fluid. This secretion contains the sugar, fructose, which nourishes
sperm cells. The prostate gland also contributes to the reproductive secre-
tion. It surrounds the urethra (the main duct or tube running the
length of the penis) beneath the bladder. In ejaculation the prostate
jets forth a thin clear fluid which helps to propel the sperm. Cow-
per's glands along the urethra supply a few drops of alkaline secre-
tion, which serves to neutralize acid remaining from urination. DIAGRAM 7
Testis
(manufactures sperm and
male hormones.) PenisSeminal
Vesicle
(nourishes sperm with
yellowish fluid.) Prostate Gland
(propels sperm
with clear fluid.) Sperm
Palace
(Taoist energy point for
collecting sperm power.) Epididymis26 Taoist Secrets Of Love
Dr. Beyoihn, a noted endocrinologist, stressed the impor-
tance of the hormonal function of semen production: "Sexual hor-
mones are important to our harmonious development. When men
abuse the reproductive function, the secretions of the sexual glands
are lost... resulting in mental and physical weakness, inability to
concentrate, and a less tenacious memory. "*
Love-making is an internal exercise which helps restore im-
balances in bodily chemistry. A moderate amount of sex tends to
repair hormonal disturbances, to reduce cholesterol and blood
pressure levels. Sexual activity alters the body chemically. The
reason this happens is because each gland in the body affects all the
others. Thus when sex hormones are stimulated, it stimulates the
hormones secreted by the other major glands—adrenal, thymus,
thyroid, pituitary, and pineal. The illusion when you are young is
that you can stimulate your glands indefinitely, without paying a
price for it. Sex seems like a bottomless well of bliss. It is, if you
take the trouble to recirculate the sexual hormones within the body
instead of repeatedly ejaculating them. These sex hormones do more than just make you feel good. They literally invade every sphere of your activity and form your
personal identity. Recent scientific studies have shown that sex
hormones influence the brain's cellular organization. If you are
male, then your brain has male stamped on each cell. This is what
produces different proclivities in men and women. Dr. Gunter Dorner, director of the Institute for Experimental
Endocronology at Humboldt University in East Germany points
out: "The sex hormones... don't just suddenly appear out of
nowhere at puberty. Nor do they just meander about the body. THEY KNOW WHERE TO GO. The cells that are their targets
have already been primed in the womb to respond to the hormones
that are now being produced. This is true of the body, of the
reproductive organs, heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys. But it is also
true of the brain. The tissues, neural circuitry and chemistry of the
brain have already been stamped during fetal life by the sex hor-
mones. And the foundations have already been laid for the range of
behaviors that will characterize the organism as male or female in
adult life. "*
*E. Flatto, Warning: Sex May Be Hazardous To Your Health (Arco Publishers 1973). *Science Digest, September 1983, p. 87.The Biology Of Esoteric Sex 27
These hormonal differences obviously determine many of the
qualities in men and women the Chinese have called yin and yang. The Taoist goal of total integration of sexual impulse with the mind
begins to make sense even to a western intellectual when the con-
nection between sexual activity, hormonal balance, physical
health, and personality are examined together. The evidence for
health being powerfully affected by hormonal balance has been
well substantiated, and is even now a major topic for cancer re-
searchers in their efforts to understand how the mind and emotions
control our immune system. The Taoists would say it is un-
necessarily complicated to track each individual microscopic hor-
mone receptor and enzyme in the gene code to fight the hundreds
of different types of cancers and diseases that result when our
immune system fails. The Taoists contend the critical factor is simply balance—that
when male and female chi energies are balanced in the body, each
cell will have the energy to function perfectly, and hormones do
their job in making the body machinery run smoothly. This balance
of male and female hormones produces a happy personality who
lives harmoniously with the world. The specific Taoist practice of
sexual energy conservation and transformation is one of many de-
signed to insure that the internal equilibrium of the human energy
system is so powerful that no outside force can destroy its inner
balance. The Taoists thus see everything, hormones, sex, person-
ality, health, and beyond that, your spiritual destiny, linked inex-
tricably together. That is the working of the Tao, which links the
finite ordinary world of a Saturday night date to the explosion of a
super nova light years away. The principle of the fusion of energy
in both is the same. In olden times the Taoist secret of secrets was the method of
being reborn through a process of giving birth to your new self. When I first learned it I didn't understand it, but later, in studying
the endocrine system, I was able to see analogies. I realized that
both men and women have the makings of male and female hor-
mones and that, in effect, they are each capable of having inter-
course within themselves, and giving birth to a new self. The most important connection in the male hormone system is
between the testicles and the pituitary gland located between the
eyebrows, behind the forehead. These glands work together in the
transformation of sexual energy, a fact that you will experience28 Taoist Secrets Of Love
DIAGRAM 8
Pai-Hui (The Crown)
The power of mind control & spiritual
center
Corpus Callosum Skull
Pituitary Gland-
Cavity of the spirit
to transform
sexual energy into
a refined nectar
which is the food
of the spirit. Pons
Medulla Oblongata
SEXUAL ENERGY, GLANDS, HORMONES, PERSONALITY &
DESTINY ARE ALL LINKED TOGETHER IN THE BRAIN.Thalamus Gland
Pineal Gland
Occipital Lobe
(The largest cavity to store
sexual energy.) Cerebellum—
regulates breathing and vision
& is the initial storage area
of Ching
Spinal Cord—
the pathway Chi uses
into the brain. when you begin cultivating your sexual energy up. Your testicles
and your pituitary gland will begin to pulsate together when the
ching is cultivated properly, and is a sign that your glandular sys-
tem is working harmoniously all the time, not just during sex. The
pituitary gland in turn regulates the activity of the other glands. When they are in perfect harmony they secrete an exceptionally
fine nectar—a superfine hormonal substance undiscovered by sci-
entists—which floods the nerve centers of the brain and helps
create the feeling of bliss described by so many mystics. This is
only one phase of spiritual development, but one that is powerfully
affected by the balance of sexual energy in the body. Sexual activity is equally powerful in the more ordinary
spheres of health. Sex offers all of the health benefits of physical
exercise. Sex reduces the tendency to compulsive eating while
burning calories, and thus helps remedy obesity. Sex strains the
heart less than driving a car in city traffic, or watching a good
football game. Moreover, the heart rate quickly diminishes after
sexual action. (For someone on the verge of a heart attack, pas-
sionate sex may be sufficient to trigger it. Passive sex is recom-
mended in this case.) Loving is thus a great natural antidote to stress. Emotional
stress especially causes untold harm, as it is a continuous injury toThe Biology Of Esoteric Sex 29
every cell. Life in our urban society subjects us to increasing doses
of this potent poison. Stress directly causes cardiovascular degeneration, such as
arteriosclerosis and hypertension. Love restores impaired body
chemistry by activating the hormonal centers to defend the phys-
ical body and by harmonizing our mental and spiritual faculties. With frequent ejaculation, the benefits of sex begin to decline,
and vitality ultimately plummets. The sexual big spender loses
stamina. His vision begins to weaken, hair tumbles from his skull. He grows old before his time. The physical damage caused by
expelling the sexual essence from the body is greatly alleviated
only in couples or individuals who create and sustain a powerful
emotional and spiritual love. Over years of marriage, couples who consistently find a
deeper harmony naturally conserve some of their sexual essence. Insurance studies bear this out: married couples live longer than
single people. Two can often share the stress of life better than one
alone. A better balance of yin and yang is achieved. The very act of
love spontaneously transmutes lower vital chi and ching into higher
mind. The Taoist methods of cultivating sexual energy are power-
ful aids to those following this "path of the heart", but take the
path a step further by maximizing the benefits of sex for health and
personal growth. In Chicago a group of elderly people urge couples to practice
sex in a ritualistic fashion to preserve vitality. The group, called
"Sexy Senior Citizens," is the unconscious heir of many compara-
ble


 to return to the Tao. At least once each day, rather than
continuing a disagreement, cede on the spot. In the midst of talking about
your own achievements or basking in the light of your ego, stop and
become an instant listener. The more you yield each day, the more you
return to the peace and harmony of the T ao. OceanofPDF.com41st Verse
A great scholar hears of the T ao
and begins diligent practice. A middling scholar hears of the T ao
and r etains some and loses some. An inferior scholar hears of the T ao
and r oars with ridicule. Without that laugh, it would not be the T ao. So ther e are constructive sayings on this:
The way of illumination seems dark,
going forwar d seems like r etreat,
the easy way seems har d,
true power seems weak,
true purity seems tarnished,
true clarity seems obscur e,
the gr eatest art seems unsophisticated,
the gr eatest love seems indiffer ent,
the gr eatest wisdom seems childish. The T ao is hidden and nameless;
the T ao alone nourishes and brings everything to fulfillment. OceanofPDF.comLiving Beyond
Appearances
This verse of the Tao Te Ching  influenced my choice of the title for this
book. By changing your thoughts so that they harmonize with the Tao, you
see that what you’ve called “reality” is in fact an outward form, an
appearance only. In the beginning, your new way of regarding oneness is
clouded by old ego-inspired habits. What you’ve been accustomed to still
resonates within you as real, and your Tao-ins pired world may not be
consistently recognizable. But you will begin to look beyond what only
seems to be your truth and move into a direct experience of the Tao,
uncluttered by your previously limited views. Reread the first section of this 41st verse of the Tao Te Ching, noticing
your response. Ask yourself whether you’re a great, middling, or inferior
scholar when it comes to unde rstanding and applying the wisdom of the
Tao. For example, I can unabashedly proclaim myself  a great scholar after
so many years spent studying and writing it. And the more I’ve studied, the
more diligently I’ve practiced. I’ve become highly attuned to the infinite
variety of daily opportunities to employ the principles of the Tao. As you
examine your own thoughts, you may discover an aspect of yourself that
wants to learn how to utilize these ancient teachings. Thus, you can move
from being a person who knew very little about the Tao, and might even
have ridiculed it, to being a great scholar. The application of the Tao each day determines the greatness of a scholar,
rather than whether he or she intellectually understands these paradoxical-
sounding concepts. Lao-tzu points out that without the ridiculing laughter of
inferior scholars, the Tao couldn’ t even exist. Talk about paradoxical
concepts! In A Warrior Blends with Life: A Modern T ao, Michael LaT orra comments
on this 41st verse:
The Way is only attractive to those who are already wise enoug h
to know  how foolish they are. Sarcastic laughter from other foolswho believe themselves wise does not deter the truly wise from
following the Way. Following the Way, they do not beco me
complicated, extraordinary, and prominent. Rather they become
simple, ordinary, and subtle. As you elect to live the Tao each day, what you experience within and
around you will be different from what it appears to be. You will go way
beyond surfaces into the blissful world of the Tao, and it’s vital that you
choose to stay in this truth regardless of how it all seems. Others will make
fun of you, but remember the paradox that without that ridiculi ng laughter,
it wouldn’ t be the T ao. You’ll experienc e times of darkness, but your new vision will eventually
illuminate your inner world. And when it seems as though you’re moving
backward, remember that “the Tao is hidden and nameless.” If it was
knocking at your door, or readily accessible like a pill to swallow, it
wouldn’ t be the Tao. So when life looks difficult, stop and realize that
you’re only one thought removed from being at peace. You’ll know what
Lao-tzu meant when he said that the easy way seems hard, and true power
seems like weakness. Y ou don’ t have to struggle or dominate others in order
to feel strong. A perso n in the Tao sees the world quite differently, knowing that inner
peace is power. Less effort is actually easier—work gets done when you
lighten up intern ally and let yourself be moved along by the ceaseless Tao,
rather than by setting goals or meeti ng stand ards set by others. Allow the
Tao, and see the purity and clarity that originates from this vantage point. The outw ard appearance of anyone or anything may appear tarnished, but a
Tao view will remind you that essential goodness is always there. It’s
hidden and nameless, though,  so don’t be obsessed with finding and
labeling it. In this way you become a great scholar who diligently works to live in
harmony with the Tao even though it remains obscure. Apply this same
insight to the times you feel unloved: When you see what appears to be
indifference, know in your heart that love is present. The Tao isn’t
concerned with proving its fidelity. It appears to be uninteres ted, but it’s
nevertheless always there, everywhere. As your thinking changes from aposition dictate d by your ego to one that transcends it, you’ll see an
illuminated world that is truly inviting. Ego convinced you to see a cold and
indifferent planet, while the ego-transcending Tao shines pure love to all
that you’re connected to. Allow it to work its magic in your life. This is what Lao-tzu seems to be instructing, as I sit here asking how I
might serve those who read this book:
Be diligent. You’re not an inferior scholar of Tao if you’re reading these words. So if
you’re a middling scholar who “retains some and loses some” of this
wisdom, make a commitment to work toward your greatness. Just practice a
few of these insights each day. Be diligent about it—set aside your
inclination to be puzzled or argumentative, and allow yourself the freedom
to be a persistent practitioner. Even a small thing such as an affirmation or a
rereading of a verse each day puts you on the path of living according to the
Great Way. Lao-tzu simply says to live it by zealously practicing these
insights. Here are some lines from Walt Whitman to remind you that you’re not
who you appear to be:
O I could sing such grandeurs and glories about you! You have not known what you ar e,
you have slumber ’d upon yourself all your life,
Your eyelids have been the same as closed most of the time... Whoever you ar e! claim your own at any hazar d! These shows of the East and W est ar e tame compar ed to you, These
immense meadows, these interminable rivers, you ar e immense and
interminable as they... The T ao truth is unpr ovable in physical terms. Let go of your conditioned way of needing proof in the phys ical world
before somethin g becomes your truth. The Tao is hidden permanently and itcannot be named, so accept this as a fact. You’re not going to find it in a
material form; it has no boundaries, and the moment you try to name it,
you’ve lost it. (See the 1st verse.) Just as modern scientists must accept the
fact that quantum particle s originate in waves of formless energy or spirit,
without their ever seeing that infinite all-creating field, so too can you let go
of your need to see and touch the Tao before you can believe it. By
changing the way you look at the world, you’ll see a realm beyo nd the
appearance of darkness, dif ficulty, weakness, indif ference, and death. As the poet Rainer Maria Rilke observed,
... behind the world our names enclose is
the nameless: our true ar chetype and home. Do the T ao Now
Spend an hour with a child today, taking note of how much wisdom is
embodied in what appears to be juvenile behavior and beliefs. Notice his or
her fascination with seemingly insignificant items, repeating the same
senseless phrase, tantrums, or laughter. Jot down your impressions of the
wisdom behind such so-called childish impulses and vow to be a kid again
as frequently as possible. OceanofPDF.comOceanofPDF.com42nd Verse
The T ao gave birth to one. One gave birth to two. Two gave birth to thr ee. And thr ee begat the 10,000 things. The 10,000 things carry yin and embrace yang;
they achieve harmony by combining these for ces. People suffer at the thought of being
without par ents, without food, or without worth. Yet this is the very way that
kings and lor ds once described themselves. For one gains by losing,
and loses by gaining. What others taught, I teach. The violent do not die a natural death.


