History and Philosophy of Naturopathic Nutrition

Question 1

Naturopathic Principles

Answer 1

1) The healing power of Nature; “Whatever disease the body has produced, it is able to reverse it” (Dr A. Vogel, Switzerland)
2) Treat the cause, not a symptom
3) Treat the whole person
4) Prevention is preferable to cure
5) Education

Question 2

Principle 1; The healing power of Nature (Vital force) - naturopathic modalities

Answer 2

Vital force AKA Qi or Prana = Energy
Can be suppressed or stimulated
Stimulation involves promoting the flow of Vital Force through naturopathic modalities such as fresh air, sun, clean water, diet, fasting, detoxification, natural therapy

Question 3

Principle 2; Treat the cause, not a symptom

Answer 3

The question is not what is the disease but
* Why is it there?
* Where did it come from?
* What is the cause?

Question 4

Principle 3; Treat the whole person (factors?)

Answer 4

Take into account the whole patient, including physical, mental, genetic, environmental, social and other factors.
The person is treated, not the symptoms – individuality

Question 5

Principle 4; Prevention is preferable to cure

Answer 5

Promote importance of prevention through lifestyle, diet and environment, not just react when disease has already manifested.
Promoting healthy maintains optimal Vital Force at all times.

Question 6

Principle 5; Education

Answer 6

Empower patients to take responsibility for their own health.
Educate patients to have a better understanding of health, how to attain and maintain it and how to create an environment where disease can not result.

Question 7

Health

Answer 7

What is health?
The best possible physical, mental and emotional state.
‘Abundant Vitality’

Question 8

Naturopathic Nutrition

Answer 8

Follows the naturopathic principles knowing that every person is an individual and requires a personalised nutritional approach to health.
It focuses on:
* Using whole and organic food as medicine
* Detoxification and cleansing
* Looking at the Constitution of the patient (TCM/ Ayurveda / homeopathy)
* Understanding the cause of an individual’s symptoms

Question 9

Nutrient

Answer 9

A substance, which provides nourishment essential for growth and maintenance of life.

Question 10

Nutrition

Answer 10

The process of providing or obtaining the food necessary for health and growth.

Question 11

Nourishment

Answer 11

The food or other substances necessary for growth, health and good condition.

Question 12

Food

Answer 12

Any nutritional substance that people or animals eat or drink or that plants absorb in order to maintain life and growth

Question 13

Whole food

Answer 13

Food that is not been processed or refined and is free from additives or other artificial substances

Question 14

Organic food

Answer 14

Food free of fertilisers, pesticides, irradiation, GMO;’s, growth hormones and livestock feed additives

Question 15

Superfoods

Answer 15

Highly nutritious foods containing all, or nearly all the vitamins, minerals and trace elements body needs.
For example algae, sprouts, bee pollen, wheat grass.
Superfoods incorporated into a wholefood diet are fundamental for human health, although, they do not work in isolation but as part of a healthy lifestyle.

Question 16

Junk foods

Answer 16

Substances, which are not natural, have been altered, or are not suitable to maintain health and growth (GMO’s, trans-fats, sweeteners, pesticides, artificial colouring, etc.)

Junk foods hinder cell communication, and are detrimental to health and well-being.

Microwaved food is junk food.

Question 17

GMO

Answer 17

Genetically modified organism

Question 18

History of different natural medicine systems

Answer 18

Disease was treated in all cultures using fasting, diets, purging, herbs, various forms of hydrotherapy. E.g.;

Ayurvedic medicine; Ayur = life, Veda = knowledge.
From India. Recorded over 5000 years ago (applications of air, herbs and water). An energic whole system of medicine. Very experienced on detoxification protocols.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM); 3000 years ago. Another energetic system – Flow of energy within the body is the prime mover of life. Mapping / charting the flow of energy.
In China, used alongside western medicine as part of the state medicine system

Egyptians; Used for liver blindness.

