Garlic: strengthens our immunity, improves infection-fighting ability
There are very good reasons that garlic has been dubbed the "poor person's antibiotic." But "everyone's antibiotic" may be a more appropriate name, considering the current research showing the potent germ-fighting abilities of garlic.
Garlic has been used therapeutically throughout recorded human history. Historians believe that garlic was used as far back as the Neolithic age. Bulbs of garlic were even discovered in the tomb of King Tutankhamen.
Some notable historical examples of the healing use of garlic can be found in the recent garlic book, edited by Heinrich P. Koch, Ph.D, M.Pharm. and Larry D. Lawson, Ph.D., Garlic: The Science and Therapeutic Application of Allium sativum and Related Species:
* Ancient Babylonian texts credit garlic in the alleviation of many infectious diseases.
* Ninth century Japanese physicians used garlic to treat infection and established a "garlic sanitorium."
* Many individuals relied on garlic to protect themselves from infection during the 1665 Great Plague of London.
* Garlic may have prevented infection in garlic-eating people during the cholera epidemic of 1866.
* The renowned French physician, Louis Pasteur, described the antibacterial capabilities of garlic in the mid-1800s.
* Garlic was used during World War I to treat intestinal infections in soldiers.
After the discovery of pharmaceutical antibiotics early in this century, the ability of garlic to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses was relegated to the ranks of "folk medicine."
It is definitely time for garlic to step back into center stage as an infection-fighter. Garlic kills almost every kind of bacteria. Yet, interestingly, it is more likely than antibiotics to inhibit the growth of disease-causing bacteria, such as Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus (the cause of "Staph" infection), while leaving normal intestinal flora intact.
The overzealous use of antibiotic drugs has led to the emergence of so-called antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Ironically, "going back" to the simple folk remedy of garlic may treat these resistant infections that stump even the most technologically-advanced hospitals. Several studies demonstrate that supplementing with garlic effectively conquers many of these hardy bacterial infections.
Garlic is also a clinically proven treatment for intestinal parasites (including those that cause diarrhea), viral infections, and fungal infections, such as yeast (Candida) infection. It has also been successful in promoting would healing.
In terms of viruses, garlic has the strongest inhibitory effect when supplementation begins before exposure to a virus and continues throughout the possible infective period. Preliminary evidence even suggests that garlic may be useful in HIV infection, by improving the body's resistance to this virus.
Aside from directly inhibiting the growth of infectious microorganisms, garlic supplements enhance resistance to disease by boosting immune function.
The immune system is an intricate network of specialized cells, tissues, organs, and chemicals that work in concert to prevent illness. Studies in humans have found that garlic supplements stimulate the immune system by increasing numbers of white blood cells called lymphocytes and natural killer cells, among other immune system team members.
Garlic supplements, by strengthening the immune system, may even help fight cancer. One study by immunologist Dr. Benjamin Lau at Loma Linda University School of Medicine found that garlic injected into cancerous cells enhances the cancer-fighting ability of lymphocytes and increases the production of phagocytes (cells that engulf and digest cells harmful to the body).
Garlic is a great choice for people fighting an infection or wanting to optimize their immune system. But for those wanting to reap the immune-boosting benefits of our botanical ally garlic, without offending loved-ones sensitive to "garlic breath," the best choice may be one of the many standardized, odor-controlled garlic supplements available at local health food stores.
(C)
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
Understand Tuberculosis (TB)
What is TB?
Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria usually attack the lungs. But, TB bacteria can attack any part of the body such as the kidney, spine, and brain. If not treated properly, TB disease can be fatal. TB is spread through the air from one person to another.
The bacteria are put into the air when a person with active TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs or sneezes. People nearby may breathe in these bacteria and become infected.However, not everyone infected with TB bacteria becomes sick. People who are not sick have what is called latent TB infection. People who have latent TB infection do not feel sick, do not have any symptoms, and cannot spread TB to others. But, some people with latent TB infection go on to get TB disease.People with active TB disease can be treated if they seek medical help. Even better, most people with latent TB infection can take medicine so that they will not develop active TB disease.
TB in India
India has far more cases of tuberculosis than any other country in the world. There are about 2 million new cases each year and India accounts for nearly one third of prevalent cases globally. As reported by researchers in the October 31st issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, by September 2001, 436 million people (more than 40 percent of the entire population) had access to health services in India. About 3.4 million patients had been evaluated for tuberculosis, and nearly 8,00,000 had received treatment, with a success rate greater than 80 percent. More than half of all those treated in the past 8 years were treated in the past 12 months.
