 for exam ple, will not experie nce menstruation,
because  the blood  normally involved  in the  menstrual  cycle would
be draw n to the  breast  and converted  into milk. Mens truation
resumes only  when nursing  stops. Women athletes,  when under
strict training,  will cease  menstruating  because  all the energy  has
- 35 -Taoist View  of Wom an’s
been  transfe rred into physical fitness. Similarly, it should  be noted
that many wome n, after  menopause,  lead  very active,  health y lives,
and usually  do well in pursuing  their  careers,  because  their  bodies
now have  the benefit  of energ y formerly  require d to maintain their
monthly  cycles. It is beneficial  to unde rstan d that menstruation  is for  the purpose
of the  next  generati on. Energy  not used  for this purpose  but
conserved  through  Ovarian  Breathin g becomes part  of the vital
energy  of the  body  thereb y prolongin g youth and providing  ample
energy  for transfo rmation  into a  higher  form of energ y. The
transformed  energy  is a creative  and healing  energ y which can
raise  a woman’s  life-force  potential  and ultim ately increas e her
spiritual  energ y. Also, the  cessation  of menstruation  can be
reversed  at an y time and  restore d to normal flo w after  a few months
of stopping  the practice. 2. Ovarian  Energy Devel ops a Hi gher Consciousness
    Ovarian  energy  is the  energ y used  for the development of  one’s
higher  conscious ness. These  practices  that transfo rm the sexual
energy  into Chi provide  the foundati on for the  spiritual  exercises
that transform sexual  and Chi energ y into Shen,  a sheer  spiritual
energy. The process  of cleansing  the internal  organs  of negative
emotions  described  previously  is called  “inner  alche my” by the
Taoists, and  it is this  inner  alche my that restor es to the orga ns
their birthright  of love,  joy, gentleness,  kindness,  respect,  honesty
fairness,  and righte ousn ess. Once  the organs  are cleansed  and
healthy, and you have  develop ed the abilit y to transfe r and transfo rm
sexual  energy  into life-force  energ y, the spiritual  development  can
begin. It is at  this level  that the generativ e energ y of the  ovaries  is
used  in what the Taoists  call “giving  birth  to yourself,. which means
developing  the spirit body  from wh ich you will attain  enlightenment. 3. Ovary Energy--the Best Co smetic
   The ovaries  contribute  most of their  energ y during  sexual
arousal. Many  other  organs  are contributo rs--the liver spleen,
kidney s, heart,  lungs,  and brain,  as w ell as glands- the pineal,  pituitary
thymus,  thyroid and adrenal. All of these  energies  blend  togeth er to
form sexual  energ y, a highl y charge d force  that brings  us to the
point  of orgasm. It is at this point  that our  habit  of losing- energ y
- 36 -Chapter  I
pleasure  must be over  come. By  doing  Ovarian  Kung  Fu exercises,
we can transfer  this energ y to a higher  qualit y ener gy by moving it
up the spine  to the brain. Because  the prope rty of sexual  energy
during  arous al is Yang (or active)  in natur e, you can revitalize  the
nervous  system, increase  brain  power and memory, and stay
healthy  and youthful. As a great  secret  taught  by the Taoist  sages
to em presses  and concubines,  these  methods  enabled  the women
in an  emperor’s  court  to maintain  their  sexual  activity, beaut y, and
health  for a long  time. Ma ny Taoist women  consider  the results  of
these  exercises  to be the  best  cosm etic in existence. 4. Duration  of a Woman’s Sexual Life
    In ancient  Chinese  histor y very little w as written about  the sexual
experiences  of w omen,  although  there  does  exist the
docu mentation  of Su Nu, the  medical and  spiritual  guide  to the
Yellow Emperor  who in almost endless  lists detailed  the voluptuous
responses  of w omen  to their  capable  lovers. We also  have  read
that nuns  in Buddhist  convents  could  learn  exercises  that would
eliminate their  menstrual  cycles  forever:  (The exercises  were called
“Slay ing the Red Dragon ). Therefor e, what knowledge we now
have  of the  duratio n of a Taoist w oman’s  sexual life  passed  down
to us  verbally  from the  Taoist sages  varies  greatl y with the outlook
and lineage  of the Maste r: Som e Taoist Mas ters advise  wome n to
stop having  sex after  40, due to the supposed  worn out state of  the
body  caused  by childbirth. With the Ovarian  Kung  Fu me thod as it
is now  taught  by The Universal  Tao, a woman  can continu e sexual
activity  for as long  as she desires  because  no ener gy is lost:  in
fact, ener gy is gained  through  the transformation  of her sexual
energy. 5. Organs’  Orgas m--the  True  Orgasm
A. Outward  Orgasm
Generall y the orgasmic feeling  is a pulsation  of the vagina,  the
ovaries  and the cervix. In the  Tao Syst em we  say that a lower center
or genital,  orgasm happens  only  in the  genital  region  and pours
outw ard: we call this an  “outward orgasm.” It  takes a short  time to
occur  but it takes  a long  time to bring  the woman  to this  kind of
orgasm. - 37 -Taoist View  of Wom an’s
B. Inward Orga sm
   The “inw ard orgasm,”  or the  “orga ns’ and glands’  orgas m,” is
extended  for the w oman. Her partner  must sti mulate her to bring
the orgas m inward and upw ard, stage  by stage,  and organ  by orga n.
The orgasmic feeling  can be amplified intensel y in this w ay but
how much it intensifies  depends  upon  how much she  practices. By moving the pulsation  into the  organs,  a ne w field  of orgasm is
opened  up that she has  never  felt before. In usual sexual practices,  muscles are  tense  and the fluids  of
the glands  pour  out, losing  in this out ward flow the sexual energy  of
these  glands  as well. This kind of  orgasm is te mporary, short  and
not continuous. In Taoism  it is said that w hen all the ener gy pours
out, that is the end  of the  glands. In an in ward orgasm, or  organs’  orgasm, the orgas m actuall y
travels  through  all the  organs,  glands  and nervo us system, thrilling
and revitalizing  them wi th the life-force  of sexual,  creative  and
generativ e energ y. 6. Who is Resp onsible for your  Orgas m? Many wome n have  sexual  experienc es but are unable  to
experience  an orgas m. Often  a woman  will blam e her  male partner
saying that he does  not kno w how  to bring  her to orgasm, and  that
he ejaculates  too soon. Sex is a two-person  happeni ng. The
energies  of both  peopl e must bring  their  hormones  into harmony. H. Go od Sexual Relati onship--the  3 Levels of Sexual Energy
   To establish  and maintain  a good  sexual relatio nship,  the
energies  of both  partn ers must be on  the same level:  they  both
must be health y physicall y and emotionally  and their  spiritual  levels
must be the  sam e. Then, when the two people  are togethe r their
energies --physical, emotional,  and, finally, spiritual- -unite  as one. 1. Physical  Level
    Tuning  yourself befor e making love is ver y important. How much
differs  from


 l, connected flow is happening. It’s almost
as if nothing in this world is as beautiful as that sensation of energy pouring
out through the heart and connecting with someone. From a yogic point of
view, what you are experiencing is shakti pouring out of the fourth energy
center, the heart chakra,  of your energy system. Though this heart center is
really beautiful, it is actually not so high, since there are seven such chakras
that control your inner energy flow. The yogi understands that if all the
energy goes out through the heart center it will not have the power to reach
the higher centers. What you will come to realize  is that the chakras are like a T-pipe
fitting. At the bottom there is an entry  point for the energy, and it could be
open or blocked. If it is blocked, no energy will enter that center. If it is
open, the energy will come up into the center and attempt to flow right
through. Should the upper pathway be blocked, however, the energy will
flow out horizontally and connect with whatever stimulated the opening
experience. Now  as human beings, we really like that experience of energy
flowing out through the heart. In fact, we don’t call it like, we call it love. That experience is human love, and don’t worry, spirituality has no intention
of taking this away from you. It’s beautiful; just know that there is a higher
expression of love. This leads us to the third thing that can happen when the energy rises
up toward the heart—it can make it all the way through. At this point in our
journey, all you have to underst and is if the energy makes it past the fourth
center, there are energy experi ences way higher than human love. This
doesn’ t mean you don’t experie nce connection with people and things. You
actually connect at a much deeper level. People who say the human
connection experience is the meaning of life have not experienced the
higher centers. That’ s like saying food is the meaning of life or intimacy is
the meaning of life. Yes, these are beautiful experiences, but they are
conditional, and they can come and go. The meaning of life is much deeper
than that. There are much higher energy centers you are capable of experi encing,
and the further you go into these centers, the more beautiful all of life
becomes. But if you can’t work with the heart center, you will never know
the higher centers even exist. To begin to work with the heart, you must first
be able to object ively watch as it opens and closes. What you will see is that
the store d patter ns from your past are getting activated by outside situations
and causing the heart to open or close. Take our example of love at first sight. If you had met the same person
three days earlier when you were in a bad mood, your heart might not have
opened. If you hadn’ t seen the movie with the actress she reminded you of,
she might not have hit you just right. The bottom line is that you have
blockages stored inside, and they are going to determine your level of
openness in any given situation. All it takes is one word said in just the right
way, and the heart will open. Likewise, all it takes is one word said in just
the wron g way, and the heart will close. We all have differen t samskaras,
and we are taking on new ones all the time. That is why what turns one
person on, turns another perso n off. It is also why the heart behaves
differently for the same person at dif ferent times. It’ s hard to believe that our
moods, attractions, and repulsion s are so dependent on our past, but it’s true. In our normal state, we’re not paying any attention to what’ s going on—
we’re just being tossed around by it. Chapter 25. The Secrets of the Heart
We are now ready  to go deeper into the secrets of the heart. From our earlier
explorations, you recognize that the energy can flow out for a while and
create the sensation of love. You also understand that since the opening of
the heart is conditional upon the state of blockages, the energy flow itself is
conditional and generally will not last. Yet it is possible to expe rience great
love all the time. All it requir es is a willingness to work on yourself to
remove the reason your heart tends to close. For examp le, imagine
somebody dies who means a great deal to you. Your spouse can’t go to the
funeral with you because of some important work. You may deeply resent
that. In fact, if you’re not careful, you may resent that for the rest of your
life. You’re playing with fire when you play with these blockag es. You may
lay the groundw ork that will eventually diminish or even destroy your
relationship with your significant other. This is not a game—storing
samskaras is serious business, and it has serious consequences. If you want
love to last, learn to handle these situations better. This is a secret of the
heart that is best to remember. Another very important thing to understand about the outward flow of
energy through the heart is that it literally makes a connection with the other
person. This connection is real, and you become attached as the energy is
exchanged between you. This is not a physical attachment to one another;
