In	another	case,	a	hospital	oversight	committee	reviewed
surgically	removed	tissues. In	the	year	prior	to	the	formation	of	the	committee,
the	hospital	performed	262	appendectomies—after	the	committee	was	formed,
the	number	dropped	to	62. The	committee	found	that	most	of	the	tissues	being
removed	were	healthy! In	March	1997,	the	Physicians	Committee	for
Responsible	Medicine	published	a	statement	saying	that	only	10	percent	of
hysterectomies	are	justified. In	addition	to	being	almost	entirely	unnecessary,
surgery	is	risky;	possibilities	exist	for	surgical	error,	complications	from
anesthesia	and	infection,	not	to	mention	the	physical,	mental	and	emotional
shock	to	the	body. Should	You	Take	Medicine? All	drugs	have	potentially	damaging	“side	effects.”	Because	a	malfunctioning
cell	is	the	definition	of	disease,	and	drugs	deliberately	cause	cells	to	malfunction,
drugs	cause	disease. Drugs	are	foreign	to	the	body;	the	mechanism	by	which
drugs	work	is	to	alter	the	body’s	biochemistry	in	order	to	suppress	symptoms. Side	effects	often	are	worse	than	the	diseases	the	drugs	are	used	to	treat. Perhaps
these	hazards	would	be	justified	if	drugs	cured	disease,	but	they	do	not,	they
control	and	suppress	symptoms. Even	with	symptoms	suppressed,	the	true	cause
of	the	problem	may	be	growing	worse	while	the	body’s	natural	healing
mechanisms	are	being	compromised	by	the	drugs. Billions	of	dollars	are	spent	in	the	war	against	street	drugs,	but	the	number	of
people	killed	and	injured	by	street	drugs	is	minor	compared	to	prescription
drugs. Prescription	drugs	kill	a	couple	of	hundred	thousand	people	every	year
and	are	a	leading	cause	of	disease	and	death. If	your	doctor	prescribes	a	drug,
consider	that	it	may	cause	your	cells	to	malfunction,	and	that	alternatives	exist
that	are	both	safe	and	effective. Even	aspirin	and	other	common	over-the-counter	drugs	are	dangerous,	so	findalternatives	that	work	for	you. Books	such	as	
Alternative	Medicine:	The
Definitive	Guide,	
edited	by	the	Burton	Goldberg	Group,	and	
Finding	the	Right
Treatment,	
by	Jacqueline	Krohn,	M.D.,	and	Francis	Taylor,	M.A.,	are	excellent
resources	for	those	wishing	to	find	natural	alternatives	to	toxic	prescription
drugs. Unfortunately,	when	drugs	cause	disease,	we	have	all	been	trained	not	to	call
it	disease. Instead,	we	use	the	deceptive	term	“side	effects.”	In	1984,	the	drug
industry	attempted	to	obtain	a	legal	exemption	from	the	liability	laws	that	apply
to	virtually	all	manufacturers. Why? Because	even	the	people	who	make	the
drugs	know	they	are	not	safe;	“all	prescription	drugs	are	unavoidably	unsafe”
argued	the	Pharmaceutical	Manufacturers	Association. Of	course,	this	wording
is	not	used	in	drug	advertisements	aimed	at	the	public. A	hospital	patient	receives,	on	average,	twelve	different	drugs. Yet,	often
when	as	few	as	three	are	prescribed,	absolutely	no	one	understands	all	the
dangerous	interactions	between	the	drugs. Bad	enough	taken	one	at	a	time,
combinations	of	drugs	can	be	particularly	toxic. Prescription	drugs	are	notorious
for	causing	many	adverse	effects	in	the	elderly,	including	memory	loss,
depression,	confusion,	constipation,	Parkinson’s	disease,	falls	and	urinary
incontinence. All	too	often,	a	second	drug	is	prescribed	to	suppress	the
symptoms	caused	by	the	first,	then	another	to	suppress	the	symptoms	of	the	first
two,	and	so	forth. Many	illnesses	of	the	elderly	really	are	manifestations	of
adverse	drug	reactions. A	1991	study	in	the	
Journal	of	the	American	Medical
Association	
showed	that	14	percent	of	in-hospital	cardiac	arrests	followed	a
complication,	usually	because	of	a	medication. Well-known	combinations	of
commonly	prescribed	drugs	can	kill,	and	alert	pharmacists	have	saved	many
lives. Up	to	29	percent	of	all	hospital	admissions	are	caused	by	adverse	reactions	to
drugs,	according	to	a	1995	study	in	the	
Archives	of	Internal	Medicine. Many
reactions	result	in	liver	damage,	long	hospital	stays,	permanent	disability	and
even	death. In	1990,	an	estimated	659,000	Americans	aged	sixty	years	and	older
were	hospitalized	due	to	adverse	drug	reactions. In	addition	to	toxicity,	drugs
also	can	cause	deficiency	by	depleting	the	body	of	essential	nutrients. Diuretics
cause	excessive	loss	of	potassium	and	other	essential	minerals. Anticonvulsants
cause	loss	of	vitamin	D.	Antibiotics,	non-steroidal	anti-inflammatory	drugs	and
steroid	hormones	can	indirectly	cause	numerous	vitamin	and	mineral
deficiencies	by	causing	digestive	damage. Because	of	the	complexity	of	the
human	organism,	predicting	the	effects	of	drugs	in	each	individual,	especially
with	combinations	of	drugs,	is	impossible. Other	facts:•	A	January	1997	study	in	the	
Journal	of	the	American	Medical	Association
stated	that	drug-related	morbidity	and	mortality	costs	more	than	$136
billion	a	year—more	than	the	cost	of	cardiovascular	disease,	our	leading
cause	of	death. •	In	1995,	Duke	University	researchers	showed	that	drugs	commonly
prescribed	for	stroke	patients	actually	hampered	their	recovery. Even	after	a
single	dose,	the	negative	effects	could	be	long-lasting. •	A	1994	study	in	the	
Journal	of	the	American	Medical	Association
concluded	that	inappropriate	and	potentially	dangerous	drugs	are	prescribed
for	one	in	four	older	Americans	every	year. •	A	1994	study	published	in	the	
Journal	of	the	National	Cancer	Institute
and	
The	Journal	of	the	Federation	of	American	Societies	for	Experimental
Biology	
warned	that	antihistamine	and	antidepressant	drugs	(including
Prozac)	contain	chemicals	known	to	accelerate	tumor	growth. While	these
drugs	do	not	cause	cancer	directly,	they	can	speed	its	growth. Three	Classes	of	Common	Drugs	Are	of	Special	Concern
Nonsteroidal	anti-inflammatory	drugs	(NSAIDs):	
NSAIDs	include	over-the-
counter	drugs	such	as	aspirin,	ibuprofen	and	acetaminophen,	and	prescription
drugs	such	as	Indocin,	Feldene,	Naprosyn	and	others. Use	of	NSAIDs	is	a
significant	national	health	problem,	causing	long-term	damage	to	large	numbers
of	people,	particularly	the	elderly,	who	are	the	largest	users	of	these	drugs. According	to	data	published	in	
Hospital	Practice	
in	December	1996,	up	to	two
hundred	thousand	Americans	are	hospitalized	every	year	for	problems	caused	by
NSAIDs,	and	as	many	as	twenty	thousand	people	a	year	die	from	the	damage. NSAIDs	usually	are	prescribed	for	a	noble	purpose,	to	relieve	pain,	and	they
are	among	the	most	commonly	pres-cribed	pharmaceuticals	in	the	world. About
60	million	NSAID	prescriptions	are	written	every	year	in	America,	and	an
estimated	14	million	people	take	these	drugs	for	symptomatic	relief	of	arthritis
alone. These	drugs	relieve	pain,	but	at	a	cost. About	one	third	of	chronic	NSAID
users	experience	noticeable	gastrointestinal	discomfort,	which	is	only	the	tip	of
the	iceberg,	indicating	that	digestive	damage	is	occurring. In	most	people,
NSAID-inflicted	damage	to	the	digestive	system	is	asymptomatic	(no	obvious
symptoms	to	warn	of	the	damage	being	done). By	the	time	the	stomach	or	gut	is
in	pain	from	NSAIDs,	massive	damage	has	already	occurred. Most	physicians	think	it	is	acceptable	for	people	to	take	NSAIDs,	believing
that	they	cause	minimal	and	acceptable	damage. Virtually	everyone	who	takes
these	dangerous	drugs	has	their	health	damaged,	and	the	longer	they	are	taken,the	worse	it	becomes. People	who	take	NSAIDs	for	arthritis	for	years	suffer
worse	joint	damage	than	those	who	take	nothing. NSAIDs	have	been	linked	to
kidney	failure,	cognitive	dysfunction,	hearing	loss,	ringing	in	the	ears,	macular
degeneration	and	hormone	disruption. Examples	include:
•	In	a	1992	study	published	in	the	
Scandinavian	Journal	of	Rheumatology,
long-term	NSAID	users	were	hospitalized	six	times	more	often	than
nonusers. Deaths	from	gastrointestinal	causes	occurred	twice	as	often,	and
half	of	all	patients	who	died	of	ulcer-related	complications	had	reported
recent	use	of	NSAIDs. •	A	1996	study	in	the	
Archives	of	Internal	Medicine	
found	that	patients
taking	NSAIDs	were	four	to	seventeen	times	more	likely	to	suffer	acute
kidney	failure. •	A	1996	study	in	
Physiological	Behavior	
showed	NSAIDs	interfere	with
melatonin	production,	with	a	75	percent	nighttime	reduction. Decreased
melatonin	production	has	been	associated	with	sleep	disorders	as	well	as
promotion	of	cancer. •	A	1996	study	in	
Lancet	
showed	that	aspirin,	in	any	form,	such	as	buffered
or	coated,	causes	gastrointestinal	bleeding. As	few	as	one	aspirin	can	cause
bleeding. NSAIDs	cause	intestinal	bleeding	by	blocking	action	of	messenger	molecules
called	prostaglandins. Some	prosta-glandins	cause	inflammation	and	pain,	and
others	stimulate	healing	and	repair. NSAIDs	block	both	types. Because	the
intestinal	lining	is	renewed	very	rapidly	(about	every	three	days),	blocking	the
repair	process	results	in	a	gut	that	is	weak,	inflamed	and	leaky. What	should	you	do	for	a	headache? Simple	acupressure	techniques	and
homeopathic	remedies	work	quite	well. What	should	you	do	for	pain	or
inflammation? Eat	a	whole-foods	diet,	at	least	75	percent	raw. Avoid	sugar,
white	flour,	hydrogenated	oils,	junk	foods	and	colas,	and	drink	plenty	of	pure
water. Avoid	meat	and	dairy,	but	choose	oily	fish	such	as	salmon	(ocean
harvested,	rather	than	farmed). Take	vitamin	C	up	to	bowel	tolerance,	2	to	4
grams	of	quercitin	per	day,	30	to	60	mg	of	zinc	daily,	100,000	units	of	beta-
carotene	for	several	days,	and	then	25,000	for	several	weeks,	plus	vitamin	A	and
vitamin	E.	Essential	fatty	acid	supplements	also	are	critical. Digestive	enzymes
help,	and	especially	take	1	to	3	grams	of	bromelain	or	papain	per	day. A	number
of	herbs	as	well	as	homeopathic	remedies	are	anti-inflammatory. These	are
excellent	alternatives	to	NSAIDs. Antibiotics:	
