carcinoma” ( Taber’ s Cyclopedic
Medical Dictionary). Case History : The experience of S.T. illustrates this progression perfectly. This patient had
gynecological problems at the very start of her menstrual periods. Thirty-five years later she was
diagnosed with endometriosis and had a number of D & C’s ( scraping of the uterus)  to remove
endometrial plaque. In the end she had a partial hysterectomy, yet her problems continued, and
finally in 1979 a Pap smear showed cancer of the cervix with ‘atypical’ ( irregular, not conforming
to the normal) cells in her blood. She also noticed lumps in her breast, but these were not further Copyright © Charlotte Gerson, 2007. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced in any medium, print or electronic without prior written permission from the author.Page 7 1Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.cominvestigated. A hysterectomy was arranged for her, but she declined the operation and changed her
diet. Some time before she had heard a lecture by Charlotte Gerson and had decided at the time
that if any of her family members developed cancer, they would embark on the Gerson Therapy. S.T. stayed on the strict Therapy for two years. She was cured and remains fit and well,
leading a busy life. Morbid Obesity
This condition is defined in Taber’ s Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary 3 as “Obesity of such
degree as to interfere with normal activities, including respiration.” Weight in excess of 100
pounds above normal average for the individual’s age, sex and build is considered ‘morbid.’
Not so long ago, excessively fat people drew curious or critical glances in the street. These days
there are too many of them to receive attention. The rapid worldwide spread of fast food outlets
and the exponentially growing sales of convenience foods have sparked off a global epidemic of
dangerous obesity in all age groups. On March 10, 2004, it was repeatedly announced on the radio (KNX-1070 AM Los Angeles),
that the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta has upgraded obesity in the U.S. as the No.1
preventable cause of disease, displacing smoking from that position. The word ‘morbid’ means ‘of the nature of or indicative of disease,’ and indeed the Medical
Dictionary quotes obesity as a contributing factor to the following diseases: Diabetes Mellitus
(Type 2), hypertension, and some types of cancer. This edition of the Dictionary was published
in 1993. At that time it was estimated that 34 million adults in the U.S. were overweight. A more
recent statement (2001) by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) declared that
almost two-thirds of American adults are overweight. The 1980 figures for obesity have doubled
by 2001; Diabetes Mellitus has increased ninefold since 1958, and heart disease remains the No.1
cause of death. Worst of all, obesity has become widespread among children. Fat kids are referred to as
“Small Fries—the Offspring of Couch Potatoes.” Between 1980 and 1994, obesity in American
children increased by 100%; currently one in four children is obese, as reported by Frank Booth,
Ph.D. and Donna Krupa 4. Lack of exercise is an important contributory factor to this tragic state
of affairs, since—according to the above authors—the average child spends 900 hours a year
in school, and 1,023 hours watching TV.<|eot_id|><|begin_of_text|>Summarize the following text section accurately and concisely. Maintain specific details and numerical information, and use anti-repetition mechanisms:

        ‘The decrease in the death rate is dramatic—the
largest reduction of just about any intervention that’s been tried,’ said Dr. Carl S. Apstein, professor
of medicine at Boston University. ‘Newer heart attack treatments, such as clot-dissolving drugs,
typically cost hundreds of dollars per patient compared with less than $50 for GKI. ”
While the treatment was supposedly abandoned because of ‘doubts as to its effectiveness,’
the author of the article states his belief that “the doubts were caused by the fact that the treatment
was cheap and effective, so that the hugely expensive bypass surgeries, angioplasties, heart
transplants, etc., would no longer be needed. It is interesting that the heart specialists now use the
excuse that the treatment could be used by people who can’t afford more and those who live in
the Third World. ”
The Role of Cholesterol in Heart Disease
In the public mind cholesterol is vaguely linked to heart attacks and strokes, but not everyone
knows how this connection works. Cholesterol, a soft waxy substance found among the lipids
(fats) in the bloodstream, is produced naturally in the liver. It is needed for various important
body functions, such as the production of hormones, including sex hormones and corticosteroids. Cholesterol is divided into Low and High Density Lipoproteins, or LDL and HDL respectively. HDL is considered necessary and beneficial, able to rid the blood of the harmful LDL. This can
have a genetic origin, but is more likely to be caused by the average American diet that is far too
rich in saturated fats, the obvious source of excess cholesterol. Some of the highest food sources of cholesterol, according to Dr. W. Virgil Brown, professor
at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, are hamburgers, cheeseburgers, meat loaf,
whole milk and cheese, steaks, hot dogs, eggs, and some more items. Since these foods make up
a high proportion of the usual American diet, clearly they introduce far too much LDL cholesterol Copyright © Charlotte Gerson, 2007. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced in any medium, print or electronic without prior written permission from the author. Page 5 2Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www. thegersonway. cominto the blood. The result is that blood lipids, i. e., fats, are deposited in the walls of arteries and
