O infusion may have been due to the ability of DMSO to extract brain water rapidly and lower brain pressure as a result. The decrease of cerebral blood flow induced for 60 min after a bolus of DMSO in animals receiving 144 Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) in Trauma and Disease
indomethacin implies that ICP was quickly lowered and was not a factor in affecting
cerebral blood flow levels.65
Another explanation may be that indomethacin’s inhibition of the cyclooxygenase
pathway controlling the synthesis of PGs may temporarily block DMSO’s ability to stimulate vasodilating PGs such as E
1 or I2 in cerebral endothelium to increase
cerebral blood flow.70–72
FREE RADICALS IN BRAIN INJURY
Free radicals are atoms that contain an unpaired electron in its outer orbit, making this atom highly reactive. This highly reactive process takes place by the free radical stealing an electron from a healthy molecule in order to become stable. Instead, the original free radical creates a new free radical, resulting in a chain reaction. Free radicals can be generated during the production of ATP in mitochondria.
These free radicals can leak from the mitochondria to form ROS, including super -
oxide anion and hydroxyl radicals. Free radicals use a number of biological pathways to create cell damage. For example, free radicals attack the nitrogenous bases of cell DNA where damaging mutations can result and prevent oxidative phosphoryla -
tion from taking place, thus preventing the cell from making ATP to fuel its energy metabolism. Repair of cell damage in the presence of decreased energy production following mitochondrial dysfunction aggravates cell damage by promoting second -
ary damage.
73
Secondary injury following brain trauma in humans or animals is characterized
by a host of pathophysiologic cascades that can additionally damage more brain mitochondria. These cascades include exposure of neurons to excitotoxic levels of excitatory neurotransmitters with intracellular calcium influx, of ROS, of production of peptides that participate in programmed cell death, and of glutamate generation, a primary mediator of mitochondrial dysfunction and delayed cell death.
74
Excessive free radical production can react with cell membranes, lipids, and
nucleic acids in a site-specific fashion that can unbalance proteins in healthy cells and damage or kill these cells.
75
Although free radicals perform some beneficial functions within the immune sys-
tem, their excess production can cause deadly toxic oxidation or oxidative stress.76
The brain is particularly vulnerable to oxidative stress following injury, and hence, much research has focused on how to arrest or reverse free radical damage after a traumatic or ischemic brain injury.
The role of toxic free radicals in brain trauma has been the object of numerous
studies in the past, and many therapies have been introduced to neutralize the pri -
mary and potentially secondary damages caused by these reactive molecules.
However, therapeutic strategies to control secondary damage following brain
trauma by focusing on blocking free radicals that generate oxidative products remain ineffective.
77
Nevertheless, studies carried out in preclinical models of traumatic brain injury
using DMSO have provided information that free radicals appear to be intimately involved in producing devastating brain cell damage and that blocking their chain reaction can lead to preserving brain tissue from further damage.145 DMSO in Basic Neuroprotection
A study by Ikeda and his colleagues,78 from Johns Hopkins University, looked at
the effects of DMSO and other hydroxyl radical scavengers such as dimethylthiourea
and deferoxamine in cats. A standard cortical freezing method for the production of vasogenic brain edema was used. The authors found a reduction in brain edema that correlated with a reduction of hydroxyl radicals in animals treated with DMSO and deferoxamine.
78 These results could be partly explained by the scavenging proper -
ties of DMSO when chain-propagating radicals such as the superoxide anion are present.
79,80
Superoxide has been associated with the pathophysiology of many diseases
including brain trauma, ischemic stroke, and inflammatory reactions. Superoxide can leak from brain mitochondria in response to these insults and convert to hydro -
gen peroxide, an important contributor to oxidative damage.
81
One study that supports the antioxidant-related damage caused by some mole -
cules that commonly develop after trauma showed DMSO’s antioxidant properties in rat brain homogenates were able to reduce both lipid peroxidation and protein oxida-tion induced by ferrous chloride/hydrogen peroxide.
82
The brain is a highly oxidative organ consuming 20% of the body’s oxygen even
though it represents only 2% of the total body weight. For this reason, oxidative activity involving ischemia or hypoxia resulting from brain trauma or stroke can have devastating effects on brain function if left untreated or when treatment is delayed.
83
Oxidative stress from ROS has been associated with the onset of systemic inflam -
mation, and it is generally recognized that increased oxidative activity plays an impor -
tant role in pathological process of brain tissue damage.84 The presence of excessive
free radical, ROS, and release of local inflammatory mediators, including cytokines, are a characteristic initiator of pathologic cascades following traumatic brain injury.
85,86
These inflammatory cytokines include inteleukin-6, nitric oxide, and tumor
necrosis factor-alpha (TNF- α). They can lead to complications affecting immuno -
suppression and result in severe, systemic inflammation with multiorgan damage, causing death within days or weeks following brain trauma.
87 As discussed earlier
(see also the section “Anti-Inflammatory” in Chapter 2), DMSO has been shown to significantly decrease the levels of nitric oxide, IL-6, and TNF- α in injured rats,
21,36,37
as well as the oxidative stress marker malondialdehyde (see the section “Burns and Scar Tissue” in Chapter 2).
NF-κB (nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells) is a pro -
tein complex that controls the transcription of DNA and modulates a large number of normal cellular processes, such as immune and inflammatory responses. DMSO has been shown to suppress the effects of activation of NF- κB immunoreactivity, which
is exerted by decreasing the production of TNF- α and inhibiting the transcription of
critically important adhesion molecules.
88
Finding a neuroprotective agent that can reduce systemic inflammation, cytokine
production, and free radicals after brain trauma is the task of numerous investigators that continues to this day. As seen in Figure 8.1, DMSO appears to fulfill many of
these requirements based on the research of this compound dating back to the early 1970s. This research will be reviewed in this section of this chapter beginning with a primary understanding of how cerebral blood flow behaves normally and after brain injury.146 Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) in Trauma and Disease
CEREBRAL HEMODYNAMIC FUNCTION IN BRAIN INJURY
Traumatic brain injury is known to impair cerebral hemodynamic function.
Understanding and correcting hemodynamic dysfunction has become an impor -
tant therapeutic target in arresting or reversing secondary damage resulting from brain trauma, ischemia, or neurodegeneration from worsening or becoming irreversible.
Restoring cerebral blood flow to preinjury levels is a key therapeutic target
because when trauma, ischemia, or neurodegenerative damage occurs, nutrient delivery to the brain, including oxygen and glucose, which are the primordial mol -
ecules necessary for maintaining normal brain cell function, can fail to supply brain cells’ demand to carry out all metabolic activities.
Since most of the energy of the brain is obtained exclusively from aerobic meta -
bolic processes, a low supply and high demand for energy nutrients in the presence of trauma not only creates a neuronal energy crisis from the uncoupling of cerebral blood flow and metabolism but also ensures that motor, sensory, and cognitive func -
tions remain impaired or irreparably lost. Additionally, the brain cannot manufac-ture or store energy nutrients such as glucose and is totally dependent on optimal cerebral blood flow to deliver these nutrients as needed.
89
We will see in the “Cerebral Hemodynamic Function in Brain Injury” section
how brain trauma, stroke, and neurodegenerative conditions such as vascular demen -
tia (VaD) and AD can uncouple cerebral blood flow and metabolism by involving a multifactorial list of factors that can act independently or as part of a pathologic cascade to alter blood flow to the brain. This analysis is relevant in attempting to
Prevents glutamate e xcitoxicity
Free radical sca venger
Suppresse s
tissue facto r
Blocks NMDA r eceptors
Blocks Na+,Ca+ cell in/f_l ux
Inhibit s toxic c ytokinesDimethyl sulfo xide
in CNS injuryAnti-in/f_lammato ry
Incre ases CBF
(via prostaglandins)
Reduces brain edema
Platele t deagg regato r
Vascular smooth muscle
cell rel axant
FIGURE 8.1  Reported biological activity for DMSO in central nervous system (CNS)
injury. Most of the molecular and cellular factors listed in this illustration result from physical and physiological damages to the brain, but the chronology and the degree of damage caused by many of these factors on brain tissue have not been entirely clarified.147 DMSO in Basic Neuroprotection
understand the role DMSO plays when used therapeutically to improve the outcome
following primary injuries to the brain.
The most common factors influencing cerebral blood flow are cardiac output,
ICP, blood gas content, vasoactive substances such as nitric oxide, PGs, endothelins, thrombox