Most	of	us	have	been	given	an	antibiotic	at	one	time	or	another,
and	this	contributes	to	one	of	our	largest	sources	of	toxins—those	generatedwithin	our	own	digestive	systems. Antibiotics	are	designed	to	kill	disease-
causing	bacteria,	but	they	also	kill	the	friendly	bacteria	in	our	digestive	systems. If	these	bacteria	are	absent	or	out	of	balance,	a	chain	of	unhealthy	events	is
initiated,	including	undigested	or	mal-absorbed	food. Beneficial	intestinal
bacteria	produce	needed	vitamins,	such	as	B-complex	vitamins,	vitamin	B
12	
and
vitamin	K.	These	essential	nutrients	are	no	longer	produced	when	the	friendly
bacteria	are	displaced,	and	vitamin	deficiency	can	result. In	addition,	friendly	bacteria	prevent	undesirable	yeasts	from	proliferating	by
competing	for	food	and	producing	biotin	to	inhibit	yeast	growth. When
antibiotics	kill	beneficial	bacterial,	undesirable	yeasts	and	bacteria	thrive	and
take	over,	establishing	their	own	ecosystem. This	inhibits	the	beneficial	bacteria
from	reestablishing	themselves. Yeasts	also	produce	numerous	immune-reactive
substances	that	force	the	immune	system	to	form	antibodies	constantly. This
stress	may	lead	to	impaired	functioning	of	the	immune	system	to	the	point	of
immune	suppression	or	even	breakdown. Also,	yeasts	inhibit	magnesium
absorption	(which	can	lead	to	numerous	neurological	problems),	damage	gut
tissue	and	cause	leaking	gut	syndrome. A	variety	of	health	problems	can	result,
ranging	from	chronic	fatigue	to	allergies,	arthritis	and	other	immune	dysfunction
diseases. A	January	1996	article	in	
Internal	Medicine	World	Report	
stated	that	in	1991,
more	than	40	million	prescriptions	were	written	in	America	for	antibiotics	to
treat	people	for	the	common	cold. This	use	is	inappropriate;	antibiotics	have	no
effect	on	the	common	cold. Vast	overprescribing	of	this	type	fosters	the
development	of	antibiotic-resistant	bacteria. In	May	1996,	the	World	Health	Organization	(WHO)	issued	a	report	warning
that	“incurable”	strains	of	bacteria	are	being	discovered. Many	infectious
diseases,	formerly	controllable	with	antibiotics,	are	reappearing	in	forms
difficult	or	even	impossible	to	treat. “We	are	standing	on	the	brink	of	a	global
crisis	in	infectious	diseases,”	said	Hiroshi	Nakajima,	M.D.,	WHO’s	director
general. The	report	warns	that	the	spread	of	untreatable	infections	is	threatening
to	undermine	modern	advances	in	health	care. In	many	hospitals,	antibiotic-
resistant	staphylococcus	infections	are	epidemic. More	and	more	people	die
every	year	from	antibiotic-resistant	infections,	acquired	in	hospitals. The	WHO
report	noted	that	the	“inappropriate	use	of	antibiotics”	is	to	blame	both	for	the
increase	in	drug-resistant	microbes	and	for	the	weakened	immune	systems	of
patients. Either	factor	is	serious;	combined,	they	are	catastrophic. Weakened
immune	systems	play	a	crucial	role	in	the	development	of	AIDS,	autoimmune
diseases,	asthma,	allergies	and	a	long	list	of	other	health	problems.Antibiotics	represent	what	may	be	the	single	most	damaging	category	of	drugs
employed	by	allopathic	medicine,	and,	like	most	drugs,	are	unnecessary. Only
sick	people	get	sick;	prevent	infections	by	eating	a	good	diet	and	avoiding
toxins. Stay	away	from	immune-damaging	foods	like	sugar,	take	high-quality
supplements,	reduce	stress	and	get	regular	exercise. If	an	infection	does	occur,
natural	remedies	should	be	considered	before	defaulting	to	the	antibiotics	that
physicians	will	undoubtedly	prescribe. Take	lots	of	vitamins	A,	C	(up	to	the
point	where	you	begin	getting	excessive	gas	or	diarrhea,	then	decrease),	and	E,
garlic,	herbs	like	echinacea,	or	homeopathic	remedies. Natural	antibiotics	like
olive	leaf	extract	are	also	helpful. Hormones:	
Hormones	are	critical	to	health	because	they	are	part	of	the	body’s
self-regulating	system. They	control	gene	expression,	and,	as	part	of	the	body’s
vital	communication	systems,	they	help	balance	the	body. Hormone	chemistry	is
awesomely	complex	and	when	you	begin	tampering	with	it,	the	effects	on	the
body’s	system	of	checks	and	balances	are	unknown	and	potentially	catastrophic. Even	minute	hormone	quantities	can	have	a	profound	effect	on	the	body. The
human	body	manufactures	only	50	to	100	millionths	of	a	gram	per	day	of	thyroid
hormone,	resulting	in	a	blood	concentration	of	only	one	part	per	ten	billion	(1	in
10,000,000,000). Yet	this	minute	amount	has	a	major	regulatory	effect. Supplemental	hormones	are	dangerous	meddling	in	the	unknown	because	it	is	so
easy	to	interfere	with	the	body’s	system	of	hormonal	checks	and	balances. Prescription	hormones—birth	control	pills,	hormone	replacement	therapy	and
steroid	hormones—	are	the	most	common	threats,	as	are	steroids	found	in
overthe-counter	products	such	as	cortisone	ointments	and	DHEA
(dehydroepiandrosterone). Hormones	are	part	of	the	body’s	cell-to-cell	communications	system,	helping
the	body	to	regulate. For	instance,	hormones	are	used	to	regulate	blood	sugar,
which	normally	stays	within	narrow	limits	to	keep	the	body,	and	especially	the
brain,	supplied	with	the	correct	amount. If	blood	sugar	is	too	high,	the	pancreas
secretes	insulin,	which	signals	the	cells	to	take	up	glucose,	thus	lowering	blood
sugar	and	returning	to	normal. If	blood	sugar	drops	too	low,	the	pancreas
secretes	glucagon,	which	signals	the	liver	to	break	down	glycogen	into	glucose
to	raise	blood	sugar. In	this	way,	different	hormones	act	in	pairs	like	a
thermostat,	turning	systems	on	and	off. This	chemistry	presents	a	delicate
balancing	act. All	the	hormones	interact	with	each	other	in	ways	modern	science
is	only	beginning	to	understand. In	blood-sugar	regulation	alone,	at	least	six
hormones	are	involved. Steroid	hormones	are	being	prescribed	almost	as	frequently	as	antibiotics,	forallergic	reactions,	asthma,	eczema,	arthritis,	ulcerative	colitis,	and	for	all	types	of
inflammatory	and	autoimmune	diseases. Often	steroids	are	given	to	babies	and
children	to	alleviate	inflammations	of	all	kinds. Steroids	can	cause	permanent
and	devastating	damage,	even	after	a	single	dose;	once	the	body	is	thrown	out	of
its	natural	self-regulatory	mode,	it	sometimes	never	“gets	back.”	Steroids’
beneficial	effects	appear	to	decline	in	time,	leaving	patients	in	worse	condition
than	before	they	started. Steroids	appear	to	be	a	“miracle	cure”	for	asthma	or	arthritis;	however,	they
merely	suppress	the	symptoms	of	these	conditions. They	may	make	people	feel
better,	but	this	feeling	comes	at	a	high	price. The	medical	journals	are	filled	with
steroid-inflicted	horror	stories,	such	as	osteoporosis,	retarded	child	growth	and
vision	loss:
•	The	
Annals	of	Internal	Medicine	
in	November	1993	reported	that	after	just
four	months	of	use,	oral	steroids	can	cause	osteoporosis,	with	an	8	percent
reduction	in	bone	mass. •	The	
British	Medical	Journal	
in	August	1994	reported	that	extensive	eye
damage	and	visual	loss	can	be	caused	by	using	topical,	over-the-counter,	1
percent	hydrocortisone	ointment	for	two	weeks. •	
Lancet	
has	reported	that	after	only	six	weeks	of	use,	inhaled	steroids
prescribed	for	asthma	retard	growth	in	children. Alternative	approaches	to	steroids	include,	for	example,	vitamin	C	and
quercitin. These	two	natural	anti-inflammatories	accomplish	similar	results,	but
without	the	side	effects. Whether	one	takes	steroids	orally,	inhales	them	or	rubs
them	on	the	skin	doesn’t	matter;	damage	can	be	caused	quickly	and	irreversibly. Rubbing	a	little	cortisone	ointment	on	the	skin	affects	the	chemistry	of	the	entire
body. Steroids	taken	during	pregnancy	can	cause	a	child	to	suffer	from	autism
and	impaired	cognitive	performance. Topical	and	inhaled	steroids	can	cause
glaucoma	and	cataracts. Other	reported	problems	include	fluid	retention,
thinning	skin,	slowness	in	healing,	headaches,	muscle	weakness,	immune
suppression,	angina,	hair	loss	and	depression. Over-the-counter	hormones	such	as	melatonin	and	DHEA	are	special
problems,	partly	because	they	are	so	easy	to	obtain. Daily	doses	of	50	milligrams
of	DHEA	have	been	linked	to	acne,	oily	skin,	excessive	facial	hair	growth	in
women	and	mood	changes	such	as	irritability	and	aggressiveness. DHEA	is	a
steroid	hormone	with	a	molecular	structure	quite	similar	to	cortisone. (Cortisone,
too,	was	once	thought	to	be	a	wonder	drug,	until	we	found	it	was	maiming	and
killing	people.) In	a	1997	study	conducted	at	Northwestern	University,	sixteen
rats	fed	DHEA	for	eighteen	months	experienced	color	changes	in	their	liversfrom	pink	to	brown. Fourteen	developed	liver	cancer. Neurologists	and	other	sleep	specialists	have	warned	against	taking	melatonin
supplements. In	September	1996,	the	National	Institutes	of	Health	sponsored	a
meeting	in	Bethesda,	Maryland,	where	researchers	reported	that	we	do	not	have
sufficient	knowledge	about	how	melatonin	works	to	predict	all	its	potential
adverse	effects,	especially	at	the	high	doses	in	over-the-counter	preparations. The	data	showed	melatonin	could	cause	nausea,	headaches,	nightmares,
worsening	of	existing	depression	or	a	drop	in	body	temperature,	which	increases
the	risk	of	developing	viral	infections. Richard	J.	Wurtman,	M.D.,	professor	of
neuroscience	and	director	of	the	clinical	research	center	at	the	Massachusetts
Institute	of	Technology,	described	widespread	use	of	over-the-counter	melatonin
as	“scary.”
The	original	experiments	with	mice,	suggesting	that	melatonin	prolonged	life,
used	genetically	selected	mice	that	were	unable	to	produce	melatonin. When
given	some	melatonin,	they	did	measurably	better	than	having	none. However,
repeated	experiments	with	normal	mice	resulted	in	shortened	life	span,	because
they	developed	tumors	of	the	reproductive	tract. (Of	course,	the	public	hears
only	of	the	“benefits.”)
