 D I X  I
C o m p a r i s o n  o f  S o m e  I m p o r t a n t  M e d i c i n a l  S u b s t a n c e s
China an d India  have traded and  exchanged much information on the use of
plants, minerals and animal products for food and medicinal p urposes over their
long history. The merchants, priests and scholars who over the past two millennia
sought n ew sources of medicines undoubtedly exchanged infor mation about each
culture’ s use of drugs. About a  quarter of the plants listed in t he Chinese classic
Compendium of Materia Medica {Ben Cao Gang Mu),  w hich was writ ten in 1590
A.D. by Li Shi Zhen and was co nsidered the most extensive materia medica in its
time, ar e common to both India and China. Many of the p lants listed in this
Chinese materia  medica were in  fact imported from India. T rad e and information
historically also went the other way, over the Himalayas to influence A yurveda’ s
formulations, and new medicin al substances are still being introduced into the
market p lace in both India and  China. Ginseng root, for exam ple, is now being
cultivated and sold in India.
In this appendi x a representative group of twelve substances which are
common to both traditions, ten of plant origin and one each from the mineral and
animal kingdom s, is discussed from both perspectives. Abo ut half the drugs
mentioned below  are native to both countries, and the rest were originally trade
commodities native to one or the other. This comparative survey includes a brief
historical backg round, each drug’ s Latin, Sanskrit and Chine se names, and the
part(s) of the source plant, mineral or animal which was traditionally used.
As will become evident hereafter, the Chinese and A yurvedic systems
categorized and utilized most medicinal substances in approximately similar ways.
The general uniformity of opinion on the taste and temperature properties of the
substances amo ng both systems is perhaps due to the fact t hat both taste and
temperature are deduced directly through sensory feedback and physical
interaction with the substance. T hose diver gences of opinion which do occur may
be partially explained by the subtle changes a plant goes through in adapting to a
dif ferent habitat, and partially by the specific uses that each discipline emphasizes
in a ccordance with its own medical paradigm. Also, the con text of the whole
materia medica af fects how a substance may be emphasized,  so that what is aminor remedy in one system may in the other be portrayed as an indispensable
drug.
Chebulic myrobalan holds a position of high esteem in A yurveda, perhaps its
most im portant plant. Chebulic myrobalan’ s Sanskrit name (haritaki) has the triple
meaning of taking away all diseases (harayet), of being gree n in natural color
(harita) and of growing in the abode of Lord Shiva (Hara), the Himalayas
(considered the plant’ s ideal ha bitat). Since Charaka’ s time chebulic myrobalan
fruit has been c onsidered a powerful tonic and rejuvenative that “never causes
harm to a person  who takes it.” Chebulic myrobalan found favo r wherever it went,
in Grec o-Roman, T ibetan, Ch inese and Arabic medicine, being praised by
A vicenna, the great 1 1th century Muslim physician, and extolled in the Four
T antras (Gyushi),  T ib et’ s preeminent medical tex t, as the “king of medicines.” So
sacred is chebulic myrobalan to T ibetans that it is the Me dicine Buddha is
visualized holdi ng in his exten ded right hand in a gesture of giving. T ibetan
medicine utilizes every part of this plant for medicinal purposes.
A yurveda utilize s not one but three myrobalans, however; the other two
being Em blica o f ficinalis (amal aki) and T erminalia belerica (bibhitaki). The three
together form triphala ("three fr uits"), a remedy par excellence for regulating and
toning th e digestive tract, and o ne of A yurveda’ s foremost prescriptions. A yurveda
considers chebu lic myrobalan calming to all Doshas, and especially beneficial for
reducing V ata, for though the  fruit is predominantly astringent in taste it is
warming in its inherent attribute and its post-digestive ef fect is sweet. Chebulic
myrobalan’ s main therapeutic function is to scrape away digestive toxins from the
digestive tract and the tissues (especially the blood). It is much used in abdominal
distension, malabsorption, jaundice, tumors, urinary infections, edema, and in both
constipation and  diarrhea. Chebulic myrobalan is said to rejuvenate both the body
(especially the colon and lungs)  and mind, to impart wisdom and intelligence, and
to increase longevity. This makes it ideal for use in chronic conditions such as
asthma (in which case its jam is consumed or its coarse powder is smoked),
prolapses of various or gans, abnormal dischar ges (spermatorrhea, leucorrhea, and
sweating), and bleeding gums.
Chebulic myrob alan was first mentioned in Chinese medicine in the Materia
Medica of Medicinal Pr operties  (Y ao Xing Ben Cao),  a text p ublished around 600
A.D., as a fruit originating from India. Nowadays it is grown in the southernChinese provinces of Y unnan, Guangdong and Guangxi. Chebu lic myrobalan has
no special status in Chinese medicine. It is said to bind up the intestines, and to be
useful in treating dysentery an d chronic diarrhea due to eith er internal heat or
coldness (which is why Chinese medicine considers it to have a neutral
temperature). A lso, since chebulic myrobalan is said to contain  the lung’ s Qi it is
able to stop coughing, relieve asthma, and soothe the throat. Chinese medicine
administers the fruit in the roasted form for intestinal symptoms, and in the raw
form for respiratory complaints.Of t he many varieties of smilax  or sarsaparilla throughout Asia, one highly
regarded species  called china ro ot was exported to India unde r the name “chob-
chini.” This became an import ant Chinese trade commodity with the spread of
syphilis from the New W orld, after the 15th century. According to Chinese
medicine, china  root’ s main use  is in treating syphilis and chronic skin disorders
(ulcers, gout and hot boils) which are characterized by the presence of damp-heat.
In fact the inc reased importance of smilax in Chinese med icine occurred in
response to the spread of syph ilis. Furthermore, china root eliminates systemic
damp-heat which may display itself as rheumatic joint pain, dif ficult, cloudy and
painful urination, or jaundice.
A yurvedic medicine utilizes china root (and the other species of sarsaparilla)
as deep- acting b lood cleansers for more or less the same physical complaints as
does Ch inese medicine. One major dif ference is that A yurveda ascribes to china
root a purifying and tranquilizin g ef fect upon the mind, which  makes it useful in
treating disorder s of the nervou s system such as epilepsy and insanity. Generally,
sarsaparilla reduces V ata and purifies Pitta (and so improves Es sential Fire), while
being ne utral in ef fect on Kapha. It has a slight tonic ef fect upo n the reproductive
or gans and is used externally to treat venereal sores and herpes.Fennel i s thought to have originally come from the Mediterrane an area, and
to have slowly s pread eastward over the centuries. The first m ention of fennel in
the C hinese texts is in the T ang Materia Medica (T ang Be n Cad)  ( 65 9 A. D.), and
this herb  probably arrived in Ch ina from India. In the Chinese  tradition fennel is
mainly used to move the Qi (especially through the liver) and to warm the kidneys
and abdominal or gans. Fennel is considered beneficial in all abdominal complaints
(such as pains, indigestion, hernias and vomiting) that arise from coldness.
According to A yurveda, fennel is a good herb for all constitutional types,
balancing V ata, Pitta and Kapha, and promoting mental alertness. Because fennel is
an e xcellent digestive tonic that can promote the digestive fire without aggravating
Pitta, it is useful in all sorts of intestinal complaints, including colic and ulcer. In
A yurveda fennel  is also employ ed in gynecology, since it prom otes both a healthy
menstrual flow and a nursing mother ’ s flow


 ur vinegars
and oils.
Lavender and santolina grow in the dry micro-climate of the Olympic
Mountains in W ashington. In N orth America, some of the top commerciallavender -growing areas are in California, Oregon, and a narrow strip of land
between the mountains in W ash ington State, as well as the Juan de Fuca
Strait centred around Sequim.
Lavender Garlic Paste:  For a p aste that adds the essen ce of summertime
in th e Mediterranean to winter  dishes, try this easy flavour spike. In a
mortar a nd pestle, or in a blender, mash together 3 tbsp (45 mL) dried
or ganic lavender buds, 3 fresh g arlic cloves, 1 piece of candied ginger and 1
cinnamon stick (2 inches/5 cm). Freeze in ice cube trays. Use as a flavour
hit for stir -fried vegetables, mas hed or puréed vegetables and ri ce, pasta or
whole grain dishes.
Savory
There a re two types of savo ry: the annual summer savory (Satur eja
hortensis)  a nd the wood y perennial winter savory (Satur eja Montana).
Summer savory is milder and sweeter in flavour, while winte r savory is
hearty and most often used in preserves and dried for use all winter.
Essential:  Always  use or ganically grown, untreated herbs and flowers fo r
preserving and cooking.a p r i c o t  c o m p o t e  w i t h  l a v e n d e r  a n d  c i t r u s
Bright and tangy, with just a hint of flowery lavender, this compote is
unusual and beautiful on winter tables. I use it with pork dishes, but it
r eally shines as a fruit sauce for all sorts of desserts. Leave  the chunky
textur e and pr ocess in jars after  cooking in step 1, or purée the mixtur e in a
food pr ocessor for a smooth, thick spr eadable sauce. If using fr esh lavender
buds, r emember to incr ease the amount slightly.
MAKES 3 CUPS (750 ML)
20 dried apricot halves, coarsely chopped
1 cup (250 mL) orange juice
3 navel oranges, sectioned
1 lemon, peeled and chopped
1–1/2 cups (375 mL) granulated sugar
1 piece vanilla bean (4 inches/10 cm), split
2 tbsp (25 mL) dried organic lavender buds
1/2 tsp (2 mL) gr ound coriander seeds
1/2 tsp (2 mL) gr ound cinnamon
1. In a lar ge sa ucepan, combin e apricots, orange juice, orange sections,
lemon, sugar, vanilla bean, lave nder, coriander and cinnamon.  Bring to a
boil ove r medium-high heat. Reduce heat and gently simmer f or about 60
minutes, adding more orange juice if necessary to keep the mixture from
scorching. The fruit should be soft and the mixture thick.
2. Mean while, heat three 1-cup ( 250 mL) jars in boiling water, and scald the
lids, lifter, funnel and tongs ( Boiling W ater Method, Step by Step ).
3. S kim of f and discard any foam. Fill hot jars, leaving a 1/4-i nch (5 mm)
headspace. Run a thin non-metallic utensil around the inside of the jar to
allow air to escape. Add more hot compote, if necessary, to leav e a 1/4-inch
(5 m m) headspace. W ipe rims, top with flat lids and screw on metal rings.
