Cure Diseases

Tonsillitis

2007-04-20T23:51:00.000-07:00

Tonsillitis refer to acute inflammation of the tonsils. It is also known as acute sore throat. Chronic tonsillitis is aterm applied to cases inwhich there is enlargement of the tonsils accompanied by repeated attacks of infection.The tonsils are two small lymphoid organs that lie one on each side of the throat. They can be seen just behindthe back of the tongue between two folds of membrane running upto the soft palate. Normally, they are aboutthe size of a lima bean but they can become very much larger if severely infected. They are valuable organs ofselective elimination and perform a two-fold function. Firstly, they protect the throat against disease germs.Secondly, they serve as barometers for indicating infection elsewhere in the body, when they become sore andswollen.

Symptoms

The main symptoms of tonsillitis are sore throat, fever, headache, pain in various parts of the body, difficulty inswallowing and general weakness. The tonsils are seen to be inflamed and red when the mouth is openedwide. In many cases, spots of pus exude from them. Externally, the tonsillar lymph glands which lie just behindthe angle of the jaw are tender and enlarged. In several cases there may be pain in the ear.

Causes

The chief cause of tonsilities is a toxic condition of the system generally and is brought to a head by suddenlowering of vitality resulting from exposure and sudden chill. Tonsils enlarge and get inflamed when the toxinscannot be got rid of through the normal channels of elimination such as the bowels, kidneys and skin. Throatafflictions of this kind is also associated with the result of chronic constipation, when toxin, which should shouldhave been ejected from the system in the normal way, are reabsorbed into the blood-stream.

Treatment

The treatment of the tonsillitis on the lines of modern medical system by means of painting and spraying is bothharmful and suppressive. It does not help to rid the system of the toxins, which are the root of the trouble. Infact it forces these toxins back into the system, which may cause more serious trouble later on. The correctway to treat the disease is to cleanse the system of toxic waste through proper dietary and other naturalmethods. To begin with, the patient should fast for three to five days by which time serious symptoms wouldsubside. Nothing but water and orange juice should be taken during this time. The bowels should be cleanseddaily with a warm water enema during the period of fasting. A cold pack should be applied to the throat at twohourlyinterval during the day.

The procedure is to wring out some linen material in cold water, wrap it two orthree times around the throat and cover it with some flannelling. The throat may be gargled several times dailywith neat lemon juice. Gargle made from the fenugreek seeds is very effective in severe cases. To make sucha gargle , two tablespoonful of fenugreek seeds should be allowed to simmer for half an hour in a litre of waterand then set aside to cool. The entire quantity should be used as a soothing gargle in a day with beneficialresults. A hot Epsom -salt bath taken every day or every other day will also be beneficial. After the acutesymptoms of tonsillities are over, the patient should adopt an all-fruit diet for further three or four days. In this regimen, three meals of fresh, juicy fruits such as apples, grapes, grapefruit, oranges, pears, pineapple,peaches and melon may be taken.

Rheumatism

2007-04-20T23:42:00.000-07:00

The word rheumatism is derived from the Greek word "rheuma" which means a swelling. This disease isrecognised as one of the most serious threats to health. It is a crippling disease which causes widespreadinvalidism, but seldom kills. Rheumatism refers to an acute or chronic illness which is characterised by painand swelling of the muscles, ligaments and tendons or of the joints. It affects men and women, both young andold. Quite often, this disorder extends to the heart and the values and the lining of this vital order becomesinflamed. It is the most common cause in 80 per cent of the cases of valvular organic diseases of the heart. Rheumatism , perhaps,more than any other disease, although readily diagnosed, is never the same in any twoindividuals. There are too many variations in the development of this disease. Broadly speaking, however,rheumatism, which may be acute or chronic, can be roughly grouped into two classes. These are muscular rheumatism which affects the muscles and articular rheumatism which affects the joints. The muscular varietyis, however, far less common than that affecting the joints. In the acute form, it is often found among children and young people, but in the chronic form, it is generally confined to adults.

Symptoms

The onset of the acute type of rheumatism is characterised by fever and rapid pulse with intense soreness andpain. In the acute muscular type, the tissues become so sensitive that even the weight of bed clothingaggravates the pain. The liver is found to be swollen. Acute rheumatism is extremely painful but it leaves nopermanent defects, if treated properly. It may settle into a chronic state under a wrong mode of treatment. Thesymptoms of chronic muscular rheumatism are pain and stiffness of the affected muscles. The pain increaseswhen an effort is made to move these muscles. IN cases of chronic articular rheumatism, pain and stiffness arefelt in one or more joints of the body, with swelling in most cases. It is not usually fatal but there is a danger ofpermanent deformity.

Causes

The chief cause of rheumatism is the poisoning of the blood with acid wastes, which results from imperfectelimination and lowered vitality. Meat, white bread, sugar, and refined cereals, to which modern man is mostaddicted, leave a large residue of acid toxic wastes in the system. These acid wastes are not neutralised due toabsence of sufficient quantities of alkaline mineral salts in the foods eaten. This upsets the acid-alkaline balance in the body and produces the condition described as acidosis. When there is abundant vitality, excessacids are ejected almost before they reach any appreciable concentration in one or the other of the acutecleansing efforts such as colds and fevers. When the vitality is low, the acid wastes are concentrated aroundthe joints and bony structure, where they form the basis of rheumatism. The reason why large quantities of acidwastes piling up in the system are attracted towards body structure for storage is that lime, which is the most prominent constituent of the bony structure, is an alkaline substance. In certain cases, infection from the teeth,tonsils and gall bladder may produce rheuamtism. The disease is aggravated by exposure to cold water.

Treatment

In the case of acute rheumatism, the patient should be put on a short fast of orange juice and water for three orfour days. While fasting, the bowels should be cleansed through a warm water enema. After the juice fast, thepatient should be placed on a restricted diet for 14 days. In this regimen, orange or grapefruit may be taken forbreakfast , lunch may consist of a raw salad of any vegetables in season, with raisins, prunes, figs or dates ;and for dinner, one or two steamed vegetables such as spinach, cabbage, carrots, turnips, cauliflower, etc., and a few nuts or some sweet fruit maybe taken. NO bread or potatoes or other starchy food should be taken ; otherwise the effect of the diet will belost.

Thereafter, the patient may gradually commence a well balanaced diet of three basic food groups, namely(i) seeds, nuts and grains (ii)vegetables and (iii) fruits. In case of chronic rheumatism, the patient may beplaced on an all-fruit diet for four or five days. In this regimen, he should have three meals a day of fresh, juicy fruits such as apples, grapes, peaches, pears, oranges, pineapples and grapefruit. He may thereafter graduallyadopt a well-balanced diet. The patient should take ripe fruits and fresh vegetables in abundance. Lots ofbuttermilk should be taken. The foods which should be avoided are meat, fish, white bread, sugar, refinedcereals, rich, indigestible and highly seasoned foods tea, coffee, alcohol, sauces, pickles and condiments.

Raw potato juice is regarded as an excellent food remedy for rheumatism. One or two teaspoonful of the juice pressed out of mashed raw potato should be taken before meals. This will help eliminate an acid condition andrelieve rheumatism. In some rural areas in Great Britain, it is a custom for rheumatic suffers to carry a potato intheir pockets, in the belief that the potato will absorb in itself some of the acid from the sufferer’s body. The old potato is thrown away and replaced by a new one after a few days. The skin of the potato is also an excellentfood remedy for rheumatism. The skin is exceptionally rich in vital mineral salts and the water in which thepeelings have been boiled is one of the best medicines for the ailments caused by excess of acid in thesystem. The potato peelings should be thoroughly washed and boiled for a few minutes. The decoction shouldthen be strained and a glassful of the same should be taken three or four times daily.

Celery is another effective food remedy for rheumatism. A fluid extract of the seeds is more powerful than the raw vegetable.This also has a tonic action on the stomach and kidneys. Five to ten drops of this fluid should be taken in hotwater before meals. Powdered seeds can be used as a condiment. Lemons are also valuable and the juice oftwo or three lemons may be taken each day. Other helpful methods in the treatment of rheumatism areapplication of radiant heat and hot packs to the affected parts, a hot tub bath, cabinet steam bath, dry frictionand a sponge bath. Hot Epsom-salt baths are also beneficial and should be taken twice a week for threemonths in case of chronic rheumatism and once weekly thereafter. The affected parts should also be bathedtwice daily in hot water containing Epsom-salt after which some olive oil should be applied. Fresh air, deep breathing and light outdoor exercises are also beneficial. Dampness and cold should be avoided.

Colitis

2007-04-20T23:27:00.000-07:00

Colitis is an inflammation of the colon or large intestine. There are two types of colitis : mucus and ulceratie.Mucus colitis is a common disorder of the large bowel, producing discomfort and irregular bowel habits. Chronic ulcerative colitis is a severe prolonged inflammation of the colon or large bowel in which ulcers form onthe walls of the colon, resulting in the passing of blood stools with pus and mucus. Both forms of colitis are theresults of prolonged irritation of the delicate membrane which lines the walls of the colon. Normally, it is thefunction of the colon to store waste material until most of the fluids have been removed to enable well-formedsoft stools, consisting of non-absorbable food materials to be passed. Persons who suffer from an irritablecolon have irregular and erratic contractions which are specially noticeable on the left side.

Symptoms

Chronic ulcerative colitis usually begins in the lower part of the bowels and spreads upwards. The firstsymptom of the trouble is an increased urgency to move the bowel, followed by cramping pains in the abdomenand bloody mucus in the stools. As the disease spreads upwards, the stools become watery and more frequentand are characterised by rectal straining. All this loss of blood and fluid from the bowels results in weakness,fever, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and anaemia. The patient may develop a bloated feeling because thegas is not absorbed or expelled normally. Some patients suffer from constipation alternating with period ofloose bowel movements. Still others may suffer from a persistent diarrhoea for years together. The patient isusually malnourished and may be severely underweight. He may suffer from frequent insomnia. Ulcerativecolitis in its severe form may also lead to nutritional problems. The improper assimilation of the ingested foodsdue to inflammatory conditions may cause deficiency diseases. This may gradually result in nervous irritability,exhaustion and depression. In very severe cases, the patient may even develop suicidal tendencies.

Causes

The main cause of colitis is chronic constipation and the use of purgatives. Constipation causes anaccumulation of the hard faecal matter which is never properly evacuated. Purgatives used as a ‘cure’ onlyincrease irritation. Often, colitis is caused by a poorly digested roughage, especially of cereals andcarbohydrates, which causes bowel irritation. The disease may also result from an allergic sensitivity to certainfoods especially milk, wheat and eggs. Often, the intake of antibiotics may upset the bacterial flora in theintestines and interfere with proper digestion. Severe stress may also produce ulcerative colitis. During anyform of severe stress, outpouring of adrenal hormones causes such destruction of body protein that at timesparts of the walls lining the intestines are literally eaten away. Such stress also depletes the body ofpantothenic acid. Experiments on animals have shown that they can develop ulcerative colitis when they arekept on diets deficient in pantothenic acid.

Treatment

The usual treatment of colitis with suppressive drugs is based on the assumption that colitis is due to germinfection, which it is not. The suppressive drugs drive back into the system the toxic matter in the colon whichnature is endeavouring to eliminate in the form of mucus. They suppress the symptoms temporarily, withoutremoving the cause. In such cases, the symptoms recur and colitis becomes chronic. Plain warm water orwarm water with a little olive oil used as a wash-out is the only method of softening and removing theaccumulations of hardened matter sticking to the walls of the colon.Diet plays an important part in the treatment of colitis. It is advisable to observe a juice fast for five days or so inmost cases of ulcerative colitis. The juices may be diluted with a little boiled water. Papaya juice, raw cabbageand carrot juices will be especially beneficial. Citrus juices should be avoided. The bowel should be cleanseddaily with a warm water enema. After the juice fast, the patient should gradually adopt a diet of small, frequentmeals of soft cooked or steamed vegetables, rice, dalia (coarsely broken wheat), well ripened fruits like bananaand papaya, yogurt and home-made cottage cheese. Sprouted seeds and grains, whole meal bread and rawvegetables may be added gradually to this diet after about 10 days. All food must be eaten slowly and chewedthoroughly. Foods which should be excluded from the diet are white sugar, white bread and white flour products, highly seasoned foods, highly salted foods,strong tea, coffee and alcoholic beverages and foodscooked in aluminium pans. Ripe bananas are highly beneficial in the treatment of ulcerative colitis, being bland,smooth, easily digested and slightly laxative. They relieve acute symptoms and promote the healing process.An effective remedy for ulcerative colitis is the use of butter- milk. It is the residual milk left after the fat hasbeen removed from yogurt by churning. Buttermilk enema twice a week is also soothing and helps in reinstallinga healthy flora in the colon. Another valuable remedy for colitis is tender coconut water, it is soothingto the soft mucosa of the colon. Cooked apple also aids the healing of ulcerative conditions because of its ample concentration of iron and phosphorous. The patient should have a bowel movement at the same timeeach day and spend 10 to 15 minutes in the endeavour. Straining at stools should be avoided. Drinking twoglasses of water the first thing in the morning will stimulate a normal bowel movement. An enema may be usedif no bowel movement occurs. Complete bed rest and plenty of liquids are very important. The patient shouldeliminate all causes of tension, adjust to his disability and face his discomfort with patience.

