. The point of this is that there is nothing solid in  the universe, all of the things that we
see and believe to be solid, the trees, the cars, t he buildings, and our body's, are no
more solid than our thoughts. "A river is a mysterious thing. When you look at a r iver it looks the same to you in
every second of existence. But in fact, it is not t he same river. You cannot step into
the same river twice because new water flows in all  of the time"  - Heraculutus, Greek
Philosopher
"The human body renews itself rapidly. Even with one  breath, you take in 10 the
power of 22 atoms, an astronomical amount of materi al that ends up as your heart,
brain and kidney cells, your neurons and your DNA. With each breath, you breathe
out 10 to the power of 22 atoms, it's an astronomic al amount of raw material that is
coming from every bit of your body. You are literal ly breathing out bits and pieces of
your brain tissue, heart and kidney. Actually, tech nically speaking we are intimately
sharing organs with each other all of the time. DN A holds memory of hundreds of
millions of years. Your DNA is part of Christ, Leon ardo Da Vinci, Buddah, Sadam
Hussein. " - Deepak Chopra, What is the True Nature of Real ity. If we are exchanging parts of our body with one ano ther, then why are we retaining
our illness and injury. "In 12 months 98% of the human body has regenerated  itself. In 2 1/2 years you will
replace your whole body" -  Deepak Chopra, What is the True Nature of Reality. Why then do we retain the illness and injury, how c an the cells when we create new
ones, do so with the same disease (dis-ease)  they had previously. This is because
the shelf life of our emotions are longer than that  of the physical body. "Science has found that you immune cells are constan tly eaves dropping on your
internal dialogue. Nothing that you say to yourself  - which you are doing all of the
time, even in sleep - escapes the attention of the immune cells. When you think a though, you make molecules, to thi nk is to practice brain
chemistry. These thoughts are translated into very precise molecules known as
neuropeptides. Neuropeptides like keys, fit into a very precise lock called receptors
of the cell walls, or other neurons. This is the br ain, one part speaking to another part. This happens in other parts of the body also. This is where they found them in the
immune system. Immune cells can make the same peptides that the br ain makes when it thinks. Thus
immune cells are conscious little beings. Immune cells make the same chemical chords that the  brain uses for emotion,
through feeling and desires. It has an intellect, i t knows how to discriminate and
remember. It has to decide when it sees a carcinoge n "Is this a carcinogen" Should I
go after it. Should I leave it alone. " It has to re member the last time it encountered
something. In fact, it remembers the last time some body else encountered the same
thing. Immune cells immediately recognise anything that ha s ever been encountered by
any living species. If you are exposed to pneumococ cus for the first time in your life,
your immune cells still remember the last time some body, somewhere in prehistoric
time encountered a pneumacoccus and knows how to ma ke the correct/precise
antibody to it. The immune cell is a circulating ne rvous system. Since then scientists have discovered this is the s ame for every cell in the human
body. When you say "I have a gut feeling about such  and such" you are not
speaking metaphorically anymore. You're speaking qu ite literally because your gut
makes the same chemicals as the brain makes when it  thinks. In fact, your gut
feelings may be a little more accurate because gut cells haven't yet evolved to the
stage of self doubt. The new word is not mind body connection; we litera lly have a body-mind
simultaneously everywhere. If you say "I have a sad heart" a scientist would f ind a heart filled with sad molecules. If you say "I'm busting with joy" a scientist would  find in your skin that it would be
loaded with emipramine an antidepressant, used in t reatment of depression with
psychiatrists. If you say "I feel exhilarated, unbounded and joyfu l" a scientist would find in your
blood, high levels of interluken and interferon whi ch are powerful anticancer drugs. If you say "I feel tranquil" a scientist would find  in your body valium, and it's identical
to the Hoffman La Rouch type, except it's made in p recise doses for the right target
organs. It doesn't make you fell like a zombie. It' s an immunomodulator, it modulates
the activity of the immune system. Even little whit e cells know how to make valium" -
Deepak Chopra, What is the True Nature of Reality
You can see that there is a lot of science out ther e supporting the fact that you are
creating your reality. You are creating your illnes s and injury as much as you are
creating your fortunes or drama in your life. Have you ever wondered why there are some people wh o get sick all of the time. Have you ever wondered why cancer, once treated loc ally, can spread throughout
a person's body. "Western medicine believes the materialism which sa ys that sensory experience is the
crucial test of reality. Therefore, all of their he aling methodologies are also based on
this superstition. There are pills for every ailmen t. This is the magic bullet theory. The number one drug addiction in the world is presc ription drugs. Magic bullets are supposed to get rid of disease an d improve health, but in fact,
these are symptomatic approaches. They relieve symp toms or at best, mask them,
while underlying process remains unchanged. Sometim es they interfere with the
mechanisms of disease. They believe if we know bact eria multiply we can kill them
and we'll get rid of cancer. It doesn't work becaus e mechanisms of disease are not
the origin of disease. We can interfere (enter fear ) with the mechanisms of disease
and the disease simply finds an alternative way of expressing itself. Biotechnical medical intervention is extremely usef ul in acute illness. But it does not
alter the overall expression of disease in a popula tion. It merely changes its
expression. We no longer have epidemics of polio, tuberculosis,  measles, diptheria and
smallpox. But in their place we have a higher incid ence of cancer, heart disease,
degenerative disorders, and obesity. The overall pi cture hasn't changed because
the model that we've structured of the human body i s not the correct model" -
Deepak Chopra, What is the True Nature of Reality. Why have you not seen this on the TV or read it in the newspaper. Why is this
knowledge only in those on the spiritual path. Mayb e it has something to do with
the power that the drug companies have over the gov ernment and media. I'll
leave that one for you to ponder. The fact that you are creating your illness is not a bad thing, this is a fantastic thing,
for if you know that you have created it, then you can cure it. And this is done in the
same way that you created it, with your thoughts. Think about when your ailment started, what was hap pening in your life at that time. How was your work going, how were your relationship s with your family and friends. Then think about the part of your body that it is h appening in. The best books I have read that explain the parts o f the body and the emotions
related are The Body is the Barometer of the Soul II  by Annette Noontil and Heal Your
Body  by Louise Hay
Here are some general tips but the books go into so  much further detail. The left side of the body relates to the feminine a nd the right side relates to the
masculine. So the side of the body can relate to so meone of that sex that you are
having difficulty with or that part of yourself for  we all have masculine and feminine
energy within us. The spine is all about flexibility so where in your  life are you being inflexible. Shoulders are about guilt or shouldering responsibi lity. The hips are about who you really are and about bal ance. The legs and lower body is all about your direction, knees are related to pride and
ego, ankles about inflexibility and guilt. Arms are about holding and accepting the experience s of life. These books that I have mentioned go into the ailme nts as well as the parts of the
body, they are fantastic to mentally go into why yo u have created illness or injury in
your life. Again some very short explanations:
Cancer is deep hurt and long standing resentment. Y ou can then see what part of
the body this relates to and put the pieces togethe r. Being overweight is to be in fear and needing prote ction. To be running away from
feelings and seeking fulfilment. Stroke


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11(2000):99–102. Messier, S. P. ; T. D. R oyer; et al. Long-term exercise and its ef fect on balance in old er, osteoarthritic
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Eliminating T oxins from Y our Life

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Cultivating Flexibility and Creativity in Consciousness

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Love
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atherosclerosis. Science 1980; 208(1980): 1475–76. Sharma, S.; S. Ramji; et al. Randomized controlled trial of Asparagus racemosus (Shatavari) as a
lactogogue in lactational inadequacy. Indian Pediatrics. 33(1996):675–77. Simon, D.,  and D. Chopra. The Chopr a Center Herbal Handbook—Forty Natural Pr escriptions for
Perfect Health. New Y ork : Three Rivers Press, 2000. For more information on ashwagandha,
shatavari, and amalaki. Spiegel, D.; J. R. Bloom; et al. Ef fect of psychosocial treatment on survival o f patients with
metastatic breast cancer. Lancet 2(1989):888–91. Chapter 11
Maintaining a Y outhful Mind

Kamei, T. ; H. Kumano; and S. Masumura. Changes of immunoregulatory cells associated with
psychological stress and humor. Per ceptual and  Motor Skills 84(1997):1296–98.Ladinsky, D. I Hea r d Go d Laughin g—Renderings of Hafiz. W alnut Creek, Calif.: Sufism Reoriented,
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35(1995):271–73. Epilogue
Hilton, J. Lost Horizon. New Y ork: Pocket Books/Simon & Schuster, 1933, 1960. Osho. The Book of Secr ets. New Y ork: St. Martin’ s Grif fin, 1974.A b o u t  t h e  A u t h o r s
More than a decade ago, DEEP AK CHOPRA, M.D., founder of the Chopra Center for W ell Being in
Carlsbad, California, became the foremost pioneer in integrated medicine. His insights have
redefined our vision o f health to embrace body, mind, and spirit. His books, which in clude Quantum
Healing; Perfect Health; Ageless Body, T imeless  Mind; and The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success,
have become international bestsellers and established classics of their kind. DA VID SIM ON, M.D., a graduate of the U niversity of Chicago Medical School, is a neurologist and
an expert in A yurveda, the traditional medical system that has its roots in ancient India. His earlier
books include The W isdom of Healing, Return to Wholeness, V ital Ener gy,  a nd the Chopra Center
Herbal Handbook. He is  cofounder of the Chopra Center fo r W ell Being, where he serves as its
medical director. A l s o  b y  D e e p a k  C h o p r a,  M. D. A l s o  b y  D a v i d  S i m o n,  M. D.Copyright © 2001 by Deepak Chopra, M.D., and David Simon, M.D. This eBook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased,
licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the
publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly
permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a
direct infringement of the author ’ s and publisher ’ s rights and those responsible may be liable in law
accordingly. www.randomhouse.co.uk
Grateful acknowledgment is made to the following for permission to use previously published


