C h a p t e r  4
Y ou’r e Dr eaming... It’ s T ime to
W ake Up
According to many spiritual teachers and ancient traditions, our entire world,
your life  and everyone else’ s lif e, is nothing more than a dream. They don’ t
say that our wo rld and everything in it is like  a dream, but th at it is literally
made from the s ame substance as our dreams and is equally as illusory. When
you are permanently staying as  A wareness, you will know fo r certain that
your life  and the world are not the reality you thought they we re: they are a
dream.
“This lif e is a dr eam; we’re dreaming we’re a person living in a world that we
are convinced is real. W e don’ t realize it’ s all a dream. The whole world as
now seen is no thing but a drea m-illusion that never was. The truth is just
behind the outward world.”
Lester Levenson, fr om  Happiness Is Free, volumes 1–5
“W e should be open to the possibility that this is a dream and when we do,
everything chan ges dramatically. It actually turns out to be so. If this waking
experience is seen to be a dream, then our behavior changes and we will find
that the respons e coming from the characters or the situation in this dream
also changes.”
Francis Lucille, fr om  The Perfume of Silence
“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


 Only in this case can the body can use
the nutrients obtained from food. Of course,
body energy is spent on it. Therefore, any disor-
ders or diseases of the gastroin testinal tract and
liver will inevitably affect the effectiveness of the
barrier gastrointestinal function in one way or
another, even if they are asymptomatic. It’s clear
Copyright © Vera Giovanna Bani 2019 www.dryfasting.infoThis Ebook was purchased by Gilberto Franchi email: gilbertofranchi@hotmail.frthat these changes will cause an increase in the
supply of toxins from intestines, thus increasing
endogenous intoxication. Of course, every per-
son has a weak link in the body, so all the endo-
toxins will rush there, and all the pathological
processes that lead to diseases will start there.

19.2.1. Dry Fasting for endointoxication and
atherosclerosis.
Let’s examine this phenomenon using the ex-
ample of atherosclerosis and hypertension.
Atherosclerosis is a consequence of malfunc-
tioning intestines. After the age of 40, aging
changes in intestines intensify, barrier function
decreases, permea bility of intestinal walls in-
creases and more toxins start entering human
Copyright © Vera Giovanna Bani 2019 www.dryfasting.infoThis Ebook was purchased by Gilberto Franchi email: gilbertofranchi@hotmail.frblood. That’s why it seems that the body chooses
a mechanism of storing toxins as one of the ways
to fight the increasing endotoxemia. The main
components of biological membranes (li popro-
teins) circulating in the blood can become its
participants. Lipoproteins can transfer different
fat-soluble toxins to the liver, where they’re "re-
cycled." Lipoproteins "capture" and dissolve tox-
ins in themselves, thus binding them and mak-
ing them safe for the body. However, the amount
of toxins that the liver can metabolize is limited.
When the body has a powerful and permanent
locus of endotoxemia (and that’s exactly what
happens if the barrier function of the intestines
is impaired), the liver stops  coping with its tasks.
It simply doesn’t have enough time to process
everything. As a result, the modified toxin -
Copyright © Vera Giovanna Bani 2019 www.dryfasting.infoThis Ebook was purchased by Gilberto Franchi email: gilbertofranchi@hotmail.frloaded lipoproteins circulate in the blood until
they penetrate the artery walls. This is how ath-
erosclerotic plaque formation starts. Since m ac-
rophages are attracted to them, we can assume
that there’s a toxicogenic change in their struc-
ture. Of course, it’s just a hypothesis, although
there is experimental evidence to support it. For
example, animal experiments have shown that
two- or three -time injection of intestinal flora’s
bacterial toxins into the abdominal membrane
causes sclerosis -like formations in arteries. It al-
lows us to somehow understand the logic and bi-
ological meaning of atherosclerosis, though
there are still many gaps in understanding the
mechanisms of developing this disease. Why
does it affect artery walls, not veins? Why does
the body choose this inefficient way instead of
Copyright © Vera Giovanna Bani 2019 www.dryfasting.infoThis Ebook was purchased by Gilberto Franchi email: gilbertofranchi@hotmail.frimproving detoxification processes? In general,
when studying these and other processes in liv-
ing organi sms, we keep facing the logic of organ
and body system adaptation to various harsh cir-
cumstances, as we still don’t understand it.

19.2.2. Dry Fasting for hypertension
Not only atherosclerosis, but also hypertension
can be related to endointoxication proc esses.
When we mentioned the development of ather-
osclerosis, we talked about the toxins that can
only be dissolved in fats. However, there are also
water -soluble endotoxins formed and stored in
the body. In general, water is the main compo-
nent of our liquid transport media (plasma,
lymph, cerebrospinal fluid, tissue fluid). Water -
Copyright © Vera Giovanna Bani 2019 www.dryfasting.infoThis Ebook was purchased by Gilberto Franchi email: gilbertofranchi@hotmail.frsoluble endotoxins will be primarily removed by
kidneys.
Indeed, it’s very easy to transport them there in
their free or bound form and remove them along
with urine after their filtration through special
nephritic membranes. Apparently, this is what
happens in a healthy body. This mechanism of
removing different endotoxins is confirmed by
clinical observations of recent years. An increase
in middle urine molecules in patients with m ild
or moderate endogenous intoxication and the
development of different diseases prevents or
weakens their accumulation in the blood. How-
ever, it was noted that a significant increase in
endotoxins in the blood decreases the intensity
of their excretion w ith the urine by the kidneys.
Copyright © Vera Giovanna Bani 2019 www.dryfasting.infoThis Ebook was purchased by Gilberto Franchi email: gilbertofranchi@hotmail.frAt first, these data caused some confusion.
Why does the body reject such an effective de-
toxification method? Further experiments and
studies allowed to partly shed light on the se-
quence of emergent events.  A constant or shar p
increase in the production of different endotox-
ins in the body leads to their accumulation in the
structures of the kidney excretory system. The
organ that is supposed to remove toxins be-
comes their target. Toxins have a destructive ef-
fect, kidneys start  malfunctioning - the intensity
of toxin elimination decreases. In our opinion,
one of the signs of impaired detoxification,
which is a kidney function, may be an increase
in blood pressure.
Let’s explain that. As a special detoxification
organ in the body, nephritic structures intensify
Copyright © Vera Giovanna Bani 2019 www.dryfasting.infoThis Ebook was purchased by Gilberto Franchi email: gilbertofranchi@hotmail.frthe process of capturing toxins when endoge-
nous intoxication increases, and these toxins can
be partially stored on the filtration membrane
and accumulate in the tubular epithelium. The
kidney filtration membrane works alm ost like a
standard filter. A negative charge on its surface
is one of the most important conditions for the
effective functioning of the kidney filter. This
charge partially prevents blood plasma mole-
cules from leaking through the filter, and they
also ca rry a negative charge. These molecules
primarily include blood proteins with a rela-
tively low molecular weight, such as albumin. It
prevents unnecessary protein loss in the body
during urine formation. It’s interesting that un-
der normal conditions the nece ssary blood mol-
ecules in humans are mainly negatively charged
Copyright © Vera Giovanna Bani 2019 www.dryfasting.infoThis Ebook was purchased by Gilberto Franchi email: gilbertofranchi@hotmail.frparticles. In the presence of numerous endotox-
ins, especially medium molecular weight sub-
stances that carry a positive charge, filtration
starts increasing. However, as the amount of ex-
creted toxins increases, positively charged parti-
cles will accumulate on the surface of the filtra-
tion membrane increasingly more, thus reduc-
ing filtration efficiency.
Another mechanism of removing toxins
through kidneys is a secretory mechanism based
on the active  capture of toxins by superficial cells
(epithelium) of kidney tubules and their subse-
quent transfer to the ultrafiltrate flowing
through tubules. Just like in the former mecha-
nism of removing toxins through kidneys, the
selective accumulation of toxins in  the cellular
structures of the kidney -secretion system
Copyright © Vera Giovanna Bani 2019 www.dryfasting.infoThis Ebook was purchased by Gilberto Franchi email: gilbertofranchi@hotmail.frinevitably leads to renal damage in the second
mechanism. Kidneys simply can’t cope with
their tasks, thus causing a mild renal failure. As
a rule, pathological changes require serious
medical attention. It’s noted that the amount of
endotoxins increases in the urine when the con-
dition of patients with different disorders starts
improving following treatment. It indicates the
recovery of the kidney detoxification function.
You may wonder how it is linked to blood pres-
sure. The decrease in the efficiency of toxin re-
moval by kidneys forces the body to seek out ad-
ditional reserves. Indeed, the need to remove
toxins isn’t reduced. On the contrary, it keeps in-
creasing. Apparently, this occurs when the
mecha nism of increasing filtration pressure is
activated. Filtration pressure is the difference in
Copyright © Vera Giovanna Bani 2019 www.dryfasting.infoThis Ebook was purchased by Gilberto Franchi email: gilbertofranchi@hotmail.frpressure between the intravascular space and the
cavity where the primary urine is filtered. This
difference depends on blood pressure. Thus, the


 the best diet I could t hink of, but I wasn’t feeling well. These two people looked
very healthy. It seemed obvious they had extensive knowledge about healt h and had already worked with people in a similar
situation to mine, with improvements. If I didn’t like the way it was wor king, I could always go back to the way I was eating now. I
didn’t have anything to lose by cutting out fats except my illness. There wasn’t really much of a decision left to make.