Diabetes

2007-04-20T23:15:00.000-07:00

Diabetes mellitus is a nutritional disorders, characterized by an abnormally elevated level of blood glucose andby the excretion of the excess glucose in the urine. It results from an absolute or relative lack of insulin whichleads to abnormalities in carbohydrate metabolism as well as in the metabolism of protein and fat. Diabetes is adisease known to the medical world since time immemorial. Its incidence is , however, much higher at presentthan ever in the past. This is especially true in case of more advanced countries of the world due to widespreadaffluence and more generous food supply. The most commonly-used screening tests are the determination ofthe fasting blood glucose level and the two-hour postprandial, that is after a meal. The normal fasting bloodsugar content is 80 to 120 mg. per 100 ml. of blood and this can go up to a level of 180 mg. per 100 ml. ofblood two hours after meals. Anything above these norms can be termed diabetic levels. Diabetes occurs in allage groups, from young infants to the elderly. The greatest incidence occurs in middle or older aged persons. Itis estimated that 80 to 85 per cent of all individuals with diabetes mellitus are 45 years of age or older.

Symptoms

The word diabetes is derived from the Greek word meaning "to siphon to pass through", and mellitus comesfrom the Latin word "honey". Thus two characteristic symptoms, namely, copious urination and glucose in theurine give the name to the disease. The normal volume of urine passed daily is about one and a half litres. Theurine is of a pale colour, has an acidic reaction and sweetish odour. The quantity of sugar present in it variesfrom one-and-quarter decigram to two and-a-half grams the total per day in many cases reaching as much asone kg in 15 litres of urine. A diabetic feels hungry and thirsty most of the time, does not put on weight, thoughhe eats every now and then, and gets tired easily, both physically and mentally. He looks pale, may suffer fromanaemia, constipation, intense itching around the genital organs, palpitations and general weakness. He feels drowsy and has a lower sex urge than a normal person.

Causes

Diabetes has been described by most biological doctors as a "prosperity" disease, primarily caused bysystematic overeating and consequent obesity. Not only the overeating of sugar and refined carbohydrate butalso of proteins and fats, which are transformed into sugar if taken in excess, is harmful and may result indiabetes. Too much food taxes the pancreas and eventually paralyses its normal activity. It has been estimatedthat the incidence of diabetes is four times higher in persons of moderate obesity and 30 times higher inpersons of severe obesity. Grief, worry and anxiety also have a deep influence on the metabolism and maycause sugar to appear in the urine. The disease may be associated with some other grave organic disorderslike cancer, tuberculosis and cerebral disease. Heredity is also a major factor in the development of thedisease. It has been rightly said, " Heredity is like a cannon and obesity pulls the trigger."

Treatment

Any successful method of diabetes treatment should aim at removal of the actual cause of the disease andbuilding up of the whole health-level of the patient. Diet plays a vital role in such a treatment. The primarydietary consideration for a diabetic patient is that he should be a strict lacto-vegetarian and take a low-calorie,low-fat, alkaline diet of high quality natural foods. Fruits, nuts and vegetables, whole meal bread and dairyproducts form a good diet for the diabetic. These foods are best eaten in as dry a condition as possible toensure thorough salivation during the first part of the process of digestion. Cooked starchy foods should beavoided as in the process of cooking the cellulose envelops of the starch granules burst and consequently, the starch is far too easily absorbed in the system. The excessabsorbed has to be got rid of by the kidneys and appears as sugar in the urine. With raw starchy foods,however, the saliva and digestive juices in the small intestine regulate the quantities required to be changedinto sugar for the body’s needs. The unused and undigested portion of raw starchy foods does not becomeinjurious to the system, as it does not readily ferment. The diabetic should not be afraid to eat fresh fruits andvegetables which contain sugar and starch. Fresh fruits contain sugar fructose, which does not need insulin forits metabolism and is well tolerated by diabetics. Fats and oils should be taken sparingly, for they are apt tolower the tolerance for proteins and starches. Emphasis should be on raw foods as they stimulate and increaseinsulin production. For protein, home- made cottage cheese, various forms of soured milks and nuts are best.The patient should avoid overeating and take four or five small meals a day rather than three large ones. The following diet should serve as a guideline.

Upon arising : A glass of lukewarm water with freshly squeezed lemon juice.

Breakfast : Any fresh fruit with the exception of bananas, soaked prunes, a small quantity of whole mealbread with butter and fresh milk.

Lunch : Steamed or lightly cooked green vegetables such as cauliflower, cabbage, tomatoes, spinach,turnip, asparagus and mushrooms, two or three whole wheat chapatis according to appetite and a glass ofbutter-milk or curd.

Mid-afternoon : A glass of fresh fruit or vegetable juice.

Dinner : A large bowl of salad made up of all the raw vegetables in season. The salad may be followed by ahot course, if desired, and fresh home-made cottage cheese.

Bedtime Snack : A glass of fresh milk.

Flesh foods find no place in this regimen, for they increase the toxaemic condition underlying the diabetic stateand reduce the sugar tolerance. On the other hand, a non-stimulating vegetarian diet, especially one made upof raw foods, promotes and increases sugar tolerance. Celery, cucumbers, string beans, onion and garlic areespeciallybeneficial. String bean pod tea is an excellent natural substitute for insulin and highly beneficial indiabetes. The skin of the pods of green beans are extremely rich in silica and certain hormone substanceswhich are closely related to insulin. One cup of string bean tea is equal to one unit of insulin. Cucumberscontain a hormone needed by the cells of the pancreas for producing insulin. Onion and garlic have provedbeneficial in reducing blood sugar in diabetes. Recent scientific investigations have established that bitter gourd(karela) is highly beneficial in the treatment of diabetes. It contains an insulin-like principle, known as plantinsulinwhich has been found effective in lowering the blood and urine sugar levels. It should, therefore, beincluded liberally in the diet of the diabetic. For better results, the diabetic should take the juice of about 4 or 5fruits every morning on an empty stomach. The seeds of bitter gourd can be added to food in a powdered form.Diabetics can also use bitter gourd in the form of decoction by boiling the pieces in water or in the form of drypowder. Another effective home remedy is jambul fruit known as jamun in the vernacular. It is regarded intraditional medicine as a specific against diabetes because of its effect on the pancreas. The fruits as such, theseeds and fruit juice are all useful in the treatment of this disease. The seeds contain a glucoside ‘jamboline’which is believed to have power to check the pathological conversion of starch into sugar in cases of increasedproduction of glucose. They should be dried and powdered. This powder should be taken mixed in milk , curdor water. The patient should avoid tea, coffee and cocoa because of their adverse influence on the digestivetract. Other foods which should be avoided are white bread, white flour products, sugar tinned fruits, sweets,chocolates, pastries, pies, puddings, refined cereals and alcoholic drinks. The most important nutrient in thetreatment of diabetes is manganese which is vital in the production of natural insulin. It is found in citrus fruits,in the outer covering of nuts, grains and in the green leaves of edible plants. Other nutrients of special value are zinc, B complex vitamins and polyunsaturatedfatty acids. Exercise is also an important factor in the treatment of diabetes. Light games, joggingand swimming are recommended. Yogic asanas such as bhujangasana, shalabhasana, dhanurasana,paschimottanasana, sarvangasna, halasana, ardha-matsyendrasana and shavasana, yogic krisyas like jalnetiand kunajl and pranayamas such as kapalbhati, anuloma-viloma and ujjai are highly beneficial. Hydrotherapyand colonic irrigations form a very important part of treatment. The colon should be thoroughly cleansed everysecond day or so, until the bowel discharge assumes normal characteristics. Bathing in cold water greatlyincreases the circulation and enhances the capacity of the muscles to utilise sugar. The diabetic patient should eliminate minor worries from his daily life. He must endeavor to be more easy-going and should not get undulyworked up by the stress and strain of life.

Dysentery

2007-04-20T23:10:00.000-07:00

Dysentery is a serious condition affecting the large intestine. It is characterised by inflammation and ulcerationof the bowel, a colic pain in the region of the abdomen and passing of liquid or semi-formed stones with mucusand blood. The pathological condition of dysentery is caused by two organisms, protozoa and bacilli. Theformer is generally known as amoebic dysentery and later as bacillary dysentery. An attack of amoebicdysentery is milder in comparison with bacillary dysentery. But while bacillary dysentery can respond quickly totreatment, amoebic dysentery does not leave the patient easily, unless he is careful. Dysentery is prevalentallover the world except in very cold countries. Places where insanity conditions prevail are particularlyaffected. The disease strikes both sexes equally. Similarly, no age is immune, though children are more prone.

Symptoms

Desentery may be acute and chronic. The acute form is characterised by pain in the abdomen, diarrhoea anddysenteric motions. Yellowish white mucus and sometimes only blood from the intestinal ulcers passes withstools. The evacuations are preceded by pain and tenesmus. The patient feels a constant desire to evacuate,although there may be nothing to throw off except a little mucus and blood There is a feeling of pain in therectum and along the large intestine. With the advance of the disease the quantity of mucus and bloodincreases. Occassionally casts or shreds of skinline mucous membrane, from small fragments to 12 inches orso long and an inch wide , are seen to pass out with motions. Sometimes pus is also thrown out with motionsand often the smell of the stools becomes very foetid. All the digestive processes are upset and secretions arechanged or stopped. The saliva becomes acid instead of being alkaline and the gastric juice itself may becomealkaline. The stomach loses power to digest and absorb food. The bacilli create toxins and the foetid mattersformed also augment further manufacture of toxins and consequent absorption in blood. Chronic cases areafter-effects of acute attacks. The patient does not recover completely. Stool remains putrid and may containblood, while diarrhoea and constipation may alternate, and general health is disturbed. In severe cases, thetemperature may rise to 104 - 105 o F. It may occasionally become subnormal also.

Causes

The cause of dysentery, according to modern medical system, is germ infection. The germs, which aresupposed to cause dysentery only develop in colon as a result of putrefaction there of excessive quantities ofanimal protein food, fried substance, over-spices foods and hard to digest fatty substances. The real cause ofdysentery is thus dietary indiscretion and eating of excessive amounts of flesh food in hot weather or tropicalclimate unsuited to the digestion of such foods. Other causes include debility, fatigue, chill, lowered vitality,intestinal disorders and overcrowding under insanitary conditions.

Treatment

The treatment of dysentery should aim at removing the offending and toxic matter from the intestines and foralleviating painful symptoms, stopping the virulence of the bacteria and promoting healing of the ulcer. Fastingis the only correct remedy for dysentery to bring with. The patient should fast as long as acute symptoms arepresent. During the period of fasting, only orange juice and water should be taken. In the alternative, the patientshould subsist on buttermilk till the acute symptoms are over. Butter- milk combats offending bacteria and helpsestablishment of helpful micro-organisms in the intestines.The patient may be given small doses of castor oil in the form of emulsion. This acts as a mild aperient andfacilitates quicker removal of offensive matter, minimises the strain during motion and also acts as a lubricant tothe ulcerated surfaces. In addition to administration of castor oil, the mechanical removal of accumulatedpoisonous matter should be attempted by giving very low pressure enema, admitting as much water as thepatient can tolerate. This can be done twice or thrice daily. The patient should take complete bed rest asmovement induces pain and aggravates distressing symptoms. A hot water bag may be applied over theabdomen. After the acute symptoms are over, the patient may be allowed rice, curd, fresh ripe fruits, especiallybael, banana and pomegranate and skimmed milk. Solid foods should be introduced very carefully andgradually according to the pace of recovery. Flesh foods of all kinds should be avoided in future as far aspossible. Other foods which should be avoided are tea, coffee, white sugar and white flour and products madefrom them as well as alcohol in all forms. Foods which have a detoxifying and cleansing effect upon theintestines on their passage, through, such as fruits and vegetables, are most essential to a future dietary.Among specific food remedies, bael fruit is, perhaps , the most efficacious in the treatment of dysentery of boththe varieties. Pulp of the fruit mixed with jaggery should be given thrice daily. To deal with a chronic case ofdysentery, unripe bael fruit is roasted over the fire and the pulp is mixed with water. Large quantities of theinfusion so made should be administered with jaggery. The pulp of the unripe fruit mixed with an equal quantityof dried ginger can also be given with butter milk. The use of pomegranate rind is another effective remedy fordysentery. About 60 grams of therin should be boiled in 250 grams of milk. It should be removed from the firewhen one third of the milk has evaporated. It should be administered to the patient in three equal doses atsuitable intervals. It will relieve the disease very soon. Lemon juice is very effective in dealing with ordinarycases of dysentery. A few lemons, peels and sliced, should be added to 250 ml. of water and boiled for a fewminutes. The strained infusion should be administered thrice daily. Other remedies considered useful in thetreatment of dysentery are the use of small pieces of onions mixed with curd and equal parts of the tenderleaves of the peepal tree, coriander leaves and sugar chewed slowly.

