 hair took on a sheen it never hadbefore, there was a glow to her cheeks and a sparkle in
her eyes like a young child. Our relatives and friends
were flabbergasted at the transformation in Louise. Thehappiest part is that within a year my sister had become
one of the most popular girls in Westmoreland County,
Virginia, and in another year she had married a fine,
handsome man. Their lives were like a fairy tale because
they had children and lived happily ever after. My sister
has remained healthy, fit and youthful throughout life. Along with fasting, I gave my sister a system of
exercises. She started with short walks and then built
up to long walks. I persuaded her to get an abundanceof fresh air, take early morning or late afternoon sunbaths
and do deep breathing exercises. At all times, she
maintained a tranquil and serene mind. she workedwith Mother Nature and not against her. Eat not for pleasure thou mayest find therein; eat to increase thy strength,
and eat to preserve life thou hast received from Heaven. – Confucius123Fasting is Safest, Healthiest Weight Normalizer
What I did for my weak, thin sister, I have done for
thousands of underweight people. Fasting works miracles
for both the under and overweight. The genuine needs
for both types of people are met by exactly the sameprogram of natural living combined with fasting. Fasting is the magic key for helping anyone to restore
themselves to a superior state of health. Fasting is thegreat detoxifier and by detoxifying the body we give it a
chance to restore its normal functioning. Fasting is the
great “Open Sesame” to good health and long life. Each person is different and some get results quicker
than others. If you faithfully concentrate on living The
Bragg Healthy Lifestyle in which fasting plays anintegral part, Mother Nature will never fail you. So, if
you are thin, under weight and have tried various
weight-building diets that failed, don’t be discouraged. Instead, try a
24 hour fast weekly and also the Bragg
Vinegar Drink ( page 230). Both will help give the body a
chance to cleanse and normalize your weight. 124
A prayer in its simplest definition is merely a wish turned God-ward. – Phillips Brooks
Give us Lord, a bit of sun,A bit of work and a bit of fun. Give us, in all struggle and sputter,Our daily whole grain bread and food. Give us health, our keep to makeAnd a bit to spare for others' sake. Give us too, a bit of songAnd a tale and a book, to help us along. Give us Lord, a chance to beOur goodly best for ourselves and othersUntil men learn to live as brothers in peace. – An Old English PrayerFamous Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes declared that if all the
doctor’s drugs were thrown into the sea it would be somuch better for humankind and worse for the fish. Everyday is a new birthday; every moment of it is new to us; we
are born again, renewed for fresh work and endeavor. – Isaac WattsCheerfulness and content are great beautifiers and are
famous preservers of youthful looks. – Charles DickensMorning Resolve
I will this day live a simple, sincere and serene life, repelling promptly
every thought of impurity, anxiety, discontent,  discouragement,jealousy and self-seeking. I will cultivate cheerfulness, happiness,
charity and the love of brotherhood; exercising economy in
expenditure, generosity in giving, carefulness in conversation anddiligence in appointed service. I pledge fidelity to every trust and a
childlike faith in God and Mother Nature. In particular, I will be
faithful in my daily habits of health, prayer, study, work, physicalexercise, deep breathing and good posture. I shall fast one 24 hour
period each week, eat only healthy foods and get sufficient sleep
each night. I will make every effort to improve myself physically,mentally, emotionally and spiritually every day. Morning Prayer used by Paul C. Bragg and Patricia Bragg125Fasting Fights Winter Miseries
No matter how well and healthy you try to live, colds,
sniffles and flu will catch up with you. If this happens,
please don’t be discouraged, but be thankful your body
is house cleaning out the debris and toxins. When your nose drips hot, watery mucus and your
head feels thick while you sneeze; when fever burns
through your body and you feel terrible, don’t blame iton the weather. Don’t blame it on a cold draft of air. Don’t blame it on the fact that you got your feet wet or
that you got chilled. And above all things, don’t say, “Icaught it. ” The proper name for this is an “acute healing
crisis. ” The reason we go through this is that we live in
a complex civilization and we have lost so much of ournatural instinct to keep internally pure. So – for some physiological reason that is absolutely
unexplainable – the Vital Force within our bodies loosens
up waste, toxins and mucus and proceeds to get rid of itwith the “acute healing crisis (colds, flu, etc. ). ” If you
cooperate with your Vital Force, this rough spot in your
life will pass away quickly. So don’t blame it on a viciouslittle bug, a virus or cold weather. Just understand that
your Vital Force is trying to keep you internally clean. If you interfere with wise Mother Nature, you will
complicate the whole natural procedure of your body’s
miraculous cleansing job. Now that you know why this
acute healing crisis occurs, you should do nothing tostop the cleansing process except to fast. Yes, that’s the
simple and best answer – fast and help cleanse your body. You must not fight this healing crisis because Mother
Nature knows what she is doing for you. What should
you do. Start your fasting  program right away. There is
absolutely nothing as important as your health and life. Chapter 1 6
Fasting helps remove mucus, toxins and obstructions,
arterial plaque and cleanses the entire body. Fasting is Mother Nature & God’s Miracle – it cleanses, renews & rejuvenates. 126Fast and Rest For Your Healing. Drop everything you are doing and get into a warm bed
during a cleansing crisis. Stop all eating. That also means
no fruit or fruit juices. At regular intervals drink large
amounts of hot, distilled water, add a little  honey with
lemon juice or apple cider vinegar. Eat and drink nothing
else. See that you have a good circulation of pure air in your
bedroom. Don’t read, listen to the radio or watch TV. Justsleep and rest – nothing else. Above all, don’t waste precious
energy talking to relatives and friends. Go into seclusion to
cleanse and recharge. You are on God’s cleansing table. How long should you fast during a winter healing
crisis or, for that matter, a summer healing crisis. They
can happen at any time of the year, but generally strikein cold weather. In most instances,
 3 days of restful
fasting will put you on your feet again. But sometimes
it may take a week or  10 days to do a successful job. Don’t quibble about it. You will find that you will be in
better health after the healing crisis. If you will work
with your Vital Force, you will flush out a tremendousamount of internal poison. Just don’t panic. MotherNature is very wise and she knows what is best for you. If you have faith and confidence in Mother Nature,
you will always work with her. I reared
 5 children and
when the sniffles hit them, I had them fast and rest. In
a few days they would snap out of the healing crisis and
be their same robust selves again. My grandchildrenfollowed this program. and now my great-
grandchildren are following it. To most people this
program seems too simple – they feel that they must door take something. They are filled with fear. There is absolutely nothing to fear as long as Mother
Nature is working to keep you alive and healthy. She knowsbest and will see you through any crisis, because she is
God’s own physician. Each person should regard his health
as the most precious blessing that he can possess and shouldattempt to understand his body which is so “ fearfully and
wonderfully made ”. Do maintain your precious body in
Supreme Health as the Bragg Motto states in
3 John 2. 127The Body is Self-Healing & Self-Repairing
Every man is not only the “Master Builder” of his
character, but also the custodian of his health and
physical well-being. N ot only has the Creator endowed
man with a “God-like” body, but He has given him awonderful mind and r easoning power. Humans are
capable of comprehending and putting to use all the
natural resources for self-health and self-healing which
have been so generously placed at their  disposal. The Miracle of Fasting is another way to help yourself
to Higher H ealth. Mother Nature gives us simple healing
remedies. We must be w illing to cooperate w ith M other
Nature and conform our lives to her unchangeable laws. Following the “Natural Way of Living” we can recapture
the precious bloom of youth through the gifts of physical,
mental and spiritual regeneration. There are no shortcuts
to health.


 or turn their life into something profoundly meaningful
following a devastating illness, as Amy did— this is the energetic
framework from which it occurs, in my observation. NEALE: You’re  correct, in my experience as well, that acceptance of
“what is” and seeing it as a gift allowing us to experience and
demonstrate who we are, is the most powerful response that a
person could possibly give to circumstances, events, and situations
that could be defined by a person who’s not spiritually aware as
stressful. And so stress turns  into celebration when we move to step
one, the first of the three steps that you articulated a minute ago:
acceptance of exactly what is so. What’ s So is What’ s So, and that’ s what’ s true about that. And as Conversations with God says: “What you resist persists,
and what you look at disappears. That is, it ceases to have its
illusory form.”
Or, as spiritual teacher Da Free John put it, eloquently I
thought, in his prescription to turn stress into celebration: “Cease allAgainstness.”

DR. COOPER: Y es, I like that. NEALE: When  I first heard that, I thought, “What a remarkable
formula, in three words.”
Cease all Againstness. Therein lies the wonder and the glory of Who You Are. Because
when you cease to be against what’ s going on, you embrace and
accept what is happening, and transform it, however it turns out—
whether, in fact, you do leave your physical body in three or four
months, or you live for another five or ten years. Either way, it’s
totally okay, because you’re not against what is occurring. As my friend Byron Katie puts it: “Stop arguing with life.”