.”
K
INDNESS
Today,	take	a	moment	to	show	some	kindness. Treat	someone	better	than	you
are	used	to;	understand	the	feelings	of	someone	who	has	been	hurt;	spend
time	with	a	sick	patient	or	a	loner	at	school	who	is	dying	for	a	kind	word	and
rarely	gets	one. Baba	knew	that	kindness	can	be	difficult,	even	with	people
we	love. “Have	you	ever	been	mean	to	your	little	brother?”	he	asked	me. “He	thinks	so,”	I	replied,	hoping	to	dodge	the	question. “It’s	strange	how	mean	we	can	be	to	our	own	kind,”	he	said. “Did	you	ever
notice	that
kind
	has	this	second	meaning? Those	who	are	most	like	you,	your
people,	are	called	your	kind. “Let’s	say	you	didn’t	have	a	little	brother,	but	a	twin	instead,	and	let’s	say
your	twin	was	so	perfect	that	he	did	everything	you	do. Would	you	always	be
kind	to	him?”	asked	Baba. “We’d	still	fight	sometimes,”	I	said. “Yes,	the	closer	people	are,	the	more	flaws	they	see	in	one	another,”	Baba
said. “But	if	you	can’t	be	kind	to	your	perfect	twin,	then	why	be	kind	to
anybody?”
“Because	you	just	feel	like	it,”	I	said. “Feelings	are	tricky. They	tend	to	turn	bad	when	you	aren’t	looking,”	said
Baba. “Your	soul	has	a	better	reason. Stop	looking	for	flaws,	and	kindness
comes	much	more	easily. You	always	have	that	choice. We	spend	a	lot	of	time
overlooking	our	own	faults. Spend	a	fraction	of	that	time	overlooking	thefaults	of	someone	else,	and	soon	you	will	see	that	other	people	deserve	the
same	kindness	you	want	them	to	show	to	you. The	minute	you	see	that
kindness	is
deserved
,	you	will	not	be	casually	mean	to	anyone	again.”
L
OVE	AND	LIKE
Today,	take	time	to	like	someone	you	already	love. Does	this	sound	strange? Most	of	the	people	we	love	are	in	our	family. Loving	them	is	part	of	being
there,	while	liking	them	is	another	matter. Baba	talked	to	me	about	this. “Why	do	I	hear	people	say,	‘I	love	you,	but	I	don’t	like	you’?”	he	asked. “I	don’t	know. It	feels	peculiar	when	someone	says	that,”	I	replied. “Because	they	are	sending	two	messages	at	once,”	said	Baba. “#8216;I	love
you,	but	you	have	done	bad	things	to	me.’	It’s	very	hard	to	like	someone	who
doesn’t	do	what	pleases	you. If	a	friend	makes	you	jealous	or	resentful,	like
goes	out	the	window.”
“Until	you	get	over	it,”	I	said. “Your	soul	knows	a	different	way,”	said	Baba. “There	is	a	place	inside	you
that	has	never	been	hurt	and	never	will	be. If	you	lie	in	bed,	sometimes	you
can	feel	it	as	a	softness	in	your	heart,	a	warm	sense	of	belonging	that	nobody
can	take	away	from	you. You	don’t	have	to	struggle	to	find	that	feeling;	you
only	have	to	uncover	it. Once	you	do,	love	and	like	will	stop	being	such	a
problem,	because	you
	won’t	need	your	friends	to	act	just	the	way	you	want
before	you	can	like	them. And	those	you	love	will	be	likable	because	you
have	stopped	saying,	‘I	like	you	only	when	you’re	nice	to	me.’”
M
USIC	OF	NATURE
Today,	go	outside	and	discover	the	music	of	nature. Some	people	say	that
after	God	created	the	world,	he	felt	like	signing	his	work,	as	a	painter	signs	a
painting. So	he	left	behind	two	things	to	remind	us	of	heaven:	waterfalls	and
rainbows. I	like	that	idea,	but	Baba	took	it	even	further. “Did	you	know	that	there’s	a	kind	of	music	you	can	see?”	asked	Baba. 1
shook	my	head. “It’s	the	music	of	nature. Go	outside	sometime	and	try	to	seeit.”
“How?”
“Begin	by	letting	a	beautiful	sound	reach	your	ears,	such	as	the	singing	of
birds	or	the	rush	of	a	stream,”	Baba	said. “Now	open	your	eyes	and	take	in
the	scene. Don’t	focus	on	the	sound	or	the	sight	you	see,	let	them	blend. Imagine	your	vision	getting	bigger	and	bigger	as	you	take	in	the	trees,	the
clouds,	the	sky. It	all	hangs	together,	just	as	a	perfect	day	seems	to	hang
together. That	harmony	is	the	music	of	nature. It	isn’t	any	one	thing,	no	matter
how	beautiful. It	is	the	beauty	of	One. If	the	angels	really	play	music	for	God,
this	is	what	they	play,	an	eternal	song	in	praise	of	unity.”
N
EGATIVITY
Today,	avoid	the	temptation	to	be	negative. It’s	negative	to	criticize,	to	blame
somebody	else,	to	demand	perfection,	to	treat	someone	as	inferior	or	not	your
kind	of	person. How	many	times	have	you	heard	somebody	justify	these
behaviors? Perform	an	experiment	for	one	day. See	how	you	feel	after	not
being	critical,	not	blaming	anyone,	not	seeing	anybody	else	as	inferior. You’ll
find	a	lot	of	surprises,	such	as	how	often	people	are	negative	without	thinking
they	are,	and	how	good	it	feels	to	go	one	day	without	putting	a	single	person
down	in	any	way. “All	negativity	is	based	on	the	word
no
,”	Baba	told	me. “When	you	say	no,
you	keep	life	from	flowing	where	it	wants	to	go. Your	no	blocks	the	flow.”
“Sometimes	you	have	to	say	no,”	I	pointed	out. “We’re	not	talking	about	saying	no	when	you	see	something	wrong,”	he	said. “If	a	baby	gets	too	close	to	the	fire,	then	no	is	a	way	to	protect	it	from	harm. But	for	every	time	that	kind	of	situation	comes	up,	people	say	a	hundred	noes
that	could	be	yeses. There	is	a	deeper	mystery	here	than	they	realize. “Life	is	always	positive. Its	power	is	used	to	create
	growth. So	if	you	say	yes,
you	harness	the	power	of	growth,	while	saying	no	makes	things	shrink	away
and	stop	growing.”
I	shook	my	head. “I	still	don’t	see	how	you	can	always	say	yes.”
“Words	are	secondary,”	replied	Baba. “It	comes	down	to	allowing. Either	youallow	life	to	unfold	or	you	don’t. When	you	try	to	force	anyone	to	do
something,	when	you	manipulate	or	control,	beg	or	whine,	those	are	signs	that
you	don’t	trust	life	to	unfold. You	want	to	step	in	on	your	own. Any	time	you
feel	totally	alone	fighting	for	yourself,	some	kind	of	negativity	is	at	work. Yet
your	soul	would	never	leave	you	alone;	it	always	offers	the	support	of	life
with	all	its	infinite	power. “Learning	to	allow	takes	time