Eczema

2007-04-20T23:07:00.000-07:00

The term ‘eczema’ is derived from a Greek word meaning ‘to boil.’ It refers to an inflammation ofthe skin whichresults in the formation of vesicls or pulstules. It is the most common and mosttroublesome of all skin diseases.Eczema is essentially a constitutional disease, resulting from a toxic condition of the system.The diseasecovers a wide variety of forms, the majority of them being of a chronic variety.

Symptoms

Eczema in its acute form is indicated by redness and swelling of the skin, the formation of minute vesicles andsevere heat. If the vesicles rupture, a raw, moist surface is formed. From this, a colourless discharge oozes,which forms skin crusts when it accumulates. The disease is usually worst at night when the heat of the body isretained by the bed-clothes. The skin itches at all stages. In the wet stage, it may become infected withbacteria. The healing of the condition is affected by scratching in response tothe irritation. Scratching not onlyspreads infection but also lengthens the stage of dryness and scaling.

Causes

Allergies play an important part in causing eczema. Some women get eczema on their hands due to an allergyto soap or detergents used to wash clothes or dishes. Some persons develop it around the fingers when theywear rings because of allergy to metals. Researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Centre at SanAntonio, in a recent study of children with atropic eczema, found that 75 per cent were allergic to a number offoods. The most common triggers for sensitive persons are eggs, peanuts, chocolate, wheat, cow’s milk,chicken and potato. The real cause of eczema however is the failure of the human system to excrete thepoisons from the various orifices of the body. Waste matter is excreted from the rectum through stools, from thebladder through urine, from the lungs through breath and from the pores of the skin through sweat. Sometimethe pores of the skin are overworked as waste matter is not properly eliminated from the other orifices. If thepores are not given the chance to perform their normal function, the sweat will be full of morbid matter and thisgives rise to skin diseases like eczema, acne, boils and other eruptions. Other causes include faulty metabolism, constipation, nutritional deficiencies and stress brought about by nagging spouses, jealousy,frustration and a host of other emotions. Suppressive drug treatment of the formal disease is also a most potentsubsidiary causative factor in many cases.

The Cure

Skin applications to cure eczema may give temporary relief. If the exudation is suppressed, some other moreserious disease may develop. The best way to deal with eczema is to cleanse the blood stream and the body.The treatment should start with a fast on orange juice and water from five to days, depending on the severityand duration of the trouble. Juice fasting will help eliminate toxic waste from the body and lead to substantialimprovement. In some cases, the condition may worsen in the beginning of the fast due to the increasedelimination of waste matter through the skin. But as fasting continues, improvement will manifest itself. Fruits,salt free, raw or steamed vegetables with whole meal bread or chappatis may be taken after the juice fast.Carrot and musk melon are particularly beneficial. Coconut oil may be used instead of ghee. After a few days,curd and milk may be added to the diet. The patients may thereafter gradually embark upon a well-balanceddiet of three basic food groups, namely(i) seeds, nutsand grains (ii) vegetables and (iii) fruits. The large proportion of the diet should consist of rawfoods. Seeds and beans such as alfalfa, mung and soyabeans can be sprouted. This diet may be supplemented with cold-pressed vegetable oils, honey and yeast. Juice fasting may berepeated at intervals of two months or so, depending on the progress being made, in chronic and more difficultcases of eczema, patient should fast atleast once a week till he is cured. The patient should avoid tea, coffee,alcoholic beverages and all condiments and highly flavoured dishes. He should also avoid sugar, white flourproducts, denatured cereals like polished rice, and pearled barley and tinned or bottled foods. He should eatonly pure and wholesome foods. Raw vegetable juices, especially carrot juice in combination with spinachjuice, have proved highly beneficial in the treatment of eczema. The formula proportions considered helpful inthis combination are carrot 300 ml. and spinach 200 ml. to make 500 ml. or half a litre of juice. The patientshould get as much fresh air as possible. Restrictive clothing should not be worn. Two or three litres of watershould be taken daily and the patient must bath twice or thrice a day. The skin, with the exception of the partsaffected with eczema, should be vigorously rubbed with the palms of the hands before taking the bath. Coconutoil may be applied to the portions with eczema. It will help the skin to stay soft. Walking or jogging should beresorted to in order to inactivate the bowels. Sun bathing is also beneficial as it kills the harmful bacteria andshould be resorted to early in the morning, in the first light of dawn. A light mudpack should be applied over thesites of the eczema is also helpful. The pack should be applied for an hour at a time and should be repeatedtwice or thrice a day .

Epilepsy

2007-04-20T22:59:00.000-07:00

Epilepsy refers to a chronic condition in which repeated fits or attacks of unconsciousness occur with or withoutconfusions. It is a serious disorder of a central nervous system. It occurs in both children and adults. Most attacks, however, occur in childhood and in early adult life. Attack rates show a progressive decline infrequency with age. Epilepsy is a very ancient disease which afflicted some of the world’s greatestpersonalities, including Napoleon, Alexander and Julius Ceasar. Theactual word " epilepsy" comes from the Greek word which means " to seize upon". The ancient people believed that evilspirits entered the body of theperson afflicted, seized upon his soul and threw his body into convulsions. The Greeks believed that the godsinduced this disease. The early Christians blamed the devil for convulsions. One of the main problems that aperson with epilepsy has to face is continual uncertainty about whether or not he or she will have an attack onany particular occasion. Patients may find themselves increasingly inhibited from engaging in social eventsbecause of the understandable fear that they might embarrass themselves by having another attack. Such people also encounter difficulties in employments and other relationships.

Symptoms

Epilepsy is recognised by recurrent sudden attacks at irregular intervals. The patients twitch convulsively andfall unconscious to the ground during these attacks which cause tremendous nervous unheavel. There are twomain types of epilepsy known as petit mal and grand mal. Each follows its own specific pattern. In petit mal,which is a less serious form of epilepsy,an attack comes and goes within a few seconds. The patient has amomentary loss of consciousness, with no convulsions except sometimes a slight rifidity, or there may be slightattack of convulsions such as a jerk, or movement of the eyes, head trunk or extremities, with no perceptibleloss of consciousness. The patient may not fall. He may suddenly stop what he is doing and then resume itwhen the attack is over, without even being aware of what has happened. Petit mal attacks may occur at anytime in life but are most frequent in children. The attack in case of grand mal comes with a dramatic effect.There are violent contractions of the arms, legs and body, accompanied by a sudden loss of consciousness.Before the onset of an attack, some patients have a warning or aura in the form of strange sensations such asa current of air or a stream of water flowing over a body, noises, odours and flashes of light. In a typical attack,.the patient cries out, falls to the ground loses consciousness and develops convulsions. With the convulsionsmay come foaming at the mouth, twitching of the muscles, biting of the tongue, distorted fixation of limbs,rotation of the head and deviation of the eyes. The patient may lose control of his urine and faeces. The attackmay last several minutes and is usually followed by a deep sleep. On waking up, he may remember nothing ofwhat happened to him. People who suffer from epilepsy are not abnormal in any other way. They usually knowthat fits can be triggered off by particular stimuli. Between epileptic attacks, their brain functions normally.

Causes

Epilepsy denotes electrical malfunctioning within the brain due to damage of brain cells or some inheritedabnormality. There are many causes of epilepsy. Digestive disturbances, intestinal toxaemia and a strainednervous condition are very often the main cause of petit mal. Grand mal usually results from hereditaryinfluences, serious shock or injury to the brain or nervous system. Meningitis, typhoid, and other diseasesattendant with prolonged high temperature can also lead to grand mal.Epilepsy may be caused by several other factors. It may result from allergic reactions to certain foodsubstances, especially some particular form of protein which is the main constituent of meat. Circulatorydisorders such as hardening of arteries leading to the brain may also cause epileptic seizures. This type is rareand occurs only in very aged people. Chronic alcoholism, lead poisoning, cocaine and other such habits canalso lead to this disease. Other causes of epileptic seizure include mental conflict, deficient mineralassimilation, particularly of magnesium and calcium and wrong vitamin metabolism. According to someresearchers, hypoglycemia or low blood sugar is also involved in most cases of epilepsy.

Treatment

In the natural form of treatment, the sufferer from epilepsy has to follow a rigorous regimen consisting of a strictdietary, complete relaxation and optimum exercise in the open air. He must adhere to a simple and correctnatural life. He must assume a cheerful, optimistic attitude, refrain from mental and physical overwork andworry. The most important aspect of the treatment is the diet. To begin with, the patient should be placed on anexclusive fruit diet for first few days. During this period he should have three meals a day of fresh juicy fruitssuch as oranges, apples, grapes, grapefruit, peaches, pears, pineapple and melon. Thereafter, he maygradually adopt a well balanced diet of three basic food groups viz. (i) seeds, nuts and grains, (ii) vegetablesand (iii) fruits with emphasis on sprouted seeds such as alfalfa seeds and mung beans, raw vegetables andfruits. The diet should include a moderate amount of raw milk preferably goat’s milk and milk products such asraw butter and homemade cottage cheese. The diet should eliminate completely all animal proteins, exceptmilk, as they not only lack in magnesium,but also rob the body of its own magnesium storage as well as ofvitamin B6. Both these substances are needed in large amounts by epileptics. The best food sources ofmagnesium are raw nuts, seeds, soyabeans , green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale, beet-tops etc. Thepatient should avoid all refined foods, fried and greasy food, sugar and products made with it, strong tea,coffee, alcoholic beverages, condiments and pickles. The patient should avoid over eating and take frequentsmall meals rather than a few large ones. He should not eat large meals before going to bed. Mud packs on theabdomen twice daily help remove toxaemic conditions of the intestines and thereby hasten removal of epilepticconditions. The application of alternate hot and cold compresses to the base of the brain, that is at the back ofthe head will be beneficial. The procedure is to dip the feet in a bucket of hot water and apply first a hot toweland then a cold one to the base of the brain. The alternate hot and cold towels should be kept for two or threeminutes about four times. The process shall be repeated twice every day. Full Epsom-salt bath, twice a weekare also beneficial. If the sufferer from epilepsy has taken strong drugs for many years, he should not leave offentirely all at once. The dosage may be cut to half to begin with and then gradually reduced further until it canbe left off completely. An epileptic should strictly observe all the natural laws of good health and build andmaintain the highest level of general health. He should remain active mentally but avoid all severe mental andphysical stress. And above all, he should avoid excitements of all kinds.

Gastritis

2007-04-20T22:54:00.000-07:00

Gastritis is an inflammation of the lining of the stomach. It is a troublesome condition which may lead to manycomplications including ulcers if not treated in time. Constipation aggravates the condition more than any otherdisorder. The inflammatory lesions may be either acute erosive gastritis or chronic atrophic gastritis. The lattertype has been found to be present in half the patients suffering from severe iron deficiency anaemia.

Symptoms

The main symptoms of gastritis are loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, headache and dizziness. There is alsopain and a feeling of discomfort in the region of the stomach. In more chronic cases, there is a feeling offullness in the abdomen, especially after meals. The patient complains of heartburn. Prolonged illness oftenresults in the loss of weight, anaemia and occassional haemorrhage from the stomach. There may be anoutpouring of mucus and a reduction in the secretion of hydrochloric acid during acute attacks and also inmost cases of chronic gastritis.

Causes

The most frequent cause of gastritis is a dietetic indiscretion such as habitual overeating, eating of badlycombined or improperly cooked foods, excessive intake of strong tea, coffee or alcoholic drinks, habitual use oflarge quantities of condiments, sauces, etc. It may sometimes follow certain diseases such as measles,diptheria, influenza, virus pneumonia, etc. Most often it also results from worry, anxiety, grief and prolongedtension. Use of certain drugs, strong acids and caustic substances may also give rise to gastritis.