DR. COOPER: Ha-ha! Yeah! Well, it seems to me like you’re ceasing
to hold onto your illusory story, which is not Who You Are. And I think
it’s the holding onto the “story” which produces the resistance; in
other words, it is the expectation that things be a certain way, and if
they’re not, then not being okay with that. But I think the moment we cease holding onto our “story”... NEALE: ... our struggles disappear. DR. COOPER: Exactly! And as you said at your last retreat, which I
love: “Ground zero is the best place to be.” Because ground zero is
the basis of all creation.You are then invited to look at your life from a whole  new
perspective, which is not one contained within the bounds of your
previous “story ” of how it should be, but rather like an empty canvas
with all of your paints waiting for you to paint whatever picture you
want. That is, whatever response to the circumstances that would
best serve the Agenda of your Soul. And all of this brings us to the fourth question. Given that I’ve
decided who I am, where I am, and why I’m here, what do I intend to
do about that? You can then take any circu mstance and, from “ground zero,”
from the funda mental platform  of creativity, you get full choice as to
how to respond  in that mome nt as the highest demonstration of Who
You Are. NEALE: Yes. That’ s the moment of definition. As Conversations with
God says: “Every act is an act of self-definition.”
And in the moment when we answer “What do I intend to do
about that?”, we are really saying, “This is how I currently define
myself. This is how I define Who I Really Am. This is how I define
Divinity, as a matter of fact.”
One day I’m going to write a book called Demonstrating
Divinity, and in it I’m going to offer the idea that defining Divinit y is
the process by which we say, “this is what God is” in this particular
circumstance, in this situation. I know you know what God is, and
what Divinity is, but I’m now going to show you, in case you might
have forgotten. And that’s really what all Great Masters have done. Whether
we’re talking about Lao Tzu or Buddha, whether we’re talking aboutMoses or Jesus, Mother Mary or Mother Theresa, Mohammed or any
of the Great Masters, male or female, ancient or contemporary, they
all moved through the world in such a way that their demonstration of
Divinity defined Divinity. We now call that Divine, because of their
demonstration. DR. COOPER : So we are here to define the Divine. Conversations
with God also says that our life lived is our most powerful message
to the world... NEALE: And to ourselves. DR. COOPER: Y es! NEALE: W e’re not even here to send a message to the world. That happens automatically. We’re here simply to send a message  to ourselves —that is, to
remind ourselv es—so that we might fully remember, and then fully
express, Who We Really Are, thus to complete in that moment the
Agenda of the Soul, over and over again, moving through all the
moments, days, and years of our life, coming to Completion in the
process of remembering Who We Really Are through the
demonstration and the expre ssion of it. Not so that the world is in
some way impacted, but because our own personal agenda invites
us to do so. However, when we do this, the world is inevitably touched by it,
because this sort of demonstration is remarkably impacting upon thephysical enviro nment, for the simple reason that—as I have noted
now a number of times—energy impacts upon energy itself. So it has been  said that if a Christ, for instance, were to walk
down the middle of a battlefield between two opposing armies, the
members of those armies would lay down their arms. They  would lay
down their arms simply because of his presence there. And that’s
what happens when Who We Are is expressed fully in us, through
us, as us, as part of our own evolutionary process, without seeking
directly to affect or change the world. It simply does so automatically,
because of the impact that Energy has on Energy Itself. We are talking about The Essential Essence interacting with the
Essential Essence. By the way, doctors know all about this. What I’ve just said is
something that everyone in the medical profession either knows... or shou ld know. That the very way they walk into a room... you
know, a doctor needs to unde rstand that as soon as she puts on her
white coat, and as soon as he puts the stethoscope around his neck,
they might as well put a badge on that says: “I am a Healer. I am a
Doctor. And you’re going to be okay.” Or, at least you’re going to be
as okay as the physical experiences that you’re now moving through
will allow you to be. And metaphysically, you can be totally, totally
okay. Most physicians don’t understand that they are also
metaphysicians. That is, they are larger than physicians. They are
meta -physicians. But only one out of a hundred doctors understands
this. Those who do understand are said to have developed an
extraordinary “bedside mann er,” because they understand who they
are when they walk into the room of a patient. That they’re not justPhysicians, they’re Metaphysicians. That is, they’re larger than that. Even as Life is not simply physical, it is metaphysical. It’s larger than
simply the physical. So when doctors understand that—when more people in the
medical profession understand that energy impacts upon energy
itself—they will walk into every room in an entirely different way. No
matter how busy they are. DR. COOPER: Absolutely! And I think that often, in the rush of things
at the hospital, it can be viewed as the “nice doctors” who are willing
to offer that extra dose of compassion and understandin g. People
sometimes don’t “get” why certain doctors might take more time to
do that; howev er, for me, having been exposed to your work, I see
clearly that the reason isn’t just about offering more compassion or
understanding to the patient. I believe we give at least as much to
ourselves in being willing to “show up” in that sort of a way. For me, begin ning to walk into the room in that way was the
beginning of remembering Who I Really Am, and realizing that I
loved how it felt to show up like that. So it’ s about re-uniting with your
own soul... with the piece of you that, deep down, you desire to
express and to bring forth in that moment. As you said just a moment ago, I think it is about daring to
show up in a way that is Divine. NEALE: Every body is a minister, everybody is a doctor, and
everybody in the world is a healer. All we’re doing on the planet is helping each other.All of the professions, all of the occupations—I don’t care if
you’re a butcher, a baker, or a candlestick maker, you know... I
don’t care if you’re a florist, or a gas station attendant, or a plumber,
or a lawyer, or a doctor


 Arabic and African peoples have used animal milk for millen nia, but the amount used was extremely small. True,
certain peoples, like the Masai, live substantially on milk and blood, but thes e are by no means our natural foods. They do so
primarily for lack of other easily obtainable foods. No other animals in nature drink the milk of another species; they know in stinctively that the milk from their mothers is the
perfect food to support their rapid growth and to provide the precise nutrient mi x their developing bodies require. We are no more
designed for cow’s milk than for pig’s milk or rat’s milk or giraffe’s mi lk … or vice versa. Milk-drinking is pathogenic. If milk and milk products were discontinued today, millions of people would cease to suffer
sicknesses and pathologies within a short period. 12  In fact, if this one dietary practice alone were discontinued, the hospit als would
virtually empty out and physicians’ waiting rooms would be mostly  vacated. Humans are most certainly designed by nature as sucklings—but onl y for their early years of life, and only of their own
mother’s milk. W e would do ourselves an astronomical favor if we had the good se nse to stop consuming milk after weaning age, as
does every other milk-drinking creature on Earth. Are We Eaters of Nuts, Seeds, and Other High-Fat Plants? There is no doubt but that early humans in nature did consume some nuts an d seeds, though certainly plants create them for
reproduction, not for consumption. The various types of seeds, most prominently g rains, weeds, fruit seeds, and nuts (all nuts are
seeds) have protective outer coatings that range in texture from fi brous to hard and woody. We do not have razor-sharp teeth and
massive jaw power that squirrels use to extract nuts from their she lls. Both seeds and nuts are endowed with nutrients sufficient to initiat e and sustain a certain minimum growth of their plants. As
with all foods, we derive the greatest nutritional benefit from nuts a nd seeds when we eat them in their raw state. Heated fats and
proteins are quite pathogenic—even carcinogenic. W e should eat nu ts raw or not at all. Most people in modern society, however, have never tasted truly raw nuts a nd seeds. High in water content, genuinely raw
nuts have a texture more like apples (in the case of almonds) or nut butte rs (in the case of macadamias). Virtually all commercially
available nuts and seeds have been oven-dehydrated at “low” temper atures, (perhaps 160 F) often for days, to prevent them from
going moldy, thus extending their shelf life. Unfortunately, our ability to digest nuts and seeds—whether raw, dehy drated, or heated—is rather poor. Ranging from about
55 to 85% fat, nuts and seeds are best eaten infrequently and in very small a mounts. Even then, their breakdown into fatty acids,
amino acids, and glucose requires a drawn-out process that takes hours. Fat s may lie in the small intestine for several hours before
the gallbladder secretes bile with which to emulsify (break down and liqu efy) them. In contrast, high-fat fruits like avocados, durians, akees, breadfruit, an d olives are rich in easily digestible fats (when ripe). These fruits range in fat content from 30% of calories (durian) to 77% (av ocado). Coconut meat, also high in fat (ranging perhaps
20 to 80%, depending on maturity), is easily digested in the jelly-like state  but almost impossible to digest when matured and
hardened. Leafy greens and other vegetables, when eaten raw and fresh, contain  a small amount of fatty acids in an easily usable state. However, some (primarily the cruciferous vegetables) contain unwa nted toxic sulfur compounds. We derive our best predigested
fats adequate to meet our fatty-acid needs from fruits and tender leave s.
Biologically we are not a species of fat eaters, but merely incidental  eaters of fats. Although an occasional avocado or small
handful of nuts and seeds is quite satisfying and complements our natur al diet, we are primarily carbohydrate eaters. Are W e Omnivores—That Is, All of the Above? Of course, humans are omnivores in practice, with the aid of cook stoves, condi ments, taste excitants, camouflaging seasonings,
spices and so on. But, in nature, we could not do more than eat foods in season, and we w ould have to eat them in the raw state on
the basis of their effect on our taste buds. Without tools, technology, packagi ng and containerization, and taste-masking agents, we
would soon lose our omnivorous tendencies out in the wild … and wet, sweet fruit  would look better and better every day. We’re Frugivores! In nature, humans would be frugivores only. A frugivore is a creature  that lives primarily on fruits, with the addition of tender
greens. (This includes the nonsweet seeded fruits we generally ea t with vegetables, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, okra,
zucchini and other squashes, and eggplant.) Like all animals, we can in deed survive (albeit less successfully) on a wide variety of
foods. Nonetheless, our bodies are designed to thrive on a diet of mainly fruit. Some people adopt a totally fruitarian diet, meaning they attempt to live e xclusively on fruits, but I do not recommend this
practice. Dark-green leafy vegetables provide minerals and other nut rients essential for optimum nutrition and health. Nutritionally, fruit comes closer to satisfying all of our needs (inc luding, of course, our desire for delicious soul-exalting fare)
than any other food, as meat does for a carnivore. Fruits are replete with  the nutrients our bodies require— in the proportions that
we need them. Y es, some vegetables and other foods may have “more” of a particular n utrient or class of nutrients, but fruits tend
to contain the types and quantities of nutrients our bodies require. More does  not mean better. Humans are sweet seekers by nature, designed to eat sweet fruits. Tas te buds on the very tips of our tongues recognize sweet
tastes. Most of us are attracted to sweet fruits in their raw state, r egardless of what else our culture and circumstances dispose us to
eat. When ripened, fruits accommodatingly convert their carbohydrate compone nts into glucose and fructose, simple sugars we
can use without further digestion. Enzymes in the fruit convert prot eins into amino acids and fats into fatty acids and glycerols. Thus,
when we eat fruits, all we need do is savor their goodness. Fruits and Tender Greens? You may have noticed that I described the frugivorous diet as one consisti ng primarily of fruits, with the addition of tender greens. Where do the rest of the vegetables fit into this picture? This may shock you, but by every indication, our digestive physiology was desi gned to process the soft, water-soluble fibers in
fruits and tender leaves, almost exclusively. It is true that cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, kal e, collards, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage are loaded with
nutrients, including soluble fiber. But they also contain cellulose a nd other tough, difficult-to-digest fibers. These vegetables are best
digested when eaten in their youngest and most tender state. For best re sults, they must be thoroughly chewed or mechanically
predigested via the use of a blender or shredding device. To assimilate completely, we need to digest completely, and every time we  eat foods that are more difficult to digest, we
compromise our nutrition and, over time, our health. To be sure, we are capable of  swallowing vegetation that contains cellulose and
other rough, insoluble fibers, but such foods put a great load on our organs of diges tion and elimination. Where health is concerned, we want to derive the greatest benefits w hile minimizing the detriments or outright harm. When we
apply this idea to nutrition, we are looking for “enough” of the nutrients  we need, not necessarily the most we can get. The
indigestible fibers in the harder-textured vegetables are very dif ficult for our bodies to digest, relative to the soft, soluble fibers in
fruits and tender leafy greens. Thus, they are not among our ideal foods. Our Senses Confirm
Imagine for a moment that you are about to eat some delicious piece of fr uit—perhaps a grape, peach, melon, banana, apple, plum,
orange, mango, fig, or berry … you choose the variety. Picture holding the f ruit in your hand, admiring its beauty. Y ou hold it to your
nose and smell its sweet and distinctive fragrance. It tempts you to ta ke a bite, but first you appreciate the fruit in your mind just a
little more, increasing the pleasure. At this point, your mouth should be  watering. The fruit requires no preparation; it is a finished product, ready to be consumed exactly as Nature prepared it. For humans, fruit s attract the eye, tantalize the sense of smell, and
taste divine in their raw, natural, ripe state. Now, try the same thing again, this time imagining a field of wheat, or  a herd of cattle,