 guarantee to assuage your
existential fears. The ego thinks, “If everyone around me considers
me special, better than others, smart, beautiful, talented, happy,
unhappy, or even bad”—or whatever specialty you have chosen for
your idealized  self-gloricati on—“then I will receive the necessary
approval, love, admiration, agreement that I need in order to live.”
This argument means that somewhere deep down you believe that
you can exist only through being noticed, armed, and conrmed
by others. You feel that if you go by unnoticed, you cease to live. This may sound exaggerated, but it is not. It explains why your
idealized self-image is so destructive. You feel more condent when
you make yourself noticed than when you make positive eorts. So your salvation seems to lie in others who would acknowledge
your existence  only if you are special. At the same time, the
misinterpreted message from the real self wants you to master life,
but you maste r it on the wrong plane and believe that you must
vanquish every resistance that is in your way. Each personal pseudo-
solution  is a way you have to eliminate your obstructions on the way
to specialness. Which pseudo-solution you have chosen depends onindividual character traits, on circumstances and early inuences. Whatever they are—and there are three basic ones: the aggressive,
the submissive, and the withdrawal solutions —they are destined to
triumph over others and establish your freedom and fulllment. Your existence seems to be guaranteed when you are totally
loved, accepted, and served by others, and you hope to attain this
by trium phing over them. You can now see that you are governed
by a succession of wrong conclusions, which are all completely
dierent in reality. Of course, all your reactions  and beliefs can be ascertain ed only
when you have learned to admit them. You also need to question
the meaning of a particular reaction and look behind the facade,
beyond what it pretends to mean. Once you admit this, it is easy to
verify that all these misconceptions govern you and rob you of the
beauty of reality. You will further come to see—not as a theory, but
as a reality— that your life does not depend on other people’s
armation of your existence; that you do not need to be special and
separate from others; that this very claim traps you in loneliness and
confusion; that others will give you love and acceptance only when
you do not wish to be bette r than they are, or special or dierent
from them. Also this love will come when your very life no longer
depends on it. When you have truly attaine d knowledge, your accomplishment,
in whatever eld this may be, cannot have the eect on others that
it has when accomplishment serves to set you apart. In the one case
your accomplishment will be a bridge to others, because  it is not a
weapon agains t them. In the other instance it will create antagonism
because you wish to be accomplished in order to be better than
others, which always means  that others should be less. When you
need to be better through your accomplishments, what you give to
the world must turn against you because you oer it in a spirit of
war. When you give of your accomplishments in order to enrich life
and others, you and your life will be enhanced by it because what
you oer is given in a spirit of peace. In the latter case, you become a
part of life. In taking from life—and the live center within yourself—and in giving back to life as an integral part of it, you act
according to the unied principle. Whenever you believe that “in order to live I must be better than
others, I must be separate” disappointment is inevitable. This belief
cannot bring the desired result because it is based on illusion. The
dualistic concept is “me versus the other.” The more you ght
others, the less they will comply with your demand to arm your
self and the more you will experience this as a danger equal to
giving up the ght itself. So every way you turn seems to be
blocked. You make yourself utterly dependent on others  with your
illusory concep t that unless they approve of you, you are lost, while,
at the same time, trying to overrun them and triumph. You will
resent the former and feel guilty about the latter. Both create
intense frustrations and anxiety; both yield no salvation whatever. Notice the initial disinclination to question your assumptions
concerning any problematic issue in your life. This is your very
stumbling block, because your shying away from what appears so
painful and frightening make s it impossible to uncover the fallacy of
your hidden belief. When you look at your problems in as objective
and detached a way as you can muster, expressing the wider
outlook of the real self, as you turn your best intent and will to the
matter that disturbs you with a genuine wish for impartiality, you
will rst notice a shrinking back from such a desire and a more or
less overt or subtle way of covering up your desire for ight. Catch
yourself in this act and courageously forge on, questioning yourself
further and deeper. You will then come to see that, nally, the outer
diculty is a symbolic representation of your inner quarrel where
you ght for life against death, for existence against annihilation. You will see what you evidently believe is required from others in
order for you to exist. The Transition from Dualistic Error to Unied Truth
When you have arrived at this level of your being, you will be
able to questio n your precepts that lay the foundation for this. Andthis is the rst step to make possible the transition from dualistic
error to unied truth. You will further notice that relinquishing
ideals and convictions also feels like annihilation, for being wrong
means dying, and being right means living. The moment you go
through this movement of opening up and have the courage to want
the truth, a more complete truth than you can see at the moment in
whatever issue, you will come to a new peace and a new intuitive
knowledge about the way things are. Something in your hardened
psychic substance will have loosened up and will further prepare the
way for total self-realization. Each time you loosen up, the climate in your psyche will be more
auspicious for the nal, total awakening to your inner center, which
contains all life, all truth, all the unied goodness of creation. Every
step in this direction abandons another misconception; and each
misconception represents another burden. The giving up of what
rst seemed like protection from annihilation will now be disclosed
as what it really is: the giving up of a burden, suering,
imprisonment. You then comprehend the preposterous fact that you
are actually opposed to leaving the dualistic life, with all its
hardship and hopelessness. Perhaps you can now under stand some of this, and it will help
you in your personal path. When you apply this to your everyday
life, you will see that the abstract-sounding words I use here are not
something far away, but accessible for every one of you. You will
see that these words are practical and concrete, if only you are
willing to see yourself in relationship to life in a wider truth than
you are as yet willing even to contemplate. The message coming from the real self says, “Your birthright is
perfect happiness, freedom, and mastery over life.” When you ght
for this birthright according to dualistic principles, you remove
yourself further and further from self-realization, in which you
could truly have mastery, freedom, and total fulllment. You seek
all this with false means. They are as varied as each individual’s
character. See how you personally try to set up the false ght leading into more
confusion and pain. In whatever way you try to win, you aredependent on others and on circumstances often way beyond your
actual control and therefore doomed to failure. This futile struggle
hardens your psychic materia l. The more brittle it becom es the less
you are able to contact the center of your inner being where
everything you could possib ly need is found: vital well-being and
productivity and inner peace, which are byproducts of nding the
real self. The only way you can enter the unitive state where you can truly
achieve maste ry is by lettin g go of the false need to win, to be
separate, to be special, to be right, to have it your way. Discover the
good in all situations, whethe r you deem them good or bad, right or
wrong. Needle ss to say, this does not mean resignation, nor does it
mean fearful giving in or weakness. It means going with the stream
of life and coping with what is as yet beyond your immediate
control, whether or not it is according to your liking. It means
accepting where you are and what life is for you at this moment. It
means being in harmony with your own inner rhythm. This
procedure will open the channel to your Godself, so that nally total
self-realization takes place. All your


 minerals, this pearl mask from Shahnaz Husa in is
deeply rejuvenating. Grounding stones used in therapy. The body’s bio-magnetic field extends at least eight inches out from the surface of
the skin, so when a crystal pendulum is held above another crystal positioned on a
chakra  point, it is more than likely to move. This gives vital information to a crystal
therapist, who is trying to free up energy flows and bring the body back to balance. Although not strictly gems, pearls have been used for decoration, health, good
luck and cuisine for centuries in India. If the pearl is your birth stone, it is said to
be doubly powerful. According to Dr Sreenarayanan, only certain stones have
healing properties and they must always be purified before use. “Gems may be soaked in running water (preferably water f rom
sacred places such as the Ganges) and the water is drunk for health
benefits,” he says, “Or they may be put in the husk of rice or left out
in th e sun. Ano ther way of re ceiving the power of stones i s to
simply c oncentrate or meditate on ‘special’ stones; gazing on t hem
in a quiet medita tive manner dispels negativity and makes the mind
calm and quiet. ”
He g oes on to note that the use of gems and precious metals in
this way  is extremely ancient as it is rooted in V edic astrolog ical
readings. The V edas prescribed three methods to dispel negative
planetary influen ces, namely the chanting of  mantras, the wearing
of g ems and the  taking of medicine. T oday, many people choos e to
wear a  navaratna  or nine jewel ba ngle or a  rudraaksha ( string of
medicinal beads) to keep harmful cosmic ener gies at bay. “If you
wear your birth stone close to th e body,” asserts Dr Sreenarayanan,
“your ener gy levels open u p and your immune system is
strengthened. ”
In this context, precious and se mi-precious stones are easier to
use than  minera ls and metals a s they require minimal preparation. Their beauty, rareness and the ef fect of light rays passing thro ugh
them are factors that make them useful in healing. If the stones are
inlaid into jewelry items, they s hould be open-backed with gold as
the preferred setting. Crystals
Crystal t herapy is another holistic therapy that utilizes the power of
stones. Crystal healers believe that every living or ganism has  an
ener gy system based on me ridian lines and  chakras, so if
appropriate crystals are placed on particular spots (ie  marma  points
or  chakras ) sluggish or blocked ener gy is revitalized. Such therapy
is al so reported to be helpful w ith certain emotional issues. Some
therapists use crystals in facials and massages too: warmed jade,
turquoise and quartz used in a manner similar to hot stone massage
encourages ener gy flow and carved, polished crystals placed on the
facial  chakras  help cleanse and rebalance. Crystal therapists hold that crystals are especially useful because
they vib rate in the same ener gy fields as human beings, but forcrystal therapy to be ef fective, a course of treatments is advi sed. “Depending on the person and their problems, this type of ener getic
work is most be neficial when received more than once,” says one
crystal h ealer, “ a course of twice a week for a few weeks can be
enormously helpful. ”
Go for gold: Eaten, injected or absorbe d through the skin, gold is the ultimate  elixir
of life. Ingested in Ayurveda to boost the circulation and rejuvenate sluggish
organs, it may also be injected to reduce inflammation in joints. Here, it is applied
to the face as part of an absurdly-lux urious four-part facial treatment offered at
Shahnaz Husain salons: aptly name d the 24 carat gold collection, it is an
extravagant treat. balance
A beautiful face  and body cannot
attain its greatest potential, if the mind
and spirit aren’t also nurtured, relaxed
and fulfilled. In India, Ayurvedic
physicians, yoga and martial arts
instructors, gurus and teachers all stress
the importance of a life lived in balance:
one where mind, body and spirit work
together in healthful harmony. This can
be achieved with a number of practicesthat stress “mindfulness”, such as
meditation, yoga,  pranayama, various
physical/mental exercises and therapies
that work to balance the  chakras. yoga
It isn’ t known exactly when the ancient art of yoga began,
but there is archaeologica l evidence of various yogic
postures dating  back to around 3,000  BC. Many believe that
it w as Lord Shiva, the Hindu  god, who created yoga, but  the
first written texts outlining its basic philosophy and
practices prob ably date to t he 2nd century  BC. Called the
Yoga Sutras, they were written by a certain Patanjali, and
are be lieved to combine previous teachings into an
or ganized system that continues to this day. Patanjali states that yoga is a methodical practice, the ultimate aim
of which is the attainment of perfection. Through the control of both
physical and psychical elements, disciplined activity, spiri tual
exercises and the conquest of d esire, one can attain salvation. He
outlined an eight-limbed path (ashtanga ) to reach this ultimate
stage:  yama  or abstention, not doing bad things to other people;
niyama  or obser vance, t hings you should do to yourself;  asana  or
postures;  pranayama  or breath-control and breathing exercises;
pratyahara  or withdrawal of the senses, controlling them and being
aware of them;  dharana  or fi xed attention (concentration);  dhyana
or c ontemplatio n (meditation);  and  samadhi, the final stage of
super -consciousness (equivalen t to the Buddhist concept of
Nirvana). T oday, there are many dif ferent styles of yoga, but in general,
yoga involves repetition of post ures (asanas ), fo llowed by r esting
poses, breathing  exercises (pranayama ) an d meditation. Hathayoga, a term oft en heard, is not  actually a style of yoga but a path
that ultimately leads to the path of self-control (raja ). In  add ition to
the m ain styles of yoga listed overleaf, there are many other fo rms
that are more recent additions to  the practice such as Bikram Y oga
and Power Y oga. India offers some extraordinary places  for yoga practice. Here, a teacher and two
clients enjoy the early morning light atop a rampart of the deserted city of
Bhangarh in the Aravalli hills not too far from Jaipur. It is one of the mind-
expanding trips organized by the Amanbagh resort. An inspirational illustration depicting some of the different yoga  asanas  on the
perimeter, and a lotus-posed devote e showing the positioning of the seven
chakras. Iyengar Y oga:
The yoga teacher  BKS  Iyengar, born in 1918, started this style of
yoga in Pune. Th e Iyengar concept includes work to achieve cor rect
and accurate alignment and practicing with an astute consciousness
of how to build  a stronger  asana. Th e aim is to make sure ever y
pose is complete ly in line. Prop s such as straps, blocks of wood or
blankets may be used. Ananda Y oga:
This classical style focuses on gentle postures designed to move the
ener gy up to the brain and prepare the body for meditation. It is  not
at all aerobic: it  looks inwards, but nonetheless places emphasis on
proper body alignment and controlled breathing practice. Ashtanga Y oga:
Formulated by Sri K Pattabhi Jois, a yoga master based in Mys ore,
this system involves synchronizing the breath with a progressive
series of  posture s. It concentrates on the flow from one pose to  the
next, on the breath (ujjaipranayam ) and  on strong,  physical poses. During an  ashtanga  session, an intense internal h eat and a
powerful, purify ing sweat is produced, so that both body and mind
are exercised to their full potential. Sivananda Y oga:
This is a traditional type of yo ga that focuses on connecting the
body to the solar plexus where it  is believed an enormous amoun t of
ener gy is stored. Comprising repetition of  asanas  followed by
resting poses, it also focuses on breath, dietary restrictions, chan ting
and meditation. The Mandarin Oriental Dhara Devi, an inspired resort in northern Thailand, offers
a wide variety of yoga, meditation and spiritual exercise classes. All are designed
to promote stamina, peace of mind, energy and vitality. The