Taking	hormones	on	a	regular	basis,	such	as	the	numerous	women	on	birth
control	pills	and	others	on	hormone	replacement	therapy	(HRT),	imbalances	the
hormone	system. Millions	of	women	are	put	on	HRT,	presumably	to	help
prevent	heart	attack	and	osteoporosis. Little	reliable	evidence	exists	that	HRT
prevents	either;	in	fact	evidence	shows	that	it	promotes	these	conditions. Want	to	prevent	hormone	disruption	in	your	body? Avoiding	certain	toxins	is
critical. More	than	fifty	different	chemicals	are	known	to	disrupt	the	normal
communication	jobs	of	hormones,	including	pesticides,	PCBs	and	dioxins,
phthalates	leached	from	PVC	and	other	plastics,	and	bisphenol-A	(from
polycarbonate	water	bottles	and	the	plastics	used	to	coat	the	interior	of	cans	used
to	contain	food). Dietary	considerations	are	important,	because	most	of	our
exposure	to	these	hormone-disrupting	chemicals	comes	from	eating	meat	and
dairy	products. Sugar	and	white	flour	disrupt	hormone	balances,	so	minimize
consumption. Rest	and	exercise	help	balance	hormone	levels;	moderate	exercise
doubles	or	even	quadruples	beneficial	growth	hormone	levels. Most	critically,
our	society	must	stop	such	constant	and	widespread	use	of	hormone	drugs. As
John	Mills,	M.D.,	chief	of	infectious	diseases	at	San	Francisco	General	Hospital
said,	steroid	hormones	are	“probably	the	most	sleazy	of	modern-day
medications.”Digestive	Destruction
As	you	know,	one	way	in	which	drugs	cause	disease	is	by	interfering	with	the
digestion	of	food	and	absorption	of	nutrients. By	damaging	gut	tissue,	killing	off
beneficial	bacteria,	and	creating	an	environment	that	inhibits	the	growth	of
normal,	beneficial	gut	bacteria,	we	lose	our	ability	to	digest	food	and	absorb
nutrients	properly. This	condition	creates	both	deficiency	and	toxicity,	the	two
causes	of	cellular	malfunction	and	disease. Three	classes	of	drugs	are	responsible	for	much	of	this	damage:	NSAIDs,
antibiotics	and	hormones. NSAIDs	physically	damage	gut	tissue	and	destabilize
the	normal	composition	of	bacteria	living	in	the	gut,	especially	if	combined	with
antibiotics. Antibiotics	kill	friendly	bacteria	essential	to	health	and	result	in	a
variety	of	intestinal	infections. Hormones,	such	as	birth	control	pills,	create
chemical	imbalances	in	the	gut,	thus	promoting	yeast	infections	such	as	candida. Once	yeasts	change	the	environment	in	the	digestive	system,	a	long	chain	of
events	damage	health	and	cause	disease. Gut	tissue	that	is	damaged	becomes	more	permeable	(“leaky”)	to	large
molecules	of	undigested	food	and	to	microorganisms	that	enter	the	bloodstream
and	circulate	throughout	the	body. This	occurrence	provokes	chronic	immune
responses	manifested	as	food	allergies	and	other	inflammatory	conditions,	and
such	inflammatory	conditions	may	be	the	basis	of	all	chronic	disease. These	immune	responses	sometimes	create	antibodies	that	match	certain	body
tissues	and	attack	them,	resulting	in	autoimmune	diseases	such	as	lupus	or
arthritis. A	person	who	has	a	damaged	gut	may	eat	an	excellent	diet	but	still
suffer	malnutrition	because	of	nutrient	malabsorption. Adding	malabsorption	to	an	already	deficient	diet	is	catastrophic	to	long-term
health. Excessive	immune	reactions	produce	much	debris,	called	immune
complexes,	which	can	overburden	the	kidneys	and	cause	kidney	disease. In	fact,
allergic	reactions	may	be	the	leading	cause	of	kidney	disease. Major	and
uncorrected	maldigestion	can	lead	to	extreme	weight	loss	and	greater
susceptibility	to	opportunistic	infections,	commonly	experienced	in	people	with
AIDS. Vaccinations
Popular	opinion	regards	vaccinations	as	one	of	modern	medicine’s	greatest
achievements,	preventing	more	suffering	and	saving	more	lives	than	any	other
medical	procedure. Nothing	could	be	further	from	the	truth. Any	risks	or	“sideeffects”	from	vaccinations	supposedly	far	outweigh	the	inherent	benefits. However,	finding	benefits	is	difficult	and	finding	risks	is	easy. You	have	a	better	chance	of	being	healthy	if	your	cells	are	healthy;
vaccinations	damage	your	cells. In	fact,	modern	medicine’s	practice	of	mass
vaccinations	may	be	a	blunder	that	ranks	with	X	rays	and	antibiotics	for	damage
done	to	health. No	reliable	safety	study	has	ever	been	performed	on	any	vaccine,
and	evidence	suggests	that	they	are	both	ineffective	and	harmful. Yet,
individuals	are	forced,	without	consent,	to	risk	injury	or	even	death. In	October	2000,	at	the	annual	meeting	of	the	Association	of	American
Physicians	and	Surgeons	(AAPS),	a	resolution	called	for	an	end	to	all
government-mandated	vaccinations. Even	more	astounding,	the	resolution
passed	without	a	single	dissenting	vote. Jane	Orient,	M.D.,	executive	director	of
the	AAPS,	said,	“Our	children	face	the	possibility	of	death	or	serious	long-term
adverse	effects	from	mandated	vaccines	that	aren’t	necessary	or	that	have
limited	benefits.”	The	AAPS’s	resolution	read	that	“mass	vaccination	is
equivalent	to	human	experimentation	and	subject	to	the	Nuremberg	Code,	which
re-quires	voluntary	informed	consent.”	By	failing	to	inform	us	of	the	dangers,
and	taking	away	our	power	to	choose	otherwise,	mandated	vaccinations	become
a	crime	against	humanity. The	dramatic	decline	of	infectious	diseases,	such	as	smallpox,	diphtheria	and
polio,	often	is	cited	(inaccurately)	as	proof	of	vaccinations’	effectiveness. The
incidence	of	infectious	disease	dramatically	decreased	
before	
the	introduction	of
vaccines;	in	other	words,	vaccines	get	credit	for	something	they	did	not	do. In
1950,	the	polio	epidemic	was	at	its	height	in	Great	Britain. By	the	time	polio
vaccine	was	introduced	in	1956,	polio	had	already	declined	by	82	percent. Similarly,	tuberculosis	was	a	persistent	killer	throughout	the	1800s	and	by	1945
had	already	declined	by	97	percent. Other	infectious	diseases	that	already	were
in	decline	before	the	introduction	of	their	vaccines	include	pneumonia,
influenza,	whooping	cough	and	measles. Continuing	decline	merely	followed	the
existing	trend. Countries	that	did	not	vaccinate	against	specific	diseases
experienced	similar	declines	as	countries	that	did. A	strong	argument	for	the	decline	of	infectious	diseases	can	be	made	for	a
variety	of	factors,	including	better	sanitation,	less	crowded	living	conditions	and
the	absence	of	hunger. In	addition,	diseases	tend	to	have	their	own	evolutionary
cycles;	they	go	away	as	the	population	gains	“herd”	immunity. Diseases	like
bubonic	plague	and	scarlet	fever	experienced	declines	similar	to	other	infectious
diseases;	they	disappeared	without	any	immunization	programs. Finding	any	studies	that	prove	vaccines’	effectiveness	is	difficult. To	proveefficacy,	we	must	analyze	studies	of	vaccinated	groups	versus	unvaccinated
ones. Very	few	of	such	studies	ever	have	been	conducted;	the	few	that	have	been
indicate	that	the	vaccines	are	ineffective. Recent	worldwide	outbreaks	of	virulent
forms	of	TB	have	demonstrated	that	alleged	“protection”	by	TB	vaccine	has
little	to	do	with	whether	or	not	anyone	contracts	the	disease. Not	only	ineffective,	vaccines	can	also	be	harmful. Viera	Scheibner,	Ph.D.,	a
world	authority	on	immunizations	and	author	of	the	1993	book	
Vaccination,
wrote:	“Immunizations	. . . not	only	did	not	prevent	any	infectious	diseases,	they
caused	more	suffering	and	more	deaths	than	any	other	human	activity	in	the
entire	history	of	medical	intervention.”	Having	assembled	and	researched	the
world’s	largest	collection	of	data	on	immunizations,	Dr.	Scheibner	concludes
that	“there	is	no	evidence	whatsoever	that	vaccines	of	any	kind—	but	especially
those	against	childhood	diseases—are	effective	in	preventing	the	infectious
diseases	they	are	supposed	to	prevent. . . . One	hundred	years	of	orthodox
research	shows	that	vaccines	represent	a	medical	assault	on	the	immune	system.”
