HealingDeva.com

[Terri R.]

The following information is being posted here unedited, and with the express written permission of Dr. Robert Harris.
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NATUROPATHY 101
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Robert Harris

Any questions or comments to me about this lesson should be placed right in THIS folder; it will help me to keep track of them better and provide quicker feedback.

LESSON 2 - THE CAUSE AND "TREATMENT" OF "DIS-EASE"

Causes of Dis-Ease
There are Five (5) factors that cause all sub-health conditions. They are:
1) Congenital Deformity.
2) Hereditary Weakness.
3) Organic Injury.
4) Cellular Contamination.
5) Nutritional Deficiency.

The first three represent only five percent (5%) of all sub-health conditions. The last two represent ninety five percent (95%) of all sub-health conditions. Therefore, to get a good grasp on the theory of "dis ease," you must understand that illnesses do not come as a thief in the night, but that to acquire illness under any circumstance you must usually be "fertile soil."

You must think of "Cause and Effect." THERE IS NO DISEASE WITHOUT CAUSE! Life within the body depends on functional processes. They are affected by the food we eat (or don't eat), the exercise we take, and our thinking habits. Health is a priceless possession, but many of us are careless with it. Sometimes, it has to be lost before we really appreciate good health.

Cellular contamination is another way of saying TOXEMIA. Please know that in almost all cases you can have no malnutrition without first having cellular contamination. Do you know why a person dies when they suffer burns to two-thirds of the body? Cellular contamination! The skin is a major organ of elimination, and if two-thirds of it is burned to the point where it cannot function anymore, the body cannot eliminate enough waste for it to survive and the person dies of toxemia.

With the exception of congenital deformity, hereditary weakness, and and organic injury, cellular contamination resulting in nutritional deficiency is the cause of 95% of our sick population.

TOXEMIA
Imagine a person who lights a cigarette for the first time. When the smoke is inhaled, the person gets dizzy, nauseous, and coughs. This is because the body doesn't understand or is unfamiliar with the new toxin being introduced into it. So, it defends itself by trying to get rid of the nicotine and smoke via the lungs and stomach and at the same time the brain is becoming intoxicated from it. However, if the person persists in doing this day after day, the brain will send a message to the rest of the body and the body will raise its tolerance levels. Now, after lighting a cigarette, the person no longer coughs, nor gets nauseous or dizzy. The body has now accepted the toxic substance and is now tolerating it. The symptoms have disappeared and the person is addicted.

The cigarette is only one example of the different types of poisons put into the body on a daily basis. Other factors such as overeating and drinking, overwork, worry, cooked foods, sugar, salt, caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, drugs, serum injections, impure water, polluted air, tension, depression, lack of rest, and excess in sexual relations all contribute to toxemia. By indulging in these practices day after day, disease is produced over a long period of time.

DIS-EASE STAGES
A simple "cold" is merely an expression of the body's efforts to "clean house." Colds are the temporary endpoints of our ability to hold toxins in storage anymore. A "cold" is actually an occurrence called a "healing crisis." A healing crisis occurs when toxins are released from their areas of storage (usually at a point when they can't be held by the body anymore. After all, an eight-ounce juice glass will overflow if you try to pour 12 ounces of juice into it). and "dumped" into the general circulation to be removed from the body by the Organs of Elimination (bowels, kidneys, lungs, and skin). Until the time they are excreted, TOXINS TRAVEL THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE BODY, IRRITATING EVERY TISSUE THEY PASS THROUGH. The "sore throat, aches, pains, chills, and fever" associated with the common cold are actually caused by the toxin-laden blood irritating body tissues.

If every time you "catch" a cold, and you suppress it with drugs or medications of any kind, these toxins will be driven back into the bloodstream only to store somewhere else. After a period of time you may notice that you no longer suffer "colds," but are now experiencing the "flu." If everytime you get the "flu," you suppress it with medications or drugs, the same thing takes place. Toxins are driven back into the bloodstream. After a period of time, now you notice that you are no longer experiencing the "flu," but bronchial infections. If everytime you get this bronchial infection you "treat" it with drugs or medications of any kind, you will drive the toxins back into the bloodstream to store somewhere else in the body. IN ADDITION, THE RESIDUES OF THESE TOXIC DRUGS YOU ARE TAKING ARE STORING IN BODY TISSUES AS WELL. After a period of time, you may notice that you no longer get bronchial infections, or colds, or flus. Things may seem to go well for a while, and one day you really feel terrible and do not know why. At this time, you decide to see a physician, and he or she diagnoses any one or a number of degenerative diseases, such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, etc.

