History and Philosophy

Question 1

History

Answer 1

• Ayurvedic Medicine: Recorded over 5000 years ago (applications of air, herbs &
• Chinese Medicine: 3000 years ago, TCM.
• Egyptians: Used liver for night blindness
• Native Americans: Use of herbs.
• Disease was treated in all cultures using fasting, diets, purging, herbs, various forms of hydrotherapy.

Question 2

Hippocrates (468-377 BC)

Answer 2

• “Let food be thy Medicine, and Medicine be thy food”.
• Hippocrates if described as the ‘Father of Medicine’.
• “Food as the primary source of medicine, health and healing. First use food, then herbs, finally intervention”.
• Nature is the “Physician of Man”.
• Credited for writing the ‘Hippocratic Oath’

Question 3

Hippocratic Oath (old version)

Answer 3

• “I will apply dietetic measures for the benefit of the sick according to my ability and judgment; I will keep them from harm and injustice.”
• “I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody who asked for it, nor will I suggest to this effect. In purity and holiness I will guard my life and my art.”
• Note: The above Oath is a part of the original Hippocratic Oath. The original Hippocratic Oath has been altered numerous times and is different today.

Question 4

Ancient Greek Medicine

Answer 4

• Greek Medicine has a lot in common with Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda.
• It was the original source and inspiration for natural, holistic medical systems that developed in Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries, which include: Homeopathy, Naturopathy, Chiropractic.
• All these medical systems seek to harmonise the health of the individual with the Universal Life Forces of Nature.

Question 5

Sebastian Kneipp (1821 1897)

Answer 5

• Born in Germany, he is labelled as the father of Hydrotherapy.
• He cured his own TB by bathing in the river Danube.
• “Every application is to be accommodated individually to the patient’.

Question 6

Hydrotherapy

Answer 6

• Hydrotherapy describes the therapeutic use of water as healing agent.
• Cold Water: Decreases circulation and numbs the area.
• Hot Water: Relaxes muscles & increases circulation.
• Alternating hot/cold water: Stimulates blood flow increasing oxygen and, therefore, nutritional supply to cells.
Applications:
• Compresses, wraps, foot baths, steam baths, sauna.
• Internally: acts as solvent & carrier (nutrients into cells & wastes out).

Question 7

Water Treading

Answer 7

• Water treading another form of hydrotherapy.
1. Fill a large bucket knee deep with cold water (with warm feet).
2. March on the spot until sensation of cold appears (~1-2 minutes).
3. Warm up afterwards (put socks on, move around).
Effects: Strengthens the immune system, promotes circulation, lowers high blood pressure, relieves headaches, promotes parasympathetic activity, enhances sleep.

Question 8

Dr. Max Bircher Benner (1867 1939)

Answer 8

• Born in Switzerland, he advocated a 50/50 raw food diet with emphasis on fruit.
• Heat (apart from sun) degrades food by destroying enzymes.
• Famous for his Bircher Muesli (raw oats, goat’s yogurt & fruit, soaked overnight).
• “Good gut health is necessary for proper growth of cells and tissues”.
• To maintain nutrient profile in food.

Question 9

Dr. John Harvey Kellogg (1852 1943)

Answer 9

• Born in Michigan (USA), he said that, “90% of diseases are due to improper functioning of the bowel.”
• He promoted, in particular, the importance of the intestinal microflora.
• The Kellogg brothers produced shredded wheat and granola biscuits for residential patients. It became a commercial venture over time. When they lost control, the product sadly changed dramatically.

Question 10

Henry Lindlahr (1862-1924)

Answer 10

• He said, “the accumulation of morbid matter is the primary cause of disease”.
• Had ‘incurable’ diabetes at 35. Was told to ‘put his affairs in order’. He visited Sebastian Kneipp , who completely restored his health before returning to the USA to spread the word.
• Used the term ‘Nature Cure’ to define his approach to recovery.
• Formulated the ideas of ‘Healing Crisis.’

