Natural Health Information – Page 4

How To Avoid Genetically Engineered Food

Oct – Dec 1999
www.safe.food.org

What to Eat, How to Shop

If you really want to avoid the influence of genetic engineering, buy fresh organic produce. If you want to buy processed foods and avoid genetically engineered ingredients, you will have to read products labels. If the label mentions any of the ingredients listed below without explicitly qualifying it as organic, then the product probably contains genetically engineered ingredients.

Primary Suspects: Ingredients and Products to Check

Soybeans: Soy flour, soy oil, lecithin, soy protein isolates and concentrates. Products that may contain genetically engineered soy derivatives: vitamin E, tofu dogs, cereals, veggie burgers and sausages, tamari, soy sauce, chips, ice cream, frozen yogurt, infant formula, sauces, protein powder, margarine, soy cheeses, crackers, breads, cookies, chocolates, candies, fried foods, shampoo, bubble bath, cosmetics, enriched flours and pastas.
Corns: Corn flour, corn starch, corn oil, corn sweeteners, syrups. Products that may contain genetically engineered corn derivatives: vitamin C, tofu dogs, chips, candies, ice cream, infant formula, salad dressings, tomato sauces, breads, cookies, cereals, baking powder, alcohol, vanilla, margarine, soy sauce, tamari, soda, fried foods, powdered sugar, enriched flours and pastas.
Canola: Oil. Products that may contain genetically engineered canola derivatives, chips, salad dressings, cookies, margarine, soaps, detergents, soy cheeses, fried foods.
Cotton: Oil, fabric. Products that may contain genetically engineered cotton or its derivatives: clothes, linens, chips, peanut butter, crackers, cookies.
Potatoes: Right now, the only potato that has been genetically engineered is the Burbank Russet, but you still have to look out for potato starch and flour. Products that may contain genetically engineered potatoes or derivatives; unspecified processed or restaurant potato products (fries, mashed, baked, mixes, etc.), chips, Passover products, vegetable pies, soups.
Tomatoes: No plum or Roma tomatoes have been genetically engineered. But one cherry tomato has, as have regular tomatoes. Products that may contain genetically engineered tomatoes or derivatives: sauces, purees, pizza, lasagne, and all of those wonderful Italian and Mexican foods.
Dairy Products: Milk, cheese, butter, buttermilk, sour cream, yogurt, whey. You have to ask several questions when you are looking at dairy products. Have the cows been treated with BGH? What kind of feed have they been given? If they are not being fed organic grains, chances are quite likely that they will be eating genetically engineered animal feed. What does this do to their milk products? No one knows.
Animal Products: Because animal feed often contains genetically engineered organisms, all animal products, or by-products may be affected.

Please note that a food may contain some of these items and yet be free from genetically engineered organisms, but we have no way of knowing without tracking down every brand, every product and every ingredient. Even reading labels is no guarantee that you will be able to avoid genetically engineered ingredients, because manufacturers are not required to list every little ingredient, enzyme or organism used in the manufacturing process. The following products may also be genetically altered, contain or originate from genetically engineered organisms: candies, cookies, breads, cereals, corn syrups, oils, juices, detergents, dough conditioners, yeast, sugar, animal feed, vitamins and enzymes used in the processing of cheese.

Genetically Engineered Enzymes

Enzymes are naturally occurring proteins that speed up biochemical processes. They’re used to produce everything from wine and cheese to corn syrup and baked goods. Enzymes allow the manufacturer to produce more of a particular product in a shorter amount of time, thus increasing profit.

Generally, the use of enzymes is beneficial. In some cases, they can replace harmful chemicals and reduce water and energy consumption in food production. However, enzymes produced by genetically engineered organisms are cause for concern. Not enough is known about the long-term effects of these enzymes on humans and the ecosystem for them to be used across the board.

FDA regulations on enzyme use is a grey area. Enzymes used in the processing of foods do not have to be listed on product labels because they are not considered foods. Also, when enzymes are genetically engineered, the manufacturer is not required to notify the FDA that the enzymes have been modified. The lists of GE enzymes known by the FDA is, by their own admission, “probably incomplete.”

Worldwide, the enzyme market is a $1.3 billion industry. One of the largest enzyme manufacturers are Novo Nordisk, which manufactures GE and non-GE enzymes. You can contact Novo Nordisk (U.S.) at [email protected] and let them know your views on genetic engineering.

The FDA provided us with this partial list of genetically engineered enzymes:

Chymosin – used in the production of cheese
Novamyl (TM) – used in baked goods to help preserve freshness
Alpha amylase – used in the production of white sugar, maltodextrins and nutritive carbohydrate sweeteners (corn syrup)
Aspartic (proteinase enzyme from R. miehei) – used in the production of cheese
Pullulanase – used in the production of high fructose corn syrup

If you want to absolutely avoid genetically engineered enzymes you will have two choices: avoid foods in the following categories or call the food manufacturers directly and ask them if their enzymes are genetically engineered. They will probably have no idea. Ask them to check and call them back again. Let us know if you get written confirmation.

Beers, wines and fruit juices – (Enzymes used: Cereflo, Ceremix, Neutrase, Ultraflo, Termamyl, Fungamyl, AMG, Promozyme, Viscozyme, Finizym, Maturex, Pectinex, Pectinex Ultra SP-L, Pectinex BE-3L, Pectinex AR, Ultrazym, Vinozym, CItrozym, Novoclairzym, Movoferm 12, Glucanex, Bio-Cip Membrane, Peelzym, Olivex/Zietex)
Sugar – Enzymes used: Termamyl, Detranase, Invertase, Alpha Amylase
Oils – Enzymes used: Lipozyme IM, Novozym 435, Lecitase, Lipozyme, Novozym 398, Olivex, Zietes
Dairy products – Enzymes used: Lactozym, Palatase, Alcalase, Pancreatic Trypsin Novo (PTN), Flavourzyme, Catazyme, Chymosin
Baked Goods – Enzymes used: Fungamyl, AMG, Pentopan, Novomyl, Glutenase, Gluzyme

In many cases the enzymes named above are brand names. They may appear under other names as well. Enzymes are usually found in minuscule quantities in the final food product. The toxin found in genetically engineered tryptophan was less than 0.1 percent of the total weight of the product, yet it was enough to kill people. The use of enzymes is pervasive in the food industry. Nothing is known about the long-term effects of genetically engineered enzymes. We include this information so you can make an informed choice about whether you want to eat them or not.

Probiotics: First Line of Defense Against a Food Supply Gone Haywire

Natasha Trenev

A man complains of severe lower abdominal distress, including severe cramps, nausea, vomiting – a condition of many years’ standing. He begins taking daily parabiotic (beneficial bacteria) supplements and experiences relief for the first time. A Woman, diagnosed with ‘everything’ wrong with her bowels, suffers for 30 years and can’t go anywhere unless there is a restroom nearby. She decides to augment her daily routine with parabiotic. Her turnaround is so dramatic, her family physician husband is completely amazed.

We see impressive, even amazing, results on a regular basis with persons who suffer from some type of intestinal illness, and who decide to add parabiotic to their daily health regimen. It is becoming increasingly clear to researchers and medical professionals involved in this arena that beneficial bacteria play a crucial role in helping to support our intestinal and immune systems. Yet the role played by parabiotic is still not fully understood by all health practitioners.

While beneficial bacteria reside in the intestinal tract and directly affect the health of our complex internal ecosystem, we are seeing overwhelming evidence that they also indirectly influence the health and function of major organs in the body and the optimal performance of the immune system itself. A strong gastro-intestinal tract is truly the gateway to good health. It is the fuelling station as well as the waste-management system for the body. If the gastro-intestinal tract is continuously supplied with the properly selected beneficial bacteria-super strains of L. acidophilus, B. bifidum and L. bulgaricus – it has a much greater ability to digest food efficiently.

When food is properly digested, the body can absorb nutrients without inciting allergic responses. Bioavailability is the key issue regarding digested food and nutrients and therefore paramount for the body’s proper functioning. Selected super strains of L. acidophilus (such as the NAS) and B. bifidum (such as the Malyoth) are genetically predisposed to adhere to the small and large intestinal wall to exclude disease-causing (pathogenic) bacteria from obtaining attachment sites. This genetic predisposition can be manifested by the selected super strains only when they are produced in a medium that encourages such predisposition. When the selected super strains employ competitive exclusion correctly, the immune system is spared from hyperactivity due to bacterial translocation. Furthermore, components of cell wall fractions and other cellular material stimulate immunoglobulin activity and enhance macrophage function while normalizing white blood cell counts. These special beneficial bacterial features are strain specific. Immune system hyperactivity is further reduced by the beneficial bacteria’s competitive exclusion of pathogenic bacteria. Beneficial bacteria only make non-invasive attachments. Pathogenic bacteria make invasive attachments that lead to micro sepsis along the intestinal wall, leading to inflammation and, of course, a diseased state. On the other hand, when the tasks of the selected strains of beneficial bacteria are successfully carried out, the overall immune system is strengthened and supported.

INTERNAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

Our intestinal tract teams with different species of microorganisms – 400 of them – weighing 3 pounds. Remember, up to 40% of our dry weight faecal matter is composed of bacteria! Some of the beneficial to the host – others are chameleons or not so friendly. The internal microbiological ecology is a rapidly changing one requiring continuous replenishment of beneficial bacteria, which are depleted daily by outside environment pollutants and food contamination. Even when our external environment is relatively ‘clean’ by age 40 we begin to lose most of our beneficial flora by virtue of the aging process. What’s important for all age groups is to encourage the growth of beneficial bacteria while minimizing the proliferation of the unfriendly ones.

Beneficial bacteria are single-celled organisms that occur singly, in pairs, and in short chains. They are normally present in the skin, the mouth, the digestive system, and the vaginal mucosa of humans, where they perform a wide variety of indispensable functions to protect their hosts against harmful bacteria. Their capacity to survive through the GI tract in spite of gastric acidity and bile salt toxicity is essential for beneficial bacteria to have any biological effect on the body. Selecting strains, growth mediums, production methods, and delivery systems is crucial to the survival of probiotic supplements.

Beneficial bacteria are also called lactic bacteria, for their ability to transform lactose (milk sugar) into lactic acid. Lactic acid functions as a digestive antiseptic and facilitates the efficient absorption of calcium and phosphorus in milk products. When lactobacilli are continually grown in a non-dairy medium, they forget to produce lactase, an enzyme necessary to digest lactose (milk sugar). It is ironic that consumers are told to take a non-dairy based probiotic supplement to assist them with their lactose intolerance. These beneficial bacteria make the lactase for their own use. When lactic bacteria are not grown in milk, they have no need to produce lactase.

It is most important to remember that beneficial bacteria minimize the proliferation and effects of the many dangerous pathogens found readily in the world’s food supply. Beneficial bacteria minimize these illnesses, excluding pathogens by competing with them for attachment sites on the intestinal walls. When the population of selected super strains of beneficial bacteria in the intestine is increased, vitamin B6 is produced, helping to boost the immune system.

The effect of L. acidophilus in assisting digestion has been promoted through mainstream advertising efforts. Unfortunately, most so-called acidophilus supplements do not contain L. acidophilus and therefore would not exhibit the special features of a super strain. Not as well understood by many is how effectively super strains of L. acidophilus work in concert with B. bifidum and L. bulgaricus to help promote a healthy and strong immune system. Some health professionals, especially those in complementary and alternative health care, value beneficial bacteria supplementation to support optimal health. However, oftentimes because of its high profile, it is L. acidophilus that is recommended to the exclusion of B. bifidum and L. bulgaricus, thus demonstrating an information gap concerning the ‘wholistic’ probiotic approach. The fact is when all three selected strains of these beneficial bacteria are present in sufficient numbers in the intestinal tract, they work synergistically to offset and control the effects of pathogenic bacteria, thereby promoting health.

What does this synergistic activity consist of, and how does it positively affect the human host? Each of the bacteria – L. acidophilus, B. bifidum and L. bulgaricus – produce natural antimicrobial substances, enzymes, and vitamins that help promote a healthy digestive and disposal system. These include but are not limited to lactic acid, acetic acid, hydrogen peroxide, acidolin, acidophilin, lactocidin, lactobacilin, bifidin, bulgarican, protease, amylase, lactase, and vitamins, all of which are very strain specific. These substances assist the digestive system and help strengthen the immune system, thereby providing protection against pathogenic bacteria.

The presence of the antimicrobial substances in the supernatant (original culturing medium), along with the high numbers of viable probiotic cells in uniquely produced and selected probiotics, have been cited in independent studies as highly effective agents against pathogens such as Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, and Staphylococcus aureus. The presence of the supernatant is as important as the living cells in a superior probiotic supplement.

L. acidophilus, for instance, helps the body digest and absorb nutrients from food and vitamins in the small intestine without allowing the immune system to become hypersensitive. Unchecked immune function hypersensitivity leads to allergic reactions. In the female vaginal tract, where yeast infections can occur, the super stain of acidophilus helps produce tiny amounts of hydrogen peroxide to prevent these infections. With B. bifidum, researchers have discovered that its use can result in improved liver function for patients with liver disease and can assist in lowering blood toxin levels. Bifidum also produces vitamin B and formic, lactic, and acetic acid – all of which discourage the activity of disease-causing bacteria. As for L. bulgaricus, its role in the large intestine is to escort the unwanted pathogens out through the normal elimination process. It also assists the body to digest food components like proteins and carbohydrates and helps monitor the pH factor to support a healthy internal ecology.

THE SALMONELLA/E. COLI THREAT

Dangerous pathogens such as Salmonella and E. coli can easily upset the balance of this internal environment in the body-causing serious illness, even death.

Recent news reports have feature frequent food-poisoning outbreaks. In June of 1998, 4500 people in Chicago were sickened by potato salad tainted with E. coli in one of the country’s largest outbreaks. That same month in Georgia, a virulent form of E. coli traced to a water park sickened at least six children. Once more in June 1998, a Minneapolis food company recalled millions of pounds of cereal sold under 39 brand names because of a possible link to a Salmonella outbreak in 11 states. In addition, 40 to 60 percent of the chicken flock in the U.S. is infected with Salmonella, and a whopping 80 percent is infected with H. pylori, the cause of stomach ulcers, and stomach and colon cancers. In August of 1998 over 125 were sickened by barbecue meat and sauce tainted with salmonella at a restaurant in Columbiana, Alabama, resulting in one death and numerous persons hospitalized.

An Australian doctor claims that 50 percent of the world’s human population is infected with H. pylori. From the E. coli breakout in Japan in 1996 that sickened thousands and almost caused the government to quarantine a whole city, to the strawberry scare throughout the United States in the spring of 1997, as well as the ‘Mad Cow Disease’ that erupted in Europe and came to the forefront of the news in 1996 – food poisoning is rampant and thriving worldwide. The Centres for Disease Control and the World Health Organization attribute this rise in food-poisoning outbreaks to several causes. Among them are high consumer demand for ready-made foods, ignorance about correct food storage temperatures, poor and inappropriate food preparation, and poor hygiene, along with the continually changing nature and escalating emergence of a new drug resistant microorganisms. According to Mitchell Hooke, executive director for the Australia Food Council and the Food Safety Industry Advisory Group, part of the problem is that today there is an entire range of microorganisms causing food poisoning. Thirty years ago, there were only three or four microorganisms that caused food-borne illnesses.

Although meat and poultry are definite culprits, eating vegetarian meals is not necessarily the answer. Fruits, vegetables, and grains (as indicated above) have also been tainted. The entire worldwide food supply is at risk. With increased international importation and exportation, germs travel easily across oceans and continents. Using meat from many different sources in a ground beef patty, for instance, can spread many pathogens from any given source throughout the prepared food rather than just staying on the surface where they can be easily cooked off.

E. coli has become the fourth most common cause of food poisoning in the northwest United State and is spreading via the beef produced there. If a person is infected with food poisoning from raw meat, illness can strike from 30 minutes to two weeks later, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The scary part is that this could result in a potentially life-threatening illness that may not respond to antibiotic therapy. The USDA is stepping up inspections of beef for the presence of the particular E. coli strain that can cause chronic kidney failure. Although the 0157:H7 strain of E. coli – which produces the virulent shiga toxin – has gained notoriety over the last several years, it is only one of many dangerous E. coli strains. In the late 1980s, cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) caused by oil strains of E. coli were reported in Australia. Other outbreaks of Oil strains have been reported in Italy, France and Germany.

E. coli is not the only culprit, Salmonella and Shigella are, of course, in great supply. Salmonella is known to cause vomiting, fever, diarrhoea, and abdominal cramps, and Shigella can cause dysentery. Campylobacter (reclassified as Helicobacter pylori) has been associated with peptic ulcers in several studies. These bacteria present a crucial threat to humans, especially with the increase in chicken consumption in the United States. Unfortunately, studies show a great percentage of poultry sold in US grocery stores are contaminated with H. pylori (campylobacter). Part of the problem is the fact that H. pylori survives at refrigerator temperatures even better than at room temperature, and it likes to live with just a small amount of oxygen. Consequently, it thrives in plastic-wrapped packages of poultry at the grocery store. H. pylori can cause Guillain-Barre syndrome, and has been associated with meningitis, convulsions, bacteraemia and, occasionally, miscarriage.

A 1995 USDA study estimates that Salmonella and H. pylori in meat and poultry cause a shocking four million cases of illness and 3,000 deaths a year. The total number of food-poisoning cases of U.S. residents every year is increasing, and as many as 9,000 die from it.