To the Traditional Naturopath, "All disease is one disease, and one disease is all disease." For example...

1. Toxins storing in the pancreas can hamper its functioning so that the Islets of Langerhaans no longer secrete an adequate amount of insulin to control blood sugar...DIABETES.

2. Toxins storing in joint spaces can cause them to become red, warm, painful and swollen...ARTHRITIS.

3. Toxins storing in the bone marrow can severely affect the production of red blood cells...ANEMIA.

4. Toxins storing in the walls of the arteries can limit their diameter, causing the heart to pump harder to circulate blood around the body...HYPERTENSION (HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE).

GET THE IDEA? So...how does the Traditional Naturopath "treat" disease?

1. Eliminate (or at least greatly reduce) the intake of toxins.
2. Detoxify the body of toxins present.
3. Adopt the "Mode of Biologically Correct Living," which stresses proper diet, rest, water, sunshine, fresh air, proper mental attitudes and exercise.

Please post all questions or comments for this lesson in THIS folder!

Thanks, and see you soon!

Dr. Bob Harris, N.D., P.M.D., TFTdx
Traditional Naturopath

[Terri R.]

LESSON III - FASTING AND SYSTEMIC DETOXIFICATION

Naturopathic health counselors believe that the use of therapeutic fasting is absolutely necessary in the correction of any illness. In as much as the body is constantly battling against wastes, the fast is an effective method of fighting toxemia and is one important modality that the practitioner can use toward achieving and maintaining superior health for his or her clients.

Symptoms of Toxemia

One way to ascertain the need for detoxification is to look for signs from the body, such as the following, joint pain, headaches, skin "eruptions," allergies, constipation, fatigue, back pain, insomnia, ulcers, sinus congestion, mood swings, hemorrhoids, recurrent respiratory problems, and a lack of mental clarity.

What is Fasting?

The old English word fasten literally means "fixed" or "firm." When individuals fast, they grasp onto a firm basis under controlled or fixed conditions. Fasting is a controlled experience; the person abstains totally from eating food for a definite period of time.

One important point should be noted here. That is, fasting and starvation are two separate and distinct phenomena. There are people who will panic when they find that a friend or a loved one is going to abstain from food in order to help the body recuperate from minor or even serous illness. The concerned parties fear that the individual will starve. When a person fasts, the body supports itself with the reserves of nutrients that are stored in its tissues. When the withdrawal of food is carried beyond the time when the reserves have dropped to a dangerously low level or have been totally spent, starvation then occurs.

Why Fasting Works

By withholding the intake of food during fasting, the processes of elimination and discharge are hastened through the bowels, skin, sinuses, kidneys, lungs, and urinary bladder. The tremendous amount of energy, which is normally needed for the digestion and processing of food, is now redirected to bodily detoxification and repair.

This therapeutic technique allows for the liberation of great amounts of bodily debris, most notably, mucus. This excessive mucus leads to cellular stagnation. Fasting helps to decrease this strangulation of body cells by allowing them to purge themselves of wastes, increase the amount of oxygen entering them, and enhance cellular nutrition.

Following a fast, the body's "cleaned out" and the digestion of food and assimilation of nutrients is enhanced. Waste is eliminated efficiently and enzyme secretion is enhanced.

To Begin and End a Fast

Many Naturopaths who are well versed in the technique of fasting suggest that individual prepare for the fast by consuming only raw fruits and vegetables for two or three days prior to the first day before starting the fast.

A short fast is one in which only pure (preferably distilled) water is consumed. There are no hard and fast rules as to the amount of water that should be taken. The individual should drink as much water as is determined by his or her thirst, however, a few eight ounce glasses should be taken per day. As a matter of fact, it has been shown that the less liquid that is consumed, the more aggressively the fast works.

