 is a good man, and for the most part, I like my marriage.”
She paused. “I don’t think I answ ered you,” she said, smiling. “Why am
I staying? Because I believe we are working together to be healthy. He is
doing enough to give me hope. I’m practicing setting boundaries, being
assertive in a healthy way, holdi ng him accountable, and remembering who
I am. He doesn’ t define me. God defines me.”
Her words echoed in my mind—“God defines me.”
I listened carefully to her, still wondering how she was able to be so
stable amid her challenges. How was she able to move from being reactive
—reacting to the things Todd has done to her in the past—to being her own
person, defined by God?“Don’ t get me wrong,” she continued. “I have days when I reconsider
my decision. I’m still healing from what has happened. But for now, I’m
choosing to stay and work on our marriage together. I’m choosing to work
on me in my marriage, not away from him.”
“I’m very impressed with your self-confidence, Jill,” I said. “You have
something a lot of women woul d like. You sound very clear and filled with
conviction.”
“Today,” she said softly. We continued to talk about what was helping Jill stay balance d while
living in a marriage with problems. She shared more about her marriage as
a place to grow and rediscover  her godly self—and that is what this final
chapter is about. Crisis as Opportunity
This book has largely been about understanding the impact of
narcissistic and emotional abuse. I have written from the victim’ s
perspective. As I bring this book to a close, I want to emphasize that you
are not only a victim, but a survivor—one who overcomes. You may have related to the stories of courageous women struggling to
heal from this abuse, so perhaps it will be a bit more difficult to identify
with women like Jill. But she is part of a significant group of women who
have chosen to utilize their marriage as their place to grow. Women like Jill
see their marriage not only as a place of struggle and challenge but also as a
place of opportunity. Is it possible to heal amid the crisis? Is it possible to carve out a space
where you can not only embrace and nurture your wounds but also thrive? Many women like Jill of fer a solid yes. When facing crises, we usually try to cope. We clinch our teeth, grip our
chair, and hold on for dear life. We try to avoid crises because they are
typically places of pain. Jill would say dif ferently. “I’m viewing this as a time to grow,” she said. “It is most definitely a
hard time in my life. I’m not completely happy with Todd. But I’m leaning
into the experience and trying to see what God has for me in it.”
Consider some of the benefits of a marriage crisis.First, your world is shaken up. When experiencing a crisis, the world we
have known is rattled. We can no longer keep doing things the way we’ve
always done them. W e must change. “I am so upset with Todd at times that I have to step back and look at
things from a new angle,” Jill said. “I can’t live the way I’ve always lived. It’s not working  for me. My emotions are in an uproar, and I have to attend
to them.”
Second, you can view your situation differ ently. When our world is
turned upside down, we have a chance to view things differently. We can
look for the opportunity in the crisis. When our world is shaken up, we can
let go of the known and at least take a glimpse of the unknown. “I can keep complaining about my marriage,” Jill said, “or I can decide
what I want to do. I discovered I had choices. That was powerful for me.”
Third, you have an opportunity to change. Relationships tend to
continue in the same patterns unless we experience enough discomfort. When we reach the tipping point of discomfort, change is possible. “I decided to be different in my marriage,” Jill said. “I had focused on
Todd changing for the longest time. I made a shift and decided I was going
to be dif ferent and see what happens.”
Are you a perso n who delves into a crisis to find the opportunity, or are
you always looking backward at the missed opportunities? Your answer is
critical and may indicate a need to change perspectives. Being the Change Y ou W ant
Mahatma Gandh i is often quoted  as saying, “Be the change you wish to
see in the world.” It’s a great paraphrase, but here’ s the actual quote: “If we
could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As
a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change
towards him…W e need not wait to see what others do.”1
Rediscovering your godly self means envisioning who you want to be
and then being it. It means believing that God still has a plan for your life
and that you can discover it. Perhaps I make it sound too simple, perhaps not. What if being your
perfect self, the self you and God want you to be, means a change of
perspective? Rather than focusing on your husband, you focus on you.Henrik Edber g, in his blog post “Gandhi’ s 10 Rules for Chan ging the
World,” shares these provoking thoughts:
1. Change yourself. I’ve written that change begins with you. Now I’m
adding that I want you to focus on changing you, not him. If you
change yourself, you will change your world. Additionally, if you
change your world without changing yourself, you will still be the
same. 2. You ar e in contr ol. You are not in control of everything, of course,
nor are others totally in control of you. However, you control
yourself and your choices. Y ou control your thoughts, your actions,
and to a certain extent, your emotions. As you change your actions,
your emotions will change as well. 3. Forgive and let go. Scripture of fers sobering counsel when it says,
“If you for give other people when they sin against you, your
heavenly Father will also for give you” (Matthew 6:14). While rarely
easy, you can for give others. This certainly does not mean allowing
anyone to abuse you, but it does mean you let go of resentment in
your heart. 4. Without action, you ar en’t going anywher e. Thinking, reflecting, and
even praying are good practices. But action must follow. You must
do something to become the person you want to be. T ake a small
step today toward becoming that person. 5. Take car e of this moment. As tempting as it is to get ahead of
ourselves, worrying and planning for tomorrow, we must stay in this
present moment and take care of it. Make choices as to how you
want to live in this moment. 6. Everyone is human. It is critical that you not hold others to
unreasonable standards. Just as you want others to allow you room
to make mistakes, so you must allow others to do the same. As youreflect on their humanity, you may find more in them that you care
about. 7. Persist. In time, as you change, the opposition around may fade. Certainly as you grow and become stronger and more resolved,
others see and cannot help but respect these changes. Many will
begin to accept this new you. While this is still not guaranteed, as
you change you will begin to see others notice and treat you
differently. 8. See the good in people and help them. We are all a combination of
good and bad. See the good. When you see the good in others, you
will be more likely to care about them and help them. Everyone is
struggling a fierce battle and needs our help. 9. Be congruent, be authentic, be your true self. Your thoughts, words,
and actions need to be in alignment. When they are, you send a clear
message. When you know your convictions and live them out,
others will hear and feel them and likely will come to respect them. 10. Continue to gr ow and evolve. You can keep growing. Y ou have not
arrived, nor have I. Have compassion for yourself and the journey
you are on. Continue going to your support group and church,
reading, and attending to other aspects of your recovery. Notice that
he, too, is on his own journey.2
This is an incredible list of action steps to propel you in the right
direction. Perhaps you can select one or two that really speak to you and
make them your goals for becoming the best version of yourself—the
person God wants you to be. Giants in the Land
All of this may sound too easy, especially when there are those shouting
that he cannot change or that you are a victim with few choices. Your worldmay be filled with people who have victim mentalities. Y ou cannot af ford to
indulge in that kind of thinking. Rediscovering your godly self means facing opposition. It means
listening carefully to those with experience in narcissistic and emotional
abuse, but it also means listening to yourself. There will alwa ys be people who tell you that you cannot reach your
goals. That you cannot


b>,E. <em>TreatiseonHealth. </em>New-York:C.<|eot_id|><|begin_of_text|>
Q: What is the purpose of the Taoist approach to spiritual growth, according to the text?,
A: Overcoming reincarnation, attaining an immortal spirit, and eventually achieving an immortal body.
Q: What is the prerequisite for taking other courses in Taoist Esoteric Yoga, according to the text?,
A: Opening the Microcosmic Orbit
Q: What is the purpose of the Iron Shirt Chi Kung course, as described in the text?,
A: To strengthen the connective tissue, increase immunity against disease, and develop a "steel body" impervious to attack or illness.
Q: What is the comparison made between the body and the soul in the text?,
A: A ship and an engine and propeller, with the body being a vessel that must be in good condition in order to achieve spiritual growth.
Q: What is the main goal of the Taoist approach, according to the text?,
A: Mastering the spirit, as described in Taoist Yoga<|eot_id|><|begin_of_text|>OceanofPDF.comOceanofPDF.comAlso by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
BOOKS
Being in Balance
Everyday W isdom
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Getting in the Gap (book-with-CD)
Incredible Y ou! (children’ s book with Kristina T racy)
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The Invisible For ce
It’s Not What Y ou’ve Got (children’ s book with Kristina T racy) Manifest
Your Destiny
A Morning and Afternoon of Y our Life
No Mor e Holiday Blues
The Power of Intention
A Promise Is a Pr omise
Pulling Y our Own Strings
Real Magic
The Sky’ s the Limit
Staying on the Path
10 Secr ets for Success and Inner Peace
There’s a Spiritual Solution to Every Pr oblem
Unstoppable Me! (children’ s book with Kristina
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You’ll See It When Y ou Believe It
Your Err oneous ZonesYour Sacr ed Self
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How to Be a No-Limit Person How to Get What Y ou
Really, Really, Really, Really W ant
If You Change the W ay You Live, the Life Y ou Ar e
Living W ill Change
(abridged 4-CD set)
Inspiration (abridged 4-CD set)
Inspirational Thoughts
The Keys to Higher A wareness
Making Y our Thoughts W ork for Y ou (with Byron
Katie) Meditations for Manifesting
A Morning and Afternoon of Y our Life
(abridged 4-CD set) 101 W ays to T ransform
Your Life (audio book) The Power of
Intention (abridged 4-CD set) A Promise Is a Pr omise
(audio book) The Secr ets of the Power of Intention
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There Is a Spiritual Solution to Every Pr oblem The
Wayne Dyer Audio Collection/CD Collection YourJourney to Enlightenment (6-tape program)
VIDEOCASSETTES
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10 Secr ets for Success and Inner Peace gift products:
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All of the above are available at your local bookstore,
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OceanofPDF.comCopyright © 2007 by W ayne W. Dyer

Published and distributed in the United States by: Hay House, Inc.: www.hayhouse.com  •
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All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced by any mechanical, photographic, or
electronic process, or in the form of a phonog raphic recording; nor may it be stored in a retrieval
system, transmitted, or otherwise be copied for public or private use—other than for “fair use” as
brief quotations embodied in articles and reviews—without prior written permission of the publisher. The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a
form of treatment for physical, emotional, or medical problems without the advice of a physician,
either directly or indirectly. The intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to
help you in your quest for emotional and spiritual well-being. In the event you use any of the
information in this book for yourself, which is your constitutional right, the author and the publisher
assume no responsibility for your actions. Library of Congr ess Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Dyer, Wayne W. Change your thoughts, change your life : living the wisdom of the T ao / W ayne W. Dyer.--1st ed.,. p. cm. ISBN 978-1-4019-1 184-3 (hardcover) -- ISBN 978-1-4019-1750-0 (pbk.) 1. Laozi. Dao de jing. I. Title. BL1900.L35D94 2007