ature and prestige. ENERGY LEVEL  200: COURAGE
At the 200 level, power really first appears. When we test subjects at all
the ener gy levels below 200, we find, as can be readily verified, that they all
go weak. Everyone goes strong in response to the life-supportive fields
above 2 00. This is the critical level that distinguishes the positive and
negative influen ces of life. At the level of Courage, an attainment of true
power occurs; therefore, it is also the level of empowerment. This is the
zone of exploration, accomplishment, fortitude, and determination. At the
lower levels, the world is seen as hopeless, sad, frightening, or  frustrating;
but at the level  of Courage, lif e is seen to be exciting, challenging, and
stimulating. Courage implies the willingnes s to try new things and deal with the
vicissitudes of life.<|eot_id|><|begin_of_text|>Summarize the following text section accurately and concisely. Maintain specific details and numerical information, and use anti-repetition mechanisms:

        Such negative levels of
consciousness (f or example, Shame, Guilt, Fear, Desire, Anger, and Pride)
take, rather than contribute, ener gy. This book is a light unto the path of any
individual who wants to become more ef fective in any area of life. Appr oaching This Book
Dr. Haw kins’ s style of writing and speaking was geared toward
facilitating both so-called left- and right-brain comprehension. He explained
it this way in his original preface to Power vs. For ce :
In actuality, we know things b y a holistic pattern-recognition. The
easiest way to g rasp an entirely new concept is simply by familiarity. This kind of u nderstanding is encouraged by a style of w riting
characterized as “closure. ” Instead of using only sparse adjectives or
examples to express thoughts, th ey are instead run out and completed
by use of repetition. The concept is then “done,” and the mind is left at
ease. Su ch an approach is also desirable because the mind that reads
Chapter 3  will not be the same as the mind that reads Chapter 1. For that matter, the idea of hav ing to start from Chapter 1  and read
progressively to  the end is merely a fixed left-brain concept. This is
the pedestrian path of Newton ian physics, based on a limite d and
limiting view of the world, in w hich all events supposedly happen in a
linear sequence. This form of myopia arises from an outdated
paradigm of reality. Our wider and far more comprehensive view
draws not only on the essen ce of the most advanced ph ysics,
mathematics, and nonlinear theory but also on intuitions that can be
experientially validated by anyone. I have there fore attempted, as much as possible, to presen t these
subjects in nontechnical terms. There is no need to worry that some
erudite i ntellectual capacity is required to digest this material. It is not;
we will circle around the same concepts over and over until they are
obvious. Each time we return to comment on an example, g reater
comprehension w ill occur. This kind of learning is like surveyin g new
terrain i n an airplane: on the f irst pass, it all looks unfamili ar; the
second t ime around, we spot some points of reference; the third time,
it starts to make  sense, and we finally gain familiarity through simple
exposure. The inborn pattern-recognition mechanism of the  mind
takes care of the rest. 30
Whether you start at the beginning or end, you’ll find that the book
circles around this center point: W e c hange the world not by what we say or
do but as a consequence of what we have  become. Dr. Hawkins af firms that
even the  tiniest increase in our  own consciousness benefits the world at
lar ge. Lo ve is so powerful, he sa ys, that one loving thought in a day cancels
out all the negative ones. “If you notice a stray cat walking across the street
and you send it love and hope fo r its existence, that undoes the cursing you
did all morning  at your mother -in-law or teacher or whomeve r you were
mad at. ”31
The plan et is full of people try ing to “change the world” but doing so
only at the lev el of symptom, not source. This kind of fo rce creates
counterforce, and we end up wi th gridlock rather than greatness. Greatness
comes from within. It is the courage to change oneself. The message of this
book is vital for our society: as we  change, the world is changed. If we are motiva ted by love, if love is what moves us, then every thing we
touch an d every where we go a nd everyone we meet will be made better
because of what we have become  as a loving person. Love is the silent
power that inspires, heals, uplifts, encourages, and improves everything. And because Love is a radiatio n within the interconnected ener gy of the
universe, which is nonlocal and nonlinear, we make an impact wherever we
are, no matter what we are doing. T o love any single piece of life is to love
all life, for everything is interconnected. The gift  of Dr. Hawkins’ s contr ibution to human evolvement is beyond
what wo rds can express. W ithou t a Map, the treasure cannot be found. This
pathway is open to all who choose it. Everyone has a dif ferent startingpoint, yet each of us guides the r udder of our future by our own hands. Each
moment brings freedom to choose. — Fran Grace, Ph. D.<|eot_id|><|begin_of_text|>
Q: What determines one’ s level of consciousness? A:  An individual’ s level of consciousness is determined by the principles,
A:
Q: What is the main theme of this book?,
A: The book is about the importance of self-transformation and the power of love in transforming the world.
Q: What is the significance of the concept of attractor patterns?,
A: The concept of attractor patterns is used to understand the interconnectedness of all things and the importance of aligning with universal principles to achieve a higher level of consciousness.
Q: What is the main difference between the levels of consciousness below and above 200?,
A: The levels below 200 are destructive and limiting, while those above 200 are empowering and constructive.
Q: Can an individual calibrate their own consciousness?,
A: No, it is recommended to seek the guidance of a professional, as personal attachment and emotional investment can compromise the accuracy of the calibration process.
Q: What is the relationship between the levels of consciousness and the development of a person's self-view?,
A: The levels of consciousness determine a person's self-view and overall level of being.<|eot_id|><|begin_of_text|>At this level  of empowerment, one is able to cope with
and ef fe ctively h andle the opportunities of life. At 200, for instance, there is
the ener gy to learn new job skill s. Growth and education become attainable
goals. T here is the capacity to face fears or character defects and to grow
despite them; anxiety also doe s not cripple endeavor as it would at the
lower le vels of evolution. Obstacles that defeat people whose co nsciousness
is be low 200 act  as stimulants to those who have ev olved into the first level
of true power.People a t this level put back into the world as much ener gy as they take;
at lower levels, populations, as well as individuals, drain ener gy from
society without reciprocating. B ecause accomplishments result in positive
feedback, reward and esteem become progressively self-reinforcing. This is
where productivity begins. The collective level of human consciousness
remained at 190 for many centuries and, curiously, only jumped over 200 in
the 1980s. ENERGY LEVEL  250 : NEUTRALITY
Ener gy becomes very positive as we get to the level that we have termed
Neutral, because it is epitomized by release from the positionality that
typifies lower levels. Below 250, consciousness tends to see dichotomies
and to take on ri gid positions, an impediment in a world that is complex and
multifactorial rather than black-and-white. T aking such positions creates polarization, and polarization in turn
creates oppositi on and division. As in the martial arts, a rigid position
becomes a point of vulnerabili ty; that which does not bend is liable to
break. R ising above barriers or o ppositions that dissipate one’ s ener gies, the
Neutral conditi on allows for flexibility and nonjudgment al, realistic
appraisal of problems. T o be N eutral means to be relatively unattached to
outcomes; not getting one’ s w ay is no longer experienced a s defeating,
frightening, or frustrating. At the Neutral level, a person can say, “W ell, if I don’ t get this job, then
I’ll g et another.” This is the beginning of inner confidence; se nsing one’ s
power, o ne ther efore is not eas ily intimidated. One is not driv en to prove
anything. The expectation that


