Introduction
They are effective and easy to follow.... many are based on recent research, while others were known in ancient times. But they have allbeen proven to be effective. So keep this guide close at hand and make the advice it offers a part of your daily life.
How to Fight Aging
Did you know that just walking for 30 minutes, 3 or 4 times a week is enough to combat aging?
According to researchers at the University of California, one of the principle causes of deterioration of the human organism's physical faculties is its diminished ability to metabolize glucose. And they showed that even leisurely exercise, like taking a walk, plays an important role in keeping glucose metabolism functioning smoothly.
Do you spend the whole day sitting at your desk or in front of a computer screen? Why not get up occasionally and do a few minutes of physical exercise? Don't worry about what other people think.
In some Japanese companies, it is even become a collective habit. Every twenty minutes a bell sounds, and everybody gets up to do some stretching exercises, after which they sit down againas if nothing had happened. Japanese managers are convinced that their employees are more productive when they are relaxed.
Are you anxious?
Is worrying one of your characteristics? Well, stop! It is okay to
worry, but at the right time.
Psychologists at the University of Pennsylvania tell patients who
suffer from anxiety to regularly do a daily twenty minute “worry
session,” always at the same time and in the same place. Collect your
head full of worries during the day (don’t suppress them!) and then
pour them out during your daily worry session.
Exaggerate your worries to the point of absurdity - knit your
brows, make faces, let the sweat flow, shake and cower as much as
you like. In other words, make a caricature of the part of yourself that
is always worried, and in so doing exorcise it.
Eliminating worry will help prevent numerous psychosomatic
illnesses, which result from living in a state of permanent anxiety.
Care for your heart while you sleep
In which position do you sleep?
If you sleep on your stomach or on your left side, you are putting
pressure on your heart with the extra body weight, while the heart has
to continue pumping blood as usual.
This additional burden wears the heart out more quickly. Think
about it - you spend more than one third of your life sleeping!
To reduce the strain on your heart, sleep on your right side, or on
your back. This simple technique will add years to your life.
How to avoid cancer caused by smoking
If you smoke, you can greatly reduce the risk of contracting
cancer by drinking carrot juice. This according to the German Doctor
Hans Nieper, founder of Eumatabolic Medicine, a new alternative
mode of treatment which has become very popular in Germany. The
carotene found especially in carrots prevents and can even cure
cancer.
Dr. Nieper states, “If you smoke 60 cigarettes a day but drink 4
glasses of carrot juice, you will still be less prone to contract cancer
than someone who doesn’t smoke but who doesn’t drink carrot juice.”
Of course, if you don’t smoke and do drink carrot juice all the better!
Avoid eye problems caused by T.V. and monitors
The eye was not made to be constantly focused on close objects.
If your work requires that you stare at a computer screen all day long
or if you watch a lot of television, stop from time to time to do a few
eye exercises.
For example, roll your eyes in large circles in both directions;
look over to each side as far as possible and then go from up to
down; or scan an imaginary text on the wall from left to right; or look
out the window as far as you can following the horizon then return to
a point right in front of you and begin again.
In this way, you will avoid long term eye problems, you will
enlarge your inner space, and relax both your eyes and your mind.
How to beat asthma
Asthma partially obstructs the bronchial tubes, making breathing
difficult. The cause of asthma is still not known. But if you are an
asthma sufferer, you can, through natural means, considerably reduce
the number of asthma attacks you get.
A placebo study has shown that asthmatics who consume 1 gram
of vitamin C per day had 4 times fewer attacks. When they stopped
taking vitamin C, the attacks resumed with the same frequency as
before (Trop. and Geog. Med., Vol. 32, Mo. 2, 1980).
As for magnesium, it also works wonders! Dr. Zack H. Haddad
of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Southern California
conducted a study on thirty children suffering from asthma associated
with allergies.
Twenty of them drank a daily amount of mineral water rich in
magnesium, while the others received no magnesium supplement.
After three months, the first group had a higher level of magnesium in
their blood, and they were able to breathe more easily.
So taking vitamin C and magnesium is an excellent way to
prevent asthma attacks.
But what can you do to breathe more easily during an attack?