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The Toxicity and Side Effects of DMSO
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 officinale, p. 155), protect
against infection. Astringents, e.g., bistort ( Polygonum
bistorta, p. 253), tighten up the inner lining of the intestines
and create a protective coating over them. Bitters,  e.g.,
wormwood ( Artemisia absinthium, p. 66),
stimulate secretion of digestive
juices by the stomach and
intestines. Carminatives,  e.g.,
sweet flag ( Acorus calamus,
p. 57), relieve gas and cramps.
Cholagogues,  e.g, fringe tree
(Chionanthus virginicus,
p. 188), improve the flow of bile into
the intestines. Choleretics,  e.g., artichoke ( Cynara scolymus,
p. 199), stimulate secretion of bile by the liver. Demulcents,
e.g., psyllium ( Plantago  spp., p. 123), soothe the digestive
system and protect against acidity and irritation.
Hepatics,  e.g., bupleurum ( Bupleurum chinense,
p. 72), prevent liver damage. Laxatives,
e.g., senna  (Cassia senna, p. 75),
stimulate bowel movements.
Stomachics,  e.g., cardamom
(Eletteria cardamomum, p. 93),
protect and support
the stomach.Musculoskeletal system
Analgesics,  e.g., yellow jasmine ( Gelsemium empervirens,
p. 216), relieve joint and nerve pain. Anti-
inflammatories,  e.g., white willow ( Salix alba, p. 129),
reduce swelling and pain in joints. Antispasmodics,  e.g.,
cinchona ( Cinchona  spp., p. 80), relax tense
and cramped muscles.Urinary system
Antiseptics, e.g., buchu ( Barosma betulina, p. 71),
disinfect the urinary tubules. Astringents,  e.g.,
horsetail ( Equisetum arvense, p. 205), tighten and
protect the urinary tubules. Diuretics,  e.g. cornsilk
(Zea mays, p. 154), stimulate the flow of urine.Endocrine glands
Adaptogens,  e.g., ginseng ( Panax ginseng,
p. 118), help the body adjust to external pressures
and stress. Hormonally active herbs,  e.g., chaste tree
(Vitex agnus-castus, p. 151), stimulate production of
sex and other hormones. Emmenagogues,  e.g.,
black cohosh ( Cimicifuga racemosa, p. 79),
encourage or regulate menstruation.Respiratory system
Antiseptics and antibiotics,  e.g., garlic ( Allium
sativum, p. 59), help the lungs resist infection.
Expectorants,  e.g., elecampane ( Inula helenium,
p. 107), stimulate the coughing up of mucus.
Demulcents,  e.g., coltsfoot ( Tussilago farfara,
p. 278), soothe irritated membranes.
Spasmolytics,  e.g., visnaga ( Ammi visnaga, p. 62),
relax bronchial muscles.Immune system
Immune modulators,  e.g., echinacea ( Echinacea
spp. p. 92) and pau d’arco ( Tabebuia  spp.,
p. 139), encourage the immune system to
ward off infection. Skin
Antiseptics,  e.g., tea tree ( Melaleuca alternifolia, p. 112),
disinfect the skin. Emollients,  e.g., marshmallow
(Althea officinalis, p. 165), reduce itchiness, redness,
and soreness. Astringents, e.g., witch hazel
(Hamamelis virginiana, p. 102), tighten the skin.
Depuratives,  e.g., burdock ( Arctium lappa, p. 65),
encourage removal of waste products. Healing and
vulnerary herbs,  e.g., comfrey ( Symphytum officinale,
p. 138) and calendula ( Calendula officinalis, p. 73), aid
the healing of cuts, wounds, and abrasions.Herbs & Body Systems
One of the most common ways of classifying medicinal plants is to identify their actions, for example whether they are
sedative, antiseptic, or diuretic, and the degree to which they affect different body systems. Herbs often have a pronounced
action on a particular body system, for example a plant that is strongly antiseptic in the digestive tract may be less so in the
respiratory tract. Examples of how herbs work on the body are given below.
Calendula
(Calendula officinalis)
Cayenne
(Capsicum frutescens)
Sweet Flag
(Acorus calamus)Garlic
(Allium sativum)
Ginseng
(Panax ginseng)Echinacea
(Echinacea spp.)
Cornsilk
(Zea mays)
White Willow
(Salix alba)Rosemary
(Rosmarinus officinalis)
Senna
(Cassia senna)
US_010-013_How_Medicinal_Plants_work.indd   13 26/02/16   4:42 pm
14
The developmen T of herbal medicinePhenols
Phenols are a very varied group
of plant constituents ranging from
salicylic acid, a molecule similar
to aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), to complex sugar-containing phenolic glycosides. Phenols are often anti-inflammatory and antiseptic, and
are thought to be produced by plants to protect against infection  and feeding by insects. Phenolic acids, such as rosmarinic acid,
are strongly antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, and can also have antiviral properties. Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens, p. 215)
and white willow (Salix alba, p. 129) both contain salicylates. Many mint family members contain phenols—for example, the strongly antiseptic thymol, found in thyme (Thymus vulgaris, p. 143).
Volatile Oils
Volatile oils—which are extracted
from plants to produce essential oils—are some
of the most important medicinally active plant constituents, and are  also used widely in perfumery. They are complex mixtures often of 100 or more compounds, mostly made up of monoterpenes—molecules containing 10 carbon atoms. Essential oils have many uses. Tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia, p. 112) is strongly antiseptic, while sweet gale oil (Myrica gale, p. 238) is an effective insect repellent. On distillation, some essential oils contain compounds not found in the volatile oil—chamazulene, found in German chamomile (Chamomilla recutita, p. 77) essential oil, is anti-inflammatory and antiallergenic.
Resins—sticky oily substances that seep from plants, for example from the bark of Scots
pine (Pinus sylvestris, p. 249)—are often
linked with essential oils (oleoresins) and
gums (see Polysaccharides), though they
are nonvolatile. Active Constituents
The medicinal effects of certain plants are well known. German chamomile, for example, has been
taken to soothe digestive problems for thousands of years, and aloe vera was known to Cleopatra as  a healing skin remedy. It is only relatively recently, however, that active constituents responsible for the medicinal actions of plants have been isolated and observed. Knowing a little about the chemicals contained in plants helps you to understand how they work within the body.
Flavonoids
Found widely throughout
the plant world, flavonoids are polyphenolic compounds that act  as pigments, imparting color, often yellow or white, to flowers and fruits. They have a wide range of actions and many medicinal uses. They are antioxidant and especially useful in maintaining healthy circulation. Some flavonoids also have anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and liver-protective activity. Flavonoids such as hesperidin and rutin, found in many plants, notably buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum,  p. 210) and lemon ( Citrus limon, p. 82), strengthen capillaries
and prevent leakage into surrounding tissues. Isoflavones,  found for example in red clover ( Trifolium pratense,
p. 277), are estrogenic and valuable in treating
menopausal symptoms.
Tannins
T annins are produced to a greater or lesser degree by all plants. The harsh, astringent taste of tannin-laden bark and leaves makes them unpalatable to insects and grazing animals. T annins are polyphenolic compounds that contract and astringe tissues of the body by binding with and precipitating proteins—hence their use to “


fully soaked and cooked before it is safe to eat.
(Sweet cassava is safe to eat without such processing.)
Tapioca  is a native Brazilian name for the processed
root, which is used in commercial food preparation
as a thickening agent. The Witoto of the Colombian
Amazon poison fish with the water used to wash
bitter cassava. The Makuna use the wash water
to treat scabies.
Medicinal Actions & Uses  Cassava root is
easily digestible and makes a suitable, if low-protein,
food for convalescence. The bitter variety may
be used to treat scabies, diarrhea, and dysentery.
Cassava flour may be used to help dry weeping
skin. In China, a poultice is made of cassava, wheat
flour, and ginger ( Zingiber officinale, p. 155) to draw
out pus when infection is present.
Caution  Raw bitter cassava is toxic and has
caused many deaths. The root must be carefully
soaked and cooked before eating.
Maranta arundinacea
(Marantaceae)
Arrowroot
Description  Perennial growing to 61⁄2 ft (2 m).
Has a creeping rhizome, many long-stemmed oval
leaves, and flowering stems with clusters of creamy-
white flowers.
Habitat & Cultivation  Native to northern
South America and the Caribbean islands, arrowroot
is cultivated mostly on the island of St. Vincent. The
rhizome is unearthed 10 to 11 months after planting.
Part Used  Rhizome.
Constituents  Arrowroot contains 25–27%
neutral starch.History & Folklore  In Central America, the
Maya made the root into a poultice for smallpox
sores, and an infusion for urinary infections.
Arrowroot was a staple food of the Arawak people
of the Caribbean. The plant reputedly gets its name
from its use to treat poisoned arrow wounds—
presumably as a drawing poultice.
Medicinal Actions & Uses Arrowroot is
used in herbal medicine in much the same manner
as slippery elm ( Ulmus rubra, p. 145), as a soothing
demulcent and a nutrient of benefit in convalescence
and for those with weak digestions. It helps to relieve
acidity, indigestion, and colic, and is mildly laxative.
It may be applied as an ointment or poultice mixed
with antiseptic herbs such as myrrh ( Commiphora
molmol, p. 85).
Self-help Use  Acidity & indigestion, p. 307.
Marrubium vulgare (Lamiaceae)
White Horehound
Description  Square-stemmed perennial
growing to about 20 in (50 cm). Has toothed,
downy leaves and double-lipped white flowers.
Habitat & Cultivation  Native to Europe,
white horehound is naturalized in North and
South America. It flourishes in dry, bare, or open
areas, and is gathered in spring.
Parts Used  Leaves.
Constituents  White horehound
contains the diterpenes marrubiin
(0.3–1.0%) and marrubenol,
tannins, and 0.06% volatile oil.
Marrubiin is thought to be
chiefly responsible for the
herb’s expectorant and bitter
activity. It also acts on the heart
to correct an irregular heartbeat.
History & Folklore  White
horehound has been a remedy for
chest problems since ancient times, perhaps
most frequently taken as a syrup made with
honey or sugar. The Greek physician Dioscorides
(40–90 ce ) recommended a decoction of white
horehound as a treatment for tuberculosis,
asthma, and coughs.
Medicinal Actions & Uses  White horehound
is helpful for wheeziness, bronchitis, bronchiectasis
(a damaged air passage within the lung), bronchial
asthma, non-productive coughs, and whooping
cough. The herb apparently causes the secretion
of a more fluid mucus, which is readily cleared
by coughing. As a bitter tonic, white horehound
increases the appetite and supports the function
of the stomach. It is widely used in Mexico to
help control type 2 diabetes. The herb may also
act to normalize heart rhythm, improving
its regularity.Marsdenia condurango
syn. gonolobus condurango
(Asclepiadaceae)
Condurango
Description  Climbing vine growing to 33 ft
(10 m). Has heart-shaped leaves and funnel-
shaped, white-green flowers.
Habitat & Cultivation  Condurango is native
to deciduous forests of the Andes in Peru and
Ecuador. It generally grows at altitudes between
3,300–6,600 ft (1,000–2,000 m). The bark is
collected year round.
Parts Used  Bark, latex.
Constituents  Condurango bark contains
glycosides (based on condurangogenins), a volatile
oil, and phytosterols.
History & Folklore  Early in the last century,
condurango was erroneously yet widely believed
to be a remedy for cancer.
Medicinal Actions & Uses  The bark’s
main effect is to stimulate stomach secretions.
It is often used in South American folk medicine
as a potent bitter and digestive tonic. Condurango
is a specific treatment for nervous indigestion
and anorexia nervosa, since its bitterness slowly
increases the appetite as well as the stomach’s
ability to process more food. The herb is also
thought to stimulate the liver and pancreas, and
may be taken for liver disorders. Condurango
also encourages menstruation. The caustic
white latex has been applied topically to
remove warts.
Research  The condurangogenins in
condurango may act to counter tumors.
The whole plant, however, does not seem
to impede cancer development.
Caution  The latex is poisonous and should not
be taken internally. Cassava  is a staple food in many tropical regions
of the world.
Dried herb
Medicago sativa (Fabaceae)
Alfalfa,
Lucerne
Description  Perennial herb growing to 32 in
(80 cm). Has 3-lobed leaves, flowers that range
in color from yellow to violet-blue, and spiraling
seed pods.
Habitat & Cultivation  Native to Europe,
Asia, and North Africa, alfalfa is found in meadows
and in both open and cultivated areas. Grown as
a fodder crop in temperate climates, it is harvested
in summer.
Parts Used  Aerial parts, seeds, sprouting seeds.
Constituents  Alfalfa contains isoflavones,
coumarins, alkaloids, vitamins, and porphyrins.
The isoflavones and coumarins are estrogenic.
US_224-245_Jasmine_Harmala.indd   233 26/02/16   12:47 pm
234Melaleuca leucadendronOther medicinal plants
History & Folklore  Though mostly used as
an animal feed, alfala seeds have been consumed
as food for thousands of years. Pliny (23–79 ce) records that alfalfa was brought to Greece by Darius, King of Persia (550–486 bce), during his attempt to conquer Athens.
Medicinal Actions & Uses  Alfalfa is perhaps
more therapeutically useful as a food than a medicine as the seeds are taken to help lower cholesterol levels. In view of alfalfa’s estrogenic activity, it can prove useful in treating problems relating to menstruation and menopause.
Cautions  Do not take alfalfa alongside the
anticoagulant medication warfarin. Avoid sprouted seeds in compromised immune states. Using large amounts is not advisable in pregnancy or in autoimmune diseases.
Melaleuca leucadendron
(Myrtaceae)
Cajuput
Description  Aromatic, evergreen tree growing
to 130 ft (40 m). Has peeling bark, pale green
oval leaves, and clusters of small white flowers  on long spikes.
Habitat & Cultivation  Native to Southeast
Asia, cajuput is cultivated for its essential oil and timber. The leaves and twigs are gathered throughout the year.
Part Used  Essential oil.
Constituents  The volatile oil contains
terpenoids, mainly cineole (50–60%), beta-pinene, alpha-terpineol, and others. Cineole is strongly antiseptic. Early investigations suggest the fruit  may have antiviral properties.
Medicinal Actions & Uses  Cajuput is
normally combined with other essential oils such as eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus, p. 96). Its antiseptic properties treat colds, sore throats, coughs, and, especially, chest infections. The diluted oil may either be steam-inhaled or applied to the chest  or throat to treat laryngitis, tracheitis, and bronchitis. As cajuput stimulates the circulation and is antispasmodic, it is used as a friction rub
for rheumatic joints and neuralgia.
Related Species  Niaouli (M. vir


