3 ft (1 m). Has slender, rambling branches,
elliptical leaves, and greenish-white flowers on
terminal spikes. Habitat & Cultivation  Chaff flower is found
in China at the edge of forests, along streams, and
amid bushes. Grown commercially in the eastern
provinces, the root is unearthed in winter once the
foliage has died back. Part Used  Root. Constituents  Achyranthes  species contain
triterpenoid saponins and sterones. History & Folklore  Chaff flower’s
potent ability to bring on menstruation led the
13th-century Chinese gynecologist Chen Ziming
to prohibit its use during pregnancy to avoid
causing miscarriage. Medicinal Actions & Uses  In traditional
Chinese medicine, chaff flower is believed to
invigorate blood flow. It is used to stimulate
menstruation when a period is delayed or scanty. The herb is also prescribed to ease period
pain. Chaff flower is used to relieve pain in the
lower back, especially where the discomfort
is attributable to kidney stones. The herb is
also taken as a treatment for canker sores,
toothache, bleeding gums, and nosebleeds. Research  Research suggests that chaff flower
may lower blood pressure by reducing heart
rate and dilating the peripheral arteries. Related Species  A. aspera, found in tropical
areas worldwide, is used in Ayurvedic medicine
to treat chest conditions and a range of
digestive problems. Caution  Do not take chaff flower
during pregnancy. US_158-179_Abies_balsa_Boswe_serratta.indd   159 26/02/16   12:47 pm
160
other medicinal PlantsAconitum nA pellus
Aconitum napellus (Ranunculaceae)
Aconite,
Monkshood
Description  Perennial herb growing to 5 ft
(1.5 m). Has dark green lobed leaves with violet or
blue delphinium-like flowers on long spikes. Habitat & Cultivation  Aconite grows mainly
in southern and central Europe. It prefers damp
and shady sites, and is cultivated as a garden plant. The root is unearthed in autumn. Part Used  Root. Constituents  Aconite contains 0.3–2%
terpenoid alkaloids, principally aconitine. History & Folklore Aconitum species have
traditionally been used as arrow poisons. Medicinal Actions & Uses  Aconite is
poisonous in all but the smallest doses, and is  rarely prescribed for internal use. More commonly, it is applied to unbroken skin to relieve pain from bruises or neurological conditions. In Ayurvedic medicine, aconite is used to treat neuralgia, asthma, and heart weakness. Aconite is also used extensively
in homeopathy as an analgesic and sedative. Related Species  Chinese aconite (A. carmichaelii)
is used in China for shock and to support the circulatory system in emergencies. Trials in China indicate that it is helpful in congestive heart failure. RQ Cautions  Aconite is highly toxic and
is subject to legal restriction in some countries. Use only under professional supervision.Adonis vernalis (Ranunculaceae)
False Hellebore,
Y ellow Pheasant’s Eye
Description  Perennial herb growing to 8 in
(20 cm). Has a scaly stem and feathery compound leaves. Stem bears large, bright yellow flowers up  to 3 in (8 cm) across. Adhatoda vasica (Acanthaceae)
Malabar Nut,
Vasaka
Description  Evergreen shrub growing to 10 ft
(3 m), with lance-shaped leaves, white or purple flowers, and 4-seeded fruit. Habitat & Cultivation  Native to tropical
India, malabar nut grows in low-lying regions up  to the Himalayan foothills. Parts Used  Leaves, root, flowers, fruit (nut). Constituents  Malabar nut contains
pyrroloquinoline alkaloids and an unidentified volatile oil. History & Folklore  The highly bitter-tasting
malabar nut is a traditional Ayurvedic remedy for chest problems. Medicinal Actions & Uses  Due to its
expectorant qualities, malabar nut is useful for bronchitis and other chest conditions. An Ayurvedic preparation that includes malabar flowers is used to treat tuberculosis. All parts of the plant are used  to expel worms. A poultice of the fresh leaves  is applied to wounds and to inflamed joints. Caution  Do not take during pregnancy.False hellebore’s cardiac glycosides help to slow
down heart rate. Habitat & Cultivation  Originating from the
steppes of Russia and from the Black Sea region,
this herb is native to much of Europe but not to Britain. It grows in mountain pasture undergrowth. It is rare and legally protected in Western Europe. Parts Used  Aerial parts. Constituents  False hellebore contains cardiac
glycosides, including adonitoxin. History & Folklore  False hellebore’s botanical
name refers to Adonis, a figure in Greek mythology associated with the seasonal renewal of plant life. Medicinal Actions & Uses  False hellebore
contains cardiac glycosides similar to those found  in foxglove (Digitalis purpurea, p. 202). These substances improve the heart’s efficiency, increasing its output while at the same time slowing its rate. Unlike foxglove, however, false hellebore’s effect  on the heart is slightly sedative, and it is generally prescribed for patients with hearts that are beating too fast or irregularly. False hellebore is also recommended as a treatment for certain cases of low blood pressure. In common with other plants containing cardiac glycosides, false hellebore is strongly diuretic and can be used to counter water retention, particularly in cases of poor circulatory
function. False hellebore is used in homeopathic
medicine as a treatment for angina. QCautions  T ake only under professional
supervision. Gathering wild plants and their
medicinal use are subject to legal restrictions in some countries. Maidenhair fern is used
for chest complaints.Adiantum capillus-veneris
(Polypodiaceae)
Maidenhair Fern
Description  Fern with delicate fronds growing
to 1 ft (30 cm) long. Habitat & Cultivation  Native to Europe,
Asia, most of the Americas, and Australasia. Parts Used  Aerial parts. Constituents  Maidenhair fern contains
flavonoids (including rutin and isoquercitin),
terpenoids (including adiantone), tannin, proanthocyanidins, and mucilage. History & Folklore  Maidenhair fern has been
used since ancient times. Pliny the Elder (23–79 ce) states that the herb “is of singular efficacy in expelling and breaking calculi of the bladder.”
Medicinal Actions & Uses  Commonly
used in Latin America and occasionally in Europe,  a decoction or tincture of maidenhair fern is used  as an expectorant to treat coughs, bronchitis, sore throat, and chronic nasal congestion. The plant has  a longstanding reputation as a remedy for conditions affecting the hair and scalp. Related Species  A. caudatum has been shown
to act as an antispasmodic and could be useful in the treatment of asthma. US_158-179_Abies_balsa_Boswe_serratta.indd   160 26/02/16   12:47 pm161 other medicinal Plantsagave americana
aegle marmelos (Rutaceae)
Bael,
Bengal Quince
Description Thorny deciduous tree growing
to 26 ft (8 m). Has aromatic oval- to lance-shaped
leaves, greenish-white flowers, and yellow plum-
shaped fruit. Habitat & Cultivation  Native to India, bael
grows throughout much of Southeast Asia in dry
forests. It is also cultivated throughout the region. Parts Used  Fruit, leaves, root, twigs. Constituents  Bael contains coumarins,
flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, carotinoids, and
volatile oil. History & Folklore  The bael tree is sacred to
the Hindu deities Lakshmi (the goddess of wealth
and good fortune) and Shiva (the god of health),
and it is commonly planted near temples. Its
medicinal virtues are described in the Charaka
Samhita, an herbal text written c. 400 bce. Medicinal Actions & Uses The astringent
half-ripe bael fruit reduces irritation in the digestive
tract and is excellent for diarrhea and dysentery. The ripe fruit is demulcent and laxative, with a
significant vitamin C content. It eases stomach pain
and supports the healthy function of this organ. Bael’s astringent leaves are taken to treat peptic
ulcers. The tree’s most unusual application is for
earache. A piece of dried root is dipped in the oil
of the neem tree ( Azadirachta indica,  p. 70) and set
alight. Oil from the burning end is dripped into the
ear. (This is not a recommended practice.) Self-help Use


