Health News. Lots of resources and information

No one likes to have skin blemishes, yet it is not uncommon for young people to have a problem with spots, especially at the age of puberty. A spotty face can even create an inferiority complex if all lotions and creams fail to help. This is another reason why the problem of impure skin should be tackled at the roots. The recommendation to be careful about what one eats and adopt an appropriate diet is not always received with appreciation, but it is necessary, since the trouble is basically the result of ingesting the wrong food.

If you suffer from spots it is of the utmost importance to reduce your intake of fats by half or three-quarters. What is more, take great care to avoid heated fats and oils, animal fats being especially detrimental. Cakes, biscuits, pastries, and all other sweets should be left out of the diet altogether or at least drastically reduced. Eggs, particularly boiled eggs, omelettes and other egg dishes are like poison for impure skin. Only fresh, soft white cheeses such as cottage cheese or quark are digestible, but no other kind of cheese. Raw vegetables, natural brown rice, potatoes boiled in their skins, cottage cheese and horseradish are nutritive and remedial and contain plenty of essential vitamins and minerals. Hot spices tend to make things worse. Some external remedies that have proved very effective are Echinaforce and Molkosan; one day apply Echinaforce to the affected area, the next day use Molkosan, and continue in daily alternation. Apply a little Bioforce Cream to any patches of dry skin. For internal treatment take Violaforce, a tincture made from heartsease (wild pansy), and also Echinaforce.

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Besides the fruits mentioned in the article, the patient should also eat avocados, papaya, and perhaps bananas – fruits that are available all the year round.

A well-known tennis player came down with AIDS, and was diagnosed as such by the doctors of St Vincent hospital. This same person was completely cured by means of a special diet high in vitamins but low in protein, a protein-free fruit diet. Today he plays tennis with the same verve and vitality as he did before.

There is no doubt the AIDS disease has scared many, above all the young, making them rethink and modify their ethical views, especially their attitudes towards sexual morality. And I appeal whole-heartedly to doctors and dieticians to try everything in their power so that something positive rather than alarming will soon be reported by the media.

Remember, nature is bound to have a way, but it must be sought. And he who seeks can expect to find a solution.

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Thousands of pages have been written about cancer, yet our critical questions remain practically unanswered. Histologists with their modern ultramicroscopes or electron microscopes have so far not been able to tell us why a healthy cell becomes a cancer cell. It is for this reason that the early diagnosis of cancer is so difficult. Public information and lectures often make cancer appear to be a simple and straightforward problem and, for example, women over forty are encouraged to visit the doctor for a regular check-up. The doctor keeps telling them that there is no reason to be anxious, that everything is in order – and the women lose their fear of cancer. Then, quite suddenly, and in spite of the doctor’s reassurances, a woman notices a hard lump. She rushes to a specialist who asks, with a slight tone of reproach in his voice, ‘Why did you not come to see me sooner?’ When she answers that the family doctor has been checking her regularly for years the specialist is naturally embarrassed and worried. Indeed, cancer is a difficult problem even for a capable physician and his efforts to prolong a patient’s life can often be in vain.

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No vitamin or mineral acts by itself, it needs to inter-react with other vitamins and minerals before it can be of any nutritional use to the body. This is why vitamins and minerals cannot be considered as therapeutic agents (in the manner of drugs) that cure specific diseases. For instance, vitamin C is not a cure for the common cold. However, it is a principal nutrient in raising the body’s resistance to the cold and ‘flu virus. The white blood cells (T-lymphocytes) cannot absorb vitamin C unless vitamins B12, B6, folic acid, choline and the mineral zinc are also present. Moreover, vitamin C cannot boost the virus-killing power of the white blood cell if it doesn’t have these same nutrients to interact with once inside the T-lymphocyte.

