Thesamenaturaltreatmentsforabscessescanalsobeeffective
foracne.Dryingagents,includingalcohol,canalsobehelpful.Oily,fatty,richdiets,alongwithstress,canmakeacneworse.Peoplewithnaturallyoilyskinneedtopayparticularattentiontotheirdiets.Amacrobioticdiet(averylow-fat,plant-baseddietthatoriginatedinJapan)canoftenclearupstubborncasesofacneinashorttime.In
manycases,conventionalmedicinesmayalsobenecessary.Thesemedicinesincludetopicaldryingagents,suchasthosethatcontain
284ActivatingYourHealingSystemWhenYoureSick
benzoylperoxide,orinternalpreparations,suchasaccutane,avitamin-Aderivative,which,whenprescribedunderthecareofaknowledgeabledermatologist,canbehighlyeffective. Boils,Carbuncles,Furuncles
Theseareinfectiousswellingsintheskinsimilartoabscesses.Many
startwithjustasimpleingrownhair,buttheymaybecomeirritat
ed,painful,andoftenquitelarge,especiallyiftheyaresqueezedorpicked.Theycanalsobecomeunsightly,especiallyiftheyareonthe
faceorshoulder.Naturaltreatmentsthatworkbestwithyourhealingsystemincludesoakingorcompressinginwarm,concentratedsaltsolutions,applyingclaypacks,exposingtosunlight,treatingwithalco
holandotherdryingagents,andkeepingalldirt,oil,andbacteria
awayfromtheaffectedarea.Ifboils,carbuncles,orfurunclesare
severeandareallowedtoprogress,antibioticsand/orlancingmaybenecessarytohelpyourhealingsystemrepairtheseconditions. Burns
Burnstotheskinarerelativelycommon,butiftheyaresevereandextensiveenough,theycancausemuchharm,evendeath.First-degreeburnscauseredness,pain,andswelling,butnoblistering.‘Whenblisteringoccurs,second-degreeburnshavebeensustained.Third-degreeburns,themostserioustypeofburn,resultwhen
nerveendingsareburnedandthesensationofpainislost.Ifyousustainaburnandithurts,consideryourselfluckybecauseitmeans
thatyoudon’thaveathird-degreeburn.Burnscanbeextremelypainful,but,iftheyarenotextensive,
yourhealingsystemcanhandlethemwithlittleintervention.Burnsshouldbekeptclean,dry,andfreefromexcessivemoistureanddirt.Topicalagentsthatarecooling,includingiceintheinitialstages,generallyreduceswellingandpain.Antibioticcremes,suchasSilvadenecream,oranaturalagentsuchaszincoxide,cankeepthe
skinfromdryingoutandcrackingandpreventinfection.Aloe,vine
gar,honey,andbeepropolismayalsobeeffective. Iftheburnisextensive,coveringitwithlightgauzedressingsandnonstickbandages,andthenleavingitundisturbedforatleast
24to48hours,possiblylonger,mightbenecessary.Anydressing
ConqueringCommonHealthConditions 285
thatgetswet,however,needstobechangedbecausewetdressingssuffocatehealingtissuesandcanpromoteinfection.Painmedica
tionsmayalsobeappropriateforonetotwodaysormore.Forsecond-degreeburnswithblisters,itisbestnottopoptheblistersbecausetheyserveasanaturalprotectivebarrierthatyourhealingsystememploystoprotectthenewskinthatisformingunderneath. Inthelaterstagesofhealingburns,youcanassistyourhealingsystemwithnaturaltopicalapplicationssuchasaloevera,comfrey
rootpoultices,vitaminEcream,calendula,andturmericcream. Cysts
Cystslookverysimilartoabscesses,buttheyareoftenmorechron
icandhaveatendencytowardperiodicswelling.Conservativetreat
mentissimilartotreatmentforabscessesandboils,includingsoak
ing,sunlight,andusingdryingagents.Cystsmayneedtobelanced
anddrainediftheybecomeexcessivelylargeorintrusive.Oncetheyhavebeenlancedordrained,yourhealingsystemcantakeoverandcompletethehealingprocess.Follicuiftis
Thiscommonconditionrepresentsinflammationandinfectionof
thehairfollicles,hencethename,folliculitis.Folliculitislookslike
acne,butitmayshowupinareasoftheskinawayfromtheface,
suchasinthegroinareaorunderthearmpits.Itcanbeverypainful
anditchyandisbesttreatedwithsaltsoaks,claypacks,andnaturalsunlight.Iffolliculitisissevereandisallowedtoprogress,antibiotics
mayalsoberequired. ImpetigoImpetigo,causedbybacteriaandpoorskinhygiene,isarapidlyspreadinginfectionwithabrownish-colored,crustyrash.Impetigo
iscommoninchildrenandmaybespreadatday-carecenters.Bathingandgoodhygienehelptoeliminatetheorganismsthat
causethisinfection.Onceimpetigohasbeencontracted,antibiotics
maybenecessarytoeliminateit.Saltsoaks,claypacks,aloevera,
andsunbathscanalsobeeffectiveifitiscaughtearlyon.Youcaneasilypreventimpetigobyobservinggoodskinhygiene. 286ActivatingYourHealingSystemWhenYoureSick
SkinRashes
Incertaingeneralizedinfections,characteristicrashesappearonthe
skinastoxinsmaketheirwayoutofthebody’sdeeperstructures.Wecommonlyseetheserashesinchildhoodillnessessuchasmeasles,chickenpox.rubella(Germanmeasles),andotherviraldiseases.Ifcontractedatanearlyage,theseconditions,althoughuncomfort
able,areusuallyself-limitinganddolittleharminWesternpopulations.Certainfoodallergies,andimmune-systemdisorderssuchaslupus,mayalsoshowupontheskinintheformofarash.Evennutritionaldeficiencies,suchaspellagra,canshowupasarashon
theskin.Whileyouaretreatinganyskinrash,itisimportanttowork
withyourhealingsystembyaddressingtheunderlyingcausesofthe
rash.Drinkingplentyoffluidswillsupportyourhealingsystemineliminatingtoxinsifanunderlyingdiseaseispresent.Thereare
manyothermethodstoworkwithyourhealingsysteminthese
cases,suchasgettingplentyofrest,eatinglightly,andtakingcertainherbsandplantremedies.Naturalsalves,ointments,andclayplas
tersappliedtopicallytotheskinmayalsobehelpful.However,itisimportanttorememberthatarashmayhavedeeperoriginsthan
justtheskin.Becauseofitsrichnervesupply,yourskinishighlysensitive
topainanditching.Whenarashitches,youwillinvariablyscratch
it,whichwillonlymakemattersworse.Animportantpartofthetreatmentofanyrashistostoptheitchsotheproblemdoesn’tescalatewhileyouareworkingtodiscoverandtreattheunderlying
causes.Inadditiontosoothingtopicalcreams,suchasthosethatcontainaloe,calendula,chamomile,orturmeric,conventional
creamsandointmentsthatcontainhydrocortisone,andotherover-the-counterconventionalmedicines,suchasantihistaminesoranalgesics,canalsoeffectivelyeliminateitchingandpreventtherashfromescalating. AllergicRashes
Rashescanappearinresponsetoskinirritantsandchemicals,such
asthosefoundinvarioussunscreenagents,soaps,andsolvents.Rashescanevenappearinresponsetonaturallyoccurringsub
stancesfoundinplants,suchasinmangoes,poisonivy,andpoison
ConqueringCommonHealthConditions 287
oak.Skinallergiescanalsoresultascomplicationsfrominsectbites,includingbeestings,spiderbites,andjellyfishstings.Onceagain,whileyouaretreatingtheserashesandcontrolling
theitchandspreadoftherash,thekeytoeliminatingthempermanentlyistoidentifytheoffendingagentandavoidallfurthercon
tactwiththisagent.Manyremedies,bothconventionalandnatural,
canbehelpfulinthesecases.Ifyouremovetheoffendingagent,andcontroltheitchingandscratching,yourheatingsystemcanusuallyhealtherashandrestoreyourskintoitsnaturalstateofhealth. InfectiousRashes
Manyrashesaretheresultofskininfections,mostcommonly,fun-
galinfectionssuchasathlete’sfootandringworm.Bacterialinfections,parasites(includingscabies),andvirusessuchasherpessimplex(whichcausescoldsores)alsocancauserashes.Ineachcase,preventionisthekeytoavoidinginfectioninthefirstplace.Forexample,fungiandmostbacteriapreferwet,warm,darkplacestobreedandflourish.Thefeet,groin,buttocks,abdomen,andunderarmsarecommonsitesofinfectionfromtheseorganisms.Environmentalfactorsalsoplayarole.Forexample,infectiousrashesfromfungi
andbacteriaaremorecommoninthetropics,orduringsummer,whentheweatherisoftenmorehumid. Onceaskininfectionisaccuratelydiagnosed,naturalremedies,includingtea-treeoil,clay,andotherdryingagents,inadditiontoawiderangeofmedicatedcreamsandointments,arereadilyavailable
totreatit.Ofcourse,indifficultcases,additionalconventionalmed
icinesmayberequired.Thisisparticularlytrueforscabies.Keeping
theskincleanandfreefromexcessmoisture,andallowingittobreatheandbeexposedtofreshairandadequatesunlightarethe
bestapproachesforworkingwithyourhealingsystemtopreventandeliminateskininfections.Nerve-RelatedRashes
Becausetheskinisintimatelyconnectedtothenervoussystem,
manychronicrashesthatdon’teasilygoawayhavetheiroriginsin
suchconditionsaschronicanxiety,stress,tension,orotheremotion
alandnervous-systemdisorders.Theseareoftenclassifiedasnerverelatedrashes,andtheyincludethefollowing:
288ActivatingYourHealingSystemWhenYoureSick
Eczema
Eczemaisachronicskinconditioncharacterizedbyintenseitchingandascaly,spreadingrashthatattimescanbedisfiguring.Toaid
yourhealingsystem,youcanbesttreatthisconditionbyapplyingtopicalsoothingcreams,takingpainmedicationsifneeded,usingherbsormedicinesthatcalmthenervoussystem,andeliminatingcaffeineandnicotinefromyoursystem.Emollientcreamsandvari
ousoilypreparationsappliedcontinuouslytotheeczemacanhelppreventtheconstantdryingoutandlossofnaturalbodyoilsthat
occurwitheczema.Becausethisskinconditionflaresupduringtimesofstressandanxiety,stress-managementtechniquescanalso
beveryeffectiveincontrollingit.Eatingawholesomedietanddrinkinglotsoffluidscanalsobehelpfulwiththiscondition. Psoriasis
Psoriasisisachronicskinconditionthatiscommonintheareasaroundtheknees,elbows,scalp,feet,andback.Psoriasisflaresupduringtimesofanxietyandtension.Foodsthatstimulatethenerv
oussystem,suchascaffeineandnicotine,canalsoaggravatethiscondition.Sunlightisoftenprescribedforpsoriasis,asaresuppressivemedicationsandvariouscorticosteroidcreams.Addressingtheunderlyingcausesthroughsuchmethodsasdietandstress-manage
menttraining,whilegentlyrelievingthesymptomsofitchingandscratching,canoftenreverseevenlong-standingcasesofpsoriasis. ShinglesShinglesiscausedbytheH.Zostervirus,whichstaysinyourbodyin
adormantstagebutcanflareupduringtimesofstressand/orimmunedysfunction.Toaidyourhealingsystem,youcanbesttreat
thisconditionbyapplyingtopicalsoothingcreams,takingpainmedicationsifneeded,usingherbsormedicinesthatcalmthenerv
oussystem,eliminatingcaffeineandnicotinefromyoursystem,drinkinglotsoffluidstoflushtoxinsfromyourbody,andpractic
ingstress-managementtechniques. ConqueringCommonHealthConditions 289
ProblemsoftheHead
Disordersandsymptomsintheheadareverycommon.Becausethe
headcontainsthebrain,whichissensitivetosubtlechangesinyourbody’sinternalenvironment,theseproblemsmayreflectimbalances
inotherpartsofthebody.Forexample,withanemia,notenough
redbloodcellsandoxygenreachthebrain,andheadachesmay
occur.Inaddition,ifyouhaveanemia,youmightbeunabletothinkclearly.Weakness,alongwithdizzinessandfainting,especiallywhen
youarestandingupormakingsuddenmovementswithyourhead,
mayalsooccur.Propertreatmentofproblemsintheheadrequiresunderstand
ingtheunderlyingcausesandworkingwithyourhealingsystemto
correcttheseproblems. DizzinessandVertigoDizzinessandvertigoaretwocommonsymptomsthat,likeheadaches,mayhavesimplecausesormayrepresentmoreseriousconditions,suchasbraintumors,impendingstroke,heartproblems,dehydration,anemia,orinfection.Theymayalsosignalametabol
icproblem,suchaslowbloodsugar,asindiabetes. Themostcommonunderlyingcausesofdizzinessandvertigoincludedietaryimbalance,includingexcesscaffeineornicotine;problemswithsugarmetabolism;stress;lackofsleep;muscletensioninthe
face,neck,andupperback;motionsickness;middle-andinner-earproblems(includingapersistentviralinfection);anddehydration.‘Whensymptomsaresevere,nauseaandvomitingcanresult.Treatmentshouldbedirectedtowardtheunderlyingcauses.Ifa
propermedicalevaluationdeterminesnothingserious,tryworkingwithyourhealingsystembytakingaweekawayfromyourhecticscheduleandfocusingonahealthy,wholesomedietwithplentyof
fiber,lesscaffeine,andplentyofwater.Inaddition,receiveamas
sageoftheupperback,neck,andface,andmakesureyougetenoughsleep.Acupunctureandothernaturaltreatmentscanalsobeeffectivewhennoseriousunderlyingproblemexists. 290ActivatingYourHealingSystemWhenYou’reSick
HeadachesHeadachesareoneofthemostcommonreasonspeoplegotoseeadoctor.Andeventhoughmostareeasilycorrectedandhavesimplecauses,headachescanbecausedbymoreseriousillnessesandproblems.Theheadisasensitivebarometerforphysiologicalimbalances
thatmaybeoccurringinotherpartsofyourbody.Forthisreason,
youshouldnotignoreheadaches,ormerelysuppressthemwithpainmedication,particularlyiftheyarepersistent.Headachesmightoccurastheresultoffatigue,dehydration,anemia,indigestion,sinusinfections,earinfections,havingoverdonecertainfoodsorsubstancessuchasalcoholandcaffeine,andas
aresultofotherconditions,includingstress.Headachesalsocommonlyoccurduringregularmonthlycyclesofovulationandmenstruation.Moreseriouscausesofheadachesincludemeningitis,encephalitis,stroke,andbraintumor.Headachescanalsobetheresultofheadtraumathatcausesincreasedpressureandswellingin
thebrain,causedbyfluid. Yourhealingsystemcanhealmostheadachesoncetheunderlyingproblemsarecorrected.However,ifaheadacheissevere,persistent,keepsyouawakeatnight,orinterfereswithyourabilitytoworkorfunction,itistimetogoandseeyourdoctortobeproperlyevaluated.Clusterheadachesappearpredominantlyinmalesandaresimilar
tomigrainesintheircauseandtreatment.Clusterheadachescommonlyappeararoundtheeyeononesideoftheface,andtheycome
andgoinwavesofpain.Theyarealsoinfluencedbystressanddietaryimbalances,andtheyoftenrespondwelltodietarymodera
tion,includingdecreasedcaffeineandnicotine,andincreasedfluids.Massage,particularlyoftheupperback,neck,andfacialmuscles,alongwithacupuncture,chiropractictreatment,andgentleyogastretchingcanoftenhelpyourhealingsystemeliminateclusterheadaches.Migraineheadachescanbesevereanddisabling.Migraineswerepreviouslythoughttobecausedbyswellinginthebloodvesselsof