borne allergies). Some plants are well known for causing contact dermatitis—rue (Ruta graveolens, p. 265) for example—and should not be handled by those prone to allergies. Some powdered herbs can stimulate sneezing attacks in the sensitive—for example linden (Tilia spp., p. 277). In some cases, herbal medicines may trigger allergic reactions within the body. This kind of response is more worrying, and if you are prone to allergies it is advisable to see a qualified herbalist before taking all but the most common herbs. Other treatment is needed. Sometimes herbal
medicine is not the appropriate form of treatment. If you have an acute illness or injury, are seriously ill, or do not recover as expected after taking an herbal remedy, do not delay—seek professional
advice or emergency treatment. US_298-299_Using_Herbal_Remedies_Safely.indd   298 17/03/16   4:01 pm299 herbal remedies for home use
Essential Information
Before using remedies read the following. Dosage
■ Except in Infants & Children  (see p. 318), all dosages
given are for adults. ■ Do not exceed the stated dose; doubling it will
not make the medicine twice as effective. ■ Before taking a remedy, check the cautions in the
relevant herb entry ( see pp. 56–283). ■ Do not take more than 2 internal remedies at any
one time or more than 1 internal and 1 external
remedy for the same complaint, unless specified. Where different forms of a remedy are given (e.g. take tincture or infusion), the first is preferable. How Long to T ake Remedies
T ake remedies until symptoms disappear. If there is
no improvement within 2 –3 weeks, if the condition
worsens, or if in doubt, consult a professional
practitioner ( see p. 320). Professional Advice
■ Advice is given on when to seek professional
guidance. Consult a professional if taking a remedy
for over 3 weeks. Infants & Children
■ Do not give babies under 6 months any
internal herbal (or other) medicine without
professional advice. ■ Infants & Children, p. 318, gives children’s dosages. Remedies for Common Ailments
Herbal knowledge is continuing to grow as more people choose herbs as
an alternative to pharmaceutical drugs. The following remedies are safe and
effective treatments for a range of common ailments; but, like all medicines,
they must be treated with respect. The suggestions given here are mostly quite
straightforward. However, if you are unsure about what to do, always seek
professional advice ( see p. 320). For instructions on how to make herbal
preparations, see pp. 290–297. Infusions make effective  remedies; some
are also relaxing or refreshing drinks.Remedies elsewhere can be used for children
under 12. Reduce doses as follows:
■ 6–12 months old—1⁄10 adult dose
■ 1–6 years old—1⁄3 adult dose
■ 7–12 years old—1⁄2 adult dose. Older People
Older adults, due to slower metabolism, may
require less than the standard dose. Those over
70 should usually take 3⁄4 of the adult dose. Pregnancy
■ During the first 3 months of pregnancy, avoid
all medicines, herbal or otherwise, unless
absolutely essential. ■ Avoid alcoholic tinctures in pregnancy. ■ The herbs mentioned in Pregnancy  (see p. 317)
are safe to use. Many of the remedies elsewhere
in this section are also safe, but some are not. Always check the cautions for the remedy and in
the relevant herb entry ( see pp. 56–283) before
taking an herb during pregnancy. Prescription Medicine
As explained opposite, some herbs are known
to interact with pharmaceutical drugs; others
may interact in as-yet unknown ways. If you
are taking a prescribed medicine, consult a
professional practitioner before taking an herb,
and do not discontinue any medicine without
their approval.Herbal Preparations
■ All quantities are for dried herbs unless specified. ■ Where more than one part of an herb is used,
the instructions specify which part to use. Only
use that part. Do not use seeds sold for
horticultural purposes. ■ Unless specified otherwise, preparations are
made with standard quantities of dried herb,
as follows:
Infusions  (to make, see p. 291). Use a teaspoon of
herb to a cup of water, or make enough for 3–4
doses using 20 g of herb to 2 cups (500 ml) of
water. Use a covered container to retain the herb’s
valuable volatile oils. Decoctions  (to make, see p. 291). Use 20 g herb
to 3 cups (750 ml) of water. Inhalations  (to make, see p. 297). Add 5–10 drops
essential oil to 1 quart (1 liter) of steaming hot
water or use an infusion. Lotions  (to make, see p. 296). Use 2 cups (500 ml)
infusion or decoction, or 5 tsp (25 ml) tincture
diluted in 2 cups (500 ml) of water. Tablets or capsules  (to make, see p. 292). Many
herbs are available over the counter in both forms. T ake according to the instructions on the packet. Tinctures  (to make, see p. 292). Some tinctures
are available ready-made. T ake tinctures with cold
water unless specified. Sometimes the number
of drops recommended is given as a range, e.g. 20–40 drops. In these cases, start with the lowest
amount and increase by 5–10 drops per dose
as required. Essential Oils
Do not take essential oils internally unless advised
to do so by a professional practitioner. For
external use, dilute essential oils with a carrier oil,
such as sunflower or almond, in a ratio of 1 part
essential oil to 20 parts carrier oil; e.g., 5 drops
essential oil to 1 tsp (5 ml) carrier oil. For a bath,
add 5–10 drops of neat essential oil to the
running water. To use essential oils in massage,
see p. 297. Other Information
For other preparations, weighing & measuring,
and equipment, see pp. 291–297. Self-help
Lifestyle, diet and exercise advice is given in this
section. In general, these suggestions do not
provide a “quick-fix” solution and need to be
followed long term if they are to be effective. They should be used in addition to the
recommended herbal remedy. By ensuring that
your body has the right nutrition and level of
fitness, you protect yourself against many ailments
such as infections and circulatory problems, as
well as increase your chances of a speedy and
effective recovery. US_298-299_Using_Herbal_Remedies_Safely.indd   299 26/02/16   4:43 pm
300
herbal remedies for home useAllergies
Allergies often develop when the body’s immune system
overreacts to an external irritant such as pollen, insect stings, and certain plants, or internal substances such as chemicals and foods. The allergens trigger a reaction in those who have a built-in or natural sensitivity. In the long term, allergies are treated by both reducing contact with allergens (if known) and working to reduce the body’s oversensitivity. Herbal remedies can bring relief to some
allergic states and are helpful in gradually reducing allergic reactions. See also Skin Rashes, p. 303. Allergic Rhinitis, Including Hay Fever
EczemaNettle
(Urtica dioica)
Allergic rhinitis is an umbrella term for allergic
reactions to irritants such as pollution, dust,
or pollen. Allergic rhinitis may occur year round, while hay fever is usually caused by seasonal grass or pollens. Symptoms include sneezing; copious nasal mucus; sinus congestion; watery, irritated eyes; and even asthmalike wheezing. Self-treatment will help relieve mild conditions, but for severe attacks, consult
a professional practitioner who can prescribe herbs such as ma huang (Ephedra sinica, p. 95). See also Congestion, Sinus Problems, & Earache,  p. 312. Diet
Reduce your intake of or cut out mucus-forming foods such as dairy, eggs, sugar, white flour, fatty foods, and alcohol. Characterized by red, inflamed skin, eczema
causes irritation, flaking, scaling, and tiny blisters. Although it is often the result of an allergic reaction to certain substances, eczema can also be inherited, result from prolonged contact
with an irritant, or it may simply appear for
an unknown reason. It is best to consult a professional practitioner as eczema is difficult
to self-treat. However, the following remedies, taken for at least a week, can bring relief. Two remedies may be used at once. Chickweed reduces soreness or itchiness, and oats can be used to impart a soothing, emollient effect to bathwater. See also Skin Rashes, p. 303. Self-help
To avoid scratching, cover the affected area  with an absorbent, non-irritating


 I would like to think that my father, given a choic e, would not have changed much in his life. However, he wasn’t given the option. Dad became ill in 1963, and critically so by 1967. The physicians he saw in Midland and Odessa
couldn’t find anything physiologically wrong with h im for quite some time. The fact that he was
ill was undeniably apparent; he was so weak, he fou nd it necessary to lie down at the office
between seeing patients. After he suffered what app eared to be two heart attacks, a diagnosis was
finally made. The situation, I have been told, was as follows. He had cancer of the pancreas and
liver. As is usually the case, the malignancy was i n its final stages at the time of diagnosis. The
doctor refused to operate, saying Dad would die on the table. He should "get his affairs in order"
quickly; he could expect to live only a few months. The doctor took my mother aside to tell her
that, in his opinion, two months was a more realist ic time frame. One of the many reasons cancer is such an effective  killer is its ability to destroy completely the
individual’s will to live. The patient suffers over whelming pain, and his prognosis is rarely very
optimistic. Any strength he might possess to combat  the disease is soon exhausted, and death
ceases to be viewed as something to be avoided. In death, the pain will be gone. The patient will
no longer be forced to face the people he loves and  the sorrow his suffering has brought them. Death becomes a friend, not an adversary. My mother  and grandmother Kelley have told me
stories of how terrible a thing it was to watch. Unfortunately (or very fortunately), my mother had some more unpleasant news for him. Mom
has always had a real talent with a credit card. Du e to the fact that we were living heavily in debt,
she had quietly allowed Dad’s life insurance to lap se. His death would leave his wife and three
young daughters destitute. I imagine Dad was very angry. He had come to terms with dying, but this news surely obliterated
any peace of mind he might have attained. At some p oint, he made the decision to do whatever
he could to live. I don’t know from what source he found the strength to attempt the impossible. Maybe his anger provided the motivation. (After all, if he died, he wouldn’t be able to kill my
mom. ) Instead of tinkering with Twinkles, Dad now began t inkering with himself. The doctors had
offered him no hope and no help; his only option wa s to take his case into his own hands. He
wasn’t overly armed for the fight; one of his degre es is in biochemistry, and he knew of several
people conducting innovative research in natural he aling. His illness was so severe that, by trial
and error, he was able to determine quickly what su bstances (food, vitamins, and/or minerals)
swung the pendulum of his well being in what direct ion. Virtually everything the rest of the
family ate would make him wretchedly ill. I remembe r sitting down to fried chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy while dad dined on vile-smelling  liver. My sisters and I didn’t understand
why he was eating this way; no one told us he was d ying. Anyway, Dad must have done something right. Two mon ths came and went, and the next four
followed suit. During this time (and for sometime a fter, to be sure), Dad was critically ill; and for
the purposes of this paper and its space limitation, I have greatly simplified the things he did to
get well. But the bottom line is still the same; he  didn’t die. Word got around — boy did it get around. The parent s of Dad’s orthodontic patients started
asking him for advice about their ills and those of  their loved ones. And Dad naively dispensed
it. I don’t believe it ever occurred to him to do o therwise. Many of those asking his advice were
friends or, at least, people he knew. He simply tol d them what he had done to help himself. He
had "been there" and knew first hand the agony a ca ncer patient experiences. Here were people
in desperate need of help. If he knew something tha t might ease their pain at all, he felt it was his
moral duty to tell them. And many of those who did what he said got well. People came to see Dr. Kelley in increasing numbers, and they weren’t looking to have braces
put on their kids’ teeth. Since he had to earn a li ving for his family but still felt a moral
obligation to help anyone he could, he wrote a slim  booklet in 1969 entitled One Answer To
Cancer. In it was the story of his personal encounter with  malignancy and the theoretical
explanation of the procedures he used in getting we ll. After the publication of One Answer To Cancer, things really started to happen. As you might
imagine, the American Medical Association, the Stat e Board of Dental Examiners, and a host of
other health-oriented organizations began to get ho stile. He endured a great deal of persecution
during this time, and found himself in quite a dile mma. On one hand, the number of individuals
seeking his help was ever increasing; on the other,  charges of "practicing medicine without a
license" were being leveled at him. Eventually, he began seeing cancer patients for a living and
started charging for his services. However, he saw only those people whose doctors had referred
their patients to him. He consulted with the indivi dual as well as the physician involved, always
working well within the law. At the last count with  which I am familiar, he has worked with over
33,000 patients in this way.<|eot_id|><|begin_of_text|>
Q: Who was the doctor who was involved in a scandal after being exposed by the Fort Worth Star Telegram?,
A: Dr. Kelley
Q: What was Dr. Kelley's initial diagnosis?,
A: Cancer of the pancreas and liver
Q: What was the prognosis given to Dr. Kelley by his doctors?,
A: He would die within a few months
Q: Who was one of the famous people who sought Dr. Kelley's help?,
A: Steve McQueen
Q: What was Dr. Kelley's philosophy?,
A: "Where there's life, there's hope"
Q: What was the title of the book Dr. Kelley wrote?,
A: One Answer To Cancer<|eot_id|><|begin_of_text|>This wonderful work by Ms. Meena Puri is filled with practical tools and
pr ofound wisdom that will allow you to cut thr ough all the confusion of fad
diets and change how you view food and your life for ever! Ms. Puri’ s vision
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an active r ole in cr eating healthier communities. What’ s mor e, her book is a
powerful r eminder to all health practitioners to open our minds to that
which is most important: the patients who trust us to guide them to healing. Food is medicine, and Ms. Puri includes delicious r ecipes in this beautiful
book that will allow you to fill your kitchen with healing foods designed to
turn you into your own Health Her o! I have a pr ofound r espect for Eastern Medicine, especially when it’ s
combined with the marvels of modern W estern Medicine, and this book,
filled with compelling stories, shows how Eastern concepts of going to the
r oot of the disease can enhance the futur e of W estern medical practice. The
principles elucidated in this work will help pave the way for a healing
journey that will allow you to derive ever mor e enjoyment than ever befor e
fr om your life. It’ s truly a powerful addition to your bookshelf! Dr. Partha Nandi
Creator and host of The Dr. Nandi Show
W e usually think of food as nourishing us with vitamins and minerals and
pr oviding ener gy to us. Meena Puri goes under that science to the essential
Consciousness that is available thr ough our right r elationship with food. She blends this delicious depth with very practical tips on what and how to
eat for healthful living. Her book will nourish your body and your soul. Rhonda Egidio, Ph.D. Professor of Education Michigan State University, A yurveda Practitioner. Meena Puri’ s conscious appr oach to food and r elationship with food
pr ovides an outline for a systematic appr oach to various silent, intricate
featur es of health and wellness. This book offers not only cooking r ecipes,but also pr ovides vast knowledge of A yurvedic appr oach to food and
nutrition. As I teach and conduct various A yurvedic Food and Nutrition
Consultant certification trainings, Meena Puri’ s book will be a valuable
r esour ce in helping students and practitioners understand various concepts
of A yurvedic nutrition. Her book is also highly beneficial and r ecommended
for r egister ed dieticians and anyone seeking to understand A yurvedic
nutrition. Dr. Shekhar Annambhotla, President,
Association of A yurvedic Professionals of North America (AAPNA), Inc.
USA. Even if you think