Simply drink 2 or 3 cups of strong coffee. By activating blood
circulation, it eases respiratory blockage.
Losing weight: The Pakistani method
Pakistani women have an amazing trick they use to stay slim: they
keep a string permanently tied around their forearms. According to
Dr. Drupas, a gentle but constant pressure on the nerves in the
forearm stimulates certain glands, particularly those involved in
weight control (thyroid, suprarenals).
Why don’t you try it? Find two ordinary rubber bands and place
them around your right forearm, one third of the way up between your
wrist and elbow.
The rubber bands should exert noticeable pressure without cutting
off blood circulation and should not slip or slide when you move
your arm. This is not a tourniquet!
For best results, you have to wear the rubber bands constantly,
even at night when you sleep. It is also recommended not to wear any
other jewelry on the right arm.
What to do when you get something in your eye
Got some dust in your eye? Or some other irritant like an eyelash or
cigarette ash? You can use the following technique to help others as well
as yourself.
Before doing anything, make sure you don’t do what you absolutely
shouldn’t: rub or press the eye, lift the eyelid, or remove contact lenses
without washing your hands.
How to proceed?
· Examine your eye. Is it red? Swollen? Is it tearing? What do you
feel? Does it itch? Burn? Is your vision blurred?
· Let nature do its work - it is usually effective. Tears and natural eye
movements will usually get rid of the irritation.
· Try rinsing your eye with some warm water, or with drops. You
can pull on the skin around the eyes, but don’t touch the eyelid.
· If this doesn’t work, wash your hands, and then lift both the upper
and lower eyelids to locate the irritant. Is it on the inside of one of the
eyelids, or is it stuck to the eyeball itself? Pour some sterilized, warm
water on your eye to flush the irritant out.
· If you can’t locate the irritant or if the discomfort persists after you
have removed the particle, you would better consult a doctor.
A few tricks for treating insect bites
You don’t have to sit back and just passively put up with insects,
especially those that like to bite (mosquitoes, wasps etc.). Eat
asparagus and your sweat will develop an odor that repels insects. Or
apply lemon oil to your skin.
If you are bitten, there are natural substances to soothe the
irritation. Aloe vera has extraordinary powers of soothing skin
disorders. It is available in forms for both internal and external
application in most health and beauty stores.
If you have one of these amazing plants growing at home, cut the
tip off one of the leaves (the leaf will heal itself). Apply the pulp and
juice to the itching or swollen area.
Lightly boiled cabbage or leek makes an excellent analgesic
poultice. Of course, if you are hiking in the woods, you might have a
little trouble finding cabbage! Plantain also works well. Cut it and rub
it to get to the juice then apply it to the affected area.
How to get rid of liver spots
If you have liver spots, it is up to you to get rid of them.
May be you took too much sun, without using the proper
precautions like sunscreen, gradual exposure, etc. If you continue
ignoring your skin in this way, you might end up looking like a lizard!
Liver spots can also result from a thyroid deficiency. The thyroid
gland must therefore be stimulated through a variety of means. For
example, brown seaweed tablets: take one a day every morning, for
fifteen days a month.
Or apply a cream composed of 1 teaspoon oxygenated water and
4 1/2 tablespoons lanovaseline every morning and night.
Aloe vera (see previous chapter) is very effective in treating skin
disorders. Daily application of aloe vera over a period of time can
eliminate liver spots completely.
Also take a look at your nutrition: the real problem might lie in
what you do or don’t eat, like a diet too high in fat.
Treat diarrhea without medication
If you have ever been to a tropical country, you have probably
experienced diarrhea: frequent and uncontrolled evacuation of liquid
stool caused by bacteria in local water, milk or food.
Diarrhea can also be caused at home by excesses in diet (a diet
that is too rich) or an allergic reaction to certain foods or medication
or even by stress.
To treat diarrhea, avoid all solid food on the first day. Drink
liquids like water, apple juice, meat or vegetable boullion and tea.
These will compensate for your loss of water - dehydration being one
of the main dangers of diarrhea - and will give your intestines a
period of rest.
If you have stomach cramps, rub your hands together for about a
minute. Then place both palms on your abdominal region. The heat
will soothe the pain.
