History and Philosophy of Naturopathic Nutrition Flashcards

Question

Dr Max Bircher-Benner

Answer 1

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

Answer 2

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.

Answer 3

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’.

Answer 4

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”.

Answer 5

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).

Answer 6

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.

Answer 7

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.

Answer 8

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.

Answer 9

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.

Answer 10

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

Answer 11

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.

Answer 12

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.

Answer 13

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.

Answer 14

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.

Answer 15

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.

Answer 16

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)

Answer 17

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.

Answer 18

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.

Answer 19

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.

Answer 20

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.

Answer 21

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.

Answer 22

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

Answer 23

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.

Answer 24

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!

Answer 25

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.

Answer 26

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”.

Answer 27

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.

Answer 28

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.

Answer 29

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.

Answer 30

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.

Answer 31

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.

Answer 32

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.

Answer 33

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.

Answer 34

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.

Answer 35

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?

Answer 36

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.

Answer 37

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.

Answer 38

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.

Answer 39

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

Answer 40

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).

Answer 41

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.

Answer 42

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).

Answer 43

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.

Answer 44

‘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.

Answer 45

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.

Answer 46

Meat; Lamb Veg: Red chilli

Answer 47

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

Answer 48

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

Answer 49

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

Answer 50

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

Answer 51

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.

Answer 52

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.

Answer 53

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

Answer 54

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.

Answer 55

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.

Answer 56

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.