Question 11

Dr. Max Gerson (1881 1959)

Answer 11

• Born in Germany, he said ‘Toxicity & Deficiency’ are the two planks underpinning health.
• Alkalised the body with fresh organic vegetable juices and detoxified with coffee enemas.
• He initially used his treatment for TB, where 446 out of his 450 skin TB patients completely recovered.
• He later used the ‘Gerson therapy’ for cancer patients. He had a success rate of 25% on terminal cancer patients (patients free of cancer after 5 years).
• Nobel prize winner Albert Schweitzer said Dr. Gerson was “one of the most eminent geniuses in the history of medicine.’

Question 12

James C. Thomson (1887 - 1960)

Answer 12

• A Scottish Naturopath who spent 4 years training under Lindlahr
• In 1913 he set up a busy practice in Edinburgh, before opening the first training college in British in 1919, The Edinburgh School of Natural Therapeutics.
• In 1938 he established the well known ‘Kingston Clinic’ in Edinburgh
• He advocated fibre (unrefined grains, raw vegetables & fruit).

Question 13

Dr. Bernard Jensen (1908 2001)

Answer 13

• Born in California and a student of Kellogg, he advocated bowel cleansing as the most important aspect in maintaining health.
• He said, “every tissue is fed by the blood which is supplied by the bowel”.
• Dr Jenson used chlorophyll extensively in enemas and colonics.
• He claimed a 40% success rate curing leukaemia.
• Developed advanced Iridology and promoted the ‘toxaemia’

Question 14

Louis Pasteur (1822-1895)

Answer 14

Pasteur was a French biologist who developed the ‘germ theory’ of disease:
• Germ Theory: Disease occurs from outside of the body i.e. bacteria, viruses, fungi, cause diseases from outside.
• He developed the ‘pasteurisation’ process where he found that rapid heating destroys microbes.
• This is the basis of western medicine suppressing symptoms using drugs.

Question 15

Antoine Bechamp (1816 1908)

Answer 15

• Bechamp was a French scientist. He and Louis Pasteur were bitter rivals.
• Bechamp maintained that: Disease occurs from within the body (changes of the terrain, opposite to Pasteur).
•“Bacteria and viruses are the ‘after effects’ rather than the cause of disease”.
• “Most diseases are the result of an acidic, low oxygenated terrain” (environment) where the
diseased tissue spawns the growth of micro organisms which develop into different forms.

Question 16

Pasteur vs Bechamp

Answer 16

• On his death bed, Pasteur said: Bechamp was right. The pathogen is nothing. The terrain is everything.” ( Bechamp a raison Le microbe n’est rien, le terrain est tout.)
• Allopathic medicine focuses on Pasteur’s theory, consequently suppressing symptoms with drugs, ignoring the importance of the of the ‘terrain’.

Question 17

Allopathy

Answer 17

• Allos (against) / pathy (disease)
• Uses chemicals / drugs to ‘treat’ symptoms (not the disease). (Consider that one can also use
natural products to suppress a symptom)
• Views symptoms as the disease and is, therefore, ‘reductionist’.
• Treating a symptom means to suppress a symptom (disease).
• Suppressions drive the disease deeper into the body.

Question 18

Homeopathy

Answer 18

• Homeo ( same)/ pathy (disease)
Cures Like with Like.
• Uses specifically prepared substances to facilitate the body’s own healing process.
• Treats the whole person.
• Views symptoms as an expression of dis-ease, not as THE disease.

Question 19

The Law of Similars (‘Like with Like’)

Answer 19

• In 1791, Samuel Hahnemann translated a ’Materia Medica ’ about the effect of Cinchona Bark (China).
• He decided to take ’China’ which produced Malaria symptoms in him.
• He then gave China to patients with Malaria and discovered that their Malaria disappeared.
• He observed that: if he, as a healthy person took China, he got Malaria symptoms and, if a patient with Malaria took China, they were cured.