299.5’1482--dc22
2007000532

ISBN: 978-1-4019-1 184-3

10 09 08 07 4 3 2 1
1st edition, August 2007

Printed in the United States of America
OceanofPDF.comOceanofPDF.comC o n t e n t s
Preface. V erse Number:
1 Living the Mystery
2 Living the Paradoxical Unity
3 Living Contentment
4 Living Infinitely
5 Living Impartially
6 Living Creatively
7 Living Beyond Ego
8 Living in the Flow
9 Living Humility
10 Living Oneness
11 Living from the V oid
12 Living with Inner Conviction
13 Living with an Independent Mind
14 Living Beyond Form
15 Living an Unhurried Life
16 Living with Constancy
17 Living as an Enlightened Leader
18 Living W ithout Rules
19 Living W ithout Attachment
20 Living W ithout Striving
21 Living the Elusive Paradox
22 Living with Flexibility
23 Living Naturally
24 Living W ithout Excess
25 Living from Greatness26 Living Calmly
27 Living by Y our Inner Light
28 Living V irtuously
29 Living by Natural Law
30 Living W ithout Force
31 Living W ithout W eapons
32 Living the Perfect Goodness of the T ao
33 Living Self-Mastery
34 Living the Great W ay
35 Living Beyond W orldly Pleasures
36 Living in Obscurity
37 Living in Simplicity
38 Living W ithin Y our Own Nature
39 Living Wholeness
40 Living by Returning and Y ielding
41 Living Beyond Appearances
42 Living by Melting into Harmony
43 Living Softly
44 Living by Knowing When to Stop
45 Living Beyond Superficialities
46 Living Peacefully
47 Living by Being
48 Living by Decreasing
49 Living Beyond Judgment
50 Living as an Immortal
51 Living by Hidden V irtue
52 Living by Returning to the Mother53 Living Honorably
54 Living as If Y our Life Makes a Dif ference
55 Living by Letting Go
56 Living by Silent Knowing
57 Living W ithout Authoritarianism
58 Living Untroubled by Good or Bad Fortune
59 Living by Thrift and Moderation
60 Living with Immunity to Evil
61 Living by Remaining Low
62 Living in the T reasure-house of the T ao
63 Living W ithout Dif ficulties
64 Living by Being Here Now
65 Living by Staying Simple-hearted
66 Living by Emulating the Sea
67 Living by the Three T reasures
68 Living by


 luminary. Thank you for trusting me to be
your co-pilot on this project. To my husband, my spiritual partner, and the person without whom
none of the words on my pages  would have formed: Yogiraj Alan Finger. Thank you for allowing me to walk alongside you for the past fifteen years,
sharing the ISHT A lineage worldwide. Thank you for teaching me
everything I know in the process. Your endless support and blessings of this
book have meant the world to me. To Claire Kinsella-Holtje, for reminding me of the power of my own
unique voice. I could not have written this book without your mentorship
and validation. To my parents, John and Sheila Platt, who always supported the creative
energy within me, even if that meant spending most of my childhood upside
down or climbin g on the furnitu re. Thank you for encouraging my words to
go on paper from such a young age. To my sister, Emily, thank you for being my first teacher in life and a
role model for life. I am so grateful to you. Thank you to my editor, Gary Jansen; my publisher, Diana Baroni; and
everyone at Penguin Random House, including production editor Patricia
Shaw and designer Andrea Lau, for their unwavering support and patience
with me. You have made the art of writing a book pure joy and much less
daunting than I anticipated. And special thanks to Stephanie Singleton,
whose illustrations in this book captivate and celebrate the beauty of the
human form through asana. To my dear friends Alyssa Miller, Mona Anand, Kristin Leal, Loraine
Rushton, and Rachel Goldstein. Y our sisterhood is my life force ener gy. And to my daughter, Satya, for being the light of love and of truth. Because of you, I know I can; and because of you, I always will.<|eot_id|><|begin_of_text|>
Q: What is the creative force of Nature referred to in the context of Yoga?,
A: Shakti
Q: Who is the author of the book and their occupation?,
A: Deepak Chopra, a world-renowned pioneer in integrative medicine and personal transformation, and a clinical professor.
Q: What is the author's wife's name?,
A: Rita
Q: What is the role of the true self in the context of yoga?,
A: The true self plays the role of a surgeon, guiding and managing the body and mind.
Q: Who is the co-author of the book?,
A: Sarah Platt-Finger
Q: What is the main theme of the book?,
A: The book discusses the concept of living in the light and the importance of accepting and embracing the darkness, as well as the importance of self-acceptance, self-awareness, and self-empowerment.<|eot_id|><|begin_of_text|>Fire	in	the	Heart
A	Spiritual	Guide	for	Teens
DEEPAK	CHOPRA
Simon	&	Schuster	Books	for	Young	Readers
New	York			London			Toronto			SydneySimon	&	Schuster	Books	for	Young	Readers
An	imprint	of	Simon	&	Schuster	Children’s	Publishing	Division
1230	Avenue	of	the	Americas,	New	York,	New	York	10020
www.SimonandSchuster.com
Copyright	©	2004	by	Deepak	Chopra
All	rights	reserved,	including	the	right	of	reproduction	in	whole	or	in	part	in
any	form. S
IMON
	&	S
CHUSTER
	B
OOKS	FOR
	Y
OUNG
	R
EADERS
	is	a	trademark	of	Simon	&
Schuster,	Inc.
Book	design	by	O’Lanso	Gabbidon
The	text	for	this	book	is	set	in	Berkeley	Book. Manufactured	in	the	United	States	of	America
10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1
Library	of	Congress	Cataloging-in-Publication	Data
Chopra,	Deepak. Fire	in	the	heart	:	a	spiritual	guide	for	teens	/	Deepak	Chopra.—1st	ed. p.	cm. Summary:	By	recounting	his	own	experiences	at	age	fifteen,	Deepak	Chopra,
a	noted	Hindu	author	and	physician,	provides	a	blueprint	for	teens	who	are
seeking	their	own	spiritual	paths. ISBN	0-689-86216-4
ISBN	13:	978-0-689-86216-8
eISBN	13:	978-1-439-10803-1
1. Spiritual	life. 2. Teenagers. [1. Spiritual	life. 2. Hinduism.] I. Title. BL624.C4767	2004
204′.4′0835—dc22
2003020174
To	all	the	teenagers	today	and	tomorrow	upon	whom	the	fate	of	the	world
depends
Every	child	that	is	born	is	proof	that	God	has	not	yet	given	up	on
human	beings. —Rabindranath	TagoreContents
Before	You	Begin
	…
Day	One
Do	I	Have	a	Soul? Day	Two
How	Do	Wishes	Come	True? Day	Three
What	Is	the	Supreme	Force	in	the	Universe? Day	Four
How	Can	I	Change	the	World? A	Soul	Alphabet
The	Last	WordBefore	You	Begin	…
A
	boy	of	fifteen	is	standing	on	a	high	green	hill	overlooking	a	valley. The
valley	is	even	more	green	and	lush. It	rolls	away	in	wave	after	wave	until	the
boy	thinks	it	must	never	end. “Do	you	see?”	a	voice	says. The	boy	turns,	and	next	to	him	an	old	man	is	standing. The	old	man	has	a
long	white	beard,	and	there	is	a	gleam	in	his	eye. “Yes,	I	see,”	the	boy	says,	but	his	heart	is	beating	so	fast	he	can	hardly
express	himself. “I	want	you	to	tell	me	what	you	see. I	have	to	be	sure	you	learned	your
lessons	well,”	the	old	man	says. Ordinarily	it	would	have	broken	the	boy’s	heart	to	say	good-bye,	because	he
thought	the	old	man	with	the	white	beard	would	be	with	him	forever. “I	see	that	all	this	is	mine,”	the	boy	says. “I	belong	to	the	universe,	and	it
belongs	to	me.”	He	stretches	his	arms
	out	as	if	he	could	own	it	all—the	high
hill,	the	green	valley,	the	whole	span	of	years	ahead	of	him. Somehow,	even
though	it	sounds	impossible,	he	does	own	it	all. “Never	forget	this,”	the	old	man	says. He	presses	his	palms	together	and	bows
in	respect,	and	the	boy	bowing	even	deeper,	does	the	same. And	that’s	the	last	I	saw	of	him. Because	I	was	the	boy	on	the	hill,	and	in	four
short	days,	the	only	time	we	were	together,	the	old	man	changed	my	life. Each	day	he	answered	a	question	that	you	are	going	to	read	about	in	this
book:
Do	I	have	a	soul? How	do	wishes	come	true? What	is	the	supreme	force	in	the	universe?How	can	I	change	the	world? These	are	big	questions,	and	when	I	was	young	and	bursting	with	idealism,
they	were	burning	questions. I	didn’t	just	want	to	know	the	answers—I
had
	to
know. There	will	always	be	burning	questions	in	life,	but	these	four	remain
special	because	they	start	a	spark,	and	from	that	spark	you	will	have	a	fire	in
your	heart. That	fire	will	make	you	live	your	life	with	excitement	and	passion. The	old	man	with	the	white	beard	showed	me	the	spiritual	side	of	life,	where
real	passion	and	excitement
	come	from. I’m	going	to	tell	you	about	our	days
together,	down	to	the	smallest	detail,	until	you	are	given	what	I	was	given. Then	you	can	be	transformed	too,	wherever	you	are. So	before	you	begin,
take	a	deep	breath. This	story	could	turn	out	to	be	yours.Day	One
:
Do	I	Have	a	Soul?Baba
W
hen	I	was	fifteen,	my	school	was	on	a	green	hillside