thehead,butrecentresearchhasshowntheyaresimilarinorigintotensionheadaches,onlymoreprolongedandsevere.Dietandlifestyle,inadditiontohormonalfluctuations,mayalsobecontributingfactors.Intheirworstpresentation,migraines,withtheirsymptomsofnausea,vomiting,visualdisturbances,andlossofbal
ConqueringCommonHealthConditions 291
ance,mightforceyoutobeincapacitatedforhoursandsometimes
daysatatime.Youmighttemporarilyrequirestrongpainmedications.Naturalmigrainetreatmentmethodsthatsupportyourhealingsystemincludeeatingawholesomediet,drinkingplentyoffluids,andpracticingstress-managementtechniques.Massage,particularlyoftheupperback,neck,andfacialmuscles,acupuncture,chiropractictreatment,andgentleyogastretchingarealsoofteneffective.Migraineheadachescanoftenberelievedbygettingridofnegative“emotionalbaggage,”takingsoothingherbsthatcalmthe
nervesandrelaxthemuscles,andapplyingtopicalheatbalms.Tensionheadachesarecausedbystressandtension;theyalsocan
berelatedtodietaryimbalances,includingexcessesofcaffeineornicotine,andotherfactors.Conventionalmedicinesmaytemporar
ilyhelprelieveatensionheadache,butmostjustsuppressthepain.Implementingdietandlifestylechangesthatreducetensionand
stress,practicingdailystress-managementtechniques,andincreas
ingfluidstoeliminatetoxinscanallassistyourhealingsysteminrelievingtensionheadaches.Massage,particularlyoftheupperback,neck,andfacialmuscles,inadditiontoacupuncture,chiropractictreatment,andgentleyogastretching,canalsobeeffective.Tensionheadachesareoftenrelievedbysoothingherbssuchasfeverfewandchamomile,whichcalmthenervesandrelaxthemuscles,andbytopicallyappliedheatbalms. HeadInjuryBecausethebrainissoimportant,headinjuriescanhaveseriousconsequences.Withasevereheadinjury,promptandresponsibleactioncanmeanthedifferencebetweenlifeanddeath.Whenaconcussionoccursasaresultofheadtrauma,andthereisassociatedloss
ofconsciousness,thepossibilityofdamagetointernalstructuresalwaysexists,andimmediateevaluationandmedicalattentionarerequired.Ifnonausea,vomiting,lethargy,lossofmemory,unduesleepiness,orotherneurologicalsymptomsdevelopduringa24-to48-hourperiodfollowingaheadinjury,thenthereisahighdegree
ofprobabilitythatnothingserioushasoccurredinternally.Ifnoloss
ofconsciousnessoccurredduringheadtrauma,itisalsohighlyunlikelythatsomethingserioushasoccurred.Anyonewhohassufferedaconcussion,withreportedlossofconsciousness,shouldgo
292ActivatingYourHealingSystemWhenYou’reSick
immediatelytothenearestemergencyroomtoruleoutthepossibil
ityofbrainhemorrhageorotherseriousinjury.Amazingly,inspiteofthepotentiallyseriousconsequences,themajorityofheadinjuriesarenotseriousandrespondfavorablytoyourhealingsystem’sinternalrepairandrestorationmechanisms.Aswith
anyotherinjury;however,yourhealingsystemworksbestwhenyoucooperatewithitbygettingplentyofrestandmakingsureyouaredrinkingenoughfluidsandeatingwholesome,nutritiousfood. EyeDisorders
Oureyesarethemostdominantandimportantsenseorgansinourbodies.Additionally,becauseoureyesaresosensitive,problemsinotherpartsofthebodyoftenaffectthem.Inthisregard,oureyesare
areflectionofouroverallgeneralhealth.Forinstance,highbloodpressurecanerodeandrupturethefragilebloodvesselsintheretina,
aconditionthatadoctorcandiagnosewithasimpleeyeexam.Diabetes,whichalsocauseschangesintheappearanceofthebloodvesselsinthebackoftheeye,cansimilarlybedetectedfromasimple
eyeexam.Becauseoureyesaresoimportant, aspecialtyinmedicine,knownasophthalmology,existsjusttotendtotheirneeds.Manychroniceyeconditionsarerelatedtounderlyingproblemselsewhereinthebody,sotheseconditionsareoftenpreventable.Manyofthesedisordersoftenreflectpooroverallhealth,andsoworkingwithyourhealingsystemtoimproveyouroverallhealth
canoftenimprovesucheyeconditions.Forexample,whenIwasaflightsurgeonintheU.S.AirForce,itwascommonknowledgethat
evenamongyoung,healthyfighterpilots,thosewhosmokedhad
poorernightvision.Theywereconsidered acombatriskwhenthey
wereflyingnightmissionsbecausetheincreasedcarbonmonoxide
anddecreasedoxygenintheirbloodasaresultofsmokingnegativelyaffectedtheirvision.Goodnutritionisveryimportanttothehealthofyoureyes.VitaminA,whichcomesfrombetacaroteneandisfoundinmostyellowandorangefruitsandvegetables,participatesinthechem
istryofvision.Eatingadietrichinbetacarotene,andtakingherbal
ConqueringCommonHealthConditions 293
medicinessuchasbilberryextract,helppromotethehealthofyour
eyes.Inaddition,regularexercise,whichimprovesbloodflowandoxygenationoftheeyes,andspecificeyeexercisesalsoworkwith
yourhealingsystemtopromoteeyehealth.Conjunctivitis
Knownaspinkeye,conjunctivitisisacommonconditioninchildren
thatcansweepthroughschoolsinepidemicfashion.Conjunctivitis
isoftencausedbyvirusesorbacterialagents,anditcanoccurwhen
airqualityispoororadverseenvironmentalconditionsarepresent. Itcanalsobeassociatedwithrespiratoryinfections.Conjunctivitisappearsasareddishorpinkishcolorinthewhitesoftheeyes.Usuallyonlyoneeyeisaffected,butabout40percentofthetimeit
canoccurinbotheyes.Conjunctivitiscanbeitchyandsometimesevenpainful.Inthemorning,thecrustedsecretionsthathavehardenedduringthenight
maycausetheeyestobegluedshut.Warmcompressescanbehelp
fultofreethegluedeyelids. Ifyoucanavoiditchingandscratching,yourbody’shealingsystemcanofteneradicatethisconditiononitsowninthreetofive
days.Salt-watereyedropsandnaturalsunlightcanbeveryhelpful. Agentleherbaleyewashsuchashyssoporchamomilemayalsobehelpful.Conventionaltreatmentswithanti-itchoralmedications,includingmild,over-the-counteranti-inflammatorymedicines,analgesics,antihistamines,andantibioticdrops,canbehelpfultopreventcomplicationsandcontroltheitchasyourhealingsystemdoesitsjob. CornealAbrasions
Cornealabrasionsoccurwhenthesurfaceoftheeyehasbeenscratched.Thiscanbeaverypainfulcondition,asmostcontact-lens
wearersknow.However,becauseyoureyesaresoimportant,yourhealingsystemcaninitiatearapid.responsetotheseinjuriesandusuallyrepairthemwithin24to48hours.Ifyouhaveacornea1abrasion,aneyepatchandantibioticdropsarecustomarilyadministeredtorestandprotectyoureye,andtopreventitfrombecominginfectedwhileyourhealingsystemdoesitsimportantrepairwork. 294ActivatingYourHealingSystemWhenYou’reSick
Styes
Styesaresmall,inflamedswellingsthatoccurasminuteinfectionsin
thefolliclesofthehairsthatlinetheedgesofyoureyelids,commonlyknownasyoureyelashes.Styesarecommonwhendust,oil,
orforeignparticlesclogtheporesoftheskinneartheeye.Theyarecommonwithcarpentersandconstructionlaborerswhoareinclined
toworkarounddustyconstructionsites.Theymayalsooccurwhen
youinadvertentlyandrepeatedlywipeyouroily,dusty,ordirtyhandsinyoureyes.Warmsalt-watercompressesandnaturalsunlightusuallycure
styesinonetothreedays.Occasionally,inmoredifficultcases,topicalantibioticdropsorointmentsmayberequired.Naturaleyewashesmayalsobehelpful.Eventhoughtheyareclosetothe
eyesandcanbeunsettling,styesaremoreinconvenientthandanger
ous,and,thankstoyourhealingsystem,theyusuallyhealontheir
ownwithoutanyfurthercomplications. EarProblems
Yourearconsistsofthreedistinctparts:yourexternalear,yourmiddleear,andyourinnerear.Eachpartcarrieswithititsownspecialsetofproblemsand,becausethoseproblemsaretreateddifferently,wewillconsidereachearpartseparately. ImpactedEarWaxImpactedearwaxisacommoncauseofhearingproblems,discom
fort,andouter-earinfectionsbecausethewaxblockstheearcanal,
cantrapwater,andcanpreventsoundwavesfromreachingyoureardrum.Earwaxservesabeneficialfunctionasbothalubricanttothe
earcanalandanaturalantibiotic.However,topreventexcessiveear-
waxbuildup,youcanhelpyourhealingsystembygentlyflushing
yourearcanalwithwarmwaterandhydrogenperoxideina6:1ratio,usingabulbsyringereadilyavailablefromyournearestphar
macy.Thisflushingshouldtakeamaximumof30minutes.Earcandlingisalsobecomingpopularforthispurpose.Mostofushave
beentoldnevertostickanythinginourearssmallerthanourelbows,butImustconfessthat,afterahotshower,iftheneedpres
ConqueringCommonHealthConditions 295
entsitself,Iwilloccasionallyuseacotton-tippedswabtogentlyandcarefullyremoveanyexcesswaxthatmayhaveformedinmyearcanal. Meniere’sDisease
Alsoknownaslabyrinthitis,thisconditionismarkedbyinflamma
tionofthedelicateinner-earstructures.Meniere’sdisease,whichaffectsbalanceandhearing,isthoughttobecausedbyavirus,whichmayfollowontheheelsofarespiratoryinfection.Meniere’sdiseaseoftenoccursonlyonce,butitmayrecurfromtimetotime.Naturalapproachestoinner-earproblemsthatsupporttheworkof
yourhealingsystemincludeacupuncture,nutritionalsupport,the
useofspecificherbssuchasgingkobiloba,cranial-sacraltherapy,
yoga,acupuncture,chiropracticcare,andphysicaltherapy.Middle-EarInfectionsMiddle-earinfectionsarequitecommonininfancyandearlychildhood,andtheycanbeserious.Theyoftencausefeverandpain,and
theycanbeaccompaniedbylossofhearing,lossofbalance,vertigo,nausea,andvomiting.Inchildren,underextremeconditions, amiddle-earinfectionrunstheriskofspreadingtothebrainandcausingmeningitis.Becausethepassagethatleadstothemiddleear,
theeustachiantube,isdirectlyconnectedtothebackofthenose,middle-earinfectionsoccurasextensionsofrespiratoryinfections
thatmaystartasacold,runnynose,sorethroat,sinusinfection,orchestcongestion.Thekeytotreatmentofmiddle-earinfectionsinvolvesunderstandingtherelationshipbetweenthemiddleearandtherespiratorysystem.Youmustcooperatewithyourhealingsystembyfocusing
onprevention,andbytreatingrespiratoryinfectionsintheirearly
stagestoprecludethepossibilitythattheymayspreadtothemiddle
ear.Dietalsocanplayaroleinpreventingmiddle-earinfections.Forexample,byreducingintakeoffatsandoilsanddrinkingplentyoffluids,youcanhelpthinoutthemucous,phlegm,andcongestion
intherespiratorysystem,whichhelpsthebodytoeliminatetoxins
morereadily.Goodposture,gentlechiropracticadjustments,and
deepbreathingalsoappeartoimprovelymphaticdrainageofthemiddleearandcanhelppreventearinfections.Herbalremedies,
296ActivatingYourHealingSystemWhenYou’reSick
suchasechinacea,astragalus,andwasabe(Japanesehorseradish)mayalsobehelpful.‘Whenmiddle-earinfectionsareintheirfull-blown
stages,antibioticsareusuallyrequired,especiallytopreventthepossibilityofmeningitis.Butavoidthecontinuoususeofantibioticsto
treatthiscommonproblem.Noise-InducedHearingLoss
Hearinglosscausedbynoisedamagesthesensitivehaircellsinthe
innerearthatconductsoundtothebrain.Suchlossiscommoninpeoplewhohaveworkedaroundheavyequipmentandloudmachinery,anditisnowshowingupinex-rockmusicians,who
haveblastedtheirearsforyearswithscreechingguitarsandloudamplifiedmusic.Noise-inducedhearinglossisparticularlycommon
inpeoplewhoworkaroundairplanesandmantheflightlinesatair
ports.Thesepeoplearenowrequiredbylawtowearearprotection
topreventthisunnecessarycondition.Hearingaidsarecommonintheelderlyandcanbeeffectiveto
helppeoplecompensateforinner-earhearingloss.Delicatesurgicaltechniquesinvolvingtheimplantationofelectronicsound-amplificationdevicesareusuallyreservedforseverecases.Naturalapproachestoinner-earproblemsthatsupporttheworkofyourhealingsystemincludeacupuncture,nutritionalsupport,theuseofspecificherbssuchasgingkobiloba,cranial-sacraltherapy,yoga,acupuncture,chiropracticcare,andphysicaltherapy.Othermeth
odsmayalsoprovehelpfulincertaincasesofinner-earproblems,particularlyiftheyareinitiatedintheearlystagesofthesedisorders.Becauseyourabilitytohearisapreciousgift,andtheseconditions
areoftendifficulttotreat,preventionofnoise-inducedhearingloss
iscritical. Outer-EarInfections
Oftenknownasswimmer’searinfections,outer-earinfectionscanbeextremelypainfulandarecommonwherepeoplespendalotoftime
inthewaterorwherehumidityishigh.Ifyoudevelopanouter-earinfection,antibioticdropsandkeepingyoureardrytodiscouragebacterialgrowthallowyourhealingsystemtorestorehealthtoyour
ear,usuallyinlessthansevendays.Severalnaturaleardrops,suchasgentianvioletandmulleinau,arealsoavailableandcanbeeffective
ConqueringCommonHealthConditions 297
treatments.Youcanpreventorhealouter-earinfectionsbykeeping
yourearscleananddry.Ifyouspendalotoftimeinthewater,you
canhelpyourhealingsystempreventouter-earinfectionsbyapply
ingalcoholandvinegareardrops,orusingablowdryerafterswimming.Thesecanhelpkeepyourearsdry,whichinhibitsbacte
rialgrowthandminimizesthepossibilityofanouter-earinfection. PerforatedEarDrum
Thisconditionoccursasaresultofincreasedpressureinthemiddle
ear,whichcausestheeardrumtorupture.Perforatedeardrumis
commonindivers,peoplewhoflywhentheyhaverespiratoryinfec
tions,andpeoplewhoarehitonthesideoftheheadandtheearistraumatized.Symptomsmayincludepain,hearingloss,abloodyearcanal,andvertigo.Thankstoyourbody’shealingsystem,ifthetear
isnottoolarge,arupturedeardrumwillusuallyhealonitsownin
onemonth’stime.Duringthishealingperiod,itisimportanttosup
porttheworkofyourhealingsystembynotgettingwaterintoyour
ears,whichmightcauseaseriousinfection.Iftheruptureisverylarge,surgicalgraftingofaneweardrummayberequired;but,thankstoyourhealingsystem,doingthisisnotcommonbecause
yourearusuallycanhealonitsown. Surfer’sEar
Knownasexostosis,surfer’searoccurswhenthebonesintheearcanalgrowtogether,obstructingtheearcanalandcausingwaterto
betrapped.Thisconditioncanleadtochronicouter-earinfections.Surfer’seariscommonnotonlyinsurferswhofrequentcoldwaters,
butalsoinskiers,hunters,farmers,andotheroutdoor-orientedpeoplewholiveincoldclimates. Anoperationtoscrapeawaytheextrabonegrowthisconventionallyoffered;however,ifyoureturntothecoldenvironmentafter