 clitoris. Holding  your breat h for a while, inhale  again,
contract  and pull down the front  part of the anus,  holding  your breat h
for a while. Feel the sexual  energ y being  pulled  dow n and collected
at the  perine um. With all mu scles flexed,  inhale,  clench,  and pull
up your Ovarian  Palace  and sexual  region  repe atedl y, holding  the
energy  at the  front  part of the perineum. Practice  nine  of these
hard contractio ns, inhaling  without exhaling. Each  time pull do wn
from the  Ovarian  Palace  to the front  part of the  perine um. Retention
of the  energ y at the  perine um is very  important. If it is released, the
sexual  energy  will drop  down to the sexual organs  or leak  out the
vagina,  and you will have  to start  the exercise  again. To retain  the
- 162  -Chapter  VI
energy  at a certain  point  means y ou must settle  your mind and
concentrat e on that point. When you beco me out of  breath,  exhale
and release  all the  muscles in the  body : You may feel energ y rush
up, dow n and around  the sexual region, especiall y during  this resting
period. Use your mind to guide  the energy  from the Ovarian  Palace
to the  front  part of the  perineum. After  practicing  this exercise  for a week or two, you may begin
to feel  the muscle contractio ns automatically  pull your vagina  in
and squeeze  the clitoris. The anus  will feel as though  closed  very
tightly. Remember that  unless  other wise indicated,  all breathing  is
through  the nose. The w hole body  must relax  on the exhale. Allow
all tension  to flow out of you as if yo u were in meditation. Practice
this exercise  for at least one  week. D. Raise the sexual energy to the sacrum  by arching  the
sacrum  and activating the sacral pump. Start  with arousing  the breasts  to stimulate the glands’  and
organs’  ener gies to fuse  with the sexual  energy. Clench  the fists,
feet, neck and jaws on inhalatio n. Draw up the entire  genital  area,
urogenit al diaphr agm, anus,  and especiall y the vagina. Squeeze
the energy  tightl y to the clitoris  and pull it up to the  perineum. Rest
for a while, inhale  again  and contract  the front  part of the anus,
drawing the sexual  energ y dow n from the  ovaries  to the perine um. Holding  your breath  for a while, inhale  again,  and contract  the middle
part of the  anus. At the  sam e tim e contract  the back part  of the
anus  and pull up to ward the cocc yx, a little up from  the bottom tip
of your spine,  drawing the sexual  energy  up throug h the perine um,
and continue  to dra w it up  to your cocc yx. Feel  it enter  the hiatus  in
the sacru m.
   Activate  your Sacral Pum p by arching  the sacrum back and
outw ard there by straight ening  the sacru m. This ma kes it easier  for
the Chi to rise. Hold  the energy  at the sacral  area  and continue  to
inhale  and pull the sexual ener gy in from the Ovarian  Palace  and
sexual  organs,  until  you feel the ener gy in your clitoris  and your
vagina  begin  to subside. Som etimes this requi res three  to nine
inhalations  with increasingl y harder  contractions. Squeezing  the
buttocks  more tightly  may  help  you force  the sexual  healing  energ y
(Ching  Chi)  into the  sacrum. W hen yo u are out of breath,  exhale. Then relax  and let your sacru m and  neck  return  to their  normal
positions. This resting  period  will induce  the activation  of the Sacral
- 163  -Orgasmic Upward Draw
and Cranial  Pum ps. Y ou will gradu ally have  the sensation  of
something  entering  into the spinal cord as the  sacru m begins  to
open  for more Chi to flo w.
    If y ou are well practiced  in Ovarian  Breathing,  or have  already
opened  your Microc osmic Orbit, this  step  of the  Orgasm ic Draw
will be much easier. Other wise, the sacral  area  is usuall y a little
difficult to pum p the ener gy throug h since,  as previo usly noted,
sexual  energy  is dense r than  other  types of Chi, and  aroused  sexual
energy  is denser  still. This is w here the Sacral  Pump enters  in. As
mentioned  in the Ovarian  Breathing  exercise,  some people  will
experience  pain,  tingling,  or a “pins and needles”  sensation  when
the sexual ener gy enters  the sacral hiatus. This should  not be
alarming. Remember y ou can assist the  sexual  energ y in its up ward
push  past  the coccyx  by gentl y massaging  the area  with a silk
cloth from time to tim e.
E. Draw sexual energy to T-11 by b owing the spine outward. Once  you are able  to mo ve the  energ y throug h your sacrum,
spend  the next  week drawing the energy  to T-11 (on  the spine,
opposite  your solar  plexus). Repeat  the sam e proced ure: arousin g,
clenching,  and inhaling. Pum p the  energ y up to  the perineum,
sacru m, and  then  to T-11. Again, because  sexual  energ y is denser
than life-force  (Chi),  you have  to accom modate it by bowing your
spine  outw ard, as if y ou were backing  up against  a wall and pushing
toward it to straighten  your spine. This wi ll increas e the pumping
action  and allow  for a freer  passage  of Ching  Chi. Retain  the ener gy
at T-11  until this  point  feels  full of energy. Practice  nine  hard
contractions. Each time bring  the energy  from  its source  at the
Ovarian  Palace  to T-11:  each  time inhale  without exhaling. Then
exhale  and relax  every  part of your body, mentally  guiding  the Chi
to flo w from the  Ovarian  Palace  to T-11. F. Push  from the  sternum  and bring sexual energy  to C-7. Your next station  is C- 7 (at the base  of your neck). Practice in  the
same m anner  as described  above:  continue  to dra w the energ y
down to the  perineum and  up to  the sacru m (archin g the sacru m),
up to T-11 (bow ing the spine  outw ard), to C- 7, and  push  the top of
the sternu m back to ward C-7 at  the base  of the  neck. This wi ll help
increase  the pumping action  of the spine,  activate  the thymus  gland,
join the  thoracic  and cervical vertebrae, and help  push  the sexual
energy  up. - 164  -Chapter VI
G. Strai ghten  the spine and bring the sexual energy  to the
base of  the skull  Jade Pillow). The next  stopping  place  is yo ur Jade  Pillow (located  at the back
of your head  betw een C-1 and  the base  of the skull). Practice  in
the same m anner  as previousl y described:  continue  to dra w the
energy  down from the Ovarian  Palace  to the  perineum, up to  the
sacru m (archin g the sacrum), up  to T-11  (bowing the T-11  outw ard),
up to C-7  (pushing  from the  sternum to C-7),  there by straighte ning
the entire  spine. Inhale  and pull up  to the  Jade  Pillow, then  push  the
chin in  toward the back  and base  of the  skull. This w ill activate  the
Cranial  Pump. At this point  clench  the teeth,  squeeze  the muscles
at the  back  of the