Treatment

The patient should undertake a fast in both acute and chronic cases of gastritis. In acute cases, the patient willusually recover after a short fast of two or three days. In chronic condition, the fast may have to be continuedfor a longer period of seven days or so. In the alternative, short fasts may be repeated at an interval of one ortwo months, depending on the progress being made. The fast may be conducted on fruit juices. By fasting, theintake of irritants is at once effectively stopped, the stomach is rested and the toxic condition, causing theinflammation, is allowed to subside. Elimination is increased by fasting and the excess of toxic matteraccumulated in the system is thrown out. After the acute symptoms subside, the patient should adopt an allfruitdiet for further three days. Juicy fruits such as apple, pear, grapes, grapefruit, orange, pineapple, peachand melon may be taken during this period at five-hourly intervals.

Prostate Disorders

2007-04-20T21:04:00.000-07:00

Nearly one-third of all men over 50 years suffer from prostate troubles of one form or another. The percentagerises with age and reaches 75 after the age of 80 years. Prostate and bladder disorders can lead to numerousother ailments such as arthritis, kidney disorders and uremia. The prostate gland is a male gland, comparablein shape and size to a large chestnut. It is reddish brown in appearance. It measures approximately 3.8 cm. inwidth and about 2.5 cm. in length and weighs approximately 25 grams. It is situated at the base of the urinarybladder and around the commencement of the urethra, the membranous tube for the passage of the urine. It isthus vital in relation to the emptying of the bladder and bears a close relationship to the rectum. The glandplays an important role in normal sexual life and its function is to secrete a fluid which is added to semenduring sexual intercourse.

Various Disorders

There are various types of prostate disorders. Of these the most important are prostatitis or inflammation in theprostate gland and hypertrophy or enlargement of the prostate gland. Prostatitis may be acute or chronic. It is apainful and distressing disorder, but can be cured with proper treatment without any adverse effects.Enlargement of the prostate gland or hypertrophy is the most common complaint affecting the gland. Thisoccurs mostly in men of middle or advanced age. The enlargement develops so gradually over a long periodthat it often assumes serious proportions before it is detected.

Symptoms

There are two warning signals to indicate the possibility of prostate disorders. The first is the interface with thepassage of urine and the second is the need to void the urine frequently during the night’s sleep. Othersymptoms are a dull aching pain in the lower back and pain in the hips, legs and feet. Prostate enlargementaffects the glandular system as a whole. The patient experiences all the symptoms of disturbed health such aslack of energy and physical , mental and nervous disturbances.

Causes

The position of the prostate gland makes it liable to congestion and other disorders. In an erect position,pressure falls on the pelvic region just where the prostate gland is situated. With ageing, the body gets heavierand loses its flexibility which makes the pressure on the pelvis even greater and increases the vulnerability ofthe prostate gland. Prolonged periods of sitting down, as in certain occupations, also increases the pressure onthe pelvic region resulting in congestion of the tissues in and around the prostate gland. With the passage oftime, changes such as inflammation or enlargement occur in the gland. Acute prostatis may also result fromexposure to cold and chill and from an infectious disease. Chronic prostatis is an after-effect of the acutecondition. It may also result from continual irritation of the gland due to excessive sexual excitement. Anotherimportant cause of prostate disorders is constipation. In constipation , the faeces becomes hardened and therectum or lower bowel overloaded. This causes undue pressure on the prostate gland. It also entails a greatdeal of straining at stools and this adversely affects the prostate gland due to its proximity to the rectum.

Treatment

To begin with, the patient should forgo all solid foods and subsist on water only for two or three days. Theintake of water should be as plentiful as possible. Nothing should be added to the water except a little lemonjuice, if desired. The water may be taken cold or hot and it should be taken every hour or so when awake. Thiswill greatly increase the flow of urine. An enema may be taken once a day during fasting to clear the lowerbowel of accumulations. After a thorough cleansing of the bowels, hot and cold applications may be used directly on the prostate glandand its surrounding parts. The heat relieves the tissues and a brief cold immersion tones them up. The patientshould take alternate hot and cold hip baths. These are of great value in relieving pain and reducingcongestion. The hot bath should be taken first for 10 minutes, followed by a cold bath for one minute daily. Afterthe short fast, the patient should adopt an all-fruit diet for three days. The fruits should include apples, pears,oranges, grape-fruit, grapes, sweet limes, mangoes, melons and all other juicy fruits. This will help to cleartoxins from the body and will also enable excess fat to be reduced to some extent. The exclusive fruit dietshould be followed by a diet, consisting of two meals of fruits and one of cooked vegetables for further sevendays. The vegetable meal should be taken in the evening and should consist of all kinds of cooked vegetables,preferably steam cooked. Thereafter, the patient may adopt a well-balanced diet of three basic food groups,namely (i) seeds, nuts and grains, (ii) vegetables and (iii) fruits. The short lemon juice fast followed by an allfruitdiet and a further period on fruits and vegetables may be repeated after two or three months if necessarydepending on the progress being made. Pumpkin seeds have been found to be an effective home remedy forprostate problems and many patients have been helped by their use. These seeds are rich in unsaturated fattyacids which are essential to the health of the prostate. Heavy starches,sweet stimulants and highly seasonedfoods are entirely forbidden, as they cause direct irritation on the prostate gland and bladder. The diet shouldalso exclude spices, condiments, salt in excess, sauces, red meats, cheese, asparagus, watercress, greasy orfried foods, alcohol, tobacco and too much tea or coffee. The patient should avoid hurried meals and mustchew his food thoroughly and slowly. Water should be taken between meals and not at mealtime. The patientshould avoid sexual irregularities in eating and drinking, long periods of sitting and vigorous exercise. Heshould guard against constipation by taking plenty of fruits, bran and nuts. All efforts should be made to tone upthe general condition of the body. With a general improvement in health, the condition will be greatly relieved.Surgery should be resorted to only if the condition does not improve even after the dietary treatment and othermeasures outlined here.

Piles

2007-04-20T21:01:00.000-07:00

Piles or haemorrhoids are among the most common ailments today, especially in the Western world. They area varicose and often inflammed condition of the veins inside or just outside the rectum. In external piles thereis a lot of pain, but not much bleeding. In case of internal piles there is discharge of dark blood. In some casesthe veins burst and this results in what is known as bleeding piles.

Symptoms

Pain at passing stools, slight bleeding in the case of internal trouble and a feeling of soreness and irritationafter passing a stool are the usual symptoms of piles. The patient cannot sit comfortably due to itching,discomfort and pain in the rectal region.

Causes

The primary cause of piles is chronic constipation and other bowel disorders. The pressure applied to pass astool to evacuate constipated bowls and the congestion caused by constipation ultimately lead to piles. The useof purgatives to relieve constipation, by their irritating and weakening effect on the lining of the rectum, alsoresult in enlargement and inflammation of veins and bleeding of the mucus lining. Piles are more commonduring pregnancy and in conditions affecting the liver and upper bowel. Prolonged periods of standing or sitting,strenuous work, obesity and general weakness of the tissues of the body are the other contributory causes ofpiles. Mental tension is also one of the main causes of harmorrioids. Persons who are always in a hurry oftenstrain while passing stools. They rush through defecation instead of making it a relaxed affair. The pressurethus exerted by the anal muscles affect the surrounding tissues. The extra rectal pressure and the resultantcongestion of veins ultimately leads to haemorrhoids. There is probably a hereditary factor also involved in thedevelopment of piles.

Treatment

The treatment of the basic cause, namely, chronic constipation, is the only way to get rid of the trouble. Tobegin with, the whole digestive tract must be given a complete rest for a few days and the intestines thoroughlycleansed. For this purpose the patient should adopt an all-fruit diet for at least seven days. After the all-fruitdiet, the patient may adopt a diet of natural foods aimed at securing soft stools. The most important foodremedy for piles is dry figs. Three or four figs should be soaked overnight in water after cleansing themthoroughly in hot water. They should be taken the first thing in the morning along with water in which they weresoaked. They should also be taken in the evening in a similar manner. This treatment should be continued forthree or four weeks. The tiny seeds of the fruit possess an excellent quality of stimulating peristalic movementsof intestines. This facilitates easy evacuation of faeces and keeps the alimentary canal clean. The pressure onthe anus having thus been relieved, the haemorrhoids also get contracted. Mango seeds are regarded as aneffective remedy for bleeding piles. The seeds should be collected during the mango season, dried in theshade and powdered and kept stored for use as medicine. It should be given in doses of about one and a halfgram to two grams with or without honey. The jambul fruit is another effective food remedy for bleeding piles.The fruit should be taken with salt every morning for two or three months in its season. The use of the fruit inthis manner in every season will effect a radical cure and save the user from bleeding piles during his / herentire life. White radish is considered highly valuable in the treatment of piles. Grated radish mixed with honeymay be taken in this condition. This vegetable can also be taken in the form of juice mixed with a pinch of salt. It should be given in doses of 60 to 90 ml. in the morning and evening. White radish wellground into a paste in milk can also be beneficial applied over inflammed pile masses to relieve pain andswelling. The patient should drink atleast six to eight glasses of water a day. He should avoid straining to passa stool. Cold water treatment helps the veins to shrink and tones up their walls. The treatment is done by sittingin a tub filled with cold water for two minutes with knees drawn up to your chin. The water level should coverthe hips. This should be done twice a day. Other water treatments beneficial in curing piles include coldperennial douche and cold compress applied to the rectal area for an hour before bed time. A patient with pilesmust make an all out effort to tone up the entire system. Exercise plays an important corrective role in thiscondition. Movements which exercise the abdominal muscles will improve circulation in the rectal region andrelieve congestion. Outdoor exercises such as walking and swimming are excellent methods of building upgeneral health. Yogic kriyas like jalneti and vamandhouti and asanas such as sarvangasana,viparit karani,halasana, gomukhasana are also useful. Sarvangasana is especially beneficial as it drains stagnant blood fromthe anus.

Peptic Ulcer

2007-04-20T20:56:00.000-07:00

Peptic Ulcer refers to an eroded lesion in the gastric intestinal mucosa. An ulcer may form in any part of thedigestive tract which is exposed to acid gastric juice, but is usually found in the stomach and the duodenum.The ulcer located in the stomach is known as gastric ulcer and that located in the duodenum is called adeudenal ulcer. Usually both are grouped together and termed peptic ulcer.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of peptic ulcer are sharp and severe pain and discomfort in the upper centralabdomen. The pain is commonly described as burning or gnawing in character. Gastric ulcer pain usuallyoccurs an hour after meals, but rarely at night. Duodenal ulcer pan usually occurs between meals when thestomach is empty and is relieved by food, especially milk. It is often described as hunger pain and gets thesufferer out of bed between 2 and 4 a.m. As the disease progresses there is distension of the stomach due toexcessive flatulence, besides mental tension, insomnia and a gradual weakening of the body. It may alsocause constipation with occasional blood in the stools. If an ulcer bleeds slowly, there is anaemia.

Causes

Peptic ulcers result from hyperacidity which is a condition caused by an increase in hydrochloric acid in thestomach. This strong acid, secreted by the cells lining the stomach, affects much of the breakdown of food. Itcan be potentially dangerous and, under certain circumstances, it may eat its way through the lining of thestomach or duodenum producing, first, irritation of the stomach wall and eventually an ulcer. Dieteticindiscretion, like overeating, taking of heavy meals or highly spiced foods, coffee, alcohol and smoking are themain factors contributing to this condition. The ingestion of certain drugs, particularly aspirin, food poisoning,infections like influenza and septicaemia and gout may also cause ulcers. Emotional stress or nervous tensionalso plays a major role in the formation of ulcers.