I started eliminating fat from my diet that very day, and I began exp eriencing some very heavy elimination. I didn’t eat any
overt fats for six months, because I didn’t know about 80/10/10, and I thought the idea was to eat as little fat as possible, so I did.
This meant no avocado, olives, or durian, and of course no nuts or seeds.
Also, I didn’t know about Doug’s V egSource board, so I went back to eating a ra w diet with fat in it. The elimination slowed
way down. I ate that way for the next six months, even though I felt terr ible again, until I saw Doug speak at the Living Light House
in Santa Monica. I got to ask him some questions, which he was very willin g to answer, and I cut the fat again. Except this time I ate
an 811  diet, which meant that I ate a little fat once in a while.
I had so many wonderful improvements, but I still didn’t have the full  health picture. So I saved up a little cash and had a
private consultation with Dr. Graham. During the consultation, we sa t down face to face within two feet of each other. This was
really helpful to me, because I got a sense of what he was all about. I found a  genuine, caring individual who was absolutely
interested in improving my health. It was hard to imagine what he woul d come up with to help me, because I was following the diet
to a T. At the time, I thought that was what it was all about.
What I didn’t realize, is that diet is only one part of a healthy lifes tyle, and that you’re only as strong as your weakest link.
Those were only words to me at the time, but after he found an aspect of my lif e that needed some work and I worked on it, my
health improved dramatically. That means I felt better. What greate r gift could anyone give to me? I felt more energy, and I enjoyed
living more. That’s the best gift you can get!
One of the topics we covered in the consultation was Doug’s sports cam p, called Health and Fitness W eek. He thought it was
important for me to attend, and he asked me what he could do to make it possible. I  didn’t see how I could ever work it out at the
time, because I had just spent all my extra money on this consultation, a nd I had so little time. But I took a risk, because it seemed
like I needed so much to happen. I told him all the conditions it would take to make it  possible for me to come, and he helped me
work it all out! I was just amazed by the honesty, sincerity, knowledge, and de dication of this person standing right in front of me,
along with his sincere desire to help me with my personal health issu es.
I attended the sports camp, and it was the best thing I could have done. It was s o helpful and beneficial that I ended up signing
up for the following year’s sports camp before I left. This was the jump-start I needed to get headed down the road to true health. If
you can figure out any way to make the next camp, I recommend that you do it, wh atever it takes!
I’ve been on the 80/10/10  diet for a year now and have had the most remarkable success with it! I ju st want to share this with
people. When you start to feel really good after not feeling so good for a long tim e, you want to let other people know that they can
feel better, too.
People sometimes ask me what I typically eat in a day, so I will share it w ith you. I usually eat three meals a day, once in a
while only two. I normally eat my breakfast at around 10 a.m. Yesterday (Apri l 2005), I ate 12 ounces of blueberries, 8 ounces of
raspberries, 8 ounces of boysenberries, and about 4 green baskets of strawberrie s. I ate lunch at 2:30 p.m., which consisted of 6
cherimoyas and 4 capotes. I ate supper at 7:30 p.m.—about 8 pickling cucum bers, 1½ heads of red butter lettuce, about 5 lbs. of
tomatoes, and a couple of celery stalks.
Today as I write, it’s 10:30 a.m. After I do my last set of 100 stomach crunches an d maybe some push-ups, I will eat
breakfast, which will be 12 ounces of blueberries and about 4 or 5 basket s of strawberries. If I’m still hungry, I’ll eat a papaya. For
lunch I will eat at least 4 or 5 more cherimoyas, because I already fel t them and they are perfectly ripe! I’ll also eat some capotes
and 2 or 3 mangos. I’ll probably have a similar supper, but I might hav e some avocado if it ripens up or some sugar snap peas,
depending on how I feel at suppertime and what exercise I’ve done today.
The first benefit I noticed from 80/10/10  was that I didn’t feel spacey or bloated when I ate sweet fruit. That  was a great relief
to me, because I loved to eat sweet fruits, but getting bloated and spacey made  it very difficult to work, exercise, or focus on
projects. The next amazing benefit I experienced was that I started t o be able to exercise without all the pain and discomfort that
had made it next to impossible for me to exercise more than one day a week. The pa in has improved to the point now that I can
exercise every day, which is wonderful, because I get a lot of very good bene fits from exercising. The third improvement was that I
didn’t need to eat late at night in order to fall asleep. This helped me not  to wake up as groggy and out of it in the morning. Now I
can get going earlier and start doing things I need to do, like work or exercis e or take care of the kids. I’ve had other side benefits,
like my body getting more toned and looking better. Also, being stronger overall  is nice, too.
It’s hard to explain how much better my life is now as compared to the w ay it was before I was following 811. It’s like I’m a
new person who is not horribly sick with candida and whatever other problems I  might have had. Not only has my life improved tremendously, but I continue to get better daily. This is fantastic beyon d anything I could have imagined the day I first heard Doug
and Rozi speak about food during the Raw Passion event.
Not only have these two people dedicated their lives to sharing health wi th as many people as possible, but they have also
identified some of the most important keys to achieving and maintaining  ideal health.
If anyone is interested in health, they should start following the 811  way of life. I can’t imagine anything that a person could
possibly do that would be anywhere near as important—or as helpful. 811  is a healthy way to live life, and there’s so much more to
it than just diet. Food is only one part of the whole picture of health.
One of the things that really impressed me about the 811  lifestyle is that emotional stability is considered just as importan t as
diet or any other factor of healthful living. Emotional work has been the m ain focus of my life for the last 35 years. When I heard
Rozi explain that we need to feel all our feelings no matter what they  are, I realized that she understood feelings in the same way I
did, and I consider feelings to be what I know most about in the world.
So there you have it: Doug and Rozi have developed a system of living that i ncorporates all of the important factors to achieve
optimal health for human beings on this planet. I plan on following this li festyle and learning more and more about myself and about
health every day. I wish everyone who reads my story the best of luck on the ir path to better health.

Laurie Masters, San Jose, California
During my first five or so years of eating a substantially raw diet, I  blew through at least one 32-ounce bottle of flax oil each
month. I ate an avocado most every day and night, and I ate plenty of prepared nut  and seed dishes. For about a year, I brought an
almond/raisin torte (with my special lemon-date-spearmint frostin g) to every raw potluck.
Like my raw friends, I was eating a ton of fat and didn’t know it. I thought I wa s eating a fantastically healthful diet. I ate
dishes like raw granola, oat groats blended with soaked almonds, or bananas and al mond butter


  Do you think you can be that?  You can if you
stick to your commitment.  Because if you stick to your
commitment, and remain focused on your Purpose
(to be “peace” ), what you will find is that your body
automatically does things  to assist you and to allow you
to experience that beingness.
One thing your body will do is bring you into con-
tact with, or cause you to notice, everything unlikewhat you now choose. (Principle 4, in the next sec-
tion, will explain why.)  Then your body will lead you
to peace, and lead you away from  that which is not
peaceful.  It will no longer find it comfortable or
possible to do otherwise, so will perform all manner
of tricks.
It will move out of noisy rooms, for instance.  And
it will choose to forget about the evening news to-
night on TV.  It will suddenly find certain musicNeale Donald Walsch 45
unacceptable.  It will even perform more subtle tricks.
It may find a way to block out the traffic sounds on
your drive home after a long day at work, or mute
the normally ear-piercing shrieks of  boisterous chil-dren in the back seat as you head to the supermar-
ket.  It may choose to ignore what could be other-
wise oppressive heat, or to experience as “unevent-ful” the previously painful encounters at the dentist’s
office.
You have all learned about mind over matter in
this way. You have all “forgotten” about a headache,
or “ignored” a momentary frustration, in favor of a
larger or more important experience you chose tohave.  This process we are calling Step 3 is not differ-
ent from that.  It is a process you have used over and over
again in your life.  What is remarkable about it is not
that you have used it before, but that you do not
think you can use it whenever you wish.46Bringers of the Light
Now, as stated earlier, the degree to which your
body begins to automatically do things
which allow you to remain in a State of Being de-
pends on the degree of commitment and determi-
nation you  demonstrate.
We have all seen how this process works in smaller
ways in everyday life.  If you are determined  to “be” a
thing — whether it’s the thing called “peaceful” orthe thing called “joyful” or the thing called “success-
ful” — nothing in the world can stop you.
That is also true if you are determined to be the
thing called “depressed,” or “upset,” or “unable,”
Nothing, nothing, in the world can stop you.
Ever try to enliven a person who is determined to
be sad?  You can just forget it.  You’re wasting your
time.
The same is true of a person who is determined to be at
peace.
So if you determine to “be” a certain thing (that
is, to express, experience and fulfill a State ofBeingness upon which you have decided), and if youNeale Donald Walsch 47
stick with your decision  no matter what the appearance
of things, your body will sooner or later find itselfautomatically  doing things  which tend to enhance the
possibility of producing that beingness in your expe-
rience.
Before long, your mind will also join the action.
You are, after all, a three-part being — Body, Mind
and Spirit — and all three aspects of your being willsoon be engaged if you make, and stick with, a
Beingness Decision.  That is because Beingness
Decisions are triggers which fire reactors in every fi-ber of your being, at every level of your functioning.
They are the keys which start the engine of Creation.
This explains why, once a Beingness Decision is
made, you will begin to automatically eliminate from
your life everything unlike what you seek to be.  This
you will do on an almost subconscious level.  That isto say, you may not even be aware that you are doing it.