 restore
normal liver function so that bile chemistry may become normal again and cease precipitating the
mineral elements and thus end the making of stones.
In a few weeks then, the normal bile will cause a disintegration of the stones already formed, the
sand will pass into the intestines and will be voided. As the liver cannot be restored to health
without restoring the whole body to health, no treatment directed at the liver will serve these ends.
A general or systemic housecleaning followed by a genuine health-building program is essential.
Perhaps I can do no better than end this chapter with a quotation from Geo. S. Weger, M.D.,
who had an extensive experience with gallstones, both as a regular physician and as a
Hygienist
.
He says: “Given proper assistance, the chemistry of the body can be so altered that stones soften,
disintegrate, and pass out with but slight discomfort. We have treated many cases and seldom have
we found it necessary to resort to surgery. It is a remarkable fact that this softening occurs very
rapidly on a complete fast. Frequently patients coming for treatment for different ailments develop
hepatic colic from the eighth to the tenth day of fasting.
“In these, the presence of gallstones may never have been suspected. The same is true of stones
in the kidneys. In recurrent attacks there is no treatment in the intervals to equal a diet restricted to
fresh fruits, salads, and cooked non-starchy vegetables. It can be safely predicted that there will be
no recurrence in those patients who follow instructions as to diet and exercise. In most instances if
the gall stone is not larger than a small olive it will become soft and pass out without resort to
surgery and its consequent risks. The exceptions are in those run-down people who have no
reserve vitality or courage left to sustain them for a reasonable time, while nature is establishing a
normal chemical balance.
135“Extreme caution and conservatism on the part of the physician is
necessary in determining the
proper course in a given case. The process of recovery may seem slow but it is in reality
marvelously rapid compared with the long time it takes for the stones to form. While most cases
can get well by fasting and dieting and while such treatment is always in order, it must be borne in
mind that atrophy or gall bladder disease may be the result of longstanding, unrelieved cases.
Without recourse to olive oil, bile salts, and the hundred and one remedies that are generally
prescribed, our percentage of non-surgical recoveries is so high as to warrant a favorable
prognosis if the patient cooperates in the removal of first causes. It should be borne in mind that
while surgical interference is often the only recourse, this procedure does not remove the cause of
gallstones nor prevent recurrences. Therefore correct diet and other accessory health measures are
just as necessary after operation as they were before.”
13635
Tumors of the Breast
One of those rare young women, possessed of great beauty of form and features, just married and
alarmed about a growth of her left breast—a lump nearly as large as a billiard ball—had for four
months suffered considerable pain. She had not consulted a physician for fear he would pronounce
it cancer and want to remove her breast.
It was 1927 and that year the country went through the first “cancer week.” New York’s
newspapers carried columns each day about cancer and urged all people to see their physicians for
a check-up. Lumps, moles, bleeding, loss of weight and other such symptoms were indicative of
possible cancer. The propaganda was deliberately designed to frighten the public.
The young woman, whose home was in White Plains, New York, was duly frightened. She
consulted a physician. He told her that she had cancer and that the breast would have to be
removed immediately. She did not want to lose her breast—she did not want to be disfigured.
She consulted a second physician. He made the same diagnosis and urged immediate removal of
her breast. A third physician rendered an identical verdict. A fourth was consulted with the same
outcome: “The breast must come off at once.”
But there was one paper in New York that did not carry the scare
propaganda that was being
distributed from some central source. The New York
Evening Graphic
, a Macfadden publication,
often assailed for many reasons, right and wrong, refused to join in the effort to frighten everybody.
The present writer had a daily column in the
Graphic
.
I devoted a column to the cancer propaganda and pointed out that many people who did not have
cancer were being frightened into operations. I denounced the fear program as a crime against the
welfare and sanity of the public. The young woman read my column and came in to see me.
It was eight o’clock on a Friday evening when she entered my office. I examined her breast and
decided that she did not have cancer, but that she was suffering from an enlarged gland. I advised
her to fast. She took the advice. I instructed her to return to me at the same time on the following
Monday evening. When she came in on Monday evening she was a very happy woman, her face
wreathed with smiles. I invited her to sit down and without questioning her or waiting for her to
say anything, I said, “Go ahead and tell me the story.”
It was a simple story, but it was a happy one. I have listened to similar stories many times
through the years that have since elapsed. ‘‘When I awoke this morning,” she said, “there was no
pain in my breast. There has been no pain all day. This evening at five o’clock, when I went to take
a bath, I said to my sister: ‘I would like to feel my breast to see if the lump is still there, but I’m
afraid to …’ My sister said: ‘Don’t be a child, go ahead and find out.’ I investigated nervously and
it is gone.”
I listened to the story with great satisfaction and took the note of her elation and relief. I
examined her breast and found no trace of the lump. The young woman remained under my care for
the remainder of two weeks and was discharged.
I had occasional contact with this woman for thirteen years after her recovery and during this
period there was no recurrence of the “tumor.” I have been able to maintain contact with
subsequent cases for as many as twenty years and they have suffered no recurrence of their
“cancers.” Hers was one of two such “cancers” that fully recovered in three days.
137I have seen a large number recover in a week, several more to recover in two weeks, and many
to become free of their breast “cancers” in three to six weeks. I am sure that not all such cases of
“cancer” find their way to me or to my institution. There must be many thousands of them who
submit to operations every year, either for the removal of the lump or for removal of the whole
breast.
I have seen enough of them to know that there is a wide difference between cancer and a
diagnosis of cancer. I am sure that these are the only kinds of “cancer” that are
cured
 by early
surgery.
I have never seen a case of undoubted cancer recover, no matter how cared for nor by whom. I
am convinced that cancer is an irreversible pathology and that the only remedy for the condition is
prevention. I am
sure that it can be prevented and that this can be done by a well-ordered life, one
that maintains a high state of health at all times.
I think that I should call attention to the fact that all four of the diagnoses in the case of the young
woman, which I have just described, were made without a biopsy, which is a procedure of taking
out some of the tissue of the lump or growth and examining it under the microscope. Each man
advised an operation upon the basis of a wild guess.
The biopsy is far from infallible, often finding cancer where none exists, but it is probably far
more accurate than merely feeling of the breast, at these men did. Their diagnoses may be said to
have been made on suspicion. Or, perhaps they were merely floating with the propaganda tide. At
any rate, they all agreed without knowing the others’ diagnosis, that the young woman had cancer
of the breast and that an immediate operation was urgent.
Fortunately for women, not more than one such lump out of ten thousand is cancer. Most of the
lumps will quickly clear up when the mode of living is corrected. Just as fasting causes the body to
use up its excess fat in nourishing the vital tissues so it causes the break down, by the process of
autolysis
, of growths or tumors (neoplasms) and uses the nutritive elements contained in these with
which to nourish the vital tissues.
In like manner, dropsical swellings, edematous swellings, deposits and infiltrations are
absorbed and the usable portion are used as food; the non-usable portions are excreted.
To understand this, it is necessary for the reader to know that tumors (new growths) are
composed of the same kinds of tissue of which the normal parts of the body are constituted.
Tumors are named according to their composition. Thus a fatty tumor is called a
lipoma
; a
muscular tumor is called a
myoma
; a nerve tumor is called a
neuroma
; a bone tumor is called an
ostemoma
; an
epithelioma
 is made