On the days of fasting, rest. Take several short naps, if possible. Do not engage in exercise. By resting, the body can center its energies on detoxification and healing. Rest is also important when food is being withheld; during a fast, no energy producing substances are put into the body. While fasting, be certain to engage in other health generating pursuits, such as breathing fresh air, absorbing sunlight, and engaging in very slow and gentle body stretching exercises. These activities will promote the body's eliminative processes.

Since fasting on water alone can prompt the immediate release of toxins into the blood, we must ask how long should a person fast? In many European Naturopathic clinics, it is not unusual for an individual being treated for an ailment to undertake supervised water fast for seven to fourteen days. Many Naturopaths believe that TWO DAYS OF FASTING PER WEEK FOR SEVERAL WEEKS will accomplish as much bodily detoxification as extended water fast. During short weekly fasts, the individual does not suffer the usual problems and discomforts associated with the extended fast.

If desired, a person may adopt a definite schedule of fasting. In their book, Apple Cider Vinegar Health System, Naturopathic Doctors Paul and Patrician Bragg suggest a fasting routine of twenty-four hours every Monday, and the first three days of each new month.

To resume eating after a monthly three day fast, take fresh raw on the day following the fast. Lunch may consist of more fresh fruit or a garden salad with light dressing.

For dinner, try a fruit salad or garden salad with a small serving of complex carbohydrates, such as corn, pasta, or rice. Throughout the day, take as much fresh fruit and vegetable juice and/or clean pure water as desired.

The Benefits of Fasting

Fasting affords the individual many benefits. Some of these include: more restful sleep, enhanced resistance to illness, drug detoxification, reduction of allergies, clearer skin, and greater energy, just to name a few.

Points to Ponder:

A short cleansing fast will calm body systems and cleanse body tissues. Before starting a fast, keep these important points in mind:

1. Seek advice from a Naturopath and/or physician before taking a fast.

2. Do not fast for more than two or three days unless under the direct supervision of a qualified practitioner.

3. Drink at least four (4) pints of fruit juice and water in intervals everyday. Take more if desired.

4. Do not take food supplements during the fast (they activate the digestive system). Take supplements after the fast.

5. Do not attempt to drive or operate heavy machinery on the second or third day of the fast.

6. Be prepared for "bad breath," diarrhea, headaches, constipation, or a coated tongue during the first or second day.

Do not be concerned if noticing any of the above "symptoms" while engaging in the fast; the actually indicate that the body is healing.

Possible Symptoms to Expect During Detoxification

During systemic detoxification, poisons liberated from areas of storage travel through the bloodstream to the major routes of elimination. Until eliminated, however, they travel throughout the entire body, and possibly produce the following symptoms: sore throat, headache, stomachache, cough, skin eruptions, clogged sinuses, irritability depression, weakness, faintness, weight loss, and mild fever and diarrhea not lasting more than thirty-six hours. These occur as the body readjusts itself to a new chemistry.

An occasional drop in energy and a feeling of weakness may be noted due to the body's utilization of new found energy to flush toxins from the system and remove cellular contamination.
Actually, there is increased energy, but during this healing phase it is not interpreted by the mind as such, so it is not available to the individual. During detoxification, rest and relaxation are very important.

As soon as the body has had time to readjust itself to a new chemistry and repair the damage caused by eating denatured and devitalized food; lasting effects and benefits of changes in eating habits will be realized.

This should ordinarily take a short time. However, if excessive quantities of "junk foods" have been consumed, it may take a little longer to realize the benefits of the changeover to the new program. "Junk foods" are those "foods" containing various additives, such as dyes, stabilizers, preservatives, oxidants, etc.

When self-poisoning habits are discontinued, headaches and a feeling of lethargy usually occur. As the body discards toxins, "depression" may be felt due to slower heart action as poisons leave the body, because more natural rather than stimulating foods are being eaten. The headaches and depression may last up to seventy-two hours. DO NOTTAKE ANY REMEDIES AT THIS TIME. A decrease in energy may be noted due to the withdrawal of stimulants and inferior food. This may last about two weeks, but will be replaced by greater stamina and energy, and a feeling of well being.