protective agent is given, failure to reverse neuronal death and its consequences is observed, and a conclusion about the failure  of the agent is assumed. Under unusual circumstances, the neuroprotective agent can  only  prevent the
brain injury from expanding or potentially protect the injured brain cells from dying, as may be the case in the ischemic penumbra where neurons may lie dormant until revival or death. A case in point is the relative efficacy of tPA, the only FDA-approved treatment
for ischemic stroke. Studies have shown that within the 3–4½ h time window where tPA is most effective, 26% of patients return to normal spontaneously without treat -
ment, while an additional 13% return essentially to normal if treated with tPA. 224
This finding indicates that even when part of the brain is still thought to be salvage -
able after an acute ischemic stroke, the chances for returning the patient to a preoc -
clusion status following the best treatment available at the present are limited indeed. The potential harm of tPA thrombolysis is another consideration of the potential for neuroprotection by a pharmacological agent. There has also been considerable con -
cern that tPA can harm patients. For example, the percentage of patients who develop symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhages was reported increased by tPA therapy from 0.6% in placebo-treated patients to 6.4% in tPA-treated patients. 225
This may be the reason why some experiments testing the potential ability of
DMSO in a variety of injuries to the brain and spinal cord show partial or incomplete success in preventing or reversing the damage caused by the lesion. The success and benefit of such treatments should be weighed in terms of the gravity of the injury, the relative benefit of a placebo or no treatment, and the safety of the experimental agent. In this sense, DMSO’s ability to prevent lipid peroxidation and increase high-
energy phosphates such as ATP and PCr in the face of brain tissue headed for bio -
energetic failure constitutes a dramatic advancement in the field of neuroprotection that mandates further exploration. Examination of another property by DMSO that seems to be the basis of action for
thrombolytics like tPA, acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin), and clopidogrel bisulfate (Plavix) is their action in inhibiting platelet aggregation, a condition that generally results from prolonged cerebral ischemia. Multiple studies have shown that thrombosis of the brain is the major cause of stroke. Cerebral thrombosis can occur when a blood clot blocks a cerebral vessel either partially or completely. The clot or thrombus is caused by an inap -
propriate activation of the hemostatic process in an uninjured or mildly injured brain vessel through the aggregation of platelets that form a platelet plug. The clot can adhere to the vessel wall and impede or completely cut off cerebral blood flow, resulting in
tissue death. Treatment of cerebral thrombosis can be started as soon as a diagnosis is
confirmed. These consist of using thrombolytics such as tPA, clopidogrel, and aspirin to break up the clot made up of mostly aggregated platelets. Blood thinners (anticoagu -
lants) can be given after platelet deaggregation to prevent further clots from forming.172 Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) in Trauma and Disease
DMSO when given at 2 g/kg 6 h after embolic stroke has been shown to prevent
thrombosis in mongrel dogs subjected to an embolus introduced into the MCA. The
DMSO-treated animals were observed to have normal behavior and no neurologi -
cal deficits following the experimental embolization.226 By contrast, three of nine
control animals died after embolization, showing large infarctions of the thalamus, internal capsule, and piriform cortex, while the survivors showed contralateral hemi -
plegia and impaired consciousness. 226 The authors of this study postulated that the
positive actions of DMSO in the postischemic period may have been due to its action as a platelet deaggregator. This idea seemed reasonable because previous studies had shown that agents, such as methohexital and in this case DMSO, are able to protect the endothelial membrane in ischemic blood vessels, thus allowing prosta -
cyclin to be released from endothelial cells at the site of ischemia to inhibit platelet aggregation. 227 This notion is the basis for using tPA to dissolve cerebral vessel clots
made up of platelet aggregates and clopidogrel or aspirin to prevent further platelet aggregation. The assumption that DMSO could function as a platelet deaggregator was con -
firmed in a later study in rats whose carotid arteries had been occluded. Dujovny and his team
102 examined experimentally occluded carotid arteries using
scanning electron microscopy and observed within these vessels heavy deposits of platelets, red cell clumps, fibrin, and endothelial flattening in untreated control ani -
mals. Animals treated with intravenous DMSO (2 g/kg) given 1 h prior to carotid occlusion revealed endothelial preservation and no platelet or fibrin clumping. 102
The findings by Dujovny et al.102 suggested that the beneficial action of DMSO in
experimental brain trauma and cerebral ischemia may have been due, at least partly, to the protective effects by DMSO on the microcirculation by decreasing platelet aggregation and thus preventing the evolution of postischemic reperfusion injury. This effect on platelets by DMSO seems entirely plausible from the point of view
that present therapy for arterial thrombosis consists of administering platelet deag -
gregators such as cyclooxygenase inhibitors (aspirin), ADP receptor inhibitors (clop -
idogrel, ticlopidine), adenosine reuptake inhibitors (dipyridamole), PDE inhibitors (cilostazol), and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor antagonists that can block the plate -
let receptor for fibrinogen (tirofiban). What class of antiplatelet drugs DMSO might belong to remains to be determined. DMSO IN MISSILE INJURY TO THE BRAIN
From a historical point of view, one of the more wretched creations introduced to society is the invention of the pistol not for hunting or target practice but for the sole purpose of killing people. Since the 1970s, firearm deaths have increased dramati -
cally in the United States every year. Statistics indicate that in 1988, there were about 34,000 gunshot deaths in the United States and many of these were cranial gunshot wounds. By comparison, Canada statistics show 1450 deaths from gunshot wounds
around the same period. 228 In large U.S. cities, gunshot wounds to the head rank as
the highest cause of all trauma to the brain. Bullets fired from guns tend to be classified as low velocity (<300 m/s) or high
velocity (>300 m/s), but this is a technicality since both high- and low-velocity bullets 173 DMSO in Basic Neuroprotection
act similarly in creating their pathology. High- or low-velocity missile wounds to the
head tend to result in a temporary cavity that produces bursting injuries of the tissue, including blood vessels. When key blood vessels are damaged and bleeding cannot be stopped, the patient will likely die from blood loss at the site of injury. The trajectory of a bullet through the brain carries a major significance as it
crushes structures along its track. Bullets that cut through the brainstem, or the ven -
tricular chambers where spinal fluid is located, are especially lethal. Gunshot wounds to the head are nearly always fatal and, in the best-case scenario,
can leave the victim with severe neurological disability. It is estimated that two-thirds of the victims shot in the head die before reaching a hospital. When a high-velocity bullet hits the head, the skull often shatters into small
pieces, creating not only more wounds to the brain but also a source for infection. Gunshot wounds to the head are classified as penetrating, where the bullet remains lodged in the brain, or perforating where the bullet exits the brain. If the patient with a gunshot wound to the head reaches the hospital, a number of
critical systems must be addressed if the patient is to survive. These include treating high ICP, low oxygenation, hypertension, falling cerebral blood flow, and rising cere -
brovascular resistance that must be treated aggressively if the patient is to survive with a good outcome. If a hematoma is confirmed by CT scan, a craniotomy and surgical evacuation of the clot can be performed, but high ICP may persist. The high pressure in the brain may respond to mannitol treatment but a rebound effect where ICP returns higher than before mannitol treatment is often seen. 229
When patients are deeply comatose and there is minimal evidence of brainstem
function in the absence of an intracranial hematoma that might be causing the coma, a fatal outcome is nearly always certain. An important study was reported by Brown and his colleagues
230 from the
Division of Neurosurgery at the University of Chicago Hospitals and Clinics, a hos -
pital which is classed as a level 1 trauma center. Trauma centers are designed to take care of severe injuries such as car crashes, explosions, and gunshot wounds. The study by Brown and his associates
230 was prompted by the horrific rate of
deaths due to gunshot wounds to the head seen in many large U.S. cities, including Chicago, in the 1980s, which dismally continue to this day.


 could
I wish something to be so so badly that I
would command it —and then sit by and
watch it not be so? What kind of a king would do that? What
kind of a ruler? And yet I tell you this: I am neither a king
nor a ruler. I am simply —and awesomely —
the Creator. Yet the Creator does not rule,
but merely creates, creates —and keeps  on
creating. I have created you —blessed you —in the
image and likeness of Me. And I have  made
certain promises and commitments to you. I have told you, in plain language,  how it will
be with you when you become as one with
Me. You are, as Moses was, an earnest seeker. Moses too, as do you now, stood before
Me, begging for answers. “Oh, God of My
Fathers,” he called. “God of my God,  deign
to show me. Give me a sign, that I may tell
my people! How can we know that  we are
chosen?”  And I came to Moses, even as I have come
to you now, with a divine covenant —an
everlasting promise —a sure and certain
commitment. “How can I be sure?” Moses
asked plaintively. “Because I have told you
so,” I said. “You have the Word of God.”
And the Word of God was not a
commandment, but a covenant. These,
then, are  the... Ten Commitments
You shall know that you have take n the
path to God, and you shall know that you
have found God, for there will be these
signs, these indications, these changes in
you:
1. You shall love God with all your heart, all
your mind, all your soul. And there shall  be
no other God set before Me. N o longer will you worship human love, or success,
money, or power, nor any symbol thereof. You will set aside these things as a child
sets aside toys. Not because they are
unworthy, but because you have outgrown
them. And, you shall know you have taken the
path to God because:
2. You shall not use the name of God in
vain. Nor will you call upon Me for frivolous
things. You will understand the power of
words, and of thoughts, and you would not
think of invoking the name of God in an
unGodly manner. You shall not use My
name in vain because you cannot. For My
name —the Great “I Am” —is never used  in
vain (that is, without result), nor can it ever
be. And when you have found God,  you
shall know this. And, I shall give you these other signs as
well:
3. Yo u shall remember to keep a day for
Me, and you shall call it holy. This, so that
you do not long stay in your illusion, but
cause yourself to remember who and what
you are. And then shall you soon call every
day the Sabbath, and every moment  holy. 4. You s hall honor your mother and your
father —and you will know you are the Son
of God when you honor your Father/Mother
God in all that you say or do or think. And
even as you so honor the Mother/Father
God, and your father and mother on  Earth
(for they have giv en you life), so, too, will
you honor everyone. 5. You know you have found God when you
observe that you will not murder (that is,  willfully kill, without cause). For while you
will understand that you cannot end
another’s life in any event (all life is
eternal), you will not choose to terminate
any particular incarnation, nor change any
life energy from one form to another,
without  the most sacred justification. Your
new reverence for life will cause you to
honor all  life forms —including plants, trees
and animals —and to impact them only
when it is  for the highest good. And these other signs will I send you also,
that you may know you are on the path:
6. You will not defile the purity of love with
dishonesty or deceit, for this is
adulterous. I promise you, when you have
found God, you shall not commit this
adultery. 7. You will not take a thing that is not your
own, nor cheat, nor connive, nor harm
another to have any thing, for this would be
to steal. I promise you, when you have
found God, you shall not st eal. Nor shall you...
8. Say a thing that is not true, and thus bear
false witness. Nor shall you...
9. Covet your neighbor’s spouse, for why
would you want your neighbor’s spouse
when you know all others are your spouse? 10. Covet your neighbor’s goods, f or why
would you want your neighbor’s goods
when you know that all goods can be yours,
and all your goods belong to the world? You will know that you have found the path
to God when you see these signs. For I
promise that no one who truly seeks God
shall any longer do these things. It would
be impossible to continue such behaviors. These are your freedoms, not your
restrictions. These are my commitments,
not my
commandments. For God does not order
about what God has created —God merely
tells God’s chi ldren: this is how you will
know that you are coming home. Moses asked in earnest —“How may I
know? Give me a sign.” Moses asked the
same question that you ask now. The same
question all people everywhere have  asked since time began. My answer is
likewise e ternal. But it has never been, and
never will be, a commandment. For who
shall I command? And who shall I punish
should My commandments not be kept? There is only Me. So I don’t have to keep the Ten
Commandments in order to get to heaven. There is no such thing as “getting to
heaven.” There is only a knowing that you
are already there. There is an accepting, an
understanding, not a working for or a
striving. You cannot go to where you already are. To
do that, you would have to leave where  you
are, and that would defeat the whole
purpose of the journey. The irony is that  most people think they have to leave where
they are to get to where they want to be. And so they leave heaven in order to get to
heaven —and go through hell. Enlightenment is understandin g that there
is nowhere to go, nothing to do, and
nobody you have to be except exactly who
you’re being right now. You are on a
journey to nowhere. Heaven —as you call it —is nowhere. Let’s
just put some space between the w and  the
h in that word and you’ll see that heaven is
now...here. Everyone says that! Everyone says that! It’s driving me crazy! If “heaven is now here,” how come I don’t
see that? Why don’t I feel that? And why is
the world such a mess? I understand your frustration. It’s almost as
frustra ting trying to understand all this as  it
is trying to get someone to understand it. Whoa! Wait a minute! Are you trying to say
that God gets frustrated? Who do you suppose invented frustration? And do you imagine that you can
experience something I cannot? I tell you this: every experience you have, I
have. Do you not see I am experiencing  my
Self through you? What else do you
suppose all this is for? I could not know
Myself were it not for You. I created you that
I might know Who I Am. Now I would not shat ter all of your illusions
about Me in one chapter —so I will tell  you
that in My most sublime form, which you
call God, I do not experience  frustration. Whew! That’s better. You scared me there
for a minute. But that’s not because I can’t. It’s simply
because I don’t choose to. You can make
the same choice, by the way. Well, frustrated or not, I still wonder how it
can be that heaven is right here, and I don’t
experience it. You cannot experience what you don’t
know. And you don’t know you are in
“heave n” right now because you have not
experienced it. You see, for you it is a
vicious circle. You cannot —have not found
a way yet to —experience what you do  not
know, and you do not know what you have
not experienced. What Enlightenment asks you to do is to
know something you have not experienced  and thus experience it. Knowing opens the
door to experience —and you imagine it  is
the other way around. Actually, you know a great deal more than
you have experienced. You simply don’t
know that you know. You know tha t there is a God, for instance. But you may not know that you know  that. So you keep waiting around for the
experience. And all the while you keep
having it. Yet you are having