According to the study, tuberculosis kills nearly 500,000 people in India each year. Until recently, less than half of patients with tuberculosis received an accurate diagnosis, and less than half of those received effective treatment.(NDTV Report)
How is TB spread?
TB is spread through the air from one person to another. The bacteria are put into the air when a person with active TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs or sneezes. People nearby may breathe in these bacteria and become infected.When a person breathes in TB bacteria, the bacteria can settle in the lungs and begin to grow. From there, they can move through the blood to other parts of the body, such as the kidney, spine, and brain.TB in the lungs or throat can be infectious. This means that the bacteria can be spread to other people. TB in other parts of the body, such as the kidney or spine, is usually not infectious.People with active TB disease are most likely to spread it to people they spend time with every day. This includes family members, friends, and coworkers.
What is latent TB infection?
In most people who breathe in TB bacteria and become infected, the body is able to fight the bacteria to stop them from growing. The bacteria become inactive, but they remain alive in the body and can become active later. This is called latent TB infection. People with latent TB infectionhave no symptoms don't feel sick can't spread TB to others usually have a positive skin test reaction or QuantiFERON-TB Gold test (QFT-G) may develop active TB disease if they do not receive treatment for latent TB infection Many people who have latent TB infection never develop active TB disease. In these people, the TB bacteria remain inactive for a lifetime without causing disease. But in other people, especially people who have weak immune systems, the bacteria become active and cause TB disease.
What is active TB disease?
TB bacteria become active if the immune system can't stop them from growing. The active bacteria begin to multiply in the body and cause active TB disease. The bacteria attack the body and destroy tissue. If this occurs in the lungs, the bacteria can actually create a hole in the lung. Some people develop active TB disease soon after becoming infected, before their immune system can fight the TB bacteria. Other people may get sick later, when their immune system becomes weak for another reason.Babies and young children often have weak immune systems. People infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, have very weak immune systems. Other people can have weak immune systems, too, especially people with any of these conditions: substance abuse diabetes mellitus silicosis cancer of the head or neck leukemia or Hodgkin's disease severe kidney disease low body weight certain medical treatments (such as corticosteroid treatment or organ transplants) specialized treatment for rheumatoid arthritis or Crohn’s disease Symptoms of TB depend on where in the body the TB bacteria are growing. TB bacteria usually grow in the lungs. TB in the lungs may cause symptoms such asa bad cough that lasts 3 weeks or longer pain in the chest coughing up blood or sputum (phlegm from deep inside the lungs) Other symptoms of active TB disease areweakness or fatigue weight loss no appetite chills fever sweating at night
(compiled)
Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria usually attack the lungs. But, TB bacteria can attack any part of the body such as the kidney, spine, and brain. If not treated properly, TB disease can be fatal. TB is spread through the air from one person to another.
The bacteria are put into the air when a person with active TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs or sneezes. People nearby may breathe in these bacteria and become infected.However, not everyone infected with TB bacteria becomes sick. People who are not sick have what is called latent TB infection. People who have latent TB infection do not feel sick, do not have any symptoms, and cannot spread TB to others. But, some people with latent TB infection go on to get TB disease.People with active TB disease can be treated if they seek medical help. Even better, most people with latent TB infection can take medicine so that they will not develop active TB disease.
TB in India
India has far more cases of tuberculosis than any other country in the world. There are about 2 million new cases each year and India accounts for nearly one third of prevalent cases globally. As reported by researchers in the October 31st issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, by September 2001, 436 million people (more than 40 percent of the entire population) had access to health services in India. About 3.4 million patients had been evaluated for tuberculosis, and nearly 8,00,000 had received treatment, with a success rate greater than 80 percent. More than half of all those treated in the past 8 years were treated in the past 12 months.
According to the study, tuberculosis kills nearly 500,000 people in India each year. Until recently, less than half of patients with tuberculosis received an accurate diagnosis, and less than half of those received effective treatment.(NDTV Report)
How is TB spread?
TB is spread through the air from one person to another. The bacteria are put into the air when a person with active TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs or sneezes. People nearby may breathe in these bacteria and become infected.When a person breathes in TB bacteria, the bacteria can settle in the lungs and begin to grow. From there, they can move through the blood to other parts of the body, such as the kidney, spine, and brain.TB in the lungs or throat can be infectious. This means that the bacteria can be spread to other people. TB in other parts of the body, such as the kidney or spine, is usually not infectious.People with active TB disease are most likely to spread it to people they spend time with every day. This includes family members, friends, and coworkers.
What is latent TB infection?