Return jars to th e hot water ba th, topping up with hot water if necessary.
Bring to  a full r olling boil and process jars for 10 minutes ( Boiling W ater
Method, Step by Step ).
4. Remo ve cann er lid and wait 5 minutes before removing jars t o a towel or
rack to cool com pletely. Check seals, label and store in a cool place for up
to 1 year.
s a l s a  v e r d e
Salsa ver de (“gr een sauce”) is an old dish, dating at least as far back as the
Middle Ages. It’ s a sauce for a ny season, especially summer,  when fr esh
gr een herbs ar e abundant, but I tend to make it in the winter. It finishes
cooked vegetabl es, acts as a pasta sauce and lends a good flavour to baked
fish and chicken. In the winter, use fr esh parsley and spinach, and tip in a
cube of Mediterranean Herb Paste  if  you f r oze some in the fall. T he hit of
fr esh gr eens is somehow appr eciated a bit mor e when the temperatur e is at
or below fr eezing and everything outside is white.
MAKES 3 CUPS (750 ML)
4 cloves garlic1/4 cup (50 mL) almonds
1–1/2 cups (375 mL) lightly packed fr esh flat-leaf parsley leaves
2 cups (500 mL) lightly packed fr esh spinach leaves
2 tbsp (25 mL) dried savory or hyssop
1 tsp (5 mL) gr ound bay leaf, optional
2 slices country br ead, crusts r emoved and cubed
1/4 cup (50 mL) sweet pickled onions or cucumber cubes, drained,
brine r eserved
1/2 cup (125 mL) olive oil
2 tbsp (25 mL) r eserved sweet pickle brine sea salt and fr eshly gr ound
pepper

1. In  a food proc essor or using a  mortar and pestle, chop or crush the garlic
and the almonds. Add parsley spinach, hyssop and bay if using, to the bowl
and coar sely cho p or grind. Add bread and onions to the bowl and coarsely
chop or grind.
2. W ith the mot or running, drizzle some olive oil into the mixt ure through
the open ing in the lid and ke ep pouring until the sauce reaches a soft
consistency If using a mortar, dr izzle some olive oil over and work into the
mixture with the pestle. Keep adding oil and working it in until the sauce
reaches a soft and blended consistency. Add brine and process for a few
seconds just to mix. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
s o o t h i n g  w i n t e r  c o u g h  s y r u p
W e hear about “active ingr edients,” and we know that many drugs contain
plant-based healing constituents, but many of us have lost the k nowledge of
how to use her bs for simple r emedies. This cough syrup r elies on the
warming qualities fr om herbs in the Labiatae family (hyssop, or egano,
r osemary, sage, savory and thyme), as well as the r estorativ e and tonicbenefits fr om hor ehound. Use a ll of these herbs, or a combination of the
herbs you have dried, in this sim ple syrup. Having a bottle of this effective
thr oat soother in the medicine cabinet is comforting.
MAKES 1 CUP (250 ML)
2 cups (500 mL) water
1/4 cup (50 mL) crushed mixed dried winter herbs (see above)
1 cup (250 mL) granulated sugar

1. Bring  the water to a boil. In a teapot, combine dried herbs and the water.
Cover the pot and block the spout to trap evaporating medicinal oils. Let the
tea steep  for 30 minutes. Strain  of f herbs, pressing on them to release as
much infused liquid as possible.
2. In a s aucepan, bring the infus ed water to a boil over high heat. Add sugar
and brin g back to a boil, stirring constantly. Gently boil for abou t 5 minutes
or u ntil the syrup is thickened. Pour into a sterilized or clean j ar; cap with
the lid. Store in the refrigerator for 4 to 6 months.S o u r c e s / R e s o u r c e s
General
http://gr owingtaste.com/vegetables.shtml
Desirable V egetable V arieties :  A very good site listing vegetable
varieties and their quality acco rding to taste. This is good reading,
especially for home gardeners, and for home preservers to discuss with
local growers.
http://www.seeds.ca/en.php
Seeds of Diversity:  Canada’ s heritage seed progra m for gardeners,
with a databas e of plant species, seed catalogue inventory, seed
availability and historic seed catalogues. Consider supporting this
valuable resource, even if you don’ t garden.
http://www.seedsavers.org/
Seed Savers Exchange:  A non-profit, non-governmental, member -
supported or gan ization in the United States that saves and shares
heirloom seeds.
http://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/buylocal/
Sustainable T able:  A well-presented site with information on food
choice issues,


 the population exhibits a condition in which some of the primary or permanent teeth are
missing. This condition is called hypodontia, and is associated with genetic or environmental factors.
Problems with primary and adult teeth not erupting have been shown in cases of rickets, syphilis, and
in laboratory animal experiments with a very high sugar diet. Congenital syphilis is linked to missing
teeth. Its symptoms on the skeletal system are very similar to that of scurvy and rickets.
27
 Scurvy in
children was treated with raw minced beef, fresh cow's milk, and orange juice. Perhaps missing teeth
is related to a lack of vitamin C or a lack of fat-soluble vitamin D in the diet during important times of
growth including in the womb. The exact cause of missing teeth still remains a mystery.The Vicious Cycle and Tooth Decay
One school of thought proposes that emotions are the primary cause of physical disease. Another
school of thought declares the opposite, citing that disease has little to do with emotions. Let us try to
clear up this mess so you can take care of your teeth in the healthiest way possible.
Emotions and stress can absolutely affect your health. The way your emotions affect your health is
primarily through poor food choices when you feel bad, or unhappy, and good food choices when you
feel well. Emotions such as sadness, anger, and grief can also interfere with your body’s ability to
digest food.
Emotions do affect your internal body chemistry which can alter your calcium and phosphorous
balance. Strong emotions can engage the fight or flight response within your glands (adrenal, pituitary,
thyroid and so on). The fight or flight response will cause poisonous substances to be secreted into
your blood stream readying you for attack or to run for your life. While many situations in our modern
lives feel like fight or flight events, the reality for most people is that
we do not live in truly life or
death situations in our modern world.
Many people behave as if they do, but this is an artificially
created reality that is in part exaggerated by the mass media. If you behave as if every news event,
traffic jam, or bad look from a stranger is the end of your life, then your body is going to use up
tremendous amounts of resources for nothing.
I have noticed that some people who experience severe tooth decay are severely stressed. They are in
a hurry, always rushing, putting their needs off until the last minute. When someone comes to me and
they cannot slow down, take a breath, and just take a look at themselves for a moment, then I know
they most likely will fail in remineralizing tooth decay. This is what is known as the vicious cycle.
Difficult events challenge us in life, and rather than getting easier, life sends us more difficult events.
The cycle also works constructively for certain people in certain parts of their lives, such as the
person who always gets one good job or economic fortune after the next.
Your job is to transform the negative cycle of dental health into a positive cycle. The way this
happens is by inviting in the positive feelings and experiences, while at the same time searching for
and acknowledging the negative experiences. Stress is primarily caused by unacknowledged feelings.
In modern society, we face life situations that our bodies are physically and emotionally unequipped
for, such as eating a sandwich while driving and talking on a cell phone at the same time. As a result,
we experience this specific kind of uncomfortable tension we call stress. To help deal with stress,
one must slow down, breathe, and acknowledge the feelings present in this moment. The simple
question of, “What is here now?” helps bring one’s focus into the moment. One could also ask, “How
am I feeling now?” These are some tools that help enhance awareness. Yoga, meditation, tai chi, chi
gong, and many other forms of meditation, movement, or therapy, will help you reduce stress, clear
your mind, and make you a healthier person.
Just relax and trust the healing process for your teeth. This means trusting you will be fine, whether
you get a dental treatment on the tooth or not. Feel, or imagine a positive feeling of support that you
can overcome tooth decay. If you have a negative doubting voice, just notice it and smile at it.
Through dedicated yoga practice, I began noticing how my body was being negatively affected by thefood I ate. (I was eating foods on the “avoid” list before I knew any better, particularly “health food
bars” and tofu.) This encouraged me to improve my diet. I became keenly aware of the physical
consequences of poor food choices. Even today, I closely monitor my diet and stay disciplined so I
do not succumb to negative food habits from the past. I also encourage you to review the beginning of
chapter about healing children’s cavities for more pointers on dealing with feelings.
The Hidden Need to Be Sick
You may find this section difficult to believe. I bring it up here because I want to challenge you to be
at your best to heal your teeth. As much as people want healthy teeth, very few people actually have a
100% whole-hearted desire or intention to be healthy. An experienced health practitioner opened my
book to this page and exclaimed how so many of her patients actually wanted to be sick.
Most of us have a mixed bag of emotions in relation to our intention to be healthy. Just like the moon,
we have our own light side and our own dark side. Yet when we just focus on our light side, and
ignore the dark side, we are missing out on what makes life beautiful and balanced. The light part of
us wants to be healthy and the dark side wants to be unhealthy. The classic result of this inner conflict
is wishing our tooth decay to be fixed, without wanting to do any of the work to fix it. This is a key
belief that has given rise and power to modern dentistry. Dentistry helps us not face our dark side that
wants to be sick. Conventional dentistry allows us to be sick by telling us that we have nothing to do
with tooth decay, that it is all the action of the bacteria and what the bacteria eat.
The result of the missing dark side of yourself that only pops up here and there when nobody is
looking, is that we might subconsciously equate being healthy with suffering. The suffering associated
with the effort needed to become healthy can manifest in many forms: complaining about exercise,
believing in disempowering information, or not wanting to pay extra for healthy foods or a better
dentist. These behaviors are a result of the interplay between your light side that wants to get healthy,
and your dark side that does not care or that does not want health.
Putting more commitment and energy behind your goal of health requires positive feelings, beliefs and
good will. If you are not fully committed to this positive result, then there must be some hidden
negativity. This hidden dark side feels as though it has to suffer. It does not want the best. The dark
side can make it hard for you to take care of yourself. To help transform the dark side you cannot
simply ignore it and push it away. That would merely create more darkness. Just as there is nothing
wrong with the dark side of the moon, your own dark side is not bad; it is simply a part of life that
needs to be accepted. The way to cause a transformation is to bring light (awareness) to the darkness
(unconsciousness). To help heal this hidden internal dilemma, I suggest three things:

1
.
