CHAPTER2
YourHealingSysteminAction
whenyouthinkaboutthenumberofthreatsandinsultsyourbodysustainsoverthecourseofalifetime,thefactthatitcanremainhealthyatallistrulyamazing.Toaccomplishthisincredibletask,youneedasinglesysteminyourbodythatcansuperviseanddirectalltheothersystemsintoaunified,efficient,orchestratedhealingresponse
foryourprotectionandthepreservationofyournaturalstateofhealth.Thatsingle,supervisorysystemisyourhealingsystem.Yourhealingsystemnotonlymaintainsyournaturalstateofhealth,butwheneveryouaresickorinjured,orwheneveryourhealthisthreatened,italsoisinchargeofdamagecontrol.Itmoni
torsandsupervisesallprocessesofrepair,growth,andrestorationofhealthandnormalfunctioningofyourbody’scells,tissues,and
organs.Infact,youwouldn’tbealivetodayifitweren’tforyourbody’sremarkablehealingsystem.Illnessorinjurycanstrikeatanytime,andsoyourbodyneeds
asystemitcancountontosafeguarditshealth,24hoursaday,7
daysaweek,365daysayear.Inthisregard,yourbody’shealingsystemisatirelessworkhorsebecauseitneversleepsorevensnoozes. Itcannotevenaffordtheluxuryofacatnap.Itremainsalertatalltimes,readytospringintoactionatamoment’snotice.Likea911emergency-response,paramedicrescuecrew,yourhealingsystemis
24 YourExtraordinaryHealingSystem
oncallcontinuously—notimeoffforsickleave,vacations,orevengoodbehavior.Italsohastremendousenduranceandstamina,and
itcanremainoperationalforupto100years,orevenlonger.Yourhealingsystempermeateseveryorganandtissueinyourbody;itisnotconfinedtoanyonestructureorspecificlocation.It
cannotbesurgicallyremoved,orevenvisiblyseenonanX-ray,CAT
scan,orMRI,asisthecasewithmostotherstructuresinyourbody.Whenyouarehealthy,itisdifficulttoevenknowthatsuchasystemexists;however,duringtimesofinjuryorillness,asyourbodymounts
ahealingresponse,evidenceofitsexistencebecomesquiteapparent.Althoughyourhealingsystemisarguablythemostimportantsysteminyourbody,youprobablyhaveneverheardaboutitbefore,
or,ifyouhave,theinformationwassparse.Althoughyoumaybefamiliarwiththeothersystemsinyourbody,suchasthedigestive,respiratory,circulatory,nervous,andimmunesystems,youprobably
arereadingaboutthehealingsystemfortheveryfirsttime.Infact,
youmaybeconfusingyourhealingsystemwithyourimmune
systemrightnow,asmanypeopledo. DifferencesBetweenYourHealingSystemandYourImmuneSystem
Whenpeoplefirsthearofthehealingsystem,theyoftenconfuseit
withtheimmunesystem.Eventhoughononelevelthetwosystems
maybedifficulttotellapartbecausetheyworktogetherinacooperativeeffort,onanotherleveltheyaretwoverydifferentsystemsthatserveentirelydifferentpurposes.Thefundamentaldifferencebetweenthetwosystemsisthat
yourimmunesystemisconcernedwithdefendingyourbodyagainstinfections,whileyourhealingsystemisresponsibleforrepairingtissuedamagefrominjuriesorillnesses,andrestoringyourbodyto
itsnaturalstateofhealth.Yourimmunesystem’sfocusislargelyonattackingandprotectingyourbodyfromforeigninvaders.Yourhealingsystemfocusesmoreonhealing,growth,regeneration,restorationoffunction,andmaintaininghealth. Forexample,ifyouweretocomedownwithbronchitis,which
isaninfectionintherespiratorysystem,yourimmunesystemwould
YourHeatingSysteminAction 25
beexpectedtoattackandeliminatetheoffendingorganismsthatarecausingtheinfection.However,ifyouwereinjuredinacaraccident
andbrokeyourarm,yourhealingsystemwouldbecalleduponto
healyourinjuries.Yourimmunesystemwouldnotbecomeinvolvedbecausetypicallythereisnoinfectionwithabrokenbone.Themendingofthebrokenbonewouldbeaspecificfunctionofyourhealingsystem.Similarly,ifyouhadaheartattack,yourhealingsystemwouldimmediatelybecomeactivated.Aheartattackisnotcausedbyaninfection,andsohealingfromitdoesnotinvolveyourimmunesys
tem,butratheryourhealingsystem.Afteraheartattack,yourheal
ingsystemrepairsthedamagetoyourheartmusclewhileitrestoresnormalfunctioningtoyourheart.Whenyouunderstandthatmostdiseasesandinjuriesarenotcausedbyinfection,thedistinctionbetweenyourhealingsystemandyourimmunesystembecomesclearer,andtheuniqueroleof
yourhealingsystembecomesmuchmoresignificant. Allofthishavingbeensaid,beawarethattherearetimeswhen
thedivisionoflaborbetweenyourimmunesystemandhealingsys
temisnotsoclear.Yourhealingsystemandimmunesystemworktogetherandcooperatewitheachothertokeepyouhealthy.Forexample,ifyourbodyhassustaineddamagefromaninfection,yourhealingsystemandimmunesystemwillworksidebysidetorepair
thedamageastheyfightagainst,neutralize,andremovetheinfec
tiousagentstopreventfurtherdamagetoyourbody.Yourimmune
systemwillattacktheinfectionthatcausedtheproblem,andyourhealingsystemwillactuallyrepairthedamagetheinfectioncaused
toyourbody. ListeningtoYourHealingSystem
Becauseyourbody’snaturalstateisgoodhealth,yourphysicalneeds
areactuallyquitesimple.However,whentheseneedsarenotbeing
met,yourbodyisnotshyaboutgivingwarningsignstopromptyouintotakingimmediatecorrectiveaction.Whensituationsofurgencyarise,orwhenyouarenothealthy,yourbody,throughitscommunicationssystem,whichworkscloselywithyourhealingsystem,will
26 YourExtraordinaryHealingSystem
letyouknowimmediately.Foryourhealingsystemtorepair,restore,
andsustainyourbodymosteffectively,youmustlearnhowtolisten
toyourhealingsystemwhenittalkstoyou. Forinstance,whenyourwaterreservesbecomelow,andthereisdangerofdehydration,yourthirstmechanismkicksin,urgingyou
todrink.Whenyourbodyislowonenergyandyouneedmorecalo
ries,yourhungerdriveisactivated,promptingyoutoeat.Whenyouneedsleeporrest,youwillbegintoyawn,andyoureyeswillfeelheavy;urgingyoutoliedown.Whenyoubecomechilledincoldweather,yourbodywillbegintoshiver,forcingyoutoputona
sweaterorjacket,ortoseekshelter.Ifyoueatfoodsthataretoorich
ortoospicy,orthewrongcombinationoffoods,you’llfeelnauseous
andmightpossiblyevenregurgitate.Allthesesensationsandresponsesarepartofyourbody’sintelligenceandcommunicationsnetwork,whichyourhealingsystemmonitorsandsupervisestohelp
restorenormalfunctionandmaintainyournaturalstateofhealth. TwoEssentialRolesofYourHealingSystem
Yourhealingsystemfunctionsintwocriticalways.Initsfirstimpor
tantrole,muchlikeaforemanatalargebuildingsitewhosupervises,organizes,anddispatchesworkers,equipment,andmachinerywhileheoverlooksaconstructionproject,yourhealingsystemmeticulouslymonitors,surveys,andobserveseachandeverypartof
yourbodytoensurethatallorgansandtissuesremainhealthyandfunctionsmoothly.Itfacilitatescommunicationbetweenyourbody’svarioussystemsandtheirrespectivecellsandtissues.Itmonitors
yourbody’scomplexinternalenvironment,whereliterallymillions
ofpowerfulchemicalreactionsoccureachday.Yourhealingsystemtroubleshootsproblemsanywhereinyourbody.Justlikeamother
whocaresforandlooksafterherchildren,yourhealingsysteminitsprotectiveandnurturingrolesafeguardstheintegrityofyourentirebody,helpingmaintainitsnaturalstateofhealth. Initssecondvitalrole,yourhealingsystemfunctionslikeanemergency-responseparamediccrew,jumpingintoactionwhenever
thereisathreattoyourhealth.Inthismoreactivephase,yourheal
ingsystemisabletoperformawiderangeofdiversefunctions,such
YourHealingSysteminAction 27
asdispatchingnervemessagesandimpulses;mobilizingimmune
andinflammatorycells;coordinatingthereleaseofpowerfulchem
icalsthatcanraisebodytemperature,dilateorconstrictbloodves
sels,increaseordecreasebloodflowtospecificareas;andperforming
manyothervitalfunctions.Yourhealingsystemdirectstheactivities
oftheothersystemsinyourbodytocooperatewitheachotherinprovidingaunified,concerted,andeffectivehealingresponse. Initsfirstrole,youmaynotevenbeawareofyourbody’sheal
ingsystemasitgoesaboutthebusinessofitscrucialsurveillanceworksilentlyandwithoutmuchfanfare.Inthesecondrole,howev
er,thepresenceofyourhealingsystemismuchmorenoticeable,withspecificchangesthatoccurinyourbodyasaresultofitsactions.Thedualsupervisoryandemergency-responserolesthat
yourhealingsystemplaysinthegeneralfunctioningofallthesys
temsandstructuresinyourbodymakesitthemostpowerfulandimportantsysteminyourbody. HowYourHealingSystemWorks
Understandinghowyourhealingsystemfunctionsrequiresadiffer
entwayofthinkingabouthowyourbodyworks.Althoughdoingso
mayseemdifficultatfirst,ifyouthinkofyourbodyintermsof
energyandfunction,ratherthanintermsofmatter,structure,andform,itwillallmakeperfectsense.Thinkingintermsofenergydoes
notignoreornullifytheexistenceofcertainstructureswithinyourbody;rather,thisviewgivesyouadeeperlookintothedynamicforcesthatgovernyourhealth.Whenthesedynamicforcesbecomeunbalanced,youcaneasilyseehowproblemsthatcreateillnesses
anddiseasesinyourbodyarise.Armedwiththisknowledgeandinsight,youwillbeabletomoreeffectivelyremedytheseproblems
byworkingwith,ratherthanagainst,yourhealingsystem.Let’sexamineacasethatillustratesthispoint. Alcuthisfingerwithakitchenknifewhilehewasslicingvegetables.Atfirst,therewasnobloodatall,andheimaginedthatmaybeitdidn’treallyhappen,andthathe’dgetoffeasy.Then,asthe
firstsignsofbloodbegantooozeoutofthewound,herealizedthepuncturewasdeep.Innotime,thebleedingbecameprofuse.Pain,
28 YourExtraordinaryHealingSystem
delayedforseveralseconds,soonbegantopulsateandthrobthrough
outhisfingertipandentirehand.Alappliedpressuretopreventhisbloodfromspillingontothefloor.Afterhalfanhour,henoticedthebleedinghadslowed.Anhourlater,iteventuallystopped.Fromtheverybeginningofthisincident,andoverthecourseof
thenextseveraldays,Al’shealingsystemwasbusyactivatingaheal
ingresponsethatincludes
oThenervoussystem,whichfirstrespondswithmessagesofpainthatwarnAlaninjuryhasoccurred. oThecomplexmechanismsofbloodclotting,whichareasophisticatedinteractionofhormones,enzymes,andnumerouschem
icalsandcellswithinthecirculatorysystem.Thesecomponents
arenaturallystickyandjointogethertosealoffthewoundto
protectthebodyfromfurtherbloodloss. oThelayersoftheskin,deepertissues,andvariouscells,which
weavethemselvestogethertoformatransitional,intermediate
layerofskinandfillinthegapcreatedbythewound. oTheformationofascab,whichprotectsthedeeper,moresensitivelayersofnewskinandtissuesasthehealingprocesscontinues. Whenthescabsloughsoff,Al’shealingsystemmiraculouslymanufacturesnewskinwheretheoldskinhadbeencompletelysevered.Afterseveralweeks,Al’sfingerlooksthewayitdidbeforehisinjury,asifnothinghadhappenedatall. EventhoughAl’sinjuryisarelativelysimpleone,ifyoulook
atthesequenceofevents,thevarioussystemsandcomponentsinvolvedinthehealingofhiswound,andthesynchronizedflowof
energyandmovementduringtheentirehealingprocess,youstarttodevelopanappreciationforthedegreeofcomplexityandprecision,
andtheincredibleorganization,speed,andefficiencyyourhealingsystemrequirestoperformthisspecifictask. Keepinmindthatyourhealingsystemsupervisesandcoordi
natesallhealingresponsesinyourbody,includingillnessesandinjuriesthatarefarmorecomplexandseriousthanAl’sinjury.And
eventhoughyourhealingsystemmayappeartobehiddenanddif
ficulttopinpointwithinanygivenpartofyourbody,youcanbegin
YourHealingSysteminAction 29
tounderstandthefunctionandpurposeofthisamazingsystembyobservingitspowerful,swift,dynamicandefficientmovements,andviewingtheresultsofitsactions.Thesubtleanddynamicaspectof
yourhealingsystemisoneofthereasonsithasnotbeenmorewide
lyrecognized,acknowledged,andaccepteduntiljustrecently. Theimmunesystemandthehealingsystemarebothsubtleanddynamicsys
tems,andalthoughtheyoftenworktogether,theyservedifferentfunctions. Thehealingsystemisevenmoresubtleandmorewidespreadinitsdistributionthroughoutthebodythantheimmunesystem,permeatingevery
organ,tissue,andcellinyourbody.Itisalsomorepowerful,moredynamic,
andmorediversifiedinitsfunctionsandtasksthanyourimmunesystem. Likethehealingsystem,theimmunesystemhasmanybranches,isnotlimitedtooneparticularareaofthebody,andoperatesonthemicroscop
iclevelofcellsandbiochemicals.Infact,yourimmunesystemcollaborates
withyourhealingsystemandcanbethoughtofasanaspectofthehealingsystemthatisconcernedwithpreventinganderadicatinginfectionsfrom
thebody.Theimmunesystemalsowaspoorlyunderstoodandnotgivenmuchimportanceinthepracticeofmodernmedicineuntilthediscovery
ofAIDS.Fortunately,withtheshiftoffundsandresources,andresearch
beingdirectedfromwithouttowithintherealmofourownbodies,we
havelearnedmoreaboutourbody’snaturaldefensesystemthanweeverimaginedexisted. YourHealingSystemandtheOtherSystemsinYourBody