Examples
– Bee venom for a bee sting ( Apis mellifica
– Coffee for insomnia ( Coffea cruda)
– Onion for watery eyes a runny nose (Allium cepa)
– Snake venom for a snake bite (Lachesis mutus )

Question 20

Applications of Like with Like

Answer 20

Fever:
• As fever is hot (Like). Use luke warm water (Like), dab the person’s skin to mimic the body’s natural way of cooling the body (perspiration).
• Cold water suppresses fever. The healing process takes longer. It is, therefore, best to apply the law of ‘Like cures Like’.
Sunburn:
• Cool down slowly, Apply warmth , drink something warm . Heat stroke needs tepid applications. Avoid shocking the body with cold applications.
Burns:
• Apply something warm (Like). To use cold is a ‘shock’ (& suppression of symptoms).
Frost bite:
• There is cold (Like). Rub foot with snow (Like). Warm it up slowly. Using heat would be a suppression.
Hangover:
• Sip or just smell alcohol (Like) the next day.
Allopathic Approach:
• Medicine promotes the same application (e.g. cold to frost bites and burns ), which doesn’t make sense!
• Allopathic applications work against the body’s self healing mechanism suppressing symptoms.

Question 21

Suppression of Symptoms

Answer 21

• Suppression is when “One gets the manifestation of an illness to disappear, without having healed the illness”
• If symptoms are suppressed, the body finds different ways to express itself. The results are deeper seated problems which are more detrimental to body functions and longevity.
• Suppression masks the illness and drives it further into the body
• For example, consider metastases as result of cancer treatments.
• Emotional symptoms can also be suppressed and can cause severe physical conditions.

Question 22

Supression of Symptoms Manifestations

Answer 22

• Suppression of emotions
• Suppression of natural body secretions
• Topical applications
• Surgical removals
• Suppression of recurring infections
• Suppression of fever and pain
• Suppression of natural immunity

Question 23

Suppression: Emotions

Answer 23

• The suppression of emotions including anger, sorrow, worries and annoyance can occur due to anti depressant drug use.
• Anti depressive drugs or Hypnosis lead to a deep seated anxiety and unhappy individuals, not functional in society.
• When a person’s deep seated desires in life are suppressed, diseases can manifest.

Question 24

Suppression: Body Secretions

Answer 24

• By suppressing body secretions such as sweat, you are suppressing the body’s attempt to detox.
• Antiperspirants contribute to many health problems, including even breast cancer.
• Gerson argued that more & more men are getting breast cancer because of antiperspirant use.
• It is much better to use natural deodorants (free of toxins & aluminium ) that allow toxin
• Excessive sweating under the arms could be a sign of liver weakness or the circulation system over reacting.

Question 25

Suppression: Topical Applications

Answer 25

Corticosteroids
• Compromise the immune system & weaken adrenal function.
• Also inhibit waste elimination through the skin.
• Individuals applying steroid creams to eczema lesions can develop diseases such as asthma, where waste is instead eliminated through the lungs creating inflammation.
Coal tar/zinc creams
(for Eczema/psoriasis)
• Can incite skin eruptions to spread more superficially. Can push the disease state deeper causing anxiety, candida, allergies and asthma. In cases of zinc deficiency, treat the cause.

Question 26

Suppression: Surgical Removal

Answer 26

Tonsils
• Often results in chronic throat infections potentially spreading rapidly to become chest infections, digestive disorders such as ‘SIBO’ or heart problems. The immune system is compromised
Warts, Cysts
• Can result in the formation of benign tumours and growth elsewhere deeper in the body
• E.g. fibroids, intestinal/nasal polyps, etc.
Warts often return later, larger and in greater quantity.
• Warts can be easily treated using herbs or Homeopathy ( Thuja)
Radiotherapy & chemotherapy: Highly toxic and suppressive!

Question 27

Suppression: Pain and Fever drugs

Answer 27

Fever suppressing drugs
• Drugs such as paracetamol (Calpol) can cause the disease to spread and delay recovery.
• Cold wraps could induce convulsions. Warm wraps are better as they follow the homeopathic Law of Cure: ‘Like with Like’
Painkillers
•Painkillers only mask diseases.
•Tens of thousands of people die every year from adverse effects of pain killers.