form plaque, which in turn causes atherosclerosis. The plaque reduces arterial blood flow, is rough
and easily allows platelets to accumulate, causing clots which then block the artery altogether. If this occurs in the coronary arteries, which surround and supply the heart, it will cause a heart
attack; if in the brain, the result will be a stroke. The Gerson treatment is exceptionally effective in not only reducing harmful cholesterol,
but also in dissolving plaque and clearing the arteries for normal blood flow. Cases of cholesterol
reduction by 100 points without drugs in just one week have been seen. The diet free from meats,
fats, milk products, eggs, etc., contributes greatly to this success. But there is another important
factor: the use of flax seed oil. Cold pressed from organically grown flax seeds, as discovered by
Dr. Johanna Budwig 1, it is high in the important Omega 3 and low in the Omega 6 fatty acids. This ratio causes the excess cholesterol to be dissolved and carried off via the bloodstream and
the liver. (By way of contrast, a high cholesterol diet is high in Omega 6 and seriously deficient in
Omega 3 fatty acids. ) As an immediate result of embarking on the Gerson Therapy, patients present a more normal
level of cholesterol, and they are able to stop taking the statin drugs prescribed by their doctors. These drugs represent one of the largest markets for any prescription medication;


. Properties
: A thickening agent. Suspected and indicated in ulcerative
conditions of the GI tract. Affects blood clotting and proper nutrient
dispersion. Chlorine
Found in
: Tap water, showers, pool, laundry products, cleaning agents,
food processing, sewage systems, etc. Properties
: Anti-bacterial and parasitic. Contributes to asthma, hay fever,
anemia, bronchitis, circulatory collapse, confusion, delirium,
diabetes, dizziness, irritation of the eyes, mouth, nose, throat, lung,
skin and stomach, heart disease, high blood pressure and nausea. Probably cancer causing. DEA (Diethanolamine)
MEA (Momoethanolamine)
TEA (Triethanolamine)
Found in
: Bubble baths, shampoos, soaps, skin washes and cleansers. Properties
: Foaming agents. Suspected carcinogen. May bind with
nitrates and nitrites to form nitrosamines (tumor growers). EDTA (Ethylendiaminetetraacetic Acid)
Found in
: Shellac, solvents, and personal care products that foam
(bubble baths, body washes, shampoos, soaps and facial cleansers). Properties
: Preservative. Hormone disrupters. Suspected in at least two
types of cancer—kidney and liver cancer. Known to cause kidney,
intestinal and skin disorders. Causes cramping and the like. Gums (Arabic, Karaya, Xanthin, Cellulose, Ghatti, Tragacanth, etc.) Found in
: Ice cream, colas, candy, gum, beer, salad dressings, Isopropyl
alcohol.Properties
: Thickening agent. May be linked to allergies and bowel
disorders. Affects proper nutrient bioavailability
Isopropyl Alcohol
Found in
: Hair color rinses, body rubs, hand lotions, after-shave lotions,
fragrances, and many other cosmetics. A petroleum-derived
substance, it is also used in antifreeze and as a solvent in shellac. Properties
: A solvent and denaturant. (A dena-turant is a poisonous
substance that changes another substance’s natural qualities). Inhalation or ingestion of the vapor may cause headaches, flushing,
dizziness, mental depression, nausea, vomiting, narcosis and coma. Lactic Acid
Found in
: Printing industry, dyes, frozen pizzas, gelatin, cheeses, frozen
desserts, olives, beer, carbonated drinks. Properties
: A preservative. Acidosis and inflammation. Maltol Dextrin
Found in
: Wood tars, many desserts and soft drinks, processed foods,
ice cream. Properties
: Aroma and flavor enhancer. Suspected carcinogen. Mineral Oil
Found in
: Commonly used petroleum ingredient. Baby Oil is 100%
mineral oil. Properties
: Disrupts the skin’s natural immune barrier, inhibiting its
ability to breathe and to absorb moisture and nutrition. Impedes the
skin’s ability to release toxins, promoting acne and other disorders. Ultimately causes premature aging. Modified Food Starch
Found in
: Baked beans, creamed canned foods, beets (processed), dry-
roasted nuts, ravioli, drink powders, frozen pizzas, pie fillings, baby
foods, baking powder, frozen fish (packaged), soups, gravies.Properties
: Thickening and filling agent. Alkali in sodium hydroxide. Suspected in causing lung damage. GI tract irritation, vomiting. Possible cramping and spasms. Mono- and Diglycerides
Found in
: Pies, butter, dry roasted nuts, cakes, cookies, some processed
foods. Properties
: Binding and smoothing agent, softener. Suspected
carcinogenic, possibly causing genetic and birth defects. MSG (Monosodium Glutamate)
Found in
: Many Chinese foods, sauces, canned and processed foods,
frozen pizzas, beer, salad dressings, canned meats, tomato sauces,
broths, gelatins, bouillon, soy sauce, etc. May be disguised by other
names, e.g. glutamate, glutamic acid, autolyzed yeast, hydrolyzed
proteins, natural flavors, caseinate, seasonings, carrageenan, maltol
dextrin, yeast extract. Properties
: A common flavor enhancer. Excitotoxin (neurotoxin) affects
the nervous system and glandular system. Spasms, headaches
(including migraines), sweating, chest pain, diarrhea. Possibly linked
to genetic conditions, brain damage, heart conditions, tumors,
Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, asthma attacks, ALS, ADD,
ADHD, GI tract conditions. Nitrites, Nitrates (Sodium)
Found in
: Processed meats, frozen pizzas, baby foods, etc. Properties
: Preservative, used in “curing.”