“W e are right now in a lucid dream. And part of the dream is that which we
call mind, body, and universe.”
Deepak ChopraTM, M.D. “And th e dream  is seamless so  it’ s virtually impossible for pe ople to wake
up.”
My teacher
In your night dreams your mind creates your body, other people (some you
know, so me you don’ t know), cities, towns, houses, vehicles, food, objects,
trees, na ture, an imals, the sun, stars, and sky. It also creates time passing,daytime, nighttime, voices, sounds, and every circumstance a nd event that
takes place in y our dream. Y our mind creates an entire world, it creates a
dream v ersion o f you, and it makes everything seem so real that you don’ t
even question it—until you wake up! Only then do you realize it was a dream. “Y ou probably have noticed one of the main things about a dream. V irtually
always, the “you” in the dream doesn’ t realize it’ s a dream. That’ s the ironic
thing about dreaming. The char acters in a dream automatically assume they
are w ide awake! The dream cha racters are not awake. The dream experiences
are not real. But in the drea m, none of that has been noticed. Notice
something else about a dream. As far as the dream characters are concerned,
there is nothing beyond the dream. The dream characters have no idea that
there is another, real kind of awakeness. A dream character has no idea of
what it’ s missing.”
Peter Dziuban, fr om  Simply Notice
“While w e are subjected to the night dream, everything seems to  be real. If we
see a tiger, we are afraid because we don’ t know that we are c reating the tiger. If w e kn ew that  we couldn’ t po ssibly be afraid, could we? This  demonstrates
that an illusion can seem to be quite real while we are subjec ted to it, even
though, when we become awar e of its illusory nature, we understand that it
was we who were creating it all along.”
Francis Lucille, fr om  T ruth Love Beauty
Even if  you’re fully aware th at the world is a dream, you still remain
respectful of its physicality, and of your physical body. Y ou don’ t go and jump
of f a building, because the build ing, the ground, your body, and gravity are all
made of the same dream stuf f, and you will feel it! As one teacher said, if you
come up and pinch me in a dream, I will feel it, because it’ s a dream pinch!“In a dream, ten years may pass by in one minute. Y ou may have a baby and
then be taking it, as a child, to school. When you wake up, you see that the
body in the drea m was an illusion, and the time to which it was subjected was
also an illusion, but from the vantage point of the dream, it seemed to be real.”
Francis Lucille, fr om  The Perfume of Silence
“If we take the dream state as an example, there may be a dream that covers a
fifty-year period, but we wake u p and realize that it didn’ t actually happen. It
only seemed real while there was identification with the dream state of
consciousness. The waking state is also only an extremely convincing play
that consciousness is producing.”
David Bingham, fr om Conscious TV
“The laws of physics are the laws that apply to this waking d ream. During
night dr eams, th e laws of physics are dif ferent. That is why y ou can fly at
night!”
Francis Lucille, fr om  The Perfume of Silence
No matter what takes place in the “earth” dream, the end is the same for all of
us: we wake up to discover that  it was all a dream! This is why we’re told by
spiritual teacher s to “wake up. ” It means waking up from the illusion and
realizing that it’ s all a dream. W hen we wake up to the truth, we discover that
no one was ever hurt or harmed, and no one died; just like when you wake up
terrorized following a nightmare, and you realize with relief that no one was
actually hurt and nothing bad happened, it was just a dream. “If you can go to a movie an d see a picture of war and suf fering, and
afterward say ‘What a wonderful picture!’ so may you take this life as a
cosmic picture-s how. Be prepared for every kind of experience that may come
to you, realizing that all are but dreams.”
Paramahansa Y ogananda, fr om  Man’ s Eternal Quest
“Seeing the world as a dream is a great practice, and it will help break its
apparent solidity.”
Francis Lucille
W aking Up
“The greatest healing is to wake up from what we are not.”
Mooji
“It’ s like  shifting  your eyes from one thing to a dif ferent thing. It’ s that subtle. It’ s like exhalin g. When you’re ready, you’ll do it. Don’ t tell y ourself you’ll
never be ready. Don’ t tell yourself it’ s not possible. It’ s happening all around
you, to people j ust like you. Th ey aren’ t troubled anymore. They used to be. They are still living their lives. They are brimming in joy. They live lives of
ease, no  matter what is going on. Don’ t be jealous of them. Don’ t doubt them. Become that way yourself. Y ou will rejoice. Y ou will no t be able to
understand why you let yourself continue so long the other way.”
Jan Frazier, fr om  Opening the DoorI can  say with absolute certaint y that I was asleep for several d ecades of my
life. I know I was asleep beca use I can pinpoint the exact day, the exact
moment, and the exact circumstance when I first woke up! Since then I have
had lots of sma ll awakenings, and another major awakening. A wakening is
like coming out of a fog, when suddenly it clears, and you can s ee everything
clearly. Some people have woken up lying on a couch, walking through a parking lot
to their car, hearing the sound of a bird or something a teacher says, or reading
something in particular. Many have woken up in the midst o f a terrifying
event, or during a personal crisis when their life had hit rock bottom. And for
all of them, it w as only when they woke up that they realize d—they were
asleep. “Most p eople, even though they don’ t know it, are asleep. They’re born
asleep, t hey live asleep, they ma rry in their sleep, they breed children in their
sleep, th ey die in their sleep w ithout ever waking up. They liv e mechanical
lives, mechanical thoughts—generally somebody else’ s—mechanical
emotions, mechanical actions, mechanical reactions. They never understand
the loveliness and the beauty of this thing that we call human existence.”
Anthony de Mello, S.J., fr om  A wareness: Conversations with the Masters
Our min d is mechanical, like a program in a computer, so if we’re governed
by o ur m ind, the n our life is mechanical. Maybe you continually  find yourself
with not enough money. This is  the result of a mechanical mind repeating the
same thoughts of “not enough money” over and over again. Y ou empower
those thoughts by believing them, and so you continue to experience not
having e nough m oney. This is th e work of the mind’ s limiting thoughts, while
A wareness is absolute abundance. When you wake up and begin living your life as A wareness, your life will be
beyond anything you can imagine now. Y ou will find the world utterly
magnificent, bur sting with beauty and loveliness, and you will see with clear
eyes tha t everything is on track, nothing is out of place, and all is well. When
our min d is running our life, w e’re prevented from seeing the world as it
really is. The ego ic mind takes issue with most things and objects to them  vehemently. Through its ego-centeredness and inability to see the full picture, it will judge,
criticize, and find fault, and d ue to its limited perspective o f life, it must
perceive problems. “W aking up is unpleasant, you k now. Y ou are nice and comfort able in bed. It
is irritating to be woken up. That’ s the reason the wise guru will  not attempt to
wake people up. I hope I’m g oing to be wise here and make no attempt
whatsoever to wake you up if yo u are asleep. It is really none of my business,
even though I say to you at times, ‘W ake up!’”
Anthony de Mello, S.J., fr om  A wareness: Conversations with the Masters
There’ s one purpose in life for every one of us—to wake up to who we are,
A wareness, and enjoy this incre dible spectacle