In most people who breathe in TB bacteria and become infected, the body is able to fight the bacteria to stop them from growing. The bacteria become inactive, but they remain alive in the body and can become active later. This is called latent TB infection. People with latent TB infectionhave no symptoms don't feel sick can't spread TB to others usually have a positive skin test reaction or QuantiFERON-TB Gold test (QFT-G) may develop active TB disease if they do not receive treatment for latent TB infection Many people who have latent TB infection never develop active TB disease. In these people, the TB bacteria remain inactive for a lifetime without causing disease. But in other people, especially people who have weak immune systems, the bacteria become active and cause TB disease.
What is active TB disease?
TB bacteria become active if the immune system can't stop them from growing. The active bacteria begin to multiply in the body and cause active TB disease. The bacteria attack the body and destroy tissue. If this occurs in the lungs, the bacteria can actually create a hole in the lung. Some people develop active TB disease soon after becoming infected, before their immune system can fight the TB bacteria. Other people may get sick later, when their immune system becomes weak for another reason.Babies and young children often have weak immune systems. People infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, have very weak immune systems. Other people can have weak immune systems, too, especially people with any of these conditions: substance abuse diabetes mellitus silicosis cancer of the head or neck leukemia or Hodgkin's disease severe kidney disease low body weight certain medical treatments (such as corticosteroid treatment or organ transplants) specialized treatment for rheumatoid arthritis or Crohn’s disease Symptoms of TB depend on where in the body the TB bacteria are growing. TB bacteria usually grow in the lungs. TB in the lungs may cause symptoms such asa bad cough that lasts 3 weeks or longer pain in the chest coughing up blood or sputum (phlegm from deep inside the lungs) Other symptoms of active TB disease areweakness or fatigue weight loss no appetite chills fever sweating at night
(compiled)
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
A Friend waiting to meet You!
A FRIEND INDEED!.........
There is an unknown friend who is waiting eagerly to meet you.
A friend who can help you to remove the stress and strain from your daily life,
A friend who can help you to get rid of your anxieties and worries,
A friend who can assist you during your tension filled hours and time,
A friend who can help you to heal your illnesses,
A friend whose intentions are honest and genuine.
You may say that you don’t need his help.
You may think that you are capable of handling all these things yourself.
But your friend is wiser than you think. He knows, that is not the case always.
He has seen you from close quarters and knows, as any human being, you also need support and assistance at some time or other.
And he is ready to serve you.
He had visited you several times with an extended arm to meet you .
But you never had time for him.
You never recognized him or his noble intentions.
Your doors were always been closed against him.
You were busy.
You were absorbed with so many important things in your schedule and have never given your friend an appointment for a meeting.
Your priorities were different as it is to day.
But your friend is not dejected and he will never be.
He is seeing you every minute, every day, your glories as well as your miseries. He is always coming forward with a helping hand when you are down with your miseries and stand behind you like a wall, when you are in your glories.
But do you see him or feel his presence?
No.
Because you never had time to look up at him.
Don’t underestimate this friend of yours. He has the real capabilities to assist you. He has the capacities to heal your mental as well as your physical illnesses.
He can help you on your climbing, on your ladder of success. And for that, he knows you should be healthy, mentally as well as physically.
He wishes you meet him at least once to understand his genuine intention.
That day, he is sure; you will thank you, for that action taken.
We, Welhealth team, have met him some years back.
We were amazed by his unimaginable power and stunned by his genuineness. A bond of genuine love and affection blossomed instantly between us. We realized and experienced his great strengths.
We would like to introduce this friend to you. We know you are busy. You have no time because your priorities are different.
But we assure you one thing.
You will be a different person totally after meeting him. Your tensions and worries will start falling down like dry leaves. You will find easy to mange your stress and strain. You will start to feel a new positive energy in you, engulfing, all during the days, which you never would have felt earlier.
Your so called illnesses will start slowly getting healed!
Can you manage some time to meet this friend?
If ‘yes’ is your answer, give us an opportunity to introduce him to you. You will not regret for your decision.
Rest we leave to you.
What we need from you is a short period of 3 hours.
Why 3 hours?
Before you meet him, we want to make sure that you get a clear picture about him.
We have assured our friend, the responsibility of that action and that is a contract between us!
We wish to introduce this magnificent friend through a power point presentation and we named it, as he suggested-
“THOUGHTS,
STRESS, WORK & YOUR LIFE”
We would appreciate if you would adjust your priorities and find some time for this meeting. Please note we don’t charge anything for this introduction.
It is totally free.
Looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Thank you and with Best wishes,
WELHEALTH TEAM
Warrior Associates.
Facilitators and Promoters of Wellness & Holistic Health.
Cell: 98491 40779
There is an unknown friend who is waiting eagerly to meet you.