Yourhealingsystemutilizesthespecialpropertiesandfunctionsofothersystemsinyourbody,integratingandsupervisingtheiractivi
tiesintooneorganized,efficienthealingresponse.Tounderstand
thismoreclearly,let’sseewhathappenswhenyouaccidentallytouch
ahotelectricironandburnyourself.Imagineanironthatispluggedintoanelectricalsocket,sittinguprightontheironingboard,andinadvertentlyleftonforhalfa
30 YourExtraordinaryHealingSystem
day.Whenyoudiscovertheironandtrytoputitaway,youacciden
tallytouchtheveryhotbottom. Assoonasyoutouchthehotironandhearthesizzlingsound
ofyourfleshburning,youinstantaneouslyfeelpainasyouimmedi
atelyjerkyourhandback.Inadditiontotheincredibleburningpain,withinamatterofminutes,youbegintonoticeblistersform
ingonyourfingersandhandsintheplacesthatcameincontact
withtheiron.Fromthevantagepointofwhatisgoingoninsideof
yourbody,let’stakeacloserlookatwhatishappening,stepbystep,
asyourhealingsystemspringsintoaction:
Step1
Yourhealingsystemisimmediatelyactivatedwhenyoutouchthe
hotiron,asthepainsensorsinyourfingersandhandsendasignal
tothebrainthroughyournervoussystem.Yournervoussystem,workingwithyourhealingsystem,initiatesareflexresponseinthemusclesofyourarmtocontractthearm,pullingitawaytopreventfurthercontactwiththehotiron,whichpreventsfurtherinjury. Step2
Almostimmediately,incollaborationwiththeskin,yourhealingsystemcoordinatesaresponsethatfirstresultsinrednessorinflammationastinybloodvesselsaredirectedtoincreasebloodflowto
theareaofthescorchedskin. Step3Specializedcellsknownasmacrophages,alongwithredbloodcells,whitebloodcells,oxygen,andotheressentialnutrients,arepumped
intothebloodstreamanddirectedtotheinjurysitetohelpnourish,fortify,andsupportthebody’srepairprocesses. Step4
Shortlythereafter,theskinsecretesspecificfluidstohelpformblis
tersattheburnsites.Theblistersserveseveralprotectiveandheal
ingfunctions.First,thefluid-filledsacsactlikeshockabsorbersto
protecttheraw,injuredskinthatliesunderneath.Theyalsoactassealedbarriersagainstthepossibilityofinfection.Thefluidinside
theblistersalsocontainsnutrientstohelpnourishandfeedthenew
YourHealingSysteminAction 31
layerofskinthatwillformunderneath.Antibodiesandimmune
cellsalsohavebeenmobilizedbytheimmunesysteminthisfluid.Thesemechanismsalsoareunderthedirectionofthehealingsys
tem,towardoffanymicroorganismsthatmightcauseinfection.Inaddition,thebodyreleasesotherimportantchemicalstocooperate
inthehealingresponse. Step5
Withthehealingresponsewellunderway,newcells,fluids,andchemicalsarecontinuouslypumpedinandoutoftheburnsiteover
thecourseofthenextseveraldaysandweeks;thepainbeginstosub
sideandthenewskingrowthaccelerates. Step6
Soon,theblistersgraduallyshrinkasthefluidisreabsorbedback
intothebody,withnewskinarisingtotaketheplaceofthepreviouslyinjuredoldskin. Step7Continuedhealingmechanismsareactivatedonthemicroscopicleveltofinishthejob,and,ifallgoeswell,notevenascarwillbe
presentwherethenewskinhasgrownback. Evenwithasimpleinjurysuchasaminorsecond-degreeburn,
youcanseethatalotmoreisgoingoninyourbodybeneaththesur
faceoftheskinthanmeetstheeye.Aswiththemoreseriousandcomplicatedproblemsthatoccurwithinyourbody,againitisclearthat
thebodyneedsasinglesystemthatcansuperviseanddirectallthe
otherkeysystemsintooneorchestratedandefficienthealingresponse
fortheprotection,self-preservation,andhealthofyourbody.Thisis
theincrediblejobthatyourhealingsystemdoesforyou. HealingSystemResponsesvs.SymptomsofDisease
ANewWayofThinkingAboutYourHealth
Whenourhealingsystemisinitiallyactivated,wemightconfusethechangesthatoccurinourbody,whicharenormalhealingresponses,
32 YourExtraordinaryHealingSystem
withsymptomsofaparticulardisease.Infact,thisisthecommonmistakemostpeoplemake,includingdoctorsandthemedicalprofessioningeneral.Again,untilveryrecently,ourculturehasbeendisease-orientedinitsapproachtounderstandinghealthandheal
ing,andsowehaveremainedlargelyignorantofthehealingsystemandhowourbodiescontinuallystrivetocorrectimbalancesand
keepushealthy.Whenthingsbegintochangeinourbodies,weautomatically
assumewearesick,andthatsomethingisdreadfullywrong.Ifourbodiesbegintoreflectimbalanceandfunctionabnormally,ifthere
issomediscomfortorpain,ourfirstassumptionismostlikelythat
wearebecomingsickorthatwehaveanallergy.Thisisbecausewe
aretryingtoaccountforoursymptoms.Thisisanaturalandnor
malinterpretationofwhatishappeningwithourbodies.Ratherthanjumpingtotheconclusionthatsomethingiswrongwithyourbody,firsttrytounderstandhowyourhealingsystemmay
berespondingappropriatelytocorrectanimbalancethathasoccurred.LetmeexplainwhatImean.Considersneezing,forexample.Weusuallythinkofsneezingas
asymptomofthecommoncold,orthebeginningofanallergy~Inrea1ity~sneezingisanormalhealing-systemresponsetoexpelforeigndebris,flushoutirritants,removepotentialpathogens,ridthebody
ofdisease,andhelpthebodymaintainitsintegrity.Sneezingalsois
aprotectivemechanismthathelpstopreventthefurtheradvanceofunwantedforeigninvadersintothedeeper,moredelicatestructures
oftherespiratorysystem,suchasourlungsandsinuses,andisanothercommonwaythatourhealingsystemssafeguardourhealth. Inadditiontosneezing,mostpeople,includingdoctors,confuse
manyothercommonhealingresponseswithsymptomsofadisease.Theseresponsesincludethefollowing:
oCoughing.Alsoconsideredasymptomofarespiratoryillnessorcondition,coughingisadefinitiveresponsefromyourhealingsystemtoexpelunwanteddebrisandinvadingmicroorganisms
thathavepenetrateddeeperintotherespiratorysystemandarethreateningtocausedamagetoyourlungs.Inmedicalcircles,a
goodcoughisknownasaproductivecoughinthatitsuccess
fullybringsupphlegm,mucous,microorganisms,andinfectious
YourHealingSysteminAction 33
debris,whicheffectivelyclearstheairwaysandmakesforeasierbreathing.Coughingcanbepowerful;thespeedatwhichfor
eignparticlesanddebrisexitthelungswithacoughhasbeenclockedatapproximately660mph,aboutthespeedofanF4Phantomfighteraircraft. •Diarrhea.Usuallyconsideredasymptomofanintestinaldisease,diarrheaisahealingresponsethatyourbodyusestoeliminatetoxinsandcontaminatedmaterialfromyourcolonandlargeintestines.Diarrheaisfastandefficient,andithelpstoflushoutwhatisirritatingoroffendingyourintestinaltract.Anumberofpotentiallyseriousintestinaldiseasesorproblemscanbeeliminatedthisway.Suppressingdiarrheathroughartificialmedica
tionscanbedangerous,anddoingsooftenbackfires.Whenyouclogupyourbody’snaturaleliminativeprocessesthroughthesuppressionofdiarrhea,harmfulmicroorganismshavenowhere
togobutfurtherinsideyourbody,wheretheycaninvadeyourliverorbloodstreamandcausemoreseriousillness.Ofcourse,therearetimeswhentoomuchfluidandelectrolytelossfromdiarrheamayrequiremedicalintervention.However,byseeingdiarrheaasaresponseofyourhealingsystem,andseekingout
waystocooperatewiththatsystem,youcanoftenmakesimple,naturaladjustmentstorestorebalanceandhealthtoyourbody.Thesemayincludedrinkingmorefluids,avoidingirritatingfoodsandsubstances,andmanagingstress,whichcanbeharm
fultoyourintestinesanddigestivesystem.(Wewilllookmorecloselyatthesefactorsinthechaptersthatfollow.) aFainting.Faintingoccurswhenapersontemporarilylosesconsciousnessandfallsdown.Thecausesoffaintingcanrangefromserioustobenign,butthelossofconsciousnessisusuallydueto
ofalackofbloodflowtotheheadandbrain.Fallingdownwhilefaintingrepresentsacompensatoryresponsefromyourbody’shealingsystem.Whenthebodyhasfallenandliesflaton
thegroundinahorizontalposition,bloodflowandoxygento
thebrainincrease,whichcanoftenrestoreconsciousness.Mostinstancesoffaintingaretotallybenign,especiallyifnoseriousunderlyingdiseasesorconditionsexist.However,thereareocca
sionswhenseriousunderlyingdiseaseispresent,andyouwill
34 YourExtraordinaryHealingSystem
needtobebroughttothehospitalandtreated.However,the
correcttreatmentistodealwiththeunderlyingcausesthatprecipitatedthefainting,notjustwiththefaintingitself. UFever.Commonlyassociatedwithaninfection,feverisyourhealingsystem’swayofheatingyourbodyuptokilloffendingorganisms,mostofwhichareextremelytemperaturesensitive
andcannottolerateexcessiveheat.Additionally,feverinducessweating,whichhelpsthebodyeliminatetoxinsmorerapidly.Learningtoworkwithafeverthroughcontinuousrehydration(drinkingplentyofwater),ratherthansuppressing afeverwithartificialmedications,willsupportyourhealingsystemandresultinafaster,morethoroughhealingresponse.Evenattimeswhenmedicalsuppressionofafevermaybenecessary,fluidintakeshouldbeencouraged.Withanyfever,itisprudentto
lookfortheunderlyingcausesofthefeverandtotreatthese,not
justsuppressthefever.Doingthisworkswithyourhealingsys
temtohelprestorehealthandbalancetoyourbody. UNausea.Nauseaoccursinthesmallintestinesandstomach,and
itisaspecificresponsefromyourhealingsystemthatprotects
yourbodyfrommorefoodenteringintoit.Whenyoufeelnau
seous,youhavelostyourappetiteforfood.Yourhealingsystemdoesthiswhenyourbodyneedstolimitsolidfoodintake.Nauseaoccurswhenyouhaveahighfeverandareinneedof
lotsoffluids,orwhenyouhaveastomachvirusoranulcer,and
solidfoodswouldmaketheseconditionsworse.Nauseaalso
helpstoconserveenergyandfreesbloodflowfromthedigestive
tractsoitcanbereroutedtootherareasofthebodythathavea
greaterimmediateneedforhealingenergy. 0Pus.Yourbody’shealingsystem,workingwithyourimmune
system,producespus,anunpleasant,smelly,yellowishsub
stance,tohelpeliminateforeignmaterial,bothlargeandsmall. Puscommonlyoccurswithinfection.Inthecaseofasplinterorforeignbodyintheskin,yourhealingsystemwillformapuspockettowalloffthesplinter,separatingitfromtherestofyourbody.Yourhealingsystemwillattempttodigestanddissolvethesplinterorforeignobject;ifthisprovesdifficult,itwilltryto
pushthesplinteroutoftheskin.Inadditiontofluidssecreted
YourHealingSysteminAction 35
toflushoutmicroorganismsandforeigndebris,puscontainswhitebloodcellsanddigestiveenzymesthatbreakdownanddigestforeignmaterial.Inthecaseofabacterialinfectioninany
partofthebody,thepusproducedwillattempttokilloffanddigestthebacteriawhileitflushesouttheinfection. sRunnynoseandnasalcongestion.Usuallyconsideredsymptoms
ofthecommoncoldorallergies,arunnynoseandnasalcongestionareactuallyspecificresponsesfromyourbody’shealingsys
tem.Theincreasedsecretions,mucous,phlegm,andcongestion
areyourhealingsystem’swayofattemptingtoflushoutanyoffendingorganismsorforeignparticlesthatmayhaveinvaded
theentrancetoyourrespiratorysystem.Althoughattemptingtosuppressthesehealingresponseswithnasaldecongestantsandotherdrugsgivestemporaryrelief,doingsooftenbackfires;it
canprolonganillnessandevenmakethingsworse.Becausethepharmaceuticalagentstendtodryupthesecretionstoeliminatesymptoms,theyworkagainstthenaturalprocessesofyourbody’shealingsystemtoeliminateharmfulsubstances. *Swellingandredness.Thefirstvisiblesignsatthesiteofanyinjury,trauma,orinfectioninthebody,swellingandredness,
too,arespecificresponsesofyourhealingsystem.‘Whethercausedbyabruise,acontusion, asprain,afracture,oraninfec
tion,swellingistheresultofincreasedfluidsfromthelymphaticsystem,leakybloodvessels,andothersofttissues.Thefluidhelpsimmobilizethesiteandservesasashockabsorbertopreventfur
therinjurytothearea.Redness,•known asinflammation,isoftenaccompaniedbypainandrepresentsincreasedbloodflowtothe
area.Inflammationisacomplexresponsefromyourhealingsys
tem,workingwithyourimmunesystem,tobringimportantcells
andpowerfulchemicalstotheinjuredareatohelpremovetox
ins,repairdamagedtissues,andspeedhealing. *Tearingoftheeyes.Tearingisaspecifichealingresponsesimilar
towhatoccursinarunnynose.Tearinghelpstoflushforeignmaterialormicroorganismsoutofthedelicateandsensitivesurfacesoftheeyes.Sometimes,wheninfectionorirritationisextreme,theeyeswillremaingluedshutbecausethetearsandsecretionshavedriedup.Keepingtheeyelidsgluedshutisa
36 YourExtraordinaryHealingSystem
furtherattemptofthehealingsystemtoprotecttheeyesfromadditionalinjuryordamage. oVomiting.Vomitingisaprotectivemechanismthatyourhealingsystemusestoeliminatecontaminatedornoxiousmaterialthat
hassomehowenteredintoyourstomachandsmallintestines.Vomitingisafast,efficient,andpowerfulwayforyourbodyto
riditselfoftoxinsorotherharmfulsubstances.Afteryouhave
eatencontaminatedfood,asinfoodpoisoning,vomitingwill
occurtoexpelinfectiousorganismsaswellasunwantedfood
