, encouraging a holistic
approach to treatment.
 In the 1960s, China also established a system of “barefoot
doctors.” After a period of basic medical instruction that
blended herbal medicine, acupuncture, and Western practices,
these practitioners were sent out to provide health care
for the millions of rural Chinese too remote from cities
to benefit from the facilities available there. The barefoot
doctors in the late 1960s became a model for the World Health Organization, which created a strategy of including
traditional herbal practitioners in planning for the health care
needs of developing countries.
Western Medicine & Herbal Practices
Further to the initiative by the World Health Organization,
experience has shown that traditional (usually herbal) and
Western medicine can indeed work well in tandem, although
the relationship is often quite complex. J. M. Janzen’s The Quest
for Therapy in Lower Zaïre  (University of California Press, 1978)
describes one such interaction in Africa:
 “The people of Zaïre recognize the advantages of
Western medicine and seek its surgery, drugs, and hospital
care, but contrary to what might have been expected, native
doctors, prophets, and traditional consultations among
kinsmen do not disappear with the adoption of Western
medicine. Rather a [working relationship] has developed
in which different forms of therapy play complementary rather
than competitive roles in the thoughts and lives of the people.”
 The high cost of Western medical treatment is another
factor that has encouraged people and governments to
re-examine traditional healing. In China, Mexico, Cuba, Egypt,
Ghana, India, and Mongolia, to give but a few examples, herbal
medicines are being cultivated in greater quantities, and are
being used to some degree by conventional as well as
traditional practitioners.
 Likewise, different types of treatment have evolved
to meet the variety of needs within a population. India offers
an extraordinary example of the kind of choices available
in types of medical care. Alongside physicians trained in
conventional Western medicine, there are medically trained
Ayurvedic practitioners, traditional Ayurvedic practitioners,
local healers, and homeopaths.
Changing Attitudes
Perhaps the most important factor behind the growing
interest in complementary medicine is the poor state of
health in Western societies. Conventional medicine has by
and large brought serious infectious diseases under control,
although there are worrying signs that infectious organisms
are becoming resistant to antibiotic treatment, largely as a
result of their indiscriminate use. Chronic illness, however,
seems to be on the increase. Probably around 50 percent
of people in Western countries daily take one or more
conventional medicines—for conditions as diverse as high
blood pressure, asthma, arthritis, and depression. Many
Western countries such as the U.S. and France spend
astronomical sums on health care, yet despite this massive
investment, much of the population remains demonstrably
unhealthy. Even the significant increase in life expectancy in
developed countries is starting to go into reverse, perhaps
a result of environmental pollutants and toxic accumulation
within the body.“Slash-and-burn” farming in the rainforest of Brazil results in the eradication of native
medicinal plants. Efforts are now under way to provide local farmers with alternative
means of profiting from the land.
US_028-031_20th_Century_and_Beyond.indd   29 26/02/16   4:42 pm
30
The developmen T of herbal medicineOver the years, changes in public awareness have led to a
renewed interest in herbal medicine. In fact, some herbal preparations are now so commonly used that they are accepted as a part of everyday life. One of many possible examples is evening primrose oil, which is used by hundreds
of thousands of women in Britain to help relieve premenstrual syndrome. It is extracted from the seeds of Oenothera biennis
(p. 241), a North American plant. Peppermint oil ( Mentha x
piperita, p. 114), prescribed for irritable bowel syndrome and other gut problems, is another example, while senna (Cassia senna, p. 75), a simple, effective treatment for short-term constipation, is one of the most frequently used medicines throughout the world. The growing awareness of how our lives as human beings are interwoven with the fate of our planet also reinforces the value of herbal medicines. As long as care is taken to prevent overharvesting, herbal medicine is ecologically in tune with the environment.
Herbalism & Holism
The “germ theory of disease,” which holds that illness
springs from contact with an infectious organism, remains
the dominant view in mainstream medicine. Many people, however, recognize that this is only part of the picture. While illnesses such as cholera and typhoid are highly infectious and are indeed likely to be caught by almost anyone, many infectious diseases are not transmitted automatically from one person to another. The question arises, therefore, what weakness in the patient has allowed the “seed” of infection to find fertile ground? Unlike much conventional medical practice, which focuses on eradicating
the “bug” or abnormal condition, herbal medicine seeks to treat the weakness that gave rise to ill health, and sets this
in the context of the patient’s life as a whole. A complex
web of factors may lie behind the onset of illness. While bodily signs and symptoms are the most obvious indicators, dietary, emotional, and spiritual factors may be of
equal importance.
 Our bodies contain over one hundred trillion cells, which collectively must function in harmony if good health is to be maintained. Used wisely, herbs work in tune with our bodies, stimulating, supporting, or restraining different sets of cells in their allotted tasks within the body, encouraging a return to normal balanced function. Remedies aim to strengthen the patient’s own resistance, improve the vitality of weakened tissue, and encourage the body’s innate ability to return to good health.
 Of course, for people with severe acute illnesses, it may  be too late to use an herbal approach to treatment. In these circumstances, strong-acting conventional medicines such  as heart drugs, antibiotics, and painkillers, as well as surgery, can all be lifesavers. However, a health-care system that
is carefully attuned to the needs of the patient might well provide herbal remedies as a first line of treatment, with conventional medicines held in reserve to be used only  when necessary.
Evidence in Support of Herbal Cures
Many medical scientists still find it hard to accept that natural medicines, with their complex chemical makeup and variable constituents, can be as good as chemical cures in treating illness. However, as more and more research reveals that herbal medicines can be as effective as conventional medicines—and are far safer—this thinking is beginning to change.
 This is well illustrated by the change in attitude toward  St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum, p. 106)—a European plant commonly taken as an antidepressant. Extracts of the herb are now scientifically recognized as having value in mild to moderate depression. Since the 1980s, over 30 clinical trials have found extracts of St. John’s wort to be as effective as conventional antidepressants and to have far fewer side effects. In 15 of these trials, the herbal extract produced fewer side effects than the placebo (or inert “medicine”) used as a comparison. Other investigations suggest that St. John’s wort may have a role in countering viral infections, promoting wound healing, and helping withdrawal from addiction, especially from alcohol.
 As is so often the case, research has confirmed traditional views. In the 16th century, Paracelsus (see p. 23) had this  to say about the herb: “Nothing chases away disease like strength. Therefore, we should seek medicines with power and strength to overcome whatever illnesses they are used against. From this it follows that God has given to Perforatum [St. John’s wort] the strength to chase [away] the ghosts of nature…and all downheartedness.” As a result of scientific research, today’s practitioners have an important advantage—how the plant works in the body is Evening primrose is native to North America and has been used to treat a wide range
of conditions, including premenstrual syndrome, asthma, whooping cough, digestive disorders, and eczema.
US_028-031_20th_Century_and_Beyond.indd   30 26/02/16   4:42 pm31 20th century onwardnow better understood, so that it is possible to be precise
about dosages, aware of side effects, and confident in what
form the herb should be taken as a medicine.
 All over the world research is now being directed into
plants with a traditional use as medicines, in the hope of
finding new treatments for all manner of health problems.
To give but two examples: the Indian gooseberry ( Emblica
officinalis, p. 204) appears to protect the liver against cancer,
lowers blood cholesterol levels, and may prove valuable
for acute pancreatitis; while thyme ( Thymus vulgaris, p. 143),
better known as a culinary herb, is a potent antioxidant that
may prevent the breakdown of essential fatty acids in the
brain and slow the aging process.
Medicinal Herbs & Big Business
The major pharmaceutical companies have realized that
rainforests, grasslands, and even along roads and fields are
sources of potentially invaluable medicines. As a result, the
industry has invested vast resources into screening the active
constituents of medicinal plants from all over the world.
The drug taxol, first extracted from the Pacific yew ( Taxus
brevifolia ), and one of