A friend who can help you to remove the stress and strain from your daily life,
A friend who can help you to get rid of your anxieties and worries,
A friend who can assist you during your tension filled hours and time,
A friend who can help you to heal your illnesses,
A friend whose intentions are honest and genuine.
You may say that you don’t need his help.
You may think that you are capable of handling all these things yourself.
But your friend is wiser than you think. He knows, that is not the case always.
He has seen you from close quarters and knows, as any human being, you also need support and assistance at some time or other.
And he is ready to serve you.
He had visited you several times with an extended arm to meet you .
But you never had time for him.
You never recognized him or his noble intentions.
Your doors were always been closed against him.
You were busy.
You were absorbed with so many important things in your schedule and have never given your friend an appointment for a meeting.
Your priorities were different as it is to day.
But your friend is not dejected and he will never be.
He is seeing you every minute, every day, your glories as well as your miseries. He is always coming forward with a helping hand when you are down with your miseries and stand behind you like a wall, when you are in your glories.
But do you see him or feel his presence?
No.
Because you never had time to look up at him.
Don’t underestimate this friend of yours. He has the real capabilities to assist you. He has the capacities to heal your mental as well as your physical illnesses.
He can help you on your climbing, on your ladder of success. And for that, he knows you should be healthy, mentally as well as physically.
He wishes you meet him at least once to understand his genuine intention.
That day, he is sure; you will thank you, for that action taken.
We, Welhealth team, have met him some years back.
We were amazed by his unimaginable power and stunned by his genuineness. A bond of genuine love and affection blossomed instantly between us. We realized and experienced his great strengths.
We would like to introduce this friend to you. We know you are busy. You have no time because your priorities are different.
But we assure you one thing.
You will be a different person totally after meeting him. Your tensions and worries will start falling down like dry leaves. You will find easy to mange your stress and strain. You will start to feel a new positive energy in you, engulfing, all during the days, which you never would have felt earlier.
Your so called illnesses will start slowly getting healed!
Can you manage some time to meet this friend?
If ‘yes’ is your answer, give us an opportunity to introduce him to you. You will not regret for your decision.
Rest we leave to you.
What we need from you is a short period of 3 hours.
Why 3 hours?
Before you meet him, we want to make sure that you get a clear picture about him.
We have assured our friend, the responsibility of that action and that is a contract between us!
We wish to introduce this magnificent friend through a power point presentation and we named it, as he suggested-
“THOUGHTS,
STRESS, WORK & YOUR LIFE”
We would appreciate if you would adjust your priorities and find some time for this meeting. Please note we don’t charge anything for this introduction.
It is totally free.
Looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Thank you and with Best wishes,
WELHEALTH TEAM
Warrior Associates.
Facilitators and Promoters of Wellness & Holistic Health.
Cell: 98491 40779
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
THOUGHTS, STRESS, WORK & OUR LIFE
(Free 3 hour Talk & Power Point Presentation at your Place of work, for your People)
India is passing through an economic boom resulting in great growth on all its fronts. When the economy improves the physical activity falls.
Our Thinking or thought patterns have changed, our life habits have changed, our food habits have changed and our life style also has changed.
We have become victim to a modern day affliction called ‘STRESS” that is being blamed for everything from marriage breakdown, career burn out, lower back pain, stomach disorders, hyper tension, double vision, perpetual fatigue, alcoholism, high blood pressure, heart attacks and suicides. Stress lowers the body’s defense mechanism thus increasing susceptibility to depression and disease.
The tight targets oriented jobs at work coupled with its stress and strain, lack of physical activity, and increase in obesity etc., affect the immune system and are contributing to the increase in degenerative diseases in modern society.Earlier most of the illnesses were infection related. But the scenario has changed. Now days very many of the illnesses are life style related.
Researchers and statistics say…
- 60% of the world’s cardiac patients will be Indians by 2010.
- Every fourth Diabetic in the world is an Indian
- 8,00,000 Indians are diagnosed with Cancer each year
- Stroke kills 2000 every day.
Stress plays a great role in all life style related illnesses. Stress triggers changes in our bodies and makes us more likely to get sick. It can also make problems we already have worse.
But the simple fact is that –
The Stress can be easily managed.
Habits of Eating can be changed for better.
Most of the illnesses including, Diabetes, Hyper Tension and even Cancer can be prevented and reversed.
BUT HOW?
You will get answer for that and very many other health issues, when you attend our programs.
We are conducting FREE talks on the subject named “THOUGHTS, STTRESS, WORK & OUR LIFE” an awareness, Power Point Presentation, which would give you information and tips on how one can lead a Healthy Stress free life, whether he/she is at work or home.