surgerywithoutsufficientearprotection,thebonegrowthwillalso
return.Therecurringbonegrowthisactuallyacompensatoryprotectivemechanismofyourhealingsysteminitsattempttokeepthesensitiveanddelicateeardrumwarmenoughtoefficientlyconductsoundwavessothathearingisnotimpaired.Earplugsorotherearprotectionkeepstheearswarmandhelpsyourhealingsystemtopreventthisconditionfromdeveloping. 298ActivatingYourHealingSystemWhenYou’reSick
Tinnitus
Alsoknownasringingintheears,tinnitusisaproblemoftheinnerear,
andmayormaynotaccompanyhearingloss.Tinnitusisatroublingconditionnotoftenresponsivetoconventionalmedicaltreatment.Naturalapproachestoinner-earproblemssuchastinnitusthat
supporttheworkofyourhealingsystemincludeacupuncture,nutritionalsupport,theuseofspecificherbssuchasgingkobiloba,cranial-sacraltherapy,yoga,acupuncture,chiropracticcare,andphysicaltherapy.Othermethodsmayalsoprovehelpfulincertain
casesofinner-earproblems,particularlyiftheyareinitiatedinthe
earlystagesofthesedisorders.Becauseyourabilitytohearisapreciousgift,andtheseconditionsareoftendifficulttotreat,preventionisveryimportant. RespiratorySystemDisorders
Asthma
Thischronicrespiratoryconditionischaracterizedbycongestion,coughing,wheezing,andconstrictedairways.Duringflare-ups,thesesymptomscanbesevereandevenlife-threatening.Through
outtheworld,asthmaappearstobeontherise,afactthatmanyexpertsattributetoincreasingurbanizationandairpollution.Otherpossiblecausesandtriggersforasthmaincluderespiratoryinfec
tions,respiratoryallergens,aerosolpollutants(includingtheinhala
tionoftoxicfumesorvapors),climaticchanges,dehydration,poordiets,andstressandemotionalupheaval,amongothers.ConventionalWesternmedicinehasdevelopedmanyeffectivemedications
forairwaymanagementtolessenthestrainofbreathingforpersonswhohaveasthma.Althoughmanyofthesemedicationsareinvalu
able,evenlife-saving,particularlyinurgentandemergencysitua
tions,mostdonotaddresstheunderlyingcausesofasthma.Treatmentofasthmaincludesdrinkingplentyoffluidstohelplubricatethelungsanddecreasemucousandphlegm.Youcanalso
aidyourhealingsystembybreathinggood,clean,wholesomeair;avoidingdust,irritatingaerosolchemicals,andothertriggers;andkeepingwarmtoavoidcatchingacold.Also,stayawayfromfats
ConqueringCommonHealthConditions 299
andoilsduringflare-ups,practicestress-managementandrelaxationmethods,releaseunhealthyemotions,andpracticebreathingexercises.Allofthesestepscanbeextremelyeffectiveintreatingasthma. Inadditiontothemedicationsyourdoctormayprescribe,natural,alternativemedicinesandtreatmentsthatworkwithyourhealingsystemalsocansuccessfullytreatasthma. BronchitisBronchitis,oneofthemostcommonrespiratoryinfectionsofthelungs,ismostoftencausedbyvirusesorbacteriathathaveslipped
pastthebody’sprimarydefensesandenteredintotheairways.Bronchitisischaracterizedbyinflammationandinfectioninthebronchiandbronchialtubes,whicharethebreathingpassagesinthelungs.Coughingandcongestionarepersistent,andfevermayalso
bepresent.Conventionaldoctorsusuallyprescribeantibioticsandcoughmedicinesforthiscondition. (Seethesectiononpneumonia
foradditionalsuggestions.) ColdsCommoncoldsareinvariablyassociatedwithrunnynoses.When
youcatchacold,usuallythenoseisthefirstorganaffectedbecause
thethousandsofbacteria,viruses,andothermicroorganismsinthe
airfirstcomeincontactwithyourbodythroughthenose.Nasalcongestionandinflammationcanoftenberelievedbyworkingwith
yourhealingsysteminseveralways.Theseincludebreathinggood
air;avoidingdust,smoke,orpollutedenvironments;keepingwarm;eatinglightly(focusingonsoupsandhotteas);anddrinkingplenty
offluids.Steaminhalation,salinenosedrops,andothernaturalremedies,includinghorseradish,Chinesemustard,andwasabe(Japanesehorseradish),canalsobeeffectivetohelpkeepyournose
andrespiratorysystemhealthy.Again,preventionisthekeytoavoidingthecommoncold;ifthisisnotpossible,yourgoalshould
betoinitiatetreatmentintheearlieststages.EmphysemaandCOPD(ChronicObstructivePulmonaryDisease)
Thesetworespiratory-systemdisordersareusuallyrelatedtolong
termcigarettesmoking,buttheymayalsobelinkedtorepeated
300ActivatingYourHealingSystemWhenYou’reSick
exposuretoasbestosorotherchemicalsthatareharmfultothelungs,especiallyoverasubstantialtimeperiod.Thebestwaytoassistyourhealingsysteminthetreatmentoftheseconditionsincludesbreathinggoodair,doingbreathingexercises,anddrinkingplentyoffluids.Certainnaturalremedies,includingvitaminCandherbsthatstimulaterepairofdamagedtissues,suchascomfreyand
aloe,mayalsobehelpful.Again,preventionismuchmoreeffective
andeasierthanattemptingtocureeitheroftheseconditionsonce
thediseasehasestablisheditself.Becauseofthebody’shealingsystem,however,evenpeoplewithlong-termsmokinghabitscanimprovetheirbreathingandthehealthoftheirlungsiftheyquitsmokingbeforeirreparabledamagehasoccurred.PharyngitisPharyngitisisaninflammationofthepharynxthatfrequentlyresultsinasorethroat.Pharyngitisoftenbeginswhenthebodyischilled,andbacteriahaveenteredpastyourbody’sprimarydefenses.Often,youwillneedaprescriptionforanantibiotic.Other,morenaturalmethodsthatsupportyourhealingsystemtoovercomepharyngitisincludeeatingfewerfatsandoils,drinkingplentyoffluids,keepingwarm,managingstress,andgettingadequatesleepandrest.Ginger-rootteacanalsobeveryeffectiveintreatingpharyngitis.Tomakeginger-roottea,gratefreshgingerroot,putit
inboilingwater,andsteepfor5tolOminutes;thenaddlemonandhoneybeforeyoudrinkthetea. PneumoniaPneumoniaisanextensionofbronchitisandaninvasionoftheinfectionintotheairsacsanddeeperrecessesofthelungs.Feverandnightsweatsareoftenpresentwithpneumonia,andbecauseoxygen
isunabletoenterthebloodstreamasaresultoftheinfection,over
allweaknessiscommon.Beforetheadventofantibiotics,pneumoniawasoneoftheleadingcausesofdeath.Aswithallrespiratoryinfections,pneumoniaisusuallyareflectionofdecreasedimmunefunctionastheresultofcertainstressesonthebody,such
asanunhealthydietandlifestyle.Inadditiontowhatevermedicationsyoumightrequire,includingantibiotics,andtheuseofothernaturalremedies,suchasplant-andmineral-basedmedicines,itis
ConqueringCommonHealthConditions 301
importanttoassistyourhealingsystembyfollowingtheserecommendations:
1.Drinkplentyoffluids. Yourbodyis70percentfluid,andsothemorefluidyoubring
intoyoursystem,thefasteryourbodycaneliminatethetoxins
fromtheinfection.Additionally,itisimportanttoavoidfatsand
oilsuntilyouarebetterbecausetheytendtocreatemorephlegm
andmucous,whichincreasecongestionandclogyourairways. 2.Keepwarm. Yourbodylikestostaywarm,around98.6degrees.When
youbecomechilled,yourimmunesystemisimpairedasaresult
ofthestressofyourbodyattemptingtorestorepropertemper
ature.Youcankeepwarmbywearingasweaterorwindbreaker,drinkingplentyofwarmliquidssuchassoupsandherbalteas,
andavoidingairconditioning,fans,orexposuretocoldweather. 3.Rest. Whenyouaresleepdeprivedorchronicallyfatigued,yourimmunesystemandhealingsystembogdownandyoubecome
moresusceptibletoillness.Itisdifficulttogetbetterandhealif
youarenotgettingadequaterestbecauseyourhealingsystemdoesmostofitsbestworkwhenyouarerestingorsleeping.RespiratoryAflergiesRespiratoryallergiescomeinvariousformsandcommonlyafflict
thenoseandsinuses.Afewofthemorecommonvarietiesincluderhinitis,hayfever,andallergicsinusitis.Manypeoplereportthe
sourceoftheirallergytobespecificplantmaterials,suchaspollens,grasses,orfungalspores,butmanyotherstendtohaveworsesymp
tomswhiletheyareindoors.Thissuggeststhatchemicals,dust,dustmites,mold,andotherpotentiallyallergicmaterialintheventila
tionsystemsatworkorinthehomemayberesponsibleformostallergies.Additionally,thewaypeoplebreathecanaffecttheirsusceptibilitytoarespiratoryallergy.Forexample,peoplewhobreatheexclusivelythroughtheirmouthshavehigherratesofrespiratoryallergies.Thisisprobablybecausetheairtheyarebreathingdoesnot
havetheopportunityforthenosetofilterandcleanit. 302ActivatingYourHealingSystemWhenYou’reSick
Followingaresixsimpletipsforhelpingyourhealingsystemeliminatearespiratoryallergy:
1.Payattentiontothequalityoftheairyoubreathe. 2.Learntoswitchtonasalbreathing. 3.Eliminateorminimizefatsandoilsinyourdiet,includingheavy,rich,friedfoods,whichtendtoincreasemucousandphlegmintherespiratorysystem. 4.Trynaturalplantmedicines,suchasechinacea,wasabe,Chinesemustard,horseradish,astragalus,ginger,andstingingnettles. 5.Reservesuppressivemedications,includingsteroids,antihistamines,anddecongestants,forurgentsituationsonly,anddon’t
relyonthemforlong-termtreatment. 6.Trysunbaths,exercise,yoga,acupuncture,chiropracticcare,andothernaturalmethodsthatworkwithyourhealingsystemand
thatcanplayasupportingroleinmanagingandovercomingrespiratoryallergies. SinusInfections
Sinusinfectionsaresomeofthemostcommonofallrespiratoryinfectionsandoneofthemostcommonreasonspeoplevisitthedoctor’soffice.Sinusinfectionsoccurwhenrespiratoryinfections,whichbegininthenoseandthroatarea,spreadtothesinuses.Thesinusesaresmall,cavernousairpocketsthatplayanimportantrole
indefense,balance,andbuoyancyofthehead.Antibioticsareoftenprescribedandeffectiveinacutecasesof
sinusinfection,butchronicconditionsrespondbettertomorenat
uralmethodsthatsupportyourhealingsystem.Thesemethodsincludedrinkingmorefluids;breathingsteam;applyingsalt-watercleanses,sprays,orirrigation;andbreathinggoodair.Naturalsunbaths,acupuncture,yoga,gentlemassage,andcranial-sacralbodyworkmayalsobehelpfultoyourhealingsystem.Inaddition,reducingfatsandoilsinyourdietcanhelp.Naturalplantremedies
suchaswasabe,horseradish,Chinesemustard,echinacea,andastragalusmayalsobehelpful. (Anexcellentbookaboutsinusinfections
isSinusSurvival,byDr.RobIvker,pastpresidentoftheAmericanHolisticMedicalAssociationandformerchronicsinusitissufferer.) ConqueringCommonHealthConditions 303
StrepThroat
Strepthroatiscausedbyvarioustypesofstreptococcalbacteriaandis
morecommonwhentheweatherturnscolder,oftencoincidingwith
thebeginningoffluseason.Weusedtoconsiderstrepthroathighlycontagious,butrecentevidencepointsmoretowardchangesinweather,stress,andcompromisedhost-resistancefactors,whichlowersimmunefunction.Undermostconditions,strepthroatdoesnotaffectotherorgansandsystemsofthebody;however,becauseoftherarecomplicatingfactorsthatcanaffectthekidneysandheart,doctorsroutinelytreat
itwithantibiotictherapy.Thekeytotreatingthiscondition,again,
liesinprevention.Youcanalsoassistyourhealingsystembykeep
ingyourbodywarm,drinkingplentyoffluids,avoidingstress,andgettingsufficientrest,sleep,andadequateexercise.Ginger,inaddi
tiontootherherbs,andsalt-watergargles,canalsobehelpful. Tonsillitis
Untilrecently,thetonsilswereroutinelyremovediftheywerecontinuallyswollen.Wenowknow,however,thatthetonsilsperform
animportantimmunefunctionand,ifpossible,arebetterleftin.Althoughantibioticsmayberequiredtoeffectivelytreattonsil
litis,dietarymanagementinvolvingdecreaseddairy,fats,andoils,
anddrinkingplentyoffluids,helpsthinthemucousandaidsyourhealingsystemineliminatingtoxins.Keepingwarm,gettingplenty
ofsleepandrest,andmanagingstressallappeartobehelpfulinaidingyourhealingsysteminthetreatmentandpreventionoftonsillitis.Ginger-rootteacanalsobeveryeffectiveintreatingtonsillitis. Tomakeginger-roottea,gratefreshgingerroot,placeitinboiling
water,andsteepfor5to10minutes;thenaddlemonandhoneybefore
youdrinkthetea.TuberculosisTuberculosis(TB)iscommonwhereadverseenvironmentalconditions
suchaspoorairquality,lackofsunlight,andinadequateventilation
existinconjunctionwithinadequatenutrition,poorsanitation,andloweredimmunity.Thisillnessmorecommonlyoccursindevelopingcountriesorinpopulationsthataredestituteanddespairing,suchasalcoholicsandpeoplewhoarechronicallymalnourished. 304ActivatingYourHealingSystemWhenYou’reSick
Treatmentsexisttocurethisillness,butiftheunderlyingcauses
arenotaddressed,curativemedicationsmaylastonlytemporarily.Theproblemmaycomerightbackaftertreatmenthasbeencompletedbecausere-infectionislikely.Conversely,onceyoucooperatewithyourhealingsystembyaddressingtheunderlyingcauses,symptomsofTBwilloftenimproveontheirown.TBsanitariums,whichstillexistinmanypartsoftheworld,emphasizetheimpor
tanceofdailysunbathingandproperdiets,factorsthatsupportthebody’shealingsystem. DigestiveSystemDisorders
Problemsinthedigestivesystemarecommonandareoftentheresultofafaultydiet,incombinationwithstress.Theseproblems
canrangefromsuchcommonconditionsasheartburn,acidindiges—tion,esophagealreflux,minorupsetstomach,andgastritis,tomoreseriousconditions. Youcanoftenpreventandtreattheseconditionsbyworkingwithyourhealingsystem.Thismeanspayingcloserattentiontothefoodsyoueat,drinkingmorewater,practicingstress-managementtechniques,andavoidingirritatingorharmfulsubstancessuchascoffeeandalcohol.Thedigestivesystemisverysusceptibletostressbecauseofthesensitiveliningoftheintestines,andtherichnervesupplythatconnectsthesestructurestothebrainandnervoussystem.Increasingwaterintake;decreasingirritatingandtoxicsub
stancessuchascoffeeandalcohol;avoidingorminimizingacidicfoods,suchasvinegar,orangejuice,andcitrusjuices;avoidingtoo
manyfriedfoods,fats,andoils;andgoinglongperiodswithoutanyfoodorliquidintakewhatsoeverareafewofthespecificwaysthat
youcanworkwithyourhealingsystemtoovercomemostdigestivesystemproblems.Naturalremediessuchaspeppermintandchamomiletea,slipperyelm,deglycyrrhizinatedlicorice,andaloevera,