SUPPLEMENTING WITH PROBIOTIC DAILY

In light of the growing dangers of food contamination, food poisoning, and the growing spread of vancomycin-resistant pathogens found in our food supply and hospitals, daily supplementation with the selected super-strains of beneficial bacteria becomes ever more important. Though we all want to stay healthy and live longer and more productive lives, many still wonder why probiotics should be recommended for daily intake. This approach can be equated with another daily process we all follow to stay healthy. No one complains about brushing and flossing their teeth two or three times a day. Why should one object to taking probiotic supplements for the rest of one’s life? The logic is the same for both approaches:

Brushing and flossing is necessary to minimize bacterial-associated problems of tooth-decay and gum disease by minimizing the amount of bacteria present in the mouth after eating.

Daily supplementation of a regulated and tested probiotic ensures that one person receives adequate amounts of bacteria, including L. acidophilus for the small intestine, B. bifidum for the large intestine, and L. bulgaricus for transient bacteria control, to benefit the entire intestinal tract.

Even beneficial residents such as L. acidophilus and B. bifidum get excreted out of the body because their attachment is non-invasive; therefore, they can be sloughed off by new intestinal cell growth, colon cleansers, and antibiotic preparations both herbal and pharmaceutical in nature. Thus, supplementing with properly selected probiotics daily is critical to maintain high levels of beneficial bacteria to continuously help eliminate pathogens from the body and to escort the uprooted pathogens out of the intestinal system.

Natasha Trenev, founder of Natren, Inc. is a researcher, educator, lecturer, and author in the field of probiotics. She wrote the dairy standards for liquid yoghurt that were adopted by the California Department of Agriculture; testified to set probiotic standards for kefir that were adopted by the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets and helped write the probiotic standards adopted by the National Nutritional Foods Association and read into the U.S. Congressional Record. She is the author of two books on probiotics.

Healing Through Sunflower Oil

Dr. F. Karach M.D.

The result of this healing research has attracted in amazement and further research. This additional research concerning oil therapy has now been thoroughly documented, especially with regard to physiological similarities between individuals.

It is surprising that through this biological healing method, a wide variety of symptoms have unquestionably disappeared without any side effects. This simple method makes it possible to completely heal such a wide variety of diseases which would normally be treated by an operation or by powerful or potent drugs, usually with significant side effects. The simplicity of this healing system in which oil is swirled backwards and forwards in the mouth is due to the stimulating effects which it has on the body’s eliminatory system.

Through this method, it is possible to heal individual cells, cell conglomerates such as lymph nodes, and more complex tissues such as the internal organs simultaneously. This occurs because the beneficial microflora throughout the body are provided with a healthy continuum.

Without this natural bodily intrusive element provided by the microflora, the usual pattern of human health tends to lean towards illness rather than wellness. Dr. Karach anticipates that regular application of this treatment call reverse this process such that wellness is the dominant state of the human body. It is also likely to increase the average human lifespan to approximately 150 years, doubling the present life expectancy. Dr. Karach’s conclusion is supported by many other researches throughout the world.

This treatment (oil) can cure diseases like migraine headaches, bronchitis, diseased teeth, arterio thrombosis, chronic blood disorders such as leukemia, arthritis and related illnesses, neuro physiological paralysis, eczema, gastro enteritis, peritonitis, heart disease, kidney disease, meningitis, and women’s hormonal disorder.

The benefit of Dr. Karach’s method is that the oil therapy heals the whole body in perpetuity. In terminal diseases such as cancer, AIDS, and chronic infections, this treatment method has been shown to successfully replace all others. Dr. Karach has successfully healed a chronic leukemia patient who had undergone 15 years of harsh medical treatment methods. Acute arthritis in one patient, who was totally bedridden, was removed from his body in 3 days with no inflammation apparent.

Q: What do you have to do?

A: Buy some sunflower oil, preferably organic. It must be cold pressed oil. Ensure that the bottle is firmly capped immediately after use otherwise the unsaturated fatty acids within the oil quickly become saturated on exposure to air, which means that the oil is only good for cooking afterwards. In the morning before brushing your teeth, before drinking anything and before breakfast, place one tablespoon of oil in your mouth BUT DO NOT SWALLOW IT. Rinse backwards and forwards without excessive pressure for 15 to 20 minutes, making sure that the oil is swilled between the teeth. At the same time stimulate the salivary glands by exercising the jaw as if chewing. This releases predigestive enzymes.

The toxins and bacteriophages within the circulatory system will be extracted by the oral salivary glands thereby cleaning the blood. For this reason, one must under no circumstances swallow any of the oil rinsed in the mouth because it will contain elements of extreme toxicity. Initially the oil will be fairly viscous, but after a few minutes it will start to become thin and white like bleached wool. After 15-20 minutes, if the oil still appears yellow, continue the method until it turns white.

After spitting out the oil, ensure that you rinse out the mouth thoroughly several times with water, that you methodically brush your teeth, and finally wash your toothbrush. By cleaning the toothbrush afterwards as well as the sink, you will ensure that the large number of bacteria, viruses, and toxins and chemicals will have been removed. When viewed under a microscope one drop of this oil and saliva mixture will reveal a large number of fungal spores, bacteria and other microscopic organisms.

Shortly after the rinsing of the oil is completed, a noticeable strengthening of both lymphatic and circulatory systems within the organism is evident. The continuation of health through this treatment from operates on two levels, detoxification, and autoimmune stimulation. This oil therapy results in the strengthening of teeth prone to looseness, improved circulation in the gums, and improved growth and whitening of the teeth.

Although the oil therapy is best applied first thing in the morning before breakfast, when disease symptoms are evident, it is beneficial to use the technique prior to the other main meals of the day. Do not drink any fluid for twenty minutes before the treatment.

Q: How long does one use this treatment?

A: This varies from person to person, but treatment may be stopped when the quality and calmness of sleep has been restored to its natural form, when the appetite is healthy, and when upon first awakening in the morning, there is no sign of tiredness. A secondary effect evident is significantly improved memory. Only when all of these conditions are fulfilled will treatment be unnecessary.

Q: Does this treatment method stimulate a worsening of health during its initial stages?

A: In a few people who suffered from several diseases, an apparent worsening of health may initially occur. This is due to primary infection first being depleted, causing secondary infections to dominate temporarily. After a few days the secondary infection may disappear, and yet another be stimulated into activity. Such symptoms are usually apparent in persons suffering from chronic or terminal illnesses. Under these circumstances, Dr. Karach recommends that the affected person steadfastly continue the treatment even if fevers are initiated. Dr. Karach maintains that when these symptoms appear, the oil treatment will be able to facilitate rapid healing. Should the treatment be broken for one reason or another, the overall healing effects will be slowed down. For these reasons, Dr. Karach maintains that an apparent worsening of health is an excellent sign that the disease is progressively being removed from the body.

Q: How often does one use this method daily?

A: This will depend on the general state of health of the person and the degree of toxicity present. The more often the oil is used, the more powerful its effects.

Acute illnesses are usually healed in two to four days. Chronic illnesses which have developed over many years require a correspondingly longer treatment time. In some cases, this may take up to one year. DO NOT GIVE UP. Patients with terminal illnesses who have persisted with this treatment have attested to the good fortune and success which they have attained through this treatment method.

Use toothbrushes with 3% hydrogen peroxide to give a final cleanup.

Leukemia Patients

Sun Qi Yuan, a medical practitioner, graduated from the “Shanghai Jiao Tong University” in 1938. In his early years, he studied and researched into the fundamentals of Chinese medicine to great depths under several prominent Chinese physicians. For more than thirty years, he has been frequently invited to various provincial hospitals in mainland China to diagnose peculiar and complicated illnesses. He also actively contributes his professional medical thesis for publication in local newspapers and magazines in Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, etc. Where he has been appointed as consultant. He has contributed substantially in his medical profession especially in the treatment of cancer, tumor and leukemia, saving countless patients and thus establishing his medical standing.

In the last thirty years, Dr. Sun has effectively treated leukemia with Chinese medicine that leads to complete cure for many of the patients. It is our pleasure to present some letters and photos from these grateful ex-patients as an appreciation of his work, and for the benefit of all in the medical profession.

Dr. Sun Qi Yuan has written two valuable books entitled “Hope For The Leukemia Patient” and “The Eight Chinese Medical Therapies For Cancer”. Both publications, which are available at the Lapis Lazuli Library, are the fruits of more than thirty years of his medical practice.

Recent Letter from Professor Zhou Yue Cheng (Leukemia Patient) of the University Hospital of Hua Xi

I am deeply touched by reading your continuous flow of letters. Professor Deng Chang An, the blood specialist of the University Hospital of Hua Xi, and your good self, as well as other blood disorder specialists in our country had saved my life. You are my saviors. Since having discovered and subsequently confirmed my leukemia condition during a routine physical check-up when I was about to visit Italy and Japan for international conferences in 1985, I had looked everywhere for a cure. Only two specialists, namely your good self and Prof. Deng, had strongly discouraged me from undergoing chemotherapy and radiation. Since then, for the last 13 years, I have heeded your advice to use a combination of Chinese herbs and immunity strengthening therapy.