 eyes would
have been incapable of evolvi ng the exceptional human sensitivity
to colour. Creative evolution must have something to work on.
One can go further in affirming, in contradiction to the
depressing and bestial origins now popular, that the human genesis
must have occurred in an environment in which beauty and
harmony prevailed, conditions which are recalled in the world-wide
myths of an earthly paradise.
If the essential human mark, the distinction from the other
hominids and higher primates, is not so much anatomy, but the
sensitivity to love and beauty, care and compassion, virtues required
for a most exacting breeding co-operation needed by an evolving
brain, then truly human creatures may go back several million years.
They are then likely to have had smaller brains, but a large brain is
not necessarily a mark of humanization. The perfection of the
organs connected with the humanizing sensitivities—the eye's
sensitivity to colour, the olfactory sense to the perfume of flowers,
the musical propensities of the human voice, must have taken a
long, long time to perfect. This is an important inference, for it
suggests that the most distinctive and characteristic human features
were laid down before the advent of the Ice Ages, when near
paradisiacal conditions prevailed in many parts of the world. The
fossil hominid evidence so far gathered may have nothing to do
with this ancient human line, referri ng rather to the deviant, ruthless
and murderous experiments, doomed to failure, spurred into being
by the dehumanizing conditions of the Ice Ages.
If the human genesis occurred in  conditions of beauty, then it
must follow that what is naturally beautiful is likely to be humanly
compatible, what is ugly, incomp atible. This provides an intuitive
guidance, quite different from common sense and reason, which has
the backing of the whole of nature, and indeed has the backing of
science, although most scientists are clueless as to the relevance of
beauty. Nonetheless, some leading mathematicians and physicists
have found that their theories are all the more likely to be true and
valid, the more beautiful and harmonious they happen to be.
This intuitive guidance should be applicable to all human
problems. Human beings can exist in the most horrid and terrible
conditions, but they are bound to be all the less effectively human
for it. The great civilizations of the past endeavoured to respect
nature's inspiring beauty when ever  possible, and to bring beauty to
all man-made things. Whatever the tensions and frustrations
inevitable in the complexities of civilization, there was thus a
corrective humanizing force. With the industrial age, and with the
dominance of the mechanical and materialistic viewing of science,
this wisdom has been smothered, in a world grown mean and ugly.
Granting the importance of beauty, it is impossible to believe
that food felt to be ugly and revoltin g, no matter how widely eaten,
can be natural human food. Indeed, one would expect that such an
important function would be ma de especially beautiful and
humanizing. Pleasantly tasting natural foods are attractive, beautiful
foods. Alas, in no other field have human beings shown such
subterfuge in making what is naturally repulsive pass as attractive.
The tragedy of human feeding lies here.

4. Beauty and the Beast

An Arcadian vision of mankind clashes with reality. Although most
people have their better moments, it is violence, cruelty and horror
that have dominated human history, and, from all the available
evidence, ruled the lives of the Ho minids in the Palaeolithic. This
fact has encouraged the belief th at man originated in horror and
depravity, and that it is only thanks to culture and eventual
civilization that he has managed to rise above a despicable natural
condition. It is difficult to look at this apparent contradiction calmly,
for there can be no doubt that the realities of hard existence harden
the heart and blunt the sensitiviti es. The Arcadian appears absurd
and unacceptable. Often enough, the response is one of anger, of
hatred for the mild and the beau tiful, to be seen in the common
wanton killing of birds and butterflies, the trampling of flowers and
the desecration of nature.
Yet even if the moments of blessedness are few and far
between, they indicate a formidable intensity of feeling when they
do occur, so strong as to completely alter the course of life in many
cases. Such power cannot have come into being without some
biological advantage. To the extent  that they reveal a quality to life
which is different from the usual and ordinary, they should be seen
to imply that there are aspects of the human being which differ from
the common experience, and contradict what one usually assumes to
be the human standard.
In the past, this dilemma was r esolved by religious beliefs of
one kind or another, fortified by myths and played upon by magic
and superstition. Today, in the name of a liberation from this
ancient condition, science has promoted the view of a meaningless
universe, in which the human presence is a merely accidental one, a
situation to which the human be ing appears quite unadaptable, no
matter what the material rewards. The increase in the anger and
violence of the age springs from deep archaic responses rebelling
against this inhuman crisis. In such a situation, one must expect that
people are not likely to be able to think clearly and impartially, that
bias and prejudice, even on the part of science, are bound to be rife,
that any attempt to frame a different picture of the meaning of being
human will be arbitrarily ruled out.
The evidence of the breakdown of the thin rational crust of the
human mind is everywhere, to the extent that it has become very
difficult to define what one is to mean by a normal state of mind.
The Arcadian view of man provides such a definition concisely—
the mind being normal only when the humanizing predispositions
predominate, ensuring a wholeness of function in which
benevolence and beauty prime, ruli ng out all that is mean, selfish
and inhuman and providing a sense of joy and meaningfulness in
living.
In such a happy state, the sub-human stages which the mind of
every individual must carry, are silent. But they are easily aroused by any condition which wars against the forces of humanization.
Lovelessness, a violent, mean, drab existence in an ugly hostile
world, become the historical and well-nigh universal causes of an
incipient mental pathology, the clash between beauty and the
aroused beast, expressed in world-wide myths. As the sub-human
minds are aroused, so the sub-human and anti-human passions that
go with them come to take over human lives.
The mind is not without resources of defence against this
disturbing onslaught. The humanizing predispositions are
intensified, and given a social boosting, a process Freud described
as the influence of the super-ego. But because the pressures can
never be completely deviated by an imposed morality and social
censure, by religious and other s ublimating agencies, all societies
have provided for periodical venting of accumulated pressures,
indispensable for their survival with some degree of integration and
order, from competitive gambits and games, to warfare. It is not
difficult to find numerous examples in the competitive structures of
daily existence. The sadism, lust, and violence in entertainment are
such outlets.
These existentially aroused subhuman aspects of the mind,
purulently affecting human behaviour, refer to a time anteceding the
human genesis. They know nothing of beauty, of order, of harmony,
of selflessness and love. Like all animal passions, they are
instinctual, immediately demanding, callous and blind. Beauty,
goodness and purity become obstacles to their venting.
Although a preoccupation with the mystical and the occult is a
normal human interest, an expression of man's defiance of matter
and time, the magical is clearly antihuman, in its relish of the
macabre, the sordid, and the ugly. While mystical experience is
invariably associated with b eauty, the magical purposefully
excludes beauty and obliges a relish in the obscene and the
excremental. Today, there is a discernible arousal of the magical
mind. Indeed magic has never been fully quenched by the rise of
reason; many aspects of so called civilized life reveal it. Eating
habits are not without their magical asides.
If the mark of the human is a n eed for the beautiful, and if the
magical shows itself by a relish for the hideous, it is simple enough
to pick out the features of the diet which are magical—the bloody
joint, the dripping steak, organs like the kidney concerned with filth
elimination, foul smelling foods, the desecration of living things
which the killing and cooking of any animal entails. This magical
relish can go to extremes, which then acquire a gruesome twist, as
in the chewing of eyeballs and the gobbling of brains, the sucking of
marrow and the savouring of testicles.
The point is that once the magical mind is aroused, such
practices are felt to be exciting, strength giving, in dispensable, and
in fact become supported by a corrupted reason, by science itself.
Just