Peel and chop the onion and potato. Trim the broccoli and cut into florets. Keep a few florets
to one side and put the rest into a pot with the chopped onion, potato and bay leaf, and cover
with water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes. Add the other florets and simmer for an
additional 10 minutes. Remove the bay leaf. Take the whole florets from the soup and put onto a
hot plate. Put the rest of the soup through the food mill. Add the other cooked florets. Reheat the
soup gently. Serve immediately with a swirl of yogurt. 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 237Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comCarrot and Orange Soup
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 40 minutes
Serves 2-4
1 lb. carrots, chopped
8 oz. onions, chopped
8 oz. potatoes, peeled and chopped
1 orange, juice d
pinch of thyme
Chop the vegetables and put them into a pot with the orange juice and  the thyme, and cover
with water. Bring to a boil, then simmer until vegetables are tender. Purée. Cauliflower Soup
Preparation time: 10 min
Cooking time: 40 minutes
Serves 2-4
1 large cauliflower
1 onion, chopped
1 celery stick, sliced
10 oz. yogurt
parsley, chopped
Trim the cauliflower and break into small florets. Chop the onion and slice the celery. Put into
a pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil, lower the heat and simmer gently for 30 minutes. Purée. Stir in the yogurt. Reheat gently before serving. Garnish with chopped parsley. 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 238Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comCelery, Carrot and Apple Soup
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 45 minutes
Serves 2-4
1 lb. celery, sliced
1 lb. carrots, diced
8 oz. sweet apples (e.g., Pink Lady or Gala), chopped
dill (or lemon  grass)
celery leaves, chopped
Slice the celery, dice the carrots and chop the apples. Put into a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, add the dill (or lemon grass) and simmer for 40 minutes. Purée. Serve immediately and garnish with chopped celery leaves. Celer y Root  and Swiss Chard Soup
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 40 minutes
Serves 2-4
1 small celery root, scrubbed and chopped
1 medium leek, scrubbed and chopped
2 oz. Swiss chard, torn
apple cider vinegar  (or lemon juice)
parsley
Scrub and chop the celery root and leek, and tear the Swiss chard into small pieces. Put into a
pot with apple cider vinegar  (or lemon juice) and cover with water. Bring to a boil, turn down
the heat and simmer until the vegetables are soft. Purée. Serve hot or cold and garnish with
parsley. 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 239Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comCorn Chowder
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 45 minutes
Serves 2-4
3 sticks celery, diced
1 large potato, peeled and diced
1 large onion, diced
1 large green bell pepper, seeded and diced
1 bay leaf (or a pinch of ground bay leaf)
4 ears of corn, sliced
parsley, chopped
Dice the celery, potato and onion. Remove the seeds from the pepper and dice the flesh. Put into
a pot with the bay leaf and add cover with water. Simmer gently until the vegetables are almost
cooked. Slice the corn from the cobs and add to the soup. Cook slowly until all the vegetables
are soft but not broken (about 5 minutes. ). Sprinkle with the chopped parsley and serve. Potato, Cabbage and Dill Soup
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 40 minutes
Serves 2-4
1 medium potato, peeled and chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
1 medium leek, chopped
white cabbage, chopped
4 tsp. dried dill
chives, chopped
Chop the potato, onion and leek. Put into  a pot with the chopped cabbage  and cover with water. Bring to a boil, turn down the heat and add half the dill. Simmer gently until the potatoes are
cooked. Puré e. Add the rest of the dill and reheat gently. Garnish with chopped chives and serve
immediately. 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 240Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comPotato Soup
1 large onion, diced
1/2 small celery knob, diced
2 stalks celery, diced
2 large potatoes, diced
1 leek, diced
parsley
2 quarts water
Dice all vegetables. Place vegetables, parsley, and water in covered saucepan and bring to boil. Lower heat and cover. Simmer 1-1/2 to 2 hours. Mash through food mill. Sweet and Sour Cabbage Soup
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes
Serves 2-4
2 medium onions, sliced
1 medium white (or green) cabbage, cut into thin strips
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 tbsp. sugar
juice of 1 large lemon
3 oz. raisins
1 qt. water
Slice the onion and sweat gently in a little water for a few minutes until softening. Cut the
cabbage into thin strips and add to onion, mixing well. Add crushed garlic. Chop the tomatoes
and add together with the sugar, lemon juice, raisins and water. Bring to a boil and simmer until
the cabbage is al dente  (about 10 minutes ). Serve this hearty soup as a main dish with bread
followed by fruit for dessert. 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 241Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comTangy Tomato Soup
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 25 minutes
Serves 2-4
1 lb. tomatoes, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
1 stick celery, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
little orange juice
yogurt
Chop tomatoes, carrot, celery and onion. Seed pepper and chop. Put all into a lar ge pot and
cover with water. Bring to a boil, turn down the heat and simmer until vegetables are tender. Purée. Add the orange juice. Reheat gently. Add a swirl of yogurt before serving. Tomato Soup with Potato and Onion
2 large tomatoes, diced
1 medium onion, diced
2 medium potatoes, diced
1 tsp. wine vinegar
small bay leaf
Dice all vegetables. Place all ingredients in covered saucepan, cover with water and cook over
low flame for 35-40 minutes. Mash through food mill and serve hot. 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 242Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comVegetables and Potatoes
Baked Pepper and Tomato Salad
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 30 minutes
Serves 2-4
3 red bell p eppers
6 large tomatoes
1 medium red onion, finely sliced
3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
juice of 1 large lemon
3 tbsp. fresh, chopped mint
flaxseed oil
Cook the peppers and tomatoes whole until somewhat cooked but still fi rm. Skin the peppers
and tomatoes, chop roughly and place in a serving dish. Finely slice the onion and very thinly
slice the garlic. Add to the mixture in the dish. Add the lemon and mint. Mix well. Sprinkle with
a little flaxseed  oil. Baked Potato and Parsnip Rosti*
* Rosti means “broiled” or “roasted” (i.e., top-browned)
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 1-1/4 hour
Serves 2
8 oz. parsnips, cored, peeled and coarsely grated
8 oz. potatoes, peeled and coarsely grated
1 onion, finely chopped
2 tbsp. fresh chives, finely chopped
herbs
3-1/2 oz. yogurt


sted water
rich in healing potential. Du ring the dry fast the
old "dead water" is replaced by "living water" of
excellent quality and synthesized by the organ-
ism itself. In the meantime all the negative infor-
mation brought into our body from the outside
is eliminated. By making a relatively short fast
without water the organism is stimulated to
elaborate the water that it already contains
within, thereby renewing our information. This
is why at the end of the fast we are information-
ally uncontaminated; we are composed of a ma-
trix of information devoid of anything negative
coming from the external environment. Similar
mechanisms do not exist in any of the other ex-
isting types of therapeutic fasting. This
Copyright © Vera Giovanna Bani 2019 www.dryfasting.infoThis Ebook was purchased by Gilberto Franchi email: gilbertofranchi@hotmail.frphenomenon is one of the main advantages of-
fered by this form of fasting. It is one of the main
therapeutic mechanisms of DF, which plays a
decisive role in renewing the energetic balance
of the human organism. 8.2. Anti -inflammatory and immune -stimu-
latory mechanism: the action of free forms of
glucocorticoids
The second therapeutic mechanism by im-
portance is an anti -inflammatory and im-
munostimulatory one. Life does not exist with-
out water and even inflammation cannot pro-
gress in its absence. Every part of the body that
is inflamed can be distinguished because of its
swelling. Microorganisms, viruse s and mi-
crobes, can only multiply in a sufficiently watery
Copyright © Vera Giovanna Bani 2019 www.dryfasting.infoThis Ebook was purchased by Gilberto Franchi email: gilbertofranchi@hotmail.frenvironment. A lack of water compromises the
inflammation process. The dehydration occur-
ing in the body with DF triggers a ruthless com-
petition for water between the strongest body
cells and pathog enic microorganisms. The cells
of the body, full of their role as "home owners",
will subtract water from microorganisms. At the
same time, the organism is able to not only syn-
thesize endogenous water in sufficient quantity,
but also to absorb the water fr om the outside,
from the air, through the skin. This is because
during DF the organism functions in absorption
mode rather than in emission. Then, the healthy
and strong cells receive extra energy and water
from the air, by seizing it, while the sick cells, the
viruses and the bacteria cannot do it. This is why
it is fundamental to practice DF in the middle of
Copyright © Vera Giovanna Bani 2019 www.dryfasting.infoThis Ebook was purchased by Gilberto Franchi email: gilbertofranchi@hotmail.frnature, preferably in the mountains and near
streams and waterfalls. Without water, microbes, viruses and parasites
die instantly. 70% glucocorticoid  and sexual
hormones are linked to blood transport albu-
mins and only 30% circulate in the blood in a
free state. During DF, the transport albumins de-
cay and their amino acids are employed in sup-
plying the body's needs, mainly the needs of the
brain and the  cardiovascular system. During this
process there is a release of huge quantities of
hormones circulating in a free state in the blood:
the amount of glucocorticoids flooding the
blood is three times greater than usual. This ex-
erts a strong anti -inflammato ry effect, suppress-
ing all inflammation outbreaks present in the
body. Glucocorticoid hormones are in fact the
Copyright © Vera Giovanna Bani 2019 www.dryfasting.infoThis Ebook was purchased by Gilberto Franchi email: gilbertofranchi@hotmail.frmost powerful anti -inflammatory agent in the
body. The powerful therapeutic mechanism of
dry fasting aimed at fighting inflammatory dis-
eases lies  in the action of free forms of glucocor-
ticoids. As mentioned above, during a dry fast the tox-
ins burn "in their own furnace", which means
that every cell, in the absence of water, triggers a
thermal reaction, a particular radical method
within the cells that destroys all the superfluous,
excessive, and morbid elements. Each cell trans-
forms into a temporary mini -reactor that mani-
fests as an increase in internal temperature. This
temperature may not even be noted with a ther-
mometer, but during DF, patients c learly per-
ceived as a sensation of heat, internal fire or
chills. It should be emphasized that in this state
Copyright © Vera Giovanna Bani 2019 www.dryfasting.infoThis Ebook was purchased by Gilberto Franchi email: gilbertofranchi@hotmail.frthe temperature itself is an important element of
defensive reaction. We know from experience
that with temperature all the waste, poisons and
even  cancer cells are destroyed and their activity
is suspended. This process accelerates healing. By increasing in body temperature, the organism
causes microorganisms to slow their growth. If the body does not receive food and dead and
heavy water, our blood  does not receive many
harmful substances, while it is instead cleansed
by the body, i.e. the same blood composition will
be repeatedly purified through the filter systems
until it becomes as ideally pure as possible. The human body has a powerful weapon
against diseases: the immune system, designed
to safeguard our health with the help of organs
and tissues programmed for the detection and
Copyright © Vera Giovanna Bani 2019 www.dryfasting.infoThis Ebook was purchased by Gilberto Franchi email: gilbertofranchi@hotmail.frelimination of foreign substances and harmful
microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria and
diseased cells. The main organs of the immune
system are the tonsils, the adenoids, the appen-
dix, the spleen and the thymus gland. Bone mar-
row, white blood cells and lymphatic tissues are
also important elements of the immune system. All these elements work together and, when nec-
essary, trigger the body's immune response. In a healthy organism with a strong immune
system it is quite difficult for viruses to survive. Bacteria are destroyed before they can cause in-
fection. Altered or diseased cells are destroyed
before they can cause cancer or other illnesses. But if the immune system is not healthy, it will
not work properly. In this case we can easily get
ill from colds, flu, infectious diseases and even
Copyright © Vera Giovanna Bani 2019 www.dryfasting.infoThis Ebook was purchased by Gilberto Franchi email: gilbertofranchi@hotmail.frcancer. Maintaining a healthy immune system is
the most important thing we can do  to preserve
our health, because this system is our main bio-
logical ally in the war against diseases. But how does the immune system work? When
a foreign body invades the organism, whether it
is a virus or a splinter, the immune system begins
to effectively produce a series of complex chem-
ical reactions. From this moment the immune
system embarks on its mission: to find the out-
sider and to destroy it. In our organism there is an entire system of
cells that resemble amoebae; they are the mono-
nuclear phagocytes. In every organ there is a
group of cells specific for only that organ, which
appear like amoebae and migrate throughout the
body, engulfing and digesting any alien bodies. Copyright © Vera Giovanna Bani 2019 www.dryfasting.infoThis Ebook was purchased by Gilberto Franchi email: gilbertofranchi@hotmail.frThese particular cells are found in the skin, in
the liver and in the heart and even in the brain. They migrate continuously, looking for prey. The problem is that any food, even vegetable,
contains a small amount of fat and the mononu-
clear phagocytes, instead of carrying out their di-
rect functions, focus on capturing and digesting
these droplets of fat, as if they had nothing else
to do. During dry fasting, however, the phago-
cytes are left without food, i.e. without fat, so
they begin to perform their direct tasks: capture
and digest bacteria, viruses, cell residues, dead or
dying cells, thus fostering renewal and the reju-
venation of the organism. Cancer cells, always
present in the body, are also digested. The de-
struction of diseased cells, and not of healthy
cells during DF is also associated with the release
Copyright © Vera Giovanna Bani 2019 www.dryfasting.infoThis Ebook was purchased by Gilberto Franchi email: gilbertofranchi@hotmail.frof lymphoepithelial cell s from the entire diges-
tive system. Abstinence from water and food for many days
creates the conditions for the withdrawal of the
powerful army of b -lymphocytes from the front-
line gastrointestinal positions. They accumulate
from the lymph nodes and lymphat ic collectors
of the long digestive path. In particular many of
them come from the small intestine. Once they
have transitioned to the reserve position, the
army of b -lymphocytes can be utilized for its di-


teaspoon	coconut	oil

Directions

1. Clean	all	ingredients	thoroughly. 2. Add	all	ingredients	through	a	juicer. Adjust	the	seasonings	to	taste. 3. This	is	a	very	refreshing	drink,	which	is	great	for	cleansing	the	body	of
toxins. Enjoy!Fresh	Summer	Limeade
(Ready	in	about	10	minutes	|	Servings	2)