 dry. Worst thing that could ever happen to a person, right? The great human nightmare, yes? Well... yes and no. At first, it was terrifying. I never imagined in my wildest dreams that I
would become A Street Person. And once I was out there, living in that tent, I couldn’t
imagine how I was ever going to get back into a real house again. Yet now, as I look back on it, I see that this was one of  the greatest things that ever
happened to me. It taught me lessons about life that I can’t imagine I could have learned
any other way. It brought me to a place of the greatest understanding of my own inner
resources. It took me to a higher level of compas sion and a deeper caring for every member
of the human race. And it opened me to an awareness of God and the meaning of life that
changed everything I thought I understood, carrying me to a new place of experiencing
each moment as an unspeakable gift. Okay, now you might say that this is a lucky case of “all’s well that ends well,” but I have
learned that everything  ends well if I let go and let God; if I simply allow whatever change is
occurring in my life to occur without opposition. This doesn’t mean Do Nothing, but this does mean Do Not Resist. What you resist persists. What you look at disappears. That is, it ceases to have its
illusory form. Non -resistance delivers us from what is Imagined and awakens us to what is
Apparent, finally showing us the Actu al Truth. It is about “... delivering us from evil....”
Suddenly, options are open to us that seemed utterly blocked just moments before. Everything changes with a change in point of view. That is the true power behind Change  #7. When you understand that all change happens in order to sustain harmony in the
universe... when you believe  that, even though it seems unbelievable... when you are
certain that life was meant to be happy... and when you know that all stories can have
wonderful endings if you do not block them with bitterness, anger, resentment, frustration,
or non -belief in even the possibility  of a wonderful ending (for most, the biggest block of all)
... then  you can change your thought about what is occur ring —and thus, change your idea
of what will occur. Has your life not shown you that everything works out for your highest evolutionary
purpose? Of course it has. The proof of this is that you’re still here. “Yes,” you might say, “but look what I had to do  to get here!” Agreed. It wasn’t an easy
road. Yet that is because you did not have the tools that you have now. And yet, even
without these tools, you came through it all. So... what makes you think it will be any different tomorrow? We see, then, that  the issue is not whether  you’re going to survive, but how. Will you be
happy, or will you be sad? Will you be excited again about life, or will you be discouraged,
disgruntled, and disappointed? Will you be a blessing to all whose lives you touch, or will
you be a burden to everyone around you? The way you hold the present experience is the way you create the next. And that  is why
changing your perspective about future change is so powerful. The trick for you now is to transform this insight  into fores ight. The trick is to know this
about your tomorrow, today. The trick is to be very clear that life is on your side. This does not mean that everything always turns out the way you want it to. What it
does mean is that sometimes what you want is not what i s best for you. What??? Can that be true? Is it possible to want something that is not even in one’s own
best interest? Of course it is. People do it all the time. That’s because they do not always
recognize  what’s in their own best interest. And that  is because they do not know who they
really are, where they are, what they are really doing here on this earth, and what the
purpose of all of this is, anyway. So answer those Four Fundamental Questions for yourself, then change your idea about
future change. Drop the thought that you cannot affect the future. Tell yourself that the
future is not coming TO you, it is coming THROUGH you. The change that is coming to you in the future is that change that you place  in your
future with the thoughts, words, and acti ons of today. These are the three Tools of Creation,
and if you would like more buttressing around this idea and an even deeper explanation of
how you are the creator of your own reality, pick up a copy of Conversations with God, Book
1 and give yourself t he treat of one of the most inspirational and life -changing texts you will
ever read. If you have read it before, read it again. If you have never read it, do so now. Then see
what you think. And take what resonates with you into your life as part of your own living
truth. Yes, yes, yes... change your idea about the changes to come, even as you change your
idea about the changes that have passed. Then you can change your experience of both. What is it that you were given? I mean from the loss. After, wha t was taken. That very thing you could never
live without. The person or place;
the secret, or circumstance —
now that it is gone,
or has been found out,
and you can no longer call it foundation,
what is it that you were given? You know, and I know, this:
there is a hollowing out. Something comes and opens you up
right
down
the
middle
and from that moment on
you are no longer immune to this world. You wake, you wander,
every familiar, now a foreign. You walk as through water
until you make it back to  your bed
and finally, even there — your sheets; your own pillow’s scent different,
as if daily someone repaints your room, displaces something,
disturbs a cherished memento. _______
You see,
sometimes we are emptied. We are emptied
because
Life wants us to know
so
much
more
Light. —‘What Is It That You Were Given?’  © 2006 Em Claire  22. THE EIGHTH CHANGE
NOW LOOK, WE’RE GETTING  to the end of our visit here and I want you to know that I
understand the impact of what has happened to you in this time of chang e. Whether you’ve
lost a job or lost a house or lost a relationship or lost your health or lost a loved one
through death... whatever has changed, I understand how that has affected you. I am
willing to join you in moving through that, as are the other spiritual life coaches who are
reachable through www.ChangingChange.net. Whether you use the support available to you in many forms there, or find assistance
from other sources, I would advise you not to sid estep what you are going through right
now. I would not want you to act as if it didn’t happen, or pretend it doesn’t matter that it
did. I want you to neither hide from it nor minimize it, but look at it squarely, and allow
yourself whatever truth, emotio n, and experience comes up for you around that —because I
know that what you resist persists. Then I invite you to add to your processing of all this by using some of the tools I have
given you here. I invite you to look at the Apparent Truth and not just t he Imagined Truth. I
invite you to consider the possibility that your soul (and the soul of everyone else involved)
knows exactly what it is doing, and that what it is doing is ultimately for the highest good of
all concerned. I want you, as well, to under stand that the fact that this change has occurred does not
mean that you cannot change this change —even possibly returning your life circumstance
to something close to, and better than, what it was before (as in, for instance, a broken
relationship that ha s been mended). No possibility for the future is off the table. I have spoken in my workshops to people who have lost millions, only to come back to
make millions more. I have heard from people who lost their dearest relationship, only to
come back to reco ncile and raise it to heights never before imagined. I have talked to
people who have been given a death sentence by their doctor, only to come back to a health
so robust as to inspire the word “miracle.”
Yes, I have heard from these people and more. Their  stories are all different, yet there is
one thing they all have in common. The end of their story was not the end of their story. You’ve heard a lot from me about my own particular adventure, but let me just add this:
I absolutely thought my story was ove r, that the good times were finished, more than once. My oh my oh my, how wrong I was. If I only knew then what I know now. Or, as my father
used to say: So old so soon, so smart so late. Let me help you get to where you want to be in life before you be


 in the past decade. If we are going to make cosmic
consciousness matter, we cannot wear rose-colored glasses. Those
storms, and the human misery they generated, were allowed intovirtual reality. Many things have entered virtual reality to make
life nightmarish. The average person isn’t prepared to accept responsibility for
the spell/dream/illusion we are entangled in. The accumulation of
greenhouse gas es can be explained as divine retribution, or as the
outcome of a series of very  unfortunate events, or as human
imperfection screwing up one more thing. Self-destruction is part
of our nature, but self-creation is infinitely more powerful. By
waking up, metahumans can make right what humans ha ve done
wrong. Waking  up happens o nly one person at a time. Reality isn’t
a numb ers game. It’s a one-player universe, and you an d I are
enough to move creation itself.One purpose of this book is to demystify the process of
waking up. The direct path i s meant to be effortless and natural. The only uncertainty is time—people who want to achieve higher
consciousness all begin at a different place, and this makes a
difference. I’ve found in my own experience that desire is a
powerful incentive no matter  where you start from. If you really
want to learn something—a new language, French cooking, rock
climbing—the process becomes enjoyable. The better you get at
learning, the more enjoyable it is. Unlike those things, however, waking up isn’t a skill. There’s no
set of rules or  guidelines. Even finding a teacher is fraug ht with
missteps. How does a teacher prove that he’s awake? But every
culture that believes in higher consciousness has, over time,
developed a setting for this special kind of learning, suc h as an
Indian ashram or a Zen Buddhist monastery. These settings fit into the context of each culture. If you don’t
happen to belong to the culture, however, and you’re viewing
these settings from the outside, ashrams and monasteries look
alien and exotic. Yet there’s no proof that a special setting is
mandatory. Af ter all, the process of waking up is abo ut self-
awareness. No  one can teach you to be self-aware. No one needs
to. Con sciousness already includes self-awareness. I’ve been
arguing in this book that existence is  consciousness. In other
words, you were born with the tools to become more self-aware. It’s just a matter of applying them. In the process of waking up, n o special lifestyle is required. You
live as you’re living now, by being aware of the world “ou t there”
and the  world “in here.” The  only thing new is that you relate to
both wo rlds using new assumptions. You assume that the “real”
reality isn’t the same as virt ual reality. You assume that you are
whole at the le vel of the true self. You assume that the true self
offers a better way to live, a more conscious way but also more
creative, open, relaxed, accepting, and free. Assumptions a ren’t the same as truth or facts. They need to be
tested, which is the purpose of this section. You are asked toexperiment on yourself, spen ding time every day for a month to
find out if the direct path works. It’s a fortunate time to seek
higher consciousness. Stripped of religious trappings and the fog
of m ystery, consciousness h as entered a new phase as  a full-
fledged researc h topic, studied by psychologists, psychoth erapists,
biologists, philosophers, neuroscientists, and even physicists. This explosion  of interest makes for a better setting, in  fact,
than traditional ashrams and monasteries. You can be fully
engaged in everyday life while placing your deeper attention on
waking up. It’s a little odd th at someone must learn to w ake up,
but that’s the result of living  so long with the conditione d mind. Convinced that the spell/d ream/illusion is real, our  minds
conform to it. Waking up happens by dismantling the conditioning
that kee ps us trapped in mental constructs. When those co nstructs
begin to fade away, waking up is the state we arrive at. Arriving there is unpredictable and totally personal. It’s best to
set out with an open mind and no expectations. Just adopt the
attitude that waking up is real; other people have done it f or many
centuries, and the only requirement is self-awareness. A  D a i l y  P l a n
The lessons in this section are set up to be as flexib le as
possible. First there’s an axiom or insight for the day. It is followed
by a brief expl anation, and then an exercise. Read the axiom and
explanation at least once, although several times throughout the
day is better, so that your att ention is drawn back to the theme of
the day. The exercise should be done as often as it takes fo r you to
feel tha t it really sank in—one  to three times separated throughout
your day should do it. Finally, space has been left for you to
journal about your experien ce. Even better would be to keep a
separate journal devoted to waking up. Is a  month en ough time to completely wake up? I sinc erely
doubt it, but some people have been known to open their e yes one
morning, look around, and know with certainty that they haveawakened. Others gradually change inside and slip into higher
consciousness almost without noticing that the change has taken
place—it becam e second nature over the years. In all likelihood
you will get th e most out of repeating these lessons, goi ng back
when you feel the desire to reengage with the learning process. There a re degr ees of being a wake, just as there are skill levels in
learning a new language, French cooking, or rock climbing. Reinforcing your awakened state is part of the process. The lessons get longer as the  month goes on, not because  they
are hard er but because there is more to see. Every lesson is  equally
easy. Be open, fluid, and flexible a bout getting there. The beauty of
the direct path is that each lesson along the way has its own
achievements, its own “aha” moments, and its own pleasures. In
that spirit, let the waking up begin.To download, go to http://prhlink.com/9781524762988a001
DAY 1