Acknowledge and look for the unconscious wish to not live, or to not be healthy.
2
.
Meditate upon, or pray for help, or discuss with friends your dark side. Look for ways to bring
the dark side into the light.
3
.
Commit to excellence. Without force, see if you are willing to make the simple commitment that
“I want the best for myself,” or “I deserve the best in life.”
Making a new commitment to yourself or to life is the first step towards breaking the vicious cycle oftooth decay. Then you can start to see the hidden gold of your suffering, and that there are important
lessons, meaning and purpose in your life, if you are willing to embrace them.Busting the Myth that Food-Stuck-On-Teeth Causes Cavities
Dentists, it is time to give up this arcane concept that carbohydrates fermenting on teeth are eaten by
acid-producing bacteria that cause tooth decay. This theory is akin to saying that rain causes your roof
to leak. When the roof of your home is sealed and well cared for it will not leak whether it rains or
not. Likewise when your tooth enamel is strong and healthy your teeth will not be affected by the
changing conditions in your mouth. W.D. Miller, the originator of the bacterial theory of tooth decay,
said it himself in 1883, “What we might call the perfect tooth
would resist indefinitely
 the same acid
to which a tooth of opposite character would succumb in a few weeks." Because bacteria are
everywhere, trying to eliminate bacteria from your mouth to prevent tooth decay would be like trying
to eliminate rain from the sky to prevent a leaky roof.
Many of the cultures Dr. Weston Price studied relied upon a significant portion of their diet from
carbohydrates including milk and carbohydrate-rich grain products, yet suffered practically no tooth
decay. The healthy Gaelic people of the Outer Hebrides, who ate approximately 1000 calories of
properly prepared oats per day, had almost no tooth decay (0.7-1.3% of all teeth affected). The
isolated


 was being warned many months before my case became
clinical.
From time to time, I  would notice belching just a little gas, but I  didn't give it much
thought — just supposed I  had eaten a little too much. Eventually, I  began to pass gas
from the bowel, a little at first and finally so much that it was embarrassing to me and
also my family.
My First Warning
My hobby was antique automobiles. On one trip the family made to Colorado in our
1923 Cadillac, I  noticed that at dusk I  found it difficult to read the road signs. I  had to
be right up to them before they became legible. I  still didn't have the good sense even
to suspect I  had cancer, and didn't give the matter much more thought until two
months later when I  was showing some slides to the Antique Automobile Club. I
couldn't seem to get the pictures in focus. I  thought I  had damaged my camera, but
the club members said the pictures were very clear and that I'd better have my eyes
checked. Finally, I  gave in and made an appointment with the ophthalmologist for an
eye examination. To my horror, he prescribed trifocals. My protests were for naught,
and I  could see my pictures and road signs much better.
My Second Warning
Things went on about the same for several months, until I  began to notice that if I  sat
in one position for more than twenty minutes I  would have muscle aches, particularly
in the back. My physician finally gave me a muscle relaxant, after I'd visited him
several times with the same complaint. I  was still too naive to suspect cancer. The
medication didn't help much, and in another month or so I  began to have pains in my
chest. This of course upset me considerably, and I  rushed to the physician once more.
Over the next few months, several electrocardiograms were made and nothing out of
the ordinary showed, it couldn't, because the pain was from the chest muscles — a
frequent sign of cancer — but as usual, I  was oblivious to the true early warning
signs.
My Third Warning Went Unheeded
A long, long horrible period of mental depression followed — another true warning
sign that cancer was rearing its ugly head. I  went to the physician again and
practically begged for help, asking for an antidepressant drug or anything that would
help alleviate this chronic, severe depression. By this time, he was fed up with me
169
Winning The Cancer War
and my complaints and he sat me down and carefully explained that there was
nothing wrong with me. My heart was better than his, and it was high time that I  stop
worrying about it; after all, it was only in my mind!
As cancer progresses, it gives off a toxin that makes one extremely depressed, and
there is a feeling of impending death a good part of the time. Gradually, during the
entire three years of early cancer growth in my body, I  became weaker and weaker.
By this time, I  knew something very tragic was taking place, but I  didn't know what,
and still didn't have any suspicion that it might be cancer.
My job, the work I  loved so very much, became distasteful. I  wanted to give it up and
start a new profession — anything to attempt regaining an interest in life. After all the
many years of college training for a job I  loved to do, I  was seriously contemplating
junking it all. After eight years of clinical practice and research, I  found myself ready
to throw in the towel. It was a terrible feeling to be so sick and not be able to
understand why or put a name on it. My thinking became fuzzy, unclear and
irrational.
A Fourth Warning — and still not an inkling in my mind what the culprit might be!
During these many months of severe depression, my hair began showing signs of
lifelessness, becoming brittle and coarse. I  was losing some, and what was left was
fast becoming gray.
Warning Five also escaped my attention!
Also, at this time, I  developed a hernia. This is typical of a person with malignancy,
since the malignancy is accompanied by muscle deterioration. Warning Five also
escaped my attention!
My Sixth Warning:
By this time I  was feeling so bad that I  reluctantly returned to my physician. He finally
admitted that there might be something wrong and sent me off to an internist. After
the passing of three month's time, during which the Beard Anthrone Cancer test had
proved extremely positive and I  had undergone many other tests and diagnostic
procedures including X-rays, the internist finally suggested biopsies of my pancreas,
liver, and intestines. He suspected that these operations would reveal cancer.
Although the biopsies were not performed, the physician's suspicions were correct.
My wife was privately told not only that I  had tumors in all three organs, but also
that in the doctor's opinion I  had no more than 18 months to live. And though I  had
begun to suspect the worst, another month passed before I  myself learned of all the
170
Winning The Cancer War
facts. Meanwhile, the chief surgeon in our locale had ruled out full-scale surgery
because he thought I  was in such bad shape that I  wouldn't make it off the operating
table alive. My wife had been told to take me home and get our affairs in order as
promptly as possible, for it wouldn't be long before I'd pass away.
Ironically, though I  had been doing cancer research for several years, it had never
occurred to me that I  could have it myself. I  guess I  was just like thousands of people
who think it can happen to someone else — but not to them. Only the cancer victim
can understand the fear and despair that finally overwhelmed me. This hit me harder,
probably, than it would have the average person, because I  had been studying and
researching the details of cancer and had a firsthand insight into that horror of
horrors.
Since early childhood, I  experienced a deep and abiding interest in all facets of
medicine and I  had spent much of my life studying anything and everything I  could
find in the field. I  had spent two and one-half-years with the military medics and
fourteen years working my way through college in hospitals doing everything from
running electrocardiograms to assisting in surgery — viewing firsthand the complete
gamut of medical practices and witnessing the tragic decline and ultimate death of
hundreds of hopeless cancer victims.
With this great deal of knowledge about the medical community's various
approaches to cancer, I  knew that in spite of all the propaganda fed to the general
public about success rates with certain treatments, there were actually very few
people who survived the medical establishment's chemicals, surgical procedures, and
radiation treatments. I  didn't want to be another one of its statistics.
As soon as I  realized my true situation, I  decided not to take any new patients and
prayed that I  would be granted time to complete the work with the patients already
under my care. It took me about two weeks to overcome the terrific shock and to
wrestle with my fate.
After days of intensive thought and prayer, I  decided not to accept the fate of an
early death. Instead, I  accepted life and my duty to seek out God's Laws concerning
cancer and, if possible, apply them to myself and teach them to others.
My doctors had considered performing surgery on me, but they didn't think I  would
make it through the operation. I  was so near death. God, in his infinite wisdom, had
another path for me. Not being able to have surgery turned out to be a great blessing,
but of course I  didn't see it that way at the time. The only thing I  could do then was
regulate my diet. My life hung in such a delicate balance (another blessing), that I
could feel very clearly the effect of each food I  ingested. If I  ate wrong foods, I  could
171
Winning The Cancer War
very easily tell it by the way I  felt.
As time passed, I  realized one of the basic laws of cancer: Wrong foods caused the
malignancy to grow, while proper foods allowed natural body defenses to work and
the malignancy was absorbed a little. This is one reason some people can live so long
with cancer, while others succumb very quickly. Through a process too long to
describe here, I  worked out the relationship of enzymes, minerals, and co-enzymes,
as well as proper detoxification procedures.
By the time I  started my program, I  was in very bad shape. I  was extremely
depressed, with nothing seeming to work out well. I  had a feeling of impending death
most of the time, was always tired, and became completely exhausted at the slightest
effort.
The cancer had eaten into the nerve connections to my heart, causing rapid pulse
rates and irregular beating. My cancerous pancreas was so damaged and enlarged
that I  had hypoglycemia and was going into insulin shock several times a day. My
liver also was cancerous and enlarged. I  could not eat much, as I  was so nauseated.
My intestines were so laden with cancer that I  was in constant pain. I  w ill have scars


 juice either several teaspoons of milk-free acidophilus culture or several
high-potency acidophilus capsules, preferably also containing biﬁdo bacteria, possibly also other lactobacteria. If available you may
also use a cupful of acidophilus yoghurt made from goats' milk. All cultures should be free of cows’  milk protein. Continue with the
acidophilus therapy for much longer, taking high-potency cultures with liquid before breakfast and other meals or several times daily.
If your blood sugar level is not normal after the ﬁrst week, continue with this cleanse for a second week, and possibly even for a third
week.
THE BASIC TYPE 1 DIABETES DIET
Children, depending on age, may remain for one to several days on this changeover cleansing routine, while adults may continue for
one to two or three weeks, or until the blood sugar stabilises at an improved level. Start with one meal a day of the foods allowed in
the basic diet. A day or two later increase this to two meals. If your blood  sugar level is now reasonably low and stable without insulin,
then start with allergy-testing the individual foods of the maintenance diet. If you still require insulin, remain for several weeks on the
basic diet before you start allergy testing new foods.
The basic diet is a ‘safe’  diet with a minimum of glucose or foods such as starch that yield glucose during digestion. Suitable foods
are meat, ﬁsh and other seafood, eggs, goats’  milk products (preferably fermented), Brazil nuts, ground linseed, avocados, lettuce
and other leaf vegetables, celery, cucumber, some fresh tomato and raw onion for ﬂavouring a salad, tart apples, lemon and lime
juice. Green beans are especially good.