Thinking back…, during the initial stages of my illness, I was about to attend an international conference in Italy and Japan in October 1988 and then to Beijing for the national inventors’ exhibition. In 1990 I attended the first international conference on laser therapy in Japan. I had suffered from blockage of the heart vessels in the winter of 1989 and had to be hospitalized for three months. For the sake of representing China in the Japan conference, I applied to the University for permission to go at my own risk. Both my wife and I had to endorse a letter indemnifying the University from any responsibilities should any mishaps happen on the trip. The English Cambridge registry of Who’s Who accepted my name to be included amongst their ranks of international celebrities and gave me a certificate. Currently, with encouragement from counterparts within and outside the country, I am writing a book under a contract with Si Chuan Science Publisher entitled “Modern Age Laser Therapy in Cosmetics and Treatment”. This small contribution on my part is a spin-off, made possible by your kind guidance during the treatment of my illness. Please accept my deepest gratitude.

Your faithful students
Zhou Yue Cheng, Gao De Hua
18^th January 1998

Seeking Help For Leukemia Patients Undergoing Bone Marrow Transplant

Jan – Mar 1998
Sun Qi Yuan

Modern medicine considers bone marrow transplants as the most advanced treatment for leukemia patients. However, based on my personal observation and experience over the past 10 years, I consider marrow transplants as a cruel and destructive method that violates nature.

The human body is not a machine, and therefore cannot be dictated by any microscopic or macroscopic scientific research. Healing the human body is different from repairing a machine and cannot be treated like engineering/construction projects.

The biggest error in marrow transplants is that the body’s immune system and ability to self-regulate is destroyed in order to prevent the rejection of ‘foreign’ implants. This is to ensure the success of the marrow transplant.

However, the immune system is the basis for a human’s survival and growth. Its destruction is akin to breaking the roots of a tree, and no life can be expected to survive normally.

Actual practice and experience should be the basis for assessing the truth of a claim. I will discuss a few cases below so that we can learn from their painful lessons:

Case 1

Miss Lu Li Yun is a Hong Kong citizen aged 40 who contracted leukemia six years ago. In 1992, through the introduction of Miss Zhang Yu Bin, she started to seek treatment by corresponding through the mail. Miss Zhang had acute leukemia. She rejected chemotherapy but instead sought treatment from a Chinese physician and has since recovered for nearly 10 years. I frequently corresponded with Miss Lu on treatment methods and sent her medicine. This went on for a few years.

On December 28, 1993, Miss Lu suddenly flew to Shanghai with her husband to seek consultation. She was very weak and stayed in Shanghai for only 2 days before returning to Hong Kong. Since she could not seek reimbursement for medical expenses incurred in Shanghai, she decided to seek hospital treatment in Hong Kong. In winter of 1996, the hospital arranged for a bone marrow transplant for Miss Lu. When I received the news, I quickly tried to persuade her against it, but she was not in a position to make her own decision and could only abide by the arrangements made for her.

On April 15, 1997, Miss Zhang wrote to me with bad news. Miss Lu Li Yun had passed away on the fourth day of the Lunar New Year. A few weeks after she had the marrow transplant, she developed breathing difficulties and died.

This is one of many who sacrificed her life in the belief that marrow transplant can cure the disease. Poor Miss Lu, what an innocent, diligent lady. Whenever I recall how enthusiastic she was when she visited my home, I would shed tears uncontrollably.

Case 2

In mid-September of 1997, I received an express mail from Mr. He Jin Hui, a Hong Kong citizen. The letter sought help for his daughter, Miss Ho Wan Yi, whose medical condition was rapidly deteriorating after a bone marrow transplant. I quickly replied to his letter on September 29, 1997 and offered some prescription. A week later, Mr. Ho called me from Hong Kong telling me that his daughter was still suffering from a high fever. Doctors were fighting for her life, and he wanted to know if I could help. I prescribed some Chinese medicine which she should take as soon as possible. A few days later, however, I was informed by a friend from Shanghai that Miss Ho had died from lung infection and high fever before she could take the Chinese medicine. The suffering experienced by Miss Ho and her family is not difficult to imagine!

Case 3

Five years ago, an official from the Shanghai Jiao Tong University wrote to me. He wanted me to help a school mate from Taiwan’s Jiao Da University who contracted leukemia while studying in the USA.

This schoolmate had undergone bone marrow transplant but suffered a relapse. I replied immediately with a prescription: (1) stop the chemotherapy treatment to avoid accelerating death; (2) change his diet, take vegetarian meals and have more light meals; (3) use Chinese medicine. Because the body’s immune system had been destroyed after the marrow transplants, it was necessary to nourish the kidney and liver to build up his immune system. Recovery is possible only by matching the nature of the illness with the appropriate treatment (e.g., cooling the body; clearing the body of toxins and phlegm; and clearing the blood).

It is, however, not easy to consult a Chinese physician in the USA. Hence it is better to seek Chinese medical treatment in Taiwan or China.

Case 4

This patient, Mr. Du, was a 22-year-old American born Chinese. In November 1992, he was diagnosed by the Hua Shan Hospital in Shanghai as having acute lymphatic leukemia. He returned to the USA for treatment and a bone marrow transplant. Although the operation was successful, he had a relapse soon after.

In August 1993, Mr. Du’s family asked Dr. Zhang Rong Guo, a Chinese physician from Shan Dong’s Lu Bo Poo city, to fly to USA to save Mr. Du. As a precaution, Dr. Zhang first wrote to me for my opinion. I advised him to quickly try to save Mr. Du. I also indicated that he should make it clear to Mr. Du’s family that the bone marrow transplant would destroy Mr. Du’s life line, and recovery may be difficult. Dr. Zhang flew to the USA to treat Mr. Du using the Chinese medical approach.

However, Mr. Du’s immune system had been severely damaged and though there was a brief respite, he did not recover. By then, Mr. Du’s family had spent a huge sum of money and suffered emotionally.

Case 5

In 1994, the son of Mr. Qi, a Canadian Chinese, contracted acute leukemia shortly after he was married. Mr. Qi’s son underwent many courses of chemotherapy. Mr. Qi, accompanied by my friend Mr. Du, came to seek my diagnosis, Mr. Qi bought some Chinese herbs and medicine for his son whose condition was stabilized after taking this treatment, Mr. Qi’s son was even able to go on outings and meals with his friends. Mr. Qi and his family wanted a swift recovery, and their relatives had high regard for the advanced medical research in the USA. Hence, Mr. Qi’s son went to a large hospital in the USA for a bone marrow transplant and spent US$200,000 on the initial treatment and over US$100,000 for subsequent treatments.

Because Mr. Du’s son had severe impairment to his kidney, liver and immune system after the transplant, he eventually passed away in pain and without recovering. I had tried to dissuade Mr. Qi’s family against the bone marrow transplant, but to no avail.

The Chinese medical approach would only involve a few hundred US dollars annually and would gradually lead to recovery.

On reflection, I felt that it would have been a great contribution if the US$400,000 spent on the bone marrow transplant had been used to set up an international hospital to treat leukemia using the Chinese approach.

However, this is only a daydream. Even if there were kind-hearted people who were willing to help out, I may be unable to help, since I am already 86 years old. This mission will have to be entrusted for future generations.

Case 6

In July 1996, I was invited by the family of a patient of leukemia to come to Singapore to treat the patient.

During this time, I learnt that a 19-year-old male who had acute leukemia had recovered after undergoing chemotherapy and bone marrow transplant.

During the recovery process, the patient had undergone tremendous suffering and incurred huge medical expenses. The hospital and society members were naturally happy that he had recovered. Unexpectedly, half a year later, his condition worsened, and he passed away despite efforts to save his life.

Case 7

In the spring of 1997, the television station in Shanghai telecast the story of the six-year-old twin brothers, one of whom had leukemia. Medical experts felt that the similarity in the bone marrow of the twins provided an ideal condition for a bone marrow transplant. Upon their persuasion, the twins’ parents agreed to the transplant, which turned out to be successful. The medical and health authorities were delighted. The television station had a segment showing the celebration by the twins, their family, medical workers and the public. Although the community was very positive, I was concerned whether the child would be able to live normally.

In May, I was informed by sources that the child had died from an overly low blood count. Poor innocent child – you were the experimental subject of cold medical science.

Perfect Long Life- 125 Years Of You And Me

Zhu Lan

Thirty three years ago, there were about 130,000 doctors in Japan. At that time 136,000 people died from cancer every year. Today, the number of doctors in Japan has increased to 280,000 and death by cancer has risen rapidly to 320,000 yearly. Cancer is “crowned” the Number 1 killer in Japan. The annual medical fee has risen to an astronomical 32 trillion Yen.

Meanwhile, from 1950 to 2004, for about 50 years meat consumption in Japan has increased by nine times; the consumption of rice was reduced by more than half. The consumption of potatoes and taro varieties are respectively 40% and as low as 7% compared to 50 years ago. Remarkably, milk and dairy product consumption has increased by 25 times and eggs by 6.5 times.