this is a reliance  on the energy flowing between your hearts that is feeding
you both ener getically. Let’s look at this in detail. Your heart was closed because  stored
patterns from your past were blocking the energy flow. Someone shows up
whose qualities and characteris tics hit you just right so the energy finds a
path around one of your major blockages. The blockage is not gone, but a
pathway has opened up allowin g the energy to flow out through the heart. That energy goes out toward the other person, and the other person’ s energy
goes out toward you. With the help of another person, you have managed to
experience what  you would be experiencing if the original block age was not
there. Perhaps you used to think people didn’ t like you and that you were
not very attracti ve. Someone shows up who always admires you and looks
at you with tremendous love. It makes you feel so comfortable that you melt
in their gaze. It’s unbelievable. You don’t feel that weirdness you used to
feel all the time. Though this is really beautiful, unfortunately the samskara that was
blocking your energy flow is still there. The energy found a way around it,
but only as long as the energy exchange with this person is still working. It’s
like putting a jumper in an electr ical circuit. You bypassed the sam skara, but
now you are very attached to and dependent on that person. If they start to
leave you, or if you even think about losing them, you will feel that original
samskara again  in all its glory. You will feel the underlying fear and
weirdness you used to feel, and it may even be stronger than before. In other
words, you’ve tied your energy flow to somebody else, and the state of your
heart is now dependent upon their behavior. Surely you have noticed this
pattern numerous times in your life. This is called human love. It is very
beautiful, but fortunately, there is a much higher form of love that is
unconditional and can last forever. The greatest secret of the heart is revealed when you get rid of the
samskaras instead of finding a way around them. If you get rid of the
blockages that are restricting the energy from flowing into and through your
heart, you will feel love all the time. It will always be brimming through
you. Once you reach that state,  if you simply wave your hand in front of
your heart, you will feel waves of ecstatic love pour through you. That’ s
how easy it will be to experienc e love. Love will become the core of your
being. Now, go share it. By all means, share the beautiful love you are
feeling. You will be able to do this without attachment or need because your
love is not dependent upon anyone or anything else. You are whole and
complete within  yourself. We call that self-effulgence. To reach this great
state, you must do the necessary work on yourself to release your samskaras
instead of constantly trying to find a way around them. You now understand much more  about the inner workings of the heart. Thus far we’ve focused on how the energy can flow through the lower part
of the heart or be blocked from doing so. We can call this lower part of theheart the human heart because depending upon how open it is, the energy
flow can create the entire range of human emotions. Energy blocked in the
lower part of the heart can be experienced as feelings of jealousy, insecurity,
or pangs  of yearning. Even ange r is the result of a strong energy flow hitting
blockages in the heart and shooting out. On the other hand, if the heart is
open enough for the energy to make it to the middle of the heart chakra
where it can flow out horizontally, the energy will be experienced as human
love. It’s all the same energy doing this—the only difference  is how it’s
blocked. There is anothe r level of the heart that can be experienced when the
upward


 on the drugs. They made me drowsy and blurred my thinking. Another side effect was weight gain. I went from my habit-
ual 165 pounds (I’m 6 feet tall) up to 215. When I left the psychiatric hospital, I came to the desert to stay
with my mother. T oday I’m under the care of a psychiatrist, goingthrough a healing process. When I told a friend about how uncom-fortable I felt weighing 215, he recommended I see Dr. Platt. 125 PSYCHOGENIC MEDICATION AND GREG C. Initially I went just for the weight loss, but I have received
so much more from my treatment. The great miracle is that notonly have I gone back to my usual weight, I’ve been able to weanmyself off all the drugs I was on. My intake interview with Dr. Platt made me feel very
comfortable. When I told him about all the drugs 1 was taking,he told me I was over-medicated, and that if I followed hishormone treatment and his diet I would be able to wean myselfoff the drugs. I told my psychiatrist about Dr. Platt and he wasopen to the idea of helping the weaning process along, as long asI continued in therapy with him and continued to examine theissues that got me into trouble in the first place. I started Dr. Platt’s treatment in January and set myself the
goal of being drug-free and at the proper weight by the end ofMarch. I reached my goal by early March, and today feelabsolutely fantastic. I feel so lucid and my thought processes areso clear compared to how I felt on the drugs. I’m continuing in therapy and applying for jobs in various
industries such as banking and insurance—more conventionalindustries where the hours are normal. I don’t want to be in thehospitality business any more. While I’m waiting for a job to come through, I’m delivering
newspapers at night. It’s something I never could have imaginedmyself doing at the age of 32. But it gives me time to think aboutwhat I want for my future, and I see the moon and stars everynight and watch the sun rise every morning. It’s a humblingexperience, but it’s also a rebirth. I feel the foundation of myhouse has been properly poured this time. I’ve gotten so muchhelp with my worldview, both from my psychiatrist and from Dr. Platt, who encourages me to approach life as an enjoyable jour-ney. I’m thinking in a way I’ve never thought before. I used tohave so much fear that I was never going to amount to anythingin life. Now I know that if I stay balanced I will have an impact126 THE MIRACLE OF BIO-IDENTICAL HORMONES  on the lives of my loved ones and hopefully my community, and
that’s all I want. THE DANGERS OF PSYCHOTROPIC
MEDICATION
Greg’s case is a classic example of how medications can
contribute to a person’s problems instead of helping them. My approach with my patients is always to look for the
underlying causes of their problems. I can’t just look at theproblems without seeing the entire person. Greg came to mefor weight loss, but I did not want to treat him as a straight-forward weight management patient without addressing thosefour incredibly powerful drugs he was taking. I knew that evenif I were to get him down to his ideal weight, those drugswould eventually bring him right back to where he was. So itwould make sense to address the psychogenic drugs first. Although I’m not a psychiatrist, I found the diagnosis of
bi-polar disorder suspicious. That’s a very specific disorder—one that tends to be over-diagnosed, by the way. I didn’tbelieve that Greg was really suffering from that malady. SinceI know that hormones have a tremendous impact on theneurotransmitters in the brain, I decided to go on the workingtheory that Greg, like many people, was being diagnosed withsomething very serious when in fact he was probably justsuffering from unbalanced hormones. Whatever Greg’s psychological difficulties were, I knew that
with the right hormones he could get some relief from hissymptoms. I told him that my goal was to get him off his drugsand to get his hormones in balance. He was delighted with that,since he felt foggy and uncomfortable on the medications. 127 PSYCHOGENIC MEDICATION AND GREG C. Fortunately, Greg’s psychiatrist was open to the idea of
weaning him off of these powerful drugs. He felt that Greg’snervous breakdown was an extreme stress reaction, not asymptom of bi-polar disorder, and that if Greg could addresshis issues in talk therapy he could eventually go back to livinga normal, drug-free life. ADJUSTING GREG’S HORMONES
In my view, Greg’s weight problem was caused by a combination
of the medications he was on plus too much insulin. The factthat most of Greg’s weight had settled in around his abdomenwas a sign of over-producing insulin. So I started him onnatural progesterone right away. I did this for four reasons:
• Progesterone reduces insulin
• Progesterone regulates blood sugar levels• Progesterone is wonderful for brain tissue
(progesterone levels are 20 times higher in brain tissue than anywhere else)
• Progesterone is a natural anti-depressant
Between progesterone and the meal plan, Greg began
losing weight right away. With his psychiatrist’s help, heslowly reduced the amount of Paxil, Effexor, Depakote, andlithium he was taking. As he continuously lowered the dosagesof those lipogenic medications, his weight loss speeded up. He got into a positive feedback loop whereby he liked the
way he was looking, which led to feeling better about himselfand making faster progress in talk therapy, which led to furthersuccess with his weight management program, and so on. Asthe weeks went by, you could see the transformation. 128 THE MIRACLE OF BIO-IDENTICAL HORMONES  Eventually Greg returned to being the person he’d been
before he started the medications, minus the driven, worka-holic overlay. T oday he’s a very energetic, forward-looking manwith a lot to live for. Greg will eventually be reunited with his wife and child. With the help of hormones, he’ll be able to live a balanced lifethat he truly enjoys. In addition, he is now acutely aware of theimportance of balancing his son’s hormones and his wife’shormones. Greg’s problems were strictly hormonal: too much
adrenaline, too much insulin, too much cortisol, and too littleprogesterone. Putting them back into balance gave him the“miracle” he was looking for. THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM
Greg’s story illustrates why it is so important to understand the
background of one’s patients. When I first talked with Greg, it was immediately
apparent that he had a classic case of ADHD. Adults with thisproblem frequently become workaholics and type A personal-ities. These people are living on adrenaline. They start out withlow progesterone levels, which causes an over-production ofinsulin. This leads to hypoglycemia and to an outpouring ofadrenaline to bring sugar levels up. This was Greg’s underlying metabolic state. When he began
working in Las Vegas, the new element of stress was added. Now his adrenal glands were over-producing not only
adrenaline but also cortisol (this is addressed in chapter 20). The cortisol raised his sugar levels, leading to even moreinsulin production. This led to more hypoglycemia, which ledto more adrenaline. He lost his appetite because of the high129 PSYCHOGENIC MEDICATION AND GREG C. levels of adrenaline, leading to a body starved for fuel, which
created even more stress. He did not have bi-polar disorder; he just had a major
hormonal imbalance. One can readily see why sometimespsychological conditions can be treated with hormones in amore effective manner than with drugs. 130 THE MIRACLE OF BIO-IDENTICAL HORMONES  ADD AND ADHD—
THE SILENT EPIDEMIC
chapter FIFTEEN
I could not write a book about the influence of hormones
without making special mention of attention deficit disorder(ADD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In my view, these two conditions are primarily related to ahormonal imbalance involving high insulin and the resultanthypoglycemia, or low blood sugar. There are many kids with symptoms of ADD who are
struggling in school today because they have difficultiesfocusing. Often the reason they cannot pay attention in classor do homework is that they are hypoglycemic. Any time sugaris taken from the brain, the brain cannot focus. The reason forthe low sugars is that the kids are over-producing insulin. Because of the hypoglycemia these youngsters experience a