Each	generation	is	subjected	to	more	vaccinations	and,	as	a	result,	is
experiencing	more	immune	dysfunction	diseases. Many	children	have	as	many
as	twenty-two	vaccinations	before	they	go	to	the	first	grade,	and	as	more
vaccines	become	available,	the	number	keeps	increasing. At	an	international
conference	in	1997,	Terry	Phillips,	Ph.D.,	D.Sc.,	professor	of	medicine	at
George	Washington	University	Medical	Center,	reported	that	the	foreign
proteins	in	virtually	all	vaccines	wreak	havoc	on	the	human	immune	system. Vaccines	are	toxic	mixtures	loaded	with	various	substances	that	never	should	be
injected	into	a	human	body—including	foreign	proteins	and	dangerous	viruses
from	chickens,	guinea	pigs,	calves	and	monkeys. Some	researchers	believe	these
viruses	put	a	permanent	burden	on	our	immune	systems	and	do	continuous
damage	both	to	the	immune	and	nervous	systems. Vaccines	also	contain	toxic
chemicals,	like	mercury	(a	neurotoxin),	ethylene	glycol	(antifreeze),
formaldehyde	(a	carcinogen),	aluminum	(a	carcinogen	and	also	associated	with
Alzheimer’s),	plus	antibiotics	like	Streptomycin	(which	can	cause	allergic
reactions). Even	the	FDA	has	called	for	cessation	of	mercury	in	vaccines
because	our	children	are	being	exposed	to	unsafe	amounts	of	it. Dr.	Harris	Coulter,	in	his	various	writings	on	vaccinations,	says	that	the
allergic	response	initiated	with	an	injected	vaccine	is	capable	of	causing
encephalitis	(an	inflammation	of	the	brain). Encephalitis	can	cause	permanent
brain	damage	and	lead	to	lifelong	problems	of	autism,	dyslexia,	learning
disabilities,	behavioral	disorders	and	antisocial	syndromes. Dr.	Coulter	estimates
that	50	percent	of	the	children	who	experience	a	fever	after	vaccination	actuallyare	suffering	from	encephalitis;	he	blames	vaccines	for	the	“new	morbidity”	of
learning	disabilities	and	behavioral	disorders. Decisions	about	whether	to	be	vaccinated	before	a	trip	to	a	foreign	country,	or
whether	to	vaccinate	your	children,	should	be	based	on	accurate	information. Unfortunately,	the	public	has	had	little	access	to	research	questioning	the	safety
and	effectiveness	of	vaccinations. Compulsory	vaccination	laws	exist	in	every	state. However,	there	are	legal
exemptions. Learn	what	the	exemptions	are	in	your	state	and	obtain	an
appropriate	one. All	states	have	a	medical	exemption	that	a	doctor	can	sign,	and
many	states	have	religious	exemptions,	which	do	not	require	affiliation	with	any
specific	religion. Regarding	the	common	flu	shot,	consider	this	study	published	in	
Lancet:
Absenteeism	of	more	than	one	hundred	thousand	employees	was	noted	each
winter	for	three	years,	and	the	conclusion	was	that	flu	shots	did	not	confer	any
protection. What	about	tetanus? Probably	the	single	most	important	factor	in
preventing	tetanus	is	thorough	cleansing	of	the	wound	by	removing	all	foreign
bodies	and	dead	tissue. On	rare	occasion,	“tetanus-prone”	wounds	might	justify
a	booster	vaccine	for	those	individuals	already	immunized,	and	immune	globulin
in	those	who	never	have	been	vaccinated. To	avoid	an	infectious	disease,	you	don’t	need	to	have	vaccinations;	you	need
to	keep	your	immunity	strong. From	the	beginning,	breastfeeding	protects
against	many	infections. Avoid	allergenic	foods	like	milk	and	wheat. Allergies
lower	immunity	and	predispose	the	body	to	infections. Nutritional	status	is
critical	to	immune	competence. Refined	sugars	are	well	known	to	depress
immunity. Regular	exercise,	a	good	diet,	and	avoidance	of	allergens	and	toxins
help	to	maintain	a	healthy	immune	system. Moreover,	a	high-quality	supplement
program	is	essential. Give	Credit	Where	It	Is	Due
While	a	dramatic	decline	has	occurred	in	mortality	during	the	last	century,	this
decline	has	little	to	do	with	the	“advancement”	of	our	health-care	system. Researchers	at	Harvard	University	and	Boston	University	have	determined	that
drugs,	vaccines	and	other	medical	measures	contributed	a	mere	1	to	3.5	percent
to	the	decline	in	U.S.	mortality	since	the	turn	of	the	century. This	data	appeared
in	a	1977	article	(published	in	the	summer	edition	of	the	
Milbank	Memorial
Fund	Quarterly
),	which	concluded	that	increased	life	expectancy	was	due	to
improvements	in	sanitation	and	living	conditions	rather	than	advances	inmedicine. That	view	was	supported	in	a	study	reported	in	the	September	1977
issue	of	the	
Journal	of	the	American	Medical	Association,	
concluding	that	“the
most	dramatic	improvements	in	the	health	of	our	people	as	a	group	have	been
from	cleaning	up	the	water	supply:	sanitation,	not	medical	care.”	The	decline	in
mortality	is	primarily	attributable	to	the	decline	in	killer	epidemics	such	as
tuberculosis,	scarlet	fever,	smallpox,	diphtheria	and	others. The	development	of
city	sewer	systems,	water	purification	systems,	pasteurization,	refrigeration	and
food	hygiene	have	done	far	more	to	prevent	infectious	disease	than	all	modern
medical	treatments	combined. Watch	Out	for	Your	Dentist,	Too
Dentists	contribute	to	toxic	loads	and	chronic	disease	just	like	physicians	do—
primarily	through	the	use	of	local	anesthetics	and	toxic	metals	(mercury
amalgams	and	metal	crowns). Mercury	amalgams	have	been	in	use	for	more
than	one	hundred	years,	and	we	have	always	been	told	they	are	safe. A	“silver”
amalgam	is	actually	50	percent	mercury,	and	this	mercury	does	not	stay	only	in
your	mouth;	the	mercury	is	absorbed	by	the	body	and	poisons	cells. Almost
everyone	knows	that	lead	is	toxic,	and	lead-based	paints	have	been	outlawed
since	the	1970s. No	one	would	think	of	putting	lead	in	their	mouth	and	sucking
on	it	twenty-four	hours	a	day,	yet	mercury	is	five	thousand	times	more	toxic	than
lead,	and	dentists	use	it	in	amalgams	as	if	it	were	harmless. Since	1988,	the	Environmental	Protection	Agency	has	classified	scrap	dental
amalgams	as	a	hazardous	waste. Putting	amalgams	down	the	drain	or	in	the
trash,	or	burying	them	in	a	landfill,	is	illegal—but	the	FDA	still	says	they	can	be
put	in	our	mouths! Fortunately,	things	are	changing. In	1992,	the	German
government	banned	the	sale	and	manufacture	of	dental	amalgams. Metal	crowns
are	another	problem,	and	even	“porcelain”	crowns	are	usually	made	with	nickel
—a	toxic	metal	and	a	known	carcinogen. If	you	already	have	these	toxic	metals	imbedded	in	tooth	tissue,	consider
having	them	removed	but	only	by	someone	highly	skilled	in	such	removals. Gold	is	a	high-quality	metal,	and	the	only	one	acceptable	for	the	mouth,	but	even
gold	is	not	perfect	because	it	is	mixed	with	other	metals	to	make	it	harder. While
no	perfect	dental	material	is	available,	new	plastic	materials,	when	properly
installed	in	fillings	or	as	crowns,	appear	to	be	the	most	acceptable	choices	for
now. As	with	all	health-related	problems,	prevention	is	best. Eat	a	good	diet,	free
of	refined	sugar,	and	be	sure	to	brush	and	floss. Be	particular	about	what	type	of
toothpaste,	too	(see	appendix	C).In	addition	to	being	toxic,	putting	different	metals	in	the	mouth	in	the
presence	of	saliva,	which	is	electrically	conductive,	generates	subtle	electrical
currents	that	corrode	the	metals	in	the	mouth. Once	metals	begin	to	corrode	and
degrade,	they	become	biologically	active	and	begin	circulating	around	various
bodily	tissues,	leading	to	toxic	accumulation. In	addition,	the	subtle	electrical
currents	can	also	affect	other	body	functions	and	cause	numerous	problems,
including	hearing	loss,	insomnia,	and	difficulties	with	memory	and
concentration. Local	anesthetics	(including	lidocaine)	are	commonly	used	by	dentists	and
may	be	substantial	contributors	to	our	cancer	epidemic. These	anesthetics	break
down	in	the	body	into	cancer-causing	compounds	called	anilines. In	1993,	the
FDA	found	that	lidocaine,	when	exposed	to	human	tissue,	breaks	down	into	2,	6-
dimethylaniline,	a	compound	that	is	known	to	cause	virtually	every	kind	of
cancer	in	animals,	and	it	does	so	more	than	99	percent	of	the	time. In	September
1996,	as	a	result	of	these	findings,	the	FDA	removed	from	the	market	all	over-
the-counter	painkillers	containing	these	local	anesthetics	and	required	that	a
warning	be	placed	on	all	new	prescription	pharmaceuticals	containing	them. Unfortunately,	existing	prescription	anesthetics	were	not	required	to	carry	the
warning,	and	most	health	professionals	are	still	unaware	of	this	problem. Work	with	your	dentists	and	doctors	to	minimize	exposure	to	local
anesthetics. Local	anesthetics	are	given	more	often	than	necessary—usually	for
the	dentist’s	convenience. Use	these	products	only	when	absolutely	necessary,
and	use	the	minimum	dose	necessary. Do	not	keep	requesting	more	anesthetic
because	of	the	fear	of	“not	quite	being	numb.”	Alternatives	include:
acupuncture,	hypnosis,	rubbing	oil	of	cloves	on	the	gum. The	Healer	Within	Yourself
Regardless	of	which	medical	treatments	you	choose,	understand	how	the
treatments	actually	work	and	how	they	affect	your	cells. Treatments	designed	to
optimize	or	balance	the	function	of	your	cells	generally	are	safer	and	more
effective	than	treatments	designed	to	mask	symptoms. Take	medicine	only	when
you	need	it	(you	definitely	want	to	question	taking	drugs	every	day	as	a	part	of
life),	and	only	after	you	have	compared	(and	attained	second	opinions	on)
benefits	and	possible	side	effects. Remember	that	you	are	in	charge	and	you
must	take	responsibility	for	your	own	health	by	supporting	your	body’s	natural
abilities	to	repair	and	regulate	itself. John	Lee,	M.D.,	wrote	in	his	1993	book,	
Optimal	Health	Guidelines:	
“Goingto	the	doctor	these	days	can	be	risky	business. In	generations	past,	the	basic	tenet
of	medical	care	was	‘Primum	non	nocere’	(above	all,	do	no	harm). Today	that
dictum	has	been	modified	to	‘do	as	little	harm	as	possible.’	Even	that	. . . is
becoming	operationally	impossible. The	patient	must	now	learn	to	look	out	for
himself.”
Physicians	do	have	their	place,	but	one	has	to	know	what	that	place	is. For
example,	anyone	with	acute	health	problems,	such	as	a	stroke,	a	bleeding	ulcer
or	chest	pains,	should	seek	immediate	medical	attention. However,	people	who
are	suffering	from	chronic	disease	problems	(cancer,	heart	disease,	diabetes,
arthritis,	high	blood	pressure,	depression	and	so	forth)	are	best	advised	to	avoid
modern	conventional	medicine	and	to	seek	competent	alternative	care. Traditional	healers	typically	worked	to	balance	the	body,	both	physically	and
energetically,	thereby	promoting	health. That	remains	the	underlying	approach
of	many	alternative	practitioners	and	alternative	treatments,	including	a	growing
number	of	enlightened	M.D.s,	naturopaths,	homeopaths,	acupuncturists,
chiropractors,	energy	healers,	massage	therapists	and	others. Conventional	medicine	is	a	powerful	moneymaking	bureaucracy	that	is
incredibly	resistant	to	change,	but	there	is	also	a	growing	movement	in	this
country	to	pass	medical	freedom	laws	that	would	bring	more	competition	and
creativity	into	the	medical	marketplace. (Physicians	would	then	be	free	to	pursue
treatments	that	are	not	only	safe,	but	more	effective,	such	as	treating	heart
disease	with	diet	and	supplements	rather	than	surgery;	treating	cancer	with
nutrition,	detoxification	and	herbs;	and	treating	stroke	with	hyperbaric	oxygen.) About	half	of	all	patients	in	America	now	seek	at	least	some	form	of	alternative
treatment;	people	are	putting	the	power	of	health	into	their	own	hands. This
statement	shouldn’t	suggest	that	alternative	treatments	are	always	safe	and
effective—indeed,	many	are	not—but	the	growing	discontent	with	our
conventional	health-care	system	is	a	reality	that	we	can	no	longer	ignore. Optimizing	your	position	on	the	
medical	pathway	
requires	being	aware	of	the
hazards	of	modern	medicine	as	well	as	its	miracles. You,	not	your	doctor,	are
responsible	for	your	health.11
A	S
HIFT	IN	
P
ERSPECTIVE
“This	pattern	of	high	resistance	and	freedom	from
degenerative	disease	is	seen	wherever	people	live	beyond	the
reach	of	modern	civilization	and	are	not	suffering	from
famine.”