’s team findings and further tested DMSO for bacte -
ricidal and bacteriostatic properties against a variety of microorganisms where they observed growth inhibition at concentrations of 40%–50% (Table 5.1). Pottz et al. 9 found that the bactericidal concentration of DMSO required to inhibit
the growth of E. coli, A. cloacae, P. vulgaris, beta-hemolytic streptococci group A,
Salmonella paratyphi B, and C. albicans was 30%, and for P. aeruginosa, it was
10%. D. pneumoniae  was most sensitive to DMSO and required only  5% concentra -
tion (Table 5.1). S. aureus and Streptococcus faecalis required a 40% and a 50%
concentration respectively. These microorganisms are responsible for many serious infections, which if left
untreated can have organ damage consequences or be fatal to the host. For example, 102 Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) in Trauma and Disease
certain strains of E. coli, which includes serotypes O157:H7, O104:H4 in contami -
nated food or water, can secrete Shiga toxigenic toxins that can result in bloody diar -
rhea and cause severe damage to the lining of the intestines and kidneys.10
A. cloacae  is a rod-shaped bacterium generally found in normal gut flora that
sometimes causes respiratory and urinary tract infections. Strep throat from beta-
hemolytic streptococci group A is a common throat infection in school-aged children that can lead to a spectrum of more serious diseases including glomerulonephritis and rheumatic fever. 11
S. paratyphi  B and S. faecalis  are contaminants in food and water that often infect
the intestines and urinary tract. P. aeruginosa  and Candida  species are opportu-
nistic pathogens commonly found in hospital intensive care units where they can cause stubborn infections in patients after surgery. 12 In this list of microbes, the most
sensitive microorganism to DMSO appeared to be D. pneumoniae  (now known as
Streptococcus pneumoniae ),9 which is a major cause of pneumonia and a host of
other infectious diseases such as meningitis, endocarditis, and brain abscesses.13
Shiga toxins from Shigella dysenteriae  or E. coli  inhibit cell-free protein synthe -
sis resulting in multiple cytotoxic effects including neurotoxicity and enterotoxicity. Shiga toxin secreted by Shigella also binds to specific receptors on the cells’ surface in order to attach and enter the cell where it can inactivate the 60S ribosomal subunit to inhibit protein synthesis and cause the destructive lesions seen in shigellosis. DMSO is reported to reduce the endocytosis that occurs after Shiga toxin release and prevent both the cytotoxicity and binding of the Shiga toxin, possibly by its ability to prevent mem -
brane permeability or by inhibiting translocation of the toxin from the cell surface. 14
It was assumed from Pottz et al.’s9 original study that DMSO’s antibacterial action
may have been through the neutralization of penicillinase, an enzyme produced by some bacteria that provide resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics like penicillin. Further TABLE 5.1
DMSO Bactericidal Activity
Test Microorganism DMSO Minimal Inhibitory Concentration
0 10 20 40 50
E. coli ++++ ++++ + − −
Aerobacter cloacae ++++ ++++ + − −
Pseudomonas aeruginosa ++++ ++++ ++ − −
Proteus vulgaris ++++ ++++ ++++ − −
S. aureus ** ++++ ++++ ++ − −
Streptococcus pyogenes * ++++ ++++ + − −
Salmonella schottmulleri ++++ ++ ++ − −
Diplococcus pneumoniae ++++ − − − −
Candida albicans ++++ + + − −
Notes:  *, beta-hemolytic streptococcus group A; **, coagulation positive; +, very
mild growth; ++, mild growth; ++++, strong growth in blood agar or broth
cultures; −, negative growth.9103 DMSO in Basic Microbiology
experimentation with DMSO to test the possibility that it neutralizes penicillinase’s
protective action on bacterial growth exposed to penicillin proved negative. Pottz et al.9
concluded from their extensive findings that the killing action of DMSO on bacteria was not through neutralization of penicillinase. Pottz’s study speculated that, instead, DMSO’s antibacterial action may have been due to dissolution of susceptible micro -
organisms by some unknown mechanism exerted by DMSO. 9 This assumption was
supported by microscopic analysis of D. pneumoniae smears, which showed that the
majority of these microbes had dissolved into a sediment after contact with DMSO.9
It is known that the gram-positive microbe S. aureus  can be cleared from murine
lungs by the bactericidal action exerted by phagocytosis from resident alveolar macrophages without significant contribution from polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). 15 PMNs’ bactericidal intrapulmonary killing activity is more prominent
against gram-negative bacteria such as P. aeruginosa. Recent evidence indicates
that actual phagocytosis of bacteria may not be necessary for intrapulmonary kill of gram-positive microbes and that the majority of inhaled staphylococci in mice are killed without being ingested by resident alveolar macrophages. 16,17
One theory is that reactive oxygen metabolites, including the oxidant superoxide,
and the radical hydroxyl anion are secreted by phagocytes to create the alveolar bactericidal activity. With this in mind, DMSO was used to test its ability as an antioxidant and hydroxyl radical scavenger to see whether the rate of pulmonary bactericidal activity against P. aeruginosa  and S. aureus  was depressed in infected
mice. Intratracheal and aerosol delivery of these bacteria were given to mice. 18
DMSO at doses of 50–165 mg/mouse was administered intraperitoneally 30 min
before challenge with S. aureus  and pseudomonas delivered by either intratracheal
or aerosol route.18 DMSO was observed to have no activity in inhibiting macrophage
killing of S. aureus  but did cause a dose-dependent inhibition of pseudomonas clear -
ance from the lungs of treated mice,18 supporting the assumption that alveolar bac -
tericidal action against pseudomonas by PMNs is done through the production of reactive hydroxyl anions that are inhibited by the action of DMSO as a hydroxyl radical scavenger. Conversely, DMSO’s lack of effect in allowing the clearance of S. aureus  from infected murine lung suggests that phagocytic alveolar macrophages
fail to produce reactive oxygen for bactericidal activity,
19 but this assumption has
been challenged by others.20
The question arose whether using DMSO clinically for a variety of ailments
might predispose the user to bacterial infections by inhibiting phagocyte bactericidal activity. This concern grew from an in vitro  experiment where DMSO treatment
of human and mouse neutrophils and mononuclear phagocytes caused a dose-dependent inhibition of the killing of E. coli  and Listeria monocytogenes. However,
when the experiment was repeated in vivo  using mice, results showed that adminis -
tration of DMSO prior to subjecting mice to E. coli  and L. monocytogenes  infection
caused only a slight and nonsignificant decrease in the subsequent in vitro  bacteri -
cidal activity of neutrophils and macrophages from those mice. 21 Repeated injections
of mice with physiologically relevant doses of DMSO did not increase the lethality of either E. coli or L. monocytogenes, nor did it inhibit the clearance of a sublethal
Listeria  challenge from the spleen and liver of these mice. The findings indicated that
clinical usage of DMSO does not predispose human subjects to bacterial infection. 21104 Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) in Trauma and Disease
Bacterial endotoxin from gram-negative pathogens can directly injure lung endo -
thelial cells in culture. This injury is unaffected by antioxidants such as superoxide
dismutase or catalase because they are unable to enter cells. Bacterial endotoxins are prevented by DMSO, which penetrates cells to exert antioxidant activity. 22 Since allo -
purinol can inhibit direct lung cell injury from endotoxin, it is probable that xanthine oxidase, which allopurinol is known to inhibit, may be a source of oxidant generation in lung endothelial cells. Current data suggest a two-stage oxidant process of lung cell injury where there is direct injury of the cell both by intracellular generation of toxic oxidants and triggering of an inflammatory response. 22 Inflammatory cells that
have been activated to adhere to lung cells are able to enhance the injury


	perched	on	my	finger,	in	no	hurry	to	fly	off. I	found	this
amazing. After	a	long	while,	I	wished	it	well	and	blew	it	away,	as	you	would
a	ladybug. It	flew	off	and	then	returned,	lighting	on	my	shoulder,	where	it	stayed	most	of
the	afternoon. You	might	think	I’m	silly,	but	I	could	swear	it	was	thanking
me! Since	then,	I	have	had	a	close	relationship	with	the	dragonfly	kingdom. In	my
secret	heart,	I	imagine	that	I’ve	rescued	the	king	of	the	dragon-flies	and	now,
wherever	I	go,	I	am	a	welcome	guest	in	their	natural	sanctuary,	the	earth. I
don’t	know,	but	experiences	such	as	these	make	me	feel	good	inside.A	friend	tells	me	he	once	rescued	an	owl,	and	it	visited	the	tree	by	his
bedroom	window	for	years. I	wish	we	humans	could	be	as	natural. Gratitude:	A	Silent,	Unspoken	Prayer
Rama	J.	Vernon
Rama	J.	Vernon

is	the	founder	of	the	California	Yoga	Teachers	Association,
which	is	the	founding	organization	and	publisher	of	the	YOGA	JOURNAL. Rama’s	international	work	as	president	of	the	Center	for	International
Dialogue	(founded	in	1984	to	create	a	framework	in	which	the	citizens	of	the
US	and	the	USSR	could	overcome	their	differences	through	dialogue)	and	her
vast	background	in	yoga	has	led	her	to	co-found	the	Institute	for	Conflict
Resolution	and	Peace	Studies. The	Institute	uses	East-West	psychology,
spiritual	principles,	and	Patanjali	Yoga	Sutras	as	the	basis	of	inner/outer
nonviolence	training	to	create	international	teams	of	conflict-resolution
specialists. A	great	seer	once	said,	“The	angels	hover	over	the	earth	looking	for	the	rays
of	thanksgiving	and	gratitude	that	radiate	from	a	selfless	heart.”
The	word
gratitude
	is	defined	by	Webster	as	the	quality	of	feeling	or	being
grateful. (Great-full)	or	(thankful)	means	filled	with	greatness	or	grace. Gratitude	is	the	giving	of	thanks,	not	one	day	a	year,	but	every	day,	every
minute,	and	with	every	breath. Its	expression	within	our	lives	and	with	others
blossoms	into	the	realization	that	we	are	whole	and	complete	within
ourselves. Gratitude	has	always	been	like	a	prayer,	silent	and	unspoken	for	me. When
sent	forth	from	the	center	of	our	soul,	it	acts	like	a	winged	messenger
transforming	personal	ambitions	and	petitions	of	needs	and	wants	into	a
transcendent	view	of	life’s	cycles	and	patterns. When	gratitude	and	thanksgiving	become	a	way	of	life,	all	abundance—
physical,	spiritual,	and	material—co-exist	simultaneously;	our	personal	power
mingles	with	the	powers	of	the	universe	to	heal	the	world	as	we	heal
ourselves. Gratitude	carries	us	to	the	heights	of	the	higher	vibratory
frequencies	transforming	cellular	pockets	of	tension	and	dis-ease.As	we	express	gratitude	with	every	breath,	we	become	a	symphony	of
compassion,	love,	and	understanding,	Borders	of	separation	within	dissolve
into	an	awareness	of	our	Oneness	with	All. Even	in	life’s	darkest	moments,	we	can	open	ourselves	with	reverence	and
great-fullness,	knowing	that	crises	give	birth	to	new	opportunities. With	the
joy	of	acceptance	and	thanksgiving,	life’s	events	flow	like	a	steady,	gentle
stream	of	consciousness,	transforming	stumbling	blocks	into	stepping	stones. Gratitude	is	our	offering	to	a	higher	power,	having	faith	that	there	is
something	greater	than	ourselves	that	is	guiding,	holding,	and	protecting	us. The	practice	of	gratitude	is	an	offering	that	creates	a	field	of	resonance	that
unifies	and	empowers	our	vision	of	personal	and	global	transformation. How	does	one	practice	gratitude? You	can	practice	gratitude	each	day	with
each	word,	each	thought,	and	each	gesture. Even	though	you	may	have	lists	of
needs	and	wants,	ask	yourself	what	it	is	you	have	to	be	grateful	for	now. Look
for	things	that	trigger	gratitude	in	your	life,	even	if	they	may	seem
insignificant	at	first. Soon	you	will	automatically	begin	to	feel	buoyant	and
joyful. Practice	celebrating	thanksgiving—not	once	a	year,	but	every	day. Make	a	gratitude	list,	and	watch	it	grow. Focus	on	the	abundance	now
existing	in	your	life,	rather	than	the	lack. Hold	the	vision	of	your	life	as	being	complete	and	whole. Affirm	it. Realize
it. Be	it. There	is	nothing	to	reach	for	beyond	yourself. You	are	the	universe,
contained	in	its	own	perfection. As	Shakespeare	once	said,
“Assume	the
attitude,	tho’	you	have	it	not,	and	it	shall	be	yours.”
You	can	practice	gratitude	anytime	or	anywhere. To	do	this,	simply	become
conscious	of	your	breathing. As	you	breathe	in,	imagine	the	universal
consciousness	being	pulled	in	from	all	directions	simultaneously	into	the
center	of	your	Being. Hold	your	breath	comfortably	as	you	allow	yourself	to
luxuriate	in	a	sensation	of	fullness	and	completeness. As	you	breathe	out,
spread	your	inner	fullness,	joy,	and	abundance	to	all	within	your	life	and
within	the	world. A	few	other	suggestions	that	I	have	found	helpful	over	the	years	in	cultivating
a	spirit	of	gratitude	are:
See	all	people	in	the	light	of	universal	love	while	you	work	and	walk
beside	them.Let	your	words	heal	rather	than	wound. Be	the	first	to	forgive	and	take	the	first	step. Hold	every	person	within	your	life	with	love	and	thanksgiving
(especially	those	with	whom	there	have	been	past	or	present
difficulties). Be	a	spontaneous	channel	for	the	outpouring	of	unconditional	love
wherever	you	are,	whomever	you’re	with. Embody	the	peace	you	would	like	to	see	within	the	world. For	me,	gratitude	is	an	attitude	of	mind	and	heart. It	starts	from	within	and
flows	through	every	part	of	my	soul. It	leaves	no	area	of	my	being	untouched. It	encompasses	all	that	I	am	and	asks	for	the	highest	and	best	that	I	can
envision	and	aspire	toward. For	me,	gratitude	is	a	state	of	being	rather	than
doing. It	is	unending	love	for	the	Creator	and	all	of	life’s	creations. Unconditional	Gratitude
Doreen	Virtue,	Ph.D.
Doreen	Virtue,	Ph.D.,