canalsobehelpful.Maintainingadequatefluidandfiberintakeisimportanttoensuretimelyeliminationoftoxinsandwasteproductswhilepreservingthehealthofyourintestinaltract. ConqueringCommonHealthConditions 305
Appendicitis
Inthiscountry,appendicitishastraditionallybeenregardedasasur
gicalemergencybecausepeoplewhofailtoreceivetimelytreatment
canrupturetheirappendixandsufferseriousandsometimesfatalconsequences.Infact,duringabdominalsurgeryforotherreasons,
asurgeonwilloftenremovetheappendixasapreventativemeasure
atnoextracharge.Low-residuefoodsandfoodsthatarehighlyprocessed,alongwithexcessfatinthediet,canbecontributingfac
torstoappendicitis.Appendicitis,strangelyenough,isnotroutinelyoperatedoninChina,asitishere;rather,iftheinflammationiscaughtinitsearlier
stages,itisoftensuccessfullytreatedwithfluidsandcertainherbs.Even
inthiscountry,ifcaughtearly,manycasesofappendicitiswillrespondwelltoclear-liquiddiets.Dietshighinfiberandlowinfatcanoften
helppreventthisproblem.Becauselittleresearchhasbeendoneonthedietaryinfluencesonappendicitis,however,thereisstillatendencytoregardsurgeryastheonlysolutiontothecondition.Prevention,includingtheregularingestionofadequatefiberandfluids,willhelp
yourhealingsystemmaintainthehealthofyourappendix. Co’onCancer
AleadingcauseofdeathintheU.S.,coloncancerisremarkablyabsentinmostdevelopingcountrieswherelittlemeatandrefined
foodproductsareconsumed.Thenow-famousstudybyDennisBurkitt,M.D.,reportedthattherewerenocasesofcoloncancerinAfricanvillageswherepeoplesubsistedlargelyonvegetariandiets.Similarly,inSeventhDayAdventists,whoareknownvegetarians,colon-cancerratesareverylowcomparedtothemainstreamU.S.population. Inadditiontodiet,apparentcontributorstocoloncanceraredehydration,chronicconstipation,stress,andemotionalfactors.Learninghowtorelax,practicingstressmanagement,followingthedietarysuggestionsgivenearlier,andinstitutingmeasuresaimedatgoodbowelhygienewillaidyourhealingsystemandpreventcolon
cancerfromoccurring,evenifithasahighrateofoccurrencein
yourfamily. 306ActivatingYourHealingSystemWhenYou’reSick
ConstipationConstipationisthemostcommonconditionofthecolon,orlargeintestines,andismostoftencausedbypoordiet,lackoffiber,notenoughfluids,stressandanxiety,andasedentarylifestyle.Theproblemwithconstipationisthatitcausestoxinstobackupinyoursystem,whichcancontributetootherdiseaseprocesses.Ifitisallowedtoprogress,constipationcanresultinbowelobstruction,whichisasurgicalemergency.Increasedfluidandfiber,relaxationandstressmanagement,andincreasedexercise,whichincreasesbloodflowtothecolon,areusu
allyquitehelpfultoyourhealingsysteminpreventingconstipation.Youcanalsooccasionallyusegentleconventionalandnaturallaxa
tivesforacuteepisodesofconstipation. Gastritis
Gastritisresultsmostcommonlyfromacombinationoffaultydiet
andstress.Causesincludeimproperfoodcombinations,eatinginahurryingestingcertaintoxicsubstancessuchasstrongcoffeeandalcohol,andcertaincarbonatedsodas,acidicfoods,orexcessivefried
orfattysubstances.Thesesubstancesservetoincreaseacidproductioninthestomach,whichirritatesthelining.Removingthesefactorswhiledrinkingplentyofwaterandnon-acidic,soothingliquidswillaidyourhealingsystemineliminatingthiscondition.Eatingmoreblandandsoothingfoods,especiallyduringflare-ups;managingstress;andusingnaturalsoothingcompoundssuchasaloeverajuice,deglycyrrhizinatedlicorice,peppermint,chamomile,andslippery-elmteascanalsobequitehelpful.GastroenteritisGastroenteritisisageneraltermthatreferstoirritationandinflammationoftheentiregastrointestinaltract,whichincludesthestomachandthesmallandlargeintestines.Mildcasesoffoodpoisoningrepresenttheingestionofcontaminatedfoodsandare
amongthemorecommoncausesofgastroenteritis.Someofthese
casescanbesevere,butmostlastnomorethanafewdays.Symptomsoftenincludenauseaandvomiting,abdominalpainwithcramping,anddiarrhea.Fevermayormaynotbepresent. ConqueringCommonHealthConditions 307
Treatmentisdirectedtowardsupportingthebody’shealingsystem,whichcanflushouttheintestinalcontaminantswiththevomitinganddiarrhea,especiallyifnosolidfoodsareeaten.Take
clearliquidsinabundanceforthefirst48hours,withoutanysolidfoods.Itisimportantnottointroducesolidfoodthatcanfeedtheoffendingorganismsandslowdownyourbody’shealingprocesses. Iffeverispresent,antibioticsmaybenecessaryforafewdays,particularlyifyouaretravelingoverseasorareinanexotictropicallocalewhereyourbodymaynotbeusedtothelocalfloraandcontaminantsinthatpartoftheworld. HepatitisInflammationoftheliveriscalledhepatitis,andtherearemany
causesforthedifferenttypesofhepatitis.Casesofhepatitiscanbe
acuteandisolated,orchronicanddebilitating.Viralhepatitisiscontractedthroughvariousinfectioussources.Viralhepatitisnowappearsinmultipleforms,includinghepatitisA,B,C,non-A,non-
B,andmanymore.HepatitisAisusuallycontractedbyeatingordrinkingcontaminatedfoodorwater,orthroughsharingcontaminatedeatingutensils.Mostotherformsofhepatitis,suchasB,C,
andothers,aremostcommonlycontractedthroughunsafesexualpractices,contaminatedneedles,orbloodtransfusions.Alcoholichepatitisisduetothechronicirritationandconsumptionofalcohol
andcanleadtocirrhosisoftheliver,whichcausesscarring,abnormalgrowth,andothercomplications,includinglivercancer.ConventionalWesternmedicinehaslittletoofferinthewayofmedicationstoimprovethehealthoftheliver.Mosttreatmentsforhepatitis,asinchemotherapyforcancer,areaimedatattackingthesupposedagentsofdisease,andtheymaybeevenmoredamagingto
theliverthantheagentsthemselves. Dietisextremelyimportantinsupportingyourhealingsystemwhenyouhavehepatitis.Nutritionalelementsthathelpsupportthehealthofyourliverincludefoodshighinbetacarotene,includingturmericandallyellowandorangevegetablesandfruit.Consumingplentyoffiberandfluidsisalsoimportant.High-fatdietsandlowresiduefoodsseemtoaggravateliverconditions.Theherbmilkthistleanditsextractedalkaloid,silymarin,canbehelpfulforcertain
liverconditions.TraditionalmedicinesfromIndiaandChinaalso
308ActivatingYourHealingSystemWhenYou’reSick
appeartobepromising.Stressmanagement,visualizationandguidedimagery,andemotionalreleaseofangercanalsobeveryhelpfulforliverconditions.Becausetheliverissoimportantandsodifficulttotreat,practicingpreventivemedicineisessentialtoavoidtheseliverconditions.InflammatoryBowelDiseaseInflammatoryboweldiseaseincludesalargecategoryofintestinalconditionssuchascolitis,irritablebowelsyndrome,spasticcolon,Crohncdisease,andulcerativecolitis.Diarrhea,abdominalpain,andcrampingarecommonduringflare-upsinpatientswithinflamma
toryboweldisorders,whichbehavesimilarlytoautoimmunediseases.Likeotherchronicintestinaldiseases,theseconditionsareinfluencedbydietaryfactorsandstress.Duringtimesofstress,the
nervesintheintestinescanbecomehyperstimulatedandirritatethedelicateintestinallining.Forthesereasons,theseconditionshaveahigheroccurrenceinpeoplewhoareunderlong-termstress,those
whoarehighachievers,andthosewithperfectionisttendencies.Conventionaltreatments,includingdrugsandsurgery;acombinationofstress-managementtechniques,includingguidedimageryandvisualization;andspecialdietarypracticesaremosthelpfultothehealingsysteminmanagingtheseconditions.Aneffectivedietforthesedisordersisonethatisbland,gentle,andsoothing,andthatconsistsofadequatefiber.Okraisidealforpeoplewithinflammatorybowelproblemsbecauseitcontainsadequatefiberandisalsogentleandsoothing,araredietarycombination.Othernaturalsubstancesthatcanassistyourhealingsysteminhelp
ingtosootheandhealinflamedintestinalsurfacesarewater,slipperyelmandchamomileteas,aloevera,anddeglycyrrhizinatedlicorice.Alternativeapproaches,includingAyurvedicmedicine,Chineseherbalmedicines,acupuncture,andyoga,canalsoassistyourheal
ingsystemtohelpreversetheseconditions.Addressingproblemsrelatedtothesedisordersearlyonisimportantbecausethesecondi
tionscancontributetoproblemselsewhereinthebody.Thoseproblemsincludeanemia,vitamindeficiencies,andsyndromesrelatedtopoorabsorptionofessentialnutrients;ifnotbroughtundercontrol,thoseconditionscanworsen. ConqueringCommonHealthConditions 309
StomachUlcersandDuodenalUlcersCommonlyreferredtoaspepticulcers,stomachulcersandduodenalulcersareareasofthestomachthatbecomedeterioratedbystomach
acid.Indigestionandabdominalpainintheupperabdomenandlowerchestoftenaccompanystomachulcers,and,sometimes,
theulcerscanbleed.Stomachulcersoftenhavesimilarcausestoinflammatoryboweldisease,buttheyrepresentamorepersistent
andchronicimbalanceinthedigestivesystem.Inrecentyears,abacteriumknownasH.pylonhasbeenimplicatedinthecause
ofcertainulcers,butstressalsoisknowntobeabigfactorintheseconditions. Intheacutestagesofanulcer,treatmentdependsonstopping
thebleedingifithasalreadybegun.Amorelong-termapproachincludeslearninghowtomanagestressandchangingyoureatinghabitstosupportyourhealingsystem.Drinkingmorewaterandeatingablander,moreneutral,gentle,soothing,lessacidic,lessflesh-orienteddietthatconsistsofnon-irritatingfoodsaremosthelpful.Eliminatecaffeine,nicotine,andalcoholfromyourdietif
youhaveulcers.Actingearlytoinstitutethesemeasureswillhelppreventulcersfromdevelopinginthefirstplace.Stress-managementtechniquesandlearninghowtorelaxareextremelyhelpfulforthetreatmentandpreventionofulcers.Manygentle,soothingnaturalsupplements,suchaspeppermintandchamomiletea,deglycyrrhizmatedlicorice,slipperyelm,inadditiontothemoretraditionalantacidsandacid-blockingdrugs,areofteneffectivetohelpyourhealingsystemintheshort-andlong-termmanagementofulcers. UrinarySystemDisorders
Thekidneysarethemainfiltersandorgansofyourbodythatelim
inateliquidwasteproducts.Yourkidneysrequireadequatefluidintakeandregularflushing,andtheycanbecomeunhealthyifyoudon’tdrinkenoughfluids.Otherfactorsthatcanbeharmfultoyourkidneysincludetheregularingestionofcertaintoxicsubstances,andlong-standinghighbloodpressureanddiabetes,conditionsthat,iftreatedearlyorprevented,willmostoftennotharmyourkidneys. 310ActivatingYourHealingSystemWhenYou’reSick
KidneyStones
Kidneystonesareanotherfairlycommonandverypainfulproblem.Kidneystonesaremadeofstone-likematerialthatformsinthekid
neysandthenattemptstopassdownfromtheuretersintothebladder,andfromthebladderthroughtheurethra.Kidneystones
canbeextremelypainful,andtheyalmostalwayscauseasmall
amountofbloodintheurine.Ifkidneystonesarelarge,theycanblocktheuretersandmayrequiresurgicalremoval.Somestonescanbeblastedoutbysoundwaves,atechniqueknownaslithotri~sy.Stress,dehydration,hormonalimbalance,faultydiet,andexcesscaffeineandnicotinecanallcontributetotheformationofkidneystones.Stressmanagement,drinkingplentyoffluids,andavoidingalcoholandcaffeineallhelptosupportyourhealingsystemtopreventandeliminatekidneystones.Urinary-TractInfectionsUrinary-tractinfectionsincludebladderinfections,whicharemorecommoninwomenthaninmenandcanleadtoseriouskidneyinfec
tions.Urinary-tractinfectionscaneasilybepreventedifgoodbladder
andbowelhygienearemaintained.Onceyouhavecontractedaurinary-tractinfection,however,antibiotictherapyismandatorytopreventfurtherspreadanddamagetothekidneys.Inadultwomen,
themostcommonactivityassociatedwithurinary-tractinfectionsissexualintercourse,andmostwomeninstinctivelyknowtourinate
aftersextopreventthisfromhappening.Anothermoreprudentpreventivemeasureistotakeabathorshowerinthemorningafteryouhavemovedyourbowels.Doingthiswilleliminatethebacteriathat
areassociatedwiththeseinfections.Alongwithlotsoffluids,certainherbs,suchasuvaursi,juniperberries,andothernaturalsubstances
suchascranberry,canhelpyourhealingsystemmaintainthehealthof
yourkidneys,bladder,andurinarytract. FemaleReproductiveSystemDisorders
Thefemalereproductivesystemisextremelysensitiveandcomplex. Itoperatesonacycle,respondingtonervetransmissionsfromthe
brainandhormonalmessagesfromthepituitarygland.Atthesame
ConqueringCommonHealthConditions 311
time,itisproducingitsownhormonesintheformofestrogenandprogesteronethatfeedbacktotheseotherorgans.Problemsinthereproductivesystemmayreflecthormonalimbalancesthatoriginateinotherpartsofthebody,andsuchproblemsoftenflareupduringtimesofmentalandemotionalstress.Anunhealthydiet,includingexcesscaffeine,nicotine,andalcohol,andotherharmfullifestylefactorsmayalsocontributetoproblemsof
thefemalereproductivesystem.Sexuallytransmitteddiseasescan
alsodamagethereproductivesystem.Tohelpyourhealingsystemmaintainthehealthofyourreproductivesystem,followtherecommendationsforoverallhealthgiveninpreviouschapters,tryappropriatenaturalherbs,andeatawholesome,healthydiet.AnexcellentresourceonhowyoucanimprovethehealthofyourreproductivesystemisDr.ChristianeNorthrup’sbest-sellingbook,Women’sBodies,Women’sWisdom. CanceroftheFemaleReproductiveSystem
Thefemalereproductivesystemisoneofthemostcommonsitesfor
cancertoappear.Therearetworeasonsforthis.First,thefemalereproductivesystemisextremelysensitiveandvulnerable,anditintimatelyinteractswithothersystemsinyourbody.Second,the
cellsofthissystemaresomeofthemostrapidlydividing,active,andvolatilecellpopulationsofanytissueinthebody.Cervicalcancer,ovariancancer,uterinecancer,andbreastcancerarethepredominant
typesofcancer,maleorfemale,onthisentireearth.Iaddressthesubjectofcancerandhowtodealwithitinmoredetaillaterinthischapter.Menopause
Itisduringthistimeinawoman’slifethatovulationandmenstru
ationgraduallyend,resultingindiminishinglevelsofestrogenin
theblood.Thequestionofestrogen(hormonal)replacementther