 bunch of watercress
Dressing:
1 tbsp. flaxseed oil 1/2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar (or lemon juice)1 clove garlic, crushed1 green onionRecipes
3parsley
chivesdillfennelmint
Peel the orange and split into segments. Separate the chicory leaves and
arrange like the spokes of a wheel around a large dish. Put the water-cress and orange in the middle. Combine all the dressing ingredients ina jug and stir vigorously. (If you have no fresh herbs, use a generouspinch of dried herbs.) Pour over the salad and serve immediately. Radish, Apple and Celery Salad
Preparation time: 15 minutes** Does not include presoakingServes 2
radishes
green applesceleryraisinslettuce
Dressing :
1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar1 tbsp. water1 tsp. sugar (or honey)1 or 2 cloves garlic, crusheddill, choppedyogurt
Chop the radishes, green apples and celery into small chunks. Presoak
the raisins (soak overnight in cold water, or pour boiling water overthem and leave for a couple of hours until plump) and add. For thedressing, mix together the apple cider vinegar, water, sugar (or honey),garlic and dill. Add enough yogurt to make a creamy dressing. Pour$PPLCPPL5IF(FSTPO8BZ
3over the salad and serve on a bed of lettuce (include radicchio or red
leaf, if available). Variations: Use other herbs instead of dill, omit the yogurt or add
some flaxseed oil. Raw Turnip, Watercress and Orange Salad
Preparation time: 15 minutesServes 2
1 turnip
1 orangewatercress
Dressing:
orange juiceflaxseed oil
Peel and cut the turnip into matchstick-size pieces. Segment the
orange and add to the turnip pieces. Add the watercress and toss inthe dressing. Rice Salad
Preparation time: 15 minutesServes 2
green bell pepper
red bell peppertomato1 cup cooked brown rice
Dressing:
1 tbsp. flaxseed oil 1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar1 clove garlicsugar
Recipes
3Chop the peppers and tomato. Prepare the dressing, mix well and add
the chopped peppers and tomato. Spoon onto the rice. Serve with amixed green salad. Romaine Lettuce with Yogurt Dressing
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Romaine lettuce
chives, chopped
Dressing:
yogurtsugarlemon juicecrushed garlic
Coarsely shred the lettuce. Pour on the dressing and sprinkle with
chopped chives. Salad Kebabs
Preparation time: 15 minutes
tomatoes
zucchiniswhole radisheslettuce heartscarrots
Dressing:
lemon juiceyogurtflaxseed oil herbs (mint, dill or parsley)$PPLCPPL5IF(FSTPO8BZ
34Thread on wooden skewers thinly sliced pieces of tomato, zucchini,
whole radishes, lettuce hearts and raw carrot. Dip into the salad dressingbefore serving. Salad Lorette
Preparation time: 10 minutes
cooked beets
celery stalkslettuce
Dressing:
flaxseed oil lemon juice
Thinly slice the beets and celery and mix with lettuce. Add dressing. Spanish Salad
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Serves 2
onions
1 clove garlicred bell pepperstomatoes, slicedparsley, chopped
Dressing:
flaxseed oil 1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar1 tbsp. watersugar (optional)
Thinly slice the onions and put into a bowl which has been rubbed over
with a cut clove of garlic. Seed and slice the red peppers and lay themon top of the onion. Add a layer of sliced tomatoes. Crush the garlicRecipes
3and sprinkle on top. Pour over the dressing and sprinkle with chopped
parsley. Tomato and Zucchini Salad
Preparation time: 15 minutesServes 2
tomato
zucchinigreen onionbeetlettuce
Dressing:
flaxseed oil yogurtlemon juice
Chop the tomato and zucchini into chunks. Slice the green onion and
add. Finely grate the raw beet (or chop cooked beet into chunks) andmix into the salad. Lay on a bed of lettuce. Pour over dressing. Tomato Salad
Preparation time: 15 minutesServes 2
tomatoes
onion1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar1 tbsp. watersugar (optional)parsley, choppedchives$PPLCPPL5IF(FSTPO8BZ
3Slice the tomatoes and spread out over a flat dish. Slice the onion and
arrange the onion rings over the tomatoes. Mix the apple cider vinegarwith water (and optional sugar, if used). Pour over the tomatoes andsprinkle with chopped parsley and chives. Watercress, Endive and Grapefruit Salad
Preparation time: 10 minutesServes 2
watercress
endive (frisée or escarole, or both)grapefruityogurt
Tear the watercress into smaller pieces, remove woody stems and put in
a bowl with the endive leaves. Cut the grapefruit in half. Juice one halfand segment the other half. Add the segments to salad leaves. Mix thegrapefruit juice with yogurt and pour over the salad. Toss well andserve. Zucchini Ribbon Salad
Preparation time: 10 minutesServes 2-4
3 large zucchinis
1 lb. tomatoes6 green onions
Dressing :
2 tbsp. apple cider vinegarpinch of sugar2 tbsp. flaxseed oil freshly chopped cilantroRecipes
Using a vegetable peeler or cheese slicer, cut the zucchinis lengthwise
into thin ribbons, running along the side so the ribbons include the
green skin. Place into a bowl. Quarter the tomatoes and thinly slice the
onions. Add to the bowl. Toss in the dressing just before serving. Soups
Apple and Fennel Soup
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 30-45 minutes
Serves 4
1 lb. potatoes
2 bulbs fennel
2 leeks
2 Granny Smith apples
1 tsp. sugar (optional)
1 tart eating apple
Peel and dice the potatoes, trim and chop the fennel, slice the leeks, and
core and chop the apples into small pieces. Put these ingredients into a
pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil, turn down the heat and sim-
mer gently until potatoes and fennel are cooked. Purée (with electric
blender or food mill). Add the chopped apples to the puréed soup. Serve
immediately. Variation: Omit apples, if you wish. Argyll Soup
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 45 minutes
Serves 4
2 large carrots
2 large onions
$PPLCPPL5IF(FSTPO8BZ
34 sticks celery
1 lb. potatoes
2 cloves garlic
parsley
Slice the carrots, roughly chop the onions and slice the celery. Peel and
chop the potatoes and crush the garlic. Put all into a large pot and cover
with water. Bring to a boil. Turn down the heat and simmer gently for
45 minutes. Purée (with electric blender or food mill). Garnish with
parsley and serve immediately. Autumn Flame Soup
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 25 minutes
Serves 4
1 large onion
3 large cloves garlic
1 lb. squash (or pumpkin)
4 large red bell peppers
1 lb. tomatoes, chopped
thyme
fresh green herbs (2 small bay leaves, fresh parsley or cilantro)
Chop the onion and crush the garlic. Peel and chop the squash into
small chunks. Seed the peppers and chop into small pieces. Put it all into
a pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Turn down the heat and add
the chopped tomatoes, thyme and bay leaves. Simmer gently for no lon-
ger than 20 minutes. Purée (with electric blender or food mill). Serve
immediately, garnished with fresh green herbs of your choice. Beet Soup
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 1 hour
Recipes
3Serves 4
2 medium beets, unpeeled
1 large onion1 medium carrot2 large tomatoesred cabbage leaves, chopped1 bay leafwater 1 tbsp. apple cider vinegarjuice of 1/2 lemonherbs yogurt parsley
Chop beets, onion, carrot and tomatoes, without peeling (except for the
onion!). Put into a large pot. Add chopped cabbage leaves and bay leaf.Cover with water and add apple cider vinegar, lemon juice and herbs.Bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer gently for about 1 hour.When cooked, purée (with electric blender or food mill), serve with aswirl of yogurt and garnish with parsley. Cabbage Soup
Preparation time: 10 minutesCooking time: 40 minutesServes 2-4
1 small green (or white) cabbage
2 leeks2 potatoes, peeled2 onions2 sticks celery1 clove


 in the sky may be billions of light-years
away, yet at the quantum level each star is just as connected to your candle
as the second candle in the room; the vast space between them contains
waves of ener gy that bind them. As you look at the candle and the distant stars, photons of light from both
land on your retina. There they trigger flashes of electrochemical dischar ge
that belong to a different vibratory frequency from visible light, yet they are
part of the same  electromagnetic  field. Therefore, you are another candle—
or star—whose local concentrati on of matter and energy is one outcropping
in the infinite field that surrounds and supports you. Think about this organic connection between everything in existence. The lessons of this exercise are
•  No matter how separate anything appears to the senses, nothing is
separate at the quantum level. •  The quantum field exists in, around, and through you. You are not
looking at the field—in every wave and particle, the field is your
extended body. •  Each of your cells is a local concentration of information and energy
inside the wholeness of information and energy of your body. Likewise, you are a local conce ntration of information and energy in
the wholeness that is the body of the universe. When you begin to own this knowledge, nothing in your environment
will feel threatening to you. As a result, the fear of separation will loosen its
hold over you, and the unbroken flow of awareness will counter entropy
and aging. Exercise 3: Br eathing the FieldThe quantum field transcends everyday reality, yet it is extremely
intimate to your experience. To fetch a word from your memor y, to feel an
emotion, to grasp a concept—th ese are events that change the entire field. The eminent British physicist Sir James Jeans once remarked, “When an
electron vibrates, the universe shakes.” There is no flicker of activity in any
of your cells that goes unnoticed across the entire quantum field. At its finest level, every physiological process registers in the fabric of
Nature. In other words, the more  refined a process is, the more connected to
the basic activity of the cosmos. Here is a simple breathing exercise that can
give you a remarkably vivid experience of this phenomenon. Sit comfortably in a chair with your eyes closed. Gently and slowly
inhale through your nostrils, imagining as you do so that you are drawing
the air from a point infinitely far away. See the air gently coming to you
from the edge of the universe. Feel it coolly suf fusing your body. Now slowly and easily exhale, sending every atom of air back to its
source infinitely  far away. It may help if you envision a thread that extends
from you to the far reaches of the cosmos; or you might visualize a star
hovering in front of you that is sending light from infinitely far away—in
either case, imag ine the thread or the star as your source of air. If you aren’ t
a good visualizer, don’t worry; just hold the word infinite  in your mind as
you breathe. Whatever technique you use, the aim is to feel each breath
coming to you from the quantum field, which at a subtle level is actually
happening. Reestablishing the memory of your connection with the
quantum field will awaken the memory of renewal in your body. Exercise 4: Redefining
Having absorbed  the knowledge that your body is not a sculpture isolated
in space and time, redefine yourself by repeating the following statements
silently to yourself:
I can use the power of my awareness to experience a body that is
Flowing instead of solid
Flexible " " rigidQuantum " " material
Dynamic " " static
Composed of information
and ener gy" " random chemical reactions
A network of intelligence " " a mindless machine
Fresh and ever -renewing " " entropic and aging
Timeless " " time-bound
Another good set of redefining statements:
•  I am not my atoms, they come and go. •  I am not my thoughts, they come and go. •  I am not my ego, my self-image changes. •  I am above and beyond these; I am the witness, the interpreter, the Self
beyond the self-image. This Self is ageless and timeless. Repeating these statements serves as more than a mental reminder. As a
process rather than an object, the human body is constantly  filled with
messages of every kind; the verbal messages we hear in our heads are just
one version of the information being exchanged from cell to cell every
second. Because  every person’ s awareness is colored by past experiences,
the flow of information inside us is influenced by unconscious imprints we
are barely aware of. We will examine in detail how these unconscious
imprints break down the smoo th flow of messages, creating the loss of
intelligence that results in aging. For the time being, know that you can change these imprints by giving
the unconscious  new assumptions and beliefs to operate with. Every
thought you have activates a messenger molecule in your brain. This means
that every mental impulse gets transformed automatically into biological
information. By repeating these new statements of belief, affirming to
yourself that your body is not defined by the old paradigm, you are
allowing new biological inform ation to be produced; and, via the mind-
body connection, your redefined sense of yourself is being received by your
cells as new programming. Thus, the gap between your old, isolated self
and the image of yourself as an ageless, timeless being starts to close.OceanofPDF.comPART
TWO
Aging and Awareness
OceanofPDF.comAWARENESS HAS THE power to chang e aging, but awareness is a two-edged
sword—it can both heal and destroy. What makes the difference is how
your awareness becomes conditioned, or trained, into various attitudes,
assumptions, beliefs, and reactions. When these mental patterns are
destructive, a person finds himself driven by his mind into destructive
behavior; when the mental patte rns are constructive, the person is motivated
toward self-enhancing behavior. Before it gets trained, awaren ess is just a
field of energy and information;  it is the mind’ s faculty for having thought
before thought is actually prese nt. Compared to any single expression of
matter and energy, whether one atom or one galaxy, the quantum field is
incomparably more powerful, because it has the potential to generate
infinite combinations of space-time events that have never occurred before. Likewise, becau se it always remains capable of generating new mental
impulses, which in turn generate new biological information, your
awareness is much more power ful than any single thought you might ever
have. Retaining this creative potential is the mark of non-aging; giving it up
in favor of habit s, rituals, rigid beliefs, and outworn behavior is the mark of
aging. In ancient China, the Tao Te Ching  proclaimed the same truth:
“Whatever is flexible and flowi ng will tend to grow, whatever is rigid and
blocked will wither and die.”
The impressions of past experience lock our minds into predictable
patterns that trigger predictable behavior. Everyone’ s inner life is complex,
swirling with both positive and negative thought patterns, but the fact that
awareness can be trained is simple; it is the most fundamental thing that
happens to us from birth onward. Like melted wax being imprinted with a
signet ring, raw, unformed awareness is able to hold an impression, and
once the impression has taken, awareness sets around it. The Illusion of No ChoiceIn childhood we were at our most impressionable; our awareness was like
soft, fresh wax not yet marred by experience. By old age the same
awareness has been conditioned  thousands of times over, and like old wax
that has been used too many times, the mind becomes brittle and stiff. It is
difficult to find even a small corner that is not conditioned by multiple
layers of experience. Old bodie s reflect this underlying rigidity, which is
felt in every cell. The number of impressions that get laid down inside us is staggering—
behavioral psych ologists have estimated that just the verbal cues fed to us
by our parents in early childhood, which still run inside our heads like
muffled tape loops, amount to over twenty-five thousand hours of pure
conditioning. For each of us, the learning process that teaches us to age is
complex and never -ending. It involves attitudes passed along from family,
peers, and society since earliest childhood. What did your moth er say when
she spotted her first wrinkles? Did she see them as a dreaded symbol of lost
youth? Did she still feel pretty and desirable? How did your father feel
about retirement? Was it the end of his useful existence or the threshold of a
better time? Were your grandparents benign, wise guides or distant, fear-
inspiring strange rs? Were the signs of old age that they exhibited viewed as
senility or simply as change? The effect of conditioning is always the same: choice becomes restricted. For exam ple, the act of eating is a choice, which most of us freely exercise
several times a day. But to someone suffering from the eating disorder of
anorexia, the choice has become severely limited. Inside the awareness of
anorectics are powerful imprints of low self-esteem, harsh guilt, repressed
anger, and defective body images. These imprints can be