Native Americans; Use of herbs

Greeko / Roman medicine; 2500 years ago. Ancient European medicine using herbs.

Question 19

History of Natural Medicine: Hippocrates

Answer 19

Hippocrates (468 – 377 BC) – The father of medicine. Credited for writing the Hippocratic Oath.

• “Let food be thy medicine, and Medicine be thy food.”
• “Food as the primary source of medicine, health and healing. First use food, then herbs, finally intervention.”
• Nature is the “physician of man” (Vital force)

Question 20

Hippocratic Oath Quotes (Old version)

Answer 20

• “I will apply dietetic measures for the benefit of the sick according to my ability and judgement; I will keep them from harm and injustice.”
• “I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody who asked for it, no will I suggest to this effects. In purity and holiness, I will guard my life and my art.”
• “First do no harm”

Question 21

Ancient Greek medicine

Answer 21

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 homoeopathy, naturopathy, chiropractic.

All these medical systems seek to harmonise the health of the individual with the universal life forces of nature

Question 22

Hydrotherapy; history

Answer 22

Sebastian Kneipp (1821-1897)
Born in Germany, 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 23

Hydrotherapy

Answer 23

Hydrotherapy describes the therapeutic use of water as healing agent.
* Cold water; decreases circulation and numbs the area.
* Hot water; relaxes muscles and increases circulation.
* Alternating hot/cold water; stimulates blood flow – increasing oxygen and, therefore, nutritional supply to cells
Applications;
* Compresses, wraps, footpath, steam bath, sauna
* Internally; acts as solvent and carrier (nutrients into cells and wastes out)
* Read; ‘Your body’s many cries for water’

Question 24

Water treading

Answer 24

Alternating hot and cold water treatments.
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 immune system, promotes circulation, lowers high BP, relieves headaches, promotes parasympathetic activity, enhances sleep
* Do not perform if suffering from urinary tract infections
* See also; https://www.kneipp.com/us_en/hydrotherapy.html
http://ndnr.com/bacterialviral-infections/the-kneipp-cure/`

Question 25

Dr Max Bircher-Benner

Answer 25

Dr Max Bircher-Benner - (1867-1939)
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, goats yoghurt and fruit, soaked overnight).
* “Good gut health is necessary for proper growth of cells and tissues”
* To maintain nutrient profile in food

Question 26

Dr John Harvey Kellogg

Answer 26

Dr John Harvey Kellogg – (1852 – 1943)
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 the residential patients. It became a commercial venture overtime. When they lost control, the product sadly changed dramatically.

Question 27

Dr Henry Lindlahr

Answer 27

Dr Henry Lindlahr (1852-1924):
He said “the accumulation of the morbid matter is the primary cause of disease”.
* Had ‘incurable’ diabetes at 35. Was told to “put affairs in order”. He visited Sebastien 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 28

Dr Max Gerson

Answer 28

Dr Max Gerson (1881-1959)
Born in Germany, he said toxicity and deficiency are the two planks underpinning health:
* Alkalised the body with fresh organic vegetable juices and detoxified with coffee elements.
* He initially used his treatment for TB, where 446 out of his 450 skin TB patients completely recovered.
* He later used to Gerson therapy for cancer patient. He had a success rate of 25% on terminal cancer patients (patients free of cancer after 5 years).
* Noble prize winner Albert Schweitzer said Dr Gerson was “one of the most eminent geniuses in the history of medicine”.

Question 29

James C. Thomson

Answer 29

James C. Thomson (1887 – 1960)
A Scottish naturopath who spent four years training under Lindlahr:
* In 1913 he set up a busy practice in Edinburgh, before opening the first training College in Britain 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 and fruit).