apytopreventosteoporosisandheartdiseasethatcanoccurfollowingmenopauseisanongoingareaofdebateamongexperts.Althoughestrogenreplacementmaybeappropriateincertaincases,
italsohasanassociatedriskofincreasedreproductive-systemcancer.Becauseofthisrisk,theuseofnatural,plant-derivedestrogensandsubstancesthatworkwiththehealingsystemarebecomingmore
312ActivatingYourHealingSystemWhenYou’reSick
popular.Theseoptionsaregenerallysafer,gentler,andoftenjustaseffectiveasmoreconventionalformsofestrogen.Also,newevidence
withNASAastronautswhoexperiencedosteoporosiswhilethey
wereinprolongedzero-gravityconditionsshowedthattheirosteoporosiscouldbereversedbytheirresumingnormalweight-bearingactivitiesoncetheywerebackonearth.Thelateactor,ChristopherReeve,aquadriplegic,whoalsodevelopedosteoporosisduetoinactivity,wasabletoreversethisconditionaswellbyresumingweight-bearingexercises.Clearly,thereismoretoosteoporosisthanmerelymenopauseandestrogen. Ingenerationspast,menopausewasacceptedasanaturalconditionoflife,withlittleevidencethatitcausedincreasedriskofheartdiseaseorosteoporosis.‘Whilethelackofestrogenmayplaya
roleintheseconditions,certainly,othermoreimportantriskfactors
alsoneedtobeconsidered.PremenstrualSyndrome(PMS)Premenstrualsyndrome,orPMS,isacommon,painfuldisorder
thatoccursaroundthetimeofmenstruationandinvolvescramping
oftheuterinemuscles.Itmayalsoincludeheadachesandotherassociatedsymptoms,sometimessoseverethattheycanbedisabling.Stress,tension,emotionalupheaval,lackofexercise,poordiet,dehydration,andexcessivecaffeineandalcoholcanmakePMSsymptomsworse.Forwomenwhoarealwaysonthego,itisimpor
tanttoeasebackalittleonnormalactivitiesandlistentotheirbodiesduringmenstruation, atimeofbloodlossandsloughing
ofreproductivetissues.Drinkplentyoffluids,decreasecaffeine
andalcoholintake,practicestress-managementandvisualizationtechniques,andresttosupportyourhealingsystematthesetimes.Naturalherbs,suchascrampbark,raspberrytea,anddongquai,canhelpalleviatePMSsymptoms.Acupuncture,gentleyogastretching,breathing,andmassagemayalsobehelpful.Otherdisordersofthefemalereproductivesystem,suchasendometriosis,uterineJibroids,ovariancysts,andfibrocysticbreastdiseaseoftenreflecthormonalimbalances,which,ifcaughtearly,cansuccessfullyrespondtometh
odsthatworkwithyourhealingsystem.Someofthesemethodsareproperdiet,stressmanagement,increasedfluidintake,andnaturalmedicationsandtreatments. ConquerrngCommonHeafthConditions 313
MaleReproductiveSystemDisorders
MaleMenopause
Recentresearchshowsthatmenmaygothroughamaleequivalent
tofemalemenopause,when,aroundtheagesofapproximately45to
65,theirtestosteronelevelsbecomediminished,andtheycansuffer
frommoodswingsanddepression.Standardizeddosesoftestos
teronearecurrentlyavailabletosupplementlowtestosteronelevels,
andnaturalsourcesoftestosteronethatworkmoreharmoniouslywithyourhealingsystemarealsocurrentlybeingresearched. ProstateCancer
Prostatecancerhasnowbecomeoneofthemostcommontypesof
cancerinmen.Newresearchonprostatehealthandprostatecancer,beingconductedbyDr.DeanOrnish,Dr.RuthMarlin,andothers
attheUniversityofCalifornia,SanFrancisco,andatSloanKetteringCancerInstituteinNewYork,isshowingthatdietandemotionalfactors,includingstress,playasignificantroleinprostatecancerandotherdisordersoftheprostate.Inadditiontothesestud
ies,manycasereportsandbooksarebeginningtodemonstratesuccessfultreatmentsforovercomingprostatecancerusingmethods
thatnaturallyworkwithyourbody’shealingsystem.ProstateHealth
in90DaysisanexcellentbookbyLarryClapp,alawyerwhohadprostatecancerandsuccessfullyovercameitwithmethodsthatwork
withthebody’shealingsystem. ProstateEnlargement
Alsoknownasbenignprostatichypertrophy,orBPH,thisconditioncompressesandencroachesupontheurethra,whichisthetubelead
ingfromthebladderthroughthepenis.Prostateenlargementmakespassingurinedifficult.Inadvancedcases,amanmayhavetowake
up6tolOtimesormoreanighttourinatebecausewithBPH,thebladderneverfullyempties. Inadditiontoconventionalmedicines,sawpalmetto,anatural
herbthatworkswithyourhealingsystembyshrinkingandreduc
ingswellingintheprostate,canoftenbeveryhelpfulforBPH.Alow-fatdiet,increasedfluidsandfiber,andreducingoverallbody
314ActivatingYourHealingSystemWhenYou’reSick
tensionbylearninghowtorelaxcanalsosupportyourhealingsysteminpreventingandminimizingsymptomsofBPH.BPHis
notrelatedtoprostatecancer. TesticularCancer
Thisformofcancerfrequentlyafflictsyoungermales.Iftesticular
canceriscaughtinitsearlystagesandgivenappropriatemedicaltreatment,accompaniedbylifestylechangesthathelpsupportthebody’shealingsystem,itisoftencurable.Thesubjectofcancerisdiscussedmorethoroughlylaterinthischapter. LymphaticSystemDisorders
Yourlymphaticvessels,channels,andlymphnodesmakeupyourlymphsystem,whichsharesanimportantrelationshipwithyourbody’simmuneandhealingsystems.Thewhitebloodcellsofyourimmunesystem,whichhelpfightinfectionandkeepyourbloodclean,circu
lateinthelymphfluid.Lymph-nodeenlargement,whichrepresentswhite-blood-cellproliferationandactivation,occursinresponsetoinfections.SeriousdisordersofthelymphaticsystemincludeHodgkin’sdisease,lymphoma,andotherlymphaticcancers,whichrepresentgeneralized,weakenedconditionsofthebody.Conventionaltreatmentssuchasradiationcanoftenbehelpfulfortheseconditions,butitis
alsoimportanttousenaturalmethodsthatworkwithyourhealingsystem,suchasstressmanagement,eatingahealthy,wholesome
diet,increasingfluidintake,andusingothernaturalmedicinesandherbs.Ifcaughtearly,theseconditionsofthelymphaticsystemareeasiertoeradicate.AfamoussuccessstoryofapersonwhoovercamelymphaticcancerisLanceArmstrong,legendaryTourdeFrancechampionandauthorofIt’sNotAbouttheBike. NervousSystemDisorders
Disordersofthenervesaresomeofthemorecomplexanddifficult
ofallconditionstotreat.Thesechallengesarebecauseofthe
ConqueringCommonHealthConditions 315
intricateinteractionsbetweenyourbrain,yournervoussystem,yourmind,andyouremotions. CentralNervousSystemDisorders
Centralnervoussystemdisordersofteninvolvethebrainandareusuallyserious.Theyincludesuchconditionsasthefollowing:
~Alzheimer’sdisease,characterizedbyalossofshort-termmemory. nCerebralpalsy,whichappearsearlyinlifeandisadebilitatingconditionrelatedtobirthtraumaorothercongenitalproblems;cerebralpalsyresultsinspeechandmovementdisturbances. ~Epilepsy,whichincludesawiderangeofconditionsthatcauseseizures.Multiplesclerosis,thoughttobeanautoimmunedisease,withsymptomsincludingprogressiveweakness,lossofbalance,lack
ofcoordination,andspeechandvisualdisturbances. ~Parkinson’sdisease,characterizedbytremors,ashufflingwalk,
andrigidity.Spinal-corddisorders,whichareusuallytraumarelatedandresult
inlife-alteringparalysisofonedegreeoranother. Becauseoftheseriousnessofcentralnervoussystemdisorders
andthedifficultiesintreatingthemoncetheyareestablished,the
focusshouldbeonworkingwithyourhealingsystemtopreventthem.Conventionalmedicinesmaybenecessarytohelpmanagetheseproblemsoncetheyareestablished,supportedbygoodnutri
tionandnaturalmedicines.Gingkobiloba,whichhasbeenshowntoincreasebloodflowtothebrain,maybehelpfulinselectedcasesofAlzheimer’sandParkinson’sdiseases.Stressmanagement,includingrelaxationtrainingandbreathingtechniques,haveanaturalcalmingeffectonthemindandbrain,andtheyhelpmanagetheseconditions
bystabilizingtheelectricalactivityofthenervoussystem.Stress-managementtechniquesarealsoeffectiveinrelievingpainandtensionresultingfromtheseconditions.Gentleyogatechniquescanalsosup
portthehealingsystembyimprovingbalanceandcoordination.Acupuncture,musictherapy,andmassagecanalsobehelpful. 316ActivatingYourHealingSystemWhenYou’reSick
Themostimportantthingyoucandoispayattentiontotheunderlyingcausesoftheseconditionsandstarttreatmentintheear
lieststageswhensymptomsarelesssevere.Excitingnewresearchin
thefieldofnerveregenerationisinvestigatingproceduresthatsup
portthehealingsystem’sabilitytomenddamagednervesandcreate
newpathwaysforvictimsofspinalcordinjuryandotherdiseasesof
thecentralnervoussystem.PeripheralNeuropathiesPeripheralneuropathiesarenervedisordersthatusuallyinvolvetheextremities.Thesedisordersincludediabeticneuropathy,sciaticaand“pinchednerves,”andnutritionalneuropathies,suchasthosecaused
byvitaminB12deficiency,(perniciousanemia),orthiamindeficiency,(beriberi).Becausetheseconditionsareoftenassociatedwithotherhealthproblemsthatarebothcorrectableandpreventable,addressingthoseunderlyingfactorsisthekeytoworkingwithyourhealingsystemtoimproveandreversethenervedisorders.Payingattentiontogoodnutritionandincorporatingstressmanagementandothernaturalmethodsthatworkwithyourhealingsystemcan
goalongwaytowardimprovingtheseconditions. MusculoskeletalDisorders
Problemsinthemusclesandbonesarecommonandrangefrombruisesandcontusionstofracturesandotherconditions. Fractures
FractureshealbestwithadequatecalciumandvitaminD,rest,immobilization,plentyoffluids,naturalsunlight,propernutrition,
andnaturalmedicinesthatsupportyourhealingsystem.Becauseof
yourhealingsystem’samazingabilitytomendandremodelbone,
mostfractureshealuneventfullyoncethebonesareheldinplacebyeitheracastorsplint.Thelargestboneinthebody,thefemur,takes
justsixweekstohealfromasimplefracture.Somecomplexfracturesmightrequireassistancewithmethods
suchasbonesettingandopensurgicalreductionusingplates,rods,
screws,andpins,aswellaselectricalbonestimulation,butmost
ConqueringCommonHealthConditions 317
fracturesmaynotevenrequirecasting.Thiswasdemonstratedinawell-knownstudyinvolvingNigerianbonedoctors,whoneverwent
tomedicalschool,yettheyshowedthatthefracturestheytreated
usingonlystickshealedinthesameamountoftimeasthosetreated
withmodernmethodsinalargehospitalinAmerica. MuscularInjuriesInjuriesofthemusclesarecommon.Ifmusclesarestrongandoverdeveloped,butnotflexibleorrelaxed,thelikelihoodofinjuriesincreasesbecauseoftheirstiffnessandrigidity.Additionally,because
yourmusclesareconnectedtoyournerves,mentaltensionandstress
canalsocausemusculartensionandstiffness.Theseconditionscontributetomusclepain,andtheyareoftencontributingfactorsto
manymuscularandneuromusculardisorders,includingbackpain
andfibromyalgia.Dietaryfactorsandotherlifestyleandpersonalhealthhabitsalsoplayamajorroleintheseconditions. Ahealthymuscleisonethatisstrong,flexible,andrelaxed;soregularlystretchingandrelaxingallthemusclesinyourbody,inadditiontoexercising,areimportant.Yogaisagentle,systematicapproachtoensuringproperhealthofyourmusclesthroughexer
cisesthatlengthen,stretch,andrelaxthemuscleswhilebuilding
toneandstrength.Anyonewithamuscularconditionwoulddowell
toinvestigatethepossibilityofaddingyogatohisorheroverallheal
ingprogram.OsteoporosisCommoninpost-menopausalwomen,osteoporosisrepresentsaloss
ofbonedensityandstrength.Manyexpertsbelievethisconditioniscausedbyalackofestrogen;however,newerresearchonastronautsshowsthatalackofweight-bearingexercisemayplayalargerrole.Thereisevidencethatstress,whichaffectstheendocrinesystemandinfluencescalciummetabolism,andhigh-proteindiets,whichcanleechcalciumfrombone,mayalsocontributetothecondition.Osteoporosiscanbepreventedandoftenreversedbyregularweight-bearingexerciseandstretching,adequatevitaminDandcalcium,stressmanagement,andahealthy,wholesomedietthatsupports
yourhealingsystem. 318ActivatingYourHealingSystemWhenYoureSick
JointDisorders
Becauseyouareconstantlymoving,yourjointsaresubjecttowear
andtear,andtheyareacommonsiteforpainfulproblemsanddisturbances.JointdiseasesareparticularlycommonintheWesterndevelopedworld.Ironically,theseconditionsarerelativelyrarein
mostdevelopingcountrieswhereactivitiesandlifestylesarelesssedentary. Gout
Knownasthe“richman’sdisease,”goutiscausedbyexcessuricacidproduction,oftentheresultofrichfoodssuchasmeatandfleshproducts.Goutisvirtuallyabsentamongpoorpopulations,whichsubsistpredominantlyonvegetablesandgrains.Goutisentirelycur
ableandpreventable,anditrespondswelltoreducingorabstainingfromallmeats,fowl,andseafood.Inaddition,increasingfluidintakeandavoidingcoffeeandalcoholcanpreventflare-upsofthiscondition.Osteoarthritis
Mostdoctorsbelievethatosteoarthritisiscausedbythesteadywear
andtearofjoints.Thisconditioncanbepreventedandreversed
byfollowingmethodsthatworkwithyourhealingsystem.Theseincludegentlestretchingofthemusclesthatsurroundtheaffectedjoints,andincreasedconsumptionoffluids,includingfruitandvegetablejuices.Movementtherapiessuchasyoga,taichi,andswimming;acupuncture;andvisualizationandguidedimagerycan
alsobeveryhelpfulforthiscondition.Certainfoodsandnaturalsupplementssuchasglucosaminemayalsobehelpful.RheumatoidArthritis
Nowconsideredanautoimmuneproblem,rheumatoidarthritisiscausedbydysfunctioninthelinesofcommunicationamongtheimmunesystem,theendocrinesystem,andyourbrain.Emotionalupheavaloftenprecedespainfulflare-upsofrheumatoidarthritis. Dr.GeorgeFreemanSolomon,atUCLA,whoisoneoftheworld’sforemostauthoritiesonrheumatoidarthritis,hasidentifiedseveralpsychologicalfactors,suchasrepressedanger,thatcanalterthe
ConqueringCommonHealthConditions 319
chemistryofyourinternalenvironmentandtriggerdestructiveautoimmuneresponsesthataffectjointsurfaces.Otherfactorsmayalsobepresentinthiscondition.Ifcaughtinitsearlystages,rheumatoidarthritisoftenrespondswelltophysicaltherapy,stretch
ing,diet,andstress-managementpractices,includingbreathingandimagery,allstrategiesthathelpsupportyourhealingsystem.