versatile and very effective way of cleansing, healing
and rejuvenation of all living beings. DRY Fasting in Nature
POCHE ME IN NATURE Many animals
and plant breach, ORGANIZATIONS ZMY Falling UT IN V ARIOUS s
STATE OF I Anab
"Watch for nature, learn from it, take the best and perfection
excellence has no limits. " Modern man calls himself a king of nature. Now the king
so poorly versed in became his vassal kingdom that any
animal feels it is much more comfortable than the self-styled
ruler. Animals have always come as prompts
their intuition, they never act to harm himself. They also
vulnerable, as we do, too sick, but not run by doctors. Ambulance
help with a red cross on the side of them not in a hurry. They themselves
doctor, for protected system of internal self-defense! Such
system is in place and people. When I lived on the lake, I was just good dog. He often
running away from home for various reasons, for a long time. Come
home very skinny and hungry, it was fasting with water. But
Once he was hit drunken motorcyclist, when I examined him, he was
in poor condition, but most interesting is that he crawled into the dark
a barn and refused food and water. Any injury - is primarily
edema, and he instinctively felt it. Seven days he neither ate nor
and drank only on the eighth day was eat and drink water. He fully
recovered. So when respected nutritionists talk about the terrible
the dangers of dry fasting, I always tell my patients that if
it was harmful, the nature of time evolution would long ago have cleaned and
use the mechanisms of dry fasting. When I wrote this chapter, I
had to revise and read a lot of literature and information
to show that the absolute (anhydrous starvation) - this is not
fiction adventurers and charlatans, and the natural universal
natural mechanism that helps to survive under unfavorable
conditions or diseases. during the life of every living
13
13the body is constantly exposed to adverse
factors - both external and internal. The result of this
becomes intoxication - poisoning organism harmful
materials coming both from without and the power
inside the body. Toxins from the outside come into our
body through breathing, skin, along with food and water. Inside
toxins are produced as a byproduct of any
life processes: cells divide, the old die, and if
they do not show, will poison the body, with any physical
loads, there is a destruction of muscle fibers, and any
stress, and any normal working of the mind and imagination run
in the body complex biochemical processes during the flow
that "waste material" also turns into toxins
which should be removed from the body. Nature has blessed all
beings remarkable mechanism, reported,
that the body needs to be cleaned of toxins. With the accumulation of
in the body of toxins a person (and any living creature) covers
drowsiness, fatigue sets in, and the body signals that
that he needed sleep. That dream carried the main
detoxification of the body - the release of toxins which have accumulated
per day, or enrolled in an organism, for example, the reception
poisoning of food or alcoholic beverages, followed by sleep
can literally knock you. The same thing could happen after
taking certain medications that cause drowsiness, or
sleeping pills that cause is not a harmless dream, and to
actually harass you, and a very sophisticated manner. Need
understand that if after a meal, you feel very sleepy, so
Your food was unfit for consumption. Therefore, each of
We are constantly faced with the partial dry hunger and hibernation
during sleep. During this organism and does its healing work. in every cell of living matter genetically incorporated mechanisms
living without food and water. in nature, there are two kinds of fasting. First - it's wet fasting when the animal can move
in this case it is drinking water and looking for food, but in severe
illnesses or injuries, it hides in a secluded place, where it
protected from the weather and is located in warm, calm and quiet and where
no one was alarmed. There it rests, and fast without water. It
may, for example, have lost limbs (or wing) to recover
without dressings and surgical operations. in the lives of animals dry
Fasting is an extremely important factor in life. Animals are starving not only when sick or injured, but
and during the winter or summer hibernation (in tropical climates). Some animals are starving before the birth of offspring, often - and in
during his feeding. For example, some birds are starving in
clearing time chicks. Other animals are starving as soon as
birth. Animals also were forced to starve during a drought
and survive, although over a long period can not get any
14
14food and water. One of the varieties of dry starvation in nature
is a condition called hibernation. Cryostasis (Greek anabnfsis - "recovery" from ana - «again and bnos -
"Life") - the state of the organism in which life processes
(Metabolism, etc.) are suspended or are so
slowed, which lacks all visible manifestations of life. Anabiosis
observed a sharp deterioration in living conditions of some
(Low temperature, lack of moisture, etc.) in organisms facing
at different stages of development, upon the occurrence of favorable
conditions are restored the normal level of life
processes - recovery. Thus, suspended animation - biological
adaptation of an organism to adverse external conditions,
developed in the course of evolution. In the case of dehydration, the protoplasm of cells (live
protein) from the state of hydrosol (liquid aspic) becomes
in the state of the hydrogel (such as dry gelatin) and long
time retains the possibility of reverse transition upon the occurrence of
favorable environmental conditions. Once these conditions
created, protoplasm absorbs water - swells, leading
to restore the life processes. Why in the nature of many animal and plant organisms
fall into a different state of suspended animation? The winter season is unfavorable for many in the world
Animals and plants both because of the low temperature, and on
because of drastic reduction of opportunities for food. during
evolutionary development of many species of animals and plants
acquired a kind of adaptive mechanisms to
survive the adverse season. in some species of animals
emerged and established itself instinct to stockpile food, other
developed a different adaptation - migration. Known
remarkably long flights of many birds, migration
some fish species and other members of the animal world. However, in the process of evolution in many animal species observed
and the other a perfect physiological mechanism of adaptation
- The ability to fall into a lifeless at first glance, the state
which in various animal species are manifested in different ways and has
different names (suspended animation, hibernation, hypothermia, etc.). Meanwhile, all these conditions are characterized by inhibition
the function of vital activity to the minimum that
allows him to survive the adverse winter conditions without taking
food and water. in this state of apparent death flow into those
Animals that are unable to provide themselves with food during the winter
and for them there is a risk of death from cold and hunger. and all this
developed in the course of evolution, is subject to severe natural
expediency - the need to preserve the appearance. Hibernation - a widespread phenomenon in nature,
despite the fact that its manifestations are different from the representatives of individual
15
15groups of animals, whether animals with unstable temperature
body (poikilothermic), is also called cold-blooded,
whose body temperature depends on ambient temperature, or
animals with a constant temperature, known as warm-blooded. Among the animals with unstable body temperature in the state
hibernation fall various types of mollusks, crustaceans,
arachnids, insects, fish, amphibians and reptiles, and
of the animals with constant body temperature - a few species of birds
and many species of mammals. In this chapter I have tried to collect
the most interesting facts that exist in nature, as living
beings to adapt to adverse conditions and what
defense mechanisms they use for this. Look at the Office
patents of nature. Winterfall GROUND WATER SM
Cold blood is not warm. Who is not given to support the body temperature in winter is one -
freeze, sleep, petrify, to wait out unfavorable conditions
life. That is what all the cold-blooded: molluscs, crustaceans,
spiders, insects, fish, amphibians and reptiles. When
the onset of winter, they hibernate, called Kholodov
stupor. At most, what they can do - take care
Asylum, where the temperature did not drop to below 0 ° C. otherwise
If cells are irreversibly injured tissue formed
the freezing of ice crystals. Crayfish, completely unaware of
the kind of strong reaction in people cause their peaceful winter
rookery, burrow into the mud at the bottom of ponds. Males usually hibernate
groups in the deep wells at the bottom, while females - one at a time in burrows. True, this loneliness will not name because of their short
legs of females bonded with 50 to 500 pieces of fertilized eggs
of which hatch in early summer, crustaceans the size of an ant. If the sludge is