 is also a mild urinary antiseptic and demulcent and may be taken for infections such as cystitis.
Cautions Do not take during pregnancy. This herb
is subject to legal restrictions in some countries.Phaseolus vulgaris (Fabaceae)
French Bean,
Haricot Bean
Description Slender-stemmed, annual climber
growing to 13 ft (4 m). Has pointed oval leaflets, curly tendrils, clusters of white or lilac flowers,  and a beanpod containing kidney-shaped seeds.
Habitat & Cultivation French beans are
thought to have originated from South America. Today, varieties are cultivated all over the world. The ripe beans are gathered in summer.
Parts Used Beanpods, beans.
Constituents French beans contain lectins,
saponins, flavonoids, allantoin, amino acids,
and sugars.
History & Folklore French beans have been
used since antiquity to treat diabetes. In A Modern Herbal (1931), Mrs. Grieve records that “because Petroselinum crispum (Apiaceae)
Parsley
Description Annual herb growing to 1 ft
(30 cm). Has an erect stem, bright green compound smooth or crinkled leaves, small white flowers growing in clusters, and small ribbed seeds.
Habitat & Cultivation Parsley is native to
Europe and the eastern Mediterranean. Today
it is rarely found in the wild, but is cultivated throughout the world as a nutritious salad herb. The leaves may be picked from spring to autumn, and the seeds are gathered when just ripe.
Parts Used Leaves, root, seeds.
Constituents Parsley contains a volatile oil
(including about 20% myristicin, about 18% apiole, and many other terpenes), flavonoids, phthalides, coumarins (including bergapten), vitamins A, C, and E, and high levels of iron. The flavonoids are
anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. Myristicin and apiole have diuretic properties. The volatile oil relieves cramping pain and flatulence, and is a strong uterine stimulant.
History & Folklore Parsley was known in
ancient Greece and Rome—but more as a diuretic, digestive tonic, and menstrual stimulant than as a salad herb. In Rome, parsley was associated with the goddess Persephone, queen of the underworld, and was used in funeral ceremonies. Parsley was introduced to Britain in 1548.
Medicinal Actions & Uses The fresh
leaves are highly nutritious and can be considered  a natural vitamin and mineral supplement in their own right. The seeds have a much stronger diuretic action than the leaves, and may be substituted for celery seeds (Apium graveolens, p. 64) in the Dried leaves
Pfaffia paniculata (Amaranthaceae)
Suma,
Brazilian Ginseng
Description Climbing perennial with a thick
rootstock, growing up through rainforest trees into the forest canopy.
US_246-265_Pergularia_Extensa_Salvia_Sclarea.indd   246 17/03/16   4:01 pm247 other medicinal plants
Phytolacca americana
syn. P. decandra (Phytolaccaceae)
Pokeweed
Description Herbaceous perennial
growing to 10 ft (3 m). Has alternate
lance-shaped leaves, spikes of greenish-
white flowers, and clusters of fleshy,
purple berries.
Habitat &
Cultivation
Native to North
America, pokeweed is
now naturalized in the
Mediterranean region. It
thrives in damp woodland
and in open areas. The root
is unearthed in late autumn.
Part Used Root.
Constituents Pokeweed
contains triterpenoid saponins,
lectins, lignans, resin,
and mucilage. The
triterpenoid saponins are
strongly anti-inflammatory,
the lignans are antiviral, and
the lectins are mitogenic
(break up chromosomes).
History & Folklore Pokeweed
was widely used by Native
Americans and European settlers  Phytolacca americana
such as acute diarrhea, jaundice, vaginal infection
(including trichomonas), and certain skin conditions.
It is also given for urinary system disorders such as
frequent urination, pain, and infection.
Research Clinical trials in China indicate that
the bark is useful in the treatment of meningitis
and conjunctivitis.
 QCautions T ake huang bai  only under
professional supervision. Do not take huang bai
during pregnancy.cultivated in warm temperate and
subtropical regions, including North and South
America and South Africa. The fruit is gathered
once it has ripened in summer.
Parts Used Fruit.
Constituents Winter cherry contains
flavonoids, plant sterols, and vitamins A (carotene)
and C. The roots contain tropane-type alkaloids,
physalin A and B. Water extracts of the plant may
have an anti-estrogenic effect.
History & Folklore The Greek physician
Dioscorides (1st century ce) considered winter
cherry to be medicinally beneficial as a diuretic and
a treatment for jaundice. In Spain, a therapeutic
wine made with the fruit was taken to treat excess
fluid retention and problems of the urinary tract.
Medicinal Actions & Uses Though commonly
eaten as a fruit, winter cherry is also a useful diuretic.
The fruit is traditionally used within European herbal
medicine to treat kidney and bladder stones, fluid
retention, and gout. It has also been taken to
reduce fever.
Caution The foliage and unripe fruit are
harmful if eaten.of the seed’s close resemblance to a male
testicle… [ancient Egyptians] made it an object
of sacred worship and forbade its use as a food.”
Medicinal Actions & Uses In addition to
being an important food in many parts of the
world, French beans, and beans in general, offer
several health benefits. As part of a balanced
nutritious diet, they help to lower high blood
pressure and raised cholesterol levels. They are
hypoglycemic and promote more stable blood-
sugar levels. Like soy ( Glycine max, p. 217), they
are estrogenic and will help reduce menopausal
symptoms. The pods act as a medium-strength
diuretic, stimulating urine flow and the clearance of
toxins from the body. Powdered beans may be
dusted onto eczema to ease itching and dry skin.
Phellodendron amurense
(Rutaceae)
Huang Bai
Description Deciduous tree growing to 39 ft
(12 m). Has compound leaves with 7 lance-shaped
leaflets, clusters of green flowers, and round berries.
Habitat & Cultivation Huang bai is native
to China, Japan, and Korea, and is cultivated in
northeastern China. The bark of 10-year-old
trees is collected in spring.
Part Used Bark.
Constituents Huang bai contains isoquinoline
alkaloids (including berberine), sesquiterpene
lactones, and plant sterols. Due to its alkaloid
content, huang bai  is antimicrobial and antibiotic.
History & Folklore Listed in the Divine
Husbandman’s Classic  (Shen’nong Bencaojing ),
of the 1st century ce, huang bai  was regarded
as an herb to be used with care.
Medicinal Actions & Uses Strongly bitter,
huang bai  is used within Chinese herbal medicine
to “drain damp heat.” It is prescribed for conditions French beans  are intensively cultivated all over the world.
Physalis alkekengi syn. P. franchetti
(Solanaceae)
Winter Cherry,
Cape Gooseberry
Description Perennial herb growing to
32 in (80 cm). Has oval- to diamond-shaped leaves,
long-stemmed white flowers, and a translucent
papery sheath surrounding an orange-red fruit.
Habitat & Cultivation Winter cherry is
native to central and southern Europe and China. It
grows wild along damp roadsides. It is widely Pokeweed contains proteins
that act against viral infection.Phyllanthus amarus
(Euphorbiaceae)
Phyllanthus
Description Slender annual herb, to 2 ft
(60 cm) in height, with oval leaves and small
yellowish-green flowers.
Habitat & Cultivation Phyllanthus is native
to the Indian subcontinent and found commonly in
central and southern India. The plant is harvested
when required.
Parts Used Leaves, aerial parts.
Constituents Phyllanthus leaves contain lignans
(including phyllanthin and hypophyllanthin),
flavonoids, and alkaloids.
Medicinal Actions & Uses Phyllanthus is
a traditional Ayurvedic remedy used to treat liver
and cardiovascular problems. It combines well
with picrorrhiza ( Picrorrhiza kurroa, p. 248) in
treating hepatitis B and other liver disorders.
Research A growing body of research shows
that phyllanthus has antiviral activity, specifically
against the hepatitis B virus. Research also indicates
that the leaves are diuretic, and lower blood
pressure and blood-sugar levels. Not all the studies


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165166<|eot_id|><|begin_of_text|>Soil and Health Library
This document is a reproduction of the book or other copyrighted material you
requested.  It was prepared on for the exclusive use of Oriana, whose email address
is orianaoriana@gmail.com.
This reproduction was made by the Soil and Health Library only for the purpose of
research and study.  Any further reproduction or distribution of this copy in any form
whatsoever constitutes a violation of copyrights.<|eot_id|><|begin_of_text|>Fire	in	the	Heart
A	Spiritual	Guide	for	Teens
DEEPAK	CHOPRA
Simon	&	Schuster	Books	for	Young	Readers
New	York			London			Toronto			SydneySimon	&	Schuster	Books	for	Young	Readers
An	imprint	of	Simon	&	Schuster	Children’s	Publishing	Division
1230	Avenue	of	the	Americas,	New	York,	New	York	10020
www.SimonandSchuster.com
Copyright	©	2004	by	Deepak	Chopra
All	rights	reserved,	including	the	right	of	reproduction	in	whole	or	in	part	in
any	form.
S
IMON
	&	S
CHUSTER
	B
OOKS	FOR
	Y
OUNG
	R
EADERS
	is	a	trademark	of	Simon	&
Schuster,	Inc.
Book	design	by	O’Lanso	Gabbidon
The	text	for	this	book	is	set	in	Berkeley	Book.
Manufactured	in	the	United	States	of	America
10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1
Library	of	Congress	Cataloging-in-Publication	Data
Chopra,	Deepak.
Fire	in	the	heart	:	a	spiritual	guide	for	teens	/	Deepak	Chopra.—1st	ed.
p.	cm.
Summary:	By	recounting	his	own	experiences	at	age	fifteen,	Deepak	Chopra,
a	noted	Hindu	author	and	physician,	provides	a	blueprint	for	teens	who	are
seeking	their	own	spiritual	paths.
ISBN	0-689-86216-4
ISBN	13:	978-0-689-86216-8
eISBN	13:	978-1-439-10803-1
1.	Spiritual	life.	2.	Teenagers.	[1.	Spiritual	life.	2.	Hinduism.]	I.	Title.
BL624.C4767	2004
204′.4′0835—dc22
2003020174
To	all	the	teenagers	today	and	tomorrow	upon	whom	the	fate	of	the	world
depends
Every	child	that	is	born	is	proof	that	God	has	not	yet	given	up	on
human	beings.
—Rabindranath	TagoreContents
Before	You	Begin
	…
Day	One
Do	I	Have	a	Soul?
Day	Two
How	Do	Wishes	Come	True?
Day	Three
What	Is	the	Supreme	Force	in	the	Universe?
Day	Four
How	Can	I	Change	the	World?
A	Soul	Alphabet
The	Last	WordBefore	You	Begin	…
A
	boy	of	fifteen	is	standing	on	a	high	green	hill	overlooking	a	valley.	The
valley	is	even	more	green	and	lush.	It	rolls	away	in	wave	after	wave	until	the
boy	thinks	it	must	never	end.
“Do	you	see?”	a	voice	says.
The	boy	turns,	and	next	to	him	an	old	man	is	standing.	The	old	man	has	a
long	white	beard,	and	there	is	a	gleam	in	his	eye.
“Yes,	I	see,”	the	boy	says,	but	his	heart	is	beating	so	fast	he	can	hardly
express	himself.
“I	want	you	to	tell	me	what	you	see.	I	have	to	be	sure	you	learned	your
lessons	well,”	the	old	man	says.
Ordinarily	it	would	have	broken	the	boy’s	heart	to	say	good-bye,	because	he
thought	the	old	man	with	the	white	beard	would	be	with	him	forever.
“I	see	that	all	this	is	mine,”	the	boy	says.	“I	belong	to	the	universe,	and	it
belongs	to	me.”	He	stretches	his	arms
	out	as	if	he	could	own	it	all—the	high
hill,	the	green	valley,	the	whole	span	of	years	ahead	of	him.	Somehow,	even
though	it	sounds	impossible,	he	does	own	it	all.
“Never	forget	this,”	the	old	man	says.	He	presses	his	palms	together	and	bows
in	respect,	and	the	boy	bowing	even	deeper,	does	the	same.
And	that’s	the	last	I	saw	of	him.	Because	I	was	the	boy	on	the	hill,	and	in	four
short	days,	the	only	time	we	were	together,	the	old	man	changed	my	life.
Each	day	he	answered	a	question	that	you	are	going	to	read	about	in	this
book:
Do	I	have	a	soul?
How	do	wishes	come	true?
What	is	the	supreme	force	in	the	universe?How	can	I	change	the	world?
These	are	big	questions,	and	when	I	was	young	and	bursting	with	idealism,
they	were	burning	questions.	I	didn’t	just	want	to	know	the	answers—I
had
	to
know.	There	will	always	be	burning	questions	in	life,	but	these	four	remain
special	because	they	start	a	spark,	and	from	that	spark	you	will	have	a	fire	in
your	heart.	That	fire	will	make	you	live	your	life	with	excitement	and	passion.
The	old	man	with	the	white	beard	showed	me	the	spiritual	side	of	life,	where
real	passion	and	excitement
	come	from.	I’m	going	to	tell	you	about	our	days
together,	down	to	the	smallest	detail,	until	you	are	given	what	I	was	given.
Then	you	can	be	transformed	too,	wherever	you	are.	So	before	you	begin,
take	a	deep	breath.	This	story	could	turn	out	to	be	yours.Day	One
:
Do	I	Have	a	Soul?Baba
W
hen	I	was	fifteen,	my	school	was	on	a	green	hillside	overlooking	a	valley
even	more	green	and	lush.	That	part	you	already	know.	Every	day	I	saw	this
beautiful	view,	except	when	the	valley	filled	with	billowing	mist.	On	those
mornings	I	walked	to	school	with	wisps	of	white	curling	around	me,	like
walking	through	clouds.	It	was	on	just	such	a	day,	as	I	was	making	my	way
down	the	road,	that	a	stranger’s	voice	called	out.
“Come,”	it	said.	“I’ve	been	waiting.”
The	voice	seemed	to	come	from	another	world.	I	imagine	you’ve	walked
through	fog	and	know	how	it	creates	a	hush	all	around	you,	like	a	cocoon.
Then	my	eye	caught	something.	An	old	man	was	sitting	under	the	biggest,
most	twisted	tree	by	the	side	of	the	road.
“Baba,	I’m	on	my	way	to	school,”	I	said.	“You	must	be	waiting	for	someone
else.”	I	grew	up	in	India,	and
baba
	is	a	term	of	respect	that	is	given	to
someone	who	is	considered	a	wise	or	holy	man.
	“We	need	to	talk,”