The everyday experience of reality starts with perceptions
—sounds, colors, shapes, textures, tastes, and smells. Waking up is supposed to b e effortless. But it’s important to
know w here to  start. There is  no better place to begin than where
you are  right this moment. In  fact, we will wind up in trou ble if we
pretend that there is any other starting point. You are
experiencing your life as it i s, a flow of experiences that begins
with the five senses. For Today
Get in touch w ith the basics. Sit for a moment and be with your
simplest exper ience of light, w armth, the smells wafting your way,
the tast e of food. Relax into  the experience. Just observe. The
more yo u are able to relax, th e more effortless waking up will be. Relaxing into the moment is the key. In a relaxed sta te your
mental activity calms down, and observing your direct experience
happens naturally. YOUR EXPERIENCE:

 DAY 2

The range of human perception is a narrow bandwidth of
raw sensations. The five senses are our window on reality, but the opening is a
slit, no t a picture window. “Seeing is believing” usually only
applies to a small fraction of the raw data bombarding the eye
every second. The same is t rue for the other four senses. They
conspire to deliver a narrow bandwidth of reality. To expand the
bandwidth to increase our perception, is one reason for waking
up. For Today
Get in touch with how narrow your sense of reality actually is.<|eot_id|><|begin_of_text|>Summarize the following text section accurately and concisely. Maintain specific details and numerical information, and use anti-repetition mechanisms:

        But a life based on
specifics is misguided, because the spell/dream/illusion contains
thousands of specific things,  so many that you cannot deal with
them all or esc ape their grip. As a child in India, I heard simple
versions of what it means to wake up to reality. In one tale, a fish
is fr antic with t hirst, rushing around to find a drink of wat er. Even
at four years ol d a child laugh s at the silly fish who doesn’t know itis surr ounded by water. Only when you grow up does the
seriousness of the paradox set in. Once you have the experien ce of sensing yourself, which is
available to each of us in our calmer moments, you can use inner
silence to transform your wor ld, one day at a time. This is done by
looking at your mistaken notions about reality and rejecting them. Like a physicist sorting through all the objects in the subatomic
world t hat aren’t the irreducible


ing	moisture	in. Sesame	oil	will	effectively	penetrate	deeper	into	the	epidermis	to	moisturize	and
repair	skin,	especially	if	heat	is	applied	after	sesame	oil	application	(as	from	a	hot
shower	after
abhyanga
). Sesame	oil	is	particularly	protective	against	pollution	and
effective	at	revitalizing	damaged	hair	from	deep	within. DRY	BRUSHING
Like
abhyanga
,	dry	brushing	is	a	manual	treatment	that	is	great	for	improving
circulation	and	rejuvenating	your	skin. You	can	actually	integrate	dry	brushing
into	your
abhyanga
	routine	by	dry	brushing	for	just	a	few	minutes	right	before
applying	the	oil	and	starting	the	self-massage. This	heightens	the	benefits	of
abhyanga
	even	more. Like	other	forms	of	sloughing	the	skin	to	exfoliate,	dry	brushing	has	been
practiced	widely	around	the	world,	from
Japan	to
Sweden. Manually	working
with	the	skin—our	largest	organ	of	sensory	perception	made	of	multiple	cell
layers,	glands,	and	densely	packed	nerve	cells—has	amazing	whole	body	benefits. It	helps	remove	dead	skin	cells	and	clear	out	clogged	pores,	allowing	your	body
to	eliminate	wastes	and	toxins	more	efficiently. This	also	activates	waste
removal	via	your	lymphatic	system,	draining	wastes	through	your	lymph	nodes
and	lymphatic	drainage. Increasing	circulation	to	your	skin	allows	metabolic
wastes	to	clear	from	your	body	more	efficiently,	making	dry	brushing	a	great
detoxifying	aid. Like	a	light	massage,	dry	brushing	also	provides	some	anti-stress	benefits	and
may	even	help	with
bloating. Massaging	the	lymph	nodes	can	help	the	body
shed	excess	water	and	toxins,	improving	kidney	function	and	flushing	out	your
system. Dry	skin	brushing	rejuvenates	the	nervous	system	by	stimulating	nerve
endings	in	the	skin,	and	it	feels	pretty	great,	too! (Well,	it	can	feel	a	little	rough
at	first	when	you	are	getting	used	to	it,	but	it	will	leave	you	feeling	revitalized
and	with	a	great	memory	of	the	experience.) Last	but	not	least,	dry	brushing	will
almost	certainly	help	make	your	skin	glow	and	become	tighter. Try	it	for
yourself	and	see	what	kinds	of	benefits	you	experience! To	do	it	yourself,	all	you	need	is	about	2	to	3	minutes	a	day	(ideally	layered
into	your
abhyanga
	practice)	and	a	long-handled	brush	made	from	dry	bristles,
which	you	can	generally	purchase	for	under	$20	online	or	at	a	health	market. Starting	at	your	feet,	brush	your	skin	in	long	strokes	toward	your	heart. Be	sure
to	brush	your	legs,	arms,	chest,	back,	and	stomach. Avoid	sensitive	areas,	such
as	your	face,	and	be	very	careful	with	delicate	areas	like	varicose	veins	(thoughgentle	dry	brushing	can	be	great	for	flat	spider	veins). Be	firm,	but	don’t	press
too	hard. Your	skin	should	be	pink	when	you’re	done	but	certainly	not	red	or
irritated. Afterward,	be	sure	to	engage	in	your
abhyanga
	practice	or	apply	a
natural	moisturizer	or	emollient	oil,	such	as	shea	butter	or	coconut	or	sesame
oil. Since	dry	brushing	helps	slough	off	the	dead,	outer	cells,	your	skin	will	be
able	to
hydrate	more	efficiently	and	absorb	more	moisture. OCEAN	BEAUTY	DETOX	AND	MINERAL	MASK
Kelp	is	seaweed	that	is	rich	in	minerals	and	vitamins. Used	in	a	mask	form,	it	will	draw	impurities	out
of	your	skin	as	it	also	helps	restore	nutrition	to	your	complexion. 2	tablespoons	kelp	powder
½	cup	aloe	vera	gel
2	teaspoons	filtered	water
Combine	the	kelp	and	aloe	vera	in	a	small	bowl. Slowly	mix	in	the	water	until	you	create	a	thick	paste. Apply	to	your	face	and	neck	for	about	15	to	20	minutes. Rinse	well. JUMP	ON	A
TRAMPOLINE
This	type	of	movement	is	particularly	good	for	increasing	lymph	flow,	as	the
up-and-down	rhythmic	gravitational	force	created	by	bouncing	encourages	the
lymph	system’s	one-way	valves	to	open	and	close. GO	FOR	A	WALK	OR	HIKE
In	addition	to	all	the	other	benefits	of	getting	out	into	nature	(not	to	mention
exercise),
walking	is	a	great	way	to	help	move	your	lymphatic	system	and
improve	circulation. CLEANSE
Try	a	properly	administered	cleanse,	especially	in	the	springtime. If	well
designed	and	followed,	this	can	be	a	great	way	to	detox	your	whole	system	and
let	your	lymph	system	flush	out	accumulated	wastes	and	toxins. If	you	are
interested,	check	out	Kimberly’s	organic	smoothie	and	juice	company
(
myglowbio. com
)	for
cleanses	she	designs	that	ship	nationally. WEAR	LOOSE
CLOTHING
Tight	clothing	can	restrict	your	body’s	natural	circulation,	so	peel	yourself	out
of	your	skinny	jeans	(at	least	part	of	the	time)	and	incorporate	more	flowing
skirts
and	maxi	dresses	into	your	wardrobe. You’ll	be	more	comfy—and	moredetoxed. After	detoxing	your	lymphatic	system	with	looser	clothes	on	most
days,	you’ll	look	even	better	on	those	nights	when	you	do	want	to	wear	a	tight,
slinky	dress. PRACTICE
HYDROTHERAPY
If	you’ve	ever	been	to	a	traditional	Korean	spa,	you’ll	find	a	cold	plunge	pool
next	to	a	hot	pool. Experiencing	side-by-side	temperature	shifts	externally	to	the
outer	surface	of	your	skin	(again,
not
	by	saturating	your	internal	organs	with	icy
liquids!) is	believed	to	be	invigorating	in	some	Eastern	traditions,	as	it	promotes
enhanced	blood	flow	and	great	circulation	throughout	your	whole	body. You
can	do	this	at	home	by	simply	alternating	warm	and	cold	water	in	the	shower. Start	your	shower	with	a	few	minutes	of	warm	water,	and	then	shift	the	dial	for
2	minutes	of	cold	water. Make	it	as	cold	as	you	can	stand	it! Then	continue
alternating,	ending	your	shower	with	cold	water. You	will	feel	refreshed	and
energized,	and	your	hair	will	look	shinier	(on	the	days	you	wash	it). What	an
excellent	way	to	start	the	day—your	skin	will	also	be	glowing	all	over! NERVOUS	SYSTEM	SOOTHING	MASSAGE	OIL
Jojoba	oil	is	a	great	carrier	oil	for	most	essential	oils	because	it	is	easily	absorbed	into	your	skin	and	is
rich	in	vitamin	E.	Neroli	essential	oil	is	a	great	choice	for	this	skin	recipe,	as	research	has	found	neroli
helps	reduce	anxiety	and	improve	sleep	quality. 2
	Besides	its	calming,	grounding	properties,	it	has	a
lovely	sweet	and	spicy	aroma. Combine	½	cup	jojoba	oil	and	40	drops	neroli	essential