Known carcinogens. Extremely toxic. Overdoses cause death. Binds to form nitrosamines, especially in the presence
of alcohol. PEG (Polyethylene glycol)
Found in
: Toothpastes, bath and shower products. Used to make
degreasers and cleansers (oven, car, etc. )Properties
: Thickening agent. Affects endocrine function; has estrogenic
effects; a suspected carcinogen. Propylene Glycol
Found in
: Antifreeze, make-up, lotions, deodorants, mouthwashes,
toothpaste, hair products (shampoos, etc.) shaving cream, etc. Used
in food processing. Used as solvents. Properties
: A surfactant or wetting agent. Skin irritant, causing
inflammation and possible damage to skin. May cause kidney, liver,
brain and pancreatic damage and abnormalities. Used to break down
proteins and cellular structures. Propylgallate
Found in
: Gum, pickles, oils and shortenings, processed foods and meat
products. Properties
: A preservative. Suspected in liver and pancreatic damage. Possible link to birth defects. Red Dye #40 (AI I u ra Red AC)
Found in
: Red pistachio nuts, meats (hot dogs, etc. ), gelatin, gum,
cereals, baked goods, many candies, red sodas. Note: #40 is not used
as much today. However, there are many artificial colorings that are
very questionable. Properties
: A coloring. Suspected carcinogen and possibly linked to
birth defects. Liver and kidney damage. Nerve toxin. Saccharin
Found in
: Many desserts, drinks and prepackaged foods. Properties
: An artificial sweetener. Suspected in some cancers (bladder,
etc.) and possible tumor formation. Can affect heart rhythms, GI tract
conditions and skin irritation. Sodium Erythorbate
Found in
: Meat products, baked goods, many beverages, etc.Properties
: Preservative. Banned in many countries. Suspected in birth
defects and genetic conditions. Highly toxic. Sodium Laureth and/or Lauryl Sulfate (SLES/SLS)
Found in
: Mouthwashes, shampoos, bubble bath, shaving gels/creams,
toothpastes, shower bars/gels, detergents, car wash soaps, engine
degreasers, floor cleaner, cosmetics. Properties
: Said to contain nitrosamines and dioxane, which are both
considered carcinogens. Suspected effects include: liver, kidney,
lung and pancreatic damage. May affect calcium utilization causing
teeth, bone and connective tissue weaknesses. May affect nerve and
brain function. Suspected in hair loss, cataracts and poor eyesight,
eye damage/development, shortness of breath, skin irritation/damage,
and death. Sodium Fluoride
Found in
: Toothpastes
Properties
: Known carcinogen. Affects brain and nerve function;
weakens kidney tissue. Talc
Found in
: Deodorants, shaving products and skin products. Properties
: A known carcinogen that causes ovarian cancer in mammals. Synthetic (Artificial) Flavorings or Fragrances
Found in
: Packaged foods, mouthwashes, deodorants, cosmetics,
perfumes, etc. Properties
: Many are neurotoxins affecting your brain, nerve, and
endocrine function; many suspected as carcinogens. Tannin (Tannic Acid)
Found in
: Teas, coffee, beer, wine, soda. Found in many artificial
flavorings, etc. Properties
: Flavoring. Suspected in liver, pancreatic and GI tractirritation. Occurs naturally in nature, in low doses and buffered. Toluene
Found in
: Nail polish, feminine products, as well as some cosmetics. Properties
: Suspected carcinogen, reportedly affects endocrine function. Research shows possible birth defects as one side effect. Can affect brain and nerve function. Conclusion
Many of the toxins listed above have been detected in municipal water
supplies, both above and below ground, including large city water supplies. Most of these toxins and pollutants come from manufacturing, industrial
solvents, ammunition wastes, pesticides, herbicides, grain fumigants, and
petrochemical use (gasoline,
solvents, oils, cleansers) dumped into the
ground. Boating is also a source of contamination of water supplies. Reports indicate that over 125 cosmetic ingredients, and hundreds of
others—commonly found in cigarettes, foods, lotions, salves, synthetic
vitamins and many other daily used or consumed substances—are
carcinogenic


,
sagapenum, castor oil and the like. Equally strong
measures are abstaining from food entirely and the
avoidance of drinking and the enduring of thirst. There
are already many prepared medications for various
conditions like the theriac, Th eodoric and Mithridatic and
their like. All these medicaments are powerful and one
should prepare them only upon the advice of a physician
who excels in theory and pract ice. From these things, if
they have a beneficial influence in their place, the patient
will recuperate immediately or a short while afterward or
will, at least, be saved from death. But if they fail, they
will cause immediate death or  an illness that will
ultimately cause the patient's death. And therefore it is
proper to exercise care. THE LIGHT PROCEDURES
The light medical procedures  are: the removal of blood
through cupping and scarification on the thighs or on the
upper part of the body, a purge with manna, pears, plums,
cherries, violets and syrup of roses in a cold state. Emetics such as barley water, oxymel, horse-radish,
atriplex littoralis seeds or melon roots and others. Also
light enemas, like those of ba rley water, coarse bran
water, honey water or oil and their like. Also  light  food,  such  as  nourishing  fluids mixed
with sugar, bee honey, barley soup, toasted rusk, soaked
twice, or thin biscuits as  prepared for sick people. We can also include here su ch medication as is also
taken in good health, like th e drinks used by healthy
people—oxymel, rose and lemon water, violets and the
like—and the syrups that are of equal quality, such as
rose sugar, violet sugar and myrobalan jam. THE COMPOUND DRUGS
In the same fashion we must take the fluids
compounded out of light and reliable drugs, such as
licorice, coriander, oxtongue, endive seed, eryngo leaves,
panicaut, asparagus root, rind of lettuce root, fennel root, celery, cucumber seed, portulaca, portulaca oleracea,
sugar melon, althea wood and seed and their like. And
other drinks that are compounded from the fruit, seeds
and flowers that healthy pe ople take, and the tamarind
drink. All these medicaments are light. When they reach
the proper place they will re store the health of the
debilitated patient and will cure the stronger one for a
long time. Even if they miss their aim, they will cause no
death or severe injury. Most  of the physicians rely on