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:

        Thesamenaturaltreatmentsforabscessescanalsobeeffective
foracne. Dryingagents,includingalcohol,canalsobehelpful. Oily,fatty,richdiets,alongwithstress,canmakeacneworse. Peoplewithnaturallyoilyskinneedtopayparticularattentiontotheirdiets. Amacrobioticdiet(averylow-fat,plant-baseddietthatoriginatedinJapan)canoftenclearupstubborncasesofacneinashorttime. In
manycases,conventionalmedicinesmayalsobenecessary. Thesemedicinesincludetopicaldryingagents,suchasthosethatcontain
284ActivatingYourHealingSystemWhenYoureSick
benzoylperoxide,orinternalpreparations,suchasaccutane,avitamin-Aderivative,which,whenprescribedunderthecareofaknowledgeabledermatologist,canbehighlyeffective. Boils,Carbuncles,Furuncles
Theseareinfectiousswellingsintheskinsimilartoabscesses. Many
startwithjustasimpleingrownhair,buttheymaybecomeirritat
ed,painful,andoftenquitelarge,especiallyiftheyaresqueezedorpicked. Theycanalsobecomeunsightly,especiallyiftheyareonthe
faceorshoulder. Naturaltreatmentsthatworkbestwithyourhealingsystemincludesoakingorcompressinginwarm,concentratedsaltsolutions,applyingclaypacks,exposingtosunlight,treatingwithalco
holandotherdryingagents,andkeepingalldirt,oil,andbacteria
awayfromtheaffectedarea. Ifboils,carbuncles,orfurunclesare
severeandareallowedtoprogress,antibioticsand/orlancingmaybenecessarytohelpyourhealingsystemrepairtheseconditions. Burns
Burnstotheskinarerelativelycommon,butiftheyaresevereandextensiveenough,theycancausemuchharm,evendeath. First-degreeburnscauseredness,pain,andswelling,butnoblistering. ‘Whenblisteringoccurs,second-degreeburnshavebeensustained. Third-degreeburns,themostserioustypeofburn,resultwhen
nerveendingsareburnedandthesensationofpainislost. Ifyousustainaburnandithurts,consideryourselfluckybecauseitmeans
thatyoudon’thaveathird-degreeburn. Burnscanbeextremelypainful,but,iftheyarenotextensive,
yourhealingsystemcanhandlethemwithlittleintervention. Burnsshouldbekeptclean,dry,andfreefromexcessivemoistureanddirt. Topicalagentsthatarecooling,includingiceintheinitialstages,generallyreduceswellingandpain. Antibioticcremes,suchasSilvadenecream,oranaturalagentsuchaszincoxide,cankeepthe
skinfromdryingoutandcrackingandpreventinfection. Aloe,vine
gar,honey,andbeepropolismayalsobeeffective. Iftheburnisextensive,coveringitwithlightgauzedressingsandnonstickbandages,andthenleavingitundisturbedforatleast
24to48hours,possiblylonger,mightbenecessary. Anydressing
ConqueringCommonHealthConditions 285
thatgetswet,however,needstobechangedbecausewetdressingssuffocatehealingtissuesandcanpromoteinfection. Painmedica
tionsmayalsobeappropriateforonetotwodaysormore. Forsecond-degreeburnswithblisters,itisbestnottopoptheblistersbecausetheyserveasanaturalprotectivebarrierthatyourhealingsystememploystoprotectthenewskinthatisformingunderneath. Inthelaterstagesofhealingburns,youcanassistyourhealingsystemwithnaturaltopicalapplicationssuchasaloevera,comfrey
rootpoultices,vitaminEcream,calendula,andturmericcream. Cysts
Cystslookverysimilartoabscesses,buttheyareoftenmorechron
icandhaveatendencytowardperiodicswelling. Conservativetreat
mentissimilartotreatmentforabscessesandboils,includingsoak
ing,sunlight,andusingdryingagents. Cystsmayneedtobelanced
anddrainediftheybecomeexcessivelylargeorintrusive. Oncetheyhavebeenlancedordrained,yourhealingsystemcantakeoverandcompletethehealingprocess. Follicuiftis
Thiscommonconditionrepresentsinflammationandinfectionof
thehairfollicles,hencethename,folliculitis. Folliculitislookslike
acne,butitmayshowupinareasoftheskinawayfromtheface,
suchasinthegroinareaorunderthearmpits. Itcanbeverypainful
anditchyandisbesttreatedwithsaltsoaks,claypacks,andnaturalsunlight. Iffolliculitisissevereandisallowedtoprogress,antibiotics
mayalsoberequired. ImpetigoImpetigo,causedbybacteriaandpoorskinhygiene,isarapidlyspreadinginfectionwithabrownish-colored,crustyrash. Impetigo
iscommoninchildrenandmaybespreadatday-carecenters. Bathingandgoodhygienehelptoeliminatetheorganismsthat
causethisinfection. Onceimpetigohasbeencontracted,antibiotics
maybenecessarytoeliminateit. Saltsoaks,claypacks,aloevera,
andsunbathscanalsobeeffectiveifitiscaughtearlyon. Youcaneasilypreventimpetigobyobservinggoodskinhygiene. 286ActivatingYourHealingSystemWhenYoureSick
SkinRashes
Incertaingeneralizedinfections,characteristicrashesappearonthe
skinastoxinsmaketheirwayoutofthebody’sdeeperstructures. Wecommonlyseetheserashesinchildhoodillnessessuchasmeasles,chickenpox. rubella(Germanmeasles),andotherviraldiseases. Ifcontractedatanearlyage,theseconditions,althoughuncomfort
able,areusuallyself-limitinganddolittleharminWesternpopulations. Certainfoodallergies,andimmune-systemdisorderssuchaslupus,mayalsoshowupontheskinintheformofarash. Evennutritionaldeficiencies,suchaspellagra,canshowupasarashon
theskin. Whileyouaretreatinganyskinrash,itisimportanttowork
withyourhealingsystembyaddressingtheunderlyingcausesofthe
rash. Drinkingplentyoffluidswillsupportyourhealingsystemineliminatingtoxinsifanunderlyingdiseaseispresent. Thereare
manyothermethodstoworkwithyourhealingsysteminthese
cases,suchasgettingplentyofrest,eatinglightly,andtakingcertainherbsandplantremedies. Naturalsalves,ointments,andclayplas
tersappliedtopicallytotheskinmayalsobehelpful. However,itisimportanttorememberthatarashmayhavedeeperoriginsthan
justtheskin. Becauseofitsrichnervesupply,yourskinishighlysensitive
topainanditching. Whenarashitches,youwillinvariablyscratch
it,whichwillonlymakemattersworse. Animportantpartofthetreatmentofanyrashistostoptheitchsotheproblemdoesn’tescalatewhileyouareworkingtodiscoverandtreattheunderlying
causes. Inadditiontosoothingtopicalcreams,suchasthosethatcontainaloe,calendula,chamomile,orturmeric,conventional
creamsandointmentsthatcontainhydrocortisone,andotherover-the-counterconventionalmedicines,suchasantihistaminesoranalgesics,canalsoeffectivelyeliminateitchingandpreventtherashfromescalating. AllergicRashes
Rashescanappearinresponsetoskinirritantsandchemicals,such
asthosefoundinvarioussunscreenagents,soaps,andsolvents. Rashescanevenappearinresponsetonaturallyoccurringsub
stancesfoundinplants,suchasinmangoes,poisonivy,andpoison
ConqueringCommonHealthConditions 287
oak. Skinallergiescanalsoresultascomplicationsfrominsectbites,includingbeestings,spiderbites,andjellyfishstings. Onceagain,whileyouaretreatingtheserashesandcontrolling
theitchandspreadoftherash,thekeytoeliminatingthempermanentlyistoidentifytheoffendingagentandavoidallfurthercon
tactwiththisagent. Manyremedies,bothconventionalandnatural,
canbehelpfulinthesecases. Ifyouremovetheoffendingagent,andcontroltheitchingandscratching,yourheatingsystemcanusuallyhealtherashandrestoreyourskintoitsnaturalstateofhealth. InfectiousRashes
Manyrashesaretheresultofskininfections,mostcommonly,fun-
galinfectionssuchasathlete’sfootandringworm. Bacterialinfections,parasites(includingscabies),andvirusessuchasherpessimplex(whichcausescoldsores)alsocancauserashes. Ineachcase,preventionisthekeytoavoidinginfectioninthefirstplace. Forexample,fungiandmostbacteriapreferwet,warm,darkplacestobreedandflourish. Thefeet,groin,buttocks,abdomen,andunderarmsarecommonsitesofinfectionfromtheseorganisms. Environmentalfactorsalsoplayarole. Forexample,infectiousrashesfromfungi
andbacteriaaremorecommoninthetropics,orduringsummer,whentheweatherisoftenmorehumid. Onceaskininfectionisaccuratelydiagnosed,naturalremedies,includingtea-treeoil,clay,andotherdryingagents,inadditiontoawiderangeofmedicatedcreamsandointments,arereadilyavailable
totreatit. Ofcourse,indifficultcases,additionalconventionalmed
icinesmayberequired. Thisisparticularlytrueforscabies. Keeping
theskincleanandfreefromexcessmoisture,andallowingittobreatheandbeexposedtofreshairandadequatesunlightarethe
bestapproachesforworkingwithyourhealingsystemtopreventandeliminateskininfections. Nerve-RelatedRashes
Becausetheskinisintimatelyconnectedtothenervoussystem,
manychronicrashesthatdon’teasilygoawayhavetheiroriginsin
suchconditionsaschronicanxiety,stress,tension,orotheremotion
alandnervous-systemdisorders. Theseareoftenclassifiedasnerverelatedrashes,andtheyincludethefollowing:
288ActivatingYourHealingSystemWhenYoureSick
Eczema
Eczemaisachronicskinconditioncharacterizedbyintenseitchingandascaly,spreadingrashthatattimescanbedisfiguring. Toaid
yourhealingsystem,youcanbesttreatthisconditionbyapplyingtopicalsoothingcreams,takingpainmedicationsifneeded,usingherbsormedicinesthatcalmthenervoussystem,andeliminatingcaffeineandnicotinefromyoursystem. Emollientcreamsandvari
ousoilypreparationsappliedcontinuouslytotheeczemacanhelppreventtheconstantdryingoutandlossofnaturalbodyoilsthat
occurwitheczema. Becausethisskinconditionflaresupduringtimesofstressandanxiety,stress-managementtechniquescanalso
beveryeffectiveincontrollingit. Eatingawholesomedietanddrinkinglotsoffluidscanalsobehelpfulwiththiscondition. Psoriasis
Psoriasisisachronicskinconditionthatiscommonintheareasaroundtheknees,elbows,scalp,feet,andback. Psoriasisflaresupduringtimesofanxietyandtension. Foodsthatstimulatethenerv
oussystem,suchascaffeineandnicotine,canalsoaggravatethiscondition. Sunlightisoftenprescribedforpsoriasis,asaresuppressivemedicationsandvariouscorticosteroidcreams. Addressingtheunderlyingcausesthroughsuchmethodsasdietandstress-manage
menttraining,whilegentlyrelievingthesymptomsofitchingandscratching,canoftenreverseevenlong-standingcasesofpsoriasis. ShinglesShinglesiscausedbytheH. Zostervirus,whichstaysinyourbodyin
adormantstagebutcanflareupduringtimesofstressand/orimmunedysfunction. Toaidyourhealingsystem,youcanbesttreat
thisconditionbyapplyingtopicalsoothingcreams,takingpainmedicationsifneeded,usingherbsormedicinesthatcalmthenerv
oussystem,eliminatingcaffeineandnicotinefromyoursystem,drinkinglotsoffluidstoflushtoxinsfromyourbody,andpractic
ingstress-managementtechniques. ConqueringCommonHealthConditions 289
ProblemsoftheHead
Disordersandsymptomsintheheadareverycommon. Becausethe
headcontainsthebrain,whichissensitivetosubtlechangesinyourbody’sinternalenvironment,theseproblemsmayreflectimbalances
inotherpartsofthebody. Forexample,withanemia,notenough
redbloodcellsandoxygenreachthebrain,andheadachesmay
occur. Inaddition,ifyouhaveanemia,youmightbeunabletothinkclearly. Weakness,alongwithdizzinessandfainting,especiallywhen
youarestandingupormakingsuddenmovementswithyourhead,
mayalsooccur. Propertreatmentofproblemsintheheadrequiresunderstand
ingtheunderlyingcausesandworkingwithyourhealingsystemto
correcttheseproblems. DizzinessandVertigoDizzinessandvertigoaretwocommonsymptomsthat,likeheadaches,mayhavesimplecausesormayrepresentmoreseriousconditions,suchasbraintumors,impendingstroke,heartproblems,dehydration,anemia,orinfection. Theymayalsosignalametabol
icproblem,suchaslowbloodsugar,asindiabetes. Themostcommonunderlyingcausesofdizzinessandvertigoincludedietaryimbalance,includingexcesscaffeineornicotine;problemswithsugarmetabolism;stress;lackofsleep;muscletensioninthe
face,neck,andupperback;motionsickness;middle-andinner-earproblems(includingapersistentviralinfection);anddehydration. ‘Whensymptomsaresevere,nauseaandvomitingcanresult. Treatmentshouldbedirectedtowardtheunderlyingcauses. Ifa
propermedicalevaluationdeterminesnothingserious,tryworkingwithyourhealingsystembytakingaweekawayfromyourhecticscheduleandfocusingonahealthy,wholesomedietwithplentyof
fiber,lesscaffeine,andplentyofwater. Inaddition,receiveamas
sageoftheupperback,neck,andface,andmakesureyougetenoughsleep. Acupunctureandothernaturaltreatmentscanalsobeeffectivewhennoseriousunderlyingproblemexists. 290ActivatingYourHealingSystemWhenYou’reSick
HeadachesHeadachesareoneofthemostcommonreasonspeoplegotoseeadoctor. Andeventhoughmostareeasilycorrectedandhavesimplecauses,headachescanbecausedbymoreseriousillnessesandproblems. Theheadisasensitivebarometerforphysiologicalimbalances