andtoxins.Peopleusuallyreportfeelingmuchbetteraftertheyhavevomitedintheseinstances.Ifyouhaveovereaten,eatenfoodsthataretoorich,ordrunktoomuchcoffeeoralcohol,whichactasintestinalirritantsandtoxinswhenthey’retakenin
excess,vomitingwilloccurtocleanoutandreducetheburden
onthedigestivesystemandbody. Althoughinitiallyyoumaythinktheseresponsesareassociated
onlywiththeindividualsystemswithinthebody,suchascoughing
andtherespiratorysystem,orvomitingandthegastrointestinalsystem,rememberthatitisthehealingsystem’spresencewithinand
itssupervisoryroleoverthesesystemsthatactuallycausestheseresponses.Keepinmindthatthehealingsystemisnotaseparateanatomicalsystem.Itisafunctional,energetic,intelligentsystemthatpermeateseverysinglesysteminyourbody. Asyoureadtherestofthisbook,thinkaboutyourbody,yourbodilysensations,andanychangesthatareoccurringinyourbody
aswell-measuredresponsesproducedbyyourbody’shealingsystem.Thinkofthemasresponsesthatareintendedtocorrectimbalances
andhelpyoumaintainyournaturalstateofhealth,ratherthansymptomsofdisease.Shiftyourawarenessawayfromyoursymp
toms,yourdiscomfort,andyourthoughtsofanillnessorallergy,
evenifthesearerealproblemsforyou.Instead,trustthatyourheal
ingsystemismakingnecessaryphysiologicaladjustmentstocorrectimbalancesandrestoreyourbodytoitsnaturalstateofhealth. Irealizethisperspectivemaybearadicaldeparturefromhowyoucurrentlyviewyourbodyandyourhealth;however,learningtodo
thiswillmakeasignificantdifferenceinyourhealth.Ifyoucanfocus
YourHealingSysteminAction 37
lessondiseaseandmoreonhealth,lessonwhatiswrongwithyourbody,andmoreonwhatisfunctioningproperly;ifyoucanturnyourattentionawayfromthefearofexternalcausesofdiseaseandagents
ofdiseasethatliebeyondyourcontrol,andinsteadlookwithconfidencetothehiddentreasurechestofhealingresourcesthatlieswithin
yourveryownbody,youwillbeabletoreapthebenefitsofsuperiorhealth.Ifyoucanlearntorecognizethemanywaysyourhealingsystemrespondstochallenges,yourdependenceondrugsanddoctors
willbelessened,andthequalityofyourlifewillbevastlyimproved. Youwillgainagreatdealbyrecognizingtheresponsesofyourhealingsystem.Yourhealingsystem
~Empowersyoutodiscoverandmakeuseofthevastsupplyofhealingresourcesthatliewithinyourownbody. ~Directsyourenergiesandeffortswithinyourownbodyandawayfromblamingyourdiscomfortordiseaseonexternalcausesandforcesbeyond
yourcontrol,whichcanbedisempowering. ~Shiftsyourfocusawayfromfear-basedthinkingthatcanbeharmfulto
yourhealthandwell-being. ~Empowersyoutotakegreaterresponsibilityforyourlife,andhelpsyouunderstandtheconnectionbetweenyourownactionsandthoughts,includingyourdietandlifest~’le,andyourhealth. ~Lessensyourdependenceondoctors,drugs,andexternalagentsoftreat
ment. ~Improvesyourconfidenceinyourbody’sabilitytoremainhealthyand
healitself. ~Helpsinplanningthetreatmentandhealingofanyhealthproblemyoumightface. Youcanseethatthebenefitsofrecognizingthepowerofyourremarkablehealingsystemandworkingwithitwillhaveahuge,positiveimpactonyourhealthandyourlife. Note:Asyouarelearningthisnewwayofthinkingaboutyourbodydonotneglecttoseeyourdoctorifanyphysicaldiscomfortorpainincreasesordoesnotgoawayonitsown.Yourdoctor
canbeavaluableaidandsupportforyourhealingsystem. 38 YourExtraordinaryHealingSystem
ClinicalEvidenceofYourHealingSystematWork
We’vealreadylookedathealingresponsesingeneral,andwe’veseenseveraldifferentexamplesofthehealingsystematworktohelphealsuperficialinjuries.Nowlet’smovedeeperinsidethebodyaswecontinuetoexaminetheevidencethatclearlydemonstratesthat
yourbodyhasahealingsystemthatkeepsyoualiveandhealthy.In
eachofthesituationsthatfollow,rememberthatthehealingsystem
istheessentialelementinthehealingprocessandthat,withoutit,healingwouldnotoccur. YourHealingSystemandFractures:Sam’sStory
Samwasa34-year-oldseniorstaffsergeantwith15years’experience
asaveteranparatrooperandcombatcontrollerintheUnitedStates
AirForce.Duringaroutinetrainingmission,hewasrequiredto
jumpfromanaltitudeof10,000feetatnighttimeoverremotejun
gleterrain.Samgotcaughtupinatreeashewaslandingandbroke
hisankleinseveralplaces.Thebonepiercedthroughtheskin,mak
ingitacompoundfracture.Thistypeofinjuryhasahighrateofinfectionandisnotoriouslydifficulttotreat.Infectionthatsetsinto
thebonesisknownasosteomyelitis, aseriousconditionthatisdiffi
culttoeradicateandthatcomplicatesthehealingsystem’sabilityto
knitthebonestogethertohealafracture. SamwastakenbyairplanebacktotheRegionalMedicalCenter
inthePhilippines,whereIwasrequiredtofollowhiscasetoseewhetherhewouldeverbeabletoresumehiscareerdutiesagain.For
allintentsandpurposes,itlookedasifhismilitarycareerwasover. Samwashospitalizedrepeatedly,placedonnumerousantibi
otics,andoperatedon11timesoveratwo-and-one-half-yearperiod,
inattemptstoknithisbonestogether.Duringthisperiod,hewore
acastalmostcontinuouslyandwasneverabletowalkonhisown,relyinginsteadsolelyoncrutches.Heunderwentnumerouspainfulscrapingsandbonegraftsinanattempttocleanthesurfacesofthebonesfrominfectionwhilethedoctorsweretryingtojointhebonestogether.Duringtheseoperations,numerousplatesandscrewswere
alsoattachedtohisbones. Atonepoint,whenitlookedasifthefracturemightheal,Sam’s
castwasremoved,andhewastoldhecouldparticipateinlight
YourHealingSysteminAction 39
sports.Aweeklater,whilehewasfieldingagrounderduringafriendlysquadronsoftballgame,Sam’sanklesnappedandbrokein
twopiecesashisfootbentoutata90-degreeangle.Afterthis,itwasbacktotheoperatingroomforhim,withmorescraping,moremetalplatesandscrews,anothercast,andmorecrutches.Aftertwoandone-halfyears,SamwasnotonlyinjeopardyoflosinghisjobandbeingmedicallydischargedfromtheAirForce,he
wasalsobeingconsideredforafootamputation.Heconsultedwith
theprostheticspecialist,whobeganfittinghimforaprosthetic(artificial)footinanticipationoftheupcomingoperation.Thiswasafrighteningpropositionforsuchanactiveandpreviouslyhealthy
youngman.BackhomeintheU.S.,abrilliantorthopedicsurgeonnamedRobertBeckerhadinventedanelectricalbonestimulatortoaidthehealingsystemincasesofstubborn-healingfractures.Samfacedtheprospectofeitherhavinghisfootamputated,orhavingthistiny,electronicdevice,stillintheexperimentalstages,temporarilyimplantednexttothefracturesiteinhisankle.Hechosethenewdevice,hopingagainsthopethatitwouldwork.Severalmonthslater,Samwasbackwithacleanbillofhealth,jumpingoutofairplanes.Hisboneshadmendedtogetherwiththe
helpofadevicethatworkedwiththehealingsystem.Dr.Beckerknew
that,givenhalfachance,thebody’shealingsystemcouldtakeover
andfinishthejob.Asthefamousphysicianofancienttimes,Galen(129—199AD),oncesaid,“Thephysicianisonlynature’sassistant.”
Afracturedboneisnotalaughingmatter,anditcanbeextremelypainfulanddisabling.However,becauseofyourhealingsystem,eventhelargestboneinyourbody,yourfemur,undernormalcircumstancestakesonlysixweekstocompletelyheal.Even
ifafractureisdisplacedandthebrokenbonesarenotperfectlylined
up,inmostcases,yourhealingsystemcanknitthebonestogether
andrealignthemperfectly,sothatwhenthehealinghasfinished,thereislittleornoevidencethatafractureeveroccurred.Evenwhenfracturesarecomplicated,andbonesaretotallydisplacedandoutofalignment,andmetalplatesandscrewsarerequiredtoholdthebonestogether,yourhealingsystemcanfusethemintoonesolidform.Withoutyourhealingsystem,fractures,wouldbeimpossible
toheal. 40 YourExtraordinaryHealingSystem
‘Whetherornotacastorsplintisplacedaroundthefracturesite,
ifafracturedboneisallowedtorestandremainimmobile,boneremodeling,initiatedbyyourhealingsystem,beginsimmediatelyafterafracturehasoccurred.Boneremodeling,whenseenunderthemicroscope,isoneoflife’struemiracles.Tinycellsinthebonematrix,knownasosteoclasts,digesttheboneandreleasecalciuminto
thebloodstream,whileothercells,knownasosteoblasts,actlikecivilengineerserectinganewsuspensionbridgeandusetheblood-calcium
storestodepositnewboneatthefracturesite.Thesedepositsfacili
tatetheprocessofknittingthebonebacktogetheragain.Nomod
erntechnologicalinvention,surgicalprocedure,orsyntheticdrug
canreplaceyourhealingsystemasitperformstheimportantwork
ofrepairingafracture.Thenaturalhealingofafracturedboneafter
itishealedissoeffectivethatthefracturesiteisoftenstrongerthan
thesurroundingnormalbonetissue. YourHealingSystemandtheHeart:Verne’sStory
Verne’sheartdiseasewasdiscoveredwhenhehadhisfirstheartattack
intheemergencyroomattheageof69.Hehadanotherattackabout
ayearlater.Overthecourseofthenextseveralyears,hewasplaced
onnumerousmedicationswhileheunderwentseveralprocedures,knownasangioplasties,touncloghisarteriesandslowtheprogression
ofhisdisease.Butthesemethodswereonlytemporarilysuccessful. Overtime,Verne’sheartdiseasegrewworse.Hewasplaguedwith
constantchestpain,whichincreasedwhenhewalkedupstairsorwheneverhebecameangryorupset.Itwasquitescary.WhenImetVerne,hisheartdiseasehadprogressedtodesperateproportions,andhisdoctorswererecommendingbypasssurgeryasthe
onlywaytokeephimfromdying.Eventhen,becauseofhisadvancedcondition,theysaidhisprognosisdidnotlookgood,andthebypassoperationwouldonlybuyhimacoupleofextrayears,atbest.Verne
wasnottookeenonhavinghischestcrackedopen,andbysheerpersistenceanddetermination,hewasabletoenrollinDr.DeanOrnish’s
firstexperimentalresearchstudygrouptoinvestigatewhetherornot
heartdiseasecouldbereversedwithoutdrugsorsurgery~
Dr.Ornish’sprogramisbasedonthenow-provenpremisethat
ifyoucanremovetheobstaclestoyourbody’snaturalhealingprocesses,andworkwithyourhealingsystem,evensevereheart
YourHealingSysteminAction 41
diseasecanbehealed.Dr.Ornish’sprogramissimpleanduncomplicated,anditconsistsofcomprehensivelifestylechangesthatincludeahealthydiet,exercise,stressmanagement,andgroupsup
port.Ofcourse,atthetimeofhisfirststudy,theseideasandmeth
odswereconsideredradicalbyconventionalmedicalstandards. Eventothisday,thethoughtofreversingheartdiseaseisdifficulttodigestforthosesteepedinthe“oldschool”waysofthinkingaboutmedicineandthetreatmentofdisease.Vernetooktotheprogramenthusiastically,andwithinseveralweekshischestpainwentawayashisbreathingbecameeasier.Hebegantohavemoreenergyandatthesametimefeltmorerelaxed. Hisstressandangerdiminished.Gradually,onebyone,the13differentheartmedicineshewastakingwerereduceduntilhewasdowntoone-halfofababyaspirin,everyotherday.Today,attheageof87,Verneistotallyfreeofheartdisease.All
ofhismedicaltests—positronemissiontomography(PET)scansandcoronaryangiograms—havedocumentedcompletereversalofhiscondition.Hehikesinalpinealtitudesandtravelstheworldextensivelywithhiswife,teachingyogaandlecturingtoseniorcitizenson
themeritsoftheOrnishprogramandthebody’snaturalabilityto
healitself.Althoughheartdiseaseisstillthenumber-onekillerintheentireWesternworld,eventhisdeadlyconditioncanbereversedandhealedwhenyoulearntocooperatewithyourhealingsystem,asVernedid,bycorrectingtheunhealthyunderlyingfactorsthatarecausingblockagesinthecoronaryarteries.Asispossibleforyou,Vernediscoveredthetremendoushealingresourceswithinhisownbody,and,byadoptingahealthierlifestyle,hebecameapartnerin
hisownhealingprocess.ThankstothegroundbreakingworkofDr.Ornish,wenowknowthatbylearningtolistentothebodyandworkingwithitshealingsystem,peoplecanreverseeventhemostadvancedcasesofheartdisease. AsadirectresultofDr.Ornish’swork,wenowknowthatthehealingsystemcanstimulatethegrowthofnewbloodvesselstothe
heartwhenitscurrentbloodsupplyisthreatened.Thisprocessisknownasneovascularization orcollaterization.Thenewarteriescaneffectivelybypasstheoldblockage,ensuringacontinuous,uninterruptedflowofbloodtotheheart’smuscles.Theprocesscanprevent
42 YourExtraordinaryHealingSystem
heartattacks,anditishowyoucanliterallygrowyourowncoronaryarterybypass,withouthavingtogothroughanoperation.Evenifyouhavesufferedaheartattack,andtheheart’smuscle
cellsseemtohavedied,newevidencehasdemonstratedthatthrough
yourmiraculoushealingsystem,andrestoringbloodflowtothese
heartmusclecellswithinareasonableperiodoftime,theycanmiraculouslycomebacktolife.Themedicaltermforthisnewdiscovery,whereinhearttissuethatispresumeddeadcancomebacktolifewhencirculationisre-established,ishibernatingmyocardium—likethesleepingbearwhoreappearswhenwinterisover. YourHealingSystemandHighBloodPressure:Mike’sStory
MikewasaflightengineerintheAirForce,wherehehadservedfor
20years.HehadflowninVietnam,wasmarriedwiththreechil