Charles	McGee,	M.D. How	to	Survive	Modern	Technology
P
erspective	is	everything. By	reshaping	our	understanding	of	disease,	we	are
empowered	to	create	health. Are	you	ready	to	take	charge	of	your	health	and
experience	a	state	of	well-being	that	even	your	doctors	may	doubt	is	possible? As	you	have	read	this	book,	you	have	discovered	ways	in	which	you	must
change	your	life	in	order	to	get	better	and	in	order	to	stay	well. Perhaps	you	are
fighting	a	disease	with	little	success,	and	now	you	see	hope. Or	perhaps	you
have	considered	yourself	“healthy,”	only	to	recognize	that	your	body	already	is
showing	early	warning	signs	of	disease. Do	you	have	a	general	feeling	that	your	body	is	struggling	to	keep	up? Are
you	confused	or	frustrated	by	your	medical	doctors	or	their	recommended
treatments? Are	you	distressed	by	the	number	of	prescription	drugs	or	over-the-
counter	medicines	you	take	in	order	to	keep	going,	even	if	you	have	no	sense
you	are	getting	better? Are	you	suffering	a	variety	of	symptoms	that	no	doctor
has	been	able	to	help	you	with? Are	you	making	unhealthful	choices	in	the	foods
that	you	eat,	in	the	products	that	you	use	on	yourself	or	in	your	home,	and	in
other	aspects	of	your	life? Before	I	got	so	sick	and	almost	died	in	1985,	I	lived	a	different	life	from	the
life	I	live	today. I	thought	I	was	healthy	and	that	I	was	living	a	healthful
lifestyle;	in	reality	I	was	encouraging	sickness. I	suffered	from	a	number	of
diseases—	allergies,	colds,	flu,	tooth	decay,	joint	pain,	abdominal	pain	and
fatigue. I	went	to	physicians	and	dentists. I	took	antibiotics	for	infections,
NSAIDs	for	pain	and	antihistamines	for	my	allergies. I	occasionally	took
vitamins,	but	I	did	so	whimsically,	without	commitment	and	consistency,	and
certainly	without	a	scientific	understanding	of	which	vitamins	I	should	be	taking
and	why. I	ate	most	of	my	meals	in	upscale	restaurants	and	spared	no	expense. My	food	choices,	however,	were	based	mostly	on	taste	and	enjoyment. I	neither
knew	much	nor	thought	much	about	nutrition.When	I	did	develop	digestive	problems	and	allergies,	I	was	unaware	that	my
food	was	causing	the	problems	or	that	it	would	be	possible	to	avoid	them	if	I
paid	closer	attention	to	what	I	ate. I	am	now	aware	of	my	allergy	to	dairy,	but
back	then	I	ate	ice	cream,	milk	and	other	dairy	products	almost	daily. I
developed	itchy	eyes,	mucus	and	sneezing	fits	after	I	ate	them,	but	still	I	did	not
recognize	the	connection. I	had	grown	accustomed	to	these	“minor	nuisances”
and	never	imagined	life	could	be	so	much	better	without	them. I	used	to	eat	far	too	much	meat	and	dairy—at	one	or	two	meals	every	day—
unaware	that	most	of	the	pesticides	we	are	exposed	to	have	bioaccumulated	in
the	animal	products	we	consume. Although	I	don’t	recommend	a	meat-free	diet,
I	recommend	eating	meat	only	a	few	times	a	week	and	only	that	which	has	been
organically	produced. The	animal	products	I	consumed	back	then	contributed	to
my	toxic	load,	as	did	the	volumes	of	sugar,	white	flour	and	processed	oils	that
were	a	regular	part	of	my	diet. In	addition,	both	as	a	graduate	research	assistant
at	MIT	and	in	my	first	job	as	a	chemist,	I	was	exposed	to	extraordinary	amounts
of	toxic	chemicals. Chemicals	that	are	used	today	only	in	small	amounts	and
with	protective	equipment	we	used	to	slosh	around	in	the	lab	as	if	they	were
water. Back	then,	we	were	unaware	of	the	full	extent	of	their	toxicity,	and	the
manufacturers	were	in	no	rush	to	study	the	toxicities. My	discoveries	about	health	and	disease	saved	my	life	and	changed	my	life—
forever. I	learned	to	recognize	which	foods	harmed	my	health. I	learned	to	listen	to	my
body’s	own	warning	signs. I	learned	how	to	avoid	getting	sick	and	how	to
accelerate	recovery. I	learned	how	to	get	well	and	stay	well. Since	my	recovery	in	1987,	I	have	rarely	been	sick. At	age	sixty-five,	I	have
more	energy,	vitality	and	health	than	I	did	twenty	years	ago. I	have	taken	no
medications—neither	a	prescription	drug	nor	an	over-the-counter	product—in
the	past	seventeen	years. Neither	have	I	required	the	services	of	a	physician	in
that	time. I	am	no	longer	debilitated	by	my	allergies. If	I	do	get	sick,	I	know
what	I	can	do	to	improve	my	situation. On	the	rare	occasion	that	I	do	come	down
with	a	cold,	I	take	plenty	of	high-quality	vitamin	C,	and	the	cold	vanishes	in	a
matter	of	
hours	
rather	than	after	days	or	weeks	of	misery. The	lightning	bolt	that	sparked	these	massive	changes	in	my	life	and	which
guides	my	life	today	was	a	radical	change	in	my	perspective. I	now	see	health	as
a	choice,	entirely	within	my	control. I	optimize	my	choices	along	all	six
pathways	and	I	avoid	disease. I	shun	“modern	medicine,”	prescription	drugs	and
other	traditional	treatments	because	I	recognize	that	they	treat	the	symptoms	and
not	the	causes	of	disease. Further	-more,	modern	medical	treatments	do	harm.Because	I	am	able	to	keep	my	health	in	balance,	I	do	not	need	drugs,	medical
treatments	or	doctors. I	eat	a	wide	variety	of	fresh	organic	foods,	either	from
farmers’	markets	or	health	food	stores. My	favorites	include	apples,	raw	nuts	and
fresh	vegetables	used	to	make	salads. I	eat	animal	protein	a	few	times	per	week,
usually	deep-water	ocean	fish	(not	farmed),	organically	produced	poultry
(without	antibiotics	and	hormones)	and	organic	eggs. I	drink	bottled	water
delivered	in	glass	bottles. I	supplement	my	diet	with	essential	fatty	acids	and	I
avoid	hydrogenated	oils. On	rare	occasions	I	do	have	desserts,	but	even	then	I
avoid	common	allergens	like	dairy. I	definitely	do	not	succumb	to	the	daily
after-dinner	“sweet	tooth.”	Refined	sugar	has	been	almost	completely	cut	out	of
my	life	because	it	is	so	very	dangerous. I	avoid	all	corn	and	corn	products
because	corn	is	now	genetically	contaminated	as	well	as	often	being	moldy. I
minimize	white	potatoes	and	have	completely	eliminated	french	fries	because
they	are	one	of	the	most	toxic	foods	we	eat. I	take	a	variety	of	high-quality
supplements,	including	amino	acids	(prior	to	meals),	multivitamins,	extra
calcium/magnesium,	vitamin	E,	quercitin	and	coenzyme	Q10. I	also	take
digestive	enzymes	with	my	meals. In	my	home	I	have	natural-fiber	carpets,	I	have	a	filter	on	my	shower	to
remove	the	chlorine,	and	I	replaced	my	gas-fired	water	heater	with	an	electric
unit. On	my	body	I	use	only	toothpaste,	shampoo	and	soap	that	do	not	have
synthetic	foaming	agents,	stabilizers,	preservatives,	colors	or	fragrances. For
exercise	I	do	daily	rebounding,	walking	or	hiking. During	weekly	visits	to	the
gym,	I	do	gentle	weightlifting,	treadmill,	bicycling,	and	absolutely	a	sauna
afterward	to	detoxify. I	keep	my	spirits	up	by	having	purpose	in	my	life,	being
excited	about	what	I	am	doing	and	having	people	in	my	life	that	I	care	about. I
teach	as	many	as	I	can	how	to	be	healthy. All	of	the	factors	bring	a	sense	of
purpose	and	encouragement. I	live	in	the	present	and	in	the	future,	and	I	do	not
dwell	on	the	past. If	I	had	only	one	day	left	to	live,	I	would	want	to	be	excited
about	living	that	day. Getting	Sick	Is	Harder	Than	Staying	Well
You	may	wonder	if	you	have	the	ability,	the	energy	and	the	resolve	to	make
these	kinds	of	life	changes	yourself. You	do. But	change	is	difficult,	especially
in	the	beginning. As	I	was	reforming	my	life,	I	had	to	make	a	lot	of	adjustments. What	I	know	for	certain	is	that	health	problems	are	much	harder	to	live	with	than
these	solutions. When	I	recognize	that	something	I	eat,	something	I	do	or
something	I	expose	myself	to	will	make	me	sick,	I	simply	do	not	want	itanymore. It	truly	becomes	that	easy. You	need	to	become	a	leader,	however,	as
those	around	you	may	add	pressure	or	distraction. If	the	people	you	live	with	or
work	with	are	eating	unhealthful	diets,	you	must	be	the	one	to	set	a	different
example. People	often	ask	me	if	I	miss	some	of	the	“bad”	things. No,	I	don’t. Tastes
change. New	tastes	can	be	acquired	in	a	few	weeks,	and	old	ones	can	be	lost. I
used	to	love	filet	mignon,	but	after	not	eating	it	for	ten	years,	I	lost	my	taste	for
it. I	had	a	fantastic	filet	mignon	a	couple	of	years	ago,	and	I	didn’t	like	it. People	also	often	ask	me	whether	this	healthy	lifestyle	costs	more	than	some
may	be	able	to	afford. I	have	found,	actually,	that	eating	a	healthy	diet	costs	less
than	eating	a	poor	diet. It	costs	a	lot	more	to	make	yourself	sick. People
regularly	tell	me	that	they	cut	their	food	budgets	in	half	by	improving	their	diets. Organic	fruits,	vegetables,	beans,	grains	and	unprocessed	oils	may	be	more
expensive	than	their	nonorganic	counterparts,	but	in	the	end	a	diet	made	up	of
healthful	foods	is	cheaper. Consider	what	you	pay	for	organic	whole	grains	per
pound	versus	what	you	pay	for	packaged	breakfast	cereal	per	pound,	and	you
will	realize	quickly	that	unhealthful	processed	foods	are	much	more	expensive. Deadly,	make-believe	foods	like	ice	cream,	cola	drinks	and	potato	chips	are
expensive,	provide	little	nutrition	and	damage	your	cells. Not	purchasing	them
saves	your	money	and	your	health. Even	when	a	healthful	choice	does	cost
more,	the	purchase	is	well	worth	the	investment	because	being	sick	is	
very
expensive. The	same	holds	true	for	supplements. The	most	expensive
supplement	of	all	is	one	that	doesn’t	work,	no	matter	how	little	you	pay	for	it. High-quality	supplements	cost	more,	but	they	deliver	the	most	nutrients	to	your
cells. Most	cheap	vitamins	do	nothing,	or	almost	nothing,	and	many	contain
toxins;	many	vitamin	products	cause	both	deficiency	and	toxicity. Another	important	investment	in	health	is	to	spend	a	little	more	on	personal
care	and	home-care	products	that	do	not	harm	your	body. In	making	selections
of	toothpaste,	shampoo,	deodorants,	skin	creams	and	cosmetics,	the	most
important	criterion	is	that	your	body	not	be	harmed. Selecting	organic	foods	is
not	good	enough;	you	must	also	select	safe	products. If	a	product	cannot	be	ingested	without	poisoning	you,	then	it	is	not	safe
enough	to	put	on	your	skin	or	your	hair	or	your	teeth. Look	at	the	swallowing
warnings	on	a	typical	tube	of	toothpaste. (Consult	appendix	C	for	safe	brands	of
toothpaste	and	other	products.) The	sad	truth	is	that	most	personal-care	products
are	toxic;	those	toxins	bioaccumulate	in	your	body	and	cause	disease.Look	at	Your	Health	in	a	New	Way
The	perspective	we	have	to	change	is	the	way	we	look	at	and	evaluate	our
own	health. If	you	are	going	to	solve	your	own	health	problems,	you	must	first
acknowledge	they	exist. We	all	grow	up	thinking	that	health	is	a	given,	until	we
“get	sick.”