This corresponds to the dramatic increase of cerebral infarction, myocardial infarction, diabetes, gout and other previously rare cases. The type of cancer has also changed accordingly. The previously more common gastric cancer and uterine cancer cases have decreased while breast cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, prostatic cancer, ovarian cancer and spleen cancer cases have surged. In the Japanese medical profession, people of insight sighed over the fact that since World War II, they have “completed” the following process:

Diet is Euro-Americanised → sickness is Euro-Americanised → cancer is Euro-Americanised

Facing so many cancer patients, the medical profession in Japan follows the allopathic medicine principle of the three cancer treatments: anti-cancer drugs, radiation and surgery. Not only were the treatments of little effect, the processes were extremely painful.

A recently published book reported a survey targeting Japanese doctors: If the doctors themselves had cancer, would they accept the so-called “three great treatments of cancer?” Ninety-nine point nine per cent of the doctors answered “No!”

Japan’s most famous immunologist, a medical Professor Dr Abo Toru clearly stated that cancer is not incurable and as long as you regulate your body and mind, cancer can be cured.

World renowned Japanese immunologist, Dr. Abo Toru, well known for his major shocking discoveries such as “LEU-7”, “extrathymic differentiation of T-cells”, “autonomic nervous system being responsible for the equilibrium of leukocytes (white blood cells)” in his medical researches, wrote many books to remind us that to avoid getting cancer we must first overcome the fear of cancer and we do not need to do all kinds of physical examination frequently.

The examination process and waiting for the result usually creates anxiety, uneasiness, worry, fear and could even trigger the illness. Previous studies have shown that the more frequent physical examinations for cancer, the higher the probability of getting cancer. He pointed out that the so-called “perfect health of body” does not exist – as long as our immune system is balanced and in good condition, the body will naturally make various adjustments to maintain our health.

In fact, the human body will generate one million cancer genes everyday, but under normal circumstances this will not cause cancer. However, the following situations often lead to cancer:

physical and mental stress
continually overworked
often staying up all night
long-term medication
feeling very troubled
improper diet

Using physical and mental pressure as an example, our autonomic nervous system includes the sympathetic nerve that is in charge when we are stressed and we are relaxed, the parasympathetic nerve that is in charge slows the heart rate down, dilate blood vessels so that blood flows smoothly.

Under a long period of pressure, the sympathetic nervous system will be overworked, the blood vessels will continue to shrink, the blood flow becomes stagnant and thus cannot effectively transport oxygen and nutrients to the body. The out-of-balance autonomic nervous system will decrease the functions of excretion and secretion as well as weaken the immune system. This interconnection will eventually lead to various diseases, even cancer.

Improper diet is also a great pressure to the body. Human beings are closer to herbivorous mammals. Of the 32 teeth, there are 20 molars which are used for grinding grains, 8 front teeth for eating fruits and vegetables and only 4 canines for eating meat and fish.

Experiments comparing the Africans and the British showed that faeces remain in the intestines of the Africans for about 14 hours and for the British 89 hours. There is a lower incidence of colorectal cancer among Africans who have high intake of dietary fibre compared to the British who are on meat-based diet.

Experiments show that overeating will lead to disease. In 1985, a Medical Professor in a New York University used the same amount of radiation exposure to two groups of mice. The group which were fully fed has a cancer incidence rate of 100 %, whereas the other group which were half-full had a cancer rate of only 0.7%.

In Japan, in transporting fishes for breeding, from Kagoshima to Tokyo, if the fishes were fed on the way, more than half of the fishes died. If they stop feeding the fishes two days before delivery, all the fishes survived the journey to Tokyo.

In 1996, the birth of gene-transplanted cloned sheep that has lead to bio-technology, bioethics and other areas of great controversy in the United Kingdom, has left a significant legacy in immunology. In order to maximize the life force contained in the cells, the ewes were put on a fast for a period of time before the genes were extracted for cloning. All these examples have demonstrated that eating less and appropriate fasting allows the body’s incredible healing power and vitality to the be manifested to the fullest.

Cancer appears to remind us that the body’s organs need purification and balancing, eating habits need to be changed and restructured and the pace of life needs to be adjusted and rearranged. De-stress and relax both physically and psychologically. When you truly understand that cancer is an assistant committed to “enduring” the toxins in the body and is a messenger delivering the message about our body’s condition, you will no longer feel afraid or despair of the pain caused by cancer. You will no longer doubt the possibility that cancer can be cured nor hesitate about the treatment program.

Recovery from cancer is not a so-called miracle. When you change to the correct diet and let go, give up greed, be filled with gratitude, the body’s ability to self-heal is then activated. The need for the presence of cancer cells is naturally gone. Dr Toru emphasised that:

Do not accept or immediately give up any treatment that harms the immune system.
Do not rely solely on doctors. Collect a variety of information and find a treatment that suits you. Whether it is through food therapy, exercise therapy, acupuncture or application of other natural therapies, the first consideration should be to “balance the autonomic nervous system”.
Pay attention to diet. At least, avoid meat, processed foods and frozen foods. Mainly take brown rice, vegetables, seaweed and mushroom as the main sources of food. Take high-quality protein.
Bring your body and mind to harmony with the attitude of appreciation and “living everyday as it is”. Let go the feelings of fear or struggling, change your habits and thinking patterns that created stress to your body and mind. Find the real root of your disease and treat it accordingly.
Invigorate the parasympathetic nerve activity with a joyous heart. Cancer-fighting lymphocytes contained in the white blood cells will also increase as well and the immune system will continue to strengthen. Cancer cells will gradually normalize and cancer will naturally disappear.
American geneticists have proved that if lung fibroblasts are taken from the foetus for cultivation, the number of cell division is almost 50 times. It takes two and a half years for human cells to divide once; to divide 50 times it will take 125 years.

French experts used the general lifespan of animals with five times growth phase as a basis for proof. For example a dog’s growth phase is two years, so its lifespan is about ten years. Cattle’s growth phase is five years, so its lifespan is about 25 years. The human growth phase is generally 20 to 25 years, so life expectancy should be 100 to 125 years old.

World-renowned gerontologist also pointed out another interesting phenomenon: when a human reaches 120 years old, the blood type will be converted to type ‘O’, returning to the ancestors’ blood type.

Perfect long life, maybe it is not what you and I really want. But no matter when this period of life will end, a full and healthy life should be what every one of us yearns for. When we truly understand the origins of health and happiness, 125 years is no longer the biggest key factor. Along the way when we help others and ourselves, every section of our life is a perfect long life!

The original Chinese article is published in the Nov 2008 issue of Lapis magazine

Protein Perspectives- Modern Nutrition & Eastern Traditions

Paul Pitchford

There’s been a flurry of media response to the mega-protein diets, and for good reason: the largest selling books worldwide in the past couple years have focused on these diets. And due to this widespread information, virtually everyone I know with an interest in nutrition, both vegetarian and omnivore, has re-assessed personal protein needs. Why has dramatic interest in protein surfaced at this time? We might surmise it’s from stress at this frenetic point in our history, as protein foods antidote stress with stabilizing, relaxing and strengthening therapeutic actions.

Yet despite all the talk about protein, rarely does anyone eat an unrefined food that is more than 25% protein by weight. Thus “eating protein” most often means eating foods that are especially protein rich. Examples of such foods are nuts, seeds, beans, soy products and most meats, including the red meats, pork (sometimes considered a white meat), fish, and fowl as well as eggs.

However, all plants also contain protein, and convincing human studies in the 1950’s by Wm. Rose indicate that when energy needs are met with a food, protein needs are automatically satisfied. For example, potatoes or rice easily meet our protein needs when one simply eats enough to obtain sufficient calories for energy. Nevertheless such foods alone rarely satisfy those who crave “protein.” Research by the world’s foremost protein expert, Dr. Scrimshaw, head of the Nutrition Department at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, provides an insight. His cross-cultural studies reveal that, given the opportunity, people will consume three times more protein than their true needs. In the poorer countries, this rarely manifests, but in first world countries, protein over-consumption is commonplace, being most easily accomplished with animal products.

If true protein needs are so easily satisfied, even by complex carbohydrates such as grains, what is really being craved? I feel that when meat is craved, it is the rich, highly assimilable matrix of nutrients in meat that is desired. The animal has performed the work of converting vegetal foods into tissues not so different from our own. Thus many individuals will assimilate iron, certain vitamins, and other nutrients from meat more readily than from grains and beans. This is especially true of those with cultural heritages characterized by meat-centric diets. According to the Ayurvedic healing system of India and Chinese traditional healing arts, meat strengthens us, but only when eaten in moderation. And “moderation” generally means 3-4 ounces a day. This figure corresponds to what many nutritionists now suggest for healthful meat consumption.