 prepared, and even some starvation has it
helped. Dry hunger he passed well, he intuitively found at
our river place their energy and every day went there. On
the ninth day he came all excited and tells me:
"I was sitting in his seat, the rain, I prayed to myself silently, and suddenly
some clouds parted and the sun as it pierced my
organism, it was for me incredibly, because everywhere was rain. After
this in my heart it was so easy. " When he arrived home after a month left in the Carpathians
and self-hosted 10-day dry hunger. Then
He again two months later, repeated fasting. When I was
on a business trip, my cell came CMC-ka: "Passed tests
everything is fine, come to visit me, to go to the Carpathians. " Of course, very pleased to receive such messages. Another case. Another call asking if I was treating hepatitis
TTV. I, frankly, for the first time even heard of this hepatitis. Had to search for information online. we were visited by a guy
choleric temperament, during the passage of starvation
constantly walking and could not find a place for himself, with his temperament
it necessarily need to have something - something to do. Hungry
seven days. Six months later came the dry fractional starvation,
took two courses of fasting seven or eight days, is now on hunger
brought books and CDs and starvation endured quietly. Within a month
went to examination in Israel. He rang me back and said that
was a complete examination of his body, doctors said a liver
and analyzes how a child. Of course, not all such good results, anyone - that starvation
do not help, because at such issues should take place
several courses of fasting to cure, but, alas, not
everyone enough for this patience and will. How hard is it to talk about a serious illness... How hard is it to talk about
severe illness, avoiding comforting lies, and at the same time instilling
hope. How important are these requirements when it
comes to cancer! I want to give an example of how a great faith, patience
and starvation can overcome this horrible, insidious disease. Hear your inner voice
He lived like everyone else. Rejoiced in the success in business. Sometimes even proud of
is, if it turns out that something is better than others. Believed in God, but
this belief does not undermine the deep layers of the soul. Thus, many believe
of us - as though just in case. Life seemed eternal, and if
233
233and broke off at someone, then for sure with him, Victor Pylyavskim anything
this could not happen. He would stop and listen to ourselves, to each of its cage,
to understand: Is it live? in each of us sound signals, it is necessary
only able to perceive them and follow them to stay
healthy mind and body. But it is Victor realized later...
Everything started with a slight pain in my stomach. My first thought: eat something
stale, will take place. Then the pain became more frequent and more. Soon the stomach is to take nothing but water and yogurt. Victor
rapidly losing weight. And finally, I went to a reception at his friend,
head of radiology department of the Samara Oblast
Clinical Hospital. Kalinin, a doctor of the highest category
Sergei Repin. The survey has not yet completed, but the diagnosis, he realized
on the views of health professionals and once they have heard the figures: eighty
percent. It was easy to guess that this lesion tissue
and in the figure to hear the verdict. He offered to pass some other tests to check something
and recheck. and only if the diagnosis is definitive. But he
nothing else did not check, thanked the doctors and went on
street. Ended in the summer, but the sun was still hot, and the trees -
green. Do not want to believe that it will take some time, and all this
remain, and it will be gone. But he lived a total less than four
ten years. Maybe he lived no better, but neither are worse than others. and good deeds to his credit no less sinned - not more. Why do
in this world so unfair? This question probably gets up in front of each hospice
man. Just answer each his own. On that day, he outlined what must get done before the end of life. and I soon realized that still do not have time to live without the hassle, take
final outcome. After all, for something he was born into this world, for some reason
lived? And then he decided to leave the house. It was the end of summer, when he took the Bible, sleeping bag and a piece of
tarpaulin, said goodbye to his wife and daughter. Said to have not sought -
return himself forty days. Unless, of course, come back...
From that day he decided to act only at the call of the soul, though this
call sounded at times very weak. But gradually he learned to understand
himself. A few days Victor was wandering through the mountains around
Zhigulevsk and soon realized: his place is not here. All Samara
Luka, he knew very well - a lot of time flying over the mountains and steppes
on his paraglider. and behold a voice suggested that we should go
the ruins of the town of Murom - ancient settlement of the V olga
Bulgar. Here, among the wild apple trees, he pulled a piece of canvas,
spread my sleeping bag. Not far from its parking lot found two
fontanel. The soul seems to have calmed down. Even the stomach, which has long
have not received anything other than water, it is not disturbed. And pulled the days that are similar to each other, without any event
234
234in the outside world. Only occasionally somewhere Party held a herd
voices of the shepherds. Singing birds, rustling wind, the sky
passing clouds. But all this does not affect the thoughts,
no feelings. Victor was immersed in himself, and, of course, noticed
as my soul and body. Sometimes these changes were so
painful, that I wanted to burrow into the earth, save yourself from suffering. He
thinner and weaker every day. And peeling skin limp rags. He tore it, rolling around on the grass. When it was relieved to read
Bible - do not rush, rush was nowhere to go. Opened unknown
first sense of the sacred lines. Compare their standards of morality with
their behavior. and realized that a lot does not fit. and idols
were in his life, although the Bible demands: "Do not make..." and pride
enough. And even more - fuss, endless race is for money,
for the other ghosts of our lives. Infinite "must, must, we must"
occurred not at the call of the soul - conditionalities imposed from outside
world. Victor often heard some voices. Believes that it was
angels. Sometimes Fantastic paintings: here is his soul
born to white light. Here are millions of others eager to find
flesh, begging God to bestow this great happiness - to live
on the ground...
How could he complain: "Why me?" When he lived for nearly four
a dozen years before he learned about his illness. After thirty days of fasting began fainting. Consciousness, he
lost suddenly, every movement was given with great difficulty. Sometimes, Victor
threw off his clothes and got an inexplicable pleasure
cool, although it was cool, the touch of wind or grass. He did not feel cold even at night, despite the fact that started
October. What is the explanation, did not know until now. Like the inside of his
warmed some unknown source of heat. Forty days in the shower sounded: go home! All his
simple enough equipment left under the apple tree. Would take, but had no strength. hard left onto the road. Driver of a car stopped for a long time
could not understand what that person stands in front of him - a thin, in some
scruffy duds, with difficulty pronouncing words. Finally
Victor was able to explain what he needs to Samara. For ordinary life, he returned gradually. First, drink juice,
diluted with water. Then - vegetable soup, gruel. Stomach still accept without protest. Victor felt that he
perfectly healthy, but the hospital still went. For the sake of interest. Doctors did not believe their eyes: once struck by 80 percent
stomach was as good as new. - In my experience, this case was not, - says Sergey
Repin. - Colleagues, too, shrug their shoulders. We, of course, are known
examples of healing the sick through faith in God, but so
way to be treated, usually neurological disease
character. And in this case, apparently, there was the addition of a
235
235number of factors, which are caused by an upgrade not only the soul, but
and body. In extreme circumstances, I think, were given
in effect hidden reserves of the body, and there was healing. Other explanation I can not give. Business, old habits and friends have moved away Pylyavskogo
aside. There are new, who understand its
today's state of mind. Our hero, after those forty days
became deeply religious man. Inland call it
began exploring the churches in the territory of the Samara region. Photographed with a paraglider existing temples and ruins. In the spring of last year's pictures were exhibited at the