such a system, avoiding doubt in search for perfection. PURGATIVES
The purgatives such as hiera picra, agaricon and
operculina turpethum and their like, such as cassia fistula,
are of medium quality, not t oo strong and not too weak. Cassia fistula, though it frequently causes tenesmus, has a
sure effect. Agaric is al so a sure purgative, but
occasionally it hurts with its sharpness and its
dehydration, when we have to remove fluids from the
entire body or from one orga n. Equally injurious to men
with a warm constitution may be hiera picra and triphylla. They often produce too extensive a reaction. When we warned against indiscriminate medication
with the theriac Mithridatic even when advised by an experienced physician, we had in mind the sick only. As
to those of good health, it ha s already been mentioned as
a good health rule to take the theriac every ten days. NOTHING ABSOLUTE IN MEDICINE
The physicians have already mentioned that there is
nothing absolute in medicine and that everything depends
on specific conditions, as when they advise one to take
the theriac every ten days for the health's sake. It is not proper for one who has a warm constitution to
take [the theriac] or to take it in the summer or in a period
of great heat or when the stomach has any trace of a bad
moisture. EMETICS
And when it is said that to vomit once or twice a
month is good for the health, this is so provided a man
has no weakness in his chest or fullness or pain in his
head. Vomiting is of no help when it is very cold. And
every time it is allowed, it is under the conditions we
have mentioned. We have advised employing light medications and we
mentioned some of the appe rtaining regulations. If one cannot find a very experienced physician, he may turn to
any physician he can find, if  there is no alternative. Sometimes even a small amount of a medication will be
injurious if the physician errs  and applies it to the wrong
place. GALEN : WATER IS AMBIVALENT
Galen has already explained to us that sometimes he
tells a patient to drink wate r until saturation, in order to
cause perspiration, soft stools, absence of fever and
perfect health. And sometimes if one is allowed to drink
water when it is improper for him, it can cause the
patient's death or a chronic disease from which he can
never be cured. And the conditions in which the drinking
of water is allowed or prohibited have already been
explained. And as with drinking water, [one must be careful one
understands] how careful we have  to be in drinking other
fluids. When it is time to drink and we do not know
whether to permit the drinking of water or not, one may
take the normal amount to which he is accustomed. In the
same manner if we are not certain whether to give a
patient food or prevent him from taking it, we should give
him a small amount of it. When one cannot reach a very intelligent physician,
one should follow the habits he is accustomed to when he
is well, but take only a little of  what he usually takes. One
must be careful always to pr eserve the strength of the
patient while he is taking nour ishment. It is advisable to
take light nourishment, if he is allowed to take any, such
as chicken soup, meat broth, th e yolk of a soft-boiled egg
and wine, or even a little heavier food, such as chicken
meat. One must never forget to strengthen the physical
powers with food and the em otional powers through the
aroma of warm fragrant i ngredients, such as musk,
amber, basilicon, and lignaloes for illnesses accompanied
by a feeling of cold, and by co ld ingredients, like those
prepared from roses, nilufa r, myrtle and violets, in
illnesses accompanied by warmth. THE ROLE OF MUSIC
And in order to strengthen the vital powers, one should
employ musical instruments a nd tell patients gay stories
which make the heart swell and narratives that will
distract the mind and cause them and their friends to
laugh. One should select as attendants and caretakers
those who can cheer up the patient. This is a must in every illness. In the absence of a physician one must
figure it out himself. The physicians have advised every physician that if he
can manage to control the illness with diet alone, he
should not employ medicaments, and if he cannot
accomplish this without medical healing, he should
employ ordinary medical means, such as a medical
regimen and therapeutic foods. If this medical regimen
does not help, one can try light medication: if it helps, it
is good and if it does not help the patient, one may
undertake stronger and stronger measures. COMPOUND DRUGS
If one can manage well with one individual drug, one
should not use a compound one; or one should use a
medication which is compounded of the fewest possible
ingredients. One should use medications compounded of
multiple ingredients only when  compelled to do so. All
these provisions are made when one is regulated by a
good physician and this is even  more the case when there
is no physician at all. One should be careful not to
employ strong medications or many medicinal
ingredients. It is best to be  satisfied with ordinary and mild care. This is the amount we found proper to write on
this topic. CHAPTER III

The Care of My Lord in Particular, According to
the Condition He Complains of

It has been the consensus of medical opinion that the
foundation of health is that th e excrements should be soft
and if they are hard one should make them soft. Their
retention produces very bad fu mes that enter the heart and
the brain and cause dehydrati on and confusion of the vital
spirits. They produce bad t houghts, apprehensiveness and
exhaustion and prevent the e limination of superfluities
from digested materials. A special effort is needed to
soften the stool. IBN ZUHR ON LAXATIVES
Ibn Zuhr, let God remember him for good, said: The
best way to soften the stool is by taking a fluid of rhubarb
and tamarind. Your insignificant servant was told of my
lord's disposition, that it is  good for him to soften his
stool with amaranth prepared in a fat chicken with saff


philosophy,  and religion, the more one has the
impression of ex- tremely giftcd pcople wcaring
out their ingenuity at  the impossible and  futile
task  of trying to get  üie water  of lifc into  neat  and
permanem  packages. Thcre  are many  reasons  why  this should  be
par-
cicularly evident to a pcrson living today. vVc
know  so much about history, about all the
packagcs which  have bcen ticd and which havc