dren,andlovedhisjob.However,becausehehadbeenrecentlydiagnosedwithhighbloodpressure,hewasindangeroflosinghis
jobandpossiblybeingkickedoutoftheAirForce.Topreventthis
fromhappening,helost25poundsoversixmonthsbyeatingalow-
fatdietandrunningeverydayfor30minutes.However,hisblood
pressurestilldidnotcomedown.Tocomplicatethingsfurther,becauseofhisflyingstatus,hewasn’tabletotakemedicationsofanykind.IwasanAirForceflightsurgeonatthetime,andhecameto
meseekinghelp.AfterIreviewedhisrecordsandhiseffortstolowerhisblood
pressurebylosingweightthroughdietandexercise,IaskedMikewhetherhewasunderstressofanykind.Hequicklyrespondedwith
aconfidentandadamant“No!”Thisresponseletmeknowimmedi
atelythatImightbeinforadifficultcasebecauseIhadyettomeet
someoneinthemilitarywhowasn’tunderacertaindegreeofstress.Additionally,IlaterfoundoutthatMikewashavingsometroubles
withhismarriage,whichwerecausingevenmorestress.Inspiteof
hisfinesteffortstolowerhisbloodpressurethroughdietandexer
cise,stresswascontributingtohiscontinuedhighbloodpressure.Afterseveralmeetingsandlongdiscussions,duringwhichIexplainedthemechanismsofhowprolongedstresscancausehighbloodpressure,Mikewasfinallyabletoownuptothestressinhis
life.Hethenconsentedtolearningandpracticingthesimple,basic
YourHealingSysteminAction 43
stress-managementtechniques(seeChapter6)1recommended,whichIthoughtwouldactivatehishealingsystemandlowerhisbloodpressure.Afteronlysixweeks,Mike’sbloodpressurereturnedtonormal
andremainedtherefortherestofhiscareer.Byremovingtheunhealthyfactorsthatwereresponsibleforcreatingthehighbloodpressure,particularlytheextremestressinhislife,Mike’shealingsystemcouldeasilyandeffortlesslyrestorehisbodytoitsnatural
stateofhealth.Ofcourse,hestillcontinueshishealthylifestyle,includingalow-fatdiet,and30minutesofexerciseand15minutes
ofstressmanagementeachday. Asyoucansee,oneofthemostsignificantunderlyingfactorsin
highbloodpressureisstress,whichcancreatesignificantimbalance
inthebody’sinternalenvironment.Dr.HerbertBenson,associateprofessorofmedicineatHarvardMedicalSchoolandchiefoftheDivisionofBehavioralMedicineattheNewEnglandDeaconessHospital,hasconductednumerousstudiesonthebenefitsofstressmanagementinloweringhighbloodpressure.Bypracticingsimple
yetpowerfulstress-managementtechniquessimilartothosetaught
byDr.Benson(seeChapter6),youcanhelpyourhealingsystemrestoreyourbloodpressuretonormallevels.Highbloodpressure,orhypertension,isknownas“thesilentkiller”becauseitcanleadtomoreserious,andsometimesdeadly,conditionssuchasheartdiseaseandstroke.Althoughmanymedica
tionsarecurrentlyavailableformanaginghighbloodpressure,theyoftenhavesideeffects,and,unfortunately,noneofthemcancure
theproblem.Oncepatientsbegintakingthesemedications,getting
offthemisdifficult,andmanypeoplewillbeontwoorthreeof
themjusttomanagetheirhighbloodpressure.Justaswithheartdisease,newevidenceisprovingthattheheal
ingsystemcanreverseandhealhighbloodpressureoncetheunder
lyingcausesofthediseaseareaddressedandsuchsimple,naturalmethodsasdiet,exercise,andstressmanagementareproperlyimplemented.Thereisnomysterytothismalady;themechanisms
forhealinghighbloodpressurearenotcomplexordifficulttounderstand.Aswithotherdiseases,removingtheharmfulcausesof
thediseaseallowsthehealingsystemtorestorethebodytoitsnatu
ralstateofhealth. 44 YourExtraordinaryHealingSystem
YourHealingSystemandStroke:Dean’sStory
Deanwasayoungdoctorwithaheavyloadonhisheart.Notonly
washephysicallyoverweight,buthewasfinanciallyburdenedbythousandsofdollarsofoutstandingstudentloansandafamilytosupport.Workingmorethan100hourseachweek,sleep-deprived,eatinghigh-fatjunkfood,gettingnoexercise,havingnofun,andconstantlyfightingwithhiswifefromthestressendedupcostingDeanhishealth. Deanwassufferingfromchronichighbloodpressure,forwhich
hewastreatinghimselfwiththedrugsamplesthatthepharmaceuticalrepresentativesgavehim.Hewaserraticinmonitoringhisbloodpressure,andhedidn’twanthiscolleaguestoknowabouthiscondition.Attheyoungageof32years,Deansufferedamassivestrokethatlefthimparalyzedinhisrightlegandarm.Hewasinthehospitalformanyweeks,andheunderwentextensivephysicalther
apyandrehabilitationtolearnhowtomovehisarmandwalkagain. Hewasextremelydepressedduringthetherapyandfeltasifhehadnothinglefttolivefor.DuringthislowperiodofDean’slife,hecameacrossamanwho
alsohadhadastroke.Butthismanhadcompletelyrecoveredand
goneontoenjoygreaterhealththaneverbeforebycompletelyrevampinghisdietandlifestyle,andlearninghowtomanagehis
stressthroughsimpleyeteffectivestress-managementmethods. Withhisbackupagainstthewall,ondisability,andunabletoprac
ticehistrade,Deandecidedtogivethesemethodsatry~
Heimmediatelyshiftedhisdiettoonethatwaslowfatandconsistedmostlyoffruits,vegetables,grains,andotherwholefoods.Hestartedexercisingregularly,andhebeganpracticingstressmanage
mentalongwithgentleyoga.Eventhoughhedidn’tconsiderhim
selfareligiousperson,healsobegantoprayregularlytohelprelax
andcalmhismind. Hisbloodpressureslowlynormalized,andhewasgraduallyable
togetoffallhismedications.Ashishealthsteadilyimprovedover
thenexttwoyears,hebegantofeelbetterthaneverbefore.Heeventuallyreturnedtoactivemedicalpractice,andwentontowrite
manybest-sellingbooksabouthisexperiences.Becausehelearnedtoadoptahealthierlifestyleandincorporatemethodsthatwereinhar
monywithhisbody’shealingsystem,Deanwasabletocompletely
YourHealingSysteminAction 45
reversetheeffectsofhisstrokeandliveafarhealthier,moreactive,
andmorefulfillinglifethanbefore.Strokeisaseriousconditionusuallycausedbyeitherahemorrhageorabloodclotinthebrain.Italsocanoccurasaresultofchronichighbloodpressureorothercirculatorydisturbances.Strokecanbefatal.Whenit’slesssevere,itcancauseparalysisoftheextremities,mostoftenononesideofthebody,butitcanalsocauseparalysisofthefacialmuscles,andaffectspeech,hearing,eyesight,
andtheabilitytoswallow.Althoughstrokecanbepreventedbyaddressingitsunderlyingcauses,evenafteritoccurs,thehealingsystemcanoftenmiraculous
lyrestorethebodytoitsnaturalstateofhealth.Numerousstudies
havedocumentedthatwhenonesideofthebrainisdamaged,iftheindividualreceivespropertrainingandmakesasincereeffort,thebody’shealingsystemcanfacilitatethetransferofinformationfrom
thedamagedsidetothehealthysideofthebraintorestorenormalfunctiontoonce-paralyzedlimbsandmuscles. YourHealingSystemand£iabetes:Eric’sStory
Ericwasa65-year-old,activemanwithadvancedheartdiseasecomplicatedbylongstandingdiabetes.Forthepast20years,heinjectedhimselfwithinsulindailytocontrolhishighbloodsugar.Hisusual
dailydoseofinsulinwas45units,notasmallamount.Ifhedidn’t
usethisamount,hisbloodsugarwouldskyrockettodangerouslevels.‘WhenEricattendedaone-weekretreatforheartpatients(many
ofwhomalsohaddiabetes),hewasadvisedthat,becauseofthechangesindietandexercise,andthestress-managementprogramthatwouldbepartoftheretreat,hewouldneedtocuthisdailyinsulindoseinhalf,tomakesurethathedidn’tendupinacomafromtoo-lowbloodsugar.Hewasalsoadvisedtomonitorhisownbloodsugarssixtimesadaywithaself-administeredkit,tomake
suretheystayedattheproperlevel. Iwashispersonalphysicianduringthisperiod,andsoEricreportedtomedaily.Ondayone,asinstructed,hecuthisinsulindosageto22units.Hisbloodsugarremainednormal.Ondaytwo,
hecuthisinsulininhalfagain,to11units,andhisbloodsugaragainremainednormal.Ondaythree,hehalvedhisinsulinagain,
andhestillhadnormalbloodsugar.AswordgotoutaboutEric’s
46 YourExtraordinaryHealingSystem
dramaticfallininsulinrequirements,thestaffbecamenervousand
toldEricnottocutdownonhisinsulinsofast.Herespondedthat
hewasonlyfollowingthedosagesforwhathemonitoredhisblood
sugartobe,andthattheycontinuedtostaynormal.Bydayseven,
Ericwascompletelyoffinsulin.Hehasremainedoffinsulintothis
day,sixyearslater,whilehisbloodsugarcontinuestostaynormal. Hehasstucktohisdietandexerciseandhehascontinuedtoprac
ticestressmanagement.Hereportshishealthtobebetterthanever.Becausehelearnedtocooperatewithhisbody’shealingsystembeforeitwastoolate,Ericwasabletodemonstratewhatmostmed
icalexpertspreviouslythoughttobeimpossible—hewasabletoget
offinsulin(whilekeepinghisbloodsugarvaluesnormal),something
thathehaddependedondailyformorethan20years.Eric’scasedemonstratesthat,onceagain,evenaftermanyyears
oflivingwithsuchachronic,deadlydiseaseasdiabetes,thehealingsystemcanreverseandhealsuchconditions.Whenyourecognizethatyourbodyhasahealingsystem,andthatbyinstitutingsimple,naturalmethodsthatcooperatewithit,yourbodycanrestoreitsnaturalstateofhealth. YourHealingSystemandArthritis:
TheStoryofHelen’sMother
Helenworkedinmymedicalofficeandalwaysworeasmile.Hermother,nowinherlateseventiesandthemotherofeightchildren,
haddevelopedasevereformofosteoarthritisinherrightknee.Thissituationwasveryunsettlingtoherbecauseuntiltheprevioussixmonths,shehadalwayswalkedatleastonetotwomilesaday,and
shehadlookedforwardtothisexercisetime.Afterconsultingwithseveraldoctors,shewastoldtheonlytreatmentthatwouldhelpherwouldbeknee-replacementsurgery~HerdaughterHelenunderstoodthatsometimesItookadifferentapproachtomedicine,andsheinsistedthathermotherseeme.When
Isawhermother’sreports,andtheX-rays,Ihadtoagreethatthings
didnotlookgoodforher.However,Ididprescribeasimpletechnique
thatworkedwiththehealingsystem;thetechniqueimprovedtheflow
ofsynovialfluidinsideofthekneeandhelpedtorestoremobilityto
thekneejoint.Overtheyears,Ihavereliedonthistechniqueinmypractice,andIhaveseenthesuccessfulrehabilitationofpatients;
YourHealingSysteminAction 47
eventhosewithadvancedcasesofarthritisimprovesignificantly.Ifpatientspracticediligentlyandpatientlyoverseveralmonths,thistechniquecanrestorejointfunctionandpromotehealingintheknee.Becausethetechniqueissosimple,andbecauseitrequiresactivepatientparticipationoveranextendedperiod,ItookpainstoexplaintoHelen’smothertheunderlyingprinciplesofthepractice
tohelpguaranteeheradherencetoit.‘WhenIwassatisfiedthatsheunderstoodhowthetechniqueworkedandwhyitwasimportant
nottolookforresultsrightaway,Imadeherpromisemethatshewouldpracticeitfaithfully,regularly,andcarefullyforsixtoeightmonths.Sheagreed.Withintwoweeks,Helen’smothernoticedsignificantdiminish
mentofpainandimprovedfunction.Afteronemonth,shebeganwalkingagain.Aftersixmonths,shewaspain-freeandwalkingthree
tofourmilesaday,dancinglikeateenager,andpraisingmetothe
moon.Tothisday,sevenyearslater,shehasnotmissedherdailywalksandhasremainedpain-free.Nokneereplacementwaseverrequired.Therearemanyformsofarthritis,includingosteoarthritis,rheumatoidarthritis,goutyarthritis,andpsoriaticarthritis,which
haveastheircommondenominatorthedestructionofthejointsurfaces,withincreasedpainanddebility~Conventionalmedicine
treatsthesediseaseswithpowerfulsuppressivemedications(manywithunsatisfactorysideeffects),andthepossibilityofajoint-replacementoperation,butnewevidencerevealsthatbyunderstandingandaddressingtheunderlyingfactorsthatdeterminejointhealth,asinHelen’smother’scase,yourhealingsystemcanhealand
reversearthritis. YourHealingSystemandIntestinalDiseases:Bob’sStory
Bobwasapleasant,good-lookingconstructionworkerinhisearlytwenties,withawifeandtwokids.Helovedbaseballandwasamemberofanamateurleague.Byallouterappearances,Bobseemedcompletelyhealthy;however,ifyoucouldlookinsideofhisintestines,youwouldknowthathewasinpainandsufferingfroma
severecaseofCrohn’sdisease.‘WhenImethim,Bobwasapatient
inthehospitalinwhichIworked,andhewasscheduledforsurgery
assoonastherewasanopeningintheoperating-roomschedule.He
48 YourExtraordinaryHealingSystem
wastakinghighdosesofPrednisoneandotherstrongmedications
tocontrolhissymptoms,whichincludedabdominalpain,weightloss,diarrhea,weakness,fatigue,andnausea. Oneday,whenIwasmakingroundsatmealtime,Inoticedthat
thefoodBobwasbeingservedwasratherhardtochew,roughin
texture,anddifficulttodigest.Thisfoodjustdidn’tseemrightfor
someonewithhiscondition,andbecauseIcouldn’tdiscountthepossiblerolethathispoordietmightbeplayinginthatcondition,I
askedwhetherhispainandrelatedsymptomsincreasedafterheate. Heconfirmedmysuspicionsbytellingmetheyweredefinitely
worseafterheate.Healsotoldmehisconditionworsenedwhenhe
wasupsetorunderstress.Thisinformationdidnotsurpriseme.I
thenaskedwhetherhisdoctorhadevertalkedtohimabouthisdiet
orsuggestedspecialfoodsforhiscondition,orsuggestedrelaxation
orstressmanagement.Hereplied,“No.”