For normalising or stabilising the blood sugar level meat and ﬁsh may be conventionally cooked. However, the higher the cooking
temperature, the greater will be the long-term health damage. Therefore, boil or steam but do not heat the food to above the boiling
point. Nevertheless, much greater beneﬁt in overall health will result from eating these foods predominantly raw. Use additional
digestive enzymes with all cooked foods, but especially with cooked ﬂesh foods.
Raw food and digestive enzymes are especially important for those who like to re-generate their insulin production, or for anyone with
damage to their eyes, kidneys or blood vessels. Raw meat or ﬁsh are quite safe if you take suitable precautions. Try to ﬁnd a source
of organic meat and fowl, or otherwise grass-fed beef and free-range chicken. According to the Australian Department of Primary
Industries freezing meat for about 10 days at minus 8°C or colder will kill any tapeworm cysts. Avoid any meat from feedlots, or ﬁsh
from ﬁsh farms. Minimise eating large predatory ﬁsh, such as shark or tuna, because of their high mercury content. In addition use
parasite remedies as outlined below.
Besides using raw minced meat, you may marinate diced meat or ﬁsh, or blend ﬁsh or chicken with water. Fresh ﬁsh often is
sufﬁciently tender and tasty as it is. To marinate you immerse diced meat or ﬁsh in lemon juice or diluted cider vinegar and keep it
refrigerated overnight.
Use raw onion, lime or lemon juice, ginger or chilli or any other herbs or spices for ﬂavouring meals. If trying out raw ﬂesh foods start
using small amounts and increase gradually. Minimise the use of salt, and avoid it if you have a kidney problem, except if your blood
pressure is rather low. Small amounts of magnesium chloride or potassium chloride are beneﬁcial instead of salt. Egg yolk is best
eaten raw and mixed with other food, while the white may be cooked; as a compromise you may soft-boil or lightly poach the egg, in
any case the yolk should remain soft.
In addition to meat, ﬁsh or other seafood, egg or non-pasteurised goats’  cheese, eat a salad with each meal using the mentioned low-
carbohydrate vegetables and possib ly yoghurt. You may use virgin coconut oil and extra virgin olive oil. Avoid tinned ﬁsh with any kind
of sauce, sausages or other manufactured meat.
Besides one or two meals, have apples or possibly pears and frequent drinks with diluted lime or lemon juice. Whenever you feel
hungry, mix a teaspoon of spirulina (or chlorella) powder, a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil, and a pinch of lecithin with water (warm
or cold) or with diluted lime or lemon juice as an appetite suppressant and energiser.
Finally, several times a day before or between meals mix a teaspoon of psyllium hulls in a large glass of water and drink immediately.
This is to help clean out the intestinal tract and ensure two to three easy bowel movements each day.
If your blood sugar level remains more or less normal, or after several weeks on this basic diet you may use allergy testing as
described below to see how you react to additional foods as suggested for type 2 diabetics. Continue to use only non-reacting or safe
foods.
TYPE 2 DIABETES DIET
It is highly recommended to have a one to two-week cleansing period on tart apples, diluted lemon juice, Epsom salt-garlic ﬂush and
acidophilus culture as described for Type 1 diabetes. During this time it is advisable to leave off all blood sugar lowering drugs to
avoid an insulin shock. If your blood sugar level is not normal after the ﬁrst week, continue for a second week, and possibly even for a
third week. When your blood sugar has normalised, or if you cannot immediately do this cleanse, use the following diet.
Initially eat only lentils, chickpeas (hommos), fenugreek, peas and beans (cooked or sprouted), fresh vegetables (cooked and raw),
nuts (except cashews) and oily seeds, eggs, goats’  milk products (preferably fermented), ﬁsh and other seafood, apples, lemons,
limes and grapefruit, avocados, virgin coconut oil and extra virgin olive oil. Use lecithin with all meals, and frequently spirulina or
chlorella powder. After several weeks you may also add lean meat.
Also, several times a day before or between meals mix a teaspoon of psyllium hulls in a large glass of water and drink immediately.
This is to help clean out the intestinal tract and ensure two to three easy bowel movements each day.10/30/24, 3:11 PM Health-Science-Spirit - Holistic Diabetes Treatment
https://health-science-spirit.com/Diseases/Diabetes/Holistic-Diabetes-Treatment.html 2/5ALLERGY  TESTING
If the blood sugar level becomes again too high after introducing the foods of the basic diet, or when introducing additional foods, test
the blood sugar level before and after each new meal composition. If the rise in the sugar level remains within normal limits, the same
ingredients do not normally need to be tested again. However, if there is an unusual rise, test the ingredients of that meal individually,
especially any new additions.
Furthermore, try to take your pulse before each test meal and about 30 and 60 minutes after the meal. If the pulse rises much higher
than after eating apples only or after a safe meal, an allergy must be suspected even if the blood sugar level does not show an
unusual rise. Usually that means that the pulse rises by more than 10 per cent.
If either blood sugar or pulse shows an unusual rise, avoid the food to which this may be attributed for several weeks before testing it
again. However, a certain food may not cause a problem if used in small amounts or only once a week, while frequent exposure to
larger quantities or combined with other stresses may upset the sugar level. You may discover such pattern from a well-kept diary.
Make a column each for the time, the tested food or ingredient or the composition of the meal, the blood sugar and pulse before and
after the meal, and ﬁnally any unusual reactions; also keep a record of any blood sugar lowering medication. Even nutritional
supplements may react and need to be tested. For further information on allergy testing see Addictions & Allergies.
THE MAINTENANCE DIET FOR BOTH TYPES
Long-term Type 1 diabetics may require a longer period of additional therapies as described below before they can safely diversify
their diet. However, there is no harm in trying. Some foods may be ﬁne in small amounts, and only increase the blood sugar level in
larger amounts or if eaten together with other carbohydrate containing foods.
Preferably much of the food intake should be fresh and raw. Fenugreek tends to delay the absorption of foods and this improves the
sugar regulation. If it tests all right for you and you ﬁnd that it improves your sugar level, then take 1 tablespoonful at the beginning of
each meal that contains glucose-yielding carbohydrates together with the water in which it has been soaked overnight. Immediately
before drinking you may in addition stir into it a tablespoon of freshly ground linseed. These may be freshly ground in a coffee grinder,
or in a larger quantity in a blender, and kept in the freezer.
As long as the sugar level is too high, eat between meals either a tart apple or drink some fresh lime or lemon juice, later you may
also try grapefruit juice. If you have elevated ketone levels greatly increase the intake of lime or lemon juice;


 not so much personal or moral failings as an
inability to harmonize the forces within us.
Vata (Air) Type
Psychological disturbances occur with greater frequen-
cy when Vata is too high, which, as the nervous force, eas-
ily affects the mind. Like Vata, the mind is composed of
the air and ether elements. Vata's excess of air causes insta-
bility and agitation in the mind, which results in excessive
thinking or worrying and makes our problems appear
worse than they really are. The mind becomes overly sen-
sitive, excessively reactive, and we take things too person- Ayurvedic Counseling and Behavioral Modification 155
ally. We are prone to premature or inappropriate action
that may aggravate our problems.
High Vata, as excess ether, makes us ungrounded,
spaced-out and unrealistic. We may have various wrong
imaginations, hallucinations or delusions, like hearing
voices. Our connection with the physical body and with
physical reality becomes weakened. We live in our
thoughts, which we may confuse with perception. Our
life-force gets dispersed by the excess activity of the mind.
We lose contact with other people and cannot heed their
advice.
High Vata in the mind manifests as fear, alienation,
anxiety and possible nervous breakdown. There is insom-
nia, tremors, palpitations, unrest and rapid shifts of mood.
Insanity of the manic depressive type, or schizophrenia, is
an extreme Vata imbalance.
There are many factors that can disturb Vata and create
possible psychological problems. Disturbing sensations are
hard for Vatas to handle, particularly too much exposure to
the mass media, loud music or noise. Drugs and stimulants
easily derange them. Insufficient food or irregular eating
also weakens and upsets them mentally. Excessive or unnat-
ural sexual activity quickly drains their often low energy.
Stress, fear and anxiety affect them emotionally because
they lack calm and endurance. Violence and trauma leaves
them hurt and withdrawn. Neglect or abuse as a child cre-
ates a predisposition for a Vata-deranged psychology.
Pitta (Fire) Type
Psychological disturbances are moderate in Pitta types.
They usually have strong self-control but can be self-cen-
tered and antisocial. The fire and heat of Pitta cause the
mind to be narrow and contentious, fighting either with 156 Ayurveda and the Mind
others or with themselves. Pitta psychological disorders
are typically due to too much aggression or hostility. Typ-
ical Pitta is the overly critical type who finds fault with
everyone, blames other people for everything, sees enemies
everywhere, is always on guard and ready for a fight.
High Pitta in the mind causes agitation, irritation,
anger, and possible violence. The overheated body and
mind seek release in venting the built-up tension. Pitta
types can become domineering, authoritarian or fanatic.
When disturbed they may have paranoid delusions, delu-
sions of grandeur, or can become psychotic.
Pitta in the mind becomes too high by various factors
that increase heat. Strong and bright colors and sensations
quickly irritate them. Exposure to violence and aggression
increases the same attitudes within them. Dietary factors
like overly hot or spicy food disturb their minds. Sexual
frustration, excessive anger and ambition, and related emo-
tional factors take their toll. Too competitive an education
or too much conflict in childhood are additional factors.
Kapha (Water) Type
Kapha people have the least amount of psychological
problems and are the least likely to express them or to
resort to antisocial behavior. Kapha disturbs the mind by
blocking the channels and clouding the senses. High
Kapha (mucus and water) generally causes mental dull-
ness, congestion and poor perception.
Kapha psychological unrest involves attachment and
lack of motivation leading to depression, sorrow, and
clinging. The mind may be incapable of abstract, objective
or impersonal thinking. There is a lack of drive and moti-
vation along with passivity and dependency. We want to
remain a child and be taken care of. We become preoccu- Ayurvedic Counseling and Behavioral Modification 157
pied with what others think about us. We lack the proper
self-image and passively reflect our immediate environ-
ment. Such people often end up being taken care of by oth-
ers and are unable to function on their own.