duly come apare. We know so much dctail about
the problems of life that  they resist casy
simplification, and scem more corn - plex and
shapeless than evcr. Furthcrmore, science  and
industry have so increased both thc tempo and
the violence of living that our packages sccm to
come  apare  fas ter and faster  cvery  day. There  is, then,  Lhe fccl1ng  that  we live in a
time
of unusual insecurity. In thc past hundrecl years
so many  long -cstablishcd  Lraditions  have  brokcn
clown
-traditions of family ancl social  life, of
governmcnt,  of che econornic order, ando(
rcligious belicf. As the  years go by, there secm  to
be fcwcr and fewcr rocks  to which  we can hold,
fewer  things  which  we can THE  AGE  OF ANXIETY
regard as absolutely right and true, and fixcd for all
time. To sorne this is a welcome release from the rc-
straims  of moral,  social,  and spiritual  dogma. To
othcrs it is a dangerous and terriEying breach with
rcason and sanity, tencling to plungc human life into
hopeless  chaos. To most,  perhaps,  the immediate
sensc of release has given a brief exhilaration, to be
followecl by the deepcst anxiety. For if all is relative,
if lifc is a torrent witholll forrn or goal in whose flood
absolUtely  nothing  savc  change  itself  can last,  it
seems to be something in which thcrc is "no future"
and th us no hope. Human bcings appear to be happy just so long as
they have a future to which they can look forward -
whcther  it be a "good time" tomorrow oran everlast -
ing lifc beyond the grave. For various reasons, more
and more peoplc find it harcl to bclieve in thc laner. On tl1e othcr hand, the formcr has the disadvantage
that when this "good time" arrives, it is. clifficu lt to
enjoy it to the full without sorne promise of more to
come. If happiness always depencls on something ex-
pectcd in the future, wc are chasing a will-o'-the-wisp
that cvcr eludes our grasp, until thc futurc, and our -
selves,  vanish  into  the abyss  of dcath. As a maucr of fact, our age  is no more  insecure
than any othcr. Poveny, disease,  war,  changc, and
cieath are nothing new. In thc best of times "sccurity"
has never  becn  more  than  temporary  and apparent. THE  WISDOM  OF INSECURITY
But it has been  possible  to make  the insecurity of
human  life supportable  by belief  in unchanging
things  bcyond  thc rcach  of calamity -in God,  in
man's immortal soul, and in the government of
the universe  by eternal  laws  of right. Today such convictions are rare, even in
religious  circles. There is no leve. of society,  thcre
must even  be few individuals,  touched  by modern
education,  where therc is not sorne trace of the
leaven of doubt. h is simply self -evident that
during the past century  the authority of science
has Laken thc place of the authority o[ rcligion in
the popular imagination, and that scepticism, at
least in spiritual  things, has be - come  more
general  than  belicf. The decay  of belief  has come  about  through
the
honest  dou bt, the ca re ful  and fearless  thinking  of
highly  intclligent  men  of science  and philosophy. Moved by a zeal and reverence for facts, they have
trice. to sce, understand,  and facc  life as it is
without
\\'Íshful thinking. Yct for ali that they have done
to improve  the conditions of lifc, their picture of
the universe seems to leave the individual
without ulti•  mate hope. The price of thcir
miraclcs in this world  has been thc disappearance
of the world -to-come, and onc is inclincd to ask the
old qucstion, "What shall it  profit a man if he gain
the whole world and lose his soul. " Logic,
intelligence, and  reason  are satisfied,  but the
heart goes hungry. For the heart has learned  to
feel that  we live for thc future. Science  may,
16  THE  ACE  OF ANXIETY
slowly and uncertainly, give us a better future -for
a few years. And then, for each of us, it will end. lt
will all end. However long postponed, everything
com - posed  must  decompose. Despite sorne  opinions to the contrary, this is
still the general view of science. In literary and
religious  circles it is now often supposed that the
conflict be - tween science and belief is a thing of
the past. There  are even sorne rather wishful
scientists who feel that  when modero physics
abandoned a crudc atomistic  materialism, the
chief reasons for this conflict,vere  removed. But
this is not at ali thc case. In rnost of our  great
centers  of learning,  those  who  rnake  it thcir
business to study the full implicaLions of science
and its methods are as far as ever from what they
under - stand  as a religious  point  of view. Nuclear physics and relativity have. it is true,
done  away with thc old matcrialisrn,  but they
now give us a view of the ·univcrse in which  there
is even less room  for ideas of any absolute
purpose or design. The modero scientist is not so
naive as to deny God  because he cannot be found
with a telescope, or the soul because it is not
rcvealed by the scalpel. He has  merely noted  that
thc idea of God  is logically un - necessary. He even
doubts that it has any mc:ming. lt  docs not hclp
him to cxplain anything which he can - not cxplain
in sorne  othcr,  and simpler,  way. He argues  that  if everything  which  happens  is
said
to be under  the providence  ami control  of God,
this
17 THE  WISOOM  OF INSl::CURITY
actually  amounts  to saying  nothing. To say that
everything is govcrncd and  crcated  by Gocl  is like
saying, "Everything is up," -which means nothing
al ali. The notion docs not hclp us Lo makc any
verifi - ablc prcdicLions, and so, from the scientific
stand - point,  is of no valuc whatsoevcr. Scientists
may be right  in this respcct. They may be wrong. It is  not our purpose here Lo argue this point. We
need only  note that such sccpLicism has immense
inílucnce, and  sets  the prcvailing  moo<l  of thc agc. What scicnce has said, in sum, is this: Wc do not,
and in ali probabiliL)' cannot,  know whcthcr  Gocl
cxisLs. NoLhing Lhat wc do know suggcsLs that he
docs, and ali thc argurncnLs which claim to prove
his existencc are founcl to be without logical
meaning. There is nothing,  indeed, tO prove tbat
there is no  God, but Lhe burdcn of proof reses
wiLh those who  proposc thc idea. lf. the scicntists
would say, you bc - lievc in Cod, you 1nL1St do so
on purcly cmotionnl  grounds,  without  basis  in
logic  or fact. Practically  speaking, this may amount
LOnthcism. Thcoretically,  it


 test.”