Treatment

Diet is of utmost importance in the treatment of ulcer. The diet should be so arranged as to provide adequatenutrition to afford rest to the disturbed organs, to maintain continuous neutralisation of the gastric acid, to inhibitproduction of acid and to reduce mechanical and chemical irritation. Milk, cream, butter, fruits, and fresh, rawand boiled vegetables, natural foods and natural vitamin supplements are the best diet for an ulcer patient. Themost effective remedy for peptic ulcers is bananas. They are said to contain an unidentified compound called,perhaps jokingly, vitamin U (against ulcers). Bananas neutralises the over acidity of the gastric juices andreduces the irritation of the ulcer by quoting the lining of the stomach. Banana and milk are considered an idealdiet for the patients who are in an advanced state of the disease. Almond milk made from blanched almonds ina blender is very beneficial as it binds the excess of acid in the stomach and supplies high quality proteins.Raw goat’s milk is also highly beneficial. It actually helps to heal peptic ulcer. Cabbage is regarded as anotheruseful home remedy for peptic ulcers. Cabbage is boiled in water. This water is allowed to cool and taken twicedaily. The leaves of kalyana murangal tree, which is a variety of drumstick found in South India, have alsoproved helpful in the healing of the ulcers. The leaves of this tree are ground into a paste and taken mixed withyogurt daily. Raw vegetables juices, particularly carrot and cabbage juices are beneficial in the treatment of thepeptic ulcers. Carrot juice may be taken either alone or in combination with spinach or beat and cucumber. Theformula proportions in the case of the first combination are 300 ml. of carrots and 200 ml. of spinach and in case of the second combination, 300 ml. of carrots and three ounces each of beets and cucumber to make half a litre of juice. The observance of certain rules by an ulcer patient with regardto eating habits are essential. He should never eat when tired or emotionally upset, nor when he is not hungryeven if it is meal time, nor when his mouth is dry. He should chew every morsel thoroughly. He should eat onlynatural foods and take food in as dry a form as possible. Meals must be small and frequent. All foods anddrinks which are either too hot or too cold should be avoided. The ulcer patient should drink eight to 10 glassesof water every day. However, he should not drink water during or with meals, but only half an hour before orone hour after he has eaten. He should bathe, preferably in cold water, twice daily. Alternate hot and cold hipbaths for 10 to 15 minutes and a mud pack applied over the lower abdominal for half an hour daily will help theulcers to heal. The hip bath or the mud pack should be taken on an empty stomach and should be followed bya walk. In case of haemorrhage in the stomach, a rectal enema should be administered four times daily withwater temperature at 110 to 115 o F. In case of abdominal or stomach pain, hot pack should be placed on theabdomen with water temperature at 120 o F. A hot pack should also be placed between the shoulder blades.Daily massages and deep breathing exercises also help. Above all, the patient must try to rid himself of worriesand stay cheerful. He should also cultivate regularity in his habit - be it work, exercise or rest. Asanas which arebeneficial in the treatment of hyperacidity and ulcers are vajrasana, uttanpadasana, pawanmuktasana,bhujasana, paschimottanasana. Yogic kriyas like jalneti and pranayamas like anuloma-viloma , shitali andsitkari are also beneficial. Hyperacidity does not appear suddenly ; it develops gradually and its cure is also agradual process. The patient should not lose patience but must continue the regimen suggested ; this will helphim get relief from his ailment.

Obesity

2007-04-20T20:52:00.000-07:00

Obesity may be described as a bodily condition characterised by excessive deposition or storage of fat inadipose tissue. It usually results from consumption of food in excess of physiological needs. Obesity iscommon among people in Western countries and among the higher income groups in India and otherdeveloping countries. Obesity can occur at any age in either sex. Its incidence is higher inpersons whoconsume more food and lead sedentary leaves. Among women, obesity is liable to occur after pregnancy andat menopause. A woman usually gains about 12 kgs. weight during pregnancy. Part of this is an increase in theadipose tissue which serves as a store against the demands of lactation. Many women gain more and retainpart of this weight. They become progressively obese with each succeeding child. Obesity is a serious healthhazard as the extra fats puts a strain on the heart, kidneys and liver as well as the large weight-bearing jointssuch as the hips, knees and ankles, which ultimately shortens the life span. It has been truly said, ‘ the longerthe belt, the short the life. ‘ Overweight persons are susceptible to several diseases like coronary thrombosis,heart failure, high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, gout and liver and gall-bladder disorders.

Causes

The chief cause of obesity , most often, is overeating - that is, the intake of calories beyond the body’s energyrequirement. Some people are habituated to eating too much while others may be in the habit of consuming high-calorie foods. These people gain weight continuously as they fail to adjust their appetite to reduce energy requirements. There has, in recent times, been an increase in awareness of psychological aspects of obesity.Persons who are generally bored , unhappy, lonely or unloved, those who are discontented with their families,or social or financial standing usually tend to overeat as eating is a pleasure and solace to them. Obesity issometimes also the result of disturbances of the thyroid or pituitary glands. But glandular disorders account foronly about two per cent of the total incidence of obesity. In such persons, the basal metabolism rate is low andthey keep gaining weight unless they take a low-calorie diet.

Treatment

A suitably planned course of dietetic treatment, in conjunction with suitable exercise and other measures forpromoting elimination is the only scientific way of dealing with obesity. The chief consideration in this treatmentshould be the balanced selection of foods which provide the maximum essential nutrients with the least numberof calories. To begin with, the patient should undertake a juice fast for seven to ten days. Juices of lemon,grape fruit, orange, pineapple, cabbage, celery, may be taken during this period. Long juice fast upto 40 dayscan also be undertaken, but only under expert guidance and supervision. In the alternative, short juice fastsshould be repeated at regular intervals of two months or so till the desired reduction in weight is achieved. Afterthe juice fast, the patient should spend a further four or five days on an all-fruit diet, taking three meals of freshjuicy fruits such as oranges, grapefruit, pineapple and papaya. Thereafter, he may gradually embark upon alow-calorie well- balanced diet of three basic food groups, namely (i) seeds, nuts and grains , (ii) vegetablesand (iii)fruits, with emphasis on raw fruits, vegetables, and fresh juices. The foods which should be drasticallycurtailed or altogether avoided are high-fat foods such as butter, cheese, chocolates, cream, ice-cream, fatmeats, fried foods, and gravies ; high carbohydrated foods like bread, candy, cake, cookies, cereal products,legumes, potatoes, honey, sugar, syrup and rich puddings beverages such as all-fountain drinks and alcoholic drinks.

Nepthritis

2007-04-20T20:50:00.000-07:00

Nepthritis refers to an inflammation of the kidneys. It is a serious condition and may be either acute orchronic. A synonym for nephthritis is " Bright’s disease, " for Bright (1789-1858) described examples ofmany different diseases which can be included under the term. This disease most often strikes duringchildhood or adolescence. It can become progressively worse and result in death, if not treated properly inthe initial stages. In the alternative , it may subside into a chronic stage where the patient gets better but nottoo well.

Symptoms

The main symptoms of acute nepthritis are pain in the kidneys extending down to the uterus, fever, dull pain inthe back and scanty and highly coloured urine. Often the urine may contain blood, albumin and casts consistingof clumps of red and white cells, which come from damaged kidneys. The patient suffers from puffiness in theface and swelling of the feet and ankles. In the chronic stage of nepthritis, which may drag on for many years,the patient passes large amounts of albumin in the urine. Later there may be rise in blood pressure and thepatient may develop uraemia. There may be frequent urination, especially during night.

Causes

Nepthritis usually follows some streptococcus infection of the throat or an attack of scarlet fever or rheumaticfever. The underlying causes of nepthritis are however, the same as for diseases of the kidneys in general,namely wrong dietary habits, excessive drinking, the suppressive medical treatment of former diseases, thehabitual use of chemical agents of all kinds for the treatment of indigestion and other stomach disorders andfrequent use of aspirin and other painkillers. Nutritional deficiencies can also lead to nepthritis. The disease hasbeen produced in many species of animals by diets deficient in the B vitamin, choline. Animals lacking essentialfatty acids and magnesium also develop nephritis. When vitamin B6 and magnesium are under supplied, thekidneys are further damaged by sharp crystals of oxalic acid combined with calcium. Nepthritis also occurs ifvitamin E is deficient.

Treatment

The safest treatment for acute nepthritis is fasting. By means of the fast, the toxins and systemicimpuritiesresponsible for setting up of the inflammatory kidney conditions are removed rapidly.The patient should resortto juice fasting for seven to ten days till the acute symptoms subside.Mostly vegetable juices such as carrot,celery and cucumber should be used during this period.A warm water enema should be taken each day whilefasting, to cleanse the bowels of the toxicmatter being thrown off by the self-cleansing process resulting fromthe fast.After the juice fast, the patient may adopt an all-fruit diet for four to five days. Juicy fruits suchasapples, grapes, oranges, pears, peaches and pineapples should be taken during this period atfive-hourlyintervals. After the all-fruit diet, the patient may adopt fruits and milk diet. In thisregimen, milk, preferably rawgoat’s milk , may be added to the fruit diet for further seven days.The patient may thereafter gradually embarkupon a well- balanced low protein vegetarian diet,with emphasis on fresh fruits and raw and cookedvegetables.In case of chronic nepthritis a short juice fast for three days may be undertaken. Thereafter, aweekor 10 days may be spent on a restricted diet. In this regimen, oranges or orange juice maybe taken forbreakfast. Lunch may consist of a salad of raw vegetables which are in season, anddinner may consist of oneor two vegetables, steamed in their own juices and a few nuts.Thereafter, the patient may gradually adopt awell- balanced low protein vegetarian diet.Further short juice fasts followed by a week on the restricted dietshould be undertaken atintervals of two or three months until such time as the kidney condition has shown signs of normalisation.

Neuritis

2007-04-20T20:43:00.000-07:00

Neuritis is one of the serious nervous disorders. It refers to an inflammation of the nerves, involving asingle nerve or a series of nerves. At times, several different groups of nerves in various parts of the bodymay be involved. This condition is known as polyneuritis. It is also known as polyneuropathy, for strictlyspeaking, the condition is not an inflammation, but a change in the state of the nerves resulting inweakness, loss of the reflexes and changes of sensation.

Symptoms

The main symptoms of neuritis are tingling, burning, and stabbing pains in the affected nerves. IN severecases, there may be numbness and loss of sensation and paralysis of the nearby muscles. Thus a temporaryparalysis of the face may result from changes in the facial nerves on the affected side. During the acute stageof this condition, the patient may not be able to close the eyes due to loss of normal tone and strength by themuscles on the affected side of the face. Neuritis may also be caused by pernicious anaemia, involving thenerves of the spine. The patient with this condition may find it very difficult to walk in the dark.

Causes

The chief cause of neuritis is chronic acidosis, that is, excessive acid condition of the blood and other bodyfluids. All the body fluids should be alkaline in their reaction ,but when the acid waste matter is continuouslyformed in the tissues over a long period due to a faulty diet, it results in acidosis. Wrong habits of living , overwork , etc., lower the tone of nervous system and contribute towards neuritis. This disease can also result froma variety of nutritional deficiencies and metabolic disturbances such as faulty calcium metabolism, deficienciesof several B vitamins like B12, B6, B1, pantothenic acid and B2 and general toxaemia. Other causes of neuritisinclude a blow, a penetrating injury a bad bruise or heavy pressure over a nerve trunk and dislocation andfractures of the bones. Any violent muscular activity or over-extension of the joint as in sprains may injure thenerves and cause neuritis. The condition may also result from certain infections such as tuberculosis, diptheria,tetanus, leprosy and diabetes mellitius, poisoning with insecticides, mercury, lead, arsenic and alcohol.

Treatment

Treatment of neuritis by painkilling drugs may give temporary relief but it does not remove the trouble effectively. The pain is relieved for the time being at the cost of the health of other parts of the body, especiallythe heart and the kidneys, and the neuritis remains. The best treatment for neuritis is to ensure that the patientgets optimum nutrition, well assimilated with all the vitamins and other nutrients. The emphasis should be onwhole grains, particularly whole wheat,brown rice, raw and sprouted seeds, raw milk, especially in soured form,and home-made cottage cheese. In this regimen, the breakfast may consist of fresh fruits, a handful of raw nutsor a couple of tablespoons of sunflower and pumpkin seeds. Steamed vegetables, whole wheat, chappatis anda glass of butter-milk may be taken for lunch. The dinner may comprise a large bowl of fresh, green, vegetablesalad, fresh home made cottage cheese, fresh butter and a glass of butter milk. In severe cases, the patientshould be put on a short juice fast for four or five days before being given the optimum diet. Carrot, beet, citrusfruits, apple and pineapple may be used for juices. All vitamins of the B group have proved highly beneficial inthe prevention and treatment of neuritis. The disorder has been helped when vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12, andpantothenic acid have been given together, and extreme pain,weakness and numbness in some cases havebeen relieved within an hour.

Leucoderma

2007-04-20T20:40:00.000-07:00

Lecucoderma, also known as vitiligo, is a distressing skin condition. The word literally means ‘ white skin’.There isa gradual loss of pigment melanin from the skin layers which results in white patches. These patcheslook ugly, especially in persons with dark complexions. The condition does not cause any organic harm. It ,however, brings about great psychological tension to the patient who is more embarassed than the victim ofany pain or discomfort. The condition thus, besides being a medical problem, also becomes a social stigma.Leucoderma is a fairly common disorder and it affects one per cent or more of the world’s population. The incidence is a little higher in India. The disorder can occur at any age in either sex in normal skin. It is, however,more common in women than men. The most affected areas are the hands, the neck, the back and the wrist inthat order.

Symptoms

The problem usually starts with a small white spot and later on it develops into patches. These patches arepale in the beginning but become whiter and whiter as time passes due to loss of pigment. As spots enlarge,they merge into each other and, in course of time, form a very broad patch. In some cases, most of the skin ofthe body may be covered with white patches.