 concrete, or aluminium
insulation the field is near zero. In a high -DC field our wellbeing and
mental abilities are increased, while in a low field we easily become
fatigued,  and our concentration suffers. Another effect of the DC field is
a possible imbalance in the ion distribution in our body when habitually
wearing shoes with rubber or plastic soles. Walking barefoot, especially
on fresh or moist grass, on the other hand, allows our inner polarity to
readjust itself. When earthed we app ear to draw electrons from the ground into our body
while stagnant bioenergy that may be present as tensions, inflammations
or pain can flow into the ground. With this, earthing generates a positive
shift in the electrical potential of our body and restore s natural self -
healing and self -regulating mechanisms. For more detailed explanations 100
 and evidence, including various research and clinical studies see:
www.earthinginstitute.net. The best way of earthing is by walking barefoot, especially on moist
ground. This may be grass or moist soil or wet beach sand, but any
barefoot walking on natural ground is good. The best time is early in the
morning when the grass is still wet with dew. For those who do not have the opportunity to walk much barefoot, or in
addition, there is the possibility of earthing by connecting the body with
a wire to a good earth. This may be done during sleep or when working
on the computer or at any other suitabl e time. A basic setup can be used as explained earlier in this chapter for Electro -
proofing your house. You may, for instance sit at the computer with your
feet on a wire -net that is connected to an earth. This may be a ground
stake or, with suitable caut ion, the earth connection in a wall plug. For a
safe way of doing this see: www.naturesplatform.com/earthing.html. Alternatively,  you can buy such equipment at: www.earthinginstitute.net. Earthing should be avoided during a thunderstorm. Living Water
Water, air and food are the three main essentials to sustain life. These
should be as clean and life enhancing as possible. In addition to
minimizing pollutants, we can also take positive steps to enhance the
health promoting qualities of water. Water has the ability to attract and accumulate bioenergy. Bioenergy or
life force energy is known in all traditional cultures under many different
names, such as Chi, Ki, Od, Orgone or Prana. It can be seen or felt by
many psychic or sensitive individuals. Water also stores an energy
memory of harmful or helpful vibrations to which it was exposed in the
past. This is the basis of homoeopathy. Our chlo rinated tap water is
polluted with non -biological chemicals and negative energy imprints. It is
also devoid of bioenergy  and so may be regarded as being badly polluted
as well as 'dead'. 101
 Contaminated water may be filtered, distilled or treated with reverse
osmosis but it remains dead unless it is then energized to make it 'living'
water that can improve our health. While polluted and dead tap water can
contribute to the deterioration of ou r health, living water is one of the
great healers. Ideally, healthy, living water should have the following
properties: -
• Purity:  being free of chemical, biological and vibrational pollution
• Minerals:  it should be well mineralized
• Low Surface Tension  due to small cluster size
• Antioxidant Activity  due to negative hydrogen   (negative ORP)
• Vibrations:  carrying positive, health -promoting vibrations
• Bioenergy:  being strongly charged with life force. All of these health -giving properties are naturally present  in sunlit,
cascading mountain streams, and to some degree also in good spring
water and seawater. Purity  is easiest to achieve with readily available
filters, distillers and reverse osmosis. However, most of these methods,
in addition to the nasties also take beneficial minerals out, while most
filters do not adequately remove fluoride. Purity:  While now man y filters are claimed to remove fluoride, it is
difficult to know the truth unless an independent analysis is provided. Distilling and reverse osmosis (with intact membrane) definitely remove
all fluoride. Do not habitually use commercial water in plastic bottles as
leached chemical (e.g. Bisphenol A) may be just as dangerous as
fluoride. Chlorine may be removed by boiling the water, or exposing it in
an open tray to sunlight, by adding some fresh green leaves or a dash of
sodium thiosulphate. Minerals  in our drinking and cooking water supply a sizable part of our
overall mineral intake, especially magnesium. We can become de -
mineralized from habitually drinking distilled water, reverse osmosis
water or rainwater (except if stored in concrete tanks). Theref ore, re -
mineralize purified water with magnesium chloride or colloidal minerals. 102
 Low Surface Tension  is a common by -product of energizing water. This
creates small liquid crystals, forming cage -like structures of about 6
molecules. Due to this effect energized water is called ‘micro water’. It
contains minerals in an energized colloidal form and stabiliz ed within
small clusters of water molecules, which makes them easier to absorb. Antioxidant Activity: Antioxidant -rich water is now easily produced with
water ionizers as electrolysed  reduced water. Positively charged ions
(e.g. magnesium) and negative hyd rogen accumulate on one side,
making the water reducing (antioxidant) and alkaline, while negative
ions, such as chloride and fluoride produce oxidizing acid water. Therefore, ionizers on a high setting can be used to remove or reduce
fluoride in drinking water. Electrolysed reduced water is also produced
by Brown’s Gas generators, see next chapter. Vibrations: Water retains a memory of vibrations to which it was
exposed as an energy imprint. These imprints in turn influence the user
of the water and may be due to chemical, mechanical, electrical or
magnetic influences, or even to feelings, emotions and thoughts. Some
good water filtering and energizing systems impart natural rock vibrations
in combination with a vortex formation. In biodynamics the purity  of water was assessed with crystallization
patterns. The purer the water, the more harmonious is the crystallization
pattern and vice versa. Masaru Emoto
(https://thewellnessenterprise.com/emoto/ ) shows in countless  pictures
how the crystallization pattern of freezing water changes when exposed
to human thoughts and feelings. Negative vibrations resulted in chaotic
or confused crystallizations. As our body contains large amounts of water
you may now  appreciate what negative thoughts and feelings are doing
to your health. Bioenergy: We obtain our energized water from fresh raw fruit and
vegetables, from dew, rainwater during a thunderstorm, fresh spring or
bore water, and water exposed to sunlight an d moonlight. A stronger
charge results if the water is exposed to a source of bioenergy such as
from magnets or crystals while in turbulent motion leading to vortex
formations. A high mineral content helps in retaining this charge. For 103
 suggestions to vital ize your water see the next chapter. Exercise
Adequate physical activity is a main requirement for achieving and
maintaining good health. Deep breathing while exercising is essential:
lack of oxygen - becoming breathless - is harmful. Therefore, breathe
more vigorously than required for the activity at hand and increase the
intensity of your exercises only gradually. You may use a variety of activities such as cycling, walking, jogging,
push -ups, digging, lifting, swimming, and so on. When jogging without
padded running shoes, touch down with the ball of the foot, and use the
ankle joints as cushioning springs. Depending on your body needs and inclinations many different exercises
may be performed. The more important ones are stretching, hanging
from the ha nds or feet, using a rebounder or a lymphasizer, circling the
pelvis, head and shoulder stand, isometric exercises, scalp and face
exercises (pulling faces, tensing and relaxing scalp muscles), shaking to
loosen the body, and slow graceful and rhythmic mov ements with or
without music. Yoga exercises are excellent for stretching and
massaging the internal organs. Frequently during the day, you may do some stretching, tensing, circling
or shaking. In addition, a time of the day or the week may be selected for
a more thorough workout. With advancing age stretching becomes
increasingly more important. Lie on a large bed or carpeted floor and
move your limbs and spine in various positions to the limits of their range
and then stretch just a bit further. Try to let the body move on its own
without much mental direction. Just do what feels good. For specific
exercises, see:  Exercises. *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *

 104
 Chapter Eight
HEALING WITH ENERGY
Remove energy blockages and recharge yourself

The term "energy" in healing relates to the non-physical energies,
variously called life -force, bioenergy, pr ana, mana, chi, ki, orgone, or O d.
We may see it as the innermost aura around living objects, or we may


 the Bodisattvas and demons—and their elaborate se-
cret rituals, initiations and invocations using mantra. If you have
the patience to follow the rigorous path set out by a lama or guru
who understands the true esoteric practice and is not merely a faith
worshipper, you should eventually be successful with it. I myself was raised near a Buddhist temple in Thailand and
hung out with monks from an early age. I later decided the external
rituals were not so effective as the internal methods of cultivating I
learned from my Taoist teachers. These rituals are a blend of the
esoteric and local culture. Many westerners may not respond
deeply to the archaic imagery of the religious deities or will be
confused by the different states of mind to be invoked, as the
traditional descriptions of these states of mind do not translate
easily from Sanskrit or Tibetan into English. Certainly the acceptance of Taoism here in the west has been
slowed by the difficulty of translating Taoist philosophy from Chi-
*"Sky Dancer: The Secret Life And Songs Of The Lady Yeshe Tsogyel" (Routledge and
Kegan, Paul 1984).Sex In the Esoteric Traditions 59
nese into English. But the archetypal images of the Taoists—prin-
cipally images from nature, but including the yin and yang sym-
bol—became globally accepted archetypes long before myself and
others began teaching out the esoteric practices. The Chinese form
a quarter of the world's population, and our civilization has been
around for the last 5000 years, so our basic teaching models are
already well known throughout the world. Perhaps most important is the fact that the esoteric yogic
practices of the Taoists were not buried in the rituals or lost on the
changing doctrines of religion. They were kept secret and passed
on orally for many thousands of years, and when they were finally
written down beginning in the second century A.D. they were dis-
guised with arcane poetry to prevent the uninitiated or unvirtuous
from learning the meditative practices. But much of this esoteric
knowledge was preserved and further developed by Taoist acu-
puncturists and herbologists, which helped to keep the mystical
teachings practical and grounded in using the chi energy to heal
bodily functions. Another example of this is the Taoist art of Tai
Chi Chuan, a wonderfully multifaceted form that is simultaneously
a means of self-defense, a playful dance, a metaphysical meditation
on yin and yang, a physically healing exercise, and a ritual invoca-
tion of the cardinal energies that can be experienced by anyone
watching a master perform. The actual Taoist practices themselves are as simple to under-
stand as the sun and the moon, because the ancient Taoists used
the natural elements of the universe as their teacher. They watched
the way plants and animals lived and died, how the weather
effected their own metabolism, and how their subtle energies var-
ied with the seasons, the earth's tilt toward the sun and stars, and
the phases of the moon. Before language was even invented the
sages observed the balance of forces in nature and then found that
same harmony within themselves. Life is simple and natural if you
keep it that way. No extraneous cultural images or religious con-
cepts are needed to decorate the original and natural vision of the
Tao as harmonious nature. Anybody familiar with the qualities of water, fire, metal,
earth, and wood—the primal elements—and has lived through the
four seasons of the year—spring, summer, fall, and winter—is a
candidate for beginning the Taoist practices. For example, to bal-
ance the sexual relationship you basically need to know that60 Taoist Secrets Of Love
woman is water and has the power to regulate man, who is fire. On
a deeper level you would discover that man has both fire and water
in his body and can achieve a perfect internal balance by harmoniz-
ing his fire (thinking mind) with his own water (sperm fluid, or
sexual "waters"). These symbols of fire and water, often expressed as yin and
yang are simple to identify with and work with once you are given
the specific details of what to do—how to hold your seed in, how to
move your energy in psychic channels, and exchange it with the
woman, etc. Of course, the experience of more subtle levels of chi
energy takes time and cultivation of physical and mental purity. Thats why practice of tai chi, chi kung, meditation, and virtuous
living enhance the speed with you gain clarity, and thus compli-
ment the sexual practices. KAREZZA AND COITUS RESERVATUS
There are other methods of sexual intercourse which should not be
confused with the Taoist practice. Most widely known is the simple
act of coitus reservatus, which is making love without orgasm. While this conserves the valuable male seed, it does not teach how
to circulate the sexual energy upward or store it in the body's
higher centers so it can be exchanged with the woman or put to
other creative use. Coitus reservatus can also create severe pres-
sure on the prostate gland and lead to its eventual malfunction
since the orgasmic tension in the prostate is never released in-
wardly (as in Taoist sex) or outwardly through ejaculation. I specif-
ically recommend that you avoid coitus reservatus for this rea-
son—too much heat builds up in the genital area without any means
to cool it. Karezza is a love-making technique said to have originated in
Persia. It involves long periods of passive sexual intercourse—
lying still for half an hour or more while waiting for the male and
female energies to build up. The Taoist method differs in that it
encourages as much loving physical movement that the couple can
handle without genital orgasm. This dynamic aspect of sex is nor-
mally important to westerners raised on a romantic role model of
passionate love. To a Taoist, movement is life, whether in the
physical body or in the subtle energy, and should be thoroughly
enjoyed for the good health it brings. Karezza also fails to provideSex In the Esoteric Traditions 61
a method for transforming the sexual energy upward into a tran-
scendent internal orgasm, and is satisfied with simply increasing
and prolonging physical pleasure. It was originally intended to help
any royal male survive a long night of love-making with his harem. Later it was popularized in America in the Utopian Oneida colony
in 1866 as a form of mandatory birth control. Certainly it is an
improvement over hasty ejaculatory sex, but ultimately lacks true
depth.PART II
TAOIST PRACTICES FOR
MASTERING SEXUAL LOVECHAPTER 6
THE DANCE OF THE TESTES:
EXERCISES FOR PELVIC STRENGTH
"If a man has intercourse once without spilling his seed, his vital
essence is strengthened. If he does this twice, his hearing and
vision are made clear. If three times, all his physical illness will
disappear. The fourth time he will begin to feel inner peace. The
fifth time his blood will circulate powerfully. The sixth time his
genitals will gain new prowess. By the seventh his thighs and but-
tocks will become firm. The eighth time his entire body will radiate
good health. The ninth time his lifespan will be increased." —from the Canon of Taoist Wisdom collected by Emperor Tang
All of us are familiar with the shoot-out scene in which someone in
danger pulls a gun which doesn't fire. If it's a good guy, he usually
finds some heroic way out of his predicament. But when the
"weapon" is the male penis, a "misfire"—a failure to erect—is a
fiasco for the simple reason that no heroic alternative is easily
found. Repeated and chronic misfire is impotence, the incarnation
of male misery and the ruin of many relationships. In this chapter
we study two excellent pelvic diaphragm exercises that build your
urogenital and anus ring muscles and thus greatly strengthens your
control of your erection and reduce the likelihood of misfire. Care-
ful practice of these exercises will also prepare you for learning to
retain the vital seed during intercourse.66 Taoist Secrets Of Love
America is presently exercise-crazy. Yet, except for sexual
activity, few exercises strengthen the crucial pelvic muscles. There
exist pelvic exercises which greatly strengthen the reproductive
organs and the complex network of tendons surrounding them. Strength in this department is of inestimable importance—it is the
root of man's health. Leading into the pelvis are a vast number of
nerve endings, and channels for your veins and arteries. Here ter-
minate tissues communicating with every square inch of the body. All of the major acupuncture meridians carrying chi between the
vital organs pass by this area. If it is blocked or weak, energy will
dissipate and the organs and brain will suffer. This is what happens
to most men in old age—their rectal and pelvic muscles become
loose and their vital chi energy slowly drains out, leaving them
weak and feeble. It is important to remember that the foundation of penis
strength is seminal retention. Without this nothing permanent may
be accomplished, even with exercise. Spending the semen brings
about premature impotence and decay. No one, no matter how
strong or brutish, can ejaculate often without ultimately paying a
stiff price.


