Health news blog

Investigations

It is important to differentiate breath-holding episodes from actual seizures. Normally this can be done on the basis of a careful history, but the doctor may want to order an EEG (electroencephalogram) in order to be certain.

Treatment

There is no specific treatment for breath-holding episodes. Parents should try to stay calm during the episode. Make sure the child is in a safe position where he cannot roll off the bed or fall off a chair. Do not slap the child or splash water onto his face. Breath-holding episodes never cause any lasting harm to the child, and always disappear as he grows older. The main intervention is to reassure the parents, for whom these episodes are as frightening as a convulsion.

When to see your doctor

Some parents will be confident enough to take these episodes in their stride; others will want a medical check-up to ensure that there is no underlying medical condition. You should not hesitate to see your doctor if you are concerned, even though there is no treatment that can be recommended.

Prevention

Little can be done to prevent breath-holding attacks. While in theory it might be possible to minimise frustration for the child, in practice, of course, this is impossible. Do not change your parenting style radically in the hope of preventing these attacks from occurring.

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Remember that each of these questions was followed by long taped discussions. They are presented here in outline form to serve as stimuli for the intimate sharing of your marriage’s love maps. Couples enjoyed discussing their first date, often laughing at the memories most of us share. You will be reading about one such example in detail in Chapter Twelve. Here are two examples from the love-map histories.

‘ ‘He opened the door right on his own face,” she said, laughing. “He came around the car in tuxedo and all, opened the car door, and almost knocked himself out.”

“I can beat that,” added the husband. “I got up after the movie, and my leg was asleep. I mean, really out, like it had been amputated. I dragged it up the aisle with me. She never looked back. I tried to stomp it back to life, and she looked away. I was dying of embarrassment.”

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Leave your children at home or with a relative or friend when you go shopping on hot days, or else take them with you.

And don’t forget that your dog may have even more trouble coping.

We sweat or perspire (whatever your preference) most of the time but this is invisible. It becomes obvious only when excessive.

Some people sweat more than others and this can be embarrassing and unpleasant.

Although hot weather increases the amount of perspiration, it allows you to wear lighter clothes and footwear.

In humid weather, evaporation of sweat is impaired and so the body may be bathed in this fluid. Tight clothing can irritate the skin and lead to the condition known as prickly heat or Miliaria rubra.

Some skins are more sensitive than others. Wearing loose, light clothing and bathing frequently in cool or cold water, without soap, may be all that is necessary to prevent or treat this condition. Drying the skin thoroughly will prevent chafing and applying talcum powder will also help.

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Many drugs may interact with others and patients need to be aware of this.

In these times, when a woman may have several different doctors treating her for illness of different parts of the body, each may not be aware of what the others are prescribing.

Doctors should always ask patients what drugs they are taking but some people are so used to taking some preparations, such as the Pill, that they no longer consider it a drug and may neglect to mention it, even when directly asked.

Being aware of the dangers of interaction of drugs should make patients more aware of their responsibilities.

Natural contraception, which makes use of modern scientific methods to determine when ovulation takes place, may become more popular. These methods are widely used, especially among Catholics who have a moral objection to artificial methods of contraception.

Of course, this means a certain amount of self-denial for the couple but, for those worried about the dangers of other methods, it is a small price to pay.

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Older children sometimes suffer from a disorder that affects their joints. But this is simply the tip of the ice-berg, for the condition usually subsides leaving little joint discomfort or pain. The long-term result can be a serious disorder of the heart. As one famous paediatrician says: ‘rheumatic fever licks the joints but bites the heart’.

It is much less common than in times past and is more likely where housing difficulties occur; poverty, overcrowding and domestic difficulties seem to predispose to it.

It seems to attack children in the 5-15 year age group. It is rare before this and rare afterwards.

In acute cases, the child runs a fever and feels ill. Pain starts commonly in a large joint, such as the knee, ankle, elbow or wrist. It may become hot and swollen. After a few days the pain and swelling may leave that joint and spread to another one. Sometimes there is a rash. Occasionally, small swollen lumps appear over the elbows or wrists or at the base of the skull.