If there is not enough zinc in your diet, your cells actually lose vitamin A even though you may be taking a vitamin A tablet. Vitamin A deficiency leads to improper metabolisation of iron (anaemia) which in turn affects calcium metabolism (reduced bone growth, muscle contraction and the burning of glucose for energy). When iron metabolism is disrupted vitamin B12 metabolism is disrupted, which in turn disrupts folic acid, which in turn disrupts magnesium metabolism and so it goes on and on.

By working together, vitamins and minerals get the metabolism working properly and thus correct metabolic diseases. Vitamins are only of assistance where deficiencies exist. Metabolic diseases are, in the main, the result of vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

In its 1988 report on the nutritional state of Australians the federal Department of Health found that Australian women (in particular) were deficient in zinc, calcium and iron and suggested that more seafood be eaten. My experience is that most people cannot afford the amount of seafood needed to overcome these mineral deficiencies. A complete multi-vitamin and mineral is a much cheaper way of achieving the desired result.

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Prolonged or excessively shallow breathing causes a build-up of carbon dioxide in the blood. Too much carbon dioxide causes the significant chemical imbalance of the blood called acidosis. Acidosis has far-reaching effects on the metabolism of the body.

As carbon dioxide retention in the blood progresses the degree of metabolic imbalance increases and the symptoms of acidosis become more numerous. The early symptoms are a quickening of the pulse, stomach upsets, heart burn, gas, panic and anxiety attacks, moist warm hands, muscle cramps in neck, shoulder and back, constricted pupils and elevated blood pressure. Severe carbon dioxide retention leads to drowsiness, dizziness, fatigue, confusion, tingling and numbness in arms, legs and hands, and tremors. Hallucination, fainting and coma are the severest symptoms of all. Some people experience sleep disturbances.

Although the blood has special buffer substances to neutralise the carbonic acid (retained carbon dioxide in the blood) and the kidneys are also able to neutralise it, the body still relies heavily on the lungs to blow most of it off. This can only be done if we breathe deeply as most of the carbon dioxide sits in the lower lobes of the lungs.

Drugs, especially morphine, Valium and the barbiturates, will also cause carbon dioxide retention. Deep breathing is imperative for those who are being treated with these drugs.

Those whose shallow breathing is the result of stress also have a build-up of lactic acid in the blood. An excess of lactic acid robs the body of its calcium reserves as calcium is needed to neutralise lactic acid. A deficiency in calcium contributes to anxiety. The deep breathing exercises help to reduce the levels of lactic acid as well and are even more successful at this if the mental relaxation exercises are also practised.

Deep breathing helps to maintain a steady, elevated, metabolic rate which helps keep the body weight normal.

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Q. Which of the cold pressed vegetable oils is best? Why do we need them?

A. They are all good. Choose an oil that you are not allergic to.

Q. Will I put on weight if I have the oil?

A. Not if you take only the quantities recommended in the programs.

Q. Which is the most stable oil for cooking?

A. Olive oil. But it contains amines and salicylates. Use one of the others if you suspect you are amine or salicylate sensitive.

Q. Is cod liver oil safe to give to children?

A. Most certainly, if you can get them to take it. If not, give them the MaxEPA marine lipid capsules. Not for toddlers though, they may choke on tablets or capsules.

Q. Which is better, butter or margarine?

A. Butter. Margarine has preservatives, colourings and often milk sugar and milk protein. Butter is pure fat.

Q. Will Nystatin and garlic kill Lactobacillus acidophilus?

A. No. Nystatin kills only yeast organisms and garlic is not a broad spectrum killer of bacteria. It only kills unfriendly bacteria. Lactobacillus is a friendly bacterium.

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Lunch is not to be eaten any later than 1.30 p.m. If it is, you run the risk of hypoglycaemia and will blame the resulting tiredness, lethargy, mood swings, poor concentration, weakness, lightheadedness on the program, suspecting you are allergic to a food,

A 230 mL (8 oz) glass of water or vegetable juice must be sipped with lunch. Glucose cannot be added to the water on the Anti-Candida Program.