On the second day, eat small quantities of solid food. Among the
least irritating are cooked cereals (especially rice), biscuits and soft
boiled eggs.
You can also try charcoal. It comes in tablet or capsule form (you
can also get it off burnt toast!)
Chinese medicine has always considered ginger one of the best
remedies for diarrhea. Dilute a tablespoon in hot water and
add honey.
Use seaweed to stimulate your immune system
Japanese seaweed possesses remarkable immunizing properties,
especially in fighting cancer. Japanese researchers at the University of
Kitasato have discovered 6 kinds of seaweed which inhibit the
growth of colon cancer cells in rats, notably two types of Laminaria.
Laminaria extract has proven 70% to 84% effective in suppressing
intestinal tumors.
Wakame, another Japanese seaweed, is now familiar to many
Westerners, thanks to the arrival in the west of Japanese macrobiotic
cooking, which uses it a lot.
Pharmacologists at the University of Hawaii injected rats with an
extract of this substance. They found that the seaweed helped prevent
and cure cancer. The researchers claim that Wakame fights cancer by
activating and strengthening the immune system. It can be found in
most health food stores.
How to prevent motion sickness - naturally
Did you know that half a teaspoon of ground ginger is more
effective than chemical medication in suppressing motion or sea
sickness? And unlike most medication, it will not make you drowsy.
Ginger has been used in the Orient for centuries to prevent sea
sickness.
Researchers asked subjects who were especially susceptible to
motion sickness to sit in a reclining chair that spun around at high
speed. All the subjects who ingested a well known medication or
who took a placebo experienced violent nausea and/or vomiting.
On the other hand, six of the twelve subjects who took ginger
twenty minutes before the test experienced no discomfort. They
consumed only 840 milligrams of ground ginger, which is the
equivalent of half a teaspoon.
The Japanese have a very curious method of treating all kinds of
motion sickness. They use an adhesive plaster to fasten an
“umeboshi” (a very salty fermented plum, available in most health
food stores in the West) to their navel. The idea may seem a little
strange, but what have you got to lose!
The anti-allergy vitamin
So much has been said in praise of Vitamin C. So it is not
surprising that it is also effective in treating allergic reactions like
hayfever.
We recommend taking Vitamin C in the form of ascorbate rather
then ascorbic acid. When taken in ascorbic acid form, it can cause
gastro-intestinal disorders.
To fight an allergic reaction, you should consume up to 8 grams.
5 grams are necessary, on average. Start with a dose of 3 grams.
Every three hours, take another 1 or 2 grams, until the symptoms
disappear completely.
How to prevent Flatulence (Aerophagy)
Aerophagy results simply from “eating” air. The condition is not
dramatically serious, but it does bloat the stomach and can prove
embarrassing (stomach gurgles, etc.)
How to prevent it? Above all chew your food properly and savor
it fully. Swallowing too much is a direct cause of aerophagy. So don’t
swallow needlessly.
Don’t drink a lot when you eat. Avoid tobacco and alcohol,
cabbage, radishes, doughy bread, strong spices and bubbly drinks.
Don’t eat food that is too hot or too cold.
And pay attention to the kinds of food you eat together: make a
note of any combination that seems to provoke an attack and avoid it
in future.
How to put an end to heartburn
Heartburn usually results from excess acidity in the stomach, or
from improper functioning of your digestive system.
At the point where the esophagus and stomach join, a special
muscle opens and closes the esophagus. When we swallow food this
muscle relaxes to let the food pass into the stomach after which it
closes again.
But it can happen that the muscle malfunctions. The contents of
the stomach then rise back up the esophagus, irritating the area. And
this results in the infamous feeling of heartburn.
How to stop it? Avoid acidic foods (lemons, etc.), alcohol, fat
or fried food, food that is overcooked, coffee, juice, tomato base
products and chocolate. But don’t deprive yourself too much. Rather,
observe which foods bring on heartburn and avoid them. Also, don’t
go to sleep right after eating (you should eat supper around 7 o’clock)
and don’t smoke, especially after meals.