thatmaybeoccurringinotherpartsofyourbody. Forthisreason,
youshouldnotignoreheadaches,ormerelysuppressthemwithpainmedication,particularlyiftheyarepersistent. Headachesmightoccurastheresultoffatigue,dehydration,anemia,indigestion,sinusinfections,earinfections,havingoverdonecertainfoodsorsubstancessuchasalcoholandcaffeine,andas
aresultofotherconditions,includingstress. Headachesalsocommonlyoccurduringregularmonthlycyclesofovulationandmenstruation. Moreseriouscausesofheadachesincludemeningitis,encephalitis,stroke,andbraintumor. Headachescanalsobetheresultofheadtraumathatcausesincreasedpressureandswellingin
thebrain,causedbyfluid. Yourhealingsystemcanhealmostheadachesoncetheunderlyingproblemsarecorrected. However,ifaheadacheissevere,persistent,keepsyouawakeatnight,orinterfereswithyourabilitytoworkorfunction,itistimetogoandseeyourdoctortobeproperlyevaluated. Clusterheadachesappearpredominantlyinmalesandaresimilar
tomigrainesintheircauseandtreatment. Clusterheadachescommonlyappeararoundtheeyeononesideoftheface,andtheycome
andgoinwavesofpain. Theyarealsoinfluencedbystressanddietaryimbalances,andtheyoftenrespondwelltodietarymodera
tion,includingdecreasedcaffeineandnicotine,andincreasedfluids. Massage,particularlyoftheupperback,neck,andfacialmuscles,alongwithacupuncture,chiropractictreatment,andgentleyogastretchingcanoftenhelpyourhealingsystemeliminateclusterheadaches. Migraineheadachescanbesevereanddisabling. Migraineswerepreviouslythoughttobecausedbyswellinginthebloodvesselsof
thehead,butrecentresearchhasshowntheyaresimilarinorigintotensionheadaches,onlymoreprolongedandsevere. Dietandlifestyle,inadditiontohormonalfluctuations,mayalsobecontributingfactors. Intheirworstpresentation,migraines,withtheirsymptomsofnausea,vomiting,visualdisturbances,andlossofbal
ConqueringCommonHealthConditions 291
ance,mightforceyoutobeincapacitatedforhoursandsometimes
daysatatime. Youmighttemporarilyrequirestrongpainmedications. Naturalmigrainetreatmentmethodsthatsupportyourhealingsystemincludeeatingawholesomediet,drinkingplentyoffluids,andpracticingstress-managementtechniques. Massage,particularlyoftheupperback,neck,andfacialmuscles,acupuncture,chiropractictreatment,andgentleyogastretchingarealsoofteneffective. Migraineheadachescanoftenberelievedbygettingridofnegative“emotionalbaggage,”takingsoothingherbsthatcalmthe
nervesandrelaxthemuscles,andapplyingtopicalheatbalms. Tensionheadachesarecausedbystressandtension;theyalsocan
berelatedtodietaryimbalances,includingexcessesofcaffeineornicotine,andotherfactors. Conventionalmedicinesmaytemporar
ilyhelprelieveatensionheadache,butmostjustsuppressthepain. Implementingdietandlifestylechangesthatreducetensionand
stress,practicingdailystress-managementtechniques,andincreas
ingfluidstoeliminatetoxinscanallassistyourhealingsysteminrelievingtensionheadaches. Massage,particularlyoftheupperback,neck,andfacialmuscles,inadditiontoacupuncture,chiropractictreatment,andgentleyogastretching,canalsobeeffective. Tensionheadachesareoftenrelievedbysoothingherbssuchasfeverfewandchamomile,whichcalmthenervesandrelaxthemuscles,andbytopicallyappliedheatbalms. HeadInjuryBecausethebrainissoimportant,headinjuriescanhaveseriousconsequences. Withasevereheadinjury,promptandresponsibleactioncanmeanthedifferencebetweenlifeanddeath. Whenaconcussionoccursasaresultofheadtrauma,andthereisassociatedloss
ofconsciousness,thepossibilityofdamagetointernalstructuresalwaysexists,andimmediateevaluationandmedicalattentionarerequired. Ifnonausea,vomiting,lethargy,lossofmemory,unduesleepiness,orotherneurologicalsymptomsdevelopduringa24-to48-hourperiodfollowingaheadinjury,thenthereisahighdegree
ofprobabilitythatnothingserioushasoccurredinternally. Ifnoloss
ofconsciousnessoccurredduringheadtrauma,itisalsohighlyunlikelythatsomethingserioushasoccurred. Anyonewhohassufferedaconcussion,withreportedlossofconsciousness,shouldgo
292ActivatingYourHealingSystemWhenYou’reSick
immediatelytothenearestemergencyroomtoruleoutthepossibil
ityofbrainhemorrhageorotherseriousinjury. Amazingly,inspiteofthepotentiallyseriousconsequences,themajorityofheadinjuriesarenotseriousandrespondfavorablytoyourhealingsystem’sinternalrepairandrestorationmechanisms. Aswith
anyotherinjury;however,yourhealingsystemworksbestwhenyoucooperatewithitbygettingplentyofrestandmakingsureyouaredrinkingenoughfluidsandeatingwholesome,nutritiousfood. EyeDisorders
Oureyesarethemostdominantandimportantsenseorgansinourbodies. Additionally,becauseoureyesaresosensitive,problemsinotherpartsofthebodyoftenaffectthem. Inthisregard,oureyesare
areflectionofouroverallgeneralhealth. Forinstance,highbloodpressurecanerodeandrupturethefragilebloodvesselsintheretina,
aconditionthatadoctorcandiagnosewithasimpleeyeexam. Diabetes,whichalsocauseschangesintheappearanceofthebloodvesselsinthebackoftheeye,cansimilarlybedetectedfromasimple
eyeexam. Becauseoureyesaresoimportant, aspecialtyinmedicine,knownasophthalmology,existsjusttotendtotheirneeds. Manychroniceyeconditionsarerelatedtounderlyingproblemselsewhereinthebody,sotheseconditionsareoftenpreventable. Manyofthesedisordersoftenreflectpooroverallhealth,andsoworkingwithyourhealingsystemtoimproveyouroverallhealth
canoftenimprovesucheyeconditions. Forexample,whenIwasaflightsurgeonintheU. S. AirForce,itwascommonknowledgethat
evenamongyoung,healthyfighterpilots,thosewhosmokedhad
poorernightvision. Theywereconsidered acombatriskwhenthey
wereflyingnightmissionsbecausetheincreasedcarbonmonoxide
anddecreasedoxygenintheirbloodasaresultofsmokingnegativelyaffectedtheirvision. Goodnutritionisveryimportanttothehealthofyoureyes. VitaminA,whichcomesfrombetacaroteneandisfoundinmostyellowandorangefruitsandvegetables,participatesinthechem
istryofvision. Eatingadietrichinbetacarotene,andtakingherbal
ConqueringCommonHealthConditions 293
medicinessuchasbilberryextract,helppromotethehealthofyour
eyes. Inaddition,regularexercise,whichimprovesbloodflowandoxygenationoftheeyes,andspecificeyeexercisesalsoworkwith
yourhealingsystemtopromoteeyehealth. Conjunctivitis
Knownaspinkeye,conjunctivitisisacommonconditioninchildren
thatcansweepthroughschoolsinepidemicfashion. Conjunctivitis
isoftencausedbyvirusesorbacterialagents,anditcanoccurwhen
airqualityispoororadverseenvironmentalconditionsarepresent. Itcanalsobeassociatedwithrespiratoryinfections. Conjunctivitisappearsasareddishorpinkishcolorinthewhitesoftheeyes. Usuallyonlyoneeyeisaffected,butabout40percentofthetimeit
canoccurinbotheyes. Conjunctivitiscanbeitchyandsometimesevenpainful. Inthemorning,thecrustedsecretionsthathavehardenedduringthenight
maycausetheeyestobegluedshut. Warmcompressescanbehelp
fultofreethegluedeyelids. Ifyoucanavoiditchingandscratching,yourbody’shealingsystemcanofteneradicatethisconditiononitsowninthreetofive
days. Salt-watereyedropsandnaturalsunlightcanbeveryhelpful. Agentleherbaleyewashsuchashyssoporchamomilemayalsobehelpful. Conventionaltreatmentswithanti-itchoralmedications,includingmild,over-the-counteranti-inflammatorymedicines,analgesics,antihistamines,andantibioticdrops,canbehelpfultopreventcomplicationsandcontroltheitchasyourhealingsystemdoesitsjob. CornealAbrasions
Cornealabrasionsoccurwhenthesurfaceoftheeyehasbeenscratched. Thiscanbeaverypainfulcondition,asmostcontact-lens
wearersknow. However,becauseyoureyesaresoimportant,yourhealingsystemcaninitiatearapid. responsetotheseinjuriesandusuallyrepairthemwithin24to48hours. Ifyouhaveacornea1abrasion,aneyepatchandantibioticdropsarecustomarilyadministeredtorestandprotectyoureye,andtopreventitfrombecominginfectedwhileyourhealingsystemdoesitsimportantrepairwork. 294ActivatingYourHealingSystemWhenYou’reSick
Styes
Styesaresmall,inflamedswellingsthatoccurasminuteinfectionsin
thefolliclesofthehairsthatlinetheedgesofyoureyelids,commonlyknownasyoureyelashes. Styesarecommonwhendust,oil,
orforeignparticlesclogtheporesoftheskinneartheeye. Theyarecommonwithcarpentersandconstructionlaborerswhoareinclined
toworkarounddustyconstructionsites. Theymayalsooccurwhen
youinadvertentlyandrepeatedlywipeyouroily,dusty,ordirtyhandsinyoureyes. Warmsalt-watercompressesandnaturalsunlightusuallycure
styesinonetothreedays. Occasionally,inmoredifficultcases,topicalantibioticdropsorointmentsmayberequired. Naturaleyewashesmayalsobehelpful. Eventhoughtheyareclosetothe
eyesandcanbeunsettling,styesaremoreinconvenientthandanger
ous,and,thankstoyourhealingsystem,theyusuallyhealontheir
ownwithoutanyfurthercomplications. EarProblems
Yourearconsistsofthreedistinctparts:yourexternalear,yourmiddleear,andyourinnerear. Eachpartcarrieswithititsownspecialsetofproblemsand,becausethoseproblemsaretreateddifferently,wewillconsidereachearpartseparately. ImpactedEarWaxImpactedearwaxisacommoncauseofhearingproblems,discom
fort,andouter-earinfectionsbecausethewaxblockstheearcanal,
cantrapwater,andcanpreventsoundwavesfromreachingyoureardrum. Earwaxservesabeneficialfunctionasbothalubricanttothe
earcanalandanaturalantibiotic. However,topreventexcessiveear-
waxbuildup,youcanhelpyourhealingsystembygentlyflushing
yourearcanalwithwarmwaterandhydrogenperoxideina6:1ratio,usingabulbsyringereadilyavailablefromyournearestphar
macy. Thisflushingshouldtakeamaximumof30minutes. Earcandlingisalsobecomingpopularforthispurpose. Mostofushave
beentoldnevertostickanythinginourearssmallerthanourelbows,butImustconfessthat,afterahotshower,iftheneedpres
ConqueringCommonHealthConditions 295
entsitself,Iwilloccasionallyuseacotton-tippedswabtogentlyandcarefullyremoveanyexcesswaxthatmayhaveformedinmyearcanal. Meniere’sDisease
Alsoknownaslabyrinthitis,thisconditionismarkedbyinflamma
tionofthedelicateinner-earstructures. Meniere’sdisease,whichaffectsbalanceandhearing,isthoughttobecausedbyavirus,whichmayfollowontheheelsofarespiratoryinfection. Meniere’sdiseaseoftenoccursonlyonce,butitmayrecurfromtimetotime. Naturalapproachestoinner-earproblemsthatsupporttheworkof
yourhealingsystemincludeacupuncture,nutritionalsupport,the
useofspecificherbssuchasgingkobiloba,cranial-sacraltherapy,
yoga,acupuncture,chiropracticcare,andphysicaltherapy. Middle-EarInfectionsMiddle-earinfectionsarequitecommonininfancyandearlychildhood,andtheycanbeserious. Theyoftencausefeverandpain,and
theycanbeaccompaniedbylossofhearing,lossofbalance,vertigo,nausea,andvomiting. Inchildren,underextremeconditions, amiddle-earinfectionrunstheriskofspreadingtothebrainandcausingmeningitis. Becausethepassagethatleadstothemiddleear,
theeustachiantube,isdirectlyconnectedtothebackofthenose,middle-earinfectionsoccurasextensionsofrespiratoryinfections
thatmaystartasacold,runnynose,sorethroat,sinusinfection,orchestcongestion. Thekeytotreatmentofmiddle-earinfectionsinvolvesunderstandingtherelationshipbetweenthemiddleearandtherespiratorysystem. Youmustcooperatewithyourhealingsystembyfocusing
onprevention,andbytreatingrespiratoryinfectionsintheirearly
stagestoprecludethepossibilitythattheymayspreadtothemiddle
ear. Dietalsocanplayaroleinpreventingmiddle-earinfections. Forexample,byreducingintakeoffatsandoilsanddrinkingplentyoffluids,youcanhelpthinoutthemucous,phlegm,andcongestion
intherespiratorysystem,whichhelpsthebodytoeliminatetoxins
morereadily. Goodposture,gentlechiropracticadjustments,and
deepbreathingalsoappeartoimprovelymphaticdrainageofthemiddleearandcanhelppreventearinfections. Herbalremedies,
296ActivatingYourHealingSystemWhenYou’reSick
suchasechinacea,astragalus,andwasabe(Japanesehorseradish)mayalsobehelpful. ‘Whenmiddle-earinfectionsareintheirfull-blown
stages,antibioticsareusuallyrequired,especiallytopreventthepossibilityofmeningitis. Butavoidthecontinuoususeofantibioticsto
treatthiscommonproblem. Noise-InducedHearingLoss
Hearinglosscausedbynoisedamagesthesensitivehaircellsinthe
innerearthatconductsoundtothebrain. Suchlossiscommoninpeoplewhohaveworkedaroundheavyequipmentandloudmachinery,anditisnowshowingupinex-rockmusicians,who