 position or to be on
a confrontationa l receiving end of their viewpoint. A peaceful sense of who
I am radiates and intermingles with respect for otherness. I have found that some of my personal relationships have grown deeper
and more profound, particularly with my wife and immediate family, while
others have become less important. I still enjoy myself immensely in the
company of others at a social gathering, but I no longer defin e myself as
needing to be a part of these activities, whereas they played a much larger
role in earlier years. I prefer spending time alone or in the rich close
personal relationships I enjoy with my family and a few associates. Virtually all dependency relationships, except for those with my small
children, are nonexistent in my life. I am uninterested in having others
dependent on me for their emotional or any other kind of sustenance. Paradoxically, I have become more generous in giving myself to others. I
enjoy more than anything else in my life helping others. It is both strange
and wonderful to function exclusively on what I know to be my truth and at
the same  time to welcome without judgment those who are operating at a
different frequency. Similarly, I find it easier to radiate at my own
frequency, and to ignore the pleadings of others to live my life their way. What has happe ned is that the boundary between my Self and others has
dissolved. I see others on their own paths and I can now love them for being
precisely where they are. When others attempt to impose their self-serving values and attitudes on
me, as I once did on others, I know that this can alter my balance and
harmony. But now I simply shift into being a peaceful observer of what
they are expressing about thems elves and their truth. The authentic me, the
thoughts and inner feelings that I live, are no longer engaged in defense,
and I can watch  without a need to prove them wrong. My path remains
crystal-clear. This is a new kind of vision that allows me to live in
formlessness and form at the same time without being threatened or
controlled by anyone. It is a gloriously peaceful place. I have lost my ability to blame others for the circumstances of my life. I
no longer view the world in terms of unfortunate accidents or misfortunes. I
know in my being that I influence it all, and now find myself considering
why I created a situation, rather than saying, “Why me. ” This heightened
awareness direc ts me to look inside of myself for answ ers. I take
responsibility for all of it, and the interesting puzzle becomes a fascinating
challenge when I decide to influence areas of my life in which I previously
believed I was not in control. I now feel that I control it all. I know that I create what I have and what I need, and that I am capable of
performing miracles when I am balanced inwardly and using my thinking
dimension to create the world that I want for myself. I know now that my
circumstances do not make me what I am, but that they reveal who I have
chosen to be. The quieter I can make my mind, the more I can perceive the
link betw een my thoughts and how I feel. The quieter my mind, the less
judgmental and negative I tend to be. Having a quiet mind gives me a
peaceful life, and helps other s around me to choose peace ful, serene,
effective lives for themselves. Consequently, how I think can directly affect
those around me. It was said of Jesus and Buddha and other highly spiritual
beings that their presence in a village could raise the consc iousness of
everyone in the village. I can now value and appreciate that idea. I have
found that when I am totally at peace within, and radiate that serenity
outward, the consciousness of those in the same room with me can become
peaceful. Recently I gave a speech to a large audience in Chicago, and in the room
were some five hundred children, many of them toddlers and infants. Thenoise level was quite high, but after a while I became accustomed to it and
it was not bothe rsome. At one particularly poignant moment in the speech,
as I was about to recite a gentle poem that is very meaningfu l to me, the
entire room, including the infants and toddlers, became silent. A kind of
magic communication was transmitted to everyone, through the dimension
of thought. The changes in myself and my life patterns have all happened without
goals or any life plan. Yet these inner changes are as much a part of me as
are my lungs and my heart. Similarly, there have been many  changes in my physical way of being in
the world. I run a minimum of eight miles daily, and have not missed a day
since I began at age thirty-six. Not once. I tell people that running is not
something that I do, it is something I am. It is a part of my being. It fits as
regularly into my health regimen as does being scrupulous about dental
care. Simply what I am as a healthy human being. My “old me” was well aware of the benefits to my form. Thos e benefits
remain and continue while I now experience a new level  of benefit
involving my inner Self, a loss of myself, an unawareness of my physicality
as I run. I now have higher levels of energy than I ever experie nced, and I
attribute it and my involvemen t in being healthy and fit to my higher -
consciousness approach to life. I find it interesting that I eat no red meat, which I once thrived on; that I
eat my food without adding salt, where I used to use the salt shaker before I
even tasted my food; that sugar, caffeine, and other nutritionally empty
foods are seldom part of my diet. I find all that interesting, but what is
astonishing  to me is that this tendency towa rd wholesome eating habits has
flowed from a more loving approach to myself and to all of life, not from a
desire to enhance my physical attractiveness or strength or to achieve
physical longevity. I seem to be trusting some sort of inner perfect consultant rather than
relying on cultural norms, old habits, or what I was taught as I grew up. The
part of me that wants to be in balance is choosing my food intake. I feel
balanced inside, and somehow this almost magically translates to a
salubrious approach to nutrition and exercise. I seldom wear a watch, yet a few years ago I would not be caugh t without
one. Time has lost its importa nce in the linear sense, and I do not feel
compelled to keep track of when  and where and how fast I live my life. Thishappened witho ut any goals or objectives. I simply stopped wearing a
watch and referring to time and scheduling my life, and I have found that I
am more ef ficient as a result. I am intrigued with the paradox of letting go of a need or desire for time
limits and feeling I have discovered unlimited time for things I want to do. More than that even. Without physical time constraints, my life not only
flows more ef ficiently but has increased richness and texture. I experie nce the paradox of letting go of time limits quite often in places
like checkout lines in stores. I am sure you too know the feelings that the
“old me” had when someone ahead of me in line was taking too long to
complete a transaction—I was impatient, agitated, critical; I even crowded
closer to try to prod the slow person on. The “new me” does not feel
trapped in time and therefore does not need to worry about getting out of
the store in a prescribed number of minutes. Instead I often experience a
new level of being with time. I discover my Self in thought a part of the
person checking out. My thoughts are of kindness and gentleness toward my
slowness or awkwardness, a loving message of relaxation and nonpressure
to the me that has been there, is there. The permission of unconditional love
which I would choose for myself in that situation seems to trans mit itself to
the other person and help him or her find the right coin or whatever else is
needed. And often this thought process creates a smile, an understanding
energy between that person and my Self, a richness and texture. One of the most beautiful and at the same time hardest-to -describe
interactions is the experience of physical and emotional intimacy with
another person. The physical orgasmic sensations are truly wonderful
aspects of our sexuality. But the soaring inner emotional loving feelings are
a beautiful part of this experien ce. Sex to me is now perfect love, rather
than the obligato ry function of a married man. Making love is an expression
of the inner love which we can reach, when we are both balanced and
fulfilled, and it is our mutual expression of that love. I have lost the desire to organize myself in strictly linear ways, and in the
process my life has become richer, more fluid and flowing and perfectly
balanced. My new perspective allows me to tackle any project with a sense
of inner excitement and the awareness that I do not have to prove myself or
be judged by the results. I simply am who I am, doing what I choose to do,
with a sense of acceptance about the outcome or lack of outcome. Interestingly, I accomplish more and acquire more (which I give away inlarge measure). I achieve more than I ever dreamed possible  in


 breathing
(See p. 78) is practiced, inhaling through the teeth and exhaling through the
nose. This is effective for cooling the whole body like the other pranayama it
resembles, shitalipranayama (in which the tongue is curled up to form a nar
row tube and protrudes from the mouth). 66
(a)
(11) Trikonasana (Triangle pose)
(b)
Stand erect with the feet 2½ to 3 feet apart and extend the
arms to the sides. Bend the body at the hips to form a right
angle as in Figure a and swivel the trunk, touching the right
toes with the left hand as Figure b. Look up at the extend
ed right arm, whose palm should face to the right. Then
swivel the trunk in the opposite direction and assume a
similar pose on the left side. Bring the trunk to the center,
return to the starting position, and lower the arms. 67
Breathing: Inhale when raising the arms, exhale while bend
ing the trunk, hold the breath out while swiveling, inhale when
raising, and exhale while lowering the arms. Duration: Practice five times in succession. Benefits: Through trikonasana, the spine and spinal nerves
are massaged, the entire nervous system is gently stimulated,
and the muscles of the lower back are stretched. Sufferers
from nervous depression thus benefit. The asana massages
the abdominal organs and thereby improves the appetite and
digestion, and is also helpful for removing constipation by
stimulating the peristaltic contraction of the intestines. (12) Dynamic Spinal Twist
Sit with the legs extended forward and separate them as
much as is comfortable. Keeping the arms straight, stretch
the left hand to the right big toe and the right arm behind the
back, keeping both arms in one straight line. Turn the head
and look backwards, directing the gaze to the right hand. Then turn the trunk in the opposite direction, reversing the
arm positions. Repeat this cycle 15 to 20 times. At the begin
ning do the exercise slowly, then gradually increase the
speed. 68
(13) Ardha Matsyendrasana (Half spinal twist pose)
Sit with the left leg straight in front of the body and the
right foot flat on the floor next to the outside of the left knee. Bend the left leg to the right and place the left heel against
the right buttock. Place the left arm on the outside of the
right leg, and grip the right foot or ankle with the left hand. The right knee should be as near as possible to the left arm
pit. Turn the body to the right, placing the right arm behind
the back. Twist the back and then the neck as far as is com
fortable without strain. Remain in the final pose for a short
time and then slowly return to the starting position. Repeat
on the other side of the body. Note: This is a very important asana and should be practiced
at least once every day. Breathing: Exhale while twisting the trunk, breathe as
deeply as possible without strain in the final pose, and inhale
while returning to the starting position. Duration: When the spinal muscles are flexible enough,
maintain the pose for at least 1 minute on each side of the
body. 69
Concentration: On the ajna chakra. Benefits: The spinal nerves are toned, and the back muscles
and intervertebral joints are made supple. Digestive ailments
are removed through massage of the abdominal organs. The
asana regulates the secretion of adrenaline from the adrenal
glands and also activates the pancreas, thus counteracting dia
betic tendencies. Nerves originating in the back are toned,
and lumbago and muscular rheumatism are relieved. The
entire nervous system is stimulated by this asana. Slipped in
tervertebral discs (including vertebral displacements) may
also be corrected. Simplified variation for beginners:
People with very stiff bodies who find ardha matsyen-
drasana impossible to do should extend the leg normally
folded under the buttocks straight in front of the body. Other
wise the technique is exactly the same as in standard ardha
matsyendrasana. When the body becomes supple enough,
one should proceed to the full posture, as the effects are
much greater. (14) Bhu Namanasana (Spinal twist prostration pose) 70
Sit with the spine erect and the legs extended forward. Place both hands by the side of the left hip. Twist the trunk
90° to the left. Bend the upper body and touch the nose to the
ground. The buttocks should not rise. Raise the trunk and the
head and return to the starting position. Breathing: Inhale in the starting position; exhale while bend
ing the trunk, and inhale on the return. Duration: Practice up to ten times on each side. Concentration: Either focus the mind on the breath, or else
consciously relax the back muscles. Benefits: The spine and lower back are stretched, loosening
the muscles and stimulating the spinal nerves. This concludes the description of the spine-twisting
asanas. The following is an asana for adjusting the cervical
area. (15) Neck Movement
1. Sit with the legs extended and the hands on the floor by
the thighs. Slowly tilt the head to the back, then to the front. Repeat ten times. 71
2. While facing forward, slowly tilt the head to the left,
then to the right. Repeat ten times. 3. In the same position, tilt the head forward, at the same
time turning it to the left and right. Or, keep the head erect
while turning it to the left and right. Repeat either ten times. 4. Slowly rotate the head in as large a circle as possible
without strain, ten times in each direction. Benefits: The neck is a vital crossroads in the body. All the
nerves connecting the different parts of the body with the
brain must pass through it. Therefore, regular neck exercises
help to maintain overall health by adjusting the cervical
vertebrae, and normalizing the functioning of the systems in
the cervical and cephalic region. Group 3:
The asanas for meditation
(1) Padmasana
(Lotus pose)
Sit with the legs extended forward. Bend one leg, placing
the foot on top of the other thigh with the sole upward and
the heel touching the pelvic bone. Fold the other leg so that
the foot rests in a similar position on the opposite thigh. 72
Note: Practice padmasana together with jnana mudra or
chin mudra (See p. 96 Chapter IV). In this asana, the spine
must be held straight and completely steady, as if fixed to the
ground. A low cushion under the buttocks will make this
asana easier to perform. Practice padmasana after the legs
have become supple through practice of the preliminary
asanas described before. Limitations: People with sciatica or sacral infections
should not practice this asana. Benefits: Practitioners who have mastered padmasana can
hold the body completely steady for long periods of time. Steadiness of the body brings steadiness of mind, and this
steadiness is the first step toward productive meditation. This asana helps to direct the proper flow of prana from the
muladhara chakra to the sahasrara. In addition, the coc
cygeal and sacral nerves are toned by the infusion into the
abdominal and back regions of large amounts of blood which
normally flow into the legs. Physical, nervous, and emo
tional problems are effectively cleared up. (2) Siddhasana (Male accomplished pose) 73
Sit with the legs extended forward. Fold the right leg and
place the sole flat against the inside of the left thigh. The heel
should press against the perineum, the area between the
genitals and the anus. Fold the left leg and place the foot on
the right calf, pressing the pelvic bone just above the genitals
with the left heel. Thrust the toes and outer side of the left
sole into the groove between the right calf and the thigh
muscles. It may be necessary to slightly shift the right leg for
this; grasp the right toes and pull them upward, placing them
between the left thigh and calf. The legs should now be locked
with the knees on the ground and the left heel directly
above the right heel. Hold the spine erect, as straight and
firm as a tree rooted in the ground. Note: Siddhasana is only for men. It can be practiced with
either leg on top, and always with jnana or chin mudra (see
Chapter IV). Many people - especially beginners - find it
easier to assume and maintain this asana for long periods
when a cushion is placed under the buttocks. Limitations: Persons with sciatica or sacral infections
should not practice this asana. Benefits: Siddhasana is a meditation pose which facilitates
spinal steadiness for long and deep meditation. It activates
the two sexually-related psychomuscular locks, mula bandha
(See p. 90) and vajroli mudra, which redirect sexual impulses
back up the spinal cord to the brain. The practitioner can
thus gain the control over sexual functions that is