A miracle remedy
If we offered you a miracle remedy that prevents cardiac disease,
certain types of cancer, diabetes, obesity, tooth decay and varicose
veins, would you buy it? Certainly you would.
There is such a product. But it is not a recent discovery and you
won’t find it in a pharmacy but at the grocery store. We are talking
about fiber.
A study conducted in Holland on 871 men, over a period of ten
years, showed that subjects who had a low fiber diet were three
times more susceptible to mortal disease - causes notwithstanding -
than those who ate a lot of fiber (Future Youth).
This said, it cannot be confirmed at present that fiber prevents
the above mentioned diseases in all cases. But there is conclusive
proof that they occur more frequently in populations with low fiber
diets which is precisely the case in the west.
According to The Lancet (the British Medical Journal) a diet
which contains at least 37 grams of fiber per day (the equivalent of
one cup of bran, one apple, one potato and a half cup of cooked
spinach) can effectively protect the organism against chronic illnesses
common to western society.
So fiber is useful in combatting many disorders
besides constipation.
Reducing your cholesterol
To reduce cholesterol:
· First cut down on saturated fats. To do this:
· Eat lean meat. Select lean cuts and ask your butcher to cut off
the fat.
· Drink skim milk instead of whole milk.
Do the same for all dairy products. Note that vegetarians have a
much lower cholesterol level (almost twice as low as average) which
is perfectly understandable, since cholesterol is only found in
products derived from animals.
· Alcohol - in moderation. Not more than two glasses a day.
However, it does appear that drinking a moderate amount of alcohol
raises the number of HDL lipids (the good ones!), which break down
cholesterol. (Moderation = two 4 oz. glasses of wine or two 12 oz.
beers.)
· Do regular exercise, for example walking.
· Take Vitamin E. It reduces the risk of coronary disease.
· Calcium brewer’s yeast, Vitamin C and Vitamin B-6 also
combat the accumulation of cholesterol. And don’t forget lecithin,
which helps fight excess cholesterol, arteriosclerosis, hypertension.
Digest better
There is a plant for each type of digestion problem.
· AIGREMOINE is useful when the stomach problem is
accompanied by enteritis, diarrhea and/or chronic liver infection. It
helps tone a lazy digestive system. And it also helps regularize acidity
and soothe ulcers by improving metabolism.
3 or 4 cups a day. 3 1/2 to 4 tablespoons per quart of water.
· ANGELICA is a digestive, an aperitif, a stimulant, a tonic. It
decongests and soothes stomach pains and swelling.
Prepare an infusion (tea) preferably using the fresh plant: 3 1/2
tablespoons of roots per quart of water. If your stomach is very
swollen, prepare and drink 3 cups per day made of 5 tablespoons of
seeds per quart of water.
· ANISE is a soothing digestive. It aids digestion and the
elimination of intestinal gas, it soothes stomach cramps, aerophagy,
dyspepsia (contractions of the digestive organs, dizziness and a heavy
feeling after eating).
2 or 3 cups per day, after meals: 2 tablespoons of seeds per quart
of water.
· CAMOMILE: a digestive, sedative, anti-inflammation agent
and tonic. It helps painful or difficult digestion, stomach cramps,
gastro-intestinal spasms, loss of appetite, and it helps expulsion of gas.
Menstrual cramps - suffer no more!
To reduce the intensity of menstrual symptoms, you can change
your diet:
· Less sugar, and slightly more protein.
· Diuretic foods such as eggplant, cucumbers and parsley can help
diminish water retention.
· Calcium supplements (1 gram per day) and magnesium (500
milligrams) can help reduce anxiety (always take both).
· Vitamin B-6 (not more than 50 milligrams per day) can alleviate
symptoms of anxiety and tension.
· Vitamins E and C also help reduce the intensity of cramps.
· Aspirin has a mildly soothing effect.
· And once again you can turn to plants to relieve your pains:
* ANGELICA in infusion: 3 1/2 tablespoons of root per quart of
water.
* MATRIX (derived from the Latin for womb): 2 teaspoons of
flowers per quart of water.
Stop catching colds
As much as possible, avoid coming into close contact with
infected persons, especially if they cough or sneeze.