The presentation is designed interactive and may take approximately 3 hrs and could be organized at your place, for the people working in your organization.If interested, you may kindly register with us for the talks in March- April 08, duly informing us the date and time convenient to you.Let us join hands for a Disease & Stress Free Healthy, Happy and Vibrant life.
Thank you.
AK Warrior,
Director & Facilitator
WELHEALTH TEAM
Cell: 98491 40779
Some of the organizations where we have conducted our Programs / Workshops include –
GAIL, Hyderabad, LIC Regional Office, Zonal Training center, Hyderabad, AP State Finance Corporation, APTRANSCO Central Training Center, Central Tool Design Center, Survey of India, Central Power Research Institute, Confederation of Indian Industry(CII), GATI Ltd., Head office, Hyderabad and all their zonal offices in India.
FACILITATOR: A.K.WARRIOR
A Professional with more than 35 years of experience in Sales & Marketing; Trainer in Behavior Science and Attitudinal skills. He was the Director of Gajwar Human Resources, a HR training and consultancy organization in Hyderabad . A.P. and the Director of Warrior Associates.
A student of Philosophy, Parapsychology, Mr. Warrior had the opportunity to undergo various training program’s on Spiritual as well as on Behavior science. His quest on Wellness, Healthy Body and Healthy Mind resulted in conceiving and designing the following Programs, which are named:
1. “Wellness and Holistic Health at work place”
2. “Dynamic Autogenic Manifestation.”
3. “Blow the Stress and Feel the Life”
4. “The 3H Program.
5. “Live in Style” A Lifestyle management workshop.
6. “The Leader in You” Workshop on self empowerment.
7. “LIFE SKILLS ESSENTIAL” Workshop on Skills for Work & Health
India is passing through an economic boom resulting in great growth on all its fronts. When the economy improves the physical activity falls.
Our Thinking or thought patterns have changed, our life habits have changed, our food habits have changed and our life style also has changed.
We have become victim to a modern day affliction called ‘STRESS” that is being blamed for everything from marriage breakdown, career burn out, lower back pain, stomach disorders, hyper tension, double vision, perpetual fatigue, alcoholism, high blood pressure, heart attacks and suicides. Stress lowers the body’s defense mechanism thus increasing susceptibility to depression and disease.
The tight targets oriented jobs at work coupled with its stress and strain, lack of physical activity, and increase in obesity etc., affect the immune system and are contributing to the increase in degenerative diseases in modern society.Earlier most of the illnesses were infection related. But the scenario has changed. Now days very many of the illnesses are life style related.
Researchers and statistics say…
- 60% of the world’s cardiac patients will be Indians by 2010.
- Every fourth Diabetic in the world is an Indian
- 8,00,000 Indians are diagnosed with Cancer each year
- Stroke kills 2000 every day.
Stress plays a great role in all life style related illnesses. Stress triggers changes in our bodies and makes us more likely to get sick. It can also make problems we already have worse.
But the simple fact is that –
The Stress can be easily managed.
Habits of Eating can be changed for better.
Most of the illnesses including, Diabetes, Hyper Tension and even Cancer can be prevented and reversed.
BUT HOW?
You will get answer for that and very many other health issues, when you attend our programs.
We are conducting FREE talks on the subject named “THOUGHTS, STTRESS, WORK & OUR LIFE” an awareness, Power Point Presentation, which would give you information and tips on how one can lead a Healthy Stress free life, whether he/she is at work or home.
The presentation is designed interactive and may take approximately 3 hrs and could be organized at your place, for the people working in your organization.If interested, you may kindly register with us for the talks in March- April 08, duly informing us the date and time convenient to you.Let us join hands for a Disease & Stress Free Healthy, Happy and Vibrant life.
Thank you.
AK Warrior,
Director & Facilitator
WELHEALTH TEAM
Cell: 98491 40779
Some of the organizations where we have conducted our Programs / Workshops include –
GAIL, Hyderabad, LIC Regional Office, Zonal Training center, Hyderabad, AP State Finance Corporation, APTRANSCO Central Training Center, Central Tool Design Center, Survey of India, Central Power Research Institute, Confederation of Indian Industry(CII), GATI Ltd., Head office, Hyderabad and all their zonal offices in India.
FACILITATOR: A.K.WARRIOR
A Professional with more than 35 years of experience in Sales & Marketing; Trainer in Behavior Science and Attitudinal skills. He was the Director of Gajwar Human Resources, a HR training and consultancy organization in Hyderabad . A.P. and the Director of Warrior Associates.
A student of Philosophy, Parapsychology, Mr. Warrior had the opportunity to undergo various training program’s on Spiritual as well as on Behavior science. His quest on Wellness, Healthy Body and Healthy Mind resulted in conceiving and designing the following Programs, which are named:
1. “Wellness and Holistic Health at work place”
2. “Dynamic Autogenic Manifestation.”
