Doctorweblog. About Health & Medicine

An increasing number of people in the West are finding that a spiritual dimension to their lives is invaluable to their physical and mental well-being. Since antiquity humans have felt the need to commune with supernatural beings, and almost every culture has a concept of God. To many, Christians included, an essential part of their God is his ability to heal sickness and even to prevent illness. Examples of miracles abound in historical and religious literature and there is little doubt, given the enormous power of the mind over the body, that such phenomena can be real enough. Current research into parapsychological phenomena makes it all much easier for us to believe in today than it would have been for those living in biblical times, but even so there are still sceptics.

There is little doubt that we are learning in the West that humans are far more remarkable than we previously thought. Telepathy, clairvoyance, clairaudience, psychokinesis and the ability to heal are so well documented that it is difficult to be sceptical about them any longer. What is interesting is the idea that we all possess such gifts as a part of being human beings but that most of us have lost them. Research in Russia, for example, has found that most people can be taught to dowse and to develop all kinds of parapsychological abilities they never knew they had. Susceptible people can learn such skills in as short a time as a weekend.

It appears that western thinking and behaviour inhibits these intrinsic-or some would say God-given-abilities. A doctor working in a very primitive area of Africa was astonished at how the local people regularly and quite naturally communicated with each other over long distances without speaking. They quickly lost this telepathic ability once they came into regular contact with westerners because, they said, they felt so much in awe of the cars, watches, explosives and so on. These things, they said, seemed to dwarf their ‘simple powers’.

Much of the maintenance of good health and even the curing of ill health resides, I believe, in these realms of the mind that are currently called parapsychological. Some, in different parts of the world, attribute them to God or Gods, others to the wondrous nature of mankind. Needless to say I am in no position to say which is correct but I do recognize a higher force of health and ill health than man and his personal behaviour. The healing power of one person upon another is a skill that has been all but lost in many westernized cultures although it is being revived among certain Christian groups, especially in the charismatic wing of the church. Of course for many so-called primitive people the laying on of hands and absent healing are a long-established part of their culture. With the increasing interest in the mystical and the supernatural and with a growth of ‘natural’ medicine in the West I feel sure that all of this side of healing and maintaining health will be of greater importance in the future.

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ALFALFA

MEDICAGO SATIVA

Alfalfa is rich in Vitamins A, B2, B6, C, D and K. It picks up trace elements from the soil and contains eight essential amino acids and eight essential digestive enzymes. Alfalfa affects the stomach, liver and intestines and is an alternative nutritive tonic and antipyretic.

The flowers, leaves, and seeds are used. The alfalfa leaves <an be steamed as vegetables or eaten in salads or soups. An infusion can also be made by using two teaspoons of dried alfalfa per cup of water. The seeds can be sprouted and used in a salad or on sandwiches.

Alfalfa is a hormone herb which, along with natural iodine, iffects the parathyroids. These are small superficial glands situated on the back of the thyroid gland. These glands secrete the hormones calcitonin and parathoromone. These hormones act on the stabilisation of calcium in serum blood kvels. Alfalfa also contains fat splitting enzymes and can be used in weight control. According to the ancient Chinese, excessive use will cause one to be thin. If between 10% to 20% of alfalfa is added to the formula of herbal combinations it increases the nutritive qualities of the formula

ALOE

Aloe vera

The jui;e of this succulent can give quick relief to bites, burns, cuts, bruises. Taken internally it can be used for gastro-iitestinal complaints such as colitis and ulcers.

ANISEED

Pimpintlla anisum

The seed and leaf can be made into tea or used in cooking. It can be used as a weak diuretic, a laxative, relieving flatulence, an expectorant in treatment of bronchitis and asthma, and in aiding digestion.

BARBERRY

Berberii vulgaris

Commcnly used to treat liver conditions, jaundice, and problems with the gall bladder. It can be used to treat nausea and a mouthwash is effective for sore throats and lowering blood pressure.

BAYBERRY

Myrica cerifera

Commonly used to treat diarrhoea and mucous colitis. Bayberry is also as a gargle for sore throats and colds.

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Some medications, such as anti-anxiety medications can cause memory loss. Quite often our short term memory does not seem to be as good as it used to be. We forget little things. We always remember the name of our mother and events in the past but little items seem to be forgotten, new facts and dates go astray.

To maintain a functioning memory it is very important to have a well-balanced diet with a variety of foods daily. There are vitamins and minerals in these foods that are essential for correct function of the nervous system. We need to activate our brains, reading and recalling past events. Getting memory working is very important. We should not stagnate especially as we age. We must keep our minds active.

One herb is ginkgo. Herbs can help the memory. One of the oldest tree species in the world. Ginkgo improves cerebral circulation (blood flow to the brain) at the same time increasing the brain’s intake of carbohydrate. Ginkgo has proven to be of particular value for the treatment of short-term memory loss.

There are many other nutrients of benefit in improving memory and/or slowing-down the onset of senile dementia. They include lecithin and multivitamins. A number of trials have show that supplementation may be beneficial in retarding Alzheimer’s disease. Panax ginseng can also be helpful, and also in combination with ginkgo.