A person with a cold is extremely contagious: he or she fills the
air with fine particles of saliva or mucous which transport the virus
microbe. Even if the person is careful to wipe his nose with tissue or
a handkerchief, the microbes will be transported to his hands.
And studies have shown that these viruses are transmitted through
hand contact. So if you have to shake hands with someone who has a
cold, you would better wash soon after!
What can you do if you do catch a cold?
It is useless to take antibiotics: they have no effect on viruses.
However, there are certain substances found in alcohol which help
decongest sinuses, that is why a good hot toddy can work wonders.
But take care of your liver: a toddy is just as good with a little rum as
with a lot.
You don’t have to get drunk to get better. You don’t even have to
drink it - just sniff some strong alcohol like cognac or brandy and
breathe in the fumes.
Use heat to cure
Everyone has heard about how good a sauna feels, and of the
relaxing effect of a steam bath which bathes you in hot vapor.
But there are other heat treatments which are equally beneficial.
Heat relaxes the muscles and ligaments. When applied locally, for
example, with hot towels, it can ease muscle spasms. It can also
reduce arthritic pain. Heat dilates the blood vessels, which in turn
activates circulation.
Applied to a wound, it can prevent infection by helping white
blood corpuscles and fresh oxygen surround the area more quickly.
How to combat fatigue
First make sure you are sleeping enough.
Is your nutrition sufficient? In general women need at least 1200
calories per day and men 1500.
Avoid monotony: a varied diet will be more likely to provide the
nutritive elements you need to conserve your energy.
The sensation of fatigue may be stress-related, especially when
you experience emotional stress. Do you feel tense at work or at
home?
Lastly, don’t neglect physical exercise. Tired or not, get out in the
fresh air every day. Walking is the minimum effort necessary for
staying in shape.
Protect yourself against cancer
Radical liberals are not a political group, but a kind of very
active molecule that is suspected of being one of the causes of cancer.
How can you protect yourself? Diet plays an important role here,
especially in the absorption of anti-oxidants. The strongest
anti-oxidizing agent is Vitamin E, which is found in wheat germ oil
and sunflower seeds.
Next comes Vitamin C (oranges, grapefruits, lemons, red peppers etc.).
Beta carotene also absorbs large amounts of radical liberals.
This substance seems to act as a protecting agent against most types
of cancer.
Where do you find it? In red vegetables (like tomatoes), orange
ones (carrots), yellow (squash), and dark green (broccoli). All these
are rich in beta carotene. So make them a regular part of your menu!
Prevent high blood pressure
Research has shown that people whose diet is rich in potassium
(vegetarians for example) are less likely than others to develop high
blood pressure.
Calcium is also beneficial. Fortunately, potassium and calcium
are abundantly present in a large variety of foods.
Fruits, vegetables, beans, fish, fowl and lean meats are full of
potassium.
Calcium is a little more restricted. Foods rich in calcium usually
also contain large amounts of sodium and fat, which can increase
blood pressure.
However, moderate amounts of milk are recommended, as well
as yogurt, almonds, bananas, grapes, broccoli, potatoes, beans, tofu
and sardines.
Iron strong health
Without iron, there would be no hemoglobin in the blood.
Hemoglobin gives red corpuscles their color. And it is the
hemoglobin that carries oxygen to all parts of the body.
If you lack iron, an insufficient supply of oxygen in your
hemoglobin will produce sensations of fatigue, headaches and
shortness of breath.
Men don’t have to worry too much: most men have a reserve of
iron stored in their body that could last 3 years !
But women, because of the menstrual cycle, need twice as much
iron as men.
And the amount is even higher for pregnant women. Vitamin C
doubles the amount of iron the body absorbs: so it is a good idea to
add a glass of tomato or orange or grapefruit juice to every meal.
On the other hand, tea reduces the amount of iron absorbed by
50% and coffee by about 39%.
Aging with a healthy body and mind
Did you know that sexual activity can keep you looking good as
you age? Studies conducted in Sweden have shown that elderly
people who have sexual partners have much more vitality and a better
memory than those who do not.
So don’t let your golden years deprive you of the pleasures of
sex !
Just forget about the obsession of having to “perform” - the final
result is less important than the stimulation itself.
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