If you missed your morning deep breathing exercises then twenty minutes’ yogic walking in the park before lunch is a good substitute and will relax and energise you for the rest of the day.

As with the breakfast menu, the lunch options may be mixed and matched, swapped or changed with other meals. Again keep high and moderate amine and salicylate foods out for the first four weeks—study the lists.

OPTION 1

A home-made garden salad (not from fast food outlet) comprising any variety of garden vegetables that you are not sensitive to. Include 120-240 g (4-8 oz) of lean unprocessed meat (all fat trimmed), seafood or poultry (skin and all fat trimmed off). Eggs may also be had if you are not allergic to them and your cholesterol levels are normal. Nuts and/or sunflower and sesame seeds may be added to give the salad variety and flavour. 90-150 g (3-5 oz) of a carbohydrate food such as boiled, baked or mashed (with oil) potato must be eaten. Cooked brown rice, wholemeal pasta and wholemeal unleavened bread are other acceptable alternatives. No rice cakes.

Home-made chips (French fries) may also be eaten—not if you have high cholesterol though, and not the commercially prepared chips or the little round potato balls served at restaurants and take-away outlets, or bought frozen from the supermarket. These contain chemicals that many people are allergic to. Carbohydrate foods must be eaten at lunch to prevent the blood glucose levels dropping by mid-afternoon (hypoglycaemia). You can have a dressing of cold pressed vegetable oil with lemon juice (no vinegar) and garlic if you like. Add any of the permissible herbs and spices to the dressing. Candida Killer dip may be eaten on the side or over the salad after four weeks.

OPTION 2

Good for lowering cholesterol levels, although suitable for anyone.

A thick bean and lentil stew. Add lecithin granules if your cholesterol is high. One to three slices of wholemeal unleavened bread may be eaten with it (not rice cakes). Have the bread dry or with a thin spread of butter if you are not allergic to milk and your cholesterol levels are normal. Preferably, brush olive oil on the bread.

You may still have this dish if your cholesterol levels are normal as it only lowers high cholesterol levels, it doesn’t lower normal cholesterol levels. A rice bran muffin may be eaten in place of the bread if your cholesterol levels arc high.

OPTION 3

A thick vegetable soup. Include any variety of garden vegetables that you are not sensitive to. Lean meat, fish or poultry may be included in the soup, as may any of the permissible herbs and spices. One to three slices of unleavened wholemeal bread (not rice cakes), with butter (though preferably oil) on it, may be eaten.

Toast the bread (after first four weeks) if you like. If your cholesterol levels are high, a rice bran muffin may be eaten instead of bread, and rice bran may be added to thicken the soup. The soup may still be eaten if your cholesterol levels are normal as it won’t lower them below normal.

OPTION 4

Sandwiches—two slices of bread per sandwich, as thick as you like. Unleavened wholemeal bread (not rice cakes) or muffins may be used for sandwiches. The fillings may include salad with lean meat, fish or poultry. Canned fish (done in brine [salt and water] only) may also be used.

Egg filling is permissible if you are not allergic to egg and your cholesterol levels are normal. Cashew, almond and hazelnut pastes (and butters) and tahini are good fillings. No peanut butter though. You may have a thin spread of butter (if you are not allergic to milk and cholesterol levels are normal), though oil is preferable.

Candida Killer sandwich filling may be used if desired. Savoury Mince may also be used. Have one to three sandwiches, depending on your size, hunger and activity levels.

OPTION 5

Not for hypoglycaemics.

60-120 g (2-4 oz) of raw nuts and/or sunflower and sesame seeds. Two to three fresh fruits (but no melons, grapes or bananas) may be eaten with the nuts and seeds for eight weeks of the twelve week program. For four weeks you are to have the nuts and seeds only.

Have nuts and fruits in accordance with any allergies that you may have. Keep high and moderate amine and salicylate foods out for the first four weeks.