 energy—were it not for the present clamour for sugar, converted into alcohol it could rival petrol at present prices—but human food is much more
than calories. With the increasing world pressure on the primary
foods, there is no doubt that the cane producing lands would do better to grow primary foods ra ther than sugar—less cars and
gadgets, and less foreign exchange, but better health, and a happier
people.
But it is the use of lands, capable of growing primary human
foods like cereals, for meat production, that constitutes the greatest
economic folly. It requires some tw elve to fifteen times more land
to produce a pound of meat than a pound of cereal, which means that some two to three thousand million more people could be fed if the world became vegetarian. It is not suggested that the world
population should so increase. Rather, the aim is to emphasize how
wasteful it has become to use land for the production of animal food, a wastefulness which the planet can no longer tolerate.
Since the power of demand is still largely in the hands of the
industrial communities, and their clamour for meat, far from being satiated, is for ever increasing,  and since much of the animal
feeding stuffs is produced in the po orer parts of the world, it means
that the nutrition of the poorer two thirds of the planet is being increasingly sacrificed so that the gluttony of the more prosperous communities can be met. One can doubt that such a situation will be tolerated for much longer, for more  than oil, the West has been
meeting its protein surfeits at the expense of a planetary majority.
The situation is already threatening. The shortage of animal
food is boosting prices, a main factor in the inflationary costs of feeding. Those countries formerly exporting animal foods are now
consuming it themselves. And there is no unexploited land left on the planet. If the industrial communities do succeed in even
maintaining their present levels of consumption of animal foods, it
can only be at the cost of a deteriorating world situation, leading inexorably to worldwide starvation. And starving people are desperate people. With the means of making atomic weapons now well within the capacity of the poorer, increasingly more poorly fed peoples of the world, it is not impossible that the planetary
holocaust will be the result of greed.
Wisdom would conclude that a worldwide adoption of a
vegetarian dietary is the proper means of planetary justice and
survival. Wisdom would also prepar e for this inevitable change in
good time, so that it came about in good order, without the
widespread disaster which such momentous change will exact if it
comes about in violence and chaos. Unfortunately, it is not only the greed of the presently prosperous countries that is involved. Many of the poorer peoples have come to imitate the dietary habits of the West, as they have attempted to catch up with its industrial
advantages. Former peasantries, only eating animal foods on rare
festive occasions, now insist on a daily intake, as the mark of emancipation. And many of the poorer peoples are, by culture and tradition, the opposite of vegetarian.
The prospects are undoubtedly grim. Success is only likely to
be achieved if the overall bad habits of civilization, as well as the
mounting pressure of population, can become corrected. In all
probability, all these problems are interconnected. Wrong eating must in some way at present unrealized, play its part in the population stampedes of recent times, just as this stampede has its reverse influence on world food resources. The challenge of a world
food reform calls for a better understanding of the forces at work
behind the extraordinary rise in the human population of this planet.

II. The Unloving Crowd

Although the earth could support a considerably larger number
of people than exist at present on a vegetarian dietary, congestion is fast becoming a dehumanizing influence. Human society differs from the often vast aggregations of individuals one finds among
other animals, wherein the individual is subordinate to the group
structure, in that society is the radiation of the humanizing predispositions engendered within each  individual. It  is only when
such conditions* are fulfilled in the individual that society is itself a humanizing force. Constraint, limitation of individual freedom, subordination of the individual to the needs of vast societies are thus
inherently antihuman.
Human love is so powerful a force, that it can no doubt be
exercised in large social groupings, possibly extending to a planetary scale. But this requires first of all the reality of love and its achievement between individuals, as well as a social structure
which preserves individual liberty, in the sense of allowing and
encouraging every individual to develop along humanizing lines. Unfortunately, the larger the social groupings in human history, the greater the interferences in such  liberty. The rise of the first
civilizations were attended by such dehumanizing devices as slavery, and although slavery has been condemned for over a
hundred years, human beings have become increasingly subordinate
to the vast social groups, with the crises of coercion expressed in the totalitarian regimes.
Under such conditions, humanization is thwarted. If human
beings are not thugs and bullies, they become passive and uncaring,
which is a form of dehumanization. But the effects of overcrowding,
inevitable with the rise of the gigantic modern metropolis, are more insidious. Even in rats, spared the precarious balance of the human mind, overcrowding results in an tihuman parallels—in killing and
maiming without reason, in a neglect of the young, in queer sexual
practices, and in inexplicable bursts of communal madness. In its
over-plentifulness, human life is becoming dangerously cheap. The
calculations of over-kill, in the event of a nuclear war, are symptomatic of such cheapening.
Quite apart from the increasing pressure on the resources
offered by nature, the impact of overcrowding on the environment
has the antihuman consequence of  leading to a disorderly, ugly
environment. This is evident enough even where order prevails—in architecture, where the pressure of economics and maximal utilization of space has filled the cities with concrete and glass boxes devoid of human meaning. Where the population pressure
results in a breakdown of order, the results are appalling, in the
clutter and dirt of modern cities, in the noise and enervating bustle, in the congestions of crowd and traffic, in the pollution of the air, in the loss of sunlight, not. to mention those hideous consequences of urban disorder, the slums and semi-slums that fester around all
cities, and increasingly within them.
As the crowded cities have spread, forever consuming more of
the countryside, so nature has become increasingly devastated, and
rendered meaningless. It is one of the most depressing observations to find the degree to which city inhabitants, including the young, come to lose all contact with nature, to the point where they feel lost
and awkward, if not actually listless and violent, when brought into
contact with what is precariously le ft of nature. The fact is that
unless nature is free and uncorrupted, it does lose much of its
meaning to the human being. For one thing, the sense of an invigorating purity one can experience in unspoilt and beautiful scenes, is ruled out—by as little as a carelessly discarded wrapper! Since the appreciation of purity, as much as beauty and harmony,
are essential Humanizing attributes, this loss of environmental
purity results in an impure human being, necessarily more callous, more able to accept the hideousness of the environment in which he finds himself.
Anthropologists are agreed about few things, but most of them
concur that large-scale conflict—what has come to be known as
war—is a relatively recent occurren ce. It has increased in severity
and extent, and in its dehumani zation, as population pressure has
increased. What then is the reason fo r this extraordinary soaring in
the human population, itself a recent phenomenon? If the human species has existed for hundreds of thousands of years, and a
human-like primate for millions, this crisis of over-population is all
the more extraordinary.
The hominids of the Palaeolithic roamed over most of the
world. If it was only a matter of food, then surely they would have stumbled upon conditions in some part of the world where the kind
of rapid increase we are witnessing would have occurred. All the
evidence indicates that the hominids,  like the higher primates, have
never known a population explosion. They have been as a group, restricted breeders. Gorillas a nd chimpanzees maintain stable
populations; overcrowding only comes from human encroachment into their habitats. It cannot be disease, in the form of the sweeping
and devastating epidemics known in the crowded and unsanitary
conditions of the urban past, that kept their numbers down, for the
surviving bands of gorillas, already seriously menaced by human intrusion, are superbly healthy.
One way in which population stability is maintained in such
primates, is by varying the length of nurture. Nursing mothers are
not sexually harassed by the males, so that if nurture is prolonged, the occasions for breeding are reduced. The males are not inconvenienced, for although ever-ready to mount a receptive female, they only become sexually aroused on signals of one kind or another from the females, and can spend a life of bachelor
uninvolvement if no such signals come.
More usually, nursing persists long enough after birth to cut
down the breeding cycles


This dish works particularly well with wild salmon. Because the fish is
not cooked all the essential fatty acids and other nutrients are preserved.
Refrigerate and consume within two days.
Baked beans or French Cassoulet
soog white (navy) beans
1 duck
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1 teaspoon sea salt
2 tablespoons tomato puree
cayenne pepper and black pepper
5-6 bay leaves, a sprig of rosemary, a teaspoon of thyme
Soak the beans in water for 12-24 hours, drain, rinse well in cold water and
drain again.
Cut all the meat from the duck: the legs, wings, breasts and all the fat.
Cut the meat into chunks and the fat into small pieces. The carcass of the
duck and the giblets you can use for making meat stock later.
In a large pan put 2 litres of water, cider vinegar, sea salt, tomato puree, a
pinch of each cayenne pepper and black pepper, bay leaves, rosemary and
thyme. Mix in the beans and the duck pieces (the meat and the fat). Cover
the pan with a lid and put it into an oven. Cook at i2o°C (25o°F) for 4-5
hours. Check occasionally. If the beans are getting dry, add more water.
Serve hot. The baked beans left from this meal will keep in the fridge for
a long time and can be served with other dishes. Casserole with turkey legs
2 turkey legs
11 of water
l heaped tablespoon of tomato puree
1 teaspoon of salt
6-io pepper corns
a pinch of cayenne pepper
fresh or dried herbs: oregano, rosemary, bay leaves
a combination of available vegetables: choose from carrots, winter squash,
pumpkin, courgette, marrow, peeled small/medium onions, cauliflower,
broccoli, peppers, aubergine and Brussels sprouts
In a large oval casserole put the water, salt, tomato puree, pepper corns,
cayenne pepper and herbs. Mix well. Put the turkey legs in. Brush the parts
of the turkey legs, which are not covered with the water, with some goose
fat (or duck fat, ghee, pork dripping or lard). Do not cover the casserole
with the lid, leave it open. Cook in the oven at i5o°C (3oo°F) for 2-2*4 hours.
About 5ominutes before the end of cooking add available vegetables, cut
into large chunks. Mix them well into the sauce and leave cooking. When
the vegetables are cooked so a sharp knife goes through them easily, take
the casserole out. Serve the meat and the vegetables with some freshly
chopped parsley and garlic.
Liver pudding
loog liver (calf or lamb)
2 tablespoons of butter (or ghee, goose/duck fat)
l medium-size onion
salt
parsley
Soak the liver in water with some lemon juice or home-made yoghurt for a
few hours to remove any bitter taste. You can also soak the liver in the
liquid left from draining your home-made yoghurt. Wash the liver, dry with
a paper towel and blend in the food processor into a pulp. Put through a
sieve to remove any hard bits. Add salt, egg yolk, butter, finely chopped
parsley and finely chopped onion. Whip the egg white stiff and fold into the
mixture. Put the mixture into a suitable dish, cover with a sheet of baking paper and cook with steam. You can use a steamer or a large pan. To steam
in a pan put some water at the bottom of the pan and place the dish in it.
Make sure that you don't have too much water in the pan, so it does not get
into the dish with the liver. Cover the pan with a lid and put it on the stove.
Steam for about one hour. Serve with cooked vegetables or vegetable
risotto.
Liver in a clay pot
loog liver (calf or lamb)
loog lamb's hearts
1 large onion
10 dried prunes with stones
i large pot of natural yoghurt or soured cream (you can useyourhome-
madeyoghurt or replace with lh cup of butter I ghee)
a pinch of allspice, salt, pepper
Soak the liver in water with some lemon juice or home-made yoghurt for a
few hours to remove any bitter taste. You can also soak the liver in the
liquid left from draining your home-made yoghurt. Wash, dry and cut into
small pieces using scissors. Cut lamb's hearts into small pieces using
scissors. In a suitable size clay pot put the liver and lamb's heats, finely
chopped onion and prunes. Into the yoghurt add salt, pepper, allspice and
mix well. Add into the clay pot and mix with the meats. Cover the pot with
the lid or foil. Bake in the oven for about l hour at i6o°C (320°F),
Quick liver recipe
loog liver
I large onion
6-7 cloves of garlic
'/2 cup ofbu tterlghee (use goose/duck fat if avoidingbutter)
fresh parsley or dill
Soak the liver in water with some lemon juice or home-made yoghurt for a
few hours to remove any bitter taste. You can also soak the liver in the
liquid left from draining your home-made yoghurt. Wash and dry the liver
and cut into small pieces using scissors. In a frying pan melt the
butter/ghee, add the sliced onion and finely chopped garlic. Fry slightly
until the onion and garlic start turning golden. Add the liver, salt, pepper and stir-fry for about 4-5 minutes. Sprinkle chopped parsley or dill on top
and drizzle with olive oil. Serve immediately.
6. Vegetables
Cooked vegetables are nourishing, warming and easy to digest, they are
gentle on the gut lining and should be a regular part of the diet. You can
cook your vegetables by steaming, stir-frying, stewing, roasting, grilling or
as a soup. Instead of boiling vegetables I recommend steaming them as
boiling removes a lot of nutrients into the water which then gets thrown
away. The best vegetables to steam are broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels
sprouts, fresh green beans (runner beans, string beans, etc.) carrots,
asparagus, French artichokes and beetroot.
If diarrhoea is not present raw vegetables should also be a normal part of
every meal, they would provide a lot of active enzymes, which will help you
to digest your food. Carrots, cucumber, tomato, greens, cabbage, onion,
garlic, lettuce, baby spinach, celery, cauliflower can all be served as salads
or cut into rosettes and sticks to eat with a dip (mayonnaise, guacamole,
liver pate, aubergine dip, etc).
Sauerkraut
Sauerkraut is a fermented white and/or red cabbage, commonly con
sumed in Germany, Russia and Eastern Europe. It is a wonderful healing
remedy for the digestive tract full of digestive enzymes, probiotic bacteria,
vitamins and minerals. Eating it with meats will improve digestion as it has
a strong ability to stimulate stomach acid production. For people with low
stomach acidity I recommend having a few tablespoons of sauerkraut (or
juice from it) 10-15 minutes before meals. For children, initially add 1-3
tablespoons of the juice from the sauerkraut into their meals.
Slice thinly a medium-size white cabbage and add two shredded carrots.
You can use red cabbage or a mixture of white and red. Add salt to taste.
Knead the mixture well with your hands until a lot of juice comes out. Pack
this mixture into a suitable glass or stainless steel bowl, press it firmly so
there is no air trapped and the cabbage is drowned in its own juice. Place a
plate on top of the cabbage, which is about lcm smaller in diameter than
the bowl. The gap will allow the fermentation gases to escape. On top of the
plate place something heavy enough to keep the cabbage constantly sub
merged in its juice. Cover the whole thing with a kitchen towel to keep it in the dark. It should take 5-7 days inside the house for the sauerkraut to be
ready, (it will take two weeks in a cool place, like a garage). Sauerkraut is
delicious with any meal and it can be added to your homemade soups and
stews.
A nice way to cook cabbage
V 2 a cabbage finely sliced
1 large carrot finely sliced
1k onion finely chopped
1 tomato finely chopped
1 tablespoon of chopped garlic
salt and pepper to taste
Cover the bottom of the pan with home-made meat stock and bring to the
boil. Add cabbage, carrot, onion, salt and pepper. Cover and cook on a low
heat for 30 minutes. Add the chopped tomato and garlic, mix, cook for
another 3 minutes and take off the heat. Mix in lk cup of home-made
yoghurt or soured cream. Serve with meat.
Quick vegetable risotto
2 courgettes or a quarter of a medium-size marrow
1 large onion
10 cloves of garlic
1 pepper red, yellow or green (