Ingredients

1. 1/2	medium-sized	honeydew

1. 1/2	medium-sized	watermelon

1. 1/2	cup	fresh	mint

1. 1	lime

Directions

1. Remove	rind	from	honeydew	and	watermelon. 2. Wash	all	ingredients	thoroughly	and	transfer	them	to	a	juice	extractor. 3. Simply	juice	all	the	above	ingredients	and	serve	immediately. 4. The	juice	helps	you	to	improve	your	digestion	and	weight	loss. Did	you
know	that	mint	is	a	natural	stimulant,	so	it	gets	your	brain	function	on	a
high	level?!Grapefruit	Mint	Juice
(Ready	in	about	10	minutes	|	Servings	2)

Ingredients

1. 3	carrots

1. 1	grapefruit

1. 1	small	handful	mint

1. 1/2	fennel

1. 1	lime

1. 5	leaves	kale

Directions

1. Scrub	the	carrots,	and	peel	your	grapefruit	and	lime. 2. Then,	wash	all	ingredients	thoroughly	and	transfer	them	to	a	juicer	along
with	the	rest	of	ingredients. 3. Process	the	ingredients	and	serve	the	juice	in	individual	glasses. 4. Keep	in	mind	that	blood	oranges	yield	more	juice. Enjoy!Post-Workout	Drink
(Ready	in	about	10	minutes	|	Servings	1)

Ingredients

1. 1	carrot,	scrubbed	and	coarsely	chopped

1. 1	small	sweet	potato,	scrubbed	and	coarsely	chopped

1. 2	oranges,	peeled	and	cut	into	chunks

1. 1/4	cup	raw	almonds

1. 1	apple,	cored	and	cubed

1. 1/2	cup	water

Directions

1. In	a	blender,	combine	all	the	above	ingredients:	then;	blend,	scraping	down
sides,	until	uniform	and	smooth. 2. Strain	juice	and	add	some	additional	water	if	needed. The	ingredients	help
you	build	and	repair	your	muscles. Enjoy!Asparagus	and	Tomato	Juice
(Ready	in	about	10	minutes	|	Servings	1)

Ingredients

1. 1	stalk	asparagus

1. 1	large-sized	tomato

1. 1	cucumber

1. 1/2	teaspoon	ground	allspice

1. 1	orange,	peeled

Directions

1. First	of	all,	wash	your	ingredients	thoroughly. Process	the	asparagus	and
tomato	through	your	juicer	according	to	the	manufacturer’s	directions. 2. Add	the	rest	of	the	ingredients. 3. Mix	the	juice	until	everything	is	well	combined;	serve	over	crushed	ice. 4. Asparagus	is	a	natural	diuretic	because	it	is	extremely	rich	in	vitamins	A
and	E,	as	well	as	in	folic	acid	and	iron.Carrot	and	Maca	Limeade
(Ready	in	about	10	minutes	|	Servings	2)

Ingredients

1. 2	carrots,	trimmed

1. 1	apple,	cored

1. 1	pear,	cored

1. 1	lime,	peeled	and	seeded

1. 1	teaspoon	Maca	powder

Directions

1. Process	the	ingredients	through	your	electronic	juicer	according	to	the
manufacturer’s	directions. 2. Whisk	your	juice	in	order	to	combine	well	and	enjoy	right	now. 3. Maca	is	a	plant	from	central	Peru. It	is	used	for	chronic	fatigue	syndrome,
athletic	performance,	good	memory,	anemia,
etc.Artichoke	and	Carrot	Cocktail
(Ready	in	about	10	minutes	|	Servings	2)

Ingredients

1. 4	Jerusalem	artichokes

1. 4	large	radishes,	tailed	and	trimmed

1. 1	celery	stalk,	chopped

1. 1	handful	baby	spinach

1. 1	bunch	fresh	cilantro

1. 3	medium	carrots,	trimmed

Directions

1. Process	the	artichokes,	one	at	a	time,	through	your	electronic	juicer. 2. Don’t	forget	to	roll	the	spinach	and	cilantro	into	a	ball	to	compress	while
adding	them	to	a	juicer. 3. Add	all	the	ingredients	and	juice	them. 4. Jerusalem	artichoke	is	a	root	vegetable,	and	it	is	a	great	source	of	dietary
fibers	and	beneficial	minerals	and	electrolytes	such	as	iron,	potassium,	and
copper. Enjoy!Kiwi	and	Grapefruit	Juice
(Ready	in	about	10	minutes	|	Servings	2)

Ingredients

1. 3	kiwi	fruits,	peeled

1. 1	pear,	cored

1. 2	pink	grapefruits,	peeled	and	seeded

1. 1/2	cup	coconut	water

Directions

1. Simply	juice	all	of	the	above	ingredients. 2. Pour	the	juice	into	glasses	and	serve. 3. Kiwi	fruit	is	packed	with	vitamin	C	that	can	neutralize	free	radicals	in	our
body	and	it	can	help	in	reducing	rheumatoid	arthritis,	asthma,	and	so	on.Papaya	and	Strawberry	Juice
(Ready	in	about	10	minutes	|	Servings	2)

Ingredients

1. 2	papayas

1. 1	cup	strawberries,	hulled

1. 1/2	cup	raspberries

1. 1	tablespoon	fresh	mint

Directions

1. Process	the	ingredients	through	your	electronic	juicer	according	to	the
manufacturer’s	instructions. 2. Stir	or	shake	juice	before	serving. 3. Papaya	is	an	excellent	source	of	vitamin	A	and	vitamin	C.

This	drink	is
good	for	everyone	with	constipation	and	urinary	disorders.Simple	Cleansing	Cocktail
(Ready	in	about	10	minutes	|	Servings	2)

Ingredients

1. 1	medium	cucumber

1. 1	bunch	parsley

1. 1	medium	apple,	cored

1. Water	to	make	1	cup	juice

Directions

1. Juice	all	the	above	ingredients. Serve	and	enjoy! 2. This	is	the	simple	juice	for	body	cleansing.Chard	and	Avocado	Cocktail	Drink
(Ready	in	about	10	minutes	|	Servings	2)

Ingredients

1. 2	leaves	Swiss	chard,	torn	into	pieces

1. 1⁄2	avocado,	pitted	and	diced

1. 1	mango,	cut	into	chunks

1. 1⁄2	cup	coconut	water

Directions

1. Process	Swiss	chard	and	avocado	through	an	electronic	juicer. 2. Transfer	it	to	a	blender;	add	the	mango	and	coconut	water. Blend	until	the
mixture	is	smooth. 3. Pour	the	juice	into	glasses	and	serve. 4. The	juice	is	loaded	with	fiber	and	antioxidants.Cantaloupe	and	Blackberry	Juice
(Ready	in	about	10	minutes	|	Servings	2)

Ingredients

1. 1⁄2	cantaloupe,	peeled	and	seeded

1. 1⁄4	cup	parsley

1. 1⁄4	cup	fresh	mint	leaves

1. 1	cup	blackberries

Directions

1. Juice	all	ingredients	thoroughly. Pour	into	two	well-chilled	glasses. 2. Drink	at	once. 3. The	juice


a
large
amount
of
water,
if
possible
melted,
and
by
cleansing
the
body
organs
beforehand. Example:
"I
damaged
my
liver
after
falling
off
a
horse. The
doctor
said
that
they
were
all
cracked
and
he
was
surprised
that
after
1
month
of
urine
therapy
I
was
healthy
again." Comment
and
recommendation:
Urine
that
is
absorbed
through
the
digestive
tract
(especially
during
enemas)
immediately
enters
the
liver. The
healing
occurred
mainly
due
to
the
fact
that
urine
is
a
fluid
saturated
with
gravitational
energy,
which
quickly
brought
the
damaged
parts
together. Its
acidity
supports
biosynthesis,
the
salts
and
other
substances
contained
in
it
form
a
kind
of
"cement"
that
quickly
strengthens
everything. Example:
"In
two
days,
I
healed
a
burn
from
an
open
fire
on
my
hand
(from
the
wrist
to
the
elbow
on
the
inside)
with
urine." Instead
of
blisters
and
a
festering
wound,
a
dry,
dark
cherry
blank
has
formed. I
used
to
wear
the
poultice
all
the
time. Then
I
smeared
the
wound
with
urine. After
five
days,
the
swelling
went
down
and
the
pain
disappeared. It
just
itches
a
little.' The
Russian
scientist
F.
Chaneja
describes
case
of
cure
of
tick-borne
encephalitis:
“The
affected
woman
was
injected
with
2
ml
of
her
own
sterilized
urine
every
two
hours. For
the
second
time
the
introduction
of
urine,
the
temperature
dropped
to
37
degrees,
the
next
day
even
to
36.7,
and
the
patient
regained
consciousness. In
24
hours,
other
symptoms
of
the
disease
alsoweakened:
headaches,
pain
in
the
joints,
muscles,
etc. After
three
days,
a
clinical
recovery
was
noted. Later,
this
method
was
tested
on
volunteers
in
the
treatment
of
angina,
influenza,
pneumonia,
radiculitis,
rheumatism,
typhoid
fever,
dysentery,
pancreatitis
and
other
diseases
with
good
therapeutic
effects. Our
experience,
as
in
the
literature,
confirms:
1)
Rapid
temperature
reduction. 2)
Rapid
pain
relief. 3)
Rapid
reduction
of
intoxication. 4)
Exclusion
of
complications
and
recurrences. 5)
Overall
faster
recovery
than
with
conventional
methods
of
treatment. Comment
and
recommendation:
We
already
know
that
urine
acts
on
the
skin
in
3
seconds
(!) after
its
application
and
it
can
be
introduced
into
the
body
with
a
simple
massage,
simply
and
physiologically:
20
ml
in
2-3
minutes. To
quickly
reduce
the
temperature,
we
apply
urine
compresses
to
the
pulse. We
should
achieve
same
effect
as
with
intravenous
introduction
of
urine,
presented
by
Chaneja. Example:
“The
boy
was
bitten
by
some
kind
of
insect. The
area
became
very
swollen,
red,
itchy
and
eventually
very
painful. We
included
a
poultice
of
fresh
urine. In
40
minutes
the
pain
disappeared. In
4
hours,
all
the
symptoms
of
the
bite
also
disappeared." A.
Maslenikov
states
two
examples
of
people
who
were
irradiated
in
the
Chernobyl
explosion:
The
affected
man
lost
all
his
hair,
began
to
be
treated
with
urinotherapy
-
massages
and
compresses
of
his
head
with
his
own
urine,
drinking
all
urine
within
1
month. The
result:
purification
of
the
blood
from
the
effects
of
radiation
and
new
hair. In
the
second
case,
a
girl
was
irradiated
and
a
blood
analysis
showed
cancer. She
cured
herself
by
drinking
her
own
urine. She
knew
the
method
well,
because
even
before
the
Chernobyl
tragedy,
she
used
urine
to
treat
cancer
of
the
larynx
with
metastases. Comment
and
recommendation:
In
the
first
case,
urine
helped
push
radiation
out
of
the
body. A
person
was
irradiated
and
this
radiation
was
"written",
encoded
in
his
fluids. When
urine
was
administered
back
into
the
body
through
the
mouth
or
skin,
the
effects
of
radiation
were
mutually
suppressed
due
to
the
interference
effect. Difficulties
such
as
hair
loss
were
quickly
removed
with
the
help
of
biologically
active
substances
contained
in
standing
urine. In
the
case
of
the
girl,
I
only
want
to
point
out
why
the
cancer
returned. The
diet
that
created
the
conditions
for
cancer
is
to
blame. The
girl
cured
it
with
urine
therapy,
but
she
continued
to
eat
pathologically,
and
the
explosion
in
Chernobyl
was
only
the
trigger
mechanism
that
caused
a
new
outbreak
of
cancer. Therefore,
it
is
necessary
to
constantly
monitor
the
diet
to
prevent
alkalization
of
the
organism. As
part
of
prevention,
it
is
also
necessary
to
drink
your
own
fresh
urine
every
morning. 1
glass,
i.e. 2
dcl,
of
fresh,
warm
urine
is
enough.Urinotherapy
and
cosmetics
We
have
already
mentioned
why
urine
improves
the
condition
of
the
skin
and
hair. It
can
be
used
instead
of
soap,
because
the
ammonia
and
urea
contained
in
it
dissolve
impurities
and
wash
them
away. Armstrong
writes,
for
example,
that
the
most
expensive
types
of
soap
were
produced
and
are
still
produced
on
the
basis
of
salts
and
fats
from
the
urine
of
cows
that
grazed
on
mountain
pastures. Also,
some
expensive
creams
contain
hormones
from
urine. At
Maslenikov,
we
learn
that
it
is
very
useful
to
have
an
evening
instead
of
lotion
smear
the
skin
with
fresh
urine
. First,
with
the
help
of
a
cotton
ball,
wash
away
the
cosmetics
and
impurities,
and
then
wet
the
skin
with
urine
once
more
and
let
it
act
for
30-40
minutes. Then
wash
with
cold
water. Fingertips
can
be
gently
massaged
by
pulsing. The
skin
becomes
smooth,
the
secretion
of
fat
is
regulated
and
no
cream
is
needed. The
skin
acquires