is	a	metaphysician	and	spiritual	doctor	of	psychology. She	is	the	author	of	numerous	bestselling	books,	including	ANGEL	VISIONS;
and	appears	often	on	radio	and	television	shows. She	is	a	frequent
contributor	to	a	number	of	publications	and	gives	workshops	around	the
country	every	weekend. “Every	situation,	properly	perceived,	becomes	an	opportunity	to	heal.”
—A	Course	in	Miracles
It’s	easy	enough	to	feel	gratitude	during	the	obvious	moments,	like	when	a
friend	goes	out	of	her	way	to	help	you,	or	when	you	receive	a	gift	especially
suited	to	your	liking. We	readily	ooze	gratitude	during	spiritual	moments:	a
powerful	church	service,	an	intense	meditation	session,	or	when	a


, such as bacteria, fungi, dirt and
sediments. It has a 12 to 18 month filter life-span and
the filter can be easily cleaned by backwashing and
replaced when needed. It comes with a money-back
guarantee. T o get the best shower filter call 800-446-1990. I have been using this filter for 3 years and really enjoy
my chlorine-free showers! Now you can order one, too! Start enjoying safe, chlorine-fr ee showers right away. It’s essential to reducing your risk of hear t disease and
cancer and to ease the strain from your immune system. And you may even get rid of long-standing conditions –
from sinus and respirator y problems to dr y, itchy skin. 153 Don’t Gamble W ith Your Health
– Use a Shower Filter
The most effective method of removing these hazards
from your shower is the quick and easy installation of a
You can save yourself much money and the anxiety of falling ill
by paying attention to your body’s constant need for pure water. – Dr. F. Batmanghelidj, Your Body’s Many Cries For Water Ten Common-Sense Reasons Why Y ou
Should Only Drink Pure, Distilled W ater! ■	There are over 12,000 chemicals on the market today... and 500 are being added annually! Regardless of where
you live – in the city or on the farm, some of these
chemicals are getting into your drinking water. ■	No one knows what effects these toxic chemicals may
have upon the body and what and how many toxic
combinations ar e created. It’ s like making a mixture of
colors; one dr op can change the color. ■	No equipment has been designed to detect these harmful
chemical combinations and may not be for years. ■	The body is made up of appr oximately 70% water, the
essential fluid of life. Ther efore, don’ t you think you
should be wise about the type of water you drink? ■	The Navy has been drinking distilled water for years! ■	Distilled water is chemical and mineral free. Distillation
removes all the chemicals and impurities from water that
are possible to remove. If distillation doesn’ t remove them,
154 there is no method known today that will. ■	The body does need minerals, but it’ s not necessar y that
they come from water. There is not one mineral in water
which cannot be found mor e abundantly in food! W ater
is the most unreliable sour ce of minerals because it varies
from one area to another. The food we eat – not the water
we drink – is our best r eliable sour ce of organic minerals! ■	Distilled water is used for intravenous feeding, inhalation
therapy, prescriptions and baby formulas. Therefor e,
doesn’ t it make common sense that distilled water is good
and healthier for ever yone? ■	Thousands of water distillers have been sold throughout
the United States and many foreign countries to
individuals, families, dentists, doctors, hospitals, nursing
homes and government agencies... and these informed,
alert consumers are helping protect their health by using
only pure distilled water. ■	With all of the chemicals, pollutants and other impurities
in our water, it only makes good common sense that you
should clean up the water you drink the inexpensive way,
through distillation. Chlorination of water supplies is sufficient reason in itself to drink and
shower in pure distilled water. – Marilyn Diamond,  co-author Fit for Life 14 Nobel Prize W inners Who Oppose Fluoridation
Dr. Arvid Carlsson, Prize in Medicine, Oct 2000,  for his work on the
brain. He played a pr ominent r ole in banning fluoridation in Sweden. Dr. Guilio Natta, Prize in Chemistry, 1963,, Director Industrial
Chemistry Resear ch Center P olytechnic Institute of Milan, Italy
Dr. Joshua Lederber g, Priz e in Medicine, 1958, WHO’ s Advisory
Health r esear ch Council,  U.S. National Medal of Science, 1989, F ormer
Chairman of Cancer P anel of Nat’l Academy of Science, U.S.
Sir Cyril Norman Hinshel wood,  Prize in Chemistr y, 1956, O.M.,
M.A., D.Sc., F.R.S., Oxfor d Univer sity, England
Nikolai Nik olaevilch Semeno v, Prize in Chemistry, 1956,  D.Sc.,
Director Institute of Chemical Ph ysics, Moscow, Professor Leningr ad
Polytechnic Institute, member USSR Academy of Science, member
Chemical Society of England & Royal Society of England. Hugo Theorell,  Prize in Medicine, 1955, M.C., Dir ector, Bio-
Chemistry Department, Nobel Medical Institute, President Swedish
Medical Association. Stated hazar ds of fluoridation in a r eport to the
Swedish Royal Medical Boar d.
Dr. Phil Hess, Prize in Medicine, 1949,  D.Sc., Pr ofessor of Physiolo gy
155
& Dir ector of Phsyiolo gical Institute, Univer sity of Zuric h, Switz erland
Sir Robert Robinson, Prize in Chemistry, 1947, O.M., D.Sc., F.R.I.C.,
F.R.S.,  Director Shell Chemical Co., Pr ofessor of Chemistry,
Oxfor d Univ ersity, England
James B. Sumner, Prize in Chemistry, 1946, Director of Enzyme
Chemistry, Dept. of Bioc hemistr y & Nutrition, Cornell Univer sity, U.S. Professor Arturi L. Virtanen, Prize in Chemistry, 1945, Director
Biochemical Institute, Helsinki, pr esident F inish  State Academy of
Sciences and Art, F inland. Adolf J. Butenandt,  Prize in Medicine, 1939, Ph.D., Dir ector Max
Planc k Institute of Bioc hemistry, Professor of Physiolo gical Chemistry,
Munic h Univer sity, Germany
Corneille Jean Francios He ymans, Prize in Medicine, 1938, M.D.,
Professor of Pharmacolo gy, Phar macodynamics and Toxicolo gy,
Director He ymans Institute of Pharmacolo gy &Ther apeutics,  Belgium. William O. Murphy, Prize in Medicine, 1934, M.D., D.Sc., Lectur er on
Medicine, emeritus Harvar d Medical Sc hool, consultant in hemotolo gy,
Peter Bent Brigham Hospital,  Boston, U.S. Hans v on Euler -Chelpin, Prize in Chemistry, 1929, Stoc kholm
Univer sity, President Chemical Society, Director Institute for Resear ch
in Or ganic Chemistry, Stockholm, Sweden. POLLUTANT
156 Comparison of W ater T reatment Methods
Steam Distilled W ater is the Best
Sediment
Filter Carbon
Filter Reverse
Osmosis Steam
Distillation
1 – A Carbon Filter Needed (The best home distillers also have carbon filters.) For info on reasonable water distillers & shower head filters for your home that
remove harmful chemicals from your water call weekdays (800) 446-1990
The kind of water you drink can make or break you – your body is 70% water. Distilled W ater Questions and Answers
Q. Water – The Shocking T ruth, is so infor mative that
I wish to give copies of it to my children, their
families and all of our friends. Do you offer a
special price on a dozen or more copies? A. Yes, there is a special rate on the pur chase of 12 or
more copies of any one Bragg title. In fact, many
church groups, ser vice clubs and schools buy Bragg
Books in quantity lots for resale at regular prices for
their fund-raising projects. call 800-446-1990 weekdays
Q. Will distilled water help my complexion? A. Yes – distilled water will help you have a smooth, fir m,
radiant complexion in 2 ways – by drinking it for
internal cleanliness and by cleansing your skin with it
externally. Hard water seals the por es and tends to clog
them. For thorough, healthful cleansing, use distilled
water on your skin, also it’ s an excellent hair rinse (add
tsp vinegar to cup of water), this leaves hair soft. Q.	I have an obesity problem. W ill drinking distilled
water help me to lose weght? A. Yes – drinking daily 8 glasses of distilled water is
filling and adding 1 to 2 tsps of Bragg Organic
Vinegar to 3 of them (page 112) pr omotes detox
cleansing and cuts your desire for refined sweets and
heavy foods. Also eliminate salt from your diet. A
primar y  symptom of obesity is r etention of fluid. A
major cause of waterlogged tissues is due to the fact
that table salt, composed of sodium chloride, is an
inorganic mineral which is indigestible by the
human body and is held in solution with water. Hard
water makes this condition worse by adding more
indigestible inorganic minerals, further impairing
the body’ s system of elimination. Ample distilled
water helps the body function