The heart is frequently involved. As the fever continues, the heart starts beating at a much faster rate than normally. Prompt medical attention is essential.

Some children, especially girls, may develop odd, irregular, muscular movements along with the joint pains. This is called chorea, or St Vitus’s dance. Often the child becomes emotionally upset and unstable, fidgets and is clumsy in movements. Strange movements of the limbs and weird facial twitchings and face pulling occur. These are entirely out of the child’s control. In mild cases, they may seem to be a bit like habit spasms, but in severe forms they can be marked and widespread.

Most cases of acute rheumatic fever are preceded by a simple throat infection by the germ called the beta-haemolytic streptococcus, and the strange joint symptoms may commence from one to three weeks later. The odd movements of chorea may start at any time from three to 15 weeks after the initial infection.

Sometimes acute attacks of rheumatic fever will continue in a silent manner, leading on to a condition called chronic rheumatic fever. This means the heart is definitely involved, and scarring of the heart muscle or the valves has taken place. The doctor usually finds special tell-tale signs that indicate this has occurred.

Treatment

Many doctors believe that prevention is better than cure, for many infected throats can herald this disorder. Prompt medical treatment by the doctor for sore throats in children may prevent onset of the disease, and parents should always be alert to complaints from their children. They should also make certain that medication prescribed is taken for the full course, and not merely for a few days until the throat seems a bit better.

Common sense in making certain the child has a good nutritious diet is essential. Making every effort to keep a reasonable standard of living will at least reduce the chances of contracting infections in the first place.

The doctor will work out a programme of treatment and it is essential it be followed. For acute cases, bed-rest, the salicylates, antibiotics and sometimes the steroid drugs are prescribed. A good diet is essential, and emotional back-up for the child always useful.

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Measles is a highly infectious disease of childhood. Its technical name is rubeola, and it is most common in the 2-14 year age group. By the time a child who has not been vaccinated has reached the age of ten, it is highly probable he or she has contracted the disorder.

It is totally different from German measles (rubella). Even though the names are similar, they are caused by entirely different viruses and the implications are also very different.

The incubation period is between 8 and 14 days; this is the time that elapses between the moment of infection and the onset of symptoms. There is a prodromal period of 3-4 days; this is the period between the onset of symptoms and the appearance of the typical rash.

This is characterized by a fever which persists for several days, and symptoms much like an ordinary cold. There is often a sore throat, nasal discharge, and a dry barking cough. Towards the end of the prodrome, the eyes frequently become sore and inflamed and there may be a discharge. Light often causes uncomfortable irritation, a condition called photophobia. Lymph glands in the neck swell and become uncomfortable.

White spots, called Koplik’s spots, may appear on the pink mucous membrane which lines the oral cavity. They start at the back near the molar teeth, and gradually spread until they may cover a large area of tissue. They invariably vanish just before the appearance of the typical skin rash. These spots are of diagnostic significance only—if they are there, then there is no doubt about the diagnosis. However, by the time the doctor arrives, they have usually vanished.

On about the fifth day of the disease, the rash appears. This starts out as a pink, blotchy, irregular reddening of the skin, and it gradually becomes redder and more fiery as the days pass. It starts on the face and behind the ears. From here it spreads to the chest and abdomen, and finally to the limbs.

The rash lasts from four to seven days and it may be itchy. Finally, it tends to fade. Often there is a fine shedding of tissue (a bit like bran); this may last two to three days. After this a light brown pigmentation may be left, and this finally vanishes also. The majority of cases settle down, and the person returns to normal.

However, there are several complications, and a patient can develop one or more of them. The most serious is called encephalitis. Fortunately it occurs in only about one case per 3000. It means the measles virus penetrates the brain barrier and sets up an infection in the brain substance. It may be lethal and is the main reason why vaccination is offered to children as a preventive measure.