. Headache : A gentleman of Dhalni Pole, Ahmedabad, suffered
from headache every morning for the past many years. There was
much irritaion and thus prevented from doing any work. He used to
take certain tinctures which intoxicated him and ·rendered him
immune from any feeling of pain. He started urine treatment on the
advice of Shri Raojibhai. On the first day he had vomiting. He
continued urine for three days which relieved him of his old chronic
headache. AFTERMATH OF CASES
l. Shri Mahendra V. Mistri aged 30 (opposite Bhatia Hospital,
Bombay) could hear nothing for the last two months. Doctors ·could
not cure him. He started urine treatment on 3-7-67. He began
drinking auto-urine up to 6 ounces twice daily. He massaged his
whole body with warm and old urine for once hour daily and used
to put a few drops of urine in the ears. He did not fast. In 15 days
he was completely cured. 3. Shri Bhogilal N. Choksi (Ganesh Baug. F-45, Bombay 19)
writes that his friend C. C. Desai, a principal of a college had ear
trouble for the last 2C years. Pus was oozing and ne was very slow
of hearing. He began to pL!t urine-drops in the ears and was
completely cured. By urine massage he got rid of his skin disease. He cured his neighbours who were suffering rom asthma,
short-sight and eczema. 4. Shri Devajibhai H:1mraj (Gangasadan, Mareva Road, Malad,
Bombay-64) cured his ea1-pain by eight days' urine treatment. 5. Shri Khetsi Malsi Savla (lndubaug, No. 2, Sun Mill Road,
Bombay-13) informs that he could cure his friends sufferin... fro 0
ear-trouble, toothache and even piles. CHAPTER XVIII
ELEPHANTIASIS, PILES AND INFLAMMATION OF
UTERUS, SYPHILIS AND OTHER AILMENTS
1. Elephantiasis : One Shri uasbhai from surat, in his letter dated
21-7-60, writes:
"My left leg was affected with elephantiasis for the past SO years. · Now I am 73. This trouble disabled me to walk even half a mile for
the last 40 years. Whenever I tried to do so, inflammation appeared
on the legs. There was a fever-attack. last year I had a chance to
read Manav Mutra. I started this treatment in March 1959. After four
to five months, the trouble diminshed by 50% and I could walk ·
about a mile and a half. The inflammation and fever never recurred. Now I can cover slowly a distance of 2 to 3 miles without any
discomfort. Drinking and rubbing of u'rine is done once or twice a
day. Had I treated myself accrding to your detailed instructions, the
cure would have been attained sooner and to a gerater degree." 2. Piles : Gujarat Samachara•s Chief Reporter Shri Kantilal Shah
(Ahmedabad) had chrionic constipation and he suffered it for long
and it resulted into piles-trouble. The soft~anus bore scratches and
there was unbearable pain and burning. He started. this treatment
with rubbing but his body was so allergic that it resulted in
nettle-rash. I asked him 'to stop rubbing urine and advised only for
.t<rl<ing urine tv-1ice or thrice a day. He did accordingly and.got fid.of
trouble withrn ·a week. Nettle-rash stilt troubled· him~ ~so be·
continued the treatment and ultimatety the con.stlpatiOfn; was~
,;emov.ed and rettt.rasn cure.<.L.. His allergic condition was
d~inated. •ncidentatly I wish to point out that in a case of bleeding piles.,
bteeding stops rf a pi-ece of doth soaked in urine be kept on the piles
re.g!Jla~v. U.T.-1-3
157 158 : AUTO-URINE THERAPY
3. Inflammation of the Uterus : A lady in Dhalni Pole,
Ahmedabad, suffered form pain due to inflammation in the uterus
after' her marriage. She got herself treated by doctors and Vaidyas
but did not have any relife. Shri Ranjitbhai informed her husband
that urine treatment would eliminate her trouble. She was
persuaded to take urine. One day she took all the urine passed. This
worked as a miracle and the serious trouble disappeared with a
day's drink only. Before the treatment she was unable to walk
. even a litt~e distance. But after the treatment, She could go to the
river for her b~ths. AFTERMATH OF CASES
. 1. Shri Shambhushankar Trivedi cured his major and minor
troubles by urine treatment. He cured his piles, got rid of spectacles
and nocturnal discharge by drinking auto-urine and urine massage
for one month. He is hale and hearty even at 70. 2. Shri sitaramji Chaudhary suffered from fistula for 15 years. He
was operated' twice but the disease prevailed. He took to urine
treatment and began to apply urine-soaked cloth ori the wound. In
seven months the disease vanished. 3. Shri Vinod Kanaji Motiwala of Bombay aged 26, was sufferi.ng
from apoplexy for the last 1 2 years. He tried various pathies but to
no avail. At last he started urine therapy and could cure such an old
and dangerous disease. He Still continues the urine treatment to
protect himself frbm its sudden attack. 4. Shri Bhuvaneshwar Pande, Gandhi Ashram, Pataranga ( U.P.) had pain and swelling in right testicle and thigh. No rnedicene could
cure him. He fasted on auto-urine for two days, massaged with
urine for 15 minutes daily and used to drink urine about four times
a day. He was particular about dieting. He was completely cured. 5. Shrimati Mahimq is a self-controlled lady. She had a very big
tumour in her armpit. She cured her tumour by urine treatment in no
time. ELEPHANTIASIS AND OTHER AILMENTS : 159
6.'shri Ratimuni related his urine treatment experi~nces to s.hri
, Hans In 1961 in Bihar his toe was badly hit and cured It by applymg
urine~pads. Another time he was operated for some trouble but the
surgeon's wound did not heal. so he aplied urine-pads and healed
the wound. 7. Shri Mangilal Maloviya is a naturopath and he had~ bad prick
in his left foot. He at once urinated over it and put a unne-soaked
bandage over it. Pain at once subsided and the deep wound healed in no time
without any pus formation. 8. Shrimati Prabhavati is 45 and suffered from.leucorrhoea. She
took urine treatment. She fasted on during for el~ht days, drank
urine for one month and massaged with urine durem the treatment. She applied urine-soaked cotton in vagina. She was completely
cured. 9. Shri Keshavbhai G. Patel, Manager, ~darsh Dairy, Bombay;
s~:~ffered from whirling sensation in the bram due to gas or ot~e
disturbance for the last 25 years. He used to take myrobalan pow ~r
daily but in case he forgot to take it, there wou~d surely be t~ ~
sensation. He took urine treatment and the sensation has gone o
ever and he has· left the powder too. 10 Shrimati Ashaben (Red Cross, Chandigadh) has a son. who
suffer~d from apoplexy. He could not be cu~ed. C?nce the dtsease
became very grave. Ashaben began to give htm unne treat~ent..ln
a few days the body began to recover as he passed out a. toxi~S
. by way of loose motions and along with it there was a very btg
worm 7 inches long. The boy recovered fully and the doctors
wonderd at the speedy and complete recovery of the boy. Syphilis : Syphilis cases were also. the.~fter~ath of cases which
were treated after passing away of Shn RaoJibhat. 1. Shri Chhaganlal (Mangrol) informs that a f~rmer ~ged 30 had
syphilis. He w<fs completely cured by urine treatment. I I 160 : AUTO-URINE THERAPY
2. Similarly, the same person informs that one Harij«• Sh