Question 29

Dr. Bernhard Jensen

Answer 29

Dr. Bernhard Jensen (1908 – 2001)
* 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 Jensen use chlorophyll extensively in enemas and colonics.
* He claimed a 40% success rate curing leukaemia.
* Develop advanced iridology and promoted the ‘toxaemia’ theory.
* He drew an illustration after seeing thousands of patients showing different organs attributed to different parts of the colon. A person suffering from heart, spleen or lung problems reported at the same time a sensation in a particular area of the colon.
* He found that cleansing the bowel by enemas, herbs of fasting made the sensation disappear, as well as the physical condition.
* Later Dr Jensen developed the colon hydrotherapy machine.

Question 30

Louis Pasteur

Answer 30

Louis Pasteur (1822 – 1895)
Pasteur iswas a French biologist to develop 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 pasteurization process where you found that rapid heating destroys microbes.
* This is the basis of Western medicine, suppressing symptoms using drugs.

Question 31

Antoine Bechamp

Answer 31

Antoine Bechamp (1816 – 1908)
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 the disease”.
* “Most diseases are the result of an acidic, low oxygenated terrain” (environment) where the disease tissues spawns the growth of microorganisms which develop into different forms.

Question 32

Pasteur v. Bechamp

Answer 32

Pasteur v. Bechamp
* 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 ‘terrain’.
Website = Pasteur vs Bechamp an alternative view.

Question 33

Development and suppression

Answer 33

The development and the suppression of natural medicine can only be understood if looking also at its opponents. There is a reason why natural medicine is not promoted.

*Website at bottom of page

Question 34

The suppression of natural medicine

Answer 34

The suppression of natural medicine today:
* In 2004, the BBC closed its webpage the complimentary medicine which promoted natural therapies.
* Around the same time many national newspapers stop reporting on healing successes of patients. Natural health pages were removed (Sunday Times had a very popular weekly column called ‘what’s the alternative?’ which got removed).
* Media mogul Rupert Murdoch has close connections with the pharmaceutical industry. His son James is a board member at GlaxoSmithKline.
* Several mainstream newspapers started to print overtly anti-alternative columns e.g. The guardians ‘Bad science’ column written by Dr Ben Goldacre, who played a significant role in the discrediting of homoeopathy. Goldacre does not see any patients but prefers to comment as a journalist and public speaker.
* Google changed its algorithm recently and has taken down several popular websites, including one which promoted critical views on vaccines, as well as the very popular Dr Mercola site.
* The UK medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has had a remit for many years to remove herbal and natural medicines where there was supposed “danger to public health”, even though the evidence of harm was often lacking, or inconclusive.
* In 2000 and 10, the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA), extended its remixed to censor natural therapy websites and adverts in the UK.
* ASA is a non-statutory body, funded by the advertising industry, not by the government.
* This was followed by complaints to the ASA by activists such as the Nightingale foundation.
* As a result, several natural medicine practitioners victimised.

Question 35

Growth

Answer 35

Natural medicine is growing despite this suppression.
* More and more people are showing interest in natural therapies. The terms is ‘natural’ and ‘organic’ are used more often than ever. Coffee shops and restaurants offering more natural food following the demand. There are more natural therapists on the market than ever before.
* More books on natural therapies are being published. CNM graduates alone published more than 60 books and have popular blog posts reaching millions of people.

Question 36

John D. Rockerfeller, Sr.

Answer 36

John D. Rockerfeller, Sr. (1839 – 1937):
Born in the USA, he founded Standard Oil in 1863 and by the end of the 20th century had 90% control over oil refineries in the US.
* Rockefeller was engaged in unethical practices such as predatory pricing and colluding with railroads to eliminate its competitors and gain a monopoly in the industry.
* In 1910 he had assets of $800 million (over 10 billion in 1980 buying power). He donated millions of dollars to charities to fend off his critics. In 1960, he had given over $96 million to medical schools in the U.S. who disregarded naturopathy, homoeopathy and chiropractic in favour of surgery and chemical drugs.
* State-of-the-art universities with best equipped laboratories were established with Rockefellers money, conducting ‘scientific’ research and developing new drugs. Other universities had to follow the trend, so is not to lose students.
* Pharma companies grew massively, as did their influence into politics in research. Universities, hospitals and research started to depend on pharma money. New diseases were defined to sell more drugs. In 1963, with Rockefellers money, researchers at John Hopkins University developed Ritalin to ‘treat’ children regarded as troubled or too active. Ritalin and related drug sales have risen to billions of dollars worldwide, with children dependent on these drugs which cause major side-effects stop.