When meat, seafood and fowl intake exceeds eight ounces a day, the resultant protein can cause more calcium excretion than is assimilated, thus promoting osteoporosis or bone loss. In fact, osteoporosis is widespread in the developed countries, more so than in poorer areas. Thin, underfed people in India often have stronger bones than big, beefy Americans. This is due to our eating patterns: research over the past 40 years has shown that the single greatest contributor to bone loss is the acids from too much dietary protein. Other research over the same time frame suggests that kidney failure is most frequently a result of excessive protein consumption. Interestingly, traditional Chinese medicine unifies these health concerns with the view that the kidney-adrenals rule the bones. Furthermore, the kidney-adrenals are said to rule the brain—sometimes referred to as the “sea of marrow”. Can Alzheimer’s disease also be traced to protein excess?

Perhaps. In Ayurveda, a sticky, toxic residue known as “ama” is associated with eating animal products. Uncannily, recent research finds that a sticky protein polysaccharide called amyloid plaque obstructs brain pathways in those with Alzheimer’s. (The ancient teacher Gautama Buddha suggested that those interested in developing their higher faculties should avoid meat.) This same plaque obstructs the arteries in most forms of heart and vascular disease and is also implicated in the genesis of cancer.

The most comprehensive nutrition studies in history were performed in China in the latter part of the Twentieth Century. These studies, sponsored by Cornell and Oxford Universities and the Chinese government, showed that Americans, particularly American men, had a 1700 percent greater incidence of heart disease than Asians eating a grain and vegetable based diet. Ninety percent of the protein in these diets is from plant sources. Wealthy Chinese eating rich diets had heart disease similar to the Americans. Not surprisingly, other degenerative diseases, including diabetes and cancer, were less likely in those eating traditional Asian fare.

Individuals with signs of deficiency and weakness should first eliminate alcohol, smoking, and eating of refined foods processed with chemicals and grown with pesticides. Deficient individuals do best with cooked foods although some raw ferments such as sauerkraut and pickles provide balance as well as certain essential nutrients. Strengthening foods include whole wheat, brown rice, whole grain barley, oats, soy products (especially well-cooked tempeh and natto), starchy vegetables, various legumes (black beans cooked for 5 or so hours with a little sea vegetable such as kelp or kombu; and lentils), nuts and seeds such as soaked, skinless almonds, hemp seeds, flaxmeal, and walnuts. Dairy products from pasture fed animals, when tolerated, can help with deficiency. Examples include ghee (clarified butter) and high quality cow or goat milk (cultured dairy including kefir and yogurt digest best; those of goat origin digest better than cow). One cow or other mammal product that greatly tonifies deficiency is colostrum. Available from nutrition stores, it is the mammal’s “first milk” and generally contains no allergenic dairy solids. Thus even those allergic to dairy can often use it. It enhances immunity and helps the body to gain muscle mass and strength in general.

Obese individuals who over-consume meat may have short term weight loss and fewer sugar imbalances (protein controls sugar cravings), but at the risk of bone loss and kidney degeneration. Additionally meat is extremely high in inflammatory prostaglandins of the type PGE2, which greatly contribute to infections and degenerations such as arthritis. Popular books by Dr. Atkins and others who recommend protein-rich diets tell us that carbohydrates need to be restricted in order to lose weight and control blood sugar swings. In my experience they are partially correct. Refined carbohydrates should be restricted. These include the “white foods” such as white pastas, pastries and breads that contain white, refined wheat flour and refined sugar. Also included is white rice.

All such foods are not completely utilized as they are missing minerals, fiber, precious oils, enzymes, and a plethora of phytochemicals needed for proper breakdown and metabolism, not to mention their need in supporting vital immunity. Therefore, refined food residues may stay in the tissues and promote weight gain, among other imbalances. Whole carbohydrate foods—brown rice and unrefined grains, whole grain breads, unrefined sugars (e.g., Rapidura)—do not have this effect.

It should be noted that refined oils that constitute hydrogenated fats found in common peanut butter, candy bars, margarine, and shortening also cannot be fully metabolized and thus are often stored in various tissues and organs, setting the stage for cellulite, carcinomas and other degenerations.

One would expect the protein diets to receive support from mainstream dietitians who, over the years, have been promoters of meat-based diets and recipients of funding from the meat industry. Surprisingly, however, even the American Dietetic Association sees the Atkins diet as extreme beyond reason, calling it “a nightmare.”

Many people know to avoid poor-quality foods as well as the non-foods, yet continue to ingest them. This is because our mind, body and nutrition are closely related. A mind full of toxic desires may all too easily crave toxic foods. Therefore the best starting point in our regenerative process is the mind and its intention. Food and awareness practices have historically been unified, e.g., in both the ancient Orient and Occident, prayer and meditation have always accompanied dietary purifications such as fasting. When people begin with real emotional and spiritual healing, dietary upgrades tend to be second nature and effortless. There are few things more dissatisfying than eating a diet that does not match one’s current mental outlook.

Thus the first priority in my nutritional work is to recommend quieting the mind. This brings mindfulness to all we do, and through such self-awareness, one tends to change toward balance in all life activities.

The second priority is activity. In Far Eastern tradition, without adequate exercise our digestive fire becomes weak, and even the best organic foods may not help us. So I feel that one ideally develops good mental and physical habits before undertaking serious dietary change.

A message from Rumi, ancient Middle Eastern poet:

“Let that which we love Be what we do

There are a thousand ways to kneel and kiss the earth.”

Paul Pitchford is author of the landmark book Healing with Whole Foods: Asian Traditions and Modern Nutrition; he directs the Asian Healing Arts and Integrative Nutrition Program at Heartwood Institute, located in the northern California coastal mountains near Garberville. [www.heartwoodinstitute.com]

External Detoxification: Unburdening The Total Toxic Load on Your Body

Tina Wellman, Ph.D.

The most famous book in the world states “my people perish for lack of knowledge.” We are the recipients of chemical intoxication through our careless use of chemicals at home and at work. We are often deluded into thinking we are gaining ground on eradicating germ warfare and bug infestation through our excessive use of antibacterial soaps, germicides and chemicals. But do we really consider the impact our excessive exposure is wreaking on our health and longevity? Do we know how our actions contribute to the onset of diseases, and predispose our cells to mutate through our own un-healthy “health” practices? Everything we use, everything we eat, everything we subject our bodies to in our immediate environment affects our total state of health.

We can begin cleaning up our immediate environment by checking our own backyard first. When a child spills something, they are taught to clean up their mess. Neglecting to clean up messes manifests in bigger spills and bigger messes. These bigger “spills” have gone through a pseudo metamorphosis in our adult years, gaining new ground as oil spills, toxic dump sites, and waterways polluted by products from detergents, chemicals, and sewage from our negligent habits. Do we ever seriously consider the effect of our individual health habits, their effect on the greater environment and the resulting effects this will have on the health of future generations? We often forget our daily practices have long-term effects that ripple through the years leaving positive or negative effects for others to battle.

The most practical place to begin external detoxification is “naturally” in the home, a place of refuge, a site for recharging, relaxing, and resting. You may also consider the home to be a place of safety for your health and healing until you find your level of home health hazards to be an unexpected surprise. Yet, statistics suggest the proportion of indoor to outdoor pollutants is increasing, a fact worth considering since our greatest exposures may be found within the confines of our own home. Symptoms ranging from a common headache to the flu can be associated with day to day products used to clean our furniture, bathrooms, detergents used to wash clothing, air fresheners to keep those lavatories smelling “sweet.”

The simplest way to identify household toxins is to categorize your house. That is, take each room separately and analyze its contents for potential “toxicity.” This process allows one to conduct your own home study, learn the offending substances, and replace them with safer products to minimize your health risk. You can also learn to distinguish just how safe you are in your own home, or whether you are ingredients that are a recipe for disaster, according to consumer advocate Debra Lynn Dadd (1) who notes that your “houses or apartment could be full of everyday products made from materials and substances that cause cancer, birth defects, and changes in genetic structure, and that weaken the immune system, leaving your body vulnerable to many kinds of diseases and infections.”

For example, take a bathroom which houses multiple toiletries including shaving cream, perfume, toothpaste and mouthwash (commonly fluoridated), aerosol hair spray, shampoos, cosmetics and hair care products, bubble bath, toilet bowl and glass cleaners, deodorants, fluoridated dental products, feminine hygiene douches and bleached sanitary pads –note the number of chemicals in this room alone. You could fill a shopping list with them. Detoxifying a bathroom would include replacing toiletries with simple items that may not require your medicine cabinet be filled to the brim but stocked with simple natural products that often have multiple uses.

Here is a potential plan: Toothpaste is a homemade recipe combining redmond salt and clay put in an old glass spice jar. For flavor you can add a few drops of clove or sage or mint oil (such as you find in toothpaste). Additionally a “natural” mouthwash is available at health stores or you might consider using a “cleanser” made with grapefruit seed extract due to its anti-microbial effect. One to two drops along with your toothpaste and your mouth feels quite refreshed and sparkling clean. Rinsing with an anti-microbial such as tea tree oil is another option. Tea tree flavored dental floss and toothpicks are readily available at health stores.