He lower ed the radio. “That’s ok ay. I don’t need you all
the time.”
He reached back again to tur n up the radio, and a piece
of paper ﬂutter ed down onto his face. “What’s this?” He
touched the wall and felt another one. “ And this?” He felt
them gingerly. The wall was cover ed with what felt lik e Post-
it notes. “Why ar e ther e pieces of paper all over my wall?”
Lupe came to the doorway. “It’s just an e xtra thing I do.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Well, I know you don’t have good pictur es in your head
or say positive things about yourself, so I do it for you. I put
them ther e because that’s wher e you sit.”
Jonathan sat up and felt up and down the wall. “Ther e’s mor e on the bathr oom mir ror.”
“Oh, for God’s sak e.” Jonathan stomped into the
bathr oom, clearly annoyed. “What do these stupid things
say?”
“Diﬀer ent things. Only good lies befor e me. I’m going to
get my sight back. Or I create my own futur e. Things lik e
that. But most of them say I’m going to paint a lot mor e
beautiful pictur es.”“Lupe, I’m not getting my sight back, no matter what
kind of mumbo jumbo you hang on my walls.”
“Don’t say that. The molecules will hear you.”
Jonathan gr ew incr easingly angry. “I don’t believe  in your
molecules, ok ay? And I’m getting tir ed of hearing about
them all the time. Bad things happen. They happened to
me. And all the wishful thinking in the world can’t do
anything about it.”
“You don’t have to believe in the sun for it to still shine
on you.”
Jonathan erupted. “ And you don’t have to believe in
disease for it to come along and devastate your life and
take away everyone you love. Ask your grandfather. Have
the molecules and the P ost-it notes work ed for him? Have
they stopped whatever is eating him alive?”
Lupe’s faced collapsed. Ther e was a long silence. “I’m sor ry. That was an awful thing to say.”
More silence. “I said I’m sor ry—r eally.”
More silence. Jonathan put a hand out in fr ont of him. L upe wasn’t
there. The door was lef t open. He tur ned ar ound and ran
into an umbr ella stand. He kick ed it out of the way. The ne xt day, Jonathan hear d a commotion outside in the
hall and opened the door. Lupe’s grandmother emer ged,
rushed and har ried. As she lef t, she called back into the
apartment. “I call you as soon as I can, sweetheart.” She ignor ed
Jonathan and hur ried down the stairs, weeping audibly. She collided with Mrs. R amirez, the downstairs neighbor,
and the two of them spok e in frantic Spanish for a moment. “Shit—it must be Mr. Saldana,” Jonathan whisper ed to
himself. He went acr oss the hall and knock ed. “Lupe, it’s me...”
Mrs. R amirez walk ed up the stairs and saw Jonathan
knocking. “The hospital call her to come,” she told him. “She sounded upset.”
Mrs. R amirez shook her ahead. “ Poor Juana, all she does
is wor ry. All the time at the hospital.”
“What e xactly is wr ong with her husband?”
Mrs. R amirez look ed at Jonathan in confusion. “No, es Lupe. She’s the one. Don’t you know? Oh, Dios
mío. She has cancer—she dying.”
“Lupe! What ar e you talking about?”
The Saldanas’ door suddenly opened. L upe’s grandfather
stood ther e, leaning on a cane. “Wher e’s Lupe?” Jonathan ask ed. Raul paused. “She in hospital.”
“She isn’t r eally sick...?”
“Yes, cancer.”
Jonathan shook his head in disbelief. “But how could that
be? How can she be sick? She’s always dancing, singing,
laughing?”
“Because she believes  she ﬁne. That’s why she always
talking about quinceañera  and working for you.”
“What do the doctors say?” Jonathan ask ed. “One say right in fr ont of her that she be luck y to live to
14. But she no believe it. She said she have a pictur e in her
head that she gr ow up to be a lady.”
“But why is she at the hospital now?”
“She has a test. Didn’t she tell you?”
Jonathan look ed ill. “She told me, all right. I just didn’t
listen.”
“It’s to see how bad the cancer is. They say test very
painful.”
Jonathan was clearly shak en. “Is ther e anything I can do,
Mr. Saldana? Anything at all?”