Question 37

Allopathy vs Homeopathy

Answer 37

Allopathy: Allo (against); pathy (disease).
* Uses chemicals/drugs to ‘treat’ symptoms (not the disease). (consider: 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 symptom (disease).
* Suppressions drive the disease deeper into the body.

Question 38

Allopathy vs Homeopathy

Answer 38

Homeopathy: Homeo (same); pathy (disease).
* Cures like with like.
* Uses specifically prepared substances to facilitate the body’s own healing process.
* Treat the whole person.
* New symptoms as an expression of disease, not as the disease.

Question 39

The Law of Similars (‘Like with Like’)

Answer 39

Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843) formulated the ‘Law of Similars’.
* The Law of Similars (or ‘like cures like’) was created and a new therapy called homeopathy was born.
In 1971, Samuel Hahnemann translated a material 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 to China, he got malaria symptoms and, if the patient with malaria took China, they were cured.
Examples:
1. Bee venom for a bee sting (Apis mellifica)Coffea cruda)
2. Coffee for insomnia (Coffea cruda)
3. Onion for watery eyes and a runny nose (Allium cepa)
4. Snake venom for a snake bite (Lachesis mutus)

Question 40

Application of ‘Like with Like’

Answer 40

Fever: As fever is hot (like), use lukewarm water (like), that person’s skin to mimic the body’s natural way of cooling the body (perspiration).

Sunburn: Cool Down slowly, apply warmth well well, drink something warm. Heatstroke needs tepid applications. Avoid shocking the body with cold applications.

Burns: apply something warm (like). To use cold is a ‘shock’ (and suppression of symptoms).

Frostbite: There is cold (like). Rub foot with snowq (like). Warm it up slowly. Using heat would be a suppression.

Hangover: Sip or just smell alcohol (like) the next day.

Question 41

Allopathic vs
‘Like with Like’

Answer 41

Allopathic approach:
* Medicine promotes the same application (e.g. cold to frostbites and burns), which doesn’t make sense!
* Allopathic applications work against the body’s self-healing mechanism suppressing symptoms.

Question 42

Suppression of Symptoms

Answer 42

Suppression: “One gets the manifestation of an illness to disappear, without having healed the illness” (S. Hahnemann).

• 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 metastasis as result of cancer treatments.
• Emotional symptoms can also be suppressed and can cause severe physical conditions.

Question 43

Suppression examples

Answer 43

Suppression can occur in different ways:
* 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 44

Suppression of emotions

Answer 44

Suppression of emotions including anger, sorrow, worries and annoyance can occur due to antidepressant drug use.
* Anti-depressant 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 45

Suppressing body secretion

Answer 45

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

Question 46

Suppression using topical applications

Answer 46

Topical applications:
Corticosteroids:
* Compromise the immune system and weaken adrenal function.
* Inhibit waste elimination through the skin.
* Apply to eczema can develop as asthma, allergies Candida.
Coal tar/zinc creams (for eczema/psoriasis):
* Can incite skin eruptions to spread more superficially. Does push the disease deeper causing anxiety, Candida, allergies and asthma. In cases of zinc deficiency, treatment cause.

Question 47

Suppression using surgical removals

Answer 47

Surgical removals:
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:
* Often formation of benign tumours/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 of homoeopathy (thuja)
Radiotherapy and chemotherapy:
* Highly toxic and suppressive!