Your concerned family, friends and co-workers may
even say, “Are you sure you know what you’re do-ing?”  You won’t be able to answer them, because, in48Bringers of the Light
truth, you may not be sure.
You have allowed, in a sense, your automatic func-
tions to take over.  These include your instincts, your
responses, your inner discernment.  This is what
happens when you “let go and let God.”  You mayfind yourself reaching for that cigarette, and then
suddenly putting it down for no reason...never to
pick one up again.  Or calling some friends, andplacing the receiver back on the hook, never to hang
out with those people again.  Or going to work, but
turning around and coming back home, never to goback to that place again.  Something inside of you
will just tell you, “no more.”  Some intuitive mes-
senger will simply say, very quietly, “It’s time to quit.It’s time to move on.  It’s time to change.”  And all
the fear, all the anxiety you may have had around
that will suddenly be gone.
So don’t be surprised — if you stay focused  on the
State of Beingness you select — to find after a matter
of days, weeks or months that you have simply easedout of certain friendships, and “gravitated” towardsNeale Donald Walsch 49
others; eased out of certain physical environments,
and gravitated towards others; eased out, yes, even
of your job, and gravitated toward other ways of
“making a living.”  Sooner or later you will stop “mak-ing a living” altogether...and will spend all of your
time making a  life.
This is the movement which will take you towards
Right Livelihood.  This is the process by which you
will create and express your True Self.
You will discover, if you trust this process, that
you can adopt a State of Beingness (and more than
one state if you wish), and move into the experience
of that.  And you will discover that your state of in-
ner Being will, and should, have nothing to do withthe state of your outer experience.
Dentist’s chair or noisy kids in the car, none of it
will make any difference.  The exterior circumstancesof your life will no longer control and create the in-
terior experiences of your Soul.
You will easily and effortlessly move away from
and eliminate those exterior conditions which you50Bringers of the Light
wish to eliminate, and hang on to those you wish to
retain (regardless of how “disruptive” they used to
be, for you will no longer find them “disruptive”),
and thus recreate yourself anew  in the image and like-
ness of Who You Really Are.
Still, there are some things you should know about
this process you are being asked to trust.Neale Donald Walsch 51
Bringers Step 4
Observe Opposition
and call it Opportunity
The first thing you need to know is that there
will be opposition.  Opposition in the form
of people, events and circumstances which will seem
to create a barrier to everything you say you are; ev-
erything you declare yourself to be.
As a matter of fact, not only will there be opposi-
tion — but the opposition will increase.   It will be
greater than it ever was before.  So if you thoughtyou had problems before, hold onto your hat, be-
cause, in the words of the inimitable Jimmy Durante,
“You ain’t seen nuttin’ yet.”
(If you haven’t the foggiest notion who Jimmy
Durante is, move two spaces back and lose a turn;do not pass GO, do not collect $200.)
The fact that “things are going to get worse before
they get better” may not be the most exciting news
you’ve heard since picking up this book.  Still, youmust be told — and when you understand why this
is so, you will actually rejoice should things take a
downward turn.
It all has to do with Principle #4:52Bringers of the LightNeale Donald Walsch 53
Principle #4
As soon as you decide
who and what you are,
everything unlike it will
come into the space.This is how it is, and this is how it must be.
But now, try to understand why.
To grasp what you are about to be told, you have
to see clearly the Truth about Opposites.  The Truth
about Opposites is that they don’t exist, except in the
space of each other.
That is to say, “hot” does not exist except in an
environment or space in which there is “cold.”  “Tall”does not exist except in the space of that which is
“short.”  “Fast” cannot even be a concept unless and
until there is a thing called “slow.”
In the World of the Relative (which is, by the way,
the world in which you have chosen to spend most
of your time), a thing is only what it IS relative toANOTHER thing that it is NOT.
Do you understand?  That may sound a bit con-
fusing, but do you get it?  You should hear that as anenormous Truth ringing in your ears.
It’s just another way of saying that in our present


 pain,
numbness, or tingling in the hands, wrists, or
forearms, you may have a repetitive strain injury.
Although repetitive movements are the main
cause, research indicates that general overall
stress and body positioning are major factors.
 If you are experiencing such pain, you should
consider changing the way you position your
body (including your hands) when you work
and how your work station is organized. For
example, if you work at a desk, how high (or
low) is your seat? If you use a computer, must
you always reach across your desk to grasp the
mouse? How do you position your wrists over
the keyboard as you type? Any of these factors
may be contributing to the pain you are
experiencing. Guidelines for ergonomic work
station arrangement and body positioning
are widely available. Following these
may prevent further strain.
CheCK YoUr hand position  when using
equipment such as kitchen knives (see
above top), tennis racquets (see above),
and keyboards (see right).This chapter teaches you the techniques of
reflexology and helps you to apply the sequence of
your choice. Whether you are working on someone
else’s feet or hands or your own, or using a self-
help hand or foot tool, step-by-step guidelines are
presented here to guide your work. Once you have
found a sequence that meets your needs, using it
regularly will help you toward a healthier life.Reflexology
techniquesChapter 368 reflexology techniquespreparing for a session 69Preparing for a session
Step one in preparing for a reflexology session
is to make sure that your fingernails are an
appropriate length. Nails that are too long
will make contact with the receiver’s hand
or foot and detract from relaxation. As you
look at the tops of your hands, you should
see your fingertips, rather than your fingernails.
 Take time to assemble accessories that will
ensure a comfortable session. You will need a
pillow or folded towel on which to rest the hand
or foot. Pillows are also handy to raise the level
of the foot or hand as required. A light blanket
is helpful to keep the person receiving the session
warm. A box of tissues is convenient for the
occasional running nose.  Next, consider the environment. A ringing
telephone, others in the room, the television,
bright lighting, even what is in the line of sight of
the individual−all these may detract from a quiet
relaxing session. Communicate and find out the
mutually ideal environment for that session.
optimum positioning
During a professional reflexology session, the
individual will be seated on a recliner. For work
on the foot, the reflexologist sits opposite in a
low chair; for the hand, he or she sits alongside.
You may prefer a more informal setting, such as sitting on a sofa either facing each other to
work on the feet or side by side to work on
the hands, changing sides to work on each hand.
You can also sit face-to-face over a narrow table
with the recipient’s hand resting on a towel or
pillow. When working with a child, you may
choose to sit on the side of the bed for a few
quiet minutes at bedtime and to give a brief
foot or hand workout then.
using a paraffin Bath  adds an extra relaxing element to
your session. closely follow the manufacturer’s instructions,
and when you first start to use it, be aware of the response.As you prepare to give a reflexology  workout, your goal should be to
create a relaxing interchange between yourself and a friend or relative. You will
improve the chances of achieving the relaxation goals of your work if you give
some thought to providing a comfortable setting, select an appropriate time for
the session, and pay attention to the effect of your work.70 reflexology techniquesBefore  starting  your session, gather together the equipment
you may need, such as pillows and towels for cushioning, and
nail scissors or an emery board in case a nail is digging in. Whatever your working arrangement, watch
the individual’s face for his or her reactions,
to see which techniques are favored and which
reflex areas are sensitive. Falling asleep and
smiles are good. Frowns and pulling the foot
or hand away are bad. There’s an old saying
in reflexology: “It hurts good.” (Yes, people do
say this.) The counterpart is: “It hurts bad.”
 As you work, be careful that your back is
supported and that your work doesn’t cause
aching or stress to your own body. (Once you’ve
finished your work, consider how you feel: are
your hands stressed? Is your back tired?)other issues
Working with somebody’s hands may be a little
awkward at first because of the perceptions
about “hand-holding” and the personal nature
of touching someone else’s hands. Touching
another’s foot is less of a problem. However, in
order to proceed in a way that is comfortable for
both you and the recipient, employ thoughtful
“hand/foot courtesy.” Before beginning the
session, ask: “May I have your hand/foot?” This
serves to notify that the session is beginning.
The phrase “I’ve finished−you may have your
hand/foot back” signals the end of a session.
As you move from technique to technique,
maintain contact with the hand being worked.
Such contact adds smoothness and a continuous
level of comfort to the workout.
structuring the session
At the beginning of a session, ask the client if any
part of the hand or foot is injured or should be
avoided. Older clients may complain of painful,
enlarged, or arthritic finger joints. Approach
conditions like these with caution. Always begin
your work with a series of desserts (see pp78–83
and 122–125) to provide warm-up time for the
hand or foot. As you work through each section
of the foot or hand, apply a series of desserts
before going on to the next section. To end your
work, apply a closing series of desserts. How long should technique be applied to

any individual reflex area? The answer to this
depends on the individual with whom you
are working. With infants, children, and elderly
people, less pressure and less time are the best
routes to take. If the individual reports that
an area feels bruised, it has been overworked.
Avoid the area until sensitivity diminishes and
work it less when you resume.preparing for a session 71Washing the feet prior to a reflexology session ensures a
clean, oil-free surface for technique application.