Rather	than	being	static,	however,	health	is	a	sliding	scale,	and	our	position
and	direction	on	that	scale	can	change	on	a	daily	basis. This	is	why	we	need	to
learn	how	to	evaluate	our	own	health,	in	a	meaningful	and	ongoing	way,	so	as	to
avoid	letting	ourselves	deteriorate	to	the	point	where	we	become	sick. As	I	was	gradually	losing	my	health,	no	one	told	me	I	was	sick. In	fact,	I	was
told	the	opposite. At	my	periodic	physical	exams	my	physicians	pronounced	me
in	perfect	health,	even	though	I	had	required	many	fillings	in	my	teeth	and	I
suffered	from	a	serious	immune	deficiency	disease,	namely	from	a	seasonal
allergy	called	“hay	fever.”	Each	year	I	suffered	from	one	or	more	colds	and
every	several	years	from	a	bout	of	flu. I	was	led	to	believe,	however,	that	tooth
decay,	colds,	flu	and	allergies	are	all	normal	and	that	I	was	healthy. The	fact	is	no	one	should	have	tooth	decay,	colds,	flu,	allergies	or	any	other
disease. If	you	do	have	any	of	these	problems,	you	are	experiencing	substantial
amounts	of	cellular	malfunction	and	you	are	sick. Living	with	even	that	amount
of	cellular	malfunction	shortens	your	life	and	makes	you	susceptible	to	a	host	of
other	disease	problems. Unless	you	do	something	different,	your	health	will	only
get	worse	with	time,	not	better. Health	cannot	be	improved	by	continuing	to	do
the	same	things	that	made	you	sick. Now	is	the	time	to	make	health	your
responsibility. How	to	Read	the	Warning	Signs
We	all	need	to	learn	how	to	read	the	body’s	signals	so	that	we	can	evaluate
our	own	health	and	health	decline. Our	body	tells	us	when	it	is	having	trouble;
our	problem	is	that	we	don’t	listen. Subtle	signals	are	ignored	until	the	problem
becomes	serious	enough	to	demand	attention. How	healthy	are	you? Often	the	warning	signs	are	evident	in	your	appearance;
simply	put,	you	don’t	look	well. In	addition,	you	should	ask	yourself	whether
you	are	experiencing
•	Fatigue
•	Aches	and	pains
•	Skin	problems•	Allergies
•	Digestion	troubles
•	Sleep	difficulties
•	Susceptibility	to	infections
•	Weight	issues
•	Mood,	thought	or	behavior	problems
These	warning	signs	appear	in	ways	that	are	usually	easily	recognized. Consider	individually	the	signs	listed. Appearance
The	body	gives	off	visual	signals,	and	we	can	learn	to	recognize	them. I
remember	once	seeing	a	friend	and	thinking,	
He	doesn’t	look	well. Not	long
thereafter,	he	was	diagnosed	with	brain	cancer. How	many	times	have	we	looked
at	others	and	realized	that	they	didn’t	look	well? Before	I	took	sick,	my	family
thought	I	looked	pale. Are	you	pale? Are	there	dark	circles	under	your	eyes? Are
there	wrinkles	on	your	face? Is	your	hair	graying? How	well	do	you	move? Are
you	well-coordinated? Are	your	eyes	dull? Appearance	matters,	it	is	easy	to
check,	and	it	should	be	checked	on	a	regular	basis. Energy	Level
Fatigue	is	probably	the	most	common	complaint	made	to	doctors	in	our
society	because	energy	production	at	the	cellular	level	is	one	of	the	first	things
affected	as	our	cells	malfunction	and	become	diseased. If	you	do	not	have	the
energy	you	used	to	have,	aging	is	not	the	problem. You	are	getting	sicker. Remember	the	boundless	energy	that	healthy	people	like	the	Hunzas	had? They	performed	physical	feats	such	as	traveling	sixty	miles	in	one	day	on	foot,
in	mountainous	terrain,	and	returning	looking	as	though	they	had	gone	for	a
casual	walk. Contrast	this	to	the	fatigue	so	many	of	us	feel	during	the	day,
perhaps	needing	several	cups	of	coffee	just	to	keep	going. Even	many	of	our
teenagers	struggle	with	fatigue. Skin	Problems
Our	skin	is	a	barometer	of	overall	health,	but	we	are	taught	to	think	of	a	skin
problem	as	just	that,	a	skin	problem. This	is	outmoded. Like	any	disease,	skin
problems	are	the	result	of	systemic	cellular	malfunction. We	may	notice	it	in	the
skin,	but	the	problem	is	likely	affecting	every	cell	in	the	body. The	proper
solution	is	not	to	use	products	like	a	cortisone	ointment,	but	to	restore	the	cells	togood	health. If	your	skin	is	dry,	flaky,	irritated,	itchy,	thin,	has	lost	its	elasticity,
or	if	you	develop	skin	lesions	of	any	kind,	you	are	not	healthy. Allergies
Allergies	are	not	normal,	and	they	do	long-lasting	damage	to	the	body. Enhancing	the	health	of	your	cells	can	eliminate	allergies. Millions	of	Americans
suffer	from	runny	noses,	sneezing,	itching	of	the	eyes,	sinus	problems,
headaches,	abdominal	pain,	diarrhea,	skin	rashes	and	numerous	other	problems
as	a	result	of	allergies	and	sensitivities	to	foods,	pollens,	chemicals	and	other
substances	in	our	environment. We	tend	to	look	upon	these	reactions	as	“benign”
inconveniences	rather	than	the	symptoms	of	a	body	out	of	balance. Allergies
should	be	looked	upon	as	a	serious	acquired	immune	dysfunction	syndrome	and
treated	by	improving	cellular	health	and	strengthening	the	immune	system. Do	you	sneeze,	develop	a	runny	nose	or	have	itchy	eyes	after	eating	a	meal? Are	your	fingers	sometimes	swollen	so	that	it	is	difficult	to	take	off	or	put	on	a
ring? Do	you	get	loose	stools	after	eating	certain	foods? All	of	these	and	more
can	be	symptoms	of	allergic	reactions. A	body	with	allergies	is	not	crying	out	for
over-the-counter	or	prescription	antihistamines,	but	for	solving	the	problems	of
cellular	malfunction. Like	any	other	“disease,”	allergies	can	be	both	prevented
and	reversed	by	restoring	normal	function	to	the	cells	in	your	immune	system. By	working	to	minimize	the	deficiency	and	toxicity	of	my	cells,	I	went	from
being	allergic	to	virtually	everything—	called	a	“universal	reactor”—to	living	a
normal	life. Digestion	Troubles
Do	you	have	problems	such	as	indigestion,	inability	to	eat	a	wide	variety	of
foods,	intestinal	cramps,	abdominal	bloating,	excess	gas,	diarrhea,	constipation,
acid	reflux,	low	energy,	slow	wound	healing,	or	difficulty	concentrating	and
thinking	quickly	and	clearly? Good	digestion	is	a	foundation	for	achieving	peak
performance	and	optimal	health. Yet	digestive	problems	are	epidemic	in	our
society	and	they	prevent	millions	of	people	from	living	the	healthy,	productive
lives	they	would	like. Most	of	our	digestive	problems	are	the	direct	result	of
poor	diets,	toxic	exposure,	lack	of	exercise,	unresolved	stress,	and	over-the-
counter	and	prescription	drugs. Digestive	problems	are	more	serious	than	people
imagine,	for	
if	you	are	not	properly	digesting	your	food	and	assimilating	its
nutrients,	you	will	get	sick,	guaranteed. Poor	digestion	is	a	perfect	prescription
for	deficiency	and	toxicity,	the	two	causes	of	disease. Heartburn,	bloating,	gas	and	other	digestive	problems	should	not	just	betreated	by	antacids	and	other	medications,	and	then	forgotten. These	problems
are	a	wake-up	call	that	one	of	our	major	body	systems	is	not	working	right. A
better	solution	is	to	chew	your	food	well,	do	proper	food	combining,	stay	away
from	foods	you	are	allergic	to,	take	probiotics	and	digestive	enzymes,	and
exercise	regularly. Antibiotics	may	be	the	leading	cause	of	digestive	problems,
and	these	dangerous	drugs	should	be	avoided	for	that	reason	alone. Sleep	Difficulties
Sleep	is	critical	to	health,	but	few	of	us	sleep	an	adequate	amount,	and	a
growing	number	of	people	suffer	from	various	sleep	disorders,	such	as	disturbed
sleep	patterns	and	insomnia. Much	of	the	time	sleep	problems	are	symptoms	that
the	hormones	and	chemicals	the	body	uses	to	cope	with	stress	are	being
depleted. The	physical	consequences	of	inadequate	sleep	have	a	negative	effect
on	health	and	performance. Healthy	people	like	the	Hunzas	went	to	bed	when	it	got	dark	and	woke	up
with	the	sun. Try	to	go	to	bed	at	the	same	time	every	night	and	wake	up	at	the
same	time	every	morning,	even	on	weekends. Giving	the	body	adequate	and
regular	rest	is	important	to	maintaining	good	health. Susceptibility	to	Infection
Colds	and	flu	are	not	just	inconveniences;	they	are	alarm	bells	telling	us	that
all	is	not	well. While	seen	as	a	minor	illness,	each	cold	does	permanent	damage
to	the	body,	causing	us	to	age	prematurely. Yet	millions	of	Americans	suffer
four	to	six	colds	per	year,	sometimes	taking	weeks	to	resolve. Healthy	people	do
not	get	infections,	and,	if	they	do,	they	recover	from	them	very	quickly. You
may	recall	that	the	healthy	Hunzas	never	suffered	from	colds,	and	that	the	133-
year-old	man	in	Vilcabamba	had	suffered	only	several	colds	in	133	years,	not
several	in	one	year	as	many	of	us	do. A	cold	or	flu	that	lingers	is	further	proof	of
widespread	cellular	malfunction. If	people	around	you	are	sick,	worry	about
strengthening	your	own	immunity,	not	about	hiding	from	germs. Building
immunity	is	a	long-term	project;	reacting	in	an	emergency	situation	when	you
feel	sickness	coming	on	is	something	else. Here	are	ideas	of	how	to	accomplish
both:
To	prevent	colds,	take	plenty	of	vitamin	C	(4,000	to	6,000	mg/day). If	you	are
sick	already,	take	vitamin	C	to	bowel	tolerance,	which	means	taking	it	up	to	the
point	where	you	begin	getting	excessive	gas	or	diarrhea	and	then	backing	off. Bowel	tolerance	will	differ	depending	on	who	you	are	and	what	your	state	of
health	is. If	I	feel	a	cold	coming	on,	I	put	3,000	mg	of	vitamin	C	in	a	glass	ofwater	and	drink	it	down	every	thirty	to	sixty	minutes. In	a	matter	of	hours,	the
cold	will	be	gone. B-vitamins	are	important,	as	are	zinc	and	high-quality	cod
liver	oil. Olive	leaf	extract	can	also	be	helpful;	it	is	a	powerful	natural	antibiotic. And,	of	course,	avoid	damaging	your	immunity	with	sugar,	white	flour,	poor
digestion,	prescription	drugs	or	anything	that	you	are	allergic	to. Weight	Problems
Some	people	think	being	overweight	is	more	of	a	fashion	concern	than	a
serious	disease. Many	people	attribute	weight	problems	to	“genetics,”	saying