There may be a further increase in fever, lethargy, headaches (which may be severe) and convulsions. Infections of the ear are common, and may produce an acute otitis media, in which the temperature remains elevated and there is considerable pain in the ear on one or both sides. Other unrelated germs often complicate the picture, and respiratory ones are notorious and probably affect most cases. Infections of the pharynx, larynx, throat, bronchi and lungs are all well known. These may lead to sore throats, a cough, a husky voice, and severe chest pain.

Treatment

It is customary to isolate the child for about a week from the onset of the rash. The patient is very infectious, and secretions from the nose, eyes and throat particularly so, and can readily spread to others. Isolation need not be an unhappy period—for the first few days the child will be happy to stay in bed and let the world (and school) pass quietly by. Elevated temperature usually makes a person feel lethargic and disinterested in surroundings. The body will usually overcome the infection by its own inbuilt immune system, so all that is necessary is to help nature do its job uninhibited.

Plenty of fluids are a good idea. These assist by helping to swish dead germs and metabolic debris from the system. Water-based fruit juices, water and lemonade are all satisfactory. Sucking flavoured ice-blocks is usually attractive. Add some glucose D and flavouring to make them taste nicer.

There are no food restrictions, but often the child will be off tucker for a few days. Small, high-protein, high-vitamin, attractively served meals are the best when the young patient does feel like eating.

Paracetamol elixir for children under the age of 6 will decrease body temperatures and make them feel brighter and less achey (see the dosage on label). Paracetamol or aspirin tablets for older children are suitable (one tablet four-hourly, or after meals, while the fever persists).

Gargling the throat with hot, salty water often brings relief if it is sore. Nasal drops or steam inhalations will often make the nasal passageways feel clearer and cleaner. Pre-cleanse with paper tissues and burn these after use, for they are very infectious. The same applies to secretions collected from the eyes.

Bathing the eyes with weak saline is advisable two to four times a day. If the eyes are affected, protection from direct bright light is wise, but do not enshroud the room in total darkness, as I have seen frequently done. Tilt Venetian blinds so that bright sunlight is kept out. Watching television or doing a lot of reading is inadvisable whilst the eyes are affected.

If there is a cough, any simple cough mixture is suitable. Lemon and honey is good; or use a pholcodeine cough elixir, available from the pharmacist.

If complications occur, call the doctor. Most cases of measles are self-limiting and simple measures are usually adequate.

However, the final suggestion is to have children vaccinated at the age of 12 months. One single injection is given by the doctor. It is now considered to be quite safe and very effective. Parents should consider this as part of the infant’s normal immunization routine. Doctors familiar with the serious complications of measles are very keen on vaccination.

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This is a true and dramatic story of human suffering and despair, a circulus vitiosus of going from doctor to doctor, from hospital to hospital, in the hope of finding relief from agonizing pain. This is a typical story of an arthritic, who consumed astronomical amounts of toxic drugs—and only became worse and worse! Happily, this sad story has a good ending!

The first signs of arthritis appeared in 1964. It started with a certain stiffness in the joints. The stiffness persisted and later the joints became swollen and painful. A visit to a doctor and examination showed low blood values (70 percent) and a high sedimentation rate (65). The doctor sent Greta Friberg to a hospital in Boras.

Thus started a two-year-long history of visits to various doctors and hospitals: two weeks, seven weeks and ten weeks at Boras Hospital, and five weeks at a convalescent home in Hultafors. Her condition was becoming progressively worse, her blood value was only 40 percent and the sedimentation rate 90. Finally after five weeks at the convalescent home, the stiffness and swelling in her joints was somewhat relieved.

But in January 1966 her condition again took a turn for-the worse. Not only her joints, but her whole body was swollen. Her doctor told her that the swelling was caused by the drugs she was taking. When she stopped taking the drugs, the pain was so unbearable that she couldn’t tolerate it. She felt discouraged and hopeless. Her doctors had tried everything and she was only getting worse. She felt depressed and wanted to die. There was no way out of her inferno of suffering and pain.

At this point some friends told her of Bjorkagarden Institute. Her husband felt that it was worth trying—she could hardly get worse.