Bad eating habits should be broken early in life, before severe pathological body conditions enter into the picture. When this occurs, it is quite difficult to reverse, and the change takes some time.

When self-poisoning habits are discontinued, headaches and a feeling of lethargy usually occur. As the body discards toxins, "depression" may be felt due to slower heart action as poisons leave the body, because more natural rather than stimulating foods are being eaten. The headaches and depression may last up to seventy-two hours. DO NOTTAKE ANY REMEDIES AT THIS TIME. A decrease in energy may be noted due to the withdrawal of stimulants and inferior food. This may last about two weeks, but will be replaced by greater stamina and energy, and a feeling of well being.

Bad eating habits should be broken early in life, before severe pathological body conditions enter into the picture. When this occurs, it is quite difficult to reverse, and the change takes some time.

Who Should Not Fast

While the technique of fasting is an absolutely safe natural healing modality, there are a few instances in which it should not be used unless directly supervised by a competent naturopathic practitioner. These situations include advanced cases of tuberculosis, advanced diabetes, during pregnancy and lactation, and active malignancies. If a person is extremely emaciated, then he or she should not fast for any more than three (3) days in a row, and should take a proper diet in between "rounds" of fasting. If there is serious acute disease, again, consult a physician for advice.

[Terri R.]

LESSON IV: THE “DOCTORS” OF NATURE – PART 1

HOLISTIC NUTRITION, REST, WATER

HOLISTIC NUTRITION

The following guidelines are the basis of holistic nutrition. Compare your present eating regimen with the guidelines presented, and do your best to make any changes that seem natural and easy.

1. Eat 70% whole, complete, unrefined and unadulterated foods (FRUIT, VEGETABLES, AND SALADS) per day. These should be fresh, as close to nature as possible, and poison-free.

2. DO NOT EAT PROTEINS AND STARCHES AT THE SAME MEAL! EAT PROTEINS AT LUNCH WITH NON-STARCHY VEGETABLES; EAT STARCHES AT SUPPER WITH NON-STARCHY VEGETABLES, IF POSSIBLE. Meats – Eat organically raised meats, and no more than three (3) times per week. Give preference to fish, poultry, veal, lamb, beef and pork, in that order.

This method of eating is referred to as proper food combining, and will help the body by diverting precious healing energy from the digestive process to the processes of detoxification and healing. This occurs while the body is also properly nourished. By eating this way, a full day’s eating will only require about fifteen percent (15%) of the day’s allotment of energy, leaving eighty-five percent (85%) for detoxification and bodily repair. Energy is required for all of these processes.

3. Allow four (4) to four-and –one half (4.5) hours to lapse between protein and starch meals.

4. Starches and fats CAN be eaten at the same meal.

5. Take dairy products ALONE or at least with neutral vegetables.

6. Eat at least one (1) all fruit or all-vegetable meal per day. If possible, eat the all-fruit meal in the morning.

7. Have one “live food day” once per week; that is, eat only raw fruits and raw or slightly steamed vegetables with plenty of garden salad.

8. Take any suggested nutrition supplements with meals, and take digestive enzymes with any cooked meal.

9. Space an interval of three (3) hours between the end of dinner and bedtime.

10. Have one (1) glass of water first thing in the morning and an additional glass fifteen (15) minutes before each meal.

Proper food combining keeps the digestive system clean, healthy, and working at optimum efficiency. When foods are miscombined (i.e.: heavy concentrated proteins and starches being eaten at the same meal), toxins are produced and sent into the bloodstream where they a re transported throughout the body. Also, miscombined meals tend to clog the digestive tract, which results in a decreased absorption of nutrients into the bloodstream.

Fresh raw fruit is one of the best sources of roughage that can be eaten; its action of effectively “sweeping” out the digestive tract and adding bulk and moisture to the waste products is unquestioned.

In order for fruit to effectively help in maintaining and regaining health, a few guidelines for its consumption should be followed.

1. Do not eat fresh fruit with or immediately following anything.
2. Space thirty (30) to forty-five (45) minutes between the last serving of fresh fruit and any “properly-combined” meal.
3. Fresh fruit can be eaten as a “snack” three (3) hours after any “properly-combined” meal.
4. If miscombined meals are eaten, spend the next day eating fresh raw fruits, especially if feeling bloated, gassy, or uncomfortable. The fruit will help to cleanse the residues produced from the intestinal system.