IaskedBobwhetherhewouldbewillingtogoonaspecialdiet
forafewdays,adietthatIbelievedwouldimprovehiscondition.Isuggestedclearliquids,includingwater,gentlesoupbroths,juices,herbalteas,andgelatin,andnothingsolid.Itoldhimwhy,explain
ingthemechanismsofdigestioninrelationtohisdisease.Heagreed.Ialsoshowedhimsomesimplestress-managementpractices,includinggentlerelaxationbreathingtodo,whichwouldcalmthe
nervesinhisintestines.Everyday,IcheckedonBobtoseehowhewasdoing.Eachday,
hereportedremarkableimprovement.Afterjustthreedays,hewascompletelysymptomfree.Hecouldn’tbelievethatsomethingsosimpleashisdietandlearninghowtorelaxcouldtakeawaytheincrediblepainandsufferinghehadbeengoingthroughforthepast
sevenyearswiththischronicintestinalcondition.Afterremovalof
theharmfulfactorsthatcreatedimbalanceanddisorderinhisintes
tines,Bob’shealingsystemwasabletorestorehisbodytoitsnatu
ralstateofhealth.Numerousintestinaldiseases,suchasesophagealreflux,gastritis,pepticulcerdisease,irritablebowelsyndrome,Crohn’sdisease,ulcerativecolitis,anddiverticulitiswreakhavoconmillionsofpeople.Manyof
theseconditionsaretreatedwithstrongmedicationsorsurgicalprocedures,andtheymaybeseriousenoughtocausedeathorserveasprecursorstoothercomplications,includingcancer,whichcanbe
YourHealingSysteminAction 49
deadly.ColoncanceraloneisoneofthemostcommondeadlykillersintheWest. Inmyexperience,usingstrongmedicationstoattackthesedis
easesasiftheywereforeignentitiesaccomplishestemporaryresults
atbestanddoesnothingtoaddresstheunderlyingfactorscontribut
ingtothesediseases.Alternatively,learningtoworkwiththeheal
ingsystem,asBobdid,eventhoughdoingthismaytakelonger,also
createslonger-lastingresults.Workingwithyourhealingsystembyimplementingsimple,naturalmethodssuchaspropernutritionand
stressmanagement,alongwithothermodalitiesthatsupportandcooperatewithyourhealingsystem,canoftenhealevenserious,long-standingintestinaldiseases. YourHealingSystemandMiddle-EarInfections:Jesse’sStory
Jessewas4yearsoldwhenhisparentstookhimtoanearspecialist
toconsultaboutthepossibilityofhavingtubessurgicallyimplanted
inhisears.Hehadbeenonantibioticsalmostcontinuouslysincehe
was15monthsold,andhisearinfectionswerenowchronic.Inpreschool,histeacherscomplainedthathedidn’trespondtotheirver
balcommands,andtheywereconcernedaboutpermanenthearingloss.Afterreadingaboutthepossibleeffectsofnothavingtheoperation,whichincludedpermanenthearingloss,Jesse’sparentswenthomethinkingsurgerywastheironlyoption.‘WhenJesse’sfatherwentforhisregularchiropracticadjustment
thenextday,hehappenedtomentionJesse’ssituationtohischiroprac
tor.Thechiropractortoldhimthatbyadjustingthespineandremov
ingdairyfromthedietsofaffectedchildren,heandmanyofhiscolleagueshadreportedsignificantsuccessesinchildrenwithconditionssimilartoJesse’s.Manymedicaldoctors,includingthewell-knownauthorDr.AndrewWeil,werenowalsorecommendingthistreatment.Afterpostponingtheconventionaltubesurgery,Jesse’sparentsbroughthimtothechiropractorfortreatment.HegentlypressedonJesse’sspine,andheeducatedJesse’sparentsaboutgoodpostureandsimplebreathingtechniques.Theyalsobeganhimonthenewdiet
thatpromisedtodecreasetheamountofmucousandphlegmintherespiratorysystemandeustachiantubesoftheears.Thechiroprac
ticadjustmentscontinuedonceamonthforninemonths. 50 YourExtraordinaryHealingSystem
Twoyearslater,Jessecameintomyoffice.Hisparentstoldme
hehadn’thadaproblemwithhisearssincetheysawtheearspecial
isttwoyearsearlier.Furthermore,hishearingwasperfect.Middle-earinfectionsareextremelycommoninyoungchildren
andcanbeanightmareforaparent.Sleeplessnights,painfulscream
ing,multipleprescriptionsforantibiotics,withtheeventualplacement
oftubesthatpuncturetheeardrumandmiddle-earchamber,alongwiththepossibilityofpermanenthearingloss,arenotuncommon.‘WhenIfirstheardaboutchiropracticadjustmentsformiddle-
earproblems,Iwasskeptical.However,overtheyears,Ihaveseenenoughpositiveresultstoknowthatthesetreatmentsoftenwork.Jesse’scaseisjustoneexample.Asremoteastheconnectionmight
seem,thespinaladjustmentshelptoimprovepostureandbreathing,
andtheypossiblyimprovethelymphaticdrainageofthemiddleear.Becauseyourhealingsystemintegratesthefunctionofallthe
systemsinyourbody,tounderstandandworkwithitrequires
anexpandedviewofhowthevariouspartsofyourbodyareinterconnected.Anyhealingmodalityortreatmentthatsupportsandcooperateswiththehealingsystembyaddressingandremovingtheunderlyingfactorsofadisease,suchastheunusualtreatmentjustdescribedformiddle-earproblems,canresultinthehealingofconditionsthatappeartohavenocureotherthansurgery.Thereisnomiracleintherestorationofhealthandhealingfromanydisease
onceyouunderstandthatyourbodyhasahealingsystem—andthathealingisitsnormal,ordinary,everydayjob. YourHealingSystemandMultipleSclerosis:Rachelle’sStoryRachellewasayounghousewifewiththreechildren.Shehadbeendiagnosedwithasevere,rapidlyprogressiveformofmultiplesclero
sis(MS)afterexperiencingsymptomsoflossofcoordination,problemswithbalance,andvisualdisturbances.Shewasplacedon
strong,suppressivemedicationsandreferredtoaspecialtyclinicforpatientswithmultiplesclerosis.Shewasgivenawheelchairandtold
togetusedtoit,becausesoonthiswouldbewhatshewouldbespendingtherestofherlifein.‘WhenRachelleopenedthedoortothespecialtyclinic,shepeeredinsideandsawhundredsofotherMSpatients,allinwheelchairs,
YourHealingSysteminAction 51
andallwithalookofresignationontheirfaces.Atthatmoment,
shehadapremonitionthatthisplacewouldonlystrengthenherdis
ease.Refusingtogiveuphopeofovercomingheraffliction,shefled
thesceneimmediately.Thatmomentmarkedthebeginningofherhealingjourney.Againstherdoctor’sadvice,Rachelleunderwent aseriesofacupuncturetreatmentsinwhichsheexperiencedtemporaryimprovement.Toseehersymptomsgoaway,evenifonlybriefly,was
allthehopesheneededtocontinuetofighttoregainherhealth.Shedecidedtobecomeanactiveparticipantinhertreatmentbyreading,researching,andvisitingdoctorsandhealersfromawiderangeofalternativeandcomplementarydisciplinesandtraditions.Shebeganpracticinggentleyogaandtookakeeninterestinherthoughtsandattitudeswhilestudyingtheeffecttheyhadonherbody.Shelearned
thathermindandherattitudeplayedakeyroleinthehealthofherbody.Shebegantotakebettercareofhernourishment,notonlywithherfood,butalsowithherthoughts.Shesawthatlovingthoughtsnourishedherbody,whereasthoughtsborneoflowself-esteemandself-hatredwereharmfultoherbody.After11gruelingyears,Rachellefinallyovercameheraffliction
andwasdeclareddiseasefree.Herclassicbook,WhoSaidSo? :AWoman’sFascinatingJourneyofSelfDiscoveryandTriumphoverIVIultzpleSclerosis,(RachelleBreslow,CelestialArts,1991)isoneof
themostcompellingstoriesandcriticalpiecesofevidenceforthehealingsystemthatIhaveevercomeacross.Bydiscoveringherheal
ingsystem,andlearningtodiscardunhealthyhabitsandthoughtpatternsthatservedasobstaclestoitsperformance,Rachellewas
abletocompletelyreverseandhealfromadiseasestillconsidered“incurable”bymostso-calledhealthexperts! YourHealingSystemandKidneyStones:James’Story
JameswasacaptainintheU.S.AirForceandaseniorC-130pilotwiththe1stSOS(SpecialOperationsSquadron)reconnaissancesquadronbasedoutofthePhilippinesatClarkAirBase,whereIwas
alsostationedasaflightsurgeonattheUSAFRegionalMedicalCenterintheDepartmentofAerospaceMedicine. Oneday,whilehewasflyingalow-altitudemissiononahotday
overthejunglesofThailand,Jamesbegantofeelaterriblepainin
52 YourExtraordinaryHealingSystem
hisback,rightflank,andgrointhatseemedtocomeandgoin
waves.Asthepainradiatedfromhisbacktohisgroinarea,becom
ingstrongerandmoreintensewitheachwave,itcrescendoedtoasteady10outof10ontheRichterscaleofpainandsoonbecameunbearable.ThepainbecamesoexcruciatingthatJames,nowperspiringprofusely,wasforcedtoturnoverallthecontrolsofhisair
crafttothecopilotwhilehescrambledtoliedownintheback.Hiscopilotrequestedclearanceforanemergencylanding.Afterhiscopiiotlandedtheplane,Jameswasmetbyanambu
lancethattookhimtothenearesthospitalinBangkok.Inthehos
pital,hewasgivenintravenouspainmedications.HewasthenimmediatelyevacuatedbyairambulanceandtransferredtotheUSAFRegionalMedicalCenterinthePhilippines,whereIworked. Afterseveralhoursintheemergencydepartmentofourlargehospital,andnumerousexaminations,includingX-rays,bloodtests,
andurinetests,Jameswastoldhehadakidneystone.Kidneystones
occurasblockagesinthekidneysorureters,andtheycanbeoneof
themostpainfulconditionsevertoexperience.Surgeryforkidney
stonesisnotuncommonbecausetheycanbelifethreatening,especiallyiftheyarelargeenough.Severaldayslater,whileJameswasstillinthehospital,afterhe
hadreceivedvoluminousamountsofintravenousfluidsandpainmedications,hepassedasingle,solitarykidneystone.Hewasuneventfullydischargedfromthehospitalafterafewdays.Atthispoint,everythinglookedgood. Onfollow-upexaminations,however,whilehewasanoutpatient,James’urinetestsshowedelevatedurinarycalcium,whichpersistedfordaysandweeks,andwhichalarmedhisspecialists.Theysuspectedanunderlyingmetabolicproblem,whichcouldleadtoanotherkidneystone,anddespiteJames’insistencethathefeltfine
andwasreadytoreturntoflying,theywouldnotallowhimbackin
thecockpit.Theycontendedthathewasathreattohisandothers’flyingsafety.Intheaerospaceindustry,andinthelanguageofthe
U.S.AirForce,accordingtostrictflight-safetypolicies,Jameswasindefinitely“grounded.”Thismeantthathisflyingcareer,within
boththemilitaryandcivilianworlds,wasessentiallyover. IbelievedintheintelligenceandpowerofJames’healingsys
tem,andIfeltstronglythatoncetheobstaclestoitsperformance
YourHealingSysteminAction 53
wereremoved,hishealingsystemcouldcorrectthesituation.Iwasconvincedthathishighurinarycalciumwastheresultoftheresid
ualcalciumoxalate“sand,”whichconsistedofultra-fineparticles
leftoverfromthestonethathadrecentlypassed.Thisconviction
wasbasedontheinformation IreceivedwhileIwasperforming adetailedmedicalhistoryoftheeventsleadinguptohiskidney-stoneincident.Justdaysbeforetheincident,Jameshadhaddiarrhea,and
hehadbecomeseverelydehydratedatthetimehewasflying.Whileflying,healsobecameseverelyoverheatedinhisbulkyflightsuitandstuffycockpit,aconditionmadeworsebyThailand’sheat.Hehad
alsobeenundersignificantstressforsixmonthsrelatedtoanillness
inthefamily.Allofthesefactorspredisposedhimtoakidneystone. IencouragedJamestodrinkasmuchwaterashecould,toflush
outtheresidualsandthatIfeltwasresponsibleforhiselevatedurinecalcium.Asitturnedout,simplewaterwasallhishealingsystemneededtoreversethedangerouslyhighlevelsofcalciuminhisbody.ThankstoJames’healingsystem,andhisabilitytocooperatewithitbydrinkinglotsoffluids,abstainingfromalcoholandcaffeine,andavoidingandmanaginghisstress,aboutsixmonthsfrom
thedayofhiskidney-stoneepisode,hisurinecalciumreturnedtonormal,andhewaspermanentlyrestoredtoflyingstatuswithout
anymedicationsandwithoutanywaiver.JameshasbeenflyingasaseniorpilotforDeltaAirlinesnowfor
morethan15years.Hesurfs,hasthreebeautifulchildren,andhasn’tmissedadayofflyingduetoillnessduringthisentireperiod.Helikes
todrinkwater,asyoucanimagine,andtodatehasneverhadaninklingofthekidneystoneproblemsthatalmostendedhiscareer. YourHealingSystemandCancer:Tony’sStory
Tonywearshisshavenheadproudly,asabattlefieldtrophyandreminderofhissuccessfulvictoryoverHodgkin’sdisease,amalig
nantcancerofthelymphsystem,whichhadhimdownandoutforseveralyears.Tonylooksgoodwithhisshavedheadandmustache.Eventhoughhecouldgrowhishairbackifhewantedto,heprefersthe
lookofamonk-warrior.Heisingreatshape,runningfourtofive
mileseachday,andworkingfulltimeintheautomotivedepartment
ofamajor,national-chaindepartmentstore.Althoughhehasanair
54 YourExtraordinaryHealingSystem
ofdeterminationabouthim,atthesametime,he’salmostalwaysin
acheerfulmood,withalittletwinkleinhiseyes.Heisaglowing,vibrant,magneticperson.Here’samanwhoknowsthegiftoflife
anddoesn’twasteasinglesecondfeelingsorryforhimselforentertainingnegativethinking,inspiteofallhe’sbeenthrough.WhenIaskedTonywherehethoughthiscancercamefrom,
andtowhatheattributedhishealing,theanswersweresimpleandstraightforward.“Doc,”hesaid,“Iwasunderalotofstressjustprior
tomydiagnosis.Iwasworkingtoohardandworryingtoomuch.Iwasn’thavingfun,andIwaswaytooserious.Ineverrested,andeverythingseemedtogettome.IhadalotofangerthatIcouldn’trelease.Ifeltallbottledupinside.Mydietwasbad.Iwasn’ttakinggoodcareofmyself,andIknewit.“WhenIreceivedmydiagnosis,Ifeltthatitwasawake-upcall,”Tonycontinued.“Inaway,itgavemeanexcusetobealittleselfishagainandfocusontheneedsofmybody.Ichangedmyatti
tudeandmywaysanddecidedthatIwouldturnallmytroubles
overtoahigherpower.Istartedtakingthetimetoeatright,exer
cise,andtakecareofmyselfbecauseIrealizeditwasuptome.“WhenIshiftedgears,it’samazinghowmybodyresponded,”Tonyadded.“Whilemydoctorsweresurprised,Iwasnottheleast
bitshockedovermycompletereversalofcancer.IreallyfeelitwasI
whobroughtonmyowncancer,anditwasIwhogotmeoutofthat
messbybecomingalittlemoreawareofhowmyattitude,thinking,
andbehaviorswereaffectingmybody.Theentireprocessofgetting
illandthenbeinghealedwascompletelylogicaltome.”Whenpeoplestarttorealizetheamazingpoweroftheirownhealingsystems,andstarttakingresponsibilityfortheirownhealth,
asTonydid,theyoftenbecomeempoweredtotakethenecessary
stepstohelptheirbodiesheal.Althoughcancerhasbeenandcontin
uestobeoneofthemostfeareddiseasesofmoderntimes,evencan
cercannotstanduptothemiraculouspowersofyourhealingsystem
onceyoulearnhowtoremovetheobstaclesthatinterferewithitsfunctioning.Asyoubecomemoreawareofthemanywaysyourheal
ingsystemstrivestokeepyourbodyhealthy,youwilldiscovermany
morewaystosupportandcooperatewithittorestoreyourhealth.Whenyouaredealingwithanymajor,life-threateningillnessandrallyingyourhealingsystemtocometoyoursupport,understanding
ThurHealingSysteminAction 55
theobstaclesthatareinterferingwiththeperformanceandfunction
ofyourhealingsystemisimperative.Someoftheseobstaclesareobvious,suchashabitualingestionoftoxicsubstances,poordiet,
stress,andlackofexercise;othersaremoresubtle,suchasunhealthythinkingandholdingontoanger.Becausemuchunhealthythinking
andbehaviorishabitualandunconscious,youmustfirstbecome
awareoftheseunhealthypatternsbeforeyoucanchangethem.As
wewillexplorealittlelaterinthebook,youwillseehowyourmind
exertsapowerfulinfluenceonyourbody’shealingsystem,andwhat
youcandotomakethemindanallyinyourhealing. ClosingThoughtsonYourHealingSysteminAction
Yourbodyknowshowtohealitselfbecauseithasaremarkablyefficient
andintelligenthealingsystem.Youcanthinkofyouramazinghealingsystemasthefieldmarshalwhocommandstheforcesofhealingwith
inyourbody,directingthevariouselementstomaintainyournatural
stateofhealth.Icouldhavepresentedmanymorecaseshere,butitis
clearfromtheevidencepresentedsofarthatyouhaveahealingsystemthatiscapableofhealingyourbodyfromamultitudeofafflictions,
evenwhentheseafflictionshavebecomeadvancedandthingsappearprettyhopeless.Aslongasyouarealive,youhavehealingpower. Itisimportanttorememberthat,eventhoughthevarietyofdis
easesandthenumberofafflictionsyoumaypotentiallysufferfrom
onthisearthappearvastandstaggering,themanywaysthatyourhealingsystemcanhealyouandkeepyourbodyhealthyare,byfar,infinitelygreater. Tounderstandmorethoroughlyhowyourhealingsystemworks,
andwhatyoucandotoworkwithit,learningabouttheothersystems
inyourbodywithwhichitisalliedisimportant.Yourhealingsystemutilizestheseothersystemsandreliesontheircooperationtoinitiatepowerfulandsophisticatedhealingresponseswheneverillnessorinjurythreatensyournaturalstateofhealth.Inthenextchapter,you’lllearnaboutthecriticalrelationshipbetweenyourextraordinaryheal
ingsystemandtheothersystemsinyourbody,andhowtheyallworktogetherandrespondtoeachotherinincredibleways. CHAPTER 3
TheTeamMembersof
YourHealingSystem
ourhealingsystemisintimatelyconnectedtoallofyourbody’sother12systems.Itisintegratedwithinthestructuresandcellsof
thesedifferentsystemssomuchsothatwhenyourbodyisinitsnat
uralstateofhealth,thecooperationbetweenthehealingsystemand
theothersystemsofthebody,andthewaysinwhichtheyfunctiontogether,arealmostflawless. Tofullyunderstandtheconnectionsbetweenthehealingsystemandtheothersystemsofthebody,youfirstneedtounderstandhow
eachsystemfunctionsindividuallyandperformsspecializedtasks. Thehealthofeachindividualsystemisessentialtoyouroverallhealthandtoeachsystem’sabilitytoworkefficientlyandeffectivelywithyourhealingsystem. YourSkin
Yourskinisthemostexteriorandexposedsysteminyourbody.Consistingofseverallayersandappearinginavarietyofcolorsandshades,yourskinisoneofthemostobviousfeaturesthatdefineyourbody’sindividuality.Yourskinisonecontinuousorgan,and,muchlike
ateddybearorotherstuffedanimal’souterliningthatholdsitsstuff-
58 YourExtraordinaryHealingSystem
ingin,yourskincanbelookeduponastheoutercoveringofthebody
thatholdsinallofyourinternalstructures.Yourskinexhibitsthefollowingqualitiesthataidyourhealingsysteminmanyimportantways:
oSkinisflexible.Itcanstretchandexpandtotremendouscapaci
ties,asdemonstratedduringpregnancyandextremecasesofobesity~Thischaracteristichelpsyourskinresisttearingand
otherinjuries,whichreducestheburdenonyourhealingsystem. oSkincanabsorbsunlight.Likeachameleon,yourskincanchangecolor,dependingonitsexposuretothesun.Gradualincreasesinsunexposureresultintheaccumulationanddepositionofapigmentknownasmelanin,whichresultsintanning.SunlightcontainsvitaminD,whichimprovescalciumabsorp
tionandhelpsmaintainbonedensity.Tanningincreasestolerancetosunexposure,thusallowingforgreateramounts
ofvitaminDtobeabsorbedandproduced.Sunlightalsopro
moteswoundhealing,preventsinfection,andstimulatestheimmunesystem,andsotheskin’sabilitytoabsorbsunlightisasophisticatedmechanismthatbenefitsandsupportsyourheal
ingsystem.