“Just believe, Mr. Jonathan. That’s what L upe would say. Believe.”In a hospital r oom, L upe, in a gown, lay on her side on a
table. A doctor with a needle stood behind her. The doctor said, “ Okay, Lupe, this is the spinal tap test I
told you about. It might hurt, but it will only be for a second. Are you r eady?”
“Yes.” L upe’s voice was brave, but her face was ﬁlled
with ter ror. She gripped the side of the table as the doctor
inserted the needle. She caught a glimpse of herself in the chr ome of a
medical cart and look ed into her own eyes. She chanted sof tly, “I am a beloved child of the universe,
and the universe lovingly tak es car e of me now and
forevermore.” She hesitated and then added, “ I’m the belle
of the ball. I’m the belle of the ball.”
Jonathan clumsily put away his gr oceries, swearing under
his br eath, a ter rible look on his face. Eventually, the look
turned to rage. He began to slam the kitchen cabinets so
hard that a loose shelf behind him shook and then br oke
completely fr om the wall. A sugar jar fell and smashed onto
the kitchen ﬂoor. “Shit!” he said, as he knelt down and felt what had
happened. He was about to say mor e but stopped. In a hushed
voice, he began to sing L upe’s swearing song. He felt his
body crumple in sadness and shame. Down on the ﬂoor, he touched the spilled sugar with his
hands. Suddenly his face r elaxed, and his hands began to
work automatically. The window dark ened as he continued. Outside the door, he hear d someone walk by. “Who’s ther e?”
“Mr. A. Are you ok ay, Mr. Jonathan?”
“Would you come her e, please?”The landlor d walk ed in with a wor ried look when he saw
Jonathan down on the ﬂoor. “Are you sur e you’r e okay?”
“Would you look at something for me?”
The landlor d appr oached. “You knock ed over the sugar—I’ll help you.”
“No! I don’t want it swept up. Just look at it. Does it look
like anything?”
The landlor d stepped back and look ed at the sugar
design on the ﬂoor. “It looks lik e a girl’s face...” He
hesitated and look ed at Jonathan with a kind of wonder. “It
looks lik e Lupe’s face. That’s uncanny.”
Jonathan lower ed his head. “Thank you.”
After the landlor d left, Jonathan got on the phone. “I want a ten-pound bag of sand,” he said into the
receiver. “Deliver ed immediately. I’ll pay whatever it is. I
don’t car e!’’
He hung up and moved into the bedr oom, wher e he
began pulling out paints, canvas, bowls, and brushes fr om
the closet. The deliveryman ar rived to ﬁnd a frantic Jonathan. “Don’t say a wor d! I’m blind, and I’m nuts, but I have a
lot of money. Come in!”
The deliveryman car ried in the sand and look ed ar ound. Jonathan had laid a canvas on the ﬂoor and ar ranged
several bowls in a line. He was in a fr enzy. He ask ed the
deliveryman to help him mix paint and sand. “They have to be in an or der I can r emember, so in the
ﬁrst bowl I want you to put r ed.”
They work ed for nearly an hour, mixing paint in every
bowl. When all the bowls had paint in them with various
amounts of sand, Jonathan said, “Ther e’s $40 on thedresser. Take it. And thanks.”
Jonathan took a knife and scooped some of the mixtur e
onto the canvas. He spr ead the paint


 to see if I am deficient in  any areas or to measure my level of candida. I do not
want food to be the deciding factor for how I feel. I really want food to be uni mportant. I want to remain raw … but eating to live,
not living to eat. I know that raw can work for me as long as I am able to either  stay away from those foods that are difficult to
digest or simply consume them in smaller quantities. Isn’t it hard to go raw? Learning how to eat a raw food diet properly takes time, patience, and yes, effor t. Although I provide a blueprint for doing it
healthfully, most people find it challenging to adopt the raw diet 100% the fi rst time out, unless they get professional guidance. It
seldom occurs overnight, and in fact, can take years to accomplish. Because our taste buds have been exposed to, and our brains have experienced t he excitement of salt, sugar, and spices, we
may miss those tastes initially when they are no longer part of the da ily diet. However, most people find that the tradeoff for good
health and longevity is more than worth living without a few of the ha rshest flavoring agents. Once the taste buds are no longer exposed each day to these stimulants an d excitotoxins, they once again develop an
appreciation for the taste of fresh fruits and vegetables. You can becom e an extremely discerning person, with taste buds that can
easily recognize the differences among various qualities of fruit. Of course, it is far more pleasant to be healthy than it is to be sick, and far  less expensive, too. Weighing all factors with a
longer-term perspective, I would say it is easier to eat raw than eat c ooked. What advice do you have for new raw fooders? Those new to the raw food diet often fall victim to their own innocence, coupl ed with their inquisitive nature. Most people,
when trying a new diet, want to find out as much about it as possible, and often  as quickly as possible. The raw food diet, which is
so radically different from the others, often leaves people bewil dered about “what to do.” Nutritional and other health concerns can
overwhelm them, especially when social pressures about their diet fr om peers, family, and friends beset them. Fortunately, there is a huge amount of information available about raw  foods on websites, in books, and from counselors. But
beware: most of the “leaders” who offer this information have little  education, experience, or professional training in nutrition or
health creation. Newcomers do not have enough perspective to be able to discern the valid infor mation from the dangerous or the sound
science from the well-marketed infomercial. We can quickly end up with  a situation where the blind are being led by the semi-
sighted. My advice is to be certain that you seek guidance from someone who has reac hed stability in his or her own food program. I
recommend increasing the consumption of whole fruits and vegetables a nd minimizing any use of supplements, super foods, or