However, stronger Kapha types can suffer from greed
and possessiveness, which renders the mind heavy, dull and
depressed. They want to own and control everything and
look upon people as their property as well. Once they lose
control or ownership, they become psychologically unstable.
Kapha emotional disturbances result from excess plea-
sure, enjoyment, or attachment in life. Lifestyle factors like
too much sleep, sleep during the day, or lack of exercise
contribute to these. Kapha-aggravating diet, like too
much sugar or oily food, is another factor. Emotional prob-
lems combine with Kapha physical conditions like over-
weight and congestion. Educational factors include being
overly indulged as a child or emotionally smothered by
parents.
Ayurvedic Counseling Profiles
The constitutional types of Ayurveda are the basis of all
Ayurvedic counseling. They are useful for understanding
the different types of people and their interactions that can
occur. They are an extension of the psychological profiles
of the biological humors and their characteristic psycho-
logical disorders. Again, these are general profiles and
should not be taken rigidly.
Vata
Vata types are nervous, anxious or afraid. 1 hey are often
worried, upset or distracted, even if there is no real prob-
lem in their lives. They may be hesitant and insecure,
which they may exhibit by moving around or fidgeting. Ayurveda and the Mind
Under the influence of air or wind they find it difficult to
settle down or be at ease. They have many doubts about
themselves and their ability to get well or about any treat-
ment and its ability to help them.
Sometimes they are over-enthusiastic and excited when
starting a therapy, but this seldom lasts and may be fol-
lowed by quickly quitting or getting frustrated. They
expect too much and want immediate results. They may
look to the therapist to heal them magically and when this
does not occur they get disappointed or seek to change
therapists. They are often ungrounded and hard to pin
down. They have to become realistic about their condition
and the effort required to correct it. They must come back
to earth about themselves and their behavior.
Vata types often have a negative attitude about them-
selves. They will have more worries and negative imagina-
tions about their disease condition than it merits. They are
commonly hypochondriacs. They need to calm their minds
and hearts as part of any treatment. They are often looking
for attention and sympathy more than developing their
own understanding. They are happy to receive advice but
not consistent in following it. They require much time and
patience to really change. Their condition will fluctuate,
sometimes dramatically, along with their thoughts. Slow
steady development with peace of mind is what they
should aim for.
They seek comfort and require a lot of assurance, but
this does not always make them feel secure. They like to
talk at length about their problems but this may not be of
great help. They do best if they try a few practical things
to improve their condition and implement these in a con-
sistent manner. This fosters a realistic attitude about deal-
ing with their condition and does not feed their excessive
mental activity. Ayurvedic Counseling and Behavioral Modification
Vata types can be so caught up in their problems that
they do not take the time to do something about them.
They can be looking so hard for external support that they
do not do the things that allow them to take control of
their own lives. They need to emphasize action rather than
thought, steady application rather than looking for results.
They need to follow a clear and comprehensive life-reg-
imen to bring stability to their minds, calm their agitated
life-force, and cushion their sensitive hearts. The rule is to
treat them like a flower. They easily feel frightened and are
prone to withdraw if approached forcefully. They must be
approached with warmth, calm and determination and
made to feel the support of others, yet without making
them dependent.
Pitta
Pitta types think that they already know who they are
and what they are doing. If they have problems, they usu-
ally have someone or something to blame, or attribute
their problems to not being able to achieve their goals.
They are most disturbed by conflict with other people,
which they often exaggerate or exacerbate. The drama of
interpersonal struggle colors their minds and emotions.
These conflicts can be internalized and result in self-con-
flict. Pitta types are prone to be at war with themselves
and easily internalize external conflicts.
Having a fiery nature, they tend to be aggressive, crit-
ical, sometimes contentious, and can be destructive. They
may question the qualifications of their therapists. They
are the most likely of the different types to tell the thera-


. All those breakfast cereals, crisps, biscuits,
crackers, breads, pastries, pastas, chocolates, sweets, jams, condiments,
sugar, preserved fruit and vegetables, frozen pre-cooked meals with
starches and batter are highly processed carbohydrates. We will examine
some of them in detail. But first, let's look at them as a group.
All carbohydrates in foods get digested and absorbed as glucose. Nature
provided us with plenty of carbohydrates in the form of fruit, vegetables
and grains. When we eat them in the natural untampered form, the carbo
hydrate part of them gets absorbed slowly, producing a gradual increase in
blood glucose, which our bodies are designed to handle. Processed carbo
hydrates get absorbed very quickly, producing an unnaturally rapid
increase in blood glucose. Blood glucose is one of those factors which our
bodies go to great lengths to keep within certain limits, because both high
and low values are harmful. A rapid increase in blood glucose, called
hyperglycaemia, puts the body into a state of shock prompting it to pump
out lots of insulin very quickly to deal with the excessive glucose. As a result
of this overproduction of insulin, about an hour later the person has got a
very low level of blood glucose, called hypoglycaemia. Did any of you
notice that after eating a sugary breakfast cereal in the morning you feel
hungry again in an hour. That is hypoglycaemia. What do people usually
have at that time in the morning to satisfy their hunger? A biscuit, a choco
late bar, a coffee or something like that, and the whole cycle of hyper -
hypoglycaemia begins again. This up and down blood-glucose roller-
coaster is extremely harmful for anyone, let alone our GAPS children and
adults. It has been proven that a lot of hyperactivity, inability to concen
trate and learn, aggression and other behavioural abnormalities in school
children are a direct result of this glucose roller coaster. The hypergly-
caemic phase produces a feeling of a "high" with hyperactive and manic tendencies and self-stimulation in autistic children, whilst the hypogly-
caemic phase makes them feel unwell, often with a headache, bad mood,
tantrums, aggression and general fatigue with excessive sweating (FIG. 4}.
Another important point about processed carbohydrates is their detri
mental effect on the gut flora. We have talked in detail about the crucial
role of the normal gut flora in the health. Processed carbohydrates feed
pathogenic bacteria and fungi in the gut, promoting their growth and pro
liferation. Apart from that they make a wonderful glue-like environment in
the gut for various worms and parasites to take hold and develop. All these
micro-creatures produce toxic substances going into the bloodstream and
literally "poisoning" the person. The more processed carbohydrates with or
without gluten you give your GAPS child or adult, the more "toxic" he or
she will become and the more autistic, schizophrenic, hyperactive or other
symptoms you will see.
In the previous chapters we have looked in detail at the state of the
immune system in GAPS patients. Compromised immunity plays an
important role in GAPS development. By negatively altering the gut flora
processed carbohydrates will play an important part in damaging the
person's immune system. However, on top of that there is ample evidence
showing that processed foods, particularly processed carbohydrates and
sugar, directly weaken the functioning of macrophages, natural killer cells
and other white blood cells and undermine systemic resistance to all infec
tions. An immune-compromised person who has sugary drinks and crisps
daily, will worsen their immune system's condition by these food choices.
Let us have a look at some of the most common forms of those pro
cessed carbohydrates.
Breakfast cereals
They are supposed to be healthy, aren't they? That is what numerous TV
advertisements tell us. Unfortunately, the truth is just the opposite.
• Breakfast cereals are highly processed carbohydrates, full of sugar, salt
and other unhealthy substances. A bowl of breakfast cereal will start
your child's day with the first round of the blood-sugar roller coaster
with the all too familiar behaviours for you to deal with.
• Being a great source of processed carbohydrates, breakfast cereals
feed abnormal bacteria and fungi in the gut, allowing them to produce
a new portion of their toxins perpetuating the vicious cycle of GAPS. FIG. 4 Blood-glucose roller coaster. • What about fibre? The manufacturers claim that with a bowl of their
product you will get all the fibre you need. Unfortunately it is the
wrong kind of fibre for GAPS patients. The fibre in breakfast cereals
is full of phytates - substances that bind essential minerals and
take them out of the system, contributing to a patient's mineral
deficiencies.
• There has been an interesting experiment performed in one of the
food laboratories. They analysed the nutritional value of some brands
of breakfast cereals and the paper boxes in which these cereals were
packaged. The analysis showed that the box, made of wood pulp, had
more useful nutrients in it, than the cereal inside. Indeed, breakfast
cereals have got very low nutritional value. To compensate for that the
manufacturers fortify them with synthetic forms of vitamins, claiming
that by eating your morning bowl of this cereal you will get all your
daily requirements of those vitamins. Well, the human body is not that
simple, it has been designed to recognise and use natural vitamins,
coming in natural food form. That is why synthetic vitamins have a
very low absorption rate, which means that most of them go through
and out of your digestive tract without doing you any good. Then,
whatever amount of those vitamins does get absorbed is often not
recognised by the body as food and gets taken straight to the kidneys
and excreted in urine. We have a new syndrome in our modern pill-
popping society - a syndrome of expensive urine.
So, no matter what the advertisements say, there is nothing healthy in
breakfast cereals for the GAPS child or an adult.
Crisps and chips and other starchy snacks
Crisps, chips and popcorn, a backbone of children's diet nowadays, are
highly processed carbohydrates with a detrimental effect on the gut flora.
But that is not all: they are saturated with vegetable oil, which has been
heated to a very high temperature. Any oil that has been heated has got
substances called trans-fatty acids, which are unsaturated fatty acids with
altered chemical structure. What they do in the body is to replace the vital
omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in cellular structure, making the cells
dysfunctional. Consuming trans-fatty acids has a direct damaging effect on
the immune system. They are known to increase the activity of Th2 and
weaken Thi immunity. As you remember, the Thi immunity is already sup-pressed in many GAPS patients and Th2 overactive. Cancer, heart disease,
eczema, asthma, many neurological and psychiatric conditions have been
linked to trans-fatty acids in the diet. For a full story about fat processing
please look in the chapter: Fats: the good and the bad.
Recently another strong argument appeared against consuming crisps
and chips:
TheAcrylamides story
In the spring of 2002 the Swedish National Food Administration and
Stockholm University reported that they found highly neurotoxic and car
cinogenic substances in potato crisps, French fries, bread and other baked
and fried starchy foods. These substances are acrylamides. Scientists in
Norway, UK and Switzerland have confirmed this finding. They have also
found acrylamides in starchy foods, fried or baked at high temperatures.