3. “Blow the Stress and Feel the Life”
4. “The 3H Program.
5. “Live in Style” A Lifestyle management workshop.
6. “The Leader in You” Workshop on self empowerment.
7. “LIFE SKILLS ESSENTIAL” Workshop on Skills for Work & Health
Monday, March 03, 2008
Article You should read.....
Heal Yourself With Sunlight
The time when one’s immediate natural impulse on the first sunny spring day was to get outside and enjoy it is long gone. Only the very courageous or “careless” who defy the grim warnings from medical mandarins and cancer specialists, wholeheartedly endorsed by the sunscreen industry, dare to venture forth into the “dangerous” sun. Unless they are covered head to toe with sun protection factor (SPF) 60, they gamble with their lives, or so they are made to believe, by those who serve their own vested interests.
Fortunately, this view is beginning to crumble in the blatant absence of scientific proof that sunlight causes disease. What is being discovered instead is that lack of sun exposure is one of the greatest risk factors for disease.
Very few people know that not getting enough sun kills 50,000 people from cancer deaths every year in the US alone. As shown later, these are deaths that are easily preventable through the Vitamin D produced by the body in response to regular sun exposure.
Unfortunately, it is the ultraviolet portion of sunlight that is the most easily eliminated by windows, houses, spectacles, sunglasses, sun lotions, and clothing.
Before antibiotic drugs were discovered in the 1930s – penicillin having been the first one – the healing power of sunlight was favored by the medical community, at least in Europe.
Sunlight therapy, called heliotherapy, was indeed considered to be the most successful treatment for infectious diseases from the late 19th to the mid-20th century. Studies revealed that exposing patients to controlled amounts of sunlight dramatically lowered elevated blood pressure (up to 40 mm Hg drop), decreased cholesterol in the bloodstream, lowered abnormally high blood sugar in diabetics, and increased the number of white blood cells, which people need to help resist disease. Patients suffering from gout, rheumatoid arthritis, colitis, arteriosclerosis, anemia, cystitis, eczema, acne, psoriasis, herpes, lupus, sciatica, kidney problems, asthma, and even burns, have all received great benefits from the healing rays of the sun.
The medical doctor and author, Dr. Auguste Rollier, was the most famous heliotherapist of his day. At his peak, he operated 36 clinics with over 1,000 beds in Leysin, Switzerland. His clinics were situated 5,000 feet above sea level, the high altitude allowing his patients to catch a lot more UV light than was possible at the lower levels of the atmosphere. Dr. Rollier used the UV rays of sunlight to treat diseases such as tuberculosis (TB), rickets, smallpox, lupus vulgaris (skin tuberculosis), and wounds. He followed in the footsteps of Danish physician Dr. Niels Finsen, who won a Nobel Prize in 1903 for his treatment of TB using ultraviolet light. Rollier found that sunbathing early in the morning, in conjunction with a nutritious diet, produced the best effects.
The miraculous complete cures of tuberculosis and other diseases facilitated by these doctors made headlines at the time. What surprised the medical community most was the fact that the sun’s healing rays remained ineffective if the patients wore sunglasses. [Sunglasses block out important rays of the light spectrum which the body requires for essential biological functions.] Note: your eyes receive these rays even if you are in the shade.
By the year 1933, there were over 165 different diseases for which sunlight proved to be a beneficial treatment. However, with the death of Rollier in 1954 and the growing power of the pharmaceutical industry, heliotherapy fell into disuse.
By the 1960s, man-made “miracle drugs” had replaced medicine’s fascination with the sun’s healing powers, and by the 1980s the public was increasingly being bombarded with warnings about sunbathing and the risks of skin cancer.
Today, the sun is considered the main culprit for causing skin cancer, certain cataracts leading to blindness, and aging of the skin. Only those who take the “risk” of exposing themselves to sunlight find that the sun makes them feel better, provided they don’t use sunscreens or burn their skin.
The UV-rays in sunlight actually stimulate the thyroid gland to increase hormone production, which in turn increases the body’s basal metabolic rate. This assists both in weight loss and improved muscle development. Farm animals fatten much faster when kept indoors, and so do people who stay out of the sun.
Therefore, if you want to lose weight or increase your muscle tone, expose your body to the sun on a regular basis.
The use of antibiotics, which has practically replaced heliotherapy, has in recent years led to the development of drug-resistant strains of bacteria, which defy any treatment other than the balanced use of sun, water, air, and food. Cutting out or substantially reducing any of these four essential constituents of life, results in disease.