 organ meats, poultry, fish and shellfish.
Meats and fish are an excellent source of nutrition. Contrary to popular
belief it is the meats and fish and other animal products that have the high
est contents of vitamins, amino acids, nourishing fats, many minerals and
other nutrients which we humans need on a daily basis. All this nutrition in
meats and fish also comes in the most digestible form for us humans. I find
it deceptive to see some vitamin tables in some books on nutrition show
ing that grains provide all our vitamins. First of all the form in which grains
contain these vitamins is difficult for us to digest. Secondly if you compare
the amounts of vitamins in meat, fish or other animal products with grains
it is the animal products which are at the top of the list. Let us just have a
look at some of them.
Vitamin Bi (thiamin): the richest sources are pork, liver, heart and
kidneys.
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin): the richest sources are eggs, meat, milk, poultry
and fish.
Vitamin B3 (niacin): the richest sources are meat and poultry.
Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid): the richest sources are meats and liver.
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine): the richest sources are meat, poultry, fish and
eggs.
Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin): the richest sources are meat, poultry,
fish, eggs and milk.
Biotin: the richest sources are liver and egg yolks.
Vitamin A: the richest sources are liver, fish, egg yolks and butter.
Vitamin D: the richest sources are fish liver oils, eggs and fish.
The three well-researched vitamins which meats and fish do not have
are vitamin C, folic acid and vitamin K. These three have to come from veg
etables and fruit. Fruit, apart from avocado, generally interferes with the
digestion of meats and should be eaten between meals. Vegetables how
ever combine with meats and fish very well and would provide the missing
nutrients. There is another important reason for eating meats and fish with
vegetables, which is the way we metabolise food. After digesting and utilising meats and fish our body tissues accumulate acids. After digesting
most vegetables our body becomes alkaline. By combining the meats and
vegetables in one meal we balance the acidity in the body, which is impor
tant because both too acid and too alkaline states are not very healthy. Raw
vegetables have stronger alkalising ability than cooked. However, make
sure that your patient's digestive system is ready for raw vegetables before
introducing them.
The majority of GAPS patients are anaemic. It is essential for people with
anaemia to have red meats on a regular basis (lamb, beef, game and organ
meats in particular) because these foods are the best remedy for anaemia.
They not only provide iron in the haem-form: the form which the human
bodies absorbs best, they also provide the B vitamins and other nutrients
essential for treating anaemia. Meats also promote better absorption of
non-haem iron from vegetables and fruit while vitamin C from vegetables
and greens promote absorption of iron from meat. Large epidemiological
studies show that eating red meat is associated with much lower incidence
of iron deficiency in different countries of the world.
An absolute resuscitation for an anaemic person is eating liver. Liver is a
true powerhouse of nutrition. Whichever nutrient you take, you will find it
in abundance in liver, including all the nutrients which GAPS people are
deficient in. Making sure that your GAPS patient eats some liver on a regu
lar basis will do immeasurably more for his or her nutritional status than
the best and the most expensive supplements in the world. An anaemic
person should eat liver and other organ meats once a week at least. A child
needs a small amount: one to two tablespoons of cooked ground liver
every other day, which can be mixed with any meat dish or a full liver meal
once a week. For some ideas on how to cook liver look in the recipe section.
Make sure that you buy meats and fish fresh or frozen, but not pre
served, as preserved meats and fish will have a lot of additives (E-numbers,
preservatives, starches, sugar, too much salt, lactose and other ingredients)
which will not allow the digestive system heal. Hams, bacon, delicatessen
meats and all commercially available sausages are preserved meats and
should be avoided. Sausages are a popular food, which children in particu
lar like. I recommend finding a local butcher, who makes his own sausages
and ask him to produce pure meat sausages for you. The only ingredients
in these sausages should be full fat mincemeat, salt and pepper. If you wish
to add some fresh garlic, onion or fresh herbs to the mince, that is fine. It is
important to specifically emphasise that no commercial seasoning or
sausage mix should be added. Most commercial seasonings for sausages contain a flavour enhancer MSG (mono-sodium glutamate) which GAPS
people must not consume.
Meat and fish stock is a wonderful nutritional and digestive remedy. As
you cook meats and fish in water a lot of nutrients from the meats get
extracted into the water. Use these meat stocks for making soups, stews
and simply as a warming therapeutic drink with and between meals. In the
recipe section you will find detailed instructions on how to make meat and
fish stocks. It goes without saying that all commercially available stock
granules and cubes are to be avoided. They do not possess any of the heal
ing properties of a home-made meat stock and are full of detrimental
ingredients. Meats cooked in water are easier to digest for a person with a
sensitive digestive system.
Eggs are one the most nourishing and easy to digest foods on this planet.
Raw egg yolk has been compared with human breast milk as it absorbs
almost 100% without needing digestion. Egg yolks will provide you with
most essential amino acids, many vitamins (Bi, B2, B6, B12, A, D, biotin),
essential fatty acids, a lot of zinc, magnesium and many other nutrients,
which GAPS children and adults are deficient in. Eggs are particularly rich
in Vitamin B12 vital for normal development of the nervous system and
immunity. The large majority of GAPS patients are deficient in B12 and
hence anaemic.
Egg yolks are very rich in cholin - an amino acid essential for the nervous
system and the liver to function. Cholin is a building block of a neurotrans
mitter called acethylcholin, which the brain uses for cognitive or learning
processes and memory amongst its many functions. Cholin supplementa
tion is recommended for people with neurological damage, memory loss
and poor learning ability. Cholin is also prescribed to people with liver
problems. GAPS patients almost invariably have cognitive problems and
an over-stressed liver and benefit from extra cholin in their diet. Egg yolks,
particularly uncooked, would provide the best food source of cholin.
It is sad that based on some faulty "science" and commercial publicity
eggs have been made unpopular despite their wonderful nutritional value.
This happened because eggs contain cholesterol. In the last decade there
has been a number of clinical studies confirming that consuming eggs has
nothing to do with heart disease or atherosclerosis. In fact people who con
sume eggs show lower risk of these health problems. The majority of people do not know that 85% of blood cholesterol does not come from food
but is produced by the liver in response to consumption of processed
carbohydrates and sugar. So, these are the foods to avoid in order to
protect your heart, not the eggs.
I suggest getting your eggs from a source you trust. Free-range organic
eggs are the best because the hens have much better nutrition, are not fed
antibiotics and agricultural chemicals and are exposed to sun and fresh air.
Free-range organic eggs are also better from another important point of
view - the concern about Salmonella. According to the National Egg
Marketing Board around one in 7000 eggs may harbour Salmonella. These
are the numbers for battery eggs laid by hens in cages. Salmonella-infected
egg comes from an infected hen. Free-range organically reared hens are
much less likely to have Salmonella, as they possess much healthier
immune systems. Raw egg yolks are more nourishing than cooked.
However, if you feel unsure about raw egg yolks, then cook the eggs
whichever way you prefer. Salmonella gets destroyed when eggs are
cooked thoroughly.
Egg whites are usually cooked well, simply because most of us don't like
the taste of raw whites. Though one case of biotin deficiency was described
in the literature where a person lived on a self-fashioned diet of raw egg
whites, there is no conclusive evidence as to why we should not eat them
raw as well. However, when it comes to egg allergy whites are usually the
part of the egg which the majority of sufferers react to, because the whites
contain very complex proteins and antigens. Egg yolks contain single
amino acids, which virtually do not need digestion. That is why a lot of
people with egg allergy can tolerate the


 routine. They need
a slow, patient “weaning.” Besides, there is the maintenance routine (see Chapter 23 ), which
they should stick with for the rest of their lives, to safeguard their restored health (At the time of
writing I’ve been happily doing that for 24 years and have no intention of stopping.)
There are others who have to be discouraged from rushing back into the disastrous eating
habits that had contributed so much to their disease. As a rule any such temptation is short-lived.
Their detoxified, cleared, optimally nourished organisms shrink away from the so-called normal
food they had been dreaming about during the therapy—food heavy with fat, painfully salty and
harsh with synthetic flavors. If their brains don’t object to junk food, their taste buds will.
In my experience, after recovery there is no way back into the pre-disease state. Living with
the holistic Gerson Therapy changes you, not only in your lifestyle and eating habits, but also in
your set of values, priorities and general outlook. You have been reborn without the need to die
first, and you may spontaneously decide to help others on the same path, by way of repaying a
debt to life.
References:
1) Gerson, M. A Cancer Therapy: Results of 50 Cases. 6th edition. Bonita, Calif. The Gerson
Institute, 1999.
2) Pert, C. Molecules of Emotion. Simon & Schuster, New York, 1997.
3) Illich, I.  Medical Nemesis. 1976.
4) LeShan, L. Cancer as a Turning Point.  Plume, 1994.
5) Simonton, C., Matthews-Simonton, S., Creighton, J. Getting Well Again. Bantam, 1992.
6) Greer, S.  Mind-body research in psycho-oncology. Advances  15(4), 1999.
7) Spiegel, D. Effect of psychosocial treatment on survival of patients with metastasized
breast cancer. The Lancet, October 14 1989; 888-891.
8) Siegel, B. Love, Medicine & Miracles.  Harper Perennial, 1998.
Copyright © Charlotte Gerson, 2007.  All rights reserved.
This material may not be reproduced in any medium, print or electronic without prior written permission from the author.Page 173Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comCHAPTER 25
Overcoming Stress and Tension
In the chapter on the psychological support needed by Gerson patients (see Chapter 24 ) it was
explained how the mind and the body interact every moment of our lives; in other words, how
our moods, emotions and general outlook have a measurable and direct impact on our physical
processes and above all on the immune system, that all-important tool of the healing journey. A
hopeful, trusting, determined state of mind strengthens immune competence; fear, despair, anger
and negativity weaken it. There is also the harmful effect of stress, keeping the entire organism in
a state of high tension. Yet the body, that wonderful organism with its own intelligence, only
functions well when it is relaxed, free from tension and able to follow its inner rules and rhythms.
Obviously, the Gerson program will also work best for the relaxed, unstressed patient. After all,
it is not enough to eat the best possible food and drink the most health-giving juices—they also
have to be digested and absorbed properly, and it is no secret that anxiety and worry can wreak
havoc with the digestion.
Keeping mind and emotions on an even keel, banishing stress and fear must be part of the
Gerson patient’s daily routine. Fortunately there are some simple, enjoyable methods that make
this possible. In this chapter we present a full range. Please try them and see which suit you
best.
Minding the Body
Posture  can have a huge impact on how we feel, just as how we feel is often betrayed by our
posture. When we are happy, we walk on air. When miserable, head goes down, shoulders move
up, back curves forward and slumps, all of which compresses our innards and adds to the gloom.
And that will never do.
Learn to keep your spine straight, but not rigid, both standing and sitting. (Please freeze for
a moment and check what your spine is doing.)  Sit with both feet on the ground and don’t cross
your legs; doing so impedes the circulation and twists the spine. Walk from the hips and avoid
leaning forward, as if you were pushing a grocery cart– you can’t get ahead of yourself! Think of
your head as the hook of a coat hanger, with your body hanging from it loosely and comfortably.
The shoulders are a particularly tension-prone part of the body: they tend to move forward and
up, whenever we feel stressed, as if wanting to protect the chest. A side effect of this unconscious
move is that anxious people seem to have short necks. In the memorable words of a yoga teacher,
opening up your chest means saying yes to life.
Copyright © Charlotte Gerson, 2007.  All rights reserved.
This material may not be reproduced in any medium, print or electronic without prior written permission from the author.Page 174Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comMake sure your shoulders are where they belong. Stand up straight, draw both shoulders
up as far as they will go, right up to the earlobes—and then drop them, as if they had become
redundant. Where they land is their natural position. Please memorize it for future use. It is also
helpful to keep your neck supple and relaxed (and make it longer!) by regular exercise. Turn your
head slowly from left to right and back; drop your head gently forward and backward, keeping
your lower jaw loose; rotate your head first clockwise, then counter-clockwise, repeating each
movement five times. If at any time you feel you are tensing up and no one can see you, imagine
that you are a rag doll in a strong breeze, and move accordingly
Hands are also tension-prone. They tend to curl into fists as soon as we feel anxious or
angry. In old Westerners you could tell that things were getting dangerous when the hero’s
knuckles turned white. Actually anybody’s knuckles can turn white from fear, and this is what
needs to be avoided. Train yourself to keep your fingers splayed when your hands are at rest. That
prevents the tensing up of the arms, which would lead to further tension rushing through the body.
If at first you fail and all you have is fists, imagine that you have washed your hands and have no
towel, so that you need to shake both hands vigorously from the wrists. As you do that, feel the
tension dropping away from your fingertips.
Last but far from least, breathing deserves our full attention. Breath is the basic condition
of life. We can live for quite a while without food and for a much shorter time without water, but
life without breath ends in a few moments. Yet most of us neglect this vital function, until we
learn otherwise and switch from shallow to deep abdominal breathing. This way, routinely used
by singers, speakers, practitioners of yoga and athletes, boosts the body’s oxygen intake and has
a calming effect. The method is simplicity itself. With each in-breath push out your stomach, so
that the breath can fill your lungs to full capacity. With each out-breath, pull in your stomach hard,
squeezing out the stale air. Find your own rhythm and practice this method several times a day,
until it becomes your natural way of breathing. If at first it is a bit difficult, imagine that in your
abdomen there is a beautiful balloon, which you inflate with each in-breath and deflate by letting
out the air. You will be surprised what a difference better breathing makes to your well-being.
Matters of the Mind
Your mental attitude can be your best ally—or your worst enemy, and the same applies to
your imagination, depending on how you use it.  Positively used, your thoughts and ideas can help
you to re-program your entire outlook, your moods and feelings, so that they promote health and
healing, instead of dragging you down.. Energy follows thought!
There are several ways to achieve the best possible state of mind. All of them depend on your
ability to relax as fully as possible, so that no tension interferes with what you are trying to do.
The simplest way is to lie on your back on a comfortable but not too soft surface, with your hands
Copyright © Charlotte Gerson, 2007.  All rights reserved.
This material may not be reproduced in any medium, print or electronic without prior written permission from the author.Page 175Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comloosely resting by your sides. Close your eyes. Start breathing slowly, deeply, from the abdomen.
With each in-breath imagine drawing in brilliant light, which fills you with peace, strength and
energy. With each out-breath imagine releasing all tiredness, tension, pain or anxiety in the shape
of dirty dark smoke. Let your head and your body become very heavy, so that the floor carries
your weight. Check through your body, starting with your toes and working your way up to the


.