Recently, instant coffee has been added to the list of foods containing these
highly dangerous substances. The World Health Organisation, United
Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation and the US Food and Drug
Administration have set a plan to identify how acrylamides are formed in
foods and what can be done to eliminate them, since they can cause
cancer, neurological damage and infertility. Acrylamides are so harmful to
health, that there are certain maximum limits set for these substances in
food packaging materials. For years government agencies paid a lot of
attention to controlling the amount of acrylamides in the plastic food
packaging, but nobody looked at the food inside that packaging. Now it has
been discovered that some foods inside these plastic packets have incredi
bly high amounts of acrylamides, way above all allowed limits. The acry
lamides story provides another reason for the GAPS child or adult to avoid
crisps, chips and other starchy snack foods.
Wheat
Cutting out gluten is recommended for autism, schizophrenia and coeliac
disease, so gluten-free wheat products become a major part of their diet.
But let us have a look at wheat as a whole with gluten or without it. Virtually
nobody buys wheat as a grain and cooks it at home, we buy foods made of
wheat flour. The flour arrives at bakeries in pre-packaged mixes for differ
ent kinds of breads, biscuits and pastries. These mixtures are already pro
cessed with the best nutrients lost. Then they are "enriched" with preserva-tives, pesticides to keep the insects away


toleara
anythingratherthantolearnthelawswhicharetopreserveyour
offspring?
Atpresentneithermothersoffamiliesofanyclass,norschool-
mistressesofanyclass,nornursesofchildren,nornursesof
hospitals,aretaughtanythingaboutthoselawswhichGodhas
assignedtotherelationsofourbodieswiththeworldinwhich
Hehasputthem.Inotherwords,thelawswhichmakethese
bodies,intowhichHehasputourminds,healthyorunhealthy
organsofthoseminds,areallbutunlearnt.Notbutthatthese
laws—thelawsoflife—areinacertainmeasureunderstood,but
notevenmothersthinkitworththeirwhiletostudythem—to
studyhowtogivetheirchildrenhealthyexistences.Theycallit
medicalorphysiologicalkuowdcdge, fitonlyfordoctors.
Again,weareconstantlytold,—“Butthecircumstanceswhich
governourchildren’shealthsarebeyondourcontrol.Wliatcan
wedowithwinds?Thereistheeastwind.Mostpeoplecan
tellbeforetheygetupinthemorningwhetherthewindisinthe
east.”
Tothisonecananswerwithmorecei-taintythantotheformer
objections.Whoisitwhoknowswhenthewindisintheeast1
NottheHighlanddrover,certainly,exposedtotheeastwind,
ffiitthe“younglady”whoiswornoutwiththewantofex-
posuretofreshair,tosunlight,&c.Putthelatterunderas
*ThisTeryyenr,1888,ahealthreportonManchesterhasappeared,whichIs
srirtiiallytothiseffect;—Letthetownbreedasmuchinfectiousdiseaseasitlikes;
putthecasesintobiginfirmaries;thisisthewaytocureAlanchester,tobuild
Hospitalstocurepeopleaftertheyhavebeenkilled.
8 NOTESONNURSING.
healthycimunstances astheformer,andshetoowillnotknow
whenthewindisintheeast.
I.—VENTILATIONANDWARMING.
Theveryfirstruleofnursing,thefirstandthelastthingupon
whichanurse’sattentionmustbefixed,tliefirstessentialtothe
patient,withoutwhichalltherestyoucandoforhimisas
nothing,withwhichIliadalmostsaidyoumayleavealltherest
alone,isthis^:Tokeeptheairhebreathesaspureasthe
EXTERNALAIR,WITHOUTCHILLINGHIM.YetwhatisSOlittle
attendedto?Evenwhereitisthoughtofatall,there.arethe
mostextraordinarymisconcejitionsaboutit.Eveninadmitting
airintothepatient’sroomorward,fewpeopleeverthinkwhere
thataircomesfrom.Itni.aycomefromapassage,alwaysumaired,
alwaysfullofthefumesofg.as,dinner,ofvariouskindsofmusti-
ness:fromanundergroundkitchen,sink,wash-house,w.ater-
closet,dung-he.ap,oreven,asImyselfhavehadsorrowfulexpe-
rience,fromopensewersloadedwithfilth;andwiththisthe
p.atient’sroomorwardisaired,asitiscalled—poisoned,itshould'
ratherbes.aid.Alwaysairfi-omtheairwithout,andth.at,too,
throughthosewindows,throughwhichthe.aircomesfreshest.
Fromaclosedcourt,especi.allyifthewinddonotblowthatway,
airm.aycome.asstagnantasfromanyinsidepass.age.
Again,athingIhaveoftenseeninthesleepingroomsof
privatehousesandcottages.Thefire-placeiscarefullyhastened
upwithaboard;thewindowsarer.arelyorneveropened
;perhaps
theyarenotmadetoopen,ortheyopenonlyatthebottom;per-
hapssomekindofstoresarekeptintheroom;nobreathof
freshaircanbypossibilityenterthatroom.Theairisasstag-
nant,musty,andcorruptasitcanbypossibilitybemade.Itis
quiteripetobreedsmall-pox,scarletfever,diphtheria,oranything
elseyouplease.
Yetpeople,orworsestill,childrenwillsleepinthatroom
withoutanyprevious.airing.Andthedoorwillbeleftopenall
dayinordertom.aketheadjoiningsitting-roomor“house-pl.ace”
asfoulaspossibletoo,fortentoonethewindowofthesitting-
roomiskeptclosed.
Thecommonideaastoroomsisthattheymaysafelybeleft
withwindowandchimney-boardbothclosedsealedupif
possible7-tokeepoutthedust,itissometimessaid;andthatno
VENTILATIONANDWARMINO.
hamwillhajipenwheninmatesarepntin.Theque.stionis
oftenasked—Butwhenoughtthewindowstobeopened1Ihe
answeris—Whenoughttheytobeshut?
^ ^AshorttimeagoamanwalkedintoabackkitcheninQueens-
square,andcutthethroatofapoorconsumptivecreaturesitting
bythefire.Themurdererdidnotdenytheact,butsimplysaid,
“It’sallright.”Ofcoursehewasmad.
Butinourcase,theextraordinarythingisthatthevictim
says,“It’sallright,”andthatwearenotmad.Yet,although
we“nose”themurderersinthemusty,unaired,unsunnedroom,
thescarletfeverwhichisbehindthedoor,orthefeverandhos-
pitalg.angrenewhicharestalkingamongthecrowdedbedsofa
hosiiitalward,wesay,“It’sallright.”
Withapropersupplyofwindows,andapropersupplyoffuel
inopenfire-places,freshairiscomparativelyeasytosecurewhen
yourpatientorpatientsareinbed.Neverbeafraidofojien
windowsthen.Peopledon’tcatchcoldinbed.Thisisapopular
fallacy.Withproperbed-clothesandhotbottles,ifnecessary,
youcanalwayskeepapatientwarminbed,andwellventilate
himatthesametime.
Butacarelessnurse,beherrankandeducationwhatitmay,
willstopupeverycranny,andkeepahot-househeatwhenhei
patientisinbed,—andifhoisabletogetup,leavehimcomji.a-
rativelyimprotected.Thetimewhenpeopletakecold(andthere
aremanywaysoftakingcold,besidesacoldinthenose)iswhen
theyfirstgetupafterthetwo-foldexhaustionofdressingand
ofhavinghadtheskinrelaxedbymanyhorn's,perhapsdays,in
bed,andtherebyrenderedmoreincapableofre-action.Thenthe
sametemperaturewhichrefreshesthepatientinbedmaydestroy
thepatient.justrisen..AndcommonsensewiUpointoutthat,
whilepurityofairisessential,atemperaturemustbesecured
whichshallnotchillthepatient.Otherwisethebestthatcanbe
expectedwillbeafeverishre-action.
Tohavetheairwithinaspureastheairwithout,itLsnot
necessarj',asoftenappearstobethought,tomakeitascold.
Intheafternoonagain,withoutcare,thepatientwhosevital
powershavethenrisen,oftenfindstheroomascloseandopjn-es-
siveashefounditcoldinthemorning.Yetthenursewillbe
terrifiedifawindowisopened.
Itisverydesirablethatthewindowsinasickroomshouldbe
suchasthatthepatientshall,ifhecanmoveabout,beableto
10 NOTBSonNL’UPlNC.
openaiiilshuttliemeasilyhimself.*Infact,thesickroomisvery
seldomke})tairedifthisisnotthecase—soveryfewpeojjlehave
anyperceptionofwhatisahealthyatmosphereforthesick.The
sickmanoftensays,“Thisroom,whereIspendtwenty-two
hoursoutofthetwenty-four, isfresherthantheotherwhere
Ionlysjiendtwo.BecausehereIcanmanagethewindows
myself.”Anditistrue.
Inalittlebookonnursing,publishedashorttimeago,weare
told,that“withproi>ercareitisveryseldomthatthewindows
cannotbeopenedforafewminutestwiceinthedaytoa<lmit
freshairfromwithout.”Ishouldthinknot
;nortwiceinthe
houreither.Itonlyshowshowlittlethesubjecth;u3beencon-
sidered.
Ofallmethodsofkcej)ingpatientswarmtheveryworstcer-
tainlyistodependforheatonthebreathandbodiesofthe
sick.Ihaveknownmanyanursekeepherinvalid’swindows
alwaysclosed,thusexposingtheinvalidtoallthedangersofan
infectedatmosphere,becauseshewasafraidthat,byadmitting
freshair,thetem])er


 and completely
let go. Instantly it vanished. The despair, which had been overwhelming and
nearly unbearable, vanished in an instant! In its place, there was profound
peace beyond description. It was infinite in its dimension, curiously
powerful and totally unassailable. There was a profound inner stillness, and
all perception of time stopped. Instead of “time,” there was only the motion
of the phenomena of the world occurring. The next day the experience
continued and, in fact, was even stronger.
Then, out of curiosity, there was a re-entry into the world to see what it
would be like to experience ordinary life from this state of consciousness.
Even while walking down Fifth A venue in New Y ork City, the same
profound stillness, harmony, and peace prevailed. This pervasive peace and
stillness seemed to underlie all of the superficial chaos, noise, and
confusion of the city. It was as though the power and strength of that
dimension of stillness was the power that enabled it all to happen and held
it all together in one continuous unity. W ithin the essence of that stillness
was unlimited power, and it was clear that it was this very power that
counteracted and balanced the collective negativity of the city. As without,
so within. Similarly, it was clear that this same cohesive power is that which
also counterbalances the negativity of the personality. If unopposed, that
negativity would destroy the person and the body with it.