She went to Bjorkagarden on March 18, 1966, and was put on a 17-day fast. “It wasn’t easy, I must admit. My nerves were bad. I was worried and irritable. But after 17 days of juice fasting, to my surprise, I felt great improvement!” said Mrs. Friberg. The pain was all but gone and her joints regained some mobility.

After one week at home (while the clinic was closed) she returned to Bjorkagarden and was put on a one-week pure-water fast; then she was on a special diet for four weeks. After this she had one more week of fasting. She returned home much improved, but not totally cured.

In June 1966 she returned to the clinic and was put on a 21-day juice fast. “After 17 days I felt that finally my health was returning to me. I could do sit-ups and walk long distances in the surrounding woods,” said Mrs. Friberg. It was at this time that I met Mrs. Friberg at Bjorkagarden Clinic and she told me her story.

To complete her cure, Mrs. Friberg returned to the clinic once more on October 9, 1966. This time she stayed a total of eight weeks. There was no. more fasting, only a special diet and all the other biological treatments: therapeutic baths, massage, steam baths, etc. Mrs. Friberg returned home completely restored to health. Now she lives a normal life, swims, skiis and exercises regularly. And she continues with the vegetarian diet she learned at Bjorkagarden, which consists mostly of raw fruits and vegetables, cooked potatoes, and little or no bread.

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Arthritis is not only the most agonizing and crippling, but also one of the fastest-growing of all degenerative diseases. There are over thirteen million arthritis sufferers in the United States.

While official medicine admits its inability to penetrate the mysteries of arthritis and find effective treatment for it, biological medicine, a new, fast-growing branch of medical science in Europe, offers a new hope for the sufferers of this agonizing disease. The biological clinics in Europe have developed new methods of treatments which have proven to be most successful in healing many diseases, including arthritis.

I have spent several years in Europe and studied first-hand these biological methods and the results obtained with them. I have visited many clinics in Sweden, Germany and Switzerland. I have interviewed staff physicians in these clinics and talked to hundreds of patients. I have seen with my own eyes how patients with arthritis, crippled for years, have left their crutches and beds and walked.

I have described in detail the full story of successful biological cure for arthritis in my book There I± a Cure for Arthritis, published in 1968 by Parker Publishing Company, West Nyack, New York. The Foreword for the book is written by Lars-Erik Essen, M.D., one of the leading pioneers of biological medicine and the director of Vita Nova, the health resort in southern Sweden. Several other medical doctors have collaborated with me on this book. It contains complete do-it-yourself biological therapies for arthritis, the answers to many of the common and pertinent questions the sufferers of arthritis have about diet, climate, vitamin supplements, cortisone, citrus fruits, vinegar, high protein diets, etc., in addition to a large list of actual cases, described in detail. Later in this chapter I will report several such cases taken from Swedish biological clinics.

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First, it must be emphasized that every case is different and therefore all treatments must be adapted for every individual case. Especially with regard & fasting, the patient’s physical and mental condition should be taken into consideration. It can vary from year to year in the same person! The suggestions given below are, therefore, to be considered only in a very general sense. If you suffer from a serious ailment it is best to consult a biologically-oriented doctor on the advisability of undertaking raw juice therapy.

Infectious diseases

The response to raw juice therapy in all forms of infectious disease is excellent. Tonsillitis also responds well.

The juices of black currants, lemons, oranges, elderberries, beets, carrots, tomatoes, watercress, onion, garlic (in very small doses), and rose hips are useful in the treatment of infectious diseases.

Stomach disorders

Gastric catarrh, or gastritis, responds well to the therapy of raw juices of carrots, tomatoes, celery and potatoes. Cabbage juice (vitamin U) is considered specifically curative for gastric catarrh and stomach ulcers. Liver and gall bladder diseases (gall bladder inflammation) are best treated with the juice of grapes, carrots, and beets with small additions of juice from dandelions and radishes. Pear juice has been found very effective in the treatment of gall bladder diseases and gall stones. Diseases of the small intestine and all forms of constipation can be improved by raw juice therapy. Garlic exerts a cleansing effect on the bowels and is beneficial in cases of excessive gas. The juice’ of yellow onions has a similar, but milder, effect. These juices can be used in small amounts, one teaspoon or one tablespoon at a time.