Extraordinary_Healing_-_the_amazing_power_of_your_body_s_secret_healing_system.txt
Summarize the following text section accurately and concisely. Maintain specific details and numerical information, and use anti-repetition mechanisms:

        CHAPTER2
YourHealingSysteminAction
whenyouthinkaboutthenumberofthreatsandinsultsyourbodysustainsoverthecourseofalifetime,thefactthatitcanremainhealthyatallistrulyamazing. Toaccomplishthisincredibletask,youneedasinglesysteminyourbodythatcansuperviseanddirectalltheothersystemsintoaunified,efficient,orchestratedhealingresponse
foryourprotectionandthepreservationofyournaturalstateofhealth. Thatsingle,supervisorysystemisyourhealingsystem. Yourhealingsystemnotonlymaintainsyournaturalstateofhealth,butwheneveryouaresickorinjured,orwheneveryourhealthisthreatened,italsoisinchargeofdamagecontrol. Itmoni
torsandsupervisesallprocessesofrepair,growth,andrestorationofhealthandnormalfunctioningofyourbody’scells,tissues,and
organs. Infact,youwouldn’tbealivetodayifitweren’tforyourbody’sremarkablehealingsystem. Illnessorinjurycanstrikeatanytime,andsoyourbodyneeds
asystemitcancountontosafeguarditshealth,24hoursaday,7
daysaweek,365daysayear. Inthisregard,yourbody’shealingsystemisatirelessworkhorsebecauseitneversleepsorevensnoozes. Itcannotevenaffordtheluxuryofacatnap. Itremainsalertatalltimes,readytospringintoactionatamoment’snotice. Likea911emergency-response,paramedicrescuecrew,yourhealingsystemis
24 YourExtraordinaryHealingSystem
oncallcontinuously—notimeoffforsickleave,vacations,orevengoodbehavior. Italsohastremendousenduranceandstamina,and
itcanremainoperationalforupto100years,orevenlonger. Yourhealingsystempermeateseveryorganandtissueinyourbody;itisnotconfinedtoanyonestructureorspecificlocation. It
cannotbesurgicallyremoved,orevenvisiblyseenonanX-ray,CAT
scan,orMRI,asisthecasewithmostotherstructuresinyourbody. Whenyouarehealthy,itisdifficulttoevenknowthatsuchasystemexists;however,duringtimesofinjuryorillness,asyourbodymounts
ahealingresponse,evidenceofitsexistencebecomesquiteapparent. Althoughyourhealingsystemisarguablythemostimportantsysteminyourbody,youprobablyhaveneverheardaboutitbefore,
or,ifyouhave,theinformationwassparse. Althoughyoumaybefamiliarwiththeothersystemsinyourbody,suchasthedigestive,respiratory,circulatory,nervous,andimmunesystems,youprobably
arereadingaboutthehealingsystemfortheveryfirsttime. Infact,
youmaybeconfusingyourhealingsystemwithyourimmune
systemrightnow,asmanypeopledo. DifferencesBetweenYourHealingSystemandYourImmuneSystem
Whenpeoplefirsthearofthehealingsystem,theyoftenconfuseit
withtheimmunesystem. Eventhoughononelevelthetwosystems
maybedifficulttotellapartbecausetheyworktogetherinacooperativeeffort,onanotherleveltheyaretwoverydifferentsystemsthatserveentirelydifferentpurposes. Thefundamentaldifferencebetweenthetwosystemsisthat
yourimmunesystemisconcernedwithdefendingyourbodyagainstinfections,whileyourhealingsystemisresponsibleforrepairingtissuedamagefrominjuriesorillnesses,andrestoringyourbodyto
itsnaturalstateofhealth. Yourimmunesystem’sfocusislargelyonattackingandprotectingyourbodyfromforeigninvaders. Yourhealingsystemfocusesmoreonhealing,growth,regeneration,restorationoffunction,andmaintaininghealth. Forexample,ifyouweretocomedownwithbronchitis,which
isaninfectionintherespiratorysystem,yourimmunesystemwould
YourHeatingSysteminAction 25
beexpectedtoattackandeliminatetheoffendingorganismsthatarecausingtheinfection. However,ifyouwereinjuredinacaraccident
andbrokeyourarm,yourhealingsystemwouldbecalleduponto
healyourinjuries. Yourimmunesystemwouldnotbecomeinvolvedbecausetypicallythereisnoinfectionwithabrokenbone. Themendingofthebrokenbonewouldbeaspecificfunctionofyourhealingsystem. Similarly,ifyouhadaheartattack,yourhealingsystemwouldimmediatelybecomeactivated. Aheartattackisnotcausedbyaninfection,andsohealingfromitdoesnotinvolveyourimmunesys
tem,butratheryourhealingsystem. Afteraheartattack,yourheal
ingsystemrepairsthedamagetoyourheartmusclewhileitrestoresnormalfunctioningtoyourheart. Whenyouunderstandthatmostdiseasesandinjuriesarenotcausedbyinfection,thedistinctionbetweenyourhealingsystemandyourimmunesystembecomesclearer,andtheuniqueroleof
yourhealingsystembecomesmuchmoresignificant. Allofthishavingbeensaid,beawarethattherearetimeswhen
thedivisionoflaborbetweenyourimmunesystemandhealingsys
temisnotsoclear. Yourhealingsystemandimmunesystemworktogetherandcooperatewitheachothertokeepyouhealthy. Forexample,ifyourbodyhassustaineddamagefromaninfection,yourhealingsystemandimmunesystemwillworksidebysidetorepair
thedamageastheyfightagainst,neutralize,andremovetheinfec
tiousagentstopreventfurtherdamagetoyourbody. Yourimmune
systemwillattacktheinfectionthatcausedtheproblem,andyourhealingsystemwillactuallyrepairthedamagetheinfectioncaused
toyourbody. ListeningtoYourHealingSystem
Becauseyourbody’snaturalstateisgoodhealth,yourphysicalneeds
areactuallyquitesimple. However,whentheseneedsarenotbeing
met,yourbodyisnotshyaboutgivingwarningsignstopromptyouintotakingimmediatecorrectiveaction. Whensituationsofurgencyarise,orwhenyouarenothealthy,yourbody,throughitscommunicationssystem,whichworkscloselywithyourhealingsystem,will
26 YourExtraordinaryHealingSystem
letyouknowimmediately. Foryourhealingsystemtorepair,restore,
andsustainyourbodymosteffectively,youmustlearnhowtolisten
toyourhealingsystemwhenittalkstoyou. Forinstance,whenyourwaterreservesbecomelow,andthereisdangerofdehydration,yourthirstmechanismkicksin,urgingyou
todrink. Whenyourbodyislowonenergyandyouneedmorecalo
ries,yourhungerdriveisactivated,promptingyoutoeat. Whenyouneedsleeporrest,youwillbegintoyawn,andyoureyeswillfeelheavy;urgingyoutoliedown. Whenyoubecomechilledincoldweather,yourbodywillbegintoshiver,forcingyoutoputona
sweaterorjacket,ortoseekshelter. Ifyoueatfoodsthataretoorich
ortoospicy,orthewrongcombinationoffoods,you’llfeelnauseous
andmightpossiblyevenregurgitate. Allthesesensationsandresponsesarepartofyourbody’sintelligenceandcommunicationsnetwork,whichyourhealingsystemmonitorsandsupervisestohelp
restorenormalfunctionandmaintainyournaturalstateofhealth. TwoEssentialRolesofYourHealingSystem
Yourhealingsystemfunctionsintwocriticalways. Initsfirstimpor
tantrole,muchlikeaforemanatalargebuildingsitewhosupervises,organizes,anddispatchesworkers,equipment,andmachinerywhileheoverlooksaconstructionproject,yourhealingsystemmeticulouslymonitors,surveys,andobserveseachandeverypartof
yourbodytoensurethatallorgansandtissuesremainhealthyandfunctionsmoothly. Itfacilitatescommunicationbetweenyourbody’svarioussystemsandtheirrespectivecellsandtissues. Itmonitors
yourbody’scomplexinternalenvironment,whereliterallymillions
ofpowerfulchemicalreactionsoccureachday. Yourhealingsystemtroubleshootsproblemsanywhereinyourbody. Justlikeamother
whocaresforandlooksafterherchildren,yourhealingsysteminitsprotectiveandnurturingrolesafeguardstheintegrityofyourentirebody,helpingmaintainitsnaturalstateofhealth. Initssecondvitalrole,yourhealingsystemfunctionslikeanemergency-responseparamediccrew,jumpingintoactionwhenever
thereisathreattoyourhealth. Inthismoreactivephase,yourheal
ingsystemisabletoperformawiderangeofdiversefunctions,such
YourHealingSysteminAction 27
asdispatchingnervemessagesandimpulses;mobilizingimmune
andinflammatorycells;coordinatingthereleaseofpowerfulchem
icalsthatcanraisebodytemperature,dilateorconstrictbloodves
sels,increaseordecreasebloodflowtospecificareas;andperforming
manyothervitalfunctions. Yourhealingsystemdirectstheactivities
oftheothersystemsinyourbodytocooperatewitheachotherinprovidingaunified,concerted,andeffectivehealingresponse. Initsfirstrole,youmaynotevenbeawareofyourbody’sheal
ingsystemasitgoesaboutthebusinessofitscrucialsurveillanceworksilentlyandwithoutmuchfanfare. Inthesecondrole,howev
er,thepresenceofyourhealingsystemismuchmorenoticeable,withspecificchangesthatoccurinyourbodyasaresultofitsactions. Thedualsupervisoryandemergency-responserolesthat
yourhealingsystemplaysinthegeneralfunctioningofallthesys
temsandstructuresinyourbodymakesitthemostpowerfulandimportantsysteminyourbody. HowYourHealingSystemWorks
Understandinghowyourhealingsystemfunctionsrequiresadiffer
entwayofthinkingabouthowyourbodyworks. Althoughdoingso
mayseemdifficultatfirst,ifyouthinkofyourbodyintermsof
energyandfunction,ratherthanintermsofmatter,structure,andform,itwillallmakeperfectsense. Thinkingintermsofenergydoes
notignoreornullifytheexistenceofcertainstructureswithinyourbody;rather,thisviewgivesyouadeeperlookintothedynamicforcesthatgovernyourhealth. Whenthesedynamicforcesbecomeunbalanced,youcaneasilyseehowproblemsthatcreateillnesses
anddiseasesinyourbodyarise. Armedwiththisknowledgeandinsight,youwillbeabletomoreeffectivelyremedytheseproblems
byworkingwith,ratherthanagainst,yourhealingsystem. Let’sexamineacasethatillustratesthispoint. Alcuthisfingerwithakitchenknifewhilehewasslicingvegetables. Atfirst,therewasnobloodatall,andheimaginedthatmaybeitdidn’treallyhappen,andthathe’dgetoffeasy. Then,asthe
firstsignsofbloodbegantooozeoutofthewound,herealizedthepuncturewasdeep. Innotime,thebleedingbecameprofuse. Pain,
28 YourExtraordinaryHealingSystem
delayedforseveralseconds,soonbegantopulsateandthrobthrough
outhisfingertipandentirehand. Alappliedpressuretopreventhisbloodfromspillingontothefloor. Afterhalfanhour,henoticedthebleedinghadslowed. Anhourlater,iteventuallystopped. Fromtheverybeginningofthisincident,andoverthecourseof
thenextseveraldays,Al’shealingsystemwasbusyactivatingaheal
ingresponsethatincludes
oThenervoussystem,whichfirstrespondswithmessagesofpainthatwarnAlaninjuryhasoccurred. oThecomplexmechanismsofbloodclotting,whichareasophisticatedinteractionofhormones,enzymes,andnumerouschem
icalsandcellswithinthecirculatorysystem. Thesecomponents
arenaturallystickyandjointogethertosealoffthewoundto
protectthebodyfromfurtherbloodloss. oThelayersoftheskin,deepertissues,andvariouscells,which
weavethemselvestogethertoformatransitional,intermediate
layerofskinandfillinthegapcreatedbythewound. oTheformationofascab,whichprotectsthedeeper,moresensitivelayersofnewskinandtissuesasthehealingprocesscontinues. Whenthescabsloughsoff,Al’shealingsystemmiraculouslymanufacturesnewskinwheretheoldskinhadbeencompletelysevered. Afterseveralweeks,Al’sfingerlooksthewayitdidbeforehisinjury,asifnothinghadhappenedatall. EventhoughAl’sinjuryisarelativelysimpleone,ifyoulook
atthesequenceofevents,thevarioussystemsandcomponentsinvolvedinthehealingofhiswound,andthesynchronizedflowof
energyandmovementduringtheentirehealingprocess,youstarttodevelopanappreciationforthedegreeofcomplexityandprecision,
andtheincredibleorganization,speed,andefficiencyyourhealingsystemrequirestoperformthisspecifictask. Keepinmindthatyourhealingsystemsupervisesandcoordi
natesallhealingresponsesinyourbody,includingillnessesandinjuriesthatarefarmorecomplexandseriousthanAl’sinjury. And
eventhoughyourhealingsystemmayappeartobehiddenanddif
ficulttopinpointwithinanygivenpartofyourbody,youcanbegin
YourHealingSysteminAction 29
tounderstandthefunctionandpurposeofthisamazingsystembyobservingitspowerful,swift,dynamicandefficientmovements,andviewingtheresultsofitsactions. Thesubtleanddynamicaspectof
yourhealingsystemisoneofthereasonsithasnotbeenmorewide
lyrecognized,acknowledged,andaccepteduntiljustrecently. Theimmunesystemandthehealingsystemarebothsubtleanddynamicsys
tems,andalthoughtheyoftenworktogether,theyservedifferentfunctions. Thehealingsystemisevenmoresubtleandmorewidespreadinitsdistributionthroughoutthebodythantheimmunesystem,permeatingevery
organ,tissue,andcellinyourbody. Itisalsomorepowerful,moredynamic,