W e said in previous sections that the lower emotions are associated
with an accumulation of ener gy in the lower ener gy centers of the body
called “chakras.” As our consciousness rises, due to the letting go of
negativity, this ener gy tends to rise to higher centers so that, at the level oflove, the ener gy has moved up to the heart chakra. As love becomes
unconditional and ever -joyous, the personal dimension of love gives way to
universal love. In general, we say of a person who has reached the level of
love that they are “big-hearted” or “all heart.” This phrase expresses the
shift of interest and focus of the person’ s life to that which is loving. This
upward shift of focus is accompanied by an overall change of perception, a
dif ferent point of view than that which characterizes the focus of attention
of a person who is involved in the negative emotions.
For example, when a person is in a lower state of mind, an old
gentleman carelessly dressed standing on a corner would be perceived as a
“bum.” W ith that characterization goes other negative thoughts such as: “He
might be dangerous—let’ s avoid him”; “He’ s costing us taxpayers—he’ s
probably on welfare”; “The police ought to clear the streets of such
derelicts”; “He should be in jail or in a mental hospital.”
By contrast, the person who is in a loving state might well see him as
an interesting person whose face reflects a lot of life experience, character,
and wisdom. He might appear as a liberated soul who has pretty much
finished with the world and has evolved into beingness, beyond doingness
and havingness.
There was an encounter with just such a man on Fifth A venue, while in
that state of total inner stillness described above. While walking down the
sidewalk, the old gentleman perceived that state of inner stillness with one
glance and, in return, he became totally open. The eyes gazed widely such
that nothing was hidden, and the soul became completely open to be read. It
was apparent that he was a man who had realized his own true inner Self
and was totally at peace. He was, in fact, part and parcel of that powerful,
positive, loving ener gy that was holding the city together.
W ith that glance we shared our oneness—our timeless oneness. Though
strangers, our souls were united and resounded with each other. The one
Self radiated forth. That oneness was the ener gy counteracting the total
negativity of New Y ork City at that moment. In our open gaze, there was a
cosmic oneness (calibrates as true). There was an all-silent knowingness
that the oneness reflected an infinite ener gy that was counterbalancing the
total negativity of New Y ork City at the time, because the power that was
shared was Infinite. W ithout a counterbalance, the city would self-destruct.
It was a silent, prevailing, infinite state of consciousness. It was a profound
moment in which one of the laws of consciousness was experientiallyverified: Love is the Ultimate Law of the Universe  (statement calibrates at
750).
CHAPTER
13
P E A C E
In peace, there is no longer any conflict. There is a total absence of
negativity and an all-encompassing lovingness that is experienced as
serenity, tranquility, timelessness, completion, fulfillment, stillness, and
contentment. There is inner quiet and light, a feeling of oneness, unity, and
total freedom. The peace is imperturbable. Actions become ef fortless,
spontaneous, harmonious, and loving in their ef fect. There is a shift of
perception of the universe and of our relationship to it. The inner Self
prevails. The personal self has been transcended, with all of its feelings,
beliefs, identities, and concerns. This is the ultimate state sought by all
seekers, whether they are religious, humanist, or have no spiritual or
philosophical identification at all.
The Pr ofound Impact of Peace
W e have all had moments of profound peace where time and the world
seemed to suddenly stop, and we have come in contact with the Infinite. In
recent years, there have been a number of books about the near -death
experience. Under various circumstances, this experience has happened to
people who have died and then returned to the body. Characteristically, their
lives have been transformed by the experience, and they never for get it.
Their vision of the world, its significance, and their personal significance in
it has changed considerably.
In the movie, Lost Horizon, once the hero had experienced Shangri-La,
although he returned to the world again, he viewed it in a totally dif ferentway. He longed, at any cost, to return to Shangri-La where the state of
peace prevailed. Once the experience of peace has occurred, we are no
longer a victim of the world. W e are no longer at its ef fect as we once were,
for we have had a glimpse of the truth about it and of what we really are.
W ith continual surrender, we begin to experience these states of peace
with ever -increasing frequency. At times, they may become quite profound
and of greater and greater duration. When the clouds are removed, the sun
shines forth and we discover that peace was the truth all along. Surrender is
the mechanism that uncovers the true nature of our existence.
When a person is in the state of peace, they test strong with
kinesiology, and nothing makes them weak, whether it is mental, emotional,
or physical. There is no longer identification with the body as our self, and
physical disorders may or may not be healed. W e are indif ferent to them;
physical concerns have lost any significant meaning.
W ith the experience of inner peace comes great strength. An ener gy
field of total peace is unassailable. The person who has found inner peace
can no longer be intimidated, controlled, manipulated, or programmed. In
this state, we are invulnerable to the threats of the world and have,
therefore, mastered earthly life. When the state of peace has become
established, ordinary human suf fering is no longer possible because the
very basis of that vulnerability has been totally relinquished.
Silent T ransmission
W e describe the person who has reached that state of peace as “enlightened”
and being in a state of Grace. W ithin and beyond that condition are various
advanced states of illumination and levels of realization described by the
mystics, sages, saints, and avatars.
There is a silent, nonverbal benefit of being in the actual presence of an
enlightened state. Classically, it would be an advanced spiritual teacher,
saint, or sage. Seekers travel great distances to be in the physical presence
of this ener gy field. The devotee or seeker receives silent transmission of
the high-frequency ener gy of the teacher ’ s aura, described as “T ransmission
of No-Mind,” “Grace of the Guru,” or “Benediction of the T eacher.” This
transmission happens of its own and is not personal. The state of infinite
peace radiates forth unconditionally of its own from the ener gy field of the
teacher or saint. When the Buddha gave his disciple a flower, it was
symbolic of the transmission of the ener gy. If we have been in the presenceof a great teacher who radiates this ener gy, we will never be the same. The
most beneficial thing that can happen to us is to have been in the presence
of a great teacher, because we pick up the vibration by being in the physical
presence of that state of peace and complete surrender. The silent
transmission of this realized state is a nonverbal, ener getic phenomenon that
does not depend upon logic or language. The vibration that is within the
aura of the advanced teacher functions as a carrier wave to facilitate our


  Dr.  Walter’s  Mountain  Park,  where
diseases are treated and drug poisoning eradicated?  My family are all
agog about your Home, and begin to say what they are going to do next
summer when there, and some of the poor invalids I meet are so much
excited by the accounts I give that I would not be surprised if you were
soon to encounter a raid from our little town.  I am more dissatisfied
with my memory than anything else.  I have forgotten the name of yourlittle daughter.  Should you ever write, please give it to me.  With
kindest regards to Mrs. Walter and all friends.
“Believe me yours, etc., John Thornley.”
“Charlottesville, Va., May 27, 1878.
"Dr. Walter ;
"Dear Sir.... I write now to say that you are at liberty to make any use
of my testimonial of last summer you may please.  Most sincerely do I
hope you may find it of use to you.  I am happy to say my health
continues  to  improve.   I  was  able  to  sleep  naturally  while  in
Washington, through the greatest excitement and anxiety, and now that
my mind is at ease, and I am again enjoying the quietude of my own
home, I sleep better than ever.  My pecuniary circumstances will render
it impossible for my family to leave home this summer, and even I must
try to weather the heat myself.  With kindest regards to your family and
my best wishes for your success,
“I remain yours truly, John Thornley.”
Case of the Rev. Dr. Swartz,
Formerly Pastor of the Lutheran Church at Harrisburg, Pa, This case,
though driving the patient almost to insanity, was nevertheless much
less  severe  than  that  of  Dr.  Thornley.  Dr.  Swartz  shall  speak  for
himself.
“When I came, one year ago, to Mountain Park, I was in a very wretched
condition,  having  suffered  for  a  twelvemonth  from  great  nervous
prostration and inveterate insomnia, going sometimes four or five nights
without an hour’s sleep, and being so morbidly sensitive that a slight
noise  would  afford  me  keen  distress.   I  had  tried  several  reputable
physicians and took the most approved remedies for my trouble, but
found no permanent relief, but rather that my case grew worse.”Under the care of Dr. Walter I soon began to find improvement, and
observing the regimen of his institution, I have obtained perfect relief.  I
am now able to sleep well, work hard, and enjoy life.  I weigh more and
feel generally better than I have done for several years.  I give this
testimony very cheerfully, and in the hope that it may do others good, as
well as from a feeling both of gratitude and justice to Dr. Walter.
“Respectfully, Joel Swartz. “March 21, 1881.”
Here is another case of insomnia, in which, however, the dyspepsia,
which was severe and aggravated, was a more important matter. The
patient was reduced to a skeleton, could retain scarcely anything
upon her stomach, and suffered from nervousness, sleeplessness, and
general debility.  Under treatment she has gained thirty pounds of
flesh and been made to have a substantial foundation for good health.
“Homeside, near Candor, WashingtonCo., Pa., March 10, 1881.
“Drs. Walter, Mountain Park, near Wernersville, Pa.
“Esteemed Benefactors : Perhaps you may be pleased to learn of my safe
arrival at home.  At any rate, as I was called away suddenly, I desire in
this  formal  way  to  make  grateful  acknowledgments  for  the  tender,
watchful care and treatment which I received at your hands during my
seven months’ sojourn at Mountain Park.  When I went three o four most
eminent physicians had failed to furnish any remedy for my insomnia
and  other  troubles  arising  from  liver  and  stomach.   My  color  was
bloodless, and the fast-decreasing weight of body indicated early death.
I  am  now  so  much  better  that  friends  and  acquaintances  scarcely
recognize me.Probably much was due to the pure air and soft water of the mountain,
and doubtless something to the refined, moral tone of the inmates of the
institution (including helpers and patients), but I am fully persuaded
that, for my present sweet sleep and improved digestion, and increased
weight and firmness of flesh, I am indebted to the skilful, intelligent,
careful,  and  ever-watchful  treatment  administered  by  and  under  the
direction of yourselves and other physicians of Mountain Park.
“Hoping,  as  soon  as  I  can  be  detached  from  some  matters  which
unexpectedly called me away, to again for a time take my old room and
place in your home, I remain,
Very gratefully, etc.,“
“Kate E. Clark.”