	on. All	you’d	need	to	observe	is	the	way	the
ball	flies	and	how	the	players	hit	each	other,	or	don’t. Every	time	the
quarterback	is	knocked	down	with	the	ball	still	in	his	hands,	for	example,	both
teams	line	up	to	start	a	new	play. Seeing	this	happen	a	few	times	would	lead	a
scientist	to	conclude	that	the	quarterback	must	either	throw	away	the	ball	or
run	with	it. Yet	it	would	be	impossible	to	make	sense	of	the	game	if	you	assumed	that
the	players	were	mindless,	inert	objects. They	are	too	coordinated,	they	form
too	many	complex	patterns,	they	repeat	and	remember	those	patterns,	and	the
scoreboard	makes	sense—somebody	wins,	somebody	loses. To	go	a	step
further,	it	would	be	a	mistake	to	start	your	research	by	saying	that	football
ipso	facto	cannot	be	based	on	the	existence	of	mind	or	consciousness. You
would	wind	up	with	wildly	wrong	conclusions	if	you	insisted	that	no	matter
what	the	videotape	shows,	football	cannot	be	a	game;	it	must	remain	a
random	collision	of	objects. In	trying	to	figure	out	the	apparently	random	activity	in	the	quantum	field,
we’ve	come	to	see	that	there	is	incredible	timing,	coordination,	memory,
information	exchange,	and	self-interaction. But	what	is	the	point	of	it	all? The
observer	effect	adds	the	missing	link. The	observer	effect	is	related	to	one	of
the	cornerstones	of	quantum	physics,	called	“complementarity,”	which	holdsthat	it	isn’t	possible	to	know	everything	about	a	quantum	event. When	an
observer
looks
	at,	or	measures,	an	electron,	whatever	is	being	observed	is
limited. Each	and	every	electron	has	a	probability	of	appearing	anywhere	in
the	universe. Only	under	observation	does	an	electron	jump	from	virtual	reality	into	the
visible	universe,	and	as	soon	as	the	observer	stops	looking,	it	falls	back	into
the	field	again. Erwin	Schrödinger,	the	great	German	physicist,	devised
Schrödinger’s	equation,	one	of	the	foundations	of	quantum	theory,	which
precisely	calculates	what	these	probabilities	are,	and	yet	the	notion	that	an
electron	is	everywhere	until	an	observer	calls	it	into	existence	defies	logic. For	those	readers	who	haven’t	read	about	Schrödinger’s	cat,	a	famous
paradox	that	grows	out	of	the	observer	effect,	here	it	is:
A	cat	is	placed	in	a	closed	box	with	a	fatal	device	inside. The	device	will
release	poison	cyanide	gas	if	it	is	triggered,	and	the	trigger	is	a	bit	of
radioactive	matter. If	the	radioactive	matter	releases	a	single	electron,	that	will
be	enough	to	trigger	the	device,	release	the	poison,	and	kill	the	cat. Here	is	the	paradox:	according	to	quantum	physics,	an	electron	has	no
visible	reality	until	it	is	observed. It	occupies	a	“superposition,”	meaning	that
it	can	be	in	more	than	one	place	at	the	same	time	(a	fact	that	has	been	verified
experimentally	with	subatomic	particles	that	do	in	fact	occupy	multiple
positions	at	once). Being	in	a	closed	box,	the	cat	is	outside	the	field	of
observation;	it	could	be	dead	or	alive,	so	according	to	quantum	theory,	it	must
be	both. Only	when	the	box	is	opened	and	the	observer	determines	the
situation	will	we	know	which	state,	dead	or	alive,	has	been	decided	upon. Until	then,	both	must	coexist. Many	physicists	have	escaped	the	paradox	of	a	cat	being	dead	and	alive	at
the	same	time	by	pointing	out	that	what	is	true	on	the	micro	level	isn’t	true	on
the	macro	level:	superposition	holds	for	electrons,	not	for	everyday	objects
like	cats. But	this	begs	the	question,	since
the
	observer	effect	is	alive	and	well
in	the	Schmidt	and	Princeton	experiments,	where	the	mere	attention	of	an
observer	altered	the	quantum	field	and	the	material	world	at	the	same	time. The	crux	of	the	paradox	is	that	you	cannot	know	any	outcome	in	the	quantum
world	until	you	observe	it	(i.e.,	it	is	impossible	to	know	if	Schrödinger’s	cat	is
dead	or	alive	until	you	look,	and	the	looking
makes
	it	one	or	the	other). Akasha	solves	this	problem	by	making	every	event	participatory	at	every
level. All	observers	are	inside	the	Akashic	field,	and	whatever	they	do	causes
the	whole	field	to	respond. Therefore,	we	are	not	falsifying	the	universe	to
describe	it	as	behaving	like	ourselves. The	predictable	and	the	unpredictable
coexist. A	cat	can	be	dead	and	alive	at	the	same	time	without	shaking	up	how
the	world	usually	works. In	fact,	it	is	through	the	unpredictable	universe	that
we	know	ourselves	and	vice	versa. The	Vedic	rishis	realized	that	time	and
eternity	have	to	be	related,	and	their	conclusion	was	that	time	is	an	illusionwhile	eternity	is	real. This	turns	the	tables	on	the	five	senses,	which	must
operate	as	if	time	is	real,	since	every	event	we	participate	in	occurs	in
spacetime. The	rishis	declare	that	dying	allows	us	to	see	eternal	reality	clearly
and	to	participate	in	it	more	fully. In	Laszlo’s	formation,	the	Akashic	field
does	exactly	the	same	for	all	matter,	energy,	and	information. Their
interactions	in	the	visible	universe	are	reflections	of	far	more	important
invisible	relationships	taking	place	offstage. Here’s	an	analogy. Imagine	that	you	are	a	scientist	who’s	been	assigned	to
measure	the	minuscule	explosions	of	light	that	take	place	in	a	field;	in	this
case,	it’s	the	screen	of	a	television	set. These	explosions	take	place	on	the
atomic	level,	so	as	you	move	in	close	you	are	confronted	with	millions	of
photons	firing	in	random	patterns. You	would	describe	the	TV	screen	as	a
field	undergoing	random	excitations,	exactly	as	physicists	describe	the
electromagnetic	field. As	you	move	farther	out,	however,	the	patches	of	red,
green,	and	blue	begin	to	cluster;	they	start	to	appear	organized. Moving	out
still	farther,
you
	begin	to	notice	vague	shapes. You	feel	like	an	astronomer
using	a	radio	telescope	to	determine	if	the	background	noise	of	the	cosmos
might	contain	patterns. Patterns	are	mathematical,	and	it	takes	intelligence	to
use	a	mathematical	code. So	you	begin	to	come	up	with	a	mathematical	explanation	for	the	patterns
seen	on	the	TV	screen. Moving	farther	and	farther	out,	you	eventually	see	that
these	patterns	are	actually	pictures	of	human	life,	and	that	the	random	firing
of	photons	had	a	purpose. This	would	be	startling	enough	to	cause	you	to
revise	your	entire	theory;	you	would	have	to	suppose	that	randomness	was	an
illusion	covering	a	deeper	reality,	which	is	the	picture. Only	consciousness
can	fully	explain	the	reason	why	the	bursts	of	red,	green,	and	blue	are	being
emitted. We	find	ourselves	at	the	point	where	many	explanations	based	on
randomness	no	longer	satisfy,	and	a	shift	must	be	made	to	a	more	conscious
explanation. Why	do	photons	fire	in	a	television? Because	they	turn	into	a
picture. Why	do	photons


 Pennebaker studied men and women whose spouses had committed suicide
or died in auto accidents and found that those who bore their grief alone had
a much higher than average rate of illness, while those who could talk over
their troubles with someone else had no increase in health problems. In
another experiment, Pennebaker told volunteers he would ask them to talk
about a traumatic event in their lives, either into a tape recorder or in a
simulated confessional booth. When he had them describe some trivial
event instead, physiological measurements showed them to be tense, but
when later they were asked to reveal the tragedy after all, their bodies
relaxed completely, even though many cried and expressed powerful
emotions. Writing apparently works, too. Students who wrote about their traumas
made fewer visits to physicians in the ensuing six months than did others
who wrote about less important subjects. Keeping a diary gets us in touch
with our thoughts. It’ s really a type of meditation. When I suggest keeping a
diary, I don’ t mean where you went that day, but what you thought that day. It makes us aware how active our minds are while we’re paying no attention
to our thoughts, as we shower or eat. A diary can help us become conscious
of all these ideas and learn from them.The people in a patient’ s emotional support network often need to be
educated, too. Many people simply don’ t know how to relate to someone
who has a life-threatening illness. The only essential, really, is an honest
optimism. Patients need people to help them keep sight of their hopes and
the joys that are possible as long as life goes on. But patients sometimes
need to gently remind friends and loved ones that a false determination to
be constantly upbeat, no matter what the situation, is destructive. It springs
from the fears of disability and death that illness evokes in those who are
well. It’ s a natural reaction, but it must be faced, and it’ s one area where
group sessions can be enormously helpful. Beyhan Lowman, who died of
cancer at thirty-one in 1978, left behind A Spirit Soars, a booklet that serves
as a marvelous guide to those facing the same challenge. In it she wrote
poignantly of the patient’ s need for honesty:

Although everyone around me was trying his best to be light-hearted
and optimistic, somehow the ef fect on me was just the opposite. Suddenly
being thrust into a situation where everyone behaved only positively while
around me made me realize to what extent I was no longer part of that
world. The doctors and nurses who cared for me could not always have a good
day. They must have been tired of turning me over in bed or hearing me
complain. But, I never saw that. The lab technician taking a blood sample
must have been frustrated because my veins were so hard to find. But, she
always smiled through gritted teeth. Many times I heard the medical staf f
outside my door talking in agitated tones. But then, they always appeared in
my room as if they were actors going onstage in a well-rehearsed role. The same was true of my family and friends. Everyone tried to help by
telling me how wonderful and courageous I was. Even the man in my life
treated me dif ferently. I knew he must have felt some sense of injustice at
being involved with a dying woman—a development he never bar gained
for. Yet, he never expressed it to me. Of course, his intentions were to
protect me, but I would have had a lot to say to him. Instead of probing his
emotions, which would have included me in the life process, I allowed
myself to feel excluded by his silence. Since disease has usually fulfilled some psychological need for the
patient, it’ s also important to encourage change by doing things that reward
health, not continued illness. As adapted from a list given by the Simontons,
these include:
1. Encourage the patient to be active and do things for himself. 2. Comment when the patient improves. Don’ t get so involved with
difficulties that you can’ t see anything except signs of disease. 3. Spend time in activities unrelated to the illness. 4. Continue the relationship at its new and deeper level as the patient
recovers. It’s equally important for couples to continue some form of physical
intimacy through illness. Like many of the elderly, severely ill patients
often suf fer from “skin starvation,” a literal separation from life, when
touching stops. If lovemaking becomes dif ficult, there are usually
alternative ways of sexual gratification possible within a couple’ s values,
ingenuity, and physical condition. Caresses, hugs, kisses, and hand holding
are always  possible. One of my patients had marked ascites (abdominal
distention), which was uncomfortable if her husband pushed against it. So
she devised a way in which they could kiss, touch shoulders and knees, and
avoid pressure on her abdomen. I find that the resumption of loving—by touching and caressing, not
necessarily sexual activity—after sur gery or illness is a crucial sign of
marital support for a full recovery, especially after operations such as
mastectomy. Spouses often need counseling to adapt to such changes in
their lovers’  bodies, and this is another problem for which groups like ECaP
are invaluable. When a couple can survive such hardship, each knows ever
afterward that they have an unshakable founda tion on which to build the
rest of their lives. Richard Selzer wrote eloquently of this bond in an essay
called “Lessons from the Art of Sur gery”:

The young woman speaks. “W ill my mouth always be like this?” she
asks. “Yes,” I say, “it will. It is because the nerve was cut.”
She nods, and is silent. But the young man smiles.”“I like it,” he says. “It is kind of cute.”
All at once I know  who he is. I understand, and I lower my gaze. One is
not bold in an encounter with a god. Unmindful, he bends to kiss her
crooked mouth, and I so close I can see how he twists his own lips to
accommodate to hers, to show her that their kiss still works. I remember
that the gods appeared in ancient Greece as mortals, and I hold my breath
and let the wonder in. There’ s something more that patients need from their loved ones,
perhaps the most dif ficult requirement of all—the need to deal with fears
and long-standing resentments or conflicts, the “unfinished business,” as
Elisabeth Kübler -Ross calls it. This comes about through the same two
linked opposites we’ve been discussing in various ways throughout this
chapter—self-love and love for others, assertiveness and forgiveness. TRANSCENDING FEAR
To unblock the fountain of love and enter on the path of creative,
spiritual growth, we must let go of our fears (“leave our troubles to God”). But this is very hard, particularly when it looks as though we’re not going
to die tomorrow. When we don’ t have that time limit, it’ s often harder to let
go. To accomplish this “simple” change, we must work through our
negative emotions and transcend them. This is impossible until we realize
that no one makes  us happy or sad. Our emotions don’ t happen  to us so
much as we choose  them. In fact, our own thoughts, emotions, and actions
are the only things we really do control. In the first century A.D., the Greek
thinker Epictetus made this fact the foundation of his philosophy, declaring
that all unhappiness arises from attempts to control events and other people,
over which one has no power. The same futile attempt, born of our fears and
resentments, weakens the body and leads to disease. At one level there is nothing to fear but, obviously, this can be taken too
literally and seriously. For example, fear is natural in life-threatening
situations—such as in high places and near loud noises—but every other
fear is abnormal. We will never meet anything we can’ t handle. I know this
by definition because no patient ever wants to exchange diseases. We each
are more comfortable with our own problems. I have a list of positive
sayings above our kitchen table. Our young daughter Carolyn helped teachme the futility of getting caught up in words. In the middle of a dinner -table
argument among our children, I asked everyone, “Do you want peace or do
you want conflict?” The first item on the list. Our daughter, who has a mild
hearing loss, answered, “I’ll have pizza.” We all laughed, and the ar gument
stopped. The aim here is not to lay down strict rules of behavior but rather
to use the imperfect medium of words to point toward a new psychological
reality—a happiness we can choose, independent of external conditions. A positive outlook can be cultivated as can a negative one be inculcated
by a lifetime of conditioning. In fact, psychologists long ago discovered that
emotions can be modified merely by adopting the facial expression of a
contrary emotion. Recently Dr. Paul Ekman of the University of California
at San Francisco distinguished eighteen anatomically dif ferent types of
smiles. He found that persons trained to control individual facial muscles
voluntarily could af fect physiological measurements of emotion by
assuming the facial position of a particular


 touch of salt, toss until each piece if coated, and
enjoy a magnificent show time snack. 40. Wound Care
Antibacterial and antifungal properties make coconut oil an ideal salve for minor scrapes and scratches. Mix some up with a little bit of honey (also antibacterial) and apply a dab to the area, or just use on its own. Don’t
slather it onto a great big gaping cut, but for little stuff it’s a great thing to have in your all-natural first aid kit. 41. Small Motor Lubricant
Use a small amount of melted coconut oil to lubricate small motors, such as on blenders. A little goes a long
way. Too much and it can have the opposite effect of running smoothly when it solidifies. Get a FREE 15oz Jar of Organic Coconut Oil - just pay $1.95 S&H!42. Reduce Hair Balls
Strong anecdotal evidence supports using coconut oil to reduce hair balls. There are also those who feel
medium-chain triglycerides aren’t the way to go with our feline friends, so do some research to decide what
you are comfortable with. Rub a little on your cat’s paws to help improve digestive function and reduce hair
balls. 43. Aromatherapy
Add your favorite blend of essential oils to some coconut oil to dab on your temples and the back of your neck when you feel stressed or nauseous. Peppermint and eucalyptus for headaches and tension, or lemon/lime/
orange for nausea, are nice places to start. 44. Summer Day Dog Treats
Also known as “coconut cubes” these tasty chilled treats will help keep your pooch cool the glorious warm
weather comes. Mix some peanut butter with coconut oil and freeze into an ice cube tray to feed as a special
treat to your pups on hot summer days. Feed them outside or on a smooth floor to avoid getting your carpet
messy! 45. Dry Nostrils
Dry nostrils feel like they need to be picked at. Picked at nostrils become sore and irritated nostrils. It’s a vicious cycle. Rub a little bit of coconut oil on the inside of each nostril to moisturize it. Use only a little bit. Because coconut oil melts rapidly at body temperature, too much can make you look (or feel) like you have a
runny nose! 46. Cracked Paw Pads
Doggy paws are tough, and they should be a little rough, calloused, and thickened. Imagine how tender they would get if they were soft and smooth! That being said, when your dog starts to get really dry, cracked paws,
rub some coconut oil into them to help them heal. Don’t overdo it though- your dog doesn’t want its paw pads
to be as silky smooth as your skin. The hardest part about this is keeping them from licking it off. Make sure to keep your canine away from delicate floors if you are worried it might stain (I have yet to have a problem with
this on carpet or wood, but everybody’s house is different!) 47. Constipation Relief
Take a tablespoon of coconut oil every morning on an empty stomach to keep your digestive track running
smoothly. You can try 2 tablespoons to work out acute constipation as well. 48. Fade Age/Sun Spots
Coconut oil can help heal or lessen the appearance of a wide variety of skin blemishes, and people have found that daily application of it have helped fade sun or age spots. Rub coconut oil onto sun spots daily to help fade
them. Get a FREE 15oz Jar of Organic Coconut Oil - just pay $1.95 S&H!49. Bags-Be-Gone
Put the beauty back in beauty sleep and use coconut oil to help get rid of those dark circles that make you look
so exhausted. Every night, rub a little bit of coconut oil under your eyes to reduce puffiness and dark bags in
the morning. 50. Soften Dry Elbows
Elbows are one of the hardest places to keep soft. Rub coconut oil onto them morning and night to help them
stay supple. I don’t suggest doing this if you are going in for a big test and plan on setting your elbows on the
desk. The horror if they slipped off and you ended up banging yourself against the table in the middle of a
dead silent room. 51. Give Your Dog a Healthy Shine
Feed 2 teaspoons to dogs under 30 pounds and 1 tablespoon to dogs over 30 pounds daily to improve dry skin and give their coats a lustrous shine. Work up to the full dosage over the course of a week or so, discontinuing
use if it seems to upset your canine companion’s tummy. 52. Insect Repellant
I can’t imagine why bugs would find coconut oil repulsive but then, I also find some of the things they do
rather distasteful myself. For whatever reason, some people find that slathering on coconut oil can help keep
the bugs at bay. You can also try melting down the oil and stirring in some essential oils (such as peppermint or
citrus) and then making a bug repellant bar of sorts that you can reapply. 53. Bee Sting Soother
As a beekeeper, bee stings are a reality that I face quite often. While honeybees are really quite gentle creatures, some stings are simply inevitable at times. To help reduce the swelling, heat, and pain that comes
along with bee venom, rub a little coconut oil onto the site after the stinger has been removed. For an extra
soothing kick, add a drop of lavender essential oil to it as well. 54. Stop Sticky, Squeaky, Hinges
It’s hard to be subtle when you have a squeaky door. Your plans for a midnight raid of the snack cupboard will be thwarted if a door makes a racket when you open it. Rub a little coconut oil into the hinges to stop the
squealing. 55. Metal Polish
Rub a bit of coconut oil over metal with a soft cloth. Let it sit for a minute, and then buff to a shine. It’s helpful
to wipe the surface free of dust before applying the oil. 56. Moisten A Little One’s Chapped Nose
Youngsters seem to have a perpetually runny nose. That shiny upper lip that just won’t go away. This can result in a very chapped little nose. To help clear up that sore spot, gently wipe away any goobers with a washcloth
dipped in warm water. Pat the excess water off and rub a little bit of coconut oil onto the skin to moisturize and
heal the area. The antibacterial/antifungal benefits can’t hurt either! Get a FREE 15oz Jar of Organic Coconut Oil - just pay $1.95 S&H!57. Clean Your Retainer (or Mouth Guard)
The antibacterial and antifungal constituents of coconut oil take center stage here. Rub a little bit of it onto
your retainer after rinsing it at night to help keep it clean, and it doesn’t taste so bad either. You can also use
this on a mouth guard as well. If you’re going to get tackled to the ground, you might as well have a pleasant
taste in your mouth when you hit the dirt. 58. Give Plants a Shine
The last thing your beautiful, green, healthy plants want is a waxy silicone shine that makes their leaves glisten unnaturally. Rub a tiny bit of coconut oil into them to keep leaves looking healthy and dust-free. Reapply every
few days or as needed. 59. Use in Toothpaste
Add flavor, antibacterial action, and potential whitening benefits by adding coconut oil to some baking
soda and using as a DIY toothpaste. For a little extra flavor, mix in a drop or two of peppermint or cinnamon
essential oil. 60. Ease Arthritis Pain
Acute inflammation present with arthritis is responsible for quite a bit of discomfort and stiffness that
accompanies this common malady, which can be eased by the anti-inflammatory effects of the coconut oil. Massage a bit of the oil into each joint thoroughly 1-2 times a day to relieve soreness. 61. Clean Your Dogs Ears
Gently wipe surface dirt out of your dog’s ears with a cotton ball. A dog’s ear canal is shaped like an ‘L’ so don’t
panic too much about jabbing your finger or cotton swab in too far. This is why you’ll see your vet take that
super long cotton swab and stick it all the way into the ear for a sample. Afterwards you wipe it out, gently rub
in some coconut oil into the skin to keep them healthy, itch-free, and comfortable. 62. Soothe a Dry Canine Nose
Rub a tad onto your dog’s nose if it is perpetually dry and cracked. This remedy is smoosh-faced breed approved. 63. Treat Athletes Foot
The anti-fungal action of coconut oil helps fight off athlete’s foot when you apply it daily. Be sure to rinse your feet first and pat them dry, then thoroughly apply a thin layer of coconut oil, massaging it in well. Wash your
hands before applying to the other foot to avoid spreading the fungus. 64. Say Goodbye to a Sore throat
Can’t ease that painful throat? Coconut oil provides a wonderful soothing coating, whether the discomfort is
caused by dry air or an illness. Swallow ½-1 teaspoon up to 3 times daily to ease the pain, being sure to make
one of those times right before bed. For an extra kick, melt