andmorediversifiedinitsfunctionsandtasksthanyourimmunesystem. Likethehealingsystem,theimmunesystemhasmanybranches,isnotlimitedtooneparticularareaofthebody,andoperatesonthemicroscop
iclevelofcellsandbiochemicals. Infact,yourimmunesystemcollaborates
withyourhealingsystemandcanbethoughtofasanaspectofthehealingsystemthatisconcernedwithpreventinganderadicatinginfectionsfrom
thebody. Theimmunesystemalsowaspoorlyunderstoodandnotgivenmuchimportanceinthepracticeofmodernmedicineuntilthediscovery
ofAIDS. Fortunately,withtheshiftoffundsandresources,andresearch
beingdirectedfromwithouttowithintherealmofourownbodies,we
havelearnedmoreaboutourbody’snaturaldefensesystemthanweeverimaginedexisted. YourHealingSystemandtheOtherSystemsinYourBody
Yourhealingsystemutilizesthespecialpropertiesandfunctionsofothersystemsinyourbody,integratingandsupervisingtheiractivi
tiesintooneorganized,efficienthealingresponse. Tounderstand
thismoreclearly,let’sseewhathappenswhenyouaccidentallytouch
ahotelectricironandburnyourself. Imagineanironthatispluggedintoanelectricalsocket,sittinguprightontheironingboard,andinadvertentlyleftonforhalfa
30 YourExtraordinaryHealingSystem
day. Whenyoudiscovertheironandtrytoputitaway,youacciden
tallytouchtheveryhotbottom. Assoonasyoutouchthehotironandhearthesizzlingsound
ofyourfleshburning,youinstantaneouslyfeelpainasyouimmedi
atelyjerkyourhandback. Inadditiontotheincredibleburningpain,withinamatterofminutes,youbegintonoticeblistersform
ingonyourfingersandhandsintheplacesthatcameincontact
withtheiron. Fromthevantagepointofwhatisgoingoninsideof
yourbody,let’stakeacloserlookatwhatishappening,stepbystep,
asyourhealingsystemspringsintoaction:
Step1
Yourhealingsystemisimmediatelyactivatedwhenyoutouchthe
hotiron,asthepainsensorsinyourfingersandhandsendasignal
tothebrainthroughyournervoussystem. Yournervoussystem,workingwithyourhealingsystem,initiatesareflexresponseinthemusclesofyourarmtocontractthearm,pullingitawaytopreventfurthercontactwiththehotiron,whichpreventsfurtherinjury. Step2
Almostimmediately,incollaborationwiththeskin,yourhealingsystemcoordinatesaresponsethatfirstresultsinrednessorinflammationastinybloodvesselsaredirectedtoincreasebloodflowto
theareaofthescorchedskin. Step3Specializedcellsknownasmacrophages,alongwithredbloodcells,whitebloodcells,oxygen,andotheressentialnutrients,arepumped
intothebloodstreamanddirectedtotheinjurysitetohelpnourish,fortify,andsupportthebody’srepairprocesses. Step4
Shortlythereafter,theskinsecretesspecificfluidstohelpformblis
tersattheburnsites. Theblistersserveseveralprotectiveandheal
ingfunctions. First,thefluid-filledsacsactlikeshockabsorbersto
protecttheraw,injuredskinthatliesunderneath. Theyalsoactassealedbarriersagainstthepossibilityofinfection. Thefluidinside
theblistersalsocontainsnutrientstohelpnourishandfeedthenew
YourHealingSysteminAction 31
layerofskinthatwillformunderneath. Antibodiesandimmune
cellsalsohavebeenmobilizedbytheimmunesysteminthisfluid. Thesemechanismsalsoareunderthedirectionofthehealingsys
tem,towardoffanymicroorganismsthatmightcauseinfection. Inaddition,thebodyreleasesotherimportantchemicalstocooperate
inthehealingresponse. Step5
Withthehealingresponsewellunderway,newcells,fluids,andchemicalsarecontinuouslypumpedinandoutoftheburnsiteover
thecourseofthenextseveraldaysandweeks;thepainbeginstosub
sideandthenewskingrowthaccelerates. Step6
Soon,theblistersgraduallyshrinkasthefluidisreabsorbedback
intothebody,withnewskinarisingtotaketheplaceofthepreviouslyinjuredoldskin. Step7Continuedhealingmechanismsareactivatedonthemicroscopicleveltofinishthejob,and,ifallgoeswell,notevenascarwillbe
presentwherethenewskinhasgrownback. Evenwithasimpleinjurysuchasaminorsecond-degreeburn,
youcanseethatalotmoreisgoingoninyourbodybeneaththesur
faceoftheskinthanmeetstheeye. Aswiththemoreseriousandcomplicatedproblemsthatoccurwithinyourbody,againitisclearthat
thebodyneedsasinglesystemthatcansuperviseanddirectallthe
otherkeysystemsintooneorchestratedandefficienthealingresponse
fortheprotection,self-preservation,andhealthofyourbody. Thisis
theincrediblejobthatyourhealingsystemdoesforyou. HealingSystemResponsesvs. SymptomsofDisease
ANewWayofThinkingAboutYourHealth
Whenourhealingsystemisinitiallyactivated,wemightconfusethechangesthatoccurinourbody,whicharenormalhealingresponses,
32 YourExtraordinaryHealingSystem
withsymptomsofaparticulardisease. Infact,thisisthecommonmistakemostpeoplemake,includingdoctorsandthemedicalprofessioningeneral. Again,untilveryrecently,ourculturehasbeendisease-orientedinitsapproachtounderstandinghealthandheal
ing,andsowehaveremainedlargelyignorantofthehealingsystemandhowourbodiescontinuallystrivetocorrectimbalancesand
keepushealthy. Whenthingsbegintochangeinourbodies,weautomatically
assumewearesick,andthatsomethingisdreadfullywrong. Ifourbodiesbegintoreflectimbalanceandfunctionabnormally,ifthere
issomediscomfortorpain,ourfirstassumptionismostlikelythat
wearebecomingsickorthatwehaveanallergy. Thisisbecausewe
aretryingtoaccountforoursymptoms. Thisisanaturalandnor
malinterpretationofwhatishappeningwithourbodies. Ratherthanjumpingtotheconclusionthatsomethingiswrongwithyourbody,firsttrytounderstandhowyourhealingsystemmay
berespondingappropriatelytocorrectanimbalancethathasoccurred. LetmeexplainwhatImean. Considersneezing,forexample. Weusuallythinkofsneezingas
asymptomofthecommoncold,orthebeginningofanallergy~Inrea1ity~sneezingisanormalhealing-systemresponsetoexpelforeigndebris,flushoutirritants,removepotentialpathogens,ridthebody
ofdisease,andhelpthebodymaintainitsintegrity. Sneezingalsois
aprotectivemechanismthathelpstopreventthefurtheradvanceofunwantedforeigninvadersintothedeeper,moredelicatestructures
oftherespiratorysystem,suchasourlungsandsinuses,andisanothercommonwaythatourhealingsystemssafeguardourhealth. Inadditiontosneezing,mostpeople,includingdoctors,confuse
manyothercommonhealingresponseswithsymptomsofadisease. Theseresponsesincludethefollowing:
oCoughing. Alsoconsideredasymptomofarespiratoryillnessorcondition,coughingisadefinitiveresponsefromyourhealingsystemtoexpelunwanteddebrisandinvadingmicroorganisms
thathavepenetrateddeeperintotherespiratorysystemandarethreateningtocausedamagetoyourlungs. Inmedicalcircles,a
goodcoughisknownasaproductivecoughinthatitsuccess
fullybringsupphlegm,mucous,microorganisms,andinfectious
YourHealingSysteminAction 33
debris,whicheffectivelyclearstheairwaysandmakesforeasierbreathing. Coughingcanbepowerful;thespeedatwhichfor
eignparticlesanddebrisexitthelungswithacoughhasbeenclockedatapproximately660mph,aboutthespeedofanF4Phantomfighteraircraft. •Diarrhea. Usuallyconsideredasymptomofanintestinaldisease,diarrheaisahealingresponsethatyourbodyusestoeliminatetoxinsandcontaminatedmaterialfromyourcolonandlargeintestines. Diarrheaisfastandefficient,andithelpstoflushoutwhatisirritatingoroffendingyourintestinaltract. Anumberofpotentiallyseriousintestinaldiseasesorproblemscanbeeliminatedthisway. Suppressingdiarrheathroughartificialmedica
tionscanbedangerous,anddoingsooftenbackfires. Whenyouclogupyourbody’snaturaleliminativeprocessesthroughthesuppressionofdiarrhea,harmfulmicroorganismshavenowhere
togobutfurtherinsideyourbody,wheretheycaninvadeyourliverorbloodstreamandcausemoreseriousillness. Ofcourse,therearetimeswhentoomuchfluidandelectrolytelossfromdiarrheamayrequiremedicalintervention. However,byseeingdiarrheaasaresponseofyourhealingsystem,andseekingout
waystocooperatewiththatsystem,youcanoftenmakesimple,naturaladjustmentstorestorebalanceandhealthtoyourbody. Thesemayincludedrinkingmorefluids,avoidingirritatingfoodsandsubstances,andmanagingstress,whichcanbeharm
fultoyourintestinesanddigestivesystem. (Wewilllookmorecloselyatthesefactorsinthechaptersthatfollow. ) aFainting. Faintingoccurswhenapersontemporarilylosesconsciousnessandfallsdown. Thecausesoffaintingcanrangefromserioustobenign,butthelossofconsciousnessisusuallydueto
ofalackofbloodflowtotheheadandbrain. Fallingdownwhilefaintingrepresentsacompensatoryresponsefromyourbody’shealingsystem. Whenthebodyhasfallenandliesflaton
thegroundinahorizontalposition,bloodflowandoxygento
thebrainincrease,whichcanoftenrestoreconsciousness. Mostinstancesoffaintingaretotallybenign,especiallyifnoseriousunderlyingdiseasesorconditionsexist. However,thereareocca
sionswhenseriousunderlyingdiseaseispresent,andyouwill
34 YourExtraordinaryHealingSystem
needtobebroughttothehospitalandtreated. However,the
correcttreatmentistodealwiththeunderlyingcausesthatprecipitatedthefainting,notjustwiththefaintingitself. UFever. Commonlyassociatedwithaninfection,feverisyourhealingsystem’swayofheatingyourbodyuptokilloffendingorganisms,mostofwhichareextremelytemperaturesensitive
andcannottolerateexcessiveheat. Additionally,feverinducessweating,whichhelpsthebodyeliminatetoxinsmorerapidly. Learningtoworkwithafeverthroughcontinuousrehydration(drinkingplentyofwater),ratherthansuppressing afeverwithartificialmedications,willsupportyourhealingsystemandresultinafaster,morethoroughhealingresponse. Evenattimeswhenmedicalsuppressionofafevermaybenecessary,fluidintakeshouldbeencouraged. Withanyfever,itisprudentto
lookfortheunderlyingcausesofthefeverandtotreatthese,not
justsuppressthefever. Doingthisworkswithyourhealingsys
temtohelprestorehealthandbalancetoyourbody. UNausea. Nauseaoccursinthesmallintestinesandstomach,and
itisaspecificresponsefromyourhealingsystemthatprotects
yourbodyfrommorefoodenteringintoit. Whenyoufeelnau
seous,youhavelostyourappetiteforfood. Yourhealingsystemdoesthiswhenyourbodyneedstolimitsolidfoodintake. Nauseaoccurswhenyouhaveahighfeverandareinneedof
lotsoffluids,orwhenyouhaveastomachvirusoranulcer,and
solidfoodswouldmaketheseconditionsworse. Nauseaalso
helpstoconserveenergyandfreesbloodflowfromthedigestive
tractsoitcanbereroutedtootherareasofthebodythathavea
greaterimmediateneedforhealingenergy. 0Pus. Yourbody’shealingsystem,workingwithyourimmune
system,producespus,anunpleasant,smelly,yellowishsub
stance,tohelpeliminateforeignmaterial,bothlargeandsmall. Puscommonlyoccurswithinfection. Inthecaseofasplinterorforeignbodyintheskin,yourhealingsystemwillformapuspockettowalloffthesplinter,separatingitfromtherestofyourbody. Yourhealingsystemwillattempttodigestanddissolvethesplinterorforeignobject;ifthisprovesdifficult,itwilltryto
pushthesplinteroutoftheskin. Inadditiontofluidssecreted
YourHealingSysteminAction 35
toflushoutmicroorganismsandforeigndebris,puscontainswhitebloodcellsanddigestiveenzymesthatbreakdownanddigestforeignmaterial. Inthecaseofabacterialinfectioninany
partofthebody,thepusproducedwillattempttokilloffanddigestthebacteriawhileitflushesouttheinfection. sRunnynoseandnasalcongestion. Usuallyconsideredsymptoms
ofthecommoncoldorallergies,arunnynoseandnasalcongestionareactuallyspecificresponsesfromyourbody’shealingsys
tem. Theincreasedsecretions,mucous,phlegm,andcongestion
areyourhealingsystem’swayofattemptingtoflushoutanyoffendingorganismsorforeignparticlesthatmayhaveinvaded
theentrancetoyourrespiratorysystem. Althoughattemptingtosuppressthesehealingresponseswithnasaldecongestantsandotherdrugsgivestemporaryrelief,doingsooftenbackfires;it
canprolonganillnessandevenmakethingsworse. Becausethepharmaceuticalagentstendtodryupthesecretionstoeliminatesymptoms,theyworkagainstthenaturalprocessesofyourbody’shealingsystemtoeliminateharmfulsubstances. *Swellingandredness. Thefirstvisiblesignsatthesiteofanyinjury,trauma,orinfectioninthebody,swellingandredness,
too,arespecificresponsesofyourhealingsystem. ‘Whethercausedbyabruise,acontusion, asprain,afracture,oraninfec
tion,swellingistheresultofincreasedfluidsfromthelymphaticsystem,leakybloodvessels,andothersofttissues. Thefluidhelpsimmobilizethesiteandservesasashockabsorbertopreventfur