Aluminum free deodorants using herbs or grapefruit seed extract makes a delightful deodorant or antiseptic spray for scratches, rashes, and bites). As a deodorant grapefruit seed extract works quite well–it kills the source of the odor, namely the bacteria.

Unbleached dioxin free toilet tissue is widely available as are organic cotton ear swabs, balls and make up pads. Natural shampoos and conditioners are available in a wide variety of scents (calendula, rosemary, etc.) or your can buy a plain castille soap and mix in your own favorite essential oils. Natural hair care products that address all hair types are now widely distributed.

How about enjoying a luxurious natural bath with chlorine free water using a shower filter? Fill the tub and add your favorite organic essential oil (i.e. lavender, rose, bergamot, etc.), some redmond bath salts, light a few beeswax (as opposed to paraffin) candles, turn on the nebulizer with your favorite aromatherapy oil combination, and drift off into a relaxing healthy rejuvenating hydrotherapy session. Depending on one’s odor sensitivity health stores stock a variety of incense aromas that can also be added for ambiance and fragrance.

There you have in a nutshell–the natural bathroom. Who needs air freshens with all these wonderful scents available? It is worth noting with the increased incidence of MCS (multiple chemical sensitivity) one should always consider individual tolerance and sensitivity to fragrances of any kind.

No need to work like a mule to clean the bathroom–20 “mule” team borax to the rescue, an ole stand by for deodorizing and disinfecting the commode–pour in a half cup, swish a few times, leave in the bowl overnight, and flush in the morning. White vinegar and water diluted 50/50 is a great overall countertop and floor cleaner. Try Bon-Ami (the old kind made with feldspar is available directly from the company) for tough jobs when scrubbing the tub and sink.

Another cleaning alternative is a low-odor degreaser (AFM) diluted with water according to directions. A mister composed of purified water and essential oil (i.e. lavender, tea tree, etc.) is a superb air freshener. A few drops of lavender or eucalyptus directly into the toilet bowl, a drop or two on the inside of the toilet tissue, and a few muslin filled bags of lavender or rose petals from your organic garden or herb shop should accommodate the most
discriminating fragrance connoisseur. While you’re at it put a few drops of an essential oil on an organic make-up pad or ball and slip into your bathroom drawers–you’ll be pleasantly surprised next time you open the drawer find a pleasant aroma.

You may also wish to keep a book on aromatherapy handy to read in the bathtub or in the famous “lavatory” room to browse for your favorite essential oils. Specifically look for antiseptic, germicidal, fungicidal, and virucidal properties of oils that keep these “toxins” from proliferating. .A combination of several oils can go a long way to “detoxify” and clean your bathroom and keep you safe.

The laundry room is yet another toxic time bomb loaded to the gills with phosphate detergents, caustic chemicals including bleach, spot removers, and fabric softeners. One German based natural laundry care manufacturer notes that all cleaners are surfactant-based cleaners including most environmental cleaners (as opposed to soap based), the consequences of which manifest by way of polluting the environment some 50 times more than soap based products. Additionally, the use of the word “biodegradable” has been “misused” since by definition, it only means the detergent will cease to foam at some point and has little to do with environmental impact. Equally as concerning are the suspected carcinogenic compounds (byproducts) yielded by surfactant-based detergents.

As we race for the “cure ” (pardon the pun) to clean up the environment, keep in mind water treatment plants are unable to break down many of the toxic chemicals that find their ultimate home in our oceans and lakes–so much for sparkling spring water! Aside from polluting our waterways, environmental consequences include decimating fish, vegetation, and microorganisms.

Detoxifying the laundry room minimizes the waste and destruction incurred by unhealthy practices employing the excessive use of chemicals for “cleaning.” Therefore your laundry room shopping list should include laundry “soap”, a safer bleaching agent such as sodium percarbonate, a water softening agent such as zeolite (a mineral rock which deserves a page of it’s own to describe it’s many uses), and a chemical free spot remover.

Another alternative to consider are laundry “discs” which operate by releasing electrons that reduce the water’s surface tension when agitated during the wash cycle. Many users of these discs note their clothes seem brighter and last longer. For those with chemical sensitivities this method offers a viable alternative to the fragrances and potential allergens found in soaps and detergents. An average disc lasts 500-700 washings! Some advocates of the discs combine it with a papaya enzyme based spot remover for added cleansing.

When using soap based laundry products one can also “supplement” with such disinfectants as grapefruit seed extract (20 drops per load), eucalyptus oil (especially helpful for mites), and tea tree oil. Instead of fabric softener try a few drops of your favorite essential oil (i.e. lavender) on a hanky or sock and toss it in the dryer–you’ll be delighted with the aroma emitted when you open the door.

Other helpful spot removers and cleaners to stock up on include white vinegar, baking soda, club soda, fresh lemons (the juice works wonders on many types of stains), salt, and cornstarch (if you want to make homemade spray starch). Salt and vinegar often work effectively for removing perspiration stains. The type of stain (grease, wine, blood, chewing gum, meat broth,tea, etc.) dictates which natural cleaner works best.

Lastly a common question relates to alternatives to dry cleaning. At minimum consider hanging your clothes in the air for an hour or two to at least “vent” the fumes from the perchlorethylene used in conventional dry cleaners. Addtionally, consider looking for a “wet cleaners” in your area that provides professional solvent-free cleaning. This system uses cleaning methods that claim to generate “no” hazardous waste. Garments are pre-sorted by fabric type since the washer/dryer cycles are pre-programmed and controlled by microprocessors. Wascomat, the world’s largest professional laundry equipment manufacturer produces one of these systems which they note has been developed in cooperation with the EPA, the EPA in Canada, and with the Hohenstein and Krefield Textile Research Institute in Germany. Authorized dealers offer these “green cleaners” as an alternative to dry cleaning. Toxic overload directly affects the results and “maintenance” of any health restoration program by creating more burdens than our bodies can tolerate.

By saturating ourselves with chemical burdens we sabotage the mechanism by which healing takes place. For any health regimen to succeed, we must limit our exposure to chemicals in our immediate environment. In our endeavors for health and longevity, let us remember we are individually and collectively responsible for the quality controls that tip the scales in either direction.

To your good health!

Tina Wellman, PhD
ECS Dist.
817-652-3792
e-mail: [email protected]

References:
(1) Home Safe Home, Debra Lynn Dadd, Penguine Putnam, Inc., New
York, 1997.

(2) Life, Health and Longevity, Kenneth E. Seaton, D.Sc.,
Huntington, WV, 1994.

(3) Health and Healing, Vol. 7, No. 4, Julian Whitaker, M.D.,
Phillips Publishing, Potomac,
Md., April, 1997.

(4) Clean Your House Safely and Effectively Without Harmful
Chemicals, Randall Earl
Dunford, Magni Group, Inc., McKinney, Tx., 1993.

An emergency treatment for brain stroke – the release of blood to save life

Recently, my friend’s relative had stroke, leaving half of his body seriously paralysed. This incident reminds me of a similar experience of my father.

Years ago, my father had high blood pressure and heart disease. One day, he went up to the roof of our house to do some cleaning, without bringing some water with him. As a result, he did not drink a single drop of water the whole afternoon. When he was done with his cleaning job and was on his way down from the rooftop, he suddenly had stroke and rolled down from the stairs. My father lost conscious and his face was as pale as a sheet of paper. The back of his head was bleeding and some of his ribs were broken.

My mother recalled an emergency treatment for stroke that involves the release of blood. With no sewing needles on hand, she had no other choices but to grab my father’s finger and bite it real hard. However, she could not bite it till it bled as the skin was too thick. Meanwhile, someone had already found her a sewing needle. She immediately pricked my father’s fingertips and earlobes with it and at the same time, pour blessed water (supplicates to Guanyin) over my father’s head. It was only until the fifth finger was pricked when my father cried out in pain. He started to regain consciousness and his face turning less pale.

At that time, the ambulance took the wrong route and reached our house only 20 minutes later. (We realised this was actually a blessing in disguise as my father could lie untouched for a while and further damage was prevented.) When my father was sent to the hospital, he was treated mainly for his external injuries, i.e. his broken ribs and he was discharged on the next day.

While he was recuperating slowly from his external injuries, I prepared Energy Soup for him every morning and he recovered very fast as a result. However getting up very early every morning was a great chore to me and now, on hindsight, I would have used Bliss de Light and Nariwa Water to substitute the Energy Soup.