For chronic constipation the following juices are recommended: nettles, spinach, watercress, garlic, yellow onions, black radish, and dandelion in addition to the milder juices of carrots, cucumber, tomatoes, red beets, and celery. Sauerkraut juice cleans bowels well, but some patients are troubled with gas when they use sauerkraut.

Of the fruit juices, apple and lemon are recommended in stomach disorders. Blueberries are excellent in cases of catarrhs; they are also the best medicine for diarrhea.

Blood and heart diseases

Variations in the amounts of red blood cells can be treated with juices. “Thick” blood, polycythemia, will be thinner after two or three weeks of juice therapy. The treatment can be repeated several times. For “thin” blood, anemia, spinach and nettle juices are effective. They are rich in iron and chlorophyll, the green coloring matter of the leaves. These juices can be added to carrot juice in amounts of approximately three to four ounces a day.

The dark colored juices of grapes, beets and blueberries help increase the production of red Mood cells.4 Blood circulation is also improved by the juices, mainly because of the favorable strengthening effect they have on the tiny blood capillaries.

For disorders in the normal heart function, juices of hawthorn berries and garlic can be added to the other milder juices.

Blood pressure

The best tiling to do for high Mood pressure is to go on a juice fast, juices supply blood and tissues with the important mineral, potassium, which helps to eliminate accumulated sodium chloride (salt) from the tissues. A juice fast for high blood pressure should be of three to four weeks duration. Usually in this period of time the blood pressure goes down to normal. This therapy can be repeated several times with an interval of six months between each fast. The most suitable juices for high blood pressure are citrus fruits, black currants and grapes, plus carrots, spinach, parsley, nettles, onions and garlic (as an addition), Even in low blood pressure a juice fast can be tried, preferably under a doctor’s supervision. In this case the useful juices are pineapple, celery, nettles, black radish, onion and garlic in addition to carrot, beet and grape juice.

For edema, or water-logged body tissues, juices of pears and dandelions are used.

Leg ulcers

Leg ulcers heal faster with raw juice therapy. Juices of onion and garlic are added to carrot juice. Also effective are citrus and apple juices. A dressing of cabbage leaves and yellow onions over the ulcer speeds the healing process.

Obesity

Raw juice fasting is obviously a very appropriate therapy for obesity. Juices of celery, watercress and nettles are specifically valuable. The duration of treatment is three to four weeks, or even much longer if necessary.

Rheumatic diseases

Rheumatic diseases are particularly responsive to juice therapy. Fasts of four to six weeks can be recommended. The alkaline action of raw juices dissolves the accumulation of deposits around the joints. The combination of other biological therapies is advisable—massage, hydrotherapies, etc. In cases of gout, a noticeable worsening of the condition may develop in the early stages of Easting when uric acid, dissolved by juices, is thrown into the blood stream for elimination. In very advanced cases it is difficult to bring about a permanent improvement, but juice fasting always causes a definite improvement in the condition. Serious arthritic deformities cannot be corrected, of course, but the function of the deformed joints can be greatly improved. Juices most valuable in these situations are carrot, beet, and celery. Even juices rich in vitamin C can be used. Rheumatic diseases are collagen diseases and vitamin C is essential for healthy collagen.

Diabetes

Even diabetics can try juice therapy, but only under a sympathetic doctor’s control. The carbohydrate content of juices is not high; besides, a certain amount of carbohydrate is good for diabetics. (Fat is burned in the “fire” of the carbohydrates!) The leg ulcers of diabetics heal faster during juice therapy. Young diabetics should engage in sports; heavy physical work and exertion diminish the need for insulin.