ergies, long term migraines, arthritis, fibromyalgia and other conditions that have troubled
them for any length of time. How do patients react to a flare-up? Only a general answer can be given, based on the
reactions of a majority of cases. Since each person is different and has a different medical past
with different damages to the body, each healing reaction is also different! Neither is it possible
to give an exact answer to patients who wish to know how long a flare-up will last. In many
cases the first reaction is mild and only lasts from a few hours to a day or two. The second one
is normally longer and somewhat heavier, since the body and its immune system have to some
extent been detoxified, strengthened with the enzymes and nutrients contained in the raw juices
and supported by the medication, and as a result it is able to respond more powerfully. In most cases this second flare-up can be expected around the sixth week of the therapy. The
third reaction occurs usually around 3-3 1⁄2 months into the treatment and is the heaviest one. But
please remember that this is not a timetable cast in concrete, only what we have observed in a
majority of cases. Reactions are also different in chemotherapy pre-treated patients (see Chapter
18.) What to do for the patient in a flare-up, who is unwell, upset, dismayed? What NOT to do
is to stop the Therapy, give no coffee enemas or juices, for doing so would drastically stop the
healing process! Yet we must help the patient to endure the discomforts of the flare-ups. Here are
the best ways to do so:
Nausea :  If despite the nausea the patient is able to drink the juices, by all means continue
to provide them. If he or she develops a severe aversion to the green juice, warm it gently
(undiluted) to body temperature by standing the container in a warm water bath, pour the juice in
the enema bucket and infuse it rectally as a retention implant. This is not an enema and should not
be expelled. The patient should lie comfortably in bed, with legs pulled up in the fetal position,
and allow the juice to be absorbed. Patients who are temporarily unable to drink any juices can
have them administered rectally (all, except the orange juice), and should be encouraged to drink
warm oatmeal gruel and plenty of peppermint tea, partly to settle the stomach and also to supply
the necessary liquids which would normally be provided by the juices. To prepare Oatmeal Gruel,  place one ounce of oats and 5 ounces of water into a pot and
bring to a boil. Let it simmer for 10-15 minutes, then strain through a fine tea strainer, to remove
all solids, but then press the oats as far as possible through the strainer, in order to obtain a liquid
somewhat denser than water. Drink while warm. For patients severely sensitive to juices during a flare-up, two ounces of gruel can be poured
into a glass and topped with no more than 6 ounces of juice. 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 128Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comPeppermint tea  helps to relieve nausea, digestive discomfort and gas. Peppermint or
spearmint is easy to grow in the backyard and spreads quickly. A heaped tablespoonful of fresh
leaves makes one cup of tea; add boiling distilled water, cover and let steep for 12-15 minutes. Strain. If you use tea bags, make sure they are organic. One tea bag easily makes two cups. Or if
you buy loose leaves, which is preferable, put a tablespoonful of leaves in the pot, pour two cups
of boiling distilled water over them, and proceed as above. It is a good idea to leave peppermint tea in a thermos on the patient’s bedside table, in case
he or she gets thirsty at night. Pain : Castor oil packs and/or clay packs can be applied locally. (see Chapter 15 ). The patient
will also be weakened and should rest in bed. Unless he/she has been given heavy doses of
morphine prior to starting the Gerson Therapy, the ‘pain triad’ may be useful, consisting of one
aspirin, one 500 mg tablet of Vitamin C (ascorbic acid, not sodium ascorbate), and one regular
50mg tablet of Niacin. This triad can be taken every four hours, if needed. In cases of prior
morphine or other heavy pain-medication, it takes time to clear the body of those drugs,before the
pain triad can become effective. Keep trying, it will work eventually. Depression : As mentioned before, it is not unusual for the patient to be depressed, temporarily
lose hope, and even go through lengthy crying jags during a flare-up. Such emotional unloadings
run parallel with the body’s attempts to detoxify: body and mind cannot be separated (see  Chapter
24.) Often an extra enema helps to ease the upheaval. The patient may even pick a fight for no
obvious reason with the caregiver. This is less surprising if we consider the metabolic fact that
aggression produces extra adrenalin, which makes the person actually feel better! The caregiver
should not be hurt by any unwarranted attacks or accusations. The patient cannot control these
outbursts and usually regrets them afterwards. Again, a coffee enema can clear the problem. This
part of the healing reaction should be seen as a psychological clearing. Once the flare-up is over,
the patient will again be optimistic and forward-looking. Difficulties with the Coffee Enemas : see Chapter 13, pg.128 )
Fever :  This is a welcome response by the immune system, helping to attack the malignant
tissue. Do not attempt to stop the fever with aspirin or any other drug. Simply make the patient
comfortable, placing a damp cloth wrung out in cool (not ice) water on the forehead. In nearly 30
years we have never seen the body reach a temperature that could damage the brain or the liver,
i.e., in excess of 106 degrees Fahrenheit. The highest we have seen was 104.6 degrees, which is
uncomfortable but not serious. Since the body is in charge and the therapy activates healing, the
fever is not produced artificially and the body never heals itself to death! The above covers ways to ease the general symptoms experienced by the recovering patient. However, flare-ups can take many different forms. In one case a lady, recovering very fast from a
wide-spread melanoma, was absorbing tumor tissues rapidly. One day her son called the hospital
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 129Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comand said, “Last night my mom walked around the house disoriented, talking nonsense and repeating
herself. So we put her to bed. However, this morning she didn’t really wake up, so we took her
to the Emergency Room at the hospital. There the doctor said that, naturally, her melanoma had
spread to her brain and that she was dying. What should we do?” The Gerson doctor urged him
to take her home immediately from the hospital and administer coffee enemas every two hours
around the clock. What had happened was that the patient had been absorbing tumor tissue and
toxins faster than she had been eliminating them. The toxins were then circulating, also reaching
her brain. But instead of increasing her enemas, she was put to bed! During the night more tumor
tissue was absorbed, causing her to be semi-comatose by the morning. The 2-hourly coffee
enemas around the clock cleared the problem and she continued her recovery. Another patient with a very different problem had originally suffered of a carcinoma of his
jaw, had part of his jaw and palate surgically removed, but the cancer had spread to his lungs. Within about five days of starting the treatment, he developed violent pain in his right leg, forcing
him to be bedfast. Naturally, like any other cancer patient, this person also immediately assumed
that his cancer had spread due to the Gerson treatment. However, an X-ray of his leg revealed that
an old injury to his shinbone had begun to heal. There was no tumor present, and in a few days
his leg was completely healed. Yet another interesting case: that of a melanoma patient who had suffered from malaria during
WW II and had been taking first quinine and later atabrine for many years, before finally stopping
it. As a result he suffered a malaria attack twice a year. One year he thought he felt an attack
coming, however the usual chills and fever failed to set in. Shortly thereafter he developed the
first tumor which, at surgery, proved to be melanoma. A few months later another tumor appeared
and the patient came to the Gerson hospital. There within a few days he developed the chills and
fever, typical of a malaria attack. The parasite was still in his body; yet when his immune system
failed, he was no longer able to develop a fever. With the help of the treatment his immune
system was reacting again and he experienced a typical malaria attack, with his fever going as
high as