Any person who misses out on sunlight becomes weak and suffers mental and physical problems as a result. His vital energy diminishes in due time, which is reflected in his quality of life. The populations in Northern European countries like Norway and Finland, which experience months of darkness every year, have a higher incidence of irritability, fatigue, illness, insomnia, depression, alcoholism, and suicide than those living in the sunny parts of the world. Their skin cancer rates are higher, too. For example, the incidence of melanoma (skin cancer) on the Orkney and Shetland Isles, north of Scotland, is 10 times that of Mediterranean islands.
UV light is known to activate an important skin hormone called solitrol. Solitrol influences our immune system and many of our body’s regulatory centers, and, in conjunction with the pineal hormone melatonin, causes changes in mood and daily biological rhythms. The hemoglobin in our red blood cells requires ultraviolet (UV) light to bind to the oxygen needed for all cellular functions. Lack of sunlight can, therefore, be held co-responsible for almost any kind of illness, including skin cancer and other forms of cancer. As you are about to find out, it may be highly detrimental to your health to miss out on sunlight.
Can UV-Radiation Prevent and Cure Skin Cancer?
A major concern of our scientists today is the dramatic increase of skin cancers around the world. There are three main types of skin cancer, two of which, basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma (non-melanomas), are increasingly prevalent, whereas the third, malignant melanoma, is much rarer but far more lethal. The most pressing question is why would the sun suddenly become so vicious and try to kill scores of people after thousands of years of harmlessness?
The medical community claims that ultraviolet light (UV) is the major cause of skin cancers. This theory is based on the assumption that our thinning ozone layer permits too much of the germicidal UV to penetrate to the surface of the earth and causes destruction of all kinds, including damage to our skin and eye cells. Yet the theory has major flaws and no scientific backing. Contrary to general belief, there is no evidence that reduction in the ozone layer, observed at the poles, has caused any increase in melanomas.
The germicidal frequency of UV is destroyed or is filtered out by the ozone layer in the Earth’s stratosphere, and only small amounts—necessary to purify the air we breathe and the water we drink— actually reach the surface of the earth. To that effect, a study of Punta Arenas, the largest South American city close to the Antarctic ozone hole, showed no increase in health problems related to depleted ozone.
In fact, UV measures were too small to have any noticeable effect. Actual measurements taken in the United States since 1974 show that the amount of UV radiation reaching the surface of the earth is decreasing and continues to decrease slightly each year. This research was conducted to detect the frequency of UV radiation that causes sunburn. UV radiation had dropped an average of 0.7 percent per year over the period from 1974 to 1985 and continued to do so afterwards.
The fact that the number of skin cancers in the United States had doubled within this period of 11 years contradicts the theory that UV light is the reason behind the skin cancer epidemic. The number of malignant skin cancers (melanomas) discovered in 1980 in the United States was 8,000, and eight years later it had increased by 350 percent to 28,000. In 1930, the expectancy of developing melanoma was as low as 1 in 1,300 people. Since 2003, 45,000 to 50,000 new cases are diagnosed every year in the United States. Melanomas, which account for 75 percent of all skin cancer deaths, make up only 5 percent of all reported skin cancers. The most striking fact about this lethal form of cancer is that it can occur in parts of the body that are not necessarily exposed to the sun such as the eye, the rectum, vulva, vagina, mouth, respiratory tract, GI tract and urinary bladder.
Overall, since the beginning of the new millennium, each year one million Americans are being diagnosed with some form of skin cancer. There are millions of sufferers now, all of whom have been made to believe that the sun is the culprit for their skin diseases. But since UV radiation is decreasing every year and skin cancers were extremely rare 100 years ago when UV intensity was much higher and people spent much more time outdoors, what other factor could be held responsible for causing skin cancer?
The More UV, the Less Cancer
Even if UV penetration to the surface of the Earth did actually increase by, for example, one percent each year (which is not the case), such slight increases would still be hundreds, if not thousands, of times less than the normal variations which people experience because of differences in geography.
Let’s assume that you move from an area near either one of the Polar Regions, e.g. Iceland or Finland, toward the equator, e.g. Kenya or Uganda in East Africa. By the time you reach the equator, you will have increased your body’s exposure to UV light by a whooping 5,000 percent! If you live in England and decide to move to Northern Australia you will increase your exposure by 600 percent!
Calculations show that for every six miles you move closer to the equator, you increase your exposure to UV light by one percent.
Today, millions of people around the world travel from low exposure places to areas of high exposure near the equator. Many thousands of tourists travel to areas that are located at much higher altitudes than where they normally live. For every 100 feet of elevation there is a significant increase in UV radiation. But this does not prevent people from climbing mountains or living in countries like Switzerland or at the high altitudes of the Himalayan Mountains.