iciency. This helps explain
why mammals have lar ger brains than non-mammals, and why human, whale, and dolphin
brains kept growing so rapidly over millions of years as reptilian brains didn’ t. Oxygen equals
ener gy equals evolution. Our ability to breathe lar ge and full breaths, in some ways, helped
make us human. David A. Raichlen and Adam D. Gordon, “Relationship between Exercise
Capacity and Brain Size in Mammals,” PLoS One 6, no. 6 (June 2011): e20601; “Functional
Design of the Respiratory System,” medicine.mcgill.ca,
https://www.medicine.mcgill.ca/physio/resp-web/TEXT1.htm ; Alexis Blue, “Brain Evolved to
Need Exercise,” Neuroscience News, June 26, 2017, https://neurosciencenews.com/evolution-
brain-exercise-6982/. m i l l i o n s  o f  y e a r s :  Bettina E. Schirrmeister et al., “Evolution of Multicellularity Coincided with
Increased Diversification of Cyanobacteria and the Great Oxidation Event,” PNAS 110, no. 5
(Jan. 2013): 1791–96. “ t h e  l i v i n g  s t a t e ” :  Albert Szent-Györ gyi, “The Living State and Cancer,” Physiological Chemistry and
Physics, Dec. 1980. “ s i m p l e  b u t  s u b t l e ” :  Szent-Györ gyi attributes this phrase to personal communication with P. Ehrenfest,
an Austrian- Dutch theoretical physicist. b e g i n  t o  b r e a k  d o w n :  G. E. W. W olstenholme et al., eds., Submolecular Biology and Cancer  (Hoboken,
NJ: John W iley & Sons, 2008): 143.
e n v i r o n m e n t s  o f  l o w  o x y g e n :  J. Cui et al., “Hypoxia and Miscoupling between Reduced Ener gy Ef ficiency
and Signaling to Cell Proliferation Drive Cancer to Grow Increasingly Faster,” Journal of
Molecular Cell Biology, 2012; Alexander Greenhough et al., “Cancer Cell Adaptation to
Hypoxia Involves a HIF-GPRC5A-Y AP Axis,” EMBO Molecular Medicine, 2018. “ I n  e v e r y  c u l t u r e  a n d  i n  e v e r y  m e d i c a l  t r a d i t i o n ” :  This quotation has been attributed to Szent-Györ gyi’ s
lecture “Electronic Biology and Cancer,” which he presented at the Marine Biological
Laboratory, W oods Hole, Massachusetts, July, 1972.
f i l l e d  w i t h  c o p i e s :  “Master DeRose,” enacademic.com,
https://enacademic.com/dic.nsf/enwiki/1 1708766. n o w  A f g h a n i s t a n,  P a k i s t a n :  The Indus V alley descriptions and details are taken from the following:
“Indus River V alley Civilizations,” Khan Academy,
https://www.khanacademy.or g/humanities/world-history/world-history-beginnings/ancient-
india/a/the-indus-river -valley-civilizations ; Saifullah Khan, “Sanitation and W astewater
T echnologies in Harappa/Indus V alley Civilization (ca. 2600–1900 bce),”
https://canvas.brown.edu/files/61957992/download?download_frd=1. l a r g e s t  g e o g r a p h i c a l l y :  T o put this in perspective, 300,000 square miles is equivalent to all East Coast
states from Florida to New Y ork. Craig A. Lockard, Societies, Networks, and T ransitions: A
Global History  (Stamford, CT : Cengage Learning, 2008). A  s e a l  e n g r a v i n g :  Y an Y. Dhyansky, “The Indus V alley Origin of a Y oga Practice,” Artibus Asiae  48,
nos. 1–2 (1987), pp. 89–108. b i r t h p l a c e  o f  y o g a :  A thorough description of the history, epistemology, and evolution of Samkhya and
the earliest yoga can be found in this excellent academic paper at the Internet Encyclopedia of
Philosophy, https://www.iep.utm.edu/yoga/.o f  N a z i  l o r e :  The word Aryan  comes from the Sanskrit ērān, which was the basis for the modern
country name of Iran. The term never had anything to do with white supremacy until the Nazis
appropriated it some four thousand years later. l a n g u a g e  o f  S a n s k r i t :  Steve Farmer et al., “The Collapse of the Indus-Script Thesis: The Myth of a
Literate Harappan Civilization,” Electr onic Journal of V edic Studies  11, no. 2 (Jan. 2014): 19–
57, http://laurasianacademy.com/ejvs/ejvs1 102/ejvs1 102article.pdf. C h a n d o g y a  U p a n i s h a d s :  From a philosophy called Samkhya. Samkhya was based on reason and proof. The noun root of Samkhya means “number”; the verb root means “to know.” “Either you know
or you don’ t,” DeRose told me. “Spirituality had nothing to do with it!” The foundation of
Samkhya was secular, based on empirical studies, not opinions. He told me that there was no
mention of any praying hands or standing yoga postures in the earliest Upanishads because
these exercises were never part of the practice. The earliest yoga was a technology developed
to influence and control prana. It was a science of meditation and breathing. Possibly the
earliest reference to pranayama (the ancient Indian art of breath control) is listed in hymn
1.5.23 of the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, which was first documented around 700 B C E. “One
should indeed breathe in (arise), but one should also breathe out (without setting) while saying,
‘Let not  the misery that is dying reach me.’ When one would practice that (breathing), one
should rather desire to thoroughly realize that (immortality). It is rather through that
(realization) that he wins a union with this divinity (breath), that is a sharing of worlds.” The
Brihadaranyaka Upanishad,  book 1, trans. John W ells, Darshana Press,
http://darshanapress.com/Brihadaranyaka%20Upanishad%20Book%201.pdf. I n d i a,  C h i n a,  a n d  b e y o n d :  By the sixth century B C E, Siddhartha Gautama, the son of an Indus V alley
warrior king and queen, found his way to beneath a ficus tree in northeast India. He sat down
and started practicing these ancient breathing and meditation techniques. Gautama became
enlightened, and took of f to teach the wonders of breathing, meditation, and enlightenment
throughout the East. Siddhartha would later become known as the Buddha, founder of the
Buddhist faith. B y  a r o u n d  5 0 0  BCE :  Michele Marie Desmarais, Changing Minds: Mind, Consciousness and Identity in
Patanjali’ s Y oga-sutra and Cognitive Neur oscience  (Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 2008). e x t e n d i n g  e x h a l a t i o n s :  The actual passage is much more vague. According to DeRose, it translates to
something along these lines: “The fourth type of pranayama transcends inhalation and
exhalation.” Interpretations of the Y oga Sutras vary broadly; the interpretation I listed, by
Swami Jnaneshvara, I found the most elucidating and accessible. More here:
http://swamij.com/yoga-sutras-24953.htm, http://www.swamij.com/yoga-sutras-
24953.htm#2.51. t h e  i n s t r u c t o r s  w o u l d  y e l l :  Mestre DeRose, Quando É Pr eciso Ser Forte: Autobiografia  (Portuguese
edition) (São Paulo: Egrégora, 2015). o n l y  i n


. Mint is used in jams, jellies and other preserves,
peppermint being the most flavourful for preserving recipes. Both peppermin t and spearmint (bottom photo above) are healthy and
aggressive plants in the herb garden. Parsley
Parsley is a great herb for preserving because it keeps its colour  and freezes
well. Curly parsley (Petr oselinum crispum)  and flat-leaf  parsley
(P.neapolitanum)  are common.I grow and use b oth varieties of parsley and find that the flat-le af variety is
stronger in flavour. Parsley is used in salsa, with bulgur and couscous, and
in summer pastes and pesto. Persillade
One of my favourite methods of preserving parsley is to make a persillade
of finely  chopp ed parsley, garlic and sunflower seeds in a 3:2:1 ratio. I
freeze it  in 1 or 2 tbsp (15 or 25  mL) amounts for an easy addition to soups,
casseroles, marinades, sauces a nd stews. I lightly spray a plastic ice cube
tray with olive oil and pack persillade into it. Once frozen, the persillade
cubes pop out, and I store them in resealable plastic bags for easy use. Rose
Although roses are not herbs, their flowers and fruits, like those of herbs,
can be used in cooking. North American First Nations people s used rose
petals an d hips to treat a variety of ailments. Rosewater is an ef fective way
to preser ve the fragrance of rose s, and it is used in Middle East ern cooking
in particular. Rich in vitamins C, A, B, E and K, tart-tasting rosehips can be d ried for teas
and infu sions. L ike crabapples, rosehips are also high in pectin  and can be
chopped and boiled with rose petal infusion or fruit juice to impart their
beautiful colour, pectin and n utrients to jelly. Substitute rosehips forcranberries in sauce and relish  dishes if you have enough after the cold
weather brings them along to maturity. parsley jelly
Parsley jelly is an old English f avourite that often r elied on cr abapples or
early tart apples to make the parsley infusion “set up,” or jell. If made the
traditional way, it’ s a very mild-tasting, soft jelly that can be used with pork,
fish or poultry. U se the flat-leaf parsley if you have it, because it is str onger
in flavour. This r ecipe can be us ed to make mint, sage, thyme or basil jelly
by s imply substituting any of those fr esh herbs for the parsley. For mor e zip
to the jelly, add up to 1/4 cup (50 mL) chopped fr esh hot chile pepper or 2
tbsp (25 mL) crushed dried cayenne pepper. MAKES 6–1/2 CUPS (1.625 L)
2 cups (500 mL) lightly packed coarsely chopped fr esh parsley
3 cups (750 mL) boiling water
1 cup (250 mL) unsweetened apple juice (appr ox)
2 tbsp (25 mL) cider vinegar or white wine vinegar
2 tbsp (25 mL) fr eshly squeezed lemon juice 4–1/2 cups (1.125 L)
granulated sugar 1 pkg (1–3/4 oz/49 to 52 g) fruit pectin crystals 1/4
cup (50 mL) finely chopped hot chile pepper (or to taste), optional