 energy and was able to continue working as a church artist. He did construction and
decoration work, designed stained glass windows, and mounted an art exhibition in San Diego.
In 1983 W.S. wrote: “I am looking back on 33 years, eight children, twelve grandchildren and a
wonderful productive life.” In 2006, aged 88, he appeared in “Dying to Have Known,” Stephen
Kroschel’s Gerson documentary film, still functioning well and working in his artist’s studio with
several of his children.
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 197Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comEndometriosis Turning into Cervical Cancer
The endometrium is the mucous membrane lining the uterus. During the fertile years of a
woman this lining is shed every month, if the secreted ovum is not fertilized and implanted in the
tissue.
When the organism or the hormone system is malfunctioning, the endometrium can spread to
various sites throughout the pelvic area, including the abdominal wall. As the condition worsens
and the menstrual cycle does not get regulated, endometrial tissue may spread throughout the
body, becoming a malignancy “resembling metastatic pelvic carcinoma,” according to Taber’ s
Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary.
The case of S.T. illustrates this progression perfectly. This patient had gynaecological
problems at the very start of her menstrual periods. Thirty-five years later she was diagnosed
with endometriosis and had a number of D & C’s ( scraping of the uterus)  to remove endometrial
plaque. In the end she had a partial hysterectomy, yet her problems continue, and finally, in 1979,
a Pap smear showed cancer of the cervix, with atypical ( irregular, not conforming to the normal)
cells in her blood. She also noticed lumps in her breast, but these were not further investigated. A
hysterectomy was arranged for her, but she declined the operation and changed her diet.
She began to investigate alternative treatments, changed her diet and fasted. Then she
remembered a lecture she had heard many years before by Charlotte Gerson and decided to go
on the Gerson Therapy. Having done so, she was surprised to experience severe healing reactions
with nausea and vomiting, but then recalled being told that she had a great deal of scar tissue in
her abdominal area, probably caused by earlier ulcers.
S.T. stayed on the Therapy for two years and declares, “Never once did a bite of food enter
my mouth that I should not have eaten.”
She remains well (last report November of 2006), and is busy taking care of her aged parents
and in-laws who are in their nineties, and occasionally also of her grandchildren.
Breast Cancer
In 1988 K.B., aged 70, noticed redness and swelling in the nipple area of her breast. Her doctor
at Modesto, CA, took a biopsy that proved that she had a malignant tumor; he also confirmed that
he “hadn’t got it all,” and urged the patient to have a mastectomy. She refused. A second opinion
by a physician at Stanford confirmed the original diagnosis, and K.B. was advised to undergo
surgery, followed by chemotherapy and/or radiation. Again she refused.
Rejecting any conventional treatment, K.B. embarked on the Gerson Therapy at home, at
first eating only raw foods and having six enemas a day, for eight months. Then she added some
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 198Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comorganic vegetarian cooked foods. After 1 1⁄2 years the cancer was gone, but she still had some
scar tissue which she chose to have removed. A biopsy showed that the tissue was clear of any
malignancy.
The Tumor Board noted in her medical records that the patient was “Cured by Diet.” K.B.,
now in her late eighties, shows up every year at a Los Angeles Health Convention! She still drinks
juices but eats “a little meat.”
This case is all the more remarkable because the patient pursued the Gerson Therapy on her
own, at home, without staying at the Gerson Hospital or having a Gerson doctor to consult.
Breast Cancer with Liver Metastases
E.B.,  aged 43, reported to her doctor with a lump in her breast in January 2002, was biopsied
and told that she had breast cancer. She took no action. In January 2004 she reported to Loma
Linda University Medical Center and was diagnosed as suffering from Stage 4 breast cancer with
liver metastases. According to the medical report, her liver was ‘covered with tumors and was
shutting down; her skin and the whites of her eyes were yellow.’
E.B. was offered chemotherapy and, not knowing otherwise, she accepted one treatment. Her
oncologist stated that in view of her advanced condition he was not sure she could survive for two
months, but he hoped that chemotherapy would give her a year of life. That was when the patient
began to look for other options and found out about the Gerson Therapy. From her research she
knew that with conventional medical treatment cases of breast cancer with liver metastases had
less than a 1% two-year survival rate, so her only hope was to try an alternative protocol.
After completing two years on the Gerson Therapy, E.B. was well enough to go skiing in
Tulluride, CO, one of the steepest mountains in the US. Now, after three years, judging by her
PET/CT scan of August 2006, she has a fully functioning liver and no malignancy or metastases
anywhere in her body.
E.B. enjoys skiing in winter and water skiing in the summer, rock climbing, playing golf, and
riding her motorcycle. She also travels frequently.
Breast Cancer Recurrence After Chemo and Radiation
A.F. discovered a lump in her breast in September of 1985. She had a biopsy and a
lumpectomy, followed by radiation and chemotherapy at the Virginia Mason Hospital in Seattle.
By 1989 the cancer had spread to her throat. She had more surgery, followed again by radiation.
Five months later more recurrences occurred ‘all over,’ and more radiation was offered. Due to
the extreme suffering caused by the earlier radiation, she refused the treatment and went instead
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 199Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comto the Gerson Therapy hospital in Mexico. Before long she was getting better, and after about a
year was told that she didn’t have cancer any more.
Seven years later, the radiation damage causing A.F. severe dryness in her throat cleared at
last and her health was truly excellent. When she returned to her original doctor and told him
that she was on the Gerson Therapy, he simply walked out of the office. A.F. continues in good
health.
Melanoma
M.H. Aged 40, she was diagnosed with melanoma in her vaginal wall. This was confirmed
by biopsy and subsequent surgery, followed by 25 radiation treatments and a four-month course
of Interferon. During this treatment the cancer spread to her liver. The oncologists treating her
thought that with chemotherapy the patient might live up to nine months. Although M.H. was
extremely weak and in serious pain, she refused that option and in November of 1996 embarked
on the Gerson treatment, in spite of her oncologist’s warning against it. In September of 1997, a
scan showed that M.H. was clear of melanoma. Ten years on she remains fit and well.
W.E., born in 1943, is a registered nurse. In 1996 she discovered a large mole growing on
her arm. The surgeon who removed it remarked that he had had to go very deep in order to obtain
clear margins. The diagnosis was Stage 4 melanoma.
The patient’s condition deteriorated and some months later, in 1997, at UCLA spots were
found on her hip as well as a large tumor in her liver; both were biopsied and confirmed to be
melanoma. Her doctor advised her to get her affairs in order, since she didn’t have long to live.
W.E. started the Gerson treatment in July of 1997, made a full recovery and remains alive and
well (last report 2006).
Recurrent Melanoma
N.P. had a 5 mm mole on his back, which began to bleed in October of 1990. He consulted
skin cancer specialist Dr. Richard Ferderspiel, who was sure that the lesion was not melanoma.
But the biopsy proved him wrong, and on October 30, at the Berrien General Hospital in Michigan
a large area of skin was removed from the patient’s back.
Six months later, in April of 1991, an enlarged lymph node was discovered in N.P’s right
axilla. It


 product
because they cannot maximize their profits on non-patentable products. Furthermore, most of the money for drug
research is controlled by pharmaceutical companies. Big Pharma has no financial interest in looking at any inexpensive
natural product, including iodine.

Q: Does iodine deficiency cause breast cancer?
A: Breast cancer is a multi-factorial illness. However, the evidence linking iodine deficiency to breast cancer is
overwhelming. Iodine deficiency may or may not be the sole cause of the epidemic of breast cancer that is plaguing us
today, but it certainly plays a very large role in this illness. I do not think you can adequately treat a chronic illness like
breast cancer without looking for the underlying cause. Breast cancer is not
caused by a deficiency of chemotherapy,radiation, and surgery. I have no doubt that iodine deficiency, coupled with the increased toxic load of our environment,
is a major part of the reason why we have an epidemic of breast cancer.