The following is an abstract of the article from which my mother learnt the method of releasing blood to treat stroke:

As for brain stroke, I know of a “releasing blood to save life” method. Not only can it save life, it is absolutely free of side-effects and is a 100% effective emergency treatment. This treatment has a lot of benefits for sufferers of brain stroke and not a single ill effect. When a person has stroke, the blood vessels in the brain will start to bleed slowly. When this happens, do not panic, regardless of where the patient is, be it in the bathroom, bedroom or living room, do not move him elsewhere. The reason is, if the victim is being moved, this will accelerate the bleeding of blood vessels. Hence, all we have to do, is to hold the person, make him sit up and prevent him from falling down again. Next, get ready to release blood. It is definitely good if you have clinical syringe needles at home. If that is not available, sewing needles or pin needles will do. Heat a needle over flame to disinfect and prick the stroke victim’s 10 fingertips. (There isn’t a particular position to prick, it is roughly one millimeter away from the finger nail.) Make sure you see blood coming out from the point where you pricked (you can use your hand to squeeze the blood out). When you have pricked all 10 fingertips and see a drop of blood on each fingertip, wait for a few minutes and the stroke victim will regain consciousness. If his mouth is crooked as a result of stoke, pull his ears till they are reddish and prick 2 times on each earlobe and see that there are 2 drops of blood on each earlobe. A few minutes later, his mouth will no longer be crooked. When the stroke victim has become perfectly normal, send him to the doctor for further treatment and you can be rest assured that the stroke victim will recover from stroke fully. Otherwise, if you hastily arrange for the victim to be sent to the hospital in an ambulance, it is feared that all the jolts and bumps he experiences on his way there would cause his blood vessels to bleed even more. Till then, not even a top specialist doctor could save his life.

Once, a departmental head in my school, Mr Tan suddenly did not look his normal self and had difficulty speaking, his mouth appeared crooked. He obviously had a stroke. I immediately asked the students to buy clinical syringe needles from a pharmacy nearby. I pricked all his finger tips till I saw a drop of blood (a drop as small as a bean) on each finger. A few minutes later, Mr Tan’s face was no longer pale as a sheet of paper, his eyes were bright again, only his mouth was still crooked. I began to ponder where to prick in order to correct the crookedness of his mouth. An idea came to my mind in the nick of the moment. I pulled and rubbed his ears, in order to aid blood flow to the ears. When the ears turned red, I pricked 2 times on each earlobe till I saw 2 drops of blood on each of them. Just then, a miracle happened. In less than 3 to 5 minutes’ time, his mouth slowly returned to normal and was able to speak clearly. I let him sit down and rest for a while, served him a cup of hot tea and supported him on his way down the staircase. I brought him to the hospital in my car, he was put on the drip, allowed to rest for a night and next day, he was back in school to teach. He was working normally after discharge from the hospital and experienced no side-effect.

In normal circumstances, most stroke victims are being sent to the hospitals in emergencies and after the bumpy ride, the bleeding of blood vessels worsens, resulting in most of them permanently paralysed. Stroke is the second leading cause of death. For some lucky ones, even if they survive, they would be paralysed for the rest of their lives, thus resulting in great losses for the individual and the society. Stroke is a terrible illness. If every one could remember this “Releasing blood to save life” method, and use it when someone has stroke; that person may still be able to lead a normal life within a short time. I hope this life-saving method can be made known to as many people as possible. Only then, can we prevent this illness from claiming lives.

Extracted from Lapis Lazuli Light Magazine 2004 Feb Issue
Translated by Lapis Lazuli Light Singapore

Comments From Reader:

Date: 21st of April, 2005

I wish to commment on the article entitled “An Emergency Treatment for Brain Stroke- the Release of Blood to Save Life” appeared in Lapis News April 2005. According to my friend who is taking a course in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the treatment described is part of “Three Edge Needle Therapy” and has been used since ancient times in China. Any TCM practioner who has gone thorugh a proper course on acupunture should have learned it. Please refer to Pg 257-259 of “Acupunture-Moxibustion” (Chinese-English edition) edited by LiDaosheng and Shi Min, People Medical Publishing House, 1990 for further details.

Readers of Lapis News may find it relieved that the treatment is a proven and well established TCM treatment. Lastly, I hope that this letter would help readers to gain strong confidence in the treatment.

With mettle
Benjamin TENG

Cardiovascular Blockage May Not Require Surgery

One day this Spring, mom went to work in the field. She had forgotten to bring water and had toiled continuously for three to four hours under the hot blazing sun. She was sweating heavily and began to feel extremely unwell. After returning home, she experienced difficulty in breathing and stabbing pain in the chest, and was rushed to hospital. A cardiograph indicated that three arteries were badly clogged. She was in a critical condition and a surgery was arranged in the next few days.

On the very night the arrangement was made, mom had a nightmare, seeing two persons attempting to kill her with knives. She was startled awake and insisted that she would not undergo the operation and that she be discharged immediately. Although mom was discharged, we were all perturbed and indecisive about what should be done. Despite the urgent discussions among my siblings, we were not able to come to an agreement. My younger brothers and sisters hoped to persuade mom to go for the operation to avoid any unforeseen risk.

As for me, in recent years, I have been exposed to, and am learning about, all sorts of natural healing therapies introduced by Dr. Chiu-Nan Lai. I was the only one who suggested that mom adopt the methods suggested by Dr. Lai in an article from her book Return to the Bliss of Body. The article discussed the causes of cardiovascular diseases and provided preventive and remedial methods. Meanwhile, I had also been analysing the pros and cons of surgical versus natural therapies.

Surgery:

Pros:
Able to unclog the arteries in a short period of time.
Cons:

Mom was already in her 70’s and might not be strong enough to endure the surgery. The father of a friend of mine had died during a cardiovascular operation.
After the surgery, there would be wounds, and given mom’s age, it would take her longer to recover. For instance, the skin around the raw wound would have perspiration problems and tend to get itchy.
With two veins removed from a leg for the coronary bypass surgery, the function of the leg would definitely be affected.
She would have to go through great physical pain.

Natural Therapies:

Pros:

There would be no wounds, she would not have to experience physical pain, and there would be no side effects from an operation.
Mom could move around on her own without special care.
Mom could attain true health by identifying the causes of the disease, working on the source of the problem, and utilising food and herbs to dissolve the deposits in the arteries.
Since natural therapies require a holistic approach to the body, mind and spirit, mom would experience a higher spiritual development.
Society would be saved costly medical resources.

Cons:

The effects would be slow moving, and therefore, there was a possibility that she would have another attack before the effects were felt. In the case of a serious attack, she could suffer a stroke or instant death.

Given these analyses, it was clear that the risk of immediate death was present in both options, but the advantages from natural therapies were far greater than those from the operation. Finally, mom was determined to heal herself through natural therapies.

In her book, Dr. Lai mentioned the results of decades of experiments by Dr. Dean Ornish, an influential cardiologist. These experiments proved that the most effective treatments of heart disease were: a vegetarian diet and relaxation, and furthermore, no smoking, the avoidance of noisy places, the taking of minimal amounts of sugar and salt, the consumption of more vegetables and fruits with high potassium, and the taking of one to three spoons of organic apple cider vinegar, morning and night.

Dr. Lai also mentioned in the book that many Americans, while taking Circu-Flow, a herbal formula, were able to cleanse the deposits in the arteries within a month, and avoided heart surgery.

The following are the steps my mother has taken:

On a regular basis, mom has been taking medicine prescribed by a relative, who is a cardiologist, to lower the chance of a sudden heart attack.
Mom has immediately switched from a meat to a vegetarian diet.
Mom has started taking the Circu-Flow that was obtained through a rush order for a one-month supply (we later consulted with Dr. Lai on whether mom could continue taking it. Dr. Lai said that should be no problem since the product was food based. So mom continued for two more months.)
Mom has also been taking a food formula: a black fungus heart-nourishing soup (please refer to the note below) recommended by a friend.
Mom has been smiling at the cells around the heart at least three times every day, each time lasts for 30 minutes.

Recalling on the causes of mother’s illness and observing the impact on her from the changes in her emotions, I notice that, apart from the effects of improper diet and excessive fats, negative emotions from constantly worrying about her children, anxiety, fear, nervousness, sadness, anger and tiredness due to overwork, all have an instant impact on her heart.

Because of the disease and mom’s fear of surgery, whenever the negative emotions arise, she remembers to take deep breaths and exhales after holding them for up to a count of six. She has begun to replace negative thoughts with happy ones. She actively attempts to transform the negative emotions and has gradually learned to let go. Everyday, she would relax and smile at the cells, and she is becoming happier. The relative (cardiologist) said that if mom does not experience any more pain within six months, that means the condition has improved and she will no longer need to go for check ups.

The book Hint for the Future states that the earth is currently moving from the third planet into the fourth planet that brings the arrival of “pure essence”. “Pure essence” is a type of matter or method that does not pollute the environment, but is self-benefiting and benefiting others. Natural therapies, which is likely to be the new direction in future, can be considered as a “pure essence”.

Note:

Black Fungus Heart-Nourishing Soup (one serving)

Ingredients:

Black fungus (off-white on one side), 50 grams.
Red dates, 4.
Fresh ginger, 2 slices.

Steps:

Soak black fungus thoroughly, then boil at low heat in six bowls of clean
Water until it is down to two bowls.
Serving dosage: one serving per day, drink with empty stomach, continue for 26 days.
Translated by Yih Pin Tang

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