In modern times the normal rhythm of life that once was a hallmark of country life has been turned upside down. You can only expect to wake up feeling bright and breezy in the morning if you refuse to follow the spirit of our times and, instead, go to bed early, well before midnight, in order to do justice to the body’s need for rest. Those who fall victim to the modern trend of indulging in nocturnal pleasures will not dream of leaving them to retire early. Radio, television, the cinema and so forth keep them prisoner and demand an even greater amount of their energy and strength than would have been lost in the course of their daily occupation and consequent normal tiredness. These additional nightly demands at the expense of sleep upset the balance that is maintained by a normal pace of life. Even young people who extend the day into the night in order to get more out of life will, in time, suffer from a form of fatigue that manifests itself in irritability, feeling uptight and, in the end, insomnia.
*1202/28/1*
Tags: Herbal
Some years ago, on my arrival in La Paz having travelled from Cuzco, the Swiss consul warned me to be careful of the Indians on the Altiplano, saying they were riddled with parasites. However well meant the advice was it actually came too late, since I had been living among the carefree native Indians for quite a while and had seen for myself that many individuals had lice.
From the reports of German doctors who had accompanied the troops on the German campaign in Russia I knew that lice can transmit typhus. Of course, not all lice are infected with this disease but they are an awful nuisance anyway. I have often had to give medical advice to patients who returned from foreign countries complaining about intense itching, especially in the hairy parts of the body. Mind you, I could not be so blunt as to tell them outright that the itching was caused by lice.
*1133/28/1*
Tags: Herbal
Few people know about the high quality of almonds as a food, and they are hardly ever used by anyone who lives in the country. Almonds were quite expensive during the Second World War and so they went out of vogue. It is quite understandable that their excellent nutritional value has also been forgotten. However, almonds are cheaper today and it is well worthwhile reconsidering their food value. No doubt they will then receive more credit than they do at present.
About a quarter of the total weight of an almond consists of a high-quality protein and approximately 60 per cent is a fine oil, the almond oil. This oil can be recommended to liver patients who may not be able to tolerate any other fat. Almonds are also rich in minerals, especially potassium and calcium. They also contain valuable magnesium and, last but not least, nerve-nourishing phosphates.
It is necessary to masticate almonds thoroughly if the body is to digest them and obtain the full benefit. A particularly practical way to eat almonds is in the form of a puree. This is easily digested and assimilated and can be recommended to anyone who has problems with the liver and pancreas. Pour the almond puree into a blender to make almond milk, a nourishing drink that is rich in vitamins and easily digested.
*1064/28/1*
Tags: Herbal
If it were generally known how rich in vitamins berries are, they would figure far more in our everyday diet. Most of them contain a considerable amount of vitamin C. The importance of this vitamin is fully realised by those who have had bleeding gums, loose teeth, a tendency to chills and colds and a predisposition to haemo-rrhaging. All these forms of bleeding become immediately apparent when vitamin Ñ is lacking.
Blackcurrants are rich in vitamin C, although not everyone likes their distinctive taste. But if you ate 50 g (2 oz) of these daily, you would provide your body with its full requirements of vitamin Ñ for a whole day. Rose hip, sea buckthorn berries, raspberries, redcurrants, cranberries and nearly all other berries are excellent sources of vitamin C.
*993/28/1*
Tags: Herbal
Although juices are good for us, they should not be enjoyed to the exclusion of anything else; our digestive tract also requires cellulose, roughage, if it is to remain in proper working order. Juices are potent and should not be taken in excessive quantities over long periods of time. After a course of juices, go back to eating the whole vegetables. Raw vegetables demand good teeth and should be thoroughly masticated and properly insalivated to promote the digestive process. The fibres must be broken down if they are to release their nutrients. If your teeth are bad, grate the vegetables or put them through a mincer or blender. The reason why many people do not tolerate raw vegetables is not that they are indigestible, but that they have not been properly masticated and insalivated. Fruit juices and vegetable juices should be well mixed with saliva and not just swallowed. Acid fruit juices need to be neutralised by the alkaline saliva before they reach the stomach. Vegetable juices are more easily tolerated than fruit juices, and even liver patients or people who have a sensitive liver or suffer from kidney trouble have little difficulty in digesting them. Particularly recommended are juices that have gone through a process of lactic fermentation; they also keep better.
*923/28/1*
Tags: Herbal