that	such	problems	run	in	their	family. The	truth	is	that	being	overweight	is	a
sign	that	cells	are	malfunctioning. Often,	an	addiction	to	sugar	is	part	of	the
problem,	and	this	problem	needs	to	be	treated	like	any	other	addiction. Proper
diet	and	lifestyle	changes	that	improve	cellular	health	are	virtually	guaranteed	to
solve	weight	problems. Overweight	patients	need	to	heal	their	cells,	just	like
cancer	patients	and	heart	disease	patients. Worse,	weight	problems	are
frequently	the	prelude	to	more	serious	chronic	diseases. Mood,	Thought	or	Behavioral	Problems
The	ability	to	think	quickly	and	clearly—to	concentrate,	learn	and	remember
—are	the	benefits	of	healthy	cells	and	a	healthy	body. A	problem	with	any	of
these	indicates	deficiency	and	toxicity	at	the	cellular	level,	usually	the	result	of
inappropriate	diets,	environmental	toxins,	lack	of	exercise	and	unresolved	stress. Brain	cells	function	normally	when	they	have	all	the	nutrition	they	need	and	do
not	have	toxins	that	interfere	with	them. The	person	who	flies	off	the	handle	with	little	provocation	is	often	seen	as
having	a	particular	personality	type. The	same	for	those	who	have	problems
getting	along	with	others	or	working	out	conflicts	in	a	calm	and	rational	manner. Most	of	the	time,	however,	these	problems	point	back	to	the	same	two	causes	of
disease:	deficiency	and	toxicity. We	are	currently	experiencing	an	unprecedented
epidemic	of	depression,	learning	disabilities,	violent	behavior	and	other	types	of
mental	disease. Many	of	these	“mental”	problems	actually	result	from	the	fact
that	the	function	of	our	brains	and	nervous	systems	has	never	been	more
compromised. Worse,	physicians	usually	try	to	“solve”	these	problems	by	giving
those	afflicted	toxic,	mind-altering	chemicals. Building	a	Better	YouNow	that	you	have	a	sense	of	your	state	of	health	and	have	perhaps	identified
some	early	warning	signs	of	disease,	start	to	build	the	foundation	of	a	new
lifestyle:
•	Keep	a	food	diary	for	a	week,	writing	down	everything	you	eat	and	drink. How	much	of	your	diet	is	eaten	raw? Do	you	buy	truly	fresh,	organic
vegetables	and	fruits? Is	the	meat	you	eat	treated	with	antibiotics	and
hormones? Do	sugar,	white	flour,	dairy	products	and	processed	oils	bog
down	your	diet? Do	you	combine	the	wrong	foods	together	at	a	meal? Is	the
food	you	buy	genetically	modified? •	Keep	track	of	the	amount	and	kind	of	exercise,	movement,	or	other
physical	stimulation	(saunas,	etc.) you	participate	in	during	the	week. •	Consider	the	products	you	use	on	your	body:	Are	the	ingredients	in	your
deodorant,	toothpaste,	shampoo,	makeup	and	skin	cream	natural	and
nontoxic? •	Take	a	look	at	the	products	you	use	to	clean	your	house. Consider,	too,	the
furnishings,	including	your	rugs. List	the	sources	of	emissions	within	your
house,	including	your	carpets,	furnace,	hot-water	heater	and	stove. •	Consider	the	ways	in	which	social	connections,	work	and	community
involvement	nurture	you,	or	fail	to	do	so. •	Take	stock	of	the	stress	in	your	life. •	Think	about	the	doctors	you	visit,	the	treatments	or	tests	that	you	approve
of,	the	medicines	that	you	take. Are	they	doing	you	more	harm	than	good? Are	your	doctors	and	your	medical	treatments	addressing	all	your	pathways
to	health,	or	is	their	focus	narrow	and	incomplete? •	Do	you	take	vitamins	or	other	supplements	consistently,	and	are	they	of
high	quality? Do	they	contain	cheap,	ineffective	ingredients	such	as
carbonates	and	oxides,	or	toxins	such	as	artificial	colors? Each	of	these	choices	is	part	of	an	ongoing	process	of	promoting—	or
antagonizing—your	health. Keep	track	of	all	six	pathways	and	do	your	best
along	each	of	them,	all	the	time. Doing	a	great	job	for	a	week	and	then	forgetting
about	it	is	pointless. Track	the	process—there	is	no	endgame,	no	checkmate	to
seek—there	is	only	process. Either	you	are	going	about	the	process	of	getting
well	and	staying	well,	or	you	are	going	about	the	process	of	getting	sicker. Keep
trying	new	things	until	you	discover	what	works	for	you. After	you	have	identified	some	of	the	problems	in	your	lifestyle—ways	in
which	your	body	is	becoming	deficient	or	ways	in	which	toxins	threaten	you—
begin	today	to	make	changes.•	Make	sure	at	least	some	and	preferably	most	of	your	diet	is	eaten	raw. Buy	at	least	some	organic	fresh	fruits	and	vegetables,	as	well	as	organically
produced	meat. Cut	down	or	eliminate	the	Big	Four:	sugar,	white	flour,
dairy	products	and	processed	oils. •	Practice	tips	for	proper	food	combining	and	effective	food	preparation
methods	to	ensure	you	are	getting	the	best	nutrition	from	the	food	that	you
buy. •	Begin	taking	high-quality	nutritional	supplements. •	Make	exercise	and	movement	a	part	of	every	day. •	Nurture	your	social	and	family	connections. Make	a	plan	and	then	make	a
concerted	effort	to	make	it	happen. •	Identify	the	drugs	you	take	(medical	or	recreational),	and	begin	to	imagine
how	well	you	might	function	without	them. A	Radical	Shift	in	Perspective
As	you	consider	your	lifestyle	and	identify	the	areas	that	must	change,	take	a
close	look	at	your	overall	perspective	on	health	and	disease. Health	is	something
we	all	want,	yet	so	few	of	us	give	it	serious	thought	until	we	get	sick. That
approach	does	not	work. The	practical	new	system	for	choosing	health	presented
in	this	book	is	different	from	typical	approaches. This	new	way	to	“see”	health
and	disease	is	so	simple	it	empowers	the	individual	to	take	charge. That
empowerment	can	help	to	end	our	current	epidemic	of	chronic	and	degenerative
disease,	dramatically	improving	the	health	of	our	people. As	I	have	told	you,	one	of	the	first	people	whose	perspective	I	helped	change
was	my	brother,	diagnosed	in	1991	with	advanced	prostate	cancer. The	specialist
who	made	the	diagnosis	informed	him	that	the	tumor	was	so	large	and	so
widespread	that	surgery	was	not	an	option. My	brother	was	told	that	there	were
no	traditional	medical	treatment	options	available	for	his	advanced	stage	of
tumor. “Modern	medicine”	had	nothing	to	offer,	and	my	brother	felt	he	was
doomed. He	eventually	found	a	caring	physician	who	was	willing	to	operate,
despite	the	poor	odds. The	surgery	was	a	success,	with	limitations,	as	the
surgeon	was	unable	to	remove	all	of	the	cancer,	and	biopsies	indicated	cancer
had	spread	throughout	my	brother’s	body.
Never_be_sick_again_.txt
Summarize the following text section accurately and concisely. Maintain specific details and numerical information, and use anti-repetition mechanisms:

        In	another	case,	a	hospital	oversight	committee	reviewed
surgically	removed	tissues. In	the	year	prior	to	the	formation	of	the	committee,
the	hospital	performed	262	appendectomies—after	the	committee	was	formed,
the	number	dropped	to	62. The	committee	found	that	most	of	the	tissues	being
removed	were	healthy. In	March	1997,	the	Physicians	Committee	for
Responsible	Medicine	published	a	statement	saying	that	only	10	percent	of
hysterectomies	are	justified. In	addition	to	being	almost	entirely	unnecessary,
surgery	is	risky;	possibilities	exist	for	surgical	error,	complications	from
anesthesia	and	infection,	not	to	mention	the	physical,	mental	and	emotional
shock	to	the	body. Should	You	Take	Medicine. All	drugs	have	potentially	damaging	“side	effects. ”	Because	a	malfunctioning
cell	is	the	definition	of	disease,	and	drugs	deliberately	cause	cells	to	malfunction,
drugs	cause	disease. Drugs	are	foreign	to	the	body;	the	mechanism	by	which
drugs	work	is	to	alter	the	body’s	biochemistry	in	order	to	suppress	symptoms. Side	effects	often	are	worse	than	the	diseases	the	drugs	are	used	to	treat. Perhaps
these	hazards	would	be	justified	if	drugs	cured	disease,	but	they	do	not,	they
control	and	suppress	symptoms. Even	with	symptoms	suppressed,	the	true	cause
of	the	problem	may	be	growing	worse	while	the	body’s	natural	healing
mechanisms	are	being	compromised	by	the	drugs. Billions	of	dollars	are	spent	in	the	war	against	street	drugs,	but	the	number	of
people	killed	and	injured	by	street	drugs	is	minor	compared	to	prescription
drugs. Prescription	drugs	kill	a	couple	of	hundred	thousand	people	every	year
and	are	a	leading	cause	of	disease	and	death. If	your	doctor	prescribes	a	drug,
consider	that	it	may	cause	your	cells	to	malfunction,	and	that	alternatives	exist
that	are	both	safe	and	effective. Even	aspirin	and	other	common	over-the-counter	drugs	are	dangerous,	so	findalternatives	that	work	for	you. Books	such	as	
Alternative	Medicine:	The
Definitive	Guide,	
edited	by	the	Burton	Goldberg	Group,	and	
Finding	the	Right
Treatment,	
by	Jacqueline	Krohn,	M. D. ,	and	Francis	Taylor,	M. A. ,	are	excellent
resources	for	those	wishing	to	find	natural	alternatives	to	toxic	prescription
drugs. Unfortunately,	when	drugs	cause	disease,	we	have	all	been	trained	not	to	call
it	disease. Instead,	we	use	the	deceptive	term	“side	effects. ”	In	1984,	the	drug
industry	attempted	to	obtain	a	legal	exemption	from	the	liability	laws	that	apply
to	virtually	all	manufacturers. Why. Because	even	the	people	who	make	the
drugs	know	they	are	not	safe;	“all	prescription	drugs	are	unavoidably	unsafe”
argued	the	Pharmaceutical	Manufacturers	Association. Of	course,	this	wording
is	not	used	in	drug	advertisements	aimed	at	the	public. A	hospital	patient	receives,	on	average,	twelve	different	drugs. Yet,	often
when	as	few	as	three	are	prescribed,	absolutely	no	one	understands	all	the
dangerous	interactions	between	the	drugs. Bad	enough	taken	one	at	a	time,
combinations	of	drugs	can	be	particularly	toxic. Prescription	drugs	are	notorious
for	causing	many	adverse	effects	in	the	elderly,	including	memory	loss,