At the beginning of your work with reflexology,
you may find that your hands and thumbs
become tired. Even a half-hour session may be
too much. If so, there are several strategies for
avoiding fatigue. You may consider starting with
shorter sessions. Mini-workouts are also a good
way of building hand strength. Give yourself time
to learn, as practice and time are needed for
acquiring any skill. Review your technique
application−done properly, your hands should
not tire too easily. Practice self-help reflexology
(see pp142–161 and 168–177) to build hand
strength. And finally, break up your work with desserts (see pp78–83 and 122–125), as these
provide a chance for your working thumb or
finger to rest. Swap working hands regularly−if
one thumb tires, apply technique with the other.
targeting health concerns
After you’ve worked through the hand or foot,
it’s time to address any specific health concerns
that may need attention. Turn to pp248–287
to find out the areas to be aimed at and the
reflexology techniques to be applied to help
address them. Apply a series of desserts again
after working specific areas. Finally, move on
to work the other hand or foot.
key to technique symbols
  Finger-walking
 thumb-walking
 hook & back-up
 Rolling
 Pressure
  traction, pulling,
pushing, or side-to-side
  Rotation or rotation-
on-a-point
 twist
  sole-mover or
palm-rocker
 Area of contact72 reflexology techniquesBasic techniques
Reflexology is based on four main techniques, designed either to apply
pressure over a wide area or to home in on a more specific one. As with any
skill, you need to build up your ability by practicing. It is a good idea to try the
techniques on your hand or forearm. If you find your finger or thumb gets tired,
rest, change hands, or apply desserts (see pp78–83, 122-125, and 142–145) instead.
Thumb-walking
The goal of the thumb-walking technique is to apply a
constant, steady pressure to the surface of the foot or hand.
The technique will require some practice to perfect. Be patient
and give yourself plenty of time to acquire this valuable skill.
Remember that it will enable you not only to help yourself
but also enable others to reach health goals.
Practicing the technique
The basic movement in thumb-walking is the bending and
unbending of the first thumb joint, below your thumbnail. The
aim is to move your thumb across the skin in small “bites,” to


, which resulted in a clearer picture. The new x-
ray showed no cavity at all. It turned out that the conventional dentist mistook a shadow from a tooth
filling in the x-ray for a severe tooth cavity. The conventional dentist was obviously happy to show
this reader his cavity, because he would make a nice profit for the week doing a root canal procedure.
It is even possible his dentist knew that it was a shadow, but the potential for a large financial gain
bypassed the dentist’s reasoning process and had him see cavities that were not there. The conclusion
I draw from this story and others like it is that there are likely tens of thousands, if not millions, of
dental procedures being performed yearly that are totally unnecessary. Not only are they unnecessary
from the perspective that they could be healed via nutrition, but fully unnecessary in that no condition
exists that requires treatment.
In the case of a wrong diagnosis, once the dentist drills into your tooth he is not likely to say,
“Whoops, I do not see any tooth decay; sorry to have drilled a huge hole in your tooth.” Instead, he
will keep on drilling, put that filling in, and pretend as though everything went as expected.
As readers of this book, you are now privileged with dental knowledge that I hope you will share
with everyone: all of your relatives, friends, coworkers and second cousins. Then they too can learn
how to avoid unnecessary dental procedures. Getting additional copies of
Cure Tooth Decay
and
sharing is a good way to spread this knowledge. Sometimes dental procedures are a good idea, and
that’s when you want them; the rest of the time, you of course do not want them.
A good dentist should confirm his diagnoses with a second perspective. This means that an x-ray
image should not be exclusively relied upon to make the decision to drill. Other testing methods
include probing with an examiner, visual inspection, or using electrical or ultrasound tools to test the
strength and health of the tooth.
The Dental Code of Silence
The dental code of silence means that if a dentist sees bad dental work in a patient’s mouth he will
remain silent rather than enlighten his patient to his condition. The only time a dentist might comment
on previous dental work is if it is extremely poorly done, and perhaps was performed in another
country. The only thing we know from going to each dentist we visit is our experience of lying in the
dental chair with our heads buzzing with the dental drill, and opening and closing our mouths to
varying degrees. We have no idea if the dentist put in the most amazing and clean filling ever, or if he
drilled away forever healthy tooth, and then placed the filling ineptly. I heard of a dentist who
recently passed away. He would spend five hours working on one crown. He guaranteed his crowns
would last 40 or more years. Quality dental work takes time.
The dentists’ code of silence allows the profession to stay at low standards of performance since
patients are not informed or educated about poor dental work versus good dental work. Bad dentists
do not get caught, and they continue performing bad dental work. Mercury fillings are just another
example of the dentists’ code of silence. When dentists decline to take a stand against the tyranny ofdental “ethics” boards that obfuscate the toxicity and harm caused by mercury fillings and toxic
metals in the mouth, they allow the system to continue with impunity.Root Canals
George Meinig, DDS, was one of the founders of the American Association of Endodontists (root
canal specialists). When he started in dentistry, everyone simply extracted decayed teeth. Dr. Meinig
and other dentists had a great idea to save teeth rather than remove them if they were infected.
Endodontists used to be on the fringe of dentistry and they worked hard to become mainstream
specialists.
Now, each year in the U.S. alone there are more than 30,000,000 root canals performed. That is a 30
billion dollar industry. Dr. Meinig, once a root canal advocate after a lifetime of performing root
canals as a dentist, changed his position after he read 1174 pages of detailed research by Dr. Weston
Price and his 60-man research team. Meinig discovered that,
A high percentage of chronic degenerative disease can originate from root filled teeth. The most
frequent were heart and circulatory diseases. The next most common diseases were those of the
joints, arthritis and rheumatism.
19
What Dr. Meinig urgently wanted to show people is that in many cases a root canal sets up the body
for chronic and degenerative disease. If you have a significant degenerative condition, heart disease,
severe headaches, arthritis and so forth, a root canal may be contributing to your condition or even to
blame for it. The reason that root canals can be toxic is because each tooth contains about three miles
of microscopic tubes. After a root canal procedure, the body’s natural dentinal fluid flow to clean out
the microscopic tubes is destroyed. A sick tooth can easily develop toxic substances within the
microscopic tubules. It could be food particles or simply the death and putrefaction of the cells within
the tiny tubes. This highly toxic substance can then drip down tiny fissures through the root of the tooth
and enter your bloodstream. Dr. Price found that when bacteria could be filtered out of toxins
extracted from root canals, that the toxin became more potent than when the bacteria were present.
Bacteria from a root canalled tooth are not likely the cause of illness, but are simply feeding off and
trying to clean up the rotting material. The conclusion of Dr. George Meinig’s book
 Root Canal
Cover-Up
 is that root canals are a really bad idea, and that they can be a serious source of disease.
Not all root canals become infected and not all root canals cause health problems. The most recent
studies of root canal success rates over five- and ten-year periods reveal a dismal 30-40%. During
the time of Dr. Price, the rate of root canals that definitely had no observable side effects was 25%.
20
Root canals present a catch-22 situation without any good choice. Root canals that are successful in
the long run are going to be the ones that are not very infected before the treatment. These non-
infected teeth are going to be the teeth that would have been the easiest to heal naturally and therefore
did not really need root canals. The very damaged and rotten teeth are the ones that are the most
difficult to heal and the most likely needing a root canal to save the tooth. These are cases where the
root canal procedure will many times fail. Basically root canals work the best for the teeth that do not
need them, and the worst for the teeth that do need them.
Why People Have Tooth Infections
Your tooth became infected because it is weak and damaged. Material from your mouth environmententered deeply into the tooth, which is now inflamed. As a response to the foreign invader, the
interior of the tooth acts to protect itself. This protection is known as an abscess. The body swells
around the foreign material, and sends white blood cells to contain the material and dissolve it or to
latch onto it and release it by collecting it in pus and then ejecting it out of your gums. The protective
mechanism of your body is the swelling, which usually is accompanied by pain. The pain is an
additional protection mechanism. Pain prevents you from chewing food in that location, so it
minimizes the chances of more material entering into the weakened area. Pain also prevents you from
chewing on the tooth so that it can be free from the biting pressure.
What a Root Canal Procedure Accomplishes
A root canal is the complete removal of the guts of your tooth. A large hole is drilled into the top of
your tooth, and the inner pulp of the tooth is removed. The inside of the tooth is then cleaned with
chemicals. Once the inside is clean, a synthetic material is placed within the tooth, which is now
partially dead, and a crown is placed on top of the tooth. If this crown has stainless steel or another
metal in it, then you can have the problem of dissimilar metals in the mouth. It is really
understandable why nobody is happy about root canals. They do not usually make you feel well.
With root canals, the dentist is manually accomplishing the cleansing of the interior of the tooth that
your body has, due to imbalances, become incapable of doing for itself. Infections do not usually
occur in healthy people; but if they do occur, the body quickly heals the infection. In unhealthy people,
or people who are in moderate health but have a poor diet, infections cannot heal. Thus, a dentist is
required to support their bodies in healing the infection. Infections also rarely occur in people who
have a good bite, because correct bite places less stress upon teeth.
The problem with root canals is that the reason for the infection is not addressed. The cause of the
infection could be a poor diet and an infection can loom up from below the root of the tooth, perhaps
at first unseen. The tooth may be traumatized or damaged by excessive biting pressures. Cleaning out
the guts of the tooth does not get to the root of the problem!
Should You Remove A Root Canalled Tooth?
Nearly every root canalled tooth contains within it toxic material. In a minority of people, their body
can wall off this source of infection, and they can be relatively unaffected by a root canal. If you
suffer from serious or


uma and Disease
hemisphere, the patient developed high systolic blood pressure and seizures, which
did not respond to treatment, and the patient expired after 25 days.113
The authors of this study concluded that little can be said for certain after this
nine-patient minitrial, but the speed of action shown by DMSO administration to reverse specific motor deficits suggested that this drug was strikingly effective in preventing almost certain progressive hemiplegia and restoring hemispheric func -
tion at the early stages of treatment.