’ve got the jerk, who is the
body that has to react to what kind of thoughts you have. So  if you call
yourself a jerk, you have a thought of jerk and you have the jerk who has to
react. M editation can help you to bring those two selves into harmony so
that self one, the thought, and self two, the body, are in unity. Y ou are only
calling yourself what you want y ourself to be, and you are only seeing what
it is that you want in your mind for your body to do. Y ou can start to apply this by c losing your eyes and getting in to a very
quiet space. In fact, all you have to do if you don’ t have time to meditate is
take the last hour before you go to sleep and use it in this way, because it
will give  you a strong sense of total rest and relaxation, like y ou’ve never
experienced before. An hour of meditation will give you eig ht hours of
deep, restorative sleep. It’ s that powerful. It’ s said that this practice can ev en alter our own chemistry. Y o u can use
meditation to reach an ecstatic, b eautiful, exquisite high state that people sodesperately look  for in chemica ls. I think it would be especially beneficial
to teach young p eople about the power of their mind, so that they wouldn’ t
be temp ted to chase counterfeit freedom. Personally, meditation  has always
filled me with the most wonderful sense of peace and harmony. It’ s a
magnificent feeling, like you really are in touch with God. THE LA WNMOWER MANTRA
There’ s a nice story of a man w ho was bothered by a car honking for his
neighbors next door. He said to his wife, “If I had magical powers, I would
be able to give that car four flat tires every time he comes here. Or I’d be
able to put a silencer on that h orn and wouldn’ t even be able  to hear it. That’ s w hat I would do if I had magical powers.” She replied, “No. If you
had magical powers, you wouldn’ t be disturbed by that horn at all.”
Quieting your mind means that you’re no longer susceptible to all of the
external influences that are around you. For an example of this, you can
watch the US O pen T ennis Championships, which are played in  New Y ork,
right ne ar LaGuardia Airport. I’m always amazed when I s ee how the
players are able to play with the distraction and noise of jets flying
overhead. Y et when I’ve been really involved in a tennis match myself, I’ve
had jackhammers going next to me and not noticed them. My opponent
could be  going crazy from the n oise, but all my concentration is  on the ball. The people who are really good at a game, or any activity that requires
concentration, know how to do that. This makes me think of something that happened when I was on vacation
in Hawaii with my family some years ago. For seven days in a row, I got up
at 5:30 every single morning an d went out to meditate in a gras sy area next
to our hotel. One day I was sitting on my m at, and I was in a blissful stat e. I felt a
Divine e ner gy g oing up and do wn my spine, and it felt so go od. All of a
sudden, I heard this noise. V rrm vrrm. V rrm vrrm vrrm vr rm vrrm vrrm
vrrm. I  looked  up, and there was a mean-looking guy with a cigarette in his
mouth and tattoos covering his a rms. I realized that even though it was very
early in the mor ning, he was go ing to cut the grass. My first thought was,
Oh, no. I stood up, gathered my mat, and started to leave. Then all of asudden, my intuition came to m e and said, “Go back. Go back a nd use this. This is a metaphysical experien ce.” It’ s not that I was hearing voices; this
was an internal thing. I thought, Huh? But I put the mat back down, and within about two
minutes I went r ight back into m y meditative state. My intuition said, “Use
the l awnmower for a mantra.” So e very time I heard, V rrm vrr m vrrm  vrrm,
I’d think to myself, Oh yes. I got back into that blissful state. The guy cutting the grass came by my mat, and the sound was incredibly
loud. I thought, God, I’m her e and I’m listening, but why would Y ou send
this person to me at six in the morning? I see, this is a test. After about 10 minutes, he finally finished, and I was happy he was done. I wa s ge tting back into that very peaceful place when I heard  the loudest
noise I have ever heard in my life. My friend was back, and he had an edger
this time. As G od is my witness, this guy decided to edge my mat. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. I thought, Okay, God. I’m going to use the edger for a mantra. I’m
staying her e. I’ve got to turn this into something. He wen t right by my mat,
Brrrrrrrrrrrrr. I  stayed with it. I didn’ t let the distraction get to me. It was
about half an hour of this, but the louder the edger got, the easier it got for
me. He f inished his yard work, and I finished meditating. I’ll bet he  thought,
Boy, this  guy is in some kind of trance, or he’ s dead. One or the other. It
really felt as if I had come out of a trance. When you end such a meditation,
it’ s like you can fly. Y ou can do anything, and all you have is love, all you
have is harmony, all you have  is peace for yourself and for the world. Nobody and nothing can get to you, no matter what. As I  wal ked tow ard this guy, I could see he was very tense. Now keep in
mind that I was  about a foot taller than him. He probably thou ght, This is
what I’m her e for. This guy’ s going to fight me. I reached into my pocket,
where I found about eight dollar s, and gave them to him. I said, “Thank you
so much  for being here. I really needed you today.” He looked at me like, I
don’ t know what’ s going on her e, but I smiled and walked away. It w as th e greate st evidence I’ve ever experienced to prove that when life
hands you lemons, you can make lemonade. I was taught that day that
everything that comes to you, y ou have the power in your mind to turn it
into whatever you want. W e a ll get lawnmowers coming into our livesevery da y. What  we do with them and how we handle them, well, that is the
way to our personal transformation. CHAPTER 1 1
LIVE IN THE LIGHT
Ram Da ss tells one of my favorite stories of all time. It’ s about  his guru,
with whom he lived and worked  for years in India, a man he considered to
be the most spiritually advanced person he’d ever met in his life. At that time Ram Dass was doing some experimenting with T imothy
Leary and the li ke, so he had three capsules of LSD with him. “ That would
be enough,” he said, “to put a horse into a tranquilized state  for several
days.” H e had planned to use this LSD for a number of months, just one or
two micrograms at a time. His guru said to him, “Y ou have funny medicine... let me see it.” Ram
Dass showed him the capsules b ut warned, “Y ou don’ t want to take all three
of these. Y ou should only take a few micrograms from one of t he capsules,
and that will give you the desired ef fect.”
His guru took all three capsules, put them in his mouth, and swallowed. He went under his blanket, and then came out and did all these funny
things. Then he smiled and said, “Do you have any more? It doesn’ t seem to
be working.”
Ram Dass realized that the drugs had no ef fect on his guru at all. This
was his conclusi on, which is one of the greatest lines I’ve ever heard on this
subject: “If you’re already in Detroit, you don’ t have to take a bus to get
there.” In other words, when someone is already in the spiritual world, they
don’ t need anything to get them there. Learning how to “get to Detroit” for us means achieving what we’ve
been tal king about in this book. It’ s when we are comfortably in the place
that is powerfully ours. It’ s when we understand that thought originates
with us, which means that life is our own creation. W e know th at our form
will sim ply pass  along, but we can’ t kill thought, so who


 come to the rescue of the
pseudo-scientists who are dulled by their owndope, and who are suffering from the malariawhich collects in the dark ruts they arefollowing in the tortuous complications of thealimentary canal. The physical culturists mustbuild models of normality for the scientists tostudy. When giving information as to what happens
in the mouth, and as to what happens as aresult of proper head digestion, I feel as if I amsitting on the upper lip of Mother Natureherself, and entrusting her messages to thecurrent of her own sweet breath for distributionamong her human children.CHAPTER VI
WHAT IS HEAD DIGESTION? My Study of the Subject—The Mouth as a Digestive Organ—Dr. Cannon's Researches—Pawlow's Proofs
IN the latest comprehensive treatise on
human nutrition, under the title of " Food andthe Principles of Dietetics," by Dr. RobertHutchinson, of London, more than six hundredpages are devoted to the subject. Of these, justfifty lines are given to " Mouth Digestion." In afootnote of sixty-four words Dr. Hutchinson hasstated the case of the importance of carefuleating, with admission of a fact that wouldmean emancipation from most of the humandisabilities if it were repeated in nurseries andprimary schools as religiously as are theordinary rules of " polite conduct," and held bySociety to be the basis of respectability, which itreally is. When I first took up the study of dietetics in
academic circles, nearly fifteen years ago,physiologists did not concede that there was anymouth digestion at all. Putting food in themouth was for the purpose of mixing it with
saliva so that it could be formed into a " bolus "for convenient swallowing. Now it is recognisedthat there is some mouth digestion. In themeantime Pawlow * has demonstrated that thepsychic influence has much to do with digestion.Cannon, also, has shown by the evidence of theRöntgen rays that mental states retard andeven stop entirely the digestive processes thatare going on in the stomach, and has asserted,as has also Pawlow, that the stomach digestivejuices flow in response to the reports andstimulation of taste, pouring out into the cavityof the stomach juices appropriate for thedigestion of the particular food being tasted, inadvance of its arrival in the stomach. This evidence, confirming my own secured by
concentrated and unremitting study of the effectof head digestion on health and recuperativereconstruction, is proof enough that there is animportant department of nutrition that can beproperly called head digestion. * Dr. Prof. J. P. Pawlow, Director of the Department of
Experimental Physiology in the Russian Imperial Military
School of Medicine, &c.MY STUDY  OF THE SUBJECT
began with the tip from Mother Logic—that
the full extent of the personal responsibility innutrition is located in the head before the foodis swallowed. That is what led me toconcentrate on the mouth as the field of ourresponsibility which had been neglected byScience. Even the Dental Profession as a wholehad not at that time " tumbled " to the fact thatthey were occupied professionally andconstantly in a field of " Preventive Medicine "as important as now they find it. Everybody had supposed that the digestion of
food was effected only in the stomach and smallintestines. This may be true, in a narrow sense,but it can be arrested and completely stopped,by the head. Furthermore, digestion can be asmuch assisted by favourable head influence asit can be obstructed by unfavourable headtreatment. This being so, as everybody knows, or can
easily learn, what follows as a logical sequence? Here is a physiological eye-opener, as it
dawns upon the business physiologist. Theobvious inference is that if the head can makedigestion easy or stop it altogether, the stomach
being a subservient, mechanical, and chemicalservant of the head in the matter, we mayproperly declare that the master-key ofdigestion is held by the head, and we may safelysay that there is Head Digestion. THE MOUTH  AS A DIGESTIVE  ORGAN. The logical continuation of the search for the
location of responsibility for good or poordigestion leads us to consider the question of" Division of Labour " as apportioned by theLaws of Normality. All the laboratory evidence Ihave seen confirms my own observations of thepast fifteen years that Nature assures goodresults if we are thoroughly faithful to our headresponsibility during the treatment of food up tothe point of swallowing. From that timedigestion has been rendered so easy bythorough mouth preparation that it mayproceed smoothly even if the mental states arenot pleasant. Here, too, we discover that easydigestion reacts favourably on the mentalityand exerts a calming influence. Some observers declare that idiots digesttheir food quite easily. The less mental clarity
they possess the better for their metabolism.This does not argue in favour of the absence ofmental influence, for the idiot is a sensualist,and in the relief from mental excitement findsenjoyment of taste and the satisfaction ofappetite as agreeable as do the animals undersimilar favourable conditions. Quite recently, when I was personally under
observation by Dr. Professor Zuntz in Berlin, totest the ease of my digestion of food ascompared with others who paid less attention tomouth treatment of it, the good professorinstructed me to " be as nearly like a littleanimal as possible, thinking nothing ofanything." This isn't as easy for a "live-wirethinking outfit " as for an idiot, or as for aningenuous little animal having no thought forthe morrow, but the business physiologist doesnot scorn to go anywhere for light on Nature'srequirements. One thing is sure, the personwho has been faithful to his personalresponsibility by starting the process ofdigestion as Nature demands can relax andenjoy metabolic and mental calm in delightfulharmony more easily than one who has gluttonyon his conscience and the wages of sinning on
his stomach. These wages look big to theswollen greed of cultivated gluttony, but theyare as bad as they are big, and the best way tobe convinced of this fundamentally importantfact is to realize the potency of head digestionfor well or ill, and give it a practical trial. The key to good digestion is in the head, and
the sooner mankind comes to realize thisimportant truth the quicker will come themillennium of nutrition normality. DR. CANNON 'S RESEARCHES. I have just been reading Professor Walter B.
Cannon's book in the Arnold MedicalMonograph Series, entitled " The MechanicalFactors of Digestion." I have learned manyvaluable lessons from the intestinalobservations of Dr. Cannon, and have seen theshadows he describes on his fluorescent screenunder his practised guidance, and, with hisgenerous permission, quoted him extensively inmy book, The A.B.—Z. of Our Own Nutrition. It seems that we began our quest for light on
the mechanics and mentality of digestion byobjective observation about the same year, 1898.He took a hop, skip and jump over the three
inches of the alimentary canal that is ourpersonal responsibility and, with the aid ofbismuth blackened food and a Röntgen-rayapparatus, began to study the movementsincident to digestion by the shadows cast on thescreen. For this purpose he principally usedfemale cats, because they were more amenablethan male cats to the torture of being tied flat toa cloth with the possible fear that they werecondemned to death as well as to inactivity.Even the use of pink or blue ribbons as bands ofbondage under the circumstances does not luretheir cat-ladyships into the quietude demandedfor normal movements of digestion, and malecats will not " stand for it " at all. For ten years or more Professor Cannon and
his assistants were devoted to these DarkChamber X-ray observations, and in themeantime wading through hundreds of volumesof Physiological Archives for reports of other
intestinal investigations. The fruit of thisthoroughness of research is more than 400references to reported data and conclusionsextending back to the dawn of Physiology.To one who has followed the accounts of the
" Diddings " in the " Old Man Greenlaw's LiquorSaloon in Arkansas City," as given weekly inthe New York Sunday Sun, these researches
seem to be governed by the strict rules of" Draw Poker." Eventually all of the cards (orevidence) go into the " discard," confirming SirMichael Foster's dictum, to the effect that" the more we learn of Physiology the more weknow how little we really know." I recommend everybody to get Dr. Cannon's
book and turn at once to page 74, and readabout the importance of mastication in securingeasy digestion free from fermentation. Thenturn to page 217 and read his conclusionsrelative to the influence of the emotions ondigestion. Put these two statements together,and then judge for yourself if it is claiming toomuch to say that there is really Head Digestion,and that it is in the field of personalresponsibility, in the mouth and in the brain,that good or bad digestion—right or mal-nutrition—are inaugurated. You will find theliterary quality of Dr. Cannon's book sofascinating, no matter whether you know themeaning of the terms used or not, that you will
enjoy it like a novel. It has the charm of thediction of Sir Michael Foster and SherlockHolmes combined, with enough of the solving ofthe secrets of the alimentary canal to