Figure 20: Average Bromide Excretion in 8 Breast Cancer and 10 Non-Breast Cancer Subjects

Iodine levels were low in all of the women tested. This is not surprising because, as previously described in this book, iodine
deficiency is occurring at an epidemic rate.
What shocked me was the difference in the levels of the toxic halogens bromide and fluoride. Bromide levels were found to
be significantly elevated in the breast cancer versus the non-breast cancer subjects.
The fluoride testing (
Figure 21
, next page) showed similar results, with the breast cancer subjects exhibiting higher fluoride
levels as compared to the non-breast cancer subjects. Although the difference in the fluoride levels were not as dramatic as the
bromide levels, this data shows that breast cancer patients are absorbing and retaining larger amounts of toxic halides as
compared to non-breast cancer subjects. As previously mentioned, fluoride is a toxic halide that should be avoided. Its anti-
cavity promotion is a seriously flawed idea that much of the Western world has rejected by removing fluoride from the water
supply. Topical fluoride may have some practical applications when applied to the growing tooth—approximately from the age of
3-13. For adults, ingesting fluoride in our water supply in order to prevent caries is a fallacious concept. Fluoride does not
prevent cavities and it interferes with hundreds of enzymes in the body and also causes thyroid dysfunction.
The way to reduce the body’s burden of toxic halides is to increase the body’s iodine levels. Remember, the toxicity of
fluoride and bromine will be exacerbated in an iodine-deficient state.
 Figure 21: Fluoride Excretion in 8 Breast Cancer and 10 Non-Breast Cancer Subjects

The use of iodine supplementation, as part of a holistic nutritional program which facilitates the detoxification
capabilities of
the body, will allow the body to decrease its levels of toxic halides.
FINAL THOUGHTS
We are in the midst of a cancer epidemic. At the present time, one in three Americans will get cancer. Cancer is not caused
by chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery deficiency. Cancer is a multifactorial illness that will only be conquered when the
underlying causes of cancer are properly thought out and thoroughly dealt with.
There is no doubt that our exposure to toxic chemicals is increasing at the same time our nutrient status is declining. Is it any
wonder that cancer rates are reaching epidemic proportions? Currently one in seven women (14%) has breast cancer and one in
three men (33%) has prostate cancer. Iodine deficiency coupled with the increasing toxic load in our bodies could explain a great
deal about why these cancer numbers are so high.
Iodine supplementation has multiple positive effects on the body. These positive effects are found in many different illnesses
from fatigue states to autoimmune disorders and cancer. It is important not only to ensure adequate levels of nutrients in the body,
but also to help the body utilize these nutrients by enhancing the detoxification mechanisms. Iodine supplementation will not only
provide a valuable nutrient for the body, it will also aid in the detoxification process of the body. The next chapter will give you
information about detoxification. I
believe ensuring an adequate iodine level is a crucial factor to helping you achieve your optimal
health.
1
 Levin, M. Bromide psychosis: four varieties. Am. J. Psych. 104:798-804, 1948
2
 Clark. G. Applied Pharmacology. Churchill, London. 1938
3
 Sangster, B., et al. The influence of sodium bromide in man: A study in human volunteers with special emphasis on the
endocrine and the central nervous system. Fd. Chem. Toxic., 21: 409-419, 1983
4
 Van Leeuwen, FX. The toxicology of bromide ion. Crit. Rev. Toxicol. 1987; 18:189-213
5
 CAS Registry number: 74:83:9
6
 Horowitz, B. Bromism from excessive cola consumption. Clinical Toxicology, 35 (3), 315-320. 1997
7
 Pavelka, S. High bromide intake affects the accumulation of iodide in the rat thyroid and skin. Biol. Trace elem. Res. 2001.
summer; 82(1-3):133
8
 Pavalka, S. Effect of high bromide levels in the organism on the biological half-life of iodine in the rat. Biol. Trace elem. Res.
2001. summer; 82(1-3):133
9
 Buchberger, W. Effects of sodium bromide on the biosynthesis of thyroid hormones and brominated/iodinated thyronines. J.
Trace Elem. Elec. Health Dis. Vol.4. 1990, p. 25-3010
 Vobecky, M. Effect of enhanced bromide intake on the-concentration ratio I/Br in the rat thyroid gland. Bio. Trace
Element Research, 43:509-513, 1994
11
 Abraham, G. IBID. 9.09.03
12
 London, W.T. Bread-a dietary source of large quantities of iodine. New. Engl. J. Med. 273:381, 1965
13
 Abraham, G. The effect of ingestion of inorganic nonradioactive iodine/iodide in patients with simple goiter and in Graves’
disease: A review of published studies compared with current trends. Optimox Research. 9.09.03
14
 CDC. National Center for Health Statistics.
Cdc.gov
15
 Hollowell, Je. Iodine nutrition in the United States. Trends and public health implications: Iodine excretion data from
National Health and Nutrition Examination surveys I and III. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 83:3401-3408, 1998
16
 Colquhoun, G. New Evidence on fluoridation. Social Science and Medicine. 19. 1239-46. 1984.
17
 Galletti, P. Effect of fluorine on thyroidal iodine metabolism in hyperthyroidism
18
 Maumene, e. Experience pour determiner l’action des fluores sur l’econimie animale. Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci (Paris)
39:538-539. 1854
19
 Endocrine Regulations. Vol. 32. p. 63-70. 1998
20
 Lancet. May 27, 1972. Vol. 1. 1135-38
21
 35
th
 Annual Meeting of the Society for Epidemiologic Research, Seattle, WA. June 2000.
22
 Epidemiology. 1998; 9(1): 21-28, 29-35.
23
 Epidemiology. May 1999. 10:233-237
24
 Tonacchera, M. Relative potencies and additivity of perchlorate, thiocyanate, nitrate and iodide on the inhibition of
radioactive iodide uptake by the human sodium iodide symporter. Thyroid. 2004. 14. 1012-19
25
 EPA. Perchlorate environmental contamination: toxicological review and risk characterization based on emerging
information. 1998
26
 EPA. 1998. IBID.
27
 Journal of the Am. Water Works Ass. 1957. 49(10):1334-1342
28
 Environmental Working Group, 2005. From
www.ewg.com
.
29
 Environmental Working Group, 2005. From
www.ewg.com
.
30
 Ross, B. Ammonium perchlorate contamination of Colorado River drinking water is associated with abnormal thyroid
function in newborns in Arizona. J. of Occup. And Env. Medicine. Vol 42(8). August, 2000. p. 777-782
31
 U.S. EPA. Regional Agency 9 Lab. USEPA; August 16, 1999
32
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 WHO.
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35
 Kirk, Andrea. Perchlorate and iodide in dairy and breast milk. Environ. Sci and Technol. 2000.
36
 Env. Health Persp. Vol. 116. N.6. June 2008Chapter 12
Detoxification Questions and Answers
CHAPTER 12: DETOXIFICATION QUESTION AND ANSWERS
I have lectured extensively about iodine for over 12 years. After hearing my iodine lecture, the three most frequently asked
questions are:
1
.
Why do I need to take so much iodine?
2
.
Why do I need more iodine now than people needed 100 years ago?
3
.
How do I detoxify from the toxic halides, bromine and fluoride?
This chapter will provide you with the answers to these questions.
WHY DO WE NEED TO TAKE SO MUCH IODINE?
This is the most common question I am asked by both physicians and laypeople. The main reason we need to ingest more
iodine is that the majority of people are iodine deficient, many of them severely iodine deficient. My experience has clearly shown
that over 96% of my patients are low in iodine with most of them severely low. How can that be?
Over the last