Note: You cannot have this option if you had fruit salad for breakfast.

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In fairness to cortisone it does have a place in the overall treatment program of allergies. Cortisone creams are very effective at keeping skin rashes and eczema at bay while the programs are taking effect. Keeping the skin quiet during this time keeps stress levels down, the anxiety of looking at an affected skin being a major stress. Such anxiety reduces the efficacy of the programs. The short time that cortisone cream will be needed will not be long enough to damage the skin as the programs speed the rate of skin regeneration. Cortisone puffers allow a good night’s sleep which is imperative for raising the body’s resistance to colds, ‘flu and asthma. Asthma responds quickly to the programs when body resistance is up. The programs lose some of their efficacy when sleep is broken by too many asthma attacks. The short amount of time cortisone puffers will be needed while on the program is not enough to produce significant Candida colonies or tissue damage to the mouth, throat and upper windpipe.

This is a slow process. The time it takes depends on the amount you’re on and the length of time you have been on it. Your doctor will probably reduce it by 1 -2 mg only every two to four weeks. This gives the metabolism the chance to adjust and rebalance itself. My experience is that withdrawal from cortisone tablets is more successful if the patient is on the Metabolism-Balancing Program. If you are on cortisone and showing the early signs of Cushing’s syndrome, don’t panic. Follow the instructions listed in the recommended program. There is a 90 per cent chance you will get better.

If you allow yourself to be on the cortisone drugs (tablets taken orally) for too long you’ll reach the point of no return. You won’t be able to come off them.

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We all enjoy spending time with friends and loved ones, and in any case, the stimulation of visitors can be beneficial. There will be times when you feel the need for almost constant support and companionship. If you are experiencing a ‘low’ period and feel anxious and vulnerable then the company of a loved one or a good friend is invaluable – how often do we admit in times of stress or crisis (although usually after the event) that ‘I couldn’t have got through it without X’? At other times you may prefer to be alone with your own thoughts or to go out on your own in order to feel more independent. Your needs will vary, and while it may not be possible for family and friends always to be with you when you need them, it is helpful if they can understand when and why you need them most.

If you live alone or your wife/partner works full-time, then you will need to devise ways to ensure you have sufficient company and support. Even if you are generally happy to be alone, it is important that you do not feel isolated and unable to ask for companionship when you need it. Picking up the phone and letting a friend or relative know that you’d appreciate a visit can be hard at first – there may be some sense of admission that you can’t manage on your own, which you find difficult. This is not, of course, the case – often, people are delighted to be asked, and flattered that you have chosen them. It is very important not to let pride stand in your way! If you do usually live alone, it is likely that hospital staff will insist on arrangements to be made for your support and care before you are able to go home after treatments. This is not because they do not trust you to look after yourself, but because side-effects and problems can be unpredictable, and it is in nobody’s interest not to take suitable precautions.

From a practical point of view, you may need more support than usual with everyday tasks which you have always undertaken without a second thought, such as preparing meals or getting around and out of the house. Treatment can have unexpected effects on your physical strength and stamina, and it is important to make sure that back-up is available when you need it. This doesn’t necessarily mean you need someone to look after you full-time, although one option is to ask a relative or friend to stay with you for a time. If this is not feasible or desirable, your district nurse can arrange to visit you at home each day, and Marie Curie or Macmillan nurses can offer more specialist nursing care if you need it. Your GP can visit to check that you are coping with your medications and any side-effects. An occupational therapist can also advise on any special equipment to make managing at home easier for you.

Arrangements for both emotional and practical support may need to be more structured if you live or spend most of your time alone and can’t rely on the presence of a wife or partner. You may have to make a more conscious effort to ensure that you have all the help you need – but this does not mean that you will manage any less effectively.