persistent craving for foods that provide sugar, such as fruitjuice, soda, and candy. And very often kids with ADD have aweight problem, since they are continuously eating highglycemic carbohydrates. ADHD starts out the same way—too much insulin
leading to low sugar levels. However, kids with ADHD have tocontend with another hormone: adrenaline. 131The brain cannot function without sugar, and the body
has an amazing capacity for finding ways to raise the bloodsugar level when it is low. Prominent among these regulatoryreactions is a process called gluconeogenesis, which, simplyput, creates sugar from protein. It is mediated through thesympathetic nervous


 symptoms
Dry or rough skin; wrinkles Insomnia
Chronic underweight; muscle
wastingWorry, anxiety
Weak kidneys; loss of
bladder controlDepression
Weak or irregular heartbeat
Fatigue
ConstipationConfusion, restless thoughts
Common arthritis Intolerance to stress
Nonspecific aches and pains Intolerance to coldWeakened immunity
(susceptibility to colds,
pneumonia, and other
infections)
You’ll immedia tely notice the close match between these disorders of
imbalanced Vata and aging. As the “wind” of the body, Vata is cold, drying,
and piercing. When Vata is aggravated, it is as if a withering wind begins to
stir inside. Usually the first place to which aggravated Vata will travel is the
joints, initiating a range of joint problems beginning with minor aches and
pains (these cause trouble especially during winter, the season that is worst
for Vata disturbance) and ending with degenerative arthritis if the
aggravation persists. Since every cell contains Vata dosha, the effects of aggravating it are not
confined to the joints. The whole body begins to shrivel and dry up; the
bowels become dry, tight, and constipated; racked with insomnia  and worry,
the person languishes, prey to ever-increasing aches and pains. Millions of
prescriptions for painkillers, tranquilizers, and sleeping pills are written by
baffled doctors who cannot explain why elderly patients start exhibiting
such symptoms, since usually there is nothing organically wrong. In
medical terminology, organic  means that a physical organ shows signs of
disease or malfunction. Physicians tend to dismiss symptoms without
organic cause as psychosomatic or idiopathic (unexplainable). Old people rarely suf fer from just one of the symptoms of V ata imbalance
and many suffer them on a broad scale. If multiple drugs are prescribed for
each symptom, new imbalances  begin to pile up, for the body cannot help
but react with imbalance to painkillers, diuretics, tranquilizers, sleeping
pills, beta blockers, and all the other medications commonly prescribed for
the elderly. Whether we like it or not, a symptom is something the body
wants to express—it is a message—and drugs suppress that expression. How fast you age is intimately linked to the speed and intensity of Vata
aggravation. Some people are extremely prone to Vata imbalance, while
others are not. Some people may get aggravated Vata in their fingers,
leading to arthritis, while others  get it in their intestines, leading to chronic
constipation.What can cause Vata imbalance? Ayurveda follows the principle of
complementarity—“like speaks to like.” What this means is that any quality
Vata dosha possesses will be stimulated by the same quality outside your
body. These qualities are as follows. QUALITIES OF V ATA DOSHA
Dry
Cold
Changeable
Rough
Moving
Light
Subtle
Quick
Leads other doshas
Anything in your environment that contains the above traits will increase
Vata. For example:
Dry weather; dry foods (crackers, cereals, potato chips, etc.) Cold weather; cold food and drink
Changeable: sudden life changes; death in family; loss of job; mood
swings; sudden change of season; etc. Rough-textured materials next to the skin; rough words or behavior
Moving: travel; falling down; physical exercise or labor; exposure to
drafts or wind
Light foods that have a high air content, particularly raw fruits and
vegetables
Subtle changes of mood, a subtle draft
Quick: any activity, physical or mental, requiring speed; being made
to rush
Let me illustrate  how these qualities (called gunas  in Sanskrit) interact. If
my kidneys detect a fluid shortage in my bloodstream, they secrete aspecific chemical messenger—angiotensin 2—which gets carried to the
hypothalamus in the brain and is converted into a mental event: I feel
thirsty. This feeling then prompts me to act by getting a glass of water. In Ayurvedic terms, what has happened is a steady flow of one impulse
of intelligence—V ata—as it registers the needs of 50 trillion cells
simultaneously. Vata has the quality of being dry, and it increases under any
kind of dry condition. Dry crackers, dry desert heat, dry cold from air-
conditioning, and even dry wit all serve to increase Vata. Dryness make us
thirsty because our bodies detect this increased Vata, and the signal will
persist until something wet, such as a drink of water, brings the opposite
quality into play and V ata falls back into line. Vata is the easiest dosha to push out of balance, but also the easiest to
bring back. Since Prana Vata, the most important aspect of this dosha,
regulates the nervous system,  it shifts with the slightest thought or
sensation. By doing the thing s that are needed to keep Prana Vata in
balance, we have a complete system for conserving Prana and defeating the
aging process at an extremely subtle level. This means we must pay some
attention to Vata every day, whic h is in fact quite a natural and easy thing to
do. Vata can be “pacified”—i.e., kept in balance—through various lifestyle
measures. PACIFYING V ATA
To keep  Vata dosha in balance, you need to keep the following  qualities in
mind:
Regular: regular habits; mealtimes; bedtime; work
schedule
Warm: warm, well-cooked food; sunshine;
avoidance of cold food and drink
Nourishing: rich, nourishing, even heavy foods in cold
weather; nurturing emotions
Relaxing: taking time for adequate rest; avoidance of
stressful situations, overexcitement, and
overexertionStable: stable relationships and work; stable home
life
Calming: quiet, orderly work environment; gentle
massage (particularly good is warm oil
massage using sesame oil)
Steady: steady supply of food and water to body; not
skipping meals or going on an empty
stomach
A dosha  is pacified by qualities it lacks. Because Vata tends to make
people erratic, irregular, and inconsistent, it is helpful to coun ter with the
oposite—steadiness and regularity. Small matters such as not skipping
meals and going to bed on time pay large dividends in pacifying Vata. Prolonged expo sure to stress creates serious Vata imbalance, so special
attention has to be paid to giving yourself a quiet, orderly work
environment. Cheerful conditions at work greatly relieve the Vata tendency
to uncertainty and insecurity. When you are under the influ ence of Vata, you will naturally seek
warmth; keeping  warm in winte r and sunbathing at other times  of the year
soothes this dosha. Your diet should emphasize well-cooked, nourishing
foods; Ayurveda considers even heavy, oily food to be good for Vata (which
is why long-cooked stews and soups seem so appealing in winter). A voiding
cold salads, iced drinks, alcohol, and dry or uncooked food in cold weather
will also correct the body’ s tendency to develop aggravated Vata at those
times. In general, stimulants of any kind, including coffee, tobacco, and
alcohol, create V ata imbalance. When out of balance, Vata leads to light, interrupted sleep; this is best
countered by going to bed early and avoiding late-night reading and
television. The body also wants some periods of calmness, relaxation, and
peace during each day. Meditation is ideal, since exposing the nervous
system to deep silence allows it to harmonize all the synchronized bodily
rhythms that Vata regulates. Peaceful, loving family life is an ideal many
people feel has slipped away in recent decades, but from the viewpoint of
Vata dosha, it is vital.Vata has a special affinity with warm oils; daily massage with warm
sesame oil on the feet, head, and lower abdomen is one of the best measures
for relieving deep stresses in the nervous system. The oil should be applied
gently and slowly before the morning bath and again before bedtime. Special attentio n to balancing Vata should be paid whenever you are
recuperating from illness or under emotional stress; suffering from jet leg;
displaying depression, chronic fatigue, and exhaustion; or have been
physically wounded—all of these conditions cause severe V ata disturbance. If you detect chronic symptoms of Vata imbalance,  the follo wing specific
measures should help:
• Include sweet, sour, and salty tastes in your meals; these are
balancing for Vata. This dosha  calls for more sour and salty foods
than does any other. • Avoid bitter, astringent, and pungent (spicy) tastes. Astringent is
counted as a taste in Ayurveda; it is found in dry-tasting foods that
pucker the mouth (beans, lentils, pomegranates, tea). • If you feel uncomfortable living in a dry, cold, windy climate,
consider moving  to a warm one, which is more conducive to Vata
balance. Everyone who lives in a cold climate would do well,
according to Ayurveda, to make sure that their home and workplace
has warm, humidified air. Avoid drafts and prolonged outdoor
exercise


uffyrooms;for
warmthofbed. Sulphurtypescomeinallshapesandsizes,butthey
seemalwaystolookuntidyand/orunwashed,espe-
ciallythechildren,nomatterhowoftentheywashor
changeclothes.Infact,theirmannerofdresswill
usuallygivethemaway-thereisalwayssomething
missingsuchasanoddsock,orahemcomingdown,
oracollarescapedfrominsideajumper(thingsno
self-respectingArsenicumwouldputupwith! ).They
areeithercompletelyindifferenttohowtheylookor
donotnoticeiftheyaredirty.Theyhavehotfeet,and
socaneasilywearsandalsthewholeyearround.They
arelazyandtheyhatetowash;theyoftenfeelworse
foritanddonotinfactlookmuchcleanerforit.They
slumpwhensittingandstoopwhenwalkingandare
alwaysworseforhavingtostandupforlong-they
makestraightforabarstoolinapub! Theyhavemarkedlyredfacesandredlipswhich
canbecomedryandcrackedwhentheyfallill.The
tongueisoftenwhitecoatedwithrededgesandtip. Theyareextremelythirstytypeswhowillconsume
largequantitiesoftapwaterwhethersickorwell. Thesepeoplearesensitivetoheatandarealways
worseforbeinginastuffyroomandgettingover-
heated;theyarebetterforfreshair.Theirdischarges
areusuallyhot,smellyandburning.Theysweatpro-
fuselyandfeelworsewhilesweating.Hotflushes
duringthemenopausewillrespondwelltoSulphur,
providingthegeneralandemotional/mental
symptoms fit. NB.Thisremedyishailedforitseffectoneczemaand
skinrashes,butIstronglyadviseyounottoprescribe
forthesecomplaintswithoutconsultingaprofessional
homeopath,astheaggravationscanbesevereand
needtobemonitoredcarefully. 156•Sulphur(Sul.) INTERNALMATERIAMEDICA
EMOTIONAL/MENTAL SYMPTOMS
Angry.Anxiousintheevening.Confused.Critical. Depressed.Discontented.Impatient.Indifferentto
personalappearance.Irritable.Lazy.Quarrelsome. Restless.Sluggishinchildren. Sulphurchildrenarecuriousandbrightanddrivetheir
parentsmadaskingendlessquestions,mostlypre-
cededwith'Why...? 'Astheygrowoldertheyde-
velopintopeoplewithmanyideaswhofinditdifficult
tobringtheseideasfromthelandofdreamsintothe
landofreality.Atoneextremetheyaresuccess-
fulacademicsandattheothertheyareunrealistic
dreamers,ortheso-called'raggedphilosophers'.The
nearesttothisinmoderntermsarethehippieswith
theirendlessidealsandtheories,barefeetandun-
kemptappearances.Theymaystartmanythingsand
neverfinishanything,andthefurtherawaytheyare
fromrealisingtheirideas,thesickertheybecome. Theseindividualsaresloppy,lazyanddis-
organised;theyfeelconstantlyrushedandhurried
andwouldreallyrathernotworkatalliftheycan
avoidit.Messdoesn'tbotherthem,althoughthey
maygetperiodicalcravingsforasortoflimitedexter-
nalorder.Theyarehoardersandcannotthrowany-
thingaway.However,despitetheiruntidinessand
sloppiness,theymayhaveastrongfeelingofself-
disgustfortheirownbodilyfunctions.Otherremedies
havethissymptombutitiscuriousinsuchaslob! Sulphurtypesarebasicallyselfcentred,impatient,
irritableandcriticalofothersandhowtheyruntheir
lives;theyhavelotsofideasandtheoriesofhowthey
themselvescoulddoitbetter.Theysufferfromall
sortsofworrieswhichplaguethemintheeveningand