two	parts:	the	somatic	and	autonomic	nervous	systems.	All	information	in	the
body	that	you	are	conscious	of	comes	from	the	somatic	nervous	system;	all
information	that	you	are	unconscious	of	comes	from	the	autonomic	nervous
system.	Memes	occupy	a	fascinating	middle	ground,	a	shadowland.	When
you	can’t	get	a	catchy	song	out	of	your	head—one	classic	example	of	meme
behavior—you	are	totally	conscious	of	the	tune	but	unconscious	of	why	you
can’t	get	rid	of	it.
This	is	precisely	what	the	Bhagavad-Gita	means	by	the	binding	effect	of
karma.	You	may	be	completely	aware	that	you	have	a	certain	trait,	such	as
being	stingy,	irritable,	easily	flattered,	or	self-important,	but	you	cannot	say
why	that	trait	sticks	to	you,	however	much	you	dislike	it.
Worldviews	are	built	of	symbols	that	fulfill	a	need.	Take	any	charming
thing	in	the	environment—say,	the	late	Princess	Diana.	For	her	to	stay	in	your
mind	and	persist	there	longer	than	a	few	moments,	she	must	be	significant	to
you.	That	is,	she	is	a	sign	for	something	you	recognize,	and	I	would	add
something	you	value	and	desire.	On	a	global	scale	Princess	Diana	symbolized
beauty,	innocence,	vulnerability,	motherhood,	prestige,	sexuality,	and	more.
Like	all	the	best	memes,	her	negative	side	was	also	powerfully	symbolic.	At
various	stages	she	represented	disability,	illness,	social	liability,	addiction,
naïveté,	wantonness,	infidelity,	and	masochism.
By	whatever	name	we	give	them,	memes	are	the	way	we	give
meaning
	to
experience.	They	package	meaning	into	the	building	block	of	reality.	Insofar
as	we	are	creators	of	reality,	we	use	these	symbolic	building	blocks	as	our	raw
material.	I	find	this	whole	field	of	meme	theory	exciting	because	among	those
scientists	who	cannot	stomach	the	notion	of	inherent	consciousness,	the
parallel	notion	of	memes	is	gaining	considerable	credibility.	A	gap	is	closing.The	Vedic	rishis	had	their	own	model	for	what	happens	in	the	mind	field.
Thought	forms	that	grip	us	are
samskaras
,	impressions	made	on	the	nervous
system	by	past	experience.	A	young	child	frightened	when	his	mother
forgetfully	left	him	in	a	department	store	might	carry	that	impression,	or
samskara,	for	life.	Such	impressions	do	not	have	to	be	negative—a	first	kiss
can,	and	usually	does,	form	a	lasting	samskara.	The	concept	of	samskara	goes
beyond	memes	because	it	applies	to	all	mental	experience.	Whether	they	are
sensations,	desires,	or	ideas,	impressions	can	go	as	deep	into	the	field	as	the
soul.	They	constitute	the	qualities	of	the	self	that	give	each	of	us	an	identity
we	recognize	as	“me.”
Samskaras	can	be	dismantled	or	changed	only	by	affecting	the	right	level
of	the	mind.	A	change	at	the	subtlest	level	is	the	most	powerful.	J.
Krishnamurti	put	it	beautifully	when	he	said	that	“the	highest	form	of	human
intelligence	is	to	observe	yourself	without	judgment.”	That	is,	if	you	can
stand	aside	from	how	your	beliefs	are	behaving,	how	various	impulses	of
desire	and	repulsion	are	pulling	at	you,	how	the	“stored	consciousness”	of
memory	makes	you	see	the	world,	you	can	witness	the	field	itself.	This	is	true
enlightenment.	In	many	spiritual	traditions,	such	as	Buddhism,	the	key	seems
to	be	stillness,	detaching	oneself	from	the	internal	dialogue	whose	stream	of
ideas	and	impulses	comes	from	the	past.	Witnessing	allows	us	to	see	and
understand	with	an	intelligence	that	is	holistic,	without	a	win-or-lose
orientation.	This	gives	us	a	chance	to	experience	the	mind	field,	or	what	we
popularly	call	“having	an	open	mind.”
Can	We	Open	the	Mind?
Ultimately,	dying	will	carry	each	of	us	into	the	mind	field,	which	we	will
experience	directly.	Yet	our	beliefs,	being	stored	consciousness,	will	follow
us.	The	issue	of	an	open	mind	bears	directly	upon	how	much	baggage	we’ll
have	to	carry.	I’m	reminded	of	a	question	posed	by	Krishnamurti.	When
someone	commented	that	it	was	good	to	have	an	open	mind,	he	asked,	“Is
there	such	a	thing	as	an	open	mind?”	This	was	a	typically	ambiguous	reply,
but	if	the	mind	is	trapped	by	either	memes	or	samskaras,	it	cannot	be	open,
because	of	secondhand	beliefs,	opinions,	judgments,	and	other	mental
“viruses.”	Or	is	there	some	kind	of	new	experience	entirely	beyond	the	realm
of	ingrained	beliefs	and	karmic	impressions?
The	most	profound	of	contradictions	is	that	to	reach	enlightenment,	which
is	free	from	past	impressions,	you	have	no	choice	but	to	use	your	brain,	and
the	brain	is	mired	in	its	habit	of	filtering,	choosing,	preferring,	rejecting,	etc.
Krishnamurti	stated	this	elegantly	when	he	asked,	“Can	a	fragmented	mind
ever	experience	wholeness?”	The	answer	is	that	it	cannot,	but	all	any	of	us	are
equipped	with	is	a	fragmented	mind.	A	mind	made	up	of	memes	andsamskaras.	Asserting	that	you	have	an	open	mind	while	someone	else’s	mind
is	closed,	or	claiming	that	you	experience	reality	instead	of	illusion,	seems
like	a	reasonable	statement,	but	in	Krishnamurti’s	terms—which	are	pure
Vedanta—it	is	impossible	to	do	things	like	“trying	to	be	more	open”	or
“trying	to	get	more	real.”	You	are	simply	fighting	with	your	own	divided	self.
So	what	is	the	way	out	of	this	paradox?	There	is	a	way	to	approach	the
tricky	business	of	opening	your	mind.
1.	Know	that	you	are	going	to	identify	with	your	worldview	at	every	stage
of	personal	growth.
2.	Accept	that	these	identifications	are	temporary.	You	will	never	be	truly
yourself	until	you	reach	unity.
3.	Be	willing	to	change	your	identity	every	day.	Take	a	flexible	attitude.
Don’t	defend	an	“I”	that	you	know	is	just	temporary.
4.	Allow	your	ability	to	quietly	observe	without	judgment	to	replace	the
ingrained	ideas	you	reach	for	automatically.
5.	When	you	have	the	impulse	to	struggle,	use	that	as	an	immediate	signal
to	let	go.	Open	a	space	for	a	new	answer	to	unfold	on	its	own.
6.	When	you	can’t	let	go,	forgive	yourself	and	move	on.
7.	Use	every	opportunity	to	tell	yourself	that	all	viewpoints	are	valid,
every	experience	valuable,	every	insight	a	moment	of	freedom.
These	steps	cultivate	an	open	mind	by	exposing	you	to	the	mind	field
itself,	witnessing	without	judgment.	They	will	orient	you	to	the	possibility
that	you	can	be	redefined	continuously.	In	other	words,	give	your	allegiance
to	transformation	rather	than	defending	the	status	quo.	Now	you	are


 second, which comprises hundreds
of thousands of chemical reactions in a single cell, is the same act of
creation that took place at the Big Bang and every moment afterward. So
prana links you to eternal creation. Genesis, as Y oga sees it, is now.
Exercise
In your mind’ s eye, see yourself plucking an apple from a tree. Take a
bite of the apple and swallow it. Mentally follow the path of the apple as it
gets digested and gives up its energy. See the energy entering a heart cell
and fueling a single heartbeat. Now ask yourself: At what point did life
leave the apple?  There were only stages of transformation as the fruit went
from the tree to your heart. At each stage, different processes took over.
(We could extend this example to the waste from the digested apple
returning to the earth to nouri sh a seedling apple tree, perpetuating the
circle of life.) Y et the chain of ener gy is unbroken, and so is the flow of life.In this exercise you have grasped the eternal nature of prana. It moves,
it morph s, it is guided from step to step by knowing what it needs to do.
The link between life and consciousness is never broken, thanks to the
vehicle that carries both life and consciousness, which is prana.
OceanofPDF.comWEEK 5
STAYING IN THE LIGHT
(Limb of Yoga: Pratyahara)THIS PART OF THE JOURNEY
Royal Yoga is a journey to reach  the ideal life. The fifth limb, known as
pratyahara, is the turning point in this journey. Here you learn how to live
in the light permanently. Instead  of having a glimpse of love, compassion,
creativity, beauty, truth, and the other values of higher consciousness, they
are now your natural impulses. You get to experience them without the
constantly churning mind blocking the way.
In classic Yoga, pratyahara  is described as “the withdrawal of the
senses,” which isn’t easy to grasp at first. If you are looking at an object—
an apple, a television, another person—how can you not see it? Can you
really withdraw your sense of sight? Yes, and you do it all the time by
tuning out. You stop paying attention to what your eyes report and pay
attention instead to your inner world. You can also hear without listening,
which is why we say, “Sorry, I was distracted and didn’ t catch what you
said.” Your ears reported the sound of someone else talkin g, but your
attention was elsewhere.
Once you tune out, pratyahara  teaches you what to do next: Find the
light and stay there. You know that you have accomplished this feat because
the following things happen:
You experience your body as the gateway to bliss.
You melt away karmic impressions.
You conquer fear.
You see the evolutionary path and take it.
You start living from the level of solutions, instead of the level
of problems.
In Week 5 we will cover the practices that lead to each of these
victories, because that’ s what they are. The root causes of pain and suf fering
are defeated once and for all.MONDAY
At Home in the Light
Begin by silently repeating today’ s theme:
I welcome the light as it welcomes me.
I welcome the light as it welcomes me.
The light is where you belong. This is one of the most basic truths
revealed by Royal Yoga. Where  you belong can also be called “home,” so
whatever home feels like, living in the light should feel the same way. The
qualities of home are known to everyone. A child growing up in a secure,
loving family learns what home represents, and these impressions last a
lifetime. Home is, or should be:
Welcoming
Familiar
Safe
Relaxing
Happy
Loving
Nurturing
A child fortunat e enough to experience these things simply by coming
home depends on the parents to create these qualities. In Roya l Yoga, you
discover that they exist in yourself—the light provides them. The fifth limb
of Yoga, pratyahara, teache s you how to settle down in the light, look
around, and know what home really is. It’s the place where you can be
yourself. Ordina rily, you leave home to go out into the world  and come
back again, over and over, throu ghout your lifetime. In pratyahara, making
the light your home is different because you can remain there without ever
leaving.Discovering that this is possible represents a breakthrough. Previously,
the first four limbs of Yoga involved coming and going. You are navigating
constant changes in the world around you, in your experiences, and in the
activity of mind and body. Pratyahara  merges coming and going by degrees
until you become like a still point in the turning world.
Some breakthroughs are drama tic, but this one isn’t because you are
doing very little beyond welco ming yourself home. That’ s why Yoga is
often described as the “journey of the return.” You recognize that the world
“in here” has all the qualities of home, which is very different from the
stories we tell ourselves about hidden demons, dark forces, painful
memories, and even the threat of going insane if we look too deeply inside.
All these stories  are banished when you follow the path laid out by Royal
Yoga. Your inner world isn’t a dark under ground. Instead, it is the gateway
to your true self. The so-called demons and dark forces are just another kind
of vritti  that blocks the light.
In Roya l Yoga, you never fight or struggle against vrittis ; you allow
awareness to dissolve them, which happens by degrees. One of the most
valuable secrets in Yoga is that it becomes easier, not harder, to dissolve the
vrittis  as you go deep er. Pratyahara  teaches you to make the process of
clearing out vrittis  easier, beginning with the following exercise.
Exercise
The most basic practice in pratyahara  is a full-body scan. Find a quiet
place where you can lie down comfortably. Your bed or a soft rug will do.
Lie on your back with your arms by your side. Closing your eyes, take a
few deep breaths to relax.
Go inside and begin to scan your body, starting with your toes, feeling
the experience as you move slowly and steadily toward your head. By scan,
I mean letting your awareness sweep through you as you notic e whatever
comes to your attention. You might notice how hot or cold your body feels,
how light or heavy, how pleasurable or uncomfortable a certain sensationmight feel. Don’ t approach this exercise with any expectations. Using
awareness to sweep your body is the sole thing you need to do.
Once you have finished your full-body scan, relax into the feeling of
being comfortable inside yourself. This is the basic step that Yoga refers to
as “withdrawal of the senses.” You aren’ t focusing on what you might see,
hear, touch, taste, or smell outside yourself. You are simply experiencing
being “in here.”
If you like, you can do a second scan, this time noticing the basic
feeling of comin g home. The qualities you are looking for were listed above
as welcoming, familiar, safe, relaxing, happy, loving, and nurturing. To help
yourself focus, it might help to recall a memory or image of a time when
you felt welcom ed, then let this feeling suffuse your body now. The same
can be practiced with the other qualities. Use a memory of being safe,
relaxed, happy, and so on. For some of these qualities, you probably won’ t
need a memory. Just softly saying the word to yourself will bring up a
matching feeling-sensation.
This exercise deepens the more often you practice it, and you will find
it more and more enjoyable if you make it part of your daily routine.
TUESDAY
Seeds of Karma
Begin by silently repeating today’ s theme:
I set myself free from old memories.
I set myself free from old memories.
Royal Yoga shows you how to take control of your life, which strongly
applies to karma. Most people are trapped in their past actions, which are
the field of karma. This happens in a subtle, invisible way. Karma operates
below the level of thoughts and feelings. To escape your karma,  pratyahara
shows you how to go to the level where karmic seeds are plante d. The goalis to stop these seeds from sprouting. The principle is the same as weeding a
garden. It is hard to pull up a full-grown weed, easier to pull up a weed that
is just a seedling, and easiest of all to throw away the weed’ s seed before it
has sprouted.
Karma  is the Sanskrit word for “actio n,” but it doesn’ t refer to every
tiny thing you do or that your body does. Karmas are actions that leave a
memory behind.  Your first day at school, your first kiss, losing money at a
casino, wrecking your car—these are memorable events. If a memory is
strong enough, it can take charge of, color, or even control your life in
various ways. A painful divorce  colors your next relationship, for example.
Because some events are painful to recall, memories of humiliation, defeat,
failure,