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Any step into unknown territory holds fears. Starting college or a new job, moving house and visiting the dentist all cause us a degree of fear either because we don’t know what to expect from the experience and/or because we anticipate that it will be unpleasant. Dealing with cancer is certainly a league ahead in terms of the intensity of our fears, but the root cause is the same: fear of the unknown. There are so many unknown factors involved that our security is profoundly threatened:

Will I be in pain?

What is the treatment like?

Will the treatment hurt?

Will the treatment work?

What does the future hold for me?

How will my family cope?

Will my life ever be ‘normal’ again?

How will I manage to get through this?

Becoming well-informed about your cancer and treatment can help to allay certain fears: the greater your knowledge and understanding of what is happening, the more control you can take and the less uncertainty you will feel about specific aspects of your disease or treatment. However, fear is not a logical emotion and a theoretical understanding will not always prevent you from worrying. It cannot necessarily help you with more general fears – about coping or about the future, for example.

One of the aspects of cancer and its treatment which causes most fear is uncertainty: uncertainty at how effective your treatment is and uncertainty at how much of your cancer will be eradicated. Waiting for the results of X-rays or blood tests, perhaps not hearing anything for several weeks between treatments, can cause great anxiety. You don’t know what to prepare yourself for or what plans to make, you can’t stop thinking about what might or might not happen. Tension is bound to build up, however much you try to take your mind off your cancer.

After the first awful month or six weeks, it was clear that I was responding well to my chemotherapy. Following so much bad news, this was more than we could have hoped for. But there was still a very long way to go and although my tumour markers were moving in the right direction, there was no guarantee that this would continue. We anticipated each hospital visit (weekly at this stage) with a mixture of unvoiced hope and stomach-turning trepidation. Butterflies? Legions of them, all on overtime. If the details were not immediately forthcoming, it took a huge effort of will to ask, ‘What are my tumour markers this week?’ or ‘What did the CT scan show?’

Apart from immediate fears about the possible unpleasantness of treatment, thinking about the future is likely to emerge as your single greatest fear. This can encompass a whole range of ideas, from ‘How will I manage to get through my treatment?’ to ‘Will I ever get better?’ At times when you are feeling physically low, you might wonder if you can bear to undergo any more treatment or how you can possibly tolerate the effects of your cancer any longer. How will you cope if you become physically incapacitated in some way? Who will look after you? How will you manage financially? Do you fear that your family and friends will eventually tire of supporting you and that you will feel a burden to them?

Fighting against cancer shakes the very foundations of your life, and it would be unusual not to experience fears that your life is toppling around you. These thought processes cannot be banished, but you can help to keep them in perspective by sharing them with someone you trust to take you seriously and listen. There may be times when you know your fears are irrational, but you need someone to take the time to talk them through with you. You may not expect solutions to your fears, but sharing them and knowing that someone you like and respect acknowledges and appreciates your worries can make them more bearable.

Just to hear someone say, ‘Of course you’re not being stupid! I can see now how difficult this is for you’ or T hadn’t appreciated until now how cancer takes over your life’ can be enormously helpful and will help you to realize that you don’t have to face your fears alone.

Sometimes a desire to express anxiety can be inhibited by a superstitious worry that voicing fears will somehow make them come true. For example, you are anxious that your treatment might not be as effective as you’d hoped, but you daren’t say so because you don’t want to ‘tempt fate’. We know this cannot happen but it can still make us hold back from saying all we want to. Even sharing this fear can help. Nobody will think you foolish: others are likely to admit to exactly the same worry.

If you spend a lot of time alone, your fears are more likely to become magnified. Similarly, if you are not sleeping well, fears can get out of control in the middle of the night. It would be foolish to pretend that they can be avoided completely, but it is important not to allow them to take over your mind. Sharing your worries will help. It is tempting to be ‘strong’ and keep them to yourself, but the people around you will be aware of your state of mind and will want to help. It is, however, important to remember that there may be occasions when you simply prefer to maintain a ‘stiff upper lip’. There are times when this can be an equally valid coping mechanism.

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