DROPSY, WITH BRIGHT’S DISEASE OF THE KIDNEYS.
This is a most intractable disease in many cases, especially when
occurring in people as aged as this gentleman.  We will allow him to
speak for himself.
Case of Elder Isaac Price.
“Mountain Park, December 18, 1880.
“Dr. R. Walter :
“I cheerfully bear testimony to the value of your treatment. Though
seventy-eight years of age, I have during the past summer been cured of
dropsy of the heart as well as of the general system, with incipient
Bright’s  disease,  by  your  treatment,  which  seems  to  me  to  be
wonderfully philosophic, and from -what I have seen and experienced,
equally successful.  At my age it was not to be expected that I could be
always maintained in perfect health, so that I can now bear testimony to
the fact that your treatment is effective for the cure of rheumatic gout.
God  speed  the  day  when  the  principles  of  the  Nutritive-cure  shall
everywhere be comprehended and obeyed.“Isaac Price, Schuylkill, Chester Co., Pa.
“(Postmaster for fifty years at this place).’’
A letter, dated January 4, 1881, from Elder Price, says :
“Knowing you feel interested in my health, I report constant gradual
improvement ; decidedly better than when I wrote you two weeks ago. I
walk without a cane, pass up-stairs step over step without touching
banisters,  but  cannot  so  go  down.   I  am  well,  free  from  pain,  eat
hygienically, and sleep like a wood-chopper.  Shall make you a visit next
May.”
DROPSY.
Of the numerous cases of dropsy treated, we have not failed in a
single instance in producing permanent relief, and the cases treated
have usually been of the very worst character.  This disease, indeed,
seems to be peculiarly susceptible to Nutritive-cure methods.
FEMALE DISEASES.
The ailments with which American women are so generally afflicted
result  primarily  from  depletion  of  the  vital  resources  consequent
upon overtaxation of the nervous system, due to the hurry and worry
of life, as well as to confinement within doors, in connection with lack
of muscular exercise.  While suffering all the debilitating influences
of care and anxiety, they are deprived of the invigorating atmosphere
of the outer world and the toning effects of muscular activity, which,
in connection with bad habits of dress, child-bearing, and, in many
cases,  great  lack  of  healthful  recreation,  have  so  debilitated  thegeneral system that both general and special diseases occur.  The
reader  of  the  foregoing  pages  can  readily  perceive  the  value  of
Nutritive-cure principles in the treatment of such cases.  Indeed, we
are tempted to express the opinion that they are the only plans that
can  be  effective  for  thorough  restoration.   Drugs  can  never
accomplish recuperation  of  wasted  energies,  and  the  varied  local
appliances of physicians are utterly destructive to general health.
The  Nutritive-cure  undertakes  to  buildup,  invigorate,  restore  to
sound  health  through  rational  and  philosophic  processes.   We
propose to mention simply one or two cases of persons who, having
been  greatly  benefited,  are  entirely  willing  to  have  their  names
appear in this connection.  The hundreds that we have successfully
treated would no doubt all bear testimony if it were desired.
“January 5, 1881.
“Dr. Walter ;
“As you have requested me to give a statement of my case, I herewith
respond.  Nine years ago this winter, our family physician discovered
that I had ulceration of the womb, for which I had the attention of three
eminent physicians, each in


 much, much better as a mama when your actions come
from a place of responsiveness, compassion, presence, and care. You will
also notice that it is a much more ef fective way to teach your little one.
You have to be so mindful as a mama, and simultaneously so gentle,
patient, and for giving toward yourself. Mamas tend to put so much pressureon themselves to be “perfect”; but you deserve just as much grace and
forgiveness as you are giving your child. You are learning. You will become
triggered at some point. It is an opportunity for your growth. And like any
spiritual endeavor, conscious motherhood is a practice.
We are all conditioned by our past experiences—by the ways that our
parents dealt with us and the ways we have seen others being treated. We
are af fected by our friends, by the media, and by society. When you are a
new mother, many new things arise that you have never experienced before
and therefore may not know how to respond to in ways that are actually
supportive.
Guilt is a common emotion among mamas, though rather than getting
stuck in it, know that it is there to show you what you value. The experience
of guilt makes it crystal clear when you have acted out of alignment with
what you care about, and thus it helps you self-correct the next time around.
The important part is to be able to notice the way you reacted, to become
aware of the way in which you wish you showed up, and to keep refining.
Children do not need a perfect mama. They need a mama who is genuine
and who is committed to the work of becoming better. Apologize to your
little one when you step out of line. Let them know that it wasn’ t okay how
you spoke to them, ignored them, or touched their body. Let them know that
it wasn’ t their fault and that there is nothing they could do to make you not
love them. Take responsibility for your actions so that they eventually learn
how to take responsibility for theirs. This repairing also supports your little
one, from the youngest of ages, to rewrite—or reintegrate—what happened
in a way that is supportive for their development.
You are a newborn mama. You are learning how to love in the deepest and
most profound way possible.
Swami Prabhupada would often say that the closest thing to God’ s love
that we can experience in this world is the love that a mother has for her
child. Experiencing this love from the inside out, from the heart of a mama,has revealed much to me about the way God loves us all. Wow, God loves
me without reason. There is nothing I could do to make Him not love me.
There is no way that I could act that would make the Divine turn away from
me. I am not “good” or “bad” in His eyes. I am simply me, and that is
perfect. How can I become an instrument of that boundless, shoreless ocean
of love in my little one’ s life?
In the Puranas, the Ultimate Mother is known as Sri Radha. Both the
Padma Purana and the Brahma Vaivarta Purana elaborate on her pastimes of
love with Lord Krishna and reveal how the divine couple is the Source of
all that is. Sri Radha is the embodiment of love and compassion. You can
pray to her to become an instrument of divine, motherly grace: to know
how to love your little one without conditions. Mother Yasoda is Lord
Krishna’ s mother. You can pray to her for the wisdom of how to raise your
little one with devotional love. Goddess Bhumi is Mother Earth: the
epitome of generosity, care, nourishment, and reciprocation. You can honor
Mother Earth for being the perfect example of how to love no matter what.
The ancient Vedic scriptures guide us toward living a life where we
intentionally support each other, respect the world, and honor God as the
source of all that is. When we show up in our relationships, of fering our
gifts without selfish motives, without the need for validation or recognition,
we will feel a deep satisfaction and fulfillment that might otherwise feel
elusive. While this may be hard to conceptualize, the living example of
millions of mothers gives us an insight into what selflessness really is.
Devotional service is love expressed.
I remember when I was learning to love my little one: the kind of love
that is beyond what I could feel, but rather a love that stemmed from
learning what he needed and how I could serve him. I remember the depth
of experience I began to move into as I took full responsibility of caring for
him, and the realization that the experience of love is deeply enhanced
through service. When you really love someone, you will naturally go out
of your way to make them feel happy, content, and at peace. It will give you
the greatest joy to see them joyful, and the greatest satisfaction to know
they are satisfied.My first experience of loving him was a knowing that there was nothing
I would not do to protect him. There is nothing I would not give up or give
away if it meant that he would be safe. Through serving him, I began to
know a love that I had only heard about from others. My own needs
effortlessly became secondary, as the well-being of my little one moved to
become my top priority—a constant meditation and full absorption. The
way a mama serves her little one is unmotivated and uninterrupted, which
births a love consisting of those same qualities.
un·mo·ti·vat·ed: without a reason or motive.
un·in·ter·rupt·ed: without a break in continuity.
You are here to love, and thus serve, your little one—to let them feel the
way that God loves them through the way that you care. When you can
remember who they really are, beyond the limited scope of “your” child,
you can see the pure spirit soul within their tiny little body; this eternal
spirit who has been traveling from one body into the next since time
immemorial searching for the lasting happiness that can only be found in
connection to their true Self and in relation with God. You can understand
that the greatest service, while caring for their basic needs and loving them
with attention and intention, is to raise them to know who they really are,
beyond their body, mind, and emotions. Instill within them, through your
own example, the real value of living a deeper life and the importance of
spiritual connection.
Nama Karana Samskara: Name-Giving
Ceremony
In Vedic tradition, it is auspicious for the parents to have the
name-giving ceremony— nama karana —on the 10th day,
12th day, 101st day, or first year after the birth of their baby.After the father spends the morning bathing and worshipping
the Lord with certain of ferings and mantras, the V edic name-
giving ceremony is done with the father of fering ghee-
soaked wood into a fire while saying specific prayers.
If you will be doing a baby-naming ceremony, you can
bring your own sacred intention into naming your baby. Start
the morning by cleaning your house and then taking a
shower. Make a small fire or light some candles, and
arrange some flowers, leaves, or fruits in a mandala shape
around the fire with the intention of creating a sacred space.
Say the following prayer, or a prayer that you write
yourself with similar intention.
I offer my respects to the earth.
I offer my respects to the space between the heavens
and the earth.
I offer my respects to the heavens.
I offer my respects to the universe.
With your family sitting around the fire, you can hold your
baby in a clean cloth and sit on the father ’s right side.
Handing the baby to their father, mama walks behind papa
and comes to his left side. At this point you should be facing
east. The father touches the mouth, nostrils, eyes, and ears
of the baby with his right hand and says:
Your essence is spiritual, immortal like the Lord, O
[baby’ s name] enter in this solar month. May the Lord
consign you to the day. May the day consign you to the
night. May the night consign you to the day and night.
May day and night consign you to half-months. May the
half-month consign you to the full months. May the
months consign you to the seasons. May the seasonsconsign you to the year. May the years consign you to
long life, O [baby’ s name].
The father then whispers the name of the baby into the
left ear of the mother, saying, “[baby’ s name] is your
son/daughter.”
The father then gives the baby back to the mother and
places more ghee-soaked wood into the fire. He can end the
ceremony by saying the same of fering of respects as in the
beginning.
He cried a lot this week.
And I bounced on the ball as I put him down for a nap
and cried too.
I begged him, or God, to just tell me what he needed.
I felt frustrated when he seemed to cry for no reason
and sometimes annoyed
by how much he needed me.
I felt like I needed a moment.
One breath.
Two seconds
for me.
The ability to shower without saying,
“I’m just showering, little angel! I’ll be