condiments of all types. Eat simply at each meal, reducing the total num ber of ingredients while obtaining variety in your diet
throughout the seasons. Do fruits and vegetables have enough nutrients? The very best quality water, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phyton utrients, enzymes, coenzymes, fiber, protein,
carbohydrates, and fats all  come from organically grown fruits and vegetables grown in highly com posted, living soils. They are
complete nutritional packages and provide all the nutrients we need, in t he proportions and ratios our bodies require for proper
functioning. No man-made vitamin tablet or other supplement can com pare with Nature’s handiwork. Of all foods, fruits are richest in vitamins and water, and second riche st in minerals and fiber, while vegetables and leafy greens
are richest in minerals and fiber, and second richest in vitamins an d water. Vegetables supply minerals and fiber so far in excess of
our needs that the quantity supplied in fruit actually comes closer to m eeting our needs. (As I have stated elsewhere, consuming
more than we need of any nutrient is not better, and in fact creates nutritional imbalances, despite marketin g hype to the contrary). Fruits, being far higher in calories than vegetables and thus capabl e of fueling us adequately, should comprise the majority of
our diets. Some fruits, however, do actually fall short in terms of minera ls, so it is important to include some vegetables in our diet to
make up for the eventual lack that could develop on a fruit-only diet. Nonethe less, in every category, the nutrient content of fruit
comes closer to matching human nutritional needs than that of any oth er food group. We need small quantities of both proteins and fats. So, although fruits and v egetables are not high in protein and fat content,
they still remain their ideal source. What about vitamin B 12? Almost every health and nutrition professional in the world holds the not ion that people must at least supplement their diets
with a B 12  source if they don’t eat meat. But the truth is, vitamin B 12  deficiency is not limited to vegetarians and vegans; it is common among meat eaters as well—not because they don’t eat enough B 12, but because they don’t properly produce and absorb it. Let
me explain just a bit about how this all works. As I see it, two primary vegan sources of natural vitamin B 12 exist for humans, either of which, under ideal conditions, should
be sufficient to provide the B 12  to meet our needs:
First, vitamin B 12  is a waste product of a bacteria that can be found in and on the foods we eat (of both  animal and  plant
origin). Second, B 12  is also produced in the intestine and the mucosa of healthy humans. An alleged but very unlikely third source of B 12  may be unheated algae, spirulina, chlorella, and other creatures (whi ch are not
plants, by the way, and thus not to be considered vegan), and also raw seaweeds  like nori, wakame, dulse, kombu, etc. Although
these substances apparently do contain some human-active B 12, they also contain significant amounts of noncobalamin analogs of
B12, which actually interfere with the absorption of true B 12. The analog form of B 12  registers on test results, masquerading as the
human nutrient, but the body cannot use it. To compound the problem, analog B 12  also occupies the body’s B 12  uptake sites or
“receptors,” thus lowering our ability to utilize true B 12. From a health and biological-design perspective, the question of whether  the B 12 in these foods is the kind we need or an
analog (or some of both) becomes irrelevant. Regardless of the answer, I do not  recommend the consumption of sea life under any
circumstances. Humans are terrestrial creatures and as such ou r digestive capacities and nutritional requirements are adapted to th e
consumption of plants from the land. Aquatic plants and animals are not our  natural foods, nor does their nutritional makeup match
our needs. If you disagree, take yourself to the oceanside one day and collect some of your  own fresh algae or seaweed. I think you will
find these “foods,” as they appear unprocessed in nature, to be abhorren t in taste. Compare this reaction to the sensory thrill that
you experience when you see, smell, and taste a perfectly ripe piece of fr uit picked fresh from the tree. Your visceral response to
these two scenarios should tell you unequivocally which of these item s is food for humans. That said, I return to the first two B 12 sources mentioned above. If it is true that plant and  animal foods can contain B 12, and
that we make it within our bodies as well, then how is it that we find vita min B 12 deficiency in humans? This is an extremely complex
matter, but I will discuss four reasons for this phenomenon in a very sim plified manner. 1) Our produce no longer contains vitamin B 12. Since the beginning of time, humans have acquired some of their vitam in B 12  directly from fruits and vegetables … but they did not
know they were doing so. You see, scientists did not discover vitamin B 12  until the 1950s, and by then our commercially produced
plant foods had spent about a decade devoid of vitamin B 12, a nutrient that had existed plentifully in plant foods since time
immemorial. How did this come about? Well, plants do not make a lot of vitamins. Rather, they s oak them up from the soil through their
roots. Most of our vitamins are made by bacteria in the soil. Since the adven t of modern agriculture in 1942, when Bayer and other
chemical manufacturers began diverting leftover chemical wea pons from World War II into use as pesticides and fertilizers, 84
farmers have inadvertently sterilized the bacteria out of our soils. The resulting loss of plant-derived dietary vitamin B 12 is just one of
the unintended consequences of “better living through chemistry,”  an initiative that continues to devastate the balance of nature  in
ways we are only beginning to comprehend. Given this historical perspective, it is easy to understand why nutr itional researchers generally encounter no vitamin B 12  in plant
foods since they take their samples from among