Question 28

Suppression: Antibiotics

Answer 28

• Disrupt the intestinal flora & may lead to long term digestive & immune disruptions. There are also links to neurological disturbances.
• Antibiotics can be life saving in certain conditions.
However, they are hugely over prescribed, which contributes to the development of ‘superbugs’ that are increasingly resistant to current antibiotics.
• World Health Organisation (WHO): “We are coming close to a ‘post antibiotic era’ in which many diseases become almost impossible to treat with antibiotics.”

Question 29

The Body’s Self-Healing Abilities

Answer 29

• The body has the intelligence and power to restore itself to health (providing it is allowed to do
• For example, consider a cut finger (blood will clot) or a broken bone (which will heal).
• Cells are continually renewing themselves. A whole new body is created within months; e.g. brain (1 year), blood (4 months), liver (6 weeks), skin (1 month), bone (3 months), stomach mucosa (5 days)
• A good therapist always supports the body’s self- healing mechanisms and would not work against it.
•The body is always trying to heal itself. This process must be supported by a healthy diet and natural therapies and not suppressed.
• For example, a sick animal withdraws until it is well again.
• The more drugs, poisons, toxins and vaccines given to a body, the poorer the self healing mechanisms.
• Acute symptoms can be manifestations of the body’s self healing mechanisms:
– Fever is a reaction of the body to fight disease.
– Diarrhoea to get rid of unwanted toxins.
– Skin reactions to get rid of toxins.

Question 30

Hering’s Laws of Cure

Answer 30

1. From Inside Out
2. From more serious organs to less serious ones
3. The mind gets better before the body
4. Symptoms disappear in the reverse order to when they arrived
5. From above to below.

Question 31

From Inside Out

Answer 31

• For example, a boil formation clears toxins from the inside to the exterior away from more vital organs.
• Case: A teenage boy presented with chronic cystic acne . He was on 2 cycles of 6 month antibiotics with a month break in between (suppression). He was subsequently put on Roaccutane for 8 months with only mild improvement to his acne.
• During a month of cleansing herbs and dietary changes , his acne initially became worse, then gradually improved.

Question 32

From more serious organs to less serious ones

Answer 32

• For example, from the lungs (asthma) to skin (eczema).
• Case: A teenager presented with asthma (since 10 years old). He had been ‘treated’ with corticosteroid creams (suppression) from the age of 3 to 8 years for eczema. Once starting a natural treatment, asthma symptoms subsided, but eczema symptoms resurfaced. As the treatment was continued for a further 10 months, the eczema eventually resolved and the patient has had no eczema or asthma symptoms for over 2 years.

Question 33

The mind gets better before the body

Answer 33

• For example, anxiety starts improving before IBS does.
• Case: 58 year old female. Chronic pain in left knee, elbow and wrist The joint pain started after the passing of her mother. Her relationship with her mother was very strained. She had a lot of anger and resentment towards her and since the passing, she suffered from severe depression.
• Upon starting the natural treatment, her depression and sleeping improved . She felt more forgiving towards her deceased mother. Shortly after her anger and resentment improved, her joint pain began subsiding. After 9 months of treatment, she was much happier and at peace with her mother. The joint pain did not return.

Question 34

Symptoms disappear in the reverse order to when they arrived

Answer 34

Case: 24 year old male. Frequent diarrhoea, headaches and poor concentration since returning from a yoga retreat in India. He had contracted numerous parasites which were treated ‘effectively’ with antibiotics. One month after antibiotics he started suffering from excessive bloating and diarrhoea. This progressed to additional headaches, ‘brain fog’ and mouth ulcers.
• After starting the natural treatment, his headaches and concentration started to improve . Progressively his mouth ulcers cleared with no further eruptions. 8 weeks later, his diarrhoea and bloating having diminished, he needed no further treatment.

Question 35

From above to below.

Answer 35

• Case: 39 year old female presented with long standing rheumatoid arthritis . It had been particularly aggressive and progressed from her distal finger joints to her wrists. She was now showing inflammation in her elbows.
• With nutrition , the elbow pain ceased and the wrist pain slowly began to improve.
• After 2 months of treatment, she no longer suffers from pain in the wrists. The elbow pain has not returned and the pain in her finger joints has improved.