usedthe
materialhehadgatheredfromtheprovingsandinhis
patientslookedforthesimilimum-theremedywhose
'symptompicture'(basedontheprovings)most
matchedthatofhispatient. Hismethodsweremet
withdisbeliefandhewasridiculedbycolleagues,but
thepatientsflowedinandtheastonishingresults
Hahnemannachievedverifiedhistheory. Healsodifferedfromconventionalpractitioners in
givingonlyoneremedyatatime,whichwasunheard
ofinanagewhenapothecariesmadefortunesbv
mixingnumeroussubstances,manyofwhichwere
highlynoxious. Thisearnedhimenemiesamongthe
pharmacists. Theminimumdose
Hahnemanndidnotstopthere. Dissatisfiedwiththe
sideeffectsofhisdilutedmedicines,heexperimented
withsmallerandsmallerdosesofthesesinglerem-
ediesinordertominimisethesideeffects. Hefound,
however,thatwhenhedilutedamedicinesufficiently
toeradicatethesideeffects,itnolongereffecteda
cure. Hethereforedevelopedanewmethodofdilu-
tion:insteadofsimplystirringthesubstanceaftereach
dilutionheshookitvigorously. Thisshakinghecalled'succussion'andtheresultantremedya'potentised
remedy'. Hefoundthatnotonlydidhenowobtainaremedy
thathadnosideeffectsbutthatthemorehediluted
usingsuccussion,themoreeffectivelyhisremedy
cured. Hebelievedthattheshakingreleasedthe
strengthorenergyofthesubstance(involvingsome
sortofimprintingonthewater/alcohol solvent),with
noneofitstoxiceffectsremaining. Hahnemannnumberedthepotentisedremedies
accordingtothenumberoftimestheyhadbeendi-
luted:aremedydilutedsixtimes(takingoutone-
hundredthoftheliquideachtimeandadding"/100
alcohol)wascalleda6C(seepage13). Initiallyhe
prescribedremediesthathadbeendiluteduptothe
sixthpotency;thenheexperimentedwiththehigher
dilutions,findingthemmoreeffectivestill. Inhis
lifetimeheprescribeduptothethirtiethpotency. His
followerstookdilutionevenfurther. Thisprocessofdilutionincurredyetmorewrath
andderisionfromthemedicalestablishment,who
couldnotexplain,andthereforecouldnotaccept,how
anythingsodilutecouldhaveanyeffect. Yetdespite
opposition,homeopathysurvivedandspreadremark-
ablyquickly-because itwasremarkablyeffective. TheOrganonandotherpublications
Hahnemann's literaryoutputduringhislifewaspro-
digious. Heprovedaboutonehundredremedies,
wroteoverseventyoriginalworksandtranslated
abouttwenty-fourEnglish,French,ItalianandLatin
textsonawiderangeofsubjects. Healsocorre-
spondedwithhomeopaths,colleaguesandfriends
throughouttheworld,allinadditiontohisvastdaily
practice. In1810Hahnemannpublishedthefirsteditionof
TheOrganonofRationalMedicine(laterTheOrganonof
theHealingArt),whichrantosixeditions,eachone
modifiedandexpanded. Inithesetoutclearlythe
homeopathicphilosophyorsystemofbelief. In
thesameyear,whenLeipzigwasattackedinthe
Napoleoniccampaignsand80,000menwereslaugh-
tered,Hahnemann'streatmentsofthesurvivorsand
alsoofvictimsofthegreattyphusepidemicthatfol-
lowedthesiegewerehighlysuccessfulandfurther
increasedhisreputation. HelecturedatLeipzigUniversity,wherehistheor-
eticallectures,whichoftendeterioratedintoviolent
tiradesagainstthemedicalpracticesofdoctorsand
apothecaries,earnedhimthenickname'RagingHurri-
cane'. However,afewmedicalpractitionerswere
preparedtogoagainstthemainstreamofopinionand
anumbertrainedunderhimandtookhisteachings
outintotheworld. Bytheearly1820shehadalsobuilt
upathrivingpractice. 6•TheFounder THEHISTORYOFHOMEOPATHY
Between1811and1821Hahnemannpublishedhis
MateriaMedicaPurainsixvolumes;thisrepresented
theresultsoftheprovingssofarundertaken-
thousandsofsymptomsforsixty-sixremedies. The
provingsweremeticulousandpainstaking,butitis
worthremembering thatinHahnemann's experi-
mentsnothingwasdonetoeliminatethepowerof
suggestion:proversknewwhatsubstancetheywere
taking. Remediesweregiveninweakdilutionsand
notinpotentiseddoses. Coffee,tea,wine,brandyand
spicyorsaltyfoodwereallbannedfromtheprovers'
diets,althoughalittlebeerwasallowed. Gamesand
workactivitywererestricted,butmoderateexercise
wasencouraged. In1828Hahnemann's ChronicDiseasesandTheir
HomeopathicCureappeared (iteventuallyrantofive
volumes). InitheelaboratedonthephilosophyofThe
Organon,addingmoreremediesasaresultofhis
experiencesinsuccessfullytreatingchronicpatients. Hediscussedtheuseofhigherpotencies-uptothe
30thpotency-andintroducedtheconceptof'miasms'
toaccountforthefailureofsomepatientstorespond
totreatmentwithremedieswhichclearlvmatched
theirsymptoms. Amongsuchpeoplehefoundahis-
toryofcertaindiseasesanddiscoveredthathewas
abletolinkthetendencytoparticulartypesofcon-
ditiontoalegacyinthepatient'sinheritedhealth. He
developedawayoftreatingtheseblockstohealth
homeopathically. Successwithcholera
In1831cholerasweptthroughCentralEurope. Hahnemannpublishedpapersonthehomeopathic
treatmentofthedisease,advocatingtheadministra-
tionoftheremedyCamphorintheearlystagesand
Cuprummetallicum,Veratrumalbum,Bryoniaalbaand
Rhustoxicodendron inthelaterstages. Healsostressed
thatclothingandbeddingshouldbeheatedtodestroy
'allknowninfectiousmatters'andadvisedcleanliness,
ventilationanddisinfectionoftherooms,andquaran-
tine. Insuchrespectshisideaswerefaraheadofhis
time:theworkofPasteuronthegermtheoryof
diseaseandthatofListerondisinfectionwerestillto
come. InRaabinHungary,onlysixoutof154
homeopathically treatedpatientsdied,comparedwith
almost59percentofthosetreatedconventionally. ElsewherethroughoutEurope,cholerawasmoresuc-
cessfullytreatedwithhomeopathythanwithortho-
doxmedicine;mortalityratesvariedbetween2. 4and
21. 1percentcomparedwith50percentormorein
conventionaltreatment. In1833theLeipzigHomeopathicHospitalwas
opened,butin-fightingbetweenhomeopaths,the
autocraticcontrollinginfluenceofHahnemannandtheextremepolarisationthathomeopathycaused
withinthemedicalprofessioncreatedtensionsthat
finallyledtoitsdissolutionin1842. Hahnemann's finalyears
In1834acertainMademoiselleMarieMelanied'Her-
villytravelledfromParistoconsultHahnemann(now
agedseventy-nineandawidower)inKothen,where
hewasestablished. Shewasanattractive,intelligent
societyladyofaboutthirty,andaself-styledartistwho
hadcausedaminorscandalbydressingasaman. AfterreadingTheOrganonshecametostudywith
Hahnemann,claimingthatshehadavocationfor
medicine. WithinsixmonthsofherarrivalinKothen
theyweremarried,muchtothehorrorofHahne-
mann'sremainingfamily. TheymovedtoParisandset
uphouseinthefashionableruedeMilan,where
Hahnemannestablishedaprosperouspractice,con-
tinuingtoworklongdayswithhispatients,richand
pooralike,maintaininghis'nocure,nofee'system. Melaniehelpedherhusbandbytakingnotesand
begantotreatpatientsunderhissupervision. On2July1843,attheageofeighty-eight,Hahne-
manndiedinParisafterafewmonthsofbronchial
catarrh. Melanierefusedtoallowfriendsandfamilyto
visitthebody;therewerenoinvitationstothefuneral
andHahnemannwasburiedinapublicgraveinthe
cemeteryatMont