Q: Don’t I get enough iodine from salt?
A: No. The iodine in salt is not very bioavailable for our bodies. In addition, many people are avoiding salt entirely in
their diets. Refined salt is a toxic substance for our bodies and needs to be avoided. Unrefined salt is a much healthier
substance for us. For more information, I refer the reader to my book,
Salt Your Way to Health.

Q: Can I get too much iodine?
A: Yes. You can get too much of anything. It is essential to have proper follow-up with your health care provider. As
previously stated, adverse effects from ingesting excess iodine can be easily treated with an adjustment of the dose. Keep
in mind that if you have normal kidney function, excess iodine ingestion should be easily excreted by the kidneys.
Q: Do I have to lower the dose of my thyroid medication when I start taking iodine?
A: It varies for everybody, but my experience has shown that one-third of the people being treated with thyroid
hormone
can lower or significantly reduce their level of thyroid hormone when starting iodine. The other two-thirds of
the people taking thyroid hormone can remain on the same dosage. If there are any palpitations when starting iodine,
consult with your physician about decreasing the thyroid dose. Also, some patients who are already taking thyroid
hormone find when they start supplementing with iodine, they will no longer need thyroid hormone. Proper monitoring
by an iodine-knowledgeable health care practitioner can help guide you.
Q: Does iodine supplementation cause palpitations?
A: In some people it does. Iodine supplementation works best as part of a holistic treatment regimen emphasizing
vitamins, minerals, and hormone balancing. A few patients are very sensitive to everything they take. Sometimes I have
my patients take iodine every other day. Each person needs an individualized dose.

Q: Is iodine an antioxidant?
A: The research is clear; iodine, like vitamin C, can function as both an antioxidant and an oxidant. In fact, iodine is
one of the most potent antioxidant substances known. We need a balance in our bodies between both antioxidants and
oxidants. Iodine, like vitamin C, can help to provide this balance.
Q: Can iodine supplementation cause a flare of Hashimoto’s or Graves’ disease?
A: Yes. However, if iodine is given as part of a comprehensive holistic treatment program, my clinical experience has shown
this to be a very rare occurrence. It is important to provide the proper nutrients to slow down the oxidative damage that occurs in
autoimmune thyroid illness (covered in
Chapters 5
-
7
). Unrefined salt, vitamin C, selenium, and magnesium supplementation all
help to minimize a flare. These nutrients can be taken for 2-4 weeks before beginning iodine therapy to minimize the risk of
precipitating a flare.Chapter 16
Final Thoughts: Overcoming Medical Iodophobia
CHAPTER 16: FINAL THOUGHTS. OVERCOMING MEDICAL IODOPHOBIA
“Medical iodophobia is the unwarranted fear of using and recommending inorganic, non-radioactive iodine/iodide within the
range known from the collective experience of three generations of clinicians to be the safest and most effective amounts for
treating the symptoms and signs of iodine/iodide deficiency—from 12.5-50mg/day.” Medical iodophobia was the term coined by
my mentor on iodine, Dr. Guy Abraham.
Dr. Abraham meticulously went through the history of iodine in medicine and wrote a series of articles about iodine in
The
Original Internist
. These articles can be accessed at:
www.optimox.com
.
It is unbelievable to me that in our modern times, most doctors do not understand and are unwilling to learn about the
importance of maintaining optimal iodine levels. Every cell in the body needs and requires iodine to function optimally. The white
blood cells cannot fight infection without iodine. Iodine is concentrated by the glandular tissue in order to maintain a normal
glandular architecture. Furthermore, each gland requires adequate iodine levels in order to produce hormones. There is not a
single hormone in the body that can be produced without sufficient iodine.
As I have described in this book, iodine deficiency leads to severe consequences which include an increased cancer risk in
the breast, ovary, uterus, thyroid, and prostate. Furthermore, low iodine levels lead to a host of serious illnesses such as
autoimmune thyroid illness, hypothyroidism, a poorly functioning immune system, fatigue, ADHD, autism, and heart disease.
Looking at the therapeutic effects of iodine makes it hard to comprehend that medical iodophobia still exists, but, unfortunately, it
is alive and present today.
WHY DOES MEDICAL IODOPHOBIA STILL EXIST TODAY?
For over 13 years, nearly every new patient that has come to my office (including my partners’ patients) has had his/her
iodine levels assessed. The numbers don’t lie: After testing over
6,000 patients, iodine deficiency is occurring over 96% of the
time. During this same time period, when iodine levels are determined to be low, I have been recommending iodine
supplementation. I can unequivocally state that iodine therapy provides more positive results than any other item—including drugs
and supplements.
Seeing the positive results on a daily basis makes me ask myself, “How can so many doctors still be afraid of using iodine?” I
will try to answer that question throughout this chapter.
DOES IODINE CAUSE HYPOTHYRODISM?
When I am lecturing, this is one of the most common questions I am asked by physicians. Although I described iodine-
induced hypothyroidism in
Chapter 13
, I would like to add to the discussion here. After treating thousands of patients—between
myself and my partners—we have seen a grand total of two patients who developed iodine-induced hypothyroidism. That is less
than 0.1% of the patients we have treated. Although it can occur, it is not very common. Reading and receiving many holistic and
conventional doctor rants about iodine would have you believe that iodine-induced hypothyroidism is a common side effect of
using iodine therapy. It is not.
The reason many doctors think iodine-induced hypothyroidism is a common side effect of iodine therapy is that they do not
understand the biochemistry and physiology of
iodine. For some patients, at the start of iodine therapy, the thyroid stimulating
hormone (TSH) level increases. I would estimate that the TSH rises in approximately 25% of patients who begin iodine
supplementation. In fact, the TSH level can rise above the laboratory reference range. How high can it go? For most patients, it
can rise to 5-15mIU/L (normal 0.5-4.5mIU/L) for a up to six months.
Does a rising TSH indicate hypothyroidism? Not necessarily. In the vast majority of cases—at least 95%–a rising TSH due to
iodine supplementation does not represent iodine-induced hypothyroidism. I have been lecturing to doctors about this concept for
over ten years. Doing a history and physical exam as well as following all of the thyroid tests can distinguish a normal and
expected iodine-supplemented TSH increase from a TSH increase that indicates hypothyroidism.
A hypothyroid TSH increase is associated with lowered thyroid hormone levels—T3, T4, and reverse T3. Furthermore, a
hypothyroid TSH increase is also accompanied with clinical signs of hypothyroidism such as fatigue, headaches, coldness, dry
skin, weight gain, etc.
A normal and expected TSH increase with iodine therapy is not accompanied with lowered thyroid hormone levels. In fact,
T3, T4, and reverse T3 often improve with iodine therapy. Most importantly, the patient will not complain of feeling poorly with
iodine therapy—they generally report feeling better. I can guarantee you that,, if a patient reports to feeling better with iodine
supplementation, it is not causing hypothyroidism.
Keep in mind that, when starting iodine therapy, an elevated TSH is an expected and normal response of the pituitary gland.
As I discussed previously, TSH stimulates sodium-iodide symporter (NIS) formation. NIS is needed to transport iodine from the
blood stream into the cells. If there is little iodine, there is little need for NIS. Once iodine is supplemented


	tells	his	young	pupil	all	the	Vedantic	knowledge	about	death,
reincarnation,	and	the	projection	of	all	worlds	from	the	Self.	I’ve	kept	this
book	at	my	side	for	many	years.
T
EXT	NOTE:
p.	25
	Modern	attempts	to	weigh	the	soul	at	the	moment	of	death	are	discussed
online	at
http://www.snopes.com/religion/soulweight.asp
.
Chapter	2:	The	Cure	for	Dying
The	story	of	the	Tibetan	delog	Dawa	Drolma	is	recounted	by	her	son
Chagdud	Tulku	in	his	introduction	to	her	book,
Delog:	Journey	into	Realms
Beyond	Death
	(Padma	Publishing,	1995).	This	is	the	best	entry	into	personal
experiences	of	the	Bardo	that	I’ve	found.	The	classic	work	on	death	and	dying
in	the	Tibetan	tradition	is	the	now-famous	Tibetan	Book	of	the	Dead.	It	may
strike	many	Westerners	as	too	exotic	and	detailed	in	its	Buddhist	ritualism,
which	is	the	product	of	many	centuries	of	religious	practice.	More	accessible
is	Sogyal	Rinpoche,
The	Tibetan	Book	of	Living	and	Dying
(HarperSanFrancisco,	1993),	which	covers	the	same	ground.
Near-death	experiences	were	introduced	to	the	public	in	the	1970s	through
several	bestsellers,	one	of	them	being	the	immensely	popular
Life	After	Life
by	Raymond	Moody	(Mockingbird	Books,	1975),	a	quick	read	that	still
retains	the	excitement	of	a	physician	who	has	just	discovered	a	remarkable
phenomenon.	Since	then	the	literature	on	NDEs	has	grown	enormously.	A
great	deal	of	it	is	summarized	and	updated	on	a	Web	site,
www.near-
death.com
.	This	site	gives	details	of	some	of	the	most	prominent	and	widely
publicized	experiences,	but	it	branches	much	further	into	almost	every	aspect
of	death	and	the	afterlife.
The	near-death	experiences	of	children	are	particularly	fascinating
because	they	are	considered	to	be	innocent,	unbiased	witnesses.	Of	the	several
books	on	the	subject,	I	turned	to	another	physician’s	book,	Melvin	Morse,
Closer	to	the	Light:	Learning	from	the	Near-Death	Experiences	of	Children
(Ivy	Books,	1990).	Dr.	Morse	has	several	other	titles	in	the	near-death	field.
Another	notable	writer	is	P.	M.	H.	Atwater;
the
	book	of	hers	I	read	was
Beyond	the	Light:	The	Mysteries	and	Revelations	of	Near-Death	Experiences
(Avon	Books,	1994).	The	mainstay	of	such	books,	of	which	there	are	dozens,
are	real-life	stories	told	firsthand	by	those	who	have	come	back	fromclinically	dying.
The	best	clinical	study	on	NDEs	was	conducted	in	Holland	by	Dr.	Pim
van	Lommel.	It	is	well	described	in	Mary	Roach,
Spook:	Science	Tackles	the
Afterlife
	(W.	W.	Norton,	2005),	a	book	told	from	the	perspective	of	a	bemused
journalist.	An	even	more	detailed	account,	told	without	the	bemusement,	can
be	found	online	at
www.odemagazine.com/article.php?aID=4207&l=en
.
T
EXT	NOTES:
p.	37
	The	percentage	of	Americans	who	tell	pollsters	they’ve	had	a	near-death
experience	is	cited	in	the	online	article	“Religious	Interpretations	of	Near-
Death	Experiences”	by	David	San	Filippo:
http://www.lutz-
sanfilippo.com/library/counseling/lsfnde.html
.	The	doctoral	essay
contains	many	other	academic	references	to	the	NDE	phenomenon	as
well.
p.	38
	The	story	of	the	historical	delog	Lingza	Chokyi	is	told	at
http://www.inference.phy.cam.ac.uk/mackay/info-theory/course.html
.
p.	42
	“Science	isn’t	about	knowing	the	mind	of	God	…”	is	quoted	from	“What
Was	God	Thinking?	Science	Can’t	Tell”	by	Eric	Cornell	(
Time
,	Nov.	14,
2005,	p.	100).
p.	43
	“At	that	moment	these	people	are	not	only	conscious	…”	is	quoted	from
an	online	interview	with	van	Lommel	at
http://www.odemagazine.com/article.php?aID=4207&l=en
.
Chapter	3:	Death	Grants	Three	Wishes
Religious	belief	is	a	vast	topic,	but	for	a	thumbnail	sketch	of	where	religion	is
headed	in	modern	America,	I	consulted	a	leading	poll,
The	Next	American
Spirituality:	Finding	God	in	the	Twenty-First	Century
,	by	George
Gallup
	Jr.
(Cook	Communications,	2000).	The	Gallup	organization	is	dedicated	to
documenting	the	actual	beliefs	of	every	faith	around	the	globe,	which	is
especially	needed	in	the	Islamic	world,	where	reliable	data	has	been	scarce,
even	in	recent	years.	You	can	do	your	own	browsing	of	opinions	across	the
board	on	Google,	entering	topic	phrases	like	“church	attendance”	or	“believe
they	will	go	to	heaven.”
T
EXT	NOTE:
p.	49
	Figures	about	church	attendance	in	the	United	States	come	from	an
online	article:
http://www.religioustolerance.org/rel_rate.htm
.
Chapter	4:	Escaping	the	NooseI	didn’t	rely	on	any	specific	book	for	the	Christian	conception	of	heaven,	but
for	official	theological	answers	I	consulted
The	Catholic	Encyclopedia
,	which
“proposes	to	give	its	readers	full	and	authoritative	information	on	the	entire
cycle	of	Catholic	interests,	action	and	doctrine.”	The	home	page	for	the
encyclopedia	is
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/
.	I	did	not	explore	the
thicket	of	contrasting	beliefs	stemming	from	Protestant	theology,	although	as
always	there	were	many	helpful	articles	at	Wikipedia.
For	anyone	who	wants	to	browse	the	religious	landscape,	the	easiest	way
to	begin	is	to	take	a	question	like	“Where	is	heaven?”	or	“What	is	heaven
like?”	and	enter	it	at	Google—innumerable	results	crop	up.	One	can	browse
the	beliefs	of	various	denominations	online	at
http://www.religioustolerance.org/heav_hel.htm
.
The	vagaries	of	the	Old	Testament	God,	with	his	many	faces	and	changes
of	mood,	are	thoroughly	covered	in	Jack	Miles,
God:	A	Biography
	(Vintage,
1996).	The	book	is	nonreligious,	treating	the	Old	Testament	as	source
material	in	the	life	of	a	fascinating,	captious,	mercurial	person	who	happens
to	be	God.
When	I	contend	that	Jesus	often	sounds	like	a	Vedic	rishi,	I	have	in	mind
the	Book	of	Thomas	and	other	Gnostic	gospels.	The	fascinating	history	of
how	these	seminal	Christian	writings	came	to	be	unearthed	accidentally	by	a
wandering	Egyptian	shepherd	in	1945,	and	their	subsequent	suppression	by
the	Church,	is	told	best	by	Elaine	Pagels	in
The	Gnostic	Gospels
	(Vintage,
1989).	Hers	is	one	of	those	exceptional	books	on	religion	that	hugely
influence	public	opinion;	it	came	as	a	revelation	that	the	Christian	tradition
had	an	early,	authentic	mystical	tradition	that	allowed	women	full	status	and
told	an