called value. In spite of having been conditioned by the country you were
born in, the religion you were assigned at birth, the culture you were
immersed in, or even the famil y who raised you, living beyond judgment
becomes your preference. You exist in harmony with the Tao that excludes
no one and has no conception of divisions and loyalties. The oneness of the
Tao entices you away from any belief that others are separate. This is the basic solution to wars and conflicts. You see, when  you stop
judging and instead begin to see yourself in others, you can’t help but love
the uniqueness of everyone as though they were your own children. Then
instead of exclusions and alleg iances, the onen ess of the Tao graces all,unimpeded. Rather than God bless America (or whatever country you
happen to reside in), Allah save our people, or Krishna bless those who
believe in you, there’ s God bless humanity—let me do all that I can to treat
everyone, without exception, with goodness and kindness, as all of those
whom we r evere as spiritual masters taught us by their example. As your worldview changes, you’ll extend goodness to everyone you
encounter. You’ll find that you can feel nonjudgmental compassion for the
mistreated, even  when their way of seeing things causes you and yours
pain. You can send out kindness not only in response to kindness, but
especially when you’re the recipient of cruelty. Why? Because, as Lao-tzu
reminds you in this poignant verse, “the nature of [your] being is kindness.”
It’s impossible to give to others what you are not, and you are not
judgmental. Y ou see yourself in everyone, without the need to criticize them
or yourself. Change your thoughts and live beyond judgment—and don’t see yourself
as “bad” when you falter in this view or as “holy” when you succeed. Keep
in mind that you’re a mix of infinite openness and finite limitation, as we all
are. So sometimes you just need to notice yourself judging, without then
judging yourself! This is what I feel called by Lao-tzu to offer you from this 49th verse of
the T ao Te Ching:
Change the way you look at yourself. If you pride yourself on having a fixed mind, realize that it relies on
conditioning that generally shows up as prejudice. Instead, see yourself as
flexible, since being open is the higher virtue. Pride yourself on extending
your goodness and kindness to all sides, even 49th Verse when they oppose
your preprogrammed learning. Begin to see yourself as a person who
notices instead of judges. Avoid taking one position and sticking to it no
matter what the circumstances are; rather, be in harmony with all people,
especially those whose opinions conflict with yours! And remember to
include yourself when dispensing kindness and nonjudgment. Change the way you look at other people.One version of this verse says: “I trust men of their word, and I trust liars. If I am true enough, I feel the heartbeats of others  above my own.” Whet her
you call it “judging” or “labelin g,” notice when you think of others as evil,
lazy, dishonest, stupid, or ugly. Then affirm: I see myself in this person, and
I choose  to be in a space of goodness rather than judgment. There’ s a
Sanskrit word, Namaste, that can help you with this. When used as a
greeting, it roughly translates to: “I honor the place in you wher e we are all
one.” So silently or verbally begin telling others “Namaste” in order to
remind yourself to love everyone as your own children. Do the T ao Now
Vow to spend a day looking for opportunities to practice kindness in
circumstances that usually provo ke judgment. Notice what you think or say
about a panhand ler, a relative whom you feel animosity toward, or even a
politician or TV commentator speaking in terms that send you of f in a flurry
of critica l thoughts. Take that opportunity to become a “noticer,” decreasing
your criticism while increasing the amount of courtesy and goodness in
your world. OceanofPDF.com50th Verse
Between birth and death,
three in ten ar e followers of life;
three in ten ar e followers of death. And men just passing fr om birth to death
also number thr ee in ten. Why is this so? Because they clutch to life
and cling to this passing world. But ther e is one out of ten, they say, so sur e of life that tigers and wild bulls
keep clear. Weapons turn fr om him on the battlefield, rhinocer oses have no place to
horn him,
tigers find no place for claws,
and soldiers have no place to thrust their blades. Why is this so? Because he dwells in that place
wher e death cannot enter. Realize your essence
and you will witness the end without ending. OceanofPDF.comLiving as an Immortal
In this passage, Lao-tzu asks you to change the way you look at your
mortality. The Tao teaches that death is an insignificant detail that doesn’ t
need to be consciously struggle d with or dreaded. As this verse of the Tao
Te Chin g informs you, there’ s a “place where death cannot enter.” Talk
about your life changing when you change your thoughts! This is the
ultimate, since the fear of death tops virtually everyone’ s list of anxieties. If you see yourself solely as a physical mortal, then you’re part of the 90
percent of the population that this passage refers to as “followers of life,”
“followers of death,” or “just passing from birth to death.” Here you’re
being encouraged to aspire to be part of the remaining 10 percent, for whom
thoughts of mortality don’t invade the heart space or life in general. By
altering the way you see death, you’ll be in that select group. You’ll
experience life on the active side of infinity, knowing yourself first and
foremost as a spiritual being having a temporary human experience, rather
than the other way around. In this realm, you’ll be gracefully adept at moving along free of the fear
of life-th reatening events. You’ll have a knowing about yourself and your
connection to the Tao that simply allows you to ride with life like a fearless
downhill skier who’ s at one with the snow-covered  mountain. Without
resorting to judgment, you’ll notice others who are perpetually victimized
by scams, bureaucracies, indifference, natural disaster, criminals, or
meddling relatives. With an intimate awareness of your infinite essence that’s cente red in the
Tao, you’ll most likely escape from victimization yourself, and you’ll
lightly deal with situations that others tend to get stuck in. In other words,
when you know your own endless nature and live each day with this
awareness directing you, there will simply be no space within you for
mortality to call the shots. If harm ever does make an attempt to inflict
damage or death on you, it won’ t find a place to sink its hooks into. Change how you think about death by seeing your essential spiritual
beingness, and you’ll be able to enjoy this world without the dread caused
by believing you are of it. When you know your immo rtality through theflow of the Tao, you won’ t even need to assign it a worldly concept or
formal religion. And when the time comes for you to remove the worn-out
coat you call your body, Lao-tzu says that “you will witness the end without
ending.”
Contemplate the teachings of the Tao Te Ching and realize that you can
never really be killed or even harmed. With this view of life, you’ll be able
to clear your inner battlefield of the army of beliefs that continually try to
march on your essential self. Fear and dread are weapons that can’t hurt or
threaten you. Even the natural elements symbolized by rhinos ’ horns and
tigers’ claws can’t inflict damage because they butt against and tear at a
space that has no solidity for them to inflict pain. Y ou dwell in a place that’ s
impenetrable to death—no longer are you clutching at the 10,000 things and
treating your short journey from cradle to grave as your one and only
ultimate life experience. Now you are the infinite Tao, living your real
essence. Although Lao-tzu lived 25 centuries ago, he is still very much alive. I feel
him ur ging you to heed the following bits of wisdom:
Create affirmations. Remind yourself, No one dies, including myself. Affirm that you can
never be harmed or destroyed, for you are not your body. If you stay
connected to this reality, you’ll automatically deflect dangers that may have
previously been  able to invade  your physical space. For exam ple, as the
Indian saint Muktananda lay dying, his devotees are said to have
surrounded him, pleading, “Please don’t leave.” Muktananda replied,
“Don’ t be silly—where could I go?” The great swami realized his true
essence and knew that he was at an end without ending. Die while you’r e alive! In your imagination, contemplate the death of your physi cal shell:
Visualize it lying there life