SUPPLEMENTS

Ginseng 100 mg daily

multivitamin formula 1 daily

lecithin 2000 mg daily

vitamin E 500 IU daily

Gingko plus formula 3 times daily

Do not use aluminium cookware or deodorant containing aluminium as high aluminium levels in the blood have

been reported in adults with memory loss.

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This is a complaint which mainly affects the middle-aged and overweight. Women have four times the incidence of gallstones than men. Although the cause of this condition is not fully understood the disease is likely to be a metabolic disorder and probably related to diet.

Gallstones may be present without any symptoms. However, if a stone moves it may obstruct the common bile duct or neck of the gallbladder and this can result in agonising pain radiating from the upper right side of the abdomen through to the back and right shoulder.

Other symptoms which may indicate the presence of gallstones are a rapid pulse, pain or discomfort after eating fatty meals, mild jaundice and/or excessive flatulence. A complete blockage of the common bile duct is a medical emergency as it may develop gangrene.

It is important to restrict the intake of fat. Fat requires bile salts that are stored in the gallbladder for assimilation into the body and their ingestion can precipitate an attack.

Also cabbage, turnips, Brussel sprouts, cauliflower and broccoli are gas-forming and can increase the risk of cholelithiasis.

The naturopathic treatment for gallstones is prevention.

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Further research has shown cancer may be prevented by supplementing the diet with fish oil. Dr Rashida Karmali, Associate Professor of Nutrition at Rutgers University, New York, has found that fish oil supplements suppress signs of developing cancer in women in high risk groups. Dr George Blackburn, Associate Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School, says that based on present knowledge, he would be dumbfounded if fish oil did not help thwart the spread of malignant cells in women who undergo breast cancer surgery. He believes the fish oil may strengthen their immunity, killing wandering cancer cells before they start new tumours.

Studies have shown that people who are dying from cancer have a low level of vitamin C in their diets and those ingesting large amounts of vitamin C reduced the possibility of developing cancer by 50%. Professor Linus Pauling found that in controlled studies 10000 mg of vitamin C taken orally each day by terminally ill patients increased their lives by up to one year more than expected.

As 60% of women’s cancer and 40% of men’s cancers are related to dietary factors, prevention and treatment of some cancers with diet and dietary supplements is very important and may indeed save lives.

SUPPLEMENTS

evening primrose oil (may reverse carcinogenesis)

fish oil

antioxidant formula (vitamins A,C,E, zinc)

selenium

garlic (supplement may inhibit tumour

beta-carotene growth)

calcium phosphate

Lactobacillus acidophilus

Echinacea

10 Step anti-cancer plan

1 A diet balanced in low fat and high fibre.

2 Don’t smoke.

3 Eat only organically-grown vegetables.

4 Maintain correct weight for height.

5 Reduce alcohol intake or stop altogether.

6 Don’t sunbake and burn.

7 Supplement your diet with essential fatty acids and antioxidants

8 Avoid carcinogenic chemicals such as benzine, nicotine.

9 Reduce your stress levels.

10 Have a positive outlook on yourself and life.

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Arthritis is a debilitating disease which affects many Australians, including children. There are many types of arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis, gout and osteoarthritis are the main forms.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic painful disease that can affect all joints in the body, the hands, wrists, ankles, toes, neck and hips. Rheumatoid arthritis is thought to be an auto immune disease, one in which the body produces a disordered immunological response which can cause injury to normal parts of the body.

Major psychological or physical factors in life can trigger rheumatoid arthritis. Some of the first symptoms may be weight loss, pains in the joints (especially in the morning) and hot and swollen joints.

Each attack seems to be a little worse than the last. Eventually there is deformity in the joints following loss of minerals, adhesion of the tissues to the bone and limpy nodules around the affected area.

To help alleviate the pain and reduce the discomfort, we must look at our diet first (see Diet for crystal arthritis) Avoid foods such as tomatoes and oranges which have been known to cause problems. Also increase your intake of vegetables and fruit and reduce the intake of red meats and acid foods. Some nuts and even wheat can be a problem. Look towards rice, rye and buckwheat. Plenty of fresh water is essential: 6 to 8 glasses a day. All of this can make a difference.

It is a good idea to supplement the diet with cod liver oil or fish oil as recent research has shown that fish oil can help relieve the pain of arthritis. These supplements contain essential fatty acids that have anti-inflammatory properties. Celery seed can also help. Buy this from the health food store. It is present in a celery complex. This complex should also contain the herbs Apium and Guaiacum. All these herbs have properties that can help relieve inflammation and detoxify the joints.

For the pain of arthritis the herbs white willow bark and devil’s claw taken in combination are very effective. White willow bark has similar properties to aspirin.

You should exercise daily but don’t overdo it. Swimming and walking are good.

SUPPLEMENTS

evening primrose oil 2 capsules 3 times daily

fish oil 1000 1 capsule 3 times daily

vitamin C 2000 mg daily

pantothenic acid 200 mg daily

(Vitamin B5)

multivitamin/mineral 1 daily

white willow bark 2700 mg twice daily (found in herbal analgesic formula)

celery seeds 400 mg twice daily

devils claw 200 mg twice daily

Guaiacum 400 mg twice daily

calcium fluoride 3 X 3 times daily

silica 25 mg twice daily

calcium phosphate (up to 1000 mg of elemental calcium daily)

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