issues, keep your gaze forward and your head in a neutral position.
OceanofPDF.comCHAIR POSE: UTKATASANA
Overview:  We often refer to Utkatasana as “Chair pose” when, in
fact, the actual translation of the word from Sanskrit is “Fierce
pose.” This shape teaches us how to endure challenging situations
with a sense of patience, tolerance, and curiosity, tapping into the
truly powerful nature of our being, which is required for growth
and transformation.
How-to:  From Tadasana, walk the inner edges of your feet in to
touch one another. Inhale, stretch your arms up alongside your
ears, shoulder-distance apart, and extend through your ﬁngertips.
As you exhale, bend your knees, and allow your sit bones, or the
lower area of your pelvis, to move back toward the wall behind
you. At the same time, lift your hip bones away from your thighs
and feel the engagement of your lower abdominal muscles. Keep
the head and neck neutral and relax your jaw.Benefits:  Physically, Chair pose strengthens the ankles, the legs,
the buttocks, the lower abdomen, the upper back, and the upper
arms. It opens the chest and shoulders. Chair pose also stimulates
the abdominal organs, the diaphragm, and the heart.
Energetically, Chair pose creates a strong sense of grounding
and stability. It enables us to explore our tolerance for discomfort
and how we respond to challenging situations. It activates the ﬁrst
chakra.
Engage mula bandha and slight uddiyana bandha to help lift
udana. Stimulates samana vayu.
Therapeutic applications:  Helps reduce ﬂat feet; promotes the
rehabilitation of ankle and knee injuries.
Helpful tips:  If your shoulders are tight, keep the arms parallel to
the ﬂoor, shoulder-distance apart. To help stabilize the legs, place
a block in between the knees. If balance is an issue, practice this
pose with your sacrum against the wall.
OceanofPDF.comBLOWN PALM POSE: PARSVA URDVA HASTASANA
Overview:  Blown Palm pose is a graceful embodiment of the
palm tree, which can sway in the wind while remaining rooted at
the base. This pose teaches us how to be ﬂexible and ﬂuid, yet
steady and unwavering, to literally bend but not break.
How-to:  From Mountain pose, stretch your arms overhead and
bring your palms together to touch. Interlace your last three
ﬁngers and thumb, keeping your index ﬁngers pointing straight up
toward the ceiling. As you inhale, lengthen through the side body,
and as you exhale, side-bend your torso over to your right,
pressing into your left foot. Keep your abdominal muscles
engaged to protect your lower back. Stay here and breathe,
lengthening both sides of your waist evenly. On your next inhale,
come back to center, keeping your arms overhead. As you next
exhale, side-bend to your left, pressing into your right foot. Inhaleand come back to center. On your exhale, lower both arms down
alongside the body.
Benefits:  Physically, Blown Palm pose opens the outer hips. It
stretches the lower back, the waist, and the intercostal muscles
between the ribs. It also opens the shoulders and tones the
oblique abdominal muscles.
Energetically, Blown Palm pose opens the ﬁrst and fourth
chakras. This pose helps to stimulate the body’s solar and lunar
energy channels, known as pingala and ida nadis, located on the
right and left sides of the body.
Engage mula bandha and slight uddiyana bandha. Stimulates
prana vayu.
Therapeutic applications:  Blown Palm pose helps with asthma
and upper-respiratory congestion. It relieves sciatica and scoliosis
and can reduce the effects of ﬂat feet.
Helpful tips: If your shoulders are tight, hold on to the wrist of
the opposite side from the one you are leaning toward. You can
also keep one hand down alongside your body while the opposite
arm reaches up and overhead, side-bending toward the side of the
lowered arm.
OceanofPDF.comSTANDING HIP OPENERS
The greatest number of postures that we see in
modern yoga fall under this category. When done
correctly, these poses can simultaneously strengthen and
stretch most of the major muscle groups in the body.
These poses are most beneﬁcial in building the muscles
of the quadriceps, which helps to prevent conditions such
as lower back pain and poor posture. The standing hip
openers also teach us the qualities of balance, strength,
empowerment, and perseverance.
OceanofPDF.comLOW LUNGE POSE: ANJANEYASANA
Overview:  Low Lunge is sometimes called “runner’s lunge”
because it is the same position you’ll see track runners take just
before they are about to make a sprint. Overall, this pose is a safe
and effective way to begin opening the iliopsoas muscle, which is
the muscle that connects the lower body to the upper body. The
muscle’s primary function is to enable you to bend at the hip, and
it’s an integral part of our ability to stand, walk, and run.
How-to:  From Standing Forward Bend, inhale and lengthen your
chest forward, reaching toward the wall in front of you. As you
next exhale, step the left foot back toward the back edge of your
mat. Align your front knee directly over your ankle and press the
back heel straight back toward the wall behind you. Keep your
back thigh straight and strong. Draw the right hip back, so it’s even
with the left hip, and lengthen evenly through both sides of your
torso. Reach through the center of your chest and keep the back ofyour neck long. Relax the tops of your shoulders and gaze toward a
ﬁxed point in front of you.
Benefits:  Physically, Low Lunge both strengthens and stretches
the quadriceps and the hip ﬂexors. It tones the lower abdominal
muscles and the muscles along the spine, and is a mild chest
opener.
Energetically, Low Lunge is both grounding and releasing at
the same time. It is a simple yet profound embodiment of sthira
and sukha, which in Sanskrit mean “steadiness” and “ease.” It opens
the ﬁrst and second chakras.
Engage slight treta bandha. Stimulates samana vayu. Engage
vajroli mudra to create length in the back of the body.
Therapeutic applications:  Can be helpful in relieving pain from
sciatica and scoliosis, and may help with the rehabilitation of ankle
and knee injuries.
Helpful tips: Lower the back knee down, either onto the mat or
onto a blanket for a deeper stretch in the psoas. Use blocks
underneath each hand to help lengthen the spine and open the
chest.
OceanofPDF.comWARRIOR 1 POSE: VIRABHADRASANA 1
Overview:  As the ﬁrst of the three Warrior poses, Warrior 1 pose
invokes the qualities one needs for battle: perseverance, strength,
and commitment. In the case of the asanas, the battleground is not
on a ﬁeld, per se, but within the self. The strength we cultivate from
the Warrior poses helps us break through our own limiting patterns
to a state of freedom and transcendence.
How-to:  From Low Lunge pose, place your back left heel ﬂat on
the ﬂoor, slightly left of center. Continue to root down into the back
foot as you lift your torso into an upright position, drawing your left
hip and left rib cage forward toward the front of your mat. Draw
your navel back toward your spine and raise your arms overhead,
lifting from the lower ribs toward your ﬁngertips. Bring your palms
together to touch and gaze toward the hands, keeping the back of
your neck long.Benefits:  Physically, this pose strengthens the ankles, the legs,
the arms, and the back, and stretches the Achilles tendons, the
calves, and the hip ﬂexors. It also opens the chest and the lungs.
Energetically, Warrior 1 pose helps to improve balance, focus,
and concentration. It is grounding and increases the qualities of
the earth element within us. It works on the ﬁrst chakra.
Engage mula bandha and slight uddiyana bandha. Stimulates
prana vayu. Engage vajroli mudra to create length in the back of
the body.
Therapeutic applications:  This pose is helpful in alleviating
sciatica and lower back pain and can help ease asthma and
indigestion symptoms.
Helpful tips: To allow more mobility in your pelvis, widen the
distance between your feet and make your stance slightly shorter.
If balance is an issue, anchor your back heel against the wall. If
your shoulders are tight, keep the hands shoulder-distance apart
or slightly wider.
OceanofPDF.comWARRIOR 2 POSE: VIRABHADRASANA 2
Overview:  Warrior 2 pose is one of the


, sesame - Digestive time approx. 2 hours.
Nuts - Almonds, filber ts, peanuts (raw), cashews, brazil, walnuts, pecans etc. - 2 1/2 to 3 hours to digest.
Dairy
Skim milk, cottage or low fat pot cheese or ricotta - approx. 90 min. digestion time
whole milk cottage cheese - 120 min. digestion
whole milk hard cheese - 4 to 5  hours digestion time
Animal proteins
Egg yolk - 30 min. digestion time
Whole egg - 45 min.
Fish - cod, scrod, flounder, sole seafood - 30 min. digestion time
Fish - salmon, salmon trout, herring, (more fatty fish) - 45 min. to 60 digestion time
Chicken - 1½ to 2 hours digestion time (without skin)
Turkey - 2 to 2 ¼ hours digestion time (without skin)
Beef, lamb - 3 to 4 hours digestion time
Pork - 4½ to 5 hours digestion time
(Editor's notes
Note1: raw animal proteins have much faster digestion times than the above times for cooked/heated animal proteins.
Note2: The digestion times given are under an ideal situation of eating only one food, chewing well, and having efficient dig estion, as is the case
e.g. after a fast. They are digestion times for optimally  healthy persons, with good eating habits. The digestion times are to a large part derived
from Dr. Gian -Cursio's and Dr. Bass' practices.
Digestion times are much longer on a conventional diet, and for persons with non -optimized digestive systems, or pers ons lacking in energy, and
for meals with many ingredients put together haphazardly = not in the optimum sequential order.)