Causes

Many wrong beliefs are prevalent about the causes of leucoderma. It is not caused by eating fish and drinking milk at the same time, as is generally believed because even vegetarians suffer from this disorder. Other foodcombinations such as pumpkin and milk, onion and milk as possible causes of leucoderma also have no basis.Leucoderma is not caused by any germs ; nor is it due bad blood. It is neither infectious nor contagious. Itcannot be transmitted from one person to another by physical contact. The main causes of leucoderma areexcessive mental worry, chronic or acute gastric disorder, impaired hepatic function such as jaundice, worms orother parasites in the alimentary canal, ailments like typhoid which affect the gastrointestinalm tract, defectiveperspirative mechanism and burn injuries. Often the hormone secreting glands are involved in this disorder.Heredity is also a causative factor and about 30 per cent of patients have a family history of the disorder.

Treatment

In nature cure, the treatment of leudoderma consists of adoption of constitutional measures to cleanse thesystem of accumulated toxins. This enables the healing power within the body to assert itself, and producenormalcy. To begin with, the patient should undertake a fast on juices for about a week. IN this regimen, he orshe should take fruit or vegetable juices, diluted with water on 50 : 50 basis every two or three hours from 8.00a.m. to 8.00 p.m. The bowels should be cleansed daily with warm water during this period. After the juice fast,the patient may adopt a restricted diet consisting of fresh fruits, raw or steamed vegetables and whole mealbread or chappaties. Curd and milk may be added to this diet after a few days. The patient may thereaftergradually embark upon a well-balanced diet of seeds, nuts and grains, vegetables and fruits. The largeproportion of the diet should consist of raw foods. Seeds and beans such as alfalfa, mung and soyabeanscanbe sprouted. This diet may be supplemented with cold-pressed vegetable oils, honey and yeast. Juice fasting may be repeated at intervals of two months. The patient should avoid tea, coffee, alcoholic beveragesand all condiments and highly flavoured dishes. He or she should also avoid sugar, white flour products,denatured cereals like polished rice and pearled barley and tinned or bottled foods.

Jaundice

2007-04-20T20:34:00.000-07:00

Jaundice is the most common of all liver disorders resulting from an obstruction in the bile duct,or the loss offunction of the bile-producing liver cells. There are several forms of jaundice but allof them are marked byyellow discoloration of the skin and the whites of the eyes.The liver, located under the diaphragm just abovethe stomach, is a vast chemical laboratorywhich performs many important functions. It inactivates hormones nolonger needed,synthesizes many amino acids used in building tissues, and breaks proteins into sugar andfarwhen required for energy. It produces lecithin, cholesterol, bile and blood albumin, vital to the removal of tissue wastes. It also stores vitamins and minerals.Bile is a vital digestive fluid which is essential for propernutrition. It exercises a most favourableinfluence on the general processes of digestion. It also preventsdecaying changes in food. If thebile is prevented from entering the intestines there is an increase in gases andother products.Normally the production of bile and its flow is constant.

Symptoms

The symptoms of jaundice are extreme weakness, headache, fever, loss of appetite, undue fatigue, severeconstipation,nausea and yellow coloration of the eyes, tongue, skin and urine. The patient may also feel adull pain in liver region.

Causes

Jaundice is indicative of the malfunctioning of the liver. It may be caused by an obstruction of the bile ductswhich discharge bile salts and pigment into the intestine. The bile then gets mixed with blood and this gives ayellow pigmentation to the skin. The obstruction of the bile ducts could be due to gall stones or inflammation ofthe liver, known as hepatitis, caused by a virus. In the later case, the virus spreads and may lead to epidemicsowing to over-crowding , dirty surroundings, insanitary conditions and contamination of food and water. Othercauses of jaundice are pernicious anaemia and certain disease affecting the liver such as typhoid, malaria,yellow fever and tuberculosis.

The Cure

The simple form of jaundice can be cured rapidly by diet therapy and exercises. Recovery will , however, beslow in serious cases which have been caused by obstruction or pressure in the bile ducts. The patient shouldrest until the acute symptoms of the disease subside. The patient should be put on a fruit juice fast for a week.The juice of lemon, grapes, pear, carrot, beet, and sugarcane can be taken. A hot enema should be takendaily during the fast to ensure regular bowel elimination, thereby preventing the absorption of decomposed,poisonous material into the blood stream. The fruit juice fast may be discontinued after the severity of thedisease is over and a simple diet may be resumed on the following lines :On rising : A glass of warm water mixed with two teaspoons of lime juice.Breakfast : One fresh juicy fruit such as apple, papaya,grapes, berries and mangoes . One cup wheat dalia orone slice of whole wheat bread with a little butter.

Mid-morning : Orange juice.

Lunch : Two small chappatis of whole wheat flour, a cup of strained vegetable soup, a steamed leafyvegetable such as spinach, fenugreek or carrot and a glass of buttermilk.

Mid-afternoon : Orange juice or coconut water.

JaundiceDinner : Two whole wheat chappatis with a little ghee or butter, baked. Baked potato and one other leafy vegetable like spinach and fenugreek, a glass of hot milk with honey if desired.

All fats like ghee,butter, cream and oils must be avoided for at least two weeks,and after that their consumptionshould be kept down to the minimum. Digestive disturbances must be avoided. No food with a tendency toferment or putrefy in the lower intestines like pulses, legumes,etc. should be included in diet. The juice of bitterluffa (karvi torai) is regarded as an effective (home) remedy for jaundice. It is obtained by pounding andsqueezing through cloth. The juice should be placed on the palm of the hand and drawn upthrough the nostrils.This will cause a profuse overflow of the yellow coloured fluid through the nostrils. The toxic matter having beenevacuated in a considerable quantity, the patient will feel relieved. It is, however, a strong medicine and maycause in the patients will delicate nature, side effects like giddiness, migraine and at times high fever for a shortduration. Its use should, therefore, be avoided by such patients. If the green juice of bitter luffa is not available,it can best be substituted by two or three drops of the fluid obtained by soaking its dry crusts overnight in water.This produces an identical effect. Seeds of bitter luffa which are easily available can also be used for the samepurpose after rubbing in water. Another valuable food remedy for jaundice is the green leaves of radish. Theleaves should be pounded and their juices extracted through cloth. One pound of this juice daily is sufficient foran adult patient. It should be strained through a clean piece of muslin cloth before use. It provides immediaterelief. It induces a healthy appetite and proper evacuation of bowels, and this results in gradual decrease of thetrouble. In most casse a complete cure can be ensured within eight or ten days.

Insomnia

2007-04-20T20:29:00.000-07:00

Insomnia or sleeplessness has assumed alarming proportions in present times, especially among the upperclasses in urban areas. This is evident from the wide range of medication for this condition prescribed byphysicians and sold by chemists. Instances of persons taking an overdose of sleeping pills with fatal results arequite frequent. Insomnia deprives a person of mental rest and thereby interferes with his activities in thedaytime. It constitutes a severe health hazard when it becomes a habit. Sleep is a periodic state of rest for thebody which is absolutely essential for its efficient functioning. Sleep gives relief from tension, rests the brainand body and a person wakes up in the morning fresh and relaxed after sleep. The amount of sleep, however,varies within very wide limits from individual to individual. Normally, seven to eight hours of sleep every night isadequate for most people. Some, however, do well with four to five hours because their sleep is deeper andmore refreshing. Insomnia is common among the elderly for a variety of reasons. The sleep of the elderly isoften punctuated by brief periods of wakefulness during the night. IN such cases it is the quality rather than thequantity which is most affected. With age, there is gradual reduction of periods of deep sleep. The olderperson, therefore, gets roused easier. Sleep requirements also diminish with ageing. From nine hours of sleepper night at the age of 12 the average sleep needs decrease to eight hours at the age of 20 , seven hours at 40, six and half hours at 60 and six hours at 80.

Symptoms

The signs of pathological insomnia are dramatic changes in the duration and quality of sleep, persistentchanges in sleep patterns, lapses of memory and lack of concentration during the day. Other symptoms areemotional instability, loss of coordination, confusion and a lingering feeling of indifference.

Causes

The most common cause of sleeplessness is mental tension brought about by anxiety, worries, overwork andoverexcitement. Suppressed feelings of resentment, anger and bitterness may also cause insominia.Constipation, dyspepsia, over-eating at night, excessive intake of tea or coffee and going to bed hungry areamong the other causes. Smoking is another unsuspected cause of insomnia as it irritates the nervoussystem, especially the nerves of the digestive system. Often, worrying about falling asleep is enough to keepone awake.

The Cure

Sleeping pills are no remedy for sleeplessness. They are habit forming and become less effective when takencontinuously. They lower the I.Q., dull the brain and can prove fatal if taken in excess or before or after alcohol.The side-effects of sleeping pills include indigestion, skin rashes, lowered resistance to infection, circulatoryand respiratory problems, poor appetite, high blood pressure, kidney and liver problems and mental confusion.To overcome the problem, one should adhere to a regular sleeping schedule, going to bed at a fixed time eachnight and getting up at a fixed time each morning. Early to bed and early to rise is a good rule. Two hours ofsleep before midnight are more beneficial than four after. It is sheer folly for students, at examination times, tokeep awake till long after midnight, drinking one cup of tea after another, as that is only apt to cause blacknessand inability to concentrate in the examination hall. Research has shown that people with chronic insomniaalmost invariably marked deficiencies of such key nutrients as B-complex vitamins, and vitamin C and D asalso calcium,magnesium, manganese, potassium and zinc. The sleep mechanism is unable to functionefficiently unless each of these nutrients is present in adequate amounts in the diet.

A balanced diet with simple modifications in the eating pattern will go a long way in the treatment and cure ofinsominia. Such a diet should exclude white flour products, sugar and its products, tea ,coffee, chocolate, coladrinks, alcohol, fatty foods, fried foods, foods containing additives, that is chemicals for preserving, colouringand flavouring, excessive use of salt and strong condiments. In the modified eating pattern, breakfast shouldconsist of fresh and dried fruits, whole cereals, seeds and yogurt. Of the two main meals, one should consist ofa large mixed salad and the other should be protein-based. A cup of milk sweetened with honey at bedtime ishelpful as the amino-acid tryptophan contained in milk induces sleep. Sleep is often elusive. Any attempt toforce it only drives it further away. It is better to divert the mind with soft music or light reading. While going tobed, visualise a blank black wall occupying the entire field of vision. Turn your thoughts to light and cheerfulmatters. Use light bed clothes and relax. Do not lie on your back, put on your side with one or both kneesbrought well up and the head and shoulders slightly forward. During the night, the position of the arms and legsshould be changed frequently and a healthy sleeper usually shifts from one side to the other several times inthe course of the night. Controlled breathing is also a great help in inducing sleep. The method is to lie on yourside in bed, and then take three deep breaths expanding the abdomen completely. Then hold your brath aslong as you can. Next, take three more breaths and repeat the breath-holding. While you hold your breath,carbon dioxide accumulates in the body and induces natural sleep. Regular, active exercising during the dayand mild exercise at bedtime enhances the quantity and the quality of sleep. Exercise stimulates the eliminationof lactic acid from the body which correlates with stress and muscular tension. Regular exercise also produceshormonal changes which are beneficial to the body and to the sleep pattern. Walking, jogging, skipping,swimming are all ideal exercises. Vigorous exercise should, however, be avoided at night as this can be overstimulating.

Influenza

2007-04-20T20:19:00.000-07:00

Influenza, also known as flu, is the clinical condition that results from infection with influenza viruses. The maineffects of the influenza viruses are on the upper respiratory tract, the nose and throat, with possible spread andinvolvement of the lungs and bronchi. The disease is highly contagious and it has potential to cause widespread epidemics affecting sizeable portion of a population at any time. Although it is more common duringwinter it may strike at any time. It affects people of all ages.

Symptoms

Influenza strikes suddenly. It usually begins with a chill, fever, headache and severe muscular pains. Thepatient feels miserable and weak. There is an inflammation in the nose and throat, which may spread downthe windpipe to the lungs, resulting in a sore throat, cough, running of the nose and eyes. In milder case ofinfluenza the temperature rises to 102 o F and lasts for two or three days. In severe cases, it may go upto 104o F and last for four or five days. The consequent weakness and fatigue may continue for several weeks. Thismay be followed by a deep chest cough due to irritation in the windpipe.

Causes

Influenza is what is known as germ disease. It is, however, not caused primarily by the action of the germs asis generally believed, but develops due to a toxic and run-down condition of the system of the affected person.This condition is brought about by dietetic errors and a faulty style of living such as worry, over work, lack ofproper exercise , living in stuffy rooms and keeping late hours. No disease germs can find lodgment andbecome active in the system of a person who is perfectly healthy in the true sense of the term. Influenza ispassed on with ease from one affected person to an other especially to those who are also in an equally lowvital stage. That is how an epidemic starts.