Question 48

Suppression of fever and pain

Answer 48

Pain and fever drugs:
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 homoeopathic Laws of Cure: ‘like with like’.
Painkillers:
* Painkillers any mask diseases.
* Tens of thousands of people die every year from the adverse effects of painkillers.

Question 49

Suppression using anti-biotics

Answer 49

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

Question 50

Self-healing

Answer 50

The body’s self-healing abilities:
The body has the intelligence and power to restore itself to health (providing it is allowed to do so):
* 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 with 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.

Question 51

Self-healing examples

Answer 51

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 bodies 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 52

The Laws of Cure

Answer 52

Constantin Hering was born in Germany in 1800. He formulated Hering’s Laws of Cure.
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 53

The Laws of Cure: From inside out.

Answer 53

1. From inside out:
   * 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 one month break in between (suppression). He was subsequently put on Roaccutane for 8 months with only mild improvements to acne.
   * During a month of cleansing herbs and dietary changes his acne initially became worse, then gradually improved.

Question 54

The Laws of Cure: From more serious organs to less serious ones.

Answer 54

2. From more serious organs to less serious ones.
   * 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. When 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 55

The Laws of Cure: The mind gets better before the body.

Answer 55

3. The mind gets better before the body.
   * 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. How 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 56

The Laws of Cure: Symptoms disappear in the reverse order to when they arrived.

Answer 56

4. Symptoms disappear in the reverse order to when they arrived.
   Case:
   * 24 year old male. Frequent diarrhoea, headaches and poor concentration since returning from the yoga retreat in India. He had contracted numerous parasites, which retreated ‘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. Eight weeks later, his diarrhoea and bloating having diminished, he needed no further treatment.

Question 57

The Laws of Cure: From above to below

Answer 57

5. From above to below:
   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 not 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 pzin in her finger joints has improved.

Question 58

Naturopathy in practice:
Metaphor

Answer 58

Naturopathy versus allopathy:
If you had a flooded bathroom, would you start looking at the floor (allopathic approach) or switch off the tap (naturopathic approach) first?

Question 59

Naturopathy in Practice: Coronary heart disease and Atherosclerosis

Answer 59

Coronary heart disease and Atherosclerosis:
* A pathology where plaque forms inside the coronary arteries, obstructing the blood flow to the myocardium.
Naturopathic approach:
* Correcting diet and lifestyle that caused the problem and, therefore, decreasing or even removing the plaque.
Allopathic approach:
* Removing plaque through surgical procedures; using drugs to prevent plaque formation; ignoring the cause of the disease.

Question 60

Naturopathy in Practice: Type 2 Diabetes mellitus

Answer 60

Type 2 Diabetes mellitus:
* A pathology characterized by hypoglycaemia (hyper = high, glyc = sugar, =aemia = blood), associated with insulin resistance. This is a result of improper diet and lack of exercise.
Insulin resistance:
* Cells become unresponsive to insulin, which is produced by the pancreas. More insulin is produced until the pancreas cannot produce any more.
Main causes of insulin resistance:
* Excessive processed carbohydrates (fructose and grains, especially wheat); trans-fats/hydrogenised fats; low levels of dietary fibre; lack of physical activity; dehydration, etc.
Allopathic approach:
* Drugs that decrease insulin resistance and/or lower blood sugar levels, minimal dietary changes.
* Side-effects: Weight gain, increase of cholesterol, triglycerides, BP, increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
Naturopathic approach:
* Applies more comprehensive directory changes (and supplements), which naturally lower blood sugar levels and improve insulin resistance. Exercise and stress reduction program.
* Effects: improved cholesterol and blood pressure readings, weight loss, reduced cancer risk.