113 The authors also pointed out that DMSO
appeared safe at the doses used and the most likely reason for its beneficial effect may be have been its ability to increase CBF.
113
The minitrial using DMSO to treat intracerebral hemorrhage and ensuing arterial
spasm by Mullan et al.113 indicates that a DMSO bolus or very fast drip at doses of
1 g/kg/8 h in a recommended 28% solution appears as a safe and effective regimen. As deficits resolve, the DMSO doses can be reduced as reflected by the patient’s status. Also, hematuria from red cell osmotic hemolysis was seen in all patients only after the initial loading dose of DMSO. Hematuria was seen to stabilize after subse -
quent doses of DMSO.
113 The loading DMSO dose has no other consequences other
than lowering the hematocrit about 25%, a temporary reaction that paradoxically lowers blood viscosity and vascular resistance while increasing CBF.
DMSO COMPARED TO PROGESTERONE
FOR TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY
At the time of this writing, one of the most promising therapies proposed to com -
bat traumatic brain injury is the sex hormone progesterone. In 1996, Stein’s group114
reported that subcutaneous injection of progesterone (4 mg/kg) given 1 h after bilateral
frontal lobe contusion in male and pre-estrus female rats resulted in significantly less brain edema in the female rats when compared to male rats 24 h after brain contusion. The conclusion from this study suggested that higher progesterone levels in pre-estrus females were protective after induced brain trauma.
115 Other evidence in rodents indi -
cated that progesterone was beneficial in additional forms of neurotrauma, such as pen -
etrating brain injury,116 improved cognitive performance,117 and spinal cord injury.118
Reports of improved neurological outcomes and decreased cortical infarcts after
induction of stroke in rats indicated a beneficial effect after progesterone whether it was administered preinjury or postinjury.
119,120 Curiously, one study reported using
progesterone dissolved in 10% DMSO for middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in rats and showed significant improvement in reducing infarct volume when
 progesterone–DMSO combination was compared to progesterone–saline solution.121
The same authors122 used 10% DMSO as a vehicle for 5 ′-deoxy-5-  i odotubercidin
(5′d-5IT), an adenosine kinase inhibitor in a rat MCAO model, and found similar
results, that is, a smaller infarct volume and reduced neurological deficits with DMSO-5 ′d-5IT when compared with no treatment. Improved neurologic scores were
seen in both DMSO-5 ′d-5IT rat groups, with MCAO and in DMSO given alone.
122
In 2007, Wright et al.123 reported a phase II randomized controlled study com -
paring progesterone to placebo in 100 patients (77:23) with traumatic brain injury. The primary measure of benefit was 30-day mortality in patients whose GCS ranged from 4 (severe) to 12 (mild). Thirty days postinjury, patients with severe traumatic 225 DMSO in Clinical Neuroprotection
brain injury given progesterone had a lower mortality rate than the placebo group,
but due to the small number of patients enrolled in the study, these differences did not reach significant levels.
123 Two smaller clinical studies on progesterone followed.
Despite the many reports discussing the benefits of progesterone treatment in a
variety of rodent CNS injuries,124 this hormone has been used in only three small
human studies for traumatic brain injury.72
The three studies included 315 patients, of which 180 received progesterone
(Table 9.1). Two studies involving 215 patients were done in China and one in the United States with 100 patients.
123,125,126 All three studies reported the results of pro -
gesterone on mortality as compared to placebo following traumatic brain injury.72
The general protocol for progesterone administration was 0.71 mg/kg IV infusion for the first hour and 0.5 mg/kg for the next 11 h.
123 Progesterone 0.5 mg/kg was
continued every 12 h for 3 days. The patients were divided according to their GCS, which ranged from 4–8, severe trauma, to 9–12, moderate trauma.
123
Results from these studies reported no differences between progesterone and pla -
cebo for ICP or CPP. An improved mortality rate for progesterone after a 30-day123
or 6-month125,126 follow-up was observed. Paradoxically, disability in surviving U.S.
patients was deemed to be better after placebo compared to progesterone, a detail that was attributed to slightly higher survival rate in the progesterone group.
123
However, disability was reported to be less for progesterone-treated patients
compared to controls after 6 months follow-up in the China trials using a modified functional-independent measure score.
125,126 The reason for this disparity may be a
slightly higher dose of progesterone used in the Chinese trials.
None of the three studies reported the effects of progesterone on CBF, cerebro -
vascular resistance, or cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (Table 9.1).
A Cochrane data analysis72 of the three progesterone trials concluded that the
evidence appeared insufficient to recommend the drug for isolated traumatic brain injury and that further multicenter RCTs were needed.
It is not known how progesterone is able to lower elevated ICP and reduce brain edema
although its neurosteroidal, anti-inflammatory actions may play an important role.
114,127
A comparison of the clinical effects for using progesterone versus DMSO treat -
ments in severe traumatic brain injury is summarized in Table 9.1. In this summary, TABLE 9.1
Clinical Comparison of Treatments Using DMSO or Progesterone after
Severe Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in Humans
Lowers ICP Increases CPP Improves Clinical
Outcome Reduces
Mortality
DMSO (N = 42) Yes Yes Yes Yes
Progesterone (N = 80) No No Yes Yes
Note:  Progesterone is reported to impro ve clinical outcome and reduce mortality but has no effect on
ICP or CPP. DMSO is reported to lower both ICP and CPP, improve outcome, and reduce mortality.
See text for details.226 Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) in Trauma and Disease
it is seen that although progesterone is reported to reduce mortality and neurologic
outcome, it does so without increasing CPP and, by inference, CBF. This is a curi -
ous twist because increasing CPP to optimize CBF delivery has become a stan -
dard method to lower the secondary injury pathologic cascade after traumatic brain injury.
128,129 The secondary damage cascade fundamentally involves the development
of ischemia, hypoxia, and neuronal energy dysfunction, which have become primary determinants of secondary brain injury outcome.
Consequently, considerable evidence now indicates that maintaining adequate
CBF will improve the delivery of oxygen and energy substrates that are lowered during the period of ischemia and hypoxia that follows a moderate-to-severe trau -
matic brain injury.
130–133 This clinical goal has become a standard of practice for
neurocritical care when using therapeutic interventions after brain trauma. It follows that managing CPP and CBF may have a beneficial effect in lowering ICP after brain injury and could also affect the molecular changes that promote Ca
2+ and Na+
cell influx, neuronal membrane instability, glutamate excitotoxicity, and mitochon-drial dysfunction that are known to progress after brain tissue damage
129,134,135 (see
Figures 8.3 and 9.4).
In contrast to progesterone therapy, DMSO improves CPP, CBF, and cerebro -
vascular resistance while increasing oxygen availability to ischemic tissue.75–78,101,113
These actions by DMSO may limit the damage caused by severe head injury,
intracranial hemorrhage, and vasospasm secondary to aneurysm rupture in human patients.
76,87,88,113 Moreover, the cell and molecular pathology resulting from brain
trauma is also targeted by DMSO and may help to explain the significant increase in survival and reduced morbidity following severe traumatic brain injury.
87,88
DMSO and progesterone are strong anti-inflammatory agents,136–139 but only
DMSO is reported to block glutamate excitotoxicity following brain tissue trauma and stabilize Na
+ and Ca2+ influx into nerve cells that can destabilize neuronal mem -
branes and cause cell death.101
Since clinical evidence indicates that both DMSO and progesterone treatment are
reported to successfully lower mortality and improve neurologic outcome


 oxygen, for example in
Highlands, there is hypoxia, ie oxygen deficiency.
At the same time mobilizing powerful antihypoxia system and its
stimulating effect on the body the most favorable way.
For information nature has provided a natural
periodic information starvation in the form of a night's sleep. Role
full of sleep for health and longevity can not be overestimated.
If we combine the methods based on the restriction, it turns out,
that the ideal means of restoring the body - a long-term
Dream on absolute starvation in the mountains.
But "... there is nothing new under the sun!". in ancient times lived in Japan
Monks yamabusi. This is the most mysterious of the ever existing
Japan's religious sects. Their services are used by the ninja - the famous
Medieval Japanese "special forces". Once they are in their schools
took possession of extraordinary abilities to walk on the ceiling
fight with weapons and without, to see in the dark, be impervious
to pain, etc., with their 15 years of age were sent to the "advanced" training
to yamabusi. Ascetics and hermits, who lived in the mountains, taught
"Ninja" hypnosis and psychic abilities, poison recipes
and balms, acupuncture, ability to manage a long time
without food or water, how to preserve health and prolong life
and so their secrets are passed from mouth to mouth, they were forbidden
record. But still try to lift the veil of secrecy over
their secrets, namely, the secrets of health maintenance and renewal
life. Do you think that word means "yamabusi? Nothing else
as "sleeping in the mountains!
High in the mountains is living and, of course, many people are asleep. Statistics
suggests that their average life expectancy is higher than
on the plain, but it's not just that. After all, the title "yamabusi"
emphasized that this is not just the people in the mountains, namely, sleeping,
ie, their dream is somehow different from usual. Rather, he was
long. But for a long time just will not sleep, must
state of hypnosis, self hypnosis, hypnotic effects of herbs and they
possessed these to perfection. Prolonged sleep high in the mountains - it is
combination of mountain hypoxia, sleep and absolute fasting (during the
Sleep Naturally, we do not eat or drink). Each of these impacts
has a powerful stimulating effect for the reserves adjustment
organism, how much should be a powerful combination. People
since ancient times been associated with mountains their hopes of salvation,
healing, cleansing. many people have their sacred mountains.