EAT SMALLER AMOUNT - FEWER VARIETIES
The smaller the amount of a particular food eaten, the less is the digestive time for that food. The greater the amount
of a food eaten, the more is the digestive time prolonged.
..... Remember the less you mix and the fewer the varieties you use, the easier it is to digest and the less you will be
tempted to overeat. The greater the variety, th e greater the tendency to overeat.
In experiments with dogs, - 1 variety was given, the dog ate and was satisfied. Another variety was given and he ate
that too. Then another and he ate more. This continued till he was so loaded with food he could hardly m ove. Each
new variety re -stimulated the appetite over and over again......

THE IMPORTANCE OF BLENDED SALADS
Due to the liquification of vegetables by blending:
1  - Absorption and assimilation of its vitamins, minerals proteins etc. is increased to appro ximately 5 times as
compare to eating and chewing the salad.
2  - A blended salad will digest and leave the stomach in 15 to 20 min. compared to 30 to 60 minutes for a tossed
salad eaten whole.
3  - To avoid oxidation during the blending, when the whirl -pool begins to form, stop the blender, pour it in a dish and
begin to eat it. The oxidation is no more than when the salad is thoroughly masticated before swallowing.
4  - For people who have difficulty with handling of roughage (as in ulcers, coliti s etc.), or digestion of raw food,
blending it usually solves the problem.
5  - Since digestion and assimilation of vegetables becomes greatly simplified when blended, the energy saved on
digestion can make the difference between lingering illness and rapi d recovery in serious cases.
 copyright © Dr. Stanley S. Bass   (718) 648 -1500    www.drbass.com  12

Conservation at energy in the digestive process is the key to all healing. (Success in healing is measured in terms of
energy available. T his was known by the early masters of Natural Hygiene).....

BASIC PURPOSE IS SAVING ENERGY
..... Energy is the most important factor needed for recovery of health and it must be conserved at all costs and not
wasted in unnecessary digestion. Sequential eating will maximize the conservation of energy without fail.
Try it - feel the difference - and you'll never go back to your old ways - I promise you that!

www.drbass.com/attentive.html
Self-mastery through Attentive Eating

"We should first enjoy the sight and aroma of the food and feel gratitude. Then, as we put the food
in our mouth, it is good to close our eyes to help us concentrate our attention - on the taste of the
food and to shut out all distractions."

INTRODUCTION
Of all the subjects in exis tence, it is my considered opinion, after deep reflection, that what I am about to write in this
booklet is perhaps THE most important subject. A subject which can radically change a person's life in all of its
aspects - physically, mentally, emotionally a nd spiritually. - Attentive eating.
It seems strange to think that the manner in which one eats, the "how", can have such an important influence in one's
life.
Once I grasped the "big idea", I tested it thoroughly in my own life and then recommended it to more than dozen
patients and friends to compare its effects. Two of them were professional psychotherapists and they both were
profoundly impressed and fascinated with. the results.
The utter simplicity of the technique caused many people to refuse to even  believe that it could lead to important
changes, resulting in the refusal to even try the method.
While the method is so simple in its essence, that even all of the lowliest creatures practice it instinctively, yet, man is
so conditioned in his habits, th at he has to unlearn his present method of eating and relearn what he once knew
thousands of years ago.
Even if a person refuses to change his diet to higher quality foods and insists on remaining with his present
conventional diet, still, he will experience profound changes in all aspects of his life by applying the technique to his or
her life.
So let us not delay any further - let us penetrate this mystery.

ANIMALS EAT WITH FULL ATTENTION
The basic needs and instincts of all living creatures are  air, water and food, clothing and shelter - with food as the
most basic. All life everywhere knows its needs in food to survive and every creature on this earth knows how to eat.
It is an inborn instinct which does not need to be learned and it is present  from the moment of birth onward - in one -
celled life forms (amoeba) up to the largest animal forms in existence.
All of these living creatures, eat in the same manner. They eat with full attention, chew their foods as much as is
necessary for the species  and are fully absorbed in the taste of the food while they are eating it. When the sensual
enjoyment of the taste begins to recede and disappear, they stop eating and walk away from the food fully content.
This enjoyment of the food, closely interlocked w ith the taste of the food, is how the bodily instinct guides the animal
to cease eating when the body's needs are fully provided for. All living creatures have been faithfully guided by this
sense of taste instinct since the beginning of time and there has  never been a problem with it.
Why no problem? - Because they all eat the same way - with full attention, totally immersed in the taste of the food,
even closing their eyes to avoid distraction, and ceasing when the sense of taste begins to lose its enjoym ent. Even
all little insects eat with total attention.

WHY SUCH DIFFICULTY?
Then why do humans have such difficulty in eating, in knowing when to eat and when to stop?
There are several reasons.
•   First, people eat according to the clock, approximately 3 meals a day with in -between meal snacks and rarely
when truly hungry.
•   Secondly, they eat foods which have spices, sugar and salt added which stimulate them to overeat more than the
body requires.
•   And lastly, because they have minds and enjoy mental stimulation, they eat with a divided attention - while
reading a newspaper, or watching TV. Or conversing with someone.
In this booklet, we are going to concern ourselves almost exclusively with the last consideration - that of a divided
attention.
 copyright © Dr. Stanley S. Bass   (718) 648 -1500    www.drbass.com                                               13

DIVIDED ATTENTION
When the attention is divided, say for example, watching TV while eating, emotions and feelings are aroused which
conflict with the ideal digestive atmosphere.
This inhibits gastric and digestive secretions needed to digest the food optimally.
The great sensual enjoyment of eating, which is so basically important to the body and emotions necessary to inn er
happiness, is largely bypassed, because the attention is on something different than the taste of the food.
The result is that - since the taste enjoyment is largely reduced or eliminated, the body is unable to signal the eater
when to stop. So the pers on eats, mechanically stuffs himself and stops only when the discomfort of the distended
stomach signals its protest….
Eating without awareness or attention - invariably leads to overeating and dismissing the important role of the taste of
the food in directing us to stop eating when we have had enough to satisfy the