Question 61

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): TCM clock

Answer 61

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
The Chinese Body Clock:
In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), it is believed that each organ functions as at its optimum capacity at certain times of the day.
* The clock can be used to help determine organs involved in pathology presentation.
Time is an important tool and can direct you towards a possible cause.
* The Chinese body clock used in TCM is a valuable tool when exploring the timing of symptoms and possible organ relations.
1 to 3 AM; liver
3 to 5 AM; lungs
5 to 7 AM; large intestine
7 to 9 AM; stomach
9 to 11 AM; spleen
11 to 1 PM; heart
1 to 3 PM; small intestine
3 to 5 PM; bladder
5 to 7 PM; kidneys
7 to 9 PM; pericardium
9 to 11 PM; triple burner
11 to 1 AM; gallbladder
The Chinese body clock is a guideline only.
Practitioner needs additional information to make such a clinical judgement.

Question 62

Traditional Chinese Medicine versus Modern Western Medicine

Answer 62

TCM:
. Based on centuries of clinical observation
. Individualised (patient-centred)
. Emphasises stimulating the body’s self-healing mechanisms
. Holistic – looks at the person as a whole
. Primary aim: Maintain health

Modern Western Medicine:
. Based on experimentation
. Standardised
. Based on medication & procedures
. Reductionist – looks at the structure and functions of individual parts
. Primary aim: Manage disease

Question 63

Traditional Chinese Medicine: Yin and Yang

Answer 63

The Yin and Yang concept; the core of Chinese medicine.
* A healthy meal should achieve a balance of Yin and Yang.
* Yin and Yang are opposites, but not in absolute terms. Nothing is entirely Yin or Yang. E.G. Raw foods are Yin when compare to warm stews, but Yang compared ice cream.
* Generally, foods are even more:
o Yin (cool, contracting, cooling in property) or
o Yang (warm, expanding, warming in property).

Question 64

Yin foods

Answer 64

Yin foods:
* Cold and cooling foods
* Plant food in general. Seeds with low calorific value such as fruit, green vegetables, seaweed.
* Wet or sweet foods are more Yin.
* Refined foods are more Yin, whilst also having less Qi.
* Raw food is generally more Yin I’m better tolerated in the summer.
* Foods that grow in the spring and summer are generally cooling (Yin) in quality and, therefore, should be eating In season. The nightshade family (tomatoes, potatoes, aubergines, bell peppers) and sweet tropical fruit are particularly Yin.

Question 65

Yang foods

Answer 65

Yang foods:
* Warm and warming foods.
* Foods with the higher calorific value including red meats. Meats, in general, are more Yang that plant foods.
* Chocolate, tea, coffee and alcohol.
* Black pepper, ginger, chilli, onion, garlic.
* Most root vegetables are warming (Yang) in quality and good to be eaten during autumn and winter.
* Fresh food has more Yang energy, which also enhances their QI, where as processed or stale food has more Yin energy (and the weakens the Qi).

Question 66

Yin and Yang foods

Answer 66

Some Yin / Yang food considerations:
* noodles can sit in either category, according to whether they are made from rice or wheat.
* Rice grows in water – so it is more Yin; wheat ripens in the sun– so it is more Yang than rice.
* As a general rule of thumb – Foods which are cool or naturally sweet are more Yin.

Question 67

Yin and Yang foods - Relativity

Answer 67

‘Relativity’ is an important concept with Yin and Yang Foods:
* Although fish is generally considered Yin, it is not Yin in relation to more Yin foods like raw vegetables.
* In comparison to raw vegetables, fish is Yang.
* Foods in the same family (e.g. fruit) can be more or less Yang / Yin – sweeter is usually more Yin. Bitter fruits can be less Yin.
* Different texts can give you different groupings of Yin / Yang for particular food/drinks. Wine is considered Yin by some and Yang by others. The initial effects of wind can be warming/heating Yang but excessive use can create problems associated with excessive Yin – depression, numbness, lethargy, phlegm.

Question 68

Yin and Yang conditions

Answer 68

Examples of Yin and Yang conditions:

Yang conditions:
* Caused by excess of animal products, hot spices or alcohol;
* E.g. actually, High blood pressure, migraines.
Yin conditions:
* Caused by excess sugar, raw foods or not enough food;
* E.g. lethargy, anaemia, feeling cold.