Treatment

Influenza , like all other acute diseases, is a natural attempt at self-cleansing and if rightly treated in a naturalway, immense good can ensue so far as the future health of the patient is concerned. In the acute stage ofinfluenza, a patient should abstain from all solid foods and only drink fruit and vegetable juices diluted withwater, 50 - 50 for first three to five days, depending on the severity of the disease. The juice fast should becontinued till the temperature comes down to normal. The warm water enema should be taken daily during thisperiod to cleanse the bowels. After fever subsides the patient may adopt an all-fruit diet for two or three days.In this regimen, the patient should take three meals a day of fresh juicy fruits such as apples, pears, grapes,oranges, pineapple, peaches and melons at five-hourly intervals. Bananas or dried, stewed or tinned fruitshowever, should not be taken. No other food stuff should be added to the fruit meals, otherwise the value of thetreatment will be lost. This may be followed by a further two or three days on fruits and milk diet. Thereafter, thepatient may adopt a well-balanced diet of three basic food groups namely, (i) seeds, nuts and grains, (ii)vegetables, and (iii) fruits. Spices and condiments , and pickles, which make food more palatal and lead toovereating, must be avoided. Lemon juice may be used in salad dressing. Alcohol, tobacco, strong tea andcoffee, highly seasoned meats, over-boiled milk, pulses, potato, rice, cheese, refined, processed, stale andtinned foods should all be avoided. Certain remedies have been found highly beneficial in the treatment ofinfluenza. The most important of these is the use of long pepper. Half a teaspoonful of the powder of the longpepper with two teaspoonfuls of honey and half a teaspoonful of juice of ginger should be taken thrice a day.This will help greatly if taken in initial stages of the disease. It is especially useful inavoiding complications which follow the onset of the disease, namely, the involvement of the larynx andbronchial tube. Another excellent remedy for influenza is the green leaves of basil or tulsi plant. About onegram of these leaves should be boiled along with some ginger n half a litre ofwater till about half the water isleft. This decoction should be taken as tea. It gives immediate relief. Garlic and turmeric are other effective foodmedicines for influenza. Garlic is useful as a general antiseptic and should be given as much as the patient canbear. Garlic juice may also be sucked up the nose. A teaspoonful of turmeric powder should be mixed in a cupof warm milk and taken three times in the day. It will prevent complications arising from influenza and alsoactivate the liver which becomes sluggish during the attack.

Kidney Stones

2007-04-20T02:54:00.000-07:00

The formation of stones in the kidneys or urinary tract is a fairly common disorder. The stonesare formed from the chemicals usually found in the urine such as uric acid, phosphorous,calcium and oxalic acid. They may vary in consistency from grit, sand and gravel-likeobstructions to the size of the bird’s eggs.Stones may form and grow because the concentration of a particular substance in a urineexceeds its solubility. This disorder occurs more frequently in middle age, with men beingafflicted more often than women.The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs, lying below the waist on either side of the spinalcolumn on the back wall of the abdomen. They are soft, reddish brown in colour, and, on anaverage, measure 10 cm. in length, 6 cm. in width and is 2.5 cm. thick at its centre. They arefiltering plants for purifying the blood, removing water and salts from it which are passed into thebladder as urine.

Symptoms

Kidney stones usually cause severe pain in their attempt to pass down the ureter on their way tothe bladder. The pain is first felt in the side and thereafter in the groin and thighs. Othersymptoms of kidney stones are a desire to urinate frequently, painful urination , scanty urination,nausea, vomiting, sweating, chills and shocks. The patient may also pass blood with the urine.Sometimes, large stones may remain in the kidneys without causing any trouble and these areknown as silent stones.

Causes

The formation of stones in the kidneys is the result of defects in the general metabolism. Theyusually occur when the urine becomes highly concentrated due to heavy perspiration orinsufficient intake of fluids. They are aggravated by a sedentary lifestyle. The other causes arewrong diet, excess intake of acid-forming foods, white flour and sugar products, meat, tea,coffee, condiments and spices, rich foods and overeating. Lack of vitamin A and an excessiveintake of vitamin B may also lead to formation of stones.

Types of Stones

Chemically, urinary stones are of two categories, namely, primary stones and secondary stones.Primary stones are ordinarily not due to infection and are formed in acidic urine. They usuallyresult from alcoholism, sedentary life, constipation and excessive intake of nitrogeneous orpurine-rich foods. Secondary stones are due to local infection and are formed in alkaline urine.Most kidney stones are composed either of calcium oxalate or phosphate, the latter being mostcommon in the presence of infection. About 90 per cent of all stones contain calcium as the chiefconstituent. More than half of these are mixtures of calcium , ammonia, and magnesium,phosphates and carbonates, while the remainder contain oxalate. Uric acid and cystine stonesrepresent about four percent and one per cent respectively of the total incidence of stones.

Treatment

A majority of patients suffering from kidney stones can be treated successfully by proper dietaryregulations. These regulations will also prevent a recurrence of the symptoms. Only a few casesrequire surgery.The patient should avoid foods which irritate the kidneys, to control acidity or alkalinity of theurine and to ensure adequate intake of fluids to prevent the urine from becoming concentrated.The foods considered irritants to the kidneys are alcoholic beverages, condiments, pickles,certain vegetables like cucumbers, raddishes, tomatoes, spinach, rhubarb, water-cress andthose with strong aroma such as asparagus, onions, beans,cabbage and cauliflower, meat,gravies and carbonated waters. In calcium phosphate stones, over -secretion of parathyroid hormone causes loss of calciumfrom the bones resulting in a high blood level of calcium with increased excretion of calcium inthe urine. An abnormally high intake of milk, alkalies or vitamin D may also result in theformation of calcium phosphate stones.For controlling the formation of calcium phosphate stones, a moderately low calcium andphosphorous diet should be taken The intake of calcium and phosphates should be restricted tominimal levels consistent with maintaining nutritional adequacy.The maintenance level of calcium is 680 mg. and of phosphorous 1000 mg. In this diet, milkshould constitute the main source of calcium and curd or cottage cheese, lentils and groundnutsshould form the main sources of phosphorous. Foods which should be avoided are whole wheatflour, Bengal gram, peas, soyabeans, beets, spinach, cauliflower, turnips, carrots, almonds andcoconuts.When stones are composed of calcium and magnesium phosphates and carbonates, the dietshould be so regulated as to maintain acidic urine. Insuch a diet, only half a litre of milk, twoservings of fruits and two servings of vegetables ( 200 grams) should be taken. The vegetablesmay consist of asparagus, fresh green peas, squash,pumpkins, turnips, cauliflower, cabbageand tomatoes. For fruits, watermelon, grapes, peaches, pears, pineapple, papayas and guavasmay be taken.On the other hand the urine should be kept alkaline if oxalate and uric acid stones are beingformed. In this diet, fruits and vegetables should be liberally used and acid-forming foods shouldbe kept to the minimum necessary for satisfactory nutrition. When the stones contain oxalate,foods with high oxalic acid content should be avoided. These foods include almonds, beetroots,brinjal, brown bread, cabbage, cherry, chocolate, French Beans, potatoes, radish, spinach andsoyabeans.Uric stones occur in patients who have an increased uric acid in the blood and increased uricacid exertion in the urine. Since uric acid is an end product of purine metabolism, foods with ahigh purine content such as sweet bread, liver and kidney should be avoided.Kidney beans, also known as French beans or common beans, are regarded as a very effectiveremedy for kidney problems, including kidney stones. It was Dr. Ramm of Germany, who firstdiscovered the value of kidney beans as a medicine for kidney and bladder troubles. Heemployed it for over 25 years with beneficial results. The method prescribed by him to preparethe medicine is to remove the beans inside the pods, then slice the pods and put about 60 mg. infour litres of hot water, boiling slowly for four hours. This liquid should be strained through finemuslin and then allowed to cool for about eight hours. Thereafter, the fluid should be pouredthrough another piece of muslin without stirring.According to Dr. Ramm, a glassful of this decoction should be given to the patient every twohours through the day for one day, and thereafter it may be taken several times a week. Dr.Ramm also says that this decoction will not work if it is more than 24 hours old. The pods can bekept for longer periods but once they are boiled, the therapeutic factor disappears after one day.The basil, known as tulsi inthe vernacular, has a strengthening effect on the kidneys. In case ofkidney stones, basil juice and honey should betaken for six months. It has been found that thestones can be expelled from the urinary tract with this treatment. The celery is also a valuablefood for those who are prone to stone formation in the kidneys or the gall bladder. Its regular useprevents future tone formation.Research has shown the remarkable therapeutic success of vitamin B6 or pyridoxine in thetreatment of kidney stones. This treatment has to be continued for several months for obtaininga permanent cure.The patient should take a low protein diet, restricting protein to one gram per kg. of food. Aliberal intake of fluid upto 3,000 ml. or more daily is essential to prevent the production of urineat the concentration level where the salts precipitate out.The patient should be given a large hot enema, followed by a hot bath with a temperature of 100o F, gradually increased to 112 o F. The head should be kept cold with cold application. Hotfomentation applied across the back in the region of the kidneys will relieve the pain. Certainyogasanas such as pavan-muktasana, uttanpadasana, bhujangasana, dhanursana andhalasana are also highly beneficial as they stimulate the kidneys.

High Blood Cholesterol

2007-04-20T02:48:00.000-07:00

Cholesterol, a yellowish fatty substance, is one of the essential ingredients of the body. Althoughit is essential to life, it has a bad reputation, being a major villain in heart disease. Every personwith a high blood cholesterol is regarded as a potential candidate for heart attack, a stroke orhigh blood pressure.Cholesterol is a building block of the outer membrane of cells. It is the principal ingredient in thedigestive juice bile, in the fatty sheaths that insulate nerves and in sex hormones, namely,estrogen and androgen. It performs several functions such as transportation of fat, providingdefense mechanism, protecting red blood cells and muscular membrane of the body.Most of the cholesterol found in the body is produced in the liver. However, about 20 to 30percent generally comes from the foods we eat. Some cholesterol is also secreted into theintestinal tract in bile and becomes mixed with the dietary cholesterol. The percentage ofingested cholesterol absorbed seemed to average 40 to 50 percent of the intake. The bodyexcretes extra cholesterol from the system through bowels and kidneys.The amount of cholesterol is measured in milligrams per 100 millimeters of blood. Normal levelof cholesterol varies between 150- 250 mg. per 100 ml. Persons with atherosclerosis haveuniformly high blood cholesterol usually above 250 mg. per 100 ml.In blood, cholesterol is bound to certain proteins - lipoproteins which have an affinity for bloodfats, known as lipids. There are two main types of lipoproteins : a low density one (LDL) and ahigh density one (HDL). The low density lipoprotein is the one which is considered harmful andis associated with cholesterol deposits in blood vessels. The higher the ratio of LDL to the totalcholesterol, the greater the risk of arterial damage and heart disease. The HDL on the otherhand plays a salutary role by helping remove cholesterol from circulation and thereby reduce therisk of heart disease.Cholesterol has been the subject of extensive study by researchers since 1769, when Frenchchemist, Polutier de La Salle purified the soapy-looking yellowish substance. The results of themost comprehensive research study, commissioned by the National Heart and Lung Institute ofthe U.S.A. were announced about four years ago. The 10-year study, considered most elaborateand most expensive research project in medical history, indicates that heart disease is directlylinked to the level of cholesterol in the blood and that lowering cholesterol significantly reducesthe incidence of heart attacks. It has been estimated that for every one per cent reduction incholesterol, there is a decrease in the risk of heart attack by two per cent.

Causes

Hyperchjolsterolaemia or increase in cholestrol is mainly a digestive problem caused by richfoods such as fried foods, excessive consumption of milk and its products like ghee,butter andcream,white flour, sugar, cakes, pastries, biscuits, cheese, ice cream as well as non-vegetarianfoods like meat, fish and eggs. Other causes of increase in cholesterol are irregularity in habits,smoking and drinking alcohol.Stress has been found to be a major cause of increased level of cholesterol. Adrenaline andcortison are both released in the body under stress. This, in turn, produces a fat metabolisingreaction. Adrenal glands of executive type aggressive persons produce more adrenaline thanthe easy going men. Consequently they suffer six to eight times more heart attacks than therelaxed men.