Japanese have differing maximum lifespan,
- Mount Fuji-san (Mount Fuji). Each of them considers it his duty
68
68climb to its summit. Tibet Kailash, Hebrew
Sinai, Mount altaians Altyn-Tu, Mount Meru - the Hindus, Mount Ararat -
Armenians and many others. The famous Mount Elbrus was a sacred
Mount the ancient Persians.
Effects of prolonged hypoxia mountain:
- In all organs, and first of all, in the vital start to
form new capillaries. Every cell in our body
starting to get more nutrients and oxygen.
- Lungs begin to work more efficiently as a result of
hypertrophy of the lung tissue and increase the diffuse surface
pulmonary alveoli. In addition, the increased mass of airway
muscles.
- Blood acquires the ability to carry more
oxygen by increasing the number of red blood cells and increase
hemoglobin. it also raises levels of hormones of the cortex
adrenal - hormone adaptation. in this regard, blood donors,
climbers or people living in the mountains, as well as drugs,
made of it, for debilitated patients represent
particularly valuable.
- Intensive training of the cardiovascular system,
as response to hypoxia is to increase the heart rate
rate and volume of cardiac output.
- Increasing the content of myoglobin - a protein which provides
reserve of oxygen in the muscles.
- Falling in the aging process or as a result of common diseases
energy level is considerably increased.
This happens, firstly, by increasing the activity
mitochondria. under normal conditions of these miniature
"Power station" of the cell is in reserve. In the
Second, by increasing the number of mitochondria - they
begin to reproduce. Third, due to the "revival" of ancient,
oxygen-free energy exchange.
Dry fasting is practiced not only in all world religions,
but in many lesser-known religions.
The Mormon religion. Mormons abstain from eating and drinking
on the first Sunday of each month and distribute food or money
those in need. The purpose of these actions - closer to God
and focus on the religious life. Some Mormons are sometimes
individually or in groups of fasting in order to seek
God help him to guide them and influence the situation.
Baha'i religion. techenie19 in the first month of the Baha'i calendar, which
accounts for the period from 1 to March 20, supporters of this religion
refrain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset to
focus on love for God and their spiritual life.
Paganism. Although the Gentiles was not a dry starvation
mandatory religious rule, many of them starved for
purification or as a ritual, performed during the spring
69
69equinox, shamans with dry famine were in a trance
to communicate with spirits. with such a fast cleanse the body
the burden of winter and was prepared to attack the new time
year. Some pagans were starving during the autumn and spring
equinox, as well as during the winter and summer solstice
in order to adjust your body and your life in accordance
with the cycles of nature and live in harmony with it.
Starvation and spirit VNYE PRACTICE BUT Vågå CENTURY
New spiritual practices, which are sometimes called religion
New Century, in fact, are a mixture of
various ancient traditions that have received today a new life.
Many people who consider themselves as followers of religions, the new
century, profess the philosophy of a more global or universal
spiritual practice.
The world's religions have much in common and, despite some
differences of opinion on certain issues, many today
believe that any religion - is the search for truth, which is carried out
in accordance with cultural traditions. in every religion and in
Each culture laid the seeds of wisdom among the holders of the
cultures there are men and women with a special gift
vision, and each of these religions to determine the main man
objectives, which include self-fulfillment, achievement of unity
body, mind and spirit. The practice of fasting helps to maximize
Development of the sensory perception and can even be said that
starvation could be today one of the significant factors
spiritual unity of people around the world, if it had been practiced
most people. Can you find the best way to strengthen
peace, equality and unity of the people than the general practice,
aimed at physical, mental and spiritual development.
Dry fasting was part of not only religious but
and state practice in many cultures. Among the Indians
Chibcha tribe in Columbia man who was supposed
bring to the role of leader or monarch had to undergo
long period of testing. during the preparation of future
head of state should be deprived of earthly pleasures on
period of five years. during this time he had to live in isolation
in the church where he was obliged to go dry fasting, while
in the interval between his hunger scourged and subjected to different
deprivation and humiliation. Because the Indians believed that only
person has experienced the most difficulties and deprivation of life,
able to fulfill an important state function. It seems that
ancient cultures was known to the secret training of public
figures, which was subsequently lost. Needless to say - it
practice was to prepare public figures worthy of
immediate borrowing, since the preparation of modern
government officials based on the opposing standard
70
70education in vice, luxury, luxuries, and the involvement of
to crimes.
More than 100 years ago, one of the inhabitants of Silesia - Johann Schroth
- Developed a method of treating thirst. Economy, costive Schroth,
noticing that the horses were seriously ill and did not recover, he decided to
ride on them up until they starve: he obderet home with them
hides, and carcasses spurned. and stopped to feed them and even
drink. Apparently, he was a hard-hearted. fortunately. The same principle:
every cloud has a silver lining. If he was sentimental, humane, and then
would put the horses in the stable, strongly would feed them, and they
probably would have died. But Schroth decided to act violently. He visited
day, two, three, and nepoenye and unfed horses are not only
not podohli, but recovered. "Lucky find!" - Thought Schroth
and decided to try such a cheap and convenient way to treat
on itself. Remarkable result. He and neighbors shared.
and ended up being originated effective treatment system,
which thundered throughout the world. It is then polished for many years,
specified. Patients were given some very simple food, devoid of
animal proteins. Hard Boiled porridge, stale bread, crackers. No
meat, fish, no eggs, no dairy products, instead of water - one
or two cups a day of light domestic wine.
Modern naturopaths advise instead of wine the same amount of
vegetable or herbal juice. You can brew edible herbs -


 key medicinal herb, echinacea has a tonic action on
the body’s immune system. Known by 19th-century Americans as Indian Snakeroot (due to its ability to treat snake bites), the herb has a potent ability to counter infection, especially viral and bacterial, and to aid the clearance of toxins from the body. It is commonly taken
as a preventative and treatment for upper respiratory infections such as colds, flu, and coughs.
 QCaution Can cause allergic reactions in rare cases.Dried rootFlower of E. purpurea
is occasionally used  for infections.
Tincture of root (to make,
p. 292). For chronic infections,
take 1⁄2 tsp in water 3 times a day.
Capsules of powdered root
(to make, p. 292). For colds, take  a 500 mg capsule 3 times a day.Decoction of root (to make,
p. 291). To treat throat infections, gargle with 2
1⁄2 tbsp 3 times a day.
Tablets T ake as an immunostimulant for infections.
US_092-093_Echinacea_Elettaria.indd   92 26/02/16   3:59 pm93ElEttaria cardamomumkey medicinal plants
Infusion  (to make, p. 291)
is a pleasant drink. For
indigestion, drink 3⁄4 cup
(150 ml) after meals.Tincture  (to make, p. 292)
improves the appetite. For
poor appetite, combine
5 drops with 15 drops
gentian tincture and take
3 times a day.
Crush cardamom  seeds
using a mortar and pestle
just before you are about
to use them.Fresh seed pods
on stem
Essential oil For
digestive pain, dilute
10 drops with 4 tsp
carrier oil ( see
p. 297). Gently rub
into the abdomen.Elettaria cardamomum  (Zingiberaceae)
Cardamom, Elaci (Hindi)
Cardamom is one of the oldest spices in the world
and was used extensively in ancient Egypt to make
perfumes. Its medicinal uses, however, are less well
known. Cardamom has been employed in Ayurvedic
medicine for thousands of years, and is an excellent
remedy for many digestive problems, helping to soothe
indigestion and gas. It has an aromatic and pungent taste
and combines well with other herbs.
Habitat & Cultivation
Cardamom is native to southern
India and Sri Lanka, where it grows
profusely in forests at 2,600–4,900 ft
(800–1,500 m) above sea level. It is
also widely cultivated in India, southern
Asia, Indonesia, and Guatemala.
Cardamom is propagated from
seed in autumn or by root division
in spring and summer, and needs a
shady position and rich and moist, but
well-drained soil. The seed pods are
harvested just before they start to open
in dry weather during the autumn
and are dried whole in the sun.
Key Constituents
■ Volatile oil
■ Alkaloids
■ Flavonoids
■ Saponins
■ Sterols
Key Actions
■ Digestive tonic
■ Protects liver
■ Mild stimulant
■ AntispasmodicResearch
■ Antispasmodic  A 2009 Indian
clinical study found that cardamom
successfully lowered blood pressure
in 20 adults over a 3-month period.
Those taking part in the trial had “a
feeling of well-being without any
side-effects.” The herb has a long-
established antispasmodic action.
Traditional &
Current Uses
■ Ancient herb  Cardamom has
been highly valued both as a spice and
a medicine and was known in Greece
in the 4th century bce.
■ Digestive problems  Throughout
history, cardamom has been used
for the relief of digestive problems,
especially indigestion, gas, cramping,
and irritable bowel syndrome. The
seed’s pleasant taste means that
cardamom is often added to digestive
remedies to improve their flavor.
■ Current Indian uses  Cardamom
is used in India for many conditions,
including asthma, bronchitis, kidney
stones, anorexia, debility, and
weakened vata (see p. 37).
■ Chinese remedy  In China, the
herb is taken for urinary incontinence
and as a tonic.
■ Bad breath  Cardamom is an
effective treatment for bad breath,
and when taken with garlic helps to
reduce its smell.
■ Aphrodisiac  The herb contains
androgenic compounds and has a
long-standing reputation as a tonic and
aphrodisiac. A traditional Arabian
recipe blends cardamom with coffee.