depression,	confusion,	constipation,	Parkinson’s	disease,	falls	and	urinary
incontinence. All	too	often,	a	second	drug	is	prescribed	to	suppress	the
symptoms	caused	by	the	first,	then	another	to	suppress	the	symptoms	of	the	first
two,	and	so	forth. Many	illnesses	of	the	elderly	really	are	manifestations	of
adverse	drug	reactions. A	1991	study	in	the	
Journal	of	the	American	Medical
Association	
showed	that	14	percent	of	in-hospital	cardiac	arrests	followed	a
complication,	usually	because	of	a	medication. Well-known	combinations	of
commonly	prescribed	drugs	can	kill,	and	alert	pharmacists	have	saved	many
lives. Up	to	29	percent	of	all	hospital	admissions	are	caused	by	adverse	reactions	to
drugs,	according	to	a	1995	study	in	the	
Archives	of	Internal	Medicine. Many
reactions	result	in	liver	damage,	long	hospital	stays,	permanent	disability	and
even	death. In	1990,	an	estimated	659,000	Americans	aged	sixty	years	and	older
were	hospitalized	due	to	adverse	drug	reactions. In	addition	to	toxicity,	drugs
also	can	cause	deficiency	by	depleting	the	body	of	essential	nutrients. Diuretics
cause	excessive	loss	of	potassium	and	other	essential	minerals. Anticonvulsants
cause	loss	of	vitamin	D. Antibiotics,	non-steroidal	anti-inflammatory	drugs	and
steroid	hormones	can	indirectly	cause	numerous	vitamin	and	mineral
deficiencies	by	causing	digestive	damage. Because	of	the	complexity	of	the
human	organism,	predicting	the	effects	of	drugs	in	each	individual,	especially
with	combinations	of	drugs,	is	impossible. Other	facts:•	A	January	1997	study	in	the	
Journal	of	the	American	Medical	Association
stated	that	drug-related	morbidity	and	mortality	costs	more	than	$136
billion	a	year—more	than	the	cost	of	cardiovascular	disease,	our	leading
cause	of	death. •	In	1995,	Duke	University	researchers	showed	that	drugs	commonly
prescribed	for	stroke	patients	actually	hampered	their	recovery. Even	after	a
single	dose,	the	negative	effects	could	be	long-lasting. •	A	1994	study	in	the	
Journal	of	the	American	Medical	Association
concluded	that	inappropriate	and	potentially	dangerous	drugs	are	prescribed
for	one	in	four	older	Americans	every	year. •	A	1994	study	published	in	the	
Journal	of	the	National	Cancer	Institute
and	
The	Journal	of	the	Federation	of	American	Societies	for	Experimental
Biology	
warned	that	antihistamine	and	antidepressant	drugs	(including
Prozac)	contain	chemicals	known	to	accelerate	tumor	growth. While	these
drugs	do	not	cause	cancer	directly,	they	can	speed	its	growth. Three	Classes	of	Common	Drugs	Are	of	Special	Concern
Nonsteroidal	anti-inflammatory	drugs	(NSAIDs):	
NSAIDs	include	over-the-
counter	drugs	such	as	aspirin,	ibuprofen	and	acetaminophen,	and	prescription
drugs	such	as	Indocin,	Feldene,	Naprosyn	and	others. Use	of	NSAIDs	is	a
significant	national	health	problem,	causing	long-term	damage	to	large	numbers
of	people,	particularly	the	elderly,	who	are	the	largest	users	of	these	drugs. According	to	data	published	in	
Hospital	Practice	
in	December	1996,	up	to	two
hundred	thousand	Americans	are	hospitalized	every	year	for	problems	caused	by
NSAIDs,	and	as	many	as	twenty	thousand	people	a	year	die	from	the	damage. NSAIDs	usually	are	prescribed	for	a	noble	purpose,	to	relieve	pain,	and	they
are	among	the	most	commonly	pres-cribed	pharmaceuticals	in	the	world. About
60	million	NSAID	prescriptions	are	written	every	year	in	America,	and	an
estimated	14	million	people	take	these	drugs	for	symptomatic	relief	of	arthritis
alone. These	drugs	relieve	pain,	but	at	a	cost. About	one	third	of	chronic	NSAID
users	experience	noticeable	gastrointestinal	discomfort,	which	is	only	the	tip	of
the	iceberg,	indicating	that	digestive	damage	is	occurring. In	most	people,
NSAID-inflicted	damage	to	the	digestive	system	is	asymptomatic	(no	obvious
symptoms	to	warn	of	the	damage	being	done). By	the	time	the	stomach	or	gut	is
in	pain	from	NSAIDs,	massive	damage	has	already	occurred. Most	physicians	think	it	is	acceptable	for	people	to	take	NSAIDs,	believing
that	they	cause	minimal	and	acceptable	damage. Virtually	everyone	who	takes
these	dangerous	drugs	has	their	health	damaged,	and	the	longer	they	are	taken,the	worse	it	becomes. People	who	take	NSAIDs	for	arthritis	for	years	suffer
worse	joint	damage	than	those	who	take	nothing. NSAIDs	have	been	linked	to
kidney	failure,	cognitive	dysfunction,	hearing	loss,	ringing	in	the	ears,	macular
degeneration	and	hormone	disruption. Examples	include:
•	In	a	1992	study	published	in	the	
Scandinavian	Journal	of	Rheumatology,
long-term	NSAID	users	were	hospitalized	six	times	more	often	than
nonusers. Deaths	from	gastrointestinal	causes	occurred	twice	as	often,	and
half	of	all	patients	who	died	of	ulcer-related	complications	had	reported
recent	use	of	NSAIDs. •	A	1996	study	in	the	
Archives	of	Internal	Medicine	
found	that	patients
taking	NSAIDs	were	four	to	seventeen	times	more	likely	to	suffer	acute
kidney	failure. •	A	1996	study	in	
Physiological	Behavior	
showed	NSAIDs	interfere	with
melatonin	production,	with	a	75	percent	nighttime	reduction. Decreased
melatonin	production	has	been	associated	with	sleep	disorders	as	well	as
promotion	of	cancer. •	A	1996	study	in	
Lancet	
showed	that	aspirin,	in	any	form,	such	as	buffered
or	coated,	causes	gastrointestinal	bleeding. As	few	as	one	aspirin	can	cause
bleeding. NSAIDs	cause	intestinal	bleeding	by	blocking	action	of	messenger	molecules
called	prostaglandins. Some	prosta-glandins	cause	inflammation	and	pain,	and
others	stimulate	healing	and	repair. NSAIDs	block	both	types. Because	the
intestinal	lining	is	renewed	very	rapidly	(about	every	three	days),	blocking	the
repair	process	results	in	a	gut	that	is	weak,	inflamed	and	leaky. What	should	you	do	for	a	headache. Simple	acupressure	techniques	and
homeopathic	remedies	work	quite	well. What	should	you	do	for	pain	or
inflammation. Eat	a	whole-foods	diet,	at	least	75	percent	raw. Avoid	sugar,
white	flour,	hydrogenated	oils,	junk	foods	and	colas,	and	drink	plenty	of	pure
water. Avoid	meat	and	dairy,	but	choose	oily	fish	such	as	salmon	(ocean
harvested,	rather	than	farmed). Take	vitamin	C	up	to	bowel	tolerance,	2	to	4
grams	of	quercitin	per	day,	30	to	60	mg	of	zinc	daily,	100,000	units	of	beta-
carotene	for	several	days,	and	then	25,000	for	several	weeks,	plus	vitamin	A	and
vitamin	E. Essential	fatty	acid	supplements	also	are	critical. Digestive	enzymes
help,	and	especially	take	1	to	3	grams	of	bromelain	or	papain	per	day. A	number
of	herbs	as	well	as	homeopathic	remedies	are	anti-inflammatory. These	are
excellent	alternatives	to	NSAIDs. Antibiotics:	
Most	of	us	have	been	given	an	antibiotic	at	one	time	or	another,
and	this	contributes	to	one	of	our	largest	sources	of	toxins—those	generatedwithin	our	own	digestive	systems. Antibiotics	are	designed	to	kill	disease-
causing	bacteria,	but	they	also	kill	the	friendly	bacteria	in	our	digestive	systems. If	these	bacteria	are	absent	or	out	of	balance,	a	chain	of	unhealthy	events	is
initiated,	including	undigested	or	mal-absorbed	food. Beneficial	intestinal
bacteria	produce	needed	vitamins,	such	as	B-complex	vitamins,	vitamin	B
12	
and
vitamin	K. These	essential	nutrients	are	no	longer	produced	when	the	friendly
bacteria	are	displaced,	and	vitamin	deficiency	can	result. In	addition,	friendly	bacteria	prevent	undesirable	yeasts	from	proliferating	by
competing	for	food	and	producing	biotin	to	inhibit	yeast	growth. When
antibiotics	kill	beneficial	bacterial,	undesirable	yeasts	and	bacteria	thrive	and
take	over,	establishing	their	own	ecosystem. This	inhibits	the	beneficial	bacteria
from	reestablishing	themselves. Yeasts	also	produce	numerous	immune-reactive
substances	that	force	the	immune	system	to	form	antibodies	constantly. This
stress	may	lead	to	impaired	functioning	of	the	immune	system	to	the	point	of
immune	suppression	or	even	breakdown. Also,	yeasts	inhibit	magnesium
absorption	(which	can	lead	to	numerous	neurological	problems),	damage	gut
tissue	and	cause	leaking	gut	syndrome. A	variety	of	health	problems	can	result,
ranging	from	chronic	fatigue	to	allergies,	arthritis	and	other	immune	dysfunction
diseases. A	January	1996	article	in	
Internal	Medicine	World	Report	
stated	that	in	1991,
more	than	40	million	prescriptions	were	written	in	America	for	antibiotics	to
treat	people	for	the	common	cold. This	use	is	inappropriate;	antibiotics	have	no
effect	on	the	common	cold. Vast	overprescribing	of	this	type	fosters	the
development	of	antibiotic-resistant	bacteria. In	May	1996,	the	World	Health	Organization	(WHO)	issued	a	report	warning
that	“incurable”	strains	of	bacteria	are	being	discovered. Many	infectious
diseases,	formerly	controllable	with	antibiotics,	are	reappearing	in	forms
difficult	or	even	impossible	to	treat. “We	are	standing	on	the	brink	of	a	global
crisis	in	infectious	diseases,”	said	Hiroshi	Nakajima,	M.
262
What was the number of appendectomies performed at the hospital before the formation of the oversight committee?
10%
According to the text, what percentage of hysterectomies are justified?
They block the action of prostaglandins, leading to a gut that is weak, inflamed, and leaky.
What is the main mechanism by which NSAIDs work, according to the text?
The text does not explicitly state the primary cause of the decline in mortality rate. However, it suggests that improvements in sanitation and living conditions are the primary factor.
What is the primary cause of the decline in mortality rate, according to the text?
The text recommends using acupressure techniques.
What is the recommended approach to treating a headache, according to the text?