stopthemsleepingatnight. PHYSICALCOMPLAINTS
Backache
SymptomsBack:feelsweak/tired.Pains:inlower
spine;aching;sore,bruised.Withstiffness;weak-
ness. Worseafterperiodoflongsitting;forbendingdown;
duringamenstrualperiod;ongettingupfromsitting;
atnight;forstanding;forwalking. Bedwetting
Thesearechildrenwhoaregenerallydryatnightbut
startbedwettingwhentheyfallill. Boils
SymptomsBoilsitching.Breastfeedingproblems
SymptomsBreastabscess:inflamed.Breastsred. Thebreastsmaybeitchy. ChickenpoxseeMeasles
Commoncold
SymptomsNasalcatarrh:smelly;dirtyyellow. Nose:dry;itching.Withfrequentsneezing;eyein-
flammation(seebelow). Thenoseisdryanditchyandthetipisred.Itmay
bleedwhenblown.Thepersonmaysmellunpleasant
smells. Cough
SymptomsBreathing fast.Cough:disturbssleep;
dryduringtheevening/atnight,looseduringthe
day/morning; painful;irritating;racking;suffocative. Chestcongested.Larynxraw.Mucusgreen. Worseforcoughing;duringeveninginbed;duringthe
morning;atnight;forlyingdown. Thepersonwillwakefromthecoughandhisorher
sideswillhurtfromcoughing.Thelarynxfeelsirri-
tatedandraw,asifthereweredustinit.Thepatient
mayhavedifficultybreathinginawarmroomandbe
betterforfreshair;usuallywantsthewindowstobe
open. Cramp
SymptomsCramp:inthethighs;inlegs;incalves;in
solesoffeet. Worseatnight;inbed;whilewalking. ThesecrampsshouldbeaccompaniedbytheSulphur
generalandemotionalsymptoms. Cystitis
SymptomsDesiretourinate:frequent;urgent. Painsburning.Urine:burning;brown(likebeer);
copious;scanty;smelly. Worseongettingupinthemorning;atnight;during
urination. Thepatienthastohurrytopasswatertopreventit
escaping,butwillthenpassonlyafewdropsand
dribbleseachtime. Diarrhoea
SymptomsInchildren.Diarrhoea:duringthe
morningonly;drivespersonoutofbed;painless. Flatulence: smelly.Pains:burning;cramping. Stools:slimy;smelly;sour;watery. Betterforpassingwind. Worsearound5a.m. ;inthemorning;atnight;for
standing. Causesbeer. INTERNALMATERIAMEDICA Sulphur(Sul. )•157
Thepersonwakesupearlywithasuddenurgetopass
astool,orhastheurgejustaftergettingup.Thereis
rumblingbefore,andpainsarefeltinthebellybefore,
duringandevenafterpassingastool.Theanusbe-
comessoreandredafterpassingastool,especiallyin
children. Earache
SymptomsPains:aching;lacerating;stitching;tear-
ing.Withpainfulnoisesinear. Worseinleftear;fornoises. Thereareroaringandringingnoisesintheear,which
aremorenoticeablewhenthepersonisinbed.The
externalpartsoftheearitch. Exhaustion
Worseduringtheafternoon;fortheheatofthesun;for
talking. Causeshunger;talking;walking. Eyeinflammation
SymptomsEyes:burning;gritty;sensitivetolight;
itching;watering.Eyelids:itchingindaytimeonly;
burning;red. Worseforwashingeyes. Theeyesaregluedtogetherinthemornings.They
maybedry,asifthereweresandinthem.Theywater
easilyinthefreshairandaresensitivetobrightsun-
light
Fever
SymptomsHeatalternatingwithchills.Withsweat-
ing(seeGeneralSymptoms);shivering. Worseatnight;forthinking. Thepersonfeelsalternatelychilledandhot.Fever
withsweatingcomesonafterwakingoritmaybebad
inthenightifthepersonisunabletosleep.Heorshe
feelsworsewhilstsweating,andhot,especiallyonthe
solesofthefeet,whicharepokedoutofthebed. Flatulence
SymptomsBelly/stomach: bloated;gurgling;rum-
bling.Wind:smelly;ofrotteneggs. Betterforpassingwind. Hairloss
SymptomsHairfallsout. Causeschildbirth. Hayfever
SymptomsWithcommoncold(seeabove);eyein-
flammation(seeabove).Headache
SymptomsHead:feelsconstricted; feelsfull/hot. Pains:inforehead;burning;bursting;hammering;
pressing;intop


 whatever
shows up in your life and to be willing to participate in the dance of
creation as a co-creator. When we shift to seeing that together they
comprise one harmonious whole, we remove the stigma of selfish-
ness. Just as each of us is one harmonious whole comprised of spirit
and matter, so, too, is the entire universe. The process of life taking form is a mystery. That mystery is gov-
erned by a creative energy that is knowable when we genuinely feel
worthy of receiving its blessings in form. Abundance is the way of the
creative force in the universe. You are entitled to have abundance in
your life, and to radiate prosperity to all that you encounter in your
world. Nothing is gained by making yourself small and insignificant
other than to manifest smallness and insignificance in your life. To facilitate an attitude of deserving abundance, it will be helpful
to examine what you want to change in order to cultivate this know-
ing at the cellular level of your being. THE CORE COMPONENTS OF WORTHINESS
Everything that you need to master in order to make this fifth
principle a working model in your life is available as a mental activity. You do not need to go out into the world and conquer it in any way. It is simply a matter of changing your mind about your basic worthi-
ness to receive all of God’s blessings, be they material or otherwise. There has been a lot of effort put into conditioning us to feel
unworthy of having all that life has to offer. Most of us have accepted
a lot of the stuff that egos have thrown our way, beginning with our
arrival as infants. Certainly there is nothing wrong with an attitude of
poverty and asceticism. If this is your path, you know it deep within
syourself and you know that God appears in all things material and
nonmaterial. Spirit cannot be divided into better or worse, depend-
73
WAYNE W. DYER
ing on which of God’s creations you opt to have or not have in your
life. Feeling worthy of any blessings or desires is a feature of your inner
life. To remove the stigma of materialistic selfishness you may need to
rearrange your inner perceptions. Here are the major perceptions of
beings who know they are worthy and deserving of all of God’s bless-
ing. 74 My self-esteem comes from myself. This person’s statement of his or
her inner perception might be something like the following: “As
a child of God, my worthiness is a given. I am not divided into
spirit and body, rather, I am a part of the all-knowing creation
called God itself. I am a human expressing God without reserva-
tion or restraint.”
One of the reasons children are often able to express genius is
because they have not yet been hypnotized by the idea of being
limited. If they are able to resist this hypnotic spell, they remain
geniuses and are able to express their unlimited selves through-
out their lives on earth. Too often the ideas of other egos are what constitute our
impressions of ourselves as unworthy. We listen to the admoni-
tions of others who have low self-regard, and who are attempting
to exert influence and power over us. We then take on the exter-
nal validations of our unworthiness and begin to see ourselves as
some significant others would have us believe we are. It is
beyond the scope of most young children to resist these ideas. But, as adults, we can look back at this hypnosis and free our-
selves from its absurdity. You must know within that you are a part of the light that
lighteth every man. You are evidence of the existence of God,
and in your own particularized individuality, you have God
within you. Therefore, you must be able to say with conviction,
Manifest Your Destiny
“God is me, and I am God.” It is this truth that will free you
from your feelings of unworthiness to attract to yourself all that
you desire. Think of your own desires to manifest as having been placed
there by spirit, and that those desires, which are housed in love
and service, are precisely what God wants to give you, and that
your desire is the direct path to receiving those blessings. Let go
of the idea that desire is selfishness and remind yourself that if
you had no desires ever, you would still be living an infantile
existence with toys in a sandbox. Whenever you feel unworthy of having your manifestations
arrive, remind yourself that no one is unworthy and that the
same divine energy that flows through you flows through all of
God’s children and that all are worthy. This includes you. Your desires are the very tools that allow you to grow and
experience the perfection of the universe. They take you beyond
any limitations that you might have embraced and lead you to a
higher spiritual awareness. Even the idea of achieving enlighten-
ment and mastery is a desire that you must honor. I accept myself without complaint. A person with this self-perception
thinks something like the following: “I am willing to face every-
thing about myself, without lapsing into self-contempt or repu-
diating my essential value as a piece of God.”
Self-acceptance is something that must be unconditionally
known within ourselves. To accept oneself is not necessarily to
accept every behavior. Rather, it is a refusal to engage in sabotag-
ing acts of self-loathing. If you are in a state of self-rejection you
cannot feel worthy of the munificence of the universe. Your
inner energy is centered on what is wrong with yourself and with
complaining to yourself and anyone who will listen. You showed up here in a specific body, with certain physical
75
76 WAYNE W. DYER
characteristics, with certain measurements and with certain par-
ents and siblings. This is your reality for the physical plane, and it
requires a high degree of willingness to look at your physical
appearance and say, “I accept this without complaint.”
If you are unwilling to make such a declaration, your inner
energy will be sapped by anger, guilt, fear and pain, all combining
to circumvent the possibility of manifesting your desires. Remember, the ability to attract to yourself is based on the idea,
“That which ought to be... is already.” What you desire is
already here and can only flow into your immediate life if you are
open to it doing so. Those thoughts of self-repudiation guarantee
that you cannot put out into the universe the knowing and loving
energy that is going to work for you. Self-acceptance is nothing more than a shift in consciousness. It requires only a change of mind. If your hair is falling out, then
you have the choice to mask it, worry about it or accept it. Acceptance means that you really have to do nothing. You honor
your body and the divine intelligence that is at work. When
someone else implies that you have a problem because your hair
is falling out, you don’t even know how to relate to their obser-
vation. Acceptance removes the label of “problem.”
This is not a faked attitude. It is merely removing the ego
from your inner assessments, which are centered on the approval
of others. With self-acceptance you are able to honestly say, “I
am what I am and I accept it.” Once this attitude is firmly in
place from a position of self-honesty, your worthiness to receive
the gifts of the universe becomes aligned with that divine power. Self-repudiation causes a misalignment with your divinity. Only you can make the shift. It is nothing more than an inner
perception that you have the power to change in this very
instant. Manifest Your Destiny
I take full responsibility for my life and what it is and is not. This
involves a removal of our strong ego-dominated inclination to
cast blame on others for what is absent from our lives. Taking
total responsibility means an awareness of the power that is
inherent within yourself. Rather than saying “They made me the way I am today” you
shift your inner thought to “I chose to be passive and fearful
around other people.” This goes for every single facet of your
personality and life circumstances. To be willing to accept total responsibility for yourself puts
you in a position of being worthy of receiving and attracting the
object of your desires. If someone else is responsible for your
perceived shortcomings, and you are blaming them for these
troubles, then you are also saying that in order to manifest your
heart’s desire you need to have the permission of those others. This act of abdicating responsibility destroys your ability to
empower yourself to higher levels of awareness. When you know that you are responsible for how you chose
to react to every life situation, and that you are essentially alone
within yourself at all moments, then you can very privately put
out into the universe that which you want to bring to yourself. However, blaming others for your life situations shifts the power
to those you believe are responsible for creating the circum-
stances.