Juices for the treatment of diabetes are: green beans, nettles, cucumber, celery, watercress, lettuce, onions, garlic and citrus juices. Cucumber contains a hormone needed by the cells of the pancreas in order to produce insulin. The hormones contained in onions are also beneficial in diabetes. Note: bean skin tea is considered by many biological doctors to be a natural substitute for insulin and extremely beneficial in diabetes. The skins of the pods of green beans are very rich in silicic acid and certain hormonal substances which are closely related to insulin. One cup of bean skin tea is equal to at least one unit of insulin. The recommended dose: one cup of bean skin tea morning, noon and evening (Waerland).

Kidney disorders

Kidney diseases and prostate disorders can be coped with successfully with raw juices. The juices of horse radish (small amount) , watercress and birch leaves can be added to carrot and celery juice. Lemon juice is effective in dissolving uric acid stones in the bladder. For prostate disorders, pumpkin juice is reported to be specifically beneficial.

Skin diseases

Various forms of eczema and other skin eruptions have been successfully treated for years with fasting methods. A certain worsening of the condition can be expected in the beginning, due to the increased elimination of waste matter. The colorful juices of black currants, red grapes, carrots, beets, spinach, and nettles are recommended. Cucumber juice, internally and externally, is specifically advised for the treatment of skin diseases; it possesses acknowledged cosmetic properties.

Nervousness and insomnia

Recommended juices for conditions of nervousness and insomnia are apples, carrots, oranges and celery.

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It is true, of course, that your body is built mostly of proteins. It is also true that proteins are vital nutritive elements and are absolutely necessary in your nutrition. Twenty percent, or more in some vital organs, of a cell’s composition is made up of protein. Since your body is constantly renewing and repairing its cells, you need lots of protein in your diet to supply all the needed amino acids, or “building blocks” for these repairs and the rebuilding of cells.

But how much is “lots”? 70, 100, 150, 200, or more grams a day, as advocated by many “experts”?

The growing number of responsible nutritionists in various parts of the world are coming to the realization that our present beliefs on the protein question are outdated and that the actual need for protein in human nutrition is far below that which has long been considered necessary. Furthermore, recent research has demonstrated that vegetable proteins, formerly believed to be incomplete and inferior to animal proteins, are actually biologically as good or better than animal proteins; and that good health can be sustained on a lesser amount of raw vegetable protein than animal protein.

First, a Finnish scientist, Dr. V. O. Siven, showed that our daily need of protein was only approximately 30 grams. Then the famous American scientist, Dr. R. Chittenden, arrived at similar results after long and extensive experiments with sportsmen and soldiers. He found that 35-50 grams of protein a day are sufficient to keep the nitrogen balance in the body. (This is the usual criterion for determining the protein requirement.) Dr. Chittenden has also shown that physical performance in sports and heavy strenuous work is better on a low protein diet. In 1946, Dr. D. M. Hegsted of Harvard University proved that the average person’s need for protein is 32.4 grams a day, if he uses mixed proteins from vegetable origin. If one-third of the protein intake is from milk, then the minimum protein requirement will be as low as 27.1 grams a day. The world-famous Swedish nutritionist, Dr. Ragnar Berg, whose works on nutrition are used as textbooks in many medical schools, did extensive research on protein needs and came to the conclusion that 30 grams of protein in the daily diet is a generous allowance. Finally, Dr. William C. Rose has shown that only 20 grams a day of mixed proteins (of which only about i/s are so-called “complete”) are sufficient for our needs.

Studies made in Germany by Professor K. Eimer showed that the performance of athletes improved after they switched from a daily 100-gram animal protein diet to a 50-gram vegetable protein diet. Japanese research showed that 25-30 grams of protein a day are sufficient to sustain good health.

Taking into consideration the great variation in protein need of each individual and the extra demands under conditions of stress or disease, a generous conclusion would be that 50-60 grams of protein daily, derived 75-80 percent from vegetable sources, are sufficient for optimum health. Proteins in excess of this amount are not needed by the body and are only burned as fuel for energy, and as an energy food proteins are inferior to carbohydrates and fats. The digestion of proteins in excess of this actual need leaves toxic metabolic waste products which contribute to self-intoxication and disease.

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