According to the UV/cancer theory, most Kenyan, Tibetan, or Swiss residents should be afflicted with skin cancer today. Yet this is not the case at all. The fact is that those who reside at high altitudes or near the equator where UV radiation is the most concentrated are virtually free of all cancers, not just skin cancers! This shows that UV radiation does not cause cancer; in fact, it can even prevent it.
The human body has a unique ability to become accustomed to all kinds of variations in the environment. It is equipped with perfect self-regulating mechanisms that protect it against damage from the natural elements.
Overexposure to swimming in the sea or in a lake can lead to extensive skin swelling, shivering, and circulatory problems. Our body will let us know when it is time to get out of the water. Getting too close to a fire will heat us up and encourage us to move away from it. Rainwater is natural, but standing in the rain for too long can drain our immune system and make us susceptible to catching a cold. Eating sustains our lives, but overeating can lead to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Sleeping recharges our “batteries” and revitalizes the body and mind, yet too much of it makes us sluggish, depressed, and ill. Likewise, sunlight has healing properties unless we use it to burn holes into our skin. Why should any of these natural elements or processes cause us harm unless we abuse or overuse them?
Wouldn’t it make more sense to say that a preference for unnatural things like junk food, stimulants, alcohol, drugs, medical intervention (unless it is for an emergency), as well as pollution, irregular sleeping and eating habits, stress, excessive greed for money and power, and the lack of contact with nature, are more likely to cause such diseases as skin cancer and cataracts than natural phenomena that have ensured continued growth and evolution on the planet throughout the ages?
It is very encouraging to see that new treatments using light are increasingly being recognized as breakthrough methods for cancer and many other diseases. The US Food and Drug Administration recently approved “light therapy” to fight advanced esophageal cancer and early lung cancer—with fewer risks than are found with the use of surgery and chemotherapy.
Although it has been known for over 100 years that light can kill diseased cells, it is only since a number of convincing research studies have been conducted that there has been a sudden resurgence of interest in light therapy. There is promising success with bladder cancer, infertility-causing endometriosis, advanced lung and esophageal cancers, skin cancer, and diseases leading to blindness, psoriasis, and autoimmune disorders. In one study, light therapy eliminated 79 percent of early lung cancers. Regular exposure to sunlight still seems to be one of the best measures one can take to prevent cancer, including cancers of the skin.
Now Even Doctors And Scientists Say, “It’s Not True!”
Like myself, there have always been some health practitioners who didn’t buy into the theory that the sun causes deadly diseases. It warms my heart to hear that now even some of the top authorities in the field are standing up for the truth, despite intense criticism from their colleagues.
In an article written in the New York Times in August 2004, a high-profile dermatologist, Dr. Bernard Ackerman (a recent winner of the American Academy of Dermatology's prestigious, once-yearly Master Award), publicly questioned the commonly accepted assumption about the sunlight/melanoma link.
According to Dr. Ackerman, who in 1999 founded the world's largest center for dermatopathology training, there is no proof whatsoever that sun exposure causes melanoma. To substantiate his arguments, he cites a recently published article in the Archives of Dermatology concluding that no evidence exists supporting the notion that sunscreen prevents melanoma, a claim the mega-million dollar sunscreen industry and those in the medical mainstream have falsely made for decades.
Dr. Ackerman didn’t stop at exposing this decades-long deception of the masses; he also cast doubt on the increase in the incidence of melanoma cases medical mainstream doctors insist is happening. He found that an expansion of the diagnostic definition of “melanoma” has allowed a much broader array of symptoms to be classified as the deadly disease compared to just 30 years ago. Melanoma has to a large extent “grown” to epidemic proportions because of statistical manipulations. In other words, if the same diagnostic definition applied 30 years ago were applied today, melanomas would have increased only insignificantly.
Furthermore, this respected physician challenged the medical mainstream to explain why nearly all cases of melanoma among certain races (black African, Asian and South American) occur in areas of the body that are almost never exposed to sunlight—places like the palms, soles of the feet, and mucous membranes. Should it not raise doubts among physicians and patients alike when even among pale-faces, the most common sites for melanoma (legs in women, torso in men) get significantly less sunlight exposure than other parts of the body?
To make a point, based on this and other evidence, your best chance of avoiding melanoma is to move to areas of higher UV-concentration, such as mountainous regions or the equatorial tropics and become a nudist! Since sunlight boosts the immune system, you may find that such a move would also help with many other health issues from which you may be suffering. Naturally, all this data raises the question, what actually causes skin cancer? The answer may surprise you greatly.
(By Andreas Moritz)
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