NUTRIENT SOURCES

PROTEIN (CONCENTRATED FOODS) – Cheese (natural varieties), coconut, eggs, fish, fowl, game, meats, milk, nuts and nut butters, peanuts, seeds and seed butters, shellfish, soybeans, tofu.

CARBOHYDRATES (CONCENTRATED FOODS) – Beans, bread and crackers, cereals, lentils, pasta, potatoes, pumpkins, rice, split peas, whole grains, winter squash.

FATS AND OILS:

Fats – Avocado, butter, cram, margarine, mayonnaise, olives, peanut butter, sour cream, very fatty meats (example – bacon).

Oils – Avocado, corn, nut, olive, safflower, sesame, soy, sunflower.
NON-STARCHY VEGETABLES (THESE MAY BE EATEN WITH PROTEIN OR STARCH):

Artichoke, asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, chard, cucumbers, dandelion greens, kale, leeks, lettuce (all varieties), mushrooms, parsley, peppers (green and red – the non-pungent type), radish, spinach, watercress, zucchini.

EXAMPLES OF PROPERLY-COMBINED MEALS:

Breakfast Suggestions:
1. Bananas with cream.
2. Oatmeal with butter and cinnamon.
3. Apples, oranges, and dried fruit.

Lunch Suggestions:
1. Tuna fish and vegetable salad.
2. Hamburger patty with sautéed onions and vegetable salad.
3. Vegetable salad with cold turkey or chicken.

Dinner Suggestions:
1. Baked potato stuffed with sautéed onions and butter or sour cream with vegetable salad and two non-starchy vegetables.
2. Spaghetti with marinara sauce and a vegetable salad.
3. Baked eggplant or vegetable casserole with garlic bread.

Additional Note:

An acid-forming meal ideally should never be followed by another acid-forming meal. Follow every meal containing a concentrated protein or starch with an all vegetable or all fruit meal. By alternating “heavy” and “light” meals, you will assure a strong alkaline reserve in the blood.

REST AND SLEEP

Obtaining sufficient rest and sleeping properly is extremely important during the early stages of detoxification. The energy that is needed for bodily detoxification and repair comes from resting and sleeping properly. Rest during the day if feeling tired; do not press yourself to continue with daily activities if genuinely tired.

WATER

Consumption:

It is extremely important to drink pure water if possible. As a matter of fact, it is most beneficial to consume distilled water. Do not drink fluids with meals. Drink fifteen (15) minutes before a meal, nothing with the meal and no fluid until one (1) full hour after the meal. If you are thirsty during or after the meal, eat pieces of raw cucumber, which are very high in water content. These should satisfy thirst.

Detoxification:
This procedure helps with the elimination of toxins through the skin.
1. Spread two blankets lengthwise on a bed with a sheet over them.
2. Wet a trowel with cold water and wring out the excess. The towel should be damp, but not dripping. Place the towel in a plastic bag, and them keep it in the freezer until needed.
3. Take a hot bath or shower (as hot as you can comfortably stand) for five-to-ten minutes. You should feel warm after this bath or shower. If not, postpone the treatment until you feel warmer.
4. Get out of the shower and dry off.
5. Wrap the cold towel all the way around your trunk.
6. Lie down on the blankets and sheet prepared earlier.
7. Wrap the sheet and blankets snuggly around you.
8. Sleep, rest, meditate, or listen to gentle soft music for twenty five to thirty minutes, or until your body has warmed the toweling.

You may also take a long, hot bath (for at least fifteen minutes) once per week. Prior to this bath, use a soft skin brush to remove dead skin cells. After the bath, use a natural loofah sponge to remove any remaining cells. This is a great natural method that can also be used to help detoxify the body by bringing toxin-laden blood up to the skin’s surface for excretion.

PLEASE POST ALL QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, OR CONCERNS ABOUT THIS LESSON IN THIS FOLDER ONLY; IT WILL MAKE THEM EASIER FOR ME TO FIND!

Dr. Bob