Self-help Use
■ Gas & bloating, p. 306.Cardamom
A perennial growing
to 16 ft (5 m), with
mauve marked, white
flowers and very long,
lance-shaped leaves.
Cardamom seed pods are harvested by
hand. Each pod contains up to 20 aromatic,
dark red-brown seeds.Parts Used
Key Preparations & Their UsesSeeds are crushed for use in infusions
or have their volatile oil extracted.
Seed pods
 QCaution  Do not take the essential oil internally. Green seed pods
indicate that the
seeds are good quality
Opened seed pods
Crushed seeds
and seed pods
US_092-093_Echinacea_Elettaria.indd   93 17/03/16   4:00 pm
94ElE uthE rococcus sE nticosuskey medicinal plants
Root has tonic
propertiesEleutherococcus senticosus (Araliaceae)
Siberian Ginseng, Eleuthero
Siberian ginseng can help those exposed
to toxic chemicals and radiation and was given to people following the nuclear  disaster at Chernobyl in 1986.Habitat & Cultivation
Siberian ginseng is native to eastern
Russia, China, Korea, and Japan. It
can be grown from seed, but it is a difficult plant to germinate. The root is lifted in autumn and dried.
Related Species
Wu jia pi (Acanthopanacis gracilistylus) is a very close relative of Siberian ginseng, used in Chinese herbal medicine to treat “cold, damp” conditions.
Key Constituents
■ Eleutherosides, 0.6–0.9%
■ Polysaccharides■ Triterpenoid saponins
■ Glycans
Key Actions
■ Adaptogenic
■ Tonic
■ Protects the immune system
Research
■ Russian studies There has been
much research into Siberian ginseng in Russia since the 1950s, although the exact method by which it stimulates stamina and resistance to stress is not yet understood.
■ T onic herb Siberian ginseng
appears to have a general tonic
effect on the body, in particular
on the adrenal glands, helping
the body to withstand heat, cold, infection, other physical stresses,  and radiation. It has even been given to astronauts to counter the effects of weightlessness.
■ Stamina Athletes have
experienced as much as a 9% improvement in stamina when  taking Siberian ginseng.
Root is unearthed in autumn, dried whole, and
then chopped up for use in medicinal preparations.Traditional &
Current Uses
■ Enhancing resilience Siberian
ginseng is taken to improve mental
resilience, such as in preparation for tests, and to reduce the impact  of physical training and stress on  the body.
■ Exhaustion Siberian ginseng
can be highly beneficial in relieving exhaustion and debilitated states resulting from overwork or long-term stress. It can also prove  helpful in treating chronic fatigue, although in some cases it may be overly stimulating.
■ Cancer treatment A valuable
remedy during conventional cancer treatment, Siberian ginseng supports vitality and healthy function when taking chemotherapy, and may reduce side effects. Russian studies suggest that it helps to reduce the harmful effects of radiation.
Self-help Uses
■ Convalescence, p. 319.
■ Stress, p. 308. Siberian ginseng is a powerful tonic herb with an impressive
range of health benefits. Unlike many plant medicines, Siberian ginseng is generally more useful in maintaining good health than in treating ill health. Research shows that extracts aid the body in coping with both physical and mental stress, including overwork and extreme cold or heat, and the herb is taken to support performance during periods of ongoing pressure or stress.
Decoction (to make, p. 291).
T ake 2 tbsp twice a day as
a general tonic.Tincture (to make, p. 292).
During busy periods, take 1⁄2 tsp
with water 3 times a day.
Capsules Make with powder
(see p. 292) and for long-term stress take 1 g of capsules daily.Parts Used Key Preparations & Their Uses
Whole dried root
Chopped dried rootFresh root QCautions Healthy young adults should not take for more than 6 weeks.
Can be taken long term on professional advice. Avoid caffeine when taking
Siberian


 have been shown to interact with conventional medicines. In very rare circumstances people have become seriously ill or have died from taking herbal medicines, though in almost every case the problem has resulted from one of the following safety factors being ignored. If at any time you think that you are reacting badly to an herbal medicine, stop taking it immediately, and contact a qualified herbalist or naturopath, or your doctor.
How Problems Can Occur
The wrong herb is used due to mistaken identification. Usually, when herbs are bought over the counter you have no need to worry, as the necessary checks have been made to ensure it
has been correctly identified. If you are harvesting Using Herbal Remedies Safely
One reason that herbal remedies are so popular is that plant medicines are
safer and cause fewer side effects than conventional ones. However, herbal remedies are not always safe, and—like medicines of every kind—they need  to be used with care.
Ragwort is a toxic plant and,
with its yellow flowers, easily mistaken for St. John’s wort.Dong quai has been shown
to thin the blood and is
known to interact with
conventional anticoagulants
such as warfarin.
herbs from the wild, you must be certain
what herb it is that you are collecting. For
example, ragwort (Senecio jacobaea), which  is very toxic to the liver, can easily be mistaken for St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum, p. 106): both grow in open areas and produce clusters of bright yellow flowers in the summer. In rare cases, the physical act of picking certain highly toxic herbs could be dangerous,
because absorption takes place across the skin. Hemlock (Conium maculatum, p. 194), for example, is so toxic that serious side effects can result from simply handling the plant.
The wrong part of an herb is used. It is important
to use the correct part of the herb. Sometimes one part of a plant is safe, while all other parts
are poisonous. For example, while the potato tuber (Solanum tuberosum, p. 271) makes good, nutritious food, all other parts of the plant are highly toxic.
Poor-quality material is used or the herb has
been poorly prepared. If you are making up your own remedy, follow the recommended methods for storage and preparation (see Harvesting &
Processing, pp. 288–289). If buying over the counter, check the section on Quality Control (see p. 17) for advice on purchasing good-quality products.
The wrong herbal remedy is being used. Y ou can
avoid this problem if you stick to using well-known herbs and take them to treat the conditions for which they are usually recommended. Ginger (Zingiber officinale, p. 155) and sweet flag (Acorus
calamus, p. 57) both help to relieve nausea and indigestion, but ginger is an altogether safer medicine—it is better known, is a common treatment for motion and morning sickness, and, unlike sweet flag, has no known side effects.
The herbal remedy interacts with other
medicines. Herbal remedies are medicines, so
it should come as no surprise that conventional medicines can interact with them. Several herbs are known to interact with conventional medicines. St. John’s wort, for example, speeds up the rate
at which the liver breaks down a range of drugs, including certain antibiotics, antiepileptics, and immune-suppressants. This reduces their effectiveness within the body, and in extreme situations could threaten life. It is also inadvisable  to take St. John’s wort at the same time as other antidepressants. A number of herbs, notably
dong quai (Angelica sinensis, p. 63), interact with anticoagulant drugs, such as warfarin and clopidogrel. These drugs are prescribed to prevent blood clotting. Herbal products containing these herbs will interact with anticoagulants and increase the risk of internal or external bleeding. Always tell health-care professionals what medicines you are using—both herbal and conventional. If you are taking medicines prescribed by your doctor, it is always sensible to seek advice before starting to take herbal remedies.
The herbal remedy causes an allergic reaction.
By and large, allergic reactions to herbs result from touching the herb (contact dermatitis) and from breathing in pollen or powdered herb (airborne allergies). Some plants are well known for causing contact dermatitis—rue (Ruta graveolens, p. 265) for example—and should not be handled by those prone to allergies. Some powdered herbs can stimulate sneezing attacks in the sensitive—for example linden (Tilia spp., p. 277). In some cases, herbal medicines may trigger allergic reactions within the body. This kind of response is more worrying, and if you are prone to allergies it is advisable to see a qualified herbalist before taking all but the most common herbs.
Other treatment is needed. Sometimes herbal
medicine is not the appropriate form of treatment. If you have an acute illness or injury, are seriously ill, or do not recover as expected after taking an herbal remedy, do not delay—seek professional
advice or emergency treatment.
US_298-299_Using_Herbal_Remedies_Safely.indd   298 17/03/16   4:01 pm299 herbal remedies for home use
Essential Information
Before using remedies read the following.
Dosage
■ Except in Infants & Children  (see p. 318), all dosages
given are for adults.
■ Do not exceed the stated dose; doubling it will
not make the medicine twice as effective.
■ Before taking a remedy, check the cautions in the
relevant herb entry ( see pp. 56–283).
■ Do not take more than 2 internal remedies at any
one time or more than 1 internal and 1 external
remedy for the same complaint, unless specified.
Where different forms of a remedy are given (e.g.
take tincture or infusion), the first is preferable.
How Long to T ake Remedies
T ake remedies until symptoms disappear. If there is
no improvement within 2 –3 weeks, if the condition
worsens, or if in doubt, consult a professional
practitioner ( see p. 320).
Professional Advice
■ Advice is given on when to seek professional
guidance. Consult a professional if taking a remedy
for over 3 weeks.
Infants & Children
■ Do not give babies under 6 months any
internal herbal (or other) medicine without
professional advice.
■ Infants & Children, p. 318, gives children’s dosages. Remedies for Common Ailments
Herbal knowledge is continuing to grow as more people choose herbs as
an alternative to pharmaceutical drugs. The following remedies are safe and
effective treatments for a range of common ailments; but, like all medicines,
they must be treated with respect. The suggestions given here are mostly quite
straightforward. However, if you are unsure about what to do, always seek
professional advice ( see p. 320). For instructions on how to make herbal
preparations, see pp. 290–297.