] have a private inner dialogue with the universe about the cir-
cumstances that show up in my life. I come from the position
that there are absolutely no accidents and that everything that
occurs in my life has a lesson attached to it, and that I brought it
into my life. Regardless of how absurd or inconsequential it
might seem, I say to myself, “Why did I


5%)—mainly linoleic,
 oleic, and palmitic fatty acids
■ Starch
Key Actions
■ Demulcent
■ Bulk laxative
■ Antidiarrheal
Research
■ Regulating bowel function
Clinical trials in the U.S., Germany,  Psyllium
An annual, growing
to 16 in (40 cm) high,
with narrow leaves and
clusters of minute
white-brown flowers. and Scandinavia during the 1980s
have shown that psyllium has both a
laxative and an antidiarrheal action. ■ Diabetes  A 1998 clinical trial with
125 patients concluded that 5 g of
psyllium taken 3 times a day helped to
lower blood-fat and -glucose levels in
people with type 2 diabetes. Traditional &
Current Uses
■ Laxative  Psyllium is prescribed
in conventional as well as herbal
medicine for constipation, especially
when the condition results from an
over-tensed or over-relaxed bowel. Both husks and seeds contain high
levels of fiber (the mucilage) and
expand, becoming highly gelatinous
when soaked in water. By maintaining
a high water content within the large
intestine, they increase the bulk of
the stool, easing its passage. ■ Other bowel problems
Contrary to expectation, psyllium
is a useful remedy for diarrhea. It is also an effective treatment
for many other bowel problems,
including irritable bowel syndrome,
ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease. In India, psyllium is commonly used
to treat dysentery. ■ Hemorrhoid relief  Psyllium
is valuable for hemorrhoids, helping
to soften the stool and to reduce
irritation of the veins. Psyllium  is widely cultivated for its husks
and seeds, which are used as a remedy
for bowel problems.■ Detoxifying herb  The jellylike
mucilage produced when psyllium
is soaked in water has the ability to
absorb toxins within the large
intestine. Psyllium is commonly taken
to reduce autotoxicity (the toxins are
expelled from the body with the
husks and seeds in the feces). ■ Digestive ailments  The
soothing, protective effect imparted
by the mucilage-rich husks and
seeds benefits the whole gastro-
intestinal tract. Psyllium is taken for
stomach and duodenal ulcers, and
for acid indigestion. ■ Urinary infections  The
demulcent action of psyllium
extends to the urinary tract. In
India, an infusion of the seeds
(the only time this preparation
is used) is given for urethritis. ■ External uses  When psyllium
husks are soaked in an infusion of
calendula ( Calendula officinalis, p. 73),
they make an effective poultice
for external use, drawing out
infection from boils, abscesses,
and whitlows (pus-filled swellings
on the fingertips). Self-help Uses
■ Chronic diarrhea & irritable
 bowel syndrome, p. 307. ■ Constipation, p. 317. ■ Difficult passage of the stool
 & hemorrhoids, p. 302. QCautions  Do not exceed the stated dose. Always take with plenty of water.Parts Used Key Preparations & Their Uses
Seeds  should be soaked in
water before they are used.Husks  are generally powdered for
use in a variety of preparations. Cold  maceration  For constipation, soak
20 g of seeds in 3⁄4 cup (200 ml) water for
10 hours. T ake the whole dose at night.Capsules of powdered husk (p. 292). For hemorrhoids, take a 200 mg
capsule 3 times a day. Seeds Powdered husk
US_122-123_Piper_Plantago.indd   123 07/04/16   4:37 pm
124Polygonum multiflorumKey Medicinal PlantsPolygonum multiflorum (Polygonaceae)
Fo Ti, He Shou Wu  (Chinese)Fo Ti
A perennial climber, growing to 33 ft (10 m), with red stems, light-green leaves, and white or pink flowers. Fo ti is one of the oldest Chinese tonic
herbs. It is used to help lower blood cholesterol levels. Habitat & Cultivation
Fo ti is native to central
and southern China, and is cultivated
throughout that region. It is propagated from seed or by root division in spring, or from cuttings
in summer. The plant requires  well-fertilized soil and plenty of protection from winter weather. The roots of 3- to 4-year-old fo ti
plants are unearthed and dried during the autumn. Older, larger roots are prized for their therapeutic properties, but
are generally not available to
obtain commercially. Related Species
Bistort (P. bistorta, p. 253), one of  the most strongly astringent of all herbs, and knotgrass (P. aviculare,  p. 253) are used in European herbal medicine. They do not have the  same tonic therapeutic properties
as P. multiflorum. In Chinese herbal
medicine, P. cuspidatum is used
to treat amenorrhea (absence
of periods). Key Constituents
■ Anthraquinone glycosides
■ Stilbene glycoside
■ Polyphenols
■ Phospholipids, including lecithin
Key Actions
■ Tonic
■ Antioxidant
■ Mild sedative
■ Lowers cholesterol levels
■ Neuroprotective
Research
■ Cholesterol levels In animal
experiments in China, fo ti was shown to significantly reduce raised blood cholesterol levels. Also,
in a clinical trial, over 80% of patients with high blood cholesterol who had been taking decoctions of the root showed an improvement. ■ Blood-sugar levels Chinese
research has revealed that fo ti
helps increase the levels of sugar  in the blood. ■ Neuroprotective Preclinical
research points to fo ti having a stabilizing effect on brain function, and that it might—as traditional
use would suggest—prove valuable in slowing aging processes within  the central nervous system. Traditional &
Current Uses
■ Popular tonic Although fo ti is
not the earliest tonic herb listed in
Chinese herbal medicine (it is first mentioned in 713 ce), it has
become one of the most widely used. It is taken regularly by  millions of people in the East
for its rejuvenating and toning properties, and to increase fertility
in both men and women. ■ Liver & kidney remedy
In Chinese herbal medicine, fo ti’s most important use is as a tonic  for the liver and kidneys. By strengthening liver and kidney function, it helps cleanse the blood, enabling the qi to circulate freely around the whole body. ■ Nerve & blood tonic Fo ti is
given in Chinese herbal medicine to people with symptoms, such as dizziness, weakness, numbness, and blurred vision, that indicate inefficient nerves and “blood deficiency.”Parts Used
Key Preparations & Their UsesRoot is highly valued in Chinese
medicine for its tonic properties. It is unearthed in the autumn. Powder  may be added to food for its tonic effect. T ake 5 g a day.Decoction (to make,
p. 291). As a general
tonic, take the decoction
over 2 days.Tablets, known as
shou wu pian, are
taken in China for
their rejuvenating
properties. ■ Premature aging Fo ti is
prescribed in China for people
showing signs of premature aging. This suggests it helps the body function in a balanced, healthy way. In particular, there is a lot of evidence to support the root’s use to aid reversing hair loss and graying of  the hair. ■ Malaria The herb is prescribed
in the treatment of chronic malaria, when it is often combined with ginseng (Panax ginseng, p. 120),  dong quai (Angelica sinensis, p. 63),  as well as green tangerine peel  (Citrus reticulata).Tincture (to make, p. 292). To reduce blood cholesterol
levels, take 1 tsp twice a day
with water.Dried rootA Chinese tonic herb with a bittersweet taste, fo ti is
thought to concentrate qi (vital energy) in its root, so
that taking this herb gives vitality to the body. It
has always been considered a rejuvenating herb,
helping to prevent aging and encouraging longevity. Traditionally, much folklore is attached to this herb,
and large, old roots are thought to have
remarkable powers. QCaution Only the prepared root from Chinese herbal shops should be used. US_124-125_Polygonum_Rehmannia.indd   124 17/03/16   4:00 pm125Rehmannia glutinosaKey medicinal plants
Shu di huang  Simmer 15 g root
in 2 cups (500 ml) red wine for
20 minutes. For blood loss and
anemia, take 1/2 cup (100 ml) daily.Remedy  Decoct 15 g rehmannia and 10 g
Chinese figwort ( see p. 291). For fevers,
take 3⁄4 cup (150 ml) 2 –3 times daily.Root is chewed


Lamiaceae)
Betony
Description  Mat-forming perennial growing
to a height of 2 ft (60 cm). Has toothed elliptical
leaves and spikes of pink or white flowers. Habitat & Cultivation  Betony grows
throughout most of Europe, and occurs in Asia  as far east as the Caucasus, where it is found in meadows, heathland, and hilly areas. The aerial parts are collected when the plant is in flower during early summer.alone or with yarrow (Achillea millefolium, p. 56)  to help staunch nosebleeds. Betony is also mildly bitter. It stimulates the digestive system and the liver, and has an overall tonic effect on the body. Caution  Do not take betony if you are pregnant. Stellaria media (Caryophyllaceae)
Chickweed
Description  Sprawling perennial growing to
about 6 in (15 cm). Has hairy stems, oval leaves,  and starlike white flowers. Habitat & Cultivation  Native to Europe
and Asia, chickweed is now found in most regions  of the world. It grows easily in wasteground, and is generally regarded as a troublesome weed. The plant is harvested in summer. Parts Used  Aerial parts. Constituents  Chickweed contains triterpenoid
saponins, coumarins, flavonoids, carboxylic acids, and vitamin C. The saponins may account for the herb’s ability to help reduce itchiness. History & Folklore  Dioscorides, a Greek
physician writing in the 1st century ce, described chickweed’s applications as follows: “it [chickweed] may usefully be applied with corn meal for inflammation of the eyes. The juice may also
Betony is an age-old headache remedy. Its name may
derive from the Celtic for “good head.”