haveblastedtheirearsforyearswithscreechingguitarsandloudamplifiedmusic. Noise-inducedhearinglossisparticularlycommon
inpeoplewhoworkaroundairplanesandmantheflightlinesatair
ports. Thesepeoplearenowrequiredbylawtowearearprotection
topreventthisunnecessarycondition. Hearingaidsarecommonintheelderlyandcanbeeffectiveto
helppeoplecompensateforinner-earhearingloss. Delicatesurgicaltechniquesinvolvingtheimplantationofelectronicsound-amplificationdevicesareusuallyreservedforseverecases. Naturalapproachestoinner-earproblemsthatsupporttheworkofyourhealingsystemincludeacupuncture,nutritionalsupport,theuseofspecificherbssuchasgingkobiloba,cranial-sacraltherapy,yoga,acupuncture,chiropracticcare,andphysicaltherapy. Othermeth
odsmayalsoprovehelpfulincertaincasesofinner-earproblems,particularlyiftheyareinitiatedintheearlystagesofthesedisorders. Becauseyourabilitytohearisapreciousgift,andtheseconditions
areoftendifficulttotreat,preventionofnoise-inducedhearingloss
iscritical. Outer-EarInfections
Oftenknownasswimmer’searinfections,outer-earinfectionscanbeextremelypainfulandarecommonwherepeoplespendalotoftime
inthewaterorwherehumidityishigh. Ifyoudevelopanouter-earinfection,antibioticdropsandkeepingyoureardrytodiscouragebacterialgrowthallowyourhealingsystemtorestorehealthtoyour
ear,usuallyinlessthansevendays. Severalnaturaleardrops,suchasgentianvioletandmulleinau,arealsoavailableandcanbeeffective
ConqueringCommonHealthConditions 297
treatments. Youcanpreventorhealouter-earinfectionsbykeeping
yourearscleananddry. Ifyouspendalotoftimeinthewater,you
canhelpyourhealingsystempreventouter-earinfectionsbyapply
ingalcoholandvinegareardrops,orusingablowdryerafterswimming. Thesecanhelpkeepyourearsdry,whichinhibitsbacte
rialgrowthandminimizesthepossibilityofanouter-earinfection. PerforatedEarDrum
Thisconditionoccursasaresultofincreasedpressureinthemiddle
ear,whichcausestheeardrumtorupture. Perforatedeardrumis
commonindivers,peoplewhoflywhentheyhaverespiratoryinfec
tions,andpeoplewhoarehitonthesideoftheheadandtheearistraumatized. Symptomsmayincludepain,hearingloss,abloodyearcanal,andvertigo. Thankstoyourbody’shealingsystem,ifthetear
isnottoolarge,arupturedeardrumwillusuallyhealonitsownin
onemonth’stime. Duringthishealingperiod,itisimportanttosup
porttheworkofyourhealingsystembynotgettingwaterintoyour
ears,whichmightcauseaseriousinfection. Iftheruptureisverylarge,surgicalgraftingofaneweardrummayberequired;but,thankstoyourhealingsystem,doingthisisnotcommonbecause
yourearusuallycanhealonitsown. Surfer’sEar
Knownasexostosis,surfer’searoccurswhenthebonesintheearcanalgrowtogether,obstructingtheearcanalandcausingwaterto
betrapped. Thisconditioncanleadtochronicouter-earinfections. Surfer’seariscommonnotonlyinsurferswhofrequentcoldwaters,
butalsoinskiers,hunters,farmers,andotheroutdoor-orientedpeoplewholiveincoldclimates. Anoperationtoscrapeawaytheextrabonegrowthisconventionallyoffered;however,ifyoureturntothecoldenvironmentafter
surgerywithoutsufficientearprotection,thebonegrowthwillalso
return. Therecurringbonegrowthisactuallyacompensatoryprotectivemechanismofyourhealingsysteminitsattempttokeepthesensitiveanddelicateeardrumwarmenoughtoefficientlyconductsoundwavessothathearingisnotimpaired. Earplugsorotherearprotectionkeepstheearswarmandhelpsyourhealingsystemtopreventthisconditionfromdeveloping. 298ActivatingYourHealingSystemWhenYou’reSick
Tinnitus
Alsoknownasringingintheears,tinnitusisaproblemoftheinnerear,
andmayormaynotaccompanyhearingloss. Tinnitusisatroublingconditionnotoftenresponsivetoconventionalmedicaltreatment. Naturalapproachestoinner-earproblemssuchastinnitusthat
supporttheworkofyourhealingsystemincludeacupuncture,nutritionalsupport,theuseofspecificherbssuchasgingkobiloba,cranial-sacraltherapy,yoga,acupuncture,chiropracticcare,andphysicaltherapy. Othermethodsmayalsoprovehelpfulincertain
casesofinner-earproblems,particularlyiftheyareinitiatedinthe
earlystagesofthesedisorders. Becauseyourabilitytohearisapreciousgift,andtheseconditionsareoftendifficulttotreat,preventionisveryimportant. RespiratorySystemDisorders
Asthma
Thischronicrespiratoryconditionischaracterizedbycongestion,coughing,wheezing,andconstrictedairways. Duringflare-ups,thesesymptomscanbesevereandevenlife-threatening. Through
outtheworld,asthmaappearstobeontherise,afactthatmanyexpertsattributetoincreasingurbanizationandairpollution. Otherpossiblecausesandtriggersforasthmaincluderespiratoryinfec
tions,respiratoryallergens,aerosolpollutants(includingtheinhala
tionoftoxicfumesorvapors),climaticchanges,dehydration,poordiets,andstressandemotionalupheaval,amongothers. ConventionalWesternmedicinehasdevelopedmanyeffectivemedications
forairwaymanagementtolessenthestrainofbreathingforpersonswhohaveasthma. Althoughmanyofthesemedicationsareinvalu
able,evenlife-saving,particularlyinurgentandemergencysitua
tions,mostdonotaddresstheunderlyingcausesofasthma. Treatmentofasthmaincludesdrinkingplentyoffluidstohelplubricatethelungsanddecreasemucousandphlegm. Youcanalso
aidyourhealingsystembybreathinggood,clean,wholesomeair;avoidingdust,irritatingaerosolchemicals,andothertriggers;andkeepingwarmtoavoidcatchingacold. Also,stayawayfromfats
ConqueringCommonHealthConditions 299
andoilsduringflare-ups,practicestress-managementandrelaxationmethods,releaseunhealthyemotions,andpracticebreathingexercises. Allofthesestepscanbeextremelyeffectiveintreatingasthma. Inadditiontothemedicationsyourdoctormayprescribe,natural,alternativemedicinesandtreatmentsthatworkwithyourhealingsystemalsocansuccessfullytreatasthma. BronchitisBronchitis,oneofthemostcommonrespiratoryinfectionsofthelungs,ismostoftencausedbyvirusesorbacteriathathaveslipped
pastthebody’sprimarydefensesandenteredintotheairways. Bronchitisischaracterizedbyinflammationandinfectioninthebronchiandbronchialtubes,whicharethebreathingpassagesinthelungs. Coughingandcongestionarepersistent,andfevermayalso
bepresent. Conventionaldoctorsusuallyprescribeantibioticsandcoughmedicinesforthiscondition. (Seethesectiononpneumonia
foradditionalsuggestions. ) ColdsCommoncoldsareinvariablyassociatedwithrunnynoses. When
youcatchacold,usuallythenoseisthefirstorganaffectedbecause
thethousandsofbacteria,viruses,andothermicroorganismsinthe
airfirstcomeincontactwithyourbodythroughthenose. Nasalcongestionandinflammationcanoftenberelievedbyworkingwith
yourhealingsysteminseveralways. Theseincludebreathinggood
air;avoidingdust,smoke,orpollutedenvironments;keepingwarm;eatinglightly(focusingonsoupsandhotteas);anddrinkingplenty
offluids. Steaminhalation,salinenosedrops,andothernaturalremedies,includinghorseradish,Chinesemustard,andwasabe(Japanesehorseradish),canalsobeeffectivetohelpkeepyournose
andrespiratorysystemhealthy. Again,preventionisthekeytoavoidingthecommoncold;ifthisisnotpossible,yourgoalshould
betoinitiatetreatmentintheearlieststages. EmphysemaandCOPD(ChronicObstructivePulmonaryDisease)
Thesetworespiratory-systemdisordersareusuallyrelatedtolong
termcigarettesmoking,buttheymayalsobelinkedtorepeated
300ActivatingYourHealingSystemWhenYou’reSick
exposuretoasbestosorotherchemicalsthatareharmfultothelungs,especiallyoverasubstantialtimeperiod. Thebestwaytoassistyourhealingsysteminthetreatmentoftheseconditionsincludesbreathinggoodair,doingbreathingexercises,anddrinkingplentyoffluids. Certainnaturalremedies,includingvitaminCandherbsthatstimulaterepairofdamagedtissues,suchascomfreyand
aloe,mayalsobehelpful. Again,preventionismuchmoreeffective
andeasierthanattemptingtocureeitheroftheseconditionsonce
thediseasehasestablisheditself. Becauseofthebody’shealingsystem,however,evenpeoplewithlong-termsmokinghabitscanimprovetheirbreathingandthehealthoftheirlungsiftheyquitsmokingbeforeirreparabledamagehasoccurred. PharyngitisPharyngitisisaninflammationofthepharynxthatfrequentlyresultsinasorethroat. Pharyngitisoftenbeginswhenthebodyischilled,andbacteriahaveenteredpastyourbody’sprimarydefenses. Often,youwillneedaprescriptionforanantibiotic. Other,morenaturalmethodsthatsupportyourhealingsystemtoovercomepharyngitisincludeeatingfewerfatsandoils,drinkingplentyoffluids,keepingwarm,managingstress,andgettingadequatesleepandrest. Ginger-rootteacanalsobeveryeffectiveintreatingpharyngitis. Tomakeginger-roottea,gratefreshgingerroot,putit
inboilingwater,andsteepfor5tolOminutes;thenaddlemonandhoneybeforeyoudrinkthetea. PneumoniaPneumoniaisanextensionofbronchitisandaninvasionoftheinfectionintotheairsacsanddeeperrecessesofthelungs. Feverandnightsweatsareoftenpresentwithpneumonia,andbecauseoxygen
isunabletoenterthebloodstreamasaresultoftheinfection,over
allweaknessiscommon. Beforetheadventofantibiotics,pneumoniawasoneoftheleadingcausesofdeath. Aswithallrespiratoryinfections,pneumoniaisusuallyareflectionofdecreasedimmunefunctionastheresultofcertainstressesonthebody,such
asanunhealthydietandlifestyle. Inadditiontowhatevermedicationsyoumightrequire,includingantibiotics,andtheuseofothernaturalremedies,suchasplant-andmineral-basedmedicines,itis
ConqueringCommonHealthConditions 301
importanttoassistyourhealingsystembyfollowingtheserecommendations:
1. Drinkplentyoffluids. Yourbodyis70percentfluid,andsothemorefluidyoubring
intoyoursystem,thefasteryourbodycaneliminatethetoxins
fromtheinfection. Additionally,itisimportanttoavoidfatsand
oilsuntilyouarebetterbecausetheytendtocreatemorephlegm
andmucous,whichincreasecongestionandclogyourairways. 2. Keepwarm. Yourbodylikestostaywarm,around98. 6degrees. When
youbecomechilled,yourimmunesystemisimpairedasaresult
ofthestressofyourbodyattemptingtorestorepropertemper
ature. Youcankeepwarmbywearingasweaterorwindbreaker,drinkingplentyofwarmliquidssuchassoupsandherbalteas,
andavoidingairconditioning,fans,orexposuretocoldweather. 3. Rest. Whenyouaresleepdeprivedorchronicallyfatigued,yourimmunesystemandhealingsystembogdownandyoubecome
moresusceptibletoillness. Itisdifficulttogetbetterandhealif
youarenotgettingadequaterestbecauseyourhealingsystemdoesmostofitsbestworkwhenyouarerestingorsleeping. RespiratoryAflergiesRespiratoryallergiescomeinvariousformsandcommonlyafflict
thenoseandsinuses. Afewofthemorecommonvarietiesincluderhinitis,hayfever,andallergicsinusitis. Manypeoplereportthe
sourceoftheirallergytobespecificplantmaterials,suchaspollens,grasses,orfungalspores,butmanyotherstendtohaveworsesymp
tomswhiletheyareindoors. Thissuggeststhatchemicals,dust,dustmites,mold,andotherpotentiallyallergicmaterialintheventila
tionsystemsatworkorinthehomemayberesponsibleformostallergies. Additionally,thewaypeoplebreathecanaffecttheirsusceptibilitytoarespiratoryallergy. Forexample,peoplewhobreatheexclusivelythroughtheirmouthshavehigherratesofrespiratoryallergies. Thisisprobablybecausetheairtheyarebreathingdoesnot
havetheopportunityforthenosetofilterandcleanit. 302ActivatingYourHealingSystemWhenYou’reSick
Followingaresixsimpletipsforhelpingyourhealingsystemeliminatearespiratoryallergy:
1. Payattentiontothequalityoftheairyoubreathe.
Drying agents, such as tea-tree oil, and natural light therapy, as well as addressing the underlying causes of these conditions.
What are some natural treatments for acne, boils, and folliculitis?
Rest, hydration, and stress management, along with natural remedies like feverfew and chamomile.
What is the recommended approach to treating a severe headache?
Dehydration and a lack of weight-bearing exercise.
What is the primary cause of most cases of kidney stones?
Drinking plenty of water, increasing fluid intake, and addressing the underlying causes of the infection.
What are some natural remedies for a urinary tract infection?
Breathing exercises, visualization, and guided imagery, along with a healthy diet and stress management techniques.
What are some natural methods for managing stress and anxiety related to a headache?