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


 2 = reflex standing, 3 = spastic walking, 4 = walking, running with deficit, 5 = normal, full recovery. 63185 DMSO in Basic Neuroprotection
and a gradual improvement was noted in these animals so that 5 dogs in this
series recovered completely and 1 dog showed walking and running ability with deficit. By contrast, dexamethasone-treated dogs showed improvement late in the first
and second month with 2 dogs showing full recovery at 90 days and 5 dogs remain -
ing incapacitated ( Figure 8.13). Dogs treated with mannitol or isotonic saline showed
little to no improvement during the 90-day observation period. When somatosensory-evoked potentials were taken 4 h after trauma, only DMSO-treated dogs showed a partial response, which was later seen to be a positive correlation with the prognosis of eventual full recovery. 63
This study by de la Torre and his team63 indicated two key points. First, it estab -
lished that DMSO, if given within an hour after an SCI, can protect cord tissue using this model from neurodegeneration, an effect that was evident 4 days following trauma; and second, DMSO appeared superior to steroid therapy, which is presently considered standard treatment at many U.S. centers that treat spinal trauma. These findings were never extended to explore how late in time the protective action by DMSO can be maintained after an SCI. The findings also imply that if DMSO were approved for the treatment of SCI and was seen to lose its neuroprotective activ -
ity after 1 h following trauma, it would be expedient for ambulance technicians to assess the patient at the place of injury and, if indicated, administer a bolus of DMSO intravenously. Because DMSO has been found superior to methylprednisolone and similar
steroid in cats, dogs, monkeys, and rodents sustaining a severe spinal cord trauma with respect to better motor performance, improved somatosensory-evoked poten -
tials, and less cord tissue damage, it has been argued that substituting DMSO for methylprednisolone in the treatment of human SCI could not only prove to be neu -
rologically superior to methylprednisolone but that DMSO would likely cause less postoperative medical complications that are seen with steroid therapy. 278,279 This
argument is compelling for the following reasons. DMSO has been shown in several studies to consistently improve somatosensory-
evoked potentials following spinal cord trauma.63,280–282 This action has not been
reported following steroid treatment in spinal trauma. For example, it was found that DMSO given intraperitoneally 1 h after injury produced better motor control of rats’ lower legs than methylprednisolone or naloxone 14 days after injury, a finding that was clinically supported by the improvement of the somatosensory-evoked poten -
tials when all treatments were compared. 280
Spinal trauma–induced dogs were given 0.63 g/kg of DMSO intravenously in a
40% solution 1 h after injury and once daily for the first two postoperative days.281
In the same study, DMSO was compared to dexamethasone (2.2 mg/kg) at the same time schedules as DMSO. It was reported that DMSO-treated animals had a mark -
edly significant higher group score than dexamethasone or no treatment in catego -
ries such as recovery of walking, running ability, cortical-evoked potentials, and
histologically, with less cavitation, meningeal hyperplasia, and necrosis of the cord. The authors concluded that even though steroids are used clinically to treat SCI, DMSO may be a better treatment option as suggested by their findings and those of others. 281186 Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) in Trauma and Disease
DMSO was examined by Gelderd and his colleagues282 after complete spinal cord
trauma, where recovery of function below the lesion site is unlikely. Rats under -
went complete transection of the cord at T5 and after surgery; the animals were
treated with either HBO, DMSO, or both. These investigators found that in animals receiving HBO for 54 consecutive days, 3 of 10 rats showed coordinated hind-limb movement and weight-bearing ability, whereas 6 of 10 animals given HBO + DMSO showed similar improvements and some sensory return. There were additionally less scarring and collagen formation with more undamaged nerve fibers in HBO + DMSO than other treatments. 282
DMSO was observed to lower the neuropathic pain threshold in rats following
chronic pressure on the sciatic nerve.239 When 2% DMSO was injected intrathecally
twice daily for 5 days, raised cytochrome oxidase-2 levels in the ipsilateral to injury dorsal horn resulted and significant analgesic effects were seen when compared to untreated animals. 239
The neuroprotective effect of DMSO administration after spinal cord trauma is
also observed by the ability of this drug to maintain better structural integrity than other potential neuroprotective agents, including steroids, when examined by elec -
tron microscopy. DMSO appears able to detoxify oxidative stress and peroxynitrite damage by lowering lipid peroxidase and nitrite–nitrate activity in the presence of cord ischemia. 284
Oxidative stress is involved in a host of disorders, including brain trauma, stroke,
AD, atherosclerosis, and cardiac disease,285 while peroxynitrite is known to impair
cell signal transduction, cause DNA strand breaks, and change protein structure.286
As reviewed in this chapter and in Chapters 1, 2, and 4, DMSO has been shown to
play a positive role in brain trauma, ischemic stroke, experimental dementia, cardiac deficits, atherosclerosis, DNA strand breaks, and protein folding. It is safe to say that these properties are highly unusual for any drug that has received the intense scrutiny and experimental testing that DMSO has undergone in the past 50 years and which continues to this day. The specific bioactivities shown by DMSO in the face of central nervous system pathology together with its relative safety record should be a gold standard in pharmacotherapeutic research. These activities have been reviewed in this chapter and include its anti-inflammatory, anti-ischemic, antiedema, anticyto -
toxic, membrane protective, and ionic channel–stabilizing properties. The results summarized in this chapter also suggest that DMSO in combination
with an agent or agents that provide a positive biologic activity that is lacking in DMSO may result in unanticipated benefit to medical conditions refractory to other treatments. This is observed when DMSO and FDP are combined into one solution to treat brain ischemia in animals
70 or humans.210 When brain ischemia or hypoperfu -
sion occurs, there is a reduction of acute or chronic energy metabolism that gener -
ally affects Na+, K+-ATPase, a biochemical pump that is dependent on the generation
of ATP derived from anaerobic glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation.287 Na+,
K+-ATPase is critical for maintaining ionic concentration gradients, neuronal action
potentials, neurotransmitter synthesis, and slow/fast axonal transport. In addition, low glucose turnover in brain resulting from continuing ischemia will downregulate anaerobic glycolysis by inhibiting the key regulatory enzyme controlling glycolysis, phosphofructokinase. 288187 DMSO in Basic Neuroprotection
DMSO has no known activity in improving anaerobic glycolysis or restoring
the activity of the Embden–Meyerhof pathway to activate oxidative phosphory -
lation when administered during prolonged ischemic states. On the other hand,
FDP can because it is a glycolytic intermediate in the Embden–Meyerhof cycle that can stimulate anaerobic glycolysis and increase the production of the energy fuel ATP. However, FDP is not known to increase cerebral blood flow or scav -
enge free radicals during ischemia as DMSO can. So, it is reasonable to pair off these two substances to augment the quality and potential of the treatment in conditions such as stroke, coronary artery disease, and vascular-dependent dementias. This appears to work in a rat model of dementia
70 as reported here,
and it is only speculative, but intriguing, to theorize that this drug combination could be useful if administered as a neuroprotector in preventing or delaying the onset of AD or vascular dementia. It is only hypothetical that DMSO may be synergistic with many other standard drugs in increasing their effectiveness and reducing their dose and side effects. DMSO AS A SOLVENT
One note of caution concerns the use of DMSO as a solvent for testing other poten -
tially therapeutic drugs. Since DMSO is an excellent solvent, it is a common practice to dissolve an experimental drug in DMSO and then test the compound on a given disorder. However, even small doses of DMSO can be active or synergistic when mixed with other agents. A case in point is a study by Levine et al. 289 who used
the matrix-metalloproteinase inhibitor GM6001 dissolved in DMSO to treat dogs that had sustained an SCI. 289 The dogs were evaluated for long-term motor-sensory
recovery using a modified Frankel scale and were shown to have significant improve -
ment when GM6001 + DMSO were used but not when GM6001 was used alone. These investigators attributed the improved neurological outcome to DMSO and not to GM600