Chickweed can help to soothe
eczema and other skin conditions.Parts Used  Aerial parts. Constituents  Betony contains alkaloids
(including stachydrine and betonicine), as well as
phenolic compounds, betaine, choline, and tannins. History & Folklore  Betony has been regarded
as a panacea since classical times, even attributed with the ability to ward off evil spirits. Antonius Musa, physician to Emperor Augustus (63 bce–14 ce), claimed that betony would cure 47 different illnesses. The herb has always been particularly valued as a remedy for headaches. Medicinal Actions & Uses  No longer
regarded as a panacea, betony nevertheless has real value as a remedy for headaches and facial pain. The plant is also mildly sedative, relieving nervous stress and tension. In British herbal medicine, betony is thought to improve nervous function and to counter overactivity. It is taken to treat “frayed nerves,” premenstrual complaints, poor memory, and tension. The plant has astringent properties, and in combination with other herbs, such as comfrey (Symphytum officinale, p. 138) and linden flowers  (Tilia species, p. 277), it is effective against sinus headaches and congestion. Betony may be taken Ash berries
Spigelia marilandica (Loganiaceae)
Pinkroot
Description  Perennial plant with oval to
lance-shaped leaves, spikes of brilliant red-pink flowers, and a double seed capsule. Habitat & Cultivation  Native to the
southern regions of the U.S., pinkroot flourishes  in dry rich soil in clearings and along woodland borders. The root is unearthed in autumn. Part Used  Root. Constituents  Pinkroot contains alkaloids
(mainly spigeleine), a volatile oil, tannin, and resin. Spigeleine is emetic and irritant to the stomach. History & Folklore  Pinkroot was used
extensively by Native Americans as a worm-expelling herb. It was gathered for trade with white settlers by the Creek and Cherokee peoples. From the late 18th century onward, pinkroot became one of the chief deworming herbs used in North America and Europe. Medicinal Actions & Uses  Pinkroot is used
today solely to expel intestinal worms—particularly tapeworms and roundworms. It is prescribed with other herbs such as senna (Cassia senna, p. 75) and fennel (Foeniculum vulgare, p. 212) to ensure the elimination of both the worms and the root itself, which is potentially toxic if it is absorbed through the gut. Related Species Several Spigelia species act as
worm-expelling herbs, for example S. flemmingania, native to Brazil, and S. anthelmia, native to the Caribbean, Venezuela, and Colombia. S. anthelmia also contains isoquinoline alkaloids and is used  in the treatment of heart disease. QCaution Only use pinkroot with the
supervision of a professional practitioner. US_266-283_Sanguinaria_Ziziphus_jujuba.indd   272 26/02/16   12:48 pm273 other medicinal plantsSwertia chirata
be introduced into the ear in earache.” Apart from
its medicinal uses, chickweed is a tasty and
nutritious vegetable. Medicinal Actions & Uses  Chickweed is
chiefly used to treat irritated skin, being applied
as juice, poultice, ointment, or cream. In certain
cases, chickweed may soothe severe itchiness
where all other remedies have failed. It is often
used to relieve eczema, varicose ulcers, and nettle
rash (hives). An infusion of the fresh or dried
plant may be added to a bath, where the herb’s
emollient properties will help to reduce
inflammation—in rheumatic joints, for example—
and encourage tissue repair. Chickweed may also
be taken internally to treat chest ailments. There
is some suggestion that chickweed has an
antiobesity action. Cautions  If taken in excessive doses, chickweed
may cause diarrhea and vomiting. Do not take
during pregnancy. Self-help Uses  Eczema, p. 300; Diaper rash
& inflamed skin rashes, p. 318; Nettle rash, p. 303.Strychnos nux-vomica
(Loganiaceae)
Nux Vomica
Description  Evergreen tree growing to
49 ft (15 m). Has glossy oval leaves, tubular
white flowers, and yellow fruit containing 5–8
disk-shaped seeds. Habitat & Cultivation  Nux vomica is native
to Southeast Asia. It grows wild and is cultivated
commercially. The seeds are gathered when mature. Parts Used  Seeds. Constituents  Nux vomica contains 3% indole
alkaloids (predominantly strychnine, with many
others), loganin, chlorgenic acid, and fixed oil. Strychnine is a lethal poison, producing intense
muscle spasms. History & Folklore  Nux vomica seeds
were first brought to Europe in the 15th century,
probably as a poison for game and rodents. In
1640, the seeds were first used in European
medicine, as a stimulant. Medicinal Actions & Uses  Though rarely
used internally due to its toxicity, nux vomica
can be an effective nervous system stimulant,
particularly in the elderly. In Chinese herbal
medicine the seeds are used externally to relieve
pain, to treat various types of tumors, and to
relieve paralysis, including Bell’s palsy (facial
paralysis). Nux vomica is a common
homeopathic remedy prescribed
mainly for digestive problems,
sensitivity to cold, irritability,
and melancholia.Research  In a Chinese clinical trial, a paste
made from nux vomica seeds was applied to
15,000 patients with Bell’s palsy. The treatment
was reported to have been effective in more
than 80% of the cases. Related Species  Many Strychnos  species are
equally potent and have been used as arrow poisons. RCautions  T ake nux vomica only in
homeopathic preparations. This herb and strychnine
are subject to legal restrictions in most countries. Styrax benzoin (Styraceae)
Benzoin Gum
Description  Shrubby deciduous tree growing to
30 ft (9 m). Has pointed oval leaves and clusters of
white, fragrant, bell-shaped flowers. Habitat & Cultivation  Native to Southeast
Asia, benzoin grows in tropical rainforests. It is
also cultivated for its gum, which exudes from
incisions made in the bark of trees that are at
least 7 years old. Part Used  Gum. Constituents  Benzoin gum contains variable
quantities of cinnamic, benzoic, and sumaresinolic
acid esters, free acids (such as benzoic acid),
benzaldehyde, and vanillin. Medicinal Actions & Uses  Benzoin gum is
strongly antiseptic and astringent. It may be used
externally on wounds and ulcers to tighten and
disinfect the affected tissue. When taken internally,
benzoin gum acts to settle cramping, to stimulate
coughing, and to disinfect the urinary tract. Benzoin
gum is an ingredient of Friar’s Balsam, an antiseptic
and expectorant steam inhalation for sore throats


 co uldn’t believe this but I never took an aspirin
or any narcotic. There was no pain or cramps. The s pine was healed. At this time Dr. Kelley’s book, One Answer to Cancer, was laid on a table near my bed. So I
picked it up two or three times. Finally, I realize d I was not gaining strength but the opposite was
true. However, I never had another pain in my spine  nor cramps. So I read from Dr. Kelley’s
book these words: "Malignancy indicates an active p ancreatic enzyme deficiency." I began in
earnest to read. Every word sounded so logical and clear. Cancer always seemed like a killer that
couldn’t be controlled. The killer was too complex. But Dr. Kelley had the key. He was unselfish
and tried to put the key on the lowest shelf where all of us, little or big, intelligent or uninformed
could all reach the key to one answer! The diet and  nutritional program cost a bit but nothing
compared to the fruitless efforts of the medical do ctors, hospitals, etc. So, on my bed of
affliction, growing weaker all the way, I set mysel f to follow each step of Dr. Kelley’s
instructions. Many times I would think, "Perhaps I am wrong in fo llowing Dr. Kelley’s diet and nutritional
program." Our medical doctors wouldn’t listen when I told them about it. But, feeling I had
nothing to lose, I kept on. Dr. Kelley’s book is mo st valuable. Here, I who knew nothing, was
free from those painful unprofitable visits to the doctor’s office. Eating differently was never a
problem for me — I had been a missionary for 40 yea rs. If a diet would help, I thought I should
get on it as strictly as Dr. Kelley suggested — and  not just keep eating anything I felt like eating. So I took everything seriously. One year later I fe lt much better; I  was up and out on the road in
the missionary services traveling 20,000 miles one summer. However, I felt I needed some
guidance so I went to see Dr. Kelley. It had been a  constant battle to keep on a strict and proper
diet with the stress and strain of my work. I have gone abroad three times and carried a heavy workload in the U.S.A. to visit among
hundreds abroad and at home, and to not eat "junk" food takes a backbone of steel and a
conviction that this nutritional program is best. S tress and strain goes with the public
appearances and directional work but these five yea rs have been good years, although they were
not without battles, but I am able to work 12 hours  nearly every day but Sunday. Even if members of our family and missionary group have no cancer, my husband and I urge all
to consider the value of a nutritional diet as a wa y of life and health. Our grandchildren are being
taught the importance of proper diets, purges and c areful living. There are those around us who are dying of cancer u nnecessarily. We have suggested the Kelley
nutritional program to people we’ve seen in need, b ut many have refused to put that much effort
into regaining their health and are now gone. We’ve  seen others who have willingly read Dr.
Kelley’s book in time, and have found the Key and a re living examples today of what his
program can do. Dr. Kelley:  "When the doctor says you have cancer, he gets you r attention rather rapidly and
God gets our attention rather rapidly. We address G od immediately. Then we realize God has
been talking to us all along, we just haven’t been listening. He’s been trying to communicate
with us in several ways short of violating our own free will. The reason that he created us is to let
us experience life and to have free will, and to co me to him voluntarily and with love and
appreciation — not by force, but because of the lov e that is in our hearts. "As we address the situation of cancer, we realize that we did it to ourselves and this is, to me,
the chief characteristic of God — his respect for o ur free will. It’s one of the greatest lessons I
have learned through the cancer situation, through my cancer. God in all of his wisdom and
comprehension and completeness and knowingness does  not force us to do anything — to be
right, to do right, to be kind to each other — to d o anything. He has set the rules, the
requirements, and the example of how we should cond uct our life activities, but we are so dumb
we can’t figure it all out. He has given us great f reedom. He has respect for our beings and our
persons. He allows us the privilege of getting into  trouble. When we do get into trouble we turn
around and blame God. Those of us who get into trou ble with cancer are learning a pretty tough
lesson, but we get the message eventually. When we get the message, that it is our fault, we turn,
and in our pride and haughtiness and all the other things that go along with the proper description
of us, we humble ourselves and vow ourselves to rea lity and truth and righteousness, and then
God can talk to us. I just hope those who learn thi s lesson, as most of my counselees have, don’t
have to learn it again. Or suffer some other traged y." Prostate and Rectal Cancer
Walter M., Daytona Beach, FL
11-Year Victory Over Prostate and Rectal Cancer
When I fully realized that the forthcoming biopsy w ould reveal a malignancy, my emotions
completely overwhelmed me. That horrible thought wh ich had plagued me for years could and
would come true. For many years prior to the actual operation, I had  been bothered with prostatitis. But with the
absence of information and having a strong, youthfu l body, any thought of potential problems
were quickly dismissed. These were things that alwa ys happened to the "other guy." As the years passed by, the problem became more acu te and visits to the urologist became more
frequent. My attitude then changed to one of concer n. I was granted a brief respite from worry after a ne edle biopsy showed there was no malignancy. But still there was the burning and discomfort that  intensified when my wife and I would take
long trips by car. The embarrassment of having to u rinate regardless of passing traffic played
havoc with my nerves. There was a time when it beca me so irritating that it was necessary to
visit a clinic in another state while traveling, in  order to obtain relief. And it was the usual
prescription of antibiotics. But it did provide tem porary relief. One night while preparing to retire, I sat on the e dge of the bed to remove my shoes. There was a