aspossible. •seekthehelpofatrainedphysiotherapist,
chiropractororosteopathassoonaspossibleafter
theinjury. DON'T
•usethelimbfortwenty-fourhoursaftertheinjury
oruntilalltheswellinghasgonedown. •exerciseuntilthejoint/limbhasbeenfreeofpain
fortendaysandthentakeitverygentlyandslowly
atfirst. SEEKHELPIF
•thejointseemslooseorafunnyshape. •youcannotusethelimborstraighten itwithina
dayoftheinjury. •achildfallsontoanoutstretchedhandand
subsequentlyhasasorewrist;fracturestothewrist
arefairlycommonanddifficulttospot. •thereisseverepainand/orexcessiveswelling. Styes
DO
•taketheappropriateinternalremedy. •applyahotcompresssoakedinCalendulaor
Hypercal®solutionfortenminuteseverytwoor
threehourstoencouragethestyetocometoa
head. SEEKHELPIF
•visionisaffected. •theswellingisontheinsideoftheeyelid. •thereislethargy,feverorheadache. •thestyedoesn'trespondtotreatmentwithin
forty-eighthours. Sunburn/sunstroke
Ihaveincludedinternalandexternalremediestotreat
sunburn,butthebestmeasureistotakesensible
precautionstoavoiditinthefirstplace.Sunburncan
rangefromslightdiscomfort,throughweakness,
headacheandnausea,toaveryseriouscondition
(sunstroke)whichneedsurgentprofessionalatten-
tion.Keepbabiesandsmallchildrenoutofavery
strongsun-theyburnsurprisinglyeasilyanddon't
needatan!Ifthereisastrongbreezeoryouareinand
outofapool/theseatheseprecautionsaredoubly
importantasyouwillnotfeelyourselfburninguntiiit
istoolate. PRECAUTIONS
•Useasuntancreamappropriateforyourtypeof
skin.•Limityourexposuretothesuntothirtyminuteson
thefirstday,andincreasethisbythirtyminutes
eachdayuntilyouhavebuiltupaprotectivetan. •Wearasunhatandtakeashirttocoverup. •Takecareoncloudydays-youwillstillburn. •Takeextracarewherethereisreflectionfromsnow
orwater. •Don'texerciseinunaccustomed heat. Ifyoudogetburned,then...
DO
•taketheappropriateremedy. •keeptheskincoolwithcoldcompressesorcool
showers. •drinkaglassofwatertowhichhalfateaspoonof
salthasbeenadded. •keepoutofthesununtilhealed. SEEKHELPIF
•thereisafeverofover104°F/40°C. •thepulseisveryfast. •thepersonisconfusedorunconscious. •thereisaheadache,feverornausea. Teething
Somechildrenproduceteethwithoutanyfussor
discomfort,otherscanbeanightmarefortheirentire
teethingperiod,sufferinggreatpainandcolds,di-
arrhoea,moodswingsandsleeplessness. Ihavein-
cludedseveralremediesforthetreatmentofthese
teethingmonsters. Iftheyfailtohaveanyeffect,a
professionalhomeopathcanusuallyhelp. DO
•keepteethingringsinthefridgesothechildhas
somethingicecoldtochewon. •rubalittlealcoholintothegums. DON'T
•resorttogivingyourchildPhenarganorother
sedatives. •givetoomuchchamomileteatoyourbaby(several
bottleseveryday)asitisveryeasyforthemto
proveit(seepage17).Ifitdoeshelp,useonly
whileithasasoothingeffect.Donotgive
chamomileteaifyouhaveprescribedChamomillain
potency. Tenniselbow
Thisinflammationcanresultfromanystrenuous
activityoftheelbow,includingknitting!Useexternal
remediestorelievesorenessandtheappropriatein-
ternalremedytopromotehealing. DO
•restthejointasmuchaspossible. •useasupportbandage. DON'T
•usethearmuntiltheinjuryhashealed. DISEASESYOUCANTREATUSINGTHISBOOK Varicoseveins•225
SEEKHELPIF
•theproblempersists;anX-raywillbeneededto
checkformoreseriousinjury,oryoumayneed
phvsiotherapy orosteopathy. Thrush
Oral
DO
•giveliveyoghurttoachildwiththrush. •sterilisedummies. DON'T
•givesweeteneddrinksorfruitjuice. •usemedicatedmouthwash-thiscandestroy
healthybacteriaandfurtherupsetthebalancein
themouth. SEEKHELPIF
•pusformsortheinfectiondoesn'trespondto
hometreatmentwithinafewdays. Genital
Ihaveincludedsomeremediesforthetreatmentof
acutethrushbutifthisisachronicorrecurrentprob-
lemconsultaprofessionalhomeopath. DO
•washthegenitalsfrequentlyinwater;don'tuse
soap. •addhalfacupofcidervinegartoyourbathwater. •washunderwearinunscentedsoaporsoapflakes
(notdetergents),andrinsewell. •applyliveyoghurttoeaseitchinganddiscomfort
(youcaninsertatampondippedinyoghurt. Remembertoremoveitafteranhourorso). •avoidsweets,sugarandalcohol. DON'T
•usebiologicalsoappowdersforyourlaundry. •usesoaptowashthegenitalarea. •usebubblebathoroilinyourbathwater. •usevaginaldeodorantsortalcumpowder. •weartightjeansornylonunderwear,andwear
stockingsratherthantights. SEEKHELPIF
•youhavefrequentattacks. •pusforms. •theinfectiondoesn'trespondtohometreatment. TirednessseeExhaustion
Toothache
Afewinternalandexternalremediesforthereliefof
toothacheareincludedbut,asalways,prevention is
betterthancure!Goodoralhygienewithregular
brushingandflossingandahealthydietwillgoalong
waytoensuringgoodteeth.Avoidgivingchildren
fruitjuice(encouragethemtoeatfruitanddrinkplentyofwater),especiallywhengiveninabottleat
night. DO
•haveregulardentalcheck-ups. •askyourdentistforcompositefillingsratherthan
amalgamfillings,whichcontainmercuryandcan
causehealthproblems. •avoidrefinedandsweetfoods. •askyourdentistforanightguardtowearifyou
grindyourteethatnight(andconsiderwhether
youarefailingtoexpressyourangerorconfront
yourworries). Travelsickness
Ihaveincludedseveralremediesforthisunpleasant
complaint.Onceyouhavefoundtheonethatworks
forvouremembertotakeitbeforeanyjourney. DO'
•sipadrink(especially ifnauseaisaccompaniedby
vomiting). •chewagingerbiscuitorapieceofcrystallised
ginger. •sitwithyourheadbackandeyesclosedand
breathedeeply,orliedownifyoufeelveryill. •playstorytapestodistractchildrenpronetotravel
sickness. DON'T
•readonjourneys ifpronetoqueasiness. •havealargemealoralcoholbeforeorduringa
journey. •smokeinthecar. UrticariaseeHives
Varicoseveins
Ihaveincludedremediesfortheshort-termreliefof
varicoseveins,particularlyinpregnancy.Consti-
tutionaltreatmentfromaprofessionalhomeopathwill
dealwiththeunderlyingproblem. DO
•restandelevatethelimbs.Putyourfeetupwhen
relaxingandraisetheendofyourbedwithbricks
topromotetheflowofbloodupyourlegsasyou
sleep. •takeregularexercise-goodmuscletoneplaysa
largepartinmovingbloodalongtheveins.Brisk
walkingisideal. •wearsupporttights. •eatahealthydiettoensureyoudon'tbecome
constipated. DON'T
•sitwithyourlegscrossed. •standorsitforlongperiodswithoutfrequently
flexingyourmuscles. •becomeoverweight. 226•Vertigo DISEASESYOUCANTREATUSINGTHISBOOK
VertigoseeDizziness
Vomiting
DO
•rest. •takefrequentsipsofcoldwater. •avoidallfoodforseveralhoursoruntilvomiting
stops. •avoiddairyproduceforafurthertwenty-four
hoursafterthevomitinghasstopped. SEEKHELPIF
•thereisincessantvomiting. •therearesignsofdehydration:d


