Posted: under Herbal.
It used to be the custom in country homes to cover the mattress with a quilt for greater warmth and softness. But it is hard to understand how it was possible for the habit of sleeping on a soft foundation to creep in, especially in areas where the people are usually tougher. Soft beds that sag when you lie down are not healthy. And if there is a bolster and thick pillow as well, do not be surprised to find that the spine will adopt a distorted position. If the sleeping person could be X-rayed from the side, this would be seen quite clearly. That is why old beds in country homes, where great-grandmother had had difficulty in sleeping, are far from ideal for healthy sleep today.
A good bed must have a certain degree of firmness, because if it is too soft the blood vessels, in particular the veins, become congested and this impairs the circulation. Many people do not sleep properly on foam rubber, and those who suffer from rheumatism may find metal springs unfavourable to their condition.
*1216/28/1*
Apr 09 2009
Posted: under Herbal.
The conclusion we must draw is that we should never go beyond what does us good. Brief spells of indirect sunlight are more beneficial and healing than the more common sunbathing. Moving around in the half-shade is a healthy exercise. People who suffer from high blood pressure and heart trouble should never expose themselves to intense heat or strong sunlight. Doing so could lead to sudden death.
When it is extremely hot you must be careful to avoid cooling down suddenly. Bathing in very cold water, for example in a mountain lake or a river with glacier water, can pose a great risk. Although I have mentioned the matter of drinking before, I would like to reiterate in this context that it is bad for us to drink water that is too cold. So, if you are on a mountain tour and nothing but cold water from a spring is at hand, add a little thirst-quenching Molkosan but no sugar and sip the water slowly while insalivating well. In this way you will avoid the chilling effect your body would otherwise experience and your thirst will be quenched much better than if you had taken a sweet soft drink. It is thus worthwhile putting a small bottle of Molkosan in your rucksack when going on a hike in the summer.
*1147/28/1*
Apr 09 2009
Posted: under Herbal.
Milk is an ideal culture medium for all kinds of bacteria. If you leave unpasteurised fresh milk in a normally warm room in summer it will turn sour. The curdling is caused by lactic acid bacteria whose spores were either present in the milk or invaded it while it was in the kitchen. We do not recommend using milk that cannot turn sour because of chemical additives that make it stringy and go off if left outside the refrigerator.
There are various species of lactic bacteria, each one playing an important part in the preparation of special cheeses. Yogurt is made by inoculating the milk with lactic acid bacteria. Some of these bacteria should not be ingested constantly because they affect the intestinal flora. Thus yogurt is good for you if you eat it occasionally; if, however, you take it regularly all year round, its influence on the intestinal flora is one-sided and therefore detrimental. Some researchers claim that yogurt, if eaten every day over a long period of time, will cause the essential coliform bacteria in the intestines to degenerate. For this reason it is not recommended to eat yogurt continuously.
*1078/28/1*
Apr 09 2009
Posted: under Herbal.
It is necessary to clarify certain questions connected with the various kinds of sugar, since many people are not sure of the difference between unrefined cane sugar and refined white sugar. In fact, it has been said that brown sugar (unrefined cane sugar) is treated with sulphur and is therefore no less detrimental to health than refined white sugar, which has been bleached and dyed for the purpose of preservation.
However, white sugar is dyed solely to enhance its whiteness, not to make it keep longer. This is done following the same principle as is applied in the manufacture of washing powder, to which is added ‘blueing agents’ to make the linen appear whiter than it actually is. Without this addition it would soon begin to look greyish. Sugar keeps indefinitely on its own and needs no preservative. If stored correctly, it will last a hundred years and still be sweet. It is ‘blued’ for eye-appeal and for no other reason.
*1008/28/1*
Apr 09 2009
Posted: under Herbal.
Whole wheat also provides an ideal dish and should be prepared in the same way as rice. Instead of a risotto you would then get a ‘wheatotto’, so to speak. Other good carbohydrate foods containing nutritive salts are millet and buckwheat.
If you like soup, choose a vegetable soup, but only mildly seasoned. Meat soups are not particularly healthy for they promote the formation of uric acid in the system. Vegetable soups, on the other hand, are very beneficial for those who suffer from arthritis. Before you sit down to eat the soup, add some fresh herbs and raw vegetable juices. And if you do not like raw vegetables prepared as a salad, they too can be added to soup, finely chopped or grated. Finely chopped nettles, bear’s garlic (ramsons) and other herbs will improve both the nutritive value and the taste of the soup.
For those who like meat, beef or veal may be added to whatever dish they have chosen, but this should be considered as just a small addition to the main meal, for it is best to restrict oneself to a minimum of the protein-containing foods.
*937/28/1*
Apr 09 2009
Posted: under Herbal.
It is a good thing that there are other, even better sources of protein than eggs. Soybeans, for example, are an excellent supplier of vegetable protein. In certain areas of China soybean protein is the single most important protein available to the population. The lack of animal protein from milk and meat is critical in many tropical regions. Years ago the need for protein presented a particular problem for the growing population of China. Since meat was not produced in sufficient quantity to supply over 500 million people, China’s population at that time, it became necessary to find a vegetable substitute. The soybean was selected because it is an excellent source of protein, able to take the place of animals as the prime supplier. In many parts of the world today the Chinese custom of germinating the soybean has been adopted and the resulting product, ‘bean sprouts’, has become a popular and palatable vegetable dish rich in protein.