severe
flu
epidemic,
I
only
languished
for
two
days. It
used
to
be
much
longer. For
the
first
three
months,
I
didn't
have
any
special
sensations,
I
just
started
having
regular
stools. After
about
three
and
a
half
months,
severe
pain
started
in
my
wrists
and
knees. I
had
such
pain
in
my
legs
that
I
didn't
know
how
to
proceed. Hemorrhoids
appeared,
sharp
pain
in
the
genitals,
cutting
when
urinating,
sexual
weakness,
terrible
pain
in
the
back
and
in
the
entire
spine,
cutting
in
the
abdomen,
pain
in
the
right
side,
under
the
chest
and
in
the
solar
plexus
area,
I
was
troubled
by
heartburn
and
pain
in
the
lungs
,
my
heart
throbbed,
my
throat
hurt,
my
right
ear
hurt,
my
teeth
started
to
hurt
and
I
was
shaking,
I
had
a
cold
all
the
time. All
kinds
of
pimples
and
blackheads
popped
up
all
over
my
body. I
developed
a
fungus
between
my
toes
and
in
my
groin. I
just
had
a
normal
temperature. (This
is
precisely
a
symptom
indicating
a
cleansing
crisis
and
not
a
disease
-
author's
note). All
this
lasted
a
little
over
a
month. One
problem
followed
another. I
called
this
period
"little
hell". At
the
same
time,
however,
I
felt
that
I
had
nowhere
to
retreat. I
found
in
myself
a
strange
coolness,
a
blind
faith
bordering
on
fanaticism,
that
everything
would
be
normal
again. I
continued
to
drink
my
own,
native
urine. In
addition,
I
began
to
wash
my
mouth,
throat
and
nasopharynx
with
urine
in
the
morning
and
in
the
evening,
I
took
a
contrast
shower
every
evening. I
still
do
that
today. I
was
naturally
preparing
for
crisis
phenomena,
but
I
did
not
expect
something
like
this. Perhaps
it
wasn't
even
a
crisis,
but
an
exorcism. Relief
came
on
the
fifth
month
of
urine
intake,
on
the
sixth
month
I
tried
to
start
running. In
my
youth,
I
mean
the
years
after
coming
out
of
the
army,
I
tried
to
run
several
times,
but
after
two
or
three
kilometers
my
muscles
hurt
so
much
the
next
day
that
I
lost
the
desire
to
do
sports. Now
I
ran
3
kilometers
on
the
first
day
like
I
used
to. What
was
my
surprise
when
the
next
day
I
felt
no
pain
in
my
legs. So
the
next
days
I
ran
5
and
then
6
km. I
felt
a
pleasant
fatigue
in
my
whole
body
and
my
legs
hummed
like
a
transformer. I
started
running
10
km
and
stopped
there. Today
I
run
this
distance
every
day
without
rest. There
was
a
strange
persistence. At
the
same
time,
I
weigh
92
kg
with
a
height
of
180
cm. I
am
31
years
old. I
continue
to
use
urine
and
have
stopped
visiting
the
asylum. I
feel
like
a
twenty
year
old. Nature
gives
everyone
such
a
chance
to
survive,
you
just
have
to
take
it." The
author
leaves
this
letter
without
comment. Judge
for
yourself. Example:
“I've
been
drinking
urine
for
several
months,
the
middle
part. After
fasting,
I
go
to
the
steam
bath
and
only
then
will
I
feel
the
effect
of
using
urine. I'm
usually
there
for
three
hours
and
I
really
enjoy
it. I
have
been
going
to
the
couple
for
15
years
and
I
eat
reasonably
well
with
my
family. Therefore,
I
was
convinced
that
the
urine
would
not
cause
me
any
vomiting,
poisoning
or
other
negative
manifestations,
about
which
there
were
reports
-
warnings
-
condemnations
in
the
press. The
neighbor,
who
literally
overeats
herself
on
meat
and
canned
food,
throws
herself
from
extreme
to
extreme
and
is
literally
crammed
with
waste,
drank
urine
for
a
day
and
expected
an
immediate
result. Then
they
took
her
to
the
hospital,
as
if
poisoned. I
told
her
that
any
treatment
must
be
approached
with
caution,
with
sensitivity
and
strictly
individually. In
addition,
when
he
has
inflammation
of
the
intestine
and
stomach
and
other
problems. Such
fools
then
write
in
the
newspapers
and
try
to
dissuade
people
from
real
and
correct
treatment,
which
alone
is
capable
of
sustaining
and
prolonging
life. That
makes
a
person
sad.'' Comment:
Here,
too,
the
reader
can
decide
for
himself
whether
to
use
urine
or
not. The
example
clearly
shows
what
you
may
encounter. You
just
have
to
keep
repeating
the
motto
of
the
sages
of
old,
don't
you
urine
is
a
remedy
for
the
brave
. And
I
would
like
to
add:
and
for
those
who
are
wildly
curious
and
want
to
know
a
lot.In
1995,
a
certain
magazine
published
a
critique
of
my
book
"Myself
as
a
Doctor",
in
which
the
editor,
with
the
help
of
two
doctors,
criticized
not
only
my
cleansing
program,
but
especially
the
chapter
on
urinotherapy. It
didn't
hurt
the
book
too
much
(it
was
on
the
bestseller
list
for
several
months
and
is
still
sought
after),
but
there
remained
a
certain
bitterness
and
fear
of
human
stupidity
that
can
just
throw
away
a
thousand-year -old
method
that,
if
used
correctly,
could
bring
relief
to
a
huge
number
of
people,
certainly
more
than
both
doctors
combined. Urinotherapy
in
specific
cases
Because
urine
has
a
strong
multifaceted
effect
on
the
human
body
and
can
be
introduced
into
it
in
many
ways,
there
are
many
methods
of
its
use
and
many
combined,
mutually
reinforcing
variants:
urine
therapy
-
starvation,
urine
therapy
-
clay
treatment,
etc. Hello
one
method
is
suitable
for


 eathwork. Adhama. Madhyama. Uttama. Kêvala. Embryonic Br eath. Harmonizing
Br eath. The Br eath by the Master Gr eat Nothing. T ummo. Sudarshan Kriya. The names may have changed over the years, the techniques may have
been repurposed and repackaged in dif ferent cultures at dif ferent times for
dif ferent reasons, but they were never lost. They’ve been inside us all this
time, just waiting to be tapped. They give us the means to stretch our lungs and straighten our bodies,
boost blood flow, balance our minds and moods, and excite the electrons in
our molecules. T o sleep better, run faster, swim deeper, live longer, and
evolve further.They of fer a mystery and magic of life that unfolds a little more with
every new breath we take.Epilogue
A LAST GASP
Nothing about this place had changed. The threadbare Persian rug. The
paint-chipped window that rattles in the breeze. The rumble of diesel trucks
chugging up Page Street and the jaundiced streetlight illuminating bits of
falling lint. A few of the faces are the same, too: there’ s the guy with
prisoner eyes, the other with Jerry Lewis bangs, and the blond woman with
an unplaceable Eastern European accent. I find my usual spot in the corner
and sit by the window. It’ s been ten years since I came to this room and felt the possibilities of
breathing. A decade of traveling, research, and self-experimentation. In that
time I’ve learned that the benefits of breathing are vast, at times
unfathomable. But they’re also limited. This became disturbingly clear several months ago. I was in Portland,
Oregon, and had just finished a lecture based on the contents of this book. I
left the podium and walked to the lobby to talk with a friend when a woman
approached. Her eyes were wide, fingers jittery. She told me her mother had
just suf fered a pulmonary embolism and desperately needed a breathing
technique to remove blood clots from her lungs. A few weeks later, a woman seated next to me on a flight noticed
photographs of skulls on my laptop. She asked what I was working on. After I told her, she explained how her friend was suf fering from a serious
eating disorder, osteoporosis, and cancer. No treatments had worked. She
asked if I could please prescribe a breathing practice to bring her friend
back to health. What I explained to each of these people, and what I’d like to make
clear now, is that breathing, like any therapy or medication, can’ t doeverything. Breathing fast, slow, or not at all can’ t make an embolism go
away. Breathing through the nose with a big exhale can’ t reverse the onset
of neuromuscular genetic diseases. No breathing can heal stage IV cancer. These severe problems require ur gent medical attention. I wouldn’ t be alive without antibiotics, immunizations, and a last-minute
rush to the doctor ’ s of fice to zap out a lymph node infection. The medical
technologies developed over the last century have saved innumerable lives. They have increased the quality of life around the world many times over. But modern medicine, still, has its limitations. “I’m dealing with the
walking dead,” said Dr. Michael Gelb, who’d spent 30 years working as a
dental sur geon and sleep specialist. He echoed what I’d heard from Dr. Don
Storey, my father -in-law, who’d worked as a pulmonologist for the past 40
years. Dozens of doctors at Harvard, Stanford, and other institutions told
me the same thing. Modern medicine, they said, was amazingly ef ficient at
cutting out and stitching up parts of the body in emer gencies, but sadly
deficient at treating milder, chronic systemic maladies—the asthma,
headaches, stress, and autoimmune issues that most of the modern
population contends with. These doctors explained, in so many words and in so many ways, that a
middle-aged man complaining of work stress, irritable bowels, depression,
and an occasional tingling in his fingers wasn’ t going to get the same
attention as a patient with kidney failure. He’d be prescribed a blood
pressure medication and an antidepressant and sent on his way. The role of
the modern doctor was to put out fires, not blow away smoke. Nobody was happy with this arrangement: doctors were frustrated that
they had neither the time nor the support to prevent and treat milder chronic
problems, while patients were learning that their cases weren’ t dire enough
for the attention they sought. This is one of the reasons I believe so many people, and so many
medical researchers, have come to breathing. Like all Eastern medicines, breathing techniques are best suited to serve
as preventative maintenance, a way to retain balance in the body so that
milder problems don’ t blossom into more serious health issues. Should we
lose that balance from time to time, breathing can often bring it back. “ More than sixty years of research on living systems has convinced me
that our body is much more nearly perfect than the endless list of ailmentssuggests,” wrote Nobel laureate Albert Szent-Györ gyi. “Its shortcomings
are due less to its inborn imperfections than to our abusing it.”
Szent-Györ gyi was talking about sicknesses of our own making, or, as
anthropologist Robert Corruccini has called them, “diseases of civilization.”
Nine out of ten of the top killers, such as diabetes, heart disease, and stroke
are caused by the food we eat, water we drink, houses we live in, and
of fices we work in. They are diseases humanity created. While some of us may be genetically predisposed toward one disease or
another, that doesn’ t mean we’re predestined to get these conditions. Genes
can be turned of f just as they can be turned on. What switches them are
inputs in the environment. Improving diet and exercise and removing toxins
and stressors from the home and workplace have a profound and lasting
ef fect on the prevention and treatment of the majority of modern, chronic
diseases. Breathing is a key input. From what I’ve learned in the past decade, that
30 pounds of air that passes through our lungs every day and that 1.7
pounds of oxygen our cells consume is as important as what we eat or how
much we exercise. Breathing is a missing pillar of health. “ If I had to limit my advice on healthier living to just one tip, it would
be simply to learn how to breathe better,” wrote Andrew W eil, the famed
doctor. Though researchers still have much to learn about this endlessly
expansive field, there is plenty of consensus right now about what
“breathing better” looks like. In a nutshell, this is what we’ve learned. SHUT YOUR MOUTH
T wo months after the Stanford experiment ended, Dr. Jayakar Nayak’ s lab
emailed Anders Olsson and me the results of our 20-day study. The major
takeaway we already knew: mouthbreathing is terrible. After just 240 hours of breathing only through our mouths,
catecholamine and stress-related hormones spiked, suggesting that our
bodies were under physical and mental duress. A diphtheroid
Corynebacterium  bug had also infested my nose. If I’d continued breathingonly through my mouth for a few more days, it might have developed into a
full-fledged sinus infection. All the while, my blood pressure was through
the roof and my heart rate variability plummeted. Olsson’ s data mirrored
mine. By night, the constant flow of unpressurized, unfiltered air flowing in
and out of our gaping mouths collapsed the soft tissue in our throats to such
an extent that we both began to experience persistent nocturnal suf focation. W e snored. A few days later, we started choking on ourselves, suf fering
from bouts of sleep apnea. Had we continued breathing through our mouths,
there’ s a decent chance we both would have developed chronic snoring and
obstructive sleep apnea, along with the hypertension and metabolic and
cognitive problems that come with it. Not all of our measurements changed. Blood sugar levels weren’ t
af fected. Cell counts in the blood and ionized calcium remained the same,
as did most other blood markers. There were a few surprises. My lactate levels, a measure of anaerobic
respiration, actually decreased with mouthbreathing, which suggested I was
using more oxygen-burning aerobic ener gy. This was the opposite of what
most fitness experts would have predicted. (Olsson’ s lactate slightly
increased.) I lost about two pounds, due most likely to exhaled water loss. But trust me on this: a post-holiday mouthbreathing diet is not
recommended. The nagging fatigue, irritation, testiness, and anxiety. The horrid breath
and constant bathroom breaks. The spaciness, stares, and stomachaches. It
was awful. The human body has evolved to be able to breathe through two channels
for a reason. It increases our chances of survival. Should the nose get
obstructed, the mouth becomes a backup ventilation system. The few
gasping breaths Stephen Curry takes before dunk