pain in the rectal area that surpassed all other pa in. It was impossible to sit. After an emergency
visit to our family physician brought relief, I ret urned to the urologist and was told there was a
nodule on the prostate. This did not cause me any g reat concern until I read about the possibility
of cancer when a nodule appears. My procrastination forced my wife to make an appoin tment for me with a local urologist. My
medical records were sent to him and after an exami nation and consultation I was informed that I
needed surgery. After the operation and a painful recuperative peri od my self-confidence was beginning to re-
surface. But the following year a devastating bombs hell exploded. There was a definite
recurrence, which manifested itself in the rectal a rea. When the second operation was over and my period of  recuperation felt complete there was
another horrible and terrifying jolt. There was an elevation in the acid-phosphatase reading. It
was then I felt totally defeated and resigned to my  fate as another victim of cancer. However, this
resignation was not gracefully accepted. My emotion s gave way and negative thinking controlled
me. Our son contacted a health food storeowner who, by the Grace of God, was familiar with the
Kelley program. After much insistence by my family,  my wife and I visited Dr. Kelley. The first visit in 1974 was overwhelming when I saw  the amount of vitamins that were necessary
for return to good health. There were anxious momen ts of nausea, dizziness and apprehension
regarding its effectiveness. But it has proven to b e the most significant step I ever made. Since
that first visit, all medical tests and X-rays have  been negative! Each day I pray silently and openly, to thank God, our Creator, for His divine guidance in
leading me to Dr. Kelley. God does act in a mysteri ous way, and when obeying His natural laws,
we all prosper. And today, at age 67, my life is more complete than  ever, God in his loving ways, has granted
me the ability to enjoy His great outdoors. Above a ll, my spiritual life has risen to greater heights
in my love and appreciation of Him. Dr. Kelley:  "Walter brings to mind that cancer, or any degener ative condition, doesn’t all of a
sudden happen. It takes a long time to get there. Y ou get sicker and sicker and it isn’t all of a
sudden you


 have to share my point of view about God in order to
do it. You don’t have to believe in God at all. You’re free. This book does not seek your
religious conversion. I’m not going to try to convince you of anything here. I’ve simply been
sharing som e tools with you. You’ll see if they work for you or not, but you don’t have to
believe in anything in order to use them. But know that what will change here, should you use these tools, is not just your
experience of the life change that you are moving th rough right now. These tools will also
impact all the changes that you will experience from now until the day you die —when you
will undergo the Biggest Change of All. When you die, what will happen to you, what you will become aware of, will change
everyth ing about the way you view the life you have lived. Every event will be viewed from
a larger perspective, every moment will be viewed with love and acceptance, every misstep
will be viewed with understanding and compassion, every achievement will be viewed  with
sweet pride and soft joy and a willingness, at last, to accept and embrace one’s own
magnificence. The conversation we are now having is about bringing that same view forward. It is
about moving it from Then to Now. I can remember my father saying, “If I knew then  what I know now. ” This is about
knowing “now” what you will know “then. ” Exciting, yes. All of This:
it is preparation for walking in the world
as Light. You have been found now,
and the running of man y lifetimes
is over. So as each layer of dust
is wiped clean
from the surface,
the You
you have known
must  disperse. Let this Light become
Your speech & Your silence. Let the grief
that has lived you,
pass away. Let the people
who love You,
love Themselves. Let the earth shake,
the stars burn
the skies break
when You do. As painful as this part is,
You were meant to know your Light. —‘You Were Meant’  © 2007 Em Claire  13. OF SNAKES AND LIONS AND HUMANS, TOO
WE ARE VERY NEAR  the end of part 1  of this book. This first half of this wonderful
conversation brought us into deep focus on the Mechanics of the Mind in order that you
might change the way you experience change. In the second half of our time together we
will look at changing the way you create  change, by exploring the System of the Soul. It would have been impossible to explain how the second —and more exciting —tool
works without us deeply understanding the mechanics of the first. And it will be impossible
to fully utilize the first, no matter how thoroughly we explain it, without the fuel (that is to
say, the power ) that the second gives  to the first. All of which is to notice that life in both  its parts has a purpose and a function just the
way it is. We are truly served by using life in all the ways that it presents itself, physical and
spiritual, as a means and a pathway to the Ultimate Reality. So now we shall go just one more, final, layer deep in exploring life in the physical —for
this final exploration will lead to a life -altering question  that will make everything you have
read in the past several chapters usable and workable in a way that you might never have
imagined. As we do this I wi ll come right back to you and your experience of life on this day. All along I have been presuming that on this day you are standing in what I call “the
middle of a moment” of significant change in your life. I hope you now see that,
fascinatingly, your experience  of this change may have nothing to do with what you actually
saw, felt, tasted, heard, or smelled. It’s your Past Data that formed your innermost truth
about it, and it is from your innermost truth that your thought, emotion, and experience
emerge s producing your present reality. Is it a Distorted Reality, the Observed Reality, or is it the Ultimate Reality in which you
stand. Well, you can tell by how you feel. If you feel terrible, you are standing in a Distorted Reality. If you feel just fine, y ou are
standing in the Observed Reality. If you feel blissful, you are standing in the Ultimate
Reality. All of this depends on what kind of match your mind is finding for the data that exists in
this present moment. But now let’s ask an intriguing questio n. What if you encounter in
your life a piece of here -and-now data for which your mind cannot find a match. I ask the question because, as a person who is thinking this all through with me, you may
have already asked it in your own mind. The answer is that  this situation is highly unlikely. As I’ve noted before, it is virtually impossible to not find some kind of match in Past Data
for what is going on now. Almost everything that you are experiencing is a version of
something you have experienced before. Gr anted, it may have been as far back as the crib
(and therefore perhaps out of your conscious memory), but it is there in your data bank, I
assure you. In my own case, to give you an example, I happen to vividly remember a time when I was
under two years ol d and standing in my crib. I was just being potty trained and I needed to
go to the bathroom. I called for my mom, who was in another room, to lift me out of the
crib. She heard me and said, “I’ll be right there, sweetheart. ” But she never came. I called a nd called, and then began to cry. She kept calling back to me that she was
coming, but she was taking a terribly long time. I don’t know what she was doing in that
other room, but it was something that she clearly did not want to be interrupted. The
troubl e was, that exact moment was when I needed her. I knew that she heard me because
she called back to me. But she was not coming. I felt abandoned. Why wasn’t she coming. I tried and tried to get out of the crib. I can still see myself trying to hoist m yself up,
then working to lift my leg up over the railing. but it was no use, it was too high. I
couldn’t get out. MAH -MEE I cried one last time, but it was no use. Finally, through a lake of tears, I had
no choice but to soil my diaper. Now look, I k now that this was not a Big Deal. Now  I know that. But then  I did not know
that. And then  is when the data was stored. You see. You understand. I had been told that Big Boys use the potty. I was devastated at having failed to be a Big
Boy. To this day I ha ve had to deal with abandonment issues. You think I am making this up. This is how it works. This is how the mind works. It does not know the difference between
Then and Now. I can’t erase this memory. In fact, the harder I tried through the years, the mor e indelible
the memory became. Of course. I was burning it in there. And it is as I said before. There is
no delete button on this machine. So. it is highly unlikely —not impossible, but very unlikely —that your mind will not be
able to find a match in Past Data for a Present Moment encounter. Your mind will do its
best to find something  to match it up with because your mind understands that your
survival depends  on it finding something to compare Now with. Otherwise, how will you
know how to proceed. But let us say that it just cannot. Let us say that something that’s occurring right now is
so unique, so unusual, so first -of-its-kind, that you truly have nothing at all from any yester -
moment with which to compare it. Not to worry. Your mind will search a  “sub -directory” in your memory comprised of data
that is held beneath the first level of consciousness, in your molecular encoding —or your
“subconscious. ” This is called your cellular memory —or what some people refer to as
instinct. (This is where “fight -or-flight” comes from, among other reactions. ) Actually, your mind went to this sub -directory first. It does that as the first means of self -
preservation, just in case you don’t have time to think. In the moment that any outward
event occurs, your initial impulse will be to react instinctively. Then, i f you do have time to
think (Remember when we talked about this before. We said this only takes seconds. Nanoseconds, really) you can decide how you wish to respond, rather than how you would
react  if you hadn’t thought about it. Response Time is a luxury. Reaction Time is instant. Yet when you respond, always
know that you are never responding to what is happening now. You are responding to your
past. Again, so that you are clear. if your Past Data really and truly can produce no match
whatsoever to y our Present Data, you will revert back to instinct —which is also  Past Data. It is simply Past Data of


 can see
your inner space suffused with light and watch the light expand
until it fills the room. Or you can visualize inner space around
your heart as a sphere, a round balloon that expands a bit more
every time you inhale, watch ing it get bigger and bigger  until it
takes up the entire room. STEP 5: RESTING IN WHOLENESS. Once you have gone through the previous steps, rest quietly for
a minute or two. Let the experience of the body be here now. What this exercise has done is multifold. You have freed
yourself from being trapped inside a thing, substituting the
experience of your body as p rocesses and sensations. Since your
experience was  conscious, these processes and sensations  moved
to w here they a ctually occur, in your awareness. Then you opened
yourself to experience your b ody as inner space—in Sanskrit this
space is  called Chit Akash, o r mind spac e. Since everything in life
happens in mind space, you e xpanded the space until there was no
boundary between “in here” and “out there. ”
You may be surprised that you’ve accomplished all these things,
and sin ce the experience was likely to be unusual, you will easily
pop back into the habit of feeling that your body is a physical
object you reside in, like a mo use hiding in the walls of a house or
a ra bbit in its burrow. Yet, at the very least, you now can see that
there is  an alternative to the old habit. To free yourself fr om your
body, the old habit won’t serve you. To break down the old hab it—a process I call “thawing,” as
discussed befo re—take time once or twice a day to rep eat this
exercise. Once you become  used to it, the whole thing runs
naturally and smoothly. We’re all practical-minded, so what good
is the exercise in daily life. You can do it when you feel stressed. You can  do it to relieve tightness in your body or other
unpleasant and painful sensations. It also works to help relieve worried, anxious thoughts. You can center yourself with this exercise whenever you