Remember, then, that liver patients need protein too; vegetables and cereals alone are not enough. As mentioned before, milk protein, especially in the form of cottage cheese or curds, is the best protein source available in this case.
*471/28/1*
Apr 07 2009
Posted: under Herbal.
If we are to understand this condition, we must first familiarise ourselves with the functions and processes of the salivary glands. These glands secrete a fluid called saliva which is mainly alkaline in composition and contains a variety of minerals; the body secretes these substances in accordance with the need determined by the type of food consumed. Since enzymes are important to the digestive process, these are also present in saliva. Few people may be aware of the fact that the different glands – the salivary glands in the mouth, the mucous membrane of the stomach, the liver and the pancreas – together secrete several litres of saliva every day. Saliva begins the chemical processes of digestion, making the food ready for assimilation. When the saliva has finished its task, the colon reabsorbs its valuable substances. Once again they become part of the body fluids, and through them they eventually return to the salivary glands, ready to start all over again in the digestive process.
When diarrhoea strikes, however, the valuable salivary fluids are lost. The body is depleted of important minerals, which cannot be replaced quickly enough through food intake. As a consequence the body is weakened and the mineral metabolism becomes greatly disturbed. This does not mean to say that a temporary attack of diarrhoea lasting two or three days will occasion the loss of a great amount of valuable fluid, but if the condition continues for several months it could have serious consequences and must be treated.
*414/28/1*
Apr 07 2009
Posted: under Herbal.
Sauna baths, once popular only in northern European countries, are now accepted in many other areas of the world. In northern Europe it is common for people to take a sauna and then roll in freshly fallen snow in winter. This exercise is said to build up the body’s resistance. Walking barefoot in the snow as well as snow-and water-stamping are all favourite activities. All of these activities cause the blood to be drawn from the brain, so if practised before going to bed, they make restful sleep possible. Information on variations of these methods as practised in different countries can also be useful and enlarges the list of water treatments already known to us.
Years ago I was greatly surprised to find a sauna when I visited a colony of Finnish people in Brazil, of all places. Ask yourself, what purpose is there in having a sauna in a place where the temperature reaches 40 °C (104 °F) in the shade on hot days? The answer to this is that old habits die hard and become a necessity, which was certainly true for those Finnish people who built their sauna in a hot and humid foreign land. Perhaps it even helped them to overcome their homesickness for the old country. Moreover, in the tropics the evenings are cool and I remember that the sauna gave us a pleasant feeling of well-being. After the sauna we found a nearby jungle creek for a cool dip, which stimulated the circulation and helped to make for a restful night. Perspiring in a sauna differs from perspiring in the heat of the day in that it relaxes the mind and body and enables one to sleep soundly.
In summary, it is always useful to work out which one of the different natural treatments will be the most appropriate for overcoming your insomnia. Often all it needs is a little determination to do something about the problem and you will find what is required to give you a a full night’s wholesome and restful sleep.
*357/28/1*
Apr 07 2009
Posted: under Herbal.
Iodine is also indirectly responsible for obesity. The thyroid and sex glands work together and if an obese person is given iodine as contained in plants, for example, kelp tablets, the thyroid steps up its hormone production. This, in turn, activates the entire metabolism. The gonads become more active and, as a result, the deposits of body fat decrease.
You can see that iodine is more important than one might think, because this mysterious element, even though present in minute traces, is responsible for operating the ‘gears’ of our body, not unlike the illustration in the proverb, ‘Big oaks from little acorns grow.’
Although the effect of watercress is less marked than that of seaweed, nevertheless it contains a modest amount of iodine and can thus be of good service to the thyroid. Other excellent remedies are the Topinambur tincture Helianthus tub. and homoeopathic Graphitis 6x.
*301/28/1*
Apr 07 2009
Posted: under Herbal.
It is imperative that people should be warned against any harmful, unnatural treatment of varicose veins. Why go in for dangerous methods when the veins can be regenerated by natural means? When varicose veins appear, the body is in need of a good calcium preparation, for example Urticalcin, as well as a preparation called Aesculaforce, made from horse chestnut, witch hazel, arnica and yellow melilot (sweet clover). Hypericum perforatum and Millefolium, too, are very good for this condition. The veins are regenerated in a wonderful way by means of these remedies. To alleviate a painful inflammation, take Lachesis lOx and 12x. Moreover, pay attention to an appropriate natural diet rich in calcium. In this way, even where heredity plays a part, varicose veins can be made to recede and can sometimes be completely removed, or at least regenerated to such an extent that they will not give you any further trouble. This advice is especially important for expectant mothers because it is not only helpful to the circulation but also prevents complications during confinement. These remedies stimulate the venous system and remove obstructions so that there will be no danger of embolism or thrombosis.
*244/28/1*
Apr 07 2009