1/2 cups (625 mL) granulated
sugar and 4 cups (1 L) water. Bring to a gentle boil over high heat, stirring
frequently. Redu ce heat and boil  gently for 3 minutes. Let cool. Fill pint (2-
cup/500 mL) or quart (1 L) freezer containers with pitted cherries to within3 to  4 inches (7 to 10 cm) of th e top. Pour syrup over top; use 1 cup (250
mL) syrup per 1  quart (1 L) of p repared fruit. Squeeze out air; leave 1-inch
(2.5 cm) headspace. Seal, label and freeze. OR
Crush:  U sing a potato masher, crush c herries in a non-reactive bowl. For
every qu art (1 L) of crushed ch erries, add 1-1/4 cups (300 mL ) granulated
sugar and 1/4 tsp (1 mL) ascorbic acid crystals. Stir until t he sugar is
dissolved. Pack into freezer containers, leaving a 1-inch (2.5 cm)
headspace. Seal, label and freeze.C u r r a n t s
BEING A TRUE BERR Y  ( un like raspberries and strawbe rries, which are
aggregate fruits), currants and gooseberries have been used for pies, jams,
jellies and other preserves for ages. Native to the colder parts of North
America and Europe, currants h ave only begun to disappear from our tables
since the  latter part of the 20th century, at about the same time  the family
garden b egan to decline. Almost  everyone I know who is over 6 0—living in
the city or coun try—can remember the currant or gooseberry p atch in their
grandparents’ garden. Currants are bright red, round, almost translucent
globes, a nd are filled with seeds. Their taste is sharp and tart, and I find that
the best way to use them for preserving is to mash and strain them through a
cone colander and use just the juice. Good Pr eserving V arieties
The gar den red currant (Ribes rubrum)  is the most common variety, still
found in country gardens. There are wild, native North American varieties—Canadian blackcurrant
(R. hudsonianum)  and  American w ild currant (R. americanum )—but being
bigger a nd not quite as tart, the  European varieties soon replaced the wild
bushes i n garden s. Right: Big B en is a European blackcurrant o n display at
the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, England.Any of the golde n, red or black currant varieties grown for market today are
excellent for preserving. The golden currant variety is tiny, making it tedious to trim for a whole
berry pr eserve. I would use it in a cordial where the fruit is st rained. The
golden syrup is a nice change from the traditional red or black d rink syrups. The blackcurrants are dramatic in jam and jelly. Pur chasing/Storing
• 1 lb (500 g) fresh currants yields 4 cups (1 L). • Y ou will need about 3/4 lb (375 g) currants for each quart (1 L) jar. Look fo r firm, fully ripe fruits that show no signs of bruising o r wrinkling. Use imm ediately after picking. Store in a cool place or refrigerate for up to
3 days. W ash just before using. Good W ith
• Spicy herbs such as basil, bay, thyme, chervil, tarragon. • Sweet seasonings such as cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, vanilla,
almond. • Semi-soft cheeses such as havarti, Boursin; medium-age cheddars, colby. • Other fruit, such as raspberries, gooseberries, nectarines, peaches, pears. • T oasted almonds, pecans and walnuts, raisins. • Bold fish such as cod, perch. • Dried: used in holiday fruitcakes, mincemeat and other desserts.Pr eparation
W ash 1 or 2 qu arts (1 or 2 L) currants at a time in cool water  to which a
drop of food-safe soap has been added. Rinse well. Drain, cap and stem if
necessary. Pat dry. Canning Currants
See detailed canning information, Methods. 1. Pr epar e Equipment:  W ash and heat pint (2-cup/500 mL) or quart (1 L)
jars, and  scald the lids, funnel, la dle and tongs ( Boiling W ater Method, Step
by Step ). 2. Make a Light Syrup:  In a la r ge sauc epan, combine 1 cup (250 mL)
granulated suga r with 4 cups (1 L) water; stir until dissolved. Bring to a
gentle b oil over  high heat. Mak es 4-1/2 cups (1.125 L) syrup,  enough for
three or four 1-quart (1 L) jars of currants. Note:  Y ou  can use the same amount of apple juice or white grape juice in
place of the light syrup. 3. Pack currants into jars either hot or raw. Make a  Raw Pack:  Fill jars with cu rrants, shaking the jar as you add more
to pack tightly. Cover with hot syrup or juice, leaving a 1/2-inch (1 cm)
headspace. Run a thin non-metallic utensil around the inside of the jar to
allow air to esca pe. Add hot liq uid, if necessary to leave a 1/2-inch (1 cm)
headspace. W ip e sealing edge of jars with a clean, damp, lint-free cloth. Position flat lids over the tops of jars and hand-tighten screw bands. OR
Make a  Hot Pack:  Add currants to  gently boiling syrup or juice and boil
for a minute. Fi ll hot jars with hot fruit and cooking liquid, lea ving a 1/2-
inch (1 cm) headspace. Run a thin non-metallic utensil around the inside of
the jar to allow air to escape. A dd more hot fruit or liquid, if necessary, to
leave a 1/2-inch  (1 cm) headspace. W ipe sealing edge of jars w ith a clean,
damp, li nt-free c loth. Position flat lids over the tops of jars and hand-tighten
screw bands.4. P r ocess currants in a canne r:  Use  a Boiling W ater Canner according to
the chart below. OR
Process currants in a Pressure Canner following manufacturer ’ s directions
for steam pressure and time at your altitude. 5. Cool, Label and Stor e:  L ift jars from c anner and place on a clean towel
or rack. Do not re-tighten screw bands. Let the jars cool to room
temperature. This may take from 12 to 24 hours. Remove and store screw
bands. Check lid seals ( Boiling W ater Method, Step by  Step ). W ipe and
label sealed jars. Store in a cool, dark place. b l a c k c u r r a n t  c o r d i a l
It’ s always a tr eat to add a splash of blackcurrant or r edcurrant syrup to a
drink—alcoholic or not. This  light syrup will enhance w hite wine,
champagne, soda water, smooth ies, milkshakes and all sorts of fun cocktails
and mocktails. Its rich, fruity and sweetly tart smooth finish is so versatile
as a flavour spike in fruit dr essin gs and sauces. T ry a tablespoon  (15 mL) in
place of balsamic vinegar in a vinaigr ette or salad dr essing. If yo u ar e expecting thick syrup, this will be too thin for you, but you can
tailor th e amount of sugar you use to get the degr ee of heaviness  you desir e.
For med ium-thick syrup, use 2 cups (500 mL) granulated sugar; for heavysyrup, use 2-1/2 cups (625 mL) granulated sugar for every 2 cups (500 mL)
juice. Keep in mind that heavy syrup does not mix easily into cocktails. MAKES ABOUT 4 CUPS (1 L)
2 lb (1 kg) blackcurrants or r edcurrants grated rind and juice of 1
orange
2 cups (500 mL) water
3 cups (750 mL) granulated sugar (appr ox)

1. In a Maslin pan or saucepan, combine currants with orange rind, orange
juice an d water. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring frequently. Boil
for 2 or 3 minutes, crushing the berries with the back of a wooden spoon. 2. St rain the juic e through a che esecloth-lined cone (or regular)  sieve into a
non-reactive bowl. 3. Press the pulp to release as much of the juice as possible. 4. Heat four 1-cup (250 mL) jar s in