therinjurytothearea. Redness,•known asinflammation,isoftenaccompaniedbypainandrepresentsincreasedbloodflowtothe
area. Inflammationisacomplexresponsefromyourhealingsys
tem,workingwithyourimmunesystem,tobringimportantcells
andpowerfulchemicalstotheinjuredareatohelpremovetox
ins,repairdamagedtissues,andspeedhealing. *Tearingoftheeyes. Tearingisaspecifichealingresponsesimilar
towhatoccursinarunnynose. Tearinghelpstoflushforeignmaterialormicroorganismsoutofthedelicateandsensitivesurfacesoftheeyes. Sometimes,wheninfectionorirritationisextreme,theeyeswillremaingluedshutbecausethetearsandsecretionshavedriedup. Keepingtheeyelidsgluedshutisa
36 YourExtraordinaryHealingSystem
furtherattemptofthehealingsystemtoprotecttheeyesfromadditionalinjuryordamage. oVomiting. Vomitingisaprotectivemechanismthatyourhealingsystemusestoeliminatecontaminatedornoxiousmaterialthat
hassomehowenteredintoyourstomachandsmallintestines. Vomitingisafast,efficient,andpowerfulwayforyourbodyto
riditselfoftoxinsorotherharmfulsubstances. Afteryouhave
eatencontaminatedfood,asinfoodpoisoning,vomitingwill
occurtoexpelinfectiousorganismsaswellasunwantedfood
andtoxins. Peopleusuallyreportfeelingmuchbetteraftertheyhavevomitedintheseinstances. Ifyouhaveovereaten,eatenfoodsthataretoorich,ordrunktoomuchcoffeeoralcohol,whichactasintestinalirritantsandtoxinswhenthey’retakenin
excess,vomitingwilloccurtocleanoutandreducetheburden
onthedigestivesystemandbody. Althoughinitiallyyoumaythinktheseresponsesareassociated
onlywiththeindividualsystemswithinthebody,suchascoughing
andtherespiratorysystem,orvomitingandthegastrointestinalsystem,rememberthatitisthehealingsystem’spresencewithinand
itssupervisoryroleoverthesesystemsthatactuallycausestheseresponses. Keepinmindthatthehealingsystemisnotaseparateanatomicalsystem. Itisafunctional,energetic,intelligentsystemthatpermeateseverysinglesysteminyourbody. Asyoureadtherestofthisbook,thinkaboutyourbody,yourbodilysensations,andanychangesthatareoccurringinyourbody
aswell-measuredresponsesproducedbyyourbody’shealingsystem. Thinkofthemasresponsesthatareintendedtocorrectimbalances
andhelpyoumaintainyournaturalstateofhealth,ratherthansymptomsofdisease. Shiftyourawarenessawayfromyoursymp
toms,yourdiscomfort,andyourthoughtsofanillnessorallergy,
evenifthesearerealproblemsforyou. Instead,trustthatyourheal
ingsystemismakingnecessaryphysiologicaladjustmentstocorrectimbalancesandrestoreyourbodytoitsnaturalstateofhealth. Irealizethisperspectivemaybearadicaldeparturefromhowyoucurrentlyviewyourbodyandyourhealth;however,learningtodo
thiswillmakeasignificantdifferenceinyourhealth. Ifyoucanfocus
YourHealingSysteminAction 37
lessondiseaseandmoreonhealth,lessonwhatiswrongwithyourbody,andmoreonwhatisfunctioningproperly;ifyoucanturnyourattentionawayfromthefearofexternalcausesofdiseaseandagents
ofdiseasethatliebeyondyourcontrol,andinsteadlookwithconfidencetothehiddentreasurechestofhealingresourcesthatlieswithin
yourveryownbody,youwillbeabletoreapthebenefitsofsuperiorhealth. Ifyoucanlearntorecognizethemanywaysyourhealingsystemrespondstochallenges,yourdependenceondrugsanddoctors
willbelessened,andthequalityofyourlifewillbevastlyimproved. Youwillgainagreatdealbyrecognizingtheresponsesofyourhealingsystem. Yourhealingsystem
~Empowersyoutodiscoverandmakeuseofthevastsupplyofhealingresourcesthatliewithinyourownbody. ~Directsyourenergiesandeffortswithinyourownbodyandawayfromblamingyourdiscomfortordiseaseonexternalcausesandforcesbeyond
yourcontrol,whichcanbedisempowering. ~Shiftsyourfocusawayfromfear-basedthinkingthatcanbeharmfulto
yourhealthandwell-being. ~Empowersyoutotakegreaterresponsibilityforyourlife,andhelpsyouunderstandtheconnectionbetweenyourownactionsandthoughts,includingyourdietandlifest~’le,andyourhealth. ~Lessensyourdependenceondoctors,drugs,andexternalagentsoftreat
ment. ~Improvesyourconfidenceinyourbody’sabilitytoremainhealthyand
healitself. ~Helpsinplanningthetreatmentandhealingofanyhealthproblemyoumightface. Youcanseethatthebenefitsofrecognizingthepowerofyourremarkablehealingsystemandworkingwithitwillhaveahuge,positiveimpactonyourhealthandyourlife. Note:Asyouarelearningthisnewwayofthinkingaboutyourbodydonotneglecttoseeyourdoctorifanyphysicaldiscomfortorpainincreasesordoesnotgoawayonitsown. Yourdoctor
canbeavaluableaidandsupportforyourhealingsystem. 38 YourExtraordinaryHealingSystem
ClinicalEvidenceofYourHealingSystematWork
We’vealreadylookedathealingresponsesingeneral,andwe’veseenseveraldifferentexamplesofthehealingsystematworktohelphealsuperficialinjuries. Nowlet’smovedeeperinsidethebodyaswecontinuetoexaminetheevidencethatclearlydemonstratesthat
yourbodyhasahealingsystemthatkeepsyoualiveandhealthy. In
eachofthesituationsthatfollow,rememberthatthehealingsystem
istheessentialelementinthehealingprocessandthat,withoutit,healingwouldnotoccur. YourHealingSystemandFractures:Sam’sStory
Samwasa34-year-oldseniorstaffsergeantwith15years’experience
asaveteranparatrooperandcombatcontrollerintheUnitedStates
AirForce. Duringaroutinetrainingmission,hewasrequiredto
jumpfromanaltitudeof10,000feetatnighttimeoverremotejun
gleterrain. Samgotcaughtupinatreeashewaslandingandbroke
hisankleinseveralplaces. Thebonepiercedthroughtheskin,mak
ingitacompoundfracture. Thistypeofinjuryhasahighrateofinfectionandisnotoriouslydifficulttotreat. Infectionthatsetsinto
thebonesisknownasosteomyelitis, aseriousconditionthatisdiffi
culttoeradicateandthatcomplicatesthehealingsystem’sabilityto
knitthebonestogethertohealafracture. SamwastakenbyairplanebacktotheRegionalMedicalCenter
inthePhilippines,whereIwasrequiredtofollowhiscasetoseewhetherhewouldeverbeabletoresumehiscareerdutiesagain. For
allintentsandpurposes,itlookedasifhismilitarycareerwasover. Samwashospitalizedrepeatedly,placedonnumerousantibi
otics,andoperatedon11timesoveratwo-and-one-half-yearperiod,
inattemptstoknithisbonestogether. Duringthisperiod,hewore
acastalmostcontinuouslyandwasneverabletowalkonhisown,relyinginsteadsolelyoncrutches. Heunderwentnumerouspainfulscrapingsandbonegraftsinanattempttocleanthesurfacesofthebonesfrominfectionwhilethedoctorsweretryingtojointhebonestogether. Duringtheseoperations,numerousplatesandscrewswere
alsoattachedtohisbones. Atonepoint,whenitlookedasifthefracturemightheal,Sam’s
castwasremoved,andhewastoldhecouldparticipateinlight
YourHealingSysteminAction 39
sports. Aweeklater,whilehewasfieldingagrounderduringafriendlysquadronsoftballgame,Sam’sanklesnappedandbrokein
twopiecesashisfootbentoutata90-degreeangle. Afterthis,itwasbacktotheoperatingroomforhim,withmorescraping,moremetalplatesandscrews,anothercast,andmorecrutches. Aftertwoandone-halfyears,SamwasnotonlyinjeopardyoflosinghisjobandbeingmedicallydischargedfromtheAirForce,he
wasalsobeingconsideredforafootamputation. Heconsultedwith
theprostheticspecialist,whobeganfittinghimforaprosthetic(artificial)footinanticipationoftheupcomingoperation. Thiswasafrighteningpropositionforsuchanactiveandpreviouslyhealthy
youngman. BackhomeintheU. S. ,abrilliantorthopedicsurgeonnamedRobertBeckerhadinventedanelectricalbonestimulatortoaidthehealingsystemincasesofstubborn-healingfractures. Samfacedtheprospectofeitherhavinghisfootamputated,orhavingthistiny,electronicdevice,stillintheexperimentalstages,temporarilyimplantednexttothefracturesiteinhisankle. Hechosethenewdevice,hopingagainsthopethatitwouldwork. Severalmonthslater,Samwasbackwithacleanbillofhealth,jumpingoutofairplanes. Hisboneshadmendedtogetherwiththe
helpofadevicethatworkedwiththehealingsystem. Dr. Beckerknew
that,givenhalfachance,thebody’shealingsystemcouldtakeover
andfinishthejob. Asthefamousphysicianofancienttimes,Galen(129—199AD),oncesaid,“Thephysicianisonlynature’sassistant. ”
Afracturedboneisnotalaughingmatter,anditcanbeextremelypainfulanddisabling. However,becauseofyourhealingsystem,eventhelargestboneinyourbody,yourfemur,undernormalcircumstancestakesonlysixweekstocompletelyheal. Even
ifafractureisdisplacedandthebrokenbonesarenotperfectlylined
up,inmostcases,yourhealingsystemcanknitthebonestogether
andrealignthemperfectly,sothatwhenthehealinghasfinished,thereislittleornoevidencethatafractureeveroccurred. Evenwhenfracturesarecomplicated,andbonesaretotallydisplacedandoutofalignment,andmetalplatesandscrewsarerequiredtoholdthebonestogether,yourhealingsystemcanfusethemintoonesolidform. Withoutyourhealingsystem,fractures,wouldbeimpossible
toheal. 40 YourExtraordinaryHealingSystem
‘Whetherornotacastorsplintisplacedaroundthefracturesite,
ifafracturedboneisallowedtorestandremainimmobile,boneremodeling,initiatedbyyourhealingsystem,beginsimmediatelyafterafracturehasoccurred. Boneremodeling,whenseenunderthemicroscope,isoneoflife’struemiracles. Tinycellsinthebonematrix,knownasosteoclasts,digesttheboneandreleasecalciuminto
thebloodstream,whileothercells,knownasosteoblasts,actlikecivilengineerserectinganewsuspensionbridgeandusetheblood-calcium
storestodepositnewboneatthefracturesite. Thesedepositsfacili
tatetheprocessofknittingthebonebacktogetheragain. Nomod
erntechnologicalinvention,surgicalprocedure,orsyntheticdrug
canreplaceyourhealingsystemasitperformstheimportantwork
ofrepairingafracture. Thenaturalhealingofafracturedboneafter
itishealedissoeffectivethatthefracturesiteisoftenstrongerthan
thesurroundingnormalbonetissue. YourHealingSystemandtheHeart:Verne’sStory
Verne’sheartdiseasewasdiscoveredwhenhehadhisfirstheartattack
intheemergencyroomattheageof69. Hehadanotherattackabout
ayearlater. Overthecourseofthenextseveralyears,hewasplaced
onnumerousmedicationswhileheunderwentseveralprocedures,knownasangioplasties,touncloghisarteriesandslowtheprogression
ofhisdisease. Butthesemethodswereonlytemporarilysuccessful. Overtime,Verne’sheartdiseasegrewworse. Hewasplaguedwith
constantchestpain,whichincreasedwhenhewalkedupstairsorwheneverhebecameangryorupset. Itwasquitescary. WhenImetVerne,hisheartdiseasehadprogressedtodesperateproportions,andhisdoctorswererecommendingbypasssurgeryasthe
onlywaytokeephimfromdying. Eventhen,becauseofhisadvancedcondition,theysaidhisprognosisdidnotlookgood,andthebypassoperationwouldonlybuyhimacoupleofextrayears,atbest. Verne
wasnottookeenonhavinghischestcrackedopen,andbysheerpersistenceanddetermination,hewasabletoenrollinDr. DeanOrnish’s
firstexperimentalresearchstudygrouptoinvestigatewhetherornot
heartdiseasecouldbereversedwithoutdrugsorsurgery~
Dr. Ornish’sprogramisbasedonthenow-provenpremisethat
ifyoucanremovetheobstaclestoyourbody’snaturalhealingprocesses,andworkwithyourhealingsystem,evensevereheart
YourHealingSysteminAction 41
diseasecanbehealed.
The healing system is responsible for maintaining your natural state of health and responding to damage or injury by repairing, growing, and restoring normal functioning of cells, tissues, and organs.
What is the primary function of the healing system?
The healing system focuses on repairing and restoring health, while the immune system focuses on defending against infections.
What is the key difference between the healing system and the immune system?
The healing system coordinates and supervises the activities of other systems to initiate a unified and efficient healing response.
What is the role of the healing system in the process of healing?
The healing system is a supervisory system that directs and coordinates the actions of other systems to maintain and restore health.
What is the role of the healing system in the body?
Recognizing the healing system's role in your body can lead to a significant improvement in your health and well-being, and can help you take control of your health by making healthy lifestyle choices.
What is the importance of understanding the healing system?