feel distracted and scattered. Various practices in yoga and Zen Buddhism bring the body
under control through sheer focused awareness. When you felt
your he artbeat and breathing, for example, you took the first step
to co ntrolling both processes at once through the vagus nerve, one
of the ten cranial nerves that  extend from the brain to the rest of
the central nervous system. The vag us nerve is a wanderer, tracing its course like the t runk
line of an old-fashioned tel ephone system from brain to neck,
down into the chest, past the heart, and extending into the
abdomen. It is the longest cranial nerve, and its fibers both send
and receive sensory information. Most of the sensations you
experienced in the exercise you just did were channeled through
the vagus nerve. You can take advantage of t his knowledge in a practical way
through “vagal breathing,” which consists of inhaling to the count
of fo ur, holding the breath to the count of two, and exhaling to the
count o f four. This simple rhythm of 4-2-4 is easy for a  normal
healthy adult, and no one should try to force it to the point of
gasping or feeling uncomfort able. To the great surprise of medical
researchers, vagal breathing is the best way to reduce  stress,
particularly the immediate signs of ragged breath, increased heart
rate, and muscle tension. It tu rns out tha t chronic, low-level stress is more important and
more pervasive  than acute stress. In modern life, being in a state
of chronic low-level stress is so common as to be accepted as
normal. But your body doesn’t experience it as normal at all; the
earliest beginn ings of heart disease, hypertension, sle ep and
digestive disorders, and probably some cancers can be traced to
chronic stress. It is  no accide nt that the location of these disorders par allels
the course of th e vagus nerve, which serves to communicate stress
to the heart, stomach, digestive tract, and then the rest of the body
as t he nervous system branches out. Vagal breathing brings the
state of  the body back into ba lance and relieves tension. So even if
you haven’t come to the real ization that everything physical and
mental happens in consc iousness—meaning that our body
happens in consciousness—here is an unmistakable clue. We accept that a skill like walking and riding a bike is
permanent onc e it has been learned. But, at a more basic l evel, the
biorhythms th at sustain the bodymind as a whole were learned
and absorbed millions of ye ars ago by our hominid ancestors. Modern life pushes us to unlearn them, as witnessed by the huge
number of people with digest ive and sleep disorders. Both of those
functions are controlled thro ugh built-in biorhythms. On ce your
body has forgotten how to express a biorhythm, the effec t is like
one trumpet or violin playing a different piece of music from the
rest of the orchestra—the whole symphony is ruined. Vagal b reathing may wind up being very useful beyond its
ability t o norm alize heart rate, lower blood pressure, and make
breathing more regular. It’s  a good practice to use in bed just
before you fall asleep. Mild to moderate insomnia can often be
eased o r totally healed. General stress is eased, including stressful
thoughts and a racing mind, which countless people experience
when they try to go to sleep. I’ve gone into a little detail (the whole topic is covered in depth
in The Healing Self, which I coauthored with Rudy Tanzi) to make
the point that a physical map  of the nervous system, the operation
of the vagus n erve, consciously intervening in its operation, and
sensing the results directly ar e all one thing. The direct path leads
us b ack to that  one thing, wh ich will, in time, completely end the
state of  separation and allow us to rest in wholeness, which is
reality. Y o u r  B o d y,  Y o u r  S t o r yOnce you begin to experience your body in awareness,
transformation starts to oc cur. You are moving out of the
separation between mind and body toward wholeness. You need
to be whole to be who you truly are. The direct path is experiential. It’s not theoretical, nor is it therapy or a spiritual journey. As you experie nce your body in awareness, you have taken time
out from your story. This seems like a modest thing, a moment or
two spent in d oing nothing but being here. Yet there’s no other
way to disman tle your story that is this direct. Millions of people
benefit from therapy and walking the spiritual path. But
eventually we must all face the fact that everything  we do, even in
the name of h ealing and spirituality, is taking place inside our
story. As a res ult, we can get glimpses of wholeness—these are
often q uite beautiful and uplifting—yet they do not carry us to
metareality as our home. At t he moment you are your story—it can’t be helped—and this
keeps you trapped in separation. The word separation  may not
come to mind; you might n ot even consider it a prob lem. To
illustrate, cons ider the following sentences, which all of us have
said or heard:
I hate my body. You’re only as old as you think you are. Youth is wasted on the young. I used to have a perfect figure. The statements express diffe rent sentiments, but each reflects
the sep aration of mind and body. “I hate my body” comes from
someone who feels trapped in physicality. The person is
bemoaning what she has done to her body, or what her body has
done to  her. The state of sep aration is obvious. “I” is pla ying the
part of the victim, and “body” is the culprit. “You are only as old as yo u think you are” is much more
optimistic, asserting that the mind can overcome the deterioration
of aging. Yet, as we all know, this is in part wishful thinkin g. Aging
is an inexorable process. It is much better to have a positive
attitude toward it than a negative one—society is benefiting fromthe “new old age,” which env isions every stage of life as v igorous,
productive, and  healthy. But a thought or a belief isn’t the same as
a state of awareness. “You’r e only as old as you think y ou are”
cannot substitu te for the true self. When established in yo ur sense
of s elf as a permanent state, aging holds no threat beca use you
identify with the timeless (we will go into what the timeless state
means in the next section). A good attitude toward the aging
process still leaves you trapped in your story. Oscar Wilde’s quip “Youth is wasted on the young” puts a witty
face on  a sad w ish that many people have: If only I could  go back


rition	of	the	foods. Make	your	own	vegetable	broth	in	big	batches	or
buy	an	organic	variety	from	the	market. When	you	get	home	or	when	you	want
an	easy	meal,	heat	the	vegetable	broth	on	the	stove	and	throw	in	various
veggies,	lentils,	or	even	beans	(from	cartons	if	you	are	in	a	rush)	for	an	easy,
nutritious,	and	family-friendly	meal. Try	pureeing	everything	if	you	like	a
smoother	soup. You	can	even	add	brown	rice	or	quinoa	to	stews,	and	toast	up
some	gluten-free	or
whole-grain	bread	for	extra-hungry	kids	and	teenagers	to
dip	into	their	stew. Invest	in	a	large,	good-quality	soup	pot,	and	it	will	be	a	great
friend	to	you	for	years	to	come. TURN	YOUR
FREEZER	INTO	YOUR	LIFE	RAFT
When	you	do	have	time	to	cook,	make	extra	and	freeze	portion	sizes	in
bisphenol	A	(BPA)–free	containers	(a	chemical	believed	to	potentially	cause
hormonal,	developmental,	and	brain	issues,	among	other	health	concerns). Youcan	freeze	anything	from	gluten-free	lasagna	to	soups,	bananas,	and	even	dark
chocolate. (Sweet-tooth	emergencies	are	still	emergencies. ) When	you	get	busy,
you	can	rest	assured	that	not	only	won’t	you	starve,	you	also	won’t	have	to
resort	to	Taco	Bell	or	the	equivalent	fast-and-easy	but	incredibly	beauty-busting
option	nearby. This	is	especially	great	if	you	have	an	erratic	schedule	that
doesn’t	always	allow	for	regular	grocery	shopping. You	can	grab	something	to
thaw	out	in	the	morning	before	leaving	for	work,	or	stick	the	container	in	a	pot
of	hot	water	when	you	get	home	if	you	forgot. Either	way,	nutritious	food	that
you	made	yourself	is	on	the	way. BUY	ITEMS	IN
BULK
If	you	can	find	a	great	local	(and	preferably	organic)	market	with	bins,	try	to
buy	large	amounts	of	quinoa,	lentils,	brown	rice,	steel-cut	oats,	and	whatever
other	dried	staples	you	love. Quinoa	is	a	great	one	because	it	is	mineral	and
nutrient	dense,	gluten-free,	and	cooks	up	in	about	12	to	14	minutes. It’s	perfect
for	quick
meals. Having	these	dried	staples	around	is	great	when	you	are	busy
and	don’t	have	time	to	go	out	and	shop. It’s	ideal	to	soak	them	overnight	or	at
least	during	the	day	if	you	can	throw	them	in	water	on	the	way	to	work. But,
hey,	if	you	forgot	or	are	in	a	real	time	crunch	and	the	choice	is	between
unsoaked	quinoa	and	takeout	made	with	questionable	oils	and	ingredients	you
aren’t	completely	sure	of,	the	quinoa	option	is	the	clear	winner. BE	A	STRATEGIC	VEGGIE	SHOPPER
Food
shopping	can	take	up	a	lot	of	time. Not	all	of	us	can	do	daily	vegetable
shopping	like	some	lucky	locals	in	the	South	of	France. If	you	can	only	go
grocery	shopping	once	a	week	or	so,	be	sure	to	get	veggies	that	are	heartier	and
can	last	until	the	end	of	the	week. Red/purple	cabbage,	onions,	shallots,	garlic,
root	vegetables	such	as	yams	and	spaghetti	squash,	carrots,	and	radishes	are
great	in	this	regard. Use	up	the	more	perishable	veggies	like	broccoli	or
watercress	earlier	in	the	week. By	being	strategic	with	your	veggies’	timetables,
you	should	be	able	to	enjoy	a	range	of	veggies	over	the	week. MAKE	BIGGER	BATCHES
In	addition	to	freezing	spare	portions	of	entrées,	it’s	also	easier	and	more
convenient	to	make	large	portion	sizes	of	kale	chips,	zucchini	hummus,	and
washed	and	chopped	veggies	that	you	can	chomp	on	and	dip	when	you	get
hungry. Keep	everything	in	airtight	glass	or	BPA-free	containers	in	your	fridge
and	you’ll	have	a	ready	supply	of	beautifying	foods	even	when	you’re	exhausted
or	pressed	for	time. MAKE	A	MASTER	GGS
If	you	are	a
Glowing	Green	Smoothie	(
this	page
)	drinker,	try	making	a	master
batch	on	Sunday	(or	whatever	day	of	the	week	is	the	easiest	for	you),	keeping
some	portions	out	for	the	next	day	or	so,	and	freezing	portion	sizes	that	you
can	thaw	out	later	in	the	week. This	is	a	great	time-saver	and	ensures	you	are
following	this	all-important	habit	as	much	as	possible. CHOOSING	ORGANIC
Choosing	organic	food	is	also	a	choice	for	your	beauty. Organic	produce	contains
superior	nutrition—more	beneficial	vitamins,	minerals,	essential
fatty	acids,	and
antioxidants	to	nourish	your	beauty	than	conventional	produce. By	definition,
organic	produce	does	not	include	genetically	modified	organisms	(GMO)	and	is
produced	without	the	use	of	artificial	pesticides,	antibiotics,	synthetic	fertilizers,
and	hormones	that	can	tax	and	age	your	body,	cumulatively	destroying	your
beauty	over	time. Going	organic	is	definitely	worth	the	extra	cost	for	your	health	and	beauty’s	sake. If	budget	is	an	issue,	check	out	the	latest	list	of	the	“
Dirty	Dozen”	from	the
Environmental	Working	Group	to	determine	which	twelve	produce	items	are	the
most	important	to	buy	organic. If	you	can	put	your	budget	toward	organic	versions
of	the	crops	that	are	sprayed	most	often	with	pesticides,	you	can	avoid	a	lot	of
pesticide	contamination. Check	out	local	farmer’s	markets	and	talk	to	local	sources,
which	may	or	may	not	have	organic	certifications	but	still	use	organic	farming
practices. It’s	especially	important	to	buy	organic	meat,	which	we’ll	discuss	more	in	a
moment. It’s	important	to	know	that	the	label
free-range
	doesn’t	necessarily	mean
organic	or	that	the	animals	were	fed	a	natural-food	diet. Always	look	for	the	term
organic
	or
organic	and	free-range
	on	the	label. According	to	the
National	Organic
Program	under	the	United	States	Department	of	Agriculture	(USDA),	to	be	labeled
organic	meat,	the	animals	must	be
raised	on	certified	organic	land;	fed	organic
feed	without	growth	hormones,	antibiotics,	GM	feed,	or	animal	by-products;	and
can’t	be	grown	using	persistent	pesticides	or	chemical	fertilizers. 1
Don’t	be	fooled	by	the	generic	word
natural. Natural	foods	are	not	necessarily
organic. They	may	contain	some	organic	ingredients—or	they	may	not. If	you	are
buying	packaged	products,	look	for	the	USDA
certified	organic
	seal,	which	signifies
that	a	product	contains	at	least	95	percent	organically	grown	ingredients. You	vote
with	your	food	choices. Choosing	organic	for	the	recipes	in	this	book	and	in	general
will	help	increase	the	demand	for	organic. This	will	eventually	help	lower	organic
prices,	support	the	environment,	and	build	and	sustain	your	precious	beauty	and
health. Reality	Check:	You	Eat	What	Your	Food	Eats
The	fact	that	you	ultimately	ingest	whatever	the
animals	you	eat	ingest