ically assuming that
the universe will
reward you for one
thing and punish you
for another.Atoms emerge from a void that is pure potential.
Thoughts emerge from a void that is pure
consciousness.
Atoms emerge from a void that is pure potential.
Thoughts emerge from a void that is pure
consciousness.
Your true self is the LIGHT
of awareness that brings the
world into manifestation.Mental processes can alter reality.
We make the universe visible.
The universe has no ﬁxed agenda. Once you make any decision,
the universe works around that decision. There is no right or
wrong, only a series of possibilities that shift with each thought,
feeling, and action that you experience.
Merely wanting bad things to stop is
not enough. You must intend
something new to replace the old.
Intention coming from a deep level
clears the way for its own fulﬁllment.
The world we experience is a
projection of images in collective
consciousness.
Consciousness is
universal.Perspective is personal.
e mind never sleeps. You
can delegate CREATIVE
solutions to it, even as your
body sleeps.AWARENESS
of self, of others, and of the
world exists as sensations in
the body. To know the world,
feel your body.Both religion and science are cultural mythologies
with only partial glimpses of reality—one
subjective, the other objective.
Science makes life comfortable.
Spirituality makes life meaningful.Self-knowledge is the highest form of knowledge.
Be INNOCENT, be
SIMPLE, be PRESENT, and
your life will be
CHARMED.Real happiness or
joy does not depend
on circumstances.
OceanofPDF.comConsciousness cannot be observed
because consciousness is the
observer.
Pain is not the same as suffering. Left
to itself, the body discharges pain
spontaneously, letting go of it the
moment that the underlying cause is
healed. Suffering is pain that we hold
on to. It comes from the mind’s
mysterious instinct to believe that pain
is good, or that it cannot be escaped,
or that the person deserves it.
A QUIET
mind is more powerful than
a POSITIVE mind.An unseen, invisible reality is the
source of all visible things,
knowable through our own
awareness.
God is the unknowable mystery of
existence, the mystery that is to be
lived and never solved.The world is as we are.
If you see your inﬁnite potential, the
world is yours.
Hope and despair are
states of mind. BEING is
beyond and free of both.Good and evil are
expressions of states of
mind. Evil can be
overcome only from
the creative womb of
being.Greatness is a choice.
Every quality ascribed to the physical universe,
including your own body, is a quality in
consciousness.
CONSCIOUSNESS is the
dimensionless creator and
EXPERIENCER of all
dimensions.SELFPOWER is being
immune to criticism and
attery.There is no ﬂow of time. There is only the
ﬂow of experience around the still point of
now. Now never ends.
You walk in grace when you surrender to
now.
NOTHING BELONGS TO US.
WE BELONG TO THE WORLD.Money is the exchange of values in
collective consciousness.
Wealth is a state of consciousness.
Money is its bookkeeping symbol.Sinner and saint are
STATES of mind. Being is
beyond both.The mind can know the contents of the
brain, but the contents of the mind can’t be
found in the brain.
The only way to deal with change is to
plunge into it, move with it, and join
the dance.
Watch your thoughts, feelings,
emotions, and reactions. Then watch
the watcher of those thoughts, feelings,
emotions, and reactions.
Inner beauty is the light of love, and when it
radiates from you, you and those around you will
glow.
Peace can be created only by those who are
peaceful. A loving world will be created by those
who love.Everything we call
“reality” comes to us
through the
STRUCTURE of our
senses and our brain. It
is a reection of
OURSELVES.Everything that can happen
has happened or is
happening or will happen.The eternal invisible projects as the temporal visible. Only the
invisible is real.Every time we reach for a creative idea, we go to
the same place where the universe goes to create a rose or a
galaxy.
Self-awareness is the highest knowledge and transforms
knowledge into wisdom.
In the absence of despair, there is
no need for hope. Being is
independent of both hope and
despair.
Since your potential for knowledge,
creativity, and beauty is inﬁnite,
settling for anything less is a
compromise.ere is only ONE
religion, and it is the
religion of love.Breathe.OceanofPDF.com<|eot_id|><|begin_of_text|>Metabolic Solutions Report
Terry Chamberlin, B.Sc., C.N.C., Bioanalyst                Nova Scotia, Canada                  msibio@yahoo.com               902-584-3810

Natural Asthma & Allergies Cure

Chapter 1. - Getting To The Root Of The Problem?

The root problem is as I see it, a radically changing diet. Your daily diet in the western world is far removed from just six ty to
seventy years ago. A western diet nowadays is biased toward processed meat, manufactured snack, cake and candy food, dairy an d
a high absorption of processed sugar.

Some of you may eat fresh fruit, vegetables, beans and seeds on a regular basis too. But unfortunately a fast food culture ha s
certainly taken over in the western world. In a fast living environment, fast food so o ften seems the simple, easy option.

Good nutrition though, is imperative to long lasting healthy living. Unfortunately the majority of us never seem to have been
taught this very well.

During the last sixty years, sugar has grown hugely in use, especiall y so in soft drinks, and now stands as king of the western
world. Refined (processed) sugar, with the bulk of the goodness stripped out, has become a very major part of the western die t.
And as sugar has become king, raw unprocessed honey, packed full of n utrients has largely been shunned by the populus.

Water has also become unpopular with modern society. Soft drinks, high in processed sugar are in favour, along with coffee an d
various drinks with added stimulants. A fast moving lifestyle, it seems, has led to the demise of water as an ordinary drink too.

This is bad news, for this makes it much harder for your body to get the nutrients it needs, in order to function properly in  the
medium to long -term. If you have nutrient deficiencies in your diet, yo u may end up suffering quite visible health problems
because of it.

In this on -line guide, we are going to look at a deficiency, which I believe is now very widespread in the western world; brought
about largely, I believe, by the shift to this modern die t. And also due to modern farming methods, with soil mineral depletion now
a major issue. If the soil is depleted of minerals one can only expect the produce to be lacking too.

I am convinced, if you are suffering from asthma, and/or various allergies tha t your body is deficient in vitamin B17. You may
never of heard of B17 before, and I doubt you'll find it in any vitamin tablet, anywhere. But your body needs it!

B17 tends to occur naturally in certain fruit seeds, wild berries, certain beans, some grasses and a few staple crops. The stable
crops I refer to are millet and buckwheat: when was the last time you ate either of those, in some form or other? I doubt you  eat
butter beans, lima beans, fava beans, lentils, alfalfa sprouts/leaves, cassava, bit ter almonds (not sweet almonds), mung beans,
macadamia nuts, bamboo sprouts, sorghum molasses, chick peas or linseed that often either.

Wild berries can tend to be a bit difficult to find nowadays too, especially in cities. The same goes for bitter almond s, especially in
western countries (sweet almonds do not contain B17). And as for fruit seeds; try telling one of your friends that you've sta rted
eating apricot seeds or prune seeds on a regular basis; they may find it a little strange...until you tell th em why.

But I bet, only sixty or seventy years ago when somebody ate an apple it was standard practice to eat the whole apple, seeds as
well. The old saying, 'an apple a day keeps the doctor away', probably has very good meaning. Not only does the apple contain
vitamin C and other nutrients, but the seeds contain vitamin B17.

Going back two or three generations, you may also have been able to get some B17 by eating the flesh of the apple, apricot, p each,
nectarine, plum, and cherry. Unfortunately, moder n hybrid farming methods have probably put a stop to that. High vitamin B17
content should still be found in wild blackberries and raspberries; well worth knowing if you live in/near the countryside.

Chapter 2. - Seeds A Plenty