Infusions make effective  remedies; some
are also relaxing or refreshing drinks.Remedies elsewhere can be used for children
under 12. Reduce doses as follows:
■ 6–12 months old—1⁄10 adult dose
■ 1–6 years old—1⁄3 adult dose
■ 7–12 years old—1⁄2 adult dose.
Older People
Older adults, due to slower metabolism, may
require less than the standard dose. Those over
70 should usually take 3⁄4 of the adult dose.
Pregnancy
■ During the first 3 months of pregnancy, avoid
all medicines, herbal or otherwise, unless
absolutely essential.
■ Avoid alcoholic tinctures in pregnancy.
■ The herbs mentioned in Pregnancy  (see p. 317)
are safe to use. Many of the remedies elsewhere
in this section are also safe, but some are not.
Always check the cautions for the remedy and in
the relevant herb entry ( see pp. 56–283) before
taking an herb during pregnancy.
Prescription Medicine
As explained opposite, some herbs are known
to interact with pharmaceutical drugs; others
may interact in as-yet unknown ways. If you
are taking a prescribed medicine, consult a
professional practitioner before taking an herb,
and do not discontinue any medicine without
their approval.Herbal Preparations
■ All quantities are for dried herbs unless specified.
■ Where more than one part of an herb is used,
the instructions specify which part to use. Only
use that part. Do not use seeds sold for
horticultural purposes.
■ Unless specified otherwise, preparations are
made with standard quantities of dried herb,
as follows:
Infusions  (to make, see p. 291). Use a teaspoon of
herb to a cup of water, or make enough for 3–4
doses using 20 g of herb to 2 cups (500 ml) of
water. Use a covered container to retain the herb’s
valuable volatile oils.
Decoctions  (to make, see p. 291). Use 20 g herb
to 3 cups (750 ml) of water.
Inhalations  (to make, see p. 297). Add 5–10 drops
essential oil to 1 quart (1 liter) of steaming hot
water or use an infusion.
Lotions  (to make, see p. 296). Use 2 cups


 to
many thousands of people. The hundreds of enthusiastic letters I received
from people of all walks of life and all ages attest to the effectiveness of
this way of eating. Early in 1983 I received a doctorate in nutritional
science from the American College of Health Science in Austin, Texas,
the only institution in the United States to grant a degree in Natural
Hygiene.
One month after being introduced to Natural Hygiene, I had lost the
fifty pounds that 1 had been wrestling with for so long. That was in 1970.
I have not put any of that weight back on in all this time. And I love to
eat. I'm one of those people who can put on a few pounds just by reading
Gourmet magazine. The difference now, however, is that I have learned
how to eat so I not only satisfy my desire to eat but also assist my body in
maintaining itself at the weight that is most becoming to me. I've learned
to eat to live, not live to cat. In other words, I have not put the weight
back on in all this time because I did not take it off with a diet! I altered
my eating habits. That's what did it.
Mind you, the loss of weight is only one of the benefits of the incor
poration of Natural Hygiene as a life-style. A phenomenal increase in my
energy and an overall feeling of well-being have also become welcome
additions to my life. I never dreamed I could experience such a consis
tently high level of energy. I have such a surplus of energy all the time
now, that some of my acquaintances find me annoying! As I pass forty
years of age, I cannot help but be delighted at how much healthier I am
now than I was when twenty-five! And I owe it to Natural Hygiene.
Natural Hygiene can trace its history to early Greece. Four hundred
years before the birth of Christ, Hippocrates stated its philosophy accu
rately when he taught: "Thy food shall be thy remedy." The modern
history of Natural Hygiene in the United States began in 1830, when an
14 • FIT FOR LIFE organization was formed called the American Physiological Society.
Eight years later it established a library and provisions store in Boston,
which could properly be called the country's first health food store.
Around 1850 four medical doctors, Sylvester Graham, William Alcott,
Mary Gove, and Isaac Jennings, began the first major modern Natural
Hygiene movement. Quickly many other members of the medical profes
sion joined their ranks, wishing to add a more natural approach to tradi
tional medicine. In 1862 Dr. Russell Trail formed a national hygienic
association. In 1872 Dr. Trail published The Hygienic System, a work
that was very well received. It preceded many works on Natural Hygiene,
all of which taught the importance of diet in acquiring and maintaining a
high level of health.
One of the most well-respected and knowledgeable Natural Hygienists
of our time is Dr. Herbert M. Shelton, now retired, who from 1928 to
1981 ran a "health school" including a clinic, laboratory, and teaching
program in San Antonio, Texas. Dr. Shelton is generally considered to
be the greatest oracle of Natural Hygienic philosophy, principles, and
practice. He produced a wealth of literature with new findings and
thoughts, and he added more to the science and art of Natural Hygiene
than any other person. In Dr. Shelton's words: "The laws of nature, the
truths of the universe, the principles of science, are just as certain, as
fixed and immutable, in relation to health as they are in relation to all
things else. Natural Hygiene is that branch of biology which investigates
and applies the conditions upon which life and health depend, and the
means by which health is sustained in all its virtue and purity, and re
stored when it has been lost or impaired."
Today's most eminent, active proponent of Natural Hygiene is most
certainly T. C. Fry, the dean of the American College of Health Sci
ence, a most brilliant spokesperson for health. In his words, "Natural
Hygiene is in harmony with nature, in accord with the principles of vital,
organic existence, correct in science, sound in philosophy and ethics, in
agreement with common sense, successful in practice, and a blessing to
humankind." His credo is "Health is produced only by healthful living."
Dr. K. R. Sidhwa, a leading Natural Hygienist in London, recently
described Natural Hygiene at the Third World Congress of Alternative
Medicine as "the ultimate healing philosophy or technique."
Natural Hygiene is practiced today by people around the world who
enjoy long, healthy, disease-free lives. For information about Natural
Hygiene or to receive the society's periodical, write to The American
Natural Hygiene Society, 12816 Racetrack Road, Tampa, Florida 33625.
What precisely does "Natural Hygiene" mean? You were on the right
track in the beginning if you thought of cleaning your teeth. The word
NATURAL HYGIENE • 15 hygiene connotes cleanliness. The word natural implies a process un
hampered by artificial forces, THE BASIC FOUNDATION OF NATURAL
HYGIENE IS THAT THE BODY IS ALWAYS STRIVING FOR HEALTH AND
THAT IT ACHIEVES THIS BY CONTINUOUSLY CLEANSING ITSELF OF
DELETERIOUS WASTE MATERIAL. It is the approach of understanding the
effect that food has on the length and quality of one's life. Its focus is on
prevention and healthful living. It teaches people how to eliminate the
cause of their health problems rather than constantly battle the effects of
continual violation of natural laws.
The underlying basis of Natural Hygiene is that the body is self-cleans
ing, self-healing, and self-maintaining. Natural Hygiene is based on the
idea that all the healing power of the universe is within the human body;
that nature is always correct and cannot be improved upon. Therefore,
nature does not seek to thwart any of its own operations. We experience
problems of ill health (i.e., excess weight, pain, stress) only when we
break the natural laws of life.
The most beautiful thing about Natural Hygiene is that it affords you
the opportunity to control your weight by supplying you with useful tools.
Some of these tools are inborn: common sense, instincts, logic, and rea
soning. These are critical tools that we all have built-in, but for one
reason or another as life goes on we rely less and less on these attributes. I
can't count how many times I have heard people say, after hearing how
Natural Hygiene explains a certain situation, "You know, I always kind
of felt that's how it should be, but..." Their instincts were telling them
one thing, but outside pressures convinced them to do otherwise.
Through the passage of time their instincts were heeded less and less until
they were not given notice at all. Many examples of how to use common
sense, instincts, and logic to control your body weight will be presented
throughout this book.
The greatest tool of all—indeed, the greatest gift of all—is the human
body and the immense intelligence that directs it. The human body has
to be nature's finest creation. It is unmatched in power, capacity, and
adaptability. The intelligence inherent in our bodies is so vast that it is
positively staggering. The human heart beats about one hundred thou
sand times every twenty-four hours. Consider the fact that the heart and
its pumping system, which scientists have attempted to duplicate without
success, pump six quarts of blood through over ninety-six thousand miles
of blood vessels. This is an equivalent of sixty-three hundred gallons
being pumped per day. That is almost one hundred fifteen million gal
lons in only fifty years.
The six quarts of blood are made up of over twenty-four trillion cells
that make three to five thousand trips throughout the body every day.
16'FIT FOR LIFE Seven million new blood cells are produced every second! This pumping
system has the capability of working nonstop for decades without skipping
a beat. And this is only the circulatory system!
Consider the heat this machine must generate in accomplishing these
functions, yet realize that it maintains a constant temperature of around
98.6 degrees! The biggest organ of the body, the skin, is made up of over
four million pores that are constantly acting as the cooling system for this
machine. The digestive and metabolic systems have the remarkable abil
ity to transform the food we eat into healthy blood, bone, and cell struc
ture. Perfect balance is always maintained, and if it were off by only a
small fraction, the balance would be destroyed. The lungs succeed in
supplying the blood with the oxygen it needs. A complex skeletal system
furnishes a supporting framework to allow the body to stand upright and
walk. The skeletal system works in harmony with an amazing muscular
system that allows locomotion.
This machine can astonishingly reproduce itself! The force and
wisdom necessary to turn a fertilized ovum into a fully grown man or
woman are beyond our comprehension. The five senses alone can stun
the intellect. The list of activities performed by your body on a regular
basis could fill a book. At the