 complain, don’t explain.” Catch
yourself as you are about to find fault with someone or some condi-
tion. Then, instead, find something to say that reflects a willingness
to be a love finder: “They probably haven’t been taught how to per-
form that task properly” rather than “No one can do anything right
anymore. I don’t know what the world is coming to.”
The more you practice not criticizing and not complaining, the
more that vacuum within you will fill with love and appreciation. Give yourself a specific period of time to practice avoiding com-
plaining and faultfinding, perhaps thirty days. You will experience
155
WAYNE W. DYER
the emptying of rancor and complaints from your inner self and the
opening to love, appreciation and gratitude. The presence of
unconditional love will lead you to the ground of yourself, where
manifesting your desires becomes possible. Begin and end each day with an expression of gratitude and thanks-
giving. Every morning when you awake you have been given the gift
of a sunrise and twenty-four hours to live. This is a precious gift. You have the wonderful opportunity to take this day and live joy-
ously, with appreciation for everything that you encounter. Take in a deep breath and be grateful for this exhilarating experi-
ence of breathing in life and love. Similarly, end your day with an
expression of love, and a repetition of the word for peace, Shalom. That word combines the sounds of manifestation and that which
has manifested for you. Be aware of the need to be grateful for the suffering and struggles
that are part of the fabric of your life. Sometimes it is easy to simply
be angry at.your suffering rather than to know that it is the catalyst
for your searching and awakening. Your ability to know the power of kindness and love most likely
grew out of some darkness and pain in your past. Without those
experiences you would still be stuck. Addictions teach the elixir of
purity. Anger teaches the ecstasy of love. Ingratitude teaches the
need for gratitude. Hoarding teaches the pleasure of giving. Your
own pain taught you how to be more present and loving with
others. Your chicken pox taught you how to avoid it later in life, by
giving you the opportunity to build up antibodies in your immune
system. Life gives exams! Be grateful for those exams rather than
critical of them. 156
Manifest Your Destiny
Remember, it is the nature of thought to increase. The more your
thoughts are centered on what is missing, the more deficient you
feel and the more complaints you will utter. Similarly, the more you
practice gratitude, the more you are thankful and appreciative of all
that life provides and the more you feed your experience of abun-
dance and love. The more you practice it, even in small ways, the
more abundant you will feel, and, ultimately, the more you will
attract to yourself as well. One of the things I have been doing for years is giving an expression
of thanks to God whenever I find a coin, regardless of its denomina-
tion. The coin is a symbol to me of the prosperity that has been put
right in my path. I have found that I receive coins almost every single
day of my life. A dime here, a penny there, a nickel on the pavement. They show up regularly, almost as a reminder to me of all that has
manifested in my life. I simply pick up the coin and say, “Thank you,
God. I know you are working in my life and I am grateful for this sym-
bol.” Each time I receive a coin in this manner, I am reminded to
extend the favor in some form of generosity to others. It is in generos-
ity and service to others that our gratitude will ultimately extend itself. GENEROSITY AND SERVICE: THE FINAL STEP IN
MANIFESTATION
The natural extension of being grateful is the development of a
generous heart. Perfect generosity is a willingness to give of yourself
and all that you have manifested without any expectation of a return. You may find it paradoxical that the final phase of manifesting your
heart’s desire is to generously share what you receive and to move
your attention away from what you have asked to manifest. However,
if you review all of the previous principles of spiritual manifestation,
you will see that this is consistent. 157
WAYNE W. DYER
Manifesting is about connecting to the universal spirit, which is
infinite and abundant in supply. It is not about seeing neediness in
yourself, but is rather about feeling complete with that radiant abun-
dance. It is not about craving and demanding. It is concerned with
unconditional love and attracting that abundant love to your individ-
ual life. As long as you are in your physical body, you will have
desires. There is nothing to be ashamed of or feel nonspiritual about. Your body and the physical needs of your material self can and will be
met with abundant gifts providing that you follow these nine princi-
ples and do not let your ego take back being in charge of your life. When you feel the presence of that abundance, your feeling of
gratitude will push you in the direction of generosity. It is in the
expression of your generosity that you will feel most connected to
the unconditional love of the universal spirit. The more you feel a
desire to share what you receive unconditionally, the more you will
experience it flowing into your life. GENEROSITY AND SELF-LIBERATION
Generosity is helpful for your own liberation in that it teaches you
about the inner quality of letting go. Letting go and releasing your
attachments are the most freeing things you can do to liberate your-
self from the ego. A need to hang onto the things and money that you
receive arises out of an inner sense of incompleteness. Practicing
generosity aligns you with your sense of completeness and love. Generosity for the sake of liberating yourself from your ego
extends to more than simply sharing your material possessions. Generosity includes offering kindness, care, love and nurturing
where it is needed. Furthermore, the spirit of generosity can and
does ultimately relate to how we treat ourselves. If you have a gener-
ous heart that has no qualms about giving, you will treat yourself lov-
ingly and will nurture yourself without feeling any sense of guilt. 158
Manifest Your Destiny
When you can give freely, as an unconditional act of love, with no
expectations, you experience what I call total freedom. You relin-
quish the hold of your self-absorbed ego, which encourages you to
believe in limitation and competition. This ability to give without
conditions is also an acknowledgment that whatever has manifested
into your life has come from an infinite supply and that you can
never experience a scarcity consciousness because you know that you
are a part of the infinite supply. GIVING AND RECEIVING: THE WAY THE UNIVERSE WORKS
Every single time that you take in a breath and then exhale, you
are engaged in a process of giving and receiving that is vital to the
material and spiritual world. With each inhalation you take in the
oxygen and nitrogen that you must have in order to exist, and with
each exhalation you send back the carbon dioxide that supplies the
entire plant world. The cycle of generous giving and receiving is
exactly the same as the very act of breathing. Look around you and notice how everything in our universe is a
result of giving and receiving. The entire food chain represents a giv-
ing of life and a taking of life, and then a giving back in an endless
cycle of material manifestation. The worms that the bird eats, and
the droppings from the bird, and the eating of the bird, and the recy-
cling of the meat of the bird, and on and on it goes. There is no place for any of it to go other than here in this uni-
verse. It does not leave and then reenter. It is all simply a process of
giving and receiving different forms of energy. The iron in your
bloodstream is a part of the finite supply of iron that will return in
another form after your departure from the physical world, perhaps
in the wings of a bat. You give of your iron supply and you take from
the same supply. Giving and receiving are a natural function of life. The natural flow of giving and receiving can be stopped by
159
WAYNE W. DYER
stinginess and hoarding. The process works in the same way on the
spiritual level. You send out love and kindness and it returns to you
tenfold. The old saying, “What goes around, comes around,” is
much more than a pithy homily. It is a fact of the universe at all lev-
els of awareness. In fact, it is what this whole business of manifest-
ing is all about. |
You put out loving energy to connect to that which you desire and
it returns to you. It is a giving and receiving action. You can, however,
interfere with this natural progression of give and take by selfishly
hanging onto that which manifests in your material world, and stop-
ping the flow of energy that brings abundance. This scarcity con-
sciousness is the work of the ego, which always feels incomplete
because it is convinced that it is separate from God. CULTIVATING AN ATTITUDE OF GENEROSITY
Here are a few suggestions for putting


ine and berbamine. Berberine is strongly antibacterial and amoebicidal,
and stimulates bile secretion. Berbamine is strongly
antibacterial. Many of the alkaloids are thought to
be cancer-inhibiting. History & Folklore  In ancient Egypt,
Berberis  berries were macerated with fennel
seed ( Foeniculum vulgare, p. 212) to make a
drink for fevers. The berries are extremely
sour but have been used in the past to make
preserves—the French confiture d’épine vinette
is one example. Medicinal Actions & Uses  Barberry acts
on the gallbladder to improve bile flow and
ameliorate conditions such as gallbladder pain,
gallstones, and jaundice. Its strongly antiseptic
property helps amoebic dysentery, cholera, and
other similar gastrointestinal infections. The bark is Oregon grape has
evergreen leaves, clusters
of small yellow flowers,
and purple berries. Berberis aquifolium, syn. Mahonia
aquifolium (Berberidaceae)
Oregon Grape
Description  Evergreen shrub growing to 61⁄2 ft
(2 m). Has shiny leaves, clusters of small yellowish-
green flowers, and purple berries in autumn. Habitat & Cultivation  Native to western
North America, Oregon grape grows in the Rocky
Mountains up to 6,600 ft (2,000 m), and in woods
from Colorado to the Pacific coast. It is abundant
in Oregon and northern California. US_158-179_Abies_balsa_Boswe_serratta.indd   177 26/02/16   12:47 pm
178
other medicinal PlantsBeta vulgaris
astringent, antidiarrheal, and healing to
the intestinal wall—in short, barberry
has a strong, highly beneficial effect on
the digestive system as a whole. Like Oregon grape (B.  aquifolium,
preceding entry) and goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis, p. 105),
barberry helps chronic skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. The decoction makes
a gentle and effective wash for the eyes, although it must be diluted sufficiently before use. Research  Berberine has
been shown to have antibiotic activity against cholera, giardia, shigella, salmonella, and E. coli. QCautions  T ake only
under professional supervision. Do not  take during pregnancy.gallbladder, influencing fat metabolism and
helping to lower blood fat levels. Several
clinical trials have shown that red beet juice
(due to its high nitrate content) relaxes
the arteries and lowers blood pressure in people with high blood pressure. A
glass a day of juice will help to support
lower blood pressure. Red beet juice is also
thought to support immune function and is
prescribed by herbalists as part of a cancer-
treatment regime—though large quantities must be taken (up to 1 quart a day) to
be effective.History & Folklore  Silver birch has been
used as a medicinal herb in northern Europe and Asia since the earliest times. Its name is thought  to derive from the Sanskrit word bhurga, meaning “tree whose bark is used for writing on.” In the highlands of Scotland, silver birch sap—tapped in the spring—was drunk as a treatment for bladder and kidney complaints. Medicinal Actions & Uses  An infusion
made with silver birch leaves hastens the removal of waste products in the urine, and is beneficial  for kidney stones and bladder stones (gravel), rheumatic conditions, and gout. The leaves are  also used, in combination with diuretic herbs, to reduce fluid retention and swelling. Silver birch  sap is a mild diuretic. The oil distilled from the leaves is antiseptic and is commonly used in preparations to treat eczema and psoriasis. A decoction of silver birch bark can be used as  a lotion for chronic skin problems. The bark can also be macerated in oil and applied to joints for the relief of rheumatism. Related Species  The Himalayan silver
birch (B. utilis), a close relative, is used to  treat convulsions, dysentery, hemorrhages,  and skin diseases. Bidens tripartita (Asteraceae)
Bur Marigold
Description  Annual growing to a height
of 2 ft (60 cm). Has toothed lance-shaped  leaves, yellow button-like flower heads, and  burrlike fruit. Habitat & Cultivation  Bur marigold
grows throughout Europe and in other  temperate regions, including Australia and  New Zealand. It is found in damp places and  near fresh water. Parts Used  Aerial parts. Constituents  Bur marigold contains
flavonoids, xanthophylls, volatile oil, acetylenes, sterols, and tannins. History & Folklore  The herbalist Nicholas
Culpeper, writing in 1652, extolled bur marigold:  “It helps the cachexia or evil disposition of the body, the dropsy and yellow jaundice, it opens obstructions of the liver, and mollifies the hardness of the spleen being applied outwardly.”
Medicinal Actions & Uses  Little used in
medicine today, bur marigold is astringent and diuretic, and employed to treat bladder and kidney problems. It has a longstanding reputation for staunching blood flow, and can be used for uterine hemorrhage and conditions causing blood in the urine. Bur marigold’s astringency is beneficial in counteracting peptic ulceration, diarrhea, and ulcerative colitis.Silver birch is widespread in temperate regions throughout
the northern hemisphere. Its leaf oil is used to improve eczema and psoriasis.Barberry berries were
traditionally used in a
decoction to treat
peptic ulcers. Beta vulgaris (Chenopodiaceae)
Red Beet, White Beet
Description  Perennial with swollen edible red
or white root, upright shoots, large deep green
leaves tinged with red, and spikes of green-petaled flowers. Habitat & Cultivation  Sea beet (the wild
subspecies) is native to coastal regions of Europe, North Africa, and Asia from Turkey to the East Indies. Red beet is widely cultivated as a vegetable, white beet as a vegetable and source of sugar. Part Used  Root. Constituents White beet contains betaine,
which promotes liver regeneration and fat metabolism. Red beet contains betanin (also  found in red wine), which is partly responsible  for its immune-enhancing effect, and inorganic nitrate, which increases nitric oxide levels within the body and thus lowers blood pressure. History & Folklore  The Materia Medica,
written by Dioscorides in the 1st century ce, recommends the following prescription for  clearing the head and relieving earache—mix beet juice with honey and sniff it up the nose. Medicinal Actions & Uses  White beet
acts to support the liver, bile ducts, and Betula pendula syn. B. verrucosa
(Betulaceae)
Silver Birch
Description  Handsome slender deciduous
tree growing to a height of 100 ft (30 m). Has
pale grey papery bark, toothed leaves, and catkins in spring. Habitat & Cultivation  Silver birch is
common in Europe, in temperate regions of Asia, and in North America. It flourishes in woods and thickets, and is also planted as a garden ornamental. The leaves are gathered in late spring. Parts Used  Leaves, bark, sap.<|eot_id|><|begin_of_text|>Summarize the following text section accurately and concisely. Maintain specific details and numerical information, and use anti-repetition mechanisms:

        Although it has no antiviral
activity, andrographis can speed up recovery
from the common cold. Research  In mostly Indian and Chinese
research, the herb has been shown to stimulate
the immune system, particularly helping to protect
against poisoning (such as from snake bite). The glucosides are strongly antioxidant, and
extracts of the whole herb have demonstrated an
effect similar to, or better than, silymarin (from
Silybum marianum, p. 137) in supporting the
function of the liver. Thai research published in
1991 indicated that 6 g per day of andrographis
was as effective as acetaminophen in relieving fever
and sore throat. The herb also has reported
effectiveness against fertility. Cautions  Do not take during pregnancy. High
doses may cause nausea and vomiting. US_158-179_Abies_balsa_Boswe_serratta. indd   167 26/02/16   12:47 pm
168
other medicinal Plantsanemarrhena asphodeloides
anemarrhena asphodeloides
(Liliaceae)
Zhi Mu
Description  Perennial herb with a thick
rhizome, thin leaves up to 28 in (70 cm) long, and
clusters of small white or light purple flowers. Habitat & Cultivation  Native to northern
China, zhi mu grows wild on exposed slopes and hills. It is cultivated in the northern and north-eastern provinces. Part Used Rhizome. Constituents  Contains steroidal saponins,
lignans, phenolic compounds, and xanthones. History & Folklore  Z


) of water. Brew for 15 minutes and take the dose each day.<|eot_id|><|begin_of_text|>Summarize the following text section accurately and concisely. Maintain specific details and numerical information, and use anti-repetition mechanisms:

        Herb Comfrey ( Symphytum officinale, p. 138)
Remedy Apply comfrey ointment or cream to
the pus-filled area twice a day. Caution  Do not use comfrey on broken skin. Herb Lemon ( Citrus limon, p. 82)
Remedy Dab pure lemon juice onto the
pus-filled area, or dilute 1 tsp of lemon juice
with 1 tbsp of water and use as a skin wash
twice a day. Stomach Spasm
Relaxing herbs  German chamomile
(Chamomilla recutita, p. 77), lemon balm ( Melissa
officinalis, p. 113), cramp bark ( Viburnum opulus,
p. 150)
Carminative herbs  Anise ( Pimpinella anisum,
p. 248), fennel ( Foeniculum vulgare, p. 212), mint
(Mentha  spp., pp. 234–235), angelica ( Angelica
archangelica, p. 168)
Remedy Mix 3 parts of a relaxing herb to 1 part
of a carminative herb and make an infusion. (For
the carminative herbs, use fennel seeds, aniseed,
mint leaves, or angelica root. ) Drink up to 3 cups
(750 ml) a day. Herbs Slippery elm ( Ulmus rubra, p. 145),
calendula ( Calendula officinalis, p. 73), myrrh
(Commiphora molmol, p. 85), echinacea
(Echinacea  spp., p. 92)
Remedy Mix 1 level tsp of slippery elm
powder with sufficient calendula, myrrh, or
echinacea tincture to make a thick, smooth
paste. Place on and around the boil, and bandage
securely. Remove after 1–2 hours. Note  This remedy is especially useful for drawing
painful boils and splinters. Internal Remedies
Herbs Dandelion ( Taraxacum officinale, p. 141),
burdock ( Arctium lappa, p. 65)
Remedy Make a decoction using 5 g of
burdock root and 10 g of dandelion root
with 3 cups (750 ml) of water. Divide into 3
doses and drink during the day. Herb Echinacea ( Echinacea  spp.<|eot_id|><|begin_of_text|>
Q: What is a recommended remedy for a boil?,
A: Apply comfrey ointment or cream to the affected area twice a day, or use a poultice made with slippery elm, calendula, or echinacea.
Q: What is a suggested remedy for indigestion?,
A: Eat 1-2 fresh cloves of garlic a day, or make an infusion with 1 tsp of the herb and drink up to 3 cups a day.
Q: What is a recommended remedy for sinus congestion?,
A: Make a decoction using 15 g of yarrow and 5 g of each of the other herbs listed, and drink up to 3 cups a day.
Q: What is a suggested remedy for constipation?,
A: Make a decoction using 20 g of burdock root and 10 g of dandelion root with 3 cups of water, or use the mixture to make an infusion and drink up to 3 cups a day.
Q: What is a recommended remedy for stress and anxiety?,
A: T ake 10 drops of valerian tincture with water every hour for up to 2 weeks, or chew 1-2 cloves of garlic a day.<|eot_id|><|begin_of_text|>Herb Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus, p. 174)
Remedy T ake 1 tsp of tincture twice a day
with water. Note  Ginseng is the best-known remedy for this
condition. However, schisandra (Schisandra chinensis,
p. 133) berries also benefit male sexuality. T ake as
listed above in Fertility Problems in Women  under Low Sex
Drive for up to 6 weeks. Caution Do not take caffeine while taking ginseng. Herb Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens, p. 136)
Remedy T ake 1⁄2 tsp of tincture with water
up to 3 times a day for up to 6 weeks. Note Saw palmetto is also an excellent remedy for
symptoms associated with an enlarged prostate. Hot Flashes & Night Sweats
Herb Sage (Salvia officinalis, p. 131)
Remedy Make an infusion and drink 12/3 cups
(450 ml), either during the day, or mainly at
night, if this is when the problem chiefly occurs. Herbs White willow (Salix alba, p. 129), black
cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa, p. 79)
Remedy T ake one of the above herbs in
tablet form, or take 1 tsp of tincture with water at night. Herb White peony (Paeonia lactiflora, p. 117)
Remedy Make a decoction with 20 g root to 3
cups (750 ml) of water. Sip throughout the day. US_316-317_Pregnancy.indd   316 26/02/16   4:43 pm317 Herbal remedies for Home usePregnancy
Although in many cultures herbs have traditionally been taken
throughout pregnancy, it is wise to take herbs medicinally only
when essential. Some herbs such as German chamomile
(Chamomilla recutita, p. 77), linden ( Tilia spp., p. 277), and cornsilk
(Zea mays, p. 154) are very useful and can be taken safely for
2–3 weeks at a time during pregnancy. Other herbs should be
avoided altogether, as they have constituents that stimulate the
muscles of the uterus and, in large doses, could cause a miscarriage. It is safe
to continue using herbs in cooking throughout pregnancy. Maintaining VitalityChamomile
(Chamomilla recutita)
Pregnancy is a time of great change for the
body. Many minor ailments can be relieved by
homemade herbal remedies. Morning sickness  (sensations of nausea)
need not be restricted to the morning. Generally starting in the 4th–6th week and
lasting until the 14th–16th week, morning
sickness has many causes, including hormone
fluctuations, low blood pressure, low sugar
levels, food allergies, poor diet, and stress. Edema  (fluid retention and bloating) is
extremely common during pregnancy. Water
seeps from the blood vessels into the surrounding
tissue, causing puffiness. The ankles and calves
are mostly affected. Constipation  often occurs as pregnancy
develops. Pressure increases on the lower
bowel, impeding circulation. Heartburn  (pain in the center of the chest)
may also be caused by increased pressure within
the body. Stretch marks  sometimes appear as the body
swells. They can be minimized by rubbing aloe
vera gel or olive oil into the skin to maintain
its elasticity. Childbirth  can be helped by drinking raspberry
leaf tea, a traditional remedy that prepares the
uterine muscles for labor and giving birth. Herbs During Pregnancy
■ For the first 3 months avoid all herbal remedies,
including essential oils, unless professionally
prescribed. ■ The following herbs are particularly dangerous
and should on no account be taken during
pregnancy: blue cohosh ( Caulophyllum thalictroides,
p. 185), goldenseal ( Hydrastis canadensis, p. 105),
juniper ( Juniperus communis, p. 224), pennyroyal
(Mentha pulegium, p. 235), yarrow ( Achillea
millefolium, p. 56), and therapeutic doses of sage
(Salvia officinalis, p. 131).Morning Sickness & Nausea
The following remedies are an exception and can
be taken during the first 3 months of pregnancy. Herb German chamomile ( Chamomilla recutita,
p. 77)
Remedy Make an infusion in a covered
container. Sip small quantities during the day. Do not drink more than 3 cups (750 ml) a day. Herb Ginger ( Zingiber officinale, p. 155)
Remedy Make an infusion with 1⁄2–1 tsp of
grated fresh ginger per 3/4 cup (150 ml) of water. Sip small amounts frequently throughout the day,
rather than drinking 3/4 cup (150 ml) at a time. Take a maximum of 12/3   cups (450 ml) a day. Herb Fennel ( Foeniculum vulgare, p. 212)
Remedy Make an infusion with 1⁄2 tsp of seeds
per 3/4 cup (150 ml) of water and then drink up to
12/3 cups