Question 69

Yin / Yang foods: Hot (Yang)

Answer 69

Meat; Lamb
Veg: Red chilli

Question 70

Yin / Yang foods: Warm (Yang)

Answer 70

Meat: Beef, Dark
Veg: Ginger, Green pepper, Onion
Fruit: Peach, Lychee
Grains and Nuts: Walnuts, Peanuts, Sunflower/ sesame seeds

Question 71

Yin / Yang foods: Neutral

Answer 71

Meat: Chicken, Pork
Veg: Carrot, Cauliflower, Yam
Fruit: Pineapple, Grapes
Grains and Nuts: Brown rice, White rice

Question 72

Yin / Yang foods: Cool (Yin)

Answer 72

Meat: Crab, Prawns
Veg: Broccoli, Cabbage, Celery
Fruits: Apple, Orange, Pear, Mango
Grains and Nuts: Almonds, Coconut, Wheat flour

Question 73

Yin / Yang foods: Cold (Yin)

Answer 73

Meat: Fish
Veg: Mung beans, Sprouts, Cucumber
Fruit: Bananas, Watermelon

Question 74

Yin / Yang cooking methods

Answer 74

Cooking methods alter the Yin or Yang nature of produce:
* Water has a cooling influence. So heating foods by steaming or boiling will not add Yang properties to foods as much as cooking by fire, baking or roasting, which will make foods hotter or more Yang.
* Fish is generally considered cold (Yin) as it spends much time in the water. So it is usually cooked with ginger (Yang) to warm up the dish and give it balance.
* Juicing, blending, grinding and other processing generally increases the Yin of foods.

Question 75

The macrobiotic diet

Answer 75

The macrobiotic diet: based on the principles of yin and yang.
* This postulates that health can be achieved by balancing your diet with foods that are closest to the balanced point (neither extreme yin nor yang).
* The macrobiotic diet also emphasises chewing foods completely and avoiding the use of a microwave.

Question 76

Constitution

Answer 76

The Constitution of a person can be of a more yin or yang; this determines how susceptible the person is to these effects of foods.
* A yang-type person usually can eat all yin type food with no in effect, but may easily get a nosebleed with a small amount of Yang-type food.
* A yin-type person needs boosting or nourishing types of food (more yang).
* A neutral person is generally healthy and will have strong reactions only after over-consumption of certain foods

Question 77

Hot/cold foods

Answer 77

Hot/cold is the active or primary polarity: the first consideration must be to the heating or cooling nature of foods.
* Heating foods are those which stimulates metabolism: garlic, onions, horseradish, ginger, chicken, eggs, duck, lamb, wheat, sesame seeds, walnuts, lemon, apples, olives and aged cheeses.
* Cooling foods are those which sedate the metabolism and relieve excessive heat: bananas, most tropical fruit, lettuce, cucumber, melon, watermelon, milk and dairy products, fresh cheeses, yoghurt, mint, fish.

Question 78

Dry/and wet foods

Answer 78

Dry/wet is the passive or secondary polarity:
* Wet foods are those which are rich, oily, moistening and emollient; milk and dairy products, bananas, avocados, coconut, fresh cheeses, yoghurt.
* Dry foods are those which are either physically dry or aid the organism in eliminating excess fluids; most beams, soy beans, chickpeas, pomegranates, asparagus, dried fruit, aged cheeses.

Question 79

Light/heavy foods

Answer 79

Light/heavy polarity is related to the dry/wet polarity:
* Light foods produce lightness, alertness and agility in the body, but in excess, they can lead to light-headedness and weight loss; Rice cakes, popcorn, corn, sunflower seeds.
* Heavy foods (of high-quality) can give strength and durability to the body, but most commonly they produce sluggishness, heaviness and drowsiness and are difficult to digest; meat, aubergines, greasy fried foods.