The Cure

To reduce the risk of heart disease, it is essential to lower the level of LDL and increase the levelof HDL. This can be achieved by improving the diet and changing the life style. Diet is the mostimportant factor. As a first step, foods rich in cholesterol and saturated fats, which lead toincrease in LDL level, should be reduced to the minimum. Cholesterol -rich foods are eggs, organ meats and most cheese, butter, bacon, beef, whole milk, virtually all foods of animal originas well as two vegetable oils, namely coconut and palm, are high in saturated fats and theseshould be replaced by polyunsaturated fats such as corn, safflower, sobayeans and sesame oilswhich tend to lower the level of LDL. There are monosaturated fats such as olive and peanut oilswhich have more or less neutral effect on the LDL level.The American Heart Association recommends that men should restrict themselves to 300 mg. ofcholesterol a day and women to 275 mg. It also prescribes that fat should not make up morethan 30 per cent of the diet and not more than one third of this should be saturated. TheAssociation, however, urges a somewhat strict regimen for those who already have elevatedlevels of cholesterol.The amount of fibre in the diet also influences the cholesterol levels and LDL cholesterol can belowered by taking diets rich in fibres. The most significant sources of dietary fibre areunprocessed wheat bran, whole cereals such as wheat , rice, barley, rye; legumes such aspotato, carrot, beet and turnips; fruits like mango and guava and green vegetables such ascabbage, lady’s finger, lettuce and celery. Oat bran is especially beneficial in lowering LDLcholesterol.Lecithin, also a fatty food substance and the most abundant of the phospholipids, is highlybeneficial in case of increase in cholesterol level. It has the ability to break up cholesterol intosmall particles which can be easily handled by the system. With sufficient intake of lecithin,cholesterol cannot build up against the walls of the arteries and veins. It also increases theproduction of bile acids made from cholesterol, thereby reducing its amount in the blood. Eggyolk, vegetable oils, whole grain cereals, soyabeans and unpasteurised milk are rich sources oflecithin. The cells of the body are also capable of synthesizing it as needed, if several of the Bvitamins are present.Diets high in vitamin B6, cholin and inositol supplied by wheat germ, yeast, or B vitaminsextracted from bran have been particularly effective in reducing blood cholesterol. Sometimesvitamin E elevates blood lecithin and reduces cholesterol presumably by preventing the essentialfatty acids from being destroyed by oxygen.Persons with high blood cholesterol level should drink at least eight to 10 glasses of water everyday as regular drinking of water stimulates the excretory activity of the skin and kidneys. This inturn facilitates elimination of excessive cholesterol from the system. Regularly drinking ofcoriander (dhania) water also helps lower blood cholesterol as it is a good diuretic andstimulates the kidneys. It is prepared by boiling dry seeds of coriander and straining thedecoction after cooling.Regular exercise also plays an important role in lowering LDL cholesterol and in raising the levelof protective HDL. It also promotes circulation and helps maintain the blood flow to every part ofthe body. Jogging or brisk walking, swimming, bicycling and playing badminton are excellentforms of exercise.Yogasnas are highly beneficial as they help increase perspiratory activity and stimulatesebaceous glands to effectively secrete accumulated or excess cholesterol from the musculartissue. Asanas like ardhamatsyaendrasana, shalabhasana, padmasanaand vajrasana are usefulin lowering blood cholesterol by increasing systemic activity.Hydrotherapy can be successfully employed in reducing excess cholesterol. Cold hip baths for10 minutes taken twice every day have proved beneficial. Steam baths are also helpful except inpatients suffering from hypertension and other circulatory disorders. Mud packs, applied over theabdomen improve digestion and assimilation. They improve the functioning of the liver and otherdigestive organs and activate kidneys and the intestines to promote better excretion.

Glaucoma

2007-04-20T02:45:00.000-07:00

Glaucoma is a serious eye condition characterised by an increase of pressure within the eyeball, called intraocular pressure. It is similar to high blood pressure in the body. The condition istherefore, also known as hypertension of the eye.A certain amount of intraocular pressure is considered necessary, but too much can causedamage to the eye and may result in vision loss. Glaucoma is the major cause of blindnessamong adults today. One out of every eight blind persons is a victim of glaucoma. Far sightedpersons are more prone to develop this disease than near sighted ones.

Symptoms

The first symptom of glaucoma is the appearance of halos or coloured rings round distantobjects, when seen at night. In this condition, the iris is usually pushed forward, and the patientoften complains of constant pain in the region of the brow, near the temples and the cheeks.Headaches are not uncommon. There is gradual impairment of vision as glaucoma develops,and this may ultimately result in blindness if proper steps are not taken to deal with the diseasein the early stages.

Causes

Medical science regards severe eye-strain or prolonged working under bad lighting conditions asthe chief causes of glaucoma. But, in reality, the root cause of glaucoma is a highly toxiccondition of the system due to dietetic errors, a faulty life style and the prolonged use ofsuppressive drugs for the treatment of other diseases. Eye-strain is only a contributory factor.Glaucoma is also caused by prolonged stress and is usually a reaction of adrenal exhaustion.The inability of the adrenal glands to produce aldosterone results in excessive loss of salt fromthe body and a consequent accumulation of fluid in the tissues. In the region of the eyes, theexcess fluid causes the eye ball to harden losing its softness and resilience. Glaucoma has alsobeen associated with giddiness, sinus conditions, allergies, diabetes, hypoglycemia,arteriosclerosis and an imbalance of the autonomic nervous system.

Treatment

The modern medical treatment for glaucoma is through surgery which relieves the internalpressure in the eye due to excess fluid. This, however, does not remove the cause of thepresence of the excess fluid. Consequently, even after the operation, there is no guaranteewhatsoever that the trouble will not recur, or that it will not affect the other eye. The naturaltreatment for glaucoma is same as that for any other condition associated with high toxicity andis directed towards preserving whatever sight remains. If treated in the early stages, the resultsare encouraging. Though cases of advanced glaucoma may be beyond a cure, even so certainnutritional and other biological approaches can prove effective in controlling the condition andpreserving the remaining sight.Certain foodstuff should be scrupulously avoided by patients suffering from glaucoma. Coffee inparticular, should be completely avoided because of its high caffeine content. Caffeine causesstimulation of vasoconstrictors, elevating blood pressure and increasing blood flow to the eye.Bear and tobacco, which can cause constriction of blood vessels, should also be avoided. Teashould be taken only in moderation. The patient should not take excessive fluids, whether it isjuice, milk or water at any time. He may drink small amounts several times with at least one hourintervals.The diet of the patient suffering from glaucoma should be based on three basic foodgroups,namely, seeds, nuts and grains ; vegetables and fruit, with emphasis on raw vitamin C rich foods, fresh fruits and vegetables. The breakfast may consist of oranges or grapes or anyother juicy fruits in season and a handful of raw nuts or seeds. A raw vegetable salad with olive oil and lemon juice dressing, two or three whole wheat chappatis and a glass of buttermilk maybe taken for lunch. The dinner may comprise of steamed vegetables, butter and cottage cheese.Certain nutrients have been found helpful in the treatment of glaucoma. It has been found thatthe glaucoma patients are usually deficient in vitamins A, B, C, protein ,calcium and otherminerals. Nutrients such as calcium and B complex have proved beneficial in relieving theintraocular condition. Many practitioners believe that intraocular pressure in glaucoma can belowered by vitamin C therapy. Dr. Michele Virno and his colleagues reported recently at ameeting of the Roman Opthalmological Society in Rome, Italy, that the average person weighing150 pounds be given 7000 mg. of ascorbic acid, five daily, acquired acceptable intraocularpressure within 45 days. Symptoms such as mild stomach discomfort and diarrhoea from thelarge doses of vitamin C were temporary and soon disappeared. It has also been suggested thatsome calcium should always be taken with each dose of ascorbic acid to minimise any sideeffects of the large dose.The patient should undertake various methods of relaxing and strengthening the eyes. Heshould avoid emotional stress and cultivate a tranquil, restful life style. He should also avoidprolonged straining of the eyes such as occurs during excessive T.V. or movie watching andexcessive reading. The use of sun glasses should be avoided.

Acne

2007-04-20T02:33:00.000-07:00

Acne is perhaps the most common chronic skin disease. It is an inflammatory condition of thesebaceous ( that is fat or grease) glands and hair follicles usually found on the face, the neck,chest and shoulders. Nearly eight out of ten young people between the ages of 12 and 24 sufferfrom some degree of acne. It is closely related to the disturbance in the hormones experiencedat puberty.The majority of patients recover between the ages 20 and 30 years. But it is still common in menover 30 years. In women, it rarely lasts beyond the early thirties and is normally worse beforeeach menstrual period. The diseases causes a great deal of embarrassment at an age whenpeople tend to be sensitive about personal appearance.The skin, covering the entire body, is a marvellous and intricate mechanism. It serves three mainpurposes ; namely, protection of the inner organism, regulation of body temperature andelimination of cell waste and systemic refuse. The skin is directly connected with and intimatelybound up with the working of the whole system. All skin diseases, including acne, are theoutcome of malfunctioning of the body as a whole.

Symptoms

Acne is characterized by the presence of comedones or blackheads, pimples, small superficialsebaceous cysts and scars. There are over half a dozen forms of acne. All of them areconcerned with sebaceous glands or the glands connected with hair follicles. The most commonform of acne is blackheads. The areas chiefly affected are the forehead, temples, cheeks, andchin, the chest and back. In rare cases, almost the entire body may be covered with black headswith extensive scarring.

Causes

All forms of acne have their origin in wrong feeding habits, such as irregular hours of eating,improper food, excess of starches and sugar, excess of fatty foods. Chronic constipation isanother major cause of acne. If the bowels do not move properly, waste matter is not eliminatedas quickly as it should be and the bloodstream becomes surcharged with toxic matter. The extraefforts of the skin to eliminate excess waste result in acne and other forms of skin disease. Yetanother important cause of acne is a devitalised condition of the skin resulting from unhygienicliving habits. Other causes of the disorder are excessive use of tea, coffee, alcohol or tobacco,strenuous studies, masturbation and sedentary habits which lead to indigestion and generaldebility.

Treatment

The treatment of acne by the administration of salve or ointment does not serve any purpose.They only suppress the action of the sebaceous glands temporarily. In nature cure, the mainemphasis is on diet and certain water applications. To begin with the patient should resort to all-fruit diet for about a week. IN this regimen, there should be three meals a day, consisting offresh juicy fruits, such as apples, pears, grapes, grape-fruit, pineapple and peaches. Citrus fruits,bananas, dried, stewed or tinned fruits should not be taken. Unsweetened lemon or plain water,either hot or cold, should be drunk and nothing else. During this period, warm -water enemashould be taken daily to cleanse the bowels and all other measures adopted to eradicateconstipation.After a week of all fruit diet, the patient can gradually adopt a well-balanced diet. Emphasisshould be on raw foods, especially fresh fruits and vegetables, sprouted seeds, raw nuts andwhole grain cereals, especially millet and brown rice. Further shorter periods on the all-fruits forthree days, or so may be necessary at a monthly interval till the condition of the skin improves.Strict attention to diet is essential for recovery. Starchy, protein and fatty foods, should be restricted. Meats, sugar, strong tea or coffee, condiments, pickles, refined and processed foodsshould all be avoided, as also soft drinks, candies, ice cream and products made with sugar andwhite flour.Two vitamins, namely, niacin and vitamin A have been used successfully to treat acne. Thevitamin therapy which may comprise a niacin, 100 mg. three times daily and vitamin A in largedoses upto 1,50,000 units per day should not exceed one month. Vitamin E is also vitallyimportant to prevent scarring from acne and in removing old scars.Another effective remedy in the realm of nutrition that seems to offer new promise of help foracne is zinc. It has shown dramatic results in some cases. Zinc should be taken in therapeuticdoses of 50 mg. three times a day. After noticeable improvement it can be gradually reduced.

Local Treatment

As regards local treatment, hot fomentation should be applied to open up the pores and squeezethe waste matter. Then rinse with cold water. Sun and air baths by exposing the whole body tosun and air are highly beneficial. The healing packs made of grated cucumber, oatmeal cookedin milk, and cooked, creamed carrots used externally, have been found to be effective.The orange peel is valuable in the treatment of acne. The peel, pounded well with water on apiece of stone, should be applied to the affected areas. The lemon has also proved beneficial inremoving pimples and acne . It should be applied regularly.A teaspoonful of coriander juice, mixed with a pinch of turmeric powder, is another effectivehome remedy for pimples and blackheads. The mixture should be applied to the face afterthoroughly washing it, every night before retiring.The juice of raw potatoes has also proved very valuable in clearing skin blemishes. Thiscleansing results from high content of potassium sulphur, phosphorous and chlorine in thepotato. These elements are, however, of value only when the potato is raw as in this state theyare composed of live organic atoms.A hot Epsom-salt bath twice a week will be highly beneficial in all cases of acne. This bath isprepared by adding one and a half kg. of Epsom -salt to 50 litres of water having a temperatureof about 100 o F. The patient should remain in the bath from 25 to 35minutes till he perspiresfreely. After the bath the patient should cool off gradually.