	they	need	in	order	to	repair
themselves.
Genetically	Modified	Foods:	Risky	Business
No	contemporary	discussion	on	genetics	is	complete	without	discussing	the
powerful	genetic	technologies	in	use	today,	particularly	with	our	foods.	With
modern	genetic	technology,	what	would	have	seemed	miraculous	just	a
generation	ago	is	now	possible.	However,	whether	or	not	these	technologiespose	a	threat	to	our	health	is	a	huge	debate.	Scientists	on	both	sides	constantly
argue	their	points.	These	technologies	present	the	potential	both	for	great
achievement	and	for	catastrophe.	Not	enough	research	is	available	to	know	what
will	happen,	although	the	research	that	is	available	presents	cause	for	serious
concern	or	even	alarm.	I	recommend	against	consuming	genetically	modified
foods	because	I	believe	these	foods	may	be	lower	in	nutrients,	higher	in	toxins
and	present	other	potential	risks	as	well.
Never	before	in	human	evolution	has	humankind	eaten	a	genetically	modified
food.	Only	in	recent	years	have	we	developed	the	technologies	that	allow	us	to
create	these	foods.	Now	genetic	technologies	are	being	developed	and	deployed
rapidly,	with	few	controls	and	almost	no	consideration	for	long-term
consequences.	Most	of	the	food	in	your	supermarket	already	contains	genetically
modified	components.	Yet	there	is	insufficient	research,	particularly	long-term
research,	to	establish	the	safety	of	genetically	modified	foods	and,	indeed,	ample
reason	to	believe	they	may	not	be	safe.
If	we	keep	producing	and	consuming	genetically	modified	foods,	we	will	be
unable	to	prevent	genetic	contamination	from	becoming	prevalent	throughout
our	entire	food	supply.	If	ever	these	foods	are	determined	unsafe,	the	damage
will	be	irreversible.	Unexpected	results	from	these	foods	might	not	become
obvious	until	years	after	they	are	introduced,	at	which	point	taking	it	back	is	too
late.	Our	scientists	do	their	best,	but	when	experimenting	with	genetics,	the
potential	for	unanticipated	side	effects	is	almost	incalculable.	Here	is	one
scenario:	Over	time,	genetically	modified	organisms	interact	with	their
environment,	mutate	and	evolve,	and	pass	on	their	mutant	characteristics	to	other
related	and	unrelated	organisms,	including	us.	This	sets	off	a	chain	of	events
throughout	the	entire	ecosystem,	jeopardizing	life	on	earth	as	we	know	it.	I	know
this	scenario	sounds	dramatic,	but	messing	with	genes	and	the	course	of
evolution	is	risky	business.
Is	That	a	Jellyfish	in	Your	Potato?
Producing	new	foods	with	modern	genetic	engineering	is	no	minor	event.
Genetic	engineers	cut,	splice	and	transfer	genes	between	totally	unrelated
species	to	produce	combinations	that	could	never	occur	in	nature.	Scientists	are
inserting	jellyfish	genes	into	potatoes,	scorpion	genes	into	vegetables,	human
genes	into	pigs	and	fish	genes	into	tomatoes.	Perfect	accuracy	using	these	gene-
splicing	techniques	and	knowing	exactly	what	will	be	produced	is	almost
impossible.	Researchers	at	the	prestigious	Rowett	Institute	in	Scotland	studied
different	batches	of	genetically	modified	potatoes	and	found	substantialdifferences	from	the	same	gene	insertion.	Two	lines	of	potatoes	grown	from	the
same	gene	insertion	and	the	same	growing	conditions	had	a	20	percent
difference	in	protein	content,	demonstrating	the	unpredictability	inherent	in
genetic	modification.
Genetically	modified	foods	may	be	of	altered	nutritional	value,	and	they	also
may	contain	allergens	or	toxins	they	would	not	naturally	contain—including
ones	not	normally	associated	with	that	type	of	food.	For	example,	genes	from
Brazil	nuts	were	used	to	engineer	a	new	soybean;	but	people	allergic	to	Brazil
nuts	were	now	highly	reactive	to	these	soybeans.	Fortunately	the	problem	was
discovered	before	anyone	was	harmed.	Other	genetically	modified	foods	may
present	similar	risks.	A	1999	study	printed	in	the	British	medical	journal
Lancet
showed	that	genetically	modified	potatoes	damaged	the	stomach	and	intestinal
linings	of	rats.	People	are	also	eating	genetically	modified	potatoes,	but	similar
tests	are	not	being	performed	on	humans.
Do	you	recall	one	of	the	health	“scandals”	of	the	late	1980s?	Many	people
who	took	an	essential	amino	acid	called	tryptophan	(which	is	used	for	treating
depression	and	other	emotional	problems)	had	devastating	reactions.	Thirty-
seven	people	died,	fifteen	hundred	were	permanently	disabled,	and	five	thousand
became	extremely	ill.	As	it	turned	out,	one	particular	manufacturer	in	Japan	had
produced	tryptophan	using	a	genetically	modified	bacterium,	which	did	produce
commercial	quantities	of	tryptophan,	but	which	also	produced	a	powerful	nerve
poison.	Of	course	this	poison	did	not	exist	until	we	created	it	with	genetic
engineering,	so	it	could	not	be	detected	by	existing	safety	tests.	We	cannot	test
for	toxins	we	don’t	know	about,	which	is	the	problem	with	genetically
engineered	foods.	They	are	capable	of	producing	the	unexpected.
Supermarkets	Full	of	Genetic	Experiments
Food	industry	journals	estimate	that	about	70	percent	of	the	processed	foods
in	our	supermarkets	would	test	positive	for	genetically	modified	ingredients.
Most	common	are	genetically	engineered	corn,	soybeans,	tomatoes,	yellow
crookneck	squash,	canola,	papaya	and	Russet	Burbank	potatoes.	Other	foods	are
being	developed,	such	as	apples,	rice,	wheat,	broccoli,	cucumbers,	carrots,
melons	and	grapes;	genetically	modified	versions	of	these	foods	are	either	in
stores	already	or	they	soon	will	be.
A	1999	study	by
Consumer	Reports
found	that	only	one-third	of	U.S.
shoppers	realize	they	are	eating	genetically	modified	foods.	The	FDA	does	not
require	these	foods	to	be	labeled	“genetically	modified,”	and	consumers	do	not
realize	what	they	are	buying.	People	buy	so-called	“fresh”	produce,	unaware	thatthese	foods	did	not	evolve	through	a	natural	process.	As	always,	your	best	bet	is
to	purchase	only	fresh,	organic	foods.	If	you	are	unable	to	buy	organic,	stay
away	from	commercial	foods	most	likely	to	be	genetically	modified,	particularly
corn	and	soy	(including	tofu).	Avoid	commercially	processed	and	prepared
foods,	70	percent	of	which	contain	genetically	modified	components,	often
including	soy	as	a	hidden	ingredient.
Even	organic	foods	are	not	guaranteed	to	be	free	from	genetically	modified
components.	Segregating	organic	crops	completely	from	genetically	modified
crops	during	harvest,	handling,	transport	and	milling	is	not	possible.	Similarly,
insects,	birds	and	wind	carry	seeds	and	pollen	from	genetically	modified	plants
into	organic	fields	and	cross-pollinate.	America’s	crops	are	so	contaminated	by
genetic	modification	that	the	Organic	Federation	of	Australia	announced	in	2001
that	it	could	no	longer	verify	the	purity	of	organic	crops	imported	from


 and
less often overall.
Dr Amen Ra says the body uses so much energy or I have seen it called life force
to handle all the food we stuff down our necks, then to process it all and push it
out when we go for a crap. If we eat less we have more energy. This sounds
counterintuitive as we have been taught you need your strength so eat
something. When the opposite is true, the less you eat the more strength you
actually have.
Dr Amen Ra is a big historian; he is also very big on ancient Egypt. There are
ancient Egyptian texts that talk of drinking urine and using it topically. There was
never any obesity back then, they ate very little compared to today. Sometimes
out of necessity they would go long periods of eating nothing or very very little.
This is actually much healthier than eating too much as most people do today.
When Ferdinand Magellan's fleet of five set out to circumnavigate the globe in
1519, the manifest gave each ship "50 casks of water, fresh and pure." It wasn't
enough. Of course his crew knew they would have to locate water along the way.Unfortunately, finding themselves in uncharted waters and out of water 18
months into the voyage, they became desperate. With no hope of a fresh water
source, they took what was the only recourse. They drank their own urine. Wrote
one crewman, "It was surprisingly not unsavory, having no worse a taste than a
flagon most foul with rancid port, as many I have tasted before." And after all, it
did save their lives.
When NASA finally launches the manned Mars mission in 2030, the ship won't
carry enough water for the 18 month voyage. Think of the weight of that much
water to be blasted up into the sky. Like their preceding explorers, they will have
to find water along the way. This presents a problem since rainfall outside the
Van Allen Belt is pretty rare. NASA's answer? If it worked for Magellan it can work
for Mars. Drink urine. Loop it again and again.
Given a choice between "a flagon most foul with rancid port" and drinking their
own urine, most will probably choose the rancid port. Which is foolish.
Surprisingly though, many of our ancestors would not. The belief that urine has
powerful healing properties existed even centuries before the previously thought
earliest writings about urine drinking extolled its virtues. Cultures throughout all
time have used urine for healing. Many practices have included the use of urine
from other species such as cows or horses. But most common is using one's own
"Golden Fountain" as the source. And a scientific analysis of urine would find it
healthier than a "flagon most foul."
Though we have been conditioned to think of urine as "dirty," quite the opposite
is true. Urine fresh from the "spigot" is actually sterile, devoid of any pathogens
at all. Urine is 95 percent water. The other five percent of our urine is made of an
unknown number of as yet unidentified substances including dissolved and
suspended solids, none of which are toxic. The main component is a compound
called urea which makes up as much as 2-2.5%. This is an amazing substance
that is very, very good for you. In addition to urea, other elements include
hormones, proteins, antibodies and other beneficial pharmacological agents. So
far from being harmful, urine actually does have known healing agents. If urine
has a bad taste or smell, it is generally from the diet or habits of the contributor.
Poor diet, poor habits and you will get a rank and smelly urine. The point is that
urine components reflect the provider.
For thousands of years, nearly every culture in recorded history has included
urine therapy for all manner of disease or injury. Hindu yogic practices have
noted the benefits of drinking our own urine. Ancient Chinese and Japanese
medical texts record specific ways to use urine. Indigenous Americans
encountered in 1806 by Lewis and Clark's expedition to Oregon had the custom
"of bathing themselves all over with urine every morning," according to Lewis.
Saharan Bedouins use urine to cleanse burns and wounds. When British officers
during World War Two observed the practice, they were shocked. But actually it
was the same medical practice described in the Ebers Papyrus of 1500 B.C, one
of the oldest surviving documents of Egyptian history. The Aztec civilisation also
used urine to heal wounds. Vikings recorded this practice by directly applying urine to any wounds, they recorded being able to go back into battle far sooner
after being wounded by using urine to heal.
In the ayurvedic tradition of yoga, drinking one's urine is called amaroli. Because
extensive Vedic texts exist from at least 2000 B.C., this practice provides us with
much of the most thorough guidance available. Yogic techniques tell us exactly
how to go about drinking or applying amaroli. One of the most famous users of
urine therapy was Prime Minister of India from 1977 to 1979, Morarji Desai. On
the occasion of his ninety-ninth birthday in 1995, Desai attributed his longevity
to drinking his morning urine on a daily basis. Take home point, if you want a
long life then loop all of your urine.
Not only deep Yogic practices but also anybody studying shamanism and other
ancient secrets soon come across an integral part of the knowledge is drinking
urine.
Admittedly, there is very little Western science evidence to support the historical
claims. After all, how would a researcher fare in submitting a grant proposal for
such funding? "We are asking for five million dollars to investigate the health
properties of urine." Big pharma have a lot to lose as they can’t patent urine and
charge people for drinking their pee. Or can they? What if they did their best to
discredit this ancient healing modality and instead capture individual substances
from urinals and sell it back to people in their products? This is exactly what is
being done for decades now.
Despite the paucity of modern scientific substantiation, there is some common-
sense evidence that explains why some of these beliefs exist. Let's start with
using urine to sterilise and cleanse wounds.
Remember a major component of urine is urea. Urea is commonly recognised as
an effective antibacterial, anti fungal and antiviral agent. Its mechanism is
simple. The presence of urea in the urine is the result of the body's chemical
balancing of sodium chloride and water ratio. When used on a wound, urea
causes an osmotic imbalance that kills bacteria and fungus. It is so effective it is
used in many topical ointments and creams sold pharmaceutically, both
prescription and over-the-counter. Urea is found in a broad range of medicines
used to treat inflammation. It is a main ingredient in the medicine Herpigon,
used to treat herpes infections.
Urine also can smooth and moisturise the skin. Your face cream or wrinkle
remover most likely has urea or a derivative in it. Check out the ingredients.
Each time you use it you are effectively smearing urine on your face. According
to John Armstrong's 1971 book, The Water of Life, expensive and elegant
European facial soaps often contain human, cow or pig urine. Its the Urea that is
such an amazing substance.
Historical anecdotes have said that drinking urine can prevent strokes and help
break down blood clots and scabs. This lore was applied when investigators in
the nineteenth century found that some component of urine could digest proteins, specifically fibrin, the key in clotting. In 1952, G.W. Sobel isolated the
enzyme in urine that the folk lore claimed. He named it urokinase and it is now
used in preparations to break up clots in heart disease and stroke. Apparently
folk lore was right. Did modern medicine make it better or just more expensive?
Certainly it's easier to make a profit from, after all big pharma would be out of
business if everybody knew their best products are taken from urine which is
given to every human for free everyday. They do now need to ever use big
pharma products ever again, they just need to drink their own waters.
Urine contains a number of different hormones. Fertility drugs contain estrogens
from human urine that stimulate ovulation in women and sperm production in
men. Maybe the Zimbabwean tribe that drinks baboon urine in beer as an
aphrodisiac has reason to do so. That's what the baboons were doing and it
worked for them. Almost every animal has been caught on video drinking their
own urine. If you're taking Premarin, it's prepared from mares' urine and other
natural sources, including human urine.
It's a well-known fact now that melatonin is a natural hormone that helps
regulate sleep. So guess what? Melatonin is present in significant amounts in the
urine, especially morning urine. And not only melatonin is present. There is a
compound known as muramyl dipeptide. Simply put, it mirrors the action of
seratonin, another well-known calming hormone.
There is plenty of information on the internet about urotherapy. Hardly any of it
is placed there by people trying to sell a product. After all, the best thing about
orin loping is its free and private. Whenever somebody recommends something
you have to ask yourself who gains? Are they