1. Place  parsley  in a non-react ive teapot or bowl with a tight-fitting lid. Pour bo iling wa ter over parsley and cover with lid. Let stand until cool,
about 1 hour. 2. Heat seven 1- cup (250 mL) ja rs in boiling water, and scald the lids, lifter,
funnel and tongs ( Boiling W ater Method, Step by Step ).3. Strain  of f the parsley infusion  into a 4-cup (1 L) liquid measure. Discard
the h erbs. Add e nough apple juice to bring the total liquid to 4 cups (1 L). Pour parsley/apple liquid into a Maslin pan or canning kettle. Add vinegar
and lemon juice. Increase hea t and bring to a boil over m edium heat,
stirring constantly. 4. A dd sugar, 1 cup (250 mL) at a time, stirring to dissolve  after each
addition. Bring to a full rolling boil. Add pectin and boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat. Skim of f and discard any foam. If using chile pepper, let
jelly sit for up to 30 minutes before adding chile to the jelly. 5. F ill hot jars, leaving a 1/4-inch (5 mm) headspace. Run a thin non-
metallic utensil around the insid e of the jar to allow air to escape. Add more
hot jelly, if necessary, to leave a  1/4-inch (5 mm) headspace. W ipe rims, top
with flat lids an d screw on met al rings. Return jars to the hot water bath,
topping up with hot water if necessary. Bring to a full rolling boil and
process jars for 10 minutes (see page xx). 6. Remo ve cann er lid and wait 5 minutes before removing jars t o a towel or
rack to cool com pletely. Check seals, label and store in a cool place for up
to 1 year. s u m m e r  h e r b  b r o w n  m a y o n n a i s e
I make up lots of this tangy puré e and use it to r eplace r eal mayonnaise, as
a spr ead  for grilled fish, to toss with rice or to mix with an chovies for
crackers. It’ s one of those condi ments that will pr ove to be very versatile in
the kitchen. It makes a gr eat picnic spr ead. Rimmed baking sheet, lightly oiled
Pr eheat oven to 450°F (230°C)
MAKES 3 CUPS (750 mL)
2 onions, quarter ed
1 leek, trimmed, washed and coarsely chopped
4 cloves garlic, halved
3/4 cup (175 mL) olive oil, divided
3 tbsp (45 mL) chopped fr esh basil
2 tbsp (25 mL) chopped fr esh parsley
1/2 tsp (2 mL) salt
1/4 cup (50 mL) balsamic vinegar

1. O n pr epared b aking sheet, arrange onions, leek and garlic in single layer. Drizzle with 1/4 cup (50 mL) of the olive oil. Roast in preheated oven,
stirring frequently, for 15 to 20 minutes or until browned and tender. 2. T rans fer vege tables to a sma ll bowl. Stir in remaining oliv e oil, basil,
parsley and salt. Cover and let  stand overnight or for at least 4 hours to
blend flavours.3. In a food processor, purée vegetable mixture, adding vinegar in a slow
stream t hrough the opening in t he lid. Process until smooth. T r ansfer to an
airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. T o Use as a Dressing: Whisk together 3 tbsp (45 mL) Summer Herb
Brown Mayonnaise with 1/2 cup (125 mL) orange juice. b a s i l  p e s t o
Pesto turns fr om a beautiful b right gr een to black very quic kly, almost
befor e you can get it spooned into the jar or fr eezer bag. For this r eason, I
have included a few tablespoons  of lemon juice to pr event oxidation, which
turns cu t herbs black. Personall y, I do not use the lemon juice in pesto for
my own use (it does change the taste slightly, although not in a bad way),
but I offer it her e as an option because it would be a shame for your family
to shy away fr om this fabulous ar omatic, nutmeg-flavour ed sauce just
because of its blackish colour. T he benefit of making your own pesto is that
you can use as much or as little oil as you like and, in turn, will get a fairly
dry or a wet pesto. My husband, who uses gobs of pesto on everything, even
br eakfast omelet tes, likes it smoo th and paste-like, but not oily. I pr ocess his
pesto longer than I do mine but use the same amount of oil for both. I like
my p esto on the dry side and wi th definite small bits of the ingr edients still
discernible (that’ s my pesto in the photograph, below). MAKES ABOUT 12 CUPS (3 L) 4 large cloves garlic
1/2 cup (125 mL) pine nuts or sunflower seeds 3 oz (90 g) hard Italian
cheese (Parmesan,
Parmigiano-Reggiano or pecorino), cut into
small cubes
3 cups


 entire mess on the lack of
fairness, try looking hard at your own in-170 / Your Erroneous Zonesability to decide for yourself what is most appropriate for you. • The “If he can do it, so can I” game in which you justify some-
thing by someone else’s behavior. This can be the neurotic rationale
for cheating, stealing, flirting, lying, being late, or anything that
you’d rather not admit into your own value system. On the highway,
cutting off another driver because he did it to you, or hurrying up
to get in front of a slowpoke, to slow him down, because he did it
to you, or leaving your highbeams on because oncoming cars are
doing it—literally putting your own life in jeopardy because your
sense of justice has been violated. This is the “He hit me, so I hit
him” routine that is largely employed by children who have seen
this behavior thousands of times in their own parents. It is the cause
of war when extended to its ridiculous extreme. • Spending the same amount of money on a gift that someone
else spent on one for you. Paying back every favor with a favor of
equal value. Keeping the tally sheet equal, rather than doing what
you would like in such matters. After all, “It has to be fair. ”
There they are, a brief excursion down Justice-Alley, where you,
and those around you, find yourself internally shaken—often only
slightly, but still shaken—because of that unserviceable sentence in
your head that things must be fair. Some of the Psychological Payoffs for Hanging Onto Your “Demands
for Justice”
The rewards for this kind of behavior are generally self-defeating
in that they keep the focus off reality and on some kind of a dream
world that will never exist. The most common reasons for retaining
your “demand for justice” thinking and behavior are:THE JUSTICE TRAP  / 171• You can feel smug with yourself for being honorable. It’s one
way to make yourself feel superior and better. As long as you insist
on a mythological justice system for everything and are careful to
keep your tally sheet in balance, you’ll hold onto your holier than
thou feeling and use up your present moments with smugness rather
than effective living. • You can give up responsibility for yourself and justify being
immobilized by shifting the responsibility to those people and events
that are not fair. A scapegoating for your lack of ability to be and
feel what you choose. In this way, you can avoid risks, and the hard
work of change. As long as injustice is the cause of your problems
you can never change until the injustice goes away, which, of course,
it never will. • Injustice can win you attention, pity and self-pity. The world
has been unjust to you and now you and everyone around you must
feel sorry for you. This is another great technique for avoiding
change. The attention, pity and self-pity are your rewards, and you
use them to prop yourself up rather than take charge of yourself
and eliminate comparison behavior. • You can justify all kinds of immoral, illegal and inappropriate
behavior by making your action someone else’s responsibility. If he
can do it, so can I. That’s a beautiful rationalization system for any
behavior. • It gives you a sensational self-excuse for being ineffective. “If
they aren’t going to do anything, then neither am I. ” A clever little
ploy for being too lazy, too tired, or too frightened. • It gives you a conversation topic and helps you to avoid talking
about yourself to the people around you. Complain about all the
injustices in the world and nothing gets done, but at least you killed
those moments and maybe escaped dealing more honestly and
personally with each other. • As long as you have a concept of justice, you can always make
the just decision. • You can manipulate others, particularly your children, by re-
minding them that they are being unfair to you if they aren’t172 / Your Erroneous Zonesexactly the same as you, and don’t keep a precise tally of all give-
and-take in the relationship. A nice little device for getting your own
way. • You can justify vindictive behavior because everything must be
fair. This is a ploy for getting away with all kinds of manipulative
and unsavory activities. Vengeance is justifiable because everything
must be fair and even. Just as you must repay a favor, so you must
repay a meanness. There you have the psychological maintenance system for hanging
onto demands for justice. But this support system is not unshakable. Below are some strategic methods for tossing out this kind of
thinking and wiping clean this demand-for-justice erroneous zone. Some Strategies for Giving Up the Futile Insistence on Justice
• Make a list of everything in your world that you think is unfair. Use your list as a guide for effective personal action. Ask yourself
this important question. “Will the inequities go away if I am upset. ”
Obviously not. By attacking the erroneous thinking that brings about
your upset, you will be on your way to escape from the justice trap. • When you find yourself saying, “Would I do that to you. ” or
any similar sentence, change it to, “You are different from me, al-
though I find that hard to accept right now. ” This will open, rather
than close communication between you and the other person. • Begin to view your emotional life as independent of whatever
anyone else does. This will free you from the chains of being hurt
when others behave differently from the way you want them to. • Try to view each decision not as a monumental life-chang-THE JUSTICE TRAP  / 173ing event, but in perspective. Carlos Castaneda calls a man of
knowledge one who—
Lives by acting, not by thinking about acting, nor by thinking
about what he will think when he has finished acting…He
knows that his life will be over altogether too soon; he knows,
because he sees, that nothing is more important than anything
else…. Thus a man of knowledge sweats and puffs and if one
looks at him he is just like any ordinary man, except that the
folly of his life is under control. Nothing being more important
than anything else, a man of knowledge chooses any act, and
acts it out as if it mattered to him. His controlled folly makes
him say that what he does matters and makes him act as if it
did, and yet he knows that it doesn’t; so when he fulfills his
acts he retreats in peace, and whether his acts were good or
bad, or worked or didn’t, is in no way any part of his concern*
• Replace the sentence “It isn’t fair” with “It’s unfortunate,” or
“I’d prefer…” Thus, instead of insisting that the world be other than
it is, you begin to accept reality—but not necessarily to approve of
it. • Eliminate external references of comparison. Have your own
goals independent of what Tom, Dick or Harry do. Set out to be
what you want, without references to what others have or don’t
have. • Correct yourself out loud when you use a sentence such as, “I
always call you when I’m going to be late, so why didn’t you call
me. ” to “I would have felt better if you had called me. ” Thus you
eliminate the erroneous notion that another’s reason for calling is
to become more like you. • Rather than paying someone off, by bringing wine or a gift in
exchange for dinner or a party, wait until you feel like it and
*Carlos Castaneda, A Separate Reality: Further Conversations with Don Juan  (New
York: Pocket Books, 1972). 174 / Your Erroneous Zonesthen send a bottle of wine with a note saying, “Just because I think
you’re a great person. ” There’s no need to balance the books with
reciprocal trades; just do something nice because you, rather than a
special occasion, call for it. • Spend the amount of money you want to on any gift, and don’t
be swayed by what was spent for you. Eliminate invitations based
on obligation and fairness. Decide whom you’ll see on an internal
rather than external standard. • Set up your own standards of conduct in your family based
upon what you think is appropriate for you. Have everyone else do
the same. Then see if it isn’t quite possible to make it happen without
infringing on each other’s rights. If you feel that being out three
nights a week is what you want, but can’t because someone has to
watch the children, “fairness” doesn’t have to enter into your de-
cision-making. Perhaps you make some kind of baby-sitting arrange-
ment, or have the kids go along, or whatever will be a mutually
satisfying settlement. But to bring in the “It isn’t fair” routine will
surely lead to everyone’s resentment—and to staying at home as
well. Be a doer, not a complainer about injustice. For every injustice
you suffer, there is a resolution that does not require you to be im-
mobilized in any way. • Remember that revenge is just another way of being controlled
by others. Do what you, not they, decide is for